Alex and Luke; A 'Julie and the Phantoms' AU

Part 1: Alex Tells the Guys

1994, 8:54 p.m.

Luke, Reggie, and Bobby are in the studio, waiting for Alex who is now almost an hour late. Reggie is doodling on his arms with sharpie, Bobby is tuning his guitar for the second time, and Luke is sitting at the keyboard hitting the same key repeatedly. Suddenly Alex barges into the studio, visibly upset. Luke, Reggie, and Bobby watch him as he slams closed the giant door, takes his drum sticks out of his back pocket, and sits at the drum set.

"Alex, dude, wh-" Luke begins to question, but Alex cuts him off. "I'm late! I know! Let's just start rehearsal!"

The three guys look at each other, a little worried, but shrug it off. They grab their guitars and start to play a new song they've been working on, but Alex is drumming a lot harder than usual. Luke and Bobby stop playing as they watch Alex lose control. Reggie tries to keep up but stops when Alex's drumstick snaps, causing the three to jump back to avoid getting hit by it. Alex stops playing and looks at his friend's faces. He's holding back tears.

"Aaghh!" Alex stands up, breaks his other drumstick over his knee and throws the pieces at the wall. He storms out of the studio, crying.

Reggie and Luke look at each other after watching Alex leave. Bobby goes to pick up the broken stick from across the room.

Reggie is the first to speak up. "I don't think I've ever seen him that mad."

"Animals go mad, people get angry," Bobby chimes in, holding up the shards of wood in front of him for the other two to see, "and he's way past angry."

Luke sighs. He takes off his guitar and puts it back on it's stand. He looks back at Reggie and Bobby, gesturing for them to follow him as he walks out the doors. Reggie and Bobby hesitantly put their instruments down and slowly catch up to Luke.

Alex is sitting on the ground near the end of the driveway, watching the occasional car drive by, his face wet from unsuccessfully holding back tears. Luke, Reggie, and Bobby quietly make their way beside him.

"You wanna tell us what that was about?" Luke asks. Alex jumps a bit, not realizing his friends were right there. He quickly wipes his eyes with his shirt and clears his throat. "That? Uh, it... that was... just uh... passion." Alex turns to face the other direction, closing his eyes and shaking his head knowing that was a terrible lie. "Passion?" Reggie questions. "Yeah, okay, it's... it's fine. I'm fine." Alex tries to reassure his bandmates to avoid the impending conversation. "Oh you're 'fine?'" Bobby speaks up. He takes a step forward and sits on the ground right next to Alex. He pulls out the drumstick halves, handing them to Alex. "Try again," he says. Alex takes the drumstick pieces as Reggie sits on the other side of him and Luke sits down in front. Alex looks to Luke and then to Reggie. Reggie gives him a small, comforting smile.

Alex sighs, looking at the broken drumsticks in his hand to avoid eye contact with the guys before he speaks. "I, uh, I got into a fight with my parents. We... uh... it was kind of a screaming match for a few hours. That's, uhm... why I'm late. Lost track of time and didn't realize how late it had gotten. I'm sorry."

"Alex, I get into fights with my parents all the time, you know that. Reggie and Bobby have had their fair share, too, alright. We know exactly what-" Luke tries to say, but Alex cuts him off, talking louder.

"This wasn't just a normal fight though! It..." Alex stops himself to take a breath. "It wasn't about the band or... or... my future or... whatever. I... it was worse. It was way worse." He's crying again, this time not trying to hold back. Reggie takes the bandana he has out of his back pocket, handing it to Alex for his tears. Alex takes it from him, still avoiding eye contact.

The four sit in silence for a moment, giving Alex a second to catch his breath. Luke scoots himself closer and makes the first inquiry, "Well, what do you mean by worse, like, are you okay?" Alex lets out a scoff with a sarcastic smile, "That's part of the problem. My parents don't think I am and I... I mean, I thought I was but now..." he sniffles and rubs his eyes aggressively. Luke, Reggie, and Bobby are just more concerned at this response.

"Alex, what are you talking about? You're scaring us, now." Reggie says, hoping Alex will open up. Alex still refuses to make eye contact with any of them. He starts to fidget more, wanting to tell his best friends but afraid of losing what he has left. "I can't..." he says quietly. "Alex, man, c'mon." Bobby says, putting a hand on his shoulder. Alex stands up quickly, knocking Bobby's hand away from him. He takes a few steps away from the guys walking towards the house before stopping with his back turned towards his friends.

"Guys you don't... this has been weighing on me for a while and I just... I can't handle another fight right now." Alex says, defeated.

"Alex," Luke speaks up, "you know, that you can talk to us about anything, alright? Especially if this has been weighing on you for a while, okay? Just... just talk to us. We care about you, man." Luke, Reggie, and Bobby are all turned towards Alex's back, silent in their places on the ground, waiting.

Alex turns around so his body faces the guys. He is still looking at his feet, thinking about his next move. He wipes his eyes with Reggie's bandana one last time, sniffles, and clears his throat. He finally builds up the strength to look at his friends directly. He examines all of their concerned faces in detail. Alex takes a deep breath in and releases a deep sigh.

"I'm gay."

The words hang in the air for a minute. Alex holds his breath as he watches Luke, Reggie, and Bobby exchange subtly shocked expressions, them now the ones not making eye contact with him. Just as Alex is about to turn away, Reggie stands. Luke and Bobby look at him as he gets up off the ground and makes his way over to Alex, now standing only a foot away from him. Alex clenches his jaw as his eyes begin to brim with tears and his body begins to shake, anticipating the worst. In one, swift motion, Reggie brings him into a tight hug. Alex is frozen, arms by his side, not prepared for the display of affection.

"I know hugs aren't really your thing, but the right words aren't really mine. Plus, I figured you could kind of use one right now." Reggie says, still hugging Alex.

Alex melts, bringing his arms around Reggie to return the hug. He's crying again, but this time for a different reason; comfort. Reggie's eyes begin to water, too.

Bobby stands up next, dusts off his jeans from the ground, slowly walks over to Reggie and Alex, and joins the hug. Luke stays on the ground for a minute, tears making themselves present as he looks at his best friends. He quickly wipes his eyes and stands up, rushing over to join in the group hug. They remain that way for a moment, holding onto each other, not saying a thing.

Alex is the first to loosen, signaling the others to release their grips. They're all sniffling and clearing their throats, trying desperately to get back to a neutral state.

"Thanks, guys. I, uh... I was terrified you were gonna react the same way my parents did." Alex admits. Bobby scoffs, "That was your mistake. I mean, c'mon, is that really what you think of us?" The four all let off a light laugh. "Seriously, though." Reggie begins. "I mean, you said that had been weighing on you for a while. How do you feel now?" Alex takes a deep breath in, "Honestly? A little shaken 'cause it's almost weird that you guys know now. Like, i've been dealing with it in my head for... what feels like forever. And now..." he looks at them through his puffy, red eyes, "jeez, I feel 50 pounds lighter." They exchange a small laugh again before Bobby suggests they all head back to the studio because they've still got some time left before it's too late to rehearse and the neighbors start making noise complaints. As they're walking back to the studio, Luke slows him and Alex down, letting Reggie and Bobby get a few steps ahead before speaking. "Alex, uh, if you, uhm, wanna stay in the studio tonight so that you, uh, don't have to go home and... deal with your parents, i'll- i'll stay with you? Just, y'know, so you're not alone and sad tonight?"

Alex smiles. "Yeah... uh, yeah. I'd, uh... yeah. Thank you."

Luke returns the smile, patting Alex on the back as they take their last steps back into the studio. Luke watches his bandmates pick up their instruments, ready to finally start rehearsal before turning to shut the doors behind him.

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If any of you guys would prefer to read this story in Portuguese, here is the link to that version, translated by user kidu266:

https://www.wattpad.com/1010376153-amor-em-1995-julie-and-the-phantoms-au-lalex-alex

If any of you guys would prefer to read the story in Spanish, here is the link to that version, translated by user ForeverKookmin04:

https://www.wattpad.com/977054758-lovers-in-1995%E2%80%A2-luke-and-alex-jatp-parte-1-alex