The familiar hum of the studio buzzed with a comforting energy as Noah stepped inside, his bag slung over his shoulder and a slight grin playing on his lips. The room was filled with a mess of cables, half-empty coffee cups, and the unspoken anticipation of a new track ready to be dissected. It was home—chaotic and loud, just the way they all loved it.

Before Noah could take another step, Jolly's voice rang out from behind the mixing board. "Look who finally decided to show up. Thought you'd be too busy having romantic strolls with you-know-who to make it."

Nick leaned back in his chair, feet propped up on the table, a knowing smirk plastered on his face. "Oh, we definitely know why you were late. Matt couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it."

Matt, who had been tinkering with a stack of sound equipment in the corner, raised his hands defensively, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Hey, don't blame me! It just slipped out during the morning briefing."

Nicholas chuckled, his arms folded as he eyed Noah. "So, care to share with the class, Romeo? Or should we just piece it together from Matt's dramatic retelling?"

Noah rolled his eyes, but the smile that pulled at his lips betrayed him. There was no way he was getting out of this without an interrogation. He dropped his bag and crossed his arms, taking in the sight of his bandmates, who were all leaning in with playful, eager grins.

"All right, all right," he said, shaking his head with an amused sigh. "Yeah, we're kind of together now."

The studio erupted into a mix of cheers, teasing laughter, and playful whoops. Jolly reached over and clapped Noah on the back, his grin wide. "Took you long enough, man. We were starting to think you'd stay in the brooding phase forever."

Nick snorted. "Yeah, no kidding. But seriously, congrats, dude. Just, you know, don't screw it up. The last thing we need is a tragic breakup album with your face on the cover."

Nicholas joined in with a mock-serious nod. "Yeah, and don't break her heart, or we'll have to write the next album as an intervention anthem. 'The Ballad of a Messed-Up Frontman' has a nice ring to it, but I'd rather not."

Noah let out a genuine laugh, feeling the tension of the past few days melt away in the warm familiarity of his bandmates' teasing. "Don't worry, I'm not planning on messing anything up. Trust me, I know what I've got with her."

Jolly's expression softened, and he raised an eyebrow. "Good. Because for what it's worth, we're happy for you. She's... different, you know? Good for you."

Nick pointed at him, smirking. "And if you ever need advice on how not to act like an idiot, well, maybe don't come to us. But we'll cheer you on anyway."

The room burst into laughter again. Just as Noah thought the questions would stop, Nicholas leaned forward with an inquisitive glint in his eye. "So, spill the details, man. When did this all start? Because last we checked, you were in denial for months."

Noah scratched the back of his neck, a bashful smile creeping onto his face. "Uh, well, it's been building for a while. But I guess things really kicked off after that gig in Manchester. We had a moment, and then... it just kind of happened."

Nick's eyes widened in realization. "Manchester? That was weeks ago! You've been holding out on us, man."

Jolly let out a dramatic sigh. "I knew something was up. You were all weirdly smiley following days, and now it makes sense. Dude, you really hit the jackpot."

Matt chimed in from the corner, still pretending to focus on his equipment. "Noah, you won the lottery. Nalani's got that kind of fire that keeps life interesting."

Noah's smile grew softer, the usual edge in his demeanor melting away as he spoke. "Yeah, she really does. She's... she's amazing, you know? Brave, sharp-tongued but with this side of her that's so warm. And she's got this way of challenging me, making me think differently."

The bandmates exchanged glances, their smirks widening as they watched Noah's face transform from playful to utterly smitten. Jolly folded his arms, leaning back with an amused look. "Look at him, boys. We've lost our grumpy frontman to the land of heart-eyes."

Nicholas shook his head, pretending to wipe a tear. "Gone too soon. We'll remember you fondly, Noah Sebastian, the man who never stood a chance."

Noah rolled his eyes, trying to look annoyed but failing miserably as a chuckle escaped him. "You guys are ridiculous."

Nick pushed himself off the table, approaching Noah with a mock-serious expression. "In all seriousness, man, we're happy for you. But, for real, don't mess this up. She's got a whole band that'll come after you if you do."

"Not to mention her fans," Jolly added with a grin. "They'll eat you alive."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Noah said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'll be careful."

The playful energy in the room surged again as they started firing off more questions—Who made the first move?, Did you serenade her?, When's the wedding?—until the laughter echoed down the hall. It felt good, a reminder that even in the chaos of fame, music, and pressure, they were just a group of friends, rooting for each other.

And as Noah sat down to start the session, he felt a surge of gratitude. Life wasn't perfect, but right now, it was pretty damn close.

The following morning at New Jersey Nalani sat on the edge of her bed, staring out at the bustling city below. The energy of the city buzzed beneath her, and she felt it humming in her veins. Today was the day they'd be heading to New York for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Her heart raced at the thought of stepping onto that stage, performing in front of millions, and then sitting down with Jimmy himself for an interview. It was surreal.

"Yo, Nalani!" Edward's voice boomed from the hallway, followed by the sound of a suitcase's wheels scraping against the floor. "Are you packed, or are we gonna leave you here to write mysterious, cryptic songs that make everyone guess who they're about?"

A playful groan escaped her as she stood up and stretched. "I'm packed, Edward. And no songs about anyone, thank you very much."

Edward appeared in the doorway with a smirk, his curly hair still damp from his morning shower. "Sure, sure. I'm just saying, if we end up with a song full of hidden meanings and longing looks, we'll know who's responsible."

Nalani threw a pillow at him, which he dodged with ease. He laughed, the sound light and full of excitement. Jeremy poked his head in next, grinning ear to ear.

"Why are you two wasting time?" he asked. "Mark is downstairs, losing his mind because we're not in the van yet. Something about the traffic and not wanting to be late for soundcheck."

"Typical Mark," Nalani muttered, a fond smile crossing her lips. She zipped up her suitcase and glanced around the room one last time before heading out. Edward grabbed her bag from her hand, winking as he shouldered it.

"Can't have the lead singer carrying her own luggage on the day we conquer The Tonight Show," he said with mock chivalry.

"Oh, you're too kind," she teased, rolling her eyes as she followed him down the hallway.

In the lobby, the rest of War in the Hell was already gathered. Josh sat cross-legged on the edge of a faded armchair, strumming an acoustic guitar absentmindedly. Nicole was leaning over Mark's shoulder as he barked last-minute instructions into his phone, the veins in his neck visible from stress.

"Mark, breathe," Nicole said, patting him on the back. "We'll be there on time."

He shot her a glare, but there was a hint of a smile in it. "I will breathe when we're in New York, settled, and not facing a 50-minute delay on the George Washington Bridge."

Josh looked up as Nalani and Edward approached. "Ready for your late-night debut, Nalani?" He plucked a dramatic chord. "I'm already imagining the awkward laughs when Jimmy asks about your inspiration for the album."

Nalani flushed slightly, swatting him on the arm. "Don't you dare start, Josh. This is serious. We're performing for millions."

He grinned, unfazed. "Relax. You're going to kill it. Besides, if you mess up, I'll just take over and serenade everyone with 'Wonderwall.'"

"Over my dead body," Edward chimed in as he set Nalani's bag down by the front door.

Nicole snickered. "At least it'll make for an unforgettable show. 'Band implodes on national TV after fight over Wonderwall.'"

Mark pocketed his phone, running a hand through his hair as he approached. "All right, troops. Van's outside. Let's move before New York decides to throw a parade in our honor and blocks all the streets."

They grabbed their luggage and made their way to the waiting van. The air was full of playful banter and the electric buzz of anticipation. Nalani slid into the seat by the window, gazing out as the driver pulled away from the hotel. The city faded into the distance, replaced by stretches of highway and the subtle shift of nerves that tickled her chest.

"Okay, let's do a rundown," Mark said, twisting around in his seat to face the band as they cruised along the highway. "Performance first, then the interview with Jimmy. He'll probably ask about the festivals and other shows, the new album, and Nalani, prepare yourself for at least one unexpected question."

Nicole smirked. "He's totally going to ask something random, like what your go-to karaoke song is."

Nalani's eyes widened. "What? No, he won't."

Jeremy burst out laughing. "Oh, Nalani, you're adorable. It's Jimmy Fallon. The man's built an empire on catching people off-guard."

"Great. Just great," she muttered, burying her face in her hands. "I need a game plan."

"Game plan? Just smile and say 'next question,'" Edward joked, nudging her shoulder. "Or, you know, pretend it's all part of your mysterious rockstar persona."

The van erupted into laughter, and even Nalani couldn't help but crack a smile. The tension eased as she realized she had her bandmates, her friends, who would have her back no matter what. She looked around at them, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over her.

"You guys are the worst," she said, but her voice was full of affection.

Josh leaned forward, raising an eyebrow. "But you love us, right?"

"More than I'd like to admit," she replied, and the van filled with playful groans and shouts of "Aww."

By the time they reached the city limits, the skyline loomed like a promise. New York was always a whirlwind of chaos and opportunity, and today, it was theirs. They pulled up in front of the NBC Studios, where a team was already waiting to usher them inside for soundcheck.

Mark turned to Nalani before they stepped out. "Ready?"

She took a deep breath, her heart pounding. "Ready."

The band exchanged knowing looks and walked through the double doors, ready to take the next step together, as a team.