End of May // Luke Patterson

16

After a moment, the aunt said, "You know I'm only here to help, right?

"I know," Ray replied. "And sometimes I look a little annoyed... but I do appreciate you."

"You need me to look after Carlos, don't you?"

"Just a couple of hours."

She gently tapped his shoulder and stood before jogging off. "Mijo!"

---

Julie drew a birthday cupcake on her microphone. Her phone chimed with a message, she set her microphone down, and looked at it before laughing and saying, "Nick."

Reggie stuck his arm through the door and knocked.

"What are you guys doing?" Julie asked.

Reggie stuck his body through the door through the door as he said, "We're being classy." He held his right hand in an okay sign and winked.

Reggie walked in and went on to say, "Why are you still here? We're going in, like, 20 minutes."

The ghosts all walked through.

Julie let out a sigh. "I lied to my dad, so now I'm stuck in my room all night."

Alex said, "Yeah, but we were just at the venue. I mean, it's packed wIth VIPs, managers. It's kind of crazy."

"What are we gonna do about my aunt? She's downstairs!"

Ruth smirked lightly. "Don't worry about your aunt. We got that covered."

Luke went to Julie's window and opened it. "You're not taking the stairs."

Julie smiled as she understood. "Okay, let me get dressed. I'll meet you there."

Reggie and Alex blipped away.

Luke and Ruth grinned, snapped their fingers, and disappeared.

Julie opened her mom's box and smiled as she pulled a black, decorated vest out.

---

"Next up, Dirty Candy," the announcer said.

Julie arrived and asked, "Am I too late?"

"Too early," Flynn replied.

The audience cheered and Carrie said, "Hope you all came to have a great time." She giggled and the audience cheered and whooped.

Julie frowned. "Dirty Candy? How'd she get on the list?"

"Her daddy probably made a call," Flynn replied, causing Julie to sigh. She noticed Julie's pin. "I like this! Pretty flower."

"Thanks," Julie said. "It's a dahlia. My mom's favorite."

The boys, Ruth, Julie and Flynn watched as Dirty Candy performed.

Alex and Ruth suddenly blipped onto stage.

"What?" Julie questioned and the others shrugged.

Luke smiled, seeing Ruth on stage.

Alex did a little head flick and Ruth sassily snapped her fingers.

Everyone looked at Alex and Ruth as they rejoined the others.

"You two having fun out there?" Julie asked.

Alex glanced at Ruth and said, "Um, it's not Ruthie's or my fault, it's our feet. Put us back in, Coach." He and Ruth blipped away again.

Flynn glanced at Julie and the latter replied, "Oh, it's the guys and Ruthie."

The song ended and Alex and Ruth struck a pose and smiled before saying, "Making me blush."

"Thank you!" Carrie exclaimed.

"Alex, Ruthie," Luke said quietly as the two mentioned appeared with the group once again.

Alex chuckled before saying, "Hey, um... we were just... We were just doing that for you guys."

Ruth nodded. "Yeah, just for you guys."

"Mmhmm," Reggie hummed. "You can stop smiling now."

"Actually," Luke piped in, "Ruthie can keep smiling. She's got a pretty smile."

"Dude, you're so in love. That's my sister."

"Maybe I am. I know."

"I'm not gonna lie, that was kind of good," Julie said.

"I forget why I hate her so much," Flynn replied, leaning closer to Julie who nodded.

Carrie walked up to the group and said, "Hi, girls. Isn't it past your bedtime?"

"Oh, now I remember."

"If you're looking for Nick, he didn't come."

"Not why I'm here," Julie shot back.

The emcee spoke. "Okay, it looks like we're closing the night out with one more group. Julie and the Fat Ones."

Dirty Candy chuckled and everyone, who could see the ghosts, looked at Luke.

"Really?" Reggie said.

"Yeah, man, my handwriting sucks," Luke replied.

Ruth rolled her eyes. "Should've taken that pen from your hand."

"I would've taken it back."

"Then I would've grabbed it back and kept it from you."

"How?"

"I would've found out a way. Somehow."

Julie chuckled and walked onstage. She put her mic on the stand and said, "Hi. It's actually Julie and the Phantoms." She waited a moment. "Okay.

Julie began playing the piano and soon started singing.

The ghosts appeared on stage and the audience gasped.

Julie and Luke stepped closer together as they sang. Luke moved closer to Ruth and they sang together, sharing an intense look. Julie smiled at the two. If one didn't know the truth, they'd say the two were together.

Luke sang with Reggie and Ruth. Alex sang in his mic.

Julie walked to Luke and Ruth as she sang, and Luke and Ruth sang while repeating her words.

Alex and Reggie sang.

With the final words, Luke stared at Ruth with the familiar gaze whenever he looked at her.

When the song finished, they bowed and the ghosts disappeared. The audience cheered and clapped.

Julie spoke into her mic. "Thank you. We're Julie and the Phantoms. Tell your friends." She ran off stage.

"You were incredible!" Flynn exclaimed.

"Yeah, we were!" Reggie and Ruth agreed.

"Hey! Hey, whoever Carrie was trying to impress is coming this way," Luke said.

Ruth rubbed her hands together and squealed. "Oh, this is exciting!"

"Oh, it's-" Julie began.

"She looks all business!" Reggie noted. "Wait; who should do the talking?" His bandmates stared at him. "Oh, right. Julie. Julie!"

"You got this," Luke and Ruth encouraged.

The manager walked up to them and said, "Hi. I'm Andi Parker, and-"

"Julie," Ray called. "It's time to go."