***You guys ready for shit to go down?! Most already know what's going to happen in this chapter. Well. Everyone if you've seen the music video.
Julia...You can let Mary out of the basement now xD***

The slight touch of my shoulder forced me to awake from my sleep. Honestly, I didn't exactly want to be up at the moment. I didn't have an entirely well slept night either. But she just refused to let my head wander any longer.

"Morning baby." Her high pitched voice said over my shoulder. "Today's the day." I felt the soft touch of her lips come into contact with my cheek. And I couldn't help but let it bring a smile to my face.

"What time is it?" My voice was all groggy and it was difficult to open my eyes to the blinding light that was seeping through our window. But I sure tried as hell.

"Almost noon." She sounded annoyed. "Thought I'd let you sleep awhile."

"Noon!?" I forcefully brought myself to a sitting position. The fast movement made me a little dizzy. "We have to get ready for the ceremony!" I practically threw myself out of bed, almost toppling over as my feet hit the ground.

"The ceremony isnt until five, idiot." Mary laughed at my reaction. That cheery laugh that she only made every once in awhile.

"Well you could have told me that before I got out of bed." My face scrunched up into a pout. Unnecessary movement is not appreciated today.

"Oh boo who Mr.PoutyPants." Mary laughed. "I just wanted to see you awake before I left to grab my dress." She reached over, grabbing my wrist and pulled me back onto the bed. I fall akwardly on my wrist as she does this, causing me to wince at the slight pain. "Well I should go." Her bright blonde hair whips across my face as she gets up from the bed.

"So soon?" My face scrunched into a puppy dog look. Well as must as I could muster, for I was still half asleep at the moment.

Once again, Mary let out her cheery laugh. Whether it was at my failed attempt of being cute, or my failed attempt at functioning properly, I do not know. All she had done in response was nod her head before she left the motel room. Now the only thing that filled my ears was the sound of my own breathing. I hated the silence. It made me twitch wanting to make some sort of noise. The perks of growing used to the customs of the always busy circus, right? The rememberance of loving silence sickened me. How could I have been like that? How was I so...insistant in not wanting to exsist? It surprised me how only a few years time changed me almost completely.

The decision of choosing between going back to sleep or attempting to get prepared for the days events was a difficult one. I guess I did a bit of both. The struggle of trying to put on a pair of fancy pants while your face was buried in a pillow was quite strenuous if I might add. Not to mention, it made it worse that I ended up putting them on backwards. Today's going to be a great day..I can feel it. Maybe I can just lay here until the time comes? Sleep was definitely one thing I had been lacking the past few weeks.

"Mr.Ross?" The high pitched voice followed a knock at the motel door. Looks like sleep wasn't an option. Slowly getting up, I found myself trudging over to the door. "Mr.Ross?Are you there?" The voice said again, only this time a little louder.

"Yeah, yeah." My voice was still groggy from earlier. A slight clear of my throat and it would sound normal again. "I heard you. Give me a second."

Opening the door, I find Woodrow standing there in her usual attire. There wasn't a show today, so I don't exactly understand why she still dressed the part of a trapeze woman. But I guess since this is our first actual day off in a few months, she just grew accustomed to changing into it everyday. Which was understandable.

"Hello Mr.Ross." Her yellow eyes stared up at me, making me feel a bit uneasy. Always insisting on wearing those creepy golden contacts. It was one of her signature features. Besides the long jet black hair.

"Hey Whoody. Haven't I told you to just call me Ryan?" I smile down at her small figure. She was really the only person in this mess that I connected with. I mean, I love everyone else to death, but Woodrow just kinda stood out amongst everyone else.

"It wouldn't feel right sir." Her eyes shifted down towards the ground. "Besides, I don't think I should have the privilege to call you your real name while others cannot. It's just not fair to them Mr.Ross. And I can't do that to them. They're my friends and family. And we're treated equally."

"Well, whatever you wanna do." A sigh escaped my lungs. "What's up?"

There was a pause before she had opened her mouth to speak. "I just wanted say that I'm..happy..for you today." Finally her gaze went back to looking up at me. And there was a forced smile coming across her lips.

"Are you alright?" I gave her a puzzled look. "You seem as though you didnt want to say that."

Was she siding with Brendon too? What did he say to her to force her to be upset about this?

"I cannot say why my feeling towards the events of today are the way they are. Soon. Mr.Ross. Soon you'll understand why we're doing this." Without taking her eyes off of me. She backed away step by step, until she turned in the other direction and walked off to the others.

~~~

There was about an hour until the ceremony was scheduled to start. Being that I was already showered and dressed for the occasion, I had quite a bit of free time left. Walking around greeting people was of no use. For I didnt really know any of Mary's family. We were always on the road, and didnt have the time to stop and greet family. I mean, I did meet her mother, but only for a brief moment.

"Ross." Hearing my name being called, my head shot up and looked over the crowd of people, searching for the sorce of the voice. With no luck in figuring out who it was, I thought maybe I had just imagined things. "Ross. Get your ass over here." And there it was again. But this time I knew who it had been. My eyes scan the area once more before I lay my eyes fixtured on his slender figure.

I quickly glance around before I walk over to him, making sure no one follows me. And just as Woodrow was, he was dressed in his performance attire. It was like everyone's costumes were second nature. As if it was their own flesh.

"What do you want?" I cross my arms and give him my best glare. And of course my response from him was that good for nothing smirk of his under the shadow of his top hat.

"I do believe you already know the answer to that. Now don't you?" His shoulder lightely rested on the bark of the tree to his direct left. And his cane gripped tightly in his hand as if he were ready to attack.

"I told you not to come." I say through gritted teeth. "I told you, you weren't invited. None of you." My eyes stayed in contact with his though they were difficult to see.

"And what makes you so sure that I'm going to listen? That we're not going to waltz our way in there anyway? I've told you Ross. This is not what is right." He never moved a muscle. Not even the slightest twitch as he spoke.

"Don't you dare tell me what is right and wrong in my life." I took a step closer to him.

"I'm the one who gave you your life." His voice raised slightly. "You would be six feet under at this very moment if it weren't for me. I didn't have to take you in. But I did. And I changed you. You're a stronger, better man than you used to be. But there's one thing that I can't ever fix. And that's your ignorance." Brendon took in a deep breath before continuing. "Im done. I'm going to show you what is actually underneath the monster you call your fiancee. And you're sure as hell aren't going to like it." If looks could kill, I swear I'd be on the ground with no pulse. Brendon spum around and walked off. More like limped off. I believe that whatver his wrong with him, it's geting worse by the second.

~~~

I took my stance at the front of the church pews that were set up. My palms were sweaty and my insides were flipping. The time had finally come. And before I knew it, the music had started to play signalling for my beautiful lady to come walking down the isle. She looked absolutely stunning her dress. I couldn't help but stare.

"Hey baby." Mary whispered when she reached me.

"Hey baby." I reply to her, I swear I was smiling ear to ear.

The music had cut off and the priest had begun to talk and read from the tiny bible in his hands. I had insisted on the ceremony not being a religious kind of thing. But Mary had wanted it done this way. So I didn't argue.

"I love you." A smile crept onto her face.

"I love you too."

Suddenly the piano started up again. But a slower tune. I imagine it was supposed to be background music? I wasn't quite sure.

"What a beautiful wedding!" Brendon chimed in through the doorframe, startling both Mary and I. "Start without me? Good. I wasn't one for the slow walk anyway. Waist of time." He waved his cane in the air in a dramatic fashion.

"What is he doing here?" Mary said through her teeth. But I didnt reply. I was both in shock and angry that he had decided to show up anyway.

"Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!" At the instant, the rest of the performers started filling into the ceremonial area. Both appearing from behind him, and from the upstairs. "Take your seats family. Our little Ryan here.." The sound of my name coming from his mouth felt unsettling. Never in the past five years has he said my first name. "Is getting married." I could see a smirk forming on his lips.

All the performers had finally taken their seats except for Brendon who was walking up to us. Mary's family had started to whisper to each other unsure of what was going on.

Brendon finally reached where we were standing and placed both of his hands on my shoulders. "Oh well in fact. Well I'll look at it this way I mean technically our marriage is saved!" He slapped my shoulders before letting go of me. "This calls for a toast! So pour the champagne!" A childish grin spread across his face as he glanced at Mary, whom had been seeming to be more and more annoyed with every passing moment. Within seconds, Brendons hands were on her shoulders just as they were on mine. "Oh well in fact." He got closer to her face as he said it. You could sense the bitterness in his tone. "Well I'll look at it this way, I mean technically our marriage is saved!" And once again let go of her shoulders. But this time, he turned towards everyone else. "This calls for a toast! So pour the champagne!"

Mary rolled her eyes in disgust. "I cant believe you let them in here..."

All I could do was watch in shock. It was as if I couldn't move.

The fire swallower stood up reaching in his pocket. Come to find out, he had a stash of sliver glitter that he blew onto the other side. Many people were annoyed, though the performers were laughing having the greatest time.

Brendon kept singing to everyone while the piano played fiercely. The guests were getting up and dancing and sitting back down and were just all over the place.

"What the hell have you done?!" Mary got my attention. "I specifically said to not to invite them!"

"I told them that they werent. They just invited themselves!" I needed to fix this but I didnt know how. I never imagined it to get like this.

"Do you really expect me to believe that?" Her face started to turn a pale pink. She was furious.

"Well yeah! I wouldn't intentionally do this to make you upset!"

"That's it. Im done with you. I knew you were a lost cause." She rolled her eyes once more and stormed through the isle. I couldnt believe what I was seeing. Was she really doing this?

As she ran out of the door, a man whom looked semi-familiar, jumped over the pew and quickly followed her outside. I cocked my head to the side in confusion. What the hell is going on?

Brendon was now even more angry than before. He stormed his way over to me and grabbed me by the collar. His death glare said it all. "Of course we have to do this the hard way." He spun on his heel and was practically dragging me across the floor. I stumbled over my own feet quite a few times until we reached the crisp evening air. Brendon finally let me go and stepped away. As I was fixing my collar, I happen to notice something that I didn't actually want to to witness. Mary had been sucking faces with the man who followed her outside.

She pulled away from the kiss and turned to look at me. "Sorry." But it seemed as though she couldn't contain her laughter.

The thing that caught me off guard wasn't the fact that Mary was a whore, but the realization whom she was making out with. No wonder he had looked so familiar. But I never thought I'd live to see the day that my now ex fiancee was making out with my best friend. I refused to believe it. But at the same time, it now made sense to me as to why she would have hooked up with Brent.

Everyone now rushed outside to see what had happened. Some were in just just shock as I was. But some were trying to comfort me.

"No more destractions!" I yell over everyones shouting, pushing them all away. Brendon walked over to me smiling sincerely. He placed his hand around my shoulder as I did the same. "This shall always be known as the moment you'll never remember! But the night you'll never forget!" And we bowed to our performers. To my performers.

When I stood back up again, I realized that I was standing by myself. Brendon no longer in sight. The red overcoat was now in my possession. Throwing it on, I felt more comfortable than I ever had been. And the top hat lay resting on my head.

And at that moment I realized I had become my dream. I had become the man in red.