Believer // Julie and the Phantoms

15

Luke popped back into the garage. He looked around at Julie and the boys practicing with a confused look.

Luke stood and said, "Whoa, Julie."

Julie glanced up and said, "Grab your guitar. We got work to do."

Luke grabbed his guitar and put the strap over his shoulder.

"What made you come back?" Luke wondered, stepping closer to Julie.

"I realized how important music is to all of us, and we've lost so much already. We can't lose this, too."

"Thanks."

Julie smiled at the Luke and the two shared an intense look of understanding and appreciation.

"All right, boss, where we at?" Luke questioned.

Julie smiled. "Oh, and by the way, happy birthday." She chuckled. "Let's go from the pre-chorus."

Alex tapped his drumsticks together. "One, two, three, four."

---

After rehearsal, Julie made her way back into the house, where she found Carlos and Cameron taking pictures of the kitchen.

"What are you two doing?" Julie asked.

"Looking for those orb things," Cameron replied. "We're telling you, this place is haunted."

Carlos nodded. "Every time we open our laptops, they're on some... rock music site. That ain't me, you know I'm all about the rap."

"And you know I like alternative and a little bit of rock."

"Reggie," Julie whispered.

"We're just trying to protect you," the twins said.

Cameron tilted her head. "Julie, who's Reggie?"

Julie's eyes widened. "Uh, did I say Reggie? I must have misspoken. I meant -- never mind what I meant."

Julie went to walk away, but was stopped by Carlos and Cameron and the former of the twins said, "Oh, I'd be careful in there. Dad has that look on his face like when Google Maps tells him to turn on the wrong street."

The teen kept walking, but was intercepted by Ray who had his arms crossed as he asked, "Care to tell me why you missed your first three classes today?"

"I overslept at Flynn's house after the dance," Julie replied. "There was nothing going on in those classes anyways. It won't happen again. I promise." She walked past her dad.

"Okay." Julie grabbed a pillow and sat on the couch. "But if I know you missed class, it's only a matter of time before..."

The front door opened and Julie's aunt sighed and said, "I came as fast as I could."

"Exactly."

"Julie, I will not let you fall into the gutter of life."

"Tia, I'm fine," Julie replied. "I just overslept. And me and Dad already talked about it."

Her aunt scoffed. "You are far from fine, sobrina. I called your teacher. She said you missed a calculus test."

Ray frowned. "Nothing going on, huh?"

"Dad, I'm so sorry," Julie apologized.

"This is where you punish her," the aunt said.

"I know," Ray answered. "Julie... no more going out on school nights."

"But, Dad, tonight-" Julie protested.

Julie's aunt cleared her throat. "And go to your room." Her aunt cleared her throat again. "What else? What? And... and read. Study. Calculus. Go! Now!"