Alright kids, here is another one for your consumption! Enjoy!
Catch My Breath - A TOP Fic
The line was long. One of the longest they had ever seen, but that was to be expected this close to home. Each fan was as enthusiastic as the last. High fives were dispersed, hugs were had, and autographs were scribbled, slowly but surely the line got smaller and smaller.
Josh wrapped his arm around Tyler, the young girl stood between them as they all posed for the picture.
“Thank you! Thank you!” she squealed as she snatched the phone from her mother and flipped through the photos.
‘Thank you,’ her mother mouthed a silent offer of appreciation as they turned to leave.
“I will never get used to how happy a picture will make people…” Tyler smiled and shook his head as he returned to the waiting line of fans.
“I, um…” a soft voice caught Josh’s attention, “I don’t know if this is an appropriate place for this but…”
Josh looked up from the autograph he had finish scrawling across a poster. The woman standing across the table was holding a plain white envelope in her hands and was nervously shifting back and forth from foot to foot. His eyes met hers and for a moment, he felt time stop. It wasn’t like a jolt of electricity, like Tyler had described when he first met Jenna. It wasn’t rosy colored and soft like in old movies. It was just a moment in which her brown eyes met his and everything was still.
“I just wanted to give this to you in person,” her voice hung in the air as she held the envelope out to him.
“Oh, uh…” he blinked and the stillness was gone. “Yea, sorry,” he took the envelope and smiled.
“I just wanted to say thank you, for everything you guys do,” she wrapped her arm around a girl standing next to her that was obviously her sister. The girl held out a poster towards Josh.
“Of course,” he smiled wider as he took the poster, “we are happy that our music reaches people, and grateful for your support.” He placed the envelope on the table and picked his marker back up.
“Hey, what’s this?” Tyler picked up the envelope.
“A letter,” Josh slid the poster over the table to in front of Tyler without looking away from the woman and her sister.
“Letters are awesome,” Tyler grinned childishly as he opened the envelope.
“You two want a picture?” Josh side stepped the table.
“Sure!” The younger girl grinned and pulled out her phone. “Take it for me, Amy?”
“Sure,” she accepted her sister’s phone, “alright, smile!”
“Stay street!” He grinned as he rested a hand on the girl’s shoulder. The light flashed.
“Hey Josh,” Tyler called.
“Would you like one too?” Josh asked, ignoring his bandmate.
“Of course!” she traded places with her sister.
“Josh…” Tyler called again.
Josh only waved a hand at him.
“Stay street!” Josh bent his head down slightly, resting it against hers. The light flashed again.
“Thank you,” she smiled as she reached for the phone.
“Yes, thank you,” her sister picked up her signed poster from the table.
“Thanks for your support,” he nodded to them as they left the table.
“Have a safe trip to your next show!” they called as they disappeared into the crowd.
Josh held up a hand, returning their wave.
“Josh, seriously dude!” Tyler yelled.
“What?” Josh finally turned to face the frustrated man.
“Who left this?” Tyler held up the envelope.
“Oh, uh…” Josh looked over the heads of the crowd to see if he could catch a glimpse of the pair. “They were just here.”
“You need to read some of this,” Tyler’s face was serious, “it would have been good to catch them while they were here.”
“Oh, alright…” Josh’s face fell as he accepted the envelope and glanced back at the crowd.
“Trust me, you need to,” Tyler’s face softened, “I will handle the Clique.”
Josh nodded and slipped behind the merch curtain for some privacy. He turned the envelope over in his hands, it wasn’t as crisp and plain as he had first thought. The edges were beat up and the adhesive had been sealed, broken, and resealed several times. Across the front were written three words, 'Josh and Tyler’. He pulled the folded paper from inside and was startled by how crumpled it was.
I am not sure if this will even be the final copy of what I give you, I have rewritten this letter so many times I don’t even remember what I originally wrote. I am hoping this one will contain everything I wish to say. First, thank you. Thank you so much for everything you do. Your music fills a need that few have sought to fill. You reach so many people with your music, you help so many people. So, from all of us in the Skeleton Clique, thank you for being you.
Second, thank you from me personally. Your music, and I don’t mean just the words, I mean all of it, has helped me through some of the roughest parts of my life. Your album, 'Vessel’ was my anthem as my husband and I struggled with infertility for five years, and were finally told that we would never have children of our own. Blurryface came along just in time to lead me through the death of my grandmother, who I was very close to, and again through the sudden, and more recent death of my husband of ten years.
Josh bit his bottom lip as he recalled the smile she had given him when handing him the letter. He knew their fans struggled through darkness, that was what they wanted to help with, but she had seemed so happy.
I can’t begin to tell you what your honesty through your music has done for me, and for all of us in the Skeleton Clique. You offer a light to people who need a tangible hope in this world that would have us believe we are alone. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I also wanted to let you know that just like you remind us that we are not alone, you are not alone either. I pray for you as you tour, that you will be safe, and that you will not lose sight of the love you wish to share with people. So, if you ever find yourselves down and feeling like everything you do is not reaching people, know that it is. You can pull out this letter and remember there is at least one person you have touched deeply.
He shoved the letter back into its packaging and emerged from behind the curtain.
“Would have been nice to catch them, right?” Tyler glanced back at his friend.
Josh rifled through the bags of merch booth items before finding a random piece of paper.
“You alright?” Tyler turned around, “can I help you find something?”
Josh scribbled on the scrap of paper, “I will be back,” he hopped over the table.
Tyler only shook his head and threw his hands in the air, “Run! Run!” he yelled.
Josh pushed his way through the crowd trying to get out the door, “excuse me please!”
“Hey, look…” the whispers began to fly all around him as the crowd thinned for him, “that’s Josh… where is he going…?”
He continued to press forward, jumping to see over the crowd and try to get through the layers of people. Finally he was to the main doors of the venue. He slammed into them at full force and tumbled out into the night. It was colder than he had remembered it being when they arrived that morning, large clouds of white puffed from his lips. He stood up and looked around, the parking lot was huge.
“Come on…” he breathed as he began to race up and down the aisles, doing his best to look down each one, “come on, please…” he begged.
“Hey!” he yelled as loud as he could. She was several rows over and walking away from him. “Hey you!” he yelled as he began to chase after her.
He was getting closer, it was definitely them. “Hey you, with the purple hair!” he yelled.
She stopped and turned around, confusion on her face.
“You…” he gasped as he stopped in front of her, “you forgot…” he bent forward, his hands resting on his knees. The cold air burned his lungs and he hadn’t realized how winded he was.
Her eyes grew wide as she realized who it was, “Oh, my goodness, don’t tell me I left my phone, or my wallet…” she was frantically checking her purse, “I am so sorry, I am always doing things like that…”
“No, no…” he stood up and waved his hands, “nothing like that,” he placed the folded scrap of paper into her hand, “you forgot your hug.”
“Oh,” she blushed, “I didn’t realize that was something we were supposed to get.”
“Oh yea,” he smiled, “everyone gets a hug at a Twenty One Pilots show.” He held his arms out.
“Th…” she did the same, “thank you.”
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight, rocking back and forth slightly. “If you ever feel alone, you can use that,” he whispered.
“Alright short stuff,” he released her and held his arms out for her sister, “you too.”
Her sister grinned from ear to ear as he hugged her too.
“Thank you again,” the woman smiled, her eyes watery.
“You guys did good tonight,” she took her sisters hand, “seriously, amazing.”
“Thanks,” he began to back away, he could hear a few quiet comments being made by the passersby, “have a safe trip home.”
They waved as he turned and began to walk back to the building.
Josh slowly trotted back to the front doors, a smile on his face.
“Did you catch them?” Tyler grinned as his friend hopped back over the table.
“Yea,” Josh smiled, “sorry guys!” he waved to the remaining fans in line, “I am back now!”
“You leave me like that again,” Tyler shoved him playfully, “you’re out of the band.”
“Yea, yea,” Josh chuckled as he picked a marker back up.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< I-/ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The faint buzz of a cell phone could be heard through the bus as it barreled down the highway. Josh forced his eyes open as he groggily grabbed for his phone. The text was from a number he didn’t recognize. Rolling over onto his stomach he squinted against the brightness of the screen.
Hello, I was given this number about a week ago.
I was told to use it if I ever felt lonely.
Josh Dun gave me this number, if that helps.
Yea, you have the right number. What’s going on?
I am sorry, it has to be late wherever you are,
assuming you are in the US. I am in the middle of
the states and it is late here, so it has to be late everywhere…
but I just didn’t really want to wake up my
family any more than I already do.
It’s no problem. Like you were told,
you can use this number whenever.
I can’t always reply right away,
but I will when I can.
This is the girl from the Cincinnati show, right?
I was waiting for you to ping me.
Thank you. Yes, that is me.
My name is Amelia, Amy.
Is this like a help line for Clique
members or something?
You could say that. So, what
has got you feeling lonely tonight?
It’s just that… I don’t know what all you were told,
but I lost my husband a few months ago,
and sometimes the nights are just really lonely.
He felt his chest tighten. Months. He hadn’t realized it had been so recent.
I understand. Being alone at night when
you are used to being around someone is hard.
Anything I can do for you?
Just talk to me, please. About anything.
Alright, tell me about yourself,
what do you like to do?
I like to read, a lot. I write too…
but nothing too serious. It was my
major in college, but I really haven’t
done much with it.
Why not? Creating is important.
Is there something stopping you
from writing like you would like?
I suppose I hadn’t found my muse yet,
and then life kicked in. Bills, student loans,
you know… just life.
Yea, sometimes I feel that way too.
I mean, I love my job, but sometimes
I feel like there should be more.
What? Talking to lonely people isn’t
enough? How does someone even get a
job doing something like this? A services
degree I suppose.
Actually, this is more of a hobby.
My job is far less interesting than talking
to people all day.
What about you? Do you have hobbies
besides talking to strangers?
Hey there! You make this sound weird.
It’s a little weird, I mean… I don’t even
know your name.
I really shouldn’t give my name out.
But you could give me a name if you want.
I understand, personal security and all
that. For all you know I could be a crazy
person. Give you a name, huh? Does that
mean we are friends?
I would like to think so.
Man, I don’t know if I can think of a name.
Tell me a little more about yourself and I will
see what comes to mind.
Okay, let’s see… I really like music.
But I suppose working for TOP
that would make sense, huh?
Yea. :)
What’s your favorite band?
Oh man. Loaded question.
I like Rage Against the Machine,
Mutemath, and Switchfoot
to name a few.
Oh, Rage is soothing to the soul!
Right? There is something about them
that is just so wonderful to listen to.
It’s the passion in their music. It
reaches to you on more levels than
just being good music.
Yes! I agree completely! Plus Brad Wilk
is a brilliant drummer. But what do I know?
You like drummers, huh? Bass players
usually hold a special place in my heart.
Bass players, huh? No love for drummers?
Josh chuckled. It had been a while since he had been able to have a semi-normal conversation with someone, even if she didn’t know who he was, it was nice to be getting to know someone.
“What are you doing?” Tyler’s half-awake voice cut through the world of texting Josh had fallen into.
“Oh, nothing.” he dimmed the screen and dropped his phone just before Tyler’s head swung up from the bottom bunk.
“Who are you talking to?” Tyler’s eyes were half lidded and his brow was furrowed in confusion, “and don’t deny it, I can hear you giggling like a middle school girl.”
Josh only shook his head.
“Fine,” Tyler’s head disappeared, “but I know you are lying.”
Oh, no. Don’t get me wrong.
I like drummers too, there is actually
one drummer in particular I could
listen to all day.
Oh, yea? Who would that be?
And if you say Chad Butler,
I will have to take your
Skeleton Clique card.
No fear. It is for sure Josh.
I sometimes watch the music videos
just to watch him play.
“Josh!” Tyler yelled, “seriously… you sound ridiculous.”
He pressed his lips together between his teeth to keep from laughing out loud.
Oh god! I can’t believe I just told you
that. For all I know you have to report everything
I say. Please don’t tell him I said that…
I would die of embarrassment!
No worries! Your secret is safe with me!
I think I know what I am going to call you.
Well, no one knows that we had this conversation
right? At least, I can pretend like no one does.
It’s just you and me here.
Yea, I know who Harvey is.
How am I like a rabbit?
You’re not… but you are like my imaginary
friend. Only I will know that we talk, and
you are only around to help me out. To pull
me from the dark.
Josh pressed his lips together in a small smile.
Thanks Harvey. I think I am doing better.
I need to get to sleep. I have work in the morning.
Same.
You sleep good, you understand?
Yes, Sir! *salutes*
Seriously thank you. You saved me
from myself.
Anytime, like I said.
And maybe you will find that
I will need you to save me
sometimes too.
I would like that. To repay the favor.
Good night.
Good night.
Stay street.
Stay alive.
@iwantthedean because only you read all my stuff. :)
