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The sun was setting as Layla makes her way up to her house. As she looks up, she sees Luke standing on the porch. She stops as she starts picking at her nails again.
"Hey." She says quietly
"Hey." He says as he leans against the railing
"I'm sorry for overstepping." She says making her way onto the porch
"No, I..." He says stepping up to her, "I just had to leave. That was..."
"You don't have to say anything."
"Yeah, I do. Uh..." He starts, "I didn't have many regrets in my life except for running out on my parents. Especially my mom, so... thank you."
"You helped me feel more connected to my mom, so..." She nods, "I wanted to do the same thing for you."
"That was perfect." He says as he looks down holding his hand out. Layla takes it running her thumb over his palm. As she looks up, she notices how much closer he's gotten. She inhales sharply as she pulls away setting her hands on the railing.
"This is an interesting little relationship you and I have." Luke teases
Layla chuckles lightly as she rolls her eyes. The two go silent before Layla turns to him, "Oh my gosh, I almost forgot to tell you. Flynn said the video that my dad made is trending on YouTube."
When Luke stays silent giving her a confused look, she clarifies, "That's a good thing. That means people love our music. We'll definitely be getting calls from managers now."
Layla smiles as she turns back toward the railing. Luke's face falls as he watches her. He steps closer causing her to turn to him.
"There's something I have to tell you."
"Oh... okay."
"We figured out that we have unfinished business. That's why we came back as ghosts."
"Oh. What is it ?"
"We have to play the show we never got to play."
Layla nods, "At the Orpheum ? That makes sense." Layla jumps at the jolt between them. Luke flies back into the railing.
Luke winces, "We don't have a lot of time."
"What was that ? Are you okay ?" Layla asks frantically stepping closer
"We did something that we shouldn't have. The night that we missed the dance, we met this ghost, and he put this curse on us. And if we don't do what he says, then those jolts will destroy us."
"Okay, then you gotta do what he says. What does he want ?" Layla says
"He wants us to be in his house band for eternity. But if we can play the Orpheum soon, then we can avoid all that and actually cross over." He says standing up
Layla furrows her brows, "Cross over"? As in, like what ? Like go to heaven ?"
"That's what we're banking on."
"So it's either you cross over, be in his band for eternity, or be destroyed by those jolts ?"
"Yeah." He says softly
"That's just great." She chuckles humorlessly. Luke tries reaching out for her as she rushes toward the door.
"Layla..." He says, but the door closes
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Layla lays back on her bed throwing a random toy in the air. She looks over as someone knocks at her door. Julie walks in with Flynn and Janet behind her.
"I heard you storm in and figured something happened." Julie says as they sit on the bed with her, "You okay ?"
"Don't come too close. Anyone I seem to care about disappears." Layla mumbles tossing the toy in the air
"You can't get rid of me." Janet says rolling her eyes
"And I'm like the crazy glue of best friends." Flynn says plopping down on the end of the bed
"I just don't get it. Right when my life starts to get good. Great friends, great band, great guy... then bam !" Layla yells causing the girls to jump
"I seriously don't know why all of this is happening to you, but it has to get better sooner or later." Flynn says. Layla sits up catching Janet putting random things back in the crate she had of her mom's things.
"You don't have to do that." Layla sighs
"I know, but I get to check out all your mom's cool stuff." Janet says. Flynn frowns as she sits up reaching into the box.
"Whoa..." She says holding up a shirt. It was a white shirt with Sunset Curve printed on it, "Did you know this was in here ?"
"What the heck ?" Julie scoffs
"How do you think she got it ?" Janet says
"I... I don't know, but the guys said they didn't know my mom. Why would they lie ?" Layla mumbles
"Maybe they didn't. Maybe she knew them. She could be a fan !" Flynn says
"I mean, Sunset Curve was playing the Hollywood club scene around then." Julie says
"And mom was trying to get her music out there." Layla says before looking toward Julie.
"What if you were right ? What if the guys are connected to your mom ? You know, through music or something." Julie says
"Because she bought their T-shirt ?"
"Think about it." Janet interjects, "They were the ones who made you wanna play music again. Maybe she knew they could help you."
"So, you mean to tell me that my mom is somewhere out there planning all this ? If she wanted me to play music again, why wouldn't she just tell me herself ?" Layla says
"Maybe she can't. Maybe she has to do it another way. You know, through signs." Julie says
"You've been through these clothes how many times and haven't found this T-shirt ?" Flynn says holding up the shirt, "Why now ? This is another sign." Layla raises her brows as the girls look toward her. Flynn sighs, "I'm just saying. It's not over, Layla !"
"Really ? " Signs" ?" Layla says
"We're in a ghost band." Julie says, "It's a crazy world."
"Look..." Janet says sitting beside Layla, "you're gonna lose them no matter what. And it sucks. But they helped bring you back to life. Now it's your turn to help them. They have to cross over. Let them go."
Layla looks toward Julie. She knew that her cousin was losing them, too. She sighs as she leans her head against her shoulder.
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Julie opens the door to the garage with Layla trailing behind her. The two stop short noticing the boys moping. Reggie playing his guitar with a frown on his face, Alex trying to balance a drumstick on his forehead as he laid on the couch, and Luke was slouched on the floor with his head against the couch.
"This is depressing." Layla mumbles to her cousin
Julie sighs, "Snap out of it !"
Alex gasps as he falls off of the couch, landing beside Luke.
"Jeez, I think you broke Alex." Reggie says
"Do you guys want to cross over or what ?" Julie says as Luke helps Alex onto the couch
"Get it together !" Layla claps
"They're never gonna let us play the Orpheum." Luke says
"We're nobody." Alex says
"We're less than nobody." Reggie says, "We have no bodies."
Luke snaps toward him as the girls sigh.
"Someone once told me that you don't ask for permission." Julie says causing Luke to chuckles lightly
"You book gigs by doing." Layla says
"That was me." Reggie smirks
Layla shakes her head, "No, it wasn't."
"No, it wasn't." Luke says
"Yes, it was." Reggie mumbles
"This isn't over. We were brought together for a reason: to help each other." Julie says
"Yeah, but like Luke said, people don't just play the Orpheum because they want to." Alex says
"People don't," Layla points, "but ghosts do."
The boys look around to each other as Julie and Layla smile to each other. Julie crosses her arms over her chest as Layla looks toward Luke. His eyes already on her as a small smile falls over his features.
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