Occasion- Fall-Winter of 2020
Context- Julie, the band, Flynn, and Carlos have snuck into an old church at night to play capture the flag. As the stakes get higher so does the competition. (The boys have retained the power of touch since the Orpheum and have also gained some new powers such as the ability to eat and poof lifers with them.)
Idea Credit- Myself
Ships Set Sail- Juke/Possible Relynn
Warning- Language
Julie's POV
Julie breathed in the cold, crisp air of the dark church, staring at the high ceilinged sanctuary. Rows of pews led to the back of the room and the choir chairs nearly rose to a large stain glass window on the wall to her right. The space was dimly lit from the moon shining in from windows high above, and the only sound was the breathing of her friends as they moved around the carpeted surface of the alter.
The last time she'd been to the church Julie was around the age of ten, and she still remembered the long, winding hallways and expansive rooms where services and Sunday school were held. The building was definitely much less eerie during the day, but she couldn't think about all the things that could be hiding in the dark. She had a game to win.
"Okay...so, what's the plan boss?" Luke's voice echoed from where he was perched in the window above the choir pews, moonlight outlining his frame.
That night, after giving Ray the excuse of going to the pier, the boys had poofed Julie, Flynn, and Carlos into the old church the Molinas used to attend. They were going to take advantage of the empty building and play capture the flag.
"We already have teams, do you guys wanna go pick areas?" Julie looked at her friends scattered around the room.
There was a chorus of agreement and everyone moved towards her. Flynn and Alex took their places at her side while Luke, Reggie, and Carlos separated into their group across from them.
"Okay." Julie pulled her messily drawn map of the church out of her bag, handing it to Luke and pointing to the opposite end of where they currently were. "We'll take the south side and you guys can have the north. This area," she pointed to a median room and it's extended corridors, where services and sometimes meals were held, "is the neutral zone. Safe for both teams."
Everyone nodded, and Flynn spoke up.
"While we're at it we need to set some rules too." All of the boys groaned.
"First," she held up a finger, "no use of any ghostly powers because it's an obviously unfair advantage. Second, if someone gets tagged they have to sit at the other team's base. Third, the flag guard has to be switched out about every ten minutes. Fourth, no moving your flag once it's set. Besides that it's obvious, there's three rounds like we talked about and winner of two out of three takes all."
They had previously named the stakes for each other. If Luke's team lost Carlos would have to go a week without electronics, Reggie would have to wax his legs, and for three days Luke would only be able to talk if he was fully dancing.
If Julie's team lost, which they definitely wouldn't, Flynn would have to wear Carlos's underwear on her head for the rest of the night, Alex would have to drink a bottle of hot sauce, and Julie would have to do two-hundred push-ups.
Her team's dares were definitely more creative.
"And if you cheat it's immediately the other team's win," Flynn added finally.
"Yeah, yeah, can we play now?" Reggie exclaimed, making everyone give him an inquisitive look. "Sorry, I just really like capture the flag."
"Okay." Luke grinned at Julie, an eager glint in his eyes. "Game on."
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Julie's POV
Julie, Flynn, and Alex had navigated their way through the dark church, propping open as many of the old wooden doors as possible to make running easier. They were now in the gym on the south end, scouting for a place to hide their flag. They had ruled out the kitchen connected to the gym, it was too cold for the guard to stay in, and the stage on the right side of the room was easily accessed from several sides.
"Hey Alex, do you think you can get it up there?" Flynn was pointing to a part of the wall on the far end of the gym that was niched back a few feet over their heads. It wasn't too high or deep, so the flag would be tantalizingly visible, just out of reach.
"Oh that's perfect," Alex had to hop a bit to lodge the glowing orange flag onto the alcove, adding with a laugh, "honestly I think Reggie's gonna be the only one that can reach it."
Julie snorted, bringing the others close to her. "Time to make a plan"
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Luke's POV
Luke shivered in the chilly air, wishing for a microsecond that he'd worn sleeves.
"This is so cool, you guys are like the older brothers I never had, and we're playing games that I never got to play with the brothers I never had!"Carlos grinned from where he walked between Reggie and Luke down a dim hallway. The windows on their left exposed a view of a wooded mountainside.
"Aww, you're like a brother to us too little dude," Reggie ruffled his hair.
The two boys chattered while Luke halfway listened, keeping an eye out for a place to hide the flag. They had left the sanctuary out of one of the exits beside the alter, taking a right down the only hallway that wasn't a dead end. It soon opened up into a room with two doors that led into a room with dark blue carpet and another hallway. Luke led them into the carpeted room. It was lit well enough from several tall windows on the far wall and large oak double doors were propped open on their right, leading to the adjoined hall.
"This place looks good," Luke pulled out the map, "Julie marked it as something called the cookie room?"
"Easily the best place in the church," Carlos took the blue flag and laid it decisively in the window furthest from the doors, "once a month we would have cookie day and everyone would bring a bunch of sweets to eat after the service."
"This place sounds awesome, why'd you ever stop coming?" Reggie asked.
Carlos shrugged. "I guess we just got busy. At least that's what my dad says."
"It's still cool that you got to go. The only church experience we've ever had was Alex's second baptism." Reggie and Luke both shuddered, reminiscing about what Luke considered the most boring day of their lives. While Carlos wondered aloud about the need for two baptisms, Luke remembered that blistering summer day, everyone packed in the pews like fish in a can while sweat rolled down his back. At some point an old lady had leaned over his shoulder and chastised him about not being still. When the service ended Luke had been the first out of the building.
"So, what's the plan? How are we winning this game?" Carlos cut into his thoughts, staring at Luke expectantly while he jumped up onto a small shelf against the wall.
Luke felt a grin play across his face as he joined the younger boy, Reggie walking over as well.
"Okay boys, listen up."
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Julie's POV
They had decided that Julie and Alex would head out first while Flynn stood guard. They were going to play defensively for a while because knowing Luke and Reggie the boys were more than likely to play at an attack first.
"And one last thing," Alex stopped Julie and addressed her and Flynn, "neither Luke or Reggie can outrun me in a dead sprint but they are fast and might be hard for you to catch. No offense," he added when they both raised an eyebrow, "it's not a gender thing, just a ghost thing. But Reggie's super quick and can turn on a dime and Luke will not hesitate to use the things around him to his advantage."
"So I'm guessing this isn't your guys' first time playing." Flynn said.
Alex chuckled, "definitely not. Also, as ghosts, we pretty much have endless stamina, so good luck staying on top of them." He seemed to think about what he'd just said, scrunching his eyebrows. "And don't tell them I said that because they will make a lot of dirty jokes about it."
Julie cleared her throat, "and um, watch out for Carlos. He plays dirty. Sometimes literally."
They bid Flynn good luck and quietly made their way to the outer areas of their territory.
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Luke's POV
Hearing hushed voices up ahead Luke pressed himself against the wall, sliding his way towards the noise.
He peeked into the doorway closest to him, hiding as Julie and Alex explored the room. Alex was looking through a bookcase on the wall to the left while Julie stared out of the big picture windows in front of him. Luke was struck by the way the moon highlighted her face, turning her profile features silver. Sure Julie was always pretty, but at the moment she was seriously beautiful. He found himself wishing that they were under different circumstances. Alone in the quiet room.
Snap out of it man. Luke forced himself back into reality, back into the game. He crept through the doorway when their backs were both turned, slinking along behind a half-wall walkway that ran along the side of the room. He paused for a moment to glance up over the divider as Alex spoke.
"Aw," he grabbed a cross that had been leaning on a shelf, playfully holding it out to Julie, cocking his head to the side with a smirk, "brings back memories."
Luke smiled at the memory, ducking down again as he thought about that confusing and amazing night.
"Wow it's crazy to think that I've only known you guys for what, three, four months? It feels like forever ago. I mean, you're my best friends either way."
He heard Alex hum playfully. "What about Luke?"
He froze.
"What about Luke?" There was lighthearted caution in her voice. He could picture a small smile playing on her face.
"You know. Its obvious that you guys' best-friendship is very different than ours or you and Reggie's."
"Well you and Reggie are like brothers to me. He's...not."
Luke's heartbeat sped up. He felt like he shouldn't be eaves dropping but the second he heard his name he wasn't going anywhere. And now Julie's admitting that she sees him a different way? A small hope sparked in his chest, one that prayed that she felt the same way he did about her.
"Well what is he then?" Alex pressed. Luke loved him so much in that moment.
"He's..." he heard Julie shuffle around, "No, we can't get sidetracked. They could already be in our area."
Frustration pricked at him before his mind caught up with his heart, telling him that even if she had reciprocated his feelings, and even if he was more powerful and corporeal than before, he was still a ghost and she was still a lifer. Luke shoved down the pain of the thought and left the room before he was discovered.
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Alex's POV
Alex prowled, or got however close he could to prowling, the hallways, having split up with Julie. She had gone back to patrol the area around the base that Flynn was guarding while Alex watched their outer boundaries.
He rounded a corner and the soul would have left his body if he'd had a body because he almost ran straight into Luke. They both pretended that they hadn't screamed while Alex regained his senses.
"Wait, you're in my zone," Alex pointed at him.
"Yep." Luke agreed curtly, awkwardly nodding and patting his legs, feet shifting. Suddenly he spun around and took off, which Alex definitely should've been more prepared for. Alex sprang after him, breaking into a sprint.
Luke had gotten ahead, using all of the twists and turns to his advantage but they soon emerged into a long corridor. They were running flat out, Alex gaining on him with every step. He wasn't more than a few yards away when Luke grabbed the door at the end of the hallway, slamming it in Alex's face.
He collided with it painfully, yelling curses at Luke who had disappeared into the neutral zone by the time Alex yanked it open.
He huffed, the ache in his shoulder fading. Luke was not going to win this game.
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Luke's POV
Luke jogged back into their base-room, a grin still plastered on his face from hearing Alex's indignant shouts. He relished in the way the slight tightness in his lungs disappeared as soon as he stopped running, how his muscles weren't strained, just loosened up. Luke wondered if he would've worked out more if that's how it'd felt when he was alive.
Reggie and Carlos popped up at the sight of him, eager to get going.
"Okay we're seven minutes in." Luke said, glancing at his watch. "Alex and Julie were out so one of them will be switching with Flynn in just a minute. Carlos, you remember the plan?"
"I run out to to distract whoever's on offense, leading them to the east side of the building before running back here as fast as I can and switching with you guys so you can take the west route and attack the guard. Got it."
"Yes, Carlos! Good luck. And watch out for Alex because if he chases you, you're dead." Luke and Reggie fist bumped him in turn, watching the younger boy brave the dark hallway.
"You think this will work?" Reggie asked as they sat in chairs near the flag.
"Foolproof Reg. Foolproof."
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Julie's POV
"Did that trash can just move?" Flynn asked.
Julie whipped around to see said trash can. It moved again, very clearly, and a moment later Carlos popped out from behind it.
"Oh shoot, I guess you guys caught me," he very obviously feigned disappointment, kicking at the ground, raising Julie's suspicions.
"What are you up to?" Flynn asked, knowing just as well as she did how Carlos played.
"Me? Oh I'm just, admiring how...symmetrical this trash can is." He patted the can. Looking up, his eyes shifted to something behind them, and he waved his hands as if to say get out!
Both girls turned to see who he was talking to, which she realized was a huge, stupid mistake as Carlos flew past them.
"I can't believe we fell for that," Julie said as she and Flynn chased him.
After a moment of running after her brother, Julie suddenly realized what was happening. She stopped Flynn.
"Wait, he's distracting us!" The girls watched him disappear into the depths of the church.
"Ugh! Of course! We've been spending too much time with these boys Jules." Flynn shook her head, flipping her braids over her shoulder.
"C'mon, Luke and Reggie are probably coming in the other way."
The girls jogged over to the west side of their area. They hid behind two lounge chairs in a median room between the hallways linking the neutral zone and the the path to the gym. Not a minute later the light squeak of shoes sounded on the tile floor. Luke and Reggie slunk through the door and Julie signaled for Flynn to stay where she was. Flynn sent her a quizzical look but didn't move an inch. They watched as reggie tripped and Luke grabbed his arm, shushing him, waiting until the doofuses were through the next door and down the hallway before they stood up.
"Why didn't we just tag them?" Flynn threw her hands up.
"Because now we can trap them and get their flag quicker." She pointed out.
"Oo, good thinking! I'll go help Alex, you go show Carlos what happens when he tricks his sister."
The girls broke apart, running in separate directions.
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Alex's POV
The room was eerily quiet, which made it easy for Alex to hear the footsteps. He jumped to his feet, positioning himself defensively in front of the flag. Luke and Reggie walked into the gym, cocky grins on their faces.
"Hey Alex."
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Flynn's POV
Flynn entered the gym from the door on the side of the stage just in time to see the boys going for Alex. He was holding up well, but Luke and Reggie were lunging in and out like a pair of wolves snapping at their prey. Every time one went at him they drew him further away from the flag, and soon enough one would have room to slip in.
Reggie was closest to Flynn, not too far from the edge of the stage, so she charged at him.
He gave a girlish scream as Flynn jumped onto his back with a battle cry, taking him down. She sat up triumphantly, just in time to watch Alex tag Luke, who had just managed to grab the flag. Luke gave a frustrated yell.
"Yes! That's what you get for slamming a very hard door in my face you ass!" Alex snatched the flag from him, waving it in Luke's face.
Flynn just laughed, wondering if Julie had beat Carlos yet. A moment later they both loped into the room. Julie was whooping, the boys blue flag held high over her head.
Her team cheered triumphantly. Julie waved the flag in front of Luke, laughing, and Flynn watched as he tried to look annoyed with her.
"Yeah yeah, celebrate all you want. It's just round one." He crossed his arms.
Reggie spoke up. "Yeah you're not even ready for round two."
Flynn, Julie, and Alex all exchanged a look. Julie smiled at the boys.
"Bring it on."