A/N: I'm back, and hopefully updates will be a little more frequent. So, what did I miss in Rauraland, I tried to keep up while I was gone, but I guess lots of stuff happened? I'm just looking forward to when they start filming on Monday, then there will be lots more for all of us. Thanks for reading and reviewing, especially to xoElle23 and bytheseashore for being such consistent reviewers. Happy 4th!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, not the show, not the characters, not the songs. I am not affiliated with nor have I ever met anyone depicted in this fictional story. Song credits to Green Day, the Naked and the Famous, Temper Trap and R5.

Rating: T for language and content

Everlong

7: when I come around

We lie beneath the stars at night

Our hands gripping each other tight

You keep my secrets hope to die

Promises swirl into the sky

-Young Blood, the Naked and the Famous

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Ross could certainly attest to that statement…or something like that. They'd been on a two week hiatus from filming, and he was basically a wreck inside. He was, at baseline, a jittery guy, he couldn't keep still as it was, but he was literally trembling in anticipation, counting down the seconds until he could see her again. This was unhealthy.

Of course, he was trying so hard not to show it on the outside. He was Ross Lynch, the ultimate disaffected guy. He played if off like he was hanging with other girls, busying himself with the music thing, but lately, he'd been having trouble keeping it cool. No matter what else he was promoting, he'd been getting annoyed with everyone pestering him about Laura, and he was letting it get to him.

He couldn't have people thinking he was going all crazy over some girl; girls went crazy over him and he could have his pick. He had an image to maintain, even to his family. So, his defense mechanism was the "whatever" approach. He avoided talking about Austin and Ally when he could, he didn't tweet about it, didn't even acknowledge it, and that way people couldn't bring her up as much. It wasn't the best approach, but it worked to a certain extent when he was in public.

In private was another story.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw those huge brown eyes staring back at him. Every day it seemed like his feelings were becoming more heightened. Before their hiatus, Austin and Ally had been falling back into their flirtatious banter even though they were broken up. He had been used to being with Laura for hours and hours, hugging her, singing to her, gazing at her, and then suddenly he was cut off. It was killing him not to know what she was up to, who she was with, where she was. He checked his phone every other minute to see if she'd texted or tweeted something profound. It was like a never-ending nightmare from which he couldn't wake up. She was like an addiction, and he needed a hit.

Everyone on the internet was talking about them being a couple, when they definitely still were not. It was a little overwhelming how much some of their fans persisted and obsessed over it. He pretended that it didn't bother him, but it was almost unnerving how aggressive they were about it. It wasn't doing him any favors, because if it made him uncomfortable, he hated to even guess how she felt about it. Actually, he already was beginning to see the effects, because he couldn't even really talk to her about it. It felt like she was distancing herself from him. After the whole concert thing blew up, she went back into self-preservation mode to help keep her boyfriend's jealousy at bay. That meant that he had to suffer.

All of the attention hadn't made Laura's situation with Jake easier, and the fans didn't even know about him! He sometimes wished they weren't as fixated on the Raura thing, he sort of thought that they more they bugged Laura about it, the less likely it was to happen.

Who was he kidding, he didn't think it was going to happen anyway. He was destined to be in the friendzone forever.

So as their characters had gotten closer and closer, stealing glances and hugs, he felt like he was drifting further and further apart from her and he wanted to die. He was stuck in his own private purgatory. This. Was. Hell.

And in a few weeks he was about to embark on a trip with her, alone, without his mother or any of his family members to distract him. He had a lot of pent up energy and he wasn't sure how he was going to tame himself.

He'd practically rubbed his dick raw over the past few nights and that wasn't even enough to contain this energy inside him. Good thing Ryland actually had a life and was out and about doing whatever it was normal teens did or he might be embarrassed of his actions in their shared room.

He lay on his bed, earbuds in place, trying to meditate and distract himself. He flipped through picture after picture of the two of them from their photoshoot in Australia. They looked so casual and natural. He could see why people wanted to pair them together. They looked good, with his arm around her shoulder, sitting next to a bench with her. He loved the picture of him standing with his arms crossed while she posed for the camera. She was the picture of innocence and perfection.

Ugg, the fact that he even thought those words made him want to gag. He was becoming the exact lame douche he didn't want to be. Who was he?

His phone vibrated next to him and he opened one eye to check the text. He sat up abruptly, seeing her name on his screen.

Are you around?

His fingers couldn't type fast enough. Yeah, whats up?

Do you think you could pick me up at my house? Need to go for a drive

He frowned, his fingers still flying. Are you ok? What's wrong?

Boy issues. :(

I'll be right over

His heart fluttered as he collected his keys, jacket and ran down the stairs, giving quick notice to his dad that he was going for a drive.

She was waiting for him on the steps of her porch as he drove up, her pretty face dejected. The forlorn look on her face sent a punch right to his gut. She was Laura, she was the positive, bright light in his life, he would kill that piece of shit if he had hurt her.

She hopped into the car, and he enveloped her in a hug, letting her sweet scent wrap around him. It was almost suffocating, but he was fine with it. She sniffed and wiped her ragged eyes quickly to hide her tears from him.

"Aww, don't cry. Everything's okay." He tucked a lonely strand of hair behind her ear and wiped a tear away with the back of his hand.

She gave him a weak smile. "I knew seeing you would make me feel better. Thanks for coming over, I didn't want to bother you because I figured you'd be busy, but…"

"Don't worry about it. I'm here for you, anytime you need me, partner...Wow, we sound like we're in an episode of Austin and Ally."

"I know, I'm half expecting Calum to burst in and interrupt the Auslly moment," she chuckled.

He snickered, hoping to God that wasn't going to happen.

"Can we just go somewhere?" she asked. He started to drive, but stopped a few feet from her house. Her brow wrinkled, "Somewhere a little further away from my house, maybe?"

He smiled in response. "Patience, we'll go somewhere. But, I brought something to cheer you up." He reached down next to her legs, grazing them ever so slightly to pull out a box of strawberry Gogurts from a grocery bag.

She laughed, "Gogurt? You're letting me eat Gogurt in your car after the Gogurt Incident of January 2013? You must really feel bad for me."

"I will never forget the way that thing exploded when Calum sat on it, and I certainly won't forget cleaning it out of every crevice of the backseat, but you clearly need some comfort and I know Gogurts do it for you." Her face softened, handing him one.

"To Gogurts and good company," she toasted with a soft smile. They clinked the plastic tubes and he started to drive.

He navigated the streets around her house, sliding onto the freeway, as she sat, sucking at the tube of yogurt with little laps of her tongue. Okay, maybe he should gift her a lifetime supply of Gogurts if she was going to eat them like that. It was just added to the torture of his life.

He felt her stare on him as his eyes never left the road in front of him. "Aren't you going to ask me what happened?"

He turned his head slightly. "What happened?"

"With what?" she asked innocently, drawing a laugh from him.

He chuckled, "You and that douchebag who shall not be named."

"We broke up. He said it wasn't working for him. Like all of this," she made a gesture with her hands. "I mean, I guess it was headed that way, but he used you as an excuse. He'd been mad since the concert, and he couldn't get over it."

"That's fucked up."

"I know, I tried to tell him that we were close friends and that's it, but he wasn't having it," she sighed.

"Well, he's an idiot who didn't deserve you in the first place," he replied plainly.

"I know, that's what my sister said."

"Your sister is right. I knew I liked her." He raised his eyebrows as she smacked him lightly on the shoulder. "What? He is clearly a coward and was looking to make you the scapegoat for his insecurities. Fuck that guy."

"Yeah," she said unconvincingly.

He reiterated, stealing a quick glance, "He's not worth it."

"I know, but he was like my first real boyfriend. It still hurts even though I knew it wasn't going to last forever."

"Hey, what about Austin? What is he, chopped liver?"

"I guess you're right. I can count Austin as my first boyfriend, but even our relationship is over. Why does everything have to end?" she cried out exaggeratedly with a small laugh.

"Where are we going?" she asked, not immediately recognizing the neighborhood, as he pulled off the exit.

"It's a surprise. One of my favorite places to go when I need to think," he replied, stealing a glance at her. She stared out the open window, the breeze softly playing with her hair. Shit, he was jealous of the wind.

He stopped the car and abruptly got out, running around to get her door. He dragged her out, noticing that even in her outfit of a sweatshirt and leggings and flip flops she still looked as beautiful as ever.

"Sorry, it's a short walk, but once we get over this crest, you'll see…" He pulled her just over a small hill and heard her gasp. The entire Los Angeles skyline was lit around them in the canyons below.

"Wow. The Griffith Observatory."

"Correct. Laura Marano, welcome to the top of the world, and the site where I like to do a lot of reflecting."

She wandered towards the building, hypnotized by the dazzling view before her. He watched as she meandered onto the deck, taking it all in. She looked back at him, waiting for him to join her before linking her arm with his. She leaned over the railing of the deck, her eyes reflecting the twinkles down below. He stood behind her, his hands creating friction against her arms to keep her warm.

"Why did the moon file for bankruptcy?" he whispered. He felt her shiver from the cold.

"Why?"

"Because it was down to its last quarter."

Her lips curled into a big smile. "Astronomy jokes in an observatory. You know me too well. I knew you were the perfect person to call. Thank you for taking me here."

"Anytime."

"Thank you for being there for me."

"Again, anytime you need me. I'm there."

She leaned on her elbows, her face in her palms, looking out at the bustling city below. She sighed silently as he played with a few strands of her hair. He would kill to know what she was feeling, what she was thinking.

"You're right, fuck him."

His mouth formed a shocked 'O.' "Wow, I've never heard you curse."

"He deserves it."

"Good for you."

"FUCK JAKE JONES!" she yelled out into the canyons below.

"You tell him honey!" someone exclaimed from the other side of the deck.

They both laughed and she grabbed his hand, running as fast as her legs would take them back to the car.

She beat him there, his hands resting against the hood, panting heavily as she fought to catch her breath. She moved to get back in the car, but he stopped her. He turned on the car to blast the radio, turning up his iPod. He pulled out the grocery bag and tossed her a can of Italian soda.

"Where did you get this? It's my favorite flavor, they don't sell this like anywhere."

"I know. I picked it up with the Gogurt." And by just picked it up, he meant he researched it on the internet, drove out of the way to a specialty grocery store, then high-tailed it to her house.

"You remembered? I mean, we had it once when we were in Australia. How did you…" she trailed off. He was continually surprising her. He hopped up on the hood and propped himself up against the windshield. He patted the space next to him and she climbed up beside him.

The hypnotic beat of Sweet Disposition filled the somehow quiet night air.

"This is one of my favorite songs," she murmured looking up at the star-dotted night sky.

"Mine too, it's like everyone's favorite. Oh reckless abandon, like no one's watching you."

"I feel like I'm in a movie," she said dreamily.

He chuckled, "Here comes that movie scene, one you hate, so cliché…"

She bumped her shoulder to his, "Good thing I like clichés." The air was thick, heavy with silence between them. She started to softly sing along again, "Songs of desperation, I played them for you."

He closed his eyes, taking it all in. He loved the sound of her voice.

"Why do you think it resonates so much?" she asked. He opened his eyes slowly to see her staring at him.

"It reminds you of youth or of a first love, first kiss, first time, something new, something fresh. Fleeting moments of love that can be relived for just one second. And 500 Days of Summer is a great movie, cliché or not."

"Yeah, and now I can relate to it. Love breakups," she sighed.

"Sorry. I can change the song if you want."

"Nah, I still love it. And now it will forever remind me of this moment every time I hear it from now on," she whispered, her eyes closed tight. He fought the urge to touch her cheek.

"You know you're really deep?" she murmured.

"Shut up," he snickered as he bumped her shoulder.

"What, I mean it. There aren't a lot of guys like you out there. Such a romantic. That is a really good thing."

"There aren't that many girls like you out there either, I hope you know that."

Her eyes were glossy as she looked up to the stars. "Think of all the things we've experienced together. I mean, we've traveled the world with each other, we've visited fans everywhere, we've had the opportunity to cheer up kids in the hospital, we get to live out our dreams. There's no one I'd rather share this experience with."

She leaned over on her side to face him, as he continued to gaze up at the blanket of stars.

"You will never know how much this means to me, Ross." She lay back down, side by side with him, and grabbed his sweaty hand. She didn't mind, in fact, she delighted in it, much more than she ever had before.

"Can I tell you something?" he breathed softly.

She blinked and swallowed hard. "Yeah…anything."

"You promise to keep it a secret?"

She nodded. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly. She was nervous. It was one of her many tells.

He glanced over at her profile, her closed eyes, her cute little nose, her plump lips. Her eyes fluttered open to look at his, as he moved slightly closer to her, propping himself up on his arm to look down at her. His lips parted slightly, his tongue moistening his lips in anticipation of that first gentle touch.

Slowly, the bridge started to gap between their awaiting lips. His heart was a metronome, ticking faster and faster.

Buzzzz.

Laura's head whipped up, nearly hitting Ross square in the jaw. She turned her back to him, and he flopped back onto the windshield. She hurriedly reached around feeling for her phone in her pocket, flipping it open and punching the buttons with force. That fucking cockblocking flip phone. He wanted to throw it down Mount Hollywood.

"Hi Dad! Yep, nope, yeah, no." He watched her flustered delivery of contradictions to her father on the other line. "I'm heading home now, yes, Sir. I know. I'm sorry I'm late, I will be home shortly."

He crawled off the hood of the car, his pulse racing.

He'd almost kissed Laura.

He started the engine, it's roar echoing the feelings in his heart. She plopped down in the seat next to his, buckling herself in, and they drove wordlessly until they reached her house.

"I'm really sorry, Ross," she blurted out, running her hands through her hair. He could literally almost see the flood of regret race through her brain. His heart sank through the floorboard of the car, he wished he could run the wheels of his car over it. Then maybe he wouldn't feel as much pain.

"Don't be sorry." He heard himself say the words, but he sure as fuck didn't mean them.

"I'm just so messed up right now. I just don't want-" she continued, the lines etched into her forehead.

"Seriously, Laura. Don't." He didn't mean for his teeth to be gritted. He was glad she had already looked away. He'd rather her not see the disappointment splashed all over his face. She scurried off towards the refuge of her home like a skittish squirrel.

He banged his head against the headrest. This, he and Laura, wasn't going to happen, and it was something that he just had to accept.

A/N: Next chapter, New York-and like the song says, in a New York minute, everything can change. Review!