The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Chapter 20 (Patrick's POV)

"Remember me, remember me for centuries!" I sing, watching the crowd as my heart swells with an overwhelming sense of devotion. Every show is like no other. We love performing for people who truly care for music, and they love listening to people who also truly care for them. Were one big family in this cruel world, and I like to see this as my outlet. Everything I worry about goes away when I step on this stage with my Gretsch and microphone, gazing into the eyes of my brothers and sisters.

After we finish our last song, smiling and waving at all the delighted people in the crowd, we all walk off the stage in a line, instruments in hand.

"Y'all did amazingly, guys," I say, growing emotional.

We all come in for a bro hug, patting each other's backs.

"'Trick, you did awesomely too, you know," Pete corrects, staring into my eyes, making me slightly uncomfortable. I wave off his comment by rolling my eyes, heading towards the dressing room. I am literally soaked in sweat.

After we all dress into something clean and comfortable, we head back out into the most pit to meet the fans. I vaguely hear the guys muttering behind me, and I heard my name in there somewhere, but I try not to worry about it. I have a pretty good idea what its about: my birthday.

Inwardly groaning, I walk a little faster, eager to meet everybody.

"Patrick?" I look down to see a little girl run up to me, wearing a huge smile and a shirt with the Folie à Deux bears on the front. I smile, crouching down to her.

"Hey, kiddo! I love your shirt!"

She smiles even bigger at me, jumping into my arms and giggling.

"Patrick! Can I tell you something?" she asks in an adorable little voice.

"Of course!"

She lets go of me and looks at me, and for the first time I notice the maturity in her blue-green eyes, clouded by the stereotypical innocence young children are underestimated with.

"I know you don't think you are, but you're good. Not just at music. You are a good person and I know you don't see it but I do and I wish I could grow up to be as amazing as you someday."

I stare at her in shock. I'm her idol? There are three other men behind me that are way more talented and exceptional than I am, not to mention thousands of better inspirations for her, and she chose me? Nobody has ever told me that before. I feel tears shining in my eyes, and I pull her in for another hug, fighting the tears that are determined to escape. I will not crack in front of her after what she just said.

"What you just said means the world to me. What is your name?"

"Gracie," she says shyly. "Can you sign my shirt, please?"

"What a beautiful name. Of course I will, Gracie."

I beam at her, taking out my black sharpie and signing my name on the corner of her shirt. Just as I finish signing her shirt, I hear someone calling her name.

"Gracie! I told you not to run off without me-" I look up to see someone I definitely was not expecting.

"Allie?" I ask my ex-girlfriend incredulously.

I hear several people gasp, probably the guys. Pete walks up beside me and places his hand on my shoulder protectively. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I can take care of myself.

Another girl had also walked up beside Allie, who had a pretty scratched up face. She seems so familiar, but I can't place where I've seen her before...

"Patrick! Oh my God! I haven't talked to you in forever! You guys were great up there!" Allie advances towards me, wrapping her arms around my tense body. My hands instinctively wrap around her back, looking down at the wide eyed little girl curiously staring up at me.

*Hailey's POV*

I was currently talking to Cheryl about the show we had just seen. Of course, we both had our usual fangirl attacks, which oddly hasn't gotten any better even though we know them. I had tried to ask what was going on with her and Pete, but she didn't even seem to know. So I dropped it, for now.

We had headed to the center of the mosh pit to look for the guys. I spotted them, and I jabbed Cheryl to show her, which was returned with another jab to the ribs. My scowl directed at Cheryl was quickly replaced with a smile when I see a little girl run up to Patrick, wearing a Folie à Deux shirt. He crouches down to her level, and she jumps into his arms with a huge smile on her face.

We decided to stay back, because we didn't want to ruin the moment. The guys didn't either, so they stayed a respectful distance away and smiled sweetly at the two.

I was in a quite favorable mood until I see two women walk up to the pair, and I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I feel Cheryl tense slightly beside me, too, and I move a bit closer to get a better look at the girls.

It all happens incredibly fast. One of the women hugs Patrick, who looks tortured. The other girl glances in our direction, and an almost imperceptible wicked grin flashes across her face for a split second, but I catch it. With a pang of nauseating realization, I know exactly who the girl with the beat up face is.

My hands start to tingle with the recognition of the adrenaline I had felt when I wanted to tear her apart that day she hurt my best friend. The exact same feeling is pulsing through my body in sickening bursts, making me see black in the corners of my eyes. My mind begins to cloud over, and I can't formulate any sense in my brain.

The only thing I can sort out through the outraged jumble of thoughts running through my mind is the burning need to finish what I started.