21st
20.02.09 - Best night ever (part 2 - meet and greet)
Ok, part 2 now. So they opened the doors and we rushed in without running. Katie had given me a little bag with a present in it for Pete, that I was to give to him at meet and greet. I was amazed when I got in there, and immediately made a beeline for the merchandise desk. However, I was stopped by my parents who advised me it would be a better idea to pick up my tickets first. So I went over to the line of people picking up their pre-paid tickets with my email and my ID card. My mum, seeing how long it was going to take, offered to save me a spot in the merch line which was rapidly growing. I picked up my tickets and successfully and joined up with my mum again in the merch line. We stood there for a while, talking to Katie and finally reaching the start of the line. I bought a FOB 2009 tour shirt and a green and white Hey Monday shirt (which I will take photos of later) but no All-American Rejects shirt because I’m kind of in a hater mood towards Tyson lately. So happily I paid $80 for two shirts while the people around me forked out over $200 for a few shirts. After getting my merch I went and stood near the box office where we’d been asked to wait for meet and greet. My parents waited around a while with me, before taking my merch and spare stuff home and leaving. So we stood around for quite some time before Dre actually showed up with a list and started calling names out to pick up their coloured bands and for those who paid - their merch. I went up and got my wristband and ended up getting two for some unknown reason. I was far too nervous to go back and actually ask why I’d gotten two so I walked away back to my group of friends who were just as confused as me. Katie came over and I told her about it and gave her my spare meet and greet. She was extremely happy about the whole situation so I gave her back her present. Dre came back afterwards and took all the yellow wrist banded people to Early Entry while the Meet and Greets continued to stand around nervously. He came back with a few spare bands and checked if everyone had gotten their wristbands and ended up giving away two free ones. Dre finally came back to take us to where the meet and greet was being held. There were so many people everywhere, mainly because we had to walk past all the entry doors to get there, so Tayla, Katie and I had to grab onto each other as we followed Dre to a staircase. He instructed us to show him the wristbands then stop at the bottom of stairs where there was another group of security guards. He instructed us to once again walk down a hallway to a room, showing the female security guard our bands on the way through. Nervously, we all stood in front of the door silently, not knowing what to expect. I have to admit right now, if I had had any liquid before I went in there, I think I would have wet myself with anxiety and excitement. They opened the doors and we saw room with small dining tables pushed to the sides, a Fall Out Boy/Optus backdrop for photos, a table with four chairs for signing and a line of people wearing orange bands who were the Optus Yes session people. Dre instructed us on the rules, only one thing signed, no hugging and no kissing etc. As soon as Fall Out Boy entered the room every one started screaming except for me, Tayla and Katie who were laughing at everyone’s reaction. We were told that the Optus people would be getting signing done first then photos, then we would get our photos then get signing done. So we stood in line while the Optus people got their stuff signed and photos taken and left the room. We then formed groups for photos. Katie, Tayla and I all wanted to be in the same photo so we joined a up with a really nice lady and her son and daughter for our photo. We were the first group to get our photo taken so I was extremely nervous. As we walked over I made my way towards Patrick and Andy. I wanted to stand between them, but I didn’t want to seem rude by just pushing between them when there obviously wasn’t enough space. So I walked up to Patrick and looked up at him and said “Hey, can I stand there?” pointing to the space between him and Andy. Patrick looked at me and smiled. “Oh yeah, absolutely.” and moved over so I could stand beside him. As I moved in between them, Patrick put his arm around me causing me to blush profusely. We got our photo taken and I smiled and said thanks before standing back in line for signing. I stood back in line and watched as the rest of the meet and greet-ers got their photos taken. I let Katie and Tayla go in front of me as we went to get our stuff signed. Yes, Patrick’s sideburns are definitely back for anyone who wanted to know. I won’t describe what they were wearing because obviously I’m going to be posting my meet and greet picture when it arrives. So I stood in line and handed my booklet to Patrick. He smiled at me and signed the booklet. Me: Hey *smiles* Patrick: Hey again *smiles and passes back the booklet* Me: Thanks *picks up booklet and turns to the Joe page* I have to say right now, that Joe’s hair was absolutely amazingly huge and curly. Joe, Andy and Pete had been drawing on the tablecloth with their sharpies, so when I stood in front of him with the booklet he ignored me at first because he was talking to Andy. Joe: *realises there’s a booklet in front of him, waiting to be signed* Hey Me: Hey *pauses then smiles* I love your hair. Joe: *smiles* Thank you, I love your hat. Me: *inside: OH.MY.GOD. Joe Trohman just complimented my hat!!!!! Squee!!!!!! Outside: blushes and beams very geekily* thanks. Joe: *passes booklet onto Andy* So I don’t have the same format of conversation for Andy because honestly, he didn’t say anything to me. He just signed the booklet and passed it to Pete. I mean, it’s not like I wasn’t expecting him to not say anything, but I kinda wish I’d said something to him about how awesome he is. Oh well, hopefully I’ll get a chance next time. The next part is probably the most embarrassing. Me: *moves from Andy to stand in front of Pete who is flipping through the booklet* Pete: *looks up at me and stares* Me: *not knowing what to say and absolutely nervous about the fact that Pete Wentz is staring at as if there’s something wrong with me* Pete: *signs the booklet* Hey Me: Hey *blushes* Pete: *passes me the booklet* Me: *mumbles* thanks *and leaves the room. Yes, I am extremely awkward and I have to promise myself that next time I will try to make conversation like I did with Joe with everyone, and not get stuck into a unintentional staring contest with Pete.
