Diary/Journal/Whatever is Manly

Chapter 32

"Hey, what you doing?" Tyler asked as rocked back and forth on his heels.

"Lying down." Misty answered from her position on the ground.

"Why?"

"Because it's the perfect weather for it." Misty was right, it was a perfect day. There was a cool breeze constantly making its rounds around the campus. However, the sun created a blanket of warmth, keeping Misty at optimum temperature. The tree looming over her figure provided her with the perfect amount of cover.

"How was your first time?" Tyler 2.0 asked, as he plopped himself down next to Misty.

"The party was good. Not amazing but also, not disappointing. Though I feel as though your frat brothers hate me, because you were ignoring them the whole night. How'd you go with your mock assessment?"

"Yeah, they're a clingy bunch," Tyler said seriously. "And I think my teacher was this close to slapping me. Said I was stupid for putting so much effort into a mock final, and that I should have done my 'red dress' for my actual final." 

"Oh." Tyler hummed in agreement, closing his eyes, as he got himself comfy. "Well if it makes you feel better, I'm glad you popped out of nowhere." Misty announced, as she turned on her side to face him.

"Yeah why?"

"Because now I can sleep peacefully without the fear of being taken advantage of in my unconscious state." Tyler burst out laughing, turning his head to face Misty.

"What's to stop me from taking advantage of you in your unconscious state?" Misty titled her head, and stared at Tyler's amused face. "Nah you're right, what am I saying?" Tyler chuckled to himself with a shake of his head, before settling back down. The two laid there in a comfortable silence, basking in each other's company. It did not take long before they both slipped into slumber, lulled by the sounds around them. 

---

"Tyler." Groaning, Tyler opened one eye to peek at the what had dared to disturb not only his sleep, but also his dreams. 

"Annalise?" Tyler mumbled out tiredly, once the image in front of him had cleared. 

"Did I wake you?"

"Yeah," Tyler said with a frown on his face. He felt as though the answer to the question was obvious.

"Sorry. I was gonna talk to you at the party but..." Annalise trailed off, twirling a piece of her hair around her finger. "Anyway, did you want to grab a coffee sometime?" 

"Uh..." Tyler turned his attention from Annalise to the sleeping form beside him. 

"Oh, I didn't know you two were together. I should have guessed though, the way you kept following her around at the party."

"No, no." Tyler watched Annalise perk up, as soon as he denied her claim. "I can't grab a coffee with you though," Tyler rushed out.

"Why?"

"Because I don't like you that way?" Tyler answered, though it sounded more like a question.

"Oh okay. Well you can't blame a girl for trying right?" Annalise laughed. "If I'm being honest, I kind off expected you to say no. At the party... well, it was clear there was no chance. Anyway, bye." Annalise finished with a wistful smile, before walking away.

"Stop talking," Tyler snapped his attention from Annalise's disappearing figure to Misty, his head whipping to face Misty so fast he felt his eyes rattle. 

"Sorry," Tyler replied dumbfounded, by the brief conversation he had just had. He was almost ready to believe it had all been just a dream. He hoped that Misty had not heard a single word, though it would have been nice to have witness to bear testimony about the first time he had rejected a girl kindly. That was one less accidental girlfriend he had to worry about, and one less scorned women to throw curses at original Tyler.

Misty rolled around for a few seconds, as though she were a wolf nestling into its den. This shifted Tyler's focus back to her, squinting his eyes at her subdued form. as though that would reveal whether she had been privy to the conversation. Finally, after a few moments Misty let out a defeated sigh. "Well there goes my sleep," she disgruntledly grumbled.

"Misty?"

"Mmmm?"

"You have feelings right." Tyler asked, though it was more of statement than anything else.

"Yes," Misty replied, dragging out the word and making her sound unsure of herself. 

"Then what is it? Do you just not get social ques, or what?"

Puzzled by his line of questioning, Misty frowned. "I thought you were supposed to be the laid back one, what's with the philosophy 101." Misty replied, peeking one eye open to give Tyler a skeptical look. 

"See, it's times like these when I wonder. I mean, you just said a funny, sarcastic comment and you didn't even register it. You're so blunt, sometimes it feels like you're doing it on purpose. And in terms of feelings, it's just like you don't want to get involved. Like sadness and love revolts you. I just... I don't understand." Tyler rushed out in one exasperated breath.

"It's just how my brain is wired." Misty whispered. "Yours, likes to give you seizures in a bid to kill you, and mine just, doesn't care most of the time."

"Do you think someone will love me?"

"What?" 

"Most people hear 'terminal', and run. Do you think someone will love me?" Tyler repeated the question with a little more context.

"If they run, then that's just proof they don't love you. But yeah, I think someone will love you. I have to or else..." Misty trailed off.

"Or else what?" Tyler asked, rolling over to face Misty.

"Or else who's gonna love me?" Misty replied turning to face Tyler. "I mean, if you strip away the seizures you're amazing. You're funny, kind, talented and that's just scratching the surface. I'm an emotionally detached girl, who doesn't even realise half of the sentences coming out of her mouth are hurtful. If no one can love you then... who's gonna love me?"