NatePat One-Shots

Curious

Did he have the time, did he have the energy, did he even have the right attitude to go about this? No, he couldn't bring himself to look because his eyes wouldn't allow it. The taste of his own blood lingered on his bitten tongue as the nightmare remained fresh, as if happening before his very eyes. His friend Stephanie resides in the drivers seat in a nice white dress, gripping the steering wheel gently and glancing at him from time to time. Said man was facing away from her and looking out at the other cars moving passed them, not really focusing on anything but the fuzziness of his memory and the blankness of his mind. His brown eyes slowly made their way from car to car, contemplating the colors, the model, and how often he'd see people cover up the scars with duct tape. At first glance he might've seemed uninterested, bored by the world around him as it seemed to pass by faster than his thoughts at that very moment.

"Matt, you can at least look excited!" Stephanie remarked.

"Do I not look excited?" Matt answered slowly.

"No, you don't." Stephanie said.

"I'll try harder next time." Matt replied.

Stephanie let out a defeated huff as they exited the freeway, with Matt still blinking at his surroundings as if he'd never seen the world in such color. It was dull, like a photo yellowed by age, dust sprinkled haphazardly on it to form ugly stars, gray, tiny specks, but deadly to the untrained eye. Inhaled at its finest and the heaving for breath begins, eyes water like an ocean of clear water, until finally the air is released in a loud and dry cough. The yellow fading in just right to be wrong, to create a fragrance on its own, you'd never know what it smelled like just that it was a "yellow smell." Matt wouldn't think twice about ripping the picture to shreds if it meant ridding his mind of the obstacle, the headache of following the pattern, of inhaling the scent that loomed over him at night once he'd recognized the location. The car stopped and Stephanie gave herself a look in her pocket-sized mirror, deeming herself decent before glancing at Matt who simply flicked his tie and exited the car. The light brunette followed him and gave him a lecture about straight ties and his "unhealthy attitude" today, but when she realized he wasn't even listening she stopped his sloppy stride and asked him of his problems.

"I'm tired, I didn't sleep last night." Matt admitted.

"Again? This is the third time, Matthew!" Stephanie sighed.

"And it's gonna be a fourth if we don't hurry!" Matt sassed, walking passed.

Another huff was heard behind him, he was sure he'd get at least five of those out of her in the next few minutes, as Stephanie caught up and they entered the large garden maze. The hedges were dark green and trimmed beautifully, white roses scattered to fill the blankness of the green, Stephanie found it delightful while Matt found it dull once again. The "yellow smell" was emitting from those flowers and he didn't appreciate it, but how could he control it? It wasn't his garden and for all he knew the owners could've planted those on purpose, to spread the smell far and wide until someone ended up choking on their own tongue and collapsing dead in the grass.

"Was it the dream again?" Stephanie whispered, seeing many of their friends.

"What else would it be?" Matt mumbled, waving to his friends curtly.

"Well, 'Alice', I think it's time to sober up." Stephanie smiled.

Greeting people he knew wasn't hard, a simple pat on the back and a handshake was enough, but for the strangers he didn't even glance in their direction. Strangers were that same ugly yellow color, almost brown, and as they passed by they shook and became blurry the more they moved. And there were a lot of strangers. He spied the groom-to-be and smiled at him, congratulating him on his marriage which was to be held today.

"Congratulations, I knew it would happen." Matt teased.

"Oh, hush, ya' big goof!" Mark flushed pink.

"So, where's the 'lucky lady'?" Matt continued teasing.

"Nice one, Mr. Original, he's inside getting ready." Mark smiled fondly.

"Don't get lost in thought, I'm still talking to you!" Matt chuckled, his mouth twitching at the corners.

"Sorry, wanna take a walk?" Mark asked.

"Sure." Matt replied, following behind the red-haired male.

Through the maze of green and white they walked and talked for several minutes, the yellow smell had fazed away and was now hovering over in a forest area. The ugly color was still present but only on certain roses, flickering and shaking as if forming a path that Matt didn't want to walk.

"I've noticed you haven't been sleeping lately." Mark suddenly said.

"Uh, yeah." Matt said, slightly confused.

"Will you be okay?" Mark asked, keeping his voice low.

"I'm sure I'll be fine." Matt stopped walking.

The bushes rustled as something hurried away, a flash of white was seen before the greenery ceased all movement and whatever animal had been there was gone. Mark gave him a look, confused as to why he stopped walking.

"Was it a rabbit? The owners mentioned them before." Mark commented.

"I'm not sure, I think it was just the wind and a rose." Matt said.

"Sometimes I think the roses should've been red." Mark sighed, continuing their walk.

Matt's mind blanked in that one moment and a mantra of impossible thought invaded his senses all at once, flying people, blue caterpillars, smiling cats, even a large dragon made of darkness, with purple eyes and the tongue of a snake. Red roses, white roses, shrinking, growing, running, walking, and soon the world had become the same ugly yellow as before and Matt wished he'd gotten more sleep.

"You could always..." Matt paused, thinking quietly to himself. "Paint the roses red."

"Huh, that's kind of... weird." Mark mumbled.

The walk had ended and the wedding was to start, with everyone sitting outside and waiting for the vows to finally be spoken before a waterfall of mascara stained the faces of every woman. The music started in a hum before gradually increasing in volume, the 'bride-to-be' walking down the aisle with his mother on his arm, her body convulsing in Matt's eyes as she wiped the black tears off her face. Sean glanced at Matt, his green hair like a beacon, and gave a half smile and a wink before gazing lovingly at his fiancé. Once everyone had quieted down they watched in interest, the priest speaking slowly and a bit too quietly to be heard properly, but the lovebirds were oblivious to their surroundings. Matt could see the love reflected in their eyes as they made contact, sparkling and causing large smiles to appear on their faces that seemed too wide to be comfortable, which in turn made Matt smile. The theorist became aware of someone sitting beside him, lazily sighing before straightening his posture and adjusting something in his hands. He tried to focus on the vows but the stranger tapped him on the shoulder, Matt turning to look but realize it wasn't a stranger at all, or in his eyes he wasn't. He wore a typical black suit but with a purple bow tie, a golden pocket watch sat in his left breast pocket, and he held a mint green electric guitar. His hair was the color of crow feathers, his eyes the darkest brown, and his skin was pale like a porcelain doll. Matt couldn't recall who he was but only that he looked extremely familiar, he felt nervous for some reason and gave a nervous smile in anticipation.

"Having fun yet?" He asked, smirking.

"Heh, do I really look that bored?" Matt chuckled, turning back to the sight before him.

"I suppose, but that depends on what you find boring," the man paused and pointed at the pair, "or what you find fun."

"I guess, but who—" Matt turned and stopped.

He was gone.

He left his pocket watch.

It was stuck at midnight.

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This one took a few tries, thoughts?