Summary: Maybe things were going south...

— — — — — —

Rehearsals were tight all week. Barely any free time for all campers; just rehearsing until their voice was dead or they were exhausted. Maybe too dramatic of a description but that's what Tess thought as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had minor eyebags with a major side of irritability. And what happened that one night with her cabin roommate wasn't making things better. She knew she was falling for him, but knew it wouldn't work out at a place like this.

Tess grabbed herself a cup of tea from her and Luke's mini kitchen to calm her nerves, and hopefully her mind too. As she took a brief sip, Luke walked in the room and took a good look at Tess. She had a messy bun in her hair and was wearing one of his old shirts, crazy. They weren't even together and she was already wearing his clothes. Wasn't her fault for not packing enough pajamas, presumably.

"Hey, Tess."

Tess turned around, looking at Luke with slightly tired eyes but had a small smile on, "Hi."

"You good? You look...tired."

"I-I'm fine, Luke. No need to worry."

Luke put his hand to Tess' shoulder, making her look at him even more, "Tess, are you sure? I mean—"

"I'm fine, Luke."

Tess' tone was stern, but she didn't mean it. She truly didn't, even when she was not in her best state. She moved Luke's hand off her and backed up a bit, giving him an irritated look, "I said I'm fine, okay?"

"...Okay, Tess. Jeez, I was just tryna check up on you."

"Maybe I don't want you to. Maybe I just want you to leave me alone!"

Tess' sudden outburst made Luke get even more quiet, followed by his nerves spiking a bit, "Chill, Tess. Ion mean no harm."

"Then just, leave me alone..."

Tess drunk the rest of her tea and went back to her room, leaving Luke bewildered but also concerned.

— — — — — —

The mornings were always rough, but not like this. Tess didn't even greet Luke with a 'good morning' or a simple 'hello.' Instead, she acted like he didn't exist. She avoided him at all costs, causing rehearsals to get awkward. They couldn't even get through a full song without her messing up choreo or trying to stay away from Luke. And speaking of him, Tess knew she was gonna have to come clean about her crush sooner or later. But during a rehearsal? Out of all places? And during an argument about messing up?!

"Every single time I'm tryna hit my high note, I keep gettin' lost behind her big head!"

Tess was appalled, shocked that Luke would even say that, "Oh no you DIDN'T!"

"You can't stand the spotlight for two seconds."

"But now that you mention it..."

Tess and Luke kept going back-and-forth until Axel stepped in and shut the whole thing down.

"ENOUGH! We run it again in three minutes. And this time, remember, it's on ameatur hour!"

Once Axel stepped back and went to talk behind the scenes, Tess just had to run her petty mouth.

"He means you, Luke."

"Just outta my way and do what you gotta do, Tess."

"I would be able to do that if you could stop stepping on my feet!"

"You're the one who can't do what we practiced a million times though."

"Here you go with the practices! I would be able to do everything right if you weren't distracting me every single time!"

And how do I distract you?"

"BY BEING SO FREAKING CHARMING, HANDSOME, HOT, AND A MILLION OTHER WORDS!"

Tess was about to argue back, not realizing what she just said until it was too late. She couldn't catch herself from this one.

"...What did you just say?!"

"I SAID...oh. N-nevermind—"

"Keep talking, cuz I know you aren't done."

"...I can't believe I came clean to you during a freaking argument! Why am I so stupid, why?! I mean, I've been pushing you away all day over my own struggles! As much as I wanna be a star, I can't do it with this schedule!"

Luke snapped his fingers, not liking Tess' attitude about herself one bit, "Don't talk like that, Tess. You know good and well you not stupid, first of all. Well, not that stupid. You at least have the confidence to be yourself and tell me something serious, even if it came in the form of an argument. And needing some space is important, even if we just friends. Just talk to me, Tess. Plus, I get it, being here is tough. But you can always switch back if—"

"I'm not switching back, even if the schedule here is more complicated than across the lake. I've been here for too long, Luke."

He chuckled before wrapping his arms around Tess' waist and practicing Walkin' In My Shoes, going through the full dance in one take. But here's the catch...Tess' face was flushed during the whole sequence.

"There. You finally did it. And with a flushed face too."

"...I know. I'm not stupid."

"You kinda are in some areas."

"Shut up. But keep talking because you still haven't responded to what I said."

"What did you say?"

"...Don't make me repeat it...please."

"You complimenting me and basically admitting you got a crush on me?"

"...Yes, about that."

"Do I have the same feelings for your cold self? Mhm."

"Are you telling the truth?!"

"If I wasn't, then would I be doing this?"

Luke got close to Tess, bringing her head up for a kiss. His soft lips made Tess' knees buckle, causing her to lean more into him. She blushed after he broke the kiss but kept her close, seeing her reacting to whatever just happened with butterflies while her ovaries exploded.

"...Did you just...there's no way."

"I just kissed you, Tess."

"...N-no, you didn't."

"Oh really?"

He kissed her again, but it was just a brief peck before they went back to rehearsing.

— — — — — —

Hours pass, and they finally get a solid run of the newest song. Things between Luke and Tess were still...weird slightly, but they made it work while in front of Axel.

"...Well?"

"Good. Maybe even great. But this competition isn't about 'maybe.'"

"Okay fine. But can you tell her to stay out of my light?"

"Well maybe if you would stay out of my way, it wouldn't be a problem!"

Tess wasn't serious when she said this. Instead, she was smiling like a damn idiot, prompting Luke to tickle her until she was breathless. But their lil cute shenanigans only lasted for a minute until Axel opened his chapped lips.

"Lemme see Tear It Down instead."

Everyone on stage was irritated, out of it.

"Let's reset, people! Come on, move! This has to be perfect. Camp Rock isn't gonna know what hit 'em."