Alex, Luke, and Reggie are shocked when they're suddenly back at the ghost club and in different outfits. They were now wearing nice suits and Luke and Reggie had their guitars while Alex had his drum sticks. They had been in the studio when Caleb suddenly appeared, trying to convince them to join his house band. And when they didn't, he took matters into his own hand.

"Well, don't you look nice?" Caleb commented as he walked down the stairs into the room with a smirk.

Luke tugs at the tight collar of his dark blue suit jacket, wishing he wasn't wearing this uncomfortable outfit. "Sweat threads." Reggie murmured nervously.

"How...How'd you know our sizes?" Alex stammered.

Luke sends him a look. "That's your question?"

Caleb clicks his tongue and sighs. "I know you boys aren't my biggest fans. And an eternity at my club might seem overwhelming. But...I just put you in sweet threads, so humor me this one last pitch. Now, for starters, isn't it nice that you're all here together? And believe me, everything you want," He points at Alex with a smile. "Including Willie, is here." He glances over at Reggie with a grin. "And can't forget Tessa."

Reggie shares a confused look with his friends at that before they look back at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, have you not wondered why you haven't got those jolts in awhile?" Caleb chuckles, knowing the boys didn't realize the time was nearing. "Your precious Tessa is now my new house band member and performer." He pushed back the streamers hanging down from the ceiling at the entrance from the back stage to the main stage for the boys to see Tessa.

The trio are shocked to see Tessa on the stage with the house band. They can't believe their eyes, wondering if it's some kind of trick or illusion. But there's no mistaking her familiar face and form. But she looks all dressed up, Reggie thought she looked stunning, yet a little out of place.

"Tessa!" The boys exclaim worriedly at the same time, their hearts skipping a beat at the sight of their friend. They move forward, wanting to rush the stage, but Caleb stood in their way, blocking their path.

"Not so fast." He tuts, a smug smirk on his face. "We had a deal. She agreed to join my club and be a star, in return I got rid of the jolts."

The boys stare at him with surprise and disbelief. Reggie's eyes narrow, his concern turning into anger. "You forced her into this? What kind of sick deal is that?"

Caleb chuckles, enjoying the boys' reaction. "Oh, she agreed willingly. She wanted to save you from the jolts. A small sacrifice for the greater good, wouldn't you say?"

Luke clenches his fists, frustration and helplessness building up inside him. "You manipulated her! We won't let you keep her here against her will."

Caleb raises an eyebrow, unfazed by their protests. "Well, she made her choice. And now she's a star. Isn't that what she always wanted? To be in the spotlight?"

Alex grits his teeth, his frustration reaching its peak. He doesn't know what to do or how to help Tessa. But he knows he has to do something. He can't just stand by and watch her suffer. "She never wanted fame! She just wanted to play music with people she cared about!"

Caleb waves his hand dismissively, not buying their argument. "She's still a star. And you boys don't have to suffer through the jolts anymore, she was brave enough to take them or you. Isn't that something to be grateful for?"

Reggie's fists tremble with anger as he glares at Caleb. "We won't let you keep her here. Let her go, Caleb. She doesn't belong to you."

Caleb chuckles at his defiance. "Oh, but she does. She's a part of my club now. And I have every right to keep her here. Face it, boys. There's nothing you can do to help her. She made her choice and she's stuck with it." He steps aside and gestures to the stage. "But anyway, back to my pitch, on my stage, you don't vanish when the music stops. You soak in the applause for as long as you want. The connection that you will feel with that audience will be like no other. I promise." He now stood in front of Luke, fixing Luke's bowtie and putting his hands on his shoulders. Luke stared at him with a glare.

When sudden cheering is heard, Caleb steps back, slowly walking back to the entrance to the main stage. "Oh! Shh. Do you hear that? They're waiting for you. Now let me remind you, you don't know if playing The Orpheum is your unfinished business. But if you agree to my deal, you'll be here together, with Tessa and Willie, playing music, forever. You know where to find me." He gave them one last smirk before he got on stage, the crowd cheering louder in response.

Tessa glances over to the side when she heard the crowd get louder and noticed Caleb was back. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm back!" He announces, standing on the smal circle platform on the stage. "Hello, hello, hello!" As Tessa continued to play the jazz music with the band, Caleb starts singing. "You know you want to take a chance, and be a little bit bad." He glances over at the three boys with a smirk. "Ain't nothing quite like living on the edge. So get ready to go. I'm chasing down a thrill," He walks over to the side with his two dancer girls, staring directly at the boys. "And looking fit to kill so listen to the words a wise man said. He said, 'Covington, I got an offer that you can't refuse'. Ha!"

Tessa glances over at him with confusion while she played, wondering why he kept going over to the right side, acting as if he was singing to someone. She knew there was an entrance that led backstage, but she still thought it was weird. Caleb got back on the circle platform as he kept singing. "You got nothing to lose, boys. Lose. Lose. You got nothing to lose, boys." While he sang, the boys started to unwillingly move their body to the upbeat song. It was as if Caleb was controlling them.

Caleb smirks as he walks back over to them, gesturing with his hand for them to come on stage. "Lose. Lose." As he did this, Alex started to twirl one of his drumsticks in his hand, his eyes widening with shock when he saw this. He felt like he couldn't control his body and it was like Caleb was dragging him on stage. "Lose. You got nothing to lose." Suddenly Alex is gone, but then he showed up on stage, playing the drums.

Tessa snaps her head over to the drum set, eyes wide with shock and disbelief when she saw Alex playing the drums. "Alex?" She breathed out. She couldn't believe her uncle was there. What was he doing there? And where did he get that pink suit? She noticed Alex didn't look like he wanted to be here and looked just as shocked as she did.

"Alex." Caleb was now standing near the drum set with a grin as he snaps along to the beat. "Show me what you've got." People in the crowd continued to cheer for Alex as he played a solo and Caleb started to scat.

Tessa's breath is taken away while Reggie suddenly appeared on the circle platform, playing a solo on his bass. He wore a red suit that had black butterflies on it. He looked so good. But her heart ached because of how panicked and confused he looked. He looked around with wide eyes, playing his bass effortlessly but she knew it was Caleb's magic. He glanced over at Tessa immediately, looking at her worriedly.

"Reggie." Caleb stands by Reggie with a smirk. "Swing it, baby." Reggie continues to play his solo while Caleb turns to face Luke and points at him. "Now, Luke, yeah!"

Tessa looks over in the direction Caleb was pointing at when she heard Luke's guitar playing. An angry and frustrated Luke is slowly brought on stage. She could see he was struggling to pull back against Caleb's magic, but his body betrayed him as he reluctantly ended up on stage. He wore a dark blue suit with a bowtie. She never thought she would see him in a suit like this. He didn't seem like the kind of guy to wear suits. All the boys didn't look comfortable and she didn't blame them.

"You and me!" Caleb sings as Luke got pulled on stage by Caleb's magic. Caleb started scatting along to Luke's guitar riff while Luke ended on the circle platform with Reggie. Caleb turns to face the crowd with a bright smile, putting his hands on Luke's and Reggie's back. "How do you like my new band?" While Caleb began to scat, Tessa shared worried looks with the boys as she played her guitar. She didn't like this at all. This was not the deal she agreed to.

"So come over here, baby! I got what you need! Let yourself go crazy! All bets on me. It's electrifying. From your hat to your shoes. I feel it in the air. You got nothing to lose, yeah!"

When Caleb finished singing, the room is erupted into applause and cheers. Tessa is breathing heavily, trying to catch her breath along with the boys. She could tell they were just as exhausted and shocked by everything. She glances over at the boys who were all looking at her with sad and worried expressions. She hated seeing the hurt in their eyes. But she felt the same way.

"I didn't know this was going to happen." Tessa reassures them, shaking her head. "He promised this wasn't part of the deal. I don't know what's happening." She mutters. "I should've known he would pull something like this." She cursed, feeling foolish for believing Caleb.

"It's okay, Tessa." Reggie reassures her, his heart aching. He couldn't believe Caleb tricked her into this. He was angry at Caleb and himself. He was furious he let Caleb trick him and his friends. He had been so distracted with getting the jolts, that he hadn't even considered the possibility that Tessa was being manipulated. His heart warmed at the fact that she was looking out for them, but he didn't want her to sacrifice herself for them. "We're gonna figure this out." He promised.

Tessa gives him a soft smile, appreciating his reassurance, but she doubted there was anything they could do. Caleb was a powerful ghost and they were at his mercy. She knew the boys were just trying to comfort her, but she couldn't shake off the overwhelming feelings of hopelessness.

Luke's expression softens when he saw the conflict in Tessa's eyes. "Yeah, don't worry, Tess. We'll figure out a way to get out of this mess." He said, hoping he sounded reassuring, even though he didn't feel confident.

Tessa forces a smile, but her eyes are filled with tears. She missed them and was so relieved they were safe, but she was also terrified of what the future would hold. She wanted to hug them, but she knew she couldn't touch them. They were ghosts and she was human. She was so caught up in her thoughts, that she didn't hear Caleb approach her.

"Don't cry, Tessa." Caleb tuts, gently wiping away her tears. "You're a star now. This is your dream." He reminded her.

Tessa clenches her jaw, anger flashing in her eyes. She didn't appreciate the way he was touching her, and the reminder of their deal was salt in the wound. She had sacrificed herself to save the boys, and now she was trapped here with the boys.

Caleb smiles, not caring about her anger. "I know this is a lot, but I'm sure you'll get used to it. It's your dream come true."

Tessa lets out a bitter laugh, glaring at him. "No, my dream is to play with my friends and make music. Not this. You told me they wouldn't be here, but I should've known you would double cross me." She hissed.

Caleb's expression hardens, his patience wearing thin. He didn't appreciate her attitude and he wasn't used to people defying him. "I gave you what you wanted, and now I expect you to do the same. You have an eternity to be with the boys. I suggest you enjoy it." He warned, his voice cold.

Tessa scoffs, her anger burning bright. "I will never enjoy this. You forced them into this, and you're forcing me. This isn't what I wanted. I just wanted to save my friends. You took advantage of that." She spat.

Caleb clenches his jaw, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Be careful, Tessa. I'm not a patient man. I expect you to perform and entertain these guests. You will not ruin my reputation and show." He hissed before turning to walk away.

Tessa clenches her jaw, anger bubbling in her veins. She couldn't believe she had trusted him, and now the boys were stuck in this nightmare too. She wanted to scream and cry, but she couldn't show weakness. She couldn't let Caleb win. She needed to figure out a way to get the boys out of this mess. But how could she when Caleb was a powerful ghost?

Reggie's jaw had clenched as he watched the interaction between Caleb and Tessa, his grip tightening on his bass. He hated the way Caleb was talking to her, and the way he had manipulated her. He was furious that Caleb had forced her to do this, and was now using her as a pawn. He wanted to protect her, but he couldn't. He couldn't even touch her. He couldn't bear to see her suffer like this, but he knew they were powerless.

Luke had been seething during the entire interaction, his fists clenched. He couldn't believe Caleb had manipulated Tessa and his friends, and now they were stuck in this mess. He was furious that Caleb was forcing them to do his bidding, and that he was controlling them. He couldn't imagine a worse fate than this, and he didn't want his friends to suffer. Alex had been silent throughout the entire exchange, his eyes wide with shock. He couldn't believe what had happened, and how everything had spiraled out of control. He felt powerless and helpless, and he didn't know what to do. After watching the interaction with Tessa and Caleb, Alex hated that he couldn't do anything to protect his niece from Caleb.

Tessa's expression had softened as she saw the looks on her friends' faces, her heart aching. She knew they were hurting and feeling helpless, but she didn't want them to worry about her. "Guys, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." She tries to reassure them, but her voice wavered. "We just need to figure out how to get out of here."

Alex lets out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head. "Yeah, right. That's easier said than done. We're stuck here, and we're under Caleb's control." He pointed out.

Reggie clenches his jaw, his anger growing. "We can't give up. There has to be a way out of here." He said determinedly.

Luke nods, his eyes flashing with determination. "We can't let Caleb win. We'll figure this out." He says, trying to sound optimistic.

Tessa gives them a soft smile, her heart warming at their determination. But she couldn't help but feel helpless and hopeless. She didn't know how they could escape this mess, and she didn't want them to suffer. But she couldn't give up hope. She had to believe they could get out of this mess. She knew they could do it.

After the confrontation between Tessa and Caleb, the performance continued. The three boys were reluctant to perform, but they couldn't resist Caleb's magic. As the music played, Tessa's fingers moved across the strings, the sound of her guitar echoing through the room. The boys joined in, their instruments creating a beautiful melody. They had played together so many times, their instruments perfectly harmonizing.

As the music swelled, the guests in the audience were entranced, captivated by the performance. The lights and colors swirled around the room, the atmosphere charged with energy. The audience had no idea that the boys and Tessa were forced to play here against their will, and Caleb was using his powers to control them. The performance was haunting and beautiful, the boys' and Tessa's emotions conveyed in their music.

As the song reached its climax, the energy and emotions grew stronger, the audience on the edge of their seats. The boys and Tessa were connected to the music, their souls resonating with it. They weren't sure how it was possible but one by one suddenly they felt like they had control back over their bodies. And then it hit them, that it was because of the connection. Their love for the music, and for each other. Alex felt like he could suddenly move on his own which was a relief. The first thing he did he unbutton his shirt that felt like it was too tight on him. He pulled off the bowtie and threw it down on the ground. He then folded up the end of the sleeves, feeling so relieved that he was in control again.

Tessa had noticed this and was surprised her uncle was able to do that, but she was happy for him. She could see the relief on his face, and the tension in his body had eased. She smiled as she continued to play, feeling the joy and relief radiating from him. But she was just as surprised as the others when he suddenly vanished. Her eyes widened and she shared a look with Luke and Reggie. She only hoped that he had gone to where Julie was because she knew Julie needed them. She hated that they weren't there for her and she's sure Julie was worried sick about them.

Reggie suddenly felt like he was in control again. He didn't know what it was, but it was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He then locked eyes with Tessa and they both felt a strong connection. It was as if the music was connecting them and giving them control over their bodies. He could tell she was just as relieved as he was, and the love and joy they were feeling was intensified by the music. He quickly pulled off his blazer that was too uncomfortable for him and threw it on the ground. Then to test out if he could poof again, he poofed close to Tessa and without thinking, he grabbed her hand and tried poofing again. They're both shocked when they poof off the stage and end up in the dressing room at the Orpheum. They both let out a sigh of relief, thankful that they were able to get away from Caleb.

Then they glance down at their hands, realizing they were touching. "How is this possible?" Tessa whispered, her heart racing. She couldn't believe they were actually holding hands. It wasn't normal since he was a ghost and she was human, but they were able to touch. She wasn't sure how to describe it, but it was as if their souls were connected and they were able to bridge the gap between the living and the dead.

Reggie's heart swelled with happiness and wonder as he looked at Tessa, their hands intertwined. He had never felt anything like this before, the sensation of being able to touch her was overwhelming. "I don't know, but I'm not complaining." He replied with a soft smile, his eyes filled with adoration.

Tessa's cheeks flushes with warmth as she gazes into Reggie's eyes, feeling a rush of emotions flooding her. She had missed him so much, and now that they were together, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and joy. "Me neither," She whispers, her voice filled with emotion. "But you need to get on stage to play with Julie and Alex, I'll join you soon-"

"But what if this is the last time I get to see you?" Reggie protested, his grip tightening on her hand, his heart hammering in his chest. He didn't want to leave her. Especially not after being able to touch her. He wanted to kiss and hug her and never let go.

"Reggie, Julie needs you. Go help her and I'll meet you on stage." Tessa urged, giving him a reassuring smile.

"Okay," Reggie sighs, reluctantly letting go of her hand. He didn't want to let her go, but he knew she was right. "But I'll be waiting for you." He promised before he leaned in and kissed her cheek, feeling giddy that he could actually do it. After he did that, he poofed on stage, leaving a blushing Tessa behind. Tessa couldn't believe he just kissed her cheek. It felt weird, but in a good way. His lips had been surprisingly warm, and she could feel the tingling sensation on her cheek.

She shakes her head, pushing away the thoughts. She didn't have time to think about it, she had to get on stage. But first she wanted to change out of this dress and the heels. She quickly went to grab the dress she had first wore before Caleb forced her to wear this. She was relieved to see it was safely in the closet of her dressing room.

After she changed, she grabbed the shoes and was ready to head on stage. She quickly went back stage, grabbing an earphone headset, connecting it to the speaker before slipping it on. She then grabbed her electric guitar that was set up back stage and already plugged into the speaker. She turned it on, taking a deep breath before beginning to play the chords she remembered for this part of the song as she walked on stage, past the curtain. Gasps and murmurs filled the room when she walked out, the boys' and Julie's eyes widening in shock. They were all so grateful though, especially Julie. She had been so worried about Tessa after not finding her in the dressing room. She hadn't seen her on stage, so she thought Caleb did something to her.

As Tessa walked up, she saw Reggie who was looking at her with an awestruck expression, his gaze looking her up and down. Tessa's cheeks flushed with warmth, her heart skipping a beat as she met his gaze. She suddenly felt self-conscious in the dress, but seeing the admiration and affection in his eyes made her feel confident. She smiled at him, her eyes sparkling with love and adoration. She then turned her attention to Julie, her smile brightening as she joined in on the song. Julie's eyes lit up as she sang, the boys' and Tessa's presence giving her newfound confidence. She was so relieved to see they were okay, and she could feel the support and love emanating from them. But Luke wasn't there and she was beyond worried for him, hoping that he was okay.

The audience was mesmerized by the performance, the energy and passion emanating from the band. The lights and colors swirled around the room, the atmosphere charged with energy. Tessa and the boys played their instruments with expert precision, the sounds mingling together in perfect harmony. But as Julie sang the next verse, Luke's guitar playing is heard and he's suddenly appearing on stage, but he was flickering. Tessa shared looks with the boys, their hearts hammering in their chests.

"And it's one, two, three four times." The audience gasps as Luke continued to flicker while playing guitar. Tessa assumed they all figured there was something wrong with the hologram system when in reality he was having trouble keeping control of himself and escaping Caleb's hold. "That I'll try for one more night. Light a fire in my eyes,"

Tessa let out a breath she was holding when Luke stops flickering, singing the next lyric of the song. "I'm going out of my mind." Cheers filled the room as Tessa, Julie, and the boys grin at Luke, looking at him with excitement and relief. Luke grinned at them, his eyes shining with joy. He was finally free from Caleb's hold and he could sing and play with his friends again.

Tessa couldn't help but grin as well, watching Julie practically jump up and down with joy at seeing Luke. She grabs her mic off its stand, eagerly walking over to Luke as he turned to face her while he sang. Tessa stayed where she was, standing by Reggie and playing her guitar. She was the rhythm guitarist while Luke was the main lead guitarist. She looked over at Reggie, her face turning red when she found out he was already staring at her.

He looked so handsome in his suit, the lights and colors casting a glow around him. But the expression he was giving her made her blush even more. There was so much love and adoration in his eyes, and he was giving her a dazzling smile. She could tell he was proud of her and she couldn't help but return his smile, her eyes shining with happiness. She was proud of him too, and she was glad that he and the other boys were able to break free from Caleb's control.

Luke and Julie were gazing into each other's eyes as they sang the next lyrics of the song, the passion and emotions evident in their voices. They were so happy and relieved to be reunited, their hearts swelling with love and affection. After sharing a look with Reggie, Tessa and Reggie had jumped on the platform Alex and his drum set was on while Luke and Julie sang. They stood across from each other with grins before sharing a grin with Alex as they played their instruments. Alex had been so worried and stressed out since Tessa had disappeared and they had been under Caleb's control. But seeing her walk on stage perfectly fine made him so relieved. He wasn't sure how she had gotten back, he made a mental note to ask her about it later, but all that mattered was that she was okay.

Reggie and Tessa exchanged a glance, silently communicating with each other as they kept playing before they both jumped off the platform at the same time when the beat hit during the end of the chorus. Tessa moved to stand by Luke, walking past Julie and sharing a grin with her when they crossed paths. Julie stood in front of Reggie, the two of them grinning at each other as Julie kept singing. Tessa and Luke stood by each other as she joined in on singing the chorus, the two of them standing back to back and grinning at each other as they played their guitars. 

As the song reached the bridge, Tessa and the boys played with newfound energy and passion, their instruments creating a powerful melody that resonated throughout the room. The audience was swept away by the music, their cheers and applause filling the air. Tessa felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins as she played, the joy of performing with her friends overwhelming her. She glanced at Reggie, Luke, Julie, and Alex, their faces alight with happiness and determination.

Tessa and Julie then shared a look as Tessa walked back to center stage, the two changing places again and Julie silently encouraged her to sing the bridge by herself which surprised Tessa since they originally planned to sing together. She felt a flicker of nerves, but she didn't miss a beat as she sang the lyrics, finding herself standing by Reggie once again. The two shared a look and she wasn't sure how but she somehow felt more confident and less nervous when she was beside him. They began walking down the steps together as they played their instruments, their energies and passion flowing through them. They reached the end of the stage, standing back to back while playing their instruments.

"Like I'm glowing in the dark. I keep on going when it's all falling apart," Tessa couldn't stop the smile on her face as Luke harmonizes with her for the last part of the bridge. "Yeah I know it with all my heart. Ooh, ooh." Reggie harmonized with them for the 'ooh' part, the two of them standing back to back as they grinned at each other. Then Reggie had sent her a wink, causing her to giggle and blush.

"Never look back." Luke sang the last lyric of the bridge before the song slowed down.

As the song continued to its conclusion, Tessa and Reggie found themselves lost in the music and in each other's eyes. The tension and excitement of the performance pulsed through them, fueling their connection. They played their instruments with fervor, their hearts beating in time with the rhythm of the music.

As the final notes of the song echoed through the room, the audience erupted into thunderous applause. Tessa and Reggie stood on stage, breathless and exhilarated, their eyes locked in a shared moment of triumph. They had overcome Caleb's control, reunited with their friends, and delivered a mesmerizing performance that captivated everyone in the room. Tessa stood at the end of the stage besides Reggie and Julie. She and Julie held hands as they all took a bow. Tessa stole one last look at Reggie, her heart fluttering and her eyes widening slightly when he mouthed the words 'i love you' before he poofed away with the boys. She wasn't sure why he mouthed the words. 

Did he really mean them or was it just the heat of the moment? And if he really did mean it and if this really was the boys unfinished business, this could mean the boys crossed over and she and Julie would never see them again. Her heart clenched as she worried she never would get to tell Reggie she loves him. But she shook the thoughts away, trying to push aside the worry and anxiety, deciding to just enjoy the moment. She and Julie waved at the crowd, the cheers and applause filling the air. The two girls shared a smile before Julie suddenly hugged her.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Julie said as she squeezed Tessa.

"I'm sorry for not being there." Tessa murmurs, hugging her tight. "I'll explain everything later, I promise. Let's just celebrate this moment."

Julie nods, her smile brightening. "You did amazing, by the way."

"Thanks, you too." Tessa beamed.

They pull away from the hug, turning to smile and wave at the crowd once more before heading back stage. They couldn't believe they actually played at The Orpheum. It was a dream come true. But they both still worried about the boys, wondering whether or not if they did crossover and what would happen next. They were just glad that they had each other and that they could continue making music together. They both knew that whatever happened next, they would get through it together.  

A/N one more chapter left!! i can't believe the story is almost over :'( i hope you all enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned for the last one!