Find the Spark

Chapter 1

*2 weeks after their performance at the Orpheum*

Julie and Luke are sat in the garage writing songs. Things have been tense between them since they discovered they can touch, neither of them finding the courage to make the first move.

"For the bridge, I think Alex should keep the beat and Reggie should add that riff he showed us the other day. Do you think that'd work?" Luke is busy appreciating the way Julie glows when she talks about music. Their music, he thinks smugly. "Luke?"

"Uh, yeah. I think that's a great idea."

"Cool." Julie scribbles down a few notes in her songbook and Luke continues to stare. She looks up, catching his gaze. "What?" she asks, smiling at the look on his face.

Luke clears his throat. "Oh, um, nothing. It's nothing."

Julie rolls her eyes, growing tired of the unspoken words between them. She shifts closer to him on the couch and takes his hand in hers.

"Luke, I know the past couple weeks have been an adjustment. We thought you would cross over and we'd never see each other again. And now you can touch things and you're not quite a ghost but you're not quite alive. I understand. But there's nothing to be afraid of, okay? You have Alex and Reggie. And you have me." Julie rubs her thumb in a soothing circle on Luke's hand. Luke watches the movement, wonder painted across his features.

"I know. And I'm so grateful. It's just... a lot to get used to." He looks up at her through his lashes. "Everything seems possible now." His eyes briefly flicker to her mouth and he pulls away from her, a blush creeping up his neck.

"Come on, don't do that," says Julie, moving closer still. "Don't shy away from talking about the difficult things." Luke's mouth hangs open slightly as if he's trying to find the words he wants to say. He's interrupted by the sound of the garage door sliding open.

Alex and Reggie are chatting amongst themselves. They freeze when they see how close Julie and Luke are on the couch.

"Hey guys," says Reggie. "Sorry to interrupt."

"It's fine," Julie reassures him. She grabs her songbook and approaches him, beginning to explain their current plans for the bridge to Reggie. Reggie nods and grabs his bass, riffing based on Julie's suggestions. Alex comes over to sit beside Luke on the couch.

"Hey man, are you alright? Things seemed pretty intense just then."

Luke clears his throat. "Yeah bro, all good." Luke thinks to himself for a moment. "Alex, after the Orpheum, when you realised that you wanted to be with Willie, how did you tell him?

Alex narrows his eyes slightly and smirks, catching on to where Luke is going with this train of thought. "Well, I was kind of on an adrenaline high. After the show, when we touched Julie, I felt the most alive I ever have. We had come so close to losing this-" he gestures to themselves and the other two standing by his drums. "-I couldn't bear the thought of being given a second chance and still losing Willie."

Luke nodded in understanding. "But... How did you tell him? What words did you use?"

"I told him what happened. I told him that when I realised I was here to stay, he was the first person I wanted to see. I didn't really have to say anything else. He understood." Luke smiles, seeing the happiness radiating off of Alex as he speaks about his boyfriend. He sighs, still unsure how to tell Julie how he truly feels.

"Can I make a suggestion?" Alex asks. Luke nods, brow furrowed. "I love you and I think you're amazing. But you've never been good with talking about your feelings. Stick to your strengths." Alex pats the electric guitar Luke has propped up against the couch.

The corner of Luke's mouth tilts upwards as he realises what Alex is hinting at. Of course! How had he not thought of it sooner? Music was what had brought him and Julie together. It's what connected their souls. What better way to tell her how he feels than to write her a song?

He grabs his notebook and flips to a fresh page. At the top, he writes in capital letters: 'THINGS LEFT UNSPOKEN' and underlines it.