I am back and am going to make this up as i go so ummm good luck to me?
"What's up, New York?"
The crowd roared to life with vigor, screaming I love you's and a bunch of other nonsensical words that the group couldn't quite make out.
They made it. The first stop on their tour was Madison Square Garden of the Big Apple. They were opening for Bon Jovi. Jon Bon fucking Jovi. When Molly had given them the call, Julie's phone, having been on speaker, had almost slipped out of her hand. A half an hour set to hype up the audience for one of the greatest rock stars of all time. Stunned looks huddled around the device were replaced with whoops of excitement.
Every bad review.
Every discouraging statement.
Every mental setback.
Every hardship.
They led to this moment.
"Any Phantoms out here tonight?"
Many shouts of confirmation were sounded throughout the arena. Luke tossed a smirk over at Julie which she eagerly returned. He could feel her nerves radiating on to him. Nervous but exhilarated. Ready.
"Nice of you guys to show out," Luke turned back to the audience.
"We are so excited to be here," More cheers rang in the open space, "And we have a feeling you guys are gonna be a lot of fun."
With that, Luke plucked a very intricate, lively riff on his six string before Julie sat at the piano and played the opening chords to Great.
Running from the past
Tripping on the now
Those words couldn't have been truer. Keeping her mouth close to the mic, Julie cast a glance up at the boys around her. It was all so surreal. There was no other place she'd rather be.
What is lost can be found
It's obvious
Various whoops sounded all around, fueling the energy in the arena as Reggie's bass added to the piano.
And like a rubber ball
We come bouncin' back
We all got a second act inside of us
Alex brought the beat in on the drums with power with Luke coming in immediately after, stirring the crowd even more. Some people, having followed the band before this show, were already jumping and singing along.
I believe, I believe that we're just one dream,
Away from who we're meant to be
And that we're standing on the edge of
Julie, now standing from her piano, danced around the stage and kept eye contact with the people dancing along with her below. She loved this part. They all did. Being able to interact with so many people through song, their music connecting them with their fans. This is what it's all about.
The fame didn't hurt too bad either.
Something big, something crazy
The best things are yet unknown
That this moment is ours to own
Bouncing up to Luke, scrunching her nose a bit, Julie grinned wildly as she sang.
And we're standing on the edge of great!
The boys' voices echoed back the main phrase of the chorus, singing their hearts out into their mics. Alex seemed lost in his drums, as he usually is. It's his escape. Nothing can stop him, no one can derail him when he's beating a rhythm into his set. Julie caught Reggie flashing a twinkling grin at a girl in the audience, a few others thought it was them he was directing it too causing a brief squealing session in the third row. But, Luke…
Luke was right there with her. The 4 of them may all be in their own world but Luke and Julie had a secluded corner where they both resided to meet each other at. The same page. Wavelength. Vibes. Nothing could really describe it; they were just there together. Always.
Luke winked at her, those big brown eyes so easy to find herself drowning in. She winked back and he laughed into his mic, his eyes crinkling in the most adorable way.
We all make mistakes
But they're just stepping stones
To take us where we wanna go
It's never straight, no
He jerked his head, gesturing for her to join him. And, of course, she went immediately. How could she not? It's their signature thing.
Sometimes we gotta lean
Lean on someone else
To get a little help
Until we find our way
Their breaths mingled in the small space between the two of them. They breathed together as one. It was addicting.
The crowd knew the words to the chorus by now, telling them back to the band with confidence. Julie backed away from Luke and pointed her mic out to the audience, letting out a joyous laugh when they became even more enthusiastic at the mic in their proximity. She bent down on one knee and reached a hand as far out as it could go to try to touch a few fans as she belted the bridge with power that made Luke's heart flutter.
Shout, shout!
Come one and let it out, out
Don't want to hide it, let your colors blind their eyes
Be who you are, no compromise
Julie placed a hand on her chest, letting the emotion show through her features and be portrayed to the audience. She saw a few mimic her action and felt a pang of warmth blossom in her chest. Their fans were everything. They were what brought them here today. They were the foundation of Julie and the Phantoms. Don't get her wrong, JATP was and will always be JATP with or without fans. But they made this happen. The people who followed them around and encouraged them with their support were the ones who made the tough times bearable. Who made it all possible.
What doesn't kill you makes you feel alive
They've been through so much together, the boys and her. Rejection from family and labels, hate from strangers, irrelevant people telling them who they are and who they should be. But it's just like the lyric said—what doesn't kill you makes you feel alive. And right now? Yeah, they definitely feel alive.
Oh, I believe
I believe that we're just one dream
She could hear Luke riff on his guitar in the background. Man, something about that riff gets her every time. Or maybe it's just the one playing it. She turned her head to see him bent over, moving his fingers quickly on the strings of his electric. A grin reached her features before she could stop it.
Away from who we're meant to be
Her nose scrunched once again in that cute way that Luke always loved.
That we're standing on the Edge of Great!
Julie stood up and opened her arms as she held out the note. It rang throughout the stadium, growing stronger and broader through the crowds' cheers. The boys joined in, continuing on the chorus behind her.
Curly hair hopped around the stage to the piano to sit down for the final moments of the song. She couldn't see it but she could feel Luke coming up next to her so she made sure to make room for him on the bench. Surely enough, a mop of brown hair and sleeveless arms subtly plopped down next to her, smelling of sweat and delirium.
Running from the past
Tripping on the now
What is lost can be found
It's obvious
They looked into each other's eyes, seeming oblivious to the wild screams of cheer in the background. There were those puppy dog eyes again. The ones she swore she could stare at forever (she may or may not have told Flynn about her slight obsession with his eyes). She could feel his breath on her face and she bet he could feel hers. She also could've lightly sworn that he was leaning in. More and more. The buzz of the performance is still prominent and she could be imagining it all but...if she just leaned in closer maybe she could…
A firm tap on the microphone had her pulling back immediately which seemed to remind the two that there were, in fact, 20,000 people watching them. She looks at the source of the interruption (she's slightly irritated yet slightly relieved) and finds Reggie at the front of the stage, mic in hand and a charming smile on his face.
"Alright, so while those two are distracted," He motioned quotation marks which earned a few whoops and laughs from the audience and embarrassed blushes for Julie and Luke. Alex tapped lightly on his crash cymbal to signify his joy at their discomfort, "I'm going to take advantage of this opportunity and add a little something to the set. I hope Mr. Bon Jovi doesn't mind."
Reggie, somehow hidden to both the audience and the band, pulled out an acoustic guitar that Alex, Luke, and Julie knew meant.
The three groaned. Alex pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"Reg—," Alex started but was completely ignored by Reggie's quickness.
"This is Home Is Where My Horse Is. Tell me if you like!"
Ok it's currently 2 am, plz tell me if you liked this chapter...or not. Whatever floats ur boat ig. Im not proofreading this one rn but i will go back and read it, promise lol. Love yall, have a good day!