A/N: songs to set the scene:

- Good Things by Dan + Shay
- Lose You to Love Me by Selena Gomez

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AJ's POV

"What's the matter?" I ask once we exit the building. "I'm sorry?" Sarah asks standing across from me confused. I watch as she defensively crosses her arms. "Why are you trying to get me to talk to Sofia? Why is everyone trying to get me to talk to Sofia?" I ask leaning against the wall behind me looking out over the parking lot. "If I haven't done something it's because I'm not comfortable enough to do anything yet. I don't need everyone worrying about what I'm doing if it doesn't pertain to my job. I don't want you to push me to talk to Sofia just like I don't want anyone else pushing me to talk to her because I am not ready. Okay?" I ask feeling tears in my eyes from the frustration. Sarah notices and sighs to herself before nodding and wrapping her arms around my waist. "I'm sorry. I'm just on edge because I don't know if I should be worried. I mean I know you wouldn't cheat but Sofia's really intimidating. I've never had to face her and then being in the same room with the two of you," she starts to trail off into my chest as I kiss the top of her head running my hand through her hair.

"I'm sorry," I say rocking us softly, "but don't overthink it. Just try to enjoy yourself. This whole movie sort of revolves around you. You're the fucking EVIL QUEEN," I say, and she laughs a little. I place kisses all over her face earning more laughs. "Now come on, let's go back inside," I say before Sarah pulls me back towards her. With the force she uses to pull me back, I accidentally push her against the wall. She meets my lips with a mind-blowing kiss. "What was that for?" I ask still a bit stunned she did that in public. "I'm just reminding your lips of what mine feel like," she says winking. "They definitely don't mind the reminder, but they could never forget. Come on goof, before they think I've kidnapped you," I laugh pulling both of us back into the building heading towards the studio.

~~

As soon as we make our way back inside, I notice Cameron back in the booth. I sigh causing Sarah to peck my cheek before letting go and making her way back to China. I look around the room noticing Sofia sitting next to Dove and Booboo on her phone. "You can do this," I mutter to myself after taking a deep breath. I make my way towards the small group silencing whatever Dove and Booboo were trying to tell Sofia. "Umm...." I start off, looking at Dove and Booboo before rubbing the back of my neck and looking down at Sofia having caught her attention. "Can we talk?" I ask Sofia and hear Dove scoff. "I wouldn't," Dove mumbled thinking I hadn't heard but in fact I had. I turn my attention back to the blonde and return her scoff, "Good thing I wasn't asking you, huh?" I snap at her softly before turning back towards Sofia.

"Well, that's great but really what would Sarah say? You know what they say, 'once a cheater, always a cheater'," Dove says. With that last comment, I turn back towards her with a glare. She was definitely pushing all the right buttons today. I lean forward looking directly into Dove's eyes. "AJ," Sarah calls from behind me. I ignore Sarah continuing to stare at Dove who began to grow uncomfortable. "You know Dove, I used to be so angry at you, hate you even. When Zach found me in England and I told him what happened, he told me something that Buddha once said, 'There are three things that cannot be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth'," I say smiling slightly, "So I'm not angry anymore cause I know in the end karma is a..." "AJ!" Sofia cuts me off. Hearing her say my name makes me stop talking and look up at her.

She was staring at me challengingly and I stood up straighter adjusting my clothes. I turn my attention and was now glaring at Sofia. "Right," I draw out the word snickering looking between Sofia and Dove. "Friends over fiancée, well ex-fiancée now," I shrug as I turn around ignoring everyone. "AJ I..." I shake my head making Sofia stop her words.

"Somethings never change," I make my way back over towards the soundboard turning towards Tim, "Do you think we got everything that we need?" I ask leaning over the back of my previous chair. "Unless you don't know how to fill in the recording of them singing together into the rest of the song then we have everything we need," Tim says. I nod before turning towards everyone. "You guys are free to go. We have everything we need for today," I say taking a seat in the chair turning back towards Cameron who was exiting the booth with a smile before looking at everyone.

"Umm...ma'am? I never recorded my part?" Jadah speaks up catching my attention and making me turn towards her. "Shit, I'm so sorry. Come on I'll show you how to do it," I tell her standing up from my chair nodding towards the booth. She smiles skipping behind me into the booth. "Okay so put these on and I'm going to play Dove's verse since you're singing with her during that part. When it comes on, I'll give you a thumbs up for you to start singing okay?" I ask sitting her on the stool, then I pull it closer to the mic. She nods and I give her a soft smile before walking out closing the door. I take a seat seeing everyone still sitting around the room. "AJ," Sarah says getting my attention as she makes her way towards me squatting in front of my chair. "Are you okay?" She asks pulling my attention between her and Jadah who was going over her verse softly in the booth as she waited for us. "I'm fine. I'm sorry," I say looking everywhere but at the girl in front of me. She sighs before pulling me into a hug. I place my head against her stomach and inhale her soft vanilla lavender scent to calm myself down. She kisses the top of my head before stepping back and looking down at me, not fully believing that I was okay.

"So, lunch?" Sarah turns making everyone look at her while I start Dove's part of the song and give Jadah a thumbs up to start. "Lunch sounds great," China chimes making her way towards the door and opening it giving everyone a look to move out of the room with Sarah. "We'll be back in an hour to finish the next two songs," China says over her shoulder. I nod and throw a thumbs up in her direction. "You know, you shouldn't fall into the blond one's tricks. Ignoring her will just drive her crazy so the worst thing you can do is ignore her. She craves the attention," Tim states as I nod knowing that he was right. "Thank you," I mumble as he pats my shoulder. "No problem, kid," he says before we both turn our attention back towards Jadah.

~~

I had just finished completing the song when everyone came piling back into the room chatting continuing their discussions from lunch. It was just Jadah and me because Tim left to go get himself some lunch. "Hey guys," I say before turning back towards the soundboard.

"Hey," China was the only one to acknowledge my greeting, turning towards the couches shocked no one else said anything. She shook her head looking back at me. "We brought you lunch." As she hands me the bag, I look around noticing Sarah wasn't with the group. "Thanks! Where's Sarah?" I ask as I take mine and Jadah's bags from China's hand. "She had to go reshoot some scenes for Charmed. She said she'd be back as soon as she could and to just skip her song for now," a groan escapes my lips as China explains where my girlfriend is. I slump back in my seat and look into the bag to see what was waiting for me.

"Hmm, there's no way Sarah ordered me this. Jadah, what did you get?" I ask looking over at the young girl's bag before she smacks my hand away from her food. I look up at China confused. Sure, Sarah and I eat together a lot more than non-married couples do but there was stuff that I didn't order when I was with her. "I did," Sofia mumbles and I nod not turning towards her as I eye the food. The smell of platanos and what smells like a Cuban sandwich fill my nose. A small grin grows upon my lips before I shake the feelings away, "Thanks." I take a bite and turn towards the soundboard, "Everyone ready to hear the first song?" I ask as I cover my mouth full of food. I hear a collective yes before I press play.

When the song finishes, I turn around and look at the group on the couch. "So, what do you think?" I ask. I grab my water bottle from the table where Sarah left it earlier and wait to hear the criticisms from the peanut gallery, aka Blondie. "You've known how to do this the whole time?" Cameron asks a little surprised. He wasn't the only one surprised in the room. A huge grin appears on my face, and I nod confirming these talents. "Of course," I say confidently, kicking my feet up on the table in front of me. "Why is this the first time I'm learning of this talent? This is so dope. Why are you just now getting on a project like this?" Cameron asks making me start to feel a twinge of regret and just shrug it off. "I just didn't have my priorities straight," I answer him before turning back towards Jadah who already finished her food. I hadn't realized that Sofia was staring at me from across the room.

~~

Sofia's POV

"Why is this the first time I'm learning this? This is so dope. Why are you just now getting on a project like this?" Cameron asks AJ after we hear the full song. These questions caught my attention because I didn't know what AJ was going to say. I knew she had a passion for music and art. When we were younger, I had dance and singing, and she had drawing, photography and music. Music brought us together, and I knew the day she dropped out of school to follow me to LA she was throwing a lot away for me. I never wanted her dreams to get thrown away or put on hold because of me. Now seeing her here in her element. I couldn't ignore the feelings it stirs up. I was re-falling in love with her, or maybe I was just realizing that my love for her never went away.

I hear AJ start to answer Cameron and turn my attention back towards where Jadah and her were sitting. "I just didn't have my priorities straight," AJ answers turning her chair back to her food. I'd be lying if I said that answer didn't hurt me a little bit, but I know that I can't blame her for that answer either. She had done all of the sacrificing in our relationship, and I never truly showed her my appreciation.

~~

AJ's POV

"It was Jadah's idea to add that extra number in there. She said it would be great to have a dance break because you guys would probably have to have one there anyway," I say and fist-bump the younger girl before she leans back in her chair proud. "We were supposed to record 'Queen of Mean' next but Sarah isn't here right now so our next song is 'Do What You Gotta Do'," I say turning in my chair towards the door and feel relief at the sight of Tim walking in with Cheyenne Jackson. "Ah speak of Hades himself," I say laughing to myself, getting up and walking up to the two men. "Nice to see you again AJ," Cheyenne greets me pulling me into a hug. "How's everything been?" I ask him as we pull away. "Good! I'm excited," he answers excitedly. "I'm excited for you," I say as I look for the lyric sheets for him and Dove.

'Do What You Gotta Do' was one of my favorite songs for the film so far, and I just hoped Dove and Cheyenne could make the scene just as great when filming starts. As Dove and Cheyenne were looking over the sheet, I start giving suggestions on how they should record the song. "Okay, you two are going back and forth in this song which you already know having read the script. Go ahead and get in the booth and I'll play the music for you to get a feel for the song. We'll go through a few times to make sure you both feel ready then we'll record this sucker," I instruct them as they walk towards the booth door.

I turn back towards the couches a little confused. "You guys staying? This will probably be the final song of the day since I need to work with the writers on the other four songs," I state, hoping that they all leave so I could be alone to work. "Oh, you know I'm most definitely staying. Not getting rid of me that easily Collins," China replies as she settles more into the couch. I look over at the others who seem to be having conversations through their eyes. "I'll stay," I hear the quiet voice making my heart unintentionally flutter. My eyes look over at Sofia, who's fiddling with the hem of her shirt. Cameron and Booboo look at each other nodding in silent agreement. "See ya guys later," Cameron excitedly hops off the couch pulling me into a hug. As he and Booboo walk out, Booboo puts out his fist for a fist-bump. I acknowledge him and he gives me a satisfied smile.

Anna quickly follows the two boys out of the room, and I turn my attention back to the girl sitting next to me. Jadah readjusts in her seat and waits for me to tell her to push the right buttons. "Alright Little J, see that blue button and the number 3? Press both of those for me," I instruct my young assistant. It only took a few run throughs for Dove and Cheyenne to get comfortable and get into a groove. I didn't need to change too many things, but I did want to pull some of the funny personality I know Cheyenne has into the song. "Hey Cheyenne, the part where you go 'Show me some respect,' I want you to try and hit a higher note," he nods at my suggestion and gives a thumbs up.

I was having Cheyenne redo some of his parts when Kenny walked into the studio. We collectively welcome him into the room, and he stands behind my chair. I feel an arm drape over my shoulders. "How's it going?" He asks leaning forward to look at my notes in front of me. I chuckle at his eagerness. "It's going," I shrug nonchalantly. Tim huffs at my modest answer. "She's very talented. You picked a good one for this project, Kenny," Tim boasts, which makes me smile. This appreciation feels good. "We finished 'Good to Be Bad' and we're almost done with 'Do What You Gotta Do.' Do you want to hear our opening number?" I beam over to Kenny who moves to lean against the soundboard to face me and Tim better. "Of course! Let's hear this masterpiece," he chuckles. I look over at my laptop to pull the file up, and press play. The song fills the room, and I watch Kenny intently to see if I can get a read on how he feels. "It's good, but Sofia," he starts and grabs the girl's attention, "can you get back in the booth for me real quick?" He asks, and she moves towards the booth. He follows behind her and I could tell he was giving her things to change based off his erratic hand motions.

He comes out and walks over to me giving Sofia a thumbs up to make sure she's ready. "AJ, don't hesitate to give them more direction to make sure the song is perfect. I know with everything happening you feel out of place, but this opening song needs to be perfect," I start the music while he talks to me. I give him a nod of understanding, knowing that I can't let him down since I'm sure he worked hard to get me this position.

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Song mentioned: Do What You Gotta Do by Dove Cameron and Cheyenne Jackson