Our Connection • • Julie and The Phantoms

Chapter 18: "Choice"

"So you're telling me.. either you guys go work for this psycho jerk, cross over, or these jolts continue until you guys don't exist anymore?" I ask and stare at all of them in disbelief. Julie stays quiet, her leg shaking a bit. "Basically." Alex says softly. I place my face in my hands. Just when life seemed to be getting better. I had my friends, Luke, the band, and was doing good in school. Luke looks at me sadly. "I'm not letting those stupid jolts end you. We're doing your unfinished business and we're crossing you guys over." Julie speaks up, making them look up at her.

"Do you know how impossible it'll be for us to play the biggest show ever? It took us years to book the Orpheum." Alex says, crossing his arms. "Someone once told me you get gigs by doing. Not asking." Julie says and places her hands on her hips. "That was me." Reggie grins a little and Luke looks at him. "No it wasn't." Luke says and shakes his head. The boys begin to think of a plan. Alex looks at me, giving me a sad look. "You're great you know? At anything involving music. I know you'll go far." He tells me. I look at him, feeling the tears fill up in my eyes. I notice his eyes become glossy as well as he tries not to get emotional. Reggie speaks up as well. "Thank you. For being such an amazing friend to me." Reggie says sweetly, a soft sad smile on his lips. "You guys can't just make me cry like this." I say and use my sleeve to wipe my tears. These amazing boys. I wished nothing but the absolute best for them when they cross over. Luke and I talk quietly in private to each other. We walk outside together and I place my hands in my pockets.

"I'm going to miss you, ya know." He says quietly. I smile a little and nod, feeling my face heat up. "I'm going to miss you so much Luke." I try not to cry more than I already have. "I don't wanna see you cryin', okay?" He tells me. I nod and look up at him. Reggie and Alex wait for him. "Let me know tonight what happens." I say before watching him disappear. Julie walks over to me and pulls me into a hug. I cry quietly into her shoulder. "I know.." She rubs my back gently. I couldn't believe it. I was going to lose the boys who i've grown the closest with.

They appear back beside us a few hours later. Julie and I had spent constant moments working on perfecting a song for the show if we even got in. It was a song her mom had started but Julie finished. It was amazing. "How did it go?" I ask, looking at them. "We don't know yet.. Just have to wait for the call." Luke tells us. I rub my face and sigh softly. I hated feeling like this. Julie's phone begins to ring and we all freeze. She answers it. "Yes this is Julie." The boys begin to celebrate beside me. I smile with them. There's a feeling at the pit of my stomach I can't get over.

"We're actually doing it!" Julie says once she hangs up the phone. The boys high-five each other as Julie dances around on the coffee table. I smile to myself and watch them, watching Alex jump into Reggie and Luke's arms. This was my family. I loved them with my whole heart. Julie grabs my hands and spins us around. I giggle softly and pull her into a hug. She hugs me back tightly. We spent the rest of the afternoon rehearsing and trying to spend as much time together. A few jolts happened which scared Julie and I but the boys reassured us they were fine. I move to sit outside to get some fresh air. A few minutes pass and Reggie walks outside to join me.

"Hi." He says, smiling softly at me. I smile at him. "Hey, Reg." I lean back and look at the stars. He sits beside me and in the silence I hear him sniffle a little. I look over at him. A few tears stream down his face. "Reg?" I ask softly. "I don't want to lose you and Julie. I'm going to miss you and Julie so much. You don't understand. I know I have Luke and Alex, but you guys brought us together. You guys made us a big family." Reggie says through his tears, sniffling softly. I wanted to hug him or comfort him in anyway but I knew I couldn't. Instead, I took off a bracelet from my wrist and placed it in Reggie's hand. He looks up at me. "That's a bracelet my mom gave me before she died. I want you to wear it and whenever you feel sad, it's there to remind you of happier times. When you were with Julie and I. When we were a big happy family." I tell him. He begins to tear up more as he nods. He was so pure. It was clear Reggies past life wasn't as full as happiness but he always made the best of things. He knew how to cheer people up even if he needed cheering up himself. Reggie smiles softly and closes his fist around the bracelet, holding it close to him. "I'll never forget you, Y/n Y/L/N." Reggie says. "I'll never forget you either."