Chapter Text
The chatter on the streets continued as he lit a cigarette, staring down below pensively as he waited for the inevitable phone call from either Chris, Dom, or the girl from last night. He inhaled a deep drag, as he allowed himself become totally enveloped in the silence that filled the air around him, while he sat on the window bench peering out the window. He continued to stare down at the streets below, crowded as usual with business men and women clad in dark suits, now and then a person broke the chain of monochrome that painted the streets with a bright colour. At this rate of time being melted away into oblivion, he knew it would be Dom to call him, and hoped that he would be able to explain the events leading to him being at his old flat, the one he had not entered for nearly a year, or was it longer he couldn't quite tell.
Matt listened closely to the silence, as if he were expecting the walls so suddenly erupt with speech and explain all the mysteries they had long since solved. He took another deep drag of his cigarette which was still pressed between his lips, and blew out the acrid smoke into the window. He noticed some of the old drawings from children's fingertips — no doubt Chris' kids. It was as he traced over the drawings that he realized the scratch marks over his arms, and felt the surge of stinging from marks across his hips and chest. His hands then traced over all the lines spread across him as he tugged at the sleeves of his sweater attempting to hide the marks from sight.
Suddenly his phone rang breaking the lull, while he stared at the dark clouds painted on the skies above. He answered on the third ring already knowing it was as he expected — Dom. "Hey Dom... yeah I remember that part.... that part too... the fuck... I did what? Well whatever I have done worse... Yeah sure you can come over... wait how in hell did you know I wound up at that flat? ...yeah well alright then... Yes I'm dressed... I guess I'll order something in... What did you have in mind? ...Well I was thinking more along the lines of going out.... yea Chinese sounds good... Chow mein, and I'll have orange chicken... yeah we can share I don't mind... Okay got it. See you soon then... Uhm yeah you too." After Matt hung up he called their favorite Chinese restaurant and placed the order for the two, adding only two egg rolls, and an egg drop soup, with a pint of pork fried rice. He was told about twenty minutes or so, but they hung up before he found the price.
Matt stared at the large grandfather clock beside the fireplace across from the bench he was seated at. He let out a small sigh and walked to his bedroom three rooms away grabbing his acoustic guitar. Might as well play while I wait, being that the cable's been cut since I moved into the new place... At least I kept the electric and whatnot on, he thought as he tuned his guitar. He then allowed his hands to play freely without his brain intervening. He started to play "Unintended," while he allowed his mind to sink peacefully into his memories, singing along without realizing, as he snapped back into reality he was just finishing up, and before he could stop himself he sang out his memory-induced altered lyric, " Before you... disappear, just please don't forget me. I love you my dear." He closed with a soft hmm, and shook off the memories and nostalgia, Holy fucking hell, brain you have got to stop me from being this stupid lovesick bastard, and you know damn well that is not how the song ends.
With a yawn he stopped playing his fourth song- a Smiths' one he loved and inhaled deeply with his eyes still closed. His eyes fluttered open and set their cool gaze out the window, as he picked up the still lit cigarette. He took a drag, exhaled, and noticed as the window fogged with the smoke a few drawings made by the fragile small fingers of a child. He remembered the day it would have been made- Christmas day when he hosted the band's gathering. It had snowed three days before; the adults were gathered by the fire talking and exchanging stories one after another, while Chris' children played with one another, and their big family gift of a puppy. It was a golden Labrador Retriever that ended up named Fedora by the kids as a group, she was now a whole year and 3 months old, and considered fully grown. Matt sat silently as the memories flooded over him as he traced the drawings again careful not to smudge any and smiled, he remembered how the ice on the roads made it impossible for everyone to go home that night as they planned, and instead each room was filled with hushed conversations, and laughter, and the warmth that surrounded them all, and how they all had a huge breakfast together, at the oversized dining table and the small booth that was placed in the kitchen near the other window.
Matt finally was able to make his way out of the tangled memories, his heart slowly returning to its normal rate. His phone rang breaking the silence that had swept over the apartment. “Hello… yes I placed the order… I’ll meet you at the lobby of the building, is that alright? …Okay great, how much is that again? … Got it. Thank you,” he checked the bills in his pocket searching for a few smaller notes, to no avail. He grabbed the key, stuffed it in his pocket and pulled out a 50€ pressing it in his opposite pocket and walked down the corridor to the elevator. Pressing the “L” button he let out a sigh, These memories will not get the best of me today, he thought, and closed his eyes counting each buzz of the elevator marking off each floor, until it reached, 24, and the door opened after a soft ring. He immediately noticed the delivery person waiting, waved, and handed him the 50€, “Thank you very much.” The man stared at the larger amount of bills, and offered him change, “Keep it, and don’t worry.”
He followed him outside, and grabbed a cigarette from his back pocket, as he noticed Dom approaching the last step to the entrance. Matt pressed the cigarette between his lips and shifted the two bags of food to one hand as he held the door opened for him. Dom grabbed the second bag from Matt and led the way into the elevator, "Thanks," muttered Matt as he followed him to the elevator. With a quick ring the elevator arrived on the floor, and the two entered together in silence. As the door closed Dom grabbed Matt's free hand, after a quick hesitation he laced his fingers between his. Matt pulled away quickly as Dom attempted to break the tension that fell over the elevator as it buzzed quietly marking each floor, "So lovely day wasn't it?," to which Matt nodded never breaking his gaze from the numbers lighting up above the door.
Finally with a loud ring, the doors opened and they turned to the right towards the large padded door of Matt's apartment. With a smile Dom grabbed his key to the apartment that he was given months ago and opened the door. As soon as they entered and made put down the bags on the booth in the den pressed against the window Matt spoke again. "So this is the part where you explain what the fuck happened to us all last night I remember Chris left early cause of the wife and kids and then after that is a total mystery."