Diary/Journal/Whatever is Manly

Chapter 34

Misty was not sure whether she had made the right decision. She had been tossing up the idea for a while now, but with it actually happening, she wondered what she had gotten herself into. She could have been in her massive guest room all rugged up on her bed, and pouring her soul out in a bid to get a major work idea. However, here she was in the woods of all places, definitely not in the right attire, and following what most people would describe as a "madman".

"Are you cold?"

"A little bit," Which actually translated to, "bloody freezing!" She guessed the chattering of her teeth was not as loud as she thought.

"Here." Misty took the offered hoodie without hesitation.

"What, no: 'what about you? You'll get cold'?" Tyler teased, as he watched his hoodie swallow Misty whole.

"What about you? You'll get cold." Misty deadpanned, causing Tyler to chuckle. To him, she looked absolutely adorable, pouting in a hoodie too big for her.

"Come on, we're almost there." Tyler encouraged, moving closer to Misty before throwing his arm around her shoulder.

"This is gonna be so much fun." Dennis smiled, happy to be back home. He had been riding a high ever since he had caught up with his family.

"You keep saying that," Stacey pointed out.

"This is like the event of the year for all the young ones. You don't understand, the rich here are uber pricks, like Outer Banks kooks, uber pricks. This bonfire is like the kegger, where everyone can let loose and forget about status for a moment."

"Why do you keep raving about your hometown? It sounds awful."

"Misty!"

"What? I've seen Outer Banks. If this place is truly like Outer Banks, then I'm sorry but it sucks." Misty huffed, refusing to budge in terms of her opinion.

"She has a fair point." Tyler agreed, before Stacey could spout something about keeping negative opinions to oneself. "But in saying that, not everyone is like that."

"Yeah, only like five percent of the rich kids act like that." Dennis added.

"Okay, I guess I judged a little hard there." Misty mumbled.

"Don't worry, your judgemental personality is much loved." Tyler assured, giving the shoulder that he had his arm around a tight squeeze.

---

"You're in a band?" Misty asked, craning her neck to give Tyler a questioning look. Tyler and Dennis' amazing youth experiences apparently all came from a bonfire organised by the youth of the town. Misty had to admit, it was quite the civilised affair. With the absence of indecent scenes, for one's poor eyes to chance upon. With youths showing restraint when it came to their alcohol consumption. And finally, the most confounding of all, actual live music provided by different youth bands.

"Correction, I was in a band." She had appeared out of nowhere really. If Misty had to pick a moment, it would be the moment Tyler had glued himself against her back. Enveloping her in a hug, that had Misty feeling like she was carrying a backpack. One moment it was her, her backpack, Dennis and the twins, chatting amongst themselves, listening to childhood stories. Then all of a sudden, Clarissa appeared, like a weed, amongst grass.

"What do you play?"

"More like what doesn't he play?" Dennis muttered, before taking a sip from his cup.

"I wasn't really that good." Tyler downplayed, sheepishly.

"You'll play for us tonight, right? For old times sake." Clarissa asked, exaggerated pout taking over her face.

"I wanna hear you play." Misty said, drowning out his protests.

"You know what, why don't you sing for him?" Clarissa suggested, eyes landed on Misty wrapped up in Tyler's hold.

"Uh, no." Misty said bluntly, causing the rest of the group to laugh at Clarissa's expense. Misty never understood young people, and what constituted a burn, but apparently she had landed one. Not loving the look Clarissa was giving her, Misty continued, "I don't really sing."

"It's fine, nobody is expecting you to be good." Ouch. "Think of it like karaoke, nobody's judging."

"See your words are saying, 'nobody's judging' but, your tone is saying you've got a gavel on standby for this exact moment."

"Okay Misty, the only way to get Clarissa off your back is to just do whatever she asks." Dennis said, sick of the conversation going around in circles.

"That's not healthy, and very unkind of you to encourage that sort of behaviour."

"Come on, be my groupie."

"That's not–" Whatever her brain was trying to get her to say, was drowned out by her squeak as Tyler dragged her away. Together they made their way to the stage, Misty albeit reluctantly.

As soon as she heard the beginning notes, Misty smirked. Turning to give Tyler an unimpressed look, before strutting off the stage straight to Clarissa. Plucking off the sunglasses resting on top of Clarissa's head, she placed them on her face in time for her que to sing.

"I got my shades on 
Like I'm rocking Barbados 
All night 
To get you out my mind now, baby."

Not that she could see, but Misty had winked at Clarissa after snitching her glasses before strutting off back to the stage. Then she had let out a small laugh at Tyler's shocked face, before turning her attention back to the crowd. The cheers were deafening, people whooping and becoming rowdy. It's not like magic flowed out of Misty's mouth, in all honesty she had an ordinary voice, nothing special about it all. However, her stunt with the glasses had won the hearts of the people gathered there, making them all too willing to give her their attention.

"I got my shades on 
Like I'm rocking Barbados 
All night 
And everybody thinks I'm high 
Taking my jeans off 
But I'm keeping my shades on 
All night 
And everybody's blind"

Clarissa could not believe it. Her attempt at humiliation had worked out in Misty's favour. On top of that she had pinched her designer shades, and people had laughed.

"Cause I won't see another woman like this for a day 
I'm like "Oh boy, look at–"

It happened then. As soon as he heard the crowd singing along with her, it happened. His mind cleared out, leaving his body to run on autopilot. He watched her as she grooved along with the music, a look of bliss on her face as she sung her little heart out. It was not album selling by any means, but she had a way about her that just made her captivating. Her voice, sounding like exactly what his mind had been unknowingly searching for.

"Whoo, I think I understand now."

"Huh?"

"Why, people want to do this for a living. The rush, the adrenaline, it's a crazy thrill."

"Are you okay?"

"It's like the song right? 'Everybody thinks I'm high'. Well I am, I'm high on endorphins!!!"