Purpose Will Surface (Compete)

chapter two

tyler and i walk side by side in a strangely comfortable silence, as if the horrors of the bridge are far in the past. i feel this sense of relief, as if something had been lifted off of my shoulders. my plan failed, so why i feel relieved doesn't quite make sense to me. i try to ignore my skeptical nature and enjoy this feeling of calmness. tyler is a complete stranger, and yet he radiates this safety that is making me feel more light than i've felt in longer than i can remember, as if we've been friends for years. i can't lie, it's freaking me out a little.

finally we arrive at a little diner, stepping inside and grabbing one of the mostly empty tables. a nice waitress comes over to take our order, and tyler orders us two hot chocolates. i can't help but smile at this, making him give me a confused look as the waitress walks away

"what?" he asks innocently.

"hot chocolate? what are we, nine?" i say giggling, making him blush and giggle as well.

"you can't deny that it's an excellent beverage, okay?" he says, still giggling, and i nod my head in agreement.

we sit at the diner for a while, mostly in comfortable silence. the whole situation feels so strange and cliché to me, like something you would see in a movie. this random guy, whom i've just met, is making me feel more joy and safety than i've felt in years. and for what? out of sheer coincidence. the darkness lingers in my mind, forcing me to question his intentions and whether or not he's just being nice because he didn't want to have to deal with being the last one to see me before i killed myself. i shake away this feeling, trying to focus all of my energy on the light tyler is radiating, absorbing as much of it as i possibly can.

"so you're telling me you can play the piano, the uke, the bass guitar, you can sing, AND you can produce music?" i say intrigued as i take a bite of the cake the waitress had brought for me and tyler, smiling at us and saying it's on the house. tyler laughs and nods his head, grinning very widely. and adorably. "yo, that's so cool! wow, well now i guess you'll just have to show me."

"no no no, i don't know about that," tyler says suddenly, his face flushing. "i never said i was any good."

"oh please, you could have a produced recording of you playing hot cross buns on the recorder and i'd find a way to jam to it," i say slyly, popping another bite of this incredible chocolate cake into my mouth. tyler blushes, which of course makes me blush. seriously, what the hell is going on with me?

"this is going to be super weird because we just met and all, but um, do you want to come over to my place? you can say no! it's cool i get it i mean stranger dan-" but i cut him off before he can finish with a loud laugh, nodding my head yes. this makes him smile a big grin, which makes my heart feel like it's melting. he stands up and puts some money on the table, making me instantly feel guilty.

"wait you don't have to pay, i can-" but this time he cuts me off, waving his hand to shush me. i sigh, unwillingly obliging and following him out of the diner.

we walk a few blocks, making light conversation about the city. we finally arrive at his apartment building, and he leads me up to his door.

"now, look, i wasn't expecting company so don't judge me if you see anything weird," he says as he fumbles with his keys, and i chuckle at him. i've seen horror movies, i know how dumb it is to be going to the apartment of a man i just met. but hey, i was just on the ledge of a bridge a few hours ago, so what do i have to lose at this point. we enter his apartment, and it's just a simple studio, surprisingly well decorated and clean. tyler hurriedly rushes over to clear some clothes off the floor, and i walk over towards the little living room area. there's a keyboard against the wall next to a uke and a guitar. i press silent buttons on the turned off piano, remembering the days in my childhood when i used to take piano lessons. of course, that was a lifetime ago. tyler comes over to me, blushing at me instantly going to his music area. he may think i'm kidding about needing to hear him play, but i fully intend on following through.