22. Sexy Stranger #3 attempts to throw a rotten tomato at Dallon Weekes' face and misses.

"This is it," Brendon said, sobbing as Ryan, Gabe, and I all got ready to go to I Don't Know How But They Found Me's farewell concert. "The world is ending, and there's nothing that we can do about it."

Gabe rolled his eyes. "Brendon, your favorite band breaking up is not the end of the world," he said. "On the other hand, if a sexy stranger throws a rotten tomato at Dallon's face tonight and misses, that might be the end of the world. We should figure out how to prevent that from happening."

It had been four days since Gabe and Joe had beaten up the Neo-Nazis at Fall Out Bros., and given that iDKHOW was breaking up, we could stop Gabe from dying and the world from ending if we could just keep Gabe's vision from coming true that night. It wasn't like Sexy Stranger #3, whoever they were, would have another opportunity to launch rotten fruit at Dallon Weekes.

"What does the sexy stranger look like?" I asked. "Maybe we could find a way to keep them from coming into the venue in the first place."

"Sexy Stranger #3 has eyes, ears, a mouth, a nose, two arms, and two legs," Gabe said.

"Most humans look like that," Ryan pointed out.

"I'm not very good at describing people!" Gabe exclaimed.

"What were they wearing?" Ryan asked.

"Sexy Stranger #3 was wearing shorts, socks, and a hat," Gabe said.

"Wasn't Patrick Stump wearing shorts, socks, and a hat at the Fourth of July bonfire?" Ryan said.

"It's not Patrick," I said. "Patrick is Sexy Stranger #1. He can't also be Sexy Stranger #3."

"Sexy Stranger #3 definitely wasn't Patrick, or anyone that I already know," Gabe said.

"This isn't going anywhere," Ryan said. "We should try a different approach. Maybe we could find some way to keep people from bringing rotten tomatoes to the venue."

All of a sudden, an idea sparked in Gabe's mind. I could see it in the way that his eyes lit up. "I have a plan," he said.

A little while later, we all arrived at the venue. I adjusted my hat and my official-looking security badge, hoping that the other people going to the concert would fall for our disguises. "Why are we doing this again?" I asked Gabe.

"Pete, you're a security guard," Gabe said. "Don't ask questions, and just do your job."

Gabe, Ryan, Brendon, and I stood next to the door, waiting for our fellow music fans to arrive. The first person to show up at the venue just walked by, ignoring us. "Ma'am!" I shouted. "We need to check your bag!"

"Oh, I'm sorry," the woman said. "I'm the lead singer's mom - Dallon didn't tell me that there would be security guards here."

She walked back to me and handed me her bag. I quickly looked through it, and when I saw that there was a box of homemade cookies but no rotten fruit, I gave the bag back to Mrs. Weekes. "Enjoy the show," I said, smiling.

The routine continued on, but not a lot of people were coming to iDKHOW's final show. "No one came to see them except their mom and dad," Brendon said sadly.

"It's still early, Brendon," Ryan said. "The show doesn't start for another hour."

All of a sudden, Ryan Seaman entered the venue. He gave us a strange look and then walked past us. "Should I stop him?" I whispered to Gabe.

"Yes, just to be safe," Gabe said. "He's not Sexy Stranger #3, but he could still have a rotten tomato with him."

"Sir!" I shouted. "We need to check your bag!"

"I'm in the band," Ryan complained. He took another look at the four of us before focusing on Brendon. "I know you," he said to Brendon. "You were at our Sunshine Riptide show, and you work at that smoothie shop."

"Yes, that's me," Brendon said, while Gabe sighed. Brendon was definitely about to blow his cover. "I got a new job as a security guard."

"So you're working two jobs?" Ryan asked. Brendon nodded, but Ryan didn't look convinced. He ran a hand through his blue hair as he said, "Now that I think about it, you all look a little young to be security guards, and I definitely don't remember hiring any of you. In fact, it's safe to assume that none of you are actually security personnel. I don't know what trick you're trying to pull, but I know you four are up to something. Get out!"

All four of us left the venue and headed back to the car. We drove back to Brendon's house, changed into our regular clothes, and returned to the theater. "I thought for sure that was going to work," Brendon said as we drove back to the venue.

"Me too," Gabe said. "If Ryan Seaman hadn't recognized you, we might have gotten away with it, but I think that most of the people who were going to show up came before Ryan caught us."

When we arrived at the venue, we saw that Gabe was wrong. A small line had started to form outside of the theater. We got in line with everyone else, and when Brendon asked the girl in front of us why there were so many people, we found out that it wasn't because of the music. "Mrs. Weekes said that she was giving out cookies to everyone who came to this concert," she said.

We made it through the door just as the concert was starting, but we couldn't find four seats that were next to each other in any part of the theater. After some arguing, we decided to split up - Gabe and I would sit on one side of the theater, where it was hard to see the stage, and Ryan and Brendon would be closer to the stage and get a better view on the other side. As usual, I couldn't even begin to understand I Don't Know How But They Found Me's music, much less enjoy it. However, I tried my best to grin and bear it for Brendon's sake. He and Ryan seemed to be having a great time, dancing and singing along to every single song. They were the only two people in the theater who were actually enjoying the music for its own sake, but they didn't seem to care. The world wasn't ready for iDKHOW, but Brendon and Ryan were, and they weren't afraid to show their love for this strange little band.

The show went on, and I listened carefully to each song, trying to figure out what Brendon and Ryan saw in this band. At some points, I was tempted to leave early, but I stayed for Brendon. Onstage, Dallon was singing his heart out and dancing like nobody was watching, while Ryan drummed along, his blue hair flying as he tapped the rims. It was clear that they were having a great time, and I wondered why they were quitting in the first place. I suspected that it was because of people like me.

"Pete!" Gabe exclaimed suddenly.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I found her," Gabe said. "Sexy Stranger #3 is sitting right behind Brendon, and she's super hot."

I looked toward Brendon and Ryan again, and I saw a teenage girl with brown hair, blue eyes, and freckles sitting behind Brendon. She was pretty cute, but she wasn't Patrick. Besides, I couldn't get too attached to her, knowing that she would throw a rotten tomato at Dallon Weekes. "What are we going to do about her?" I asked Gabe. He didn't answer - he was too busy staring at the sexy stranger. "Gabe!" I exclaimed. "We have to find some way to keep that girl from throwing a tomato at Dallon!"

"Let's go talk to her then," Gabe said. Both of us got out of our seats and walked up to the girl. Before I could say anything to her, Gabe said, "I'm wishing to be the friction in your jeans."

"Gabe!" I exclaimed, hoping that the girl hadn't heard what Gabe had just said. "Stop being such a creep."

I turned back to the girl, but while Gabe and I weren't looking, she had taken out a rotten tomato. She held it into the air and tossed it right at Dallon's face before we could do anything about it. The tomato hurtled through the air, and Brendon screamed as it passed him. He swatted it out of the way, changing the fruit's trajectory so that it narrowly missed Dallon and splattered onto the wall behind him. Dallon barely seemed to notice - he just kept playing while Gabe found Brendon and yelled at him.

"You just made my vision come true!" Gabe shouted. "If you hadn't knocked the tomato out of the way, it would have hit Dallon, and the vision wouldn't have happened."

"I didn't want it to hit him," Brendon said.

Gabe just rolled his eyes and walked back to me. "Come on, Pete," he said. "Let's go back to our seats."

By the time we got back to our seats, the song was over. Dallon grabbed the microphone and said, "This isn't the first time that someone has thrown rotten fruit at me." He paused for a moment, leaving the entire theater in awkward silence. He then announced, "This next song is called Social Climb."

I Don't Know How But They Found Me started playing again, but I found it far more interesting to watch Brendon and Ryan. They were enjoying every moment of Dallon and Ryan's performance, holding each other close and singing the song.

Come break some hearts now, tear them out

We're filing for amusements with the crowd

Oh, but we advise participation, it's required

Doing things not typically allowed

Feels like we're having a good time

It's true, a wonderfully good time

When I'm with you

Woah-oh-oh-oh, woah-oh-oh-oh

When I'm with you

Woah-oh-oh-oh, woah-oh-oh-oh

When I'm with you

Woah-oh-oh-oh, woah-oh-oh-oh

When I'm with you

Woah-oh-oh-oh, woah-oh-oh-oh

When I'm with you

"It really is a good time when I'm with you," Brendon said softly.

Ryan smiled and then said, "I thought you said earlier that the world was ending though. What if we don't have much time left together?"

"Maybe the apocalypse won't come," Brendon said. "Maybe we'll stop the visions from happening. I know it's mad, but Ryan, if the world were ending, would you kiss me or just leave me?"

Ryan leaned closer to Brendon and said, "I think you already know what I'd do." Ryan's lips collided into Brendon's just as Dallon hit a high note onstage. However, the two of them weren't really paying attention to what was happening onstage anymore. They kissed again, clearly having a good time, just like what Dallon was singing about.

"I hope the moon forgets to fall down tonight," Brendon said to Ryan before he kissed him one more time.

I looked back toward the stage, trying to focus on the concert, but my mind kept drifting back to Ryan and Brendon. I was glad that they had finally realized their love for each other - just thinking about the way that they looked at each other made me a little bit jealous. They were a perfect pairing in every way, and I wanted nothing but love and happiness for both of them.

The concert went on for a little bit longer, but when I Don't Know How But They Found Me finished playing their last song, it hit me. Brendon's one obsession was gone for good - none of us would ever see iDKHOW play again. There would never be another night like this. I knew that Brendon was devastated, but at least he had Ryan to comfort him. He would get over iDKHOW's breakup eventually, and I knew that because of Ryan, he would get over it sooner rather than later. However, even I was a little bit sad - it was the end of an era, after all.

On the way home, Brendon and Ryan cuddled in the backseat while I drove and Gabe sang and danced along to every song that came on the radio. I dropped Ryan and Brendon off first, followed by Gabe, and then I headed home. I was tired, and I wanted to go to bed, but I decided to reply to Mikey's letter first. It had been a while since I had last wrote a letter to him, and I was sure that Mikey was waiting by the mailbox for a reply. I picked up a pen and started to write to him.

Dear Mikey,

Despite our best efforts, a group of Neo-Nazis showed up at Fall Out Bros. Pizza, but thankfully, Gabe and Joe beat them up. Those Neo-Nazis totally deserved it. A sexy stranger also threw a rotten tomato at Dallon Weekes' face tonight, so now two more visions have come true. Hopefully, we'll figure out how to stop the next one soon.

In other news, Brendon and Ryan are together now. They got together at I Don't Know How But They Found Me's final concert. They're a pretty cute couple, and I think they'll be more than just a casual affair. I'm a little bit worried about how Brendon's parents will react, but I doubt that Brendon will tell his parents right away. I don't think that he's even come out to them yet. Anyways, Ryan and Brendon are adorable, and I want a relationship like theirs someday.

Labyrinth was an okay movie. David Bowie was the best part. Also, I thought that his character was dead the whole time, but I was wrong. For some reason, Patrick wants me to stop guessing the endings of movies. I can't figure out why.

I love all of the artists you listed except for The Smiths. I'm sure that Gerard and I will have a lot to catch up on when I come to New Jersey. I'll try to bring some of my favorite cassettes, so you and Gerard can hear what I've been listening to lately.

I can't wait to see you again, Mikey. It's crazy that the New Jersey trip is only two and half weeks away now. In the meantime, please keep me posted on what's going on in your life. I love hearing about everything that's happening in New Jersey.

Mailing letters to addresses in ghost towns,

Pete Wentz

I put the letter in an envelope and left it on my desk. Things were shaping up to be pretty odd, but I knew that it would all get better soon. Brendon and Ryan had finally realized that they loved each other, and even better, it wouldn't be long at all before I could see my pen pal for the first time in seven years. My life at home may have been falling apart, but at least I had one thing that I could look forward to.