{Patrick}
"Abbers, are you almost ready to go? Shawzy is going to be here in five minutes!" I call up the stairs.
"Yeah I'll be down in a few!" She calls back, from upstairs.
I shake my head, adjust my hat, and smile.
It's Friday, July 8, about 6:00 in the evening.
The Chicago Blackhawks Parade was today, and it was absolutely incredible.
This city is unreal.
I can't even put into words just how special this place is, how absolutely amazing the fans are.
Their cheers could be heard from miles away.
They are so passionate, and I am so grateful that I have ended up in Chicago with this organization.
The parade went extremely well, as well as the speeches.
Jonathan's speech was amazing.
It was different from everyone else's, and nobody saw it coming.
It was emotional.
I noticed a lot of fans shedding a few tears as he spoke.
But, it was much needed, and well-said.
Tonight, is the Coldplay concert at Soldier Field.
It has been an eventful day, and I'm really looking forward to the concert, which is at 7:30.
Andrew and Chaunette are picking Abby and I up any minute, and Abigail is still getting ready.
I'm wearing a grey v-neck, black shorts, and a Chicago Cubs flat-brim hat.
I've heard the concert is going to be one helluva show.
There are eight of us going: Abby Sharp, Patrick Sharp, Shawzy, Chaunette, Jonathan, Natalie, Abigail, and myself.
It's going to be a good night.
Right then, Abigail makes her way down the stairs, smiling.
She's wearing jean short shorts, a strapless blue top, and she has her hair down and straight.
I smile down at the ground.
I don't know how I ended up with someone like her.
A few nights ago, Abigail and I had the biggest fight we've ever had.
I don't know what happened.
I broke down.
My emotions took over.
I couldn't control myself.
And Abby held me tight.
She held me when I needed her, and that is one of the many reasons why I am absolutely in love with her.
"You look beautiful." I say, bluntly.
She smiles down at her feet, before looking back up at me.
She walks over to me, and kisses me gently on the cheek.
"Thank-you, Patrick." She smiles.
I smile back at her, bringing her in for a tight hug for a few moments.
She hugs me back tightly, and I exhale, feeling all of my doubt and worry wash away from me.
Her touch has that affect on me.
We finally part, and she smiles up at me for a few moments.
"How did your pictures turn out?" I ask, changing the subject.
"Pretty good! I got some really good ones of the crowd during Jonathan's speech." Abby nods.
"That's good." I smile.
She nods.
Right then, I notice my phone buzzing in my pocket.
I pull it out, and notice it's a text message from Andrew.
"They're here." I say, shoving my phone back in my pocket.
"I guess we should head downstairs then." Abby says, raising her eyebrows.
"Probably a good idea." I laugh.
The two of us make our way out of the apartment and down the elevator to the lobby of Trump Tower.
We exit the building, and the evening vibe of Downtown Chicago hits me hard.
It's warm out, and the sun is just barely getting ready to set.
The streets are buzzing with excitement, the Chicago River glistening with beauty.
I notice Andrew's car parked at the curb, and so Abigail and I make our way over to it, and get in the back seats.
Andrew is driving, and I guess Chaunette called shotgun.
"Hey fuckers!" Andrew laughs, as we close the doors behind us.
"Evening, Shawzy!" Abby giggles.
"You guys excited for tonight?" Chaunette says, looking back at us.
"You bet." I nod.
With that, the four of us make our way to Solider Field.
The traffic is fairly bad, as Solider Field is huge and the concert is completely sold out.
But, I don't mind.
The four of us talk and laugh together.
Apparently Jonathan, Natalie, Sharpie, and Abby Sharp are meeting us there.
"So what are you guys up to next week?" Chaunette asks.
I look over to Abigail, smiling.
"We're heading back to Buffalo on Sunday for a week, just to see my family again." I explain.
"Oh that will be nice!" Chaunette says.
"Definitely." I nod, smiling over at Abigail.
She smiles back at me.
"Does anyone know where our seats are?" Abigail asks.
"Yeah, they are in the first row of the first bowl. So not floor seats, but really good first bowl seats." Chaunette explains.
"Oh thank God. I hate floor seats, in all honesty. You can never see anything." Abigail laughs.
"I agree with you." Shawzy nods.
After about thirty minutes, the four of us have finally found a parking spot, and made our way into Soldier Field.
The concourse is busy, and the crowds are huge and loud.
People are all desperately trying to find their seats, get drinks, and are rushing around.
Abigail's hand finds mine, and the two of us interlace our fingers, to keep us from getting separated.
Finally, the four of us settle in our seats, and stare out at the stage.
The concert is to start in about fifteen minutes.
"Damn these are good seats." I laugh, looking out at the stage.
The stage is extremely close, and we are slightly higher than the floor seats, so we don't have to be outrageously tall to be able to see the stage.
"Fuck yeah they are. I wonder how much Sharpie spent on these." Andrew laughs, shaking his head.
"Speak of the devil." Chaunette giggles.
Right then, Sharpie, Abby, Jonathan, and Natalie arrive at our seats.
"Hey guys!" Sharpie greets, waving.
We all greet Sharpie, and then they settle in their seats.
Abigail sits on my left, and Jonathan sits on my right.
Next to him is Natalie, then Chaunette, Andrew, Abby Sharp, and Sharpie.
"Sharpie, these are damn good seats." Jonathan laughs, shaking his head.
"What can I say? I'm a big fan of Coldplay." He shrugs, laughing.
I shake my head, looking down at Abigail and my's hands, that are still holding each other.
I glance over at Jonathan, who has a bittersweet smile written on his face.
I don't know how he's going to handle tonight, but he's going to get emotional.
I can tell you that much, for sure.
"So, Natalie, what did you think of today? Was it your first Blackhawks parade?" Chaunette asks, looking over at Natalie.
I look over at Natalie, nearly mistaking some of her features for Ally's.
It's unmistakeable.
I don't know if Jonathan is blind to the similarities, but it all makes sense as to why he fell for Natalie.
Some of her features are identical to Ally's.
Natalie laughs, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.
"It was amazing. And no, I've been to one other Blackhawks Stanley Cup Parade, but as a fan. I obviously never got to experience it from such a personal level." Natalie laughs.
Abigail smiles at me.
"Well, we're glad you could make it." Chaunette smiles.
Right then, the stadium lights suddenly dim, and the stadium is almost completely dark.
The concert is starting.
Cheers erupt from the crowd, everyone standing up.
The eight of us all stand up as well, getting ready for the opening song.
I have no idea what the setlist is tonight, but I know most of Coldplay's songs, so I know it's going to be good.
There is a small introductory video, and then a spotlight shines on stage.
The entire stadium is on their feet, cheering.
This concert is packed.
Suddenly, music starts.
Nobody is on stage yet, but you can hear the music.
The cheers grow louder.
The beginning of the song Paradise starts.
Paradise is one of my favorites.
I smile, and right then, the band emerges on the stage.
Chris Martin stands at the front, the rest of the band behind him.
He plays the guitar, and once the introduction of the song is finished, he begins singing.
"When she was just a girl, she expected the world..."
The crowd sings with him.
The entire stadium is loud, and proud.
After a few minutes, Chris Martin finishes singing Paradise, and the crowd roars in excitement.
He stands up, and begins talking to the crowd.
"Hello Chicago!" He calls, his British accent clear.
The crowd roars.
"Thank-you for this sold out show, this is absolutely amazing. Let's get this concert started, shall we?" He calls.
The crowd replies by screaming.
And with that, the next song begins.
***
Nearly an hour later, and the concert is still going on.
Coldplay puts on one good fucking show, I will tell you that much.
They have already performed some of my favorites such as Clocks, A Sky Full of Stars, Viva la Vida, Charlie Brown, Violet Hill, Politik, and Green Eyes, all of which being incredible.
He has just finished singing Green Eyes, and Chris sits down at the piano to start the next song.
The first few notes of the song The Scientist come on.
I smile.
I fucking love this song.
Abigail looks over to me, her dark eyes glistening.
"I love this song." I admit.
"I know you do." Abigail giggles.
The beat of the song is so slow and so mellow, it forces me to do what my instincts are telling me.
I wrap my arms around Abigail's waist, and she places her hands over mine.
She rests her head back against my right peck.
"Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry, you don't know how lovely you are..."
I pull her closer to me, and kiss her on the cheek quickly.
She giggles, squeezing my hands as they rest on her waist-line.
"I love you, Patrick Kane." She says, laughing.
"I love you too, Abigail Quinn." I reply back to her.
The two of us sway gently to the song, and I glance over at Jonathan.
He has his right arm wrapped around Natalie, and she puts her left arm around his back.
He's looking up at the sky, a small smile on his face.
"You okay, Jonathan?" I ask, patting him on the shoulder.
He looks over to me, smiling slightly.
"It means so much..." He starts, his eyes glossy.
A tear rolls down his cheek, and he quickly wipes it away.
"I know, Jonny." I say, shaking my head.
The next two songs, are the last two songs of the show.
The second last one is Fix You, which was one of Ally's all-time favorites by Coldplay.
I take a few glances at Jonathan throughout the song, and this time around, he has decided not to wipe his tears away.
They aren't heavy tears; simply quiet, steady tears.
But nonetheless, tears.
Abigail has noticed he is crying as well, and squeezes my hand.
"It's almost too painful to watch." She shakes her head.
"I know." I nod.
"Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you."
The song finishes, and Jonathan cheers, smiling through his tears.
And last but not least, Yellow is played.
Ally's all-time favorite.
I glance over at Jonathan throughout the song, and he smiles up at the sky.
He's sharing this moment with her.
"She would have wanted to be here, Jonny." I say, looking over to him.
He looks back at me, sniffling quickly, and swallowing.
He has a smile on his face, though.
"I know, Pat. She is here." He nods, smiling.
"Look at the stars. Look how they shine for you, and everything you do..."
Jonathan's gaze turns to the sky, and I follow it.
The sky is illuminated by stars, dancing slowly through the night.
"Your skin, oh yeah your skin and bones, turn into something beautiful, do you know, you know I love you so..." Chris Martin sings, with the rest of the crowd.
And in time with the song, the stars and the sky whisper back words.
Ally whispers back six words.
"You know I love you so."