[1.9]
"i love you too, carrie"
They reappeared at the Hollywood Ghost Club, to the side of the stage. Mickey looked at the guys and saw that they were all in different clothes. Reggie was wearing a red suit, Alex a pink one, and Luke a blue suit. Mickey then glanced down at herself and saw that she was no longer in her sweatpants and leggings. She was now dressed in a dark green, silk dress which was similar to the purple one Caleb had gifted her.
"Well, don't you look nice." They looked up to see Caleb walking up to them.
"Sweet threads," Reggie nervously mumbled.
"How - how'd you know our sizes?" Alex asked, looking down at his sleeves.
"Actually, mine's a little tight, which I don't appreciate," Mickey muttered while trying to pull the short dress down a little.
"That's your question?" Luke asked, glaring at Alex.
Caleb sighed as he looked over them. "I know you boys aren't my biggest fans — though I thought Michelle and I were on the fast track to being friends. And an eternity at my club might seem overwhelming, but I just put you in sweet threads, so humor me this one last pitch. Now, for starters, isn't it nice that you're all here together? And believe me, everything you want, including Willie, is here."
Mickey reached over and held Alex's hand comfortingly. It wasn't fair for Caleb to use Willie like that. Then Caleb stepped towards Luke, focusing on him.
"And on my stage, you don't vanish when the music stops. You soak in the applause for as long as you want. The connection that you will feel with that audience will be like no other. I promise."
Mickey then placed her hand on Luke, letting him know that she was there for him — they were all in it together. However, as she moved, Caleb zeroed in on her.
"What happened, Michelle? I was so upset when you never came back to the club," Caleb said, pouting.
"Well, I decided that I quite like owning my soul. Guess I need to learn to read the fine print before I make any more promises," she snapped back.
Caleb eyed her up and down, taking a step closer. Reggie grabbed her hand and pulled her into his chest protectively.
"I can give you everything you want, Michelle. You were ready to accept my offer happily. What's a tiny little soul in the whole mix of things? Think of it," he said in a persuasive tone. "You, center stage, with a sold-out crowd. All eyes on you. Mesmerized as you dance your little heart out. Can't you just feel the music moving through you? Let me make your dreams come true."
Mickey swallowed thickly and tried to block out his words. Then they heard the crowd outside cheer loudly. "Shh. Do you hear that? They're waiting for you."
Another jolt hit them suddenly, and Caleb faked a wince.
"That one looked like it hurt," he said, while someone helped him slip on his overcoat. "Now, let me remind you, you don't know if playing the Orpheum is your unfinished business. But one of you already knows that, and something tells me, she hasn't broken the news."
Caleb looked pointedly at Mickey, who gulped. The guys all turned to her with confused expressions, but she kept staring at Caleb.
"Do you really have time to make that mistake?" he went on, smirking evilly. "I suggest you accept my offer because the clock is ticking."
Another jolt hit them and Mickey cried out, holding onto her chest.
"Ouch," Caleb said, unsympathetically. Then he headed to the stage. "You know where to find me."
"Mickey, what was he talking about?" Reggie asked her softly. She avoided all their looks and stayed focused on Caleb.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm back!" he greeted the roaring crowd. Then the music started.
"It doesn't matter. Not anymore," she muttered weakly. Without her body telling her to, she took a step towards the stage. But Luke quickly grabbed her and held her back.
"You know you wanna take a chance and be a little bit bad. Ain't nothing quite like living on the edge. So get ready to go. I'm chasing down a thrill, and lookin' fit to kill. So listen to the words a wise man said. He said, Covington, I got an offer that you can't refuse."
Caleb danced across the stage, back over to them. He smirked at Mickey while putting out his hand. "C'mon, Mickey. You've got nothing to lose."
Mickey flashed on stage, leaving behind the boys. She was at Caleb's side and the crowd cheered when they saw her. Caleb took her hand as they started to dance, him twirling her around the stage.
"You got nothing to lose, boys. Lose. You got nothing to lose, boys. Lose. You got nothing to lose. Welcome to my stage, boys. You know you want a little taste. Life's short, not a minute to waste. I'll take you higher than you've ever been. So come over and tell me how you'd like to begin."
From the side of the stage, the boys couldn't help but tap their feet to the beat. They watched as Mickey danced across the stage, looking carefree and happy. Reggie felt a tugging feeling in his chest, telling him that he should be up there with her.
"You got nothing to lose, boys. Lose. You got nothing to lose, boys. Lose. You got nothing to lose."
Alex was the next to go. He couldn't help but spin his drumstick between his fingers, and the next thing he knew, he was flashing on stage in front of a drum set.
"Alex, show me what you've got," Caleb sang.
And then a few seconds later, Reggie was flashing on stage as well.
"Reggie, swing it, baby." Then Caleb pointed to Luke on the side of the stage, who was now holding his guitar. "Now Luke, yeah. You and me." He tried to resist coming on stage as hard as he could, but the pull was too strong.
"How do you like my new band?" Caleb sang to the crowd. Then he grabbed Mickey's hand again and pulled her close. They danced across the stage for the rest of the song. "So come over here, baby. I got what you need. Let yourself go crazy. All bets on me, it's electrifying. From your hat to your shoes. I feel it in the air. We got nothing to lose, nothing to lose, yeah."
When the song ended, the four ghosts took in the applause of the crowd. They were all waiting for that moment to come where they disappeared, but it never came as they soaked it all in. Caleb smirked when he saw the mesmerized look on Mickey's face. He showed her off to the adoring crowd, knowing that she was his.
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Back at the Orpheum, Julie was having to accept that something had happened and the others weren't coming. She was terrified that they had already zapped out of existence, but she could at least hope. It was hard, knowing that she would have to perform without them, but she was able to think of her mother and find the courage, no matter how much it hurt.
She still had a show to do — she owed them that much.
Meanwhile, in the audience, both Carrie and Trevor Wilson were nervous as they took their seats. Trevor had felt sick at his stomach ever since he'd seen the video, but now he was to see it with his own eyes to believe it. And he was terrified of what he might see.
And Carrie had been nervous all day. She knew that Mickey's jolts were getting more painful and happening more often, meaning that she didn't have a lot of time. She was also worried because Mickey had told her that she would come by before the show, but that never happened. Carrie wouldn't feel better until she saw Mickey with her own eyes.
They both took in a deep breath as Julie walked on stage.
"Welcome to Live at the Orpheum," the announcer said. "Now, give it up for Julie and the Phantoms."
The crowd cheered for her as Julie stepped up to the microphone, setting the dahlia on the keyboard. "Hi. I'm Julie," she greeted nervously. "Um, tonight, I'd like to dedicate this song to my mom, who's been there with me every time I've played. And thank her for... not giving up on me. I'd also like to dedicate tonight's performance to four special friends who have changed my life completely."
Trevor leaned forward in his seat while Carrie frowned. The way that Julie was talking and the way that her eyes had glossed over made it seem like they were already gone.
"Who have brought music back to me. It was their dream to play here, and this is for them. This song is for anyone who's lost their way. Step into your greatness. Don't give up. Stand tall. Thank you."
Julie looked up as if she were looking at her mother before playing the starting notes on her keyboard. "Don't blink. No, I don't want to miss it. One thing, and it's back to the beginning. Cause everything is rushing in fast. Keep going on, never look back. And it's one, two, three, four times that I'll try for one more night. Light a fire in my eyes. I'm going out of my mind."
Carrie, despite thinking the song was beautiful, felt dread creep up on her when the band didn't flash in during the chorus like they did for every other song.
"Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'ma stand tall. I'ma stand tall. Whatever happens, even when everything's down, I'ma stand tall. I'ma stand tall. I gotta keep on dreaming cause I gotta catch that feeling. Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'ma stand tall. I'ma stand tall."
Both Julie and Carrie could've choked on their relief when Alex and his drum set flashed on stage. Trevor frowned and slowly leaned forward again, trying to get a better look at him. And then Reggie flashed in, playing his bass. Julie smiled happily at the two boys as she sang.
"Right now, I'm loving every minute. Hands down. Can't let myself forget it, no. Cause everything is rushing in fast. Keep holding on nevеr look back."
Luke flashed on stage, but he kept flickering as he played. Julie watched the spot where he was flickering and wished with all her heart that he'd stay.
"And it's one, two, three, four times that I'll try for one morе night. Light a fire in my eyes."
"I'm going out of my mind." Finally, Luke gained control and his body stayed. He stepped up to his mic with a smile and Julie excitedly ran over to him.
But one of them was still missing.
Mickey flickered on the stage for half a second before vanishing again. It had happened so quickly that the only ones to notice were the ones waiting for her. Julie belted the lyrics and the guys played, hoping she would come back just like Luke did.
"Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'ma stand tall. I'ma stand tall. Whatever happens, even when everything's down, I'ma stand tall. I'ma stand tall. "I gotta keep on dreaming cause I gotta catch that feeling. Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'ma stand tall. I'ma stand tall."
Julie shared an unnoticed, worried look with Reggie. They didn't know where Mickey was, and they didn't know how to get her back as the song was coming to a close. But they weren't the only ones to realize that the girl was in trouble.
Terrified that she'd never see her again, Carrie rose to her feet. It drew the attention of her father, but she didn't care.
"C'mon, Mickey," she whispered as tears welled up in her eyes. "Please."
And then there she was.
Mickey flashed on stage and grinned. Reggie was quick to join her side as she sang into her microphone. "Like I'm glowing in the dark. I keep on going when it's all falling apart. Yeah I know it with all my heart. Ooh, ooh. Never look back."
Trevor's face paled as he watched her on stage and heard her voice. It was Mickey. It was his Mickey, that he had spent years mourning, standing on that stage and playing his old guitar. He felt like he could breathe as he thought of the countless times he had wandered into her bedroom and cried over losing her. He watched her perform with the three boys he had once thought of as brothers and tears fell from his eyes.
Alex stood from his drums and grabbed the microphone as he sang. "Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'ma stand tall. I'ma stand tall."
"Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing I'ma stand tall. I'ma stand tall," Mickey sang, sharing Reggie's mic. He stared down lovingly at her before doing his part. "Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing I'ma stand tall. I'ma stand tall."
"Stand tall. Stand tall! Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'ma stand tall. I'ma stand tall. Whatever happens, even when everything's down, I'ma stand tall. I'ma stand tall. "I gotta keep on dreaming cause I gotta catch that feeling. Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'ma stand tall. I'ma stand tall."
They all moved to the end of the stage as the crowd cheered. Reggie grinned down at her as she held his hand, and he couldn't resist swooping down and kissing her, which sent the audience crazier. Mickey grinned before looking out at the crowd, where she spotted Carrie, who was smiling at her.
And then she looked right at her brother.
Whatever anger or resentment she had been feeling in the last few weeks left her body as she looked at him. She didn't care that he never talked about her. She didn't care that maybe it just hurt too much to tell Carrie about her. Mickey looked at her crying brother and she smiled.
"I love you, Bobby."
No, he couldn't hear her, but he could make out the words on her lips and he felt like he had on that day he lost her.
And then they bowed, and Mickey was gone from his life. Again.
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Julie walked out to the studio alone. She knew that she should feel happy that the ghosts had moved on, but it hurt, knowing that they were gone. She opened the doors and wandered in without turning on the lights. She sighed and looked up, wondering if they could hear her.
"Um, I know I already said this, but, uh, thank you, guys."
"You're welcome."
Alex groaned as Reggie spoke up.
"Dude!" Luke muttered.
Julie rushed to turn the lights on and saw the four ghosts she had thought she lost. They were all on the floor and in pain. They didn't even have the strength to get up. Mickey laid in Reggie's arms, crying as she held her chest.
"W - why are you guys here? I - I thought—" Julie was cut off as another jolt hit the ghosts. Mickey screamed and clenched her eyes shut, wishing the pain would go away. "No. No! I thought you crossed over. Why didn't you cross over?"
"I guess playing the Orpheum wasn't our unfinished business," Alex muttered, trying to sit up.
"Point Caleb." Reggie managed to grab a hold of a chair and pull himself into a sitting position before helping Mickey.
"We wanted you to think that we crossed over, so we pretended to," Luke explained, frowning. "We just... we had nowhere else to go."
Mickey sobbed into Reggie's chest as he held her. "We thought you'd go straight to bed," he told Julie.
"Yeah, well, I knew she was gonna come out here, but nobody ever listens to me," Alex said, sighing as he managed to stand up. However, another jolt hit them, and he almost fell back over.
"You have to save yourselves right now," Julie insisted, running over to them. "Go join Caleb's club. Please. It's better than not existing at all. Please, just go. Go! Poof out! Do something! Please. Do it for me. Please."
Reggie shook his head as she begged. "No. We're not going back there."
Luke walked up to Julie, crying. "No music is worth making, Julie, if we're not making it with you. No regrets."
Julie sobbed before throwing her arms around Luke in a hug. "I love you guys."
Mickey held back a choked sob as she leaned her head on Reggie's shoulder. But she stopped when they all noticed Luke glowing. Then it hit them. Julie had touched Luke.
"How can I feel you?" she asked, holding his hands.
"I - I don't know," he stuttered out. Julie gasped and then cupped his cheek. Luke stared down at her and held her hands before glancing back at the others. "I feel stronger."
"Alex, Reggie, Mickey, come on," Julie told them.
Reggie helped Mickey stand before the five of them hugged. As soon as they all touched Julie, they couldn't feel the pain from the jolts anymore, and they started to glow.
All except for Mickey.
She took a step back and none of the others noticed, too focused on how they were feeling.
"Woah. I don't feel as weak anymore," Reggie said.
"Yeah," Alex said, smiling. "Me neither. Not that, you know, I was ever that weak."
Caleb's stamped then floated off of their wrists and disappeared. "What do you think that means?" Julie asked as they all looked up at them.
Mickey took another step back from them.
Luke happily chuckled. "I think the band is back."
And then they heard Mickey scream. Another jolt rocked her body and she fell to the floor, crying. Reggie rushed to her side with a panicked look on his face.
"W - w - what? But - but we — wh - why aren't you better?" he asked, crying as he held her. "Y - you touched Julie. Y - y - you should be fine. You can't — I can't lose - no!"
"I'm s - sorry," she whispered, holding her chest. It felt like she was being ripped apart from the inside out. "I love you so m - much."
"No," he whimpered, holding her face. "I need you. I love you. Please."
"JULIE!" All of them but Reggie and Mickey turned to the door of the studio. They were all confused when they saw Carrie Wilson run in, still in her dress from the concert and with tears in her eyes.
"Carrie?" Julie questioned. "What are you—"
"Did I miss her? Where is sh — Mickey!" Carrie shouted, spotting her on the floor. Carrie rushed past Julie and crouched down in front of Mickey. Reggie slowly moved back with a confused look on his face.
"H - hey, Care Bear," she greeted weakly. Then another jolt hit. "AH!"
"No. No!" Carrie cried. "Y - you can't just go, Mickey. You can't. I can't lose you. G - go to Caleb's club. Please. You have to."
Mickey shook her head. "I can't. I won't. I d - don't belong there. You're the one that brought me back, Care. I - I couldn't make it back on my own like the others. Y - you saved me from him."
"You can't. You can't go. I love you too much, Mickey. I can't lose you." Another jolt hit Mickey and she screamed loudly. Carrie sobbed and reached for her hands, holding them tightly. "Please."
Mickey gasped when the pain left her body. It was so sudden that she almost fell back. And then like it had for the guys, her skin started to glow. Carrie looked down at their joined hands, confused, but she squeezed Mickey tighter, just happy she was still there.
"W - what?"
"Look at you," Mickey said. Though she was still crying, she smiled at the younger girl. "Saving me twice in one day."
"You're not hurting anymore?" Carrie asked, feeling a weight lift off her chest. And then they all watched as Caleb's stamp floated off Mickey's wrist. "That was his stamp?"
Mickey nodded and grinned happily. Then Carrie threw her arms around her and hugged her tightly. "I love you too, Carrie," Mickey whispered softly. "So much."
The two girls grinned at each other as they pulled away, still holding each other's hands.
"Uhh, I really hate to break up this cute little moment," Alex said, clearing his throat.
Mickey finally looked to Julie and the guys, who were staring down at the two girls with wide eyes. And Carrie was staring right back.
"Mickey, I can see them," she muttered with a shocked look on her face. Her gaze flickered across the three boys. "Like, see them, see them."
"Hold up!" Luke exclaimed, waving his arms. "You've got some major explaining to do, Mick."
"Yeah," Julie said, eying Carrie apprehensively. "You both do."