The 4th Phantom// Julie and The Phantoms

Stand Tall

Julie placed a flower on her piano and then started talking.

"Hi. I'm Julie. Um...Tonight I'd like to dedicate this song to my mom, who's been there with me every time I've played. And thank her for...not giving up on me......I'd also like to dedicate tonight's performance to...three special friends...who have changed my life completely, who have brought music back to me. It was there dream to play here, and...this is for them." 

I smiled knowing how much Julie's mom meant to her, and how the guys have changed her and helped her and supported her like they always did for me.

"This song is for anyone who's lost their way. Step into your greatness. Don't give up. Stand tall. Thank you," Julie said and then took a deep breath to get prepared. Her microphone gave her a little bit of feedback, but she didn't let it bug her. She had grown so much, I was so proud of her, and I know that the guys would be too.

"Don't blink. No, I don't want to miss it. One thing and It's back to the beginning. 'Cause everything is rushing in fast. Keep going on, never look back. And it's one, two, three, four times that I'll try for one more night. Light a fire in my eyes. I'm going out of my mind," Julie sang and then the crowd started cheering, "Whatever happens even if I'm the last standing I'mma stand tall. I'mma stand tall. Whatever happens even when everything's down I'mma stand tall. I'mma stand tall."

I appeared on stage and started playing and singing.

"I gotta keep on dreaming. 'Cause I gotta catch that feeling. Whatever happens even if I'm the last standing I'mma stand tall. I'mma stand tall," I sang.

Then Alex appeared behind me playing the drums. I turned to look at him and gave him a big smile, he was okay after all. Reggie poofed onto the stage a few second after Alex, he smiled in my direction and winked at me. I was so relieved to know that he was okay. Julie kept singing on her own, but I was still wondering where Luke was.

Luke appeared onto the stage but then disappeared again. All of us shared worried glances unsure of what was happening. This happened two more times and then Luke finally was on the stage and began singing. We continued to play are best and put our hearts and souls into the performance. This was going to be it for the guys and I so we needed to make sure it was our best and so Julie would have a good reputation once we were gone. Once the song was nearly over all of us walked to the end of the stage to finish it off. Alex and Luke held hands and so did Reggie and I as we raised our arms and took what we thought would be our final bow.

We ended up outside of the Orpheum.

"Um, guys, I know that playing the Orpheum was amazing and all, but I don't think this is Heaven," I said looking around.

"We must have not crossed over," Luke said.

Alex checked his wrist, "And it looks like we're still stamped."

"Now what do we do?" Reggie asked upset.

"We can't tell Julie, we need to make her think we crossed over, we'll just go somewhere else until...until we disappear," Luke responded.

"Well where are we going to go, Luke?" I questioned.

He didn't say anything for a second, "I guess, we'll just go back to Julie's, she'll probably go straight to bed and I don't think we'll last until tomorrow."

"I don't know, Luke, I feel like she'll go to the studio," Alex said.

"Trust me, I know Julie, she'll go to bed," Luke said.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "How exactly do you know that?"

"Don't worry about it," Luke said and then poofed away. I rolled my eyes and the rest of us poofed back to the studio. Once we got there we were hit by a jolt and knocked to the floor, none of us could really move so we just waited there, wondering when the last jolt would hit.