Warnings: Angst, profanity

Word Count: 1958

Request: please please please do a Level Of Concern type chapter!

Author's Note: I tried to balance scenes from the lyrics and scenes from the music video so that I could capture all of Level of Concern! Also, requests will be opening on Friday, so start thinking of ideas :) I hope you enjoy this one!

*     *     *

Your foot tapped nervously against the tile floors. You already had one hand tightly gripped around the straps of your backpack, ready to pull it up over your shoulder as soon as you got the ok to leave. Class was supposed to end nearly five minutes ago, but your professor was still droning on. At this rate, you were going to miss your normal bus home and end up waiting fifteen minutes in the rain for the next one.

"Sir? Class is over," someone hesitantly said, their hand barely raised over their head.

Thank you, random classmate.

"Is it? Oh, look at the time! We'll finish this next week. Thank you."

You shot out of your seat, pulling your backpack over your shoulder as you weaved through the other students who were still packing up their things. If you were fast, you could probably still make it the two blocks down to the bus stop in time.

To your surprise, Tyler was standing just outside the classroom, his back pressed to the plain white wall. He looked up when he heard the door open, a smile instantly lighting up his face. In one fluid motion, he picked up his backpack from where it was sitting on the ground and fell into step with you.

"I was wondering where you were," he said, a smile still plastered on his face. "I got here like twenty minutes ago."

"Sorry, class ran late," you said, as if it were your fault. "Did you need something?"

"Um, I did actually. That's why I waited out here to talk to you."

You didn't have time for his lengthy explanations. "Can you make it quick, Ty? I really need to make sure I don't miss the bus."

"Yeah, ok. So, basically, my music professor wants us to film a video for a piece that we wrote earlier in the semester. I've been brainstorming all week and I haven't come up with any video ideas that I like and I'm starting to get really stressed out because we only have a few days left. Plus, there's this girl in my class - Julie - who already did hers and it's really good. I don't know if I can live up to that. I even called Mark to help but he's out of town this week so he can't."

You pulled your hood up before pushing open the metal door that separated the stairwell from the outside world. The sound of rain splashing against the pavement instantly filled your ears, making it more difficult to hear Tyler. He was still rambling on about his project.

"What I'm trying to get at is that I was wondering if you had any ideas?"

"Ty, listen," you stopped walking for just a moment, "I would love to help, but I don't have time to sit here and help you brainstorm. I need to catch my bus so I don't end up stuck in the pouring rain for twenty minutes. I'll call you later, alright?"

Tyler's face fell, but he nodded slowly. "Cool. See you later."

You gave him a quick kiss and turned just in time to see the bus come over the hill up ahead. With rain splashing over your feet, you jogged the final blocks to the bus stop and boarded just before the doors closed.

*     *    *

"Again?" you muttered as the familiar beginning of Tyler's voicemail played. You had called him numerous times over the past couple of hours, but each attempt was sent straight to voicemail. If you were being honest, it was starting to get a bit worrying.

You set your phone down, deciding to wait another fifteen minutes before you attempted to call him again. It wasn't like him to not pick up your calls, but maybe he was wrapped up in his music project and didn't hear his phone ringing. This wouldn't be the first time it happened, you had lost count of how many times Tyler had missed your calls when he was doing homework or writing music.

Your phone buzzed a few minutes later. Eager to see if it was finally a response from Tyler, you ignored the paragraph you were reading to check your messages. As expected, there was a new message from Tyler, but it wasn't as friendly as you had hoped.

Tyler: Please stop calling, I'm trying to get this project done.

Y/N: Did you need help?

You tapped your fingers against the edge of your phone, waiting for the little bubbles to pop up and let you know that Tyler was typing. It wasn't until just after you had given up on waiting and gone back to reading that a text message from him finally came through.

Tyler: I thought you "didn't have time to sit and help me brainstorm"

"Shit," you muttered, reading over the text message a few more times as you tried to think of a good response.

Y/N: I was just worried about missing my bus, but I'm more than happy to help you now

An uncomfortable pit settled in your stomach as you waited for Tyler's answer. It wasn't like you two to get into fights, and you hated to think that Tyler might be mad at you for a little while. Could you really not have sacrificed fifteen minutes to help him out?

Tyler: You don't have to

But you wanted to. Without a moment's hesitation, you stuck a post-it note in your textbook and closed it with a thud. Your shoes were still sitting by your bed from when you had gotten home, so you quickly slipped them on and grabbed the rest of the things that you were going to need.

You weren't going to let Tyler deal with this alone.

*     *     *

"You're not my pizza," was the first thing out of Tyler's mouth when he opened the door.

"Sorry to disappoint," you said.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to help," you smiled. "And I brought snacks."

On the way to Tyler's house, you had made a quick stop to the grocery store to pick up some of his favorite things: Red Bull, you weren't sure how long this video shoot was going to take, his favorite candy, and a couple bags of chips. Along with keeping you two fueled, you also hoped it would let your apology go over a little bit smoother.

"I'm really sorry for how I acted earlier today. It was wrong and I should have stayed and helped you out, even if it meant taking a later bus."

Tyler crossed his arms, "I was explaining how much of a toll this project is taking on me and it's like you weren't even listening to me."

"No, I know. I should have been a better listener and I'm sorry for that. That's why I'm here now, to make up for it."

Tyler pursed his lips and held a hand out, motioning for the plastic grocery store bag that you were carrying. You passed it to him, half expecting him to take it and shut the door in your face. He opened it up and looked through it, examining the contents.

"Apology accepted, you can stay," he said, looking up at you with a smile.

"So we're alright?"

"Yeah, we're ok. Come here."

Tyler held out an arm and you happily buried your face in his shoulder. The button down that he was wearing was a bit scratchy against your cheek, but you were just happy that he wasn't mad at you.

"I love you," you mumbled.

"I love you too."

"So, how should we start brainstorming?"

"Well, I actually have an idea. Here, let me show you."

Tyler grabbed your hand and led you towards the basement. Your jaw dropped as soon as you reached the bottom of the stairs. There was stuff all over the place: outfits thrown over the back of the couch, multicolored lights, flashlights of various sizes. The only clear space was right in front of Tyler's desk, which just so happened to be where the camera was set up.

"What is your idea?" you asked, beginning to slowly tiptoe through the piles of stuff towards his room.

"Since it's about quarantine and bunkers and all that, I thought it would be cool to make a music video that's also sort of a home video. It's actually really nice that you showed up because I needed a second person for the other camera."

"What about your family?" you asked, suddenly realizing how silent the house was.

"They went out to dinner so I could have a quiet workspace, but that was before I realized I needed a cameraman."

"That was nice of them."

"Yeah, it's a lot easier to film without someone constantly yelling."

"Zack?" you laughed.

"Exactly."

Tyler set the bag of stuff you had brought down on his desk and collapsed on his bed. You sat down next to him and slowly laid back next to him.

"So, where do we start?"

*      *     *

You quickly lost track of time as you and Tyler worked on the video. It was surprisingly fun helping him out, doing things like costume changes, helping him with his instruments, or finding the perfect angle for a shot. There were a few hiccups with Tyler not being totally happy with something, but you always managed to calm him down and get it fixed. As it turns out, the two of you made a pretty good team.

"Alright, I just need to add the credits and then it's ready," Tyler smiled.

"It only took us..." you picked up your phone and checked the time. It was almost one in the morning. "...seven hours."

"Hopefully the outcome will be worth it."

"It will," you smiled, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"I told a friend in my class the other day that I haven't been this nervous about something since I asked you on a date," he laughed.

"This project means a lot to you, it makes sense to be nervous."

"I know."

You smiled as Tyler typed your name into the credits under the title "Assistant Creative Director."

"That's a nice title," you laughed.

"Maybe one day it will be on a music video for millions of people to see," Tyler said, leaning his head against yours. "Alright, are we ready to watch?"

"Yes."

Tyler passed you one half of his earbuds and stuck the end into his computer, which was whirring loudly from trying to run the editing software. You gave him a thumbs up and he hit play.

There was a smile on your face for the entire video. You loved everything about it, from the music that Tyler had worked so hard to produce to the dance moves that he had whipped out for the camera. You were glad that he had a tripod for those shots, you weren't sure that you would have been able to keep the camera steady enough while you were laughing at how cute he was. There were even a few shots that you had made it into.

When the video finally ended, you turned to Tyler with an excited smile on your face.

"Ty, this is amazing. You nailed the assignment."

"You think so?" he asked, his eyebrows raising ever so slightly.

You nodded, "I really do. I loved every second of that."

"Thank you so much. For your support and your help, it really helped keep me calm," he smiled.

"Of course, I'm always going to be here for you."

Tyler grabbed your face and pulled you into a kiss. You smiled and leaned closer to him, finally letting the exhaustion from helping him set in. On his computer, the music slowly faded out.