After talking it up on the café, I convinced the guys to go apologize to Julie. After all, she did not asked to be left alone on the dance. She deserved a grand gesture of apology.
In Sunset Curve fashion, we organized the harmonies for an apology song. Since I was actually nice to her, I was going to sit this one out, but I was going to be in the corner watching them and cheering.
"We've been here foreverrr. Maybe we should switch up the plan or something," I complained.
"Wait, she's coming, she's coming!" Reggie jumped and viciously tapped my shoulder. They scrambled into a line. "We're sorry," he sung as he popped from the left side.
Alex appeared from the right. "So sorry."
Luke kneeled with his arms wide open. "We're super-duper, crazy stupid—"
"Sorry!" they sung at the same time while doing jazz hands. They stood there in an uncomfortable silence as neither me nor Julie uttered a word.
I peeked my head from the corner I was hiding from. "And I'm just here for moral support," I sang in my best opera voice.
Out of breath, the bassist panted. "In case you missed it, we're really sorry."
"Yeah... yeah, I got part," she declared. I wanted to tell her how adorable she looked in her baby blue dress with its matching headband and beige jacket, but it was not the time.
"We've been here for, like, three hours..." My brother and Reg gave themselves a high-five, to which I rolled my eyes.
"We almost sang to your little brother," the other one swung upwards.
"They did. It was super funny," I snorted, almost achieving happy tears at the memory. Unknown to her, Julie did her best to contain the smile forcing itself on her lips. That's a relief, at least she's not mad at me.
"He comes in here a lot. Mainly to use the bathroom..."
"Yeah, it's not our favorite part of the day," Alex confessed.
Luke grabbed the lead of the conversation, focusing back to the reason we were here. "But, Julie, it wasn't okay that we flaked on the dance last night. We know we let you down."
"Yeah, and none of us wanted us to disappoint you. You're the best thing that's happened to us since we became ghosts."
"So, in hopes that you'll rejoin the band, we booked a new gig." My friend nodded once to remind me of my cue.
I had stolen a poster from the café, which I now know is called Eats & Beats. It was going to be a live event, especifically targeted for beginner bands. It would be an amazing opportunity for Julie and the Phantoms.
Ignoring the nerves exploding on my stomach, I took a step and handed it out to Julie. She barely left her deadly gaze currently attacking Luke to read the publicity.
Reg chimed in. "A mega imporant, life-changing gig."
"Oh, okay. Check it out. Tons of managers go here to listen to new bands. All we gotta do is blow them all away, and we're living the dream," the guy beamed.
In a beat, her head tilted devilishly. "So, this means a lot to you, huh?"
"Uh oh," I whispered. I could sense the glacier roaming the corner, getting prepared to hit our Titanic.
"Kind of how playing in front of my whole entire school meant a lot to me," she finished deadpanning.
"Sounds like sarcarsm." Oh, my innocent Reginald Peters. He gasped. "I'm starting to think our plan isn't working."
"Look, we know we messed up, but we need you in the band."
"Of course you do, because without me, no one can see you guys playing," she snapped through her sarcastic smile. "You know, I thought the music that we were writing was special, but you're too obsessed to your past to even care."
"I do care! Our band has a real chance at greatness. I'm not gonna let that get away from us again." Luke's brows furrowed.
She squinted. "Uh-huh. Right. So then why did you bail on me to get back at Trevor?"
What should I do? Oh god. I feel like it's not my business, but it is at the same time. I put on my softest voice I could manage. "They're not gonna do that again. We'll even rehearse two times harder, I promise."
"Don't save him, Liz," she sighed. "I'll tell you why. 'Cause there's only one thing you care about, and that's yourself ."
We were at a loss of words. She stormed off, her sneakers leaving their squeaky noises behind. He followed her until the entrance, comprehending it was not worth it to keep up. She wouldn't be willing to listen.
I didn't need to see his face to know the guy was doing puppy dog eyes. He's used to fighting, that I'm aware, but he's not used to the feelings growing on his heart and breaking it open.
"Dude, she didn't mean it," Alex reconforted, hands on his pockets.
Luke glanced at us with his glass eyes once before poofing away.
"Where's he going?" Reggie thought out loud.
"Where do you think? Remember what today is?" The three of us sighed, kind of tired of the whole fighting situation.
Yes, I was still mad at Luke. Not mad, furious is a better description, 'cause his stuborness and determination can rub on the other two quicker than lightning. Still, his intentions were at a good place, so I understand why he did what he did.
I grabbed a hand from each one. "C'mon, guys, I'm gonna do a last effort to stitch this band up. We know what's our job."
"Wait, what's our job?" Reg whispered to me, thinking my brother wouldn't hear him.
"Talk to Julie," he clarified while containing the rolling of his eyes. We don't read other minds, yet we tend to be on the same mind field. "We can't give up."
I closed my eyes and we were on the Molina's living room. Julie was alone, sitting on the couch with a book resting comfortably on her lap.
"Hey, you, uh, got a second?" Alex began. It reminded me of the moments when he came in profusely embarassed when the band broke something of my property in the garage. That was back when the band was boys only.
"Oh my gosh, she can't see us anymore!" "Oh, right. Yep."
I wiped his cheek with my thumb. "Have I told you how handsome you are?"
His goofy smile switched into a mischevious one."Nope, but you can keep going."
"Gross." "Julie, please."
"I already told you I'm done with the band."
"Yeah, we know, all right? But before you decide that forever, we just... We wanted you to know that Luke isn't as selfish as you think."
"Yeah, you've got him all wrong."
"Pains me to admit it, but they're right," I chattered.
She skimmed the pages of her book. We glanced at each other, unsure on the next coarse of action. What else can we do to change her mind?
"You remember that song 'Emily'?" Alex mentioned. "Can we at least show you who's that actually about?"
Okay, that could totally work! We were planning on visiting later, anyways.
She finally looked up. Since I was the least targettable, she turned to me, as if saying 'is this worth it or not?' I pushed the loose strand of hair of my ponytail behind my ear. "If you say so, we swear to leave you alone after coming with us."
Julie slowly closed the pages. "Fine, but it better be quick."
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Because Julie could not teleport like us, we had to accompny her by walking. It didn't take us long enough to find the house of the Patterson family. We chose to hid behind the bushes because Luke's parent could probably spot Julie.
It looked exactly as I remembered it. The paint was slightly paler, sure, but the furniture, the lights, and even the plants were positioned exactly the same. It was like a déjà vu or a super realistic dream.
"So, Emily's his mom?" Julie whimpered.
The Pattersons were too busy fixing the table to notice the rustling of their bushes. "Yeah. Yeah, Luke comes here a lot," Alex sighed.
This was the fourth time I have visited them since our death. First, I came alone, hoping to see some familiar faces or a sense of comfort once I swallowed the truth that my parents were not around. The second and third time I had brought Alex and Reg with me, keeping an eye for our heartbroken friend.
"He thinks we don't know but... we've been following him," I choked. My throat was kind of closing in the pathetic attempt to hold back tears. He didn't deserve this, no one does.
I realized something grazed on my slightly shaky hand. It was Reggie, who's face was pale as all of his gears shifted into serious mode. "All he does is hang out like this and watch them. They never really do anything, though." When he squeezed my hand, my shaking decreased.
"They're having cake. That's something," Julie tried to put on a positive spin. It was chocolate-flavored, their son's favorite treat.
The band knew the real reason behind the dessert; a sadder reason than perception could let at first sight. "It's a... it's a birthday cake. For Luke."
Luke was on the kitchen counter, holding his knees while crying to his clueless parents. "I never knew Luke was hurting this much," Julie revealed.
I sniffled and continued our train of thought. "Yeah. It's even worse because when we died, he left on bad terms."
"You know, his parents didn't want their 17-year-old in a rock band, so... he just left. He never got the chance to make up with them," Alex said, but it came more as a whisper.
Luke stood up and groggily walked up to the dining table. Although he understood his parents wouldn't see him anytime soon, he moved down and blew the candle. His parents looked around the room, hoping for more signs his son was around.
Reggie's thumb rubbed softly the back of my hand. "That's why Luke was so angry. If Trevor had given Luke credit for writing all the songs, then... his parents would've known his dream was worth chasing."
Julie took a pause to breathe. "They would've been so proud."
The Pattersons proceeded to hold hands, even leaving the space for Luke in the middle. Together, they blewed again the candles, a gesture just moving enough to bring our friend into tears and sniffles.
Leaves whooshed when Alex turned to Julie. "We know how bad it hurts when someone that should've had your back completely lets you down... We never meant to make you feel that way."
Reggie helped me stand up with him. Somehow, I managed to let myself smile on our last plead. "Julie, we love our band, and Luke does too. Please give us another chance."