AN: I'm obsessed with the show and waiting anxiously for season 2, that's really not a surprise. But I've also become obsessed with fanfiction where they're all alive. I wanted to write one where Julie and Luke know each since they're little and go from there, and I might still do that, but this idea got to me first. This was supposed to be a one-shot, yeah didn't turn out that way.

I hope anyone who reads it, likes it, all the same, and I hope to bring out next chapter in two weeks.

Disclaimer:

I obviously don't own JATP. If I did, some things would be a lot different. Song verse is Definition of Destiny by Billy Talent.

Fated

When did all our childhood dreams
Begin to disappear?
Well, a long time ago
We had passion, we had goals
Why is life so set in stone
It doesn't have to be?
So cut to the chase, it's time to escape

Alex is the mom-friend in his group. He knows it, he owns it. Besides, with friends like Luke and Reggie someone has to be the spoil-sport. Alex has gotten used to being the voice of reason. He's kept them alive for the past 12 years, that has to count for something.

He's pragmatic to a fault and has gotten so much experience dealing with Luke and Reggie that it's gotten way too easy to dissuade them from their usual level of stupidity on a daily basis.

Alex really worries about his friends, a lot. A lot, lot. So, he's anxious, sue him. Show him a person in this day and age that isn't anxious, right? To which Reggie would reply that there's anxious and then there's Alex-anxious which were two completely different matters. But again, with Luke and Reggie around, who can blame him?

Reggie's cluelessness has gotten them in so much trouble, so many times, Alex still wonders how it's possible that he still hasn't learned a lesson. Usually, Reggie is the easy one to handle, though. It's Luke that gives Alex headaches.

Luke's been diagnosed with ADHD fairly early, so to help ground him and direct his focus away from his restlessness, Luke's parents had bought him a guitar and guitar lessons for his tenth birthday. And it paid off, Luke definitely learned how to focus. He hyper-focused on music and soon discovered that he wasn't just a natural talent when it came to playing the guitar, he could be considered a musical prodigy. If he really put his mind to it, Alex knew that Luke could learn to play any instrument he wanted. Luke just loved the guitar the most.

He'd taught himself to read and write music scores when he was twelve and struggling with translating the melodies in his head to melodies on his guitar. Once he'd started to write music, though, things changed. He'd pestered Alex and Reggie to learn an instrument too, so they could be a band and play the songs he wrote. They'd been all for it. Reggie already knew how to play piano a little, and Alex had always been good at beating out a rhythm while listening to music. So, Reggie conned his parents (or guilted them) into buying him a bass and lessons, while Alex convinced his that a drum-set was the perfect way to work out his anxiety. He taught himself and was immensely proud of that. The only time Alex felt completely at ease and full of self-confidence was when he was wailing on his drums.

Sunset Curve was born soon afterwards. And things were great until Luke discovered that LA was full of start-up bands like their own and that making a name of their own wouldn't be a piece of cake, as talented as they were. That's when Luke's ADHD started to give Alex headaches. Normally, Luke was a bouncy person, who seemed to have a choreography for every word he said. When he got excited or upset about something, he became an energizer bunny on speed. It was ridiculous.

Then Luke discovered the Los Feliz Conservatory of Music, the most prestigious school of music in California. Heck it was probably the most prestigious school of music in the entire world. Only the most talented of musicians had the slightest chance of being accepted there. They only admitted 50 student per year and had application lists with millions of names on them. People all over the world applied for that school.

Luke instantly decided that Los Feliz was the school they'd go to. Alex declared him insane. Out of the three of them, only Luke had a sliver of a chance of being accepted, but there was no way in hell his parents would go for it. And they didn't. When Luke had brought the topic up, his mother had instantly shot it down, saying that music was a nice hobby, but dreams should remain dreams and that Luke needed to live in the real world. The world where he went to a normal high school, and a normal college and got a normal job, preferably as an accountant or lawyer, or doctor. That was the beginning of the end. Their childhood actually ended that very day.

Alex and Reggie had crappy home lives. Reggie's parents were way too busy fighting with each other to pay Reggie much attention. And the less was said about Alex's super religious family, the better. Luke had been the only one with a normal home and Alex and Reggie had spent more time at the Pattersons' then their own homes, growing up. Suddenly, all of that is gone, and they all feel the loss.

Luke pitches his Los Feliz idea to his parents over Christmas. He's graduating middle school in spring, and he wants them to be prepared. He's done tons of research, even as far as calling the school's administration office and asking detailed questions about the entrance tests, the tuition and possible scholarships. Los Feliz is incredibly expensive. Luke knows his parents don't have that kind of cake. The tuition alone is a whack, and it's only the tip of the iceberg. But the school doesn't turn down talent if they can't pay their ridiculous prices. They compromise.

So, Christmas Eve Luke sits his parents down and gets to explaining why Los Feliz is the best school for him. He's prepared everything, including a spreadsheet. He knows he can get in, there's really no question about that. Luke is not needlessly humble about his talent and abilities, but he's not conceited or needlessly proud of it either. That he can get accepted into the most prestigious school of music is just a fact.

Convincing his parents of that fact is another matter. The minute they see the tuition price, they balk. He knows, they'd just been humoring him up until that point, but it's a crumb he readily takes, because every crumb is just further ammunition. But they draw the line at the money.

"Luke, you know we don't have that kind of money," his mother says, exasperated and his father sighs his agreement.

"We're not some LA hotshots who can throw that kind of money on a school that doesn't guarantee their child's future," his father adds, and Luke has to bite his lip until it bleeds to stop himself from shouting.

"Los Feliz itself is a guarantee. No graduate ever failed to make it big in the music industry," he tries to explain patiently. "I know that it's expensive, but the tuition can be paid in installments and they offer all kinds of scholarships and aids to students. In fact, if I have top 3 scores my first year, I don't have to pay the tuition the second year, at all. Plus, top students get all kinds of benefits. And I can also get a job, pay you back the tuition money." He doesn't really know how he'd slot a job in with the school's almost ridiculous curriculum, all the extra-curricular activities he'd need to do to ensure top 3 scores and band practice, but he's willing to live on no sleep for four years if that's what it takes to get into the school of his dreams. He's prepared to do anything.

His parents aren't prepared to even consider it, though.

"Out of the question, Luke," Emily says decidedly, getting up from her chair. "You're going to a normal school, just like everyone else. It's nice that you love music and that you feel so passionate about it, honey, but you need to be realistic. The chances of you being able to pay your bills with music are slim to none. Now be a good boy and choose a career path that will put food in your belly and money in a retirement fund. We're not going to be around forever to support you, after all. You need to learn to stand on your own two feet at some point. That means going to a school that prepares you to live a real life, not some pipe dream fantasy."

After that night, Luke and Emily barely had a conversation that didn't end in a huge fight. He stopped inviting Alex and Reggie over, and they only saw each other at school and when they used Reggie's garage for rehearsals.

Luke, not prepared to give up, took the entrance test to Los Feliz. He passed with flying colors, and took his acceptance letter, proudly to his parents in hopes that it would sway them. It didn't. While Mitch mulled over the flowery letter, Emily turned her back on her son to make herself a cup of tea.

"We talked about this, Luke. You going behind our backs and taking that test changes nothing. You're not going to that school."

Luke makes a decision then and there. "Then I'm not going to school at all." He doesn't let his mother get a word in edgewise, simply storms out of the house, slamming the door so hard the windows shook.

He stays with Alex for a week. When his mother comes knocking on the Mercer's door, he sneaks out the window and Reggie sneaks him into his room. When Emily knocks on the Peters' door, Reggie's mother honestly tells her that Luke is not there, as she doesn't know he's been hiding in her son's room.

Luke meets Bobby two weeks after that fight with his parents. He invites him to join Sunset Curve. Bobby lives with his grandparents and they have a garage they don't use, so they convert it into a studio. Luke lives there for three weeks before his mom finds him and drags him home. But he's not budging on the school thing and refuses to go, if she can force him into her car and drive him there, he jumps out at the first red light and runs off. When he almost gets hit by a car, she stops doing that.

They continue their fights for a year, and finally close to Christmas, Luke can't take it anymore and just runs out one night with his guitar case and some clothes stuffed in a backpack. This time, Emily can't find him, he makes sure of that. The only ones who know where he is are his boys and they wouldn't sell him out. When his mother comes to Bobby's grandparents, they don't know anything because Bobby had done a damn good job at keeping Luke hidden from them.

After two months Emily stops coming to the studio, instead missing person posters with his face on them appear in the city. Luke isn't fazed by that. He keep his face hidden with a cap or a hood and avoids places that display the posters. If the people at their gigs recognize him, they don't report it.

Unfortunately, their gigs can't really support Luke, even if the other boys take none of the money and Luke hates that they have to do that, because it feels like he's stealing from them. So, he gets a job at an ice cream parlor in a part of the city his parents never venture into. The 'rich' part. Ironically the parlor is right across the street from Los Feliz and their main customers are the kids that go there. Luke never gets tired of just looking at them. Ninety percent of them always drag some kind of instruments with them, and they all usually sit around the parlor reading thick books on music theory, bobbing their heads as they familiarize themselves with some sheet music piece they need to practice, or hum to themselves as they write some kind of song. He envies them, but he doesn't let it get in his way of being friendly with them. That's just not who he is. It's not their fault that life dealt him a crappy card.

Five months pass since he's run away from home and even though the pain that blooms in his chest every time he thinks of his mother will never fade or go away, Luke is mostly happy. He has what could be considered a good job, it pays decent money even to a high school drop-out, a steady stream of gigs now that more people know who Sunset Curve is, and the best friends a man can have.

Only one thing marred his happiness in the last months, but it was big. Huge, even. Bobby's grandmother died and his grandfather decided to move to Florida and live with Bobby's uncle. Bobby went with. And now Sunset Curve is short a band member, and Luke is homeless for the moment because Bobby's grandfather sold the house. Luckily, Luke earns enough with his jobs and the gigs that they can afford to rent a small warehouse and convert it into a studio. So, he stays there for the time being. It's nowhere near as comfortable as Bobby's garage, but he'll take what he can get.

Then one day, she walks in. Well, three of them actually, but his eyes are fixated on the one in the middle, in the cropped Los Feliz sweatshirt and the wild curls and the big, sad eyes. They walk up to the counter and he has to remind himself to function and do his job and not just stare at her. He doesn't know what it is, but he can't take his eyes off her. She's beautiful, yes, but the two girls with her are no less stunning. A blonde bombshell that reminds Luke of Malibu Barbie commercials and a beautiful African American girl with thick, long black braids and a wide smile. But it's the Latina that he can't stop looking at.

Luke has no preference in girls, heck he's never really had an interest in girls whatsoever, too busy with his music, his friends and the chaos his life has become to care. Yet here she is, and Luke is completely flustered. He doesn't know what to do with that. Yeah, okay, he knows how to appreciate a pretty girl, he was a hormonal teenager, but he's never felt this level of attraction to one, it's more than a little unnerving, especially since he doesn't even know her.

Swallowing down the unease and trying to calm his suddenly galloping heart, Luke smiled at the three girls as they came to a stop in front of him. "Welcome! What can I get for you?" Luke didn't hate customer service, he didn't love it, but it wasn't the worst job in the world. And it had some perks. Like when the pretty Latina locked eyes with him and smiled.

"Hi!" she smiled wider, and Luke couldn't stop his teeth from digging into his lower lip. He wasn't really the smoothest flirter in the world, he was pretty terrible according to Alex, but he didn't really need to be. His looks and natural charm took care of it, also according to Alex. Luke had never set out to impress a girl, but if he could charm this one, even a little bit, he'd count it as victory. "Can I have a banana-nut milkshake, please?"

He nodded slowly and smiled wider when she looked away, clearly a bit shy. What do you know? Maybe, he wasn't so bad at flirting. The two girls with her giggled and shared a look that Luke couldn't read. "Ladies?" he raised his eyebrows, and they giggle louder, before getting a hold of themselves.

"Strawberry-mango milkshake, please," said the African American girl with a forced serious face and the blonde had to swallow another giggle and coughed a little.

"I'd like a pineapple cup, please," she said at last, and Luke nodded, daringly winking at the Latina, before he turned away to fulfill their orders. All three giggle and he couldn't hear what they whispering but was sure it was about him.

He turned around and caught the Latina looking at him under her lashes and smiled. She reddened slightly but smiled back. The blonde said something that had the Latina's eyes widening as she turned to her friend, and her cheeks darkened further.

"Carrie!" she gasped out and Luke had to lower his head to hide the ridiculous grin he was surely sporting.

"She's right, Jules," said the third girl and Luke risked a peek at the Latina. She was scowling at her friends now, clearly flustered. Jules. At least he had a name.

"Flynn, not you too," Jules groaned and flushed even more when he looked up again and set her milkshake on the counter.

"One banana-nut shake," he said with a wide grin, and unable to contain himself, he took off his gloves and reached a hand over the counter towards her. "I'm Luke, by the way."

She looked at him with wide eyes but shook herself and took his hand in her own soft one, squeezing gently. "I'm Julie, nice to meet you," she said in an almost whisper and he smiled even wider, if that was possible.

"Flynn," the girl to Julie's right said. "That's me."

"And I'm Carrie," said the blonde and Luke smiled at both.

"A pleasure, ladies. Now, excuse me, I'll have your orders ready in a sec."

"Oh, take your time," Flynn muttered, leaning her elbow against Julie's shoulder. "We're in no hurry."

Julie whispered something furiously when he turned away and Luke strained to hear a least something.

"When a cute guy flirts with you, you flirt back," Flynn didn't bother whispering and he had to swallow a chuckle that threatened to escape.

"Flynn, oh my god! Shut up!" Julie groaned and Luke's shoulders started shaking as he tried to stop the laugh bubbling in his throat.

He managed to get himself under some resemblance of control and turned their way again, setting Flynn's milkshake on the counter.

"One strawberry-mango shake," he said with a smile and turned to the ice-cream display to get Carrie's order, when Julie spoke up.

"Um, excuse me?" he looked up at her with a slightly raised eye-brow.

"Yeah?"

"Do you play an instrument?" she asked suddenly, and Luke blinked.

"Uhm, yeah," he nodded somewhat dumbly. "Guitar. How did you-?" he cut himself off when she smiled.

"Your fingers. They um…," she trailed off and Luke looked down at his gloves before realizing what she meant.

"Oh! The callouses!" she smiled and nodded, and he nodded with her. "Yeah, learning guitar is brutal, man. My fingers were swollen and bleeding for months when I first started. But it paid off," he grinned, and she grinned back. "Do you play?"

Suddenly she looked like a deer caught in the headlights and he tilted his head to the side, curiously. "Oh, uhm, piano. Just a little," she finally stammered out and Flynn snorted.

"Yeah, right, just a little." Julie bugged her eyes out at her, but Flynn ignored her, turning to Luke. "Best piano player in Los Feliz, and best voice in the world."

"Wow," Luke said with real appreciation. "I'd like to hear you sometime."

Julie didn't smile this time tears filled her eyes and she refused to look at him. "I don't play anymore," she whispered and run out, leaving her two friends behind.

"That went well," Flynn drawled sarcastically and dug money out of her pocket, all but slamming it on the counter, before she run out after Julie.

Carrie let out a long sigh before flicking her long ponytail over her shoulder and looking at Luke. "Raincheck on that ice-cream, and keep the change," she muttered and flounced out of the parlor.

Luke was left standing behind the counter, spaced-out, wondering what the hell had just happened.