What I'm Dreaming Of

21

"Thank you," Emily said as she held the paper to her heart, letting sobs escape her lips.

"You have no idea," Mitch told Julie and Laila.

Julie smiled. "My friend Laila and I write music in the same room that he did, and I can tell you that it's a magical, happy place." The two adults chuckled.

"That's nice to know."

Laila fought back tears as she said, "I know he was only 17 when he -- but he lived doing the one thing he was born to do. Not many people find that, but Luke did. He was so lucky."

Luke poofed away.

Julie smiled. "It was so nice to meet you."

"It was nice to meet you, too," Mitch replied.

Julie and Laila left the house and looked for Luke, but he was gone.

OUTSIDE JULIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

"Hey," Laila greeted. "Um, if you're looking for Julie, she's inside. I just needed some air after what we found out."

"Hey," Luke replied.

"I'm sorry for overstepping."

Luke moved from the pillar and closer to Laila. "No, I... I just had to leave. That was..."

"You don't have to say anything."

"Yeah, I do. I don't know if he has anything to explain, but I do. Uh... I didn't have many regrets in my life except for running out on my parents. Especially my mom, so... thank you."

"You helped me feel more connected to my mom, so... I wanted to do the same thing for you."

Laila and Luke tried to hold hands, but hers went through his.

Luke let out a sigh. "This is an interesting little relationship you and I have."

Laila chuckled lightly and gave a tiny smile. "Oh my gosh, Julie and I almost forgot to tell you. Flynn said the video that her dad made is trending on YouTube." Luke stared at her, confused. "That's a good thing. That means people love our music. We'll definitely be getting calls from managers now."

"There's something I have to tell you."

"Oh... Okay."

"We figured out that we have unfinished business. That's why we came back as ghosts."

"Oh. What is it?"

"We have to play the show we never got to play."

"At the Orpheum; that makes sense," Laila said as Luke was jolted back.

Laila held herself and grimaced, feeling the same pain.

Luke yelled in pain and groaned before saying, "Laila, we don't have a lot of time. You gotta help us."

Laila frowned. "What was that? Are you okay? No, stupid question. Obviously you're not. I know that enough, feeling your pain and all."

"We did something we shouldn't have. The night that we missed the dance, we met this ghost and he put a curse on us. And if we don't do what he says, the jolt will destroy us. For good."

"Well then you gotta do what he says! What does he want?"

"He wants us to be in his house band for eternity. But if we can play the Orpheum soon, then we can avoid all of that and actually cross over."

""Cross over"? As in like what? Go to Heaven?"

"That's what we're banking on."

"So it's either you cross over, be in his band for eternity, or be destroyed by jolts?"