Edge of Great // Julie and the Phantoms (Reggie Peters)

20

"Thank you," Emily said as she held the paper to her heart, letting sobs escape her lips.

"You have no idea," Mitch told Julie.

Julie smiled. "My friend Reyna and I write music in the same room that he did, and I can tell you that it's a magical, happy place." The two adults chuckled.

"That's nice to know," Mitch said.

"I know he was only 17 when he -- but he lived doing the one thing he was born to do. Not many people find that, but Luke did. He was so lucky."

Luke poofed away.

Julie smiled. "It was so nice to meet you."

"It was nice to meet you, too," Mitch replied.

Julie left the house and looked for Luke, but he was gone.

OUTSIDE JULIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

"Hey," Julie greeted.

"Hey," Luke replied.

"I'm sorry for overstepping."

Luke moved from the pillar and closer to Julie. "No, I... I just had to leave. That was..."

"You don't have to say anything."

"Yeah, I do. Uh... I didn't have many regrets in my life except for running out on my parents. Especially my mom, so... thank you."

"You helped me feel more connected to my mom, so... I wanted to do the same thing for you. You helped Rey feel connected to her sister, so thanks for bringing my friend back."

"That was perfect. But I think Reggie has connected with Reyna more than me." They tried to hold hands, but Julie's went through Luke's.

Luke let out a sigh. "This is an interesting little relationship you and I have."

Julie chuckled lightly. "Oh my gosh, I almost forgot to tell you. Flynn said the video that my dad made is trending on YouTube." Luke stared at her, confused. "That's a good thing. That means people love our music. We'll definitely be getting calls from managers now."

"There's something I have to tell you."

"Oh... Okay."

"We figured out that we have unfinished business. That's why we came back as ghosts."

"Oh. What is it?"

"We have to play the show we never got to play."

"At the Orpheum; that makes sense," Julie said as Luke was jolted back.

Luke yelled in pain and groaned before saying, "We don't have a lot of time."

Julie frowned. "What was that? Are you okay?"

"We did something we shouldn't have. The night that we missed the dance, we met this ghost and he put a curse on us. And if we don't do what he says, the jolt will destroy us."

"Well then you gotta do what he says! What does he want?"

"He wants us to be in his house band for eternity. But if we can play the Orpheum soon, then we can avoid all of that and actually cross over."

""Cross over?" As in like what? Go to Heaven?"

"That's what we're banking on."

"So it's either you cross over, be in his band for eternity, or be destroyed by jolts?"

"Yeah."

"That's just great."

"Julie-"

Julie walked into her house.