~Chapter 34~

There were many things that had to happen in preparation for this tour that 5 seconds of summer were going to embark on. The first of which was to finish the album, because well.. You can't really have a tour without an album of songs to play.

Hardworking days were spent recording vocals, guitar, drums, bass. Nights were spent writing and writing, working with vocal coaches and other artists to produce the best music the boys could. There was little time to spend alone with Luke, though we cherished that time right before we slept at night, cuddled up together in bed, heartbeats singing each other to sleep.

One by one, each track of the new album began to come together. Hannah and I sat and watched most days, but we were involved in a few of the songs, playing the tambourine, triangle, or shaking maracas. Basically playing the instruments that weren't easy to stuff up. So I suppose you could say I contributed to the making of this album, that was hopefully going to further the boys in their music career. However I didn't know how proud to be that there could quite possibly be

'Special thanks to: Alexis Reid- Triangle'

written on the inside cover of the album. I mean that's an achievement in itself, being included in the making of an album, but maybe the triangle player shouldn't be thanked, to save themselves embarrassment. I think I'll just stick to chief encourager.. Yeah.

A week and a half later, 5 songs had be completed. The boys cheered and danced as the producer played them for the first time. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face, so much had happened for these boys, for my boy, in such a short space of time.

After the five songs had been played, we all sat down,because Adam looked as though he had some things to say.

"First of all, these tracks sound brilliant guys. I've seen you all mature over the last few months, but especially in these last two weeks, you've all grown up so much. You're professionals now. You know what's expected of you and you go and do it, and you do it perfectly. This album would have taken a hell of a lot longer to get going if you hadn't of committed yourselves in the way you have. I'm proud of you guys. I'm.. Yeah. Good job. Keep it up guys."

He smiled and walked out of the booth.

I turned to Luke, whose hand snaked around my waist and pulled me close to him.

"So any more details on the tour?"

"Yeah, we're rehearsing soon, for a few days, tickets go on sale tomorrow I think, we're going home to start the tour there, Lexi, everything is moving so fast, it's like skydiving, it's as though we've been cruising up and up and up all safe and protected and knowing what we're doing and now a tour? It's like jumping out of the plane and freefalling down, it's adrenalin rushing, so fun, but everything is moving so fast, and you don't know how long it'll last. Y'know sometimes I wish I was still back at home, playing songs for you on the riverside on a sunny morning, just us, alone. But I'm so grateful for all these opportunities, and the chance we've been given so I feel selfish wanting to go back to being just Luke, not Luke Hemmings the singer in the band, just Luke."

He bit his lip, looking down. I lifted his chin up, cupping his cheek in my hand.

"You'll always be just Luke to me."

I smiled.

It was such a simple statement but I could see he appreciated it. I couldn't say I understood what he meant, going from being an ordinary boy to someone lots of people liked and looked up to, every single day because, Firstly I wasn't a boy, but I wasn't a member of the now famous band. But I could empathize with him. It's got all of it's perks, but at the end of the day there's gotta be bad points too.

We'd been lost in our own thoughts and conversations so I only realized we were alone when I saw Luke's eyes light up as he took in his surroundings for the first time in a few minutes.

I looked around the edges of the roof in the waiting booth. Nope, no cameras. The door was closed quickly by Luke with a quiet 'Click', and it could only be opened from the inside. We were alone during the day for the first time in a week and a half.

"Can you hear that?"

Luke asked, setting himself down on the cushioned lounge seat that looked onto the inside of the recording booth.

"Hear what?"

I strained my ears, listening out for the sound he could possibly be talking about.

"Silence."

Ah. That was what he meant.

"Mm. It's beautiful. Peaceful."

"You're beautiful."

I blush, looking down at the ground and bringing my knees up to my chin. Luke turns my head so our eyes connect. Sparks. In the pit of my stomach. It surprises me that even after being together for so long, I still feel those butterflies in my stomach and I still feel the sparks with his every touch, like we'd only met yesterday, like this was just a harmless crush. But it wasn't. This was real, undying love. Or so I hoped.

I eventually unravelled myself from the ball I'd pulled myself into, and lay along the lounge, my head in Luke's lap. He played with my hair effortlessly, staring into my eyes with the love and care he'd always possessed.

I fell asleep right there, the last thing I remembered were his eyes, and the whisper of his deep melodic voice in my ear: "I love you" he had said, before my consciousness turned to unconsciousness and I fell into a deep happy sleep.

That was the last peaceful moment we had together for another week and a half.

Somehow (and no one could even believe how, except the very tired producers and even more tired band members) the album was finished in that week and a half, between tour rehearsals.

It's all kind of a blur of what really happened but there were many many late nights, and more coffee consumed in that week and a half than 5 caffeine addicts could drink in a month. The tour rehearsals were exhausting for the boys and Hannah and I sought comfort in each other, because we had more energy each than all the boys combined at the end of the day.

Everyone rose to the challenge though and at the end of that week and a half after I fell asleep on Luke's lap, the tour was rehearsed and an 11 song album was completed, titled: 'Lost and Found'

Hannah and I questioned the boys when we heard the final album name.

"Why lost and found?" Hannah asked, "You were never really lost.."

Ashton answered her immediately.

"True, but some of our songs reflect being lost and some found.. Like well.. Lost boy. Superhero. Over and Over."

"Plus I mean as a band we were kind of lost, just drifting around in the lake of other bands until we were found by all these people we now call fans." Michael spoke, swiping his fringe from his eyes.

"But I mean, you've gotta have a straight and plain answer to give interviewers when they ask you about why you chose that name.."

I pointed out, shifting my position on the lounge in the living room.

"Wait..We're gonna be interviewed!?" An excited calum piped up, sitting up straight suddenly.

All three other boys looked at him and facepalmed at the same time.

I looked to Luke for an answer.

"It's simple. Our album is about the life we had before we were found by the very thing that changed our lives forever."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N- Woop woop chapter 34, unfortunately for you guys this story is coming to an end :(

But it's okay because this is not the last you're hearing from ye old steph (;

ALSO, some exciting news!

A lovely girl has asked to translate my story to Russian! RUSSIAN!

This is exciting for me, perhaps not you, but for me... :3

I've been contacted by people all over the place, Italy, Germany, America, Russia, England. AUSTRALIA. Yay for Australia.

Your support means the world to me, I can't believe how many people like this, I wish I could talk to each and every single one of you, I really do. You're all awesome people I wish we could all be friends

Until next time...

Steph