What I'm Dreaming Of

17

[Edge of Great]

Carlos wandered through the kitchen, iPad in hand. He'd downloaded a new ghost detecting app called Ghost Hunt. His iPad beeped as he watched a screen that said 'SEARCHING...'

"You can't hide forever, ghosties," Carlos said as the screen told him 'GHOST ACQUIRED'. "Gotcha!"

His aunt turned on the lights and said, "For the last time, mijo. Ghosts are not real!"

"Typical adult," Reggie muttered, looking to his friends. "Do you remember when we were kids, and they never believed what we said?"

"Yeah," Alex said. "I'm pretty sure that's just a "you" thing. I was always pretty trustworthy."

Luke frowned. "Shouldn't we be more worried about Julie and Laila? Their dad and mom just busted them, okay? They're probably making them quit the band."

"Well, there's not much we can do about that now, but we can still help Carlos," Reggie replied, looking at Carlos and his aunt. "Adults not believing children ends tonight."

Alex rolled his eyes at Reggie's immaturity.

"Showtime," Reggie said as he turned off a lamp.

Carlos and his aunt gasped and Carlos glanced to his aunt before saying, "Ghosts aren't real, huh? How do you explain that?"

"Lightbulbs burn out all the time, Carlos," his aunt replied.

"Ooh, wrong answer, tia," Reggie commented.

"Explain this," Reggie said as he started playing with the blinds, opening and closing them. Carlos' aunt gasped.

"Maybe it's my mom!" Carlos cried as his eyes widened. "She knows I haven't been replacing the toilet paper!"

"Your mama would never scare us," Carlos' aunt said. "This is the work of a demon!"

Reggie stopped with a frown. "Hey, words hurt."

"Wait. I gotta get it on video!" Carlos cried.

"Yeah, you do!" Reggie agreed as he picked up a sheet. "Time for an old classic."

Reggie went under the sheet and shook, causing Carlos and his aunt to scream.

"Dang, it was on selfie mode!" Carlos complained as the camera turned off. His aunt yelled as she pulled him away.

"Whew!" Reggie breathed as he plopped onto a chair.

Alex glared at him. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"Yeah, I do," Reggie replied. "I defended kids who've never been believed. Some might say we're superheroes." He paused. "We should probably hide before Julie or Laila find out."

Reggie ran off. Luke and Alex exchanged a look regarding their bandmate's idiocy and followed after them.

---

"Julie, we need to talk," Ray said as they stood in front of the house. "So, after skipping school, missing a test, you decided to sneak out even though I told you to go to your room and study?"

"I know," Julie replied. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, you keep saying that. If you'd just... let me in, I could've been excited about tonight instead of having this conversation we both hate. Why didn't you tell me you and Elijah were in a band?"

"It all just happened so fast. These last couple of weeks have changed our lives. When I play music, I feel so much closer to Mom."

"And I love that. You know I do. But your tia is right. School needs to come first."

"I know, but without the band, I never would've made it back into the music program. They and Laila played with me when I was trying to earn back my spot."

"They did?"

"I think this is my thing, Dad."

"Well... I'd be a jerk of a dad if I took that away from you. On one condition; if you're gonna stay in this band, you need to keep up with school, and you need to keep me in the loop."

"Really?" Julie asked, hugging her father.

He nodded. "Yeah."

"Thanks, Papa."

"Hey, so that lady at your show, she was, like, some sort of manager, right? Could've been a big deal."

Julie sighed. "Who knows? Hopefully she'll get to see me play again. Which, don't worry, I'll tell you about."

"Oh. Yeah, you will. 'Cause if I ever catch you trying to sneak out again, or if your grades slip, I'm gonna pull the plug. Or whatever it is that makes those holograms work. Do I ever get to meet these guys and girl?"

"Probably not, they don't even live here. It's... kind of confusing, but being seen really isn't their thing."

"You kids and technology. It's... definitely beyond me."

"Definitely beyond something."

"Well, whoever, and, uh, whatever they are, they brought my little niña back, so as far as I'm concerned, they're like angels to me."

The front door opened and Julie's aunt ran out.

"Whoa, que pasó?" Ray asked.

"This house is haunted! We have got to go now!" the aunt cried as she panted.

"What happened?" Julie wondered.

Ray said, "Victoria, I know you want us to move, but this is a little extreme. I... I told you we're okay." The two were obviously amused by the current situation.

"I'll let Carlos explain what happened," the aunt replied. "He refuses to leave, but if movies have taught me anything, when a house is haunted, you run. Ay, Dios Mio." She ran off.

---

Bonnie and Laila walked up the front steps and the mother said, "I told you what I wanted you to do and yet you disobeyed me and snuck out."

Laila glanced down. "I'm sorry, Mom."

"Why didn't you tell me you were in a band with Julie?"

"I just-"

"Laila, I've seem images of them. I remember the article. Don't tell me they're holograms, because I know that's a lie."

She let out a sigh. "They're ghosts. When Julie and I play on stage, they play with us."

"Okay; this is gonna take time to wrap my head around. Honey, you need to keep me in the loop, okay? No more sneaking out. And don't worry; the big secret is safe."

Laila let out a relieved sigh. "I will. Thanks, Mom."

Bonnie nodded. "I'm happy to see you're talking again. I take it it's because of them?"

Laila nodded. "Yeah, it is."

"Well tell them thank you for me. My little girl is back, and that's all I could ask for."