Pete's POV

I felt really good about this performance. The interview went really well for all of us and our moods were kind of mutual. We were all fairly happy.

Some techies rolled our instruments out on a cart backstage. Patrick smiled, seeing the sight of his favorite, white, electric guitar. He took it and instantly started messing around with it. I swear, he is the child of the band. With that thing in his hands, he will never be quiet.

People may think he's quiet, but he really isn't. He's just nervous in front of the cameras (which is most of the time) and is bullshit. The kid is extremely talented, playing - what? - nine different instruments? When he's alone with the three of us; good luck trying to get him to stop playing, singing, or talking. When he's with us, he's completely free to speak his mind, and that's part of the reason why I admire him so much.

If my life where a movie, this angel would definitely record my soundtracks.

They unlocked a room for us to practice in and left us alone. We reviewed a few things, especially Patrick's high notes. This single is known worldwide. Everybody knows this song or at least the tune. Screwing up is not an option, not suggesting that we are going to mess up.

In the middle of the chorus, Patrick stopped and held his hand back, towards us. I broke the sound from my bass and listened to what he was hearing.

It was our song, coming from the stage. A little blip of the bride and chorus played. Patrick smiled brightly and turned to us, "That's our song!" he squealed.

I laughed and took a swig of a water bottle. It was entertaining, watching him get so excited.

It stopped a little while after and we went back to work for another 10 minutes or so. More technicians came to collect us and give us final checks. They sound-checked our instruments and the microphones, finding everything good.

Jimmy had just finished playing a game with Uma Thurman on the show. She hugged him as he tried to transition to the next commercial.

I glanced to Patrick. You could just barely see his head shaking in terror. We have no reason to be bad, we've played this song countless times for countless crowds. Why is he so afraid that his body looks like it was stuffed into an ice box for 24 hours?

I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Hey, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. I just thought that it'd be fun. I'm sorry- we can still back out."

He shook his head quickly, "No, these people are counting on us performing tonight. It's going to happen. I-I can't let them down now."

I smiled from one side of my mouth and nodded to a techie eyeing me for information. He said something in his headset and Jimmy held his earpiece.

"Don't forget, Fall Out Boy will be performing after the break!" he reminded and the camera light turned off.

We're all pretty big fans of Uma, and when she came backstage to see us, we were awestruck. Patrick smiled nervously and greeted her. He even got a hug and I laughed at the blush that was left on his face. I remember how much of a crush he used to have on her, it was cute.

A couple minutes after talking to Uma Thurman, we were told to get on stage. The lights were darkened, so you couldn't see us. I still missed our curtain that we pulled down during the tour.

Once everything was plugged in and they were counting down the time for when we'd be live, Patrick's chest rose up and down rapidly.

I walked over to him and sighed, giving him and held his shoulders and looked back at him, "For Leah," I said, loud enough for Joe, Andy, and a few people in the audience to hear.

Patrick nodded and put on his game face. I hopped back to my spot and watched Jimmy for the okay. He walked into the aisles, through the audience and held up our album cover on a card.

The crowd cheered so loudly that Jimmy Fallon had to shout his intro for us, "From their album, Save Rock & Roll, here is Fall Out Boy's hit single: My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark!"

First of all, Patrick's game face was either working really well, or he was just naturally feeling like being a badass. This little guy was singing like he was trying to kill the music, succeeding. His vocals were spot on, adding to Andy's drums and Joe and I's chords.

His little black boots were stomping, keeping the beat and looking mighty fine while doing so. He danced around the stage, grasping the microphone tightly and confidently in his hands. Patrick Stump was owning the stage.

I was so proud of him. I wore a proud smile for him, like I might look down at Bronx's artwork. He's finally letting his feelings out cleanly, with music.

Suddenly, his tension from the chorus and verses slowed, "My songs know what you did in the dark..." he sang smoothly and connected, raising and sustaining his voice for the 'dark' and then we echoed with him back as he held it out with extreme vibrato. Andy hit his drum solo and we went back to the hard-core rock band that I'm in love with.

Together, we finished the song with all four of us' vocals. The cheering volume increased drastically as Jimmy attempted to run into the stage and thank us, telling the viewers goodnight.

He went to Patrick, shook his hand and laughed. I couldn't hear the conversation, but judging by the look that Patrick wore, he was humble about his proudness. He just freaking rocked the stage off, he's allowed to boast! But... That's not who Patrick Stump is.

We walked offstage as multiple different people congratulated us for our great performance. I turned it on him, saying, "Hey, it's all this guy."

He shrugged while walking with his guitar strapped around his back, "I didn't know I had it in me."

Once we were alone in the room we practiced in, I stole Patrick's fedora and hugged him, "Dude! What did I tell you? You did awesome! How does it feel?"

He laughed and smiled, "It feels great. I feel like I just yawped all of that confusion and frustration out. It's an amazing feeling, Pete."

I high-fived him, realizing that he was actually very happy. Going out to different places helped him, but not like this did. It was kind of a rude awakening/rebirth for him. It was nerve-wracking at first, but it was completely worth it. He's coming out of this a new and improved young man. All I can hope for is that he can keep the same mentality.

We were sent back to Chicago on the plane after a short after-party. I had my fair share of drinks and was ready to crash. And crash I did. The droning of the plane engine in my ears put me right to sleep.

Just before I closed my eyes the last time for the night, I saw Patrick with his phone light lighting his face up. He was smiling, typing, looking like his old self again.

I often wondered what would've happened if we hadn't met Leah. For sure, he wouldn't need to escape the sad, hidden world of his depression cloud, or would he?

She was right there for him when Elisa broke his heart. She's coming back, but who says when or how? Who has the power to say that?

We were all affected by Leah in so many different ways - especially on Patrick; just look at what he did today. I wondered... Why haven't I seen her since we dropped her off?

Slowly letting myself doze out of consciousness, I promised her I'd go see her this week. Her second week of sleep.