Mustard

                                    

                                          
Travis
(holy fuck i get to write travis in dream world now you guys are NOT prepared for this haha)
(also!! surprise chapter !! thank you for 11k reads aaah!!)
                          
"Fucking—so what do you want dude?" Larry Johnson says, dressed up in a waiters uniform in an awfully multicolored space restaurant. 
                          
Whoever was the interior decorator for this place really went crazy with the sparkles and pink paint. 
                          
"I'll get the usual!" I reply enthusiastically. That's totally realistic! I always get the usual here. I've definitely been here before, in this nonsensical, sparkling diner. Floating in space.
                          
"Coming right up! It'll be out in a second, dude." Waiter Larry Johnson says, then running off to the kitchen at an unholy speed. 
                          
I don't even have to wait for my order as he comes running back, holding a plate with a bologna sandwich on it. Once he sets it down on my table, his face switches to immediate fear.
                          
"Aw SHIT! My pipsqueak sized brain forgot the mustard!" Larry exclaims, emphasizing his distress by holding his head with his mouth agape. "I'm such an IDIOT!"
                          
"Hell yeah you are!" I say.
                          
Suddenly, the doors to the kitchen burst open, all the light now focusing on the boy standing in the doorway. Sal. My entire body goes hot at the sight of him in his waiter outfit, sparkling pink. In his hand, a bottle of mustard.
                          
"Heard a pretty boy needed some mustard on his sandwich?" Sal says, his voice like silk. My heart flutters intensely as he approaches my table, then carefully lifting up a piece of bread and slowly applying the condiment, not breaking eye contact with me. 
                          
"Th-thanks, Sal. You're really good at that," I say breathlessly, dorkily smiling at the blue haired waiter boy.
                          
Then, out of nowhere, he cuffs my blushing face in his hands, and the entire room glows.
                          
"Oh Travis, I love you!" he exclaims, blue eyes sparkling. My face is hot under his palms. "Let's run away together, away from this crappy old diner! Away from everyone else!"
                          
"O-okay!"
                          
I can hear Larry cry with anguish as Sal proclaims his love for me. I can hear my heart beating in my ears as he inches closer and closer to my face...
                          
"Oh Travis!"
                          
Sal...
                          
"Travis!"
                          
I close my eyes, shaking as I prepare to kiss Sal Fisher.
                          
"Travis. Travis!"
                          
Wait... that sounded... different?
                          
I open my eyes to see my father looming over me, and I nearly jump out of my fucking skin.
                          
"Travis! You lazy slob! Get ready for church right now," he spits at me, and all the sparks and warmth in my body fade almost instantly. "Just my luck, my son decides to sleep in late on the busiest day..." he says, stomping out of my room.
                          
It was just a dream. 
                          
I mean, of course it was. I don't know why I thought that was real, a colorful diner in space? Sal Fisher telling me he loves me? What was I thinking?
                          
I look over at my alarm clock and it's a little past noon. I don't think I've ever slept in this late before, but even after being woken up by my father I actually feel well rested for once in my life.
                          
The thought of waiter Sal Fisher is still on my mind as I get out of bed and dress for church.
                          
Sal
My dreams are dark, and I wake up to see Larry gone. My face feels sore from sleeping with my prosthetic on.
                          
I get up from the couch and into his living room to see him pouring a bowl of cereal for himself. He notices me standing in the doorway and nods a hello.
                          
"Morning, dude. You can get yourself some breakfast before you leave if you wanna," he says, then going to the fridge and pulling out a carton of milk.
                          
"Thanks man," I say, pulling my messy bedhead hair into pigtails. "Oh, and I totally forgot."
                          
"Yeah, dude?" Larry says, finishing pouring the milk in his cereal and putting it back in the fridge.
                          
I elbow him in the side and he yelps in surprise. 
                          
"Ow, dude! What was that for?"
                          
"You were being mean to Travis during ghost hunting," I say, chuckling.
                          
"Aw, come on, I started being a little nicer to him near the end," Larry groans, closing the fridge. "I still am skeptical about him though."
                          
"Why? Cause he beat you in Mario Kart?"
                          
"Shut up, dude," he says. "But seriously, we just invited him into the group. Who knows if he's gonna flip on us? He tormented you for three years, he couldn't have just changed in a day."
                          
"I know. But, he didn't say anything mean to us during ghost hunting yesterday. No homophobic slurs or anything. Don't you think that's a big step for him?"
                          
"I guess. Still skeptical, though."
                          
"I get that."
                          
Larry grabs his cereal and walks into the living room, and I find some bread to make toast. While it's in the toaster, I take out my phone and send a text to Travis.
                          
Sal: hey travis! whatcha doing today??
                          
He doesn't answer right away, which is understandable. I shoot a few texts in the ghostnabber's group chat until he replies.
                          
Travis: Church.
                          
Sal: oh! that's right i forgot you do that haha
                          
Travis: Whatcha doing?
                          
I can't help but giggle at that, imagining Travis saying "whatcha" is kind of silly to me.
                          
Sal: just chilling at larry's 👍👍
                          
Sal: is church fun??
                          
Travis: How did you do that?
                          
Sal: ?? do what?
                          
Travis: Tiny picture thing.
                          
The toaster pops out my toast, and I quickly send another text before running to get a paper plate.
                          
Sal: oh theyre emoticons!!!bottom left of phone ??
                          
I take the toast out of the toaster and set it on the plate. I unbuckle the bottom straps of my prosthetic and take a bite before looking back at my phone.
                          
Travis: Emoticons? 
                          
Travis: Oh I found them.
                          
Travis: 👍
                          
I laugh at that. He's being so adorable. I was about to text him back when he quickly sent another text.
                          
Travis: Haveto go service starting.
                          
Sal: oh okay! i'll ttyl travis !!
                          
He doesn't respond to that one but he's probably busy now. I'll text him again in an hour or so. It's just nice to talk to him.