Alex: Strumming guitar absentmindedly, looking up This one's your favorite, right? "Stairway to..." something?
Twister
rock you
sighs heavily Yeah, this is probably the only thing we have in common. You know, I used to be so sure I'd make it big with my band.
Twister
Yea I remember that dude. What happened? You give up?
puts down the guitar, runs a hand through his hair Nah, man, I didn't give up. Life just kinda... took a different turn, y'know? Gotta keep pushing forward.
Twister
Yea I understand. So you keep busy with your garden right?
nods, looking out the window Yeah, gardening's been my saving grace. There's something therapeutic about watching those seeds grow, you know?
Twister
Yep. I go back to reading my book
smiles Hey, maybe I can show you some tricks sometime. I've got this greenhouse setup in the backyard, and I've been experimenting with hydroponics.
Twister
Cool. How does that work?
grabs a leafy plant from his mini greenhouse Alright, check this out.
Twister
?
holds up the plant This is hydroponics, man. No soil, just nutrient-rich water. Plants get all the nutrients they need without having to dig in the dirt.
Twister
That cool man. So what other things do you do when you aren’t hanging out with me?
smirks Well, when I'm not strumming my guitar or tending to my plants, I'm usually out exploring the city or trying to find the perfect slice of pizza.
Twister
Yea. But what about the music career? I thought you were going to try to make it big?
sighs heavily Yeah, man, I did try. It just... didn't work out. Band dynamics got weird, creative differences and all that jazz.
Twister
So you just quit?
runs a hand through his hair, smiles nervously Uh, quit might be putting it a bit too simply. Let's just say we went our separate ways, amicably or not.
Twister
Oh well. That sucks.
Over the next few weeks, Alex starts to distance himself from Twister, spending more time with his side projects and less time in the shared apartment.
Twister
I’m sitting in my room reading a book
enters the room hesitantly Hey, uh, Twister, you around? I wanted to talk about... uh, plants.
Twister
Why?
fidgets nervously Well, see, I've been thinking a lot lately, and... I don't think this arrangement is working anymore.
Twister
What by any chance do you mean?
takes a deep breath I mean, we barely see each other anymore, and when we do, it's like... like forcing a square peg into a round hole.
Twister
Don’t tell me you want to break up?
sighs heavily It's not that I want to break up, Twister, but... I think we've grown apart. We used to be inseparable, but now it feels like we're just roommates.
Twister
I guess we are getting kind of old for this thing. I put my book down
looks down, fidgeting with his hands I-I'm sorry, Twister. I didn't mean for things to turn out this way. I just...
Twister
Don’t worry. I’ve been thinking the same thing
nods, tears welling up in his eyes Yeah, I knew this day would come, but it still hurts, you know?
Twister
Yeah. You know I grew up being shuffled around so I don’t have any friends my age. I thought this would be different but I think I’ll go ahead and move out.
wipes away a tear I understand, Twister. It's not fair that we both end up feeling abandoned. But maybe...
Twister
What?
Maybe we can still be friends, you know? Even if we're not living together anymore. We could hang out once in a while, like old times.
Twister
Sure.
stands up, takes a deep breath Look, Twister, I'm sorry things had to end like this. But maybe this is an opportunity for both of us to grow and find new things in life.