"Cameron!"

A tall, dark haired girl threw herself at the bassist. He caught her and swung her around as they laughed together. Noah grumbled next to me, but after being around him for months, I could detect a hint of a smile threatening to tilt up the corners of his lips.

As the other band members were greeted by their loved ones, I stood awkwardly near the front of the tour bus. We were finally back home. The guys were greeted with a warm welcome. I hung back and watched the hugs and kisses and tears from afar.

Hope spotted me. She detached herself from Ian and ran up, surprising me with a big hug.

"Cassie! I'm so glad you made it back in one piece. Good to see the guys didn't drive you mad."

"They weren't as bad as all that."

"Maybe they're maturing?" Her eyes sparkled as she glanced back at her boyfriend. Ian had his brother in a headlock. Damon punched him in the ribs, hard enough to make him wince and let go. "Maybe not," Hope laughed.

"I bet you're happy to have him back home," I said.

"Very much so." The sparkle in her eyes faded. "And what about you? Are you glad to be home? It must have sucked to finish the tour without August." She shook her head, tsking with her tongue. "We always told that boy he's going to work himself into an early grave."

"Right."

Hope eyed me.

"Can I ask you something?" She leaned forward. "It wasn't really exhaustion, was it?"

Startled, I glanced at Damon, as if he held all the answers. He'd come up with the official cover story.

"Um."

"I knew it!" Hope pursed her lips together.

"Please don't say anything," I said. "It's August's personal business."

I was positive he wouldn't want the whole story getting around.

Hope nodded.

"Of course. I won't ask what really happened. But… is he going to be okay?"

"I hope so," I said quietly.

Her eyes turned soft and understanding. She pulled me into another brief hug.

"If you ever need anything, we're here for you. Me and Ian, and even Damon."

"I do need one thing. Do you have August's address? I have a bag of things he forgot on the bus."

I didn't explain why none of the guys were bringing it instead of me. Hope didn't ask, just texted me the address with a nod.

"I never said thank you," she said.

"For what?"

"You talked Damon into being nicer to me, didn't you?"

"I wouldn't say I talked him into it. I just helped him see things from his brother's perspective."

Hope flashed me a grateful smile. When she returned to her boyfriend's side, I could see Damon was relaxed around her, not riled up. He no longer looked like a cat with its back arched, hair standing on end, ready to hiss and scratch.

I was glad at least one good thing had come out of this tour.

I was waiting for my taxi to arrive to take me back home when Cameron appeared at my side. I stepped back unwittingly, my grip tightening on my suitcase handle.

"I come in peace." He held his hands up, his lips curving into a small, sheepish smile.

I didn't say anything. He ran his hands through his bright, fire engine red bangs, sweeping them away from his face.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry," he said. "I've been a jerk to you for no reason."

"It's okay."

"It's not okay. I was a shit. I was mad at August and mad at myself for not seeing it sooner and I took it out on you." His dark blue eyes met mine earnestly. "I don't blame you at all for not telling us about August's shoulder. I've kept my own fair share of secrets."

Cameron flicked his eyes over to where his girlfriend was grinning at Noah. The lead singer's own expression, while not exactly grinning in return, was close enough.

"You don't have to apologize," I told him. "I understand. I should have told someone sooner. Maybe everything could have been avoided."

"Probably not," Cameron said wryly. "August is a stubborn idiot."

"I won't argue with that."

"Do you think…" Cameron trailed off, looking uncomfortable and downcast. "Do you think he'll ever forgive us?"

When Cameron met my eyes, there was pain in them. Not the same as August's pain, but Cameron was hurt, just as all of them were.

"I know he will," I said. "You guys mean everything to him. You just need to give it time."

A small, cautious smile crossed his lips.

"We're not the only ones who mean something to him," he said.

Taken aback, I opened my mouth to deny everything, but Cameron was already sauntering off with a grin and a wink.

Maybe men weren't as oblivious as Hope thought.

The group soon dispersed and my taxi pulled up. When I arrived home, I immediately threw my suitcase into the corner, planning to deal with it later. I wasn't in the mood to unpack and sort through the clothes that needed laundering.

I went to my computer, the keyboard now dusty from months of disuse. I pulled up the article about me and the band and printed out a copy. I stuck it to the cork board above my desk. I'd pinned all sorts of things to that board over the years. Awards I'd won for my photography in school. Clips from the student newspaper about me and my peers. Copies of my favorite photos, the ones that took the most time and effort to capture.

It was a sort of wall of happiness, pride, and nostalgia all in one.

And now, right in the middle was the photo of me and Darkest Days, with August Summers by my side.

Swallowing the lump that formed in my throat, I puttered around my apartment, doing a bit of dusting and tidying to clear my head. I hadn't had much time to prepare before I'd left, just a cursory clean sweep of my apartment, making sure there were no dishes in the sink or food in the fridge that could spoil while I was away.

When everything was neat and clean, I lugged my suitcase onto my bed, not able to put off the chore any longer.

I opened it and paused.

I'd put the bag with August's forgotten belongings on top.

I hadn't told him I had his stuff. I hadn't told him I was going to show up in person. I wanted to see him and I was afraid if I asked he'd say no.

I couldn't let it just end the way things had. August and I had something real. I felt it in my bones, in my heart.

Even though he was upset, I knew eventually he would patch things up with the guys. They were his bandmates. His best friends.

I didn't know exactly what August and I were to each other, but I had to try fixing things between us, too.