Julie & the Phantoms imagines

Missing Something

Summary: present day/alive; the boys are turned away because they're "missing something" in their sound. Luke wants the reader to fill that missing piece but she persistently says no.

Note: i had to villainize Julie in order for the plot to work, still love her though.

Word count: 4,908

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"It's just missing something for me, boys. Boy bands are a little 2000's, ya know?" The burly, white haired man shut the door, leaving Luke, Reggie, and Alex gaping.

"Boy band?" Luke turned indignantly towards his other two band mates. "We are not a boy band!"

"Well we're not playing anywhere tonight either," Alex pouted.

"This is so stupid! We're a great band, what could we possibly be missing?" Luke groaned, leading them away from the biggest club in town that they've been trying for weeks to get a gig at.

"I don't know but whatever it is, we need to find it soon because I'm tired of sulking back home," Reggie said, crossing his arms over his chest. Alex smiled sympathetically at him, throwing his arm over the boys shoulders as they walked.

"I know Reg," Luke assured, "and I promise you, I'm going to get us a good gig."

"Yeah, thanks Luke," Reggies smile was forced and they all knew it, "I better get home. See you guys at school?"

"Yeah, see ya Reg," Luke raised his hand in goodbye, watching Reggie turn to walk in the opposite direction, stuffing his hands deep inside of his leather jacket. Luke sighed, turning to Alex with an almost defeated expression.

"How are we supposed to make it big if no one gives us a chance?" He asked.

"We'll figure it out, Luke," Alex slapped the other boys shoulder. "I better head home, you good?"

"Yeah, I'm good. I'll see you at school," Luke turned away, ducking his head. His cheeks puffed as the frustration built up inside of him started to leak, a huff of air following. He cursed under his breath as he gave in and started heading home. It felt like defeat, complete and utter defeat and failure to be making the trek home after being so sure that tonight would be the night. He looked his parents in the eyes and said with complete conviction that tonight would be the night that their son made it, at least a little bit.

Yet, at 1:34am, Luke was planting his foot on his bedroom window sill and silently climbing through. He didn't bother turning on the lights, he could face his failure in the dark but he wouldn't dare do it in the light.

The warm night air filtered in through the open window as he collapsed onto his bed. The ceiling above him was still covered in the glow in the dark stars his father put up when he was three, their soft green glow frustratingly soothing while he was trying to be indignant.

Luke turned onto his side, not caring about his clothes or his shoes as he wrapped himself in his blanket and forced himself to sleep.

-

"Okay, I swear, Mr. Dunbar has it out to get me," Alex said, glaring down at the D minus on his English paper.

"Maybe you just suck at English," Reggie teased, looking at the paper from over Alex's shoulder. Alex turned his glare to Reggie, shoving his shoulder.

"You guys want to practice today? Maybe shoot a video?" Luke asked, turning away from his locker to look at his friends.

"I have to rewrite this paper or I'm going to fail English," Alex said.