And Rise, Through the night
September 9th and 10th 2020
"He thinks you're cute."

~

Erica took in the smell of the refrigerator before her. Sniffing and closing her eyes to hold it there. Got she wished she could eat. She looked away from the inside of the fridge when Julie walked downstairs, the Molina girl letting out a yell.

The loving girl sighed, relaxing her body, "I'm never going to get used to that." She made her way over to Erica, looking into the fridge from over her shoulder, "Do you guys even eat?"

She shook her head no, licking her lips, "I just wanna see what you got." Julie closed the door of the fridge, the metal passing through Erica's body. "Hey! Do you know how long it took me to open that?"

"Sorry, I don't believe in wasting power." Julie spoke pulling bread out of a bag.

Erica smiled, "Good." She tipped her head side to side, walking past Julie and jumping onto the counter. Julier sent her a look, "Sorry. I like to feel tall. But wasting power is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Our power usage? You wanna talk to me about our power uses?"

"No. That's your dad's problem. I mean the power you have. Your voice and piano skills. Dude, you're like a human wrecking ball."

Julie stifled a laugh, "Is this a pep talk?"

"Hmm. Kind of. What I'm saying is that you have a power in you Julie Molina. And I might have read the pen on the back of your closet door to find out your last name. Either way, you have the power to move people. Even dead people. Reggie got ghost bumps this morning."

"He was there too?!"

Erica shrugged, "Yeah all of us were. We left right before your friend showed up. But that's not the point. The point is you can knock people off their feet. And there is no way your teachers wouldn't let you back into school if they heard you playing like that."

Julie sighed, spreading the peanut butter around her bread, "I asked her. She said I have to wait until next semester."

"That was your first mistake. Asking. Sunset Curve book gigs by doing. So much so that I ruined three pairs of shoes at the pier after stepping in....." Erica cringed. "Well we don't need to discuss that. What I mean is we meant into ambush mode. We played in front of clubs. We played in back of clubs. This one time we even played a book club."

"A book club?"

"Like I said it was only one. But hey, they did have some pretty gnarly snacks. I'm just saying, Julie, someone as talented as you are doesn't need to ask permission. They need to take what they own." She swung her legs in the air, nearly hitting the kitchen island, "Swing that wrecking ball of talent at your teacher's head, and smash those stupid rules right outta their brains."

Julie put her sandwich down, "This isn't a club, it's a school and your plan sounds violent." She walked over to the cabinet next to Erica, slowly opening it.

"It's a closed door..." Erica stuck her head through the cabinet door, "And you gotta bust it open." Julie scoffed walking back over to the fridge, Erica quickly jumping down and following her, "Sorry. Once I start with the metaphors, I can't stop. Bad habit I picked up from Luke."

"They're not just gonna..." Julie paused for a second after walking through Erica, "Let me back in."

Erica huffed out a breath. Luke better thank her for this, because Julie was just as, if not more, stubborn as he was. "If getting back into music is what you want, then you gotta go for it. Learn from me. Your tainted hot dog could be right around the corner." Julie put down her sandwich right before taking a bite, "Yeah, probably shouldn't have said that when you were eating."

Julie sighed, "I don't even have anything prepared."

"Don't worry I planned for that." Erica pulled the folded up song from her back pocket, unfolding it so Julie could see. "It's called Bright. It's a Sunset Curve song Luke and I wrote. Well, he wrote most of it. I just kinda filled in the blanks he couldn't get. But we never got to record it, and it's perfect for your range. Check out the chorus for a second. If you can read Luke's hand writing." Julie chuckled, "If you add a little bit of piano, If you really want I'm sure Cammie would love to help on that part. I'm telling you... We'll rise, through the night, you and I, we will fight to shine together. Bright forever. And rise through the night, you and I" Julie stated to sing along with Erica, "We will fight to shine together. You go up high. Bright forever." Erica chuckled, "Yeah you hear that. Pure talent."

Julie folded the song back up. "Thanks."

"Oh don't thank me. It was Luke's idea."

"Why isn't he telling me then?"

"He thinks you're cute." Julie threw the paper at the other girl, only for it to go through he ran fall to the floor, "What! I'm just telling the truth. You asked. Hey, why don't we run out to the studio. Me and the rest of the band can help you adapt the song for the piano, maybe shifting a few of the notes from the guitars."

~

As soon as Erica walked back into the studio Luke ran up to her with a million questions. "What'd she say? Is she doing it? Did she think it was too much? Would you answer me!?"

"WOULD YOU RELAX! Damn Luke. She's right behind me."

"Oh. Hey- Hey Julie." The ghost rocked back on his left heel nodding his head a little trying to play off what he just did. Adam just rolled his eyes.

"Hi." Erica and Julie shared a look, referring back to what Erica had just said about Luke's feelings towards Julie. "So we gonna work this song or what?"

Camille jumped up from the piano bench, "Can I see it?" Julie passed over the paper, leading Camille to start playing the note that would match the lead guitar in the song. "So what do we wanna do to it?"

     Julie shrugged, "add in a piano part."

Julie took a seat on the bench next to her as Alex, Reggie, Erica and Luke took a place in the room with their instruments. Adam sitting back and watching from the couch. "Luke can you give me your starting note?" The boy did as Camille asked, "Again." This time she matched the note an octave higher on the piano. "Erica, same thing." Erica gave her note, the second time Camillie matched it exactly. Since Erica's note was already higher than Luke's. "And Reggie." Same thing, however she matched this note an octave higher on a bass clef rather than a treble. "Julie, can you give me a high c." Julie pressed down on the key in front of her as Camile played Luke and Reggie's octave change at the same time. Camille turned to Julie, "You think you could play those four notes?"

Julie shrugged, "I'll give it a try." First go Julie got the made up chord.

Camille smiled, "That sounds great. Erica, give me your first three measures." Erica happily played the measures for her new friend. "Can you play the second an octave lower, Just so I can hear how it sounds?" Erica nodded, quickly replaying the measures, taking the second one down an octave. Camille nodded her head along with it, thankful it sounded the way she wanted. "Do the same thing again." Camille added her own notes along with what Erica played. Blending the sounds together so it incorporated the original guitar. The brown haired girl played the measures a second time without Erica's accompaniment. "Julie? Thoughts?"

Julie smiled, "I like it. I also think you know more than I do. Can I take a stab at it.... Oh that just means can I try it?"

"Oh. Yeah go head." Julie shifted on the piano bench to get a better reach. She started to play the notes Camille had just come up with, her fingers flying trying to keep up with her brain.

Adam nearly clapped when she finished, "Damn girl." He thought for a second, "Wait Reggie play your first note again." He did as he was asked, "Luke yours." Same thing, "Erica play the second masseuse how you did with the piano." Adam nodded his head trying to think it all threw, "And Alex, can you give me the starting beat?" Alex hit his drums with the beat of the song. "Guys redo that at the same time and add Julie." Everyone went along with what he was saying. "Okay.. Uhhh, guitar." Luke passed the instrument over to his brother. Quickly Adam played what he thought would go with the piano, "Julie and Erica play till measure three." Adam added the part he just made with his brother's guitar at the same time as the girls play. "Alex add the beat." The four played the three measures, "Reggie play your part till measure three. No one else play." He did what he was asked, "Again." Adam tapped his foot alone with the bass notes. "Okay everyone." Alex, Erica, Julie, Adam and Reggie played the three opening measures.

Julie nearly laughed, "Holy crap. Is this how you always write music?"

Luke laughed, "No. But this works so much better. Give me a sec." Luke poofed up to the loft, grabbing his spare guitar so he could join the group. "Reggie, Alex and Erica, can you guys play till measure six. Julie and Adam drop out after three."

The five did as they were asked, Luke playing the original guitar notes for the song along with them. Camille got a light bulb, "Reggie can you give me four through six real quick. Alone."

"Sure thing beautiful." Reggie gave her the notes. Camille leaned into the piano a bit more than she was used to, hoping to not creep Julie out by going through her. When Reggie picked up what she was doing he started to loop the part. Just playing the same three bars over and over. Camille started to add piano notes to it.

"Julie, do you know what I just played?"

"Yeah. You want me to try it?"

Camillie shook her head yes, "The rest of you play the parts you have. Adam, just drop out when you run out of measures." Adam gave the girl a two finger salute before all five played the song. "Alex, give your 4-6." Alex played the notes. "Julie play what I played with Reggie." Camille thought for a second, "Julie, take the third note half a stair up, and the fourth half a stair down." Julie nodded, doing as she was asked. "Yes okay. Uhh, Adam, can you work out a 3-6?"

"Julie what are the words, Because I thought the words started at four."

"Damn it your right." Julie stood, holding the song up so she could see it better without the shadow of the piano. "Uhh can you guys play the parts you have. Cammie, you can play piano." Once bar four hit Julie entered, "Sometimes I think. I'm falling down. I wanna cry." She sighed, "That's where six ends. Alex and Erica, can you give 7-10, together."

"Yeah." "Sure." The two played the bars.

"Luke add on." The boy smiled, doing so. "Okay, uhh Adam. Play 1-3 a second time during 4-6." Adam did as he was asked, "And Erica, turn mesause seven into the same notes as two." Camillie smiled at the living girl. Her hands hovering the piano keys to see what she could come up with when Julie was done creating. "Cammie, you think you gave me notes?"

"You got it boss." It was nice for Camille to see an assertive female in her life. Camille doubted anyone in that room understood just how much she was thankful not to be in the 40s' anymore.

Julie tapped her foot with the beat, walking around to the front of the piano. "Everyone give me 1-10." Julie silently countered herself in, "Sometimes I think, I'm falling down. I wanna cry. I'm calling. For one try. To feel alive."

Erica smirked, "Reggie can you give me 9 and ten." The boy smiled, playing the bass notes, "Camille and Reggie give me nine and ten." The two did as they were asked, "Julie can you sing 'For one more try to feel alive." She did as she was asked, "Okay. I know what it is. Julie, take 'alive' as two notes, make the second one lower."

"To feel ali- ive."

"Yes. Yes, just like that." Erica turned to Adam, "You think you have an idea for 7-10." The boy nodded, playing the notes, "I like it. Julie add the words." Alex taped his sticks on his leg as he listened to what they managed to come up with. "Camille, give me piano. Alex, add drums." The four played together. "Alright. Luke your 16th note. The one right before I'm calling. Take it down to an e." He did as he was asked, "Okay now everyone."

~

It took a good hour of hashing out the song in that manner. Each person taking a listen and fixing the part they thought didn't work. Julie let out an airy laugh over a smile. "Guys. That's amazing."

Luke chuckled, "You're amazing. Now go get some sleep. You have a big performance tomorrow."

"Goodnight guys."

"Night Julie." "Goodnight." "Night." "See you tomorrow." "Bye Julie." "Goodnight Julie."

When Julie left, the members spread out. Erica poofed out to the roof, staring at the stars like she did when she was alive. Adam walked over to his brother. "You gotta talk to her Luke. I mean she broke down this morning."

"Why don't you do it?"

"She's your best friend. Been since you guys were three. Hell I remember when you guys became friends. Every birthday; every walk to school; everything since then has been the two of you. She just found out.." Adam looked around, making sure the two were far enough from the rest of the ghosts, "She just found out her brother had a kid, while we walked around in a black room for 25 years. Talk to her Luke."

"Okay. I'll go." Luke poofed out of the room after that.

~

Luke found Erica in the place she would always be when she wanted to think. On top of the studio roof, next to the small skylight. "Remonnicing?"

Erica scoffed, "Seems to be the theme of the day. Heading home. Going to Reggie's. Or what was Reggie's place. Singing Bright. Thought I'd give the stars a glance as well."

Luke sighed, lying down over the roof next to Erica. He slipped his hands in her, Erica not fighting it. "You gotta talk about it. Erica you have a niece. That's not something you can react to normally."

"What if she doesn't like me? You know, what if she hates me because I was never there? Like, because well because I wasn't. Luke I wasn't even close." Erica let a few tears freely fall. "Julie talked about her. Last night. When she saw me. She said something like 'Kelly's aunt's weird dead band.."

"Isn't this cute in the pictures. I remember."

"And you know we were all confused about it. All started yelling, but I never followed up on it. I never did anything about it. I just let the statement slip. Julie brought it up again too. And I still didn't do anything."

"Eri. It's been 28 hours. And the past 25 years, we thought it's been an hour. We saw the photos, Erica she looks happy." Luke paused but when Erica didn't say anything he continued on, "I- I kept her note." Luke shuffled to pull the note he found in his hoodie, "You can read it if you want." Erica nodded, sitting up and using her sleeves to push away her tears. "Eri, when I was reading it, it sounds more like- like she just wanted to know you. She wasn't mad, wasn't scared. Hell, she made a joke. Erica, she doesn't hate you. Hey- I'll make you a deal."

"What, Lukey."

"Tomorrow after Julie gets home from school, we'll walk back to the house, see if she's their. I know she won't see you, but maybe you can make yourself feel better."

"Deal."

Luke stood up from the roof, "And Erica, don't work yourself up. You get scary."

The girl cracked a smile and a small laugh, "Shove it patterson."

"I'll be inside. Stay out as long as you want." Erica nodded, watching Luke poof away in a flash of blue light. She watched the sky just above where he was. The moon and stars twinkled in the dark sky as she did so.

Life as a ghost was much easier than it was as a human, but you lose so many things. The worst of it for Erica was losing certain feelings. She couldn't feel the breeze, something that would calm her down when, to quote Luke she 'worked herself up.' She missed being able to reach out for things. She missed hugs. Erica was always social. Between the 28 hours Erica had known Julie Molina she wanted to hug the girl four or five times. She missed the most simple of things.

~

When Luke got back inside he took a seat on the couch. Thirty seconds later a tapping started on the side of the studio. It was repetitive, over and over, right above Luke's left ear.

Luke huffed out, sitting up, "Okay what the hell is that?" Reggie just shrugged, looking up from the piano bench with Camille. Alex let his feet hang over the edge of the loft, "Alex?"

"Sorry Luke, but I got no clue. Why don't you go check."

Luke sighed walking out of the studio. He cautiously walked to the side of the studio, letting out a sigh of relief when he saw his brother standing in the dark.

Adam twisted the lacrosse stick in his hand, as the ball hit the edge of the studio once more. It bounced right back, and back into Adam's net. He repeated the motion like he had so many times.

"YO! Dumbass! What the hell are you doing?"

Adam sighed, throwing the ball back into the wall, "Keeping in shape." He caught the ball, turning to his older brother, "You?"

"Trying to see what the hell the noise was." Luke nodded to the stick, "You got a stick in your hand? God what year is it 95. I was writing a song, you're throwing a lacrosse ball at the wall. Erica's on the roof. Reggie's.... well he's the exact same anyways."

Adam chuckled, "Yeah, it fit with the theme of the day. I found my stick and ball in the loft. Instinct took over I guess."

Luke sighed, twiddling his thumbs for a minute. "You wanna show me how you do it?"

Adam stopped cold in his tracks, the steady rhythm of throwing the lacrosse ball at the wall and catching it stopping, the ball falling to the ground. "What?"

"Show me how to do it. Come on, we spent the day surrounded by music. Hell for the last hour you just played the guitar to help me. Show me what you're good at."

Adam scoffed, picking up the lacrosse ball with his net, "Really?"

"Really. Come on, why is it so hard to believe that I wanna spend some time with my little brother."

Adam shook his head, squinting his eyes, "You're only older than me by three minuets."

"Point stands."

Adam chuckled, "Alright."

"Alright?"

"Hell yeah. Get your ass over here." On Luke's way over Adam threw the stick at him, the older just barley catching it. "Step one, if ever plan to play any sport ever, Work on your damn reflexes. Step two. Positioning. Place your hands about 6 inches apart on the stick, your dominant hand should be on top, about four to six inches from the net."

Luke laughed, trying to follow what his brother was telling him, "How the hell do you remember this?"

"Same way you remember every chord in the book. I learn about what I care about. Alright, I'm gonna throw the ball at the ground, use the net to scoop it up." Adam did as he said he would, Luke missably falling to scoop the ball up. "Hey dumbass, there's a dip in the net, use that to grab the ball." Luke laughed at himself, getting the ball into the net on the second try. "Hey, you do have a brain cell."

Luke chuckled, turning the net around like he'd seen his brother do a million times, amazed he managed to keep the ball in the net. "Now what?"

"Twist your wrists. It's you movement, that's how the ball stays in the net. And since no one's around you but me, you don't have to worry about getting body checked. Just back and forth." Luke gave it a try, his pride and ego thankful it worked, "Now use the power in your back leg, and the strength in your dominant arm, to throw the ball at the wall." Luke did as he was told, the ball losing momentum almost immediately, just barely hitting the wall with a soft tap. Adam laughed at the action, "You suck."

Luke scoffed, using his hand to pick the ball off the ground, "Oh I'm sorry I haven't done that since we were six." He chuckled the ball at his brother, the item passing right through Adam.

"I'm dead, remember?" Alex and Reggie walked around the side of the studio, trying to make sure Luke was okay.

Adam took his stick back from his brother, lifting the ball from the ground, and throwing it at Reggie in one swift motion. Reggie let out a scream before the item passed through his body. Erica ran to the edge of the roof at the sound of Reggie's scream. "What was that!"

Adam chuckled, "Eri, get your ass down here!" Erica sighed, poofing down as Camille came to join the group. Adam shook his stick side by side as Reggie came back with the ball, "Any of you four wanna give it a shot. 'Cause Luke sucks." Luke stole the ball from Reggie's hand checking at his brother. However this time Adam caught it in his stick right before it hit his face, "Team captain remember?" Luke cursed under his breath.

Erica chuckled, "Pass me the stick. I'll give it my best shot. Can't be worse than Luke, can I?"

Adam laughed, throwing the stick over to Erica, "I doubt it." Erica just rolled her eyes, before quickly proving him right, the ball rolling out of the net and into the side of the studio. Adam bit back a laugh, walking over to the girl, "You gotta change where you're putting your hands."

Erica scoffed, "So very helpful." She grumbled something else before trying again.

Adam chuckled to himself a bit, watching Erica's hair fly around as she tried to understand the daumb game that had taken up so much of his life. "Eri... Erica!" He came from behind the Adair girl, wrapping his arms around her waist, so she would stop moving. Erica turned a bright red, hiding her face in her hair as Adam spoke again, "Would you let me help you? Here, just.." Adam slowly took her hands, and shifted them on the stick so they were in the right position, "Try it now."

Now with the proper hand position, Erica was able to scoop up the ball, and throw it just like Adam had at Reggie. Granted it was at half the speed, and also towards Luke, but she was impressed with herself nonetheless. "Ha. Bet Lukey can't do that."

Adam smirked, turning to his brother after Erica handed the stick back to him, "You right he can't. Never could."

Luke huffed out a breath, "Okay fine. Throw me the stick."

"Oh, you wanna play this. Because I will win, Luke. Got a room full of trophies to prove it."

"Give me the damn stick Adam."

Adam smirked, "Don't you wanna give your friends a try. I mean, I've watched you fail at this for 17 years, I'm not sure they have. Maybe you could keep some of your dignity."

Luke nearly laughed, "Okay." He bit his lower lip, turning to Reggie, "You wanna give it a go?"

"If it means I won't get hit in the face again, then sure."

"Not the answer I was looking for Reg." Adam just laughed, throwing the stick over to Reggie. The night went on like that. In the end the six ghosts spent more time chuckling the single lacrosse ball at each other over playing lacrosse.

And to feed her pride Luke admitted Erica was better at the game than he was.

September 10th 2020

Flynn sat alone in the music room, sadly playing the trumpet. More and More she was regretting not going with Anita and Kelly to the rally so the three of them could make fun of Carrie. Instead they got to have all the fun while Flynn sat alone with a trumpet.

Julie Molina stopped at the door, looking into the music room to only see Flynn. She tried to see if the rest of her friends were in the room, but no, Flynn sat alone. "What are you doing? And where is everyone?"

Flynn sighed, "Spirit assembly. I was kinda blowing it off 'cause I wasn't feeling very spirity." Julie sighed at what Flynn said. Flynn shifted so both of her feet would be on the ground, "You okay?"

Julie shook her head, "Not really. I had this new plan to play for Mrs. Harrison, hoping that she'd let me back in, and I really needed to talk to Kel, but.... I guess I missed my chance. Not the Kelly thing though. Just Mrs Harrison."

Flynn smirked, "No..." She placed down her trumpet, walking over to one fo her best friends, "You didn't. Foe either event."

~

Anita and Kelly couldn't help but laugh from the far side of the gym. They didn't even bother to sit in the bleachers. Carrie's dance group was performing in the center of the gym, unlike every other group who utilized the stage like a normal person.

And it's not like they thought she was untalented it was just funny to them how Carrie thought she was more talented than Julie. Plus if taking a stab at Carrie was how Kelly could take a stab at Trevor Wilson then.... well payback's a bitch.

"Whoa-oh-oh. Whoa-oh-oh oh. Whoa-oh-oh" Like always Dirty Candy was decked out in different candy like colors. At the very least Carrie knew how to spread out her warm and cool colors so it looked more appealing to the eyes. Or Katy Perry's choreographer.

The group turned around so the auditions would see their faces. "See 'em look hear 'em, ooh ahh hands up, throw it back booyah." Kelly rolled her eyes when the crowd started going crazy. "We're the best, no doubt. Check it out. Yeah we make 'em say, 'Wow"

Anita leaned over to Kelly, "You gotta give her this. I want a plastic tinted Jacket for our friend group." Kelly nodded a bit, leaning against the edge of the bleachers, blocking her view of when Julie and Flynn walked in the doors on the other side of the bleachers.

"Made moves on the rise now..."

Flynn scoffed, "Look who spent all her daddy's money on costumes and Katy Perry's choreographer."

Julie sighed, "Well it.. Paid off"

"Rough stuff, get a piece of that pie now. We're the best. No doubt, yeah we make 'em say WOW."

Carrie Wilson, the leader of the dance group and major pain in the ass, got lifted into the air before pushing around her wig and being placed back down, "Yeah we're going sky high never gonna settle. Living in the fast lane, Pedal to the metal. We see it, we want, we get it, we got it. Everybody lose control.

We came to play, where you at. Going hard, just like that. Yeah, we the bomb, chain react, blow their minds and watch them..." The dance team gasped. "Seem 'em look, here 'em ooh ahh. Hands up, throw it back booyah..."

The six ghost Julie Molina had become a custom to living in her house, suddenly appeared next to her in the school gym. She nearly gasped, but stopped herself before Flynn could hear as she turned to face Luke, "What are you guys doing here?"

Camille held her hands up in surrender, "It was Luke's idea!"

Erica hummed, "Look at that. You're really getting this whole, 'don't like the situation, blame it on the boys' thing. I'm proud of you." If Erica was telling the truth she knew what she said didn't matter to anyone. She was just trying to keep her eyes fixated on her friends, because otherwise she would find herself walking through the crowd trying to find Kelly.

Luke rolled his eyes at his best friend, turning back to Julie, "We wanna see you stick it to the man. Ain't that right boys? Girls?"

Reggie's eyes were glued to the gittlery colorful show before him, "Man, I miss high school."

Erica gagged, "Dude, keep it yourself." Camille pouted, hitting the boy on the arm, his face then turning a bright shade of red. Erica rolled her eyes turning back to Julie, "Well the plan was to see you, looks like Reggie's forever 17 year old mind, had a different plan." Julie couldn't help but give a little giggle. Trying her best to hide it from Flynn.

"Made moves, on the rise now, rough stuff, get a piece of that pie now. We're the best, no doubt. Check it out yeah we make, 'em say wow.

Come follow me, we gon' make history. 'Cause we are the champions like Freddie Mercury.."

Adam chuckled at the word to the song, "Yeah Freddie Mercury, would never wear that much pink... at least not in public."

Camille cleared her throat, "Who's Freddie Mercury?"

Luke and Erica stared at her wide eyed, "For real?" "Okay, girl, we need to show you some classic rock."

"Yeah, we gonna rock you, Never gonna not do. Always making headlines. Yeah we the hot news." Two of Carrie's dances pulled her from the floor as Anita and Kelly gaged from beside the bleachers. "See 'em look. Hear 'em 'ohh ahh'. Hands up, throw it back booyah. We're the best, do doubt. [No doubt] Check it out, yeah we make 'em say wow. Wo-ow. Wo-ow. Wo-ah-ow."

Erica wouldn't lie as much as the glitter and pastels annoyed her, the dance seemed like it would be fun, and the girls all looked very confident in what they were doing. Alex seemed to have the same thoughts when he bumped into her trying to copy the dance moves as best he could. Erica set Julie a sideways glance before telling her friend to cut it out. The fear was very clear on Julie's face as she silently tried to talk to the ghost next to her.

"Check it out, yeah, we make 'em say wow." Carrie finished her dance as the rest of the audience cheered Kelly let out a single 'boo'

"I can't stand her." The red hair muttered to Anita, shaking her head as Carrie's back up dancers lined up behind her.

Carrie placed her hand over her heart, jugding out her right hip, "Thank You. Thank you." Some girl screamed from the audian, "Oh, I love you too. Make sure to check out my new YouTube video. Oh, and go Bobcats." The pink cladded girl let out a fake giggle that sent the crowd into a frenzy of cheers.

Anita pretended to gag, her tongue curling under her bottom lip, "Gag me with a spoon."

The girls principal walked into the center of the gym, holding her hand out to the dance group as they walked out, "thank you Dirty Candy. That was sweet." Kelly let out a fake laugh to fill the awkward silence that came from the joke Mrs Lesser made. Mrs Harrison sent the red head a smile before the principal continued on, Flynn joining her friends at the other side of the bleachers. Leaving Julie alone with six ghosts. "Okay then. Before we let you go, we have a few more announcements....."

Reggie turned away from the center of the gym to face Julie, "What are you waiting for? This is time." He used his thumb to point to the vacant keyboard on stage.

"Yeah." Alex sighed, "You look really nervous. Like yach in a bowl nervous."

Adam rolled his eyes, "Okay, Alex not helping. Julie. You got this, we know you do. Your friends know you do. You just prove it to those who don't."

"I just don't think I had enough time to work on the song."

Erica rocked back on her heels, "Julie, I wouldn't have let Luke talk me into talking to you if I didn't think he was right."

"And I wouldn't have given you the song if I didn't think you were gonna rock it."

"Now." Camille took a step to the girl, stopping herself from trying to grab Julie's hands, "There's a piano on that stage, with your name on it. You just gotta give it an answer." Julie smiled at them all, racing behind the stage.

"Nita!" Kelly stopped her friend from walking out, pointing to Julie who was slowly lowering herself to sit at the piano bench. "Flynn, what's she doing?"

Flynn smiled like the sun, "Getting back in the music program." Julie played two notes as everyone else started to walk out of the gym. Anita, Kelly, and Flynn staying where they stood.

"You got this!" Erica screamed it as Julie looked back over to the six of them. Her father always told her to follow her gut, her gut was telling her Julie Molina was born to be on stage. Erica would do whatever she could to make Julie think that as well.

Julie looked back at the keys before her, playing the same notes over with more confidence before continuing on the song. She looked back to her friends, living and not, watching Luke bite his lower lip, and Camille look like a proud mother. Watching Kelly fiddle with the edges of her aunt's jacket. The mesh embroidered side, pulling to the front as she did so. Watching Flynn tapper her feet along to the notes she was playing. Watching the people she cared about support her.

"Sometimes I think. I'm falling down. I wanna cry, I'm calling out for one more try, to feel alive." One of the blue stage lights above her turned on, giving Julie a spot light. Luke and Erica found themselves mouthing the words of the song, smiles spreading across their faces. "And when I feel lost and alone. I know that I can make it home." The people in the room started to watch the girl who had left her talent behind remind them how much they loved to hear her.

Erica leaned over to Luke, Adam leaning in as well, "You two on my wavelength."

Luke smirked, "If it involves a guitar. Or four."

"You're definitely on my wavelength."

"Fight through the dark, and find the spark. Life is a risk, but I will take it." Kelly was conflicted. She knew she heard that song before. Actually she thinks she's read it somewhere before. She just didn't know where. And it was itching at the back of her mind, making it nearly impossible to think about Julie playing. On the other hand, Julie was playing! In front of a crowd. "Close my eyes and jump." Luke gave Reggie a pat on the back, whispering him and Erica's plan. "Together I think that we can make it, come on let's run."

Their was a single drum beat before the ghosts landed on stage. Camille, sitting on the bench right next to Julie. Luke, Erica, Adam, and Reggie standing in the middle of the stage, facing the Molina girl, and Alex on a drum riser. Camille whispered a 'go on.' to the living girl next to her, taking over the keys as Julie jumped from her seat, running to the center of the stage.

That was when Kelly started to feel sick.

"And rise through the night, you and I. We will fight to shine together." The only somewhat interested crowd soon rushed towards the stage, four cute ghost guys will do that. And for the guys, two really hot girls. Maybe it was a '90s thing. "Bright forever." The members of Sunset Curve were oblivious to the room seeing them. Not just hearing them, SEEING them. They were all focused on Julie, and boating her confidence. With a little bit of selfishness because the song was just fun to play.

"And rose through the night, you and I. We will fight to shine together." The music slowed when everyone saw the crowd filming them. Reggie, Luke, Erica, and Adam coming to a complete stop on playing. "Bright forever...."

"Uhh is this really happening?"

Luke and Erica spoke at the same time, "Just go with it!"

Camille sent Alex a smile, the boy starting the drum beat to the next verse as Luke made his way over to his mic, Erica leading Reggie and Adam to start playing again.

"In times that I doubted myself, I felt like I needed some help..." The crowd went wild. Not only could Julie's new hot friend play the guitar he could sing. Causing Carrie to push forward to the stage, and Erica stepped as far back from it as she could.

The Adair girl had memorized that voice from the demo, never, in million years, did she think she would hear it live.

"Stuck in my head." Luke allowed himself to look away from the mic as long as he could still be heard. Julie stood between Reggie, Adam and Erica, all four rocking out in the center of the stage. Camille wore a smile like he had never seen on her, and he could just see the twinkle in Alex's eyes he got every time he played through the drummer's hair. "With nothing left."

Erica jumped to her mic, "I feel something around me. So unclear, lifting me out. I found new ground. I'm marching on." Adam joined the girl at her mic, the two standing parallel to each other as they sang, "Life is a risk, but we will take it, close my eyes and jump." Julie hyped up the crowd, sending a smile back to Camille, almost feeling sad that she was so far away from the rest of them. "Together I think that we can make it Come on, let's run."

The chorus picked up as Julie rushed forward, everyone on stage singing their hearts out, "And rise through the night. You and I. We will fight to shine together. Bright forever."

This was the chorus that made Kelly remember the song. It was a Sunset Curve song from one of her aunt's journals. She was looking at ghosts. Real ghost. And Julie didn't seem affected at all. She wanted to throw up, but deep down, she felt like she needed to see this.

"And rise through the night. You and I. We will fight to shine together. Bright forever!"

Luke started on the bridge, Julie making her way over to him, holding the mic in his direction, "In time that I doubted myself." He leaned into the mic as Julie held it up for him, the girl and boy walking to center stage. "I felt like I needed some help. Stuck in my head. With nothing left."

Erica joined the pair, standing on Julie's left, so the living girl was between the two ghosts. The three of them started to rock forward, "And when I feel lost and alone. I know that I can make it home. Fight through the dark..." Luke nodded his head to the side, signaling Erica like he always did on stage.

The Adair understood what he meant like always. The two made an 'x' walking through Julie, making the crowd gasp with anticipation. And almost fear. What could've made that happen. But in the back of the gym Kelly Adair knew exactly what was happening, and it made her ready to cry.

"And find the spark!" They all sang together again. Adam would never say this out loud but Luke was right. There was nothing in the world like performing. Okay, so maybe it was kinda like being MVP, but here was just... better. Because he liked everyone around him, not just a few of them.

"And rise through the night. You and I. We will fight to shine together. [Shine together] Bright forever [Bright forever] And rise through the night. You and I. We will fight to shine together. Bight forever!"

The song came to an end as the students cheered like crazy. Camille and Alex stood from their stools, taking a bow with the rest of the band. In a blue and white flash of light Julie was the only one left on stage.

Except Kelly could still see them. Their was a flash of light but nothing changed. The red hair, and blue guitars were still right behind her best friend.

As the crowd gasped, Kelly ran out. Knowing if she stayed a second longer she was going to throw up.

~

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Annabeth Speaks : I now have a Sacha book out on my page. Don't forget to check out my real life AU Shada and don't mind me playing clouds by One Direction on repeat.