More Than a Moment

Nine

Magnolia flashed a quick, nervous smile at Luke, who was doing his best to avoid eye contact. She could tell he was purposely looking anywhere but at her, and, although she understands why, she doesn't understand why.

Why did this have to be the way it is? Why did Luke have to so obviously have feelings for her? Why couldn't she be singing this duet with Calum or Michael or Ashton? Why?

"I see today will be productive," John cut through the silence with his sarcasm. Neither Magnolia nor Luke responded. They did, however, both glance at each other uneasily.

John simply sighed. "Alright, well, I'm sure you're both dying to share about what you did on your time off, but we should get started."

Magnolia cracked a grin because she can appreciate good humor when she hears it, and John held in his own laugh because of her. Luke became frustrated with himself because, honestly, that grin was the cutest thing he's seen in a while.

John left the area to go get his things together, and Magnolia began to walk away as well. She caught Luke's confused face and explained herself. "I'm gonna grab a water. Do you want one?"

"Uh, yeah. Thanks." He watched her walk away.

As the two warmed up, the tension certainly didn't dissipate. John could practically see the stiffness in the room. Today would be worthless, but they're here, so the least they can do is try.

"Ready?" He asked the pair, stepping out from his watching spot.

They both nodded, still neither of them saying much.

They approached the booth, and Luke followed Magnolia in. "I have an idea, but I really don't know what's going on, but you guys just need to relax or we won't be able to make good music today, okay?"

Luke and Magnolia simultaneously bit their lips and nodded. Luke's the one making it awkward, she's just going along with it so as not to make things worse. But the time Luke relaxes around Magnolia is the time he and Ali are over, and he's not ready for that yet.

Magnolia took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds, and let it out. "You good?" She asked Luke quietly.

She caught him off guard with her soft voice. He looked over to see her bright-green, concerned eyes. His lips flipped up, and he lied, "Yeah."

The music began, and they both sang fine, but it didn't sound good. It sounded tense, just like they are because saying you're okay and actually being okay are two very different things. They rehearsed only a few more times before John became frustrated.

"Time for a break," he spoke tersely into their ears.

Magnolia and Luke looked at each other with a sideways expressions, and they exited the booth to the sitting area where John awaited. Magnolia took the couch while Luke stood at the opposite end.

"Talk," he commanded, wanting to hear from them what was going on. He hoped that if they would talk about it, they'd figure out how to deal with it.

Magnolia wasn't sure if he meant to each other or to him, so she, logically, didn't say anything. Luke rubbed his arm nervously.

"Sit down," John pointed at Luke, "And tell me what's going on. Why is it so difficult to be around each other today?"

Magnolia sighed, making weird faces because she didn't know what to do with her lips. "I don't want to be annoying and place all the blame on Luke because I obviously don't know what's going on in his head, but from where I'm at, I don't want to feel uncomfortable working with him. It just seems like he's uncomfortable with me, so I don't want to poke the bear." She shrugged, tugging at her lip with her teeth and avoiding Luke's, surely miffed, gaze.

"And you, Luke?" John asked, eyebrows raised, not in the mood to beat around the bush.

Luke felt like a guilty child, and he looked like one too. He shifted his feet around and stared at the floor.

John sighed. "Come in here with me."

The two walked out of range of Magnolia, and Luke began to talk. "... so it's hard to ignore my feelings when we work together, and I thought the best way to do that would be to ignore her. I just don't want to mess up my relationship," he finished.

John's attitude had softened, and he wanted to help Luke. Ever since he began working with these boys, he's felt a bit like a father, so it hurts to see any of them in pain or turmoil.

"Listen, I've been where you are, and it's not fun. But sometimes we have to put ourself aside while we work. And can I be honest with you?" he asked.

Luke nodded.

"From what you told me, I can't really see your relationship working out, especially if you have both already agreed to just hold on until it officially unravels. That just doesn't sound healthy or fair to either of you," John sympathized.

"I know, but what if this thing with Magnolia passes?" Luke reached for an excuse.

"Do you really think it will?" John doesn't. Nobody does. In fact he's sure half of the fans would put money down that it doesn't pass.

Luke shrugged.

"And if it does, and Ali is as understanding as she seems to be about this, then I'm sure she'd take you back."

"Yeah..." Luke conceded. He doesn't even want to think about that. Besides, say he and Ali end things because of Magnolia, what would happen next? Things are so awkward between them that he can't even imagine there'd be a next.

John lead Luke back out to the sitting area where Magnolia waited patiently. She had, admittedly, tried to hear what they were saying, but she couldn't.

"Alright, so I've decided that the best thing for the album would be the two of you spending a day together. I need you to loosen up and get over whatever this is," John simply put. He was trying to hold back his laughter as he stared into two stunned faces.

Luke looked utterly offended, and Magnolia looked like she could throw up. It was great. They're great.