Purpose Will Surface (Compete)

chapter five

my heart sank a little, fearful about what he might have to say. he must've seen the worry in my face because he kissed my thumb again before smiling softly at me.

"i, um, i do a little more than just write songs," he said slowly and quietly. i was a bit confused by this, not sure what else he could mean. "i'm, um, i'm in a band."

"wow really? that's so cool! what's the name?" i asked, hitting his chest gently for scaring me for no reason. he laughed uncomfortably as he scratched his neck.

"uh, twenty one pilots," he said slowly, not looking at me. wait, why do i know that?

"twenty one pilots. wait, like the record at the store?" i said, moving a little away from him so i could see his face better. he nodded slowly, his eyes finally meeting mine. i shot up off the couch, surprising him.

"what? are you mad? i'm sorry, i should've told you sooner, i just-"

"mad! are you kidding me? you make music and it's so good it's on a record that was at the music store! that's awesome! i need to hear it!" i exclaimed, flailing my arms around and searching for my phone.

"i can, um, i can play you something?" he said as a question, and i immediately stopped searching for my phone. i ran into my room and grabbed the keys to the storage unit i had downstairs in my apartment building, quickly making my way to the door to leave my apartment.

"come on, let's go!" i said anxiously, motioning for tyler to come with me. he looked confused but shot up off the couch, following me out the door.

"where exactly are we going?" he asked, looking at me as i frantically hit the basement button in the elevator.

"basement. storage. keyboard," i said, still hitting the button until the doors finally closed. we got off the elevator and i hurriedly got to my storage unit, opening the door and immediately spotting my old keyboard i had taken from my parents' house. i handed it to tyler before sitting on the ground, motioning for him to sit as well.

"oh, here? okay, yeah okay," he said flustered, finding an outlet to plug the keyboard into before sitting down with it in front of him. he thought for a moment before turning it on, pressing his fingers down to begin.

he played, and he sang, and i swear i ascended into heaven. his fingers played the keyboard so effortlessly and his voice was so gorgeous i couldn't believe he was even real. all i could do was stare at him as he played, my heart soaring and my mouth stuck curled into a smile. he finished his song and looked at me, waiting a minute for me to gather my thoughts and remember how to speak words.

"that was, tyler, wow i- i don't even know what to say," i finally got out after a minute, trying to find words. he looked down, his cheeks tinted red.

"if you didn't like it you can tell me, it's okay," he said softly, and i instinctively reached out to touch his cheek. he looked back up at me and i smiled so big my cheeks hurt, making his lips curl into a smile as well and his eyes glisten.

"i loved it, ty," i said softly, feeling somehow like i was out of breath. "what's it called?"

"oh miss believer," he said, still smiling. "it's from our first album, it's softer and more of a ballad than most of our other songs."

"how- how many are there?" i asked, shocked that there was more than one album to begin with. he chuckled beside me.

"well, we just released our third official album not too long ago," he said, and i couldn't help but gasp out loud. i felt so out of the loop. "most of our songs are a little weirder with more effects, and most of them have rapping in them."

"i'm sorry, did you say rapping?" i asked shocked, staring at the soft boy in front of me as his cheeks grew redder and he laughed. he nodded his head yes, and i shook mine in disbelief.

"do you wanna hear?" he asked, and i shook my head 'yes' very violently, making him laugh. he sang what he introduced to me as 'lovely' and sure enough there was rapping in it.

i was still completely in shock. the boy i had just met the other day and had just kissed in my apartment is now telling me that he's some kind of rap god lyrical genius in a band. he finished his song, and i clapped, earning a loud echoing laugh from tyler that made my heart sing.

"when i was with my friend last night, we were recording. that's why i wasn't answering my phone," tyler said suddenly, turning off the keyboard. i nodded my head, happy that my brain was wrong. "and he's actually not just my friend."

i looked at tyler very confused, half expecting him to say he was his boyfriend. my eyebrow cocked up as i awaited an explanation, earning another laugh.

"he's my band mate, josh. you should meet him," tyler said, and i felt relieved. i smiled, the thought of another friend in my life sounded pretty nice.

"i'd love to," i smiled, checking for the time and seeing it was getting really late. tyler followed my glance before turning back towards me.

"do you, um, do you want me to stay?" he asked, and my cheeks burned yet again.

"i'd love for you to. if you want to, i mean," i said softly. this time it was my turn to scratch my neck nervously. he chuckled lightly before standing up and reaching down to help me up with him.

"that sounds lovely," he said after he had pulled me up, reaching over to kiss my forehead softly. he held my hand as we made our way back up to my apartment.

"oh shoot, i don't have any clothes to give you," i said as we had gotten back inside, remembering how he had given me clothes when i stayed at his place. i had already changed into some comfy clothes myself before realizing i didn't own any boy-clothing.

"that's okay," tyler laughed, reaching up and slipping off his shirt. "i'm already wearing joggers, they're comfy."

i gulped at his bare chest, still not over how hot he was. he must've noticed, because he smirked and walked closer to me. my cheeks burned even hotter as he got closer, feeling like they were on fire when he put his arms around my waist.

"you know," tyler said softly and deeply, making me practically swoon. "you're allowed to touch me."

i looked up to meet his eyes, chucking lightly at myself. i reached my hand out and traced his chest tattoos, his skin hot and soft against mine. after i finished, he placed his hand under my chin to lift my face up towards his. he pressed his lips to mine for the second time today as my hand lingered on his chest, my legs feeling like they might give out beneath me as the electricity coursed through me again at his touch. we pulled away, and he kissed me lightly on the forehead again before we went over to my bed and got under the covers. i reached over to turn off the light before turning towards him, his presence making me feel completely at ease. he wrapped me in his arms and kissed my head as i was able to breathe him in again, falling asleep to the sound of his heart beating against mine.