Diary/Journal/Whatever is Manly

Chapter 2

"Good," Misty nodded her head, returning her attention back to her work.

"So what are you working on explicitly?" Tyler wondered.

"My major work just like you, a story to be explicit. Also like you, I'm trying to find something inspiring." Misty confessed.

"Brains, so picky."

"Do you know Stanley Millison?" Misty decided she would be the one to fill the silence this time.

"Yes, he's in my class. Talented artist, acquaintance and on rare occasions something to hate." Misty's gaze had him once again explaining himself. "He's one of those people, you know? Absolutely amazing and a role model but, at the same time absolutely annoying and an unintentional show-off."

"Rebecca Stevens," Misty offered a similar figure from her classroom.

"See, you know what I'm talking about. Anyway, why is my knowing of Stanely Millison important?" Tyler reverted back to Misty's initial question.

"We have a mutual acquaintance," Misty revealed triumphantly, as if it was the greatest achievement of all.

"And where do you know Stanely Millison the mutual acquaintance from?" Intrigued by the new development, Tyler sought out to find out more.

"His twin is my best friend, Stacey Millison." Misty let him know.

"Hmmm, interesting. Very interesting indeed." Misty watched Tyler as he computed the newfound information. What was so interesting was beyond her so once again her eyebrow arched up. However, instead of revealing what was on his mind Tyler shook his head as if to clear it and said, "Dennis Lee is my best friend." To which Misty proceeded to burst out laughing. The sight shocked Tyler to the core. He almost let himself believe that he was talking to an AI and to see Misty laughing made him stop for a minute. "What's so funny?" His brain eventually allowed him to ask, though it was clear he had not recovered from seeing Misty laugh.

"Stanely Millison, Rebecca Steven--"

"Yes the people we love to hate and hate to love," Tyler rushed her.

"Dennis Lee is the Stanely Millison slash Rebecca Stevens to Stacey Millison. She really loves to complain about how annoyingly talented your best friend is." Misty explained smiling. Tyler then proceeded to burst out laughing himself.

"That's ironic because Stacey Millison is the Stanely Millison slash Rebecca Stevens to Dennis Lee." Tyler confessed to Misty which then led to them chorusing in laughter.

"You are distracting," Misty told Tyler after she had finally gotten her laughter under control.

"You're one to talk," Tyler fired back.

"Last name?"

"What?" Now perplexed, Tyler thought he was going to get whiplash from Misty if he was not careful.

"Your last name?"

"Traboune."

"The infamous Tyler Traboune." Misty squinted at Tyler causing him to put his hands up in surrender.

"Do whatever you want with whatever you've heard."

"Myers."

"What?" Tyler was once again rapidly moved from being defensive to perplexed.

"My last name, it's Myers." Misty said slowly, as if she was worried for his mental aptitude.

"Ow, you make my brain hurt." Tyler said laying his head on his arms on top of the desk they were seated at. Lifting his head up so his eyes were able to make eye contact he proceeded to explain without prompting, "I can't keep up with you."

"I don't like talking just because I can. I need a purpose."

"That's a terrible outlook," Tyler bluntly gave his opinion as he adjusted his head so his cheek was resting on his arm.

"Why?"

"That's probably why you can't write anything. The whole point of creating is to just do. Yes initially you may have a reason slash purpose to start, e.g an assignment. However, you take that and then you do a draft. Then random, non-sensical things come into your mind at the most random moment, to which you proceed to add onto your draft. Then the cycle just goes round and round, but you continue adding because you have to; because you just can." Tyler vented, sitting up and using his hands to emphasise his point.

"That isn't real life though."

"Ugh the... the teaching point to end all teaching points; everything stems from personal or second hand experience. Something you've done, or read, or seen somewhere. What you put down might not be real but, it comes from you. You write, make up stories and create just cause you can."

"People don't like curtness, directness, bluntness..."

"You can stop with the synonyms."

"If people can't keep up, they'll be left behind," was Misty's raw confession.

"You can't stop everyone from trying to catch up." Tyler responded softly, extending the metaphor, so as to not spook Misty in what he deducted was a rare moment of sincerity.

"I can try." Just like that the walls were back up and it was as if he had imagined the whole moment they had shared. "I have to go, or else my daily coffee won't be enough to keep me awake tomorrow for my classes."

"I shall be a responsible human being and follow your example," Tyler responded, imitating Misty as he packed up his things.

"I bid you goodbye Tyler Traboune," Words Misty said with her head held high, whilst managing to maintain eye contact with the tall figure in front of her.

"Do you want me to walk you back to your dorm?"

"Yeah, and why don't I just slit my throat for you whilst I'm at it." 

"Not a serial killer, but point taken. May we meet again Misty Myers." Tyler's farewell was accompanied by a dramatic bow, to which Misty curtsied in return.