Chapter Twenty-Six : Power Outage
October 2020

    Carlos Molina walked around his house with a ghost hunting app on his iPad. The green haze on the screen read paranormal activity. And that was what he needed to check, "You can't hide forever, ghosties." The screen said, ghost detected, "Gottcha!"

    The lights switched on, Victoria Diza standing there instead of a ghost, "For the last time, mijo. Ghosts are not real."

    Reggie clicked his tongue, "Typical adult. Remember when we were kids, and how they never believed what we said?"

    Stephanie quickly nodded her head, "Sometimes I think they didn't trust if I spelled my name right."

    Alex shook his head, "I'm pretty sure that was a you problem. I was always pretty trustworthy. And well Steph... yeah."

    Luke huffed at a sigh at his three friends, "Shouldn't we be more worried about the twins? Their Dad just busted them. Plus Julie was already in trouble. He's probably gonna make her quit the band."

    "No." Stephanie shook her head, "Jay wouldn't allow it. Even from their dad. He's a good brother like that."

    "Compared to yours." Stephanie hit Alex on the back of the head after the comment, "OW! What was that for?"

    "You know what that was for."

    "Either way." Reggie turned his attention away from the other ghost and back to the 11 year old boy, "We can still help Carlos. Adults not believing children ends tonight. Showtime." Reggie leaned back, turning off the lamp that was next to him.

    Victoria let out a gasp, "Ghosts aren't real, huh?" Carlso asked his aunt, both looking up from the iPad screen. "How do you explain that?"

    "Light bulbs burn out all the time, Carlos."

    "Ohh. Wrong answer, tia." Reggie jumped off of the chair, causing Stephanie to groan. "Explain this." He started to shift the blinds up and down, flashing light into the room from the moon.

    Carlso smiled as his aunt pulled him closer, "Maybe it's my mom." Stephanie felt a pain of guilt at that. "She knows I haven't been replacing the toilet paper!"

    "Your mama would never scare us. This is the work of a demon!"

    Reggie stopped at that, Stephanie openly laughing, "Hey. Words hurt."

    "Wait." Carlso raised his iPad as Reggie moved away from the window, "I gotta get it on video."

    Reggie pointed at the boy, "Yeah you do." He reached down at the sheet that Victoria had just washed, "Time for an old classic." Victoria screamed, pulling Carlos from the room, Reggie however just laughed.

    Stephanie was still failing not to laugh AT Reggie, but Alex and Luke were less amused. Both pretty pissed off at their bandmate for showing they were real. Reggie fell back into the chair, running a hand through his hair, Alex and Luke had their arms crossed over themselves and scolded the boy. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

    "Yeah. I do. I've defended every kid who's never been believed. Some might say I'm a superhero." Reggie thought for a moment, "We should probably hide before the twins find out, huh?"

~

    Luke sighed as he stood before Tever Wilson's house, "Great birthday gift Steph."

    The girl rolled her eyes, "This is not the gift. I have to go get it." With those words she poofed away.

    The boys stood around looking at the white exeter of their old bandmates house. The way it dominated the hillside, the way the pool reflected the moon, the way the windows ran food to ceiling.

    It was odd. Bobby never liked stuff, he liked people. But maybe fame would change that. Or in Bobby's case the death of your wife and sister.

    Stephanie poofed back in front of the boys, "Okay. So Please don't get mad at her..."

"Mad at her? Steph, what are you talking about?" Alex asked, slipping his hands in his pockets.

"You can come out..."

All three boys froze at the sight of blond hair. The way she walked was straighter than they had ever seen. And she seemed better put together than a gossip filled tennager, but still she was in front of them. Cheryl Stone.

"Well, Hello, Boys."

~

    Ray Molina followed two of his three children into their home. Nearly marching the twins to the house. Julie had a backpack sling over her shoulder with her mic, mic stand, and tamborina, and Jay had his camera bag on him, but other than that, the two were empty handed.

    "We need to talk." Ray spoke to his kids finally. The two sighed, stopping in the kitchen as letting their father drop the hammer. "So, Julie, after skipping school, missing a test, you decided to sneak out even though I told you to go to your room and study?"

    "Dad, she wasn't-"

    "And you. Helped her. Even though I asked you to make sure it didn't happen."

    Julie sighed, "Dad, I know. I'm sorry."

    "You keep saying that. If you would just...let me in, I could've been excited about tonight. Instead of having this conversation all three of us hate. Why didn't you tell me you were in a band?"

    Julie readjusted the strap on her bag, "It all just happened so fast. These last couple of weeks have changed my life. When I play music, I feel so much closer to mom."

    Ray shifted his weight, "And I love that. You know I do. But your Tia's right. School needs to come first."

    Julie nodded, "I know. But without the band, I would've never made it back into the music program. They played with me when I was trying to earn my spot back."

    "In front of the whole school. She didn't even ask, they just wanted Julie to do what she loves." Jay added to Julie's statement, amazed his father even let him talk.

    "They did?"

    Jay nodded, but Julie took a second. She pulled at the strap of her bag, thinking of everything Sunset Curve had been able to get her to do. To make her feel. They might have been dead, but they made her feel so alive. "I think this is my thing, Dad."

    Ray nodded, a small smile forming over his lips, "Well. I'd be a jerk of a Dad if I took that away from you. Look, if you're gonna stay in this band, you need to keep up with school. AND BOTH OF YOU need to keep me in the loop."

    Julie looked up from the counter, "Really?" Ray just nodded, "Thanks Papa." She found herself giggling as she hugged her father.

    Julie took a step away from her dad, "Hey, so that lady at your show, she was, like, some sort of manager, right? Could've been a big deal?"

    "Who knows? Hopefully she'll get to see us play again. Which I will tell you about. Not just Jay."

    "Oh yeah you will. 'Cause if I ever catch you trying to sneak out again, or if your grades slip, I'm gonna pull the plug." Julie nodded, "Or whatever it is that makes those holograms work. Now. Go study for real." Julie hasty nodded before running up the stairs. Ray let out a sigh turning to his oldest, "Did I do the right thing tonight?"

    Jay sighed, watching his sister sprint away, "As a parent? Of course you did. I sneaked my little sister out of the house. As the father of a musician? Probably not. But we'll fix it, we always do right?"

    "Yeah. So do I ever get to meet this hologram band?"

    "Oh... uh probably not. I mean, they don't even live here. It's kinda confusing. They actually do most of the tech work. But being seen isn't really their thing." Jay rushed out, trying to cover the fact that they were dead up.

    "You kids and technology. It's definitely beyond me."

    "It's definitely beyond something." Jay muttered under his breath, still unsure of how they can be seen when they play with Julie. Just then Victoria Diza, Jay's aunt, came running through the kitchen. "Tia?"

    She gasped, "This house is haunted! We have to go. Now!"

    "What?" Jay knew what, he just didn't know how to snap a ghost neck. That ghost most likely being Reggie.

    "Victoria, I know you want us to move, but this is a little extreme. I-I told you, we're okay."

    "I'll let Carlos explain what happened. He refuses to leave. But if movies have taught me anything, when a house is haunted, you run." Victoria muttered a pray in spanish before running off, and before Jay metal cursed a band of ghosts.

~

    Alex's jaw nearly hit the floor at the sight of the blond. "You're...wha-.."

    "Alex close your mouth. You can still catch flies." Cheryl joked earning a snicker from Stephanie. "Yes, boys I'm dead. I've gotten over it. I didn't sit in a dark room for 25 years so."

    Reggie exhaled a breath, "Can I hug you?" The words just kinda rolled off of his tongue, not really thinking before he said it.

    "Is that a question Reginold?" Reggie giggled before running up to his friend and throwing his arms around her. Cheryl was also taken back by the feeling. She never knew how much she missed these boy till they were in front of her again. Reggie pulled back giving the girl a smile as she turned to Luke. She suddenly felt very nervous, she didn't want one of her best friends to hate her because of Bobby. "Happy Birthday."

    "Well this explains why Steph was missing for two days." Luke said, still staring.

    Cheryl turned to her best friend, "TWO DAYS!" She knew Stephanie hadn't talked to the boys until she left the early, but that was a bit much.

    Stephanie gave a nervous laugh, "Guilty."

    Cheryl turned back to Luke, "In my defence she was only with me for six hours."

    Luke found himself laughing, "I guess some things never change huh?"

    Cheryl just laughed, "So you gonna hug me or not, Patterson?" Luke full out laughed hugging his friend.

    He pulled back, turning to Stephanie, "Best gift ever, Little Wilson."

    "Okay...." Luke laughed before she could start yelling at him for calling her the old nickname from when the two only talked through Bobby. Stephanie couldn't find it in herself to yell however so she just joined the laughter, the five friends pulling each other in for a tight hug.

~

    Jay found himself laughing heavily at his father singing the lyrics to Finally free as he made him and Julie lunch for the day. "I got a spark in me, when you're a part of me."

    Jay laughed harder when Reggie suddenly appeared in the kitchen, "Uh Dad. Not the words." He informed his father, bagging their sandwiches.

    "What are the words?"

    "Ooo. I know them." Reggie rocked forward on his toes, "I got a spark in me, Hands up if you can see, and you're a part of me, hands up if you believe." Jay gave the ghost a look and an eye roll, "Right, he can't hear or see me."

    Jay heard his sister giggle as she descended the stairs, "I got a spark in. Hands up if you can see, and you're a part of me, hands up if you believe."

    Ray groaned, "Not fair, you sing them."

    Julie giggled again, "Well this is new." She nodded to Reggie, Jay just gave his sister a shrug, unsure why the ghost was there.

    Ray flipped his omelet, "Oh yeah. I was in the mood for cooking breakfast."

    Jay opened the fridge to grab some fruit, "I just like free food. None of the work, all of the reward."

    Reggie laughed pointing between the twins, "Nice save Jay. Cause he thought Julie was talking to him." Both twins just sighed, "Me and you Dad are pals now." Julie leaned over the edge of a chair that went with the island, Jay shoving an apple into her lunch box, "It's a little one-sided, but it works."

    Ray took the meal off the pan, putting on a few sausages, "Look after the talk we had the other night, I was think I may have costed you an opportunity with that manger. Jay's comments didn't really help."

    Jay scoffed, "You asked." He slid the milk over the counter to his sister.

    "That I did. Which is why-"

    Julie shook her head, "Dad, no. I should've never snuck out."

    Jay threw Julie her lunch, "Really? Because you guys were really good the other night. And I've sat through you rehearsing. I even sat through Flynn complaining about how she can't touch Reggie because he's a hologram."

    "She said that?" Both twins shot the ghost a look, "Shutting up now. Actually I'm not. Let the man speak. He's been stress eating all week.  Don't know where he puts it though. It's, like.." Reggie used his hands to circle the twin's father's midriff, "Firm."

    Ray shot his son a glare, "As much as I think sneaking out, was the WRONG thing to do. I really wanna support your band, so I called in some favors, and I booked you a local gig."

    "Best Dad ever!" "What?" "Seriously!"

    "Oh my gosh, Where? Did you call your buddy from Drakes?"

    Jay leaned into his sister, "I wish we could call Mr Famous and rub it in his face."

    Reggie clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers at the living boy, "We tried that. You guys and Stephanie got like, really mad at us."

    "Right. So did you call your friend?"

    "Not quite. I called Flynn, and Connor-"

    "Oh god where is this going."

    "Flynn said she's gonna help us throw a party. Here tonight."

    "Oh!" Julie didn't know what else to say, Jay just looked across the room from the ghost who knew music to the girl who knew music, "So you booked us a gig at our house?"

    Reggie's eyes went wide, "Maybe I was a little early with the 'Best Dad Ever' award."

    Ray put down the spatula in his hand, "Alright hear me out.. Each of you invite some of your friends over, Julie plays with her band, we have Connor film it, and get some of my colleagues to touch up the film. That way, you have something professional for your YouTube."

    Julie let her hair fall over her shoulder, coving up the neon green sleeve of her jacket, "You'd do that for me?"

    "Yeah." Ray gave his kids a smile, grabbing a coffee cup and started to walk away.

    Reggie used his thumb to point to Ray as he walked away, "Back to best dad ever. I'll go tell the guys and Steph." He pushed off the counter waving to Ray's back, "Have a good day at work, Ray. It's cool. You don't have to answer. Just.."

    Jay groaned, "Get out of here leather."

    Reggie gasped, "Nicknames." Jay shot him a glare, "Going." With that he poofed away.

~

    Cheryl Wilson was just strutting the halls of her widowed husband's home when she heard voices. "You sure she's gonna be here?" "yes, she doesn't leave this place." "No duh, Steph! It's a mansion!"

    Cheryl walked towards the voice, coming up behind the three ghosts who now stood in her house, "Boo." She whispered the word, Reggie and Alex screaming at the top of their lungs, Stphanie giggling so hard she held her stomach, when the boys stopped screaming they turned to face Cheryl, "So. What brings you three to my," She looked around, "totally not humble abode?"

    Stephanie took a step to her friend, "Well, we have a gig tonight."

    "Kinda." Alex added, "It-it's in the twin's back yard."

    "But!" Reggie raised himself to his teos, "We were all hoping if maybe.."

    "Maybe you would come?" Stephanie's voice was meek, "And Luke wants you there too, he's just talking to Julie."

    Cheryl smirked, "Just like old times?"

    "Well, close enough."

    The blond laughed, "I'll be there."

~

    Stephnie poofed herself into the tech box at the twin's school's auditorium. Jay was already inside of it with a camera filming the lacrosse team and dance class performance. "What up Molina?" Jay put his finger to his lips, "You know, I thought there would be more cameras." Jay rolled his eyes at the girl, pointing around the auditorium to the four other people from his class, Connor included, stationed around the room with the film equipment. "Oh."

    Jay laughed under his breath, "Would you shut up. I don't want the camera to pick you up."

    Stephanie giggled, "Well lucky for us. I'm a ghost. It can't pick me up. Not without Julie."

    He rolled his eyes, "But I can take pictures of you, and we don't know if that transfers to videos yet."

    "Right. Sorry."

Step. Into my world.
Bitter sweet love story 'bout a girl
Shook me to the core
Voice like an angle
I've never heard before.

    "Wow. Julie's really good."

    Jay scoffed, "She's Julie. She's good at anything she does."

    "Is that jealous I hear in your voice Molina?"

    "No." Stephanie gave him a smile, "Okay maybe just a little bit." The two spoke in whispers, listening to the music but hardly watching the performance. "But it's a healthy amount. I mean every twin is jealous of the other."

    "Yeah, that sounds about right"

Here in front of me,
They're shining so much brighter
Then I have ever seen

    Stephanie laughed at all the different skirts coming up and black shorts under the dresses. "What is this? Unofficially sponsored by spandex?"

    Jay huffed out a breathy laugh, "Looks like it."

Life can be so mean
But when she goes
I know she doesn't leave

    "Who came up with this song?"

    "No clue. All I know is Julie is dancing with her life long crush. To this music."

    Stephanie leaned over the tech board, "Well that's a good thing, right?"

    Jay tipped his head, "Not since Luke came into the picture."

    Stephanie chuckled, "Yeah, he's not the ladies man he likes to think."

The truth is finally breaking through
Two worlds collide when I'm with you
A voie is rising so, so high
We come to life when we're
In perfect harmony

    "It's a beautiful song though."

Whoa-oa-oa Whoa-oa-oa
Perfect harmony

    "Are you trying to small talk me right now Stephanie Wilson?"

Whoa-oa-oa Whoa-oa-oa
We say we're friends
We play pretend
You're more to me
We create...
The perfect Harmony

    "Maybe. Look I'm bored okay."

    Jay cut the tape, "Well lucky for you, it's over. You can go annoy your ghost band."

    "But that gets boring." She complained her hair swaying side to side.

    "Go."

    "Fine." She poofed away with that. Jay found a smile staring to form on his face.

    He laughed to himself, "Maybe I don't mind small talk all that much."

~

    Stephanie laned back in the studio with the three boys turning their instruments. Well Alex was just drumming on the table as Luke and Reggie tuned. Stephanie laughed at the sound of Luke's guitar, "Dude, it sounds like the string is snapped."

    "Ha. Ha. Where have you even been."

    Stephanie didn't answer, just leaned over his shoulder and read the music from over the page. "Oh, Great. I love this song. Ooo."

    "What?" Reggie leaned over the coffee table to Luke and Stephanie, it was always entertaining to watch them write.

    "What if we add echos in durning the chorus, then when Julie comes in with the melody, it would sound more put together. Perfect. More perfect."

    Luke snapped ending it with a thumbs up at the girl, "I like the way you think Wilson."

    All four turned to look at the doors when the sound of a skateboard hit them. None of them could tell it was a skateboard until they saw Willie's face. Before he ducked under the foot wide by foot long windows. Reggie shook his head, "Again" What's that all about?"

    Alex shook his head, "I don't know." Before Stephanie could ask what 'again' meant the blond had poofed out of the studio to his friend in front of it.

~

    Alex cashed the symbols hard, small bits of pain following through him as he did so. Willie's words still stung in his ears. 'We never should have met' It helped to have his best friends by his side as he played however. Stephanie sending white teeth blinding smiles, Reggie starting a grove and Luke just being Luke. But it all got to be too much, Stephanei Luke and Reggie soon stopping playing all together.

    "Okay." Stephanie swang her guitar over her shoulder, "Alex you know the drummer is meant to keep the beat, not scare himself with it. Open up a little. You can talk to us."

    Alex just sighed, spinning his sticks around his hand, "I just don't get it."

    Reggie nodded, "I know it's tough man. People say you never forget your first ghost Maybe that's true. But I'm sure there will be others."

    Alex didn't really know how, but by some miracle, Reggie saying that kinda helped, "Yeah. Thanks Reg."

    Luke leaned on the high syblomb of Alex's drum set, "And Alex, you're a great drummer, and a great guy, okay? I wouldn't let all that stuff get in between you and what you love."

    Reggie clicked his tongue, letting hsi bass hang down, "I don't know man. Sometimes a little fire can make things better on stage. Like you and Julie."

    Luke leaned back, flustered, "What-what is that supposed to mean?"

    Stephanie bit back a laugh, "Oh, honey, even Jay saw it."

    "Yeah, Stephanie's right. Everyone can see the way you look at her when you sing. You guys," Reggie put his hand up to emphasize, "ooze chemistry."

    Alex snapped his fingers pointing to the bass player, "You should never say 'ooze' again, but, yeah, I agree."

    Luke laughed, taking off his guitar, "Okay, no. I have chemistry with everybody that I sing with." None of them boght it, "Seriously, watch. Uh.."

    Luke turned to Stephanie, "Oh. If you're gonna prove this. Prove it with the unexpected."

    Luke huffed, "Fine. Uhh, just watch" He slowly made his way over to Reggie, "I believe I believe that we're just one dream. Away from who we're meant to be" Luke grabbed the back of Reggie's neck, "That we're standing on the edge of........ Great."

    "Wow." Alex clicked his tongue, "I see chemistry."

    Reggie nodded his head, his cheeks turning red, "That-that pretty hot." Luke smirked, kissing his two fingers and pressing them to Reggie's lips. The boy just stared at his friend as he walked over to get his guitar. Reggie cleared his throat, bring his bass back up, "Girls. Am I right?"

    "Yeah." Luke breathed out the word, placing his guitar back over his shoulder.

    Alex leaned forward on the drum stool, "No."

    Stephanie shook her head at the two boys, "Not a little bit." The two sent her a look and she played back with a wide smile, "Let's try this again shall we?"

~

    Jay walked down the stairs of his backyard meting Connor as he staretd to set up is camera. One of th reasons he was so much better than Jay at wide shots is becuase Connor wanted to put his photography use into dirceting. Hence why Jay and Julie were so excited to have him film this. "You nervous?"

    Connor slipped the tripod together, "Am I nervous to film.." He dropped his voice, "Your sister's ghost band? Yeah maybe a little bit."

    "You'll be fine." Someone pushed into Jay's shoulder, "Whoa, Carrie? Didn't even think you still knew where we lived."

    Carrie turned around to face the host, "Oh. How could I. I spent half of my childhood here."

    "Right. Well, uhh, enjoy the show." She sent Jay a smile, the boy turning back to Connor, "Yeah, I'm gonna head back in, see how the ghosts are feelling." He went to turn away but stopped, "Oh if you need Julie she is in the studio."

    "Why is everyone else inside?"

    "So no one can see their instruments."

    "Makes senses." Connor waved his friend off, going back to the settings on the camera.

~

    Jay climbed the stairs of his house. He never heard ghost buzz before, but you could almost feel the buzz as he walked into Julie's room, the four ghost band members waiting around it. "What's got you four all excited?"

    "Cheryl's coming!" Reggie and Stephanie yelled at the same time.

    "Oh. Cool. I guess that means you found out she's a ghost."

    Luke looked at the boy, clearly annoyed, "You knew!"

    "Different story. We'll talk about it later. I actually came to soften a blow."   

    "Oh god. Is Julie okay?" Alex rushed out, pushing off of the wall he was leaning on.

    "Oh. Yeah. Yeah, she's great. I uhh-" Jay rubbed the back of his neck, "I just wanted to tell you Carrie's here. And I knew the whole thing with her dad-and Stephanie being her aunt-"

    Stephanie laughed, "You scared us for a sec. No. It's fine. The more the merrier. Plus, now she'll know our faces, after seeing them a third time."

    Jay laughed, "Well then. Best of luck, Sunset Curve."

    "It's Julie and the Phantoms!" All four members screamed back at him. The same way they did all that time again when they had first met.

    However this time he smiled.

~

    When Jay got back outside, Flynn was on a mic, talking to the coward, and Connor had his camera all set up. Rose was on the other side of the yard, manding a small drink table and the lights that hang round the yard. "What's up everybody! Time to put your hands up, and do a little dance. Yep. Here's the new anthem, from Julie and the Phantoms."

    Jay leaned over to Connor, "Who gave Flynn a mic."

    "Not someone with much of a brain."

    "Blame Carlos." The two said at the same time as Carlos and his friend pulled open the doors to the studio.

    Julie stood behind them, her hands on her hips. She was wearing a white crop top with large butterflies covering the single strap and a pair of black and white hip hop style pants to go with. Half her hair tied into a neat bun on top of her head with the two front stands staying down to frame her face.

    Connor leaned over to Jay as the two clapped with everyone else, "She looks just like your mom."

    The comment made Jay feel a sense of warmth, "Yeah. She really does."

    Julie took a seat at the grand piano's bench, her mic already set up to the height she needed, "Thanks coming everyone." She rolled her shoulders back to get rid of the nerves before nodding to Connor. The Martin boy pressed record and gave the Molina girl a thumbs up.

    Julie exhaled one last breath before staying to play, "Running from the past. Tripping on the now. What is lost can be found, it's obvious. And like a rubber ball, We come bouncing back, We all got a second act inside of us."

    Flynn and Rose flicked on the fake hologram machines as the band showed up from behind Julie. Alex on a riser, Luke in a white shirt with a grey beanie, Reggie in his normal back leather. And Stephanie wearing her dark green flannel to fit the vibe.

    Someone from the audience squealed at the sight of the band. Part of Jay thought it was Flynn. But he was more focused on the music as Julie stood from the piano, mic in hand. "I believe. I believe that we're just one dream. Away from who we're meant to be. That we're standing on the edge of...

    Something big, something cray. Our best is yet unknown. That this moment is ours to hold. 'Cause we're standing on the edge of great." Julie and Stephanie came back to back in the center of the boys as the band started echos.

    "On the edge of great.." "Great." "On the edge of great." "Great" "On the edge of great."

    "Cause we're standing on the edge of.... Great."

    Julie held the mic to her left so Stephanie could use it, the two girl still back to back as Stiephanei played, "We all makes mistakes. But they're just stepping stones to take us where we wanna go. It's never straight. No."

    Julie pushed off of Stephanie and took her mic as her and Luke started to sing together, "Sometimes you gotta lean. Lean on someone else. To get a little help. Until we find a way. I believe. I believe that we're just one dream Away from who we're ment to be." The crowd whooped in the background as Stephanie played her way across the pavement to Luke. "That we're standing on the edge of...

    Something big, something crazy. Our best is yet unknown. That this moment is ours to own. 'Cause we're standing on the edge of great." "On the edge of great." "Great." "On the edge of great." "Great." "On the edge of great."

    "Cause were standing on the edge of" Julie climbed on top of the grand piano as the five members sang together, "Shout shout. Come on and let it out, out. Don't gotta hide it. Let your colors blind their eyes. Be who you are no compromise. Shout, shout. Come on and let it out, out. What doesn't kill you makes you feel alive."

    Julie stood kneeled on top of the grand piano. Stephanie and Luke coming up on either side of her playing a rift back and forth. "Oh. I believe. I believe that we're just one dream, away from who we're meant to be." Stephanie and Luke might have been sharing the notes, but Julie's attention was only on Luke as he played, "That we're standing on the edge of GREAT!"

    "Something big, something crazy. Our best is yet unknow. That this moment is ours to own. 'Cause we're standing on the edge of great." "Great. One the edge of great." "On the edge of great."

    Julie hopped down from the piano, "Great. On the edge of great." "On the edge. Whoa-oa-oa-oa. Standing on the edge of"

    Stephanie, Reggie and Alex disappeared, Luke taking a seat next to Julie on the piano bench. Jay heard a faint sound next to him over the music and gasps. He turned his head to the right to see Stephanie standing next to him, watching with the rest of the crowd.

    "Running from the past. Tripping on the now. What is lost can be found. It's obvious." At the end of the note Luke was gone with a blink as well. The crowd went crazy as Connor cut the tape.

    Jay laughed, leaning over to Stephanie, "Am I allowed to set boundaries on the dead?"

    She gave a shrug, "Julie does."

~

    Connor passed Jay a plate with pizza as Rose monad into hers, "Nothing is better than shitty pizza."

    "Language Geller."

    "Sorry Mr Molina. Except for maybe that performance. Jules I can't say how incredible that was."

    Flynn leaned over to her best friend, "It totally was. But epic fail on that eye contact thing."

    Jay hummed, wiping the grease off his hands to his pants, "Yeah. Luke is no longer allowed to talk to you without me in the room."

    He heard Reggie, Alex, and Stephanie snicker from the living room and Luke scoff. "Well you're no longer allowed to talk to Steph without me in the room." The ghost shot back. "Also, as fun as watching you guys eat pizza is. We have to go meet cheryl. SO bye." "See ya." "Bye Jay bye Julie." Bye." The four ghosts were gone in a blink.

    "So they have names?" Carlos put his pizza down, "How do you two mange those holograms anyways?"

    Ray patted his youngest son on the back, "Oh, don't try to understand it Carlos, I don't."

    Carlos picked his meal back up, "That's because you're old."

    "Ha. Ha. Funny guy." Ray patted the spot on the counter next to his youngest, "I'd send you to your room, but then who's gonna clean up this mess?"

    Julie and Jay laughed at their brother, "Don't poke the bear Car. I have learned that recently."

    Jay scoffed, "I learned that the hard way about six years ago."

    "Oh that's right. When I sneaked you out of the house to go to Nick's party."

    "We don't need to talk about it Connor." Rose, Jay, and Connor fell into a giggle fest over the memory. It was the first time Julie had really seen her parents mad at her brother, not just irritated.

    Carlos groaned, taking his meal and walking  out of the room. Ray leaned over the counter, "So what is this band doing right now? And Carlos is right, names. Now."

    Julie laughed, "Uhh, the one in the grey beanie, that's Lule. The girl is Stephanie, the one always in pink would be Alex, and the one wrapped in leather is Reggie. As to what they were doing. I don't really know. I think they said they were meeting a friend. Hey so Connor, what cameras did you use out there?"

    Connor hid a laugh as best he could, "You're dad's good video camera. XF105, I need to get one for myself. That is also all I will say before I start to get really geeky and Rose yells at me."

    Flynn laughed, "Oh, Julie's the same way when it comes to instruments. Once Jay referred to a volia as a violin, and she went ham."

    "It was one time." The whole group laughed at Jay's attempt to defend himself.

~

    "Bye Cherry." Stephanie gave her friend one last hug before the blond poofed away and Luke through the Wilson girl a basketball.

    "Think you can still play?" Stephanie didn't answer, just lining up a shot and making it with a swish. Reggie whooped for the girl, the ball nearly hitting him in the face as it bounced back up.

    Reggae bounced the ball a few times in his hands, "It feels like we should be celebrating or something. What do you guys wanna do?" Reggie threw the ball but no one caught it all four friends hitting the ground with a groan as a purple shock pulsed through them.

    Alex rubbed his side, "Not that."

    Stephanie pushed herself up onto her elbows to look at the boys, "It's happening to you too?"

    Luke coughed over his pain, "yeah. Yeah but it's not like the other ones. I think it's getting worse."

    Reggie helped Stephanie from the ground, each letting out a pained grunt. "Why is this happening to us?"

    "It's because you guys are in serious trobe." All four turned at the sound of Willie's voice, Stephanie still holding her side, and Reggie stabilizing himself by propping his hands on his knees.

    Alex took a  step to the ghost boy, "Willie?"

    Willie used his thumb to rub his arm as he held it in his hand. And attention Stephanie knew well. And attrition of admitting guilt. "We need to talk."

~

    Luke shook his head at Wille as the four members of Sunset Curve trailed behind him on a mostly empty Hollywood Walk of Fame. "So all these jolts that we've been feeling is because Caleb put his stamp on us?"

    "But that doesn't make sense. I didn't get a stamp." Luke had a look of pained guilt on his face, "Right, guys?"

    "When he grabbed you. Right before you left, and disappeared for two days. He burned it into your skin. But we thought it was harmless."

    "It's not okay." Willie sighed, "He's threatened by you. He wasn't you under his control. You're the only ghost that can be visible to lifers without his help."

    The four members stopped walking as Willie walked on. Alex scoffed, "And you let him do this to us?"

    Willie turned around to face them, tears in his eyes, "I can't stop him. He owns my soul. All right? He owns everybody's soul at that club. If he even knew I was here talking to you, he.." Willie let out a shaky breath, "He would destroy me." Stephanie wanted to run up to the boy and hug him. Anything to make him stop crying. But first she needs answers.

    However Reggie asked first, crossing his arms over himself, "So if we don't join his club, the weird power outage thing continues until there's no power left at all?" Willie nodded, "What exactly happens when the power goes out?"

    Stephanie looked from Willie to Alex to Reggie to Luke, completely missing or even pretending to care about herself, "Don't say it."

    Willie looked to the ground, his heart breaking at the sound of Stephanie's broken voice, "That's.. That's it. You're done."

    "And he said it."

    "Uh-huh. Yeah. And what exactly do you mean by 'we're done?"

    Willie shook his head, "You just.. You don't exist.. Anymore. Not anywhere."

    "What?" "So we have no choice? We have to say goodbye to Julie and Jay. Give up everything we;ve built together and work for Caleb?"

"Yeah Luke I think that was the point he's been trying to make." Stephanie's voice sounded like shattered glass. No not cold and undercutting like it did when she was talking to Caleb. This was just. Broken.

    Willie sniffled, "But there is another option. That's why I'm here... Just please hear me out. All right if you guys could figure out what your unfinished business is, you do it in time, you could cross over and be free from all of this."

    Luek shifted his weight, his eyes starting to become red and puffy, "Okay. So what's our unfinished business?"

    "I-I don't know. But since you all died at the same time, it might. It might be something you need to do together."

    "Why should we listen to a word you say?" Alex had never felt so betrayed in his life. And his parents kicked him out of the house for admitting her was gay.

    "Because I care about you, Alex." Willie's voice was almost as shattered as Stephanie's, "and I hate that I brought you... and your friends into this mess. I uh, I can't be away much longer. I am so sorry. For everything." The four watched as Willie poofed away, Stephanie letting a tear roll down her face.

    Alex walked forward, so ashamed of himself, "This is all my fault. I..I met Willie. Willie introduced us to Caleb, and now... I mean Stephanie  you tried to leave that club more than once and I made you stay.... What I'm saying is, if it wasn't because of me, we wouldn't be screwed."

    Luke shook his head at his friend, "We all wanted to go see Caleb. And I forced Steph to say too."

    "We have to tell the twins."

    "No! We-We can't, okay. They can't lose anyone else. Let alone four people. But if we don't want Caleb to own our souls-" Stephanei cut herself off when she heard the sound of a neon sign buzzing. "Finish out unfinished business." She seemed to say the words to herself, spinning on her heels to read the neoe blue words.

    Alex shifted his weight, "Steph what is it?"

    "Look up." All four were now starting at the sing, "There was a crap tone of shit we wanted to do. But the night we died."

    Luke nodded, finally getting it, "We only had one thing in mind One thing we all wanted to do together."

    Reggie huffed out a breath, "Play the Orpheum?"

    Alex huffed out his own breath, watching the humidity in the air turn it a soft white color, "Getting that gig was literally impossible. Even after people knew who we were, we had to hustle. It took us years."

    All four doubled over in pain as another jlt hit them, the purple lightning power outage taking more power, "We don't have years."

"Maybe it was impossible for us. But technically we weren't the ones to book it." Stephanie told her friends looking into the neon lights. "Cheryl was."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's note
Hey y'all so maybe in real life the boys would have been really mad at Cheryl and I would have made them if I had more time left in the show.

So I'm sorry if you found that unrealistic but also remember they're ghost so.

While I'm here the next chapter will continue I song that I wrote. The backup piano music I found on YouTube. I will put the VERY SHORT song in the chapter the same way I do with the show songs. Please note that it will just be a black screen with me singing over it.

If you can name the moment that gif happens I will love you forever.

Okay love y'all,
Annabeth (R&D)

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[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

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