The Shy Band Member

Chapter 8: You Performed?

'I don't know about this.' Reggie said. The four of us were still waiting for Willie to return. We were leaning against the railing, watching the people below us.

'Well, if you get scared, you can always hide behind me. I'll be hiding behind Luke.'

'I will be hiding behind Ana.' I rolled my eyes at Luke's comment. Seriously? I thought they were meant to be brave boys. Why are they pushing me in front?

'You guys need to grow up, ok? We're gonna get back at Bobby. He needs to pay for what he did to us.' I said with no emotion.

'Yeah.' Alex said. 'I'm still gonna hide behind him.' He whispered to Reggie.

'We're all good.' Willie said, poofing next to us.

'Oh, uh, cool. Hey, just so you know, we have, like, an hour, because we got a gig with Julie.'

'I have 10 minutes.'

'Oh yeah. No worries. Let's go.' We followed the ghost down the stairs. 'Normally, I'd have my deck, and I'd backboard this heavy 20 set, but tonight we have company. Hope you guys are ready for this.' He slid down the bannister.

'Wow! Are you guys seeing what I'm seeing?' Alex asked us. I had to admit, as creepy as this place is, it sure was beautiful.

'I think we're a little overdressed.' Reggie hummed in agreement.

When we got down to the bottom, a couple walked through the boys. They went around me.

'Whoa! I thought these people were all going to be ghosts.' Reggie pointed out.

'These are all lifers.' Willie corrected.

'Oh, uh, lifers are actually-'

'Alive people. I was listening.' Reggie and I said.

'But this is a very exclusive crowd. Everybody here has, uh, paid a lot to get a sneak peek at the afterlife.'

'Yeah, because that doesn't sound sketchy.' I sarcastically commented. I still felt like this is a trap. Nothing about this felt natural.

'I always knew rich people did weird stuff like this.'

'Gentlemen, and miss, I have a table for you. Right this way.' We followed the waiter and sat down at the table. Willie sat on the furthest seat on the right, with Alex sitting next to him. Then it was Luke, then me and finally Reggie. 'William.'

'Oh yeah. Thanks, man.' The boys and I started to look around. I noticed a giant clock.

'Ok. So who's gonna make us visible so we can confront our old bandmate?' My brother asked. He always has gotten straight to the point. My eyes kept flicking over to the clock. I didn't want to be late for Julie.

'Oh no, no. None of these lifers has the power to do that. But, here comes the ghost who does.'

Someone over a speaker started to talk. 'Ladies and gentlemen, back from the dead by popular demand, please welcome Caleb Covington!' Everyone started to cheer.

A man dressed in deep purple from head to toe appeared in the air. 'Did you miss me?' The crowd started to cheer again. 'I did too!' I don't like this guy. For one, he seems way too cocky. People like that are never good news. 'Welcome to the party of your dreams! From the Egyptians to the Druids, to the person sitting next to you, we've all wondered, "Where do we go when that final light is snuffed out?" Allow me to show you.'

Caleb: Let me introduce myself, we got some time to kill
Consider me the pearly gates to your new favorite thrills
We could go make history or you could rest in peace
But here there ain't no misery
'Cause on the other side we live like kings
Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do?
Let your body loose, let your body loose
Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do?
Show you a thing or two
'Cause you ain't seen nothing