Cinderblock Garden // Julie and the Phantoms (Luke Patterson)

14

The boys and Willie and sat at the table as Willie watched them eat food.

"Oh, pizza, man, I missed you!" Luke exclaimed.

"Reggie, are you kissing that meatball sub?" Alex asked.

"It's what you do with the things you love!" Reggie cried.

"I take it you're all enjoying this feast?" Caleb asked as the crowd cheered. "So many delicious sights, so many tantalizing sounds, but your eyes still hunger for more! Something sweet, something savory! How many newcomers do we have in the club tonight?" The boys raised their hands. "Ladies, let's show our guests how we do dessert. A one, two, three, four!" Several dancers and a singer came out as Caleb was scat singing. They broke out into another dance number.

Willie joined as the boys hit Alex's shoulder while he looked at Willie. The boys stood.

"Whoa, catch him!" Luke cried.

Reggie was caught before he could pass out and Alex asked, "You good?"

Reggie and Luke walked off, leaving Alex alone.

Caleb walked up to Alex and said, "Come now. You can't be the only one at the party not dancing."

Alex held a hand up. "No, I... I know. I'm just... I'm looking for Willie." He glanced back.

"Dante, Fuego..." Caleb called, "meet Alex." Dante and Fuego linked arms with Alex. "You're welcome."

"Whoa!" Alex exclaimed before chuckling.

Caleb continued singing. He caught Willie's eye and motioned for him to leave.

Alex noticed Willie and said, "Come over!"

Willie looked at Alex and left to obey Caleb.

Alex was lifted into the air.

Twins came up to Reggie and Luke and started dancing with them.

The clock struck midnight and Caleb said, "Oh! The haunting hour is upon us!"

"Oh-ooh!" the crowd cheered.

Luke's his eyes widened. "Twelve! How... How'd that happen? I'm sorry. Dude, dude, we lost track of time!" Luke cried.

"Not right now, man!" Reggie said, dancing with the twin.

Luke picked his bandmate up. "Reggie!"

"Hey, what the..."

"We were supposed to be at Julie and Cassie's school at nine!"

Reggie registered his words. "Oh, shoot. That's right. Maybe we can still make it."

"Where's Alex?" Luke wondered.

"Up here!" Alex said from the ring above them.

"Alex, we forgot-"

"Julie and Cassie; I know! This place is -- one sec -- this place is some kind of time warp."

"Poof down here, bro. We gotta get going."

The three ran to the front and Caleb stopped them.

"What's the rush?" Caleb asked. "The party is just getting started. You have eternity, after all."

"You know those girls that can see us?" Reggie asked. "We sort of bailed on them. See, there's this dance at their school and their friend Flynn is a super cool DJ, like-"

"Okay, I don't think he has an eternity to hear the story," Alex said.

"Basically we're late for a gig," Luke stated.