<2:25 pm, Saturday>

In the morning, the two lied half asleep in the backseat of Josh's Monte Carlos, a tangled mess of limps. Tyler could still taste Josh in his mouth. It was odd, and frankly kind of gross, but he didn't really care. All he knew is they didn't have much left to do before the curtain fell.

Tyler was running out of time.

He'd come to the realization that he didn't want to die when a young girl approached him the previous night and told him that his music had saved her life. His music had saved a life. A girl not even seventeen years old yet. And it seemed that she wasn't the only one who felt that way.

The band had been going for a while, but they'd started incorporating Tyler's poems- the ones he hadn't forgotten about as they were written in the not so didn't past when all Tyler wanted was a way out- and some of his old songs into their first, new album.

A self titled one, simply named Twenty One Pilots. The music was slowly gaining a following. It made Tyler hopeful for the future, but scared about what that future looked like for Josh. Tyler found something to live for, but Josh? Josh was still stuck in that emptiness he was in just a few months ago.

That same razor sharp darkness. The hollow point space in his ribcage.

Tyler could only focus on one thing now.

3. Save a person's life.

They both slept through a large portion of the afternoon, only being woken up by the consistent buzzing of one of their cellphones.

It turned out to be Tyler's, stuck underneath the driver's seat in the front pockets of his jeans. He pulled it out and answered without looking.

"Hello?"

"Tyler!"

The voice startled Tyler and sat up straight, waking Josh up. "Jenna!"

"Finally! I've been trying to get in touch with you for the longest time! Debby finally gave in and gave me your secret new cell number, ooooh. Happy twenty first birthday! You can legally drink now. Key word bro- legally. Anyways, how has my favorite best friend been? Don't tell Dallon I said that. How's college? I heard psychology is a bitch. Did you have a party without me? Are you still in Columbia? What's the sitch?"

Tyler laughed at the string of questions she was asking. "I've been okay. College is a bitch, but I'm managing. Um, I decided to stay local after what happened to Madison, and I actually forgot today was my birthday."

Josh stirred. He rubbed his eyes and stared at Tyler through long, dark eyelashes. Tyler shifted awkwardly, remembering the night before. Not only had he never done that before, but that was the first time he'd actually done something with Josh besides making out.

"Birthday?" Josh mumbled sleepily. He curled up on Tyler's lap for a moment before jerking up.

"Holy shit. It's your birthday."

Jenna spoke from the phone, her voice suddenly cold. "Is that Josh? He's still kicking?"

Tyler laughed, trying to sound like it didn't hurt to think about the end of their senior year. "Yeah, turns out he never left."

"I have a few choice words for him," she said sternly but playfully. "He's lucky I don't drive over to wherever you guys are and kick his ass."

He laughed again, sincerely this time, handed the phone to Josh. "It's Jenna."

Josh hesitated before taking the phone and holding to his ear. "Hey, Jenna," he said, drawing out the hey. He cringed as yelling poured from the receiver. "Okay, okay, I know. I missed you too."

He smiled sadly. "Yeah, I know. I forgot, actually. No, I'm clean. Yes, I'm lying." Tyler rolled his eyes.

Josh tilted his head to the side. "Oh." His face cracked into a splitting grin. "That's awesome!" He covered the phone with his hand.

"Jenna's in Columbia. For your birthday."

Tyler lunged for the phone. "Are you serious? You're actually here?"

"I am! I actually just got off in the airport, Debby and Dallon are picking me up."

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Tyler started to touch him chest and hair self consciously. He was in no state to go out and see one of his best friends for the first time in three years after doing that with his former best friend/ who the fuck knows anymore.

"That's why it's called a surprise party, Ty! I wanted your head to implode when you saw me. Not literally, of course."

His head was definitely imploding, alright. Josh traced small patterns into Tyler's back, staring at him. He couldn't concentrate with Josh touching him so softly. How long had Jenna been talking?

"So, how about we all meet downtown tonight? The Olive Garden on Sunday Avenue at seven." There was something in her voice, amusement maybe. She definitely knew something.

"Sure," Tyler perked. "I'll see you then."

"Done deal. See you then, Ty Guy."

He grinned at the nickname. "See you, Jennifer."

Jenna groaned dramatically on the other end but laughed before hanging up. Tyler sat back, smiling at the phone.

"You know, you never told me today was your birthday," Josh said. He had a cigarette- not weed, thankfully- and was staring at him oddly.

Tyler shrugged. "I guess I just forgot. It happens, you know."

Josh hummed. Tyler realized something.

They were supposed to be dead yesterday. That's what they planned- to die before Tyler turned twenty one. How long have they delayed this for?

Tyler looked over at Josh, who's hand wandering from Tyler's back to his hips. Maybe he did have something to live for. He wish he knew what it was.