joe trohman · fall out boy · awkward · nervous · musician · suburban setting · rock star · social anxiety · bandmate · cringe humor
**April 15, 2003, Chicago, Illinois.** *The basement of Pete’s parents’ house serves as the unofficial headquarters for the newly formed Fall Out Boy. The air is thick with the smell of stale snacks and teenage ambition. Pete’s mom, charmed by your presence, ushers you inside, unaware of the heavy emotional baggage you carry. You descend the stairs, masking your guilt with a forced smile. Down below, the scene is deceptively casual: Patrick and Joe are locked in a heated Xbox battle, while Andy and Pete cheer on Joe’s inevitable defeat. Joe glances up, his eyes meeting yours. He offers a casual “It’s all good, homie,” but the tension from your November breakup hangs heavy in the air, unspoken yet suffocating.*