Feels Like Tonight

Chapter 2

A month later, the three young women were in the front row at Wembley Arena watching their boys own the stage and captivate the crowd with their music. It wasn't possible for them to express how proud they were of the four of them, having seen them struggle through university life only to find their home on stage every night in front of thousands.

"So we're going to take a minute to slow things down a bit," said Calum as the last notes of Don't Stop faded. "This is a song we haven't performed before; no one outside the four of us has heard it yet."

"This one was written by Michael, who had a little help from Ashton," continued the blonde as Steph noticed the nervous look the redhead was trying to hide. "Tonight it's going out to some friends of ours. This is Close As Strangers."

"Six weeks since I've been away,

Now you're saying everything has changed,

And I'm afraid that I might be losing you,

Every night that we spend alone,

It kills me thinking of you on your own,

And I wish I was back home next to you," started Michael, Calum adding in backing vocals a minute later.

"Oh, every day,

You feel a little bit further away,

And I don't know what to say."

"Are we wasting time,

Talking on a broken line,

I'm telling you I haven't seen your face in ages,

I feel like we're as close as strangers,

Won't give up,

Even though it hurt so much,

Every night I'm losing you in a thousand faces,

Now it feels we're as close as strangers," sang Luke, joining the others as the chorus started.

"Late night calls and another text,

Is this as good as we're gonna get,

Another timezone taking me away from you,

Living dreams in fluorescent lights,

Whilst you and I are running out of time,

But you know that I'll always wait for you,

Oh, every day,

You feel a little bit further away,

And I don't know what to say," Calum took over with the redhead singing the last few lines with him.

"Are we wasting time,

Talking on a broken line,

I'm telling you I haven't seen your face in ages,

I feel like we're as close as strangers,

Won't give up,

Even though it hurt so much,

Every night I'm losing you in a thousand faces,

Now it feels we're as close as strangers," repeated the blonde with the other two.

"On the phone I can tell that you wanna move on,

Through the tears I can hear that I shouldn't have gone,

Every day it gets harder to stay away from you," Luke took over for the bridge, staring out at the crowd without seeing it as he sang the words Michael had written one lonely night.

"So tell me are we wasting time,

Talking on a broke line,

I'm telling you I haven't seen your face in ages,

I feel like we're as close as strangers."

"Wasting time,

Talking on a broken line,

I'm telling you I haven't seen your face in ages,

I feel like we're as close as strangers,

Won't give up,

Even though it hurt so much,

Every night I'm losing you in a thousand faces,

Now it feels we're as close as strangers," sang the three boys, Ashton adding backing vocals as they sang the chorus a final time.

"Six months since I went away,

And I know everything has changed,

But tomorrow I'll be coming back to you," finished Michael as Luke removed his guitar and handed it to one of the stagehands, going down a couple of the steps at the side of the stage and reaching out a hand, his quiet 'Steph' the only reason that the blonde made her way through the fans to him and let him pull her up with him.

"What's going on?" she questioned as he led her up the steps with him, not noticing that Michael had also handed his guitar over and moved to the catwalk, microphone in hand. Luke didn't answer, simply taking her across the stage as the redhead addressed the crowd.

"Most of you will know that I have a girlfriend," he started, his words making her anxiety about being on stage increase, her free hand playing with the hem of the white summer dress she was wearing. "Tonight seemed like the perfect time to do this," he continued as the blonde nudged the woman forward to stand with her boyfriend, who intertwined their fingers and pulled her to his side. "I've known this amazing woman nearly five years now and somehow I've been lucky enough to call her mine for nearly all that time; I'm truly blessed to have her in my life."

"Michael," murmured Steph, blushing at his statement as he turned to face her, conscious of the cameras that were displaying them on the big screens, tucking her loose hair behind her ear.

"I love you so much, Steph," he said, standing close enough that he had to look down at her, yet making sure his body wasn't touching hers. "You've been with me through the good times and the bad right from the start. I said a long time ago that I'd found the right woman and I've never been as sure of that as I am today. I hate leaving you behind when we go on tour, because I honestly don't function properly without you by my side," he confessed, not paying attention to the nods and brief agreements from his bandmates. "I could lose everything but it wouldn't matter if you're still there, because the thought of you is what keeps me going, love. I can't imagine a life without you in it and I don't want to, because nothing scares me more than the thought of living without you. You're my whole world, Steph, and I don't care who knows it, because that will never change. I want to make you mine; to be the guy who makes you happy and keeps you safe. I'd die for you, babe, because a life without you just isn't worth living.

"So Stephanie Ann Edwards," he continued, letting go of her hand and reaching into his jeans pocket. "Will you make me the happiest person in this arena?" asked Michael as he got down on one knee and opened the small box. "Will you marry me?"

The blonde stared at the redhead as he knelt in front of her holding the ring, one hand over her mouth as tears stung her eyes, his proposal taking her completely by surprise.

"Yes," she whispered, somehow loud enough for him to hear over the screams of almost thirteen thousand fans. "Oh my God, yes."

Seeing his nervous smile become a genuine one, she returned it as he stood up again and pulled her into his arms, hers wrapping around his neck as he lifted her off her feet, the microphone lying forgotten on the stage.

"I love you so much," he told her softly once he had set her down again, sliding the ring onto her finger, oblivious to their friends addressing the excited audience as they lost themselves in their own world amidst the screams.

"I love you more," she replied as he leant down and captured her lips with his,kissing her sweetly as he held her body tight against his, both of them taking comfort in the knowledge that they were loved and that they would always be together.