imagination || julie and the phantoms

eighteen

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WHILE JULIE HEARD AN INTERESTING STORY FOR THE FIRST TIME, REGGIE AND LUKE DEALT WITH ALEX.

The drummer couldn't stop replaying what happened with Willie in his head. Doubts swirled. Without realizing it, he started to hit the drums a little harder. The hits became off-beat the angrier Alex got.

Luke and Reggie attempted to follow his lead at first but then gave up. Alex needed to get his feelings out and that led to unpredictable rhythmic patterns. After a few minutes, the boys shared a look.

"Hey, Alex," Reggie started first, then rose his voice to be heard over the noise. "Alex!"

The blonde ghost stopped hitting his kick drum and cymbals. "What?"

"You all right?"

"Yeah," Alex answered a little too quickly. He adjusted the backward baseball cap on his head and squirmed in his seat. "Yeah, I'm fine...why?"

Luke didn't know what to say but motioned for Reggie to continue. The bassist sighed. "I know it's tough, man," he sympathized. "People say you never forget your first ghost. Maybe that's true. But...I'm sure there will be others."

"Yeah," Alex breathed but then forced a smile at his best friend. "Thanks, Reg."

"And, Alex, you're a great drummer and a great guy," Luke stated as he rested his arms on one of their amps. "Okay? I wouldn't let all that stuff get in between you and what you love."

"Aren't you doing that?" Reggie questioned him. "With my sister?"

Luke faked a chuckle and awkwardly stepped back with his hands gripping his guitar strap. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Come on," Reggie rolled his eyes. "Everyone can see the way you look at her when you sing. I hate to admit it, but you guys ooze chemistry--even though you're both being stubborn right now and won't talk about what happened way back when."

"You should never say ooze again," Alex told Reggie seriously as he stood up. Then, he turned to Luke and shrugged. "But, yeah, I agree."

"Okay, first off, I have chemistry with everyone I sing with," Luke argued while he took off his guitar and set it on the stand.

Alex and Reggie remained unconvinced.

Luke huffed. "Seriously, watch!" He stepped towards Reggie and belted out the song they had been rehearsing. "I believe, I believe that we're just one dream." Reggie's eyes widened when Luke got in his face, his hand on the back of his neck. "Away from who we're meant to be, that we're standing on the edge of...great."

Alex raised an eyebrow. His bandmates stared at each other for a few moments. "Wow," sarcasm seeped into his words. "I see chemistry."

Reggie blurted out, "That was pretty hot."

Luke kissed his fingers and then pressed them to Reggie's mouth before swiftly turning around. Reggie blinked and then cleared his throat. "So, um, girls," he adjusted his bass in his hands. "Am I right?"

Luke chuckled and picked up his guitar again. "Yeah."

"No," Alex replied with the same amusement. His drumstick twirled in his hand when Luke started to count off. Alex interrupted, "Um, no, we're not playing yet. You can't get out of this conversation that easy, lover boy."

"You're calling me lover boy?" Luke echoed in disbelief. "What about you?"

"I am a great guy and a great drummer," Alex repeated what Luke said earlier. "Therefore, I do not need a man according to you. However, you need Charlotte."