End of May // Luke Patterson

16

Luke and Ruth popped back into the garage. They looked around at Julie and the boys practicing with a confused look.

Luke and Ruth stood and said, "Whoa, Julie."

Julie glanced up and said, "Grab your guitar and microphone. We got work to do."

Luke grabbed his guitar and put the strap over his shoulder. Ruth picked up her mic and tapped it.

"What made you come back?" Luke and Ruth wondered, stepping closer to Julie.

"I realized how important music is to all of us, and we've lost so much already. We can't lose this, too."

"Thanks."

Julie smiled at Luke and Ruth and the three shared an intense look of understanding and appreciation.

"All right, boss, where we at?" Luke questioned.

Julie smiled. "Oh, and by the way, happy birthday." She chuckled. "Let's go from the pre-chorus."

Alex tapped his drumsticks together. "One, two, three, four."

---

After rehearsal, Julie made her way back into the house, where she found Carlos taking pictures of the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" Julie asked.

"Looking for those orb things," Carlos replied. "I'm telling you, this place is haunted. Every time I open my laptop, it's on some... rock music site. That ain't me, you know I'm all about the rap."

"Reggie," Julie whispered. "And likely Ruthie."

"I'm just trying to protect you."

Julie went to walk away, but was stopped by Carlos. "Oh, I'd be careful in there. Dad has that look on his face like when Google Maps tells him to turn on the wrong street."

The teen kept walking, but was intercepted by Ray who had his arms crossed as he asked, "Care to tell me why you missed your first three classes today?"

"I overslept at Flynn's house after the dance," Julie replied. "There was nothing going on in those classes anyways. It won't happen again. I promise." She walked past her dad.

"Okay." Julie grabbed a pillow and sat on the couch. "But if I know you missed class, it's only a matter of time before..."

The front door opened and Julie's aunt sighed and said, "I came as fast as I could."

"Exactly."

"Julie, I will not let you fall into the gutter of life."

"Tia, I'm fine," Julie replied. "I just overslept. And me and Dad already talked about it."

Her aunt scoffed. "You are far from fine, sobrina. I called your teacher. She said you missed a calculus test."

Ray frowned. "Nothing going on, huh?"

"Dad, I'm so sorry," Julie apologized.

"This is where you punish her," the aunt said.

"I know," Ray answered. "Julie... no more going out on school nights."

"But, Dad, tonight-" Julie protested.

Julie's aunt cleared her throat. "And go to your room." Her aunt cleared her throat again. "What else? What? And... and read. Study. Calculus. Go! Now!"

Julie set down the pillow and made her way upstairs.

The adults sat; Ray on the couch and the aunt on the back of the couch.