Ally headed back to her apartment, grabbing Mrs. Winters shopping list on the way. She plopped on her bed and kicked off her shoes. They landed on the floor with a satisfying thump. All Ally wanted to do now was sink into her bed and crawl under the covers until tomorrow. How she wished her day were done. The shopping could wait at least, but her homework and chores could not. What she wouldn’t give for a maid. Or better yet, a day off.

She smiled to herself. A day off. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Nobody gets a vacation from life, sadly. Ally sighed as she rolled over. Only a few more hours before she could sleep and wake up to do this all over again. She spied the bag with her new music in it sitting on her nightstand.

“Nothing like a little music while you work,” she said aloud. Ally took the new-to-her Electronauts CD with her into the living room. She sliced open the plastic wrap, but couldn’t open the case. She tugged and tugged, but it wouldn’t budge. “Did some asshole glue this closed? Seriously?! I hate people so much sometimes.” Ally ran a finger along the edge of the case to feel for glue or tape, when suddenly things took a turn for the strange.

The CD began to shake violently in her hands. She squeaked as she dropped it and backed away. The case continued to bounce around on her floor. Ally watched, mesmerized as it seized and shook around her living room. A flash of light and smoke made Ally avert her gaze. She covered her eyes and coughed as the dust settled around her. When she looked back, she didn’t just find her CD.

“Oh my God,” she gasped. Her jaw dropped all the way to the first floor as the band stared back at her. She rubbed her eyes and blinked a few times, but they were still there. The three men looked around the room and at each other with much confusion, before their gazes landed on her. They all stared at one another silently for a long moment. Johnny Lightning was the first to break it.

“Hey there,” he said with a wave. That’s when she lost it. Ally screamed as she stumbled back into her kitchen. “It’s okay! We’re not gonna hurt you.”

“Who the hell are you?!”

“I guess the simple answer is Johnny Lightning and the Electronauts.”

“I gathered that much, but how did you get here?”

“That’s not so simple. Maybe you should sit down.” Johnny took a step towards her and Ally retreated further into the kitchen.

“Stay away from me,” she said brandishing the first thing with a handle she could grab. It was a spatula. The one time she would have liked a knife or a frying pan, and she grabbed a spatula. Thankfully, the band obliged and kept their space. “Okay, I know who you are. Now, how did you get here?”

“I don’t think you’re going to like the answer.”

“I don’t much like men appearing in my living room uninvited. Try me.”

Johnny sighed. “Try to keep an open mind when I tell you all of this okay?” Ally nodded and waited patiently for her explanation. “The fact of the matter is, you brought us here.”

Ally pointed the spatula at herself. “Me? I brought you?”

“Yeah, you. You bought the CD, and you rubbed it, and when you did that, poof! We appeared. Now that we’re here, we’re going to grant you three wishes because it’s your lucky day. We’re genies.”

Ally stared at them for a minute before bursting into laughter. She clutched her ribs, but her laughter faltered when she realized she was the only one laughing. “You expect me to believe you're genies?”

“Well, how else would you explain us coming out of the Magic Lamp?” Johnny held the CD up. “By the way, next time you don't want something like this to happen, read the warning. It says it right there, Do. Not. Touch.”

Ally shook her head. “This is absurd. This can’t be happening. This isn’t real,” she said with a manic laugh. “You’re not real. I'm exhausted and overworked and hallucinating. That has to be it. Why am I talking to you three when you’re not even really here?”

The drummer leaned over to Johnny. “I think she’s losing it,” he whispered.

“I’m losing it? My favorite band just materialized in my living room, every fangirl’s dream come true, and I’m losing it? Of course, I’m losing it!”

“Way to go, idiot,” said the bassist. “The poor girl is terrified, and she has every right to be. Maybe we should cool it.” Ally nodded in agreement and stopped herself when she realized she was agreeing with a figment of her imagination.

“Yeah, yeah, she’s scared and a mess,” said Johnny taking over again. “She also has three wishes, which I personally would like to get it over with so we can get out of this whole mess and out of her hair. Don’t you agree, err, what’s your name?”

“Ally.”

“Nice to meet you, Ally.” Johnny rubbed his hands together eagerly. “Now, what do you want for your first wish?” He flashed her a devilish smile as he waited for her to answer him.

Ally set her weapon aside and cautiously stepped towards them. None of this is real, she thought as she studied the band. With each step, she hoped she would wake up in her bed. She did not want these guys to be real, or genies, or whatever other nonsense they were spouting. Ally carefully reached out to touch Johnny. I can’t touch them if they’re not real. My hand will go right through him. Her hand brushed the cotton of his shirt before touching the skin on his arm.

“Oh my God,” she said once again before passing out in a dead faint.