Hold On --- Luke Patterson

Part 2 - What the hell are street dogs

The boys turned around, groaning and searching their bodies for injuries. "How did we get back here?" The middle one asked as he pointed a finger at the room we were standing in.

Before I could even get a decent look at the strangers in front of us, Julie let out an ear-piercing scream in fright. As startled as I was after the mysterious boys' appearance, Julie's scream and dramatic exit right afterwards almost gave me a heart attack. A piercing pain went through my head and as it slowly ebbed away, I stumbled backwards, a wave of nausea washing over me.

"Woah, you okay?" The shaggy-haired boy in the middle took a step towards me and went to reach out for me, but I waved him off.

I smiled sadly at him. "Don't worry. It doesn't hurt anymore." He nodded, not entirely convinced. I gasped as I realised the time, looking at my watch.

"Look, I gotta go, but I'll be back to find out who the hell the three of you are." I turned and went to reach for my backpack at the entrance of the garage.

"We could ask you the same thing, you know." I sharply turned on my heel and looked to the one that had spoken. The tall blond boy wearing a jeans vest on top of a pink hoodie. "Excuse me?" I asked, growing irritated.

His eyes widen as he got to properly look at my face. "What?" I asked again.

He shook his head. "I just- I mean- You look really familiar." I squinted my eyes at him, looking for a familiar trait in his appearance. He did look oddly familiar to me, too.

"What's your name?" I turned my head to the boy wearing a leather jacket. He had a curious glint in his eyes as he looked back at me. "I'm Reggie, this is Luke," he pointed to the shaggy-haired boy, who smirked smugly and gave me a small wave, "and this is Alex." He pointed to the blond.

"It's Abby. Wait- your name's Alex? What's your last name?" He awkwardly looked at his feet before letting out a sigh. "Mercer."

I tripped over my own feet as I stuttered incoherent words. The boys just looked at me in confusion, but I swiftly turned around, grabbing my backpack and storming out of the studio.

On my way out, I sent a tekst to Julie saying I urgently needed to get to the doctor's but that I would check in on her later to find out why someone who looked exactly like my dead cousin, and had the same name, was in her garage. I jumped on my bike and drove off as fast as my weakened body let me.

*

I slammed the door closed, letting out a sigh. "Ab? Is that you?" I chuckled.

"Yes, mom, it's me."

She came into the hallway, searching my body for any signs that my disease had worsened in the few hours she hadn't seen me. "How'd it go?"

"Same old, same old. Took some blood, told me to take my pills, warned me that I would get to a stage of the disease that it might start to cause some serious problems." I said with a mocking tone. I shrugged off my coat.

My mom crossed her arms, frowning. "I don't really get the feeling you're taking this seriously, Abigail."

I rolled my eyes. "What am I supposed to do, mom? Sulk in self-pity for the rest of my life? Why can't I just enjoy it while it lasts?" I huffed as she flinched. "We both know it's not going to last, mom. I'm sorry, but I've accepted it. So should you." I brushed past her and went up the stairs.

But not before sneaking a glance at the old family picture that had sat on the windowsill since as long as I could remember. The exact same face as the one I saw a few hours ago stared back at me.

*

I slammed my hand on my alarm to shut it up. I groaned loudly and got out of my bed. Last night, I called Julie to check in on her. Turns out, the boys that had magically landed in her garage were indeed the members of the band Sunset Curve, and the drummer was indeed my very dead cousin.  They were ghosts, after eating bad street dogs. What the hell are street dogs?

Apparently, Alex completely freaked out after Julie told him who I was. She said he demanded I came down to the Molina house so he could talk to me himself.

She said that Luke asked if my headache was better. I hated to admit it, but that was really freaking cute.

As I went to sit at the table to have breakfast after getting ready, my mom walked into the room. I looked at her apologetically. "Mom, I'm really sorry for last night. I was tired, I had a really long night-" She held up her hand and I cut myself off.

She sighed. "Honey, you don't have to be sorry. You were right, I shouldn't suffocate you with my worrying all the time."

"Thank you. But, still, I feel like I shouldn't have been so harsh." I winced as I thought back to the things I said last night.

"That's okay. Now, it's Saturday and you're a teenager, don't you have to be somewhere?" She stood up, pulling me with her. I chuckled. After saying goodbye to my mom, I headed over to Julie's.

*

Arriving at the Molina residence, I parked my bike and started to head over to the studio. I closed my eyes a little to enjoy the sun that shone brightly onto my face.

Suddenly, I could hear a powerful voice coming from the garage.  I snapped my eyes open and walked a little closer.

I heard quiet footsteps behind me, and I turned around to find Carlos, Julie's little brother, standing on the porch, listening to his sister singing as well. When he spotted me, he just smiled at me. I smiled back. Pride was written on both of our faces.

Julie was singing again.

AN: part two!! I'm so thankful to everyone that's read this story, or who has voted or commented on it. I honestly thought this book wouldn't really get any reads, so thank you so much. I won't be able to update for a while, since my exams are coming up.

See you soon.

My favorite tv quote of the week:

"I lost my shoe."

                                     -Supernatural

Sophie <3