Chapter Text
Dream was an excellent swimmer, there was no doubt in that.
He flew smoothly through the water the way nobody else could, as if he was born for it. As if he was specially crafted from the currents deep below, where the water is strong and persistent, but equally as elegant and captivating. Wild, yet controlled. People often joked that he could breathe underwater, but they wouldn't be surprised if that was proven to be true. Swimming made Dream feel powerful; if he could take on water, one of the strongest forces on Earth, he could take on anything. He was glad he was so good at the thing he loved so dearly. He loved the way it cleared his head and left him feeling calm and in control. And that's how he felt now, all tension leaving his body as he effortlessly glided under the surface, feeling the water course past his shoulder blades and down his back. He reveled in the feeling until he reached the pool wall. He broke through the water, wiping the chlorine water from his eyes and slicking back his hair. The feeling of serenity hadn't yet faded as he crossed his arms and rested them on the cool concrete, where he laid his head. He sat in the quiet for a moment, the only sound being the faint sloshing of the water against the walls. He heaved himself out of the pool and sauntered over to the chair where his belongings sat. Drying his hair with a towel, he checked his phone. Shit. There, waiting for him, sat about 15 texts from Karl, all along the lines of "where are you?". He checked the time, 7:40 a.m., class had started nearly ten minutes ago. He scrambled to collect his things and rushed inside to shower. Sure, it would only make him more late, but he didn't want to spend the day reeking of chemicals.
He was quick to scrub his hair, the minty suds slipping down into his eyes. Blinded, he rinsed away the layer of soap coating his lean and slightly sore body. After the water running through his hair ran clear, he slapped on some conditioner (Dream is very particular about his hair care, so conditioner is always necessary). He washed his face then cleared any remaining product in his near-shoulder length locks. Turning off the water, he stepped out, wrapping a towel around his waist and placing another smaller one on his head. He rubbed his hair dry while speedily yet effectively brushing his teeth. He checked his tongue in the mirror before dipping out of the bathroom into his bedroom. He discarded the towel from his hair, leaving it unruly and pointing in different directions. He threw on a pair of simple blue jeans, his favorite hoodie (it was bright green with a simple black smile plastered on it), and his usual black high top converse. He grabbed his backpack, his keys, and gave himself a quick look over before heading out the door. Even in a rush, he looked good.
The drive to school wasn't long. Traffic had died down since everyone was already there, you know, on time. The closest parking spot he could get was deep into the parking lot, a downside of showing up after everyone else. He ran to the school doors and slowed it to a speed walk when he entered the building. He made his way to his class, stopping just before the door and casually walked in, trying to hide the fact he basically just ran through the school. The teacher didn't acknowledge his late presence, simply looking at him and continuing the lesson. Dream took his seat, and Karl rolled his eyes at him as he struggled to pull his notebook from his backpack.
"This is why you shouldn't swim in the mornings." Karl whispered.
"How'd you know I was swimming? Maybe I just woke up late." Dream matched his volume. Karl simply gave him a look of doubt. "Ok, yeah, I was swimming, so what?"
He rolled his eyes again before adding a fond, "I'm glad you're here, Dream."
~
The rest of class went by quickly, notebook filled with random notes about grammar and doodles of flowers and vines. Karl wished him a brief goodbye when they split directions to head to their separate classes. Math, Dream thought in agony. His least favorite subject. He didn't particularly mind math, he just wasn't very good at it. He trudged his way through the room to his seat in the back corner, sliding his backpack from his shoulder, dropping it to the ground with a thud. He plopped down into his seat and put his head down on the desk, face hidden in his arms. He laid there in silence until the bell rang and class began.
Dream was taking notes, slightly confused, when he walked in. His manner was confident and carefree, skateboard rested in his arm, as he handed the teacher a note, muttering something about a schedule change. His hair was dark, and fairly well kept. The dark blue of his sweatshirt complimented his fair skin wonderfully. He stood there, in all his beauty, as the teacher looked over the piece of paper. After a moment, she nodded and placed it on her desk, pointing to the desk directly in front of Dream. Dream internally cheered a bit as the dark haired boy walked in his direction, sliding into the chair and carefully resting his board against the desk.
Dream stared for a little while, wanting to absorb every detail of his face. It didn't fall unnoticed, though, as the boy made eye contact and raised his brows at him with a smirk. The boy turned to face the board behind him, and Dream couldn't help but release a small chuckle. He followed his gaze to the front of the room and somewhat attentively listened to the teacher's remaining instruction. It takes everything in him to not glance at the head of oh so soft looking hair in front of him as the teacher passes out the homework. She takes a seat at her desk in the front of the room, trusting everyone to get to work. Dream reads over the first few questions, looking up when the beautiful boy speaks.
"Like what you see?" Oh god, he's British. He's sat there, chin rested in his hand, fingers tapping his cheeks, with a sly grin on his face.
A little too quickly, Dream answers, "Very much so." Before he can finish the three words, his hand is over his eyes, his elbow on the table supporting the weight of his head. His messy, still slightly damp hair tickling his fingers. "Oh- my god."
Dream's brain malfunctions when he laughs in response. It sounded like music to his ears, Dream decides he's found his favorite song.
"You're not so bad yourself, hot stuff," He extends the hand that was holding his chin, "George."
Dream releases his face to hesitantly accept the hand, giving it a small shake. He didn't fail to notice the scar that ran down the back of it. "Dream."
Both of their hands retreat back to the desk, "Such a pretty name for such a pretty boy, how fitting. Nice to meet you, Dream."
"The pleasure's all mine, Georgie." He thought the nickname may have been too much, but the small blush spreading across George's cheeks proved otherwise.
The rest of the period ran quiet. Other than asking a few questions about the homework, the only shared thing between the two were small glances.
~
After one more dreadful period, Dream sat in the driver's seat of his car, staring across the parking lot. From where he was parked, he could see George and a few other boys, some he vaguely recognized, skating in a more empty area of the lot. His eyes were locked on the brunette, watching how effortlessly he rolled around, performing a trick every once in a while. His trance isn't broken when Karl opens a door to the back, tossing his backpack onto the seats, then closing it and climbing into the passenger seat.
"Where we eating today-" His cheery tone filling the car. Dream rests his head on the steering wheel, "Woah, dude. You good?"
He shakes his head against the leather, "I'm down so bad dude." Dream lifts his head, placing his chin on his hands tightly gripping the wheel, eyes still locked on George.
Karl followed his stare, "George?"
Dreams head snapped up, "You know him?!"
Karl giggled joyously, "Yeah, he's Sapnap's best friend." Sapnap. Dream vaguely remembers Karl bringing up that name a few times, never able to put a face to the name. "See? He's the one with the bandanna." Karl points across the lot to a boy with black hair, and sure enough, a white bandanna firmly tied around his head. He had an arm placed around George, skateboard in his other hand. George was looking at his phone as the other boy chatted with the other skaters.
"Best friend, huh?" Dream's vision became slightly green with envy. Karl knew his friend well, knew he'd be jealous. "Don't worry, Sapnap's just a very touchy person."
"And how would you know that?" Dream raises a brow at him.
Red crawls up Karl's neck, "Next question."
Dream lets out one of his tea kettle like wheezes, slapping his arm a few times.
"Shut up" He mumbled, but Dream continued. "Fine, you wanna play that way?"
Karl pulled out his phone, Dream looked at him in confusion as he tapped away on the screen. After a moment, the phone was raised to his ear.
"Hey, Sap! Yeah, I was just wondering what you were doing for lunch." There was a faint sound of talking coming from the other side of the phone. Dream looked up at the group again, Sapnap held the phone out, presumably on speaker. "Yeah, me and Dream were gonna go out, and we figured it'd be fun to invite you." Dream perked at the way the boys looked at each other at the mention of his name, Sapnap talked once more. "Of course George can come!" Dream saw them celebrate slightly, and his heart rate quickened as he described where they were parked. "Ok, see you guys in a sec." Karl hung up and got out of the car, moving his backpack to the trunk. He waited outside the car as the boys approached. Once they were close enough, he looked down at his phone to hide the fact he'd been staring. He peeked in the rear view mirror as their backpacks and boards were also placed in the trunk. The car shook when Karl slammed the trunk closed, and the three shuffled into the car, Sapnap behind him and George behind Karl in the passenger.
"So you must be Sapnap" He looked at him in the mirror, "Karl's told me a lot about you." He hadn't, but he liked to embarrass his best friend. Karl punched him in the arm and Sapnap chuckled, "Is that so?" Karl turned around and shot him a glare.
"Hey Georgie," Dream looked at him over his shoulder. Karl quickly turned back to him, and he could feel Sapnap's stare on the back of his head.
"Hey Dream boat." George shot back playfully, and the boys reacted once again, this time looking at each other.
"Ok boys, where we headed?" He asked, checking the placement of his mirrors.
"McDonald's." All three said in unison, the car breaking out in laughter.
"McDonald's it is, then." Dream chuckled, shifting gears. He placed his hand on the back of Karl's head rest and turned to see out the rear window. He began to back out, taking advantage of the the pause as a car passed, throwing a quick wink and a smirk to George, and looking back at the window just as quickly. He pretended not to notice Sapnap looking at the slightly blushing boy and continued to back out. His chest filled with a sense of pride and confidence as he drove out of the parking lot.
~
Quick lil pov change: gog
~
George pushed down the flush in his cheeks while Karl took aux. A few rap songs he didn't recognize played, but Dream clearly did, as he was absentmindedly mouthing the fast paced words as he drove, the lyrics committed to memory. Damn, that's hot. Dream's driving itself was hot, he drove confidently with one hand on the wheel, other elbow rested against the window. He knew he was good, and it showed in the way he maneuvered the car like he'd been doing it all his life. George wondered if he was that sure in himself in everything he did. His eyes settled on his hand on the wheel, they were bigger than George's, and were decorated with a few simple silver bands. Damn, that's hot (x2). His eyes followed the veins until his hand was reaching down to the gear shift, putting the car in park. Oh, they're here.
"Lets go, boys." Karl exclaimed, clapping his hands together and quickly getting out of the car.
~
back to dre
~
Dream got out of the car and stretched, releasing some of the left over tension in his muscles. He closed the door and locked the car, following the group inside. They stood in the lobby, which was fairly crowded, but not bad for a McDonald's during lunchtime. They got in line and discussed their orders. He noticed George patting his pockets and sighing in defeat.
"You good?"
"Yeah, I think I left my wallet at home. Shit."
"Don't worry about it, I can pay."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, it's no biggie." Dream reassured him.
George only responded with an appreciative smile.
Dream stepped closer, leaning over a bit, just above his shoulder. "So, whatchya gettin?" He inhaled slightly and a sweet smell invaded his nose. He deciphered the scent as George looked over the menu. He detected hints of lavender and strawberries, all tied together with undertones of warm vanilla. They blended together and clouded his senses, he gladly labeled the smell George.
George looked up at him and told him his order, repeating it a few times until Dream was sure he had it right. The two casually chatted while the line moved steadily forward. Eventually, they got to the front and Dream ordered and paid. They stepped aside to wait for their food and resumed their conversation. Soon, everyone had their food and they shuffled back into the car. They decided to eat in the school parking lot, as Dream wanted a closer spot. The boys sat in the car, parked right outside the doors. They ate and joked, it all felt so natural. Their fun was cut short by the bell, they discarded their trash and pulled their things from the trunk. Everyone bid their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
Dream sat in his last period, Chemistry, but instead of chemical formulas and elements, his mind was filled with skateboards and strawberries.