Chapter Notes

Did I finish writing chapter 5 in full before I even started chapter 4 because I couldn't figure out how to pick it up after an awkward chapter 3 ending? Yes, yes I did. I mean it was 2700 words, which is the length of both of the first chapters combined. Does that mean Chapter 5 will be up in a few minutes? Yes, yes it does. :)

I included a reprise of the song Flying Solo that I wrote myself, in the form of a duet, hope you guys like it xx. Read my endnote for my small rant on why I love reprises ;)

Julie stirred from her place on the couch, not particularly remembering falling asleep. Blinking, she took in the dark room around her, the sun being set telling her she was out for at least a couple of hours. She yawned and stretched, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.

"Oh, you're awake," she jolted at the voice, whirling around to find Reggie standing behind her. He walked around the couch and plopped down next to her.

"How long was I out?" She asked, yawning again as she spoke. "And where did Alex and Luke go?"

"You were asleep a couple of hours, must've been super exhausted," he raised his eyebrow at her. "And the guys went to talk to Flynn, but we didn't think you should be alone," he muttered, Julie's eyes widening. "Luke wanted to stay with you, but he wanted to talk to Flynn himself. He was pretty pissed about her making you cry," Reggie smirked at her, making her face redden. Her eyes dropping to her lap, thinking about Flynn again. "Don't worry," Reggie placed his hand on her shoulder in a reassuring manner, "we'll sort this out, I promise."

Julie leapt forward and hugged him, still riding a little high from the whole exchange earlier.

"How are they going to talk to her without me there?" She eventually asked, having only just realised the fatal flaw to their plan.

"Dunno, but now that you mention it, I'm picturing Luke picking up his guitar and angrily serenading her." The two laughed at this image, both fulling believing it was something the boy would do.

"Come on, let's get you to bed," Reggie grinned when she yawned again, pulling her towards to door and exiting the studio.

"But," Julie trailed off, looking down, not putting up much of a fight. He opened the front door and pulled her into the house. "Shouldn't I go find Flynn?"

"Nope," he whirled around on her. "The guys have got this, you and Flynn are going to be fine. You've been through worse than this, right?" He grinned, reassuring her a little. "Besides, you need your rest, I get you're worried, but your health comes first." Julie leant in and hugged him again, tearing up a little. She had so many amazing friends that cared so much about her. It was so awesome.

Once they parted, Julie went upstairs and went to sleep again, falling asleep quite easily despite her mind running ten thousand different scenarios. But surprisingly, she wasn't worried. Reggie was right, they had been through much worse. They would be fine.

The next day at school, Julie was panicking a little bit. It was nearing lunch and she was dreading it, having still yet to see Flynn. What if the guys hadn't been able to convince her to talk? What if she still hated her? What if she never saw her again? Right as she began to spiral, her phone buzzed with a new notification. She opened it absently, before smiling wide when she was it was from Flynn.

'Meet me in the music room at lunch.'

Suddenly, lunch couldn't come soon enough. Julie was vibrating in her seat as she fidgeted, staring at the clock. The minute hand ticked over, and Julie sprung out of her seat, a second before the bell even had a chance to ring. Her bag packed in three seconds; she was halfway out the door. Only for Nick to step in front of her, blocking her exit.

"Hey, Julie!" He grinned at her. She gave him a tight smile, moving to step around him, but he moved to, blocking her again. "I didn't see you after lunch yesterday, are you okay?" The question itself sounded considerate, but the way he said it was a little too knowing, as with everything he's said to her in the past couple of days. What exactly he knew, she couldn't tell however.

"Hi, Nick," she avoided eye contact with him. "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks. But I have somewhere to be," she side-stepped him again, only for him to grab her hand and stop her, making her turn back to look at him.

"Hey, are you avoiding me?" He asked, toning his voice for it to be a joke, but when Julie met his eyes, he was leering at her a little. This was so strange, and not like Nick at all. Why was he acting so weird?

"Look, I'm sorry, but I really do have somewhere to be. Like now." With that said, she looked at their hands again. A beat passed and it became clear he wasn't going to let her go on his own. She yanked her hand away and walked off, making a beeline straight to the music room.

"Sorry I'm late!" She burst into the room, "Nick cornered me," she explained, looking down from her friend's gaze.

"It's okay, girl. Are you okay?" Flynn asked her, surprising the girl. Whatever the guys had said must have worked, because Flynn didn't look mad, or sad, at all anymore. And she was actually talking to her. Julie couldn't have been happier.

She raced forward and hugged her friend, holding even tighter when, to her relief, Flynn hugged her back. The two sunk to the floor, holding their embrace.

"I am so, so sorry," Julie whispered to her friend.

"I know girl," Flynn opened her eyes and smiled at her, blinking her tears away. "The guys told me how horrible I made you feel, even said you fainted when you got home yesterday." So that was what happened, Julie thought. She fainted... that made sense. She definitely hadn't remembered falling asleep herself. "I'm so sorry I worried you that much." The two smiled at each other, still embracing, tears in their eyes. They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Flynn whispered a familiar tune which Julie quickly recognised.

I left you on a bad note,

Left you on a sad note,

Guess that means I'm buying lunch today.

Julie laughed a little at this, shaking her head at her friend, before whispering the next verse.

You know all my secrets,

I know all your demons,

Guess that means some things they never,

They never change,

Flynn rested her forehead against Julie's, continuing

I think I know what you, what you mean,

If I lost you I'd lose the best part of me.

Julie hugged Flynn again, almost sobbing at that. Her friend really did get her, better than anyone else ever could, and she was so, so lucky to have her in her life.

The bell interrupted further conversation, signalling the end of lunch. The girls reluctantly parted.

"Come to the studio after school today?" Julie asked, hoping her friend would agree.

"Wouldn't miss it. Besides, I have to make sure my band is rehearsing and not goofing off," she laughed, hugging Julie one more time. "See you then," Flynn whispered before leaving.

As soon as Julie got home, she raced into the garage and pulled all three guys into the tightest hug. She was so, so grateful to them, and everything they did for her.

"Thank you guys so much. You're the best," she whispered, squeezing them one more time before letting go. She smiled brightly at each one of them. She really did have the best friends. The guys smiled back, knowing things must have gone well between her and Flynn at school. "Now let's get to playing!" She whooped, moving over to the piano, starting rehearsal.

"Girl! Nine-one-one means nine-one-one! Why aren't you answering your phone?" Flynn's voice yelled from outside the studio about ten minutes later. Everyone turned to look at the doors as they flung open and Flynn raced in, making a bee-line for her friend… only to smack straight into Reggie, sending the two of them and his bass tumbling to the ground.

Julie, Alex, and Luke stopped playing to stare in shock, with Flynn and Reggie staring at one another, trying to work out what happened. Wide-eyed, Flynn reached her hand forward, expecting for it to go through him, but it didn't. Cue the gob-smacked expressions all around the room. A beat passed, everyone still staring at Flynn's hand on Reggie's shoulder, the two frozen in shock, when suddenly, she felt her hand slip and pass through him.

"What the heck?" Flynn asked, waving her hand through where she knew his shoulder was, even though she could no longer see him. Julie, realising her friend couldn't see the ghosts anymore, moved over to Luke and grabbed his hand. "How did I do that?" Flynn asked in a confused tone.

"The music!" Julie suddenly burst, making them all look at her in confusion. "Think about it! Before people could see you guys when you played music, but now you don't need it. What if, when you play, you are becoming solid now instead?" She elaborated, practically bouncing on the spot.

"That would make sense," Alex muttered standing up. "Let's test it!" He declared. "One, two, three, four!" He counted down, before playing a simple beat on the drums. Julie went back to the piano and Reggie picked up his bass again, and Luke his guitar as they all repeated a few chords. Flynn tried once again, and as suspected, her hand didn't pass through him.

"Now Julie, stop playing." The girl followed Alex's order and stopped playing. They waited, but Flynn's hand never fell through Reggie's shoulder. "Now, Reggie?" The boy stopped playing, and again, Flynn's hand remained where it was.

"Does that mean only one of us has to be playing for all three of us to be tangible?" He asked confusedly, still staring at Flynn's hand on his shoulder. Alex and Luke looked at each other, before stopping playing. It took a few seconds, but Flynn's hand soon slipped through him again. Once again, Julie grabbed Luke's hand so that her friend could see (or at least that's what she told herself).

"Well, that's pretty cool!" Flynn buzzed excitedly, so happy that she could touch the boys now, even if it was only sometimes. As Flynn continued waving her hand through Reggie, Julie's phone rang, interrupting any further conversation. 'Crooked Teeth' (sung by Luke, not Trevor) played from her speakers. (Reggie had been so offended when he found out that that was her ringtone, Luke, on the other hand, was ecstatic). To everyone's shock, Flynn's hand stopped being able to go through Reggie. She accidentally whacked him, hard, having not expected it.

"Hello?" Julie asked, numb, answering the phone and putting it to her ear, still staring at her friends. This was all too freaky. "Tia?... Okay, yeah... Yepp, I'll come inside now." She hung up a minute later, looking at the band. "Tia is here and wants me to come to spend some time with her. Bye guys, I probably won't come back tonight. She doesn't like me spending too much time out here," she waved at the guys before grabbing Flynn and leaving.

Chapter End Notes

I personally love, love, love reprises in cinema. I think it's some of the most powerful songwriting featured in whatever it's in, and some of my favourite scenes from so many movies and shows are all because of a reprise (Frozen: For The First Time In Forever, Moana: How Far I'll Go, Zombies: Someday, Tangled: When Will My Life Begin, Mother Knows Best, Wind In My Hair, Waiting In The Wings, Life After Happily Ever After). There's just something amazing about being in a cinema for the first time and hearing a song that you recognise because it played earlier. The tonal shift is so powerful as you acknowledge that times have changed from when the song was first sung, yet things have still stayed the same, which is what it represents.

Coming up next: Alex hears Julie playing perfect harmony, and the two have a long talk about feelings and dumb boys.