Chapter Twenty-Three : Revenge comes with Karma
September 2020

Reggie shook his head looking down at the people partying below the upper leave of the hotel. "I don't know about this." He really was just saying what the whole band was thinking. If Stephanie still had a nervous system she was sure it would be fried.

"Well if you get scared, you...you can always hide behind me." Alex tried to reassure his friend but his effort fell short with his next sentence, "I'll be hiding behind Steph."
Luke shook his head as Alex ducked behind Stephanie, "You guys need to grow up. We're gonna get back at Bobby."
Stephanie rested her chin on her head, her elbow resting on the golden railing. "Yeah because that's sooo mature Luke." She meant it. This whole plan seemed to be pointless.
"Either way, he needs to pay for what he did to us. What he did to you Steph."

"Yeah." Alex leaned over to Reggie coming out from behind Stephanie, "I'm still gonna hide behind her."

Willie popped into existence in between Luke and Stephanie, "We're all good"
Alex turned from scared to excited, turning to his new ghost friend, "All right cool. Hey just so you know we have, like, an hour, because we got a gig with Julie."

"Oh yeah, no worries. Let's go." Willie led then down from the upper leave, the red carpeting making Stephanie feel like she was in a movie. Willie ran his hand over the gold-steel railing, "Normally I'd have my deck and I'd backboard this heavy 20 set, but tonight.. We have company. Hope you guys are ready for this." Willie sat on the railing sliding down it making the band run down the stairs to catch up.

When they got to the bottom Stephanie looked up. Her eyes landing on a sliver guitar resting in a stand on stage. "Wow." She rested her arms across her stomach, trying to cover as much of herself that she could. Looking around the room filled with fancy dresses and champagne towers.

Alex nodded his head in agreement, "Are you guys seeing what I'm seeing?"
Luke pulled his jacket forward, taking two steps in front of his friends, "I think we're a little overdressed." Stephanie could almost feel Reggie slicking his hair back with his hand, he was really getting into the whole 1920's vibe this club was giving. It just made her grab herself tighter.

A couple walked through Willie and Alex, "Whoa." Reggie subconsciously pointed to the pair, "I thought these people were all going to be ghosts."
Willie pointed around the room, "These are all lifers."
"Oh uh lifer is actually..."

Reggie cut Alex off, "Alive people I was listening."
Willie wiggled his eyebrows, "But this is a very exclusive crowd, everybody here has paid a lot to get a sneak peek at the afterlife."

Stephanie scoffed, "Clearly. I don't have enough money in my lifetime to buy one of the dresses in the room. Forget wearing it." She jumped back as another live couple walked to them.
Reggie's eyes locked on the couple from a moment ago, "I always knew rich people did weird stuff like this."

"Lady. Gentleman. I have a table for you." A man with a thick accent came up from behind Luke splitting the group so Alex and Willie were on the man's left and Reggie, Luke and Stephanie were on his right. He led them through the crowd, the white suit he was wearing was the only thing Stephanie could see from behind Luke, Willie walking through a few people as the members of Sunset Curve did their best to dodge them.

In the end they found themselves at a table in the very front labeled, 'Reserved : Mr. William ~ Party Of Five' The table cloth was a mix of satin and silk and the chairs made of stainless steel. And in the center as a table piece was a cracked glass ball with a lit candle placed inside. The flame inside danced as the ghost came closer, wisp of air taking oxygen so they could mearlelize in the world. Taking away magic of a flame.

The man pulled a chair out for Stephanie, leaving the boys to their own devices, "Miss."
"Oh. Uhh, Thank you." Stephanie's voice sound shocked by the simple action, never having done it behind in her short life-time.
The man smiled, taking the table card away, "William."

Luke sent the man a smile before turning to Willie, "Okay. So who's gonna make us visible so we can confront our old bandmate?"
"I thought you said it was Stephanie's brother..."
Stephanie sighed, "Same person. He's my twin, yes, but he was also part of the band."
Willie leaned forward, "Well none of these lifers have the power to do that." tambourine music started to play in the background, "Oh but here comes the ghost who does."

A man came over an intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, back from the dead by popular demand, please welcome Caleb Covington!" The whole crowd started to clap as a man poofed into existence in a cloud of purple dust.

Stephanie sucked in a breath, "Top hat guy." She remembered the man from a few days prior, when he walked into her on the street.
Alex quickly nodded his head, "Yeah-yeah I've seen him somewhere."
The man, Caleb, slowly floated to the ground, "Did you miss me?"
"Oh yeah!" The whole crowd screamed back at him, the purple starting to fade.

"I did too!" Cable yelled back, raising his hands, "Welcome.. To the party of your dreams!" The crowd clapped, "From the Egyptians to the Druids, to the person sitting next to you. We've all wondered, 'Where do we go when that final light is snuffed out?' Allow me to show you." The boys inched closer to the table, but Stephanie felt like she was gonna throw up. The feeling like your whole body is flipping. She didn't know what it was but this whole place made her sick.

Her hands feel from around her waste to her left wrist. The feeling of her own scared skin coming up under her right thumb as her hand traced the thin line she cut into her own skin. It felt like just yesterday she doubted herself enough to harm, but it was 25 years ago. And it still stung with that hiss of pain when she ran her hand over that thin white line.

"Let me introduce myself, We got some time to kill." Caleb started to sing, holding his cape close to his body like it held a million secrets. "Consider me the pearly gates to your new favorite thrills

We could go make history. Or you could rest in peace. But here there ain't no misery. 'Cause on the other side we live like kings

Whatcha you gonna do? Whatcha you gonna do? Let your body loose let your body loose. Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do?

Show you a thing or two. 'Cause you ain't seen nothing.

LIFE" Caleb opened his cape and fell back onto his left knee. A full band was now behind him and the room seemed to have more light. Stephanie could almost feel the amount of glitter on the inside of Caleb's cape. She had to admit the whole show was pretty impressive. The boys seemed to have the same reaction, Reggie jumping back in his seat so his back ended up hitting Luke's legs. But even with the suddenly very vibrant show it still felt like the Hollywood Ghost Clubs was made to make the air that created Stephanie's skin to run with chills.

"Is good on the other side of Hollywood." The man who had led them to their table took Caleb's cape off of him from behind, a smirk coving his face as her twirled the fabric over himself before disappearing. "Life is good on the other side of Hollywood

So welcome to the brotherhood. Where you won't be misunderstood. Life is good on the other side of Hollywood." Caleb was dancing with a set of twins, each holding a purple and blue feather plume.

Caleb walked down the step of stairs that lead to the stage, each one lighting up when his foot hit it, "Everything had got a price but happiness is free. Just so happens you're in luck We got a vacancy" Stephanie could watch Luke's mouth water as they passed around different plates of cake.

Caleb caught a scepter in his right hand, finally stopping moving right in front of the band's table. "We can set the night on fire and break out of the scene Your soul print on the walk of fame On the boulevard of your wildest dreams."

Caleb started to swirl the table cloth from their table upwards as he sang. The statin started to take a full shape right before Caleb pulled it away to show a woman on the table in a pink flapper outfit. Feather boa included.

"Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do, boys?" The boys were smitten. Well Reggie and Luke, Alex leaned towards Willie as the girl danced on his table and Stephanie just rolled her eyes, really glad she wasn't told to wear whatever that pink and glitter vomit was in front of her. Her hand had fell into her lap as she sunk back into her chair, the metal freezing the skin on the back of her neck as her hair feel behind the metal back.

Caleb leaned in between the women's legs, facing Reggie, "Let your body loose, Let your body loose. Whatcha you gonna do? Whatcha you gonna do, boys?" Stephanie caught the girls foot before it hit Reggie in the face, the bass player jumping back a bit as the girl sent him a wink, leading Stephanie into yet another eye roll. Yet that one was directly playfully to her friend.

Stephanie scoffed, "Like your ego isn't big enough." She muttered so quietly she was surprised Reggie even heard her. And she could only tell because he feel back into his seat as well, pouting like he wanted to say something else but remaining silent.

"It ain't bragging if it's true. Now you ain't seen nothing. LIFE!" Caleb's dancers pulled the table cloths from every table, flappers now on top of all of them. Stephanie started to feel very self conscious, her hands covering herself once more, the table cloth she had been using to hid her discomfort now being used as a prop in the show.

As if the rich fancy women weren't enough to make her fall into a hole of her mind, but now there was a different well dressed ghost standing on every table. She felt like she wanted to melt into the seat. Whisking away from the party. Parties were never her thing anyways.

"Is good on the other side of Hollywood. Life is good on the other side of Hollywood. So welcome to the brotherhood, Where you won't be misunderstood. Life is good on the other side of Hollywood." Caleb threw the scepter across the room, poofing away from where he was to catch it in time. "The rain don't blind the rising souls. They got too much to see. I got your glamour, got your gold. Got all you'll ever need. Let me hear you now!"

The room started to clap along. All but Stephanie. She found herself poofing away from the table and watching the show from the upper leave. She wasn't willing to ruin the boys' fun, but this was too much for her.

And she didn't want to confront Bobby the way Luke did. She just wanted to see what he would say to her after 25 years. She wasn't here for revenge like they were. She was here for answers.

But even from where she stood she could see the smile on the boys faces. And besides, an aerial view was the best view. You could see it all.

"The rain don't blind the rising souls. They got too much to see. I got your glamour, got your gold. Got all you'll ever need.

Yeah, Yeah, I said. Watch me make a move, Watch me make a move, boys.

Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do?

I said watch me make a move no I don't disappoint."
Luke leaned over to Alex, "WHERE'D STEPH GO!?" He had to yell over the music, but even still his voice sounded like a whisper. His neck hurt from whipping around so many times trying to find the girl.

Alex started to look around as well, "I DON'-"
Willie cut Alex off, "YOU'RE MISSING THE SHOW!"

"Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do? Amen! Watch me make a move. I'm your number one choice. Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do?

Watch me make a move. Come on, now give me that noise. A tomb with a view. Ain't it something?" Caleb pointed to an acrobatics ring on the ceiling, a ghost appearing and swung from it. Reggie started to stand up, Luke pulling him back down by the jacket, wrapping his arms around him to keep him down.

So far that was Stephanie's favorite part of the show.

  "Liiiiiiiiife is good on the other side of Hollywood. Yeah life is good on the other side of Hollywood. So welcome to the brotherhood. Where you won't be misunderstood. Life is good On the other side of Hollywood. So welcome to the brotherhood. Where you won't be misunderstood.

Life is good on the other side of Hollywood." The two girls in purple and blue from before started to shimmy a black sheet in front of Caleb. They stopped right before his neck. "Ain't it the best!? Long live the dead!"

They shimmied it the rest of the way up his body, "Bye-bye!" They dropped the sheet and Caleb was gone. Everyone started to stand and clap. Even Stephanie pulled off of the railing and clapped her hands. With less cheering than the rest granted, but a smile still found its way to her face. She did laugh when Luke had to pull a smitten Reggie up from his chair as he stared with his jaw to the floor.

That was made this night bearable to her. The three people who had been there since the start. And maybe they had met through her lying cheating brother, but their bond was unbreakable. And it made her feel alive.

Stephanie slowly started to make her way back to the boys, pausing on the stairs to fangirl over Marilyn Monroe. "Oh my god. You're Marilyn Monroe!"
"That's right darling. And who might you be pretty?"

Stephanie blushed, "Stephanie. Wilson. Apparently my brother got supper important after I died."
"So you're a ghost for the ride huh?"
"I don't know about 'for the ride'. But I'm here for the hour." She joked, Monroe taking a sip of champagne.

"At least stay for the night sweetheart. You'll love it." Stephanie gave one last smile before walking through the living to get back to her friends.

"Yeah you guys should come back when he shows one of his movies." Stephanie could hear Willie talking to the band. A bright smile on his face as his hands flailed in the air, trying to recreate the kind of magic he had seen Caleb do.

Luke saw his friend in the crowd pretty quickly, "Steph! Where'd you go?" You could hear the concern in his voice as he waded around the different ghost and people in the room, trying to get to Stephanie.

She fake laughed, "Just looking for a better angel." She lied. And Luke could tell by the way her right hand fell to the scar on her left wrist. "So, how we gonna magically appear?" Stephanie tried to push the subject past herself, taking as many eyes away from her as she could.
"Yeah, can the guy just like wave his hand and make ghosts seen by lifers?" Reggie asked, leaning against the table.

Willie folded his hands together, "I told you the guys got skills."
Luke looked around, finally looking away from Stephanie's wrist, "So where'd he go?"
"Oh wow! Found him!" Reggie suddenly yelled, everyone turning to the man now standing at the front of the table.

He smiled, "Hello boys, girl. Caleb Covington. Welcome to the Hollywood Ghost Club. Enjoying the show?" There was an undertone in his voice, but Stephanie couldn't place what it was.
"Yeah that was... I mean,... Did you.. Like..." Luke could express his enjoyment, tripping over words as he pointed around the room.

"And you miss?" Caleb turned to Stephanie.

"Hmm?" She looked up from the floor, "Oh yeah. It was great." She gave half a smile before turning back to her wrist. Staring at the single scar mark like it was multiplying.

Willie put his hand on Alex's shoulder, "This is Alex, Luke, Reggie. And That would be Stephanie."
Alex placed his hand in his pockets, "It's uhh, really nice to meet you."

Caleb smiled, "The pleasure is all mine. Nothing warms my heart more than sharing this magic with new friends. Please, sit. Sit." The five did as they were told, Stephanie's hand still tracing the thin white scar, and Luke growing more and more worried about her. "Now, my friend Willie tells me that you boys, and girl, have some magic of your own." Stephanie sighed, starting to press her thumb into her skin as she traced the scar.

Alex looked shocked before clearing his throat, "Well.. Willie and I? I mean, I wouldn't really call it magic but I mean..."

"Oh, no, no. He means your ghost abilities." Willie cut in, stopping Alex from going down the path of too much information as he often did. "You know to be seen by everybody when you play with Julie."

"Or when her brother takes pictures of us." Stephanie reminded, her hand still by her wrist. She exhaled a breath at the look of confusion on Willie's face, "Yeah that's much more recent of a discovery than the Julie thing."

Luke shook his head, trying to fight every urge to make fun of Alex, "Yeah but we can't really wave our arms and do all this magic stuff."

Caleb nodded, "Well, I've had some practice. Our gifts are so rare, so special. It's not often I come across other spirits who possess similar talents. It's no surprise we found each other. If you'll forgive me, fellas, lady, I gotta go pay the bills, if you know what I'm saying. I'll be back to chat later."
Reggie watched him walk away, "I love that dude. Please tell me this party's never gonna end."

~

"Is everybody fired up for Julie and the Phantoms?" Flynn yelled into the mic at the dance. The whole crowd cheered like crazy Julie and Jay giving laughs from backstage. "Great. Keep that fire, because that's later. We're running a bit behind schedule, but don't worry, just enjoy these mind-blowing beats." Flynn started to play the Sunset Curve CD Julie had found in the loft what felt like years ago but from really only at the start of the month.

Jay slid down the black wall backstage, "Julie and the Phantoms would be a lot better with the, you know, phantoms."

"Hey." Rose took a seat in front of him, crossing her legs, "They're ghosts. They can just appear right on time. Right?"
"Hate to be the bearer of bad news but on time was three minutes ago Rose." Connor said with a loss.

"Fifteenth. They're fifteen minutes late, actually." Jay held his right hand in his left letting his head fall forward. Jay could almost feel Carrie's cruel stare. He thought back to that morning when he had met Carrie's Mother. How nice she was, how sincere. How Carrie was none of that. Quickly Jay stood up, "I need some air."

~

Luke's leg felt like it was gonna fall off from bouncing it up and down so much. Reggie had gone off to talk to some people at the party and Alex was talking to Willie a few feet away from the table. But Stephanie was still right next to him, her thumb still pressing into her skin as she traced the thin white scar. "Would you stop that!?" He finally yelled. Lucky not getting anyone's attention other than Stephanie's.

She looked up from her wrist, "Stop what?"

"Doing that." He pointed to her hand. "Tracing your scar. You only do it when you're worried about something, and you've been doing it since you got back from upstairs. And when you get worried I get worried."
She dropped her hand, "Sorry. I'm not worried. Promise." Her head fell again, her legs completely outstretched as she slumped in her seat. Just looking at her made Luke's mood drop.

"You're really not having fun, huh?"
"What? No! I-I love it. The pretty people, in their fancy clothes, showing off their ostentatious wealth and dead people walking around like they're still alive. I love the people in party dresses from 1920, and a guy in a cape showing off weird magic. Just having the time of my life." She didn't even look up to say it, just staring down at her hands as she twisted her fingers over one and over. Her voice was extremely sarcastic as she said it.

Luke's eyes landed on the guitar that Stephanie had noticed as soon as they walked in. The silver instrument seemed to be waiting for someone to play it. But Luke didn't have the chance to show it to Stephanie, because Reggie walked over.

"You guys are not gonna believe this, but someone just told me they added a character named Jar Jar. What's a Jar Jar?" He yelled about the new Star Wars movies.

Stephanie laughed, rolling her head to the side so she was facing Luke, "At least we still got Reggie." Alex smiled, waving Willie off and made his way over to the table right as Caleb came back.

"I take it you folks are enjoying yourselves." Stephanie and Luke jumped from their seats at his voice.

Stephanie smiled as best she could, "Immensely. Your hospitality is quite welcoming." Luke couldn't believe just how good of a liar Stephanie was. All the sarcasm replaced with something sincere. Or faking sincerity.

"Well thank you. But Entertainment is my specialty. So now I understand there's something I can help you with."
"We hope so." Reggie leaned against the edge of the table crossing his feet, "There's an old buddy of ours who ripped us off big time, and we wanna make things right."
"Yeah. We want to look him in the eyes and make him admit what he did to us."

"So if you could make us visible that would be perfect." Alex finished the thought, Stephanie's hand still found its way to her wrist even though Luke asked her to stop.

Caleb chuckled, "Well sure, I could do that, but we're at a party. Why focus on those who have wronged us when we're among friends? Now, I understand that the four of you are talented musicians. I doubt... your dream is to settle a score. No, your dreams are bigger than that! You're like me, born to perform your music in front of sold out crowds." Caleb snapped his finger a guys coming over and giving him a chair, "Please sit." The four members did, "What if I were to tell you that with a wave of my hand, you could share that spotlight with me.... And join my house band?"

Stephanie got that feeling like she was about to throw up again. No way in hell could she do this for the rest of her afterlife. She could barely handle the hour they had spent here so far. She liked performing because she got to blow everyone away with her friends, then get the hell away from the crowd.

Luke saved her this time however, "We already have a band."
"Yes, yes. But when you're done performing, you disappear. You cease to exist. No bows." Stephanie wanted to shoot back saying that bows were how they disappear. "No..no soaking up the applause." She wanted to fall through the floor. "No real connection with the audience. Yeah? Here the audience knows what you are, and more importantly they know how special you are." All three boys looked back to Stephanie at that statement but she didn't notice, starting to play with the hem of her shirt.

Luke gave a shrug, "Well it could be cool to play here."

"Oh, it's not just here. We party like this all over the world. Tonight Hollywood. Tomorrow, Paris-"

Stephanie cut Caleb off, "We already have a band. Thanks anyways." She repeated Luke's words from before. The sound of her voice sounded like the feeling of needles drawing blood to Luke. Her voice undercutted the lie she told before, that this hospitable place even felt slightly welcoming to Stephanie. The iciness behind the words were clear. This was the end of the discussion to Stephanie, she wasn't going to budge. And even if her voice didn't give it away, her body language did, leaning forward so her arms were on the table causing her chest to be pressed against it. The first time all night her posture matched that of the other females in the room. Perfect and stiff as a board.

Caleb nodded, a smug grin on his face. He enjoyed watching Stephanie trying not to break, trying to stay civil when she was having a war in her mind. "I'll give you some time to think about." He stood, "Oh by the way make sure you try the sliders. They're to die for."
"W-We can eat?" Reggie stuttered as Caleb started to walk away.
"Here you can." With a snap of his fingers Caleb's men brought plates of food over to the band's table.

Luke reached for one of the million hamburgers on the table, but Alex grabbed his wrist, "Wait, I want the one without cheese." He quickly grabbed the hamburger and the three boys dug in. But Stephanie didn't move just rested her head in the palm of her hand. She did get a good laugh out of the boys moaning into their food after not having eaten in 25 years..

Reggie held out a slice of pizza to Stephanie, "I'm good. 25 years of not eating makes you lose an appetite."
"Speak for yourself." Reggie muttered, taking a bite from the slice. She lied, again.

Everything on that table was making her mouth water, but this a silent protest. Saying, she didn't need fancy clothes, or magic, or weird purple capes to be a happy ghost. That in fact the afterlife was the first time in her life she was truly happy.

~

Jay felt bad for making Flynn stall. He just wanted to know where they were at least. What was more important to them then Julie? Plus Julie was still in a slump for no music. She would totally flake without Sunset Curve behind her.

Jay's body felt numb as he waited. He was just outside the entrance to backstage, standing in the empty halfway s music blared from inside the gym. Honestly it made his head hurt. Spinning like a top inside of his mind.

He wasn't still, and he wasn't looking anywhere. Just his feet as he walked up and down the hall. Back and forth, left and right. Even tracing the square pattern on the floor a few times.

He wanted to slip back to the other day. The day where he still was queasy about letting ghosts live in his house. Then watching Julie allow the to come to life again. He wanted that back.

He didn't want to be missing someone whole was dead before he was alive. Scared of what they might be doing. "Hey everybody!" Nick's screams got Jay's attention. "Who wants to see Julie and the phantoms?! We fixed the hologram thing. Who wants to see a show?!" Jay ran back into the gym as the crowd started to cheer.

No this. This was not gonna work. At this point they might as well have just told Nick they were ghost saved themselves the embarrassment. But this class came for a show, one they weren't ready to give up.

"Now.." Nick dragged it out as Jay felt his heart beating in his temples, "Give it up.... For Julie and the Phantoms!"

Julie slowly stumbled onto the stage. Jay allowed himself a small smile at the sight of her wearing their mother's old clothes. From the 90s. She cared enough to even dress like them, and they didn't care enough to even show up.

The smile fell replaced quickly by anger and...sadness? But he pushed it aside as his sister took the mic, "Uh...Hi." She gave an awkward laugh and smile, "So here's the thing..." Julie chuckled, her face turning redder and redder, "Even though we got the machine fixed, thanks to Nick.....I can't seem to link up with the guys and Steph." The crowds started to whisper, "Wifi, am I right?" Jay wasn't even sure if Sunset Curve knew what Wi-fi was. Julie suddenly looked very sad, "I'm sorry but... I'm gonna have to cancel."

The whole room started to bitch and moan as Jay made his way to the stage trying to get to his twin. The one person in this room he trusted enough to let him freak out on a bunch of dead people.

But Carrie climbed the stairs before he did. Some of the fuzz on her jacket fell to the floor as her heels made soft clicks on the wood. "Umm.." She started, "Anybody know the Heimlich? Julie's choking." Carrie walked closer to Julie as the student's laugh, Jay frozen at the front of the crowd, his throat burning to speak, but words wouldn't leave. "Only one way to save this dance." Carrie stole the mic from Julie's hands, "Who wants to see Dirty Candy"

Carrie reached for the panel but Flynn snapped her own switch, "oops. Knobs broken."

Carrie hummed, "Okay. Two can play at that game. Party at my house!"
"Three!" Connor shouted over the cheers coming out from backstage, "Three can play at that game. I gotta ask Carrie. Who's Stephanie Wilson?"

"Con don't." Jay tried but it just let Flynn pick up the interrogation.

"Yeah Car, who is she?"

Carrie giggled, "Why would I know?"
"Who is she Carrie!?" Rose was nearly screaming.

"Guys really stop it!" Jay fought again, climbing onto the stage.

"Who is she!" Flynn did yell it this time.

"Flynn, don't! Really!" Julie yelled at her best friend, the stage becoming Carrie's quick downfall as the whole school tried to dig on this 'other Wilson girl.'

"Who is she?" "Come on Carrie?" "Who is Stephanie Wilson?" "You would have had to heard the name some time?" "Who is she Carrie?" "Guys! Stop! Really?" "You don't know do you?" "Flynn!" "Oh poor Carrie, scrambling for the answers. How does it feel?" "Roslyn, cut it out!"

Eventually Connor just sighed, Carrie backed into a corner. Or a set of pink streamers, "You know Carrie, somehow not knowing that name. Is the most sickening thing about you."
"I beat even if you asked, you Dad wouldn't answer." Rose spit as the girl as she started to tremble.

"Yeah Carrie. Maybe leave a flower at the grave." Flynn finished, the whole crowd gasping. Jay and Julie along with them.

Jay recovered first, "guys what the hell! No matter how much of a dick she is, she didn't need that!" Carrie ran off as Jay scolded his friends, small tears forming in her eyes. Jay couldn't tell if it was an act, but frankly he didn't care right now. "This night has sucked enough, you don't need to ruin it for someone else. Maybe she was better off in the dark." Considering Stephanie had only found out that day.

"Jay-" Connor tried, reaching his hand out to his best friend.

Jay just shoved it away, "Get out of my face." He turned to the crowd, "All of you!" With one last gasp the people scattered to the excites. Flynn, Rose, and Connor froze looking at the twins. With matching broken expressions on their faces.

Jay felt the first tear of the night fall down his face. At least first tear in the open. Stephanie had been screaming and Crying inside all night. Halfway across the city.

~

"Oh, pizza! Man, I missed you!" Luke was never so happy to have food in his hands as he shoved the slice into his mouth.

Alex turned to Reggie as he started to kiss the meal in his hand, "Reg, are you kissing that meatball sub?" Stephanie got a smile out of that, but her facade was wearing thin.

"It's what you do with the things you love." Reggie replied quickly before taking a bite of his 'love'.

"I take it you're all enjoying the feast?" Caleb's voice bombed from the stage, the silver guitar was still calling to Stephanie, and she was itching to play it. "So many delicious sights, so many tantalizing sounds. But.. your eyes still hunger for more."
"Oh not this again." Stephanie murmurer not meaning to say the words out loud. But to her luck and demise Luke heard her and took her hand from under the table, giving it a light squeeze.

"Something Sweet." Caleb walked across the stage, "Something Savory." She walked up a riser on the floor, "How many newcomers do we have in the club tonight?" Reluctantly Stephanie raised her hands with the boys. Part of it was Luke raising it with their fingers still intertwined and letting go once it was in the air, another part was she wanted to play the part as much as she could. Caleb gave her the creeps. And she was a ghost. "Ladies.. Let's show our guests how we do dessert. A one two three four!"

A jazz beat kicked in, many ghosts appeared and danced in front of Stephanie and the boys. Willie giving a laugh from next to Alex as a man in a pink suit did a flip in front of them.

Caleb laid across the piano, "Shoo bada papa roo bada bada.
   Hey, un bum bum bum baram, hey!
Shoo bada papa roo bada bada.
Hey, um bum bum bum baram, hey!
Arum bum, Arum bum. Hey! Hey! Scoo bit bap bap. Hey!" Caleb leaned back with the help of his colorful twins, his body facing away from the crowd bending his back to see them,

"Watch me make a move, Watch me make a move, yeah. Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do? I say watch me make a mover. Watch me make a move, oh."

The rest of the crowd started to sing along. But continuing her protest Stephanie was quiet as a mouse. "Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do? I say watch me make a move, watch me make a move, yeah! Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do? Watch me make a move. Best you ever knew Hey, yeah!"

Willie ran forward, starting to dance along with Caleb's crowd and workers. His converse and black color plate standing out among the neon and charters shoes. "Life is good on the other side of Hollywood. Life is good on the other side of Hollywood."

Luke leaned to his left so Stephanie could hear him, "Oh come on! You gotta at least smile. Or give me a smirk. Something?" Stephanie snickered at his awful attempts of anything, "There we go! Steph, we're at a party!"

"I'm only here for the wine. Mother like Daughter right?"
"Not funny Stephanie!"
"Then give up. Have fun. Pretend I'm not here!"

Luke sighed turning back to the show, "So welcome to the brotherhood where you won't be misunderstood. Life is good on the other side of Hollywood." Willie pulled Alex forward lending a chain reaction for the table. Alex grabbed Stephanie's wrist to try and stop it. Stephanie grabbed Luke but he wanted it to happen, so he pulled Reggie with them and Stephanie's plan was foiled.

Willie laughed as the pink flapper from early danced around Reggie and Luke, kicking her leg as he boa dragged behind. Stephanie just blew one of the feathers away from her face as it came by her. The flapper danced up and down Reggie, the boy falling over from the attention. Stephanie didn't even try to catch him at this point, pushing him over to Luke as the guitarist laughed at his friend.

"Look, Luke I'm just gonna g-" Stephanie started but had to stop when Luke grabbed her wrist pulling her in. Their chest pressed against each other and faces centimeters apart.

"No, you're not." He started to drag Stephanie in time with the music, dancing as best he could with an uncooperative partner, "New goal for the night. Make you smile!" He yelled spinning her and giving Stephanie a dip.

"Ain't this like old time!" Stephanie yelled over the music. She was reminding of the time when they tried to be more than friends. When this relationship wasn't just platonic, but more. In the end it was better off as friends.

Luke laughed, "School dances don't count. You know were never actually went on a date."
Stephanie giggled, starting to dance along, "You still asked me out to homecoming!"
Luke laughed as well, "In freshman year!"

"Still counts!" Stephanie yelled as Luke spun her around again. "Life is good on the other side of Hollywood! Life is good. On the other side of Hollywood!"

Luke pulled Stephanie back in, both of them hand in hand, "Jokes on you. I only asked because Cheryl said no."

Stephanie genuinely laughed, "Well, I only said yes because Ryan didn't ask me out!"

"Oh my god!" Luke yelled through his laughter remembering the guy who later asked Stephanie out and then cheated on her, "I always knew you could do better than him."
"Yeah, how come you never did anything about it?" She said with a laugh thinking back to the night in the studio where she cried into his lap finding out he cheated.

Luke gave her a dip once more, "You seemed happy," He pulled her up, "It's nice when you're happy."

They let go of each other's hands, snapping with the beat and dancing in a circle. Stephanie would never, she means EVER, tell Luke this, but having him there, doing whatever this was, really made the night better.

Luke pulled Stephanie to him again, "Of Hollywood!!!!!!! Ain't it something?" At the end of the music Luke gave Stephanie a dramatized dip, Stephanie coming face to face with Reggie as the twins from behind dipped him.

The bass player smiled and giggled, "Look who's finally having fun?" The clock struck midnight. Stephanie and Luke's energy drained and replaced by guilt as Luke pulled her up.

At the same time they yelled, "The twins!" So much for 9 o'clock. "You get Reggie, I get Alex?"

"Deal." Luke dropped Stephanie's hand as she ran through the crowd trying to find Alex.

"Alex! Alexander get over here!"

Alex hung down, only holding himself up by his knees on the acrobatic hoop from before, "We forget-"

"Jay and Julie. I know."

"I swear this pace is some kind of time warp."

"Well poof down and let's go!

~

Stephanie and Luke were physically dragged Alex and Reggie behind them skidding to a halt when Caleb appeared in front of them. "Gentleman, Lady. What's the rush? The party's just getting started, and you have an eternity, after all."

Stephanie's grip on Alex's wrist got tighter, "And we have a prior commitment. With some people who don't have eternity. So thank you for the food, the music was lovely, and I would love if you let us out the door."

Stephanie went to walk forward but Caleb blocked her path, grabbing her wrist and making it sizzle, a purple seal now placed into her skin, but Stephanie didn't notice. Already extraordinarily pissed off, "What about my offer?"

"I told you." She was practically hissing, "We. Already. Have. A. Band. One we need to get back to. So once again, thank you. Now is the part where the host let's the guest leave." Stephanie let go of Alex's arm poofing away herself, not wanting to spend another minute in that place.

Luke whistled, "Sorry about her. She's wound a little tight. Plus her life is based on scheduling. I was amazed when I got her to dance with me. But she is right. Thank you, we have to go."

"Well, tell Stephanie she is welcome to come back where she wants. As are you of course. The Hollywood Ghost Club will always have a table waiting for you."

"Thanks but she doesn't do great in crowds. She gets really self conscious..." Reggie trailed off seeing the look of warning on Luke's face, "We would love to come back some time."

"Ah. Music my ears." He shook each boys hand, leaving the same seal on them as he did their friend. The small purple ring fading and hissing into their skin, as it did with Stephanie. "Oh, it's just a little club stamp."
Reggie dropped his wrist, "Cool."

"Well until next time. Maybe we can get a smile onto Stephanie's face. What'da say boys?"

Alex scoffed, "I think that would be a whole new type of magic. Thank you again. And um.. Uh, if Willie asks, uh not that he would, but if he does, will you let him know that I was looking for him?" Caleb just nods, "Thanks."

~

"All you had to do was magically poof into existence!"

"Look I'm sorry! I hated where we were!"
"So why did you stay Stephanie!?" The way Jay screamed her name made her filch. How it seemed to echo off of every locker in the hall. Resonating as it cut her skin. But it wasn't just the way he said it. No it was that he called her Stephanie. Even when they first met he never used her full name. Now she stood before him as he screamed it, and all she wanted to do was beg for mercy.

"I don't know! Okay! The guys looked happy! I just want them to be happy! Our lives were shit! This- This is our chance to be happy!"

"Not everyone gets to be a ghost!" Jay huffed out a breath in the early silence that followed the taught, the words still being whispered around in the air. "What about Julie's chance?" He let his shoulder slum, taking a step to the ghost, "What about my chance? And did you ever stop to think the word 'our' includes you? That you can think about what YOU want?"

Stephanie nearly laughed, "Why would I matter. I'm the whole reason we're in this mess. I'm the reason we bailed on Julie. If I hadn't left this morning to go find Booby. Then we wouldn't have sought out Caleb.-"

"Shut up! It's not a fault. It's a mistake. And not you skipping. This whole little band idea I pushed onto Julie. So you know what, if it is a fault, it's mine! For actually thinking ghosts would come through. Because deep down you're still a Wilson. A backstabbing, conniving little bitch. Just like you're niece."

"Jay-"
"Shut it, okay! Look I know why you weren't here. You wanted to settle a score. But I thought to you music was more important than that. I actually thought you would pull thought. All four of you!"

"It's not about a score!" Stephanie found herself screaming again. The blue locker burning with ears, vague silhouettes the only thing she could still see. "Twenty. Five. Years. That number has been on the forefront of my mind for weeks. Just waiting until I found how my brother was doing. I don't want to settle a score, James. I want to know if he;s happy. It doesn't matter to me in the way it matters to the boys. I just wanted-"

"To see your brother." Normally Jay would have believed her. Felt sorry for her even, but anger was the only thing on the forefront of his mind. "Save the sad sob for someone who cares."

"Jay!" Stephanie screamed his name as he slowly turned away from the girl, his eyes filing with tears for the second time that night. "James!" Stephanie's voice cracked, even in her afterlife she wasn't able to keep people she cared about.

Jay stopped, balling his hand into a fist without turning back around to face Stephanie. "I actually thought we were friends." The words burned his throat, mostly because he still believed it. Hell he wanted it. Wanted to hold onto something. He just didn't know what.

That was what hurt most. No amount of self inflicted pain felt as bad as Stephanie hearing those words. "We are! James! Please!"

Just as Jay turned the corner Stephanie jumped back in pain. A purple light filling her shell of air. Shocking her entirely. She imagined it was like what getting hit with lighten looked like.

Just a haze of purple light through your own tears.

~