Finally Free -- JATP Luke x MaleOC

When Julie had arrived home from school, Luke and the others were already rehearsing for tonight. Julie had quickly put her schoolwork away, changed into more comfortable clothing, and went down to join the boys in the garage.

"Alright boys, the party starts tonight at eight," Julie said, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Which means we've got about four hours to make sure we've got this song solid."

"Already ahead of you boss," Luke said with a smirk. "We've been running this thing all morning."

"Let's hear it then."

And so the next two hours were spent rehearsing Edge of Great so that it would be perfect come tonight's gig. There was just one part that sounded a little off to them and no one could figure it out.

"Argh, I don't get it!" Luke exclaimed in frustration. "What is going on, it sounded just fine earlier!"

"I think you modulated up a half-step around the bridge."

The entire band whirled around to look at the garage door, where Jay's voice had come from. As Jay set down his backpack, Julie dropped her microphone and ran to him, enveloping him in a hug before he could stand straight again. Luke watched with an endearing look in his eyes as Jay lifted Julie slightly off her feet, a hand resting on her head while the other supported her.

"You're acting like we didn't see each other at school, Juju," Jay said as the two of them released each other.

"You haven't been here in so long," Julie said. "What brought you back?"

Jay smiled at her, his eyes meeting Luke's. Luke smiled back at him as Julie turned around to face him, the connection forming in her brain.

"Okay," Julie said, her voice higher pitched as she turned back to Jay with a large smile. "I see you, Jay."

Jay scoffed and turned her back around, putting an arm on her shoulder as they walked to the band.

"Hey boys," Jay greeted, looking at each of the phantoms in turn, eyes finally landing on Reggie. "Uncle Reggie just sounds weird."

"It's even weirder hearing it," Reggie agreed, still reeling from the fact that Jay was standing in front of their eyes in the studio.

It took Luke a while to know for sure, but Jay was different. His eyes seemed hollow and dark, his smiles were tense, his voice an inch above a monotone. Luke's face had changed from one of elation to more serious and concerned, something that Alex was quick to notice.

"What's up with you?" Alex asked lowly to Luke as Jay and Reggie moved to converse with Julie.

"He's not back," Luke mumbled, staring at Jay.

"He's literally right there."

"Yeah, but he's not back back." Luke sighed. "He's not the same guy he was."

"Would you after what happened?"

Luke said nothing to Alex's question.

"He's still the same guy," Alex said with full confidence. "We just need to bring the real him out again."

"And how do we do that, genius?"

"Like this."

Alex stuck his hands in his pockets and turned to the conversing trio in front of them, calling out to Jay.

"What was that you said about modulation?"

"Luke, your hands were a little too far up the neck on the bridge segment," Jay answered quickly, looking at the guitarist. "Everything was off by a fret, basically. Try moving it back down."