Chapter Text
There’s a scene change to Trevor Wilson’s mansion.
“Is that what your house looks like?” Katherine asks. She and Simon lock eyes and scowl. It was one thing to know that he made money off the dead boys, but another to see the manifestation on screen.
Trevor who looks close to throwing up, nods shakily and avoids eye-contact.
Inside the mansion is a giant mural of Trevor’s face as Luke walks around the room. He sees the guitar and scoffs.
“Ridiculous,” Laura mutters.
Emily frowns and exchanges a glance with Mitchell. “Is that the guitar we gave you?”
There’s silence as Trevor winces. “Yes.”
“What?” Luke bolts upright and goes right to the screen, staring at the guitar. “Is that my guitar?”
“Not your favourite,” Mitchell answers quietly. “But we’d given it to him, for comfort.”
Luke stares for a moment. He remembers when he got the guitar as if it was yesterday. Alex, Reggie and Bobby had all chipped in and bought it as a present for his sixteenth birthday. He knew which guitar his dad was talking about – the one he and mom had bought Luke when he started guitar lessons at eight. But the one on the screen, behind a glass case, surrounded by records he wrote but didn’t perform, that one was his favourite guitar.
“Bobby’s house is ridiculous,” Alex says, Luke and Reggie still looking around. “Have you seen these platinum records?”
“Platinum records,” Andrea says numbly. Her baby’s work is a platinum record.
“Platinum?” Reggie asks.
Luke looks at a platinum record. “He recorded ‘My Name Is Luke’! My name is Luke!”
“What the fuck?” Katherine shouts. “No.” She shoves her mom’s hand off her shoulder and turns to Bobby. “What the actual fuck?”
He cringes back, trying to sink further into the couch. “No!” she barks and marches over, to pull him up. “You don’t get to hide now! You’ve been hiding from us, from this for twenty-five years! What the hell is that? ‘I signed an NDA that couldn’t reveal your names’ my ASS!”
“Honey,” Paul says, as she starts to shake him. “Katherine, let go of him, okay?”
She’s panting heavily but releases him. Bobby goes to speak but she shoots him a glare so visceral that he sinks back down.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbles. No one responds.
Before they can react further, Trevor Wilson comes through the front door. “It’s him!” Reggie points. They all run over to watch him.
“Hey, Carrie,” Trevor calls, “I’m gonna meditate.”
Carrie tries to hide her eye-roll.
“He wears sunglasses indoors,” Reggie says.
Lola breaks the increasing tension with a laugh. She smiles at Reggie. “I love that that’s your bar.”
Reggie shrugs. “There’s just something off about people wearing sunglasses inside. Like, what are you hiding?”
Carrie responds. “I’m in the den!”
“Cool.” Trevor goes up stairs.
“I can’t stand him,” Reggie says firmly.
Reggie nods minutely. Both Luke and Alex catch it and exchange glances. Despite Bobby’s confession after the initial reveal, and the shades of grey it unleashed, there’s still something uncomfortably frustrating about what he got out of it.
All of Bobby’s rooms have pictures of himself, autographed with platinum records and awards. Guitars that he probably never played displayed behind glass and songs he didn’t write lorded world-wide as masterpieces.
It would be easier, they all think, if Bobby was still seventeen. If he was still the Bobby they remember.
“Time for his past to haunt him,” Luke declares, following Trevor up the stairs. Reggie agrees and they both run upstairs.
There’s an odd energy. No one truly wants to admit that they want to see what the boys end up doing, but they subconsciously lean forward to watch anyway. Carrie has moved away from her dad completely. He seems small, but knowing what she knows now, she can’t help but believe that she’s finally seeing him for real.
“Wait!” Alex calls. Luke and Reggie turn around questioningly. “Let’s not rush this. You know, it’s my… It’s my first time haunting someone.” Reggie exchanges a look with Luke as Alex exhales slowly and states, “I wanna make it special.”
Willie laughs, throwing his head back and curling into Alex. Alex blushes and buries his head in his hands.
“You get what I meant,” he mumbles.
Luke and Reggie stare before continuing up. “That was weird. Okay.” Alex mutters before following them.
The scene changes to Julie and Flynn outside the mansion.
“What are you up to?” Victoria asks, eyeing Julie and Flynn suspiciously. They grin awkwardly whilst Carrie grimaces.
They’re trying to be sneaky, but Flynn stumbles and almost falls. Generally, they are not being quiet.
Carlos giggles as he watches his sister on the screen. He isn’t going to say it aloud, but he likes how silly Julie is onscreen. After mom died, she’d become quiet and serious, but ever since the boys came, she’s becoming more and more herself. And he really likes that.
They ring the doorbell and Carrie opens the door. They greet her awkwardly.
Carrie’s sigh is audible to the entire room.
“What are you two doing here?” Carrie asks. “How’d you get over the security gate?”
“No, but genuinely, why did you climb over the security gate?” Carrie asks as Ray starts eyeing Julie’s palms worriedly.
“Would you have let us in?” Flynn asks with a grin.
Carrie goes pink and turns away without a response.
“Teamwork,” Julie laughs awkwardly. “Do you have a Band-Aid? The barbed wire’s new.”
“Why do you have barbed wire?” Julie asks.
Carrie shrugs, glances at her catatonic dad, and responds, “Fans.”
Julie nods. She and her dad had started having discussions about protection and media responses if she tried to go big. Not just for herself, but for her dad and her aunt and her brother.
Carrie isn’t impressed. “What do you want?”
Flynn and Julie panic, and Flynn clumsily explains. “Just thought you should know that Julie’s band is playing at the dance tonight.” There’s more uncomfortable laughter as Julie agrees.
“Wouldn’t she already know that?” Lola asks, smiling. There’s something amusing about teenagers in the 21st century. They seem so different yet so similar. She’s glad that no matter what, Reggie gets to experience that again.
“You guys are acting weirder than usual,” Carrie says.
“Probably because we’re thirsty. Can we come in for a glass of water?” Julie asks.
Carrie sighs again.
“What?” Tyler chuckles.
Julie sheepishly shrugs. “I just needed to get into the house.”
“Ugh! Fine, if it’ll make you leave faster.” Carrie lets them in. “Don’t break anything,” she warns before walking away. Julie and Flynn scurry off.
“Okay,” Katherine says, “I get why they wanted to get into the house, but why did you actually let them in?”
Carrie’s pink cheeks flare red. “I may not like them, but I’m not that mean.”
Katherine and Lola exchange knowing smiles.
They walk through the room, looking around as Carrie clinks around in the background.
“Where are you?” Julie asks aloud.
“Great job,” Alex says, “Talk to yourself in front of people.”
“Shut up,” Julie mumbles, knowing what happens.
“Um… I’m right here?” A voice says. Julie and Flynn slowly turn around to reveal Nick on the couch, watching them.
Reggie and Carlos burst into laughter.
Julie blushes even as her dad raises his eyebrows.
“Why did he think you were looking for him?” Alex asks, amused.
“Better than thinking we’re looking for ghosts?” Julie responds.
Flynn and Julie chuckle awkwardly. “Flynn, look, it’s Nick. Nickster, Nickey-poo, Nick-a-licious.” Nick smiles widely as Julie whispers, “Make it stop.”
Luke laughs as Julie shoves his shoulder in embarrassment.
Carrie smiles behind her hands. She had missed all this when she was in the kitchen, and knowing the context makes it funnier. She’s still upset about Nick, but it seems less and less like Julie had anything to do with it. Maybe Nick didn’t like her anymore.
“Hey!” Flynn greets forcefully. “Glad you’re here, Nickey-poo.”
Julie shoots Flynn a thankful smile to which Flynn just shrugs.
Julie looks at her. “We wanted to tell you that Julie’s band is playing at the dance.”
“Oh yeah. No. I – I saw your post.” Nick sits up.
“Why is this so awkward?” Tyler asks loudly, wincing when Lola jabs him in the ribs.
“These girls bothering you, babe?” Carrie asks from the kitchen.
“Yes,” Carlos jokes.
As she walks over carrying glasses of water, Nick tells her, “No, just telling us about the dance tonight.”
“Okay, but the fact that you actually got us water,” Flynn grins. Carrie blushes, scowls and kicks at her ankles.
“Right,” Carrie snarks, “Julie and her hologram band are playing.” She hands them their water and asks, “How’d you learn how to do all that hologram stuff anyways?”
“I find it amazing how little people asked you about it,” Andrea comments. “You would think you’d be more popular, especially with the supposed holograms.”
“Exactly!” Carrie gestures.
“That is true,” Laura agrees. “The fact that no one else has brought it up is astounding.”
Julie just shrugs. Flynn is in charge of marketing, and the boys barely understand texting let alone social media.
“The internet,” Julie replies. “It’s not just full of makeup tips.”
Ray makes a noise that sounds disappointed.
“Sorry,” Julie mumbles.
Carrie shrugs and then says, “Your mom taught me actually.” Julie nods sadly. Rose would sit with Julie and Carrie at her vanity and go through each step multiple times.
Carrie glares at them. Nick seems to notice something amiss as he asks, “What do… what do you say, babe?”
“He’s quite passive, isn’t he?” Laura mumbles to Andrea quietly.
“Sure,” Carrie agrees forcefully as she sits beside Nick, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. “Let’s check out the hologram show.”
“Great. I’ll make sure all my buddies are there.”
“He’s definitely not reading the room,” Katherine says with a smile.
“Ooh, how exciting!” Carrie’s voice has a condescending edge. “That’s a lot of people staring at you.” Julie clears her throat. “You girls remember where the door is, right?”
“Honestly, I’m surprised you didn’t walk us to the door,” Flynn jokes.
Carrie rolls her eyes fondly.
“Yeah,” Julie says before accidentally spilling her water on the carpet. Carrie stares at it, annoyed.
“I cannot believe you did that,” she moans, rubbing her forehead.
“At least it wasn’t juice,” Carlos points out. “I spill juice on Tia Victoria’s carpet all the time.”
“You what?”
Nick awkwardly chuckles as Julie apologies. Carrie rolls her eyes and goes to stand up. Julie holds out a hand to stop her. “I know where the towels are.”
“How?” Lola asks.
Julie replies without looking at the Wilson’s, “I used to come around the house all the time.”
Although she and Carrie’s relationship soured quickly, Julie remembered what happened before. Knowing what she knows now, she has a feeling that when her mom and Trevor had their massive fight, it was about Sunset Curve. Her mom didn’t want Julie going around Trevor’s house alone anymore, and that’s when Julie and Carrie’s friendship began to crumble.
Carrie holds her palms out in surrender as Julie hands her glass over to Flynn.
Flynn holds both glasses as Julie leaves, spilling more water. Carrie is not impressed. “Can you imagine if this was cranberry juice?” Flynn says in the background as Julie creeps over to the stairs.
“You are holding it together quite well,” Simon tells Carrie, impressed.
She smiles and then says with a glance at her dad, “I’ve had practice.”
“Guys,” she whispers, going up the stairs, Flynn’s chatter still audible. “For your sake, you better not be up here.”
The scene changes to Trevor’s meditation where he’s lighting candles and praying. He then sits down in a meditation position and hums.
Now that he’s back on the screen, Bobby moves into a more comfortable position. Watching his daughter on screen, alone in the big house with this big secret coming to light makes him swallow sadly.
He doesn’t want to watch this anymore. He wants to go home and curl up in bed until the dread and the fear and the shame is tucked tightly back into the box in his chest. He needs to talk to Dr Crystal, no doubt about that, but he’s gonna have to tell him everything. There’s no way he can bury this again.
There’s a squelching noise and he grimaces in disgust as he pokes at his ear.
“Did you just stick your finger in his ear?” Katherine asks dryly.
The boys grin sheepishly, Luke’s cheeks turning slightly red. He can see Emily and Mitch frowning and deliberately doesn’t look at them. They don’t understand the anger that had and still is bubbling in his chest whenever he thinks of this revelation and this day entirely.
The boy’s aren’t visible. He then exhales slowly and hums again, when a mysterious wind blows out the candles and shakes the wind chimes.
“That’s so cool!” Carlos excitedly says.
“Knowing the ghosts are real makes me nervous for some of the unexplainable situations in my life,” Tyler mumbles to Lola who nods in agreement. If they think about it in a ‘Reggie’ context, it’s an elaborate prank, because remembering he’s a ghost brings a sudden chill. (what else can he do?)
He stops, then the radio starts to play the opening chords of a rock song. He gets up and turns it off, walks away, it turns back on, and he turns it off again, annoyed.
“Was that an important song or was it already in the player?” Katherine asks with interest.
“Bit of both,” Luke replies. “That’s the opening chords to ‘My Name is Luke’, but it was already in the slot.”
Then the shower starts running. “Carrie?” he asks, going to investigate.
He knocks on the shower door before looking inside and turning the shower off. There’s a squeaking noise, that is shown to be a steamed mirror where the words ‘hello Bobby’ appear.
“That’s fucking terrifying,” Katherine says bluntly.
“Katherine!” Paul snaps, speaking for the first time in a while.
Katherine rolls her eyes at Alex and Simon who both grin. “What? It is! If someone knew my secret name and wrote it on the mirror, I would be terrified!”
Carrie rests her hand on Trevor’s knee, feeling the slight tremble.
Trevor’s stunned, groans and makes a run for it, slamming into the closed door. He tries to open it, and the perspective changes to show the boys laughing as Alex holds the door shut.
“Huh.”
The boys don’t look guilty, instead grinning when their parents aren’t looking at them. Willie smiles and nudges Alex’s side, “I see my tricks are coming in handy.”
Alex blushes and elbows his back. “I guess,” he mumbles.
Trevor continues to struggle, before yelling, “Let… me… out!” and Alex lets go of the door. He stumbles out of the room, panicked. Luke and Reggie giggle as Alex shushes them, watching as Trevor leaves. They high-five.
Willie watches the haunting with interest. Having been with Caleb for over three decades, he has some experience with hauntings. It’s never been something he’s been interested in personally, but back when it was him and Caleb, before the glamour and the fame, he used to help Caleb with some of his clients. Unlike the boys, Caleb always seemed precise and malicious when he executed his plans. It was a source of income that should be done as efficiently as possible.
Trevor runs down the stairs, chanting ‘no, no, no’. “Trevor, nothing Dr Crystal can’t handle.” Flynn is still talking in the background. He walks by and tells Carrie, “I’m gonna see my therapist, okay? Okay.”
Carrie mutters to herself, completely done with the situation as the helicopter starts in the background.
“Hold on,” Andrea raises her hand and the screen pauses. She turns to Trevor and Carrie. “Do you just leave her alone a lot?”
“Not all the time,” Carrie defends. “I’m old enough to be alone for a few hours.”
Andrea remains skeptical, eyeing the cowering man with a cool stare.
The boys appear in time to watch the helicopter fly away. They look disappointed, then Reggie suggests, “Quick! Let’s moon him before he gets too far away.”
“You didn’t!” Flynn cackles, slapping Julie’s shoulder as they stifle their giggles.
“He can’t see us,” Alex says.
“Oh, it’s not for him, bro.” Luke responds. “It’s for us.”
Then they all moon him, including Alex.
Alex hides his head in his hands as everyone laughs. Willie nudges him with a twinkling eye, as Flynn shakes Julie’s shoulder. Reggie looks proud and Luke unrepentant despite the disapproving frown his mom his giving him.
Carlos turns to Ray who cuts him off with a stern “No.”
“I didn’t even say anything!”
“No.”
Carrie side-eyes her dad who has stilled again, like a prey animal trying to avoid a predator. Gently, she rests her hand on his knee, and he squeezes it with a relieved smile.
Back inside, Flynn is still talking, this time about a raccoon,
“Genuinely, how are you still talking?” Lola laughs.
Carrie giggles. “This explains so much. You missed her reciting word-for-word the speech from Radio Rebel.”
“Debbie Ryan is an inspiration!”
“What’s Radio Rebel?” Luke whispers. The boys shrug.
when Julie comes downstairs, gesturing outside. Flynn tried to redirect Carrie and Nick’s attention by sitting in the middle of them to show them a photo.
Flynn grins at the disgruntled look on Carrie’s face, turning to stick her tongue out at the girl, only to see her smiling fondly.
Julie goes outside as the boys finish mooning.
Victoria and Ray sigh in relief when the boys pulled their pants up before Julie could see. Julie scowls at the boys playfully who still don’t regret it.
“Worth it,” Reggie tells everyone solemnly.
“So, did you guys have fun in there?”
Luke pulls his pants up as he says, “You’d do the exact same thing if he stole all your songs.”
“Maybe,” Julie shrugs. “Probably not that exact same way. I wouldn’t moon him.”
“You don’t know that.” Luke replies with a grin.
“Yes I do,” Julie says dryly.
“But you have new songs. With me.” The boys don’t say anything, so Julie continues. “The best way to get back at Trevor is for this band to do great. And to do great, we have to play at dances, then clubs.”
Julie sighs forlornly, knowing what happens next. Everything had happened so quickly. If they’d found out earlier, or afterwards, the situation would’ve been different. But back then, Julie hadn’t been as sympathetic, just nervous for the performance. What would she have done, if Flynn stole her songs and published them under her own name?
“And tours. I know.” Luke agrees, walking over to her.
“I’ll see you guys at the school. We go on a nine. Please don’t be late. There’s gonna be a lot of people there,” Julie begs.
The boys all exchange guilty glances and then turn simultaneously to Julie to give her apologetic puppy-dog eyes. She smiles back softly and mouths ‘it’s okay’. It was just a complicated, uncommunicative situation. She is going to take it out on Caleb like a mature person.
“We got it, all right?” Alex replies. “Don’t worry.”
‘Sorry’ Alex mouths again. Julie rolls her eyes fondly and leans over Luke to pat him on the shoulder.
Julie sighs and walks away.
“I don’t care what Julie says,” Reggie says immediately. “I’m glad we scared Bobby. Wish we’d done more, like… like written ‘thief’ on his forehead.” Alex grins and nods.
Despite knowing that something had, or is going to, happen, Katherine still laughed. “I really do love that your idea of revenge is still very PG. I’m sure if other ghosts were in your position, they would’ve been more violent.”
Everyone turns to look at Willie who nods grimly. “I’ve met a few ghosts who found out they were wronged and turned angry. It’s quite scary to witness.” Alex comfortingly rests his hand in the small of his back.
“And, Alex, how did you shut the door earlier?” Luke asks. “You could barely open a garage door.”
“Learned that from your new friend, Willie, didn’t ya?” Reggie says, knowingly.
Everyone giggles at that. Alex and Willie exchange flushed glances. Paul, who has been silent for a long time, tries not to scowl. He can ignore it in here, even though he could seem them cuddled together from his peripheral, but having it blatantly brought up on the screen made it difficult.
Andrea saw the slight flinch her husband gave and rolled her eyes. Back then, Andrea had been passive in Paul homophobia. Passive in the ‘I agree but he is my son’ way. But now, she’s tired and she has Alex back and she will not let Paul drive him away again.
“Be quiet,” she hisses and turns away before he can respond.
“Well,” Alex smiles, smug, “he taught me some things and we screamed in a museum.” Luke looks at him. “It’s a long story.”
“Sorry,” Luke says, “I was just uncomfortable learning about your sex life.”
Alex goes bright red and launches a cushion at Luke. “Shut up!”
“You think he has a few more tricks up his sleeve?” Luke asks.
Alex shrugs. “Let’s find out.”
“What would you want to learn?” Tyler asks with interest.
The boys shrug. “Just more tricks we could use to scare him,” Reggie suggests. “Maybe a way to make the lights flicker or get him to hear us without seeing us. Y’know?”
The scene changes to a park where Willie is skateboarding past some police officers writing tickets to alive skateboarders. The boys appear as Willie rolls up to them.
“How did you know he was there?” Flynn asks with her eyebrow wiggle.
“It was quite funny,” Reggie grins. “It was like watching a dog follow a scent.”
“Why would you phrase it like that?” Alex mumbles, face a permanent red.
“What’s up man? You brought friends,” he greets. He and Alex do a handshake.
“Are you pretending not to be in love?” Julie giggles.
“That was the straightest thing I’ve seen any of them do,” Flynn agrees.
“Yeah. These are my band mates, Luke and Reggie.”
“Cool, I’m Willie,” he says, fist bumping them both. “So… you guys here to learn some ‘tricks’?” He wiggles his fingers and points at the police vehicles, setting off the alarms. As the officers check their vehicles, the two skaters leave. The sirens stop and the police look for the skaters.
“Woah,” Simon says, leaning forward. “Is that an easy thing to do?”
“Fairly,” Willie says, sitting up straighter. “The teleportation that you saw at the beginning is the easiest. Then, the summoning of objects does get harder. As you saw, they could summon and hold their instruments easily but struggled with other stuff. Then the door trick that Alex did. It all requires a level of concentration and practice.”
“Do it again! Do it again!” Reggie chants.
Luke slaps Reggie’s chest and says, “Actually, we were thinking a little bigger.” He elaborates, “An old band mate stole from us. We wanna confront him face-to-face.”
Trevor flinches and sighs. Having had the confrontation now, it seems less daunting, but the determination Luke has on the screen makes him nervous. They were (and still are) angry, rightfully so, and he doesn’t know how to fix it.
Willie takes off his helmet. “Alright. Is this old friend of yours a lifer?”
“Lifer?” Emily murmurs.
“Oh,” Alex jumps in, “that’s fancy ghost lingo for the living.” He looks proud as he whispers to Reggie, “Little something I picked up.” Willie smiles.
“Aww,” Flynn and Julie say together. Reggie and Luke pulling exaggerated and mocking faces, fluttering their eyelashes and pursing their lips.
“Oh God,” Alex mumbles again.
Willie doesn’t look embarrassed at all. Just proud and fond like always.
“Ah! Then, yeah! He’s a lifer. Too much of a fancy-pants for street dogs.” Reggie says.
“Reggie, that’s adorable,” Flynn tells him.
“Thank you.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry,” Willie replies, “Speaking to lifers is even out of my league.” They are all silent, as Willie thinks and then says, “You know, there is one ghost who might be able to help you guys. He’s kinda a big deal.”
Almost immediately, there is a notable drop of energy in the room. The boys and Julie exchange uneasy glances, whilst Willie shuffles uncomfortably.
“Literally, anything would help,” Luke says.
“Oh, alright. Well, um, I gotta go take care of some things, but I’ll meet you where Alex and I met, eight o’clock.” Luke nods in agreement. Willie smiles and skates away.
“Aww,” Katherine whispers under her breath.
The boys vanish.
The school dance has started, and Flynn is DJing. “Do we have any Bobcats in the house?!” The students cheer. “Everyone make some noooise!” They cheer again. “Okay, okay, okay. Not too much noise. There’s an anger management meeting down the hall.” They laugh.
“You’re very good with a crowd,” Laura says with a small smile. She’s been quiet, enjoying watching her son and his friends, on and off the screen. Reggie seems happier than he’s ever been before and watching him interact with Julie and Flynn makes her smile. She’s going to try this time.
“Look at that girl.” Tyler points out, everyone following his finger to the girl dressed as a Bobcat dancing at the front.
“Why would they have an anger management meeting at the same time as a dance?” Lola asks.
Julie makes her way through the crowd and waves to Flynn who goes to talk to her.
“How you feeling?”
“I’m a little nervous.”
The boys wince again.
“You’ll be fine,” Flynn tells her, “All your gear’s backstage. Come on.” They go backstage.
Flynn waits for Julie to appear. “Oh my gosh, you look amazing!”
“You really do,” Luke says quietly. Julie smiles softly and pats his hand.
They hug as Julie thanks her. “It’s my mom’s. I finally went through her stuff.”
Ray rubs her shoulder whilst Victoria rested a hand in the crook of her elbow. Carlos took in the outfit, desperately trying to remember his mom wearing it.
“She would’ve loved that you wore that.”
They smile and then Flynn asks, “Are the guys here?”
“No, but they will be. They know how important this is to me.”
Reggie lets out a nervous goat-like laugh.
Mysterious music plays as a massive mansion is shown.
“Where the hell is that?” Katherine asks.
Willie appears in his fancy suit and shorts, hair in a bun,
There’s a wolf-whistle and Luke nudges Alex in the stomach. Willie smiles as Alex nods in agreement. “You look great,” he murmurs.
“Thanks,” Willie replied softly.
leading the boys into the members only area. The boys are not dressed up.
“Woah. So, this is where your hotshot ghost lives, huh?” Luke says.
“How does that work?” Katherine asks. “Is there a ghost economy?”
“Yeah, we’ve walked past the hotel like a million times. How come we’ve never heard of it?” Alex asks.
“That’s because this area has been sealed off for decades,” Willie tells them. “I mean, you wouldn’t even know this place exists unless you’re invited.” Alex looks very happy.
There’s some muffled laughter at the look on Alex’s face.
“Alright. I gotta go make sure everything’s cool, but I’ll be right back.” He leaves.
Reggie looks at ‘The Hollywood Ghost Club Members Only’ sign, then they all go to look out over the balcony. “Hollywood ghost club? This place is creepy.”
The present boys all nod frantically. Willie looks put out and guilty. Julie looks sad.
“Yeah, well, so are we,” Alex replies.
“Really embracing the ghostliness, huh?” Simon laughs.
Willie is seen pacing and muttering quietly to himself in a dark room. “Just ask him…” he is muttering.
“Are you okay?” Victoria asks, eyeing the tense lines of Willie pressed against Alex, and the way he paces on screen.
Caleb comes down the stairs, shrouded in shadows.
“He looks evil,” Carlos says. The band exchanges awkward glances behind his back.
“Oh, hey, um…” Willie stammers in greeting. “Caleb, I brought those ghosts I met? Um, it’s… it’s still cool they’re here, right?”
All the adults look at each other, concerned. Willie may be older than he looks, but he’s still a child, and the way he acts around this man, and the reaction from the other boys, makes them weary.
“Were you in trouble?” Alex asks worriedly, hand pulling Willie into his side.
“I was okay,” Willie replies.
“Of course, William,” Caleb says, stirring his tea. “I even reserved a special table for them.” He takes a sip.
“William,” Flynn mocks to Carrie quietly. Carrie hides a smile behind her hand.
“Didn’t like the way he said that” Laura says to Emily and Andrea who both nod. They all turn to their sons worriedly.
“Woah!” Willie looks excited. “Alright! Thank you!”
“No. No. Thank you,” Caleb says.
“Hate him,” Luke mumbles.
Willie chuckles lightly, makes to leave in the wrong direction before correcting himself.
Willie winces, but no one laughs. They are all tense watching the interaction.
Ominous music plays as Caleb goes back upstairs, chuckling evilly.
“Was he even trying to hide it?” Alex burst out. “It’s so obvious!” Willie flinches and makes to move away, but Alex grabs him. “I don’t blame you; you have to know that.”
“But I was with him for years and didn’t notice.”
“Willie,” Ray says softly, “Whatever has happened, isn’t your fault. He’s the adult.”
“I’m an adult!” Then he sits down but doesn’t lean into Alex. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Everyone is tense and nervous as the next episode starts.