NIGHTFALL CAME quickly. Lennon, along with Julie and the eventual help of Flynn. Finished decorating the studio.

Lennon was now irritable. She was tired so that didn't help at all. She was very annoyed and if someone pushed her, she was gonna let loose.

It was rare that Lennon got upset with anyone to the point she would bicker back and forth. She normally would just drop it if it came to that. But, she was drained of any and all energy, wanted to at least sleep for a minute if someone allowed her to, and she wanted to get this stamp, marking, whatever off of her because it was making her into someone she wasn't. She knew that.

Lennon was about to hit some type of breaking point. That's exactly what Caleb wanted. His plan with her was shockingly working, but he obviously didn't know that Lennon and Luke could quickly ( and I mean quickly ) adapt to each other's feelings. Maybe that's why Luke had a soft side.

The crowd around the piano outside the garage was pretty big. Julie's father in the corner, camera-ready. Lennon, at the moment, was resting against the wooden fence that could barely be seen by the shrubbery around it.

"You've been avoiding me."

Lennon, whose eyes were shut, hadn't even realized she had dozed off. She slowly opened them. Luke now beside her with an entirely different outfit on.

She slowly shook her head, "I'm not avoiding you." She whispered.

"Oh, so I'm seeing things. That's cool. Didn't know I could do that."

Lennon held a tight lip. If this was going where she thought it was, she rather go back to sleep. She rather go home.

"Didn't know that either. Maybe you can teach me."

Luke looked down at her. Her arms were crossed over her chest. His flannel hung off her shoulders. Disheveled? That look was completely gone. She kept her head forward, not bothering to look in his direction.

Fine, if Lennon wanted to act out of character, so could he. It was easy.

Luke Patterson wasn't the same person Lennon Sunder had met. Luke could pull whoever he wanted, whenever he wanted. Lennon was different. He knew that. No ghost girl ( or human girl ) could take Luke away from Lennon. He knew that. Did Lennon make Luke a better person overall? Yes, yes she did.

But Luke Patterson was still Luke Patterson and that person could be such a hardass if he wanted to be. That's what drew people in, in the first place, right?

Luke knew he was good looking and everyone around him knew. Luke Patterson was a good looking fellow. He attracted anyone, it was easy for him to get with anyone. One small smile could have anyone melting to the floor.

But now, he had Lennon, a person who he thought knew like that back of his own hand. Scratch that. He knew he knew Lennon like the back of his hand. He's just never met this side of her. No one really had. She'd never been stamped against her will before.

He pushed himself off the fence and stood in front of her. He bent down ever so slightly to be face to face with her.

"I wanna tell you something." He muttered, "I know this isn't you and you know that this isn't you. So, can just tell me what's up or we can keep playing this back and forth game. Choice is yours, babe."

"Awh, is it cocky night?" She pouted, "I've never seen this Luke before. Interesting."

"I've never seen this Lennon before. First, she's avoiding me and now she's got comebacks. Is there a full moon I don't know about?"

"Oh, now you've jokes. That's so funny. What to know what else is funny? That you think you can outdo me. You know that I'm irritated and tired." She said, her eyebrows slightly raised, "You can't level with me on this one, babe."

"I'm impressed. Carrie teach you that?"

Lennon sighed, she leaned forward slightly, "Bite me, Patterson."

Oh, this was exactly what Caleb Covington wanted that night in the gym. Instead, he got two sappy, love struck teens.

If he knew that Lennon was gonna act this way because she was too tired and just irritated with him, he would've done this sooner.

Caleb was a slide lines type of guy. He made sure to watch this unfold up until this point. Lennon was irritated and Luke following her actions. Nothing made him smile more.

Luke allowed his eyes to flicker down to her lips. He was slow with his actions.

"Oh, you really tried to be quick with that one." Lennon said with a breathy laugh, "That's real rough, buddy."

"I know you want to just as bad as I do. Like you said, real rough, buddy."

"Fair enough. I'll call this a draw."

"As much as I like this Lennon. I think I miss the version where she couldn't really speak to anyone. The "Oh, I said that didn't I?" girl. Whenever you find her, let her know the other Luke Patterson is looking for her. You know, because that guy really wants to know if his soulmate is all right."

Lennon let her shoulders drop slightly. Another twitch in her arm causing her to snap out of whatever state she had just been in. She felt lost and looked pretty confused.

"Lenn?"

She looked back up at Luke and furrowed her brows. Luke was just as confused. He saw her arm twitch. Something that he either hadn't notice her do before or it was something completely new.

The tiredness quickly coming back to her. Caleb Covington could snake his way into her mind with how tired she had become and it brought him some type of joy. He didn't want to hurt her in any shape, way, or form. At least, that's what he told himself. That's what he told himself to prevent hurting her more than what he already was.

"Lennon?"

Luke moved to rest his hands on her shoulders for them to fall through. He didn't know what to expect, but he had grown frustrated as Lennon quickly looked like she was utterly falling out.

She had her back pressed against the fence again. She had just been looking around trying to familiarize herself on where she currently was.

"Lennon, are you okay?"

She finally looked back at Luke and sighed, giving him a nod.

"I need you to tell me you're okay."

It felt like she had been in a dream-like state. Not like a daydream, not like she was going to bed that night. This was different.

"I'm fine. I'm okay." She whispered.

Luke's eyes looked over every spot on her face. Any sign that she was hurt or just something to reassure himself that she was fine.

"Lennon, I was joking when I said you could stay, just go home and sleep, better yet just go sleep in Julie's bed, I'm sure she wouldn't-"

"I'm okay." She repeated.

"That's not enough for me."

Lennon shifted her sight back on him. She could barely remember having any conversation with him. She didn't even remember him moving in front of her.

Just like before, Caleb had done something to them and they hadn't realized it. Lennon could remember some of the things she had said and some of the things Luke had said, but because she didn't have full control she couldn't really the little things.

Lennon could understand Luke's worry. She had been out of it all damn day. She had just gone back and forth with him and could hardly think straight after it.

Because Lennon was human and Luke wasn't, what Caleb had done affecting her differently. From the stamp, from the shocks, from whatever brainwash she had just gotten, Lennon Sunder felt like she was at the edge.

"Lennon?"

The two of them looked over at Carrie who had just drawn herself away from Nick. Lennon couldn't tell you when she had arrived or why was there in the first place.

Lennon took as much of a deep breath as she could and smiled her way.

"Turnout is better than I thought." Carrie said.

"Luke, come on!" Reggie smiled, "We're about to start."

Luke quickly looked over his shoulder and back at Lennon.

"I've been asking you since you've gotten here to tell me what's wrong and you've been brushing me off." Luke whispered, "I know I can be all in your business sometimes and I know I invade your personal space, but it's only because I'm curious. Just tell me you'll be all right and I'll leave whatever this is alone."

Lennon looked down at the ground, "Uh, Carrie? If I, uh- I don't feel that great, so if I feel or look any worse can you me home?"

"You don't wanna leave now?" Carrie asked, "I mean, I rather look at that movie you watch all the time than be here."

"I'm just tired. I'll be fine, but if... if get uh, drowsy or anything, just say you'll take me home."

Carrie slowly nodded, "Yeah, for sure."

"Luke!"

He shut his eyes and sighed. He poofed from her and back into the studio with the others.

Julie smiled as she walked out of the studio, small cheers as she did.

Soon the song started and soon enough Julie was squatted down singing her heart out.

Lennon felt herself squeeze onto Carrie's hand and bringing the girl down with a slight jerk as Luke approached Julie.

"Lennon?"

It was like Lennon couldn't hear a word Carrie was saying to her. Her eyes blurring as the pain felt worse and worse with every shock. It was literally killing her inside.

Carrie squatted down beside her and brushed the hair out of Lennon's face.

"Lennon, talk to me, okay?"

Alex from the drums ( as he was higher up ) saw Lennon and Carrie close to the ground. Lennon's one hand wrapped around her torso and the other holding Carrie's hand. The smile he had on his face falling slightly as the girl kept close to the ground.

He then saw her stand slowly. Carrie's hand now placed on the girl's back as the two do them left.

The song soon came to a close.

Another Julie and the Phantoms song for the books.

SUNSET CURVE OR JULIE AND THE PHANTOMS? aka: BATTLE OF THE BANDS
number five: edge of great - julie and the phantoms
favorite line: "what doesn't kill you makes you feel alive."

- lucy has something to say!!
(word count: 1763 one thousand seven hundred sixty-three)

the way i want to make julie and the phantoms stories all the time >>>>

i could drop a plot shop but then i end up liking the plot and making it my own that's rude of me

just remembered that luke patterson is technically 40+ years old kaksksoososlslsksksnnd

bye :)))