Aston and I bought a house in between our parent’s manors. We didn’t need anything too massive, but it’s still bigger than most people’s houses. It suits us perfectly. We still go to Mum and Dad’s to practice with Staked. We all took a much-needed break after what happened with Loretta and my thumb healed perfectly. It still hurts a little if I play for too long, but now Staked is back in action and we’re heading out for our first tour since everything happened a little over two years ago. Mum and Dad wouldn’t let me out of their sight for a while, and even Aston was massively over protective, but I understand where they were coming from, so I let them.

We’re at Wembley Stadium and Staked is getting ready to go on stage and perform for the first time in a long time. We’re all pumped, and as I look down at my engagement ring and smile I feel the hairs on my arms stand up and the shiver run down my spine. I look up to see Aston walk toward me with a great big goofy grin, the one that makes me smile instantly.

“How awesome is this, Lennox?” Aston asks as the crowd start cheering for us before we’re even on stage.

“I forgot how utterly addictive this is,” I reply and he smiles brightly and pulls me to him.

I lean up on my toes kissing his lips softly. He kisses me back and I run my fingers through his shaggy hair and pull his lips closer to mine. I open my mouth and his tongue slides in and I love the rush not only from the screaming crowd but from kissing Aston, nothing in the world beats this feeling right now. He slowly pulls back and looks into my eyes with a smirk.

“What?” I ask and he brings his hand up tucking some hair behind my ear.

“Remember when we were five under the willow tree and we said we would be best friends forever?” he asks and I giggle and nod.

“And you saved me from that evil fucking spider.”

“Yeah then. I think back now and I know that even then I knew that when I was older that I would love you. I knew from when I was about thirteen that I was totally and unequivocally in love with you. But when I look right back to as far as I can remember, you were always there. I knew we would always be together and I think I loved you, even that day under the willow tree when I saved you from the spider.”

“You’re such a sweet romantic, you know that?”

“I know, but only with you. Don’t tell anyone or you’ll kill my rock star image,” he says and flexes his tattooed bicep which now has the word Lennox entwined with the swirling music notes that form part of the tattoo we got together. I look down at the other tattoos he’s gotten over the last two years. There’s one of tribal markings all down his right ribs and another of tribal faces and things on his right chest. Plus, the bird on his neck that’s filled with music notes. He’s simply breathtaking and I couldn’t be luckier to have him.

“Well, I know it took me a lot longer to see what was right in front of me, but I’m so glad I finally saw you,” I say honestly and he smiles leaning in kissing the tip of my nose.

“So, after everything, are we finally rock solid?”

“Always!” I lean in kissing him forcefully.

Caleb slaps my back making me break the kiss with Aston. I groan in disapproval and Caleb just smirks at me.

“C’mon guys, you can snog like and an old married couple whenever you like. Just not when we’re about to head on stage again for the first time in years. Now come over here and get your hands in,” he says and I giggle as Aston smiles at me. We walk over and Ella and Chad put their hands in followed by Caleb, Aston and me. We look around the circle and smile as we all prepare to chant out what we haven’t in so long.

 

The music flows for all to hear.

You cannot help, but stop and cheer.

The walls will tremble, shudder and break.

‘Cause no one can handle the sound of Staked.

One, two, three… Staked!

 

We all laugh and throw our hands in the air and God does it feel good to say those words again after so long. We have a new album out, and we’re playing that, plus all our previous hits tonight to a sellout stadium. It doesn’t get any better than this! We all separate and Aston quickly grabs me from behind and cuddles into me nuzzling into my ear.

“I love you, Annie,” he says and bites my earlobe.

I giggle and turn my head to face him. “I love you, Aston. Now let’s rock it!”

“Let’s go,” Caleb says and we all strap on our guitars and Chad gets his sticks ready.

“We got this, Staked forever!” Caleb says and we all chuckle.

“Okay guys, they’re ready for you,” a backstage manager says and we all nod. We take turns all walking toward the stage. I step up the stairs and the crowd goes ballistic. They cheer so loudly that I almost forgot what it was like being on tour. I wave to them as Aston walks out and they cheer even louder. The blood is pumping through my veins at a million miles an hour, my heart is racing so fast and this is absolutely the best high I could ever feel. The lights flicker in purple hues and Chad kicks in the bass drum. I look over at Ella, who’s smiling as she looks down into the crowd. I follow her line of sight to see Mum and Dad and the rest of our entourage with them. I strum my guitar for the first chords of ‘Don’t Mess With The Best.’ Aston starts up his bass guitar and Ella chimes in soon after, and we’re rocking out just like we are all meant to. Caleb comes running out onto the stage and the crowd goes ballistic. Girls are screaming and throwing things on stage already and he hasn’t even opened his mouth yet.

“How are we, London?” Caleb asks and everyone cheers. “Get ready to wet yourselves with excitement. We’re back, and you’re about to be Staked!” he says and then starts singing the lyrics to the song.

I slam on my guitar feeling the highest I’ve felt in my life. I look around the stadium and the music notes are flowing in all bright colours as I become one with the music. The notes are flowing through my veins and pulsating with each strum of my guitar. The vibration sending me higher and higher into a blissful state. I turn my back and Aston is immediately against me and right here right now, I’m rocking out with my one true love behind me and nothing could make me feel more alive.

Aston is my everything. Mix that with my love for music, and right now I’m feeling the best I ever have. Nothing beats this rush. And I know right now that everything is where it’s meant to be. Aston and I are in love and I know I’m worthy of the love I’m getting from the crowd and I’m worthy of Aston’s love. Right now as he’s leaning against me like he always has and I know I can lean on him anytime I need because Aston is my safe place.

The one I can turn to.

The one who is worthy of me.

From now until the end of time.