Modern Empathy ~ a Patrick Stump Fanfiction

A Change of Plans

March 17, 2012 ~ Saturday ~ St. Patrick's Day ~ Zoey's Birthday

I woke up feeling well enough for my first day of being sixteen. I noticed a few strange things in my room.

I saw a sign that was probably built by Amber. It said, "Retreat this way."

I walked to where the signs told me to go. There was my Focalin in peanut butter so that I don't take it on an empty stomach. After taking it, a sign told me to go and put on a green dress. I had always loved green, since I knew from the start I was born on St. Patrick's Day. Another sign told me to put on black boots and go outside.

There was Taylor, Emily and Amber, wearing green as well. I saw from the window, and opened the door to hear them all say, "Happy birthday, Zo!"

"Thank you all." I said. "I loved this house journey from my room to outside."

"We're glad you did." said Amber. "And we have a surprise."

The day had me going to a coffee shop for breakfast, walking downtown and having Sushi for dinner. We got back home to open presents my friends from school left for me, from books to sketchbooks to journals to notebooks to iTunes gift cards.

As the night wrapped up, Amber came to sit with us for an important meeting.

"So, everyone, I have an important announcement." she said. "Zoey and Taylor, it looks like your spring break plans will be altered."

"What will we do?" asked Taylor.

"I have been hired as an intern downtown for the prop art in a musical, so we are going to Vancouver and might stay in a hotel. Sounds nice, doesn't it?"

"It does." I said. I thought of it as a way to clear my head.

April 6, 2012 ~ Friday

I came home from church on April Fool's Day to learn that Patrick would be there to guest star on a TV show that was being filmed in Vancouver. So, to my luck, we'd probably be in Vancouver at the same time. Since it was no prank pulled on me, I was excited. Amber was interning for the week of my spring break, where I get to see Patrick, hopefully! I hoped he'd recognize me with longer hair! In December when I met him, I had gotten mine cut pixie-short in June before freshman, and now that it's grown out, I evened it up along with the fringe in January.

I flew on the plane with my sisters and happy thoughts. I wanted to talk to him. I was upset because he was upset. I just couldn't get over the fact that he was so miserable all because of fan problems. He took control of his health issues and took great care of himself, and now he was torn by the so-called fans with the "we-liked-you-better-fat" bullshit.

I was questioning what would happen with his money, as he did music for a living. At least Pete was there. But I didn't know if he'd respond to me if I tweeted him.

As I journaled those thoughts down on the plane, I felt my blood pressure spike a bit. I just kept my journal open, and buried my face into my arms.

"Zoey, are you sure you'll be okay in that position?" asked Emily. "You'll get sick."

"I'll be okay." I said. "I've had my face down in a moving car before, and I did not get sick at all."

That had been shortly after we moved to a new home. It was shortly before my thirteenth birthday, and I was on a ride home from my old school for the last time, which the school failed me because I was torn by the big move in July of 2008. It was just after I had another bad day of not understanding the material at all, and my great-grandmother Gigi took me home after signing withdrawal papers. I cried the entire way, relieved I'd be getting better support soon. I woke up the next morning to hear my great grandmother and sisters singing me happy birthday. In fact, now that I think of it, I managed to not get motion sick on March 16, 2009.

Unfortunately, our time with Gigi wasn't for too long. It has been just me and my sisters since November of 2009.