Shouldn't you be somewhere else (Luke)

[thalia]

Thalia had been at Camp Rock for a few days now and she was just itching for a chance to practice on her own. She did group stuff but not much beyond that in all honesty. She was not used to that, but se was angry enough to take some time off from what she normally did. Now that she was unfortunately getting used to the groove she wanted some practice time alone. While she had gotten the groove it did not mean that she liked it. So many of these people were almost disgustingly sincere. It was almost sickening to watch them try and try, knowing that so many would just plain fail. She was used to being at the studio in LA almost every day, if not every day. She did all sorts of things there, ballet, ballroom, and tap just to name a few. Her usual partner was back in LA, which meant that her best option was ballet and not ballroom for a good practice.

She was more than ready to get going at it so she slipped away a little after dinner, once the sun had set. The kids were in the cabins or at the camp fire pit. She brought her Ipod and dock with her, plugging it all into the wall. The lights were on in the room, and there was plenty of space. She turned on some music and started to stretch, taking her time as she did that. She then picked her shoes from her bag. Just normal Ballet slippers, no pointe shoes tonight. Then she fell into the steps easily enough. Step, turn, step, turn, leap, and don’t forget to spot something. She had to be careful or else she’d get dizzy, but not as careful as she was when she was doing pointe. It was way easier to fall and break an ankle in those shoes. She was unaware that anyone else could be around, after all the campfire looked like a regular party, and sounded like one from this distance.

She was glad to be free of all of this for a bit in her mind, this camp, these kids. She didn't want to think about it, and she certainly didn't want to think about Luke from the lake. That was not somethign she needed right now. So she rolled up onto her demi point and balanced.

[luke]

Luke was busy almost all the time now. He sort-of just went with the flow of the rest of the camp, as he usually did, and did his job to the best of his abilities. He 'taught' his 'class' of campers, went swimming, and went to meals, not exactly in that order. His schedule was slightly crazy, and he hadn't been able to get some practice. His voice was something he was told to value, though he didn't think it was anything special. He did dance, though it was only by rythm. He picked up things easily, and had learned a bit of ballroom at Camp Rock over the years that he had been there, but it was nothing much. He would never claim to be talented, if he was being honest, though. Any of his mother's family would say that he got his voice from his mother, and any of his father's family would say that he got his rythm from his father. Overall, he had gotten many compliments throughout the years from various people on his 'beautiful voice' and other things like that, but with no money for lessons, it had never been something he explored in depth.

After dinner, he grabbed his song book and was heading to the music cabin, where there was a piano, but stopped when he heard msuic playing from one of the cabins used for dance. He let his curiosity get the best of him, and found himself looking through the open screen door of the cabin, wondering who it was that was dancing. To his surprise, he found Thalia Owens, the girl that had asked him out a few days ago by the lake. He took in her movements, and an eyebrow raised. He had never thought that she would've been a dancer. A singer, maybe. That didn't require any lessons to show off skill. Dancing took years and years of practice, and natural born talent at times, to show good skill. He hadn't figured that Thalia would've actually been able to do anything that took any work to persue. He had thought that she was just like every other prissy rich girl around the camp, that had a semblance of some skill, and came because they wanted to show off a little bit. It wasn't a shock to him to be found in the wrong, but it still was shocking that Thalia could dance that well.

[thalia]

Thalia was really trying to concentrate on what she was doing here in the practice rooms. At least they had mirrors so she could see if her movement was correct. That was always a concern for her. She didn’t want to fall into bad posture. She had put years into this after all, dedicated and determined years that she spent in the studio. She was a hard worker despite herself, it was only the manner of the work she did that was questionable. Of course her father thought this was a complete waste of time. It was no one’s business but her own in Thalia’s opinion, though his criticism had undermined her hopes that it would ever amount to anything. She knew that she should really be doing point, but she was good at that already. She didn’t want to forget anything though, but her ballroom moves were more at risk than her ballet ones. That was going to torture her all summer, but she’d just have to try not to think about it. She could let it go for the moment whether or not she really wanted to.

She was excited to do something other than be around the kids. The campers were slightly endearing but she was still too closed off to really care much for them. God she could use a day without seeing Luke Lafferty’s face around this place. Usually she was so smooth, what was wrong with her? Well it could not be her, it could be him, right? She told herself yes but inside Thalia knew that was not true. She closed her eyes, going back up onto her Demi point and spinning, which was a stupid idea. She really should spot. She opened her eyes half way through as the turned and spotted someone in the doorway. She stopped short, taking an awkward stumbling step. Thalia looked up, slightly frightened, though that faded into a scowl a moment later. It was the very person she didn’t want to see. Luke. ”What are you doing? You nearly scared me half to death. I could have fallen, I could have twisted an ankle.” She was indignant in her embarrassment about him seeing her stumble. She had not put years into this to stumble. She walked over and turned off her ipod.

[luke]

Luke watched Thalia stumble, and he didn't say a word. All of a sudden, he was being spoken to in a scolding tone. His eyebrow raised a little farther, but he didn't say anything. He waited until she went and turned off the music to speak. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I was just...you dance beautifully." He said in an honest tone. He was slightly amused at the way she was reacting, but he didn't show it. He didn't feel like dealing with an angry Thalia, at the moment. He hadn't seen her temper, but he had a feeling that it wouldn't be something easily shrugged off. And if it was...well, then it wouldn't be fitting of her character at all. Then again, it wasn't like he knew her well, so he didn't judge.

"I was on my way to practice my own music, when I passed and heard your iPod playing. I just wanted to see who was here, and I was mesmorized by your dancing. I'm sorry for almost causing you to break your ankle." He said the last few words in a slightly sarcastic tone. He knew that she was embarassed, and that's why she was acting the way she was, but he didn't really give it much thought. He just sort-of expected her to act this way. The blonde didn't exactly have any other experiences with her, except for that cool indifference he had gotten at the lake, and so, now, he just expected that usual rich, brattish behavior that could be found in most people at Camp Rock.

[thalia]

Thalia was not sure how to really react to him being there. Was she really angry? No, not really but it made no difference, she was still going to be difficult about it all. It was a messy mix of emotions. Mostly she disliked him but underneath the surface she was embarrassed, maybe even humiliated. Then even under that there was still the remainder of a really tiny- barely there at all crush. At least that little fact made her angry, which helped her a lot. She kept the scowl on her face and resumed the cold and careless attitude that he hated so much. She didn’t want him to know how off guard she was, how frightened she had been. Her heart was still thumping in her chest. She would have put her hand in it and let out a laugh of relief if the person standing by the door was anyone else. Then again when was anything ever that easy? Then he spoke and once again she was caught off guard. That attitude started to fade, shaving off like ice.

It was like insta-cool for her temper, strange as that was. It was so awkward to be around him that she was taking the first relief that she could get. Then came the hint of a smile and she took in a breath to thank him with, but instead he spoke again. Immediately she shut down again and the scowl returned to her face. What was she supposed to do. ”Well thanks a lot.” Her voice was also heavy with sarcasm. She lucked the ipod and the dock from the wall. She took off the ballet shoes net and then she tossed it all into her bag and put on her flip flops. She slung the bag over her shoulder. ”Just let me get out of your way then.” Then she stopped, attitude definitely coming back now. "But if you're so great Luke, lets hear it. I want to hear you sing."

[luke]

Luke hadn't intended to make her mad. He didn't mean to make her turn all sarcastic on him. He knew that she would end up being one of those annoying kind of people when they were mad. He didn't say anything, though. He just let her talk, and then she started to pack up her stuff. Both eyebrows were up by this point. He didn't understand why she was packing up. He would've left, if she had just asked him to. He didn't point that out, though. He watched as she threw on a pair of flip flops, and almost sighed. When she made a move to leave, though, he went to speak when she stopped and took a step back. When he heard what she said, his eyes widened slightly, before returning back to their regular size.

"Why would you want to hear me sing? It's not like I asked you to dance. I just happened to be there when you were." He said, but he knew he'd have to, or she'd just keep persisting. He hadn't expected her to ask him to sing, though. That had been the last thing he would've thought to hear out of Thalia's mouth. He guessed he shouldn't have been surprised, though. After all, he had seen her dance, and now she'd hear him sing. He ruffled the pages of the songbook in his hand, and looked up. He sang a few lines of the song that he had been working on for a week or two, and went quiet after the sixth line. It would've headed into the first verse, and he had only sang the chorus. Luke wanted to say something, but he had no idea what to say. He looked down at the songbook and ruffled the pages once more in his hands, waiting for something from Thalia.

[thalia]

Thalia very nearly smirked all over again. She was silently pleased with herself that she had caught him off guard. That was a relief in a way. She was not the one with the under hand all of the time, just most of the time evidently. Still this looked like it was going to work out for her. Either he could deny her request, demand rather, or he could man up. If it was the former then he’d look like a coward, if it was the latter then he might just blow it. She was satisfied with all of that. So Thalia crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows, waiting expectantly. His response evoked a kind of harsh laugh from her. She expected that, he was trying to avoid it. Maybe that was for the best after all. She wanted to just go back to her cabin and sleep, so she had to make this as fast as possible. She stretched a little, just her arms and back for the most part.

”Well then, sing now and I’ll just happen to be here.” She loved to be able to shoot that back at him. She raised her eyebrows expectantly. She was still in habit from practice so she moved like a dancer still, going up on her toes and balancing. Then she stopped and actually stayed still when she heard him start to sing. At least she was honestly listening to him now that he was performing a little. She tilted her head to the side for a moment. She had not expected him to be as good as he was. She looked at him, her expression softer than it usually was, very little trace of that attitude she normally wore. ”That was really amazing.” Her voice was sincere, strangely so even to her own ears.

[luke]

He hadn't expected a compliment. That had been the last thing he had expected. It seemed like Thalia wasn't exactly what he had thought she was. He wouldn't admit that, though. He hadn't judged her...really. He had listened to the rumors, and sort-of let what others had said overtake his expectations of what he heard and saw from the girl, but he guessed he had been wrong. She could have her moments. He looked up at her. "Thanks." He said awkwardly, not exactly knowing what else to say. He was caught off guard, which was also something that had surprised him. Normally, he was the one taking other people off guard. He guessed that Thalia really was something special. He didn't say anything awkward, though. He didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable, either.

"I guess we each have our own talents, then, huh?" He said with a slight laugh. His left hand let go of his songbook, leaving it in his right, and he ran the hand through his hair. He wouldn't ever say it out loud that he thought he was just some other average person with an average voice. He had always been told he was just being stupid whenever he said that when he was younger, and he had never said it after that. He had been a very sensitive kid, and when his mother had told him that...he had never wanted to let anyone know that he didn't exactly think he had any talent. After all, who would want to feel stupid at such a young age? Or at any age. His hand went back to his book, holding onto it as if it would do something to change the direction of this conversation. It wasn't like he and Thalia were friends, but it wasn't like they were enemies anymore, either. They were in that weird, awkward middle. He waited for Thalia to say something, knowing that probably whatever she came up with would be better than whatever else came out of his mouth.

[thalia]

Thalia could feel how sort of tense it was, or rather she was. She was not sure if he was going to take well to the compliment or if he thought she was maybe lying or something. That would suck because she was actually being sincere. She decided that she could not worry about it right now. She was somewhat aware of the misconceptions about her that were spread about camp. She didn’t really care until this moment. She wasn’t aware of how bad they must have been until he said thank you. It was more the way that he said it. She almost bit her lip but instead her hand twitched, dropping the ballet shoes. She bent down and scooped them up again. She should probably leave, she was obviously making him feel uncomfortable. ”You’re welcome…’ She shouldn’t care if he was uncomfortable, she was Thalia Owens, but that version of Thalia seemed to be taking a back seat right now.

”I guess you’re right,” she returned with an awkward laugh. She paused as a burst of disorganized singing floated up from the area of the camp fire. She listed to the side a little as she tried to think of what to say, though nothing came to mind. She bit her bottom lip for a moment. ”Really though, you sing beautifully.” She was getting used to this whole compliment thing, it wasn’t actually that bad. She could do this, she should leave… So instead she stood there awkwardly for a moment. She didn’t know if she should find another room and practice more, go to sleep, or find something else to do, probably the middle. Should she try to make a friend out of him? That was possible but she really didn’t know how to start with that. So instead she turned away from him and headed towards the door to the black night outside of the practice room.