As the tour hit its final stretch in Oceania, Cat made the decision to invited all of her closest friends to join her for the last few shows, covering the cost of their flights, accommodations, and everything else. The gesture was more than just generous—it was her way of reconnecting with the people who had stood by her through everything, especially after all the chaos of the past year.

The group couldn't believe it when they first heard. Tori, Andre, Robbie, and Beck had all made their way from LA to New Zealand, excited to reunite with their friend and to witness the last few shows of what had been an exhausting, yet exhilarating, tour. They'd all been watching from a far; thrilled to reunite with Cat and Jade after so many weeks apart. The mood was light, and for the first time in what felt like forever, they saw a version of Cat that felt closer to the carefree girl they had known back in LA.

The first day, Andre found himself alone with Cat in one of the dressing rooms. The others were out exploring Auckland, but Andre was so fascinated by the sound check that he was eager to see one first hand. He had always been a bit of a sounding board for her, ever since she'd started making waves in the industry. So he decided to ask the question he'd been wondering about for a while now.

"So, Cat," he began casually, leaning back against a counter as she fiddled with her stage outfit. "How are you feeling about the next album? You've gotta be thinking ahead at this point, right?"

Cat paused, the look on her face changing as she turned toward him. She gave a half-smile and shrugged, though it wasn't the carefree grin she usually wore.

"Honestly?" she said, her voice soft but firm. "I haven't signed a new contract yet."

Andre blinked, surprised by her answer. "Wait, what? No next album?"

Cat shook her head. "Not immediately. And honestly, I don't think I'm going to sign for a while. I love music, you know that. I love performing. But… I need a break. I need a break from writing, from singing, from all of it. I'm thinking about stepping away for at least a year, maybe more."

For a second, Andre didn't know what to say. It wasn't that he thought she was lying—it was more that it hadn't really hit him yet that Cat was seriously considering stepping back from everything.

"Are you serious?" he asked, still processing what she'd said.

Cat nodded. "Yeah, I think it's time. I've had an amazing time on this tour, and don't get me wrong, I love performing and creating. But the pressure... the constant grind. I just need a break, you know? And I don't want to feel like I have to be constantly 'on' for the sake of my career."

Andre thought about it for a second. It made sense. She'd been under a microscope since her first album exploded, and the pressure had only gotten worse since. But he was still surprised she was willing to let go of it for a while.

"Wow," Andre said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I didn't see that coming. So, you're just... not going to sign anything? You're just going to take a year off?"

"Yeah," Cat said with a soft laugh. "It feels strange to even say it out loud, but yeah. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. And, you know, I've got time to figure out what's next. I can always come back to it later. But for now, I just want to live, be normal for a little while. I'll probably sign again in the future, but I'm not in any rush."

Andre's lips curled into a smile. "No pressure, no schedule, no obligations. You deserve it."

Cat smiled back, her eyes lighting up with a sense of relief. "It's something I've been craving for a while now. Just some time to breathe, you know?"

"I think it'll be good for you." Andre replied, patting her on the back.

It wasn't the answer Andre had expected, but it felt right. He could see the relief in Cat's eyes, and he was glad to know she was finally choosing herself over her career.

After soundcheck was done, they joined the rest of the group on their exploration of Auckland, Tori turned to Andre as they strolled along the waterfront. Tori couldn't help but watch Cat and Jade, who were walking ahead of them, laughing and joking together as they wandered forward.

"You know," Tori said with a smirk, "I still think they'd be good together."

Andre looked up, following her gaze to where Cat and Jade were chatting, clearly enjoying each other's company. He raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure where Tori was going with this.

"Who? Cat and Jade?" he asked, a little confused.

"Yeah," Tori said with a knowing smile. "Look at them. They've been inseparable on this tour, and they're both a lot more relaxed with each other now. I bet you £100 they'll start dating again soon."

Andre looked at Tori like she was joking, but from the way she was watching them, he could tell she was dead serious. "What makes you so sure?" he asked.

"Well," Tori said, shrugging like it was obvious, "They're already so close, and the way they're laughing together... It's the same thing I saw before, just without all the baggage. You know, back when they were dating and it was all about keeping things under wraps."

Andre studied them for a moment. He could see it too—the subtle way they were looking at each other, the way their hands brushed against each other occasionally. But he wasn't sure if it meant anything more than the comfortable closeness that had always existed between them.

"I don't know, Tori," Andre said, his voice more thoughtful now. "Maybe they're just really good friends again. It's been a while since they were together, right?"

Tori gave him a pointed look. "That's the thing, though. The way they look at each other... It's not just friendship. Trust me, I've seen it before. You watch. They'll be back together before long."

Andre laughed, shaking his head. "I don't know if I'm buying it, but okay. I'll take your bet."

Tori grinned. "Deal."

They both looked back at Cat and Jade, who were still chatting happily, lost in their own little world. Tori was convinced it was only a matter of time before they realised what she already saw.