separation ; reggie peters (julie and the phantoms)

4: inseparable

note: Sunset Curve doesn't really have any ~love~ songs so I improvised. The mentioned song is "She Looks So Perfect" by 5 Seconds of Summer. Thanks for the love and support of the book thus far!

And even when we're miles and miles apart
You're still holding all of my heart
I promise it will never be dark
I know we're inseparable

- the jonas brothers, inseparable

September 2020

Reggie was laying on his back on the couch eyeing a developed film photo that he'd found in the monstrosity of random things they'd discovered in the garage such as their old clothes, some lyric notebooks, leftover merch, and some of Alex's old drumsticks. It was a picture of Quinn laying on Reggie's bed, wearing a Sunset Curve shirt and a plaid skirt, smiling, but putting her hands up in protest towards the camera.

He sighed longingly, "Do you think she's still out there?"

Alex, who was air drumming in another chair, looked at him and shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine. Why don't you try to get Julie to look her up on the internet or something?"

"No...because like, what if she is married and has kids and all of that?"

"Well, that's good for her then, right?"

"I mean, I guess, but..."

"Reggie, you're eternally seventeen and a ghost at that. It's not like you could make your move even if you did find her." Luke spoke, starting to tune his guitar.

"I know, and that's what sucks." He said, a heartbroken whine in his voice, "I don't want to see her with someone else. I wanted her to be happy. I told her that I wanted her to be okay and that I loved her, and that's all true...but it doesn't mean seeing her married to some other guy, when I can bet you Alex's fanny pack collection I'll still think she's beautiful and I'll still be in love with her."

"Hands off my packs."

"I'm just saying."

"Reggie, I hate it, because I know it's not what you want and you're going to be upset...but maybe just consider that she did what you wanted. She moved on. You're seventeen forever and she's like 40." Luke sighed, giving his guitar a strum.

"42, actually." Alex added, pointing a drum stick at Reggie.

Reggie groaned, putting his hands over his face, "This SUCKS. In what world would I want to come back to life...or like...not...if I don't get a second shot with my girlfriend."

"Um, how about a second chance with...I don't know...your band?"

One Week Later

"Holy shit...I think I'm dead."

The dark room had been confusing...and well dark. Quinn sat up against the wall, her feet stretched out in front of her as she wondered where she was. If this was hell, she really wanted a refund. It wasn't half as scary and cool as she imagined. She couldn't see in front of her, but she kept spinning her promise ring on her ring finger over and over, wondering how long she'd have to sit there. It'd only been like an hour or so that she could figure, but she was getting bored and attempting to sleep had been futile.

She leaned her head back against the wall when suddenly, off in the distance, she heard music. The music grew louder until she could make out what it was.

You look so perfect standing there in my American Apparel underwear and I know now that I'm so down...

"Reggie?"