A/N: This is it, this is the end! Thanks to everyone who has read this story, and gotten me to almost 300 reviews! Love every one of you. It's a totally cheesy ending, but I hope you like it. I'm working on the sequel now, so it won't be too long until you hear from me again. As an aside, this will also be the last time I post on this site. I don't appreciate "critics" using the review function or private messaging to tell me to remove my story, leave the site, and threaten to ban me; this site has always represented a place where people supported each other and wanted to celebrate creation, and I don't want people who don't want to read my stories, reading my stories; and I think if you don't like it, don't read it. Again, it's not the site, it's these wardens who are making this much less enjoyable to post here. To these "critics," you should make better use of your time rather than spending it trolling for stories that violate trivial rules or stymieing the creative process. And until every story that breaks the rules is off the site (read: never), I really can't take your idle threats seriously. But, excuse the rant, and enjoy the final chapter of Everlong.

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, Jason Mraz, Train and Foo Fighters.

Rating: T for language and content

Everlong

20: time of your life

So I won't hesitate, no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

-I'm yours, Jason Mraz

Have fun tonight, sorry I couldn't be there.

She smiled as she read his text. Over the past few weeks, things had finally started getting back to normal. They'd started the process of rebuilding their friendship. After she'd seen the Everlong video, they'd had a long talk on the phone and things were slowly getting better. She accepted his apology, and she appreciated the gesture. It was a very Ross thing to do, very romantic and grand. The fans went crazy, thinking it was some love letter from Ross to her, but they both knew it represented more of a peace offering.

I hooked you up with an okay substitution instead.

She clicked on the link in his text and a picture of George Clooney in a tux with a crudely drawn thought bubble that spelled out, "Ready for the Prom, Laura!" appeared on her iPad screen.

He's not me, but it's the best I could do with so little time.

She had to laugh at his effort. At least they were back to the comfortable joking and playful teasing she had come to miss so much. It was becoming less awkward and she was thankful for that. Back to some semblance of normalcy, that's all she could hope for.

It was actually easier dealing with him from afar, and not having to face him on a daily basis. It allowed their heightened emotions and feelings to simmer down a bit, which is what they both needed. They'd talked on the phone a few times, and were back to their texting sprees. She had to admit, she did feel a twinge of sadness that they weren't going to Prom together, but that was okay. She couldn't dwell on it. She was going to have a great time with a big group of her friends regardless.

It was the end of senior year, time for the last blowout before graduation. She had immersed herself into senior activities, trying to spend as much time with her college bound friends as possible. It was time to have fun and enjoy these last fleeting days of youth. Everything she knew was changing, and that scared her more than she would ever admit.

She sat in front of the mirror, her hairstylist from Austin & Ally working furiously to curl her hair as her makeup artist layered on the coats of mascara onto a set of dramatic false lashes. She looked down at the navy blue one-shouldered dress and played with the chiffon skirt. She loved her choice, it was short, swishy and sparkly and it made her feel cute and girly. It was fun, it was youthful, and it reminded her that she shouldn't have a care in the world; she was still a teenager. There was no rush to grow up; she could just take time and enjoy her last few days of high school.

She was excited to spend time with her friends tonight, and was sad to think that everyone would be scattering off to start their adult lives in a few short months. She thought about the show, and how that was going to end soon as well. They were doing a truncated season, of only 12 episodes, to work around Ross's touring schedule. She was so happy that R5 was taking off and getting huge, but the thought of her and Ross going their separate ways was scary. It would feel so strange to not see her castmates everyday, although she knew she'd still see Calum and Raini pretty often. She knew she would see Ross the least; that's just how it would be because of the nature of his schedule. She wasn't ready to accept it. No matter what had happened between them, he was still such an important part of her life. She hoped wherever he was tonight, he knew that. She wished he could be there, and she couldn't help but think he'd have loved to see her in her dress, too. They would've looked great together in the pictures.

But that didn't matter. She brushed her worries away, at least for tonight. She couldn't let anything bring her down. It was prom! It was time to enjoy the night, enjoy her friends, and enjoy herself. There was time for all that other stuff later. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and was really happy, first time in a while. Now it was time to be young.

She walked slowly down the stairs as her father snapped picture after picture. Her mom was wrangling the various members of her family as well as Raini and Calum who had come over to see their proverbial little girl off to the Prom. She was so happy they were there, it distracted from the fact that their other co-star wasn't. She posed for a bunch of pictures with her sister and her parents before they all caravanned through Calabasas to the West Hills to one of her friend's houses, where everyone was meeting up for the pre-Prom festivities.

After what seemed worse than a paparazzi line at a red carpet event, the parents were all finally pleased with the snapshots, and all the hugs to their babies were doled out. The limo that would take them to dinner then down through Hancock Park to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) arrived. She said her goodbyes and gave her hugs and climbed aboard, ready to have the time of her life.

She danced along, laughing uproariously, her hands doing some sort of raise the roof motion as she linked her arm with her best friend from school. She was practically skipping towards the entrance to the museum, ready to start the party. The sun was starting to set, a breeze blowing crackling energy through the Los Angeles air. Best Prom ever.

"Laura."

She knew that voice. She stopped dancing, dropping her friend's arm. She looked up, her eyes widening at the sight in front of her. "Oh my god."

"Sup?" he said with a nod of his chin.

"Oh my god."

Ross leaned up against one of the hundred lampposts making up the Urban Light instillation in front of the museum. Her jaw literally hit the ground. He stood there, the true definition of sexy in a dark blue blazer with black lapels and a crisp, white shirt and black tie to match her dress. He puffed out his chest as he popped his collar a bit, winking at her.

"What is happening?" she yelped as flashes from her friends' phones temporarily blinded her. He had to laugh at the awestruck face she had, the expression would make a great meme. He looked over at his sister, who caught it all with her iPhone, giving him a thumbs up. Thank god for the backup from his family.

"I am here to take you to the Prom, Laura Marano. But first, a song…"

Riker handed him a ukulele, and he started to strum a familiar tune before sharing his own wink with her. He signaled to his brothers and sister and they started to clap and play maracas and other assorted instruments she couldn't even make out. She was confused! Nothing was making sense to her and she wasn't sure if she was dreaming this up or what. Ratliff beat the tambourine against his leg, jamming out, motioning with his hands to get her to move. She hadn't even noticed that they were there, dispersed amongst the lampposts. She looked around, watching as her friends clapped along, seeing her sister, Raini and Calum with the corner of her eye. Would someone tell her what the hell was happening?

"OhMiGod," she yelped as she recognized the song. Ross's face lit up as he grinned the biggest, cheesiest smile she'd ever seen. His face mirrored hers.

Heeey heeeey heeeeey

Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains
I knew I wouldn't forget you
And so I went and let you blow my mind
Your sweet moonbeam
The smell of you in every single dream I dream
I knew when we collided you're the one I have decided
Who's one of my kind

Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

He seamlessly tossed the ukelele to Rocky and moved towards her, his feet somehow sliding across the cement sidewalk like he was dancing on air. Her eyes followed as he twirled around her. He took her hand and held it out, dancing with her, making her sway with him and spinning her as he continued to sing.

Heeey heeeey heeeey

Just in time, I'm so glad you have a one track mind like me
You gave my life direction
A game show love connection, we can't deny
I'm so obsessed
My heart is bound to beat right out my untrimmed chest
I believe in you, like a virgin, you're Madonna
And I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind

Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

He pat his chest several times, leaning in and singing the song to her. He turned to Rydel, who tossed him a box. He raised his eyebrows at her as he ripped it open and slipped a corsage made of cymbidium orchids around her wrist. A small crowd had formed to watch the impromptu concert and erupted as he placed the flowers around her hand.

The way you can cut a rug
Watching you is the only drug I need
So gangster, I'm so thug
You're the only one I'm dreaming of
You see I can be myself now finally
In fact there's nothing I can't be
I want the world to see you being with me

Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight
Heeey heeeey heeeeey (tonight)
Heeey heeeey heeeeey (tonight)

She mouthed the words with him, like she used to when they'd first bonded on set. Their audience clapped as he finished the final verse and pulled her in for a long hug, swaying them back and forth.

"Do you remember?" he whispered into her hair.

She closed her eyes and remembered the very moment. It was super cheesy, and she was sure everyone around them thought so, but this was the one of the first songs he'd ever sang to her. They'd just met and he was learning how to play the ukulele. For a while this was the only song he knew how to play on the new instrument. And so he played it incessantly. She'd gotten sick of it, but eventually it had become one of her favorites because every time she heard it, she thought of him.

He pulled away and looked at her, searching her face for her reaction. "Well? Surprise! You surprised?"

"Uhh, yeah?" she breathed, his just being there, in front of her rendered her dumbstruck.

"How'd I do? Too cheesy? It was either Train or the theme song to Arrested Development, you know I only know two songs on ukulele."

"Yeah, is there such a thing as too cheesy? I thought it was perfect."

"Did it remind you of early 2011? I was trying to bring it back. Throwback, to what we used to be. What we should be again."

She smiled wistfully, "Yeah, it did. But, how? I don't even know. I mean, what? Aren't you supposed to be in Wisconsin?"

"I had something I had to come back for that was more important, plus show's not until tomorrow anyway."

"How did you?" she gestured to his suit that was eerily matching her dress.

"Oh yeah, we have to stop matching like this, what will our fans think?" She laughed. "I have a redheaded spy who may have sent me a picture of your dress."

She looked around and motioned for her friends to come closer. "You guys were all in on this?"

Raini nodded, "Yeah, you know how hard it is to keep a secret from you?"

"Not that hard?" she asked.

"Yeah, actually pretty easy," Vanessa smirked.

"You had no idea," Calum smiled. The rest of his siblings came over and hugged her, exchanging pleasantries, all the while she kept beaming at him.

"Thanks, Ross. This really means a lot."

"I know you really wanted to go with me," he raised his eyebrows cockily.

She hit him on the arm. "We're not inside yet, buddy. I can still change my mind, you know."

"Yeah, but I've got this whole big gesture on tape, how would you look if you turned me down?"

"Aww, give him a chance," Rocky quipped. He started a chant, "Give him a chance, give him a chance." Soon the crowd around them joined in, and she couldn't help but laugh at the silliness that surrounded her.

"So you're going to blackmail me to taking you to my prom?"

"It's the only way you'll go out with me, right?" he stated wryly.

"Well, I wouldn't want to disappoint all these people," she relented.

"Yeah, I knew I'd wear you down."

"Hey, guys, hate to break up your little love fest over here, but we should get inside," her friend cajoled, tapping on her invisible wristwatch.

Laura grinned, giving all of Ross's helpers quick hugs before taking his hand.

"Have a great time, you guys!" a chorus of cheers shouted at the two as they walked arm in arm towards the entrance.

"Hey, before we go in, I wanted to give you something." He handed her a folded piece of paper. She unfolded it and read the messy scrawl.

Laura, to me you are perfect.

"Ross," she looked up at him, a serious look on her face.

"Laura," he mimed.

"What is this?"

"Well, I finally saw Love Actually, loved it, actually, and it gave me some inspiration. Everlong was a Ross thing. Hey, Soul Sister is a more Laura thing. It's fun, a little goofy, kinda funny, like you. I thought you would like it."

"I do like it. But you decided to make a very public gesture?"

"You think that I think I'm better than you, than us, than the show. It couldn't be further from the truth. I'm the one that isn't good enough for you. But even though that's clear, I still have to try because this is worth it to me to make a fool of myself for you. And I want people to know. Plus, I wasn't going to miss the only opportunity I had to go to the prom with the most beautiful girl I know. I like you. And even if you never return the feelings I have for you, I promise I will never on purpose let you down, if you just give me a chance. You have no idea how long I've waited, how long I've wanted to tell you. But if you just want to go back to being just friends, I'm okay with that, too. Because I do care about you, and I want you to be with me because you want to, not for any other reason."

He held his hand out to her, waiting for her answer.

She relished the way her small hand fit into his larger calloused fingers. She squeezed once and he squeezed back, clasping down. "I want this, too."

Everything was changing, finally, for the better.

He couldn't stop smiling if he wanted to, and she felt similarly.

"Hey Laura, what comes before Part B?" he set her up, knowing it would make her even more happy.

"Partaaay!" she replied with a cheerful laugh, sending his heart soaring.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder as she led him into her senior prom. He hugged her body tightly to his side, knowing that there was no place he'd rather be than here with her, and feeling comfort in the fact that she felt the same way. This was finally happening, and he hoped it could feel this real forever.

A/N: That's it! The end. Sequel is called Times Like These. If you're interested in reading it, I will mostly likely be using wattpad in the future or you can message me or follow me on tumblr (standingoncanalandbowery) for updates on when that story will be posted. Thanks for sticking with me through it all. Hope you all liked it, epilogue coming later today.