Chapter Text
Dream had always loved celebrating his birthday. A day where it was all about you, people gave you gifts and bowed down to your every request? Sign him up! This year’s birthday was extra special, however. 7 of his best friends, some from literally across the ocean, came to celebrate with him. He loved Sapnap, Niki, Ranboo, Karl, Quackity, Fundy and George. Especially George. He cared about all his friends of course, but George coming all the way from London to see him made him feel special. With his soft accent, his perfect hairstyle, his radiant smile that just always managed to-
Okay. He was being fucking weird.
He rented some giant Victorian mansion in the woods to take them to. He had mentioned the idea of renting a mansion to Karl, and that’s the one Karl found on Airbnb and suggested to him. It was an impulsive thing to decide on, sure, not to mention expensive at shit, but the place really was gorgeous. He knew his friends would make these next few days the time of his life. He smiled to himself imagining it all as he packed everything in the trunk of the car. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the guys in their playful banter.
“Quackity, George and Niki get in the back because they’re SHORT!” Karl yells enthusiastically. Niki cracks a chuckle and George rolls his eyes as they climb into the back row of the minivan.
Quackity grumbles in protest lightheartedly. “I’m not even that short, why am I always in the back? It’s not my fault two of you are just freaks of nature.”
“Hey!” Ranboo laughs from the shotgun seat, slightly offended. “If anything, you’re the freak of nature, you’re literally a dwarf.”
“SHUT THE FUCK UP RAN-“ Quackity is cut off by Dream slamming the car door and climbing into the driver’s seat.
“We’re good to go!” Dream excitedly remarks. He tilts his neck, looking over and grabbing the back of the passenger seat as he pulls the car out of the driveway. The car smoothly speeds over the asphalt when going straight, but managed to screech at every turn, causing the passengers to brace each other. Dream being a control freak wasn’t his worst downfall, but everyone resented when he demanded to drive, he really was a shitty driver.
“Quackity, I don’t know why you were complaining about the back row, I’m stuck in the middle row with these two.” Fundy snickered, gesturing to Karl, snuggled up in Sapnap’s arms. Those two had a strange friendship, but they didn’t seem to mind all the shit they got for it. Everyone was pretty sure they weren’t dating but no one dared to ask.
“Just be glad I’m here.” Karl fired back at Fundy. “Jimmy and Chris were kinda pissed that I cancelled on them for the video shoot. But I couldn’t miss Dream’s birthday and they know that.” His tone was steady, but he sounded almost upset. Sapnap slightly tightened his grip as Karl’s head sunk onto his shoulder.
“What, is MrBeast buying a country or something this time?” Niki softly joked, attempting to lighten the mood.
Quackity boldly stated, “You don’t make the videos much better anyway, I’m sure they won’t miss you much.” This was followed by an “OW” as he received a firm punch in the arm from George, accompanied with a grumbled “asshole.” Quackity had never been the best with words and didn’t quite know when to stop joking sometimes. The others had to keep him in check every now and then.
The drive dragged on for almost 2 hours, and near the end had a ton of twists and turns in forests and back dirt roads.
“Wow, this is really the middle of fucking nowhere.” Fundy playfully pointed out as they hopped out of the car.
They all froze in awe as they peered up at the house. It really was a magical sight. It was champagne colored, with a large turret and dramatic black accents. It was intricate and absolutely enormous. The scenery around it was a sight on its own. Hauntingly beautiful weeping willow trees ornamented the house in an almost perfect semi-circle. The vegetation was so vibrant and immaculately placed, it was difficult to even imagine it was real.
George looked up at Dream adoringly and clutched his arm, his bright grin saying a thousand words.
“Dream… this is… this is amazing!” He gleefully shouts like a child.
“I could kiss him.” Dream thinks. “Wait what?”
He’s quickly brought back into reality by Fundy handing him a bag to haul in. They also brought a ton of food (mainly junk) to live off of, because you probably can’t get door dash out here.
The excited group shuffles in and surveys the house. It’s grand. Spiral staircases, chandeliers, a cozy library and study, even a ballroom. Dream saunters to Karl at the entrance of the room as their friends' marvel at the spectacular space.
“How’d you find this place anyway dude?” Dream interrogated.
Karl shrugs. “It was one of the contenders for a video MrBeast did a while back. Can’t even remember which one honestly. I had always wanted to see it for myself, so it popped into my head when you told me about your birthday idea.” Dream nods in response, and they smirk at each other as they watch Fundy and Ranboo take turns twirling Niki on the dance floor, and Sapnap and George run around them in circles, almost as if they’re playing chase.
Quackity comes up behind Dream and Karl. “Have you guys checked it out upstairs yet? Holy crap there’s 7 bedrooms!”
“Wait, 7? I thought this house had one for each of us.” Dream mumbled. Karl motioned for the rest of the crew to come explore upstairs with them. After surveying the other floors, there were indeed 7 bedrooms.
“Sorry guys, I must’ve misread, I thought everyone would be able to have their own bedroom.” Dream apologized. It was a minor mishap, and he knew his friends wouldn’t mind too much. He just felt bad for whoever had to share.
“It’s okay Dream, you can just say you wanted to share a bed with me.” George commented, putting an arm around Dream. This elicited various “ooooohs” from the group.
Karl raises his hand up. ” I was actually planning on sharing with Sapnap anyways.” Sapnap pokes him with an elbow and they smile at each other.
Quackity waves his arms in front of him. “Okay lovebirds, you need to calm down.”
Ranboo put a hand on his forehead, stricken with regret and contemplating why he agreed to come here.
Fundy quickly tries to change the subject. “We’ll figure out beds later, who’s hungry?”
“Oh gosh, me!” George replies. “I’ve barely eaten all day, I’m so hungry I could die.”
The group parades to the cellar, a closed off and secluded area where they stashed their assortment of chips, bottled drinks and various platters of party food. It was a beautiful buffet of diabetes and heart failure. They sat down on the floor to dig in, not even caring to set up the food on a dining room table. but before they chowed down, Karl nudges Sapnap.
“Get off your phone dude, it’s not often we can all get together like this.” Karl grumbles.
“What’s with you today?” Sapnap chuckles, rolling his eyes.
“No no, he’s right. We should all put our phones in another room, we were all on them in the car and I want to actually be here with you guys.” Ranboo states, backing up Karl. Karl and Ranboo collect the phones and take them to the library. Once they come back, closing the door behind them, Fundy was pouring everyone champagne.
“I didn’t know we were bringing alcohol.” Sapnap laughed, grabbing a glass.
Fundy flashes a smile. “Please, I needed some to get through a vacation with you fuckers.” The word fuck sounds funny with his Dutch accent, so it’s hard to take him seriously when he curses. Niki chuckles as Fundy shoves a glass over to Ranboo.
“Fundy, you know I can’t-“ Ranboo starts.
Fundy puts a hand on the teen’s shoulder. “Please. You probably need it as much as I do.”
Niki raises her glass. “I’d like to make a toast to Dream. Thanks for inviting us all here, happy birthday.”
George adds on, raising his glass. “Dream... this is incredible.” He looks into Dream’s emerald eyes. “You mean the world to us.”
Dream can’t help but blush at the kind words, and clinks his glass with everyone as they shout “To Dream!”
The group laughs and fraternizes until the sun sets. Events included Karl attempting to perform a one man show of the entire soundtrack of high school musical and Quackity showing off by throwing cheeseballs and catching them in his mouth. Everyone ended up begging him to stop because he almost choked.
Fundy leans back in ecstasy after shoving his 5th soft pretzel into his mouth. “God, maybe for my wedding I’ll just get soft pretzels instead of catering, this shit is so good.”
“What’s 5up gonna think about that one?” Quackity joked.
Fundy and 5up were getting married in December, and Dream couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy when their wedding was mentioned. Fundy moved all the way from the Netherlands to be with 5up.
“If only George would do that for me.” He muttered under his breath.
George swiftly whipped his head around to face Dream. “Did you say my name?”
Fuck did he say that out loud?
The awkward moment conveniently was interrupted by a loud creak from upstairs. The house was surprisingly noisy as nightfall arrived, the old house seemingly settling with creaks and noises from the wilderness surrounding the house. The group’s noisiness drowned out most of the sound, but this creak was the loudest by far.
“Damn, this house is really old. Or maybe just haunted.” Sapnap muttered.
“OoOh SpoOkY!” Quackity mockingly yelled, taking enjoyment in the slight twinge of fear painted on the group’s faces.
“We should probably clean up.” Niki suggested. The group, filled to the brim on carbs, nodded in agreement and began shuffling around, wiping up spilled drinks and gathering all the cheeseballs Quackity dropped on the floor. Ranboo and Niki left to go wash the dishes once all the food was packed up. The rest of the guys went to go claim their bedrooms, then Dream, Sapnap, Fundy, Karl and Quackity gathered around a table downstairs.
“Do you think there’s a pool table here? I could totally crush you all at pool.” Sapnap bragged. Dream was only half paying attention to the conversation. He scanned around the room. What was missing?
Oh, George.
He walked over to Niki and Ranboo, who were finishing the dishes.
“Thanks for getting all those.” Dream leaned up against the counter as he talked. “Have you two seen George?” They shook their heads.
“Maybe he’s just unpacking everything.” Niki assumed, drying a plate and handing it to Ranboo to put back in the high cabinet.
“Nah, probably just fell asleep on the bed. I’m gonna go check on him.” Dream announced, shrugging. Quackity, who followed behind him, yelled “Yeah, go check on your boyfriend!”
Dream’s face flushed. “I heard that…” He felt slightly embarrassed hearing Quackity’s amusingly loud laughter as he exited.
As Dream trudged up the stairs, he smiled imagining rustling George’s hair to wake him up or something like that. Maybe they’d have a moment alone and he could finally make his move.
He tried to make his footsteps soft as he walked down the hall. He took a breath before opening the door, almost preparing himself. The moment had to be perfect, he didn’t know when he’d get another chance like this. He slowly let the door open, and scanned to find him in the bed. Instead, he found a closed blue suitcase stacked on top of it. The moment he caught a glimpse of George lying at the foot of the bed, he immediately let out a blood curdling scream.