I'd Give Up Forever To Touch You

Chapter 1

I never thought I'd be standing here, though if you had told me weeks ago that my life would be this way I'd never have believed you. If you had told me three ghosts would materialize in my mom's studio and completely take over my life, that they'd save me from losing myself, that I would love them like family, love some of them more than just family.

 But specifically, if you had told me even an hour ago that I'd be feeling Luke's warm body pressed against mine, his arms around my waist as his fingers gripped me like I'd float away. My tip toes wobbled beneath me as my nose was buried in Luke's neck, his face disappeared into my hair. Luke smelled of guitars, lemon and the ink of the Bic pens he insists on using. I opened my eyes, staring at nothing beside a stunned, half hunched Alex. 

Slowly I pulled away from Luke, my hands never leaving him though, trailing down Luke's arm as his hands followed the same path along my own. I desperately searched him through my tear blurred eyes, watching his fingers ran across my forearms and mine do the same. "H-how can I feel you?" My voice coming out in small gasps. Luke shook his head, the tears resting in his eyes falling onto his cheeks. "I don't-don't know..." Luke said in a hushed tone. My hands flew to his face, cradling his cheeks in my palms, damp from his tears, warm and real. Luke's rough fingers, calloused by years of playing the guitar, brushing my hair and dusting against my cheeks, carefully, like he was afraid I'd turn to dust.

A million thoughts ran through my head all at once, but nothing at the same time, nothing but the feel and smell and sight of Luke. A sniffle echoed behind him, Luke pulled my hands from his face and gripped them in his hands, a jolt traveled my spine at every new touch. Luke turned to Reggie and Alex, who were straightening at the miracle in front of them. "I- I feel stronger." A shocked smile tugged at his lips.

 I looked to our hands and the soft golden glow around Luke before looking back at the guys. "Reggie...Alex, come here." I ordered them, the guys quickly obeyed, rushing to either side of Luke and me. The guys wrapping their arms around us, completing a circle of arms around us. The glow around Luke grew, engulfing Reggie, Alex and I in its warmth. I could feel them, Alex and Reggie's hands on my back, the heat of their bodies, the feel of their breath. 

We separate a little, just enough to see each other's faces, but close enough to keep us all holding each other. "I don't feel as weak anymore." Reggie face was pale, except the two pink splotches on his cheeks. "Me neither." Alex confessed, stuttering a little. "I mean, not that I was ever that weak." He tried to act tough. All the guys flinched, bringing their right wrists up into the center of our little huddle. Caleb's stamp burned and glowed, lifting itself off their wrists, the guys all sucked a breath through their teeth in a wince, but the stamps disappeared into the air. 

"What do you think that means?" I asked, not really knowing up from down right now. Luke cocked a crooked smile at me, his eyes lighting. "I think the bands back." He chuckled; Alex shifted beside me. "Do you think we could try that hug again?" He asked, his own smile spreading across his freshly pinkening face. I threw my arms around them again, feeling us all squeeze each other half to death, cherishing this moment for however long we could.

After what seemed like forever and no time at all, the glowing subsided before disappearing completely, I squeezed my eyes closed, holding my breath I waited for my hands to fall through the guys again. But it never came. "We're still here....." Reggie so helpfully pointed out. We all must have had the same thought since a chorus of chuckles rippled through us as one by one, we dropped our arms. 

"How long do you think this'll last?" Reggie looked down at his hands, reaching out to poke me in the arm, his finger pressed firmly into my shoulder causing him to jump and laugh. "I can't believe this.." Reggie smiled. "I feel like I'm dreaming." Luke's eyes only briefly left me, to look at his friends, but they always came back to me. "I gotta go find Willie, Caleb can't be very happy about this, he'll be out for him." Alex shifted uneasily on his feet, his eyes darting to the door. "I'll go look with you Alex. As long as we can get burgers on the way." Reggie made to move towards the door. "We can't eat dude." Luke dragged his eyes away from me to laugh at Reggie. "You never know! A whole new world now!!" Reggie wiggled his butt at us before poofing out. "Well, we can still do that." Alex chuckled, poofing out after him.