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𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ  ＥＩＧＨＴＥＥＮ:
stand tall

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EMILIA FOUND JULIE crying outside in an alley. The girl was sobbing at the sky, telling her mother she couldn't help the boys — the ones who had grown to become her family — and asking her why she couldn't pick Julie up in a hug and tell her everything was going to be all right. Emilia stopped in her tracks as the doors shut behind her, watching everything unfold with tears falling down her cheeks.

"Oh, Jules," Emilia whispered.

She walked up to her and wrapped her arms around the girl, leaning her forehead against Julie's temple. Julie clasped her hands around Emilia's forearm. And there the two stood crying, mourning the loss of both Julie's mom and Luke, Reggie, and Alex.

Suddenly, a woman walked past them. She stopped and handed Julie a singular pink dahlia out of the grocery bag she was carrying. Emilia lifted her head and stared down at the flower as she slowly dropped her arms from Julie. The woman walked away, and Julie let out another sob, hugging the dahlia close to her chest.

"Jules . . ." Emilia trailed off, sniffling slightly as she wiped a couple of her tears away. "I think Flynn was right. About the signs."

Julie let out a breathy laugh. "Yeah, I guess she was."

Emilia held out her hand. "Boys or no boys . . . we have a show to put on. And I can't do it by myself. Are you in?"

She immediately grasped Emilia's hand. "Let's rock this place. It's time to stand tall."

Emilia smiled at her. She pulled Julie along inside and back down the stairs to the stage. After a couple wrong turns, they finally found the right door. Julie opened it and they stopped in between Rob and Flynn, who were standing by the doors anxiously.

"Signs," Julie announced, holding up the dahlia.

"Wait, where are you going?" Flynn called after them.

Emilia and Julie ignored her. They paused at the stage, glancing at each other for a short moment. Julie nodded and squeezed Emilia's hand. They could do this. Emilia repeated Julie's actions. With that, the two of them slowly walked on stage.

"Welcome to Live at the Orpheum," the announcer stated. "Now give it up for Julie, Emilia, and the Phantoms."

The crowd cheered. Julie gently placed the dahlia down on top of the keyboard and took her personalized microphone out of the stand. Emilia placed her hand on her red microphone that was on the stand next to the keyboard.

"Hi, I'm Julie," Julie greeted.

"And I'm Emilia," Emilia added.

"Um . . . tonight, I would like to dedicate this song to my mom, who's been there with me every time I've played. And thank her for . . ." Julie looked up. "Not giving up on me."

"My dedication goes out to my twin brother, Apollo." Emilia looked out into the crowd and gave him a small wave. "We've had a tough past couple of years, but together, we made it through. Without you, I seriously don't know where I'd be. Thank you for always having my back. I love you, A."

"I love you too, Em!" Apollo yelled from his place next to Ray, making Emilia laugh.

"And both of us would also like to dedicate tonight's performance to . . . three special friends." Julie glanced back up, and Emilia followed her lead, blinking back more tears. "Who have changed our lives completely. Who have brought music back to me and made Emilia more confident in herself. It was their dream to play here, and . . . this is for them. This song is for anyone who's lost their way. Step into your greatness. Don't give up. Stand tall. Thank you."

The crowd cheered again. Julie placed her microphone back in the stand and put her hands on they keyboard keys. Her and Emilia locked eyes. Emilia gave her a small smile. Julie slightly readjusted her microphone and pressed her fingers on the keys.

Julie began to play the introduction to Stand Tall, an unfinished song that her and her mom had started to write before she passed away. She had recruited Emilia and Luke's help to finish the song a couple of days prior. The song meant a lot to both Julie and Emilia, since it was the last song Julie wrote with her mother and the last song Emilia had written with Luke.

"Don't blink, no, I don't want to miss it," Julie sang. "One thing and it's back to the beginning. 'Cause everything is rushing in fast, keep going on, never look back."

"And it's one, two, three, four times," Emilia voiced next. "That I'll try for one more night. Light a fire in my eyes, I'm going out of my mind."

The two of them harmonized as they belted out the next lyrics. "Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'mma stand tall, I'mma stand tall. Whatever happens, even when everything's down, I'mma stand tall, I'mma stand tall. I gotta keep on dreaming, 'cause I gotta catch that feeling. Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'mma stand tall, I'mma stand tall."

Drums were suddenly heard. Emilia turned to see Alex appear on stage in a pink blazer. Her eyes widened and she laughed slightly as he smiled at her and Julie. Reggie then appeared in a black-and-red vest. Emilia and him exchanged wide smiles as he began to play his bass.

"Right now, I'm loving every minute," Julie sang. "Hands down, can't let myself forget it, no. 'Cause everything is rushing in fast, keep holding on, never look back."

"And it's one, two, three, four times," Emilia continued. Luke suddenly appeared on stage, but he flickered out and disappeared again. "That I'll try for one more night." Luke flickered in again, but only for a second. In that second him and Emilia locked eyes. She gave him a small, hopeful nod, telling him that he had enough strength to fight and be here right now. "Light a fire in my eyes."

Luke's form finally solidified, a band tied around his arm and wearing a blue sleeveless shirt. "I'm going out of my mind."

The audience cheered again. Emilia smiled in relief and ripped her microphone out of her stand. She rushed over to him, literally resisting every urge to throw her arms around him and kiss him right them and there.

"Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'mma stand tall, I'mma stand tall."

Emilia sang into her microphone while Luke sang into his, both of their eyes never leaving each other's as they poured their heart and soul into this one last performance. "Whatever happens, even when everything's down, I'mma stand tall, I'mma stand tall. I gotta keep on dreaming, 'cause I gotta catch that feeling. Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'mma stand tall, I'mma stand tall."

Julie stepped forwards onto the lower part of the stage in front of her with Reggie and his bass as Luke and Emilia dropped out. "Like I'm glowing in the dark, I keep on going when it's all falling apart."

"Yeah, I know it with all my heart," Luke and Emilia joined back in. "Ooh-ooh-ooh, Ooh-ooh-ooh."

"Never look back!" Luke belted.

Alex stood up from his drum set, microphone in hand as the instruments faded out. "Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'mma stand tall, I'mma stand tall."

"Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing," Reggie continued. "I'mma stand tall, I'mma stand tall."

"Stand tall," Emilia and Julie added in a higher note.

"Stand tall," Luke and Alex finished in a lower note.

"Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing, I'mma stand tall, I'mma stand tall," all of them sang together. "Whatever happens, even when everything's down, I'mma stand tall, I'mma stand tall."

Luke suddenly went to Emilia, the two of them staring into each other's eyes and walking backwards towards the middle of the stage as they shared her red microphone. "I gotta keep on dreaming, 'cause I gotta catch that feeling." The two of them went down onto the lower part of the stage where Julie and Reggie had been earlier. "Whatever happens, even if I'm the last standing."

Julie, Alex, and Reggie came to join them. They all stood in a line.

"I'mma stand tall, I'mma stand tall," the whole group finished, singing with all of their hearts.

Luke looked down at Emilia. She gave him a reassuring smile, telling him that everything was going to be all right, even if it took a little while to heal. Emilia grasped onto Julie's hand. And for the last time as a band, Julie, Emilia, and the Phantoms bowed. The boys disappeared besides them, and Emilia stood up, her eyes shining with tears. They had finally crossed over.

𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙 ♔ 𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁

EMILIA, DECIDING SHE didn't want to part from Julie quite yet, asked the girl to stay over her house. Julie of course agreed. Ray had dropped Apollo off at the twins' house while making him promise that he would be back tomorrow for dinner. Emilia trailed behind Ray, Carlos, and Julie, laughing slightly as they sang some lyrics to Stand Tall. She had long changed out of her performance outfit and was extremely ready to change into her pajamas.

"You two and your Phantoms were unbelievable tonight," Ray told them. "You know, Julie, I'd like to thank them for bringing music back into your life."

"I already did," Julie replied. "But I didn't thank you, Papi."

Julie handed the dahlia to Carlos and hugged her father.

"Hey, Julie, Emilia," Carlos began. "Can I talk to you both for a second?"

Emilia nodded. "Yeah, of course, Carlos. Just give us a couple of minutes, okay?"

"Okay, I'll wait up. Don't ghost me."

Carlos winked at them before walking back inside. Emilia's eyes widened and her head whipped to Julie. There was no way he could've known . . .

Julie turned back to Ray. "Just a minute."

She kissed his cheek. They interlocked their pinkies to share a quick promise.

"Love you," Julie told him.

"Love you, too," Ray responded.

Emilia and Julie slowly walked down the path to the studio. The studio where many laughs, lyrics, and chords were shared over the past couple of weeks. It felt extremely bittersweet to Emilia. She took a deep breath and gripped the handle of one of the doors. Julie did the same to the other. They shared a quick glance before opening them up. The two of them stepped inside the dark room and were silent for a moment.

"I . . ." Julie began. "I know we already said this, but, uh . . . thank you, guys."

"For everything," Emilia added.

"You're welcome," the familiar voice of Reggie stated.

Alex groaned.

"Dude," Luke scolded weakly.

Emilia blinked. Julie quickly walked over to the light switch and flicked it on. Emilia gasped once she saw the three boys laying on the floor in front of the piano. She promised herself she wouldn't cry anymore tonight, but that flew out the window once she saw how much pain they were in.

"No, no, no," Emilia muttered, walking up to them. "I — I thought . . . why . . ."

A purple jolt shocked all of their bodies. The boys all coughed and groaned from it. Emilia felt her cheeks become wet with tears as they fell freely.

"I thought you crossed over," Julie voiced, now also crying. "Why didn't you cross over?"

Alex attempted to push himself up off the floor, along with the other two. "I guess playing the Orpheum wasn't our unfinished business."

"Point Caleb," Reggie said, leaning up against a chair.

"We wanted you both to think that we crossed over, so we pretended to," Luke announced. "We just . . . we had nowhere else to go."

"We thought you two would go straight to bed," Reggie admitted.

Alex stood up and rested himself against the amp. "Yeah, well, I knew her and Emilia were gonna come out here, but nobody ever listens to me."

Another jolt shocked all of them, much brighter and stronger than the last. Emilia's eyes widened and she shook her head rapidly.

Emilia placed her hands on Reggie's shoulders. "Please, go save yourselves," Emilia pleaded, now going to Alex and gripping his wrist. "You have to join Caleb's club and be in their house band." She then went to Luke and cupped his face in her hands. "Living there is better than not existing at all."

"Please, just go," Julie continued, gesturing to the door. "Go! Poof out! Do something! Please. Do it for Emilia and I. Do it for us. Please."

Reggie shook his head. "We're not going back there."

Luke held onto Emilia's wrists as he slowly stood up. "No music is worth making if we're not making it with the both of you." He leaned his forehead against Emilia's. "No regrets."

Emilia breathed shakily. She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close to her. Luke wound his arms around her waist and tugged her in tighter until there was no space left between them. Both of them cried into each other's shoulders. Neither of them let go. They didn't want to, both physically and mentally.

"You've made me feel more alive than ever, Emilia," Luke whispered.

Emilia sobbed. She physically couldn't take it anymore. Emilia pulled away and pressed her lips to his one last time. Their lips tasted salty from the tears, but it didn't matter. Nothing did in that moment besides the fact the boys were going to disappear. After a couple of moments, the two tore away from each other.

A mess of curls suddenly blocked Emilia's vision. The familiar embrace of Julie was enough for Emilia to slightly calm herself down. Emilia and Luke sunk into the added embrace of Julie, Julie's chest heaving up and down in soft sobs as she hugged them.

"I love you guys," Julie choked out.

Suddenly, Emilia's eyes widened and she slightly distanced herself from the two. Julie was touching Luke and his skin was glowing in a golden color. She seemed to notice it as well, and she pulled away, glancing in between Luke and Emilia for some sort of explanation. Julie opted to hold onto Luke's and Emilia's hands instead.

"How can I feel you?" Julie questioned.

"I — I don't know," Luke stammered. He glanced back at Alex and Reggie. "I feel stronger."

"Alex, Reggie, come," Julie stated.

Both of them came over. All five of them wrapped each other in a giant group hug. Alex and Reggie also began to glow as well. They pulled away after a moment.

"Woah . . ." Reggie breathed out. "I . . . I — I don't feel as weak anymore."

"Yeah, me neither," Alex agreed. "Not that, you know, I was ever that weak."

The boys all then held onto their wrists. A purple logo with the letters HGC, the same one Emilia saw on her parents, began to rise up away from their skin and disappeared into multiple small particles.

"Wonder what that means," Emilia commented.

"Well, Lia," Luke said, stepping closer to her. "I think that means the band's back."

Emilia laughed slightly. A mischievous glint suddenly entered his eyes. In the span of a second, Luke's arms snagged her waist and picked her up off the ground. Emilia's tears slowly stopped as giggles spilled past her lips from the way Luke was spinning her around.

He finally set her feet back down on the ground and stared down at her in adoration. Luke tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and gently cupped her cheek in his hand. She leaned into it, smiling softly.

"You've got stars in your eyes," Luke recited quietly.

Emilia chuckled. "So let's paint the sky."

"You guys think we could try that hug thing one more time?" Alex questioned, bringing the two back to reality.

The warmth of Luke's hand left her cheek. Emilia laughed again and threw her arms around Julie and Reggie's shoulders. Alex and Luke joined in, all of them wrapping each other in a hug again.

"Hugs are good," Alex muttered.

None of them could hold in their laughter at his comment. Emilia let her head fall onto Reggie's shoulder as she giggled.

"I like this," Reggie revealed, pulling away slightly.

Emilia pulled him back in. "I could say the same."

"We played the Orpheum!" Julie exclaimed.

They then began to bounce in a circle while still in the hug.

"Yeah, we did!" Alex shouted.

Emilia's heart was no longer broken. Her boys, well, her and Julie's boys, were finally free from their curse and didn't cross over. That meant they could stay in their lives. And as Emilia locked eyes with Luke from across the way, just for a moment, she believed that everything was okay.

But she didn't know the extent of it. None of them did. Caleb Covington wanted his revenge on the three boys, and the only way he could do that in secret was inhabit himself in someone else's body. And who would be more perfect than the person who was close to both Emilia Carpenter and Julie Molina?

Apollo Carpenter was a pawn in the game of chess. Caleb was making his next move, and this time, he wouldn't be so easily defeated.

-ˋˏ ༻ ☁︎ ༺ ˎˊ-

𝚃𝙷𝙴  𝙴𝙽𝙳

(make sure to read the author's note and cast q&a after this!!!)