tell me how to get back

"This place is so beautiful." Dolly sighed happily as she soaked in the sun of Sydney, Australia. Dolly had never really left the UK before, but being here, in constant sunshine, felt like a dream come true. Turning to look at Mel, a close friend since she was thirteen, Dolly bit her lip. "Why didn't we think of this before?"

Luke sat in the ice cream parlour, the whole idea having been Michael's. Although the temperature had soared over the past few days, and when Michael suggested getting something cold, Luke imagined an iced coffee, not a strawberry sundae. Still, he couldn't complain, he'd missed being back home, knowing he could be just Luke Hemmings, not that one guy from that one band.

Melanie grinned, enjoying the sunlight. Being from Illinois, she was so used to being cold so often, so getting to feel the warmth of Australia was amazing, even more so with her friend there, too. "Um, because it took forever for you to learn that you have family here?" she teased lightly, grinning over at Dolly. "But it really is beautiful. And warm. I already never want to go back to the USA." She laughed, grinning.

Michael leaned forward in his seat, enjoying the ice cream he'd picked, relieved for the chill it brought him. "Still the best ice cream I've ever had," he said to Luke, grinning slightly to his friend. He knew a part of that was because it was ice cream from their home town, ice cream they'd grown up on, but another part of it was probably from the homesickness he never wanted to admit to having. "It's nice to be able to relax like this."

Dolly laughed. "And all thanks to Aunt Megan, we got our wish of travelling, who knew?" She nudged Melanie with a grin. "I never want to go back home, it's perfect here." She looked to Melanie. "Everything's so vibrant, there's always something to do, it's so different to home, you know?" She smiled. "It's definitely warm, I'll give you that." She teased. "How about we stop, get an ice cream, cool down for a while?"

Luke laughed, shaking his head in amusement. "You're such a nerd." He commented to his friend, still, he couldn't deny that his ice cream was wonderful, especially with the heat outside. "They never changed their recipe, either." He grinned. No matter how far he roamed from Sydney, Luke always loved coming home and making the most of what he missed out on when they were touring. "It is." He agreed. "Where we can just be Luke and Michael."

Melanie grinned with the mention of it and nodded. “That's true,” she confirmed, “It's been a long time coming.” Everything seemed so much better here already and she was looking forward to spending their summer there, despite already dreading leaving. “Ice cream sounds amazing right now.”

Michael snorted quietly in response. “Says the guy who notices the lack of a change in the recipe,” he shot back easily, shaking his head as he focused on eating his ice cream, glad for the flavor and for the coolness, the chill, it provided. “Yeah. It's been too long. It's good to just be ourselves without the pressure.”

Dolly smiled. "At least we've got a few more weeks of sun and sand." She told Melanie, leading her down the street, remembering her Aunt had told her about a great ice cream shop. "So, apparently, this place is amazing." She arched an amused brow to Melanie. "My treat." She pulled her friend into the shop, eager to have some relief from the heat.

Luke laughed, shaking his head at Michael's comment, grinning. "I missed home, I can't help it." He shot back, never wanting to admit it usually, but knowing he could to Michael, knowing his best friend felt exactly the same. Still, he looked up for a moment as he saw a beautiful brunette being pulled in by a friend. "Cute girl, two o'clock." He told Michael with a cheeky grin.

Melanie grinned with the mention of it. “We should make it worth it, in that case, enjoy everything we can, for everything it’s worth,” she hummed out, though she nodded as she followed her friend inside, amused. “Alright, alright.” Her eyes scanned the menu from where they were. “Ooh, a chocolate sundae sounds really nice.”

Michael offered an amused look in response. “Then, you can’t tease me about missing home,” he pointed out with a small shrug as he poked at his ice cream to eat. He blinked, though, following his friend’s gaze before his eyes instantly landed on a gorgeous redhead. “Alright, if you’re talking about the redhead, I’m calling dibs right now.”

Dolly smiled. "I'm with you on that one." She nodded at Melanie's words. "I mean, three weeks isn't that long." She pouted slightly as she scanned the menu, although hearing Melanie's words about a chocolate sundae, Dolly bit her lip. "I mean, that does sound so good." She confirmed with a grin. "Extra sauce though." She hummed in thought.

Luke shook his head with amusement. "Not her," He confirmed. "Brunette." He bit his lip, taking a long moment to just study the girl, unable to tear his gaze away. He'd never, in his life, seen such beauty, and he was almost sure he'd never seen her around this area. "She's gorgeous." He toyed with his lip, wondering if he should make a move - go and say hello, anything. "I call dibs on brunette." He shrugged with a grin.

Melanie grinned with the mention of it. “Definitely extra sauce,” she agreed happily, nodding slightly with the mention of it. Her gaze scanned the menu but she sighed. “I feel like three weeks is gonna go by in a flash, it'll feel like we were never even here.” She pouted with the thought, unable to help it.

Michael arched a brow, but his attention was completely focused on the red-head and he grinned to himself as he watched her, finding her to be the most perfect vision. “You can have all the dibs you want on the brunette, I'm only interested in the red-head,” he declared happily, chewing on his lip for a moment. Shifting, he stood up and made his way over. “Hi, I'm Michael,” he greeted her, “Mind if I pay for your ice cream?”

Luke followed Michael, deciding that if his friend could be brave, then so could he. Still, offering the beautiful brunette a smile, Luke nodded. "Hi there, I'm Luke." His smile was genuine, and as he studied her, it only broadened. "I know this may be a little too strong, but you are just beautiful. I don't think I've seen you around. Ice cream? My treat."

Dolly pouted with Melanie's words. "Alright, change topic, before I decide to move here for good." She teased, running a hand through her hair, although she paused when she heard a voice. Turning around, Dolly paused as she saw the most handsome man in existence. Blinking, Dolly brought herself out of her shock. "Oh, uh, hi." She smiled. "I'm Dolly, and although I can pay for my own things, some company would be nice." She teased, wanting to be playful and not ungrateful.

Melanie blinked, peering over at the men who'd approached them, her gaze falling to the man who was smiling at her. She offered an amused look, arching a brow. “Melanie,” she introduced with a small nod, though she grinned. “Thank you, but that's not necessary. You’re welcome to join us, though.”

Michael grinned slightly as he examined Dolly, able to tell from her voice, her accent, that she wasn't from Australia. “If you're absolutely sure,” he decided with a small nod, “Because I definitely wouldn't pass up the opportunity to give a beauty like you some extra company.” And, really, already, he didn't want to part from her.

Luke grinned when Melanie introduced herself. "Melanie, it's lovely to meet you." Although he took in the sound of her voice, never wanting to forget it, because god dammit, she was beautiful. "I take it you're not local?" He asked with a smile - although with her invitation to join them, Luke nodded. "I'd really like that, thank you." He grinned. "Don't think I'd be able to say no to someone as beautiful as you." His smile was cheeky, but his words, his voice were genuine; truthful.

Dolly laughed bashfully, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with Michael's words. "Such a charmer," she teased. "Michael, I'd be honoured if you gave me a little extra company." She winked, deciding that if he could be confident, then she could be too. It wasn't like she was local, she probably wouldn't see him after today, anyway. But still, she couldn't deny he was beautiful, and Dolly really did want to spend time with him, get to know him, the thought of not seeing him again disappointing her.

Melanie shook her head slightly. “Nope, not local,” she confirmed with amusement, watching him, “Just here for a vacation, really.” She admired him for a moment, enjoying the sight of him and the sound of his voice, but she grinned slightly, her cheeks warming. “Well, I’m glad to hear it. It might be fun.”

Michael grinned with Dolly’s words, watching her, and he tried. “I try to be, for those who deserve it,” he chimed before leaning forward, lowering his voice to whisper, “Though, so far, the only person who’s deserved it is you.” He genuinely meant it, too. Still, when she spoke and winked, he grinned, straightening. “Great, it’s a date, then.”

Luke grinned as Melanie confirmed that she wasn't local. "So, Miss Melanie, where are you from?" He asked, studying her with stars in his eyes, because she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, and he wanted her to know, wanted her to see that she was made of stardust. Seeing her cheeks tint pink, Luke's grin only broadened and he chuckled. "I'll tell you what," Luke murmured, reaching bravely to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. "How about, after the ice cream, I show you around?"

Dolly couldn't help the laugh as Michael leaned forward, lowering his voice in an almost comedic manner, and she could feel her cheeks warm up with his words, almost unable to believe that his attention was on her at all. "Well, I would be a fool to turn down a date with you, Michael." Dolly smiled, leaning forward as Michael did, ensuring her hair wouldn't get dirty. "Besides, I'd hate to see anyone else in here have your attention." She lowered her voice to whisper.

Melanie smiled slightly as she watched Luke and she lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “From the states,” she told him eventually, “Illinois. Being here is a radical difference, honestly, with the temperature and climate difference and all.” She chewed on her lip a bit as she watched him but she smiled and nodded. “I’d like that.”

Michael grinned as he listened to Dolly speak, swearing he could listen to her forever and never get bored, never get tired of her voice, certain he’d just keep falling harder and harder for her. “Well, I’m glad to hear it,” he told her, admiring the blush he could see on her cheeks, “I’ll make sure that we do anything you want, let you enjoy yourself while you’re here.”