Modern Empathy ~ a Patrick Stump Fanfiction

Lights Before Christmas

December 16, 2011 ~ Fri.

The snow fell on my short red hair. Putting a hat on made me look a little bald.

"Zoey," said Taylor. "I'm excited for break, but nervous for exams. Shouldn't we be studying tonight?"

"We exempted from our first and second period exams, remember?" I said. "Just as long as you study and do your best effort, we will be proud of you no matter what."

"But what if I fail them all?"

"We still will be proud of you. Tonight's a break night before we go to school Tuesday."

Heading down the streets to check out the lights with old Christmas tunes was my idea of a night in December, especially if it was with my sisters. We lived in our own apartment and have since 2010 after Mom and Dad left to seek professional help, which left me, Taylor, Emily and Amber to ourselves. I am fifteen and a freshman—turning sixteen on St. Patrick's Day—Taylor is thirteen and in seventh grade. She already turned thirteen on September 10th. Emily and Amber are twins—they're nineteen.

As we walked around the neighborhood, I began to hear sobs coming from the house I was close to. It stopped me right in my tracks.

I looked at the house, which was from my left direction. The man looked strangely familiar. I walked slowly.

"Zo, he might not want anyone." said Taylor.

"I'll see." I said. "Don't worry—I'm studying psychology."

"Okay, but be careful."

I walked slowly to see it was the one and only Patrick Stump. The lead singer of Fall Out Boy. His band was on hiatus at the moment, and he had released his solo album Soul Punk last fall. I remembered that the day it came out was the same day I got a low grade on a science test, but listening to it made my day, nevertheless.

Patrick noticed me, and made a startled move. I began to feel shame coming over me.

"Hi, uh, Patrick, I might not know you too well other than the limelight, but is everything okay? My name's Zoey, and I'm just making sure."

"No. . ." Patrick said in a heart-wrenching, tearful voice.

"Talk to me about it."

"I tried to give my fans what they want, and I tried to do what I wanted, but. . . they came to my show to tell me how much they hate what I do. Almost everyone who came said that they preferred my old work, or that they liked me better fat. The crowd has booed me off the stage several shows ago, and I was pelted by bottles. Many of those people sent threatening hate letters to me as well. . ."

He let out a few loud sobs muffled by his hands as I rubbed his back. I sat next to him on the bench. "Oh my god—I'm so sorry. That's just awful. Is there anything I can do to help you out?"

"No. . . I'm afraid not. There's nothing I can do, either."

"I'm not the best advocate since I'm a teenager, but I can say don't listen to them. I know how easy it is to let them get under your skin. You're still young; I'm young as well. Enjoy your life."

"I wish it were that easy, Zoey."

Not knowing what else, I just asked him, "Can I give you a hug?"

Patrick nodded. "Sure."

As I pulled him into a tight hug, a few tears fell on my shoulder, but I did not care about that.

"Y-you won't insult me, right?"

Patrick's words surprised me.

"Hey, hey, look. Look at me." I said. "I love you. I love your work in both Fall Out Boy and your solo work. Do you think I'd come to tell you it all sucks or anything? No. You're still young, so have some fun. Enjoy your life."

We did our last hug before I finally let him go.

"Feel better now?" I asked.

"Thank you, Zoey." said Patrick, his face still red and puffy. "It means a lot."

"It was my pleasure. Good luck on life."

"You, too, Zoey."

"Well, I have to go meet my sister. Bye!"

"Bye!"

I ran back to find Taylor. She was dancing on the sidewalk to keep herself warm.

"Ready to go, Taylor?" I asked.

"I'm cold, Zoey." she said as we walked back. "How'd it go helping the man out?"

"It went very well. And he's not just any man. He's Patrick Stump."

"I know. I just thought about it some more and it came back to me. I remember you goo-goo eyeing him a while back while we were at Emily's work."

"Yeah. But hey, I met him today!"

"Surprised you didn't freak out."

"I've seen him from a distance around because we live in the same city. So, yeah."

"Why didn't you talk to him before?"

"I just didn't get the chance until now."

"Makes sense. Let's get hot chocolate once we're back home."

"Absolutely."