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

19

[Unsaid Emily]

A horn honked.

"This is awesome, you guys," Luke said. "We're playing the Orpheum! I can't even count how many bands have played here and then ended up being huge." He chuckled. "We're gonna be legends. Eat up, boys, 'cause after tonight, everything changes."

Willie sighed and moved to sit next to Alex who was sitting on the Orpheum stage and asked, "Is this seat taken?"

Alex sighed heavily before saying, "This whole thing sucks."

"Yeah, I messed up."

"No, it's like you said... you know you didn't have a choice. I mean, Caleb owns your soul."

"No." He inhaled sharply. "No, still, I know what he's capable of. I brought you guys right to him. When you guys asked me, I should've just skated away."

"I would have still followed you."

Willie chuckled lightly. "Man... I would do anything to take back what I did to you." A jolt buzzed and Alex groaned, causing Willie to wince sympathetically. "I am so sorry. I mean, did you guys figure out what your unfinished business is?"

Alex scoffed. "Not like it's gonna happen. We have to play here."

"The... the Orpheum?"

"Yeah, I mean, we were two hours away from getting on that stage the night we died."

"You guys were gonna be legends."

"We were."

---

Julie and Cassandra were being bombarded by people asking for pictures.

Toby walked up to Cassandra. "Hey, uh, do I need to ask security before standing next to you?"

Cassandra shook her head. "Nope. There's no one around."

"Right. Um, I was wondering if you'd like to be my study partner."

"I really don't have much time with the band and school."

"Well, then can I ask if you'll go on a date with me?"

"I, uh, wow. Toby wants to go on a date with me. And you're him, so you know that."

"That doesn't sound like a yes."

"I'm sorry, Toby, but I, uh-"

"You like someone else."

"Yeah. Kind of."

"All right, well, can we still be dance partners?"

"Uh, yeah, sure."

Nick walked up to Julie and asked her out, but Julie rejected him, as she claimed didn't want a relationship yet. Cassandra doubted her friend's words, but wouldn't push Julie for or against dating Nick.

Flynn walked up to her friends and said, "Well, those weren't just "What's ups?""

"Nick wanted to go on a date," Julie said, causing Flynn to let out a gasp. "And I said no."

Cassandra glanced at Julie. "So did Toby, and I said no."

"What?" Flynn asked.

"You know what you said," Julie said. "I don't want to go on a date yet."

Cassandra nodded. "Yeah, I figured why waste Toby's time?"

"Aww! My babies are all grown up!" She chuckled, focusing on Cassandra. "She's choosing to like someone who doesn't really exist, but she's all grown up." She looked at Julie. "She's choosing to be lonely instead of having a nice relationship, but she's all grown up."