Chapter 2- Music of the Night
On the day of the concert, Leila woke up way before the other girls; unable to get any sleep. They had all decided to spend the night together to make getting ready for the concert a lot more fun and faster. She walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water and a bowl of cereal. She couldn't believe that she was going to see Fall Out Boy tonight. She couldn't erase the smile that had been permanently plastered on her face for the past three days. She was going to get as close as she could to Pete Wentz if it killed her.
"Top of the mornin' to ya," Casie said walking into the kitchen, quoting one of her favorite commercials. Leila's cereal almost came out of her mouth, which only made Casie laugh harder.
"You ate like a horse last night.. you really shouldn't say that to a woman," Leila said, finishing out the commercial quote. Casie, if it was even possible, laughed harder. "So, are you ready for tonight?"
"Totally! I'm so psyched!" Casie exclaimed from her own bowl of cereal.
"We need to get there really early to get great seats. I have to be there to rock out for Fall Out Boy, and get right up next to the stage and next to Pete!" Leila said all in one breathe.
Casie laughed, "You know, I'm going to laugh if he sees you and gives you his pick or something and you pass out and they have to carry you out of the concert."
"Whatever, I wouldn't pass out. Even it I got a broken arm, I wouldn't leave that concert."
"What are you girls doing up this early? It's not like there's a totally awesome concert to go to today or something," Cara said, yawning. "We're going to see Fall Out Boy TODAY! Now where's my cereal?"
Two hours, five outfit changes and four different make-up ideas later, they arrived at the arena three hours before the gates open. They were among the first twenty people there. As soon as they opened the gates, it was mass ciaos. Leila took off running with Cara and Casie at her heels. They magically managed to get front row spots to the right of the stage, right where Pete's mic is set up. And soon Cara, Casie and Leila were ready to rock and roll at the concert of their lives.
"Dance, dance, we're falling apart to half time; dance, dance and these are the lives you love to lead, dance…" Another day, another thousand screaming fans. Pete would never get used to being "loved" by so many people.
"Thanks for the memories, even though they weren't so get, he, he tastes like you only sweeter…"
"Maybe Patrick's right, maybe I should just leave Ashlee, and find someone who will be their self around me and not afraid to show who they really are."
"Sugar, we're going down swinging, I'll be you're number one with the bullet, a loaded gun complex cock it and pull it…"
"This crowd is crazy tonight. And this girl in the front row knows every word to every song and is rocking a sweet shirt 'Shit happens when you party naked –Pete Wentz'"
"I am an arms dealer, filling you with weapons in the form of words, and I don't really care, which side wins, as long as the room keeps singing that's just the business I'm in yeah…"
"Man, Patrick is on fire tonight; hitting these notes like a mad man on crack. I always knew Patrick was amazing, but tonight he has the vocal cords of a God."
"Wear me like a locket around your throat, I'll weight you down, I'll watch you choke, you look so good in blue, keep quite, nothing comes as easy as you, can I lay in you bed all day? I'll be your best kept secret and your biggest mistake, the hand behind this pen relives the failure every day…" Acoustic sets are the best. You can really connect to the fans a lot more. And now that he notices, Patrick hasn't taken is his eyes off the girl standing next to the girl with the sweet shirt. Pete realizes the girl has her undivided attention focused upon Patrick as well. Pete smiled when he thought about what could happen between the two. When it comes to everyone else, Pete's an optimistic, but if it had to do with himself, he was such a pessimist.
As the song finished, Pete stood up and walked over to the girl with the sweet shirt. Patrick turned his attention to Pete immediately.
"Hey, I love your shirt. It's awesome. Where'd you get?" Pete asked the girl.
"I-I made it," she replied, staring up at him.
He was impressed, "Wow, that's cool. Well I've noticed you all night and you seem to know words to our songs as best as Patrick does, and I just wanted to say hey and thanks and give you this," and he hands her his pick. "What's your name by the way?"
"It's Leila, Leila Grint.. and thank you. So much! But I don't I know as much as Patrick. I mean it's Patrick," Leila said, looking in awe over at Patrick, quickly realizing he was looking at her and turned her attention back to the man in front of her.
Pete glanced over at Patrick as well, "I know what you mean, Leila. But I guess I have to go finish the show now; see you later!"
"I know it's not the last time, 'cause I'll never say no to you, this conversation's been dead on arrival, there's no way to talk to you…" Patrick's hands were clammy. Beads of sweat were rolling down his face. The moment he saw her, he knew had to know her name; and didn't know why.
"Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards, so long live the car crash hearts, cry on the couch all the poets come to life, fix me and fortify…" In his head, Patrick had to formulate a plan to meet her.
"Where is your boy tonight? I hope he is a gentleman. Maybe he won't find out what I know, you were the last good thing about this part of town…"
The concert was winding down and Patrick was beginning to worry that he'd leave Alabama without ever knowing her name. So he decided to go up to her right after Pete made the exit speech.
"Alright, Birmingham! Thanks for giving us such an amazing time! You guys are a totally awesome crowd. Thanks for putting up with us! Peace, love and blog!" Pete screamed into the mic. The fans went crazy as the lights went out. Patrick couldn't see a thing as he tried to make his way to the end of the stage. As soon as the lights came back on, Patrick tried again to make his way over to the spot where his mystery girl stood. She was gone. He looked around in the crowd for her to see if she hadn't gone far, but it was hopeless in this mob of people. Dejectedly, Patrick walked backstage.
"What's wrong, Patrick?" Pete asked, putting his bass in his case.
"Wha- Oh, uh.. It's nothing," Patrick said, storing his guitar away.
"Oh, I don't think so. If I have to spill my guts, so do you. Now spill," Pete said getting right in Patrick's way and not moving.
"It's just this girl," Patrick started.
"Leila's friend? Right?" Pete questioned.
"Leila? Wait, what?" Patrick was confused.
"The girl you were staring at during 'Nobody Puts a Baby in a Corner', I talked to her friend; she had this sweet shirt that she made by the way. It said 'Shit Happens When You Party Naked –Pete Wentz'—"
"Pete, get to the point," Patrick said.
"Well!" Pete said in a mock offended voice. "Anyways, her name is Leila and I gave her my pick because she was rockin' all the words like a pro, dude."
"Well, it's over now, so let's just get back on the bus and finish the tour," Patrick mumbled and started sulking towards the bus. He looked so downtrodden. He knew he had to do something. Pete watched his best friends' retreating back for a split second before realizing what they had to do. Patrick was miserable and there was only one way to fix that. Pete ran to catch up with him.
"Dude, where are you going? We have a job to do!" Pete exclaimed.
"We finished the show, Pete and I just want to slee—" Patrick started.
"C'mon, you whiner, or it'll be too late," and Pete took off running. Patrick stood there dazed for a millisecond and then followed him. They ran through halls and down stairwells; ducking and dodging people. The crowd soon realized that Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump were flying through the halls like chickens with their heads cut off. People were snapping pictures and calling out to them, but as best as they could, they tried to not let that slow them down. Finally Pete saw what they were chasing after. Smiling, Pete hurried his steps. Once he was right up behind a girl with long brown hair, he placed his hand on her shoulder and she turned around.
"Well, hey there," Pete said.
"H-hey. Um.. hey," Leila stuttered.
"What are your friend's names?" Pete asked.
"Um, this is Cara Jonas," Leila said, motioning towards her friends, "and Casie Depp."
Pete looked over his shoulder at Patrick who was lagging behind.
"Let's go in here, out of sight of all these people, okay?" Pete said, looking around at the people beginning to stop and stare. Everyone nodded and followed Pete inside an empty hallway. Pete took a stadium chair and jammed it up under the door knob to keep it shut and stood in front of the door window; blocking any cameras.
"Patrick, this is my friend Leila Grint and her friends. This is Casie Depp," Pete said. "And this is Cara Jonas," Pete finished, Leila stepping beside him to watch the meeting.
Leila, Casie and Pete watched on, giving them their space; all thinking the same thing.
Cara stepped up to Patrick slowly, "Hi."
"Hello, Cara. D-did you enjoy the concert?" Patrick asked uncertainly.
"Very much so, actually. It ranks in one of my top best experiences," Cara smiled.
"Thanks," Patrick said, "Um, when the tour's over, which is in like four concert dates, would you like to, you know.. go out and get something to eat or some coffee or just hang out? I mean I completely understand if you wouldn't want to, just meeting me and all, and the fact that we chased you down and cornered you in public can't be in my favor either, but I was just wondering..." Patrick trailed off.
Pete, Casie and Leila, who had been watching the two like a tennis match, now turned their attention to Cara, who was beaming; but Patrick, who was staring at her shoes (which happened to be green Converse), couldn't see it.
"Patrick, I would love too. Just name the time and place, and I'll be there," Cara breathed. Patrick's head jerked up, studied Cara's face for sincerity, and smiled. He couldn't believe that it was just that simple.
"Let's make it some place a little more private than this, as I'm sure you would agree. How about I give you my cell phone number and you give me yours and I'll call you when the tour's over, okay?" Patrick said. "And we can iron out the details then."
"Sounds like a plan, Stan," Cara said. Patrick laughed and got his Nokia Sidekick phone out. As Cara and Patrick swapped numbers, Pete turned to Leila.
"Let's swap numbers too, so when the tour's over, I can stop by and you can make me a sweet shirt like that," Pete smirked.
"I can help you make one. It's only badass when you do it yourself," Leila smiled.
So after a long day, an awesome concert, a chance meeting, a chase scene and a plan for a reunion, the party said their goodbyes and parted company; all leaving with something new. Patrick had this new giddy feeling, Casie had a new found respect for Fall Out Boy, Cara had a date with Patrick; Pete had some ideas on what to make for his shirt, and Leila had a new way of thinking about Pete Wentz. He was her friend. He was an amazing guy and a funny laugh; not just a piece of meat in a celebrity gossip magazine.
-note from the author-
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! I have not a clue what the next chapter will be titled yet, so sorry! But I will start writing it soon! I used 8 FOB songs for the concert.. see you for chapter 3!! Stay tuned!