End of May // Luke Patterson

19

[Unsaid Emily]

A horn honked.

"This is awesome, you guys," Luke said. "We're playing the Orpheum! I can't even count how many bands have played here and then ended up being huge. We have to make Emilia proud." He chuckled. "We're gonna be legends. Eat up, boys, 'cause after tonight, everything changes."

Willie sighed and moved to sit next to Alex who was sitting on the Orpheum stage and asked, "Is this seat taken?"

Alex sighed heavily before saying, "This whole thing sucks."

"Yeah, I messed up."

"No, it's like you said... you know you didn't have a choice. I mean, Caleb owns your soul."

"No." He inhaled sharply. "No, still, I know what he's capable of. I brought you guys right to him. When you guys asked me, I should've just skated away."

"I would have still followed you."

Willie chuckled lightly. "Man... I would do anything to take back what I did to you." A jolt buzzed and Alex groaned, causing Willie to wince sympathetically. "I am so sorry. I mean, did you guys figure out what your unfinished business is?"

Alex scoffed. "Not like it's gonna happen. We have to play here."

"The... the Orpheum?"

"Yeah, I mean, we were two hours away from getting on that stage the night we died."

"You guys were gonna be legends."

"We were."

---

Julie was being bombarded by people asking for pictures.

Nick walked up to Julie and asked her out, but Julie rejected him, as she said didn't want a relationship yet.

Flynn walked up and said, "Well, that wasn't just a "What's up?""

"Nick wanted to go on a date." Flynn gasped. "And I said no."

"What?"

"You know what you said. I'm don't want to go on a date yet."

"Aww! My baby's all grown up!" She chuckled. "She's choosing to gawk over a not-couple who don't really exist, but she's all grown up."

"But they do exist. To me. And they might just be air, but we connect in so many other ways."

"You are the most watchable three I've ever seen. It's always nice to see Ruth and Luke duet."

"Yeah, it is. But it's not just singing. When we write, we're drawing from the same pain. We each know how it feels to lose our moms."

"Do not make me cry. I'm having a really good eyeliner day."

"It's just... Luke and Ruthie are hurting so much, I wish I could help them."

"Maybe you could write them a song! That would make them feel better!"

"Oh my gosh, Flynn, you're a genius!" She started walking toward the exit.

"Julie, you still have class."

Julie turned around. "Right. Like I said... genius." She chuckled.

---

Reggie and Ray were sitting at the kitchen table. Ray had his laptop open.

"Hmm... Wow!" Reggie said. "Ooh, I like this one. It's got a good composition, buddy."

Alex popped in next to Reggie, let out a loud sigh, and asked, "What are you doin'?"

"Eh, I needed a pick-me-up, and hanging with Ray always does the trick."