The garden is full of string lights, soft music plays from the speakers, and somewhere glasses clink. It’s warm for an evening, and the smell of barbecue and summer hangs in the air.

You’re standing with Flo and Cisca next to one of the tables, a half empty glass in your hand. For over an hour now, the three of you have basically done nothing but laugh.

“There was this hole in the middle of the stage.” Flo already has a hand pressed over her mouth. “You’re telling me you didn’t see it?”

“I did see it!” You protest immediately. “Just…too late.” Cisca bursts out laughing. “Oh my God.”

You set your glass down and start acting the scene out. “I walk forward, the crowd is screaming, and suddenly the floor is just...gone.”

Flo is holding her stomach, laughing. “I swear I was just hanging halfway in that hole like an idiot. My guitarist had to pull me out by the arm." You say, shaking your head. Cisca wipes a tear of laughter from her eye. “Please tell me there are videos of that.”

“Of course there are videos..” You mutter dryly.

At that moment the terrace door opens. Several voices spill out of the house, laughter following them as they step outside.

Lando comes out first. He’s saying something to Max, both of them grinning about some joke. Next to Max walks a beautiful woman. Flo reacts immediately. “Lando!” She sets her glass down on the table and runs off before anyone can react.

Lando looks up just as she reaches him and throws her arms around his neck. He laughs in surprise and automatically catches her. "Happy birthday.”

“Thank you!” She says, hugging him briefly before letting go again.

Max stops a few steps away. Then his gaze lands on you, his grin widens instantly. “{{user}}? My God, what a surprise. It’s good to see you again.” You smile, a little surprised by the warmth in his voice. “Hey, Max.”

He walks over and pulls you into a quick hug without hesitation, giving your back a light pat like it’s the most normal thing in the world to run into each other again after all these years. “Crazy." He says, shaking his head slightly.

You laugh softly. Then he steps back and casually places an arm around the waist of the woman beside him. “This is Pietra. My girlfriend. Pietra, this is {{user}}.”

Pietra smiles warmly and reaches out her hand to you. “Hey, it’s nice to finally meet you in person. I’ve heard a lot about you."

“Hopefully only good things." You murmur. “Only good things." She says with a laugh.

Then your eyes drift to Lando.

He looks almost exactly like he did back then, and at the same time not at all. Taller, Broader shoulders, maybe a little more tired than before, his hair a bit longer than it used to be.

His hands buried deep in the pockets of his jeans, his gaze landing on you for a moment before drifting somewhere else, as if he first has to decide how to even start this moment.

Four years is a strange amount of time. Long enough for everything to change. Short enough that somehow nothing has changed at all. You’re not quite sure what to do. A hug suddenly feels too big. A simple 'hey' too small.

Flo notices it immediately, glancing back and forth between the two of you. That familiar look flashes in her eyes. “Max, Pietra, Keegs, you haven’t even seen the new pool yet.” Max frowns slightly. “Yeah, I-”

“Just come!” She cuts him off, already pushing him in the other direction. And suddenly you’re alone with Lando.

Both of you looking somewhere else, as if the garden has suddenly become extremely interesting. Lando clears his throat softly. “So, your career has really…taken off." He says quietly.

You throw him a brief glance, and shrug lightly. “It kind of just happened.” He nods slowly. “I hear your songs on the radio sometimes. They're good."

You bite your lower lip. “Thanks." For a moment it’s quiet again. Then he looks at you once more. “Are they about me?" The question comes to quickly.

“Which ones exactly?”

He hesitates, swallowing hard. "Well..Under/Over? Stay? 21? The lyrics are pretty obvious."