Turn Back Time

Let's Duet - Chapter 5

"Luke, that girl can SING." Y/N said, swinging his arm with hers as they walked down the boulevard.

Luke beamed down at her, catching her eyes in the light. The dark brown shone a bit more bronze in the sun. He nodded along as his girlfriend recounted the entire afternoon before the boys showed up.

"She had so much passion, so much heart....I just wanted to hug her," Her lip jutting forward in a pout. Luke laughed at her expression, squeezing her hand in his.

"She's really that good?"

Y/N nodded, leading his hand over to the white sand of her favorite beach. She trailed behind her, eyes trying to dodge all of the sand coming up his way. As she found a spot to sit, she pulled him down with her.

"You're a lot stronger than you appear." She scrunched her nose at him, putting her hands to the sand and running his fingers through the grains. She let her face basking in the glow above her. He watched as the light hit her face just right, letting a smirk fall onto his.

"You should ask her to play with you guys," She said coolly, setting her gaze fall on him again.

He rolled his eyes "She doesn't like us being there, what makes you think she actually wants to interact with us."

"You're so dramatic."

She brought herself up to a kneeling position and moved to place herself on his lap. He faked reacted to the new weight on his lap and she glared at him. He put his hands on her hips and pulled her closer to him.

"You never know. I know you all miss performing, working with her may give you guys that musical outlet I know you crave."

He rose an eyebrow at her "Oh you know?"

She put a hand on his chest "You were humming melodies to yourself all night last night, and you use my arm as a guitar neck like five times a day," She tapped his pecs with her fingertips before meeting his gaze.

He sighed, leaning in toward her and placing a quick peck on her lips. "I do miss playing...."

She nodded "Will you please at least think about it?" He nodded at her, squeezing her sides lightly and pulling her backward.

As they walked back to the garage that night, they caught Julie on her way back inside. Y/N nodded her head in the girl's direction, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before scurrying into the garage. Luke tried to call out to her, but she was too far away. He took a deep breath before calling out to the younger girl.

"Hey, Julie?"

She spun around and looked at him. He waved her down to him and she walked slowly over to the staircase.

"What?" She said with her arms crossed.

"So Y/N was raving about your voice today...."

She rose an eyebrow "And?"

"And I just want to know if maybe..." he rubbed the back of his neck with his arm. "You'd want to play with our band?"

She began to shake her head, Luke stopped her before she uttered her first word. "I know we're strangers, but the guys and I...it has been forever since we've played..."

She leaned against the handrail as he spoke "And we know how much music means to your family, heck it's written all over the walls of that garage."

"My mom left that...." She said quietly.

"Left?"

Julie looked down at the ground as she spoke. "She passed away earlier this year, the garage was her haven. I haven't had the heart to take anything down."

Luke went silent for a moment, thinking about his response thoughtfully before saying it. "Julie, I am so sorry...."

She shook her head "It's okay."

He took a step toward her, leaning his hand on the handrail near hers. "I know how you feel. Don't tell Y/N or the boys, but I stop by my parents' place every day to see them. I know how painful it can be to not be able to talk to the people who mean the most to you."

He watched as a tear fell from onto her cheek. "But for me, music has always been my way to call out to them when I can't, my way of connecting with those I love the most."

She wiped her tears off onto her sleeve and nodded "Yeah, me too." She said quietly.

She finally lifted her head to meet his eyes. He searched around her swollen face for any sign of fear before pushing once more "At least think about the performance, okay?"

She nodded, moving to go back up the stairs. She turned to look at him one more time. "Goodnight. Thanks, Luke."

He smiled, shoving his hands in his pockets. "No problem, night Julie."

He watched her trail back into the house before walking back toward the garage in silence. His hands met his cheek, wiping the wetness away from his face before stepping inside.