The roar of the crowd still echoed in their ears as War in the Hell stepped off the stage, adrenaline pulsing through their veins and their bodies glistening with sweat. The New Jersey festival had been a massive success, with fans chanting their lyrics and waving their arms in unison. Each band member exchanged grins and playful shoves, the excitement of their performance making them feel invincible.

Mark stood near the back entrance of the stage, beaming at them like a proud parent. His hair was slightly disheveled, and his phone was clutched tightly in his hand. He took a deep breath and clapped loudly to get their attention.

"Alright, listen up, everyone!" Mark's voice cut through the backstage buzz. The band turned their heads, their smiles still wide and bright, eyes shining with post-performance high.

"That was incredible," Mark began, grinning. "But I have news that'll make this day even better." The band's chatter quieted, curiosity replacing the leftover tension from their set.

"What is it, Mark?" Nalani asked, eyes narrowing with anticipation.

Mark's grin widened as he glanced at each of them, savoring the suspense. "We've been invited to perform on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."

For a moment, there was silence. It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room. Then, the realization hit them all at once.

"Are you serious?" Jeremy's voice cracked with excitement, eyes going wide.

"No way!" Edward shouted, already jumping up and down, his guitar still slung over his shoulder and knocking against his side.

Josh clapped her hands and laughed in disbelief. "This is huge!"

Nalani's mouth dropped open as the reality set in, her heart pounding with an excitement that blended seamlessly with the adrenaline still rushing through her veins. Her fingers tingled as if she could already feel the electric pulse of studio lights and the buzz of a live show audience. The Tonight Show—it was a dream come true, a milestone they'd talked about for years.

Josh caught her gaze, eyes twinkling as he pulled her into a quick hug. "This is it, Nalani. This is our moment."

She hugged him back, the warmth of his support making her grin even wider. But even amid the euphoria, a pang of longing crept into her chest. It had been a week since she'd last seen Noah. He'd had to leave right after Edward's birthday party for more of Bad Omens' tour dates. Though they'd been texting and calling each other almost daily, it wasn't the same as seeing him in person. She missed the way his smile made her heart race, how their conversations had shifted from biting sarcasm to something warm and genuine.

Josh noticed the fleeting shadow that passed across her face, a testament to how closely he paid attention. He squeezed her shoulder and whispered, "He'll be so proud when he hears about this."

She shot him a grateful smile, her eyes softening. "Yeah. I hope so."

The rest of the band was too caught up in the moment to notice the subtle exchange between Josh and Nalani. Jeremy was already miming what he'd say to Jimmy Fallon, while Nicole laughed at his ridiculous antics. Edward tossed his guitar to a nearby roadie and joined in, a huge grin splitting his face.

Mark, now fully embracing his role as the bearer of good news, said, "We need to get everything ready. This is happening in three days, so we need to hustle."

The excitement ramped up again, and they broke off into smaller groups, discussing wardrobe, song choices, and the logistics of flying back to New York in time for rehearsals. Nalani stepped aside for a moment, pulling out her phone and staring at the last message Noah had sent her, just before their performance: "Kill it out there tonight. I know you will. Can't wait to hear all about it."

A soft, private smile curved her lips, and she quickly typed out a response: "You won't believe this, but we're going to be on Jimmy Fallon's show in three days. Wish you were here."

Josh's voice interrupted her thoughts. "If that smile gets any wider, your face might split in two," he teased, leaning against a speaker.

Nalani laughed, slipping her phone back into her pocket. "Shut up, Josh."

"Can't help it," he said, a mock-innocent look on his face. "I know you're hiding something, but I'm not gonna pry—yet." He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

Rolling her eyes, she shoved him lightly. "You're insufferable."

"But you love me," he quipped, earning a laugh from her.

Jeremy walked over and caught the tail end of their banter. "Hey, are we going to ignore the fact that we're all basically famous now? This is huge!"

"I know!" Nalani's eyes sparkled, putting aside her longing for Noah for the time being. The rush of anticipation took over again, spreading through her like wildfire. The Tonight Show was their next step, their chance to shine on a massive stage, and she was ready for whatever came next—even if her heart yearned for the familiar smirk of a certain singer who was miles away.

The rest of the evening was spent in a whirlwind of plans, phone calls, and celebration. Nalani knew that even if Noah wasn't physically there, his support and their late-night calls would be enough to carry her through.

As the euphoria of the day settled and the reality of what lay ahead started to sink in, War in the Hell returned to their hotel rooms. They were still riding the high of Mark's announcement, laughing and recounting their favorite moments from the festival. Nalani exchanged goodnight hugs with her bandmates before slipping into her room, the excitement still making her fingers tremble slightly as she turned the key in the lock.

Once inside, she shut the door, took a deep breath, and let the quiet envelop her. It was strange how quickly the noise of the crowd and the laughter of her friends could transform into a serene silence. She sank onto the edge of the bed, pulling her phone from her pocket. She saw a notification—a text from Noah.

Noah: Still buzzing?

A smile spread across her face as she typed back.

Nalani: "You have no idea. Wish you were here."

Suddenly, a knock on the door startled her, making her jump slightly. She frowned. It was late, and she wasn't expecting anyone. Her mind raced with possibilities: Mark needing to discuss plans for the show, Nicole wanting to chat, or maybe Josh with another teasing comment. She stood and crossed the room, opening the door with a curious look.

And there he was.

"Noah?" Her voice came out in a whisper, disbelief written all over her face.

He stood in the dim hallway, his eyes twinkling with mischief and warmth. He wore a casual hoodie and jeans, the hood pulled up as if to disguise himself from any wandering fans. But it was unmistakably him, and he was here, in front of her.

"Surprise," Noah said, his mouth curling into that familiar, crooked grin.

Nalani's heart stopped for a moment, then started racing as a flood of emotions washed over her. Without thinking, she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight hug. He chuckled, the vibration rumbling through her as he hugged her back.

"How—what—why didn't you tell me?" she sputtered, her voice muffled against his chest. She pulled back to look at him, eyes wide and searching for an explanation.

"Josh," Noah said with a playful shrug. "He told me your room number and said you were over the moon today. I couldn't stay away knowing that."

"I'm going to kill him," she laughed, tears of joy pricking at the corners of her eyes. "But, God, I'm so glad you're here."

"You think I'd miss this? You guys on The Tonight Show? That's huge, Nalani. I had to be here to celebrate."

The reality hit her again, and she shook her head, grinning. "I can't believe you came all this way. Your tour—"

"Is important," he interrupted, cupping her face gently. "But so are you. And we've got a few days before our next show, so I figured... why not spend them with you?"

She looked at him, his eyes searching hers for a reaction. She felt a warmth spread through her chest, so intense it made her dizzy. "You're unbelievable," she whispered, leaning into his touch.

Noah smirked, thumb brushing over her cheekbone. "Yeah, I get that a lot."

She laughed, pulling him inside and closing the door. "Get in here before someone sees you."

"Right, the famous rock star incognito mission," he joked as he stepped into the room and dropped his small overnight bag by the door.

The moment felt surreal. The room was dimly lit, the soft yellow glow of the lamp casting long shadows across the walls. Nalani leaned back against the closed door, watching as Noah took in his surroundings, eyes landing back on her. They stared at each other, the air thick with anticipation.

"So, what now?" she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice.

Noah's smile turned soft. "Now, we celebrate your big news. Properly." He stepped forward, closing the space between them. His hand found her waist, pulling her closer until there was barely an inch separating them.

"Properly, huh?" Her voice was quieter now, her eyes searching his face.

He nodded slowly, leaning in. "Yeah," he murmured, right before his lips met hers.

The kiss was gentle at first, like a question waiting to be answered. Nalani responded immediately, threading her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. It deepened, turning into something more urgent, more raw. It felt as if the distance and the week apart had all been condensed into this moment.

When they pulled away, both were breathless. Noah rested his forehead against hers, eyes closed as if savoring the moment. "I missed you," he admitted, voice low and rough.

"Me too," she whispered back, a soft laugh escaping as she realized how quickly her heart was beating. "More than I expected."

"Good," Noah said, eyes finally opening to meet hers. The corners of his mouth tugged up. "Because I'm not going anywhere tonight."

"Oh, you're staying?" Nalani raised an eyebrow, the humor in her eyes returning.

He grinned, leaning back just a little. "Unless you kick me out."

"Not a chance," she said, tugging him towards the bed. "You're staying right here."

They both laughed, the sound light and free. The tension from their separation melted away, replaced by a giddy warmth that made everything else seem unimportant.

A few minutes later, they were lying on the bed, tangled together in comfortable silence. Nalani's head rested on Noah's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, while his fingers absentmindedly played with the ends of her hair.

"I told you Josh was insufferable," she said, breaking the silence.

Noah laughed, the sound vibrating against her. "Yeah, but you have to admit, he's a good friend."

"The best," she agreed, smiling. "So," she said, breaking the quiet with a teasing note in her voice, "what did Matt think when you told him you were coming here?"

Noah let out a chuckle, the sound rumbling through his chest. "Oh, he gave me the classic disappointed dad look, then said, 'Don't get yourself into trouble, Romeo.'"

Nalani laughed, a genuine, melodic sound. "He called you Romeo? I'd pay to see that."

"You should've seen his face," Noah said, his grin widening. "But he promised me to keep my secret. However, I don't trust him in this." he laughed.

"I bet the rest of the band already figured it out," Nalani sighed, shaking her head. "They're more perceptive than we give them credit for."

"Yeah," he agreed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His voice softened as he added, "Not that I care. If they know, they know. I'm here, and that's what matters."

Nalani's heart swelled at his words, and she tilted her head up to look at him. "You're kind of incredible, you know that?"

He smirked, eyes twinkling. "Only kind of?"

"Okay, fine. You're very incredible," she corrected, rolling her eyes playfully. "But don't let it get to your head."

"Too late," he joked, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her forehead.

They fell into silence again, the only sounds being their steady breathing and the faint honking of a car horn outside. After a moment, Noah's hand found hers, their fingers intertwining.

"So, when did you first know?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

"Know what?" She tilted her head slightly.

"That you felt something for me," he clarified, squeezing her hand lightly.

Nalani bit her lip, considering the question. "Probably at that BMTH concert. You made me way too angry," she admitted. "I remember thinking it was strange how we ended up shouting at each other. So what about you ?

Noah's expression softened, and he nodded slowly with a smile. "Actually, it was on the Ironstorm festival," he said quietly. "I kept catching myself looking for you in the crowd, wondering if I'd get a chance to talk to you. I didn't want to admit that back then, but it was the way it was."

"But you weren't talking, you were acting like a jerk,"she laughed and he joined her.

"Yeap, I know, I did."

A comfortable silence fell over them, filled with the unspoken memories of shared moments that had led them here.

"Can I tell you something, and you promise not to laugh?" Nalani asked, breaking the silence with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Depends," Noah teased. "Is it about how you secretly loved our arguments?"

"Ha, very funny," she shot back, nudging him lightly. "No, it's... okay, don't laugh, but I used to practice what I'd say to you. After we'd argue, I'd go back to my room and think of all the clever comebacks I should've said."

Noah couldn't help it; a laugh escaped before he quickly tried to stifle it. "Sorry, sorry! I'm not laughing at you—I promise," he said, eyes shining with amusement. "It's just... that's adorable."

Her cheeks flushed, but she smiled. "Yeah, well, it didn't help much in the moment, did it? You always got under my skin."

"It's because I knew you so well," he said, his tone softer now. "And I think, deep down, I wanted to see how far I could push you because I liked how passionate you were, even if it was directed at me."

They shared a knowing look, the tension from all those past moments finally making sense.

"You know," Nalani said after a moment, "I'm glad we got all that out of the way."

"Me too," Noah agreed, his thumb rubbing gentle circles on the back of her hand. "Because now we have this. And I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Nalani's heart swelled at his words, and she shifted closer, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. It was slow, sweet, and full of unspoken promises.

When they pulled away, she rested her head on his shoulder, eyes closing as exhaustion started to take over.

"Hey, Nalani?" Noah's voice was soft, barely a whisper.

"Yeah?" she murmured, already drifting toward sleep.

"I love seeing you happy."

A sleepy smile spread across her face. "And I love that you're here."

Before long, they both fell into a peaceful sleep, tangled together under the warm glow of the city lights, content in the knowledge that whatever came next, they would face it together.