Imagine A World (Luke Hemmings a.u.) [in editing]

15 Recording

Madeline's POV

Luke continues teaching me guitar over the next few days. We don't bring the subject of our kiss back up at all, choosing to ignore the fact that we both feel the exact same way about each other. It's all happening so fast, I can't take it in quick enough.

I return to songwriting with Luke and Calum a few days later, and we manage to get a little further with the song, adding on a second verse and editing it a little bit. I won't bore you with the details.

I'm absolutely thrilled when the boys invite me to the recording studio. It's been about 5 days since my birthday, and everything was sort of settling down again.

We get to the studio, and I'm ecstatic. I've never actually recorded before. It's my very first time.

The boys record the instrumentation first, and it sounds amazing. I get chills as I listen, especially when Luke does his guitar.

Then each of the boys goes into the booth to individually record their singing parts. Calum goes first, since he has the majority of the song.

"🎶Life can be so hard to breathe when you live inside a box

You're waiting for a break to come, it always comes too late

You're on the edge, you're stumbling, and the road, it starts to wind

But every time the page is turned, a chance to make it right🎶"

The song is called "Tomorrow Never Dies", and I love the whole concept of it. It's just so good.

Soon enough, it's my turn to go in the small room. I take a deep breath and enter, shaking slightly. I don't know why I'm so anxious, I've sung loads of times. Maybe I'm just scared I'll mess it up.

"🎶Oh, the sun will rise

Like the flame ignites🎶" I harmonize with the prerecorded track, getting deep into the music, my surroundings disappearing. "🎶Never dies, never dies, no! Never dies, never dies, no!🎶"

"Great," the man managing the soundboard says into the microphone as the boys give me thumbs up behind the glass. "Let's just try one more time, for kicks."

I nod and repeat the lyrics, sounding a little more confident this time. The boys and the soundboard guy applaud lightly, and I do a mini curtsy. Luke laughs, and I feel my face go red.

I exit the sound booth, and Luke immediately wraps his arms around me.

"You were great," he whispers into my hair.

"You were better," I retort, nuzzling my nose against his chest.

Someone clears their throat behind us, and the two of us quickly separate to see the other boys smirking.

"Should we give you some alone time?" Ashton asks, a mock-innocent face on.

"Shut up, Ash," Luke mutters, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Don't tell me what to do, I'm older than you," Ashton says, crossing his arms in front of him and scowling.

I roll my eyes. I don't think I'll ever get used to all of this. The stupid arguments over nothing, the random battles, so much takeout.

I don't mind, though.

Luke's POV

I'm so glad that Madeline is adjusting to our strangeness so easily. She follows our leads, and doesn't try and get in the middle of everything.

We head out a little while later, after having some lunch, and as the other boys get out of the van and head back to the house, I stop Madeline.

"I want to take you somewhere," I tell her when the boys are out of earshot. "Do you mind staying out a little longer?"

She shakes her head, and once Ashton, Calum, and Michael are inside, I grab her by her wrist and start dragging he down the street.

"Where are we going?" she asks me once I let go of her and begin running to our destination.

"Be patient, we're almost there!"

Her eyes widen slightly when we reach the place, then she shakes it away and says, "Really, Luke? A playground?"

I shrug. "What's wrong with that?" I question her, climbing to the upper platform so I can go down the slide.

"You're 18 years old and about 6'4". If you don't see the problem, then there's something wrong with you," she replies, laughing as I push myself down the too-small slide.

"Please, I've come here loads of times before. I've never broken anything before." I glance warily at the swing set, which is missing a baby swing. "Well, maybe once or twice..."

"You're a dork, Luke."

I pout and cross my arms. "I am not! I'm punk rock."

She rolls her eyes, but finally climbs onto the play structure as well. "Whatever you say, Hemmo."

*******

A few hours later, we're still at the playground, and the sun is beginning to set. The two of us are sitting on the swings next to each other.

"I've never really admired how beautiful a sunset is before now," Madeline acknowledges.

I look over at her. The paling light makes shadows dance across her face, and I notice the bright reflection in her eyes.

I start to make a comment about her, but I stop myself. This relationship might finally be going somewhere, but I don't want to rush it anyway. I like taking things slow.

Mad sighs.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know, I'm getting a little homesick again. My brother is off to his sophomore year in college in a couple weeks. I don't really know when I'll see him again."

She stares up at the sky, which has finally gone dark, and stars are slowly starting to poke through like pinpricks.

"I don't get to see my family that much, either. I'm an uncle, but I almost never see my niece. Life on the road can be hard. But, after a long time, you start to get used to it," I assure her after a while.

"Are you used to it yet?" She turns to look at me.

I smile softly. "Nowhere near."

She looks down at the ground, but I place a hand on her chin and lift it so she faces me once more.

"But, hey," I say, "we'll help each other get used to it. Right?"

Her eyes search my face for a moment, then she nods.

"We should be heading back," she says after I let go of her. "The boys'll be wondering where we are."

We both stand, and before we can go anywhere, she kisses me. Not a long, passionate kiss like before, just a quick peck on the lips. She looks away, blushing furiously, but I gently take her hand and lead her towards home.

We get a little goofy on the way there. Eventually, she lets go of me and starts running down the street at full speed. I have to sprint to catch up with her, and when I do, I throw my arms around her from behind, tackling her. We roll into someone's front yard, laughing, but we don't care.

"Just you and me, right?" I ask her as we lay on our backs on our neighbor's lawn.

"Always. Just you and me."

*********************************

Hey guys! Wow, I'm sorry about this chapter. First of all, it has kind of a misleading title, since only Maddie's POV involves the recording session, but yeah. Also, I suck at making endings for chapters.

Also, I had to put in Tomorrow Never Dies. I'm sorry, but I really did. I have no clue who the actual person that sings with them in that song is, but it sort of fit with the story, so I decided to do it. I LOVE THAT SONG SO MUCH!! I linked it on the side/beginning of the chapter. :)

Luckily, I have an idea for the next chapter, so it won't just be some random thing like this.

Please vote, comment, and follow!