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

Part 2: Luke's Questions

1995, 2:16 a.m, Sunday

It's been a little over a month since Alex came out to the guys. The band dynamic has been pretty much exactly the same. Rehearsals are still just as loud as usual, playing shows is as much fun as it's always been, and they all still hang out like best friends do. The guys even worked together to make the loft part of the garage a nice place to sleep if Alex ever needed it because he didn't want to go home. There is just one small thing. Luke has been a little... different. Not a bad different or a good different, just, different. Whenever the group hangs out together you wouldn't notice it, but, when it's just Alex and Luke, it's like something in Luke shifts. But it's so minor, Alex hasn't been able to tell if it's actually a thing or if he's made it all up.

The band started rehearsing at 2 p.m. Saturday for a gig they have coming up on Friday and worked all day to make sure their set to open was perfect. Bobby left around 8 p.m. for a date he had, and the rest of the guys told him it was fine because they were all gonna head out soon anyway. The three ended up rehearsing more until around 11 p.m, only stopping when the neighbors started shouting at them too. Since then they've been laying on the floor and moving about, just talking about anything and everything that came to mind, with an occasional "did we have homework?" every so often.

It is now past 2 in the morning. Alex and Luke are laying on the floor next to each other in front of the drum kit. Reggie has been asleep on the couch for the past 10 minutes. Alex mentions that they should think about working on some new material so that next time they get to open at a nice venue they'll have some new stuff to play.

"I mean," Alex starts, "don't get me wrong. I love what we're playing now it's just... we gotta keep people coming back for more." He looks at Luke, waiting for his thoughts.

Luke looks at Alex, "Yea, you're right. If we have more to offer we can draw in a real fanbase. Reggie, what do you think?" Luke question. The two look at Reggie from their places on the cheap rug, only to see that he is dead asleep. They quietly laugh to themselves. Alex goes to throw a notebook at Reggie to wake him up, but Luke puts his arms out, stopping him. "No, no, let him sleep. It's really late, anyway." Alex listens to Luke and sets the notebook back down on top of the amp he picked it up from.

Alex sits up from where he was laying and rubs his face as his own exhaustion sits in. "Yeah, I guess it's time we call it a night." He groans as he stands up from laying on the uncomfortable hard floor for so long, and Luke watches as he stretches and turns away, heading to the back of the garage to climb up into the loft.

Luke has been wanting to talk to Alex about something for a little while now, but never found the right time or way to do it. Now, with his own weariness overpowering his inhibitions, he speaks up.

"Hey, Alex, uh..." Luke stands up from the floor, turning to face Alex. "Can I, uhm, ask you something?" Alex rests his shoulder against the ladder, looking at Luke. "Yeah, what's going on?" Alex responds. Their increase in volume makes Reggie stir on the couch. He releases a quick snore, mumbles something, turns to face the couch cushions, then drifts back to a silent sleep. Luke and Alex are looking at him with wide-eyes, a little frightened by the unexpected noise.

Luke looks back at Alex from where he stands. He hesitates for a moment, then says, in a quieter voice, "Y'know what, it's fine. We can talk about it another time." he awkwardly puts his hands in his pockets before continuing "It wasn't that important anyway." he says, giving Alex a small smile to make it seem like he's alright. Alex doesn't go for it, knowing something is up.

"Luke, obviously whatever this is is important. You wouldn't be bringing it up at..." he looks at the clock, "2 in the morning or..." he points towards Reggie, remembering to lower his voice, "worried that someone else was gonna overhear you if it wasn't." Luke takes his hands out of his pockets, crossing his arms over his chest. He looks at Reggie then back over towards Alex unsure of what to say back.