Our Connection • • Julie and The Phantoms

Chapter 16: "Luke's Birthday"

A/n: These next few chapters will be the course of when Unsaid Emily happens. Be prepared!
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I decide to meet up with Alex after school. Reggie and him are standing outside of a house, both ducking down behind a bush. I stare at them confused before I see someone inside the house. I crouch down next to them. It's a woman. She looks out the glass sliding doors before her husband, i'm assuming, walks behind her to pull her away gently. That's when I see Luke sitting on the kitchen counter. His cheeks are tear stained and his eyes are red and puffy. I frown, keeping my eyes on him. He watches the couple together before I realize.

"Luke's parents.." I say quietly making Reggie nod. "He comes back here to check on them. Today is kind of a.." He trails off a bit. Luke's mom grabs a cake from the stove and brings it to the table. A single candle is placed on top. "It's a cake?" I look over at Alex. "A birthday cake. Luke's birthday cake." He says, looking up at me sadly. I feel more tears fill my eyes as I look back at Luke. Luke slowly slides off the counter and moves to sit with his parents. His hand moves to grab his moms but he stops himself, knowing he can't touch her. Tears stream down his cheeks as his dad moves to light the candle. His dad takes his moms hand. Luke leans forward and together, they all three blow out the candle. Even if Luke wasn't technically there. His mom begins to cry more. I turn away from the house, quickly wiping the tears away from under my eyes. Alex walks over to me.

"I didn't mean to make you upset by seeing this, but I wanted you to see why Luke strives so hard to perform." He tells me. I nod and look at him. "I had no idea how broken he was." I say, instantly feeling bad about what I had said to him. "Even the happiest people can be the most broken." Reggie says from beside me as well. We decide to leave quickly before Luke or his parents notice me. We go to Julie's studio together.

"I want to do something for him." I say, sitting on the piano. I notice his song book laying on top of it and easily rip out Unsaid Emily from it. I place the book back where it was and hope he doesn't notice until I finish my plan. Alex watches me but let's me do what I please. "His mom deserves to know he at least died being apart of something bigger than anything I could ever create." I say, looking at the boys.

I had spent the afternoon practicing with Reggie, Julie, and Alex. Luke spent time with his parents but appeared with us towards the end. He appears in a chair and looks up at me. "Y/n.." He starts. "Happy birthday Luke." I say and smile a little at him. He smiles at me before looking at Alex and Reggie. "Alright boss. What we got?" He asks, grabbing his guitar and looking at me. I smile softly and hand him the music. We practice until nighttime comes. It's time for me to go. I tell everyone by before heading off on my way. I had completely forgotten about the weird man in the road last night by the time I got home.

I walk to school the next day and go to my locker. I had Unsaid Emily in my binder which I plan on giving to his mom after school. Luke appears in front of me before I head to my next class. "Hey chick." He says and smiles at me. I smile and place my phone against my ear to talk to him. "Come to Julie's with me. I want to work on a song with you." He leans his arm on a locker and looks at me. "Luke, you know I can't do that. School first." I remind him. He sighs and pouts. "You help me so much when it comes to writing." He whines and adds a frown to try and convince me more. I shake my head at him and laugh softly. "I'll see you after school." I say, walking off from him. "Hey! Hey. You look cute today by the way! I know you're smiling." He calls after me. He was right. I was smiling at his little dork self. I rolls my eyes playfully and glance back at him before he disappears. I walk to my next class and take my seat. When school lets out, I walk myself straight back to Luke's house. I step onto the porch and feel a bundle of nerves building up. "Y/n?" Luke says from behind me.