Interlude | Fall Out Boy AU

The soft light from a variety of lamps smoothly scattered the shadows on Kara's face. No sharp contrast, only the yellowness reflected in the eyes. The room was incredibly warm, but not stuffy, and only people passing behind disturbed the calm and serenity with their movements. Someone softly sang various melodies. It seemed that all thoughts disappeared, lost anxiety, fear, tension.

For the first time, Kara thought very clearly, she was confident in what she needed to do. Someone was playing with her, forcing her to live the day again and again, as if it was funny. But at the same time, this someone gave clues on how to act to get out. No more talk about the killer and no useless attempts to save lives that had terrible consequences. She is just a vocalist, who has waited all her life for a chance to perform with her favorite band, and her time has come. Kara literally physically felt that the game was coming to an end. Ahead of most of the tour of the states, but the girl in the chest felt cold from the thought that, saving Patrick, she would finish the level and never see him or any other musicians. But she could not help him.

Kara straightened the bezel of artificial flowers and blinked several times to admire the make-up that the local make-up artists had done to her. She wanted to be a worthy addition to the quartet at today's concert. And what could be more worthy than to protect a person from a bullet?

"Where is..." Pete lamented behind her back, still searching for the ill-fated pick. It was the only thing that did not change in any version of events.

"Pete, get distracted" Kara rose from her seat and straightened the hem of her dress, making sneaky curtsy.

"You look good" Wentz drawled, appreciating the look of a friend. On her heels, Kara was much taller than him, but the girl tried not to focus on such a difference in height.

"You too" Kara nodded "Listen, could we go to the others? I would like to say something"

"We have time" Wentz glanced around the room, hoping to discover the loss "You are glowing!"

"It's because of the lighting" Kara joked and opened the door to the corridor "Did you see the lamps on the table? They are brighter than supernova!"

Pete laughed and catched her on the way to the next room. The relaxed and fun atmosphere was much more pleasant than the tension and excitement that prevailed at the concert venue lately.

When Kara entered the room where Andy, Patrick and Joe were, she seemed to see them for the first time. Pete arrived in time for them, and they stood in a semicircle, drawing attention to the girl.

"We will" Kara cleared her throat and repeated louder, with a smile "We will perform soon, right? Together"

"And you are observant" Joe made a gun with his hands and grinned, cheering on the vocalist "But we are not performing for the first time together"

"It seems that at first" Kara closed her eyes dreamily and lifted her head "Just think... You and me. I never thought that I could even stand next to you. I did not think that I would be good enough"

"I like the way you sing" Andy remarked, smiling sweetly.

"From our point of view, it's hard to understand the level we've climbed in sixteen years" Pete answered for all of them, with a wave of his hand "I still feel like a guy with a bass guitar playing in the garage or basement. Even despite how many people come to our concerts"

"Sometimes it's hard for me to believe that someone considers me to be their idol" Patrick confessed, and switched to a falsetto "I mean, guys, I'm just a person, not worse and not better"

"So shy" Joe nodded toward Stump .

"You are idols to me" Kara said from a pure heart, and realized that she began to pinch her eyes from tears, but she didn't show them "Each of you, and all together. You have changed my life... but I think that this has been often said to you"