Touring with 5SOS

Sixty-Nine: Eighteen

6 MONTHS LATER

MADISON'S POV

I teetered back and forth on my feet as I looked around the bustling airport, keeping my eye out for a familiar face. I was a little early, but he should be walking out any minute now.

Feeling my phone buzzing, I sigh and answer the call from Michael.

"Mads? Where are you?" He hums. Not mad or anything, just confused. "I noticed you took the keys. Did you tell anyone you were leaving?"

"You were all out. I left a note," I snort, hearing him shuffle to find it. "I'm at the airport waiting for James. He gets home today, remember? I told him I'd pick him up."

James was finally coming back from school. He'd been out a couple weeks now, but hung back while the dorms were still open to say goodbyes and pack up. It had been about ten months since he'd left.

We'd talked obviously, but it was exciting he'd finally be here.

Michael didn't find it as exciting. "Oh... yeah, forgot about that. When, uh-when will you be home?"

They didn't have to worry about James while he was gone. But after last year, it was obvious they were apprehensive about us being alone together. Not that it was really their call.

"Sometime this evening? Probably? Not sure, exactly. Is that alright?"

He covered the mic and whispered something I couldn't make out. Definitely talking to the other boys right now. "Just—keep us updated."

I agree and hangup the phone, sliding it back into my pocket on silent and moving to turn around. Then I feel a tap on my shoulder. Already knowing who it is, I grin as I face him.

James pulls me in for a warm hug which I return y wrapping my arms just as tightly around him. He's smiling when we pull away, until I punch him square in the arm.

"Ow! Mads, what the hell?" He rubs the sore spot, pouting.

"That's for leaving without saying goodbye." I roll my eyes, but it's more playful than anything.

"I guess I deserve that," he laughs, ruffling his hair. He looks mostly the same—hair is a bit longer and more unruly, stubble along his jaw, but other than that the same. "I missed you. And everyone else."

"I missed you too, James. But can we get out of the airport now?" He nods, grabbing the handle of his suitcase and following me to the car. "Did you sleep on the plane?"

"Yeah, but adjusting is still gonna be a bitch," James groans. "I'll worry about that later though. Let's go get lunch, my treat."

Tossing his luggage in the back, we set off and begin catching up. There was so much we hadn't had time to talk about through texts or phone calls, we talked nonstop for hours. It was nice, knowing we could still be close after all this time.

"I'm sorry I missed your graduation," James frowns at me. "I wanted to be there but I had some stuff I had to wrap up at school."

I'd graduated last month, which was a very emotional event for the boys. I think they must've taken 200 pictures. Michael and Calum cried. It was a big thing. They were a little embarrassing, but overall it went well, and Luke took pictures of them crying, so it was nice to have those.

"It's alright... I'm not sure you would've wanted to be there, honestly. It was eventful," I laugh, taking out my phone to show him some pictures.

After lunch we went for a drive and just talked, windows down with music playing, and I finally dropped him off at home just as it was getting dark. He insisted we'd hangout again soon, but his parents were also waiting for him to get home. We were hanging out with all of our friends tomorrow anyway.