Camilla Wilson // JATP

the beach

"Believe me, Julie. I'm glad you sang again. I prayed for this moment for over a year, but..."

Me, Flynn, and Julie look at each other. "It's too late," we say in unison, knowing what she was going to say. Flynn steps forward. "What if you just hear her play?" I join her. "You know she's amazing." Miss Harrison sighs. "It wouldn't matter if the new student starts tomorrow; there's only..." Julie sighs

"There are so many spaces, and if I don't participate, I'm out, I know." Miss Harrison gives Julie a sympathetic smile. "I did everything I could to keep you here this year, but Principal Lessa made it very clear that yesterday was your last chance. You'll have to reapply next semester." We look at Julie and hug her tightly. The bell suddenly echoes through the room loudly, and students start entering. "I'm truly sorry," Miss Harrison says before turning to her students. The three of us walk out, Julie wrapped in mine and Flynn's arms. "Jules, I'm so sorry," she smiles. "It's my own fault, guys."

"How about we blow off school?" I say quickly. "We can go to the beech," they laugh. "Im going, are you coming or not?" Julie shakes her head. "If I miss another class, dad might kill me," I laugh. "Good thing about having a dad who doesn't care, I guess," Julie gives me a sympathetic look. "I'm fine," I say, hugging her and Flynn goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow, guys," I say before waving them off and leaving school.

the beach

I reach the beach just after lunch time. Its a nice sunny day, so I lay on the sand, looking over the ocean, when I hear a whoosh behind me. "a bike shack right where my house used to be." I turn around to see the boys standing staring at the bike shack opposite them. I lay back down in an attempt to avoid being seen.

I try to use my time alone to write. I've been struggling to come up with any lyrics at the moment, but suddenly I hear strumming from behind me and turn around to see Luke playing his guitar and laughing with Reggie and Alex. I watch them dance along the beach together, singing and laughing. How can a group of ghosts have a happier life than me?

Luke stops stemming and looks over at me. "hey! " I stand up and walk over to them. I go to talk but realise there are loads of people around, so I pull my phone out, putting it in my ear. "Hey Luke, thanks for calling," he smiles. "Why aren't you at school?" I roll my eyes. "I ditched and needed some air before I headed home tonight," he laughs. "So you not coming to Julies again?" I sigh. "I wish my dad wanted me home." Suddenly, my phone starts ringing against my ear. "I got to go, Luke, bye." I answer the phone to hear my dad yelling at me.

"Come home right now, Camilla." Emily Wilson, I know you skipped class, and I am not happy." I sigh as I begin walking home; it's not too far from the beach, really. When I reach the door, I take a deep breath before opening it and walking in. "Dad?" he yells from upstairs. "I'm up here!" I go up the stairs and see him standing waiting for me at my bedroom door.

"Why did you skip class?" he asks.

"So suddenly you're going to act like a dad?"

"I've always been your dad!"

"No, you've always been my dad; you're only my dad when it's convenient."

He sighs, "Cami, I don't have time to argue with you!"

"Then let me stay at Julies again."

"Find a carries jacket, and then you can go."

"dad! I haven't touched it; she lost it; she should find it!"

"Find it, camilla."

I walk into my bedroom, slam the door, and scream. "CAMI! SHUT UP!" my dad yells from down the stairs. I leave my room and enter, looking around for her jacket. "It has to be in here somewhere!" I spend 2 hours looking around the room when I eventually find her jacket tucked under her bed. I pick it up and fold it, putting it on her pillow, and send her a photo. "I found your jacket," I add, and then leave the house with my bag.

Once I get out of the house, I ring Julie, "Hey, im on my way around." She laughs, "Okay, see you soon."

When I get to Julie's house, I go straight to her room with her. She starts ranting about the boys, and when she got home, they were looking around her room. Then she suggests getting food because I hadn't eaten yet. We go down the stairs, but as we turn into the kitchen, Luken is standing there, staring into the refrigerator. "What is happening here?" I ask quickly, and he looks at me. "hey cami! You said you weren't coming tonight." I laugh. "I didn't want to be at home. I walk through Luke, getting some cheese out of the fridge. It makes me shiver and makes Luke laugh. Julie and Luke start talking about the music program. "There is no way your teachers wouldn't let you back into school if they heard you play like that." I sigh. "We asked her, Luke; she said Julius has to reapply next semester," she laughs, hopping on the couch. "That was your first mistake. Asking. Sunset Curve booked gigs by doing. We went into ambush mode." I laugh in "ambush mode," and she shoots me a dirty look, making me laugh more. "I have nothing to perform," Julie says, and Luke smiles, pulling something out of his pocket. "I thought you'd say that. I have here a sunset curve song; it's called Bright, and I think you two would slay." I laugh. "First of all, never say slay again. Second, Why am I involved?" he smiles. "Because we want you to be." Julie looks at me.

"Yeah, we want you involved, Cami!"