The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Chapter 29 (Patrick's POV)

I jerk awake, realizing I had fallen asleep in the music room, the acoustic guitar I was playing still on my lap and my body resting against the wall. I yawn and stretch, carefully setting the guitar on the ground beside me. I glance up and almost jump out of my skin when I see someone across from me. It takes me a second to realize its just Pete; he had fallen asleep too apparently.

I'm debating on whether I should leave him here or wake him up. He's cranky as hell when he gets woken up. But I don't want him to fall off that stool or anything either.

I decide I'll wake him up, tiptoeing towards him. Right as I'm about to tap his shoulder, his eyes pop open and he jumps up from the stool, a wild expression in his eyes. I jump back, tripping over my feet and I slam to the ground.

"Ow, fuck!" I mutter, attempting to stand back up and rubbing my back from the impact. "What the hell was that?!"

He just stares at me, bewildered. He tilts his head as if recollecting his thoughts.

"I had the freakiest dream ever," he starts, his voice trembling a little. He reaches up with a shaky hand and rubs the back of his neck.

"What happened?" I ask, walking towards him.

"Man, it was terrible. I was trying to eat a piece of pizza, right? Well the bastard turned on me and grew eyes and shit, then it slapped me in the face. It grew really big and started to chase me, and I felt so betrayed because pizza's my life, man. That was the worst dream I have ever had!"

I just look at him, one of my eyebrows raised. Then I just start laughing.

"Hey, fuck you, man! That shook me up. I don't think I can eat pizza for a while."

My eyes widen and I gasp dramatically. "Peter Wentz, the emo pizza god, turning down pizza? Unheard of!"

He just scowls at me and shoves me, which I didn't expect, so I stumble back. My back comes in contact with metal, and I realize later that it was a drum set. I crash into it, the drums coming with me. I jump back up as fast as I can, but I was too late.

"Shit, Pete, look what you did!" I yell, looking at the broken drum set. I look at him, and he looks at me.

"Run! Go, go, go," he yells, and I swing open the door and sprint out. "It wasn't us!"

We run through the lobby, gaining weird looks from passerby and a suspicious look from the secretary.

"The drum set was already broken, I swear!" I hear Pete yell in her general direction. I twist my head back and glare incredulously at him, and once we turn the corner I stop in my tracks, Pete slamming into me with an oomph.

"Why did you even say anything, you dickface! Of course they're gonna know it was us now."

"I'm sorry, I panicked!" Then he grins.

"Don't even do it-"

"At the disco."

"Goddamn it! You're impossible, Peter," I say, shaking my head and walking back to our hotel room. He snickers and follows me.

"Come on, you love me," he says mockingly.

"No, you love Cheryl." That stops him.

"No, I don't," he denies. I raise my eyebrows and turn around.

"Really? Look me straight in the eyes and tell me you don't love her."

He looks into my eyes. "I do love... I mean I don't... I mean-"

"That's what I thought," I conclude, chuckling at his sudden flustered stance. I turn back around and start walking again, but I feel his hands grip my shoulders and turn me back around.

"I need your help."

I smirk smugly. "P. Stump, at your service." I salute him.

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"You sure this is going to work?" Pete asks nervously.

"Yes, Peter, it will work."

"What if it doesn't?"

"It will."

"But what if it doesn't work?"

"Pete, its going to work."

"Yeah, but-"

"PETER! Have faith in me, will you?"

"I do have faith in you," Pete objects. I chuckle.

"Then let me work my Patty Magic, alright? I got this."

He sighs. "Fine."

I lean back from my crouch, sitting against the wall in our hotel room, thinking our plan through. I know it will end well whether the plan goes right or not. I can just tell by the way they look at each other. I grin to myself and stand up.

"Okay, so put on the clothes I set out for you. I'll go get Cheryl and make up some excuse so she isn't suspicious. Hailey is in on it, and there's a dress in my closet. Get it, and make sure to present it to her when she walks in."

He smirks. "You sure that isn't your dress, Pattycakes?"

"Do you want me to abandon this plan?"

He vigorously shakes his head, resuming his nervous stance, wringing his hands. I walk towards him, resting my hand on his shoulder.

"Everything will go absolutely fine. She likes you, I see the way she looks at you."

He hesitantly nods, and then I open the door, walking out to find Pete's special girl.

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*Pete's POV*

I head over to Patrick's closet and open it, looking for the dress Patrick promised was in there. I shove the untidy clothes around until I see a black dress. I pull it out, inspecting it. It is about knee length, lace bordering the bottom, neckline and sleeves. It will look gorgeous on her. Right at that time, I hear a knock on the door, and I dive over the bed, hiding the dress.

As soon as I dust myself off, the door opens. Cheryl walks in, smiling when she sees me. Then she sees my slightly fancy appearance, and confusion flashes across her face. I reach out and take her hands in mine. They're warm and soft. At first I forget what I was about to say, getting lost in her eyes.

She chuckles. "What's going on, Pete?"

I clear my throat. All or nothing. "I want you to go out on a date with me."

She looks quite surprised, and she blushes, looking down at her feet. Is that a good thing? What if she rejects me?

"I'm not properly dressed," she murmurs, tucking a strand of purple hair behind her ear.

"Already got it covered." I flash a grin at her, walking to the closet and getting the dress, and turn around and show it to her.

Shaking her head and smiling, she takes it from me, heading into the bathroom. A couple minutes later, she walks out, and my eyes widen.

"You look amazing," I stutter. Stutter? Since when do I stutter?

She just shakes her head at me, grinning shyly. She walks over to me, linking her arm around mine.

"So I'm guessing that's a yes?"

She laughs. "Yes, Pete, I'll go on a date with you."

My smile is so wide I'm sure it could have split my face in half.