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missjoolee · 1 year

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More Than a Long Weekend

Making of Sunset Curve's Sophomore Album

(note from me, missjoolee. i have no clue how this happened. but it’s a spiral that ripped itself from my being that i’ve decided to spruce up just a touch [with some very good additions from my group chat 😘] and post. I don’t have the energy or time to fully flesh it all out for a full fic, but i decided i could at least write a scene to accompany the rest. hope you all enjoy!)

sunset curve released a stellar freshman album. they had a big tour and for their next one, the label wants to do a mini documentary of that process

Ray is the head videographer and producer of the film team.

Julie was originally just there as his assistant, but her knowledge of the music creation process had her making suggestions of what types of questions to ask, milestones to film, and Ray decided to take a step back and have her "run the show" so to speak

which you can tell something changes because in the first week or so of one on one interviews, all the guys are kinda nervous, but then they suddenly are much more chill and smile more

Julie is constantly talking to the guys to keep them briefed on what the crew will be doing at any given time, explaining why whenever necessary, and the crew (and the rest of the band) slowly become aware of a blossoming something between her and the lead singer

cue the jim halpert looking directly into the camera moments from Reggie and Alex whenever luke goes off on a enthused tangent while speaking to julie. Cue the crew filming Julie's briefs with the band just so they don't miss any of the looks traded between the two

cue the crew and the band using their phones to sneak footage whenever they stumble upon a soft moment

Ray was surprised at first by all the extra down time footage that was getting recorded at first but then realizes whats happening. so instead of all that footage hitting the cutting room floor, it all gets put in a separate folder. suddenly, he's covertly pulling the guys in for private interviews. he's doing the same with the crew to talk about juke moments (if they want to) (Reggie jumps IMMEDIATELY onto dragging the smitten luke through the mud. telling stories of dumb things Luke has done because he was trying to impress julie)

and then he pulls luke and julie in separately to record a sort of "evaluation" of the documentary process (How was your experience with our crew? Julie took the reigns early on, how was it, working with her?)(julie's was more like the usual interview, talking on her experiences working with the different members of the band. a lot of questions were fishing for candid comments about luke)(and a lot of the more professional questions/answers do get used for SC's documentary)

then the album release is fast approaching. Julie is super proud of these boys. she knows the album is going to fly up the charts. but there is melancholy as after the release party, the documentary crew will move onto the next thing. She has all of the guy's numbers (having had to call all of them at some point to be like "where the hell are you? we are supposed to be doing this") and she's been texting Luke about a lot more non work related things recently.

but she doesn't know if that will keep up once she's not seeing them every week

Just prior to the release, the guys have a concert where they plan to debut one of their new songs. The crew is there because of this. the crowd is told that it's being recorded. Julie is hanging out side stage. Luke can see her getting into the music from his spot at the front of the stage.

Luke loves it when he can see the crowd singing along to one of his songs. It's even better when he can hear them almost drowning him out even with the mic. It's amazing when they are getting into a song so new, they've never heard it before but can really feel it. But as they debut their latest single, he discovers he was wholly unprepared for the emotions coursing through him after glancing to the side and seeing Julie belting the lyrics along with him. The only one in thousands. The lights doused her in pink, red, blue and yellow, gleaming off the luscious curls he's daydreamed about running his fingers through more than once. Her smile is so big he can't help but return it before looking back to the front.

Dread flashes through him, tingling along every nerve ending and taking up residence in his stomach. "It's almost over." His body goes on autopilot, stepping back from the mic and looking at his hands move along the frets for the change up between the chorus and the second verse, as he wrestles with his mind to focus on finishing the song. Luckily the muscle memory from all the rehearsals they've been doing in preparation allow his mind to wander a bit, but turning back to the crowd let's him push it to the back of his mind until the song comes to an end. He walks back to the drumkit riser where there are bottles of water sitting for him and takes a moment. He can hear Reggie talking to the crowd, giving him a small reprieve, but he's not concentrating on that as he re-hydrates and uses a small towel to wipe the sweat off his face. His brain is whirling because up until now, the thought of the documentary crew finishing up their work has always been something in distant future. But now, the album is done. The final milestones of the process are about to happen and then they will be saying goodbye to the documentary team that has been with them this past last year. He'll have to say goodbye to Julie, and he really really really doesn't want that.

Alex does a small drum beat, mostly with the kick drum, right next to Luke's ear to let him know he's noticed something is up but to knock it off and get out of his head to continue the show. That's right! He can figure this all out later. He still has time. All he can do right now is engage with the crowd and put on a killer show for them.

The rest of the set goes great. Luke is able to refocus having determined he'll figure out what to do about Julie later, his energy bouncing back up to 120%. He still finds his eyes glancing over to Julie often. Her smiles always widening when she notices, causing his to as well.

Once the final chords ring out, he's breathing hard, grinning from ear to ear as the crowd roars their approval. He pulls the guitar strap over his head and hands his guitar to one their roadies. They wave to the crowd, Reggie and him throwing the remaining picks from their mic stand supply to the fans. Alex comes from behind his kit to toss his drumsticks as well. Luke basks in the adrenaline, the sounds, before flinging his arms around his boy's shoulders and taking a bow together to the continued roar.

Patting them on the back once they are standing up again, they all turn and head offstage to where Julie is waiting with a giant grin on her face, pride lighting up ever feature. Luke doesn't even think, he just makes his way directly over to her. Her grin begins to drop slightly in confusion, not understanding the intense purpose of his stride. He stops in front of her, his brain just barely beginning to catch up with his actions but he's made it here and he's not about to let it talk him out of this. He reaches up and cups her cheek in his palm, hesitating. The confusion leaves her eyes and they begin to sparkle. It can't just be the reflection of the stage lights, can it? Her grin creeps back up and that's gotta be a good sign, so he takes the plunge dipping his head down to kiss her. She immediately pushes up into the kiss, standing on her toes. Her hands drift up his chest like live wires to help her keep balance. He'd thought nothing could beat the high of an amazing performance but this, this moment with Julie, is euphoric in comparison.

Neither of them remember that there is a whole crew of people recording. They both miss the glance between Reggie, Alex, and one of the cameras. The same glance they've missed every time they've gotten lost in conversation while the cameras were rolling. They don't hear the cheers from some of the crew, drowned out by the still roaring crowd, celebrating this turn of events after months of watching the two's feelings for one another grow.

It takes Alex's snapback hitting him in the back of the head for Luke to pull away, his eyes not straying once from hers. He watches as her eyes drift behind him and suddenly her face comes crashing to hide against his chest. Looking behind him, he sees the cameras, and behind them, Ray, and he can't help but feel a smidge embarrassed. Not enough to wipe the smile off his face or dampen the happiness coursing though him right now though. Glancing back down, Julie's curls are all he can see and this time he doesn't have to dream. He gently runs his fingers along them to try and get her to show her face again. She doesn't, but he can feel her smile pressed over his heart and that works for him too.

anyway. the documentary comes out and it does well. but then years later after they get engaged, all of her coworkers show up to the party with giant grins on their faces

and Ray interrupts the festivities to announce he has a surprise for the couple.

they are presented with a high quality documentary of the beginnings of their relationship. WITH interviews.

there are even milestones from personal cameras. not just from that beginning time, but from other moments throughout their relationship

they are in love. everyone knew it was happening. and they are super grateful getting to watch it happen all over again

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