<11:15 am, Friday>

Josh straightened Tyler's tie, looking up to try and read his expression. Tyler just smiled back, his lips tight around his teeth and his throat dry.

They both stood outside the studio for the band Tyler planned on auditioning for. Tyler, of course, was an anxious mess, but was thankful that Josh came to support him. He even made Tyler a poster the night before.

"I can't do this," Tyler said, alternating from running his fingers through his hair to shaking his hands as if it would help relieve some of the nervous energy buzzing in his limbs. He'd gotten his cast removed a couple hours before, so he kept rubbing his wrist nervously. I can't do this, this is too much. Maybe I should just go home."

Josh grabbed Tyler by his shoulders and shook him gently. "Tyler, I love you and you're like my best friend ever, but for the love of all that is holy, please shut the fuck up. You're going to do great, unless you keep talking like that."

Tyler nodded, smiling nervously. "You're right. Sorry."

"No need to be sorry, Stanford," Josh said, pulling Tyler into a hug.

"It's too bad I won't be with the band long if they even choose me."

Josh sighed. "Right. But since we're on a time limit, then you really have to kill it in there."

"Right." Tyler let go of Josh and looked at the door labeled band practice. Talking filtered through the crack in the door.

He looked back at Josh for reassurance, who smiled and sent him a thumbs up. With that, Tyler opened the door.

Several instruments were strewn across the small space, a drum set sitting with thick layers of dust in the back and two guitars leaning against the sound proofed walls. Three people stood in the middle, two of them arguing intensely. Two of them Tyler recognized as the guys he talked to on the phone the night before, Chris and Nick. The third person, who was arguing with Chris, was-

"Dallon?"

All three whipped towards Tyler. Nick stood to great him, as did Chris, but Dallon just stood frozen in place. Tyler stared at him, trying to decipher what the hell he was doing there. Eventually, he gave up and dropped his eyes to the floor.

"I'm Tyler, I called last night about the opening you had for a pianist and singer," he said, not looking at Dallon anymore.

Nick nodded, grabbing a clipboard from a nearby chair. "Yeah, uh- Tyler Joseph, right?" He asked. Tyler nodded and Nick scribbled something down.

Chris motioned towards the piano. "Well, show us what you got."

Tyler made his way through the web of amp cords and instruments to the keyboard in the back. It wasn't as big as the one in his apartment but it would suffice.

He sat down, trying to calm his shaking hands. All three of the guys sat down, waiting.

Tyler looked down at the keys and pressed them, becoming lost in the melody. It wasn't until Dallon coughed awkwardly did Tyler realize that he hadn't begun singing. He opened his mouth, letting the words slip in a way he's never heard his voice sing before.

"You're scared when you say, you talked to them today, when asked your faith..."

He banged the key, hearing the shifting click of the pedal under his foot.

"You'll cry, no sound, wipe the tears with your doubts, and die again..."

The song wasn't long, a melody written to an old poem from high school.

Back when he questioned his faith and his life. Which was exactly what landed him there.

"I can't sleep, it's just taking time off my feet, but my head instead is going a hundred miles a beat..."

Tyler could feel all three eyes on the back of his head, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop.

"And I'm thinking as I'm sinking, and he's winking at me, 'cause he knows that desperation and temptation is free, you see?"

He kept going, kept singing, he even rapped on one part- he'd never done that before. When he finished, Tyler turned to look at the three guys.

All of their jaws had dropped halfway through the performance. Josh's head was peeked through the door, watching intently. He sent Tyler a thumbs up, who chuckled nervously and sent it back.

"That was- woah," Chris said, not moving.

Nick was the first to move. He stood and held his hand out to Tyler.

"Welcome to Twenty One Pilots."