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Peachy shades of pink and orange cast a soft glow across the water. The sand was a coral color, complimenting the aqua blue quilt the boys were splayed out on. Dream was laying on his back staring at the array of clouds above them. He looked over at George, who was propped up on elbows, hair blowing gently with the slight breeze.
Dream loved the beach. George loved picnics. It was perfect, combining the two. Dream knew of a secluded beach, where he was sure no one would be at, and they would have the sunset to themsleves.
George sighed and dipped his hand into the bowl of fruit, plucking a large green grape off the stem. He held it up and rolled it between his fingers as he examined it.
“You gonna eat that?”
Dream was looking at him now, watching him toy with the grape.
George huffed, “Yeah. I was just thinking about how it sucks to be colorblind. Can’t exactly see the sunset, y’know?” He popped the grape in his mouth, finally biting down with a satisfying crunch.
“Psh,” Dream wheezed lightly, “Imagine.” He looked back out at the waves. It was calming; the tranquil winds, with salty scents of the ocean. The ocean matched the quilt, a deep shade of turquoise with swirls of white foam and the reflection of the setting sky. Tufts of long strands of grass poked out between rocks in the sands, and tangles of seaweed were washed along the rocky shore. Their quilt setup was just above a small slope leading down to the edge of the ocean. They had brought a numerous amount of food; simple sandwiches, fruit, and some sweet candies from the corner store.
The array of candy sat at the bottom of the blanket, towards their feet. The fruit was already half devoured by George, who discovered the delicious sensation of grapes. Dream scrunched up his nose as he watched his brown haired friend enjoy the snacks and he heaved himself up to sit with his legs crossed.
If he was being honest, this lighting made George look pretty, something straight out of a pinterest picture. The sherbert colored sky complimented him perfectly. And it did not make Dream’s little crush on George any less than.
It was merely a joke; light flirting on streams, off streams...alone on calls together. It became nonstop, but it was making them both hysterical, so why stop? He guessed it didn’t become much of a joke later on when he found himself fantasizing over George.
George had arrived in Florida only a week ago and he fit in perfectly.
They had done all they could in Florida. They’d been to Disney at least 2 days, back and forth between the nearby piers, and to numerous arcades. George had tried all the horrendous American foods and had done his fair share of complaining about the heat and odd citizens.
They’re little picnic date was George’s idea. They’d go down to the spot Dream described and they would enjoy the view and share some snacks. Nothing too special.
Dream had a way to make it special. To make it interesting.
He smirked as the idea flashed through his mind and wove a hand through his curls once before leaning over and pulling out a silvery package.
“Do you like these?” He threw one at George’s chest, him picking it up and studying the label.
“Fruit...Rollups? I haven’t had one of these in years!” He snorted and used his thumbs and index fingers to tear into the small pouch.
“Yeah. They’re decent. I used to get sick off of them as a kid, but I thought I would try them again.”
Dream rolled out the red gummy and peeled away the parchment paper. He lifted it to his mouth and slowly bit into the rope. It was alright, but he was hit with a slap of nostalgia and slight flashbacks to the night by the toilet, the treat revisiting from when he had first tried it.
He watched his friend as he hesitantly bit into the red rope and watched as he chewed. The way his jaw moved, the sharp line moving up and down so slowly, so gently. He blinked and cleared his throat, focusing back on his own snack.
An idea sidled into his head and he couldn’t help a playful smirk.
“George,” he huffed as he moved himself to sit in front of the smaller boy, “Ever played chicken?”
George stopped mid-chew on his rope and cocked an eyebrow. “Like- the dare game? That primary school kids play?” He chuckled nervously.
Dream’s eyebrows raised in amusement and nodded. He was eager now.
“Dream. Are you serious? You sure?” George finished his rollup and sat up straight, knees brushing against Dream’s.
“Yeah. It’ll be fun. Friends do this all the time.” He knew this was a lie; no ‘normal’ friendship just kissed each other out of nowhere. At least none that he had been in.
Dream was grinning like a happy toddler on Christmas now, twisting and reaching behind him for another silver package of the red rope. He shook the pack in front of George’s face, the boy’s nose wrinkling but he was still smiling.
“Ok...so I’ll take one end, and you the other.” Dream extended the rope and handed the opposite side to George.
George looked a little pale, but maybe it was the lighting. “If at any point it gets too weird, let me know. Otherwise…” Dream smirked and took his side of the rope between his teeth and flashed a cocky smile.
Dream always tried to put on a confident front. Maybe sometimes it came off as cocky. Most times however, he was scared and nervous. Wanting to run away and curl up, and quit all together. This was one of those moments.
“Got it.” George nodded curtly and unwrapped his side, placing it gently in his mouth.
He scooted closer until he was about a foot and a half away from Dream’s nose. He was breathing short breaths, a sweet scent that Dream could smell. He needed him closer.
Dream began by tugging about an inch up onto his rope, folding the bit into the side of his mouth as he went. He had no plan of stopping, and he hoped George would do the same. He prayed.
George copied him, moving his way up the rope, a soft tongue poking out occasionally to gather the treat into his mouth. They were close enough now to where they were giggling, their breaths mingling.
Dream paused and pondered for a moment. Could he close in? Would George pull back? What would happen then? He would surely fly back to London that night if he didn’t reciprocate the feelings.
He didn’t even think about it. By the time they were 2 inches away, eyelashes fluttering, Dream closed the gap between them and pressed a sweet kiss to George’s lips. He was met with a similar sugared taste. He could almost feel George’s pulse in his mouth and grabbed the underside of his jaw gently to deepen the kiss.
Suddenly, George was pulling back, saliva stringing from where they had met.
“Dream…”
Dream stared at him and felt his body heat up. “I-I’m sorry, George. I know I went too far. Im sorry-”
George shook his head and waved his hands frantically, “No, no, I… I just need a minute to process,” he slowed and looked down at where their hands were now touching.
The brown haired boy’s hand slid under Dream’s and he wrapped his pinky around his. It was soft and smooth, complimentary to Dream’s calloused fingertips. Dream shifted and clasped his entire hand around George’s, caging it. It was a gentle image, not caged like a trapped animal, more like being embraced. Both warm, both filled with tenderness.
George perked up again and met his eyes with Dream’s. He breathed in sync with him, but his heart fluttered with each breath.
George was quick to lean forward now, catching him off guard in a passionate kiss. Dream could feel the air from his closing eyelashes and his freckled nose bump against his cheek.
Dream moved his hand to George’s waist and pulled him closer. George’s hand snaked behind his neck and he grasped the soft curls at the back of his nape. Their breathing was heavier now and he couldn’t help but grin, bubbling with utter joy.
George was first to break away, his breath fast. His pupils were dilated and a slight blush had spread along his face, matching the tones in the sky. Dream traced a finger along his jaw up to his ear, and then down to his lips. They were rough, marked with redness from where George had been biting earlier, but still all the more perfect. Dream needed more.
George reached out and grabbed Dream's thigh, just above his knee. He felt his heart leap from where it seemed to already sit high in his chest. His insides felt like they were bouncing, unable to contain themselves, like his mind.
“I want to try something. I saw it on Tik Tok-,” he giggled and looked away, embarrassed.
George made a face, squinting his eyes and smiling, “What?”
“I know it sounds weird, but,” he paused, reached behind him and pulled out another colorful package , “It’s supposed to taste good.”
They were both laughing now, and Dream lowered his head in embarrassment onto George's lap as he handed over the bag.
Starbursts. Of course.
His fyp on Tik Tok had been filled with couples raving about the flavor of starburst while kissing a partner. With how the fruit rollup had just tasted, he couldn’t wait.
He had bought the candies knowing George enjoyed them. It was only a coincidence this was happening...
“You can probably see what I'm getting at, right?” He looked up and he could feel the heat in his face lingering on his ears. George smiled down at him and brushed his hair out of his face affectionately.
“ Oh my god. Ok. Fine.”
Dream shot up and peeled open the boxed package. He plucked the first two flavors, pink and yellow, from the top. George took pink, he took yellow.
They both unwrapped their respective candies and gave each other a look.
The candy hit his tongue with a rush of expected sweetness.He loved the tang of Starbursts, and they always earned their name in his eyes. The lemon citrus rolled through his mouth and he took it all in. George seemed to be enjoying himself as well, rolling the candy in his mouth making himself almost drool. Dream chuckled.
Without hesitation, he took George's jaw in his hand roughly and yanked him forward to meet him. It was an urgent kiss and as soon as George could meet him, he melted. Soft like jelly. He was his, under the evening sun.
George was climbing into Dreams lap now, finding a way to get on top of him without ruining the moment. Dream lowered his hands from George's shoulders and down to his waist and gave a small squeeze. He could feel him grinning against his mouth.
It tasted just like he thought. A summer afternoon, pink lemonade at a friend's house, and pure joy and adrenaline.
Dream was getting breathless now and was taking the little gaps in between kisses to breathe, but George fought him, now placing his hand on Dream's chest and pushing him down.
George let out a moan unlike anything Dream heard before. Their mouths fit together perfectly, better than any jigsaw puzzle completed back when he was a child. George was his missing piece.
“What a great idea. Tastes just like I had hoped you would.” he whispered hurriedly.
Dream nodded and used his teeth to initiate a bite along George's lip. George pulled back and smirked down at Dream, who was now on his back in the sand with George straddled on top of him.
“Oh yeah? I think you should show me how good it tastes, baby.”
George bowed down and began kissing a trail up from his collarbone to his earlobe. He placed sweetened kisses along the side of neck and used his other hand to tug at the hair on the back of his neck. Dreams mouth was open, pleasure rippling through him.
He could feel more emerging from beneath his skin at the pit of his stomach and he couldn’t take it any longer.
“George,” he groaned and moved his hands up to George's back, brushing just under his shirt, “ Let’s take this back home, yeah? You’re forgetting we’re in public.”
George giggled. “Don’t wanna.” He sat up slowly and looked down at the light pink marks forming on Dream’s throat.
George moved backwards so that Dream could have room to sit up. The taste in both of their mouths was like a delicacy, a flavor only meant for them.
Dream was sweating, the hot Florida heat making his hair stick to his neck and forehead.
“A little tired, Georgie?” He smirked and raised an eyebrow at the flushed boy.
George rolled his eyes and moved a hand through his hair. He looked over at the now set sun, the stars rolling in, barely visible through the clouds.
“We should pack up. We can-,” he paused and looked over at Dream shyly, “continue at home?”
Dream smiled, his eyes wrinkling in the corners.
“Of course.”
As they were packing up the car, Dream let his mind wander. Never would he think a moment like that would go between him and his best friend. His best friend. Would he even be considered that now, after all that? He hoped they were more. He never wanted to let that sweet taste go. He would let George devour him a million times to feel the way he did on the sand.
Dream moved a hand from the shift stick and entwined his fingers with George’s on his lap.
His sweetness would linger for a while longer.