Fall Out Girl (FOB FanFic ft. All Time Low)

Chapter 1

-Patrick's POV-

"I can't believe him," I commented as Andy, Joe, and me walked down a hallway, "'I need to take a break'," I scoffed, "He's not the only one who all of this is getting to. But you don't see any of us 'taking a break'."

"Cut him some slack, Patrick," Andy retorted softly, "He's been dealing with a lot lately. I agree with him and think this break is for the better."

"And it's not like he's not coming back," Joe tacked on, "Right?"

I shook my head and pushed open the door, revealing a dark and empty room. I flicked on a light switch to reveal a small concert hall with a table set up in the center, facing the stage that was equipped with a couple of amps and a microphone.

We were holding auditions for a temporary bassist replacement, since Pete decided to take off at the worst possible time ever.

We were at our prime right then. We'd just released our album Save Rock And Roll and it was a major success. We were already being pressured to release another album and then Pete just decided to take a break. Like I said: Worst. Possible. Time. Ever.

I walked onto the stage and heaved a sigh, "I don't even want to do this...I'd rather take another hiatus than replace Pete."

"We're not replacing him," Andy retorted, sitting down at the table and picking up one of the three clipboards, "We're just finding someone who'll play bass for us until Pete comes back."

"Sounds like replacing him to me," I grumbled, adjusting the microphone and making sure it works.

"Just try to keep an open mind about it, Patrick," He said, "And who knows? Maybe we'll find someone really good."

*****

I banged my head on the table, muttering, "I don't think I can listen to another person. I really don't think I can. Let's just get Pete back."

"Pete's not coming back for a while, Patrick," Andy replied sadly, almost as miserable as I was. The day had not been an overall success.

Joe cocked his head back, his curly hair hanging loosely in the air, and shouted wearily, "Next!"

I rested my head in my hand and played with the pen I had been using in my other hand, really hoping there wasn't anyone out there. I just wanted to go home. I was tired, I was miserable, and the day had been a total flop. But sure enough, the next candidate walked in from the hallway. They walked up on stage and set their guitar case on the ground.

"Name?" Andy asked them, sounding as enthusiastic as he can manage.

"Phoenix Jones," They answered, plugging their bass guitar into one of the amps, "But you can call me PJ."

I looked up and dropped the pen I was playing with. Standing on the stage was a twenty-something year old girl with long, straight, messy, dirty blonde hair. She was wearing a Ramones t-shirt paired with a pair of stonewash jean shorts. She was actually quite beautiful, in her own unique way.

"How long have you been playing bass, PJ?" Andy inquired, reading the list of questions we've asked everyone who'd auditioned that day.

"Since I was a teenager, so I'd say...pretty close to ten years. Yeah, ten years." I noted that she seemed very easygoing and laid-back, which could either be a good thing or a bad thing.

"Do you have any experience performing on stage?"

"Yes. I've played bass for a few local bands at some clubs and I - and the band I was with then - opened for this band called All Time Low once." All Time Low...we toured with them once before. Yeah. On the Believers Never Die Tour Part Deux in 2009.

"And can you play us a major scale?"

"Sure."

I sighed and covered my ears discreetly, preparing for her to be just as bad as everyone else we've seen today. But she did as she was told and even perfected it. I lowered my hands away from my ears.

"And a minor scale?"

Again, she nailed it. Andy and Joe were scribbling down notes on their clipboards, but as for me, I was distracted staring at her, giving her my undivided attention, something I hadn't given to anyone before her.

"And what will you be playing for us today, PJ?" Andy questioned her.

"I'll be playing 'Hysteria' by Muse," She answered, looking at all of us nervously. I didn't know why she was nervous. She sounded great so far and I already kind of wanted her to be Pete's temporary replacement, if we couldn't convince him to come back. I rested my chin in my hands and listened as she started to play her bass and sing into the microphone. She didn't have too bad of a singing voice either.

She finished the song and rested her forehead against the microphone. I even clapped for her I was so amazed, which resulted in me receiving weird looks from my friends. I dropped my hands into my lap and sighed.

Joe looked back at the girl and said, giving her the same farewell we'd given every other candidate. "Well thank you, PJ. Hopefully you'll hear from us soon." She nodded her head and picked her guitar case up, leaving the small room I'd been in all day. I watched her until she disappeared into the hallway.

"So what did you guys think?" Andy inquired.

"She was alright," Joe replied, "Best one of the day, though, in my opinion."

"I liked her," I chimed in, "She played bass ten times better than any other person who walked through those doors today. Her voice wasn't that bad either. And that song is difficult, and she didn't mess up once. At least no that I heard." Joe and Andy glanced over at me, again with the weird look. My cheeks grew red in embarrassment from gushing about her, "I mean, I guess she was pretty cool." I picked up the fedora off of my head and ran my fingers through my hair, avoiding their gazes.

"I say we give her the call back," Joe suggested, flipping through his notes on the people who auditioned, "She was the only one today who didn't make my ears bleed."

"That's a little harsh, don't you think?" Andy said. He shrugged his shoulders.

We sat in silence for a little before Joe thought aloud, "So say we do make her our temporary bassist, are we supposed to change our name? I mean, we're Fall Out Boy. If she joins, will we have to rename the band? We don't know how long this break Pete's taking us going to last."

"Let's discuss this later," I remarked, rising to my feet, "We first need to tell her she's part of the band."