iv. Wake Up

By now, Angelina is laying down on her back with her hands in the air as she reads the book. She is still reading the first chapter of the book, Hagrid has just arrived on his flying motorbike at Privet Drive to meet up with Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. They are going to leave the infant Harry on the doorstep of his aunt and uncle's home since Harry is now an orphan and has nowhere else to go.

Angelina jumps when she hears loud music play from the studio, causing her to drop the book. The book falls onto her face and she lets out a loud huff. She then poofs out of the room, letting the book fall onto the bed as she disappears. The blonde ghost poofs into the kitchen just in time to see Julie stand up from the dinner table and place a plate that was in her lap onto the table. "Julie, what is going on?" the blonde girl asks.

"I must have left the stereo on in the garage," the Molina girl replies to her family, who also asked her what the noise was. "I'll go get it," Julie says as she storms toward Angelina.

Angelina looks at the young girl with a blank expression while saying, "Really?" Julie then shoots the girl a sharp glare while marching past her. Angelina shakes her head and rolls her eyes before poofing back upstairs to continue reading the book.

•••

In the studio, the boys are playing their instruments and having a full out jam session. Julie opens the doors and sees the boys rocking out. Her mouth drops open at the sight and she storms into the studio. She makes her way over to the coffee table and stomps her feet. "Guys! Guys, stop!" Julie yells at the boys. Luke turns to the girl and continues playing while walking toward her, trying to annoy the girl in front of him.

"Enough! Stop! Cut it out!" Julie continues to shout and she uses her hand to gesture to them. Reggie stops playing when he notices Julie. Alex plays a little while longer and then he stops. Luke eventually stops after playing for a while. Alex can't help but play just a few more beats on his drums.

Julie crosses her arms and gives the three boys a disapproving look before saying, "The whole neighborhood could hear you. I thought I told you to leave."

The three boys look at Julie dumbfounded. "Wait. People can hear us play?" Luke asks as Alex stands up.

"Yes! And so did my dad and my brother!" Julie exclaims as she sharply uncrosses her hands. Reggie takes off his bass as Luke freaks out before taking off his guitar. "Not to mention my imaginary friend," Julie mutters to herself, but the boys still hear her. They just don't acknowledge what she said, due to their shock that people can hear them play. Luke and Reggie put their instruments back onto their stands.

Alex holds out his hand while saying, "W-w-wait. Wait. So, only you can see us," the boy then starts to gesture wildly, "But everyone can hear us?" Luke nods vigorously while still facing Alex, and Reggie smiles while he runs his hand over his forehead. "I mean, what kind of ghosts are we?" Alex asks his best friends as he looks toward Luke.

"Who cares, man? People can hear us play!" Luke says as he fist bumps Reggie and then Alex.

Reggie holds out his hands while saying, "We may be dead, but our music isn't." He then fist bumps Alex.

The doors to the studio open and Julie's dad walks in. Julie looks over to her the man and exclaims, "Dad!" The three boys look over to Ray, who has just entered the studio.

"Hey. Just making sure you're okay," Ray says as he throws out his hands. He then turns and looks at the instruments that have been set up in the room.

Julie turns and gestures to the CD player while saying, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just had to turn off the CD player."

She looks back at her dad and he gestures to the instruments as he says, "Wait. Is this the junk that was in the loft?"

"Junk?" Luke asks, offended. Ray walks past Reggie and over to Alex's drums. Alex moves away as Julie's dad comes near him.

Ray starts tapping his finger on Alex's drums and the boys look at him with looks of confusion. "Some of this stuff's in pretty good shape," he says before stepping on the bass drum pedal. He then starts to run his fingers along the cymbals. "Hey, maybe we can make a couple bucks," her dad suggests.

"What?" Alex asks appalled. "Yo, stop touching my drums," he tries to tell Julie's dad. When he realizes the older man can't hear him, he looks up at Julie and says, "Tell him to stop touching my drums." Luke looks at Julie and gestures to her dad with a 'hello? do something' look on his face. Julie shrugs her shoulders at the brown haired boy.

Ray walks away from the drums toward Julie and says while Luke looks at him, "I liked that song you had on." Alex is using his sleeve to wipe the fingerprints off of the cymbals of his drum set.

Luke looks back at Julie for a split second before walking over to Ray and saying, "Sweet! We're Sunset Curve." Reggie also walks over to Julie's dad and Alex walks out from behind his drum set before moving to stand next to Reggie.

Ray pushes up his sleeves and Reggie points at him while saying, "Tell your friends."

"It's just an old CD I found," Julie brushes her dad off. Alex and Luke look at the girl with offended looks on their faces while Reggie is still looking at the older man.

Her father plays with his fingers as he says, "Well, still," The drummer looks over at Ray and the lead singer of Sunset Curve glances at Julie for a second longer before looking over at the girl's dad. "It's nice that you're listening to music again," Ray tells his daughter as Alex looks at Julie and gives her a smile. "Out here you can play whatever you want," her dad says as he throws his hands out, each arm goes through Luke and Reggie's chest.

The two boys look down at one of the arms that are currently through their chests in confused wonderment. Alex turns his head when he hears the sound that is made when Ray's arms go through the other two ghosts. Ray retracts his arms as he continues talking to his daughter, "Whenever you want."

Reggie touches his chest and looks back up at Ray while saying, "Aww! That's nice!" He then chuckles and looks over his shoulder at Alex while Luke smiles as well before looking over to Julie.

"Stay out of this," Julie says to Reggie through gritted teeth.

Ray holds his hands out in a 'what' gesture as he says, "I-I'm sorry, honey. I didn't..."

Julie opens her mouth before holding out her hands and splutters, "Oh no, no, no, no. Not you. I mean... Uh... Er... You know," The Molina girl walks forward and grabs her father by the hand, dragging him to the side while continuing, "Give me a minute." The boys look after her as she drags her father away toward the entrance of the studio.

"Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey," her dad says and puts his hands on her shoulders when they stop walking. He looks into her eyes while saying, "We'll figure out this music program thing."

Julie nods her head and responds, "Thanks, dad." She puts her hand on his wrist before motioning him to leave with her thumb. He walks out of the studio and Reggie waves goodbye to him. Julie walks forward and closes the door and looks at the guys while Alex hits the drum sticks in his hand. Alex and Reggie turn to look over at Luke.

Luke holds out his hands while smiling and giddily says, "He likes our song."

"Oh yeah," Alex says as he throws up his hands. The two boys look over at him before he continues, "He doesn't count. He's a dad." He subtly nods his head.

With her hand still on the door, Julie shouts, "Why can't you guys just be normal ghosts?" Alex whips around and the three boys look at her. "Hang out at an old mansion. I hear Pasadena's nice," she retorts while throwing her left hand out to her side. "Ugh!" she grunts before opening up the door and leaves, slamming the door shut behind her.

Alex turns to the boys and sarcastically says, "I think she's warming up to us."

Reggie grins and looks up at Alex before stating, "Yeah, I've always wanted to go to Pasadena." He turns to Luke, who gives him a blank stare.

"Hmm," Alex hums.

•••

Julie is walking up the steps that lead from the studio and to her house. Luke poofs right in front of her and when the girl notices, she lets out a yell, "Aah! Stop that. I'm serious."

Luke walks toward her as he says, "Oh, I'm sorry."

Julie crosses her arms over her chest before asking, "What do you want?"

The boy quickly glances back at the studio before looking back at the girl, licking his lips and replying, "I know this is all completely insane, but you do know how rad this is? People... Actual people can hear us play."

"Yeah, it's just I've had a really, really awful day. I gotta go," Julie says as she walks past the ghost.

Luke turns around and says, "Well, I'm sorry you had a bad day," Julie looks back at the boy who continues talking while gesturing to the other two boys that are in the studio, "But three guys just found out that they had a bad twenty-five years, and then they found out that the one thing," he pauses, briefly thinking about Angelina before brushing the thought aside to emphasize, "The one thing they lived for in the first place they can still do." He slightly shakes his head before adding on, "That's pretty rad."

"You're right," Julie nods as she agrees with the boy. She shakes her head and breaks eye contact with Luke. "It's just...," Julie trails off.

"Your bad day," Luke finishes. Julie looks up at him and he whispers, "Yeah. I know." He turns and faces away from Julie as she looks down at the ground. "Look, I'm sorry we came into your life," he says when he turns back to the girl and she looks back up at him. "But...," he trails off, shaking his head. "What I just felt in there actually made me feel alive again. We all felt alive again," he declares as he throws his hands into the air and brings them back down to his side.

He looks to the studio and gestures to it before continuing while he keeps throwing his hands out, "So, you can kick us out if you want, but we're not giving up music. We can play again. That's a gift no musician would ever turn down." Julie gives him a blank look as he sighs, "You gotta know that. Clearly, your mom is into music." He gestures back to the studio when he mentions Julie's mom.

"Was," Julie corrects the ghost. She pauses for a minute before going on, "She passed away."

Luke looks at her speechless as he opens his mouth, eventually he gets some words out, "I am... so sorry."

Julie turns her head and looks at Alex when he speaks up, "Yeah, we... we didn't know." He and Reggie had snuck over to Julie and Luke while the two had been talking. Alex has his arm resting on the stone that is in front of him. He quickly looks over at Luke before glancing away.

Julie sighs and shakes her head responding, "It's alright." Alex removes his arm from the stone and Julie pauses before asking, "You guys haven't seen her anywhere, have you? From wherever you're from." She puts her hand on the stone that Alex's arm had just been on and glances at Luke.

"Um...," Alex utters as he looks over at Reggie, who shakes his head. Alex looks back over at Julie before answering her question, "No. No, I mean, you're kind of the first person we've seen." He gestures to her and then puts his hand back into the pocket of his pants. Julie nods sadly.

Reggie looks over at Alex before pointing at Julie and stating, "Yeah, but she's not dead," He scrunches up his face continuing, "So it doesn't answer her question."

"Yeah. I think she knows what we mean," Alex says sharply as he gives Reggie a look that says 'how dumb can you be?' Julie looks between the two of them. Alex notices and sighs adding, "I'm sorry for your loss." Reggie stares off into space before looking down at the ground and frowns.

Julie gives him a tight lipped smile and nods before replying, "Thanks." She looks down for a second before looking back up at the blonde drummer. "Sorry I got mad. You guys are kinda good," she says as she looks at the other two boys in the band.

Luke furrows his eyebrows and looks at Julie while asking, "Kinda?" He backs up a little and stutters, "Y-Y-You know that's like twenty-five years of rust just getting dusted off." He brushes his hand across his other one to demonstrate their music being 'dusted off.'

Alex smiles and looks over at Reggie, who nods and says, "Yeah." He quickly looks at Alex and then back to Julie before asking, "Do you play the piano too?"

"No," Julie quickly responds. "No, I don't play. That was my mom's stuff in there," she says as she gestures to the studio.

Luke smirks and turns to the two boys remarking, "No way. She's an amazing songwriter." He looks back at Julie.

She looks down at the ground and nods before reminiscing, "She was." She furrows her eyebrows and looks back at Luke questioning, "Wait. How would you know?"

Luke opens his mouth before quickly closing it. He shakes his head before licking his lips and replying, "There's a song on the piano. If it's hers..." He pauses for a minute or two before adding on, "You're mom was really talented." Julie nods her head and looks down at the ground before looking back at Alex and Reggie.

Alex looks at her and then glances down at the ground, hesitating. Julie turns to walk away but Alex speaks up, "Hey, do you know where that journal in there came from?" He looks back up at the girl, who stopped walking and turned to the blonde.

"What journal?" she asks the three boys.

Luke takes a step toward Julie and glances at the studio responding, "There's a journal on the piano next to the song that your mom wrote."

A look of confusion crosses Julie's face before she remembers and understands what they are talking about. "Oh, that journal. Don't worry about it. It's nothing but an old song journal that I found," the girl tells the three boys who were anxious to hear what the girl had to say. Alex looks at her suspiciously and Luke turns away from the girl, looking at his two best friends.

Julie goes to walk away but sighs and tells the boys, "I guess... if you need a place to stay," Luke looks over at Julie and grins while Julie finishes, "You can stay in there." The other two band members smile and Julie quickly adds, looking between the boys, "There's a bathroom in the back and a couch that turns into a bed if you still use any of that stuff."

Reggie raises his hand and shouts, "Dibs on the shower!" He smiles brightly as Julie looks over at him. Alex looks at him, giving a judgemental look and Reggie continues talking as he looks back forth at Julie and Alex, "I just really like showers and sometimes the occasional bath." Alex looks at Julie and Luke, giving them a 'what the hell' look. Luke shakes his head while Julie looks at Reggie concerned.

She shakes her head before gesturing to the boys and adding, "This... This is just too weird." They all look at her as she nods her head and lets out a quiet, "Yeah." She turns and opens the gate.

Once she is gone, Alex squeals and turns over to Reggie. Luke walks forward shaking his hand in the air in triumph while they all start to laugh. He puts both hands onto the stone and Alex leans on it. Luke reaches forward and pats Alex's chest. Alex looks back up at Luke while Reggie turns around and the three boys head back to the studio.

•••

When Julie comes back into her room, Angelina is sitting on the pouf, legs crossed, still reading the Harry Potter book. She is now reading the second chapter where the Dursleys have just decided to allow Harry to come with them when they go to the zoo for Dudley's birthday since their neighbor can't watch Harry and they don't want to leave him at the house alone. The Dursleys aren't very nice to their nephew; they make him cook their breakfast and instead of a room, Harry must sleep in the cupboard underneath the stairs.

Julie grabs pajamas before leaving the room to go to the bathroom to change out of her clothes and into her comfy pajamas. When she comes back and grabs her dream box before sitting on the bed, Angelina puts down the book and rolls up the sleeve of her sweater before asking, "So, were there actually ghosts in the studio?"

"Yes, Angie," Julie replies and Angelina shoots up straight on the pouf.

"Are they scary?" Angelina asks as she scrunches up her face and puts her hands into the air, trying to be scary.

Julie dead pans over at the blonde before sternly saying, "No, they're not scary. They're just three cute ghost boys." At Julie's response, Angelina deflates a little.

If Julie is right, and there actually are three ghost boys in the studio, then it's only a matter of time before Julie finds out that Angelina is a ghost as well. "Julsie, there is something I have to tell you," Angelina tells the girl. She should be the one to tell Julie instead of the young girl finding out on her own.

Julie looks over at the blonde before asking, "What is it?"

Angelina hesitates and looks down at the floor. She takes a deep breath before looking back up at the girl, "I'm not really an imaginary friend. I'm a ghost." Angelina doesn't miss the look of shock on Julie's face. "You have been able to see me since you were born and your mother thought it would have been best if you, and everyone you told about me, thought I was your imaginary friend.

"Your mom didn't want anyone to think that you were crazy. Once you got older, I was scared that if I told you that I'm actually a ghost, then I would scare you away. I couldn't let that happen. You mean everything to me, Julsie. Before your mother passed away, she made me promise her that I would be there for you if you ever need me and I intend on keeping that promise," the blonde confesses as tears start to fall down her face.

With a few tears escaping her eyes, Julie reassures the blonde ghost, "Angie, I would love you all the same whether you were my imaginary friend or if you're a ghost. Nothing can ever change the bond that we have. I'm glad you told me."

Angelina laughs and smiles through her tears before speaking up, "Thanks Julsie." Relief washes over the blonde at the fact that Julie isn't mad at her and that she easily accepted that Angelina is a ghost. It's quiet for a few minutes, the girls have just been sitting in the room in a comfortable silence. "So, when do I get to meet your new ghost friends?" Angelina asks the Molina girl after she stops crying and her tears have dried.

"Probably when you go back out to the studio. I'm letting them stay there," Julie responds to the girl. Angelina nods her head, letting in the fact that she has to share the studio with three boys who she has never met before in her life. This would be the first change that is happening to her since Rose died.

Julie lays onto her side and grabs her phone to text Flynn, "What would you say if I told you that there are three ghosts living in my mom's studio? And the imaginary friend that I have had since I was little is also in fact a ghost?" she says as she is typing those words out to send to Flynn. She pauses and nods her head before adding, "You'd say I'm crazy." She then deletes the message she was going to text to her best friend before tossing it onto her bed.

Julie sits up and puts her hand on her knee. She rests her head on her hand and she glances down. She then looks out the window at the studio that the ghosts are staying in. Angelina glances over her shoulder to look out at the studio. She turns back to Julie before saying, "I'll let you get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

Julie smiles at her right before Angelina poofs out of the girl's room. The blonde ghost poofs back into the studio and prepares herself to meet the new ghosts. She looks around the studio and calls out, "Hello?" When she doesn't get an answer she sighs and poofs up to the loft to continue looking through the boys' things.

•••

The next morning, Julie comes into the studio with her backpack before she heads to school. She places her backpack on the arm of the chair that is next to the door. "Guys? Guys?" she calls out as she looks around the studio. She stops when she sees the journal and the song sitting on the piano and walks toward it.

Julie spreads out the sheet music across the piano right as Angelina, who is wearing a yellow shirt and red plaid pants, poofs right next to her and says, "I'm here!"

Julie jumps and puts her hand over her chest while saying, "God, Angie! You almost gave me a heart attack."

Angelina giggles as she notices the song spread out on the piano. "Hey, is that the song your mom wrote?" she asks the Molina girl.

"Yeah," Julie says as she sits down on the bench. Angelina sits next to Julie, who lifts the piano cover and exposes the keys. She brushes her hands over the keys before she starts to play the song that her mother wrote for her.

Angelina

Here's the one thing

I want you to know

You got someplace to go

Angelina looks over at Julie as the Molina girl continues to play the song on the piano.

Life's a test, yes

But you go toe-to-toe

You don't give up, no you grow

And you use your pain

'Cause it makes you you

Though I wish i could hold you through it

Julie looks up, looking up to her mom in heaven. Angelina looks back at the song, continuing to sing the next lyrics.

I know it's not the same

You got living to do

And I just want you to do it

Julie stops playing the piano and looks over at Angelina, who continues to sing.

So get up, get out

Relight that spark

You know the rest by heart

Julie looks away from the blonde and resumes playing the piano.

Wake up, wake up

If it's all you do

Look out, look inside of you

The sun starts to shine into the studio as the two girls start to sing together.

Angelina & Julie

It's not what you lost

It's what you'll gain

Raising your voice to the rain

Wake up your dream and make it true

Look out, look inside of you

It's not what you lost

Relight that spark

Time to come out of the dark

Wake up

Wake up

Angelina stops singing and lets the Molina girl take the next part of the song. She looks over at her latina friend's daughter, who is relighting the spark she has for music.

Julie

Better wake those demons

Just look them in the eye

No reason not to try

Life can be a mess

I won't let it cloud my mind

I'll let my fingers fly

And I use the pain

'Cause it's part of me

Julie looks over at Angelina and smiles. The ghost smiles back at the girl, who then turns back to the piano.

And i'm ready to power through it

Gonna find the strength

Find the melody

'Cause you showed me how to do it

Julie stops playing the piano and continues to sing.

Get up, get out

Relight that spark

You know the rest by heart

She then resumes playing the song, pressing her fingers across the keys.

Wake up, wake up

If it's all you do

Look out, look inside of you

Angelina nods her head and taps her foot as Julie sings.

It's not what you lost

It's what you'll gain

Raising your voice to the rain

Wake up your dream and make it true

Look out, look inside of you

It's not what you lost

Relight that spark

Time to come out of the dark

Wake up

Julie starts to stand up as she continues to play the piano. Angelina looks up at the girl, a smile spreading across her face.

Wake up

Angelina stands up as well and Julie looks over to her. The two girls then start to sing together again.

Angelina & Julie

So, wake that spirit, spirit

I wanna hear it, hear it

No need to to fear it, you're not alone

You're gonna find your way home

They belt out that last note as Angelina raises her hands out to her sides and closes her eyes. Julie stops playing and raises her hands in the air.

Wake up, wake up

If it's all you do

Julie then starts to play the piano again, her fingers dancing across the keys.

Look out, look inside of you

It's not what you lost

It's what you'll gain

Raising your voice to the rain

The three ghost boys have just appeared back at the studio from being out all night. They are standing behind the two girls, watching them sing with surprised looks on all three of their faces.

Wake up your dream and make it true

Look out, look inside of you

When you feel lost

Relight that spark

Time to come out of the dark

Wake up

The two girls sit back down on the piano bench. Angelina stops singing so that Julie can finish the song.

Julie

Mm-mm, wake up

When Julie stops playing, she sighs happily. Angelina laughs and claps her hands together before saying, "Julsie, that was amazing! I knew you still had music in you!" Julie picks up the last page of the song and at the bottom finds a note from her mom. The note reads: 'Julie, you can do it, Angelina will be there with you every step of the way ♡'. Julie hugs the music sheet to her chest while Angelina looks at the girl with a smile as a few tears slip from her eyes. Behind the girls, the boys look back and forth at each other, surprised at the sight of Angelina and the fact that Julie lied to them about playing the piano.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey guys!! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please leave feedback to let me know if you guys like this book. I hope you guys are having a great week!