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

23

"Hey, Julie, Reyna, it's time," Rob said through the closed door.

"Just a second," Julie replied.

Reyna frowned. "Something's wrong. The boys were getting those jolts pretty bad as we were leaving. And they wouldn't stand us up again. They must have run out of time." Her voice broke, cracking slightly as she struggled to keep her composure. She'd lost her sister, in a way her parents, and now she'd lost two friends and the guy she liked.

Julie and Reyna tried to hold in their tears as Flynn said softly, "I'm sorry."

"They didn't cross over," Julie said. "They're gone, and we didn't even get to say goodbye."

The three friends hugged each other.

Rob knocked on the door. "Hey, Julie, Reyna, you two are on!"

Julie and Reyna ran from the room in tears.

"What are you two doing?" Flynn called after them.

"Where are they going?" Rob asked.

Flynn shrugged. "Where do any of us really go?"

Rob spoke into his headset. "We've got a problem."

---

Julie and Reyna found a door and made their way to an alley, taking a deep breath. Julie took Reyna's hand, but the blonde pulled away. When Reyna was angry beyond belief or shrouded in deep sadness, she pulled away. Julie understood that was what her friend was doing now. Reyna hadn't admitted the truth surrounding her sister's death until at least a month after it had happened, and even then, she didn't reveal many details. Those came much later.

Julie glanced up. "I don't know if you can hear me, Mom, but... We can't handle it. Flynn says you and Taylor are supposed to be behind everything, but we don't know. If we're supposed to help the guys, we didn't. They're gone. And I'm so sorry. They were our friends. Our band-" She let out a sob and Reyna tried to keep from bursting into tears. "Our family. Why can't you just come pick me up... and... and hold me in your arms and just tell me that everything's gonna be okay and that I'm gonna get through it?"

Reyna closed her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks. "And that -- that even though they're not here with us, they're still up there with you two. Tay, please take care of him. For me?"

"I just wish you were here."

"I miss you, Tay-Tay. Look out for him, okay? Don't let him miss me too much."

A woman walked past Julie and Reyna with a bag of flowers. She turned when she saw the crying girls. She pulled out two flowers and handed one to Julie and the other to Reyna. The flowers were dahlias. Julie's mom's and Taylor's favorite flowers. Julie and Reyna smiled as they held the flowers close to them and smiled.

"You think?" Reyna whispered as she hugged the dahlia closer.

Julie nodded. "Let's make my mom and your sister proud."

---

The Orpheum seats were filled.

Rob, in a panicked tone, said into his headset, "Let Panic! know they are going on now!"

The door opened and Reyna and Julie walked in.

Julie and Reyna held up the dahlias and said, "Signs."

The two girls set to perform began making their way to the stage.

"Wait," Flynn said. "Where are you two going? They're going on stage!"

"Hold on," Rob said. "Julie and Reyna just walked onto the stage."

"Those are my girls!"

"Welcome to Live at the Orpheum. Now give it up for RJ and the Phantoms!" the announcer said.

Julie placed the dahlia on the piano, while Reyna held hers, and pulled her mic from the stand.

"Hi," Julie greeted as she looked at the audience. "We're Julie and Reyna. Um... Tonight, we'd like to dedicate this song to my mom and Reyna's sister, who've been there with us every time we've played. And thank them for... not giving up on us."

Reyna smiled shakily as she said, "We'd also like to dedicate tonight's performance to... three special friends who have changed our lives completely, who have brought music back to us. It was their dream to play here, and... this is for them. This song is for anyone who's lost their way."

Julie and Reyna exchanged a smile before saying in sync, "Step into your greatness. Don't give up. Stand tall. Thank you." The audience applauded.

Carrie scoffed and said, "Been here before."

Trevor glanced at his daughter and a look of disbelief crossed his face at her words.

Reyna smiled at her friend as Julie put the mic back on the stand, took a deep breath and began playing on the piano.

Carlos looked at sister and his sister's friend, proud of them. The audience cheered Julie and Reyna on.

The girls began singing.

Suddenly, Alex appeared on stage, playing the drums. Reyna and Julie looked at him and smiled.

Trevor leaned forward slightly, seeing Alex. Carrie watched the performance silently

Reggie appeared next with his bass and Reyna's smile widened. He was still here, meaning she hadn't lost him. She closed her eyes a moment. Thank you, Taylor.

The girls continued singing. Nick and Max bopped their heads to the music.

Luke began appearing and kept disappearing, obviously struggling to stay in one place. Reyna and Julie exchanged a worried look and Reyna could practically feel her friend's panic.

Julie kept staring at Luke who finally was able to fully appear after staring at Julie and sang.

Reyna and Julie walked towards the audience next to Reggie. Reyna had a wide smile on her face.

Trevor watched the performance, in complete shock. Carrie crossed her arms, in both awe and jealousy.

Alex stood behind his drum set and sang.

Julie and Luke shared one mic, as they'd done many a time before.

The five stood in front of the stage as the song came to a close. The boys grabbed hands, as did the girls. They bowed and the ghosts disappeared.

Julie caught sight of her family and smiled. Reyna's parents weren't there, but that didn't surprise her. After Taylor's death, they'd fallen apart; shells of what they had been... Much like Reyna herself until the ghostly band came into her life.

"Still don't know how they do those hologram things," Ray said.

"One big mystery to me," Carlos replied, knowing exactly who the 'holograms' were.

Carrie stood slowly and clapped her hands. Bobby remained in his seat, in total shock.