Finally Free -- JATP Luke x MaleOC

Chapter 47

I think a lot of you have been waiting for this. Thank you for the all love on this story and I hope you enjoy this chapter!!

Jay had agreed to perform with the band tonight, but now that it was moments away from said performance, he was starting to have second thoughts. He had agreed to playing piano tonight in a moment of weakness, a moment in which he missed the band and the music too much to think clearly and say no.

So now it was moments before the performance. Jay was clad in some of Ray's clothing and was sitting on the couch, his hands in his lap while one of his legs bouncing up and down rapidly. Julie was there as well, nervous as well, but concerned about Jay as well.

"Hey," Julie began softly as she took a seat next to Jay.

"What's up?" Jay asked quickly, straightening his back and hurriedly put on his big brother persona. "You nervous?"

"Well, yeah," Julie said. "I always get a bit nervous before stuff like this. But you're nervous too."

"No, I'm fine," Jay shook his head.

"You don't have to act in front of me, you know," Julie said. "We know each other better than that."

Jay sighed.

"Yeah," he said. "Yeah, I'm nervous. Not about the show or anything, just about Uncle."

Julie hummed in understanding and rested her head on Jay's shoulder. Jay smiled lightly, feeling a familiar warmth running through him.

"We told him you're having dinner with us," Julie said. "And he believed it."

Julie wrapped her arms around Jay's larger one.

"It's just you, me, and the boys tonight. And we're gonna rock their socks off."

Jay rested his head against Julie's, a small chuckle rocking his body.

"We're gonna rock their socks off."

Jay and Julie both rose to their feet as Flynn's voice rang in their ears and around the room. They both came and stood by the garage doors as Carlos and his friend opened them, revealing them to the audience. The two of them walked forward, smiles on their faces as Jay took a seat at the piano and handed the microphone that was sitting next to him to Julie. There was another microphone on a stand nearby, bent so that it would be right near his mouth. Jay wanted to sigh and roll his eyes; he had told everyone that he wasn't singing, there wasn't any need to set this up. He held himself back, however, as the microphone and audience would catch it.

"Thanks for coming everyone," Julie said into the microphone, making her voice ring out across the yard.

Julie took a deep breath and nodded to Jay. Jay, after taking a deep breath of his own and readjusting himself on the seat, pressed down on the keys and pedal of the piano, and the first chord rang out.

"Running from the past
Tripping on the now
What is lost can be found
It's obvious"

Jay's eyes were locked on the keys and he tried to force himself to focus only on the piano. But he could hear the faint cheers of the audience, the bated breath as they were entranced and waited for the next verse.

"And like a rubber ball
We come bouncing back
We all got a second act
Inside of us"

Jay heard Alex's drums beating and the familiar whoosh of the ghost appearing behind him. The crowd cheered and Jay's ears were flooded with Luke's guitar, Reggie's bass, Alex's drums, and Julie's voice, and he couldn't help but feel right at home.

"I believe
I believe that we're just one dream
Away from who we're meant to be
'Cause we're standing on the edge of"

Even though Jay tried to keep his eyes fixed on the piano, he couldn't help but look to his left and see Luke only a few feet away from him, showing one of the widest smiles that Jay had ever seen. Jay flashed a small smile back at him, his eyes going back to the piano.