I didn't plan on updating today, but since it's New Year—why not ?
Happy Holidays, everybody:)

"Holy shit, Josh, is this you?" Edward's voice broke the morning calm, echoing through the studio as he waved a tabloid magazine over his head. The headline read: 'Rock's Rising Star Josh Simmons from War in the Hell Caught in Romantic Whirlwind with Poppy!' The glossy cover featured a photo of Josh and Poppy laughing together at a sidewalk café, completely unaware of the camera.

Josh, who had been tuning his guitar, looked up with a mix of embarrassment and amusement. "Dude, put that down. You know how these magazines blow things out of proportion."

Nalani raised an eyebrow as she leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Out of proportion? Josh, there's a whole two-page spread about you. 'Love is in the Air: Inside the Secret Romance of Rock's New Golden Couple!'" she read aloud with dramatic flair.

Jeremy whistled, tapping the magazine cover. "Guess you're famous for more than your riffs now, man."

Mark walked in just as the laughter erupted, holding his coffee mug like it was a lifeline. "What's going on here?" His eyes narrowed when he saw the magazine. "Ah, so you've seen the latest gossip?"

Josh rolled his eyes, but a shy smile tugged at his lips. "I knew it was a matter of time before this came up."

Edward snickered, dropping into a chair and crossing his arms. "All right, Romeo, spill. How'd the fifth date go? The nation's dying to know."

Josh set down his guitar and leaned back in his chair. "Okay, fine. If you all want to know so badly, the fifth date was... kind of a big deal."

Nicole's eyes lit up as she took a seat next to Mark. "Big deal as in...?"

"As in, I told her I love her," Josh said, his voice steady but soft.

The studio went completely silent for a second before chaos erupted. Jeremy dropped his drumsticks in shock, Edward's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, and Nicole and Nalani gasped audibly. Even Mark looked taken aback, eyebrows raised over his coffee mug.

"You what?" Nalani finally managed, her voice an octave higher than usual.

Josh shrugged, though his cheeks were tinged pink. "I told her I love her, and... she said it back."

Edward leaned forward, palms on the table. "No way. Poppy said she loves you? This is big, Josh. Huge."

"It is," Nicole said, eyes narrowing with a teasing glint. "So, when were you going to tell us? After you two eloped?"

Josh laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was going to tell you, but I knew you'd all make a circus out of it."

"Oh, like now?" Jeremy shot back, a smirk playing on his lips. "Because I'm sorry, mate, but this is gold."

"Hang on," Mark interrupted, his voice cutting through the playful chatter. "So what happens next? Are you two just seeing where it goes, or is there more to this story?"

Josh took a deep breath, eyes flicking to each of his friends before landing on Mark. "Actually, we're planning a trip. Since we've got a window before the tour starts in January, Poppy and I are going to spend that time together. We're planning a trip."

Once again, silence fell over the room, and then—

"You're what?" Edward blurted, unable to contain his surprise. "A trip? Like, a romantic getaway? This is next-level, Josh."

Nicole raised an eyebrow, her expression torn between skepticism and admiration. "Wow, you really are going all in, aren't you?"

Josh nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah. We talked about it and figured, why not? It's a rare chance for both of us to have some time away from all the chaos. Plus, after how hectic this year has been with the album and everything, it'll be good to reset."

"Where are you going?" Jeremy asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

Josh grinned. "That's still under wraps, my friend. You'll just have to wait and see."

"Can we guess?" Nalani said, raising her hand like an excited kid. "Maldives? Paris? A remote cabin in the Rockies?"

Josh laughed, shaking his head. "Not telling. Nice tries, though."

Nicole smirked, pointing a finger at Josh. "I'm just saying, if you come back with an engagement ring, I'm going to lose it."

"Oh, God, don't put ideas in his head," Mark groaned, but there was a twinkle in his eyes. "But seriously, Josh, good for you. Just remember, the band still comes first, all right?"

Josh nodded, his face growing serious. "Always, Mark. You guys are my family. This is just... something that makes me happy."

Jeremy clapped Josh on the back, a rare, sincere smile on his face. "We're happy for you, man. Just don't forget to invite us to the wedding."

"Wedding? Can we get through the trip first?" Josh joked, lightening the mood as everyone burst into laughter.

Mark set down his coffee and nodded approvingly. "All right, enough romantic talk. We've got work to do. But Josh, for what it's worth, you've earned it."

Josh's smile widened, the teasing and jokes unable to hide the warmth he felt in that moment. They might be a band, but they were also a family—always there to support each other through every twist and turn.

And as the chatter faded and the sound of instruments filled the room once more, one thing was clear: War in the Hell was on the brink of something even greater. But before the next chapter of their musical journey began, there was time for love, laughter, and the kind of moments they would always remember.

As the conversation about Josh's upcoming trip simmered down, Jeremy leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the edge of the table. "Alright, Mr. Romantic, keep your secrets. But now, what about the rest of us? We've got November and December to kill before the tour starts in January."

Edward, still lounging with an easy grin, raised an eyebrow. "That's right. So, what are your grand plans, Jeremy? Or are you just going to make Nicole babysit you in LA?"

Nicole rolled her eyes, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "As if I would. You'd be begging for mercy after a day of my 'to-do' lists."

Jeremy threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Whoa, no thanks! No, I've got plans. I'm heading up to Boston to spend some time with my parents. I haven't been home in a while, and my mom has been asking when I'll finally stop by and show my face."

Nalani's eyes softened. "That's nice, Jer. I'm sure they'll love having you around."

"Yeah," Jeremy agreed, a rare, genuine smile crossing his features. "It'll be good to catch up with them, eat some home-cooked meals, and avoid all of Nicole's chores."

Nicole pointed at him, narrowing her eyes. "You say that now, but wait until you're bored and calling me to ask if we can play Call of Duty."

The room erupted in laughter, and Jeremy covered his face in mock embarrassment. "She knows me too well, guys. It's not fair."

Edward leaned forward, his turn to speak. "I'll be heading up to Seattle to see my parents, too. It's been way too long. Plus, my dad's been dropping hints about helping him fix up that old car in the garage, and I'm actually looking forward to it."

Josh's eyebrows rose. "You? Under a car, with grease and everything? That's a sight I need photos of."

"Don't worry, I'll send you all a picture," Edward shot back. "And after that, I'll be spending some time in New York for a few meetings about our upcoming plans. Mark wants me to handle some logistics, and honestly, it'll be good to focus on something productive."

Nicole crossed her arms, nodding approvingly. "Sounds like we're all going to be spread out. I'm staying here in LA. Somebody's gotta keep an eye on our studio and make sure it doesn't become a den of chaos."

Nalani, who had been quietly listening with a smile, finally spoke up. "I'm also staying in LA. Noah's coming back after Bad Omens' tour wraps up in October, so... we'll get to spend some time together before the madness of January hits."

The room fell into a collective silence for a moment, then Jeremy leaned forward, eyes twinkling. "Oh, now that's the highlight, isn't it? You and rockstar Noah Sebastian, doing all the romantic LA stuff. Walks on the beach, coffee dates at hipster cafes..."

Josh interrupted, mimicking a soft, dreamy voice, "Cuddling while watching the sunset over Santa Monica Pier."

Edward pretended to wipe away a tear. "Our little Nalani, living the fairytale."

Nalani rolled her eyes, though her smile gave her away. "You're all ridiculous. It's just nice to have a break and spend time with someone without worrying about schedules and travel. Besides, after the whirlwind of these past few months, we all deserve a breather."

"True that," Josh agreed. "Especially you, Miss Jimmy Fallon Superstar. I still can't believe how good that performance was. We should really start a tally for how many people have called Mark to ask about you."

Mark, who had been quietly observing from the corner, finally spoke up. "Don't even get me started on the phone calls. I'm going to need a vacation of my own if this keeps up."

Nicole smirked, glancing at Mark. "Hey, you're the one who signed up to manage us. No complaining now."

Mark raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fair point. But while you're all off doing your thing, make sure you come back in one piece. January is going to be intense, and I don't need anyone showing up with a broken arm or a scandal."

Edward pointed to Josh. "Josh, that means no crazy stunts with Poppy, okay?"

Josh pretended to look offended. "Who, me? Never."

Jeremy shifted, a teasing smirk on his lips. "Nalani, just remember one thing during your downtime: don't let Noah distract you too much. We need our lead singer focused and ready to rock come January."

Edward wagged a finger, joining in on the teasing. "Yeah, we need you to come back without a broken heart or a sudden decision to run off into the sunset."

Nalani rolled her eyes dramatically but couldn't suppress the grin spreading across her face. "You guys are the worst. But I promise I'll be ready when January hits."

The room burst into laughter, and for a moment, everything felt light, carefree, and perfect. It was a reminder of how far they'd come—from late nights in tiny bars playing cover songs to planning a headlining tour across the US and Canada.

Late that night, Nalani curled up on the couch in the shared living room of their LA home, the glow from her phone illuminating her face as she waited for Noah's call. The anticipation made her stomach flutter, and she caught herself smiling as she adjusted her blanket around her shoulders. The house was quiet; Nicole had gone out for dinner with some friends, and the others were scattered, doing their own thing.

Just as she glanced at the clock, her phone lit up and vibrated, Noah's name appearing on the screen. Her heart leaped as she swiped to answer.

"Hey," she greeted, her voice warm with excitement.

"Hey, rockstar ," Noah replied, his tone playfully mocking her. She could hear the noise of his bandmates in the background, a mixture of laughter and faint music. "Sorry if it's a bit loud here. We just got back from dinner, and the guys are being idiots."

She laughed softly, imagining the scene. "It's okay. What are they up to now?"

"Oh, you wouldn't believe it," he said, stifling his own laughter. "Nick and Jolly decided they wanted to have a 'best impersonation of Nicolas' contest, and let's just say Nicolas isn't impressed."

The sound of Jolly's exaggerated voice saying, "I'm Nicolas, and I only drink imported sparkling water," echoed in the background, followed by a chorus of laughter and Nicolas' deep groan.

Nalani's giggles bubbled over. "Poor Nicolas. He's going to get back at them when they least expect it."

"Guaranteed," Noah agreed. "He's probably plotting as we speak. The man's a master of stealth revenge. Anyway, how's LA treating you? Are you still basking in your post-Jimmy Fallon glory?"

"Oh, you know it," she teased. "Nicole won't let me forget it either. She's been showing clips to everyone and talking like she was the mastermind behind it all."

"That sounds about right," Noah said, grinning even though she couldn't see it. "But hey, you deserved all of it. That performance was insane, Nalani. I'm so proud of you."

His words warmed her heart, making her smile widen. "Thank you, Noah. That means so much. But enough about me—tell me something funny from the tour."

"Something funny, huh?" He paused, thinking. "Okay, so last week in Denver, Jolly thought it'd be hilarious to prank Matt by swapping his phone's language settings to Swedish. We were in the middle of setting up, and suddenly you hear this panicked voice going, 'Why is my calendar in Swedish?!' And Jolly's just pretending to be all serious, saying, 'It's a sign, man. Maybe we're meant to play in Stockholm next.'"

Nalani burst out laughing, picturing their poor tour manager's reaction. "Oh no, he must've been so confused! Did he ever figure it out?"

"Not until Nicolas took pity on him and switched it back," Noah chuckled. "Jolly tried to act disappointed the rest of the day, muttering about missed opportunities in Sweden."

They shared a comfortable laugh, the kind that felt like it could bridge the distance between them. The silence that followed was gentle, filled with the quiet, unspoken feeling of how much they missed each other.

"Noah," Nalani said softly, tucking her hair behind her ear, "I wanted to tell you something exciting."

"Yeah?" His voice shifted, curious and encouraging.

"So, yesterday, Mark told us that War in the Hell is going on our first actual tour in January. Not just festivals—an actual tour around the US and Canada."

"No way!" Noah's voice lit up with pride, cutting through the remaining noise of the background chatter. She could practically see his face beaming through the phone. "Nalani, that's incredible! I'm so happy for you guys. You've worked so hard for this."

She felt a tingle of excitement run through her at his reaction. "Thank you! It still doesn't feel real. I mean, we're really doing this. After all those years playing in bars and barely making rent..."

"Believe it," he said. "You deserve this, every single bit of it. And I can't wait to hear all about it when you're out there living the dream."

Nalani's heart swelled. "Well, the best part is, until January, we don't have too many commitments. Just a few festivals in November and December. Other than that, I'll actually be free."

She let the sentence hang, anticipation building between them.

Noah caught on, a smile evident in his voice. "So, we'll finally get to spend more than a few days at a time together."

"Exactly. I thought maybe we could actually enjoy LA, you know? Do normal things, like real people," she said, a soft laugh escaping her.

"I like the sound of that," Noah replied. "I'm counting down the days already. Speaking of which, we only have two more shows left on this tour. Tomorrow, we're in Phoenix, and the last one is on the 30th in San Diego. After that, it's back to LA, back to you."

"Back to me," she echoed, her voice dropping to a whisper. The weight of how much she'd missed him pressed against her, and she hugged the blanket tighter.

There was a beat of silence, full of everything they didn't need to say. Then Noah broke it, his tone softer. "I've missed you, Nalani. So much."

"Me too," she whispered, eyes stinging with unshed tears. "More than I can say."

"Don't worry," he said, attempting to lighten the moment, "we'll make up for lost time. I've already planned on kidnapping you to that little diner with the pancakes you love."

She laughed, wiping her eyes. "Deal. Just as long as you promise not to let Jolly switch the diner's menu to Swedish."

He chuckled. "Noted. No Swedish menus."

They talked until the night deepened, sharing silly stories and making plans for their time together. By the end of the call, Nalani's cheeks hurt from smiling, and her heart felt fuller, already anticipating the moment Noah would be back in LA, back where he belonged—right beside her.