Red Hair and Black Paint

Chapter One

Tyler wasn't the best person in the entire world. He wasn't going anywhere in life from what his parents had told him. He remembers that day quite well, it was a Friday night and he was packing his stuff to move out to LA, where the lights where bright and the sun always seemed to shine. Of course, his parents didn't like it, didn't like the fact that he was leaving his hometown and chasing some dream that he knew himself should give up. But he couldn't, he wanted out, so he would get out.

He's lived in LA for half a year now and he went to college for a few months, but he dropped out. Another point to how much of a disappointment he was to his family. He didn't care much though, college life wasn't for him. He knew that he was made for something more, something..better. Though, hopes and dreams didn't pay bills, so he ended getting a job at a coffee shop some blocks away from his apartment. It was good pay, enough to keep him stable, but not enough to where he could just splurge on whatever he wanted.

Tyler wasn't feeling free though, with working most days and nights and spending time in his apartment. He wasn't living, wasn't experiencing his freedom that was right at his fingertips, just brushing, but not close enough to fully grab and take hold; making it his own. That was until his coworkers mentioned something about an underground music scene and Tyler was all for it. He loved music, breathed in the notes, injected the melody into his veins.

He went a few times before he finally gave it a shot and got up on the stage himself. It wasn't just a thing for everyone to go. It was quite shady and it was for rappers looking for a record deal by an even more shady person. Tyler wasn't looking for a record deal, he was looking for a musical release and he would've taken anything.

The energy he got from it was thrilling, heart pumping and blood rushing. He got high off of it, just the feeling of spitting out verses to a crowd who was too drunk or high to even remember it come the next morning. He didn't care though, he got some extra cash from it and he was able to blow off some sort of emotional steam.

Tyler was at it again tonight, in his usual get up. Black paint covering his hands and neck, red contacts in and his favorite red beanie on top of his head. Blurryface. His persona. He never spoke his actual name here, it wasn't because he was paranoid, but he liked the secrecy. Like this was a different life for him and in a way it was. He was carefree, rapping to prove nothing and it made him feel..alive. Something he wanted in the first place.

"There's an infestation in my minds imagination-" It was a new rap for him, something that he came up with three days ago at two in the morning. Something new he wanted to try and the low, thumping bass line creeping out of speakers matched it perfectly. It was the third line of the second verse when he nearly stuttered. Something he's never done. But, it wasn't entirely his fault, he just got distracted.

In the crowd, there was a man, his red hair was bright in comparison to the dimly lit room. And he looked bored, like he didn't want to be there. It made Tyler awfully curious and he was interested in the man that he just laid eyes on. He blinked rapidly when he realized that he was staring and he was staring right back. His attention refocused on his opponent and he quickly picked up his fast pace once again, twitching around in his usual nervous manner.

Tyler shut down his opponent; he felt bad for him, he barely seemed legal age and was trying his best obviously, but he couldn't just ease up. Not when he was feeling like he was in his prime right now. He ended his word on a scream, his voice sounded raspy and shot. His energy leaving him as the announcer gathered the votes from the crowd. The crowd always voted for these things. Whoever was cheered for loudest, won. And like most nights that Tyler rapped, he was cheered for more.

He kindly accepted the cash, nodding when his back was slapped. A congratulatory thing of sorts. Tyler turned his eyes back to the crowd, immediately searching the red head. His eyes found him and that weird rush of adrenaline came back quick and before he could stop himself or even think of what to do, he was hopping off the stage and wiggling his way into the crowd.