Just Two Ghosts

Part 9

WARNING: language, crying lol (yeah. That's it.)

Willie's jolts were really bad. He was in the same state the boys and I were in after the Orpheum. We were both sobbing. All I could do was hold him in my arms. We didn't have the cure for the jolts.

The amount of pain he was in made me cry. I knew. I knew how it felt and all I could do was sit and watch. Thinking that we'd probably never get to see each other again.

He pulled me in for like the millionth hug that night. I savored the feel of his arms around me and his chin on my shoulder.

"I love you," I sobbed into his shoulder. I let out a slight laugh. "Gah. I love you so fucking much."

"I- I lo- love you too." Willie sobbed, pulling me in tighter.

After a minute I opened my eyes to see that he was glowing. I pulled away from his embrace looking him up and down from where we were sitting on the floor. "You- you're- oh my gosh." I smiled through my sobs.

Willie was smiling as he got back to his normal, non-glowing state. He immediately flew into my arms. "Ugh. I love you. I love you. I love you!"

I laughed into Willie's shoulder pulling him closer again.

For the rest of the day, Willie and I snuggled in his bed. I wouldn't let him out of my arms. I was afraid something bad might happen to him but he didn't mind being snuggled up with me.

"So now that you're free from Caleb what are you gonna do?" I asked Willie, as we laid in his bed.

"Hmm," He hummed. "I hadn't really thought about that. I'm kinda more worried about what's gonna happen to my apartment because he kinda owns it."

"You can always come to spend the night at the studio. I'm sure the boys wouldn't mind."

Willie gave a soft smile. "Okay." He gave a soft kiss to my lips.

-

Weeks went by and Caleb finally took Willie's apartment so he had to move into the studio until we could figure something out. I had talked it over with Luke, Reggie, and Julie and they were fine with it. We just couldn't stay forever.

-

A couple of months later Willie and I finally got our own apartment because the band had played so many gigs and we saved up enough money. Did I mention that in the past couple of weeks humans are now able to see us? It's very weird because I often forget that they can. I had been so used to being a ghost. The feeling of being alive again was strange but also freeing. We could eat again which was super nice because ghost food just isn't the same. I met Mr. Molina and Carlos for real instead of just me. Reggie really enjoyed this and he always spends time with Ray. We finally signed with a record deal which was exciting because we were finally going on tour this summer. The only problem was that I had to leave Willie behind for one and a half months. He understood but we were both sad.

Leaving him was hard. I stood at the door with my bags and found my songwriting notebook sitting on the kitchen counter. I grabbed it and tore out a page then stuffed the notebook into my backpack. Willie walked up to me, hands in his pockets and his head down.

"Baby," I said, trying to get his attention knowing we were both dreading this moment.

Willie wouldn't make eye contact with me. I think we both knew if he did, we'd both start crying.

I held out the piece of paper I had torn out of my songwriting book.

Willie took it and looked up at me, trying to steady his breaths. "What's this?"

"Um... it's a song I had started writing the first day we met. I uh... I would add a little every day and now it's that. I never really put a beat or melody to it so it's kinda just a story 'cause nothing in it really rhymes." I looked down at the ground. "I just thought I'd give it to you since I can't be here to play music for you. You can read it when you miss me or whatever."

Willie stepped closer to me and lifted my chin with his finger. A single tear fell down his cheek.

"Thank you and I will." He said, softly smiling.

We had one last kiss before I left and we hugged for what seemed like forever. I kinda wish it was. I didn't want to leave Willie and he didn't want to leave me.

I finally did have to leave because Luke was picking me up to take me to the studio. I said my goodbyes to Willie and I left.

As the tour went on we had an amazing time. We did meet and greets and the people were so nice. We played a ton of sold-out shows and they were all crazy awesome. But I missed Willie. I missed him so much. Our last show came to a close, we packed up our stuff and left. When we got back I headed home, excited to see Willie. When I got back to the apartment it was a dark and empty feeling. I assumed since it was late Willie might have headed to bed. I walked into our bedroom to see that he wasn't there. I didn't panic but I was certainly worried so I took a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard. Maybe he was there. We always walked down that street together. It was where we first met.

As I walked down the street I saw a figure sitting on that same bench that we had sat on when we first met. It looked like Willie. I walked closer to him to see him in the light and it was him. He had a piece of paper in his hands and I immediately knew what it was. I walked over to him singing the words that I had remembered that I scribbled on the back. "I love you so very much. You're my one true love."

Willie's head flew up looking at me as I sang those words. A smile spread on both our faces as he launched himself at me, pulling me into a huge hug. "I missed you so, so much and I love you too!"

I pulled back to press Willie's lips to mine. "Ugh. Being almost two months without you sucked." I said as I pulled away.

"Yeah, but you got to play sold-out shows and you were with your band the whole time. Me? I was kinda alone. I made some friends at the skatepark but it wasn't the same without you."

"Well, I am back and I plan to stay for a while, ya know until we have our next tour. But that's probably not until the next year or so, so you get me all to yourself."

Willie smiled at this. "Now, can we please get home? I'm very tired."

Willie giggled. "Of course."

So, we headed back to our apartment and went to sleep.

I finally got good sleep not being on the road, in a tour bus with the band. Being in Willie's arms always makes me feel comfortable and at home. Not having that for a month and a half was torture. Obviously, we face timed and called some even though Facetime gave me anxiety. I still did it. My anxiety was awful not having Willie there to comfort me. But I felt safe now in his arms.