(Your Heart in My Hands)
Pull Away the Weeds
The Light You Make (Is Hurting My Eyes)
Everyone’s Dying but Me
Sad Boy Songs
Snowblind
It’s Not Me, It’s You
Swallow You Whole
ENCORE
Everything Happens All the Time Forever
Blameless Arson
@EmosaurusBex: This set was incredible but YIKES what happened to Matt? U ok bb? #SaddestShowOnEarth #NonStopCrying
@SticksB1tch_: Jfc this isn’t a setlist it’s a cry for help
—Instagram, March 17th, 2023
First thing the next morning, Nick Facetimes Sofia. She’s suspicious, of course—he rarely calls just to chat—but once he assures her that everyone is fine, she’s willing to listen.
When he’s done, she stares at him in stunned silence, looking remarkably like her brother did upon hearing the same spiel. Finally, she barks out a laugh. “God in heaven, you truly are incapable of not throwing your whole ass into things once you’ve got your mind on ’em, aren’t you?”
“That sounds like an insult.” Nick narrows his eyes, making her laugh harder.
“A loving one,” Sofia promises. “Good Lord, Nick, that’s… that’s bold ashell. But”—she pauses and Nick holds his breath—“if it’s really what you wanna do, then I can definitely help make it happen.” She scrutinizes him through the camera. “You really think anyone else will go for it?”
The million-dollar question, right there. As much as Nick would like to think he’s brave enough to do this alone, he knows better. If no one is on board, his plan is dead in the water.
“All I can do is ask, right?” he says with confidence he doesn’t feel, shrugging. He’s pretty sure Sofia sees right through him, the way she purses her lips.
“Well, I can get studio space pretty much whenever, so you just make the calls you need to make and let me know, okay? I’ll tell Bee, don’t worry.”
“Thanks, Sof.” Hanging up on Sofia with a plan in his head and nerves buzzing in his stomach, Nick scrolls through his contacts, going straight for what he knows will be the easiest call.
“Hey, Nicky. What’s up?” Connor says cheerfully. It sounds like absolute chaos in the background, raised voices and faint music and… someone singing?
“Where the hell are you, man?” Nick blurts out. Connor laughs.
“I’m at home,” he says. “Some of the guys are over. They’re playing video games.” Connor sounds simultaneously fond and exasperated, and Nick hears him pull away from the phone to yell at everybody to keep it down. “What can I do for you? Don’t you have a game tonight?”
“Yeah, it’s whatever,” Nick dismisses. He hears Connor scoff.
“You’re three points away from clinching!”
“Exactly, it’s basically a done deal.” They’ve got time, Nick isn’t worried. “I—I need to lay something on you. It’s kind of big. You might want to sit down.”
“Are you okay?” All humor is gone from Connor’s voice. Nickhears shuffling and then a door slams, and the call is silent. “I’m ready, what’s wrong?”
“I’m going to come out,” Nick says quickly. It’s the first time he’s actually said those words in that order, and they hang in the air for several long moments. His heart races.
