Hi friends ♥️ new chapter! I really hope I can finish the next one before Friday, I'm trying! Just not 100% sure but I'm doing my best, I promise.
Thank you for loving last chapter, I hope you love this one too! I loved writing this and imagining them all having so much fun at the festival. Makes me happy!
Some time skips coming soon! Can't wait to hear your thoughts and see your votes and I love you all so much for being here. Thank you for everything, enjoy!♥️
Word count: 3869
~~
"Okay. I get why you're obsessed with Tyler. 'Cause now I am obsessed with Tyler", Tom said. "Fucking same", Luca chuckled. "I now wanna marry him", Tom stated, which made them laugh. "Oh man, does Tyler possess the magic power of turning straight guys gay?" Fred asked. "He must have, 'cause it just happened!" Tom joked, and Josh loved their humor. "He's just... everything and more that you want from an artist", Josh shrugged with a smile.
"Yeah and I mean, we all knew his music already, for quite a while, but this is the first time we're seeing him play live and that was fucking perfect", Finn said. "Yeah", Josh smiled. "It really was perfect."
He did not get a hi Josh, or any interaction from Tyler, he was just a regular fan somewhere in the crowd and nothing more, but Josh felt like he didn't even care at this point. He felt alive, he felt excited, happy that he finally got to see Tyler again. It felt... liberating. Somehow, only now, it felt like Josh had truly gotten rid of Dustin. He had no power over him anymore, no manipulation tactics left to practice on him, no aggressive hands to grab on to him, no words he could say to make Josh get back to him. He had friends who protected him, who knew, who lifted him up, and Josh felt like Dustin was nothing more than a nightmare now. That wasn't his life; not anymore. He didn't have to be okay with that, to settle for that. None of that.
Josh was able to free himself from him, together with the help from his friends and Tyler - even though Tyler didn't even know - and that's what Josh felt coursing through his body right now. True joy.
"C'mon, let's go see Dead Poet Society", Josh smiled. He felt even more excited for the rest of the festival now that Tyler had given him a truly unforgettable experience.
//
As Tyler ran off stage, his friends greeted him with applause and cheers and Tyler laughed as he stopped to dramatically bow. As he got up, he was wrapped up in a tight hug from his soulmates. "You were incredible, Ty", Lucas told him. "You're the king of Bonnaroo this year for sure", Steve said. "That crowd was head over heels in love with you, Tyler. You're killing it. The only way this is going is up, I know it", Dan smiled as he gave him a hug. He then handed Tyler a drink and they all toasted together. "To Tyler!" Dan said, and the rest followed. "To friendship", Tyler replied with a smile.
They talked for a few minutes, Tyler still feeling the adrenaline rush through his body. He went to freshen up quickly and caught up with Steve, Lucas, Gabe and Eric to go see part of Dead Poet Society's set.
"Wait I love this song! Oh we just got here in time!" Gabe said as he skipped closer to the stage. Eric ran into some other guys from bands that he knew and he greeted them, staying to talk for a bit, while the rest joined Gabe.
"I know I'm sounding crazy, know you think I'm fucking lazy, but you'll never understand!" Gabe sang along. "I'm so high, this life's like heroin, got me on my hands and knees. There's no light inside, I'm paralyzed, but fuck it 'cause I'm in too deep!" He danced around, grabbing Tyler's hands to make him move too, and Tyler laughed as he danced with Gabe.
The next song had Gabe and Tyler specifically super excited again, as they continued to dance together. "You feel so lovely when you touch me, but I can't do this anymore", Gabe sang. "Your nails on my back feel that summer sadness, baby it's too late to talk. I feel like we're drifting apart", Tyler sang.
"If you keep singing and dancing like that I might have to date you next", Gabe said. "Oh I'm all in", Tyler joked. "I'm sure you guys don't mind!" Gabe said to Steve and Lucas. "Oh not at all! I'll just date Lucas!" Steve said. "Oh fuck off!" Tyler laughed, and they all did.
"Talk shit, babe, say it like you wanna leave. You love me like cocaine", Gabe and Tyler sang. "Don't lie, get it right, need me every night. You love me like cocaine."
//
"This song is so good", Josh said. "Right? I love these guys. The heavier, rawer edge is so great", Fred said. "I feel like they kind of have a punk-y edge to their rock genre", Josh said. "That's it exactly! I think it's so cool", Fred smiled. "Talk shit, bitch, say it like you wanna leave!" Finn and Tom sang along, arms in the air as they did so, and Josh loved seeing them have so much fun. They were all so amped after Tyler's set, it felt great.
"I don't wanna go out tonight, find a show on a Saturday night. I'd rather stay here and wait, sit alone playing video games", they sang along to the next song.
"But it's so cold, humanity grows old, the man in me soaks up American Blood. And I'm so scared that all of my worst fears have followed me out here; I'm mad at myself", Fred sang along. "I try to keep my head up, I try to keep myself from feeling this way. I'm tired and I'm fucked up in this rest stop. It's only in my head, but it's not gonna change", the friends moved to the music. Josh grabbed his phone, wanting to record part of the band, but Fred and his friends too. When they realized Josh was recording, instead of stopping the dancing and singing, they turned towards the camera and kept going, feeling no shame in being recorded; they just wanted the memories. That's what made them so happy.
The band they saw next, was Trash Boat. Josh wondered if Tyler was really out there somewhere, also watching them when they did, as he had mentioned them on stage. He liked to think that he was, that they were watching the same band right now. It was a comforting thought, somehow.
"I couldn't paint you a picture with a thousand words. He discovered the truth from things he overheard. They have a son among the accursed", Fred sang along. He then moved closer to Josh. "This song is about a guy being gay. It's really good", Fred said. "Oh it is? I'm really curious now", he said. "Just listen, you'll hear it", Fred smiled. "The singer is queer himself."
//
"Ohh pop punk's gay anthem!" Tyler excitedly said as he heard the song. "Man I can't not love this one", Steve laughed. "It's fucking great."
"He's so good when he talks to his mother, she found out that we were lovers. His father disappeared, like he was never here. It makes me wanna scream", Tyler sang along with his friends.
"Nothing's changed from the kid they raised. Never look back just to save their face. They have a son they don't deserve", Lucas also sang along. "Oh this part is my favorite", Tyler said, waiting for the singer to scream the words as if he wasn't singing: "Well you get what you fucking deserve, dickhead!" The singer yelled, and Tyler jumped up and down excitedly, before the chorus started.
"He's so good when he talks to his mother. She found out that we were lovers. His father disappeared, like he was never here. It makes me wanna scream", they sang.
"He broke down when he lost his mother, but he found love in the arms of another. His father, so austere; his boy's a fucking queer. It makes him wanna scream", they continued.
"God I wish I could meet them", Tyler said. "Done, I'll introduce you", Eric said. "What! No", Tyler gasped. "Yeah! We toured with them years ago, always kept in touch. We'll introduce you!" Eric said. "Oh god", Tyler said. "I wasn't prepared for that!" "Well it's what you should be prepared for since you're at a festival", Gabe laughed.
"I- okay maybe but that doesn't help now!" Tyler said. "Relax! They're regular guys, I'm sure they'll like you too", Gabe laughed. "They already told us how much they love Dead on Arrival. If they're a fan of our joint album then they're a fan of you."
The rest of the set, Tyler spent singing along and having fun but much more nervous than before. When the set was done, and they got off stage, they immediately noticed Eric, Steve and Gabe and they made some small talk, when they introduced Tyler. They seemed super excited to meet him too, and they were also the ones asking Tyler for a group picture. They'd watched Tyler's set and complimented him on the way he involved the crowd and got them all so excited and immersed.
"We're gonna see Lil Nas X next, his set is starting in like 10 minutes and we can't miss that", the singer of Trash Boat, Tobi, said. "Oh we're heading there too! We're stoked for his set", Steve said. "Well let's go together then! I'm sure Brian and Dylan are waiting for us there", Gabe said.
They made their way to the backstage area and all the way to the main stage, where they arrived just in time. They caught up with the others, had some more drinks, and Tyler felt much more comfortable around them now that they'd spent some time together.
One of Tyler's favorite songs was played, and Tyler was so grateful that he had both Steve and Lucas with him as they all saw him play for the first time. Michael, Jordan and Mark were there too, with Ashley, Shap and Shane. Since Steve and his guys would be playing that stage after Lil Nas, and Imagine Dragons after them, they were all staying close to the main stage.
"Say you one of me, say you need the validation. Tell me that you think you won't top your last creation. Word on the block is you fell off, and I'm just saying, if it ain't 'Old Town Road', lil Nassy, I ain't playing", Tyler sang along. "Oh just stick to what you best at. I suggest; make another one like this, yeah", they danced to the song. "Oh I know it hurts your soul to know it was only luck. If you drop a song, oh, we don't give a fuck, no", they continued.
//
"I like this, I don't like that. Do this here, don't you do that", Josh and his friends sang along. "Say you one of me, say you one of me, yeah", Josh and his friends sang along. Lil Nas X's set absolutely stood out from the rest they'd seen so far, as he was very comfortable in his sexuality and that was very evident in his show and full setting, including the fact that he was also a pop artist, and they hadn't seen any other artists that fit that genre at the festival yet.
"I smoke myself to sleep, I'm sad, I think I'm feeling lonely. Took one too many shots last night and I spent all my money", they sang to the next song.
"Seeing someone like this makes me so much prouder and more excited to not be straight", Josh said, more too Fred, but he'd said it louder than he expected. "As you should!" Luca smiled as he gave Josh a tight side hug. "Gotta embrace that and be proud of that as much as you can and want to", he added. Josh smiled, returning the hug. "Supportive people like you make it even better", Josh smiled.
"Why don't you just take what you want from me? I think you should take what you want and leave", they sang as they danced to the music.
//
After the set, they went to grab some food quickly because they wanted to get back as fast as possible since I Prevail was about to play. Fred introduced Josh to Lángos, Josh's new food obsession, and they shared a little box of mini spring rolls. They are their food only when they got back to the closest spot to the stage that they could get to. Josh took a sip from a beer that Tom had gotten for him - he still wasn't a huge fan, but didn't wanna turn it down because they'd gotten it for him.
Fred, knowing Josh didn't really like it but didn't want to be rude, grabbed the drink from him as Tom was talking to Jona and Luca, and he drank about one third of the cup. He then dumped the rest of his coke into the beer, giving it back to Josh. "Here you go. Tastes better that way", he smiled. "Did you just dump your coke into my beer?" Josh asked with narrowed eyes. "Yeah! Cola weizen", Fred laughed. "It's super common in Germany. Try it, I promise you'll like it much more", Fred said. Josh was suspicious, but he tried it, and his eyes widened a bit. "Oh that's much better", he said. "I told you", Fred laughed gently. "I might actually enjoy it this way", Josh giggled. "You're adorable", Fred smiled, resting his fingers underneath Josh's chin and he kissed him. "I can do this all day long", he said. "I wouldn't stop you", Josh blushed, which made Fred kiss him again.
Much sooner than Josh realized time had passed, the music stopped and the intro of I Prevail's show started. They quickly rose to their feet and Josh grabbed Fred's hand, holding it tightly as he waited nervously, his heart pounding. He'd been looking forward to seeing them again so much, and knowing the crowds could get rowdy, made him more nervous. Fred knew that, and he held Josh close, firmly, letting him know he'd be safe. He'd make sure Josh would be safe.
It meant so much to Josh.
//
They were loving I Prevail's show, and usually they started the set with playing several songs in a row before they'd say something on stage the first time. Brian and Eric had a little talk, followed by two more songs, and then a third one started. "Okay wait wait wait, hold up!" Dylan then spoke into his backing vocals microphone. The music stopped, and Fred's eyes narrowed. "...what's going on?" He said. "I... have no idea", Josh wondered, frowning a bit.
"Dude. What the hell", Eric said. "What's so important that you're telling us to stop in the middle of a song?" He asked Dylan through the microphone.
"Well I can't play like this. It's an emergency", Dylan said. "...what's the emergency?" Brian asked.
"I gotta pee."
The crowd laughed, and Brian and Eric gave Dylan a look. "Okay. Good for you. Suck it up, we're playing a show", Brian said. "I can't, I gotta pee first. I can't just continue", Dylan said. "I'm sorry. Did you get dropped on the head? There's, like, thirty thousand people waiting for us. Watching us. Right now. You're gonna play the fucking song whether you like it or not. You can go right after", Eric said.
"Nope, no. I'm not doing that, I can't", Dylan said as he started to take his guitar off, pushing it into Brian's hands, and he walked off stage.
"...now what?" Brian asked. "Oh that motherfucking-" Eric stopped himself. "We can't leave them waiting! Where the hell are we gonna find someone to replace Dylan for this song?!" Eric said. The crowd cheered, some people in the crowd really wanting to be picked to play the song with them on stage.
"I got it!" Gabe yelled, jumping up as he quickly got up from behind his drum kit. "Play it, Steve!" He said, then disappeared. Steve shrugged, then he started the song on his guitar. Gabe came running back on stage, his hand around someone's wrist.
Tyler.
"Oh no way", Josh softly muttered as he saw Tyler stumble up on stage.
"Well that solves all of our problems!" Brian said as he shoved the guitar into Tyler's hands now, and Tyler acted confused as he took it from him. "Ty, you're filling in", Eric told him. "Just follow Steve and Gabe's lead!"
Tyler put the guitar around his neck, turning around to give Gabe a thumbs up as he got back behind the Kit and as he turned to Steve he saw him wink, which made Tyler laugh. He heard Gabe's drum sticks count down, and then Tyler and Gabe joined Steve's playing.
"Oh god I sometimes forget that Tyler is also a great guitarist", Fred said. "Me too, honestly", Josh said. "He's always singing so beautifully that it overshadows how much of an incredible instrumentalist he is too."
"And I can't believe he's just killing it up there now!" Finn said excitedly, being a guitar player himself.
"Every single time I turn around, my name is in your mouth. Soon you'll see, you can say what you want, you'll never be me", Eric sang, his unclean vocals giving Josh chills because they were so good.
Brian was moving across the stage, making his way to Tyler as he held the microphone up for the both of them.
"I'll just bite my tongue, and leave your mouth to run", they sang together.
"Soon you'll see, if you want it come get it you know where I'll be. If you want it come get it you know where I'll be", Eric continued.
"Look at you now, another face in the crowd", Tyler and Brian sang together. "I am, I am the headline", Eric yelled. "Look in my eyes and read between the lines", Tyler and Brian sang again. "I am, I am the headline", all three of them sang together.
They continued playing the song, Tyler sang all of Brian's parts together with him but in this song there were only few. Most of this song was focused on Eric.
"Dylan's not back yet. Let's do one more!" Eric said to Tyler. "Oh I'm ready", he spoke into Brian's mic, and the crowd cheered. Tyler smiled, and Brian pushed Tyler closer to the front and center of the stage. "Let's hear it, Ty!" Eric said.
Tyler waited a few moments, the crowd quieting down in anticipation, and Tyler smirked. He brought his hand up to the neck of the guitar, then started the guitar intro that usually Steve played but he so badly wanted Tyler to do it this time, and the fans quickly realized which song it was, making them cheer loudly.
Gabe hit his drums, and from that moment he and Steve joined in.
"I am visceral, new and original. Come for you like Armageddon. Dig your grave, I'll fill the casket. I am visceral, born unforgivable. Come for me you won't forget it. Nobody's getting out alive", Eric screamed, and Tyler knew he was gonna miss playing with these guys again. Sometimes it got really lonely, being a solo artist, but he didn't tell anyone that. Not even Steve or Lucas; he hadn't told anyone how extremely lonely he felt on stage sometimes.
"Are you afraid of the dark? It's coming straight for your heart. Do you know if you exist, or it's all in your mind? If you wanna find out, look death in the eye", Brian sang, before he moved away from the mic stand to give Tyler the spot.
"So take it back to the start. Are you afraid of who you are?" Tyler sang. "Do you know if you exist, or you're barely alive? If you wanna find out, look death in the eyes", he sang.
"And say, I am visceral", Eric screamed.
Since it was Eric's turn again, Tyler moved away from the center of the stage, making his way towards Steve. He smiled at him, then turned around as he leaned his back against Steve's as they played.
"Oh god I love when guitar players do the back leaning thing", Josh whined. "That makes me weak every time." "It's just exceptionally hot, huh", Fred chuckled and Josh nodded. "It is!" He laughed. "I'm so happy they brought Tyler on stage. I can start missing him later now", Josh said. Fred pressed a kiss on his curls. "I'm really glad they did too. Their chemistry is so great to watch", he said.
As the song was over, Dylan walked back on stage. "Hey what the fuck are you doing!" He yelled. "You thought we were gonna wait for you to get back? Show must go on buddy", Eric said, making the crowd laugh. Tyler took the guitar off and he got down on one knee, lifting the guitar up with both his hands as he bowed his head down, offering it back to Dylan. He bowed dramatically before he took it from Tyler, the crowd laughing and cheering again, and Eric grabbed Tyler's hand to get him back up.
"Tyler's gotta stay for one more song", Dylan said. "'Cause I wanna play together with him too."
"Let's do it", Brian said. "Which one d'you wanna play, Ty?" He said. Tyler got a third microphone, then he hummed part of the song as he held it to his lips. "...dead on arrival", he sang softly right after, and the crowd went wild; it was the most streamed song of the album they wrote together, already hitting multiple milestones and two awards.
"On our knees we pray, as we waste away and we dig our grave..." Tyler sang and the music joined in as he sang. "Dead on arrival", Tyler and Brian sang together.
~~
Yay! What did you think? I'd love to hear! I love the idea of the guys from I Prevail always making up these stories to entertain their crowd & getting Tyler involved that way instead of them just announcing that Tyler is gonna join haha. And I really liked the idea of Tyler joining mainly for his guitar playing for once! Instead of the singing 🙂 they had to sing at least one of the songs they wrote and released together too though (:
Also def check out Trash Boat's song He's So Good bc it's def a gay anthem and I love those songs when they're from the alternative scene! Def love my fair share of queer pop anthems too but it's just extra special when it's from an alt band imo 😊
Thank you for being here! I'd love to hear what you think. See you at the next one! Much love ♥️e