Sit Still, Look Pretty · Julie And The Phantoms ·

Nostalgic Breakfast Items

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Alba made her way to the dining hall in the morning, rested rather well, in spite of the previous night's events. She stretched her neck as she headed directly toward the breakfast food.

She often wondered what her favorite food was when she was alive, however, as a ghost, she loved flaky pastries and tart yogurt loaded with granola and chocolate chips. Every morning, there was a spread of food unlike anything the others had experienced before, she'd been told, all kinds of breakfast food. Rarely was there a resident who wasn't wowed by everything on display.

As always, following the same schedule she'd had since her first day there, Alba would get a sweet pastry, depending on what was available but usually, she got a vanilla creme crown, before making her way to the next table over where she would pick a bowl of granola. However, this morning, even though she had her pastry, she was stuck behind someone and unable to get to the next table. The guy in front of her seemed to be in deep conversation with the person in front of him, he hadn't heard or noticed her, even after she said excuse me.

"But come on, you don't think it's weird?" asked the guy in front of her, the person in front of him staying quiet. "I had a nightmare about hotdogs. A human sized hotdog came to life and chased me off the stage at the Orpheum back in '95."

"Excuse me," she tried again, still being unheard.

"I had a nightmare about Caleb being at our Orpheum performance," a familiar voice responded. The musician she'd met the night before, Luke. Why would he have a nightmare about Caleb?

Curiosity made her stay quiet, almost hiding herself behind his friend who had a nightmare about the human hotdog. Alba was good at being discreet. She was practically invisible until she opened her mouth or someone put her on a stage. She wanted to listen to what Luke and his friend had to say.

"Lex, did you have a nightmare about the Orpheum?" asked the guy in front of her.

"Yes," answered Lex, Alba assumed. She couldn't see his face, but his tone conveyed everything she needed to know as to how he felt about that. It was far more than just weird, as his friend had put it.

Nightmares weren't uncommon, especially when it came to first nights. But all three of them having nightmares based at the same place? That was odd. Alba wondered if it had something to do with their contracts. They most likely signed the same one and that would in turn mean they were all linked. Caleb probably manipulated a lot more than just how people felt and how far they could venture from the club. Maybe he'd somehow figured out a way to manipulate them from within their dreams.

"Hey, move up, will you?" called Vanna, standing right behind her and glaring. Alba's neighbor and archnemesis. Well, she considered Alba to be her archnemesis. Vanna viewed Alba as competition for Caleb's affection. Alba would happily allow the other woman to take it, if only it was an option.

If only Caleb would allow her to.

The three guys in front of Alba all turned in her direction, finally spotting her. She gave them an awkward smile, gripping the tray she'd perched her pastry on with both hands. Luke recognized her immediately, his head swiveling around. Was he looking for Ellis?

The one right in front of her peered down at her and smiled, before his eyes lifted to Vanna. "Sorry," he apologized, being pulled out of the line by the third. Lex...Alex? The blond boy in front of her only glanced her way, before he too looked over her shoulder.

He must have been the person that Willie had mentioned, the one he had a huge crush on!

"We'll get out of your way," insisted Alex, but his friend was trying to get back in line for more food. His tray was already stacked with food. "He hasn't eaten breakfast in 25 years," Alex said. Alba had been very obviously staring.