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retrouvailles

Summary:

“Why are we doing this?” Dream sighs, because there’s no way he can keep sitting here in the back of his old friend's car, acting as if everything’s okay. It’s awkward. Incredibly so.

Silence fills the whole car. He thought maybe nobody had heard him or maybe they did but they just didn’t want to answer. In all fairness, he can’t really blame them. He wouldn’t want to answer either.

“We have no reason not to.“ Karl offers, but Dream notices him cringe after he says it.

or; after years, karl, sapnap, quackity, dream and george reunite

Notes:

hi! i wrote this inspired from the book by Karen M McManus “You’ll be the Death of me” - it isn’t the same story but i just wanted to put that out there :)

i really hope you enjoy this <3 have a great day everyone! i’m so sorry if there’s mistakes, don’t hesitate to let me know

retrouvailles: french word that means to find each other again/the happiness of meeting again after a long time :)

ALSO i am not american so i have no idea if this is correct but i tried lol it was hard calling it a lake and not a river and stuff

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Dream hadn’t been having the best of days. To start with, his parents' work trip finished much sooner than expected, which meant they would be home early tomorrow morning. This was bad for a multitude of reasons. One being the fact that his sister had trashed the house due to a party and she hadn’t cleaned it, the other being that he hadn’t sat any of his finals. 

 

He had another final today which was why he was standing outside of the school, contemplating whether he should attend or not. His parents wouldn’t know, he had switched the school's number with a faux ages ago which meant all the messages went to someone else. 

 

Beside him, a familiar car pulls into the parking spot, parking neatly within the white lines. He checks if it’s who he thinks it is throughout the corner of his eye and looks away as soon as he confirms it. 

 

“Dream. Wow, hey. Are you going in?”

 

He mentally curses, throwing on a small smile and turning around to face Karl, “Hi, Karl. I’m trying to decide but probably not. Are you?”

 

Karl shakes his head, “Nope. I was going to but I have a presentation today that I was given two months to prepare for but didn’t. It’s my fault, really, but who cares?”

 

“That’s fair.” He nods, leaning against his car and watching as people head inside the building as the bell screams in their ears. 

 

In the distance, he spots Quackity smoking beside the building. He inhales a final time before chucking it to the ground and making a dash for his car before any teachers spotted him. Funnily enough, Quackity’s car was near theirs. Karl waves him over and Dream isn’t sure if he can take this because the next thing he knows, the other two will end up appearing. 

 

And they do.

 

Sapnaps heading up the stairs to the building but once he sees that the three of them have gathered into a small circle, he heads right back down them and approaches them. He looks slightly pale. 

 

“Quackity! And Sapnap!” Karl beams, welcoming them eagerly. 

 

Dream wishes the man wasn’t so kind sometimes. 

 

In a cautious manner, he looks around him. People are still going into the school even though it’s a good few minutes after the bell but he hasn’t seen George just yet. Internally, he prays he doesn’t show up.

 

“What are you guys doing?” Sapnap slowly asks.

 

“Skipping. You both wanna come with us?”

 

“Wait a second —“ Dream begins to interrupt because he was skipping, just not with Karl. 

 

Music booms into the air as a car pulls up right behind them, sliding into a nearby parking spot with ease. Of course it’s George who gets out, looking at the four of them as if they were aliens. He takes his sunglasses off despite the sun being right in his eyes and raises an eyebrow, “What is going on?”

 

Dream sighs and rubs his temples with one hand. He unlocks his car and has his hand on the door handle when Karl gently places his own hand on his shoulder. His eyes look almost pleading.

 

“Whatever we’re doing,” Karl says, “We need to decide quickly. Do we all want to skip? Or do some of us want to attend school?”

 

Everyone mumbles that they wouldn’t mind leaving but they all had their cars and there was no point in them all using separate ones. 

 

“This is so weird.” Quackity whispers under his breath.

 

Karl shrugs, “Let’s go, then. Not like we haven’t done it before. We can go into one car or split into two. What do you guys want to do?” 

 

Sapnap claims they can’t take his car and provides an excuse to prove his point. Both Dream and George aren’t rushing up to offer their cars and because Quackity can’t drive, they take Karl’s. 

 

Before Dream has the chance to process how odd everything is, he locks his car again and climbs into the backseat. George calls the passenger seat, leaving Quackity to squeeze into the middle seat right in between Sapnap and Dream. Space was incredibly confined in the back and it would’ve been better for Dream to be in the front. Still, he didn’t say anything. 

 

Karl drives them out of school grounds, rolling down two of the windows as George lights a cigarette. He offers it back to Sapnap who accepts gratefully, and then passes it to Quackity. Quackity gestures it at Dream who simply shakes his head. Even Karl has a puff, and Karl has never smoked a day in his life but he doesn’t even cough. 

 

“Where are we headed?” Sapnap quieres, shifting around in his seat to try and get a bit more comfortable than he previously was. 

 

“No idea. Anyone got anywhere we can go?” Karl asks. 

 

Dream knows exactly what he means. Despite his attempts at being subtle, it doesn’t take a genius to tell that he’s hinting at going to George’s summer cabin. It was a beautiful place, right on the lake and everything but it held a lot of old memories between the five. 

 

None of them had spoken to each other since three summers ago, when they were roughly fourteen. George’s parents would take them all up to the cabin where they would stay for three weeks before heading back home and continuing their summer there. They were close. All of them. They just ended up growing apart and there was a lot of distance between them meaning they didn’t bond or communicate anymore. 

 

“My cabin,” George sighs, flicking ash out of the window as he inhales the poisonous smoke, “I know you’re all thinking it. May as well.”

 

“Why are we doing this?” Dream sighs, because there’s no way he can keep sitting here in the back of his old friend's car, acting as if everything’s okay. It’s awkward. Incredibly so.

 

Silence fills the whole car. The only sound that they can hear is the wind outside as Karl speeds down the streets without a care in the world. He thought maybe nobody had heard him or maybe they did but they just didn’t want to answer. In all fairness, he can’t really blame them. He wouldn’t want to answer either. 

 

“We have no reason not to.“ Karl offers, but Dream notices him cringe after he says it. 

 

George chucks his cigarette out of the window. 

 

“I mean, we do. We stopped being friends three years ago and now we’re all crammed into the same car with zero leg space.” Quackity chuckles, but he’s right. He’s not being rude about it, his voice is gentle but honest. 

 

“Who's to say we can’t have one more day together? A proper ending? Or — Or maybe we’ll become a friend group again after this.” Sapnap rambles, and he sounds hopeful. 

 

From the front seat, George scoffs, “If only. I hope that does happen, Sapnap, I do, but it’s so unlikely. We’ll all go back to hating each other again tomorrow. This is probably just a one time thing.”

 

“Woah,” Dream bitterly laughs, “Who said I hated you guys?”

 

“I just mean –”

 

“No, I know what you mean, George.” Dream cuts him off, adjusting his position to have a better view out the window.

 

The tension within the car could be cut with a knife.

 

Dream is personally still a little angry with George and it’s all to do with the fling they had. They kissed a few times during the final summer they were together and never spoke again until this day. Their classes sometimes linked up but they were never sitting anywhere even remotely close to each other.

 

Sapnap had originally tried to remain friends with both Dream and George but separately, and Dream’s sure he even tried it with Karl as well. It worked for a little while until it didn’t and the different friendships faded to nothing. 

 

The radio blares through the car, Karl having turned it on. Ironically enough, it was a familiar song with the five of them. An old song, if you will. Whenever they hung at Karl’s house, they played it on his vinyl player. Dream wonders if Karl still had the vinyl or the player in general.

 

Another cigarette is unsurprisingly lit, filling the car with the horrid smell. Dream remembers how both George and Quackity always smelt of the stuff whenever they hung out, despite them being so young. It was the reason they got close - going for smokes together. Sapnap often tagged along but it wasn’t even nearly as frequently as them.

 

They stop at a gas station, Karl filling it up and Sapnap suggesting they purchase some snacks for the cabin. Quackity agrees and the four of them end up inside the tiny store, at each other's backs. He knows exactly what everyone will get.

 

Dream buys a few things for himself to munch on, and a few things to share out with the group. It was a hot day, so his investment in ice creams was a good choice despite the fact it would probably melt. George, however, had bought ice so he wasn’t the only stupid one. The brunette also bought a considerable amount of alcohol, leaving the mixers to Sapnap.

 

Once they all bundled back in the car, they set off again. Karl was driving slightly faster, most likely to prevent the melting of their things.

 

At one point, all five of them ended up singing along to a song. It felt good to be with everyone again but it also sent a pang of hurt through his chest. He knew he wouldn’t be able to drink much, considering his parents would need picked up early in the morning which meant he couldn’t have as much fun as everyone else.

 

They pulled up to the cabin around ten minutes later. It looked exactly the same as it always had, except they had clearly purchased more inflatables as he could see some peeking out from around the side. He finds himself smiling.

 

“I have a couple of pairs of swimming trunks I can lend,” George announces, punching in the code for the front door and letting them all in, “Who needs? All of you?”

 

“Not me.” Karl says, waving his own pair about in the air.

 

George vanishes upstairs for a moment as the rest of them shove things in the freezer and fridge, grabbing glasses and already pouring drinks. The atmosphere is bubbly, everyone having something to say to someone. 

 

When George returned downstairs, he threw three pairs of trunks at them, having his own pair on. If Dream stared a second too long at his chest, no he didn’t.

 

Grabbing the best pair he could, he heads into the bathroom and changes. They’re a little tight but other than that - they’re fine. He reconnects with the group who have migrated outside, them all having changed. Dream has no idea how they managed that.

 

Sapnap is dragging the floaties out and pushing some of them into the lake, jumping in one with a red cup and a bright smile. Karl’s splashing him, complaining about it being too cold and Quackity is having a blunt on the pier, his toes dipping in the water. Thanks to George, music is blasting through a speaker, providing them with comfortable noise.

 

“Are you coming in you guys?” Sapnap calls from the water, taking a rather large sip from whatever is in his cup.

 

“I’ll be in soon,” George responds, heading for Quackity and taking a few too many draws of his blunt before heading back to the cabin, “Save me that flamingo inflatable!”

 

He picks up a cup from the patio ground, where they had decided was the best place to keep them and pours in straight vodka. Dream watches him.

 

George looks up, standing up straight and placing his sunglasses over his eyes. He doesn’t say anything, just stares before heading for the lake, a bounce in his step as he laughs at something Quackity said.

 

Dream observes everyone from a distance. He doesn’t understand how Quackity isn’t sweltering with his t-shirt on - his black t-shirt - but knows he’s always worn one when they go in lakes. The last time he saw any of them this happy, was three summers ago. Not that he had been stalking them or anything - he just knew.

 

Pouring himself his own glass of alcohol, he heads for where Quackity is sitting and takes a seat beside him. The smell of weed floods his senses and even though he shouldn’t, he accepts a hit of the blunt when offered. 

 

A hand latches onto his ankle and before he knows it, he’s under the water. He’s grateful he put his cup down because that would be a waste. The water is incredibly cold and as he pushes himself back up to the top, he makes a mental note to tell Karl he was right.

 

“You asshole.” He grits out, rubbing the water from his eyes to try and see who it had been that pulled him under.

 

It was George himself. He’s smiling from ear to ear, kicking the water as he sits proudly in his inflatable flamingo. He takes a sip from his cup and then he’s toppling, Dream having flipped him over. It earns a laugh from everyone and Quackity even ends up coming in.

 

Gerorge emerges from the water, hand still gripping his now empty cup, “You got me.”

 

The brunette gets out for a refill and nips inside, ice cream in his hand. He eats it quickly due to the fact the heat is causing it to melt. He fumbles about in his trousers pocket, Dream notices, and then he’s lighting a cigarette. Dream knows he’s been smoking a whole lot more than he used to.

 

“Isn’t this nice?” Karl beams, floating on his back with one hand on his inflatable and the other keeping him afloat. He wasn’t drinking as he was driving.

 

Even though he won’t admit it aloud, he agrees. It is nice. It’s nice to get away and be sociable. It’s nice to be with old friends. It’s nice to not worry about anything. It’s nice to not be sitting in an overheated classroom. 

 

“I miss you guys.” Sapnap sighs sadly, sticking out his lower lip.

 

Nobody responds but everyone nods, even George. George, who looks oh so beautiful in the sunlight. George, who kissed him and left him all at once. He looks away. Although there were good memories, there were also bad memories. Maybe they’d talk about it and clear the air. He sort of hopes they do.

 

“It’s Saturday tomorrow. Isn’t it?” 

 

Dream looks at Quackity, “Yeah, why?”

 

He shrugs, “Maybe – Maybe if today goes well. We could stay the night? If George’s family don’t mind and you guys want to. It might be good for us. I don’t know. I’m probably high and blabbering, just tell me to shut up.”

 

Now, Dream knows for an absolute fact that there are only three bedrooms here. And there are five of them. When they were younger, since George’s parents had to have a room to themselves, they would roll a dice and whoever got the three lowest numbers would share one room, leaving the other two with the other.

 

Somehow it was always Sapnap, Dream and George who had to share. Not always but definitely nearly. They’d pile into the double bed, lying on top of the cover due to the heat and fall asleep to the sound of each other's soft breaths. In the morning, Sapnap often woke up first and he wasn’t afraid to show it. He’d jump on top of them until they got up, too.

 

He knows he shouldn’t be thinking about it. It’s just dulling his mood. So he says what he never thought he would, “I’d like that.” Knowing full well that he wouldn’t.

 

Four pairs of eyes turn to George, who puts the butt of his cigarette out by pushing it onto the pier. He turns to face them and with a smile and says, “Okay.”

 

The entirety of the day is spent well. They all get out of the water at one point, eating whatever they could and cooking whatever was in date. He hates to say it but he’s really enjoying himself. He can’t remember the last time he felt so joyous.

 

Reluctantly, he responds to his sister's frantic texts about the house and where he is. He sends a blunt response before switching off his phone altogether.

 

“Look what I found!” George practically exclaims, rushing towards the four of them as they huddle on the patio.

 

He produces photos. Polaroids, in specific. They always took polaroids together, George’s mother often being the one to take them.

 

The first photo that George shows is the five of them sleeping on the sofa. He remembers it vaguely as they had been swimming all day and then they’d just conked out together after putting on a movie none of them watched. The next photo is of George, Dream and Sapnap in the double bed they often shared. They’re awake, but the windows show it’s late at night. The shine from the television lights up their faces as they smile, arms around each other.

 

Maybe the polaroids were a bad idea.

 

The next one is just George and Sapnap, Sapnap planting a kiss on George’s cheek as they hold marshmallow sticks. Dream knew they were always close. The one after is a group one again, this time in the water with wide smiles. Another couple are shown, one of them being George with Karl and Quackity, brushing their teeth in the bathroom that was too small to fit them all so they had to take turns.

 

All of them are beautiful, and taken in different years. Some of them are a lot older than others, the five of them having much babier faces.

 

“Why didn’t we stay friends?” Karl sighs, crossing his arms as if he’s mad at the world for allowing things to be the way they are.

 

It’s getting colder, Dream notices. It’s also getting late. 

 

“I don’t know,” Sapnap admits, “But we could do it again, if we were all willing. Are we all willing?”

 

“We can only try.” Quackity shrugs. 

 

They spend a little longer outside before moving to the comfort and warmth of the living room. George brings out hundreds of blankets for them, but with the fire burning they don’t really need one. Alcohol is running low now, it having mostly been drunk by both Sapnap and George who don’t seem as drunk as they should be.

 

There’s a random movie playing on the television, but everyone’s talking. Especially George and Sapnap but that only makes sense. They’re sitting close to each other, whispering phrases and then laughing about them as if they’re the funniest things they’d ever heard. 

 

“How about we play truth or dare?” Karl suggests as Dream powers his phone back on, searching for the times his parents' flight will land tomorrow.

 

“Boring.” Quackity whines, his eyes red rimmed. Dream knows he’s high. 

 

“Truth or truth?” Karl substitutes, propping himself up with his elbows and grabbing a blanket, wrapping it around his body.

 

Nobody opposes the idea so they sit around in a small circle, their legs in a basket as they take swigs from the last of the booze. Karl offered to go to a store and find more, but it probably wasn’t the best idea. Two bottles between the four of them had done fine. More than.

 

“I’m asking first,” Sapnap decides, “Karl. Karl, Karl, Karl. Who would you kiss out of the four of us? Answer wisely! There’s a correct answer.”

 

Karl flushes a scarlet red, “ Sapnap . Jesus, you can’t - Alright, fine. You. Now, my turn. George. Three summers ago. Did you and Dream kiss?”

 

The brunette lets out drunken giggles, his eyes meeting Dream’s. In all honesty, Dream thought they already knew the answer to that. He nods, as if telling George he gives him his permission to tell them.

 

“Yup, we did,” He says, his words slurring ever so slightly, “That was easy. Dream. When you regifted my beloved friend, Sapnap’s, gift. Who did you give it to? I know you did it!”

 

Sapnap slaps his thigh, howling with laughter even though what George said wasn’t all that hilarious. It was true, he had done it. Only because he had already gotten two of the exact same thing and he couldn’t handle a third.

 

He chuckles, “My sister. She loved it though, Sap, so don’t worry. It was only because I’d already had so many and I was twelve in my defence. Yeah, yeah, keep laughing. Quackity, how many times have you failed your driving test?”

 

Quackity shakes his head, “You’re wrong for that. But the answer is five. I’m retaking it in a few months when I’m sure I won’t fail. You know, I don’t find it that funny, guys. Anyway, Sapnap. You got arrested last year when we all weren’t friends, correct? What for?”

 

“Well – Alright, okay. It was for skinny dipping. They didn’t like it because y’know nudity and stuff. Got out the next day, though. Right, I’m gonna ask Dream,” Sapnap decides with a smirk, “Would you do seven minutes in heaven with George, right here, right now? Be honest.”

 

He chokes on his own saliva as all eyes turn to him. He can practically feel his cheeks go red, much like Karl’s earlier except this was much worse.

 

George turns to him, a loopy smile on his face. His pupils are blown, looking slightly like Quackity. Dream never knew he had so much. It wasn’t wise to mix drink and drugs but George never listened to anyone. Dream would do his best to keep an eye on him. He knew Quackity had had a bit to drink but he was always fine, no matter what he did. He once snorted heroin and nothing happened but it had spread about the whole school.

 

“Yes.” 

 

George raises an eyebrow and he looks quite amused, but he says nothing.

 

“Karl, would –”

 

A knock on the door. The front door.

 

Now, this was weird. Nobody ever came to the cabin mainly due to the fact that nobody really knew where it was. It was secluded and isolated from all other cabins and it was rather difficult to get to, as well. Who - other than George’s family who had a key and would be able to let themselves in - could it be?

 

No-one moved. 

 

George actually turned quite pale as he rose to his feet, staggering slightly as he got his bearings. He had his hand on the door handle, waiting to see if there would be another knock but there wasn’t. Dream got up as well, standing close behind George in case something was to happen.

 

Begrudgingly, George opened the door and they all waited in anticipation to see who was there. It was just kids. Dream saw a snippet of them as they ran for the treeline, laughing as they ran and hollering nonsense. George closed the door right back over, relieved it wasn’t an axe murderer.

 

“Er, how about we do the dice thing and head to bed? It’s getting late, we should probably change into something else anyways.” Karl slowly suggests as he was the only sober and responsible one.

 

“I can lend you guys some stuff. I’ll go get what I can. The dice should be in that cabinet.” George says, heading upstairs with his hand running along the bannister for support.

 

Sapnap dives into the drawer, grabbing the two dice and shaking them in his hands, ready to roll. Things returned to normal when George came back downstairs, chucking his and his fathers spare clothes at them so they could take what fit. Dream ended up in his t-shirt from earlier on that day and a pair of George’s fathers trousers. It felt awkward but he let it slide.

 

“Right, go Sap.” George says, once everyones changed.

 

The raven haired throws the die on the coffee table and they stare at what he gets. A five and a three. Eight.

 

Quackity went next, fiddling with the beanie on his head as they added up what he got. Ten. 

 

Karl then went, scoring himself an outstanding twelve.

 

Even though he didn’t want to, Dream went next. He knew what he wanted, he was just praying he got it. A seven. 

 

It was all up to George. George, who still looked as beautiful as he did when the sun kissed his features. George, whose eyes were drooping with exhaustion. George.

 

George rolled a seven.

 

Dream knew exactly what that meant. It meant that he and George would be sharing a room. It meant that Karl had one to himself. It meant that he had to be with George. Alone. In a double bed. He knew what it meant, yet he reminded himself regardless. 

 

“Since Karl gets the highest, he gets the room himself,” George notes, “Then Quackity and Sapnap and me and Dream. Alright.”

 

“Hey, guys, just quickly,” Karl says as they all climb the stairs, Quackity switching the lights off behind them, “When does everyone need a lift back? I’m available whenever.”

 

“Could you drive me back early? Like 9 in the morning?” Dream hesitantly asks.

 

Karl nods, “Sure. Anyone else need to go then? I can come back, of course.”

 

Karl really was too nice for his own good.

 

“Me, if you don’t mind.” George mumbles, pushing open the bedroom door.

 

“Sure. Goodnight, everyone. I had a really great day today. Thank you.” Karl beams.

 

Dream doesn’t want to say anything because he’s really awkward when it comes to these sorts of things, so he offers a smile instead. He knows George definitely will keep silent as he’s the exact same. They were both always bad at expressing their feelings. It’s probably what drove the two of them apart.

 

“It was fun.” Sapnap agrees, and they end it on that, all of them disappearing into their rooms.

 

George closes the blinds, allowing Dream to notice his trembling hands. He wonders why they’re shaking so badly. 

 

“Can I turn the television on or are you going straight to sleep?” Dream asks, practically crawling under the covers and propping his pillows up. He lays his phone on the bedside cabinet.

 

“I think I’m gonna be sick.” The brunette whispers, making a sprint for the bathroom.

 

Dream swings his legs out of bed, switching the bathroom light on as George grips the toilet seat, his guts pouring into the toilet. He goes forward, pulling George’s hair out of his face. It had grown longer over time and it was probably irritating him. He holds it with one hand, rubbing his back with the other, “You’re okay. It’s alright.”

 

For a good ten minutes, George is hunched over the toilet. He throws up until he has nothing left to throw up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and slumping against the bathtub. Dream notices how sick and weak he looks. His hands fall at his sides, “What do you want to do?”

 

“Need to sleep,” He grumbles, “Shouldn’t have mixed weed and vodka. Big mistake.”

 

“You’re an idiot.” Dream hums.

 

He assists George as he stands up, and helps him to the sink where he brushes his teeth for two minutes exactly. The two of them slowly walk over to the bed where George collapses in a heap, throwing his hand over his eyes as he lets out a groan, “Thanks for helping me.”

 

Dream nips downstairs, grabs a water bottle and returns to the bedroom, passing it to George who accepts it and gulps it down. Dream knows he should take small sips but he lets him do whatever. It also probably tastes quite sour due to the toothpaste and even the thought of it makes Dream wince.

 

Once he’s certain George is alright, he gets back into bed, switching the television on and turning it down really low. He hates that every so often he looks over at the brunette, ensuring he’s not choking to death on his own sick. He considers putting him in the recovery position but he’s sure that as long as he’s watching him, it’ll be fine.

 

“Dream.” George whispers after a good amount of time has passed.

 

He’s slightly startled as he thought the man was sleeping but he turns to face him anyway, muting the television entirely.

 

“Will you kiss me again?” 

 

His heart stops in his chest.

 

“Again?” Dream carefully repeats.

 

“Like summer. Three years ago. Will you?”

 

“George, you’re sick. You’re probably delirious and I know sober you wouldn’t be having this conversation with me right now.” Dream sighs, facing the television and hovering his finger over the mute button to get the volume back on the show he’s watching.

 

George’s hand latches onto his, rather weakly might he add, forcing him to look at him again. Dream knows he’s not well but he still thinks he looks completely and utterly beautiful. Even though the sun isn’t shining on his face and even though he wasn’t rolling the dice, he still looked ethereal.

 

“I brushed my teeth for a reason.”

 

The brunette pushes himself upright so he’s at the same height Dream is. Dream knows it’s wrong but he can’t help but stare.

 

George’s lips crash down on his, their lips instantly interlocking. A hand cups his cheek, and Dream mimics the gesture with his own hand, holding George’s face with delicacy. He knows this isn’t what they should be doing on a Friday night but he can’t help himself. George was always so irresistible.

 

They pull apart, George gazing straight into Dream’s eyes. They watch each other for another moment before Dream is attaching his lips straight back onto George’s.

 

His lips are slightly swollen by the time they’re finished and his heart is racing. He has so much he wants to say but he doesn’t know how . He wants to know why they didn’t keep in contact all those years ago, even after they had a few moments with one another. 

 

“George,” He whispers, turning the television and lying on his side, “What happened that summer? What did I do?”

 

“Nothing,” George quietly promises, “You did nothing.”

 

They fall asleep side by side, smiles etched on their faces. Dream never really got the answers he wanted but he would ask tomorrow when they were both sober.

 

The morning arrives and he takes a quick shower before bidding his goodbyes to everyone. He hugs Sapnap and they hold onto each other for a moment longer than they should. Dream presses a kiss to his friend's raven hair. He even gives Quackity a hug, but the man bats him off, all whilst giving him a warm smile at the same time.

 

He trails behind Karl outside, leaving George with them. He knows for a fact if George and Sapnap hug, they’ll struggle to let go. As he’s climbing into the car, he hears a couple of instructions George gives the two of them before he’s getting into the backseat, allowing Dream to have the front.

 

The three of them sit quite happily as Karl pulls away from the cabin, heading for the school where their cars were parked. Dream continuously checks when his parents estimated flight arrival time is because he was supposed to be picking them up. His sister calls, screaming gibberish before admitting she’d cleaned the house despite the fact she’d stayed up all night to do so.

 

Dream notices that George hasn’t lit a cigarette yet. Must be a good thing.

 

“When will I see you both again?” Karl asks as they near the school.

 

“Soon.” Dream reassures, and he sees George nodding in agreement in the mirror.

 

“You guys aren’t bullshitting me, are you?” Karl asks with a raised eyebrow.


They let out gentle laughter that Dream hopes he’ll hear again. He gives Karl an awkward hug due to their seatbelts before getting out of the car. He assumes George does the same and they both thank him before he drives off, honking his horn as he goes.

 

Now it’s just the two of them.

 

George has his sunglasses in one hand, his car keys in the other. Due to the sun, more freckles have scattered across his cheeks that Dream finds himself melting for. George always had such pretty privilege.

 

“What now?” He asks, as they stand in the almost empty parking lot. All the cars are gone apart from theirs and he wonders where Sapnaps is.

 

“I don’t know,” George admits, unlocking his car, “But I can’t wait to find out.”

 

“I’ll see you again, won’t I? What if we lose each other?” 

 

George smiles, and it is full and it is bright, “You’ll see me again.”


Notes:

thank you so much for reading ! kudos and comments are always heavily appreciated <3