Reggie was simply bouncing for Joy as we vanished to a beach. When my feet touched the sand I took in my surroundings of the ocean and the fresh salty air. This place was beautiful but it seemed too packed to be a neighborhood. People were everywhere, biking around the beach, playing volleyball, swimming, or just chilling around. I found it odd that there were so many people around. Reggie smiled at me before he turned around and froze.
"What's wrong Reggie?" I asked
When I turned around I noticed that the neighborhood was torn down. I immediately frowned, right where his house was supposed to be was replaced by a bike shop. Alex and Luke went beside Reggie in an instant and tried to comfort him as I only looked around sadly. Twenty-five years later and all that Reggie and the boys knew was destroyed. This was heartbreaking, I was lucky compared to them because I wasn't stuck in some darkroom, I was here, watching and discovering the new world as years went on. The two boys looked at me sadly causing me to give Reggie a hug from behind. I laid my head on his back as I felt him shake slightly.
"A bike shack, right where my house use to be," Reggie said in a disappointed voice
"I'm sorry man" Luke mentioned as he placed a hand on Reggie's shoulder
"They made the Meyerson's house into a noddle shop. Why couldn't they have made my house a pizzeria or something?"
"They tore down the whole neighborhood," Alex noticed as he looked around
"I guess my parents are gone"
I quickly moved to Reggie's side and gave him a tiny sympathetic smile. He returned a small smile and reached for my hand giving it a small squeeze.
"Everyone is gone." Alex said with his voice laced with sadness "friends, family, Bobby, everyone."
"Bobby, that's right" Reggie stated "I guess that vegetarian lucked out. What do you think happened to him?"
"He probably just got old like everybody else and moved on." Luke stated bluntly
I sent Luke a "what the hell?" Look as I protectively stood in front of Alex and Reggie. I get that people handle situations differently but he knows these two boys better than anyone, he should know that now is not the time to be so blunt.
"Luke give them a break, this is a lot to take in. He just found out his family is gone" I told him
"Dude how are you so casual about all of this?" Alex questioned as we walked up beside me
"Let's be real for a second." Luke stated looking between all of us "it's not like any of us were close to our families. My folks always regretted buying me that guitar. Reggie, your parents were literally a fight away from a divorce. Alex..I- your parents would never look at you the same again after you told them you were gay"
"Okay none of us had it great. Alright? But at least we had something you know, what do we have now?" Alex says freaking out looking between all of us with frustration written on his face "and before you say cool teleportation skills, just know, I'm not entirely okay with that either. Alright? It tingles...in weird places."
Luke gave Alex a look as he kept his arms folded over his chest "You feel better now?"
Alex nodded slightly and I used my free hand, that wasn't holding Reggie's hand to grab a hold of Alex's shoulder to comfort him. I looked over at Luke who seemed to read my mind. These boys needed some motivation.
"I'll tell you what we have. It's what we had since the day we came together." Luke started as he hopped onto a fallen tree, looking down at the three of us "we have us. We're the only thing that we're ever going to need"
I gave Luke a smile and nodded to encourage him to keep going.
"You know what else we got?" Luke asked
"I don't know.." Reggie started "death breath?"
"We have our music you guys" Luke stated "people, actual people can hear us play! They can't see us, fine but they can feel us. That's all we ever wanted. A connection"
I removed my hand from Reggie's and went over to Luke to help encourage the two Debbie Downers.
"Plus you guys have a new friend who isn't half as bad," I said with a smile referring to myself
"Exactly! Amelia has been very patient with us and has been a great friend! ugh, If I had my guitar, I would play for these people right now. Just like we use to do down at the pier" Luke said
"You can't tip what you don't see" Alex commented
"It's not about the tips Alex. It's about the music! Connecting with people. Making a difference in their day. I just...I wish I had my guitar!"
Instantly Luke's acoustic guitar proofed into his hands. The three boys looked at each other shocked as I gave Luke a smile.
"Luke you did it!" I cheered
"That was rad. How'd you do that?" Reggie asked
"I don't know. I-I-I mean I wished for it, and then it came to my hands..." Luke said it shock
Reggie automatically closed his eyes tightly, bent his knees, and held out his hands, "I-I-I wish I had a puppy! A hamster? Pizza?"
When nothing happened Reggie pouted and flopped on the sand. I gave him a little smile and crouched beside him putting a hand on his shoulder.
"It takes time, don't worry you'll get there," I told him
"Hey, I think I know something that'll cheer you up" Luke smiled at Reggie just before he started to strum his guitar, Alex and I smiled at each other going over to Luke. Alex started to use his chest and legs as drums as I was snapping my fingers. Reggie sat there looking at us with a cute pouty face, Alex leaned forward and gave him a smile.
"Come on Reginald," he encouraged
Reggie looked at me and I nodded eagerly causing him to jump to his feet singing with a smile, "1-2-3-4 Can you? Can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear!" I smiled
"We gotta get, we gotta get ready!" he sang jumping onto the tree making all four of us smile wide
"Cause it's been years!" Luke said
"Oh, this band is back! Oh, this band is back!" The three of us joined in "Whoo, ooh, ooh, ooh. Whoo, ooh, ooh, ooh. Whoo, ooh, ooh, ooh"
You had strangers dancing around the whole beach ad the four of us ran around the tree and skipping around people singing. Some looked around for the source of music but no one seemed to question where it was coming from. Everyone just enjoyed themselves.
"Can you?" Reggie sang as he ran up to a couple,
"yes, we can" The three of us sang
"Can you hear me?" Reggie jumped onto a chair
"Loud and clear!" we repeated
I jumped onto the chair behind him and the two of us were hoping chairs as we sang with Alex and Luke following us.
"We gotta get, wanna get, we gotta get ready" we all sang
Reggie decided to jump off the chair, he turned around and held out his hand to me. I happily took it and he helped me jump down from the chair.
"'Cause it's been years, hey" I sang
"Oh, this band is back! Oh, this band is back! Whoo, ooh, ooh, ooh Whoo, ooh, ooh, ooh Whoo, ooh, ooh, ooh"
Reggie twirled me around and the two of us danced our way over to a couple who were sawing side to side. The male looked at the female in front of him with a confident smile on his face.
"You won't find the speaker. It's a direct auto spot. I heard about it in a TED talk!" He informed her
She smiled brightly at him as we continued to sing random notes, Reggie grabbed onto my hand and the two of us followed Alex and Luke towards the street. I laughed loudly as we finished the song and pulled the three boys into a group hug.
"That was so much fun, I can't remember the last time I did something like that" I gushed
"You're really talented Mel" Luke commented "we should all play together more often"
"I would love to! I miss my old band so much and to think I can be in a band again...That's just so unreal for me" I told them
Alex clapped his hands excitedly and wrapped his arm around my shoulder pulling me to his chest. "You can replace Bobby! He was our rhythmic guitarist"
"That sounds like a solid plan to me!"
Reggie and Luke ran over to Alex and myself, pulling us into another group hug. I laughed at the boys and they all picked me up and spun me around within the hug. I wasn't short but slightly shorter than them so it made it easy for them to pick me up. When they put me down and pulled away from the hug I gave them all a bright smile.
"Welcome to Sunset Curve Amelia" Alex smiled
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Hey Lovers! So sorry for the late updates, school is literally crazy but I'll be updating as much as I can. Thank you all so much for reading, voting, and adding it to your reading list! It means so much that people are liking this story. Let me know if there is anything you'd like to see happen in this story, I love the feedback. Thank you all again and I'll see you on the flip side. Much love <3
~StayBeautiful