Part Trente
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On Friday, Julie had pulled Luke out to the studio after school, he had been watching TV in the living room. Alex followed them out, and clapped his hands in happiness at Julie's idea. She gave Luke two options with her costume idea for him, black sleeveless, or short-sleeved black button-up, both with black dress pants. He said either would be fine, but when she showed him what her costume options would be to go with each, the look on his face for the first option told her everything she needed to know.
Luke was smiling, he knew this movie, Alex had made them watch it when they were younger. Glancing over he could see Alex grinning, but holding his opinion back for the moment.
"Huh, as much as you hate sleeves, I really thought you would cave so I'd be wearing the dress."
"Jules, you would look beautiful, but you're going to be beautiful in the other one, too. And that outfit looks more comfortable for you, I've seen you wear something similar before. There's going to be dancing and karaoke, pants seem like they make more sense."
Julie laughed, he was such a boy. He did have a point, though, and she was glad he wanted the more comfortable choice for her. Especially since that meant he was going with the sleeveless shirt. She really liked the sleeveless shirts.
Alex couldn't wait to help them get their outfits together the next day. "You have to do your hair next weekend for the party, Luke, it's kinda iconic."
"Really? Do I have..." He caught a glimpse of Julie's face, and suddenly a memory floated through his mind, and he had some questions.
"Alex, out please. I need to talk to Julie."
"Rude." Alex did as asked, though. He wanted to go check on Willie and Ray and see if they had made any progress, they were with Reggie and Carlos inside, still trying to find the right couples' costume. Alex had needed a break, but after seeing the perfect costumes Julie had chosen he was ready to keep looking. They had been sorely disappointed by the lack of options on Google yesterday, Ray had sworn in Spanish, and muttered about how disappointing the stark lack of representation was, there just weren't many gay couples in mainstream movies and TV, and the costume options reflected that. Things were better, but this showed how far things still needed to go.
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"Julie. What is that look on your face?" Luke was amused.
"Uh. What look? I don't have a look." She stood up and moved slightly towards the door, trying to arrange her face into an expression of innocence, but it came out as more of a grimace.
"Hmmmm." Luke crossed his arms, lifting one hand to tap a finger on his lip as he circled her in the middle of the studio. 'You know, that hairstyle actually looks a little familiar, and not from my memories of the movie."
Julie swallowed hard. 'I was embarrassed enough telling him the first time and I was sure he had forgotten, damn it!'
"Might this perchance remind you of a certain daydream, Jules?" His eyes were sparkling with suppressed laughter, and a grin played at the corner of his mouth.
'Screw it.' Julie would tell him anything, if it would keep that look of pure happiness on his face. "Fine, yes. This costume choice was slightly inspired by my daydream about you."
"The one I dreamed, when I slept again for the first time?"
She ducked her head, cheeks hot, but unable to stop the soft, unfocused smile from spreading across her lips. She had let go of the weirdness of him dreaming something she had imagined, and couldn't help but love it now. It seemed like a sign of their deep connection.
"Jules." His voice was soft and tender, the playfulness gone. "I love it."
She glanced up at him from under her lashes, "Really?"
He smiled, the one reserved just for her, and cupped her cheek, pressing his forehead to hers. "I love it."
She beamed at him, her hands going to his chest for balance as she went up on her toes to press a sweet kiss on his lips. "Thank you. It was also one of my mom's favorite movies."
"You know this means we have to sing the song for karaoke." He bit his lip in excitement, he was actually really looking forward to having the chance to sing some random songs for fun, and a planned romantic duet with Julie was a huge bonus.
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Ray took Reggie and Carlos to get their costumes on Saturday, even if he was spending most of the party next weekend hanging out with Bobby, he had been told a costume was mandatory. No ideas had really come to mind, until Reggie had come to him, asking if Ray would help with his costume. As soon as he said who he wanted to be, Ray had thought of the perfect costume choice for himself, happy that he could show support to Reggie.
Carlos had picked a throwback costume, he had convinced a couple boys from his baseball team to be 'Ghostbusters' with him, and they were having a sleepover at his friend's house the night of the party. The 'actual-but-not-exactly-anymore' ghosts had decided it was hilarious. Ray also had to laugh a little to himself, he never would have guessed this was how he, Julie, and Carlos would be spending Halloween this year.
He was grateful, though, that it wasn't going to be some sad night, trying to give Julie a happy birthday on his own.
The other kids had gone off to get their stuff, Julie and Luke were at the mall piecing their outfits together from different stores as needed, and Alex and Willie were helping them. The two of them had finally decided on more simple costumes for this year, Willie wasn't really a 'get dressed up' kinda guy anyway, as least not in too fancy clothes. Alex did remember his outfit at the Club, and the suggestion of 'Men in Black' from Carlos the day before had proven his aversion. The look of horror on his face at the idea of complete suits had made Ray, Alex, Reggie, and Carlos laugh a lot.
Julie and Luke had walked in at that point and asked what they were doing. Carlos told them, and Julie had nodded thoughtfully, before leaning over her dad at his laptop, and pulled up an ad for t-shirts with the words "He's my Boo." and opposite arrows on each. Everyone turned to stare at her, a huge grin blooming on Willie's face.
"You get me, Julie. Those are perfect!"
It wasn't what Alex had been thinking of, but he couldn't help but enthusiastically agree, they were perfect. Willie loving them too made it even better.
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Flynn and Carrie had gotten the decorations the weekend before, after the dinner. They had been a little worried when Julie had abruptly left with Luke, but they had talked to her at school the next day and definitely noticed a difference in her. After some best friend nagging, she had finally admitted that there had been a slight step forward in her relationship with Luke, and she was very happy about it. They agreed to leave it at that, knowing she would spill everything eventually, probably on the next girls' night.
This weekend they were working on doing the decorating for the party, or at least some of it, directing the people Bobby had hired to do the big stuff.
"So, what did you decide on Carrie? I know you were thinking about a few different options." Flynn paused in her application of window decals to look at her.
"Well, I wanted something at least somewhat comfortable, but I also wanted to wow Nick when I talk to him." She gave a small smirk, "I thought since there are rumors of a third movie finally happening, I would go as Elle Woods."
Flynn laughed and nodded, "Oh, that's really good."
"What about you, Flynn?"
"I'm almost done making a 'Moana' costume. I had a dream where everyone wore a Disney costume earlier last week, that's how I came up with Jasmine for Julie. I was Moana in the dream and honestly, I love it, it's going to be really cute."
Carrie stared at her, "That is going to be amazing, and I know you making it is going to make it a thousand times better than store-bought."
"Thanks Carrie. This party is going to be so great."
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The next week was spent making last minute adjustments to costumes, and a few almost-caught moments for the guys. They had had to sneak Bobby out a couple times, and had started to rely on Willie, as well as Ray, to run interference with Julie if rehearsal ran too long. After the second time, they had just started popping Bobby from his house and back, it was easier than hoping Julie wouldn't notice his car.
It was both strange and familiar to have Bobby playing alongside them again. It was good though, they were able to talk to him about things from their 'previous life', as it were. Also, he was able to catch them up on some more of everything that had happened since they died, he told them about new albums from their favorite bands, and new bands he knew they would like. The phones he had given them were even more useful once he showed them Spotify.
Luke was indifferent to the phone aside from two things, the music was one, and the other was Julie. They could text when she was between classes now, and he loved it. Every practice break was scheduled around her, just so he could check his phone and reply if she sent him a message. The guys just rolled their eyes and called him a sap, but they were glad he was happy, so it was all good-natured teasing.
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It was Friday night, the night before her 17th birthday, and Halloween, and Julie was staring out her bedroom window at the sky.
"Are you ready for the party tomorrow?"
Julie turned, to see Luke leaning against her open door, arms crossed. She blinked as she processed the question, she had been lost in thought, and now his arms were distracting her. "Ye-yeah, sure. It's going to be fun." She attempted a smile, but it was forced.
He pushed off the door, one eyebrow raised, "Right. C'mon, I know there's something going on in your head. Talk to me Jules." He sat on her bed and patted the spot beside him, holding his arm up in invitation.
A fond smile replaced her fake one, and she climbed up and joined him, curling up against his chest. A quiet sniffle had him wrapping his other arm around her too. "I'm here, always. You never have to pretend you're fine if you aren't."
She nodded, not lifting her face, and with a voice thick with tears she whispered, "I just miss her. Sometimes it still hurts so much, and it's like I can't breathe. And then I have to cry for awhile."
"Then go ahead and cry." Luke hugged her close and took a deep breath, "I have a new song I can sing to you, if you want?"
Julie peeked up at him, eyes full of tears, but her lips were turned slightly up, "I would love that."
'I can't unfeel your pain
I can't undo what's done
I can't send back the rain
But if I could I would
My love, my arms are open
So when you feel like you can't take another round of being broken
My arms are open
And when you're losing faith and every door around you keeps on closing
My arms are open
I can't uncry your tears
I can't rewind the time
I can't unsay what's said
In your crazy life
My love, my arms are open
Ooh, and when you're cursing at the sky
And thinking, "Lord, you must be joking"
My arms are open
And, and when you're looking in the mirror
Thinking "Damn, my life is over"
My arms are open
My arms are open
My arms are open
My arms are open
My arms are open
So let me do to you
What you've always done for me
And let me be the ground
Underneath your feet
I can't unfeel your pain
I can't undo what's done
I can't send back the rain
But if I could I would
My love, my arms are open, arms are open
So when you feel like you can't take another round of being broken
My arms are open
Oh, and when you're losing faith and every door around you keeps on closing
My arms are open
My arms are open
My arms are open
My arms are open
My arms are open
(My arms are open)
I will be standing here
I will be by your side
(My arms are open)
You'll see me loud and clear
With my arms open wide
(My arms are open)
I will be standing here
I will be by your side
(My arms are open)
You'll see me loud and clear
With my arms open wide
My arms are open'
Julie had softly cried herself to sleep by the time he was finished, and Luke looked up to very quiet applause from the still open door. Ray stood there, a few tears drying on his own cheeks. "That was incredible Luke. Thank you for being there for my baby girl."
Luke inhaled a little shakily, "Always, Ray."
"You're good here tonight Luke." Ray smiled at him and grasped the doorknob, stepping back and closing Julie's door as he left.
Julie had seemed a little off at dinner, and she had retreated to her room early. He had noticed the concerned looks Luke was shooting her all evening, and then the stairway once she left. When everyone had started to head off to bed he had caught Luke's arm and just pushed him gently towards the stairs, he knew Julie was more likely to open up to him.
Ray was there for Julie, of course, and they had spoken more about her mom in the last few weeks than almost all the months before combined. But he knew that sometimes she still just needed to cry for a little while, sometimes he did too. For that, Luke was the person to be there for Julie, Ray was sure, and that new song? Yeah, he had been right to send Luke to her.
'Rose, she misses you tonight. So do I. It's her birthday tomorrow, and Flynn and Carrie have planned a big party. The boys have a few different surprises in store, as well. You'll love it. I like to think you're looking down, watching out for us. All I can say again is thank you, mi amor, and I miss you so much.' Ray went to bed and cried a little himself, it was going to be hard to watch Julie turn 17 tomorrow without Rose beside him.
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A/N: The song is 'Arms Open' by The Script
I couldn't help myself, I was going to make the costumes more of a surprise, but it just didn't work that way, oh well.
Also, I kept trying to picture Willie and Alex in, well, any costumes. (I stand by what I said up there, too, the lack of representation is glaringly obvious when searching couples Halloween costumes.) The ideas you all had were great, but nothing felt right. And then I remembered Willie's outfit at the HGC, and I decided he's not a suit person. Thus, this happened. I thought Willie would enjoy the pun.