Bad Day - Daniel Powter
---
Lucas's lips curved into a enigmatic smile, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He held Taylor's gaze for a moment, letting the silence stretch between them.
Taylor's eyes widened, her mouth falling open slightly. "Wait, do you actually...?" she began, her voice a mix of disbelief and awe.
Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "Not yet," he said, his tone playful. "But who knows? Maybe in the future. Could be an interesting venture, don't you think?"
Taylor leaned back, her expression a blend of shock and admiration. "Wow, Lucas. You're really thinking big, aren't you?"
Lucas shrugged, a casual gesture that belied the ambition in his words. "In this industry, you've got to dream big, right? Besides, having my own studio would give me more creative control over projects like this one."
Taylor nodded slowly, clearly impressed. Then, Lucas's serious expression cracked, and he burst into laughter.
"I'm just kidding, Taylor," he said, his eyes crinkling with mirth. "Can you imagine me running a whole studio? I'd probably accidentally green-light a movie about singing cats or something."
Taylor's jaw dropped for a second before she joined in the laughter. "You had me going there for a minute!" She playfully swatted his arm. "A movie about singing cats? That would never work!"
Lucas joined in the laughter, his mind momentarily drifting to a peculiar memory from his previous life - a certain ill-fated movie featuring singing cats that had starred Taylor and other famous actors. The film had been a spectacular failure, but in this reality, that cinematic misstep hadn't occurred yet.
His eyes seemed to look beyond the studio, as if seeing something Taylor couldn't.
"What?" Taylor asked, noticing the sudden shift in his demeanor.
Lucas blinked, shaking his head slightly as if to clear it. "Oh, nothing," he said, his smile returning. "Just had a weird sense of déjà vu for a second there."
The hours slipped by unnoticed as Lucas and Taylor immersed themselves in their musical collaboration. The studio walls echoed with the sound of their voices harmonizing, the gentle strumming of guitars, and the occasional burst of laughter.
Lucas scribbled lyrics on a notepad while Taylor tapped out a rhythm on the piano keys. They bounced ideas off each other, their creative energies syncing in a way that felt almost magical.
"What if we try this chord progression here?" Taylor suggested, her fingers dancing across the keys.
Lucas nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, that works! And maybe we could add a bridge that goes something like..."
As the evening wore on, the pile of scribbled notes and half-finished melodies grew. Their excitement was palpable, both of them riding the high of artistic creation.
Finally, Lucas glanced at his watch and sighed. "I should probably get going," he said reluctantly, gathering his things.
Taylor nodded, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "This was amazing, Lucas. We should definitely do it again soon."
They shared a warm hug before Lucas headed for the door. Taylor watched as he walked away, his silhouette framed by the studio doorway.
As the door closed behind him, Taylor let out a soft sigh. Her eyes lingered on the spot where Lucas had disappeared, a mix of emotions playing across her face. She bit her lip, a wistful expression settling in her eyes.
'If only he was single...' The thought flickered through her mind unbidden, bringing with it a twinge of regret. She shook her head slightly, as if to clear away the notion, and turned back to the piano.
***
The sleek black car glided through the New York streets, its tinted windows concealing the occupants from prying eyes. Lucas sat in the back, flanked by Jack and Simon, their watchful gazes scanning the surroundings. Shawn's hands gripped the wheel confidently, navigating the late-night traffic with ease.
As they reached the apartment building, the team moved with practiced efficiency. Jack exited first, surveying the area before nodding to Simon. Lucas stepped out, shielded by his guards' imposing presence.
Inside the apartment, Lucas barely managed to kick off his shoes before collapsing onto the bed, exhaustion washing over him. The world faded to black as sleep claimed him.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, painting stripes across Lucas's face. He stirred, consciousness slowly seeping back. Suddenly, a shrill ring pierced the morning quiet.
Lucas's hand fumbled on the nightstand, fingers closing around his phone. He squinted at the screen, Jennifer's smiling face looking back at him. With a deep breath, he swiped to answer.
"Hey, Jen," he mumbled, his voice still rough with sleep.
Jennifer's voice crackled through the speaker, bright and energetic. "Morning, sleepyhead! Did I wake you?"
Lucas pushed himself up, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Yeah, but it's okay. I should be up anyway. What's up?"
"Oh, you know, just the usual," Jennifer's voice chirped through the phone. "I've been filming non-stop for the past few days. The director's a real taskmaster, but I think we're getting some great scenes."
Lucas listened, making appropriate noises of interest as Jennifer recounted her recent experiences on set.
"So, what about you?" Jennifer asked, her tone shifting to curiosity. "What's new in the world of Lucas Knight?"
Lucas stretched, suppressing a yawn. "Well, actually, I had an interesting day yesterday. I met up with Taylor Swift to discuss a potential collaboration."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. When Jennifer spoke again, her voice had a slightly different edge to it. "Taylor Swift? Really? That must have been... fun."
Lucas, oblivious to the change in her tone, continued enthusiastically. "Yeah, it was great. We spent hours in the studio, just bouncing ideas off each other. She's incredibly talented."
"Hours, huh?" Jennifer's voice had cooled noticeably. "Sounds like you two really hit it off."
Lucas furrowed his brow, picking up on the tension in her voice. "Jen, it was just work. We were writing songs, that's all."
"Of course," Jennifer replied, her attempt at nonchalance not quite hitting the mark. "I'm sure you had a wonderful time making beautiful music together."
The sarcasm in her voice was unmistakable now. Lucas sat up straighter, suddenly very awake. "Jen, what's going on? Are you... are you jealous?"
"Jealous? Me?" Jennifer scoffed, but there was a tremor in her voice. "Why would I be jealous of you spending all day with one of the most famous and beautiful singers in the world?"
Lucas sighed, realizing he'd inadvertently stepped into an emotional minefield. "Jennifer, listen to me. It was purely professional. Taylor and I are just friends and collaborators. You have nothing to worry about."
The silence on the other end of the line stretched out, heavy with unspoken emotions.
Lucas took a deep breath, his voice softening. "Jen, I understand your concern, but I promise you, there's nothing going on between Taylor and me."
Jennifer sighed heavily. "It's not you I don't trust, Lucas. It's her. You know how this industry can be."
Lucas paused, a memory suddenly surfacing. "Wait a minute," he said, his tone brightening. "I remember a few months ago... Taylor mentioned that you two were friends."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. "Well," Jennifer finally said, her voice hesitant, "I wouldn't say we're best friends or anything, but yeah, we know each other. We've hung out at a few events."
Lucas seized on this information. "Exactly! So you see, Taylor's not just some random celebrity. She's your friend too. Do you really think she'd do anything to upset you?"
Jennifer's voice softened slightly. "I guess not..."
"Exactly," Lucas continued, relief evident in his tone. "Taylor knows we're together. She respects that. Our collaboration is strictly professional, I promise."
He could almost hear Jennifer mulling this over. "You're right," she finally admitted, a touch of embarrassment in her voice. "I overreacted. I'm sorry, Lucas."
Lucas smiled, though Jennifer couldn't see it. "It's okay, Jen. I understand. But you have nothing to worry about, I promise. You're the only one for me."
The tension in Jennifer's voice dissipated. "Thank you for being so understanding. I love you, Lucas."
"I love you too, Jen," Lucas replied warmly.
After several minutes of conversation, Jennifer ended the call. Lucas stared at his phone, shaking his head slightly.
The absence of their usual playful argument over who should hang up first spoke volumes.
His thumbs danced across the screen, firing off a series of texts:
"Hey, you okay?"
"I really mean what I said. You're the only one for me."
"Love you, Jen. Have a great day at work."
Minutes ticked by, each one stretching out uncomfortably. Finally, his phone buzzed:
"Thanks. Have to go to work. Talk later."
Lucas chuckled wryly, shaking his head. The brevity of her response told him all he needed to know. Jennifer's jealousy wasn't going to evaporate so easily.
"This is the first time she's been so jealous," Lucas mused to himself.
With a sigh, he pushed himself off the bed and padded towards the kitchen. As he waited for his coffee to brew, his eyes fell on the sheet of lyrics scattered across the dining table. The words he'd written with Taylor stared back at him, along with snippets of ideas for collaborations with other artists.
The aroma of fresh coffee filled the air as Lucas picked up one of the sheets, his mind wandering.
A while later, Lucas settled onto the edge of his bed, guitar in hand. He propped his phone up on a nearby shelf, angling it to capture his performance. With a deep breath, he pressed record.
His fingers found their places on the fretboard, and he began to strum. The gentle melody filled the room as Lucas leaned towards the phone's microphone.
***
Miles away, Jennifer's phone buzzed insistently. She glanced at it, her brow furrowing slightly as she saw Lucas's name. Curiosity overrode her lingering frustration, and she tapped to play the video.
Lucas's face filled her screen, his eyes soft and earnest as he sang.
"Where is the moment we needed the most?" His voice, warm and sincere, carried the opening line.
"You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost. They tell me your blue skies fade to gray. They tell me your passion's gone away. And I don't need no carryin' on."
Despite herself, Jennifer felt the corners of her mouth turning up. Her foot began to tap in time with the rhythm.
As Lucas launched into the chorus, his voice growing stronger, "Because you had a bad day, you're taking one down."
The jealousy that had been gnawing at her since their phone call began to dissipate, pushed aside by the undeniable sincerity in Lucas's performance.