Two weeks had passed since the tension-filled night in Manchester. War in the Hell had moved on—well, somewhat. They were in California now, the sun high above, casting a golden haze over the sprawling music festival grounds. The "Rock and Rattle Festival" was buzzing with excitement, bringing together some of the biggest names in rock and metal music. The lineup was stellar: Architects, Linkin Park, and Bad Omens were all set to perform, alongside other iconic bands like Bring Me the Horizon, Metallica, and Five Finger Death Punch. The festival grounds were packed, and the air smelled of hot pavement, spilled beer, and anticipation.

War in the Hell was set to take the stage soon, and the bandmates were milling around backstage, laughing and teasing each other. Nalani leaned against the wall, staring at the chaos unfolding before her as the band prepared for their set. The energy was different today—electric, buzzing in the air like static. The festival's atmosphere had a way of making even the quietest moments feel like they were charged with possibility.

"Man, I can't wait to hit the stage," Jeremy said, adjusting his guitar strap as he paced back and forth. "The crowd is going to be wild today."

Edward, fiddling with his drumsticks, grinned. "You sure you're ready for them? Or are we going to have to carry you through this one again?"

Josh, who had been sitting on a nearby couch, suddenly perked up. "I'm ready. I've been rehearsing for weeks now. No more messing around."

"Yeah, no more messing around until the next date with Poppy," Edward teased, winking at Josh.

"Oh, here we go," Josh groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Not this again."

Mark, who was overseeing the band's preparations, chuckled from the sidelines. "I still can't believe you two went on a second date. I thought you'd be more into just 'casual' fun."

"Mark, don't start," Josh said, shooting him a glare. But it wasn't serious. He couldn't help the slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"You know," Edward continued, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "we've been dying to hear about this epic second date. So what happened, Josh? Did she like the restaurant? Did you keep up your 'mysterious' vibe?"

Josh groaned again. "Oh my god, please don't."

The rest of the band burst into laughter. Nicole, who had been checking her phone nearby, looked up at the commotion. "What are you guys laughing about?"

"Josh's epic second date with Poppy," Edward explained, eyes sparkling with mischief. "We were just asking him how it went. Maybe he'll finally spill some details."

"No way," Josh muttered, shaking his head. "I'm not telling you guys anything."

Jeremy, always eager to get in on the teasing, stepped in. "Come on, Josh. You can't just leave us hanging. We need to know! Did you kiss her goodnight?"

"No!" Josh nearly shouted, his face turning redder than usual. "We just... had dinner. It was casual. Simple."

"Simple, huh?" Edward said, arching an eyebrow. "Is that what we're calling it now? Simple dinner? Sounds like you're trying to hide something."

"Can you not?" Josh huffed, trying to turn his body away from the group. "I told you it was just a dinner. Nothing crazy."

"Right, nothing crazy," Mark chimed in, clearly enjoying this. "Except for the fact that you two have been texting nonstop since the first date. You're practically inseparable at this point. This sounds like more than just a 'simple' dinner."

"You guys are ridiculous," Josh muttered under his breath, clearly embarrassed.

"I bet she didn't let you pay for dinner, did she?" Jeremy asked, his grin widening. "You know, that's the real test. If she lets you pay, she's really into you."

Josh shot Jeremy a deadpan look. "You really think I'd let her pay? Of course I paid."

"You're a gentleman," Nalani teased, her voice light but with a hidden edge. "Is this the new you, Josh? The 'gentleman who can't stop texting?'"

Josh gave her a sideways glance, clearly aware of the playful tone. "I'll have you know, I'm not always texting. I just want to make sure she's comfortable, you know?"

"Uh-huh," Jeremy said, clearly unconvinced. "But what's the real story? Did you hold hands? Tell us everything."

Josh sighed, looking for an escape. He couldn't deny that part of him was enjoying the attention—though, admittedly, it was all in good fun. "Fine," he said, rolling his eyes. "We walked around the pier, had a few drinks, and talked about random stuff. That's it. Nothing wild. We laughed, had a good time. But that's it. No kiss, no confessions. We're just getting to know each other, okay?"

The bandmates exchanged amused looks, their teasing never stopping.

"So, no kiss on the second date," Edward mused. "Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a second date?"

"Not if you're taking things slow," Josh replied, trying to maintain his composure.

"Slow? You're the slow one?" Jeremy scoffed. "I think you're just scared she's going to run for the hills if you kiss her too soon. You know she likes you, right?"

Josh groaned, rubbing his hands over his face. "This is insane. You guys are relentless."

As the conversation continued, Nalani leaned back, watching them with a small smile. The playful banter was familiar, comforting even. It was strange—how easily they all got caught up in teasing Josh about his dating life when, at the same time, she was trying to ignore the gnawing feeling that had settled in her stomach. The feeling she couldn't quite name—the one that stirred up whenever she caught herself thinking about Noah.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the band kept teasing Josh about his date. Mark was grinning, clearly enjoying this more than anyone else.

"Alright, alright, Josh," Mark said with mock seriousness. "Here's the real question. Did you hold the door open for her? That's what separates the men from the boys."

"Why do I even bother?" Josh said, clearly defeated but still laughing. "You guys are terrible."

Nicole, who had been quietly sitting off to the side, finally piped up with a grin. "So, Josh, you really didn't kiss her? You're telling me that after all that, you didn't even steal a kiss?"

"Nicole, I'm gonna—" Josh started, but his words were cut off by a loud, exaggerated groan from Edward.

"Oh, come on! You've got to do better than that, Josh. What's the point of all that talk and no payoff?"

Josh rolled his eyes. "You guys are the worst. But seriously, can we drop it now?"

"Yeah, sure," Jeremy said, clearly not meaning it. "Until the next time you tell us about her, that is."

"Which will be... in about five minutes?" Nalani said, a teasing glint in her eyes.

"Oh, shut up," Josh muttered, but there was no real malice behind it. He was enjoying the teasing as much as they were, even if he wasn't admitting it.

"I think we need to focus on the performance, anyway," Mark said, stepping forward and taking charge. "We've got a hell of a show ahead of us. Let's make sure we give the crowd everything we've got."

Everyone nodded in agreement, their attention shifting to the upcoming performance. The backstage area was still buzzing with energy, the roar of the crowd outside getting louder by the second. The band members made their way to the stage, their jokes and teasing continuing as they prepared for what would be an unforgettable show at the Rock and Rattle Festival.

As Nalani moved to the side, her thoughts drifted again, and for a moment, she found herself remembering that night in Manchester. The way Noah had looked at her, the way his words had haunted her. She quickly shoved the thoughts aside, not wanting to dwell on them now. Tonight was about the band, about their performance. The crowd would be wild, and she couldn't afford to let anything else distract her.

But as she caught sight of Josh, still grinning from the teasing and laughing with the others, she couldn't help but wonder if maybe he had the right idea. Maybe she should just focus on having fun, letting go of everything else for a while.

With a deep breath, she followed the rest of the band toward the stage. The lights, the sounds, and the roar of the crowd welcomed them—War in the Hell was about to tear the house down. And maybe, just maybe, Nalani would let herself get lost in the music for the night.

.

The adrenaline of their set still coursed through Nalani's veins as she stood backstage, taking in deep, ragged breaths. War in the Hell had just finished playing to one of the largest crowds they'd ever faced, and the deafening roar of applause still echoed in her ears. The rest of the band was jubilant, high-fiving and exchanging triumphant grins. California had not disappointed, and neither had they.

Amidst the celebrations, a nagging thought pulled at her—Bad Omens was here. That meant Noah was here. The thought made her heartbeat quicken, an involuntary reaction that she hated admitting even to herself. She could see the other bands milling around, exchanging banter and getting ready for their turns. Somewhere among them was Noah, and she wasn't sure whether the anticipation or anxiety was stronger.

"Great job, guys!" Mark shouted, clapping his hands together. "The crowd was insane!"

Edward slung an arm around Nalani's shoulders, his eyes bright with excitement. "We nailed it, didn't we? I think I saw a guy in the front row actually crying."

"Crying from joy, I hope," Jeremy chimed in with a grin.

"Or pain," Josh joked, but he was grinning from ear to ear. He turned to Nalani and raised an eyebrow. "You good, Nala?"

She nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah. Just... catching my breath."

"Good, because we've got to make the rounds and—" Josh's eyes flickered to something behind her, and he smirked. "Well, well, look who's here."

Nalani turned around, and there he was. Noah stood a few feet away, his dark eyes unreadable. His bandmates lingered nearby, but his gaze was fixed solely on her. She felt her stomach flip and her pulse speed up.

"Hey," Noah said, his voice low and casual. It was a strange feeling—being this close, exchanging pleasantries, after everything that had happened.

"Hey," she replied, her voice neutral, masking the mess of emotions roiling beneath the surface.

Josh glanced between them, smirked, and then nudged Edward. "I think we'll leave you two to... catch up." He winked at Nalani, who shot him a glare that promised payback later.

Before she could protest, her bandmates dispersed, leaving her and Noah standing alone. The festival noise seemed to blur into a dull hum around them.

"You guys did great out there," Noah said, hands stuffed into his pockets. The formality in his tone felt odd, like a shift in weather she hadn't prepared for.

"Thanks," she said, studying him. His jaw was tense, and there was a restlessness in his eyes that hadn't been there before. "You guys are up next, right?"

"Yeah, in about half an hour," Noah replied, a slight edge to his words. The silence that followed was heavy, both waiting for the other to break it. Just when Nalani opened her mouth to say something, a voice interrupted them.

"Nalani!" Nick called out as he walked over, a grin spreading across his face. He pulled her into a friendly hug, which she returned. "You guys were insane out there. The crowd loved you."

"Thanks, Nick," Nalani said, smiling. There was an ease between her and Nick that wasn't there with Noah, and she could feel the tension between them shift as Nick's presence brought a different kind of energy.

"Yeah, I swear, I'm stealing some of those riffs," Nick joked, making her laugh.

Noah's jaw clenched at the sound of her laughter, an unwelcome surge of irritation bubbling beneath the surface. He didn't even try to mask the edge in his voice when he spoke. "You'd better not, Nick. The last thing we need is to get accused of copying."

Nick's eyebrows rose, and he glanced between Noah and Nalani, picking up on the charged atmosphere. "Easy, man, I was just kidding."

But Noah's eyes were still on Nalani, dark and stormy. She felt her own smile falter, replaced by a simmering annoyance. Why was he being like this? He'd been fine just moments before Nick showed up.

"Thanks for the compliment, Nick," Nalani said, her tone polite but strained. She took a breath and turned to him, managing a small smile. "Can you give us a moment?"

Nick nodded, concern flickering in his eyes. "Sure. I'll catch up with you guys later." He glanced at Noah before leaving, as if warning him to behave.

As soon as Nick was gone, the air thickened again. Nalani crossed her arms over her chest, eyes narrowing at Noah. "What's wrong with you? You were super nice five minutes ago and then went back to being rude as soon as Nick approached."

Noah's expression hardened, a muscle in his jaw twitching. "Nothing's wrong with me."

"Really? Because it sure seems like something is." Her voice was sharper now, each word digging for an explanation. "Why are you acting like this? One minute, you're civil, almost friendly, and the next you're—"

"Enough," Noah cut in, his voice low but laced with anger. "You wouldn't understand."

"Oh, wouldn't I?" she snapped back, stepping closer. "Try me, Noah. Because right now, you're acting like a jerk for no reason."

The intensity in her voice sparked something in him, the controlled mask he wore slipping just enough for the frustration to show. "You really don't get it, do you?"

"No, I don't," she admitted, her voice quivering with a mix of anger and something deeper, something more vulnerable. "So why don't you enlighten me?"

He let out a harsh laugh, running a hand through his dark hair, messing it up even more. "Because you're blind, Nalani. You don't see what's right in front of you."

Her eyes widened, taken aback by the sudden rawness in his voice. "What are you talking about?"

He took a step closer, his face inches from hers now. She could see the storm in his eyes, the way they searched hers as if looking for something. The air between them crackled, heavy with words unspoken.

"How can you be this blind to not understand what am I feeling for you?" he shouted, the words bursting out of him like they'd been trapped for far too long.

The world seemed to freeze. The noise of the festival, the distant music, the laughter—it all faded to the background. Nalani's heart stopped for a moment before it started pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

"You—" She opened her mouth but no sound came out. The shock in her eyes turned to disbelief, then something else, something warmer, though she fought to push it away.

"Yes," Noah continued, his voice still intense. "I do. And I hate it, Nalani. I hate how you make me feel. I hate that I can't stop thinking about you. And seeing you with Nick, laughing like it's nothing... It drives me insane."

She stared at him, the weight of his confession pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe. She should be angry, she should yell back, push him away, tell him that he was being irrational. But the truth was, deep down, she knew this changed everything.

"Then why do you push me away?" she shouted back, her voice breaking. "Why make it so hard if you—"

"Because it scares me," he admitted, the hardness in his expression softening, vulnerability seeping through. "Because you make me feel things I swore I'd never let myself feel. And I don't know what to do with that."

They stood there, caught in the tangled mess of emotions between them. Neither moved, both waiting for the other to make sense of what just happened.

Nalani felt her pulse race, the anger and confusion now mixed with something that felt a lot like hope. She looked up at him, her eyes searching his. "Then stop running from it," she answered.

Noah's eyes met hers, the distance between them shrinking. But before either could say more, a voice called out from behind, breaking the moment.

"Bad Omens, you're on in ten!"

Noah took a shaky breath, the brief moment of vulnerability replaced by a mask of calm. He stepped back, nodding stiffly. "I have to go."

Nalani watched him turn and walk away, the weight of his words still pressing against her chest. She didn't know what would come next, but for the first time in weeks, she felt like she finally understood what had been simmering beneath the surface all along.