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𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＦＯＵＲ:
bright

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EMILIA WALKED DOWN the steps of Julie's house with Julie right behind her. The two had been doing homework for hours on end and Julie wanted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while Emilia needed a glass of water since her mouth was dry. They were singing song lyrics at the top of their lungs together, something that they used to do but stopped after Julie's mom passed away.

She turned the corner, but immediately let out a small shriek at the sight of Luke staring wistfully into Julie's fridge. Emilia sighed and she felt her body lose its tension upon realizing it was just him.

"You guys just showing up in places is something I will never get used to," Emilia admitted, pressing up on her toes to get a glass from the cabinet.

Julie peered over Luke's shoulder into the fridge. "Do you guys even eat?"

Luke shook his head. "I just wanna see what'cha got."

Julie grabbed the jelly and shut the fridge, the door passing right through Luke's body.

"Hey!" Luke protested. "You know how long it took me to open that?"

Emilia shook her head with a small laugh as she filled up her glass with water. Once it was full, she walked over to the island and leaned her hip against it. She took a sip, and it immediately made her feel better.

"Sorry, I don't believe in wasting power," Julie told him.

"Good, because that's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about," Luke revealed, walking around Julie and standing next to Emilia.

Julie stared up at him. "Our power usage?"

"No. The power that you have." Julie gave him a confused look, so he continued. "Your voice. Your piano playing. Dude, you're like a human wrecking ball."

Julie lightly chuckled. "Is this a pep talk?"

"What I'm saying is that you have the power to move people. To knock them off their feet. And there is no way your teachers wouldn't let you back into school if they heard you play like that."

"I asked her, and she said I have to wait until next semester."

"That was your first mistake," Luke scoffed in distaste. "Asking."

"Asking is polite, Luke," Emilia stated.

Luke rolled his eyes and sat on top of the counter. "That's not my point, Emilia. Sunset Curve booked gigs by doing. We went into ambush mode. We played in front of clubs, we played in back of clubs, we even played book clubs."

Emilia raised an eyebrow. "Book clubs? What, were you trying to play a song reflecting Gatsby's love for Daisy and the green light?"

Luke reached out and pushed her shoulder with a slight smile on his face. "No, we played it for gigs. Guaranteed we didn't get many out of it, but there were some pretty gnarly snacks."

Emilia shook her head. "Where are you going with this, anyways?"

Luke looked straight at Julie. "I'm just saying, don't ask for permission." He kicked his legs in a circle, and Emilia had to back away in order to not get hit. "Swing that wrecking ball of talent at your teacher's head, and smash those stupid rules right outta their brains."

"Sounds violent," Emilia commented.

Julie nodded her head to her. "Em's right. And this is a school, not a club."

"It's a closed door, and you gotta bust it open," Luke insisted as Julie grabbed a glass from the cabinet. He followed her over to the fridge for her to get some orange juice. "Sorry. Once I start with the metaphors, I can't stop. I learned that in book club."

"They're not just gonna let me back in," Julie said, pausing for a moment as she walked straight through Luke.

"If getting back into music is what you want, then you gotta go for it. Learn from me. Your tainted hot dog could be right around the corner."

Julie lowered her peanut butter and jelly sandwich from her mouth just as she was about to take a bite. "I don't even have anything prepared."

"Thought you'd say that." Luke pulled a folded up piece of paper from his pocket. "It's called Bright. It's a Sunset Curve song I wrote that we never got to record, but it's perfect for your and Emilia's ranges."

"Woah," Emilia protested, setting her glass down on the island and straightening up. "When did I ever agree to sing this song? Also, how do you know my range?"

A sheepish expression made its way across Luke's face. "The boys and I got curious, so with a lot of difficulty, Alex navigated his way to that thing Flynn was talking about. Uh, your Instacram—"

"Instagram," Emilia corrected.

"Right, Instagram page on Ray's computer and watched some of your singing videos." Luke smiled widely at her. "You're so incredibly talented, Emilia. Your voice along with Julie's would make a killer melody to get Julie back into the program."

Julie looked over at her with pleading eyes. "If we're really gonna do this . . . please, Em, I'm gonna need you up there with me."

Emilia couldn't resist and finally caved in. "Okay, okay, fine." She walked over and stood in between Luke and Julie to read the lyrics. "What are we looking at?"

"Check out the chorus for a second," Luke voiced. "If you or Julie add a little bit of piano, I'm telling you . . . And rise through the night, you and I, we will fight to shine together, bright forever."

Emilia picked up the page and flipped it over to read more of the lyrics, her and Julie joining into Luke's singing. "And rise through the night, you and I, we will fight to shine together."

"Go up high," Luke instructed.

All three of them raised their octave a little higher. "Bright forever."

"Yes!" Luke chuckled.

Julie nudged Emilia with her elbow. "This sounds like a song you would write." She then turned her attention to the ghost beside her. "Thanks."

Emilia smiled up at Luke. "This is a really good song, Luke. I'm honored that you're allowing Julie and I to sing it."

Luke tugged his bottom lip in between his teeth and gave her a cute smile in return. Emilia, her cheeks flushing red, looked back down at the paper and read the rest of the lyrics. She couldn't help but notice the similarities between his songs and the ones that she wrote. Maybe her and Luke weren't so different after all.

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

DETERMINATION WAS FLOWING through Emilia's veins. She was so ready to completely blow away Mrs. Harrison with an amazing performance that would no doubt convince her to let Julie stay in the music program, but when her and Julie walked into the music room, all they found was Flynn by herself playing the trumpet. Both of them slowed in their tracks and sent confused glances to each other.

"What are you doing?" Julie asked, gaining the attention of Flynn. "And where is everyone?"

Flynn sighed. "Spirit assembly. I was kind of blowing it off because I wasn't feeling very spirity. Also, Emilia, I totally covered for you when Mrs. Harrison asked where you were."

Emilia smiled at her. "Thanks Flynn, I owe you one."

Flynn nodded before lowering her feet off the chair once she noticed Julie's crestfallen expression. "You okay?"

"Not really," Julie admitted. "I had this new plan to play for Mrs. Harrison with Emilia, hoping that she'd let me back in, but . . . I guess I missed my chance."

Flynn smirked widely and set down the trumpet. "No, you didn't."

She stood up and walked up to them, throwing her arms around their shoulders. Flynn immediately led them to the gym, where loud music was echoing from inside. They entered to see Carrie Wilson and her band, Dirty Candy (Emilia didn't really like the name), performing in their brightly colored outfits about how they the best, no doubt.

"Look who spent all her daddy's money on costumes and Katy Perry's choreographer," Flynn commented, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Well, it paid off," Julie replied.

Emilia, despite her feelings about Carrie, had to agree. The group was good. She rocked on her heels nervously and put her hands in the back pockets of her jeans.

Suddenly, Luke, Reggie, and Alex appeared next to them. Emilia, once again, shrieked and slapped her hand over her mouth. She rolled her eyes and dropped her hand at the sight of them laughing at her.

"Ha, ha, very funny," Emilia whispered to them. "It's not my fault I'm a very jumpy person."

"What are you guys doing here?" Julie questioned.

"We wanna see you and Emilia stick it to the man," Luke responded. "Isn't that right, boys?"

Reggie was staring at Dirty Candy performing with wide eyes and an agape mouth. "Man, I miss high school."

Emilia turned back to the group performing. Nerves suddenly bubbled throughout her stomach. She had never performed in front of a big crowd like this before, and especially not after a group as impressive as Dirty Candy. Emilia was sure Julie would kill it, but would she do the same? She had no clue.

Alex began to copy Carrie's moves. He accidentally bumped into Luke, making the boy snap out of his trance and signal to Alex to stop. Luke turned back towards Emilia and Julie and offered them the smallest of smiles. Emilia let out a breath and wrapped her arms around herself.

Dirty Candy stopped performing, and the whole gym erupted in applause. Carrie snapped her fingers and the other girls lined up behind her.

"Thank you!" Carrie exclaimed.

"We love you, Carrie!" a girl's voice shouted from the crowd.

"Oh, I love you too! Make sure to check out my new YouTube video. Oh, go Bobcats!"

Her and her group strutted off to the side, while Principle Lessa and Mrs. Harrison stepped forwards.

"Thank you, Dirty Candy," Principle Lessa announced.

Flynn nudged Julie with her elbow. "Now's your chance. Go talk to her. See you in music class."

With that, she walked off. Emilia watched her with wide eyes and looked back to Julie with a panicked expression.

"That was sweet," Principle Lessa continued. There was an awkward silence, and Mrs. Harrison cleared her throat. "Okay then. Before we let you go, we have a few more announcements . . ."

"Wait are you waiting for?" Reggie inquired, the five of them drowning out what Principle Lessa was talking about. "This is your guys' time."

"Yeah," Alex agreed. "I mean, you two look really nervous. Like, yack-in-a-bowl nervous."

"I just don't think I had enough time to work on the song," Julie revealed.

"And singing in front of music class is one thing, but singing in front of a crowd like this?" Emilia inquired, lacing her fingers together. "I don't know . . ."

"I wouldn't have given you both the song if I didn't think you two were gonna rock it," Luke told them with a big smile on his face. "Now, there's a piano and a microphone on that stage that has both of your names on it."

Emilia exhaled and turned to Julie. She offered her a hand. Julie took it and gripped it tightly. The two of them quickly ran up to the stage and emerged out of the darkness.

Julie gave Emilia's hand a squeeze. "You up for this?"

Emilia squeezed back and let go. "I'm ready if you are."

Julie slowly sat down at the piano with the microphone while Emilia took the microphone out of the stand next to it. Emilia looked down at Julie and gave her a singular nod as the crowd began to leave the gym. Julie played a chord on the piano before stopping. She looked back up at the three boys.

"You got this," Luke encouraged.

Emilia tightly held the microphone. "I got this," she repeated quietly to herself.

Julie then continued to play the intro of Bright on the piano, a spotlight suddenly shining over her and Emilia's heads as Julie began to sing. "Sometimes I think I'm falling down, I wanna cry, I'm callin' out for one more try, to feel alive."

"And when I feel lost and alone, I know that I can make it home, fight through the dark, and find the spark," Emilia sang, her voice gaining confidence with every word.

"Life is a risk, but I will take it," Emilia and Julie harmonized. "Close my eyes and jump, together I think that we can make it, come on, let's run."

Suddenly, the boys with their instruments appeared on the stage and played while Julie and Emilia continued to sing the chorus. It seemed like the crowd could actually see them as well. Emilia's eyes widened, but she willed herself to force down her confusion and continue to perform.

"And rise through the night, you and I, we will fight to shine together, bright forever."

Julie got up from the piano bench, and her and Emilia moved to the middle of the stage while the students gathered around on the floor. Both of their eyes were shining with amazement as they looked around at Luke, Reggie, and Alex.

"And rise through the night, you and I, we will fight to shine together, bright forever."

Emilia locked eyes with Luke. He looked completely shocked that the crowd could see him. She shrugged and laughed slightly. It was completely unexplainable, just like how she could touch them.

"They can see us," Luke breathed out. "Lia, they can see us."

Emilia nodded, her heart fluttering at the new nickname. "Yeah, they can."

Luke then rushed up to a microphone of his own. "In times that I doubted myself, I felt like I needed some help, stuck in my head, with nothing left."

Meanwhile, Julie danced with Reggie and Emilia stood on top of Alex's drum platform, exchanging laughs of pure bliss with him at the music coursing through their veins.

"I feel something around me now, so unclear, lifting me out, I found the ground, I'm marching on."

Reggie walked over to Luke and shared a microphone with him. "Life is a risk, but we will take it, close my eyes and jump, together I think that we can make it, come on let's run."

Emilia hopped off the platform to stand next to Julie while the both of them sang with Luke on the chorus. "And rise through the night, you and I, we will fight to shine together, bright forever. And rise through the night, you and I, we will fight to shine together, bright forever."

"In times that I doubted myself," Luke sang. Emilia turned, and their eyes met. Luke nodded his head to beckon her over. She immediately got what he was insinuating. Emilia walked up to him and held her microphone up to his face, an inviting smile on her lips. The two of them walked back towards the middle of the stage, their eyes never daring to leave each other's. Emilia could've sworn she felt electricity spark between them. "I felt like I needed some help, stuck in my head, with nothing left."

Emilia pointed her microphone back towards her as her and Julie harmonized again, Emilia still looking straight at Luke. "And when I feel lost and alone, I know that I can make it home, fight through the dark."

She dropped out, leaving Julie for a big solo as Julie walked backwards straight through Luke. "And find the spark!"

While Julie held her note, Emilia and the boys joined together for the chorus again, Alex singing the echos. "And rise through the night, you and I, we will fight to shine together, bright forever. And rise, through the night, you and I, we will fight to shine together, bright forever."

All of them went high on the last note and completely belted it. Emilia put all of her soul's strength into the last note and felt her heart glow at the sound of the crowd cheering. Once they were finished, her, Julie, and the boys bowed.

Suddenly, the crowd gasped. Emilia stood up straight and glanced behind her to see that Luke, Reggie, and Alex had disappeared from the stage. Her mouth fell open and she shared a confused expression with Julie.

That might be hard to explain.

-ˋˏ ༻ ☁︎ ༺ ˎˊ-

are we gonna stop pretending that carrie's songs aren't bops or are y'all not ready for that conversation