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Life was easy and high school was an absolute breeze. Being the football captain, having good grades and enough free time to keep up a popular social life. Dream loved his life; high school was the best years of his life and after graduation he was determined to live life a life as fulfilling. Taking a year to enjoy himself before he goes to college, he continues his part-time job and pays digs to his parents to stay in his home. Playing football every Monday and Thursday night as per tradition with his friends.
He was enjoying life, once again it was easy and fun. Having the freedom to do whatever he wanted now with no restriction from school or being a child, there was so much more that he could do in the small town.
However, right now he was sitting at home on a Saturday night after his plans were cancelled last minute because a friend got in a fight with their girlfriend. It disappointed Dream feeling his stomach fall after reading the message. He was really looking forward to the trip to the cinema but he understood it was a tough thing to go through. He recently broke up with his girlfriend he’s had since he was 15. It had been a week since the fateful fight with his girlfriend and he was really looking for a distraction, so he was on a new mission to find a replacement for the cancelled plans.
Apparently the only decent sounding thing he could do right now was crash his family’s movie night that he originally said he can’t go to. They were watching some dumb teen high school drama/comedy that his sister had clearly chosen but he couldn’t complain cause technically he wasn’t meant to be there. He didn’t have his full attention on the film, more focused on petting the cat lying next to him. Zoning in and out of listening to the movie, his attention fully snaps to the TV as soon as he over hears a joke. The main characters were making jokes about the jocks staying in high school forever and never growing up. It was a dumb throw away joke that took up 5 seconds of the movie but for Dream it was like a bullet. Even though he was frozen still his thoughts were running wild.
He couldn’t stop thinking, that wasn’t him, right? It can’t be he’s grown out of high school, it’s been a while since he’s been near the building. It’s just a coincidence that the ‘jock’ character looks sort of like him. Or is it? When was the last time he done something by himself in another town?
Oh fuck.
It was him. He’s still in high school, he’s not grown up, he still acts like he’s 16 and life doesn’t matter.
He has to change this.
Step one: Get a job
The next day, he left his house late morning and started the walk to his work. He wasn’t scheduled to work today but it was the one day where his manager had the freest time to talk to him. He knew they were advertising for a full-time job and he wanted to see about changing his hours and possibly becoming full-time rather then part-time. He had high hopes, his boss seemed to like him and they were always complaining about needing more staff so he wasn’t worried about not getting it.
More hours would mean more work but in the end it’s more money. After checking his savings, he has enough money to get him a weekend trip to the city. He could afford travel and a semi-decent hotel room but if he wanted to eat out somewhere or go anywhere that costs, he would be screwed.
After this months pay check he should have enough but he knows the city is almost addictive. It’s not a been there, done that thing, it’s going to be somewhere he’ll want to go back to after coming home.
Step two: Stop acting like your 16
One escape from school he’s always had was Sapnap. Taking breaks from studying or training to play Minecraft with Sapnap was one of his favourite things. However, there was a couple of years between them so Sapnap was still in high school. Often during their calls they vent about all the issues of school, friends and family. He started to take mental notes of all the school-like things his friend would complain about and made the effort to stop himself whenever he found himself complaining about similar issues. He had to act more mature and not fall into the pit of petty teen drama.
Step three: Leave the town
Finally, the weekend where he can get away has come. Here he was sitting on the bus heart pounding louder than the music coming through his earphones. He has never felt this anxious before in his life, not even before a big game or an exam. He asked his friends to come along with him but they didn’t see the point in missing their football game. He was sad his friends weren’t there with him, he’d like them all to do this together maybe even get a flat or go to college together. Dream didn’t like confrontation and wanted to avoid any fights that might start if he tells them his realisation as it applies to all of them.
He spent the bus journey staring out the window trying to clear his head and get rid of any nerves before he gets off at the next stop and waits for another bus to get back home.
Arriving in the city was the first big step into the new life he was planning for himself. Following Google Maps he lugged his backpack down semi-busy streets in search for the hotel. Staring in awe at all the shops that lined the street and the upbeat atmosphere with background chatter mixed with the music from street buskers. It was the opposite of the dull streets in his town where you’re lucky to bump into anything worthwhile.
The hotel view was amazing. To anyone else the view is just a boring street that might be annoyingly loud at night with the road and drunk students. However, for Dream it was a wonder, all those people walking by are going different places, have come from different places and have their own unique stories. Being in the city was so freeing, walking by people he doesn’t recognise on streets he doesn’t know. No one knew him and he doesn’t know anyone either. Dream loved the idea of being that kind of unknown where there are no small town rumours and you can do something without someone you know seeing you.
He spent the rest of the day looking around the shops and buying a few pieces of tat to bring back for his family.
On the Sunday morning Dream decided to go on a walk to say goodbye to the city and stretch his legs before he’s stuck on the cramped bus again. Things went horribly wrong when his phone wasn’t getting service and he can’t remember if he’s supposed to take a left or right turn. So, he guessed and it ended up being the wrong guess. Looking around at all the unfamiliar buildings and roads he couldn’t figure out where he was or where to go. His phone still wasn’t getting any signal to load Google Maps and he wasn’t quite sure where he came from either. In a last ditch effort before he started crying, he decided to just keep walking until his phone gained service.
His effort was short lived as before he could walk much further, he bumped into another person. Slightly knocked back Dream nearly dropped his phone as he rushed out apologies to the man.
“You look at lost, guess you’re not from around here?” The man just laughed it off picking up Dream’s phone dusting it off before handing it back.
“Is it that obvious?” Taking his phone to quickly check to see if the fall magically gave him signal but to his disappointment it just cracked his screen. “Just got a bit confused on where to go and the map isn’t loading,” trying to cover the tremor in his voice with a laugh.
“Where are you going?”
Dream described the hotel and accepted the man’s offer to walk him back to the city centre so he can restart the journey taking the right directions this time. He learned the name of the man, Phil, and that he lives in an apartment a few minutes away from the centre. Dream talks about his wishes to move nearer the city and his attempts to grow up and out of his town. Apparently, Phil had a similar story to him and they spent the rest of the walk complaining about the hardships of living in a small town. It was refreshing to speak to someone who has escaped the toxic environment of small towns and was supportive of him leaving.
By the time they got to the street where they would part, Dream felt much more secure in his choice to leave and move out to the city. Phil gave him a number of a guy in his apartment who was looking for a flatmate. The guy had moved in semi-recently but the people he shared with dropped out of college and decided to move back home.
“Here take his number if you’re still interested in moving out text him and tell him you know me,” scribbling the number on the back of a receipt and handing it over. “If you do decide to move in don’t be afraid to ask for help, I know it’s a giant change and you won’t have to do it alone.” With one last pat on the back and reassuring smile Phil turned to leave.
“Thank you!” Dream called after him holding on the number receipt with an iron grip walking the correct way back to the hotel. Rapidly texting Sapnap to update him on his trip and his plans to move. For the first time it seemed like he really was on his way to move away from high school.
Getting on the bus he was more hopeful than sad about returning home. Already planning on asking his work for a transfer or preparing to apply for new jobs if that doesn’t work. Giddily texting Sapnap with ideas about the future.
Hello, is this George?
Phil said you were looking for people for a flat share and I was wondering if I could apply?