Our Connection • • Julie and The Phantoms

Chapter 2: "Lukey Pookey"

I woke up to Julie's phone alarm going off signaling it was time for us to get ready for school.

"Woah, when did you change into that?" She asks, looking at me in Luke's flannel. "Luke let me borrow it last night." I tell her, standing up. I decided to wear the flannel to school. It was extremely comfortable, especially paired with a white crop-top under it and ripped jeans. Satisfied with my outfit, Julie and I head to school. We walk in together but head different directions to our locker after agreeing to meet up in the hall after our first class. I walk to my locker and open it. I grab my books and close it again.

"Ahh!" I scream a bit before covering my mouth after receiving a few looks. Luke was standing behind the locker door and I hadn't even noticed him until I closed it. "What're you doing here..?" I whisper quietly to him, making sure not to draw attention to me talking to a wall. "You're still wearing my flannel. Hey, but I don't like the shirt choice. Cmon, cover up." He tells me, buttoning a few buttons on the flannel to not show my stomach. I roll my eyes at him and immediately unbutton them back. "Hey why're you..?" He says, sounding extremely defeated. I shook my head at him.

"I'm sorry Luke, but you have to leave. I can't have people thinking I'm crazy. Go bother Julie." I wrap my arms around my books and look up at him. "I needed to ask you something- hey, don't answer your phone when i'm trying to talk to you. That's so rude." He huffs and crosses his arms. "Just trying to make myself look less crazy if i'm talking on the phone instead of myself." I say, giving him a quick smile before leaning back against my locker. "That's so smart." He leans next to me, putting his arm beside my head. I glance at him briefly while keeping the phone against my ear. "So what is it?" I ask, waiting for him to say something instead of looking at me. "Oh right, I was wondering if you were coming to rehearsal tonight at Julie's?" He tilts his head to the side a bit. "You came all the way here to ask- never mind you know what, I'll be there." I tell him. Suddenly I see Luke's gaze shift to the other side of me.

"Hey Y/n." I hear beside me. "I uh. Gotta go, thanks for calling." I take my phone away from my ear and put it in my back pocket. I quickly turn towards the voice, seeing my crush since 8th grade, Josh. "Hey." I grin at him. Luke walks around from my locker. I watch him slightly. He leans in a bit to take a closer look at Josh. "Absolutely adorable, Y/n has a crush." Luke says, looking at me. "Shut up." I snap at him. "I didn't say anything?" Josh looks at me confused and Luke chuckles beside him. Josh and I talk a bit more, Luke staying beside him to mock every single word and movement Josh does. I briefly get distracted by Luke when Josh waves his hand in front of my face. "So you're okay with it? Being my dance partner since Julie has Nick?" Josh asks. I quickly nod. "Yes, yes. Dance partners. We can practice soon." I say, smiling lightly. "Oh that's so cute. Dancing." Luke says putting his hands on his hips and watching us. Josh gives me a brief side hug before walking off. "That dude is adorable." Luke says, looking at me. "Aw, I know Lukey Pookey. Now go away." I glare at him before walking off. "You better be at rehearsal tonight at Julie's!" He yells after me as I shake my head, walking into my next class.

Julie and I walk back to her house together, talking about our classes today. She told Nick actually talked to her more then he usually does. I'm assuming him and Carrie broke up again. Not surprising. Julie opens the door to her studio and notice the boys are asleep beside each other on the couch. Alex has his head on Reggie's shoulder and Luke sleeps with his head on the armrest, back turned to them. Reggie keeps Alex close and I smile at how close their friendship is. They were most definitely friends to brothers. I walk over and lean over beside Luke.

"Lukey Pookey." I say quietly to him. He quickly opens his eyes and looks up at me. Julie took it into her own hands to scare the other two awake. "Ahh!" Reggie screams, holding onto Alex tighter. "Let go of me!" Alex yells at him before they stand up and he fixes his hoodie. I laugh at them and shake my head.

"How did Luke get a nice awakening and we were scared?" Reggie asks, crossing his arms. I shrug and walk over to the piano. "You're actually going to play?" Jules asks. I hadn't played the piano in forever. It was my parents favorite thing for us to do but they died. They were on the way to pick me up from a music camp they'd sent me to for the summer but the roads were too wet from the rain that had fell that whole morning. After they died I moved to California with my grandparents, I hadn't felt like touching any instruments. "Come on. Let's hear it." Luke says, leaning on the piano in front of me. We look at each other, holding eye contact for a second before I speak. "Alright." I look down at the keys and begin to move my fingers to them. I start off with a soft tune only for it to get faster. I can feel the guys all staring at me. The first few lyrics leave my lips but I immediately stop, the nerves getting to me. Someone sits beside me, beginning to play the notes I had played a few seconds ago. It was Luke. I watch his fingers and look up at him. "You've got this." He says quietly and I nod, starting to sing again. Julie smiles at us. Alex and Reggie share the same exact glances and smile.