Ghostly Heartbreak | Luke Patterson

Chapter 13

I leaned against the wall as I watched Julie pacing in a circle. We were both nervous that the guys weren't gonna show. But he promised.

"Julie," I pushed myself to walk over to her, "You need to calm down. Stressing over them isn't gonna help."

She shook her head, "They need to be here."

I sighed, "What if you performed without them? I mean you still will be great. Just tell the audience that there was a glitc-"

"No!"

She widened her eyes as she realized what she just did, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scream, I just... I can't perform without them. I don't feel confident enough too yet."

I pulled her into a hug.

"I can only stall for so long," Flynn peered from the curtain, "It's 11. I think you should just play by yourself Jules, or at least have Nova go on with you. I mean, holograms or no holograms, you'll be amazing."

I let go of Julie, "You know she's right, Julie. Maybe this is a sign. A sign that a band with ghosts wasn't going to work out. It was nice that you guys had a great outcome once but," I sighed, "It's your time to shine on your own."

"You saw me the other day," Julie sat on the ground, frustrated with the guys. "I can't play without them. They'll be here. They have to be."

"And if they're not," I told her, crossing my arms.

She shook her head at me, ignoring me. Flynn walked away from us to go and try to stall some more time, but deep down, both me and her know that the guys weren't coming.

I watched Flynn from behind the curtain as I tried to figure out a reason why the guys weren't here.

"Issues," I heard a male voice behind me.

I turned around to see Nick, trying to talk to Julie. I glanced back at the crowd, not trying to make it noticeable that I was listening to their conversation.

"Always," Julie said frustrated, "My machine won't work....You don't have to."

There was a long pause, but I refused to glance back at the two.

"Here's... the problem.... That is unless you didn't want it plugged in. Hey don't let this crowd freak you out. What I saw last time, you played was insane. You got this."

Of course, she gots this. She just needs to believe that herself or else she'll never overcome this roadblock. Julie needs to break down her barriers that she built over the past year, then she'll be amazing, just like her mother always knew she was.

"I knew you had it in you," suddenly I saw Nick running past me.

"Wait. Nick. No," I yelled as I ran after him, but was too slow in my heels.

Julie met up with me as we stared, scared about what he was gonna tell the crowd. "What just happened," I asked nervously.

"I don't even know myself," Julie said with fear laced in her voice.

We both watched as Nick went on stage and ripped the microphone out of Flynn's hands, "Hey, everybody! We fixed the hologram thing. Who wants to see a show?"

The crowd roared with excitement. I shook my head as I glared at the boy, "Oh you fucking asshole."

"Now," he continued, "give it up... for Julie and the Phantoms!"

I saw Julie breathing quickly from the side of my eye, "Come on," I grabbed her hand, "We're in this together. Always," I squeezed her hand as she gave me a weak smile.