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mouse-fantoms · 3 years

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Late Night Ordeal

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I believe off the top of my head that @lydias--stiles and @blush-and-books have done some fics with this concept before so hahaha here’s my take. Julie and Luke comfort each other after nightmares

“No music is worth making Julie if we’re not making it with you, no regrets.”

The look of desperation and pain in his eyes and the swallow after his statement made the tears trickle even more.

Her body won over her mind. She lunged forward, open arms in a desperate hope to comfort him and herself. She stumbled forward, phasing right through him. Regaining her footing she could tell looking into his glossy hazel’s that he was thinking the same as she: This being an interesting little relationship they have.

The jolts shot up their sides as they fell over in pain made her remember the cruel reality of her life. She watched as Luke fell to his knees gripping his side.

“No! No!” She repeated. “Please just join his band! Please!”

“Hey,” he said to the girl on her hands and knees to be able to meet his eyes, “no regrets.” He gave a final smile. And then... gone.

“No regrets.” She saw Alex breath... then gone.

“No regrets.” Reggie repeated... then gone.

She shot up from bed with a trembling intake of air. The feeling of dread and reality overcame her. That night of the Orpheum replayed in her head over and over. She kept quiet about the nightmares, not wanting to worry any of them about her.

It always happened the same way. Everyday before she went to sleep she would replay that day over in her head. Remembering how her dad wasn’t able to find his wallet and seeing Reggie place it on the counter behind him. Alex and Luke bickering about the song they’d been rehearsing that day. Her and Luke during their song writing session. She didn’t know if he could tell the way she looked at him when he held the pen cap between his teeth. Flicking the pen back and forth on the table, trying to figure out a melody for the lyrics they wrote together. Maybe he hadn’t noticed how after the night of the Orpheum, they’d been spending more and more time in their song writing sessions. She absorbed all the time as she could while being terrified to go to sleep.

No matter how much she reminded herself that it didn’t happen, that she didn’t lose them that night. That they had a joyful, loving group hug, the nightmare always told her otherwise.

The look of fear and pain in their eyes were too vivid. The harsh reality of realization that they were ghosts and that they would someday leave always hit her in those moments. They did have unfinished business. Maybe they already did their business, maybe since they were a special case, maybe since she was a lifer who could see them, maybe it would take a few days for them to cross over... what ever that meant. Everyday was a ticking time bomb whenever she woke up. Excepting them to be gone based on her nightmare from the last night, but then being relieved once she saw them.

The reality of knowing that they wouldn’t always be around sunk in everytime. Like Flynn said, they would always be phantoms, she would lose them no matter what. It was a bomb that didn’t have a countdown.

When she was awoken by her terror in the night, she would be awake staring at her ceiling. Hoping that she would see them in the morning. There would be a time though where that wouldn’t be the case.

This night, she had to check. She needed to.

Exiting her room quietly, Julie went down the stairs and out the back door to the garage. When she slowly opened the garage door, a wave of relief washed over her when she saw her boys peacefully asleep on the couch piled together.

Alex was at the end, his head rested on his shoulder. That must leave a crick in the neck. Then Luke’s head rested on Alex’s open shoulder and finally Reggie’s head was laid on Luke’s lap.

Luke started to shake his head, nodding away a dream, then his eyes opened suddenly, panic and fear in them. Looking frantically around he quickly spotted the girl peaking in.

“Julie?” He asked in a relived whisper.

She ducked away, closing the door.

He went to get up, then realized the sleeping Reggie on his lap.

...well this was a predicament. By ghost law if there is a sleeping Reggie on you, you (under ANY circumstance) do not move. Though, Luke had to break the rules considering Julie was involved.

He cautiously got up. Pleased to see that his friend’s head slipped off his leg and onto the couch cushion with ease. He poofed to the outside of the garage, not intending to poof right in front of Julie but did. She was visibly startled.

“Stop that!” Her voice was stricter than normal when she said it.

“Sorry but-” he noticed her eyes, “...Julie why-”

She realized he saw the tears. Half from knowing that they were ok and here and half from replaying the terror in her head. She put her head down hoping that would make him suddenly forget what he saw.

“Nothing. It’s-”

“You coming out here in the middle of the night, crying, isn’t nothing.”

Julie shook her head, “Just,” she went around him to continue her way, “forget about it.”

Desperate to make her stay, desperate to make her not bottle up the emotions, desperate to help the clearly distressed girl, he caught her wrist, “Julie.”

She stopped feeling his cold hand grab her.

...his cold hand.

They stood speechless.

The band group hug seemed like such a dream. Ever since, no one seemed to test out if they could actually touch Julie now or if it was just a one time occurance.

As Luke looked to her for an answer, he suddenly felt an embrace. Not that he was complaining about getting a hug from her but she was holding him tight, making sure he wouldn’t phase through her grip. He of course returned it. Trying not to hug a crying Julie Molina was literally impossible. He could hear her sniffles and she dug her head into his neck.

“You’re warm.”

Her sniffles turned to a laugh. “You’re cold.”

“Sorry, not really my control.”

After what seemed like forever, she finally broke away.

“Mind telling what that was about?”

“I’ve been,” she whipped her nose on her sleeve to talk clearer, “having this reoccurring dream and I just wanted to make sure you guys were ok.”

“That was more than a ‘making sure you’re ok’ hug.” He wasn’t sure if he made the right choice by wanting to get a clearer answer.

“I’ve been having a nightmare of the night of the Orpheum,” her breath became shaky, “when you guys were in the garage. That you guys...”

“Hey,” he put his hands on her shoulders seeing her visibly shake from trying to recall the terror, “it’s okay. We’re okay.” He didn’t need her to go into detail, whatever happened had terrified her.

She looked down with tearful eyes shaking her head. “Don’t you think he’ll try something again? Do something worse than- than-” her mind raced with endless possibilities. There was this powerful ghost who was able to do whatever he wanted to hurt them.

His hand pulled her chin up to look at him which pulled her from her heavy breaths, “He hasn’t bothered us.”

“But what if he does! He could cause those jolts again! What if they don’t go away this time?! We don’t even know how they went away the first time! You guys could be-”

It was a different feeling having the hug came from him. His hold was even tighter than hers was before if that was even possible. His hand cradled the back of her curls, while his chin rested on the top of them.

“We’re not going anywhere.” He promised. “He can’t take that away. Ever. We won’t let him.”

Her shoulders dropped, hooking her arms around his shoulders and just buried her head into his chest.

The other way that Orpheum night could have gone, could haunt her all it wanted. But Luke and her hugging, Luke holding her in this very moment was a reminder of what actually happened that night. Sure there were tears but those had turned from fear to bliss. Being able to touch and actual feel each other’s company, to cradle their faces in each other’s grasp, to hold each other’s hands close, that happened. That actually happened.

Seemingly because of her he was able to become stronger from the jolts, they would be able to become stronger from the jolts. They never disappeared, time might have but her ghosts didn’t. She didn’t see them with pain in their eyes, she saw them with wonder and cheer knowing that that wouldn’t be their last moment with her. No one would be able to break them apart, if they were, they were going to have to try really really hard because they were never going to leave each other’s side. Not even a powerful ghost like Caleb Covington would be able to break them apart.

“Please don’t cry again.” He could hear her on his chest.

Her heard her laughter. “Different kind of tears.”

“Good because,” he released her from his grasp, which was hard, “sad tears do not look good on you Boss.”

There was a smile on her face from hearing the nickname as she wiped the glossiness from her eyes.

“...Everything alright now?”

She nodded. “...Yeah... thanks Luke.”

He did a light nod as a his response. He watched as she turned around and walked towards the house.

God, was that- ...that was an honor. Being able to comfort a crying Julie, not that he wanted to see a crying Julie ever, was an honor that it was his duty to take care of. He got to comfort her with a hug! A hug! Two of them! What a score. She had comforted him from his nightmare as well.

“Actually,” his attention was grabbed when she turned back around to him , “...would you..” she started to fidget with her bracelets, “...not that you need to but if you did it would-”

“You want me to come with you?”

“You don’t need to be there the whole time. Just so that-”

He smiled to her. “Sure.” And just like that he was gone in a second.

He was sat cross cross on the indent of her bay window when she entered.

“It’s fine to be in here right? Considering the ‘stay-out-of-my-room’ rule?”

She shut her door and sat on her bed.

“It’s different when I know I about it and specifically asked you to come.” She put herself under the covers.

“Well we were looking for the kitchen.” He clarified that day. “But we poofed into your room and got distracted by all your things. Then Reggie threw himself on your bed and there was no getting up after that.”

Her light laugh was her reply. Then she had a thought, “How come you woke up?”

“Hm?”

“You looked worried when you opened your eyes, looking around the room but then landed on me and-”

He dropped his head. “You weren’t the only one who had a nightmare.”

Instead of sitting up under her covers she turned on her right side, lowering herself more under the sheets and looked at him. In directly telling him that she wanted to hear more.

“You just came into the studio, we were ready to write.” The smile on his face couldn’t help but show knowing how he cherished those times. “I greeted you but you didn’t seem to hear me.” His mouth quickly fell. “You kept calling my name and looking for me but I kept saying I was right there. When I was right in front of you, you walked right through me. And then Alex and Reggie were holding their instruments and I was at the couch but they kept asking where I was because we were about to rehearse but they couldn’t see or hear me.” His voice became even shaker than it already was. “No matter how loud I screamed... none of you heard me. No matter if I stood right in front... none of you saw.”

“Luke...”

“It’s nothing like yours-”

“It’s still really scary... extremely.”

He nodded, “But when I saw you looking at me then ducked back because you could see me look at you... that’s a feeling unlike any other.”

It could have been seconds or eternity as the two smiled and looked at each other, cherishing every single millisecond of the other’s company.

“Why don’t you try going to bed? You have school tomorrow don’t you?”

“Did you still go even when you ran away?”

He traced a semi-circle in the air with his index finger suggesting her to roll over. “We can play 20 questions later. Go to sleep.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fiiiiiine.” Then rolled away from him. “Night Luke.”

“Goodnight Julie.”

She woke up a few mintues before her alarm went off. Opening her eyes to the ceiling and stretching her arms over her head, a yawn escaping her. Turning her body to take off the covers and start her day, she saw a lovely sight.

Luke was still sat at the shelf of her bay window. His head was leaned against the wall, peacefully asleep, his arms were crossed and his one leg was folding under his other. He was probably there the rest of the night since he was in a different position then what she remembered him in before she went to bed.

Of course he stayed in her room even after they said good night to one another. Of course he stayed. He was Luke after all.

She turned off her alarm just before it went off as to not wake up Luke. She let him continue his peaceful slumber as she went to get ready in the bathroom for school.

~~~

Luke didn’t complain when Julie came into the studio after dinner to continue their earlier song writing session. Conventily, Alex and Reggie seemed to disappear once they knew another song writing session was taking place. They sat on the couch beside one another brainstorming.

“Maybe it should…” a yawn escaped her, “...maybe it should-“

“Maybe you should start heading to your room.” He suggested as her drowsy eyes began to make her eyelids heavy.

“...after this part?”

A huffed laugh fell from his lips, “That’s what you said several parts ago.”

He noticed her silent response. “Is it that dream again? If you’re more comfortable in here then you have no protests from me.”

“...Alex or Reggie wouldn’t mind?”

“Are they here?” He gestured to the space around them.

She smiled. “Well it is my garage.”

“Technically,” he pointed his index finger up, correcting her, “it was ours first. But again no protests from me.”

“But I swear after this part.”

He went with what she said, hoping she didn’t entirely mean her promise. The more they were bouncing lyrics back and forth the more Luke noticed her half open eyes

“What do you think of-”

Her closed eyes and slowly nodding head let him know that she was started to fade into slumber.

“Mhm.” She tiredly nodded. “That…” her head found Luke’s shoulder a perfect pillow, “...sounds… good…” Within seconds after she was sound asleep.

He looked at the girl rested on his shoulder, relishing in this moment more than ever.

“Check again.”

“I just did!”

“Well maybe one of them-“

His attention was turned to the door hearing the voices outside, shout whispering to each other.

“Ok fine, I’ll check again. But I’m telling you-“ as his attention was to the door he saw Alex’s upper half phase through the door and peak in at them on the couch. “Ok yeah she’s asleep but I think our cover is blown.”

“Why do you say that?”

Alex grabbed the sleeve of Reggie’s jacket and pulled him through the door to see Luke clearly looking them.

“Oh…”

Luke summoned them to come inside with his index finger. Seeing as they were found out and there was no excuse out, the two defeatedly walked in with their heads hung low.

“Who’s idea?” He asked for an answer.

The two pointed to the other in unison.

“Uh huh…”

“We just wanted to see if she left yet to know if we were let back in yet.” Alex explained.

“We didn’t want to interrupt your guy’s process.” Reggie added.

“Well you’re going to have find other spot boys because I’m not moving.”

Reggie looked curious. “Isn’t that… uncomfortable?” He asked seeing Luke’s back not against the couch’s.

“And?”

“Couldn’t you just… lean a little bit back?”

“Alex, imagine if Willie fell asleep on your shoulder.”

“Ok yeah no he has a point Reg.” He redacted his earlier suggestion.

“Ooo!” The bassist raised his hand getting a thought. “Can I take Julie’s bed?”

“No you cannot take her bed!”

Suddenly all went quiet seeing the girl moving, hoping they hadn’t woken her up. Instead she nuzzled her head deeper into the ghost’s shoulder.

“You cannot take her bed!” Luke repeated except in a whisper shout this time.

“But it’s so comfy.”

“Her rule.” He pointed out.

“Since when have you cared about that?” Alex cut in. “Like the other day when we found you asleep by her window.”

“She invited me in, that’s different.”

“She did?” Reggie wondered. “In the middle of the night?” He thought that was the only possible way.

“She had a bad dream,” he started, “and came out in the middle of the night to check on us. She asked if I could come in to make her feel better.”

“That‘s why she’s out here again.” Alex put together from overhearing Luke mention a dream to her earlier.

“It must have really scared her.” Reggie couldn’t help but look at the asleep Julie on Luke’s shoulder. She was peaceful, sound asleep, no bad dream seemed to be insight.

Luke nodded. “I would be too.” It wasn’t his place to tell them what her dream entailed. All they needed to know was that Julie needed comfort and a ghost seemed to be that for her.

“Well I’m sure Alex and I can find someplace to crash so we’ll leave you two be.”

“Remember don’t move or you could wake her.”

He smiled at Alex’s words after they had both poofed away. He now understood the severity of the situation after he told him to imagine if it was Willie and him in Julie and his position.

Even if he woke up first in the morning he still would not move. If there’s either a sleeping Reggie or Julie on you, you by law cannot move. (Unless of course in the sleeping Reggie situation there was an upset Julie) Or in Alex’s case, if there was a sleeping Willie once again one, by law, cannot move.

As she was asleep soundly on his shoulder he soon would drift off too. Whatever awaited him could never compare to what already felt like one. Julie wanting him to stay by her side to comfort her was already a dream in and of itself and he never wanted to wake up.

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cuthian · 3 years

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Unfinished Business Chapter Three

PART THREE -- LUKE (DECEMBER 1994 - JULY 1995)

EARLY DECEMBER 1994

“As long as you live under our roof, you’ll obey our rules, Luke!”

Luke shivered.

His mother’s voice still echoed in his mind even hours later. Hours after he had run out of the house with not much more than his guitar and the clothes on his back, hours after he had come to the studio and found it empty and cold—Reggie had probably opted to spend the night in Alex’s cozy, warm guest bedroom instead—hours since he had curled up under the blankets Reggie had piled onto the little bed up on the loft and cried himself hoarse.

He knew that he could very easily have gone to Alex’s house too, and that his friends would be there and that they’d comfort him, but… but Luke didn’t really want to talk about his mom right now.

He didn’t really want to talk at all.

Because… Well… See, the thing was that Luke loved his parents to death.

They were good, kind people and he knew that they had his best interests at heart, really. The only problem was that their idea of his best interests and his own were wildly different.

The things Luke wanted out of life and the things his parents wanted for him were so different that Luke didn’t know how they’d ever be able to find a middle ground. He hadn’t thought they would be able to find a middle ground—the arguments had only gotten more frequent and decidedly worse since he’d graduated high school, since he had made it abundantly clear he was not going to college any time soon—and he certainly didn’t think they could at all anymore.

In the past three weeks, he’d already spent more nights at the studio or with Alex than at home, and it was another thing for his mother to be pissed off about, but he wouldn’t give it up for the world.

Spending time with Reggie and Alex—and Bobby, when he was around outside of band practice—was Luke’s favorite thing to do. He was privately a little relieved that they still had Alex’s house to retreat to as well, because while he knew his mom was fine with Alex and Reggie coming over—especially Reggie—it was always just a little tense.

Alex’s parents had been spending a lot of time being away from their home and their son, after having decided, in an unexpectedly merciful mood, to let said son continue living in their house despite his so-called less desirable proclivities. Luke hated how their absence and utter lack of acceptance was hurting Alex, but he had to admit he did like knowing he—and Reggie—had somewhere to go that wasn’t their studio.

The studio, while adequate enough for Reggie—and, on occasion, Alex or Luke—definitely wouldn’t provide comfortable living for all three of them.

Bobby, on occasion, had said that it was cool if they stayed over at his place too, but considering Bobby’s parents were barely cool with Bobby deciding to take a year off before he applied to college, and every single one of them knew that they kind of blamed the other boys for convincing Bobby to join the band, none of them had really taken him up on it.

He did join them for movie nights at Alex’s though, so Luke figured he probably didn’t feel too left out, at least.

Luke vaguely wondered if Bobby was at Alex’s too, if they were all there, if they missed him, if they were wondering why they hadn’t heard from him at all since their gig two days ago. He buried his nose in the pillow and inhaled shakily, squeezing his eyes shut.

The pillows and blankets smelled a little like Reggie, actually, an intrinsic blend of vanilla and leather and something spicy that Luke couldn’t name, and it was oddly soothing. He wished, suddenly, abruptly, that his friend was here too, that Reggie would hold him again like he had every other time Luke had spent the night with him in the studio.

He wished that he could press into Reggie’s arms and breathe him in; that he could clutch at his best friend until he felt better about—about everything, because nothing did that like Reggie’s dumb jokes and tight hugs, and—

Oh.

Well.

Luke was, historically, not great at recognizing his own emotions.

He hadn’t realized what the warm, tingly feeling in the pit of his stomach when he looked at Alex had meant until, after their very first performance, Alex had taken his hand, dragged him off the stage and kissed him right on the lips.

He hadn’t realized that what he felt for Alex wasn’t actually romantic love until nearly a year later, when he’d looked at Alex and realized that, if he didn’t account for the kissing and the making out, what he felt for Alex was exactly the same as what he felt for Reggie Bobby, and he… well, he knew that that didn’t make sense, because you were supposed to feel more for a boyfriend.

He didn’t realize that the uncomfortable way his stomach tightened when people dismissed Reggie as the dumb one, the way his eyes burned and the way he wanted to scream at whoever did it, meant that he was sad and angry all at once. He didn’t recognize the absolute rage that bubbled up in him, that made him curl his fists and feel the urge to smash something, whenever someone called Alex names.

He could therefore be excused, he thought a little wildly, for not realizing sooner what the fond, warm, mildly tingly feeling he felt whenever he was with Reggie meant. He rolled onto his back, staring up at the wooden ceiling blankly as he tried, desperately, to pinpoint when his feelings for his best friend had gone from best friend to… to… well, to whatever they were now.

He and Reggie had always been really close, and he’d always been one of Luke’s favorite people in the whole world, so it was hard to figure out when that had become… more.

The only frame of reference Luke had for any of this was what he’d had with Alex, because while he certainly had dated around, he’d never really been in love with any of them, and this felt so different than what he had felt for Alex that he didn’t know what to call his feelings for Reggie now.

Was this… was this what being in love with someone felt like?

He thought about Reggie and his silly, playful grin and the way his eyes twinkled when he nailed a riff on his bass on the first try, the way he hugged Luke back twice as tight whenever Luke needed him to and his stomach abruptly tightened and his palms felt clammy and he could feel his heart beating high in his throat and he’d never really understood the phrase ‘butterflies in his stomach’ before, but holy hell, he did now.

“Shit,” he whispered, still staring up at the ceiling. “Shit.”

He needed to… he needed to figure out what to do with this. What if he just...what if he just had a crush, something temporary that he’d get over easily enough? It wasn’t worth risking their friendship or the band for if he’d get over it in a few weeks’ time.

He needed… he needed more information.

He’d… he’d talk to Alex.

Alex always knew what to do.

Luke exhaled shakily and shut his eyes. He would find Alex tomorrow and ask him about… about what it felt like to be in love with someone, about how he’d been sure, about… about how he could be sure it wouldn’t ruin their friendship.

He’d ask Alex for advice, and Alex would know what to do.

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DECEMBER 1994 (CHRISTMAS EVE)

Okay, so Luke maybe hadn’t talked to Alex about his feelings yet, but that was only because things had been incredibly hectic for the past few weeks. He’d been woken up the morning after he ran away from home by his friends, who had piled rowdily into their studio, armed with donuts and coffee and all the comforting words and warm hugs Luke could ask for, and things had been fine, for a couple of days, before Alex had come into the studio, pale and wide-eyed and had shown them a poster that read “Missing Person: Luke Patterson”.

Luke had wanted to burst into indignant rage at the thought, because he was legally an adult, what the hell were his parents thinking, but Alex had talked him down.

He’d reluctantly consented to let Alex—and later, when Alex returned, unsuccessful, Reggie—talk to his parents, to tell them he was safe and healthy, but that he was not coming back and that he wasn’t willing to talk to them just yet.

Luke wasn’t sure why his parents hadn’t taken Alex’s word for it—generally, Alex did better with adults than Reggie, who was fantastic at blurting out random things and stuffing his own foot in his mouth—but Reggie had, after a very long afternoon, returned to the studio and announced that Luke’s parents weren’t happy, but had at least consented to take down the posters, as long as Reggie or Alex checked in with them regularly to let them know Luke was doing okay.

Luke had taken it as a win.

Right after that, they’d gotten a series of gigs at various nightclubs and bars in addition to their regular gig at Teaszer’s, and they were finally beginning to build a loyal fanbase. It was exhilarating to be on stage and to hear the crowd sing back their songs, to hear them shouting their names, their band’s name, to realize that people knew who they were.

They were going places, and it’d been exciting enough to drive his feelings for Reggie to the back of his mind for a while, where he could comfortably ignore them as they went about their business.

Ignoring it, though, he mused idly, didn’t seem to be on the agenda for much longer.

Today had been Alex’s idea.

Bobby was spending Christmas Eve with his parents, because he was part of a well-adjusted, normal family, which left Alex, Reggie and Luke to their own devices. Reggie had been mopy for days before Alex had figured out that he probably just missed Maggie—they’d always been close and this was the first time Reggie wouldn’t be around for Christmas.

Alex’s solution had been simple: Reggie’s parents were out all the time, even on holidays, and it shouldn’t be very hard to sneak into the house so Reggie could spend some time with Maggie.

In reality, it left Luke and Alex standing at the end of the driveway while Reggie was inside, hands pushed deep into their pockets as they kept an eye out for either of Reggie’s parents coming home. They’d both hugged Maggie briefly when they snuck in, ruffling her hair and promising to see her again soon before they’d given Reggie some privacy to sit and talk with his little sister.

They talked quietly about the band for a while, a few new songs Luke had written and wanted to add to their regular setlist at Teaszer’s, before they fell into a comfortable silence.

Luke chewed on his lower lip nervously as he glanced back at the house a couple of times, trying to figure out how to bring up his feelings to Alex without actually having to reveal who they were about. Alex was stupidly observant though, and Luke was a little afraid that he’d see right through him.

“What’s bothering you?” Alex said then, snapping Luke abruptly from his thoughts.

“Wha—nothing,” he squeaked. “Nothing at all.”

Alex gave him a flat, unimpressed look, and Luke sighed, hanging his head. “Fine,” he groaned. “Fine. I just…” He drew his lip between his teeth and eyed Alex contemplatively from beneath his eyelashes. “How did you know you were in love with me?”

Alex blinked, obviously taken aback by the question, and Luke almost felt bad for asking, but… well, he really was desperate for an answer.

“Uh,” Alex said slowly. “I… I don’t know.” He shrugged helplessly, and Luke chewed on his lower lip nervously. “I guess I just wanted to spend time with you all the time. And,” he shook his head, “I had butterflies in my stomach when I looked at you, and when we kissed I—” He broke off and looked away.

“Sorry,” Luke said quietly. “I didn’t mean to—”

“No, it’s—it’s fine,” Alex cut him off, waving a hand dismissively. “I just haven’t really thought about all of this since we broke up, so…”

Luke scuffed his toe against the pavement awkwardly. “Yeah,” he nodded. “Yeah, that’s fair.”

Alex just looked at him for a minute, brow furrowed, before he asked, “Why ask me about any of that now, Luke?” When Luke dared look up at him, Alex had wandered a little closer, hands pushed deep into his pockets, eyes wide and sincere, and Luke felt himself cave before he’d even opened his mouth.

“I guess I was just…” Luke shrugged. “I realized I haven’t been in love before, and I—I don’t know how I’d even know if I was.” He didn’t really realize what he’d said until Alex’s expression contorted into something resembling hurt before he managed to hide it, and Luke felt terrible immediately. “Alex,” he said urgently, grabbing for his best friend’s arm. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean I didn’t—”

“Relax,” Alex said tightly, offering Luke a semi-sincere smile. “Between you breaking up with me right before I actually vocally said I love you and you sticking your tongue down someone else’s throat three days later, I kind of noticed you didn’t feel the same way I did, Luke.”

Luke kind of felt like he’d been slapped in the face, and he must’ve looked like it too, because Alex heaved another sigh and added, “It’s fine, Luke. It’s been a long time. I’m over it.”

Luke bit his lip. “Still, I’m—I’m sorry. I don’t know if I ever said that, actually. I should’ve. I did love you.” he stepped closer and curled his fingers around Alex’s wrist. “I do love you, but I couldn’t—I couldn’t be who and what you wanted me to be, and I… I didn’t want to lose you, so I—”

Alex cut him off with a hand over his mouth, rolling his eyes a little at Luke. “Look, much as this isn’t the place to have this conversation,” they both glanced down the driveway, towards the house, before Alex continued, “I know you’re sorry. I knew you were sorry three years ago, when you actually dumped me. But I loved you, and I knew you didn’t love me the same way, and I wanted you in my life, so I adjusted. I’m over you, Luke. I really am.”

He dropped his hand and Luke swallowed thickly. “I shouldn’t have asked you though,” he admitted. “I didn’t—I wasn’t thinking, really.” He looked pleadingly at Alex and whispered, “Please don’t be mad at me.”

Alex rolled his eyes, but smiled anyway, and Luke felt like a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “I’m not mad,” he shook his head. “Maybe three years ago, but not now. Not anymore.”

Luke exhaled in relief and looped an arm around Alex’s shoulder, tugging him in for a hug.

Alex hugged him back begrudgingly. “Now,” he said when Luke released him, “Who is this person that has you all tied up in knots? Do I know them?”

“Uh,” Luke choked. “No. No, absolutely not. I’m not in love with anyone, it’s just—I didn’t—”

“Uh-huh,” Alex said sceptically. “Okay. Sure.”

Luke opened his mouth to say something—anything—to make Alex stop looking at him like that, but then Reggie came bounding out the front door, his eyes a little reddened and his cheeks slightly shiny with drying tear tracks, but a massive grin on his lips. “Thank you guys so much,” he exclaimed, reeling them in for a messy group hug as soon as they were within reach. “You’re the best.”

Luke’s cheeks heated at the contact almost instantly, and he barely managed to school his expression into something resembling a normal smile before Reggie leaned back.

“No problem, Reg,” Alex said, smiling down at Reggie fondly, and Luke took their moment of distraction to compose himself a little, because holy hell was he a mess. He hadn’t actually expected his conversation with Alex to go in the direction that it did, and it’d rattled him more than he thought it would, and then Reggie had been right there up in his face, his body pressed tight against Luke’s and—

And it wasn’t like they hadn’t hugged at all since Luke had realized how he felt, but it was the first time that Reggie had hugged him while Luke was actively thinking about how he felt.

He needed a second, okay?

“Yeah,” he said just a tad too loudly, patting his hand on Reggie’s shoulder. “We’re happy to do this any time. You deserve to see Maggie as often as you’d like.” Reggie’s smile could’ve lit up the entire neighborhood and it momentarily took Luke’s breath away and shit, he was so far gone for Reggie that it wasn’t even funny anymore.

“Thank you,” Reggie exclaimed again, bouncing back over to Luke to sling his arms around him, hugging him close, and the blush that Luke had just about willed away rushed back in full force. He hugged back automatically, but his eyes flashed towards Alex, panicked.

Alex was staring at him, eyes wide and lips slightly parted and—shit.

Now Alex knew how Luke felt too.

Maybe he really was obvious about it.

He needed to get a handle on himself.

He could.

He was going to.

--------------

FEBRUARY 1995

“So,” Alex said after Bobby dragged Reggie off to get pizza for all of them, leaving Luke in a distressingly empty garage with the one person he was trying to avoid.

Luke set down his guitar, deliberately avoiding looking at Alex, because he knew his own strengths and weaknesses and he knew that he’d probably cave as soon as he met Alex’s eye, and he didn’t think he was ready for everything that would mean.

“So,” Luke said too, because… well, staying quiet would’ve been more awkward.

Alex heaved a sigh, and Luke winced a little. It really was a bit of a miracle that he’d managed to avoid talking to Alex about this for as long as he had, but for a while, Alex had avoided him too, and then Alex had seemingly gotten in an argument with Reggie, and it’d been pretty easy to avoid him then too.

Luke had been terrified for a while that Alex had given him away, that he’d told Reggie about his suspicions, but Reggie hadn’t given any indication of being angry or weirded out with Luke at all. All he’d done was look at Alex with an unbearably sad expression a couple of times and spend more nights in the garage than in Alex’s guest room.

When Luke had asked, Reggie had just said they’d fallen out over something stupid and they’d fix it soon enough, and Luke had to admit that he’d been right. It’d only taken a few days of Reggie looking distinctly like a kicked puppy before Alex caved and Reggie spent the night there—presumably so they could talk privately, which Luke hated because they were his best friends and he hated being excluded, but understood too, because there were some things he’d only ever talked about with Alex, and some he’d only ever talked about with Reggie.

It stood to reason that was true for them too.

“Are you ready to talk to me?” Alex said, and Luke didn’t even need to turn around to know his arms would be crossed over his chest and he’d be frowning at him.

Luke sighed.

“Yeah,” he finally said, taking a second to steel himself before he turned to Alex—his best friend—his first and only boyfriend—his ex-boyfriend. “Yeah, I guess.”

Alex offered him a small, tentative smile and Luke smiled back instinctively. “You don’t have to,” Alex offered, and Luke was so tempted to take the out, but… but this had been eating away at him since he’d realized and he did want to talk to someone—to Alex.

“No, I do,” Luke nodded, wringing his hands together. “I do, I want to.” He looked up at Alex’s concerned, bright blue eyes and repeated, “I want to talk to you.”

Alex moved forward and Luke let him guide them both back until the back of his knees hit the couch and he sank down into the seat. Alex sank down next to him and Luke leaned into him automatically. It was comforting to have Alex right there next to him, to have his familiar warmth and weight pressed against Luke’s side.

“I think I’m in love with Reggie,” he admitted quietly.

Alex exhaled a long, slow breath. “Yeah,” he said hoarsely. “Yeah, that’s what I figured.”

Luke chanced a look at Alex and bit his lip anxiously at the sight of his friend’s unreadable expression. “Is—I know that it’s—I mean, would it—would it be too weird if I—?”

Alex shook his head jerkily, and Luke didn’t know what to make of his expression, didn’t know why Alex was so shocked by Luke’s actual admission. “Nah. Nah, it’s fine. I just want you to be happy, you know? If that’s Reggie, then I’d say go for it.” Alex choked, and Luke wanted to believe him, but—but he’d known Alex long enough to know there was something he wasn’t saying.

“I don’t believe you,” Luke whispered, and Alex looked at him with wide, startled eyes. “You’re not telling me something,” he added, eyeing his friend closely.

Alex looked back at him with big, blue eyes filled with confusion and just the tiniest hint of apprehension, and Luke said, slowly, “Alex, if it’s too weird, if… if you’re not—I’ll get over it.” He meant it too—he had hurt Alex enough when he’d insisted they break up, insisted they were better off as friends, that it wasn’t worth risking the band for…

He didn’t want to do it again.

Luke could get over Reggie—probably. Maybe.

For Alex’s sake though, he would try his hardest to get over it, if he needed to.

“No,” Alex shook his head. “No, it’s—I…” He heaved a sigh and ran his hands through his hair. “Look, it took Reggie ages to recover from what happened with Ella, and I… I had to be there every step of the way, and I—I know you were too, but—I guess I just—”

“You’re worried I’m gonna break his heart too,” Luke finished for him.

“No,” Alex denied immediately, and Luke shot him a look. Alex groaned and amended, “Yes. I don’t know. I just worry about him, you know?”

Luke nodded.

That, he understood all too well.

Reggie had, out of all of them, always been the most fragile, emotionally. Luke and Alex had had an unspoken agreement since the day they’d met to protect Reggie as much as they were able—including from themselves, and after the way Luke had handled his breakup with Alex, he couldn’t really blame Alex for being wary either.

“He’s my best friend too, you know,” he pointed out gently. “And—the last thing I ever want to do is hurt him.” Luke groaned and fell back against the couch pillows. “Plus it’s not like I even know if he feels the same way about me. This could be an entirely pointless discussion.”

Alex snorted a laugh. “Fair enough. But. I do think you should talk to him.”

Luke pouted. “What if he breaks my heart?” He wasn’t serious—not really, because he knew that even if Reggie didn’t feel the same way he did, he’d be so incredibly sweet and kind about it that Luke would probably still feel loved—but the thought of Reggie not liking him was still distressing.

“You’ll be fine,” Alex grinned. “Your ego is big enough to survive the blow.”

Luke gasped in mock-offense, and Alex laughed, nudging his shoulder against Luke’s. “Don’t sweat it, man. I’m sure you’re gonna be fine. You know Reggie—he wouldn’t lord it over you or be weird about it.”

“I know,” Luke sighed. “I know. I just—”

“Yeah,” Alex agreed. “I get it. Shit’s scary, even when you rationally know everything will be fine.”

“I can’t believe I haven’t ever really dated someone since you,” Luke said, the realization having come to him in the middle of their conversation. “I don't even know how to be in love with someone.” He rolled his head to the side and glared at Alex. “Do you think Reggie knows how to be in love with someone? Will he mind that I don’t, if he likes me too?”

“Luke, oh my God,” Alex groaned. “Reggie is literally one of the chillest guys in the world. Nothing bothers him. Even losing his virginity wasn’t that big of a deal to him—you’ll be fine.”

Luke blinked. “He told you about losing his virginity?”

Alex heaved yet another sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. “In excruciating detail. And I’m sure he’d have told you if you’d have been around when it happened.”

Luke winced, and Alex shook his head, squeezing Luke’s knee. “It wasn’t a criticism, Luke.”

“Yeah, but—”

“No,” Alex interrupted, pressing both hands to Luke’s face and squishing his cheeks just a little. “Reg has spent a lot of nights at my house in the past few years, okay? His parents were shitty, and you had a lot going on with yours. Of course I know a bunch of things that might not have come up yet between you and him, but—” he shook his head. “You know Reg loves you. You’re his best friend just as much as I am.” He made a funny face, and Luke laughed despite himself.

Alex grinned brightly, looking very pleased with himself, and said, “Come on. Tell me you understand. And that you’ll talk to him.”

Luke glowered at him, but he smiled too.

“I understand,” he parrotted dutifully. “And I’ll talk to him.”

--------------

APRIL 1995

The energy in the room after their gig was electric, and Luke was thriving on it.

He’d bounced from person to person enthusiastically as soon as he’d gotten off the stage, chatting animatedly with everyone who stopped him, engaging with their fans—they had fans!—and spinning people around on the dancefloor. Alex and Reggie and Bobby were there too, and Luke occasionally bumped into them, found Bobby flirting hard with a girl with copper hair and a grin so sharp Luke instinctively flinched away from it, found Alex and Reggie nursing sodas at the bar before he managed to drag them both onto the dancefloor with him.

He lost them almost as soon as they actually got onto the dancefloor.

Alex was swept away by a handsome young guy Luke vaguely remembered seeing at a few of their other gigs—that he had seen Alex make out with before, pressed up against the wall with his hands shoved into the guy’s back pockets, after their last gig—and Reggie dove headfirst into a throng of enthusiastic girls, spinning them around and laughing ecstatically.

Luke watched, a bit of a knot in his stomach, as one of the girls threw her arms around Reggie’s neck and danced pressed up close against him. Reggie laughed again, bright and happy and so goddamn beautiful and Luke loved him, so much that he was breathless with it, that he was sure that Reggie had to know, because there was no way Luke was being subtle about it.

Reggie didn’t know though, because Luke hadn’t said anything, because Luke was scared shitless.

Luke hadn’t paid much attention to who Reggie did or didn’t date in the past, mostly because he’d been very preoccupied trying to find something that felt even remotely like those first few months with Alex, but now that he was, he couldn’t help but notice that Reggie was as much of a flirt as he himself was—if not more of one.

In the two months since Luke had actively started paying attention to it, he’d seen Reggie flirt with literally everyone he talked to, ranging from Alex and Bobby and Luke himself to girls and boys at their gigs to even his guitar once, and make out with a grand total of eleven different people—not that Luke was keeping track or anything.

He jolted forward when Bobby bumped into him, slinging an arm around him and grinning. Luke could smell beer on his breath and winced a little—none of them ever really drank, except Bobby, who was a year older and considered it his right as a prospective rockstar to drink whenever he wanted to.

“You’re staring,” Bobby shouted in his ear, still barely audible above the steady thump of the bass.

“No, I’m not,” Luke denied automatically, but his eyes drifted back towards Reggie before he’d even finished speaking, and he didn’t need to hear Bobby to know he was scoffing at him.

“You really are,” Bobby snorted, tossing an arm around Luke’s shoulder and steering him away from where Reggie was dancing. Luke let himself be led reluctantly, managing a smile when Alex caught his eye, and turned his attention to Bobby.

“When did you figure it out?” he asked as soon as they’d reached the bar and Bobby managed to procure more beer—Luke took his without comment, figuring that it wouldn’t hurt to have one once.

Bobby shook his head and took a long gulp from his beer before he admitted, “You’re not exactly subtle about it, man. All you do during rehearsal is stare at him. And then sharing your mic…” He broke off and shook his head again. “I’m not an idiot, I can add up two and two.”

Luke sighed. “Do you think Reggie knows?”

Bobby snorted a laugh and shook his head. “Nah. Alex does, though.”

“Yeah,” Luke shrugged, “I mean I told him, of course Alex knows.” Luke really couldn’t keep anything from Alex—had never been able to—so it really shouldn’t be such a surprise that Alex knew about this too. Exes or not, he and Alex were best friends and they were close—Bobby knew that.

That was why Luke reeled back in surprise when Bobby sneered, “Oh, of course.”

“Dude,” he frowned, “What the hell?”

Bobby rolled his eyes dismissively, shaking his head. “What? You can’t be surprised that I’m a little pissed I’m the last one to know something again.”

Luke gaped at his friend, unsure about where the hell that came from, when Reggie popped up beside them, leaning heavily against Luke’s back, snatching his beer from his hand without even looking at it and taking a long, deep drink.

“Oh, yuck,” he wrinkled his nose and frowned at Luke, shoving the bottle back in his hand. “Why are you drinking beer? It’s so gross.”

Luke wrinkled his nose right back, momentarily distracted from Bobby’s shitty mood, and pointed out, “No one said you had to try drinking it.” Reggie pouted and slung his arms around Luke’s neck, pressing up fully against his back, and Luke did his best not to choke on his own tongue.

“I’m thirsty,” Reggie whined. “I’ve been dancing for ages and it’s so hot, and I tried to find Alex because I know he always has water, but I can’t find him, and then I found you!”

He sounded so damn delighted about it, and Luke’s treacherous heart did a tiny flip in his chest, and he couldn’t quite stop himself from leaning back into Reggie. Bobby rolled his eyes at him, but stayed quiet, and Luke was grateful that whatever had caused Bobby’s shitty mood, it wasn’t so shitty he’d out Luke’s feelings to Reggie.

“Have either of you seen Alex?” Reggie asked, his breath warm and moist against Luke’s cheek.

“Last I saw he was dancing,” Luke shrugged, and Bobby turned to survey the dance floor. Luke ordered a soda for Reggie, who cheered quietly when the bartender pressed the bottle into his hand and smacked a wet, impulsive kiss to Luke’s cheek before he pulled away to drink.

Luke tried very hard to remember how to breathe.

“Oh,” Bobby exclaimed, pointing towards the other end of the club, “there he is!” He turned back to Luke and Reggie and waggled his eyebrows. “Looks like someone’s getting lucky tonight.”

Luke raised an eyebrow and turned to look at where Bobby was pointing, Reggie moving with him.

Alex was leaning against the wall next to the stage, the guy Luke had seen him dancing with earlier—and making out with a week or so ago—standing pressed up against him, one hand tangled in Alex’s hair while they kissed, the other clutching at the back of his shirt so tightly it looked like it was the only thing holding him upright.

It’d been a while, but Luke had kissed Alex before.

He remembered feeling a little like his legs were going to give out from under him too.

“Good for him,” Luke chuckled, turning back to the bar to retrieve his drink. He didn’t think Alex had dated anyone, really, since they’d broken up—Luke couldn’t recall ever seeing him with anyone at parties either—and now Luke had seen him with this guy twice already?

He was happy to see Alex letting himself be happy.

“Yeah,” Reggie squeaked, spinning around on his heel, to face Luke again, eyes wide and a little frantic. “So good for him. Totally.” He eyed Luke with an expression that bordered on desperate and said, “I guess we’re both crashing at the studio tonight.”

Luke frowned a little, because he could tell Reggie was rattled, and he wasn’t sure why Alex making out with someone would inspire that reaction in his other friend. “Hey man, you okay?” he asked Reggie as quietly as he could while still making himself heard over the thump of the music, catching one of Reggie’s flailing hands in his.

“Of course I am,” Reggie squawked, turning his wide green eyes on Luke. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

He glanced over his shoulder again and then abruptly said, “I’m gonna—I wanna go home, so I’ll just go pack up my stuff and start walking, yeah? I mean, Bobby’s obviously not ready to go—” he gestured wildly at their other best friend, who had turned to talk to an attractive girl sitting on his other side, and then to Alex, “and who knows when Alex is gonna be ready, so I’ll just put my stuff in his car and then walk back to the studio, it’s not that far, I don’t mind.”

“I’ll go with you,” Luke blurted before he could think about it, before he could bring up any of the hundred arguments for them to stay here. “I’ll walk back with you. I’m more than ready to go too.”

Reggie blinked.

“I’m serious,” he said before Reggie could protest, because going back to the empty studio with Reggie did somehow sound better than staying here. He tapped Bobby on the shoulder and told him they were leaving, ignoring the significant look the other boy gave him before he turned back to Reggie. “Come on,” he said, “Let’s go.”

Reggie was still looking at him, wide-eyed and bemused, but let Luke guide him back to the stage to collect their guitars and amps, making two trips to bring everything out to Alex’s car—Luke had the spare key, so they thankfully didn’t need to interrupt Alex. Reggie looked back at Luke when they’d locked the car doors again and said, smiling a wobbly smile, “Last chance to go back to dancing with those girls.”

Luke snorted, slinging an arm around Reggie’s shoulder and tugging him close. “You were the one dancing with a dozen girls at once, pal.”

Reggie’s cheeks flushed and he ducked his head, but Luke could tell he was smiling.

And maybe… maybe he wasn’t ready for this to change just yet.

The intensity of what he felt for Reggie still caught him off guard sometimes, and he wasn’t always sure what to do with it. He didn’t know if he could deal if Reggie didn’t feel the same way, or even if he did—whatever the outcome of Luke telling Reggie how he felt, their friendship and relationship was going to change, and…

And he didn’t think he was ready for that.

He glanced towards Reggie, who was still blushing and smiling bashfully, and smiled too.

He wasn’t ready yet.

But he would be.

Soon.

--------------

11 JULY 1995

Luke settled back into the comfortable couch cushions, feeling more relaxed than he had in a while.

He still hadn’t spoken directly to his parents, hadn’t been able to set aside his pride, and he hadn’t told Reggie how he felt about him yet, but things were going great for the band and all of them personally—Luke’s own less than stellar love life notwithstanding—and that was enough, for now.

Bobby had been talking about moving out of his parents’ house, about finding an apartment nearby, and since he’d been saving up as much money as he could for literally the entire time Luke had known him, he didn’t doubt that the other boy could and would probably do it soon. Bobby’s parents had never been shitty or unsupportive towards him, but Luke knew that Bobby’s dad was losing patience with his adult son living in his house for free while trying to make it as a rockstar.

Still, Bobby managed to secure a job in a local coffee shop, working early morning and a couple of afternoon shifts so his schedule wouldn’t clash with their rehearsals, and Luke was glad to see Bobby excited about something other than girls and music.

The idea of a place of their own—that wasn’t a garage that had been converted into a music studio—was catching though, and Reggie had floated the idea of maybe saving up a little and then getting a place with the three of them. Luke certainly wasn’t opposed to living with Reggie and Alex—he lived with them now too, for all intents and purposes, in closer quarters than an apartment would put them—but he did wonder how they’d manage it.

It wasn’t like any of them were entirely broke—not even Luke, who didn’t actually have a job.

To be fair, his parents were probably funneling some money his way too, because his card hadn’t been declined yet, not even the time that Reggie had tripped over loose wires during rehearsal and had fallen right into Alex, sending them both crashing into the drumset, putting someone’s knee straight through one of the skins. The cost to replace it had been staggeringly high and Luke had covered it because he was the only one who’d had enough money.

Their gigs were bringing in some money too, and Reggie had managed to collect a relatively steady income by teaching a gaggle of excitable kids even more chaotic than he was to play guitar and piano, and Alex still had access to his allowance and was slowly moving it into his own savings account—one that his parents didn’t have access to—but apartments were expensive and even with the rent split three ways…

Luke didn’t know how they’d manage until they managed to get a massive gig.

They were trying.

People knew who they were, they had actual fans and Luke had dropped off more than two dozen demos at various record labels, talent scouts and agents’ offices, and they were getting somewhere.

That blossoming success was what brought them all here to begin with. Bobby had demanded they all meet him at the studio a few hours ago, and while they’d all shown up—which was maybe not that impressive, considering two of them lived there—Bobby was still nowhere to be found.

Reggie was sprawled on his back on the couch, his head resting on Alex’s lap while he talked animatedly about spending the day with Maggie, waving his hands excitedly—narrowly avoiding smacking Alex in the face several times—while their best friend looked down at him with a fond, mildly exasperated expression. Alex had made a face when Reggie had gracelessly sprawled across the couch and his lap, but Luke had caught the indulgent grin the blond had shot their friend too.

Reggie had been a little more clingy in the past few weeks, and when Luke had commented on it, Bobby had sighed and said softly, kindly, “He’s had Alex—and you, but especially Alex—all to himself for years, and now Alex is seeing this new guy, and we all know Reggie’s got abandonment issues, man. He’s probably just worried about losing you both when you fall in love with someone else.”

Of course, then he’d ruined the moment by elbowing Luke in the side and smirking, “Not that that’s going to happen anytime soon, is it?”

His words had made a lot of sense though, and so Luke had tried to make sure that Reggie knew that whatever happened, they’d always be there—he thought Alex must’ve picked up on Reggie’s anxiety too, because he let Reggie drape himself all over him before and after rehearsals and stayed with him and Luke at the studio more nights than he usually did.

“And then she told me to tell you that she’s gonna come over after dance class because she still has so much to teach you because it’s been so long,” Reggie’s voice broke Luke from his thoughts, and he looked up to find Alex grinning down at Reggie.

“It has been a while,” he agreed. “She’ll probably have to teach me everything all over again.”

“Ah well,” Reggie shrugged, reaching up to pat Alex’s cheek. “At least you’re pretty.”

Luke snorted a laugh and Alex lobbed the nearest object—a pillow from the couch—in Luke’s direction before poking Reggie in the side in retaliation. Luke caught the pillow just as Reggie squeaked and rolled off the couch to escape Alex’s poking fingers, grinning unrepentantly at his friend, and tucked it between his back and the back of his chair.

Reggie pouted at Luke from where he now lay, sprawled on the floor. “See how mean he is to me?”

Alex rolled his eyes and Luke laughed as Reggie heaved himself back up the couch, eyeing Alex suspiciously before he tipped sideways again, swinging his legs up over Alex’s lap this time. “Maggie gave me her bracelet too,” Reggie told them, holding up his arm so they could both see the string of brightly colored beads and charms that they’d made for Maggie on her last birthday wrapped around his wrist.

Reggie grinned and said, “She said it’d bring us luck. I figured we could use all the luck we could get.”

“Yeah,” Alex agreed, patting Reggie’s ankle. “Hey, speaking of which, do either of you know why Bobby had me call in my favor with Micheal Levin?”

Luke sat up abruptly. “You called in your favor with Levin?” he demanded, staring at Alex. “He had me call Dave Harris for him.”

Reggie frowned and looked between him and Alex in confusion before admitting, “He had me make three more copies of the demo and order a bunch more t-shirts.” He glanced between Luke and Alex and asked, “What the hell is he up to?”

“I guess we’ll hear soon enough,” Alex said, ever the peacemaker.

Luke huffed in annoyance, but conceded the point and leaned back as Alex and Reggie fell silent too.

Luke stared up at the ceiling quietly and mused on whether it was time to order pizza yet. It had to be nearly six, and he was hungry, and waiting for Bobby to show up and explain himself was slowly driving him insane.

He was supposed to be here two hours ago.

“We’re doing the right thing,” he asked quietly, giving voice to the fear that had been plaguing him ever since he had run out of his parents’ house. “Right? We’re going to make it.”

“Of course we are,” Reggie told him, equally quietly, rolling his head to the side to smile softly when Luke turned his head to look back at him. “We’re gonna be so good, and everyone will see that we were always right, that we were always gonna be great.”

“I’ve never wanted anything else this much in my life,” Luke admitted. “What if we don’t—”

“We will.” Alex was quiet for a beat. “And if not, we’ll figure something out.”

The garage door swung open, shattering the quiet, intimate moment, and Bobby came running in, skidding to a halt right in front of the couch, panting slightly. “Guys,” he wheezed, waving a crumpled paper he had clutched in his fist. “Guys—it worked. We did it—we’re in.”

Luke sat up slowly, staring at Bobby in confusion.

“Bobby,” Reggie said slowly as he sat up too. “What are you—”

“The Orpheum,” Bobby huffed, waving the papers again. “Guys. I got us a showcase at The Orpheum. We’re playing the motherfucking Orpheum!”

------

22 JULY 1995

Well.

Dying really fucking sucked.

The End.

Continued In ‘Becoming a Memory, Becoming a Treasure’.

READ IT HERE:

Start from the beginning:

Becoming a Memory, Becoming a Treasure:

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Unfinished Business:

(1) (2) (3)

Or read it HERE (BaMBaT) or HERE (UB) on AO3 :D

#Julie and the phantoms #Julie and the himbos #Alex/reggie #Luke/reggie #Luke patterson #reggie peters #Alex mercer #bambat #ub #unfinished business #Jatp fanfic #Lisa writes #my writing

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