Camilla Wilson // JATP

flying solo

"There ghosts"

I arrive at Julie's house after school, my cheeks stained with tears. After my argument with Carrie, I went to the beach. I sat watching all the families enjoy their time together and realised how much I missed my mom. She moved to New York after the divorce with my dad. I wish I had gone with her, but I didn't want to leave Julie or Flynn. and here we are not talking to Flynn because of a crazy bad of hot ghosts. Oh, and I've fallen out with the crazy hot ghosts.

I knock on the door to the studio, and Julie opens it and says, "Cami! Are you ok?! Have you been crying?" Luke poofs behind Julie, looking at me sympathetically. I start sobbing again, looking at Luke. "omg cami!" Julie brings me inside the studio. I sit on the sofa, and Julie gives me a huge hug. "Cami, breathe with me, ok?" I follow her breath and eventually calm down. "Now tell me what's wrong."

I take one final breath before explaining everything to Julie, my dad, the boys, and Carrie. It all comes out like one big ball of sadness, and Julie and the boys just sit and listen to everything. Once I finish, I feel Julie hug me again, this time covered by the boys hugging me too. I sigh. "Sorry," I say. Julie laughs and hits my arm playfully. "It's alright." After a few minutes, I calm down, and Flynn knocks on the door. "While Julie stalls Flynn, Luke teaches me the harmony to the new song and hands me the lyrics. "You'll do great," he whispers in my ear, then kisses me on the cheek, making me blush. I nod to Julie, who lets Flynn in and sits her on the chair.

I start playing the keypad to the tune of the song, and Julie plays the piano, singing the opening.

If I leave you on a bad note,
Leave you on a sad note.
Guess that means I'm buying lunch that day. I know all your secrets.
You know all my deep-dish
Guess that means some things they never, they never

I join in harmonising with Julie as we move through the song.

Change
We both know what I am, what I am, and what I am. ean

When I look at you, it's like I'm looking at me.

Suddenly, the boys appear, making Flynn scream. They join in singing. My eyes watch Luke as he moves around the floor playing his guitar. He smiles at me, making me almost weak in the knees.

My life would be really low, zero, flying solo.
My life would be really low, zero, flying solo without you.
Hey, yeah
Hey, yeah
My life would be really low, zero, flying solo without you.

Luke pulls me in, and we share his microphone as I sing the next chorus. I can feel his breath on my neck, but I finish the verse and move back to Julie, who is standing with Flynn in front of Alex.

Yeah, you know who I'm likin'.
Way before I liked them, duh, because you liked them first.
And if somebody hurts you, I'm going to get hurt too. That's just how we work. Yeah, that's just how we work. It will never change.
We both know what I mean.
When I look at you, it's like I'm looking at me.

My life would be really low, zero, flying solo.
My life would be really low, zero, flying solo without you.
Hey, yeah
Hey, yeah
My life would be really low, zero, flying solo without you.

"There are ghosts!" Flynn screams. The boys continue playing as Julie Flynn and I hug. "Hey girls, does that mean you're joining the band?" Luke says, still steaming his guitar. Flynn interrupts. "Actually, I think you're joining their band." Luke raises his eyebrows at me. "I'm going to go with what she said," he laughs.

My life would be really low, zero, flying solo.
My life would be really low, zero, flying solo without you.
Hey, yeah (yeah) Hey, yeah
My life would be really low, zero, flying solo without you.
You

Luke joins in on the last chorus; we lock eyes as we sing, and I can't help but feel something—the lyrics, the eye contact, the kiss. They've all got to mean something, right?