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When George had dropped everything to move to Florida for his job as a software designer, he'd expected to hate the inferno-hot weather, probably the threat of alligators in his backyard as he'd seen in all those viral videos, maybe even the annoying rednecks with American flag-themed houses. He hadn't expected his most hated aspect of his experience to be his annoying next-door neighbor.
Dream was his name—a stupid one that was. He'd shown up during George's move-in day with plastic tupperware and a dumb smirk. As the sunlight peaked over his ceiling, the blonde’s eyes sparkled a pretty golden hue. It gave his stomach a funny feeling. George hated it from the first second he saw him.
"Hey, you must be the new neighbor. Just came over to introduce my—" he said as he took a step forward. Unfortunately for the both of them, he missed a step and came sprawling onto the floor, sending his tupperware flying and the chocolate cake inside to splatter on onto George’s socks and new indoor doormat.
“What the fuck,” George exclaimed as he stepped away, further staining his floor with the brown frosting.
“Oh, shit, uh, sorry, I—” Dream struggled to his feet, watching him with a guilty expression and scratching the back of his head. “It was supposed to be a welcome to the neighborhood gift.”
“What a brilliant gift that was,” George muttered sarcastically as he took off his socks to not dirty the floor any more than he already had. He looked up and realized his neighbor was still standing there staring at him like an absolute idiot. “Well? What do you want?”
“I— um, I’ll just go, I guess,” he replied as he started backing away. He knocked into the empty flower pot beside his steps as he did and bent over to put it back in its place, glancing up and giving him a sheepish smile. George stared at him blankly.
“Sorry about that,” he chuckled. “I’m, um, Dream, by the way.” He pointed a thumb at the house to the left of his. “I live right there, in case you, uh, wanted to know, I guess.”
Dream cleared his throat and waited for George to say anything. But George refused to do anything besides cross his arms. “I’ll go then. Bye, um,” he scratched his ear and raised an eyebrow. “Can I get your name, at least?”
George sighed and muttered, “George,” before closing the door on him and walking away to find something to clean up the mess Dream had made.
Dream was annoying, to say the least. Annoying in the way that he would shout at the top of his lungs sometimes to whom George suspected were his gaming buddies. Annoying in the way that he blasted his music at twelve in the morning and sung at the top of his lungs like he was barely getting started with his day. Annoying in the way that he knocked on his door and George pretended he wasn’t home only to open his door an hour later and find a plastic container with a meal or a dessert with a sticky note that read,
had sum xtra, hope u like it :)
Dream was annoying in the way that almost made it endearing, and it vexed George to no end—the fact that he’d get butterflies in his stomach sometimes when he’d glimpse through his open curtains in his upstairs bedroom and notice Dream pacing around in his own room with freshly showered hair talking on the phone with a big smile. Sometimes he even caught Dream’s gaze who’d only smile harder and send him a wink. George would close the blinds after that and distract himself with some coding project for the rest of the day. Mostly because he was trying not to think of a certain annoying blonde neighbor.
What George hated the most, however, was when Dream purposefully did things because he knew they bothered George.
The most blatant example happened on a hot day when George was hanging out in his backyard reading a book in his hammock. Dream had seemingly decided it was a good day to take a swim, and George had watched as he walked out of his house wearing swimming trunks and only his towel hung over his shoulder.
George instantly felt the heat rise to his cheeks and despite how hard he tried to keep his eyes on the passage of his book, his gaze kept wandering over to Dream as he climbed out of the pool and shook his head like a dog, his wet hair messily flying all over the place and then sticking to his forehead. He was leaner than George had predicted, and he had a nice shape, not muscular, but certainly attractive, especially with his pretty facial features.
Then, the absolutely worse thing that could’ve happened did. Dream caught him staring. George turned back to his book in an instant, but the damage was done. He could see Dream staring from the corner of his eye, smiling like an idiot. Then, he walked closer and watched him through the gaps, clearing his throat loud enough that George couldn’t ignore him anymore.
Closing his book and frowning, George met his eyes. Dream was smirking, his eyebrows were sightly raised. “Haven’t seen you in a while. What’s up?”
George’s jaw tense as he nibbled on the inside of his cheek. He got out of his hammock and started walking toward the house. “Busy.”
“Hey, George,” Dream called out, and George paused. “You left your water. It’s only going to get hotter. Wouldn’t want you to burn your pretty little fingers off.”
Clenching his brow, George walked back and picked up his glass of water then headed back to the house, not directing him another word.
Dream laughed and shook his head then exclaimed, “See ya around,” with a wave. George slammed the door shut behind him.
After that, Dream would ‘coincidentally’ go for a swim every time George was even near his backyard. He’d also make it obvious that he was aware of George’s presence every time he tried to initiate a conversation or stared at him through the fence like an annoying puppy trying to gain his attention. George always shut him down.
He decided he was done with Dream one evening as he was checking his mailbox. A pretty girl from a few houses down approached him and greeted him with a shiny smile.
“Hey, you moved in recently, didn’t you?” she asked as she reached the front of his mailbox.
“Oh, yeah, a few weeks ago, actually,” he replied. “Why?”
She smiled wider and offered her hand which he shook. “I’m Ada.”
“George.”
Ada tilted her head curiously. “You’re from England?”
“Yeah, I moved over here for my job.”
“Oh, well, that’s awesome. What do you work in?”
“Software engineering.”
Ada’s eyebrows rose high. “Oh wow, you must be really smart, huh?” She took a few steps closer, crossing her arms and very obviously checking him out.
George chuckled nervously and shrugged his shoulders as he did.
“So, George, I was going to—” Before she could finish her sentence, the sprinklers a few feet nearby went off at full force and they both shrieked as they were soaked in water, jerking away from the wet cloud of droplets as fast as they could. Unfortunately, they were already drenched from head to toe when they finally did get away, and George took notice of Dream leaning on the railing of his porch watching them like he was trying not to smile.
“What the fuck!?” George exclaimed.
“Sorry, I didn’t see you there.” Dream shrugged innocently and turned off the sprinklers. His eyes traced over to Ada.
“Dream,” she greeted dryly, crossing her arms and glaring. George looked in between them and realized they were basically giving each other the death stare.
“Ada,” he replied. He looked down at her outfit and laughed. “You should probably go change. Your shirt looks like it’s bleeding through…”
“You’re a fucking jerk, you know that Dream?” she exclaimed before stomping away.
George watched her retreat and then turned back to Dream, visibly confused. “What was that?”
Dream rolled his eyes. “I don’t suggest you take any of her advances.”
“Why’s that?” George crossed his arms.
“She’s… not exactly the loyal type.”
“Oh, yeah? And how do you know?”
Dream stared at him with a blank expression and stated, “She’s my ex.”
George nearly choked on his own spit. “Oh. I had no idea.”
Dream shrugged and stepped down from his porch to approach him, slipping his hands in his pockets and smiling. “No way you could’ve known.”
George suddenly felt the need to run inside. He pursed his lips and stared up at Dream when he stopped in front of him. Only then did he realize the difference in their heights. He swallowed nervously as he noticed the twinkling gaze of mischief that Dream was giving him.
Unsure of what else to say, he muttered, “You did that on purpose.”
“Who says I did?” Dream continued to play dumb, and George frowned.
“You made it pretty obvious.”
“Maybe I just didn’t see you?” His grin was getting progressively bigger while George’s was getting more annoyed by the second.
“You’re so stupid,” George muttered, looking away because his gaze was too intense. When he became hyper-aware of his shirt sticking to his skin, he cleared his throat and backed away. “I need to go change.”
“Go ahead. I’m not doing anything to stop you,” Dream joked.
George rolled his eyes and retreated to his house, feeling Dream’s gaze fixated to the back of his neck.
The next time he talked to Dream was a very hot summer day when he once again headed outside to retrieve his mail. His eyes were so focused on looking through the envelopes as he walked back that he didn’t notice Dream until the latter was whistling and calling out his name. He turned left and glimpsed upwards only to see him excitedly waving his arms back and forth as he stood on his roof shirtless.
And then, like the fucking idiot he was, Dream somehow lost his footing and George watched in horror as he fell off the first story of his house and landed with a groan on his back. He dropped the envelopes in his hands in an instant and hurried over to check on him.
“Holy shit, are you okay!?” he exclaimed as he fell to his knees beside Dream.
He was lying on the floor, his eyebrows creased with pain, groaning and twisting. George kept his hands hovering over him unsure of whether he should help him up, call an ambulance or leave him lying down. He tried not to stare at his bare chest seeing as it wasn’t the appropriate time to be checking out his neighbor after he’d just fallen off the fucking roof.
“What hurts?”
Dream squeezed his eyes open like he was straining his vision to see George. “Are you— ow—”
“What should I do?”
“Am I in heaven?”
George frowned in confusion. “What?”
“Because you must be an angel.”
When he realized it was just a stupid pick-up line, heat rose to George’s cheeks from both the anger and embarrassment. “You’re so fucking stupid. You just fell off the fucking roof and you’re flirting with me!?”
Dream grinned and sat up, his face straining as he did, but it didn’t stop him from replying, “What better time than the present?”
“Oh my god.” George stood up and ran his fingers through his hair, unsure of what he was going to do with the fool in front of him.
Dream laughed and groaned as he tried to get on his feet. George took him by the waist on instinct to help him up seeing as he looked to be limping. Dream wrapping his arm around his shoulder to steady himself didn’t help the hotness in his face, but George forced himself to ignore it as he walked him to his porch.
“I think I sprained my ankle.”
“No shit. You fell off the roof!”
“Aw.” Dream’s grin widened as George set him down on his steps. His eyes twinkled with that annoying spark of mischief that made George’s blood hot and his stomach twirl. “Is Georgie worried about me?”
“My neighbor just fell off the fucking roof! How wouldn’t I be worried!?”
“Mhm.” Dream kept his smile. “You know, maybe a kiss would make it all better.”
George groaned and leaped onto his feet. He crossed his arms and glared at Dream in disbelief of his blatant forwardness. “I’m leaving.”
“No, no hold— Fucking hell—” Dream shouted as he tried to stand up and his knees buckled down from the pain.
George turned and watched him, somewhat amused.
Dream looked up at him with a pleading gaze and his bottom lip drawn. It annoyed George that he still somehow found the expression endearing. “Please, can you, like, just help me get inside, at least?”
He rolled his eyes and approached, helping Dream to his feet and supporting his weight. He was heavy, that much was obvious. Carefully, he lead him inside the house, trying not to focus too much on the warmth of his bare chest and torso.
“Sorry about the mess,” Dream told him sheepishly as they passed by a clutter of items on the floor. The living room looked no different, items splayed all over the place, cushions on the floor, and blankets around. “I didn’t think I’d have any guests today.”
“No kidding.” George set him on the couch and stepped back. “What were you even doing up there?”
“Flexing, obviously.”
George crossed his arms and sent him an unimpressed gaze.
The corners of his mouth turned up and his eyes crinkled as he burst into wheezes. George kept his stare on him, though he couldn’t help the small smile that rose on his face which he immediately got rid of when Dream looked up again.
“I was fixing my antenna.” He turned toward the TV and George realized that it was playing the news channel. “Oh look, it worked, at least.”
“You’re so stupid.”
“You really love calling me that, huh?”
George shrugged. “I’m not lying, am I?”
Dream shook his head and chuckled. “Probably not. I do get clumsy around you.”
The crimson color returned to George’s face and he avoided his playful gaze when he said, “Stop doing that.”
“You look cute when you’re blushing.”
They stared at each other for a moment. George wasn’t even sure how to reply, though he found he didn’t have to as he suddenly felt something small and fluffy rub between his legs. When he lowered his gaze, he spotted the brown and white cat curling up beside him, mewling and staring up with its big yellow eyes that reminded him of its owner.
“You have a cat?” George asked, more softly this time. He kneeled down and extended his hand, letting it sniff it before it rubbed its head against George’s skin and wandered closer to curl up by his feet. He smiled wide and pet the cat’s head. It reminded him of his own cat back in his parent’s home.
“Yeah. Her name’s Patches,” Dream replied. George glanced up to see the bright look in his eyes. “She’s normally not this friendly so fast. She must really like you. I totally get why.”
George rolled his eyes and stood up again, choosing to ignore the flirty comment and ask, “Are you planning to go to the doctor or…”
Dream dismissed him with a wave of his hand. “Nah. I’ll be all good and new by tomorrow. Don’t worry your pretty little face.”
George huffed. “Alright, well, I’ll leave you to it, then,” he said as he backed away toward the entrance.
“Thanks for the help. Also, feel free to drop by anytime you’d like.” George raised an eyebrow. A fading pink dusted over Dream’s cheeks. “To hang out with Patches obviously.”
“Just Patches?” George found himself smirking a little as he sent him a doubtful gaze.
“And maybe me too,” Dream muttered, his tone suddenly losing its previous confidence. George found it cute, and he almost slapped himself at the thought.
“I’ll keep it in mind,” was the last thing he said before walking out the house. He halted momentarily, breathing in and realizing that his heart was beating a little too fast. George realized then that his neighbor’s stupid charm was working, and he didn’t like it one bit. He shuffled back to his house and picked up his mail from the ground on the way. For the rest of the day, he tried not to think of his cute dimples, the delightful flecks in his eyes, or the endearing freckles sprinkled over his cheeks.
It was during a thunderstorm when George found himself in Dream’s house again. The water was pouring and the trees were thrashing violently with the wind. George had never been through a tropical storm, but he found it was a bit of a scary experience. Although it rained a lot in London, it was never nearly as fierce—almost like Zeus himself was cursing the heavens and raining hell upon them.
On a particular loud thunder, the lights flickered for a second and George cursed to himself when the darkness fell upon him. He slammed his book shut and got up to go retrieve some candles from his drawer.
As if it couldn’t get any worse, he heard the loudest crash upstairs, so loud he almost swore the house shook and it sounded like a bullet going off near his ears. Horrified, George dashed upstairs and opened his bedroom door only to realize the tree in his backyard had collapsed halfway and there was a huge tree branch stabbing through his window. The rain was pouring through as well and the wind was dispersing the glass all across the floor.
“Fuck,” George exclaimed as he tried to walk in but realized it probably wasn’t the safest choice, not to mention he was also barefoot. He remained frozen for a few seconds while his brain tried to process the situation.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard slamming at the front door. Groaning, he dashed down the stairs. When he opened the door, he saw Dream standing on the other side. His arms were crossed and he was drenched and shivering as he was wearing only a thin sweatshirt and sweatpants that were sticking to his skin like a second skin. Dream’s eyes were wide with concern as he stared at George up and down like he was making sure he was still in one piece.
“Are you okay!?” he exclaimed as he let himself in and George closed the door behind him.
George ran a frustrated hand through his locks and he shrugged. “I mean, I’m fine, but the house isn’t.”
“Who cares about the house!?”
“I do! I’m literally renting it, the owner’s going to kill me!”
Dream chuckled humourlessly. “It wasn’t even your fault. They’ll understand. Right now, we have to make sure you’re okay though.”
“I mean, I’m fine, like I said.”
Dream examined him momentarily before he stepped forward and said, “Come to my house. You’ll be safer there.”
“I’m fine?”
“Where are you supposed to sleep?”
“I mean, I have a couch and—”
“Just stop being a stubborn ass and come over.” Dream walked to his coat rack and took George’s rain jacket, handing it over to him.
Sighing, George took the jacket and put it on, slipping on his shoes while he was at it, too. “Fine. Whatever.”
Dream smiled in victory and opened the door so he could lead him back to his house. There was no electricity at his house either, but Dream had already turned on a few candles to light up the place. Patches was nuzzled against the cushions in his sofa beside a blanket as if he’d just been sitting there with her.
“Cozy,” George muttered. He stood in the middle of the living room awkwardly on the heels of his feet as Dream shuffled around him to scavenge for something inside the closet.
“Thanks.”
“What are you looking for?”
“This,” Dream replied as he pulled out another blanket.
“I’m not cold.”
“Suit yourself, then.” Dream placed the blanket on the end of the couch and then said, “I’m going to go change. Feel free to make yourself at home.”
George removed his jacket and placed it on the hanger near the entrance. Then, hesitantly, he took a seat on the couch beside Patches who instantly cuddled beside him. She curled her tail around herself and let out a couple of mews while George began to caress her back.
“Comfortable?”
George looked up to see Dream heading toward him while lowering his shirt like he’d put it on on the way down. He was lucky the room was still mostly shrouded in darkness so Dream could hardly see the pink tint to his cheeks.
“I guess.”
Dream slumped down on the same sofa but with enough distance between them, pulling the blanket over his knees and smiling at him.
It only embarrassed George further. “What?”
“Nothing. Just, it really takes a tropical storm and a tree through your window for you to stop by, huh?” His smile widened.
George scoffed. “I’ve been busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Working, obviously,” George rolled his eyes. “What, don’t you?”
Dream shrugged. “Self-employed.”
George sent him a skeptical glance.“What do you do?”
“Lots of stuff, really. I’m a freelancer. Anything you need, I can probably take care of. I’m also a content creator.”
George raised an eyebrow at that. “What kind of content creation?”
Wheezing, Dream shook his head and rolled his eyes. “The Youtube video kind. What? Were you hoping for something different, Georgie?”
“Yeah, right. As if.”
“Oh come on. You have to admit you find me attractive.”
George took his eyes off of him and swallowed. “Whoever said that?”
Thunder rumbled outside. It sounded like little pebbles were hitting the windows from how hard it was raining. George could see the way the wind rustled the branches through the window at the front. Beside him, he felt Dream shift closer. “You don’t have to say it for me to notice.”
George pursed his lips. “I don’t even like you.”
“And why’s that?” He could hear the grin behind his words, but he refused to turn in fear of what he’d find himself doing.
“You’re annoying.”
“Hm, really just sounds like you’re lying to yourself.”
“Am I?” George snorted. “Or are you?”
“Lying to myself about liking you?”
George shrugged and looked down at his lap where Patches had curled up. His fingers ran through her soft fur. “You’re just the neighborhood flirt.”
“Who says I flirt with other people?”
“You dated Ada.”
“Yeah because she came onto me, not the other way around.” Dream laughed. “Besides, that’s in the past.”
George slowly met his gaze, a brow raised and an inquisitive expression. “So you don’t flirt with other people?”
He burst into laughter like it was the most obvious thing in the world. George hated that he loved hearing it. “Of course not, you idiot. I’ve literally been trying to get you to notice me since you moved in.”
Frowning, George tilted his head. “I don’t know if I believe you.”
“Would you believe me if I said I talk to my friend so much about you that he barely answers my calls anymore?”
George chuckled. “Seriously?”
“Come on, Georgie. You’re killing me here. Just give me a chance.” Dream stared at him with that bright smile and pleading gaze that made his body buzz with pleasant chills. “Tell me if you don’t like me, and I’ll stop bothering you.”
He remained quiet, considering his words carefully. George wasn’t quite sure why he’d decided he hated Dream the moment he saw him. Maybe it was because he looked like the typical straight hot guy who dated every girl in the block. Maybe it was because he laughed like a tea kettle and it was always an internal battle for George to keep himself from smiling when he heard it. Maybe it was because he hadn’t given up on constantly annoying George with his dumb flirting and playful quips that lived rent-free in his head. Maybe it was because he thought Dream would never take interest in George that way—sure, the guy was an expert flirt, but George had always thought it was mere teasing.
He’d never consider the possibility that Dream was actually interested—for real.
“So?”
George found himself containing a smile as he watched Dream who’d seemingly lost his confident demeanor and now looked more nervous than ever.
“If you promise you won’t fall off the roof again and give me another heart attack, I’ll go on a date with you.”
Dream raised both eyebrows, his grin growing impossibly wide and his cheeks drowning in heat. “I don’t know if I can promise that.”
“Well then.” George shrugged and crossed his arms. “I guess I won’t—”
“No, wait, yeah, I won’t get on the roof anymore!” Dream instantly replied.
George giggled and shifted closer, leaning his head closer and staring up at him with playfulness. “Alright. Then I guess it’s a date.”