STARDUST ⭑ LUKE PATTERSON

nineteen

EMMY LEANS BACK AGAINST THE WHITE DOUBLE DOORS that used to be a sliding garage door that jammed every other day. She could hear Julie and her family singing as they walked up the driveway. Her face feels warm with the image of them dancing on the gravel together in her head.

    She hears muffled chatter before Julie's walking towards the studio, out of her costume and no makeup. Emmy sees it then--how much Julie Molina really looked like her mother.

    "Emmy," the young girl says in surprise. "I didn't know you were coming."

    "I wanted to talk," Emmy tells her. She gives her a lopsided smile. "I feel like we never really got to."

    "Alex and Reggie were obsessed with taking up all your time," Julie jokes. They both laugh, falling quiet, like waves receding from the sand.

    "I just really wanted to thank you. For as long as I've known them, all they ever wanted to do was make music and share it with the world. You have no idea how much it means to me that you were able to help them do it."

    "Of course," Julie states sincerely. "We wouldn't have been able to do any of that without your songs."

    "Stop. You're gonna make me blush and I'm gonna have to name my first born ghost child after you."

    Julie lets out a hearty laugh, admiring Emmy's ability to make an odd joke in the most serious of times. "I see why Luke always talked about you."

    "He talked about me?"

    "Oh, all the time! When I first met him, it was a lot about music, but also a lot of 'Emmy would've loved that riff!' or 'Emmy would have the perfect commentary in this situation.'"

    "I'm genuinely embarrassed for him."

    "It was sweet," Julie reassures. "It's nice to have someone love you that much."

    "What? No." She shakes her head. "We're just friends."

    "Have you two ever kissed?"

    Emmy scoffs. "Yeah, but we both died, like, right after. I feel like the kiss and dying cancel each other out like PEMDAS."

    Julie looks at Emmy in a way she never has before. A soft, appreciative energy radiated off of the lifer, and for once, Emmy wasn't scared of the affection.

    "My mom would of loved you," Julie says softly.

    A comfortable pause settles between them, Emmy mesmerized by that inextinguishable sparkle of life in Julie's warm eyes. Just like Rose's, Emmy thinks.

    "You know, she's really proud of you," Emmy reveals.

    "You knew her?" she whispers with yearning dripping from her words.

    "You can say we're old friends. We've met once or twice."

    "Can you see her? Is she here right now?"

    Emmy shakes her head. "I can't see her, but I wouldn't doubt that she's here. I have a feeling she always is."

    They both look around, nothing moves but the slight breeze dancing with the trees.

    "I'd hug you if I wouldn't fall into the door behind you."

    "Hugging me kinda feels like that anyways."

    "Thank you," Julie says, "for not only my mom, but for everything." Emmy nods in response, lips curled into an inviting smile. "Um, I know you didn't get a proper goodbye with the guys, but whenever I miss my mom, I sit in the studio and speak to her. Alex said you weren't that into opening up, but it might help you feel better."