⚘ Synesthesia ⚘

Chapter 2 ⚘

Chapter 2 of 11:
Friend, Please

Present Day

"So, what are you feeling today?" Ryder asked his best friend, hearing the crunch of fallen leaves beneath his boots.

"Blue-green. It's kind of a lemony taste." Avery answered looking up from his shoes. The crisp, cool air and the smell of burning leaves reminded Avery of magnificent colors and the smell of cedar wood- all with just a hint of summer still fresh on his tongue.

"Happy?" Ryder guessed. Avery stared back down at his feet and gave a slight shake of his head.

"I said blue-green, not golden-yellow." Avery said, as if it were obvious. Ryder ran a hand through his messy blue hair.

Normally Avery didn't really care for the color blue, but for some reason Avery thought that Ryder's hair was okay with it. He wasn't sure at first, when he had found out Ryder had dyed it, but it had grown on him.

"So, what does blue-green mean?" Ryder asked.

It was after school had let out for the day, and the two friends were walking alongside each other, doing their best to keep up a good pace.

Avery stopped walking for a moment and turned to peer into his friend's brilliantly blue eyes. They were about the same height, which was nice. That meant Avery didn't have to look up or down whenever he wanted to look at Ryder.

"Confused." Avery answered with a duh tone.

"Confused?" Ryder asked. Avery nodded. "Why are you confused?" Avery shrugged.

"I'm always confused, it's just a little stronger today." He answered. Ryder furrowed his brow.

Ryder himself had never been to therapy, and he had never associated colors with emotions, unlike his best friend. Despite this, Ryder tried his hardest to understand, even though it sometimes proved difficult.

They two boys continued walking, mainly in silence, until they reached their dreaded destination.

"I hate this place." Avery said. Ryder nodded in agreement.

"Me too."

"Will you wait for me?" Avery asked. Ryder nodded and Avery gave a slight smile. Having a friend like Ryder made things like this a lot easier for Avery.

"See you in an hour." Ryder said, waving.

"See you in an hour." Avery mumbled. As Avery walked back into the place he had been going to for 12 years, he was hit with the smell of old books and leather. Overall it was a brown sort of color, like Avery's eyes, and Avery hated it. It reminded him of cold January air, that seeped into your lungs and made it burn to breathe.

Avery waited around for a few minutes before he was called into Dr. Hughes office. He used to see Dr. Jackson, but a few years ago he was referred to a new therapist.

Avery didn't like Dr. Hughes nearly as much as Dr. Jackson, but he was forced to go to him anyway. His head still wasn't quite right apparently.

"Hello Avery." Dr Hughes greeted, while proceeding to sit down on an old leather chair. "Sit, please." Avery shut the door behind him and sat directly across from Hughes.

Dr. Hughes was a short man, with sharp suits. He did his best to cover up his lack of hair, but by this point everything he tried was a lost cause. He was a little heavier than most and would wheeze when he walked too fast- that was one good thing about Hughes; Avery knew that if needed, he could outrun him.