A/N: Sink or Swim by Tyrone Wells; it's an awesome song. (It'll be great to listen to that first before reading, or listen while reading... which ever works for you.)

Chapter 6

This really is a very long day, the band leader thought to himself as the setting sun shone down at them. He scowled bitterly when he saw the make shift dance floor the crew had set up for the event filled with happy couples holding hands. Did the universe hate him this much?

It's your fault dufus, he scolded himself, no one told you to forcibly make yourself feel this way. He looked behind him to see his band plugging up their instruments to their amplifiers when a flash of red caught his eye. Laney arrived; she looked like she just came out of the bath. Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair was a little damp. When their eyes met he thought she would turn away, but she didn't.

"Hey Core." She spoke. She smiled too, but it was clearly forced. Corey could see that her eyes were puffy and red from crying. A pang of guilt hit him straight in the chest. He lifted his hand to touch her but he pulled away. Why was he so afraid?

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen!" Mayor Mellows greeted the large crowd with an excited grin. "Tonight we'll be having our very own Grojband play for us! Give them a round of applause."

The crowd cheered. Who doesn't love the very band that saved the earth from being completely obliterated? After all introductions and greetings were done, the people were eager to start dancing to the beat of everyone's favorite band.

"Alright guys." Corey looked at his band. "Time to rock." They replied with encouraging grins and nods.

Everything will be alright… he said repeatedly to himself as he took his place in front. The blue haired boy grabbed his guitar and started to strum.

"Hello Peaceville!" he said through the microphone. The crowd erupted into another wave of cheers. He smiled at their enthusiasm. Everything will be okay.

"Caught in the middle of a crossfire, lost my balance on high wire… trying to figure out what… to… do…" he caught a glimpse of Laney, and this time when their eyes met he locked their gazes.

"Pushed to the edge of my reason, everywhere around me it's treason… I don't want to do that to you…" he sang, desperately trying to explain himself at the same time through the lyrics. Did it get through?

"Kamikaze airplanes in the sky, are we going down or will we fly? This could be a shipwreck on the shore, or we could sail away forever more. This time, it's sink or swim, sink or swim."

Laney watched him and realized he was struggling. This was the song he came up with spending the entire day with her? She wanted to help. But how…? She thought to herself. Suddenly she noticed him walking towards her.

"Hearing the song in your laughter, a melody I chase after. No one else has done this to me." He sang straight to her. Laney's throat became tight; he was making it so hard to get over him.

"Kamikaze airplanes in the sky, are we going down or will we fly?" Corey looked at her sadly. "This could be a shipwreck on the shore, or we could sail away forever more. This time, it's sink or swim."

"Take a deep breath, no more time left." Corey reached out yet again but just before he could touch her, he retrieved his hand. "This is what I thought I wanted, why am I afraid?"

"Kamikaze airplanes in the sky, are we going down or will we fly?" Corey clenched his fists on the microphone and ran back to his original position. "This could be a shipwreck on the shore, or we could sail forever more."

"Kamikaze airplanes in the sky, are we going down." the band leader was suddenly cut off with his bassist.

"Or will we fly?" she pleaded. Laney finally got it; he was scared it might never be the same between them again if this doesn't work out.

"This could be a shipwreck on the shore…" he argued weakly.

"Or we could sail away forever more." She wanted to take that risk. "This time, it's sink or swim."

"Sink or swim…" Kin and Kon sang the last words.

The crowd wanted to scream in anticipation. What? You don't actually think they're oblivious to what's happening right in front of them do you? Corey and Laney practically poured their hearts on stage, it's quite hard to ignore that. They were at their toes now to know Corey's decision. It was no news that the band leader has a thing for his bassist. With all those hugs he gave her? And those glances he'd steal during a gig, or a practice, or anything in particular. And it was as plain as day that she harbored the same feelings for him. But would he act up on it?

"Just kiss already!" a girl finally yelled.

Corey turned bright pink, and the entire population in that area started to chant – 'KISS!' 'KISS!' 'KISS!'

He looked at Laney and finally broke down his walls. He loves her. Corey loves his best friend. And no one can change that. With a boost of courage he walked over to Laney and took her hand.

"Well, it's either we sink or swim Lane's. What'll it be?" he said, quoting what he had said earlier that day when they fell off the swan boat.

Laney raised her brow and playfully punched him on the arm. "Don't be more of an idiot than you already are Core." She played along with him.

Finally he bent down and pressed his lips on hers. The crowd literally went wild and screamed. Kin and Kon jumped up and fumped up in the air.

This definitely was a very long day, the longest, up and down, all around, 24 hour roller coaster ride Grojband had ever had. But they wouldn't change a second of it, because this very moment, was by all odds, the best.

THE END! - just kidding... :D Epilogue coming up next! That is... if I get some more reviews.