Sing a Song

09

Reggie, Luke and Rellie sat on the couch, watching Alex pace back and forth, deep in thought.

"I think he's practicing his model strut," Reggie guessed.

"He's so nervous, it's almost making me nervous," Luke said.

Rellie nodded. "We're all nervous, Alex."

Alex looked between them. "Okay, you guys know I don't handle change well. All right? Death? That was a change. Okay? Then we became ghosts-"

"Another change," Rellie interrupted.

"Yes, thank you. And now we can be seen whenever we play with Julie. Big freaking change!"

"You're telling me. I'm still adjusting to that!"

"With Julie, we can play on stage again and be the band we never got to be," Reggie said. "With Rellie as a band member."

"I mean, who wouldn't be? I just - you know, I wanna figure out."

"Forget why," Luke told him. "Man, I say we invite Julie to join Sunset Curve."

Rellie shook her head. "I mean, I agree with asking Julie, but I'm happier on the sidelines, in the back. I was the lyricist and didn't perform because of how anxious and nervous I get on stage."

Reggie grinned. "Yeah, she could be the new lead singer. But you do have a nice voice."

"I'm the lead singer!" Luke argued.

Alex frowned. "Hey; if Rellie doesn't want to perform, she doesn't have to."

"Dude, that girl has the voice of an angel and can make us visible," Reggie said. "Without her, we're just like elevator music."

Luke frowned. "You don't have to be so mean about it. And we're on the runway again." He pointed to Alex.

"I'm sorry, okay?! I gotta clear my head," Alex said as he walked to the garage and tried to open it in frustration.

"Dude, you're a ghost," Reggie told him. "Just poof out!"

"Don't tell me how to ghost!" Alex inhaled and poofed out.

Rellie stared at where Alex had disappeared. "Should I follow him?"

Reggie shook his head. "No, give him some space. I'm sure he'll come back."

---

Alex walked the streets of LA, trying to clear his head.

He saw two men walking towards him who looked like Ghostbusters. Had Rellie been with him, she probably would have commented something about Ghostbusters. He could hear her singing the theme in various goofy voices she loved to do.

"Oh God, I'm busted," Alex muttered. "Oh God! No!" He cowered into himself, but the men went through him.

Alex stood straighter. "Okay."

"Beep beep!" a boy called with a chuckle as he skated. "Comin' through! Hey! Oh! Nice hat! Cheese!" He chuckled and hit Alex, knocking them both to the ground.

Alex groaned and coughed. "Aah!"

"Ah," the boy said with a cough and cleared his throat. "Oh man! Oh, you dinged my board."

"I dinged your board? Dude, you ran me over. You're lucky I didn't... Y-Y-You... you... you ran me over. You're a ghost?"

"Mm. Yeah. Ever since I learned the hard way that..." he removed his helmet and threw his head back, causing his hair to fall down his back, "...skating in traffic was bad. Hey, sorry I, uh, smashed into you. I thought you were a lifer and I'd just pass right through."