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Putting A New Address On The Same Old Loneliness	By : watermajutsu Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Fall Out Boy Views: 1022 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know the members of Fall Out Boy. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Putting A New Address On The Same Old Loneliness
- 1
PUT A NEW ADDRESS ON THE SAME OLD LONELINESS

CHAPTER 1:

My parents and I moved to Wilmette when I was seven, but, being quite sickly and all, I wasn't one of those kids who would spend most of the day outdoors playing. I usually spent it either in bed or in the hospital. That was the main reason why we moved from Ohio to Illinois. My parents wanted me to get treated at the University of Chicago's Cancer Treatment Center in Chicago. They heard that some of the best lymphoma specialists were there.

I was home-schooled the entire time too, and was only allowed to go to regular school when I was finally diagnosed to be completely cured. I was already ten years old when that happened. And it was during that summer that I met him.

It was the first summer of my life that I wasn't cooped up indoors so I decided to make the most out of it. Papa always told me about this really great place through the woods behind our property. He said I should just follow the trail and I'd end up in front of an amazing mansion that looked over a cliff. There was even a beautiful, serene lake right by it.

I asked Papa if I could go, and of course he said yes. I was so excited I almost ended up bounding out of the back porch and tearing through the woods like a crazed madwoman that Mama ended up shouting “Be careful!” after me as I ran. I shouted back a quick “I will” and continued sprinting into the woods, giggling like the little school-girl that I was back then. It was only when I almost tripped over a protruding root that I decided to slow down. Getting my neck broken wasn't going to do me any good after all, and I was halfway through the woods anyway, so there really wasn't any point to doing so. I walked gingerly through the trees, admiring how beautiful everything was. I saw several different kinds of birds, and even an occasional squirrel. After another few minutes of walking, I came to a clearing. My heart started pounding against my ribcage as I stepped out of the woods and into a flower-filled, unkempt lawn. It was just as amazing as Papa had described it to me all those times.

The mansion was in ruins, but it was sturdy and stable enough for anyone to go in and explore. The fact that it was in ruins actually added to its majestic feel. It was grand and beautiful. I looked all around my feet and saw flowers of different colors and sizes everywhere. And the lake was just spectacular. I turned to my left and my breath was immediately caught in my throat at the beauty of it all. It was just so soothing and peaceful; I didn't ever want to leave the place.

I decided that I wanted to have a better view of the lake from a higher vantage point, so I scanned my surroundings. I walked over to the mansion and saw that there was a beautiful veranda jutting out of the corner.

The view of the lake has got to be so amazing from up there, I thought. I ran towards the mansion and climbed up the porch. The house really was quite sturdy. It wasn't the creepy type of house that creaked and squeaked every time a living thing decided to move inside it. Besides, it would have been a greater adventure for me that time if there really were ghosts inside. After being trapped inside our house and inside hospitals for such a long time, having a ghost encounter would have been a very welcome experience.

I walked into the house and up the stairs, making sure that I wasn't stepping on any rotten wooden boards on the floor. I didn't want to end up in the basement all of a sudden with a bleeding limb to take care of. Like I had that to worry about, though. The place looked like it could still house five elephants and it still won't crumble. And the inside of the mansion, although old, still held some of its grandeur. It was made up almost entirely of wood, but with just one glance, you'd know that it was of really good quality. My fear of falling through the floor and into the basement quickly faded as I stared in awe at how beautiful the house was.

Finally, I was up on the second floor and I made my way to where I remember the veranda to be. I stepped out into the open air and was immediately welcomed by a light, refreshing breeze blowing across my face. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. The air was fresh and smelled of honeydews and lilacs and lavenders, it was just amazing. Right then and there, I knew that this was going to be my sanctuary.

From now on, this is going to be my place.

I opened my eyes and realized that the view of the lake from up there was not just spectacular. Until now, remembering how it all looked like, I still cannot put into words just how beautiful it all was. I knew I would never get tired of gazing at that sight in front of me.

“Pretty amazing, huh?” A voice suddenly blurted out -- quite loudly I might say -- from down below. Screwing up my face at the idea of someone ruining my solitude, I looked down and saw a dark-haired young boy with lightly tanned skin, almost the same age as I was. He was wearing a pair of faded jeans, a gray shirt and a black hooded jacket. He had a pretty goofy grin on his face and seemed to have no problem staring at me the entire time. I stared back at him, thinking that he somehow looked familiar.

“Mind if I come up? I kinda like the view up there myself,” he asked. I cocked my head to one side, as if thinking it over. He was just a young boy after all, maybe just a year older than I was, and he looked pretty harmless to me, so I nodded. I could probably use the company anyway, I thought.

“Sure,” I replied. His grin widened even more after I agreed and he immediately disappeared. I heard running from downstairs and after a minute or so he was stepping out onto the veranda. His eyes were on the lake, so I studied him. He wasn't really that tall, only a couple of inches taller than I was, quite lean, but not lanky; he was well proportioned, especially for his age. He had beautiful light brown eyes, bordering on hazel, which was framed with thick, long, black eyelashes that were wasted on a boy. His eyes were full of laughter and life, although I thought I saw a flicker of something like sadness in them every now and then. His grin was wide, and up close, it really was goofy. His hair was a very dark brown and it was thick and unruly. He wasn't a bad looking boy, but he somehow struck me as kind of goofy, just like his grin.

He finally turned to look at me after a short while, but I wasn't fast enough. He had caught me studying him. I felt myself shudder slightly, afraid that he might make fun of me or something. But he didn't. He smiled warmly and stuck out his right hand.

“My name's Peter, what's yours?”

My lower lip trembled slightly as I opened my mouth to speak. I slowly reached out to take his hand. “I'm Christine,” I replied shyly. He took my hand and shook it gently.

“That’s a very pretty name. Nice to meet you.” He faced the lake once again and leaned on the wooden railings on the veranda. It took a few minutes before he spoke to me again. “Wanna sit down? The floor’s clean enough for that. Besides, you look like you can use the rest,” he offered, concern lightly coloring his voice. I blushed slightly as I nodded, and we walked over towards the wall opposite where we were just standing so that we could lean back on it. We slumped on the floor at the same time and gazed out, enjoying the view of the lake that we still had.

I looked shyly at him once again and ducked my head. “Can I...uhm...c-can I call you Pete? Coz, uhm...” I felt all the blood in my body rush into every blood vessel on my face when I asked that question; I knew I was redder than an overripe tomato. I waited for him to either laugh at me or make a sarcastic remark about me asking if I could call him Pete. After all, we just met each other minutes before that conversation. I wasn't in any position to make any sort of requests or demands from him, but I admit, I really was weird like that.

He gave me a side-long glance and grinned. “I like the sound of that. Yeah, you can call me Pete.” I let out the breath that I didn't even know I was holding and grinned back at him.

He glanced at me and looked down on the floor between his outstretched legs. “Are you new around here, Christine? I don't think I ever saw you before, around the neighborhood or in school,” he asked, playing with a piece of wood-chip that he had found on the floor.

I shook my head. “No, I've lived here in Wilmette since I was seven, but I never really got out that much,” I replied.

“How come?”

“I've been sick the past three years. I couldn't go to school and just did all my schoolwork at home or in the hospital. It's only now that I really got well.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

We both fell silent after that. I continued listening to the chirping of the birds and the gentle rustle of the trees. Pete continued playing with the wood-chip.

“Why were you sick for such a long time? What did you have? Was it mono?” He finally asked me again. I shook my head and shifted positions from where I was seated.

“I had lymphoma. Mama and Papa said that it's like a kind of cancer. But they said I'm all better now, that it's a great miracle that I'm still with them after everything I've been through.”

“Oh,” he commented, then paused momentarily, as if struggling with what he was about to say. I saw a flicker in his eyes again but disappeared just as quickly as it passed through his eyes. He craned his neck to look at me. He was silent for a few seconds, but finally he spoke up. “At least you're all better now, right?” I nodded in reply.

Pete stood up and walked over to the railing. He leaned back a bit and threw the wood-chip with all his might out towards the lake. “Does that mean you'll be able to attend regular school now?” He asked as he turned around to face me. I nodded and smiled shyly. He nodded as well and smiled. “Where are you going to go?”

I wrinkled my nose and thought for a while. “I think Mama said North something School…”

Pete looked at me curiously. “North Shore Country Day School?”

I nodded in reply. "Yeah, I think that was it."

“Great! Maybe I'll see you around sometime. My mom works there as a High School Admissions Counselor. I'm going to be in fifth grade there when school starts, how about you?”

“Fourth grade.”

Pete nodded again, obviously pleased. “Cool. I'll definitely be seeing you in school then.” He walked over to where I was sitting and he plopped down beside me. “Better yet, why don't I take you around school when the year starts? I'll introduce you to the principal and all your teachers so that you won't have a hard time once you start there. I'll introduce you to everyone you need to know.” He grinned that goofy grin of his again and cocked his head towards me, studying my face intently. He took my hand in his and cradled it gently. “Don't look so terrified, Christine. I'll be there to look after you. I'll protect you, I promise.” He smiled warmly again at me and I couldn't help but smile back.

We stayed there for another hour just talking. Pete did most of the talking, though. He told me all about North Shore County Day School, and the people there. He obviously loved music class, and loved his guitar more. He was already pretty good with the guitar, and was now studying how to play the piano with his Mom. He told me that he's been trying to write songs since he could read notes, and that he won the school's song writing contest last year. He told me about how loved to play soccer and was actually an all-state player. He told me stories about his friends and teachers and classmates, and especially poor Mr. Alphonse, the principal, who he was very fond of, but who seemed to be always berating him as well because he was somewhat of a trouble-maker. Nothing major, just a few detentions every now and then because of different things caused usually by boredom or utter stupidity -- like twice or thrice in one week. He said he was pretty good with his schoolwork, but like any other kid, he tends to be lazy and would rather spend more time making music, watching T.V. or playing video games rather than burying his nose in a book.

He asked me about my family and friends. I gladly told him about my family, how my Papa was the one who told me about this place, and how good my Mama was when it came to cooking, and about Gramps and Granma, and my whole slew of cousins and aunts and uncles from both sides of the family. I explained to him that I had quite a big clan and that I came from a traditional Filipino family. I told him that in all of the families in our clan, ours was the only one that had an only child. He asked me if I've ever been in the Philippines, I said I was born there, but had to migrate to the U.S. when I was around four because of my treatments. I told him that I dreamt of being a writer someday, however the one thing I couldn't share any stories about was about the friends that I may have had in the past, because I didn't have any. When he asked me again about my friends, I couldn't help but duck my head in embarrassment.

He noticed the sad look on my face. “Hey, it's okay if you didn't have any friends in the past. After all, you've been cooped up in your house for the past three years. I promise I'll be your very first real friend, okay?”

I looked at him expectantly, my eyes misting over a bit. Remember, I was ten years old, and that was the very first time that anyone ever offered to be my friend. I felt so overwhelmed with happiness that I couldn't reply to him at all. I just stared at Pete, dumbfounded with my mouth agape.

Pete chuckled and brushed a few strands of my hair off my face. “Don't look so shocked. I'd be happy to be your friend.”

I still couldn't speak. I launched myself at him and hugged him tight when I felt the first hot tears escape my eyes as I squeezed them shut. Pete gave a short, shocked laugh and returned my embrace. He pushed me away gently after a few seconds and ruffled my hair.

“C'mon, let's get you home. It's about to get dark, and your parents might start worrying about you.”

I nodded and we started making our way down the stairs and out of the house. I cast a last look over my shoulder and smiled at the scenery. I knew that this was going to be the start of the best chapter of my life.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Pete and I made our way into my back lawn. We were chattering away happily when I suddenly heard Mama's voice calling out to me.

“I'm home, Mama! We'll be up there in a sec!” I turned to Pete and smiled. “You want to have a snack first before you go home, Pete? I'd really like it if you met my parents.” Pete smiled warmly at me again and placed an arm around my shoulder.

“Sure. I'd like to meet your parents too,” he replied. I looked up at him and returned his grin. We walked up to the house and were met by my Mama by the door.

“Hi, Baby-Girl, who's you're friend?” Mama asked. He took in Pete's appearance as she handed me a few small, colorful pills to swallow, together with a glass full of water. It was obvious that she was quite surprised to find me dragging home a young boy since everyone in the family knew that I barely had any friends, if any at all. This was very clearly a pleasant surprise for Mama.

I took my pills quietly as Pete introduced himself to Mama.

Pete smiled at Mama and extended his right hand. “My name's Peter, ma'am. Peter Wentz, but you can call me Pete,” he replied with a warm smile at Mama. “I live a couple of blocks from here.” He was so polite and courteous, Mama gave him another once-over and, with the look on her face, I knew Pete got her, hook, line and sinker.

“Well, hello Pete. It's very nice to meet you.”

I was already tugging at Mama's sleeve to get her attention. “Mama, mama! Is it okay if Pete stayed for snacks? Please Mama?” I pleaded. Mama smiled at me and kissed my forehead.

“I'll do you one better, honey. Since Pete here's the first friend you've ever had come over since we moved here, why don't we invite him for dinner? What do you say, Pete? You think you can call your parents to tell them you're having dinner here with us? I promise to drive you home afterwards,” Mama said. My eyes went wide and a big grin split my face. I jumped up and gave Mama a big bear hug.

Pete nodded vigorously in reply, that goofy grin that I was starting to be so fond of breaking across his face. “I'd be happy to, ma'am. Thank you.”

Mama stroked his hair and smiled. “You're a very polite young man, aren't you? Now, go follow Christine, she'll show you where the phone is.”

Pete said his thanks to Mama once again and I immediately grabbed his arm and started dragging him after me into the living room. Papa was there reading a book when he heard our footsteps. He looked up and smiled at me.

“Hey, Baby-Girl. Who's your friend?” Papa asked as he swooped down and collected me in his arms. It would have been embarrassing, considering the fact that I was already ten years old then, but I didn't really care. Being cooped up in the house and hospital for three years made me very close to my parents, not to mention very wide-eyed, shy, and innocent. Pete always told me that sometimes, I tend to act and think like I was three years younger than my actual age. Can't say I blame him, but he really can't blame me either, can he?

“Papa, this is Pete Wentz. I met him when I went up to the lake,” I introduced my new friend excitedly. Papa put me back down beside Pete and I linked arms with my new friend immediately.

“Good afternoon, sir. I was invited by...er...” Pete suddenly stuttered. I tiptoed and whispered in his ears.

“Our last name is Santiago.”

Pete smiled at me and continued his introduction, offering his right hand to Papa for a shake. “Mrs. Santiago invited me to dinner, I hope you don't mind.”

Papa chuckled and shook hands with Pete. “Not at all, Pete. I'm glad to see that my little girl made friends with such a polite young man.”

I beamed at Papa and told him that Pete had to use the phone to call his parents. I led him to the window-seat beside the phone and we sat side by side as he phoned home. A couple of minutes later, Pete replaced the receiver and grinned at me again. I grinned back.

“Mom said it's okay as long as your Mom or Dad drives me home, and that if they can't, I have to call them again so they can come pick me up.” he told me.

I nodded at him and stood up. “I'm sure Mama will be able to drive you home.”

He stood up as well and followed me to the couch. “They said you should come have dinner with us next week before school starts. They'd like to meet you too.”

I beamed at him and wrapped an arm around his neck. “I'd love to, Pete! I'll go ask Mama and Papa right now about it!”

I was up in a second and was bounding towards the kitchen where both my parents took refuge after meeting Pete. I told them about the dinner invitation and they both agreed that it was a pretty good idea to have me go and have dinner with Pete and his parents.

I knew that that was the start of the most beautiful friendship anyone could ever dream of. We were so young and innocent, full of ideals and dreams. It was the perfect summer, and we both expected the upcoming school year to be just as perfect.

AN: Like it? Don't like it? Let me know by leaving me a review! I'll be eternally grateful if you do! :)
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Putting A New Address On The Same Old Loneliness