The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Chapter 31 (Allie's POV)

Ever since I saw Patrick at that show I had been thinking about him ever since. I've always thought of him, but I soon started to force myself to forget about him after the break up. But, then Gracie came along, and she grew to love his band. I had to go through the pain of buying her all the albums, to hear his voice ring through the walls every single day. I had to buy her posters and shirts that brought back way too many memories. It about crushed me. I never let Gracie know that, of course. But when she begged me to take her to a concert I about broke.

Seeing him about shattered me.

I've been different ever since... almost desperate. I need him back. I never realized how empty I was without him until his arms were wrapped around me again. I'm going to get him to be mine again.

"Mommy?"

I blink and look down to my daughter, who's looking up at me with wide, worried eyes.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Are you okay? You weren't answering me."

"Oh, no, I'm okay, honey. I was just thinking," I say, smiling.

She furrows her brows. "About what?"

"Well, how would you like to go to another Fall Out Boy show?"

She starts jumping up and down, squealing excitedly. I beam at her. I'm glad this makes her happy. But I'm also doing this for me.

"When when when?"

"There's a show today. Wanna go?"

"YES!"

I chuckle, running my fingers through her hair absentmindedly. A plan pops into my mind and a wicked smile reaches across my face. Perfect. I can use my little princess to get my handsome prince back.

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I close my eyes and think out my plan while hearing Patrick belt out the lyrics to The Kids Aren't Alright, and smile when I have it figured out. This will for sure have him crawling back to me, whether he wants to or not. But its about time I get what I want for once, and this is exactly it. I relax into my seat a little more, knowing there's no way this could go wrong, and nod my head to the music and wait for the end of the show so we can "meet" the band.

The show is finally over, and I practically drag Gracie with me to the pit so we can meet the guys. Anyone watching from the outside would think I'm just eager to meet an idol, but my eagerness isn't for that reason at all. I suppose it's best people don't know my real reason to kill any suspicion.

I spot Patrick, and I literally sprint towards him, but when I'm close enough to be heard, I calm down and approach him like a normal person. But, before I can get to him, Gracie beats me.

"Patrick!"

He turns his beautiful head in the direction of the sound, and lights up the room with his bright smile as he crouches down to her level and opens his arms for her.

"Gracie! You came again!"

"You remember my name!" She laughs.

"Of course I do! How could I forget such a sweet little girl like you?"

After they talk a little, I just stand there impatiently, waiting for him to notice me. I clears my throat, and he reluctantly looks up at me, and his expression turns grim.

"Allie." His voice turns cold. I didn't do anything to him... Yet. He shouldn't be speaking to me with that tone.

"Patrick." I mock his tone and he rolls his eyes slightly. Gracie looks confused as her eyes flicker between the two of us, and the rest of the band is staring at us warily. I scoff.

"Will you guys chill? I don't bite."

Now its Pete's turn to scoff. "You may not bite, but you have one ugly bark."

I just roll my eyes at him, and by that time two girls approach Patrick and Pete. One girl grabs Patrick's hand, and I narrow my eyes at her.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"I'm Patrick's girlfriend," she almost growls, squinting at me in suspicion. "Who are you?"

"I was once in your place." I sigh, thinking of the memory. "We were madly in love, Patrick and I. Did everything together. Planned a future. A family. We made the second one happen. Say hello to Gracie." I gesture to my daughter, who looks utterly confused. Too bad I have to lie to her. But that's just what I have to do.

Everyone is silent for a moment, but then what I said finally sinks in, and Patrick's eyes get so wide they look dangerously close to falling out.

"W-what?" he asks, voice slightly shaking. I nod, feigning a look of helplessness.

"After you left me, I soon figured out I was pregnant. With your daughter. I raised her by myself, and she never knew who her real father was. But now she does. And I'm sure she'd love to get to know you better. Come home, Patrick. We need you and we love you. Please." All of this is a huge lie, but anything to get Patrick back, I'll do. Even if my daughter gets hurt, well... its a risk I'll have to take.

The guys look absolutely pissed, and the girls just share Gracie's look of confusion. I want to laugh.

"D-don't put this on me," Patrick chokes out after a minute. "You can't just show up to one of our shows and put all of this on me at once. Especially with Gracie standing right there!" His voice raises, and he closes his eyes, breathing heavily, trying to calm himself. He walks towards me, pushing me back out of Gracie's hearing range. "If she really is my daughter, then why didn't you ever tell me? I would have helped. But no, you choose to make me look like the bastard, when it was you! You didn't want a family. You used me for fame. You didn't love me. You only wanted me for the money. You expect me to believe she's mine? That's low, Allie. Even for you."

I stand there with a straight face, not letting my lie shine through. "Its true, Patrick. I haven't been with anyone after you. She is yours. She is mine. Ours. Gracie needs her father, Patrick. And you're the only one she has. Baby, come home."

He looks absolutely torn, on the verge of tears. He looks back at his friends, his girlfriend, and they're all watching intently, waiting for his response. Gracie still looks so confused, and I feel a twinge of guilt. But I can't go back now. Patrick looks back to me, and I look at him. A single tear rolls down his cheek as he tries to figure out what he should do.