♫♪ •👻• ♪♫

THE SONG NUMBER FINISHES WITH the lights fading out and Caleb reappearing at the table. "That was amazing!" I compliment Caleb as he takes his seat.

"Yes. It was. Wasn't it," Caleb agrees cockily.

"How can I learn to do all that?" I ask gesturing to the now-empty stage.

"Well, I've had some practice. I can help teach you how to control and explore it if you're willing. Our gifts are so rare, so special. And if I'm honest I've never met another spirit who possesses such similar talents. It's no surprise we found each other," Caleb tells me with the same grin he's had all evening.

"I would love to! Yes," I reply, looking forward to seeing what I can do.

"Shall we get started on lessons tomorrow?" Caleb asks.

"That would be great! Thank you," I reply as Willie and I get up from our seats.

"Good, we'll talk about what I get in return later. Until we meet again," Caleb says, tipping his hat and vanishing.

I link my arm with Willies as we walk up the steps to leave. "Why were you so weird about me meeting him? This is going to be awesome!" I tell him with a smile.

"Oh, nothing. I was just being paranoid," Willie replies with a sigh as we teleport to our next destination.

⋙♫♪ •👻• ♪♫⋘

Three weeks later...

"Alright. Let's see how far your powers go. Try to make these nice ladies here visible to the living," Caleb suggests, gesturing to the four females dressed in bedazzled bodysuits and big colorful feathers that stick out from behind them.

"Alright," I take the challenge before turning to look at a brunette male sitting at a table across the room. I turn back to the females remembering what Caleb has taught me and concentrating on making them visible. I turn to see the male looking straight at them in awe.

"Well done. You seem to have that down now," Caleb says proudly as Willie and I high-five.

"That's great. That would have been really embarrassing if it didn't work. I've been practicing a lot," I say with a shy grin.

"I can tell," Caleb says. He pauses as he thinks for a moment before looking back at me. "Have you tried to make anything else visible by chance?" He asks.

"Like what?" I ask.

"Like something that isn't actually there." He replies.

He watches and steps closer as I think as I shake my head. "Can I do that?" I ask.

"It's possible. I've never seen it happen other than myself but I think it's worth a try." Caleb tells me. "Here. Picture... a flower in your hair. Right, here." He suggests tucking some blond hair away from my face, behind my ear.

I tear my eyes away from his intimidating ones. I concentrate on a flower becoming visible. I try a few more times but nothing happens. "It's not working. I can't do it," I sigh, losing confidence in my abilities.

" Try again. This time, don't focus on a flower just appearing. Think of the details. The petals, the color, the size. The rest will follow along. Just remember what I taught you," Caleb replies.

I take a deep breath before closing my eyes and picturing a single white rose, my favorite, tucked in my hair. I picture it slowly blooming, the petals peeling away from each other to reveal a gorgeous rose. I open my eyes to see Caleb's grin even bigger as he looks at me. "Did it work?" I ask.

"Woah," I hear Willie mutter from a few feet away.

"Take a look for yourself," Caleb replies turning me to look into the mirror. Resting on my head is a flower crown of white roses in bloom. Behind me is Caleb. His eyes admire the crown as I smile at him. I reach up to brush my fingers against the petals but my hand passes right through them. "Interesting," Caleb says as the crown fades into nothing.

"I want to do that again," I say turning to look Caleb in the eyes.

"And in time you'll be able to do more," He says. "Victoria, take a seat with me. We'll be right back, "He tells Willie.

I walk with Caleb to a table nearby and take a seat. "What's up?" I ask.

"How would you feel, if you could share the spotlight with me, and join my house band?" He offers.

My expression falls slightly as I hesitantly say, "I-I don't know. I don't really play anymore."

"I know. I know. But don't you miss it? Singing in front of a crowd, soaking up the applause, feeling that connection with your audience?" He adds.

I start to think back to a few years ago when I would play for people. When I would express my lyrics to an audience and know that they were truly listening. The feeling of sharing my music with others was the thing that kept me going. Then I remember a night when I was playing guitar, laying on my couch, and singing with Lila, one of my favorite memories.

"I- I'll think about it. I'll have an answer for you by the end of the weekend," I reply.

" Great. Well, we will meet again Friday to continue our lessons," Caleb says reaching out a hand for me to shake which I do.

"Yes. I'll see you Friday..." I trail off as I look down at my wrist which now has a purple symbol that looks almost like a tattoo.

"Oh, it's just a little club stamp," He shrugs once he notices me eyeing it.

"Oh, alright. See you later Mr.Covington," I say getting up.

"Please. Call me Caleb," He tells me with a light chuckle.

"Okay. Bye, Caleb," I say before walking over to Willie. "You ready to go?" I ask him.

"Uh. You go ahead. I have to get something," Willie says, eyeing Caleb where he still sat proudly at the table.

"Okay. I'll find you later," I tell him before teleporting away.

"Caleb, I thought we made a deal. You know what the stamp will do to her," Willie says to Caleb with worry present in his tone.

"Of course, I do, William. But she's powerful. A perfect addition to the band. Now she'll have no option but to work for me."

⋙♫♪ •👻• ♪♫⋘

I walk down the streets of Hollywood to let myself think and stop outside the Orpheum theater. My heart swells as I look at the big sign overhead that once had my name written in big letters. I take out a picture from my jacket pocket. It's a photo of Lila and I holding our grey cat the day we got him. I can't accept the offer, I think to myself sighing. Suddenly, I feel an unbelievable pain in my chest that makes me stumble forward. "What the hell?" I groan, holding my chest.

"Victoria! I'm so sorry. I did my best to stop this from happening," Willie cries from behind me. I sway a bit as I try to steady myself. He quickly walks up behind me and holds my arms as I stand up straight again.

"What was that?" I ask looking up at him.

"Caleb."

⋙♫♪ •👻• ♪♫⋘

SPRING 1995...

I got screwed over.

Over the past 11 years, I've been working for Caleb as his lead singer at the Hollywood ghost club. The most I've gotten from it is learning how to expand my powers and how to get my music back, even though I never even get to play my own songs. During each show, I do my best with a smile on my face. Once I'm done for the day I stay in my dressing room, where I've been living.

Although today I decided to go against Caleb's rules and leave to see her. Caleb has forbidden me from getting in contact with Lila since the first time I felt confident enough to finally see her. But today I just felt worn out and needed to see her. Today was the anniversary of my death.

I wouldn't show myself to her of course, for two reasons. One, she would probably have a heart attack seeing me, and two, Caleb would erase me away from existence.

Over the years technology has developed a lot and it's helped me keep an eye on her. She was now in a relationship with a female named Alissa.

I'm happy for her, really. I never expected her to mourn over me forever and never move on. So now that I know that she's happy, so am I.

Today I found Lila across the street from the Orpheum holding an arrangement of white roses. She looks good, even at age thirty. "Hey, Vic. I hope you're safe, where ever you are," Lila begins looking down at the roses.

"I-I always used to think of you as not only my girlfriend but also my best friend, and I miss having my best friend around," She mutters, tearing up which was hard for me to tell as my vision got blurry with tears as well. "Anyways, I just wanted to say I missed you... Bye Vic," she says before laying the roses against the street light at the corner of the sidewalk and walking away.

"I miss you too," I whisper watching her walk away. I wipe my tears and take a deep breath. I'm about to teleport back to the club when I hear a faint sound of an electric guitar coming from the Orpheum.

My curiosity gets the better of me and it isn't long until I teleport into the lobby as bass and drums join in. "Take off, last stop, count down till we blast open the top." A voice sings from the stage. I haven't been here in 14 years, but it doesn't look a thing different except there is now a banner behind the band that says 'Sunset Curve'.

I walk to the doorway of the room where the band is rehearsing, the same stage I did all those years ago. I lean on the doorway as I listen to the band their music. "Face first, full charge, electric hammer to the heart." the lead singer sings into the mic while playing guitar.

They're good, I think to myself as they continue. "Clocks move faster, cause it's all we're after now. oh." The drummer and bassist harmonize with him.

After a few moments, I'm able to hum along quietly harmonizing with them. As the song finishes, I start making my way out of the theater and teleport back to the club.

I pace to the door of my dressing room when I hear Caleb's voice behind me, "Have fun?"

I slowly turn to look at him before sighing. "I know. I broke the rules. But Caleb, you know what day it is," I say quietly as I try to win him over.

"Yes. I do. Which is why I'm letting it go just this once. I watched you. You didn't do anything too out of line, but if this happens again... I'm not going to let it go this easily," He taunts.

"Fine. I got it," I reply bitterly before walking through my door. I lay down on the pul-out couch and sigh, running my hand down my face. I lay there humming the song that the band was playing as I drift to sleep.

⋙♫♪ •👻• ♪♫⋘

25 YEARS LATER... 2020

"Come on, Willie. Tell me about him. Who's this mystery ghost boy that's got my widdle William blushing?" I tease as Willie and I sit in my dressing room as I do my makeup for my next show.

" No one. And stop calling me that. It's weird," Willie replies, changing the subject.

I smile at him through the mirror as I see more blush appear. "Sure it is. Can I at least get a name?" I ask.

He sighs "You'll be meeting him and his bandmates tonight, remember? Caleb wanted to meet them," He tells me with a semi-annoyed expression.

" Adding more to his collection? Geez. When is he gonna stop adding ghosts to this club? Doesn't he have enough?" I ask rhetorically, putting down the eyeshadow brush I was holding.

"He wants to be the most powerful ghost ever. When something or someone gets in his way he resorts to taking them as a sense of control," Willie replies. Willie has said this before many times and I agree. Caleb feels the most powerful when he has the most control. "He didn't say anything about stamping them so, I think they're safe," He adds.

"Let's hope," I reply as Willie gets up.

"They should be here soon so, I'll let you get dressed. See you out there," He turns to leave before looking back at me. "Oh, and try to have fun," Willie smiles at me before teleporting out to the main room.

I sigh as I turn to look back in the mirror. Willie has been there for me throughout all these years and I can't be thankful enough for having such a close friend like him by my side. I quickly put on some lipstick and change into my outfit.

I walk out of my room and stick my head out the door that looks into the main room to see Willie talking to three male ghosts at the bottom of the stairs. But they're not just any male ghosts. They're from the band I saw years ago. If I went out more often over the years I probably wouldn't recognize any of them. But considering that they were the last live band I've seen aside from the club I'm not surprised I remember them.

"Willie!" I yell, getting his attention. Once I know Willie saw me I bring my head back before any of the boys he was talking to could see me. Willie excuses himself and walks over to the door.

"What's up?" He asks leaning half of his body in through the door.

I smirk at him and ask "Which one is he?"

He rolls his eyes before saying, "The blond one."

I put my head through the wall looking for the blond boy. "Ooh. What a cutie."

Willie puts his index finger on my forehead and quickly pushes my head back to the other side of the wall. "Stop. They'll see you," He says in a hushed tone even though they are on the opposite side of the building.

"What? Are you embarrassed by me?" I ask him with my eyebrow raised as my smirk grows.

"No, you're not supposed to be seen until the show remember?" He reminds me.

I squint my eyes at him even though he's right. "Sure. Well, you better get back to them. It's not nice to keep cute boys waiting," I tease as he turns to walk away. I make loud smooching noises earning a playful glare from Willie as he starts to walk to the table the boys are sitting at.

Soon after I see Caleb give me the signal to get on stage.

⋙♫♪ •👻• ♪♫⋘

A/N: Don't forget to comment and vote! Thank you for all the support! <3 ~ Zoe Manijeh

Word count: 2542