Chapter Text
Your POV
You stood up with the crowd in the Orpheum, clapping along to the amazing performance that was Julie’s band. Song after song, you were becoming more impressed with how much Julie’s music has grown in the past couple of months. And those boys. They were amazing in their own way. Their chemistry was something that not even a textbook couldn’t explain. Every note and every word flowed together like a river and you were the delta awaiting them to pour their heart and soul into your journal.
Once you heard the bell ring, you made sure to beeline to Julie who was already making it towards her locker.
“Molina?”
Julie looked up at you, a smile spreading across her face. “Oh hey Y/N! What’s up?” Her eyes wander to the journal clutched in your hands, a pen clipped to the cover.
“I just wanted to say congratulations on killing that gig at the Orpheum.”
“Wait? You were there?”
“Of course! I had to cover the concert for the school newspaper and blog, but I doubt people are talking about Panic! because you were amazing!”
“Don’t you usually conduct those big interviews for known bands though? I mean everyone reads that section. Like that one time, you got to interview BTS? Talk about impressive.”
“Trust me, that was the hardest interview I had to set up. They are not easy to get on schedule--busy bees.”
“Did you interview Panic then?”
You tried to fight the smile that was crawling along your face. “Actually, I was thinking I could interview Julie and the Phantoms?”
From that question, Julie’s eyes went wide but instead of excitement, fear was what you read. You thought she was going to be more excited. An interview would bring good publicity for her in the music industry. Also, you wanted more than anything to meet the band that was taking the storm around town.
“My band?”
“Of course,” you answered. “Your band seems really cool.”
Julie nervously laughed. “My band? No.” She swatted the air. “I mean we’re just a small band and the guys--the guys are in Sweden! So, there’s no way they would be able to interview all the way from there.” Another nervous chuckle escaped her lips.
You only laughed along. “It’s 2020. We can always conduct a virtual interview.”
Again, Julie looked like she just saw a ghost. “Well--I mean--”
A very fashionable Flynn waltzed up to Julie, her long braids bouncing behind her. “What’s going on here?”
“Y/N here wants to do...an interview...with the band,” that last part was said through Julie’s clenched teeth.
“I was thinking a virtual one is fine,” you said to Flynn. You weren’t sure if you said the wrong things today because Flynn looked terrified as well. “Or not?”
Flynn playfully punched your arm. “Oh, you. You writer. Always writing--with your pen and keyboard. How is that short story coming along?”
“Fine, I guess. I’m supposed to submit this weekend. But the interview--”
Suddenly, Julie and Flynn began to stutter their sentences but you weren’t quite sure what they wanted to say either. It was a jumble of words, hand gestures sputters--it seemed like everyone was a little nervous today.
“It’s alright,” you said. “You don’t have to answer today. The offer’s still up if you change your mind.” You waved goodbye and left to go to the editing room.
3rd Person POV
“Someone wants to interview us?” Luke exclaimed. He hopped on the small table.
Julie made it to her garage studio to tell the boys of the exciting news if exciting was the word to describe it. If it weren’t for the non-corporeal forms of the boys, then Julie would’ve been more than happy to accept the interview. That was the perks of having a ghost band.
Reggie beamed. “That’s awesome!” The boys grinned at each other. “But who again?”
“It’s Y/N. They’re a part of the school’s newspaper and blog. Not only that, but their parents are seriously famous. They run the famous website ‘Symphony.’” She turned her laptop so the boys could read the screen. On the front page was an article and interview about 5 Seconds of Summer. “They’re known to interview the biggest music stars around. One interview can change a whole person’s life. Also, they are amazing writers, you should see their novels.”
“So you said yes, right?” Alex asked.
Julie awkwardly laughed. The smiles on the boys’ faces fell.
“About that…”
“You said no?”
“Well, it wasn’t a no! They said the offer’s still up so--
“Say yes!” the boys shouted.
Julie crossed her arms, her eyes turning into icy-cold steels. “Are you forgetting something? You guys are ghosts! They can’t see you!”
“She has a point,” Reggie said. Luke and Alex could only nod.
Julie rolled her eyes and slung her backpack over her shoulders. Before she could leave the studio, Luke ran up to stop her.
“There must be a way, right? You said it yourself that they interview the biggest stars around. If we get on that website, who knows how many managers are going to sign us.”
“Did they say we have to be there to be interviewed?” Alex asked. He fiddled with the strap of his fanny pack. “
“They said they wanted to,” Julie said.
“Well...just interview without us.”
“But don’t forget us,” Reggie said, finger gunning.
Julie huffed. “I’ll see what I can do. It’s just a lot to think about. With what happened after the Orpheum to Caleb’s stamp coming off, things are looking out.”
“For the better! Now stop worrying, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Your POV
You sat in your computer chair, typing away to finish the last portion of your short story. Your cursor blinking in and out, taunting you to type out the last word. You closed your eyes, trying to remember English words. Your fingers tapped the keys softly as if they were to act on their own. A sudden light bulb turned on in your head and you dished out the last few words to finally end the story. “And...done!”
Your dad appeared over your shoulder and ran his eyes over the portion of the story that he could see. “Uh-huh...yeah...that’s good...you’re submitting this?”
“Is it not good? I thought it was fine. It’s not my best work but it’ll do it, right?” You made sure you saved it. There was a day that you forgot to save your work and your computer turned off because you forgot to charge it the night before. You cried so much that night that even your tears couldn’t amount to the precious work that you lost.
“No no, it’s pretty good.” Your dad patted your head. “Good job kiddo.”
You swiveled around in your chair to see your dad looking through your notebook scribbled with random ideas that you usually write down throughout the day.
“You’re wanting to interview Julie? She’s the one in the band, right? With the three boys?”
You nodded. “At The Orpheum. I was planning to see if I could interview her for the website and everything. She was acting a little odd today when I asked her.”
He tossed the notebook to you. “How odd are we talking about? Like your drunk uncle odd or like you saw a ghost odd?”
“Definitely the latter. She seemed a little jittery? Nervous? I was thinking nervous. I probably came out too pushy. With everything that’s happened to her in the past year, I should’ve been more aware of how I was coming across.” You brought the notebook to your forehead. “I was being pushy! Way to go…”
“You don’t beat yourself up. I’m sure it was a misunderstanding. She was probably busy with something else. Not everyone wants to be in the spotlight. Which reminds me I have an interview with Ariana Grande lined up.” He snapped his fingers. “If you want I can set you up. She’s apparently working on a new album so you can get yourself a pretty good article.”
“I’m good. I would rather find my own interviews instead of mooching off of you or Mom. It’ll look like I’m just using you.”
“We are your parents.”
“You know what I mean! No one likes to see a child being spoiled by their CEO parents.”
Your dad made his way towards your door. “The offer’s still up!”
“Yeah...it is,” you mumbled.