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There’s one thing about the sun and moon: they’re always chasing each other. Or, in Dream’s version, the sun’s chasing the moon. George was sculpted by the moonlight—he’s soft with sharp features and has perfect ivory skin. When he basks in the moonlight, it does nothing but highlight his features. George is the moon, easy said. And many say Dream was created by the sunshine, a bright light shining rays on everyone. Everyone except the moon. The sun is chasing the moon; Dream is chasing George. The sun and moon were closer than ever at one point, close enough for the moon to see the beauty in its craters thanks to the sun. Dream’s unsure if the moon is still in love with the sun, because now, they’re off balance.
George moved back to the United Kingdom. Dream remembers hearing the words I’m leaving Florida spill from George’s mouth, followed by a sob. He remembers wrapping his arms around George’s waist while begging on his knees for him to not go. At least he came and informed Dream, but it still shattered his heart into a million tiny pieces. George stepped right on the shards as he exited the front door, whispering goodbye, Dream as he left.
“Dream, get out of your head,” Sapnap orders. Dream blinks his eyes slowly until he can see clearly. He glances at Sapnap with tight lips, then rubs his head as if he’d gotten injured. He starts to zone out again, so Sapnap launches a throw pillow at him. “Hey! Watch it!” Dream shouts, picking up the pillow from off of the floor.
Sapnap scoffs, “Oh, so you can hear me. Dude, talk to me. What’s going on? You’ve been like this for months.” Dream sighs harshly and clutches the pillow in his hands. He replays the situation in his head, imagines every moment ever spent with George. His facade cracks and he begins to cry. “Dream, talk to me. It’s me. I’m always here for you.”
Sobs wrack Dream’s body, taking over the little bit of support he has for himself. He chokes and coughs, then he starts to hyperventilate. Sapnap rushes over, dropping onto his knees in front of the older man. He places his hands on his shoulders and forces their eyes to meet. “Breathe in with me. Ready? Inhale. One, two, three. Exhale,” Sapnap guides him.
He soon calms down and explains, “The short version is: George- he found out about me being Dream. It ended horribly and he moved back to the UK. Sapnap, I don’t know what to do. He’s the love of my life, but he won’t answer any of my texts or calls.” Dream wipes the tears that fall on his pale cheeks. He only sees the sun when he leaves for work and comes back home. Sapnap sighs, “Well, I don’t blame him. You should’ve told him sooner. Who keeps the secret that they’re their boyfriend’s idol for almost seven months? What were you thinking?”
“I don’t know,” Dream answers honestly, “I didn’t want to ruin everything. I ended up making things worse by keeping it. I don’t know why I didn’t just tell him, I should’ve. I should’ve, Sap.” The amber-haired man suspires. He combs his fingers through his curls and presses his lips together into a thin line. “Well, I’m here for you. He was attached to your content, right? He has to be watching, I doubt he could let it go that easy. It’s the perfect plan. Don’t show interest unless you’re hidden. That was me with Karl for months before he confessed. When was the last time you streamed?”
“A month ago, but I don’t know if I have the energy,” Dream responds. Sapnap nods, exhaling carbon dioxide. He smiles softly and says, “Just think about it. You never know what could happen. It might be helping him, too.”
Dream forces a smile on his face. “Okay, I’ll think about it,” he replies solemnly.
Dream stands up from the couch and starts to walk to his room, stopping when Sapnap calls his name. He flashes a nervous grin and says, “I needed to mention that Karl wanted to come to town for a while, is that okay?” Dream closes his eyes for a moment, admiring the thoughtfulness of his best friend. He breathes gently and nods. “Of course, Sap.”
“You know you don’t have to hide from him either. He’s seen your face,” Sapnap remarks. Dream sighs, “I know, Sap. I willingly showed my face to him. I won't forget his incessant begging.”
“Hey, that’s my boyfriend!” Dream hears Sapnap say before he closes his bedroom door. Once he’s in his room, the dreadful silence takes over. Immediately, Dream casts a glance to the middle of the room. He can vividly see him and George standing in the room, his hands caressing the brunet as he cries. He can hear George shouting at him, telling him he lied to him and what did Dream do? He shushed him and kissed him. God, Dream hates himself.
The blond flops onto the bed and squeezes his eyes shut, trying to ignore the visions he gets of them wrapped in each other’s arms. He tries not to think of the sounds George made, the way he sobbed, or the look of betrayal he held when he called Dream’s name.
He groans and rolls over, stuffing his face into the pillow. He forces his eyes shut even tighter and begs for sleep. Luckily, it comes to him after a while of destroyed memories.
—
“I’m leaving Florida,” George announced once he stepped through the front door. Dream’s vision was blurry, his mind clouded with sorrow. He grasped George’s hand to spin him around. “Hey, wait. We can talk about this. Don’t go.”
“What is there to talk about, Dream? You hurt me. You’re a liar, I can’t trust you!” George spat back at him. The blond winced, his gaze softening as he realized George was crying. Holding on to the last bit of hope he had, he pleaded, “I’m still me. I’m an idiot who plays a block game. I’m a billionaire who works at Target. I’m the man who you fell in love with, who fucked up and wants nothing more than to make it up to you.”
George scoffed. He sat down on the couch and rested his head in his hands. Dream joined him on the chair adjacent to the couch, wanting to give George the space he needed. Silence overtook them, forcing their minds into the deep depths of their thoughts. George let out a harsh sigh, “Talk to me, then. Explain.”
“I- I never wanted to hurt you, that was never my intention. I didn’t know how to tell you, I was too scared I'd ruin it by confessing. It’s all exploded now, all I can do is prove to you what you mean to me.” He stared at George with his puppy dog eyes, pain and sorrow filled in them. The brunet glanced up at him, glaring. He hiccuped, “I just need time, Cl- Dream. I’m going back to the UK. I’ll be okay.”
George stood, walking to the door. Dream reacted with his first impulse, to wrap his arms around George’s waist and stand on his knees. He begged endlessly, “Please, George. Please, don't leave me. I need you. Please, don't go. I love you.” George detached his arms and walked out the door, whispering “Goodbye, Dream.”
Dream awakens in a fright, the memory of George leaving stuck with him. His hands come up to his chest for protection; from what, he doesn’t know. Perhaps to keep his heart safe, away from anyone who dares to accept it—like George did. If no one takes his heart, then they won’t be hurt. It was too late for George.
Dream lies in the bed for a moment, his thoughts racing a mile a minute. He can feel his heart picking up speed and his breathing starting to become heavy, and soon he’s rushing out uneven breaths, unable to breathe properly. A weight dips on the bed and soon soft hands are caressing his face, along with a soothing voice shushing him. He turns his head to look at his angel and his heart skips a beat. He lets out a shaky breath and struggles to speak as he asks, “George? Is it really you?”
“You’re okay, Dream,” he breathes gently, his British accent thick as he whispers to the man. He places a hand on the back of the blond’s neck, tangles his fingers into his curls, and pulls him down gently. Dream swallows the lump in his throat. His lip quivers as he speaks, “I never thought you’d call me that.”
“Your name? It’s your name, Dream.” George caresses his hair, swooping it back to his ears even though it doesn’t budge. Dream closes his eyes, relishing in George’s satin touch. He exhales softly, his breathing better, “But after what I did, I thought you’d never want to- I thought you’d want me to stop existing.”
George doesn’t respond. A kiss is pressed against his cheek, followed by several others on different spots of his face. It takes Dream a moment to realize he’s kissing his freckles, George’s favorite thing to do. He lets a tear slide down onto the bed. “It really is you.”
Dream takes a deep breath and focuses on the crickets chirping and George’s calm breathing. The soft repeated noises ground him, allowing him to think clearly for once. “George,” he whispers, “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. You mean everything to me and I fucked up. How could you ever forgive me?” George and the crickets abruptly stop. Dream thinks nothing of it until he realizes he’s lying in silence, a new fear of his. “George?” he calls.
The brunet sits up slowly, his syrupy irises never leaving Dream’s. Olive green eyes follow him, squinted. George finally speaks, “You’re right. How could I ever forgive you?” Dream grabs ahold of his wrist, gripping onto it as if he’ll disappear. “What are you talking about? That’s not what I meant, what just happened?”
“Oh, God. You’re right. What the hell did I do to deserve this? To be lied to for months?” George shouts, smacking Dream’s hand away. The blond sits up and wraps an arm around George’s neck, pulling him down to his chest. He hears a loud muffled sob as George cries into his shirt. “You didn’t deserve this at all. I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. Please, don't leave me.”
“I’m gonna let you kill me,” George chokes on a sob. Dream pets his hair gently, shushing him. He wipes his tears with his free hand. He sniffles, “What do you mean by that, George?”
“I love you so much, it’s going to kill me.”
Dream awakens, a jolt shooting through his body as George’s words ricochet in his brain. There’s a ghost in the blond’s mind, controlling his thoughts. It walks and talks with him, battles him when he goes to sleep. Dream thinks they’re growing closer the more he struggles to sleep, and he believes this ghost holds all of his answers. The ghost revolves around him like the Earth, relies on Dream’s infected brain to thrive. The ghost’s name is George.
—
George’s footsteps walk with Dream as he makes his way to the front doors. He stops in his tracks and turns, looking longingly at the parking lot. The memory of Dream and George’s first kiss plays, causing Dream to feel like he’s watching a movie. The vision fades before he can embrace it. A voice startles him, “Uhm, are you coming in?” He jerks his head to look at the intruder and it dawns on him that he is at work.
“Yeah, I just thought I saw something weird. Everything is good,” he informs Kit. They nod and let him walk through the doorway.
He wanders through the store until he hears a ghost of a giggle. The blond stops immediately and turns to stare down the aisle. He speaks gently, “Anyone there?” A tall man runs past him, down the aisle until he’s at the end of it. Another one follows, shorter than both the other man and Dream. He watches the shorter one slam into the taller one’s chest. Dream realizes it’s him and George, he’s watching the moment George chased him through the store over one can. The blond thinks he either might be going insane or he is just very sleep deprived. Either way, the memory brings Dream to tears. He forces himself away from the aisle and walks to the staff area to clock in. Everything’s blurry as he slides his card. He’s setting down his jacket when Jude calls him by his real name.
“Clay,” he repeats, “Can I see you in my office for a moment?” Dream nods his head and follows the old man to his office. Jude motions for him to sit down so he does, then places a hand over his bouncing leg. “What is it, sir?” he asks.
“What’s going on with you? I see how you look everyday and it reminds me of myself when I was younger,” Jude eases into the conversation. Dream lets go of his leg, allowing it to shake rapidly. He sighs, so after a moment of no answers, Jude adds, “Is it George? Don’t try and lie, boy. I saw you two. And I’m quite the fan of gossip.”
Dream lets himself break for the second time that week. Tears pour down his cheeks and he sobs harshly, wiping away his tears with his fingers to no avail. Jude hands him a box of tissues for his snot. Once he cleans himself up and blows his nose, he explains, “Well, I- yeah. It’s about George. I have this constant idea in my head about us, let me explain. Him and I are like the sun and moon, y’know? I was always chasing him and for a while we eclipsed, stayed in balance with each other. That’s like when the sun is rising and the moon is setting or vice versa. Anyway, then we lost balance. For example, I fucked up and he moved back to the UK. Now, I don't know what to think. I can't live without him.” Dream jerks his head up to look at the old man. “Wait… you said I remind you of when you were younger? How?”
“I used to be in love with a boy once as well, back in my teen years. We were childhood best friends, always hanging out and playing games. I confessed to him when I was seventeen, and he loved me back. However, I grew up in a time where homosexuality was awful and forbidden, so he and I stuck to pining. I was never brave enough to go after what I needed, and what I needed was him. I guess he wasn’t either. That’s why I see myself in you,” Jude explains his story. Dream stares at him in disbelief. A tear slides down his cheek.
“Thank you for telling me that,” Dream mumbles, his voice shaking. “I know I’m not alone, in a sense.”
Jude nods. He sits down in his office chair to get on Dream’s level. He takes a deep breath and lets Dream sit for a moment, replaying the story in his mind. After a while of silence, Jude speaks back up, “Oh, and Clay. Perhaps the reason the moon and the sun fell in love was because they could never truly have each other. They were meant to be in that endless chase cycle. But that sure as hell doesn’t mean they didn’t try. The actual sun and moon make it work every morning, so doesn’t that mean you, the sun, can meet your moon again? Fix everything? Do not be afraid to put your heart on the line and try. I wish I had, and I will regret not doing it for the rest of my life.”
Jude stands and walks out of the office, leaving Dream alone with his thoughts. He compares his situation to Jude’s story. Sapnap’s words pop into his brain, reminding him of how there’s a chance George still watches his streams. He needs to get him back, so he decides he’ll stream later that night.
—
“Hi, chat,” Dream greets once he sees the chat being spammed with messages. He spawns in a new Minecraft world and begins his journey, running towards a tree to break it down. He collects wood and crafts tools, then hunts for somewhere to mine. He makes short conversation as he mines iron, sighing when chat notices his lack of enthusiasm. He exhales a deep breath, “Today is just going to be a chill stream. I might not talk a lot, but feel free to ask questions. I’ll turn donos on.” He does as he says and focuses back onto the game, smelting his iron ores into ingots. The first question has Dream on the verge of a breakdown. Are you okay, king? No, Dream is far from okay, but does he tell his fanbase the truth? He freezes in game to rub his face with his hands. He lets out a sigh, “Thank you for the donation. No, I’m not doing too good right now, but I will be better eventually. Promise.”
He begins to run again in the game, jumping and killing the game’s animals for food. He cooks the meat and listens to the next donation. When do you plan on face revealing? Dream rewets his lips nervously, the idea that his fans anticipate his face reveal causes anxiety to bubble in his gut. He clears his throat, “Thanks for the $20! Not anytime soon. I’m not ready mentally for it. It’ll come when the time is right. Sorry.” He collects more iron for armor as the next donation plays. New YouTube video soon? “I’ll work on it. I’ll tell Sapnap we have to come up with something tomorrow. Just for you guys.”
A few more donations come in and he answers them honestly, some diving deep into his thoughts on the world. His mind wanders as he’s building a nether portal, the hope that George is watching lingering in the back of his mind. Of course, his brain replays the moment George confronted him, then he visualizes the day George left. Dream had gone to the airport, begged George to stay even more, but there was no use. He had ordered Dream to leave, and ended up leaving on his own anyway to catch his flight. Dream swears a hole formed in his heart, leaving him unstable and rotten without his lover.
“Can I talk to you guys about something? Multiple things, actually,” Dream starts, adjusting his seating position in his gaming chair. He reads the chat’s spam of ‘yes’ and takes a deep breath. “We are about to get deep. What do you do when you feel like you’re unfixable? Where do I go? I feel so lost and it’s all on me.”
He reads the chat’s responses and listens to a few donations, most of them giving him reassurance on himself as a person. No one knows about George, so there’s no comforting advice they can give him when he really needs it. Dream decides that’s for the best, it’s what he deserves. He moves onto the next topic he wants to talk about, the idea that has been stuck in his head for months—the sun and the moon. Him and George. “This is going to be a wild ride, so hold on. Next thing is: have you ever thought about the moon and sun being in love? But they’re stuck in a never-ending chase, always longing for each other but they can’t do anything about it except wait. I wonder if the moon still loves the sun.”
He reads the chat’s response again, follows up any questions they ask with more confusing answers. Why are you thinking that? Does this correlate to something else? When did you get so figurative? Dream’s bones ache as he reads their messages, supplying him with the answer he’s had for months. George changed him as a person—he walked into his life and turned it right. He opened the blond up to the idea of love again, put a spell on him with just his pure beauty. Why is he thinking this? When did he get so figurative? George. George is the only answer.
A donation comes in. Are you in love, Dream?
It pierces his heart. Blood gushes out onto the floor, the insides of his heart seeping out with the blood. He confesses, “Y- Yeah, I am. I’m in love.”
—
Dream and Sapnap have known each other for years, are practically brothers. Dream knows everything about the shorter man, he knows when he’s his happiest, knows his interests, knows when he’s sad. Sapnap knows the exact same things about Dream. However, the Dream he is witnessing now was completely different. He himself is upset he is experiencing Dream zone out to his own world and break down at night in his bedroom. It breaks Sapnap’s heart, so he has a plan.
“Dream, can you open the door, please?” Sapnap questions, rapping on the door to Dream’s bedroom. He hears a groan and what sounds like the blankets being thrown off of his body, then Dream is opening the door. He looks half-dead, there’s a deep brownish red under his eyes and one could lay on his eye bags they’re so deep. The blond sighs harshly, “What is it?”
“Let’s go, we’re going to have lunch at your mom’s house,” Sapnap informs, walking away from Dream. The taller one stares in confusion before huffing air out of his mouth. He turns, slamming the door shut. He quickly changes into something more presentable, not wanting his mom to see him as a mess. Then, he exits the bedroom and finds Sapnap in the living room. Sapnap smiles warmly once he sees him. Dream clears his throat, “Who’s driving?”
“I will. Let’s go,” Sapnap answers, grabbing his keys and walking out the door. Dream follows behind him and they both get into Sapnap’s Tesla. Sapnap backs out of the driveway and begins the drive to Dream’s mom house. The blond props his head up against the window, watching the several buildings and trees fly by. He exhales, carbon dioxide filling the air and spreading around them. Sapnap frowns, glancing at his best friend. The shorter one reassures him, “It’ll be okay, Dream.” Dream nods and continues to stare out the window, eventually rolling it down so he can let fresh air fill his lungs. Soon, they arrive at his mom’s house.
Dream greets his mother with doe eyes and a kiss on the cheek. Her motherly instincts kick in and she notices, then asks, “How are you, Clay?” His real name stings, but then again, so does ‘Dream.’ He wishes he could be sucked into the floorboards and be cursed to float in the void, and not have a name or exist at all. Dream’s not lucky, though. If he was, George would be here and he would’ve never fucked up.
“I’m fine, mama,” he lies. Dream can feel Sapnap’s worried eyes on him, can imagine the hurt on his face. He pulls away from his mom’s embrace and fakes a smile. He pretends to be cheerful as he asks, “What’d you cook for us?” She beams, a bright smile splitting across her face. She motions for them to follow her as she walks into the kitchen.
“Pot roast. Are you two ready to eat? Wash your hands,” she responds, washing her hands at the kitchen sink. Dream and Sapnap wash their hands after she’s finished, then they fix themselves a plate. Everyone meets at the dining table and Dream’s mom says a short blessing before they eat. They make small talk as they dig into their meal. After they’re done, Dream and Sapnap thank Dream’s mom and clean up after themselves.
“Let’s go to the living room, I want to discuss this mood you're in,” Dream’s mom orders. Dream sighs, following his mother. Sapnap sits in a chair while Dream and his mom take the couch. “I’m not in any mood, mama.”
“My baby is sad, I know that. Talk to me,” she says in a soothing voice, patting Dream’s knee. Dream takes a deep breath and weighs the pros and cons in his mind. The thought of George makes him choked up, tears springing to his eyes. He suspires, “You know George, my boyfriend?” She nods her head, a look of concern written on her face.
He lets the tears fall and continues, “We broke up. I f- messed up, mama. He found out about me being Dream. I was going to tell him, it just took me forever and then he found out himself. I never wanted to ruin everything, but that’s exactly what I did. I hate myself.”
His mother lets out a shaky breath as she turns slightly to caress Dream’s cheek, wiping away his tears. Comfort washes over Dream—his mother being like flowers blooming in Spring, reminding him the world still has some greatness to it. He melts into her touch and falls forward to rest his head on her shoulder. She pats his back as he sobs. “Clay, people make mistakes. Sure, this is a huge mistake, but you’re beating yourself up over it. George might not forgive you right now, but you need to learn how to forgive yourself. He’ll come around. Please, just learn to love yourself. You regret it and that’s what matters. You’re on the right path.”
Dream nods his head, sobbing into her shoulder. She rubs his back soothingly until Sapnap stands up. He offers an idea, “Dream, let’s go for a walk to clear your mind.” The amber-haired man walks over to grab Dream’s forearm. Dream comes up easily, his limbs feeling like jello as he stands on shaky legs. “Let’s go, c’mon.”
The two walk (Dream more so wobbles) out of the house, the blond’s arm swung around Sapnap’s shoulders to keep him upright. Dream allows Sapnap to lead him until he gains the ability to walk normally again. Sapnap steps into the rows of trees behind Dream’s mom’s house and turns to look at Dream. He chuckles, “You coming?” Dream furrows his eyebrows, sucking his bottom lip between his teeth. “Into there? Why are we going in there?”
“For a peaceful nature walk. Come on.” Sapnap walks forward, forcing Dream to jog up to him in order to catch up. Sapnap beams at him once they’re beside each other, and they continue their journey into the forest. Dream takes a deep breath and latches onto the back of the shorter one’s hoodie as they step through the green and brown leaves, rocks, and sticks. Sapnap laughs gently, the feeling running straight to Dream’s fingers as his muscles move. Olive green eyes slide over moss decorating huge rocks and trunks of trees. His ears focus on the crunch of sticks under his shoes. He looks up at the sky through the trees and breathes gently. “This is gorgeous.”
“I know, that’s why I brought you here,” Sapnap responds. He finds a giant rock and climbs on top of it to sit down, moss making his seat more comfortable. He pats the spot next to him and Dream winces before joining him. Dream sighs and stares up at the sky once again, admiring the way the sun shines through the leaves, creating beams of sunshine in random spots. A smile forms on his lips, though his brain is in a darker spot. He admits his thoughts, “George would have loved it here.”
Sapnap inhales deeply and exhales carbon dioxide into the open air. “Dream,” he warns.
“I know, I know. Just… I have to love myself, right? Let me think of George,” Dream replies, kicking his feet against the rock. Sapnap glances at him with pursed lips. “How is that going to help you love yourself?” he questions with a raised eyebrow.
A grin splits across Dream’s face. Sapnap basks in the warmth that radiates off of it.
“If I start to think positively of George, then wouldn’t that help me? No more making it hard for myself. My mom is right.” Dream closes his eyes, looking up towards the sun. Sapnap smacks a hand onto his shoulder and rubs it gently. He says, “That’s good, I’m proud of you. You deserve happiness.” Dream surprisingly nods his head. Sapnap clears his throat.
“I hope I get to know him one day,” Sapnap confesses. Dream smiles softly, holding back the urge to cry. He sucks in a short breath. “He’d love you, I know that. I know he watched your stuff, but as a friend? I think he’d cherish you more than me, I mean it.”
“He loves you, Dream.” Sapnap joins the blond in looking up at the sky. Dream exhales, “We’re chasing each other, aren’t we?” The shorter one furrows his eyebrows in confusion before he comes to a realization. He nods his head.
“Can I tell you a story?” Dream questions. Sapnap raises an eyebrow. “Go ahead.”
“It’s about the moon and the sun, or as I like to call them: George and Dream.”
—
“Dream, come in here. Someone wants to see you!” Sapnap calls in a lilted voice. Sock padded feet make their way into the living room, revealing Dream dressed in his blue “smile more” sweatshirt and a pair of gray sweatpants. He yawns, his eyes darting to the brunet that stands at the front door. The taller one manages to form a soft smile—one filled with genuine fondness. Dream chuckles at the sight of him—he always carries a brightness with him that fills others with joy—and motions him over. “Karl, hi. How are you?”
Karl rushes into his open arms, wrapping his own around Dream’s torso. “Good! How have you been?” he replies cheerfully, the outer corners of his downturned eyes crinkling.
“Well, I’ve been better,” Dream answers as Karl’s hands slide from his sides to his jaw. The blond closes his eyes once he feels the gentle touch Karl uses to hold his face, reveling in the feeling of skin on his own. It’s not George’s, but it’s enough to make his skin spark and his heart beat again. He opens his eyes to see Karl’s bright blue one’s staring straight at him. “I am so happy you, Dream, exist. You are such a gift to the world.”
“Woah, what about me, your boyfriend?” Sapnap scoffs, crossing his arms. Karl removes his hands from Dream’s face to glide over to his boyfriend. He presses a kiss to his cheek. He laughs, “Don’t I give you enough attention? Dream deserves some praise too.” Sapnap shakes his head furiously, a protective arm coming around to hold Karl against his hip. The blue eyed man leans down to whisper in his ear, leaving Sapnap a giggling mess.
Dream rolls his eyes and smirks. “My boyfriend broke up with me a few months ago, so I think I deserve more praise.”
“My boyfriend just got here! I deserve all his love and attention,” Sapnap voices his opinion. Karl raises his hands, pressing against both of their chests to separate them. “We can fight over Karl later. Dream, what? Are you okay? You and your boyfriend broke up?”
“Uhm, yeah,” Dream sighs, walking over to sit down on the couch. Karl follows him like a puppy and sits down beside him. He turns to Sapnap and eyes him. He orders, “Either sit down and join us, or give us some space, baby.” Sapnap quickly rushes to the couch.
“So, what happened?” Karl starts, easing into the conversation. Dream takes a deep breath and sits back, folding his arms together. “Well-” he begins before Sapnap interrupts him. “George found out he is Dream. It’s as simple as that.”
Karl gasps, glaring at Sapnap. He focuses back onto Dream and frowns. “You lied to him? Why?”
“I’ve been through this before, can we just cut to the part where you tell me what I need to do? I get it, I fucked up. Now, either help me fix it or help me better myself,” Dream demands, dropping his head into his hands. Karl sighs gently and pats his back. Sapnap bites his lip before speaking up, “He was doing better the other day. Said he needed to think positively of George in order to better himself.”
Dream groans, “I’m right here, you know?” Sapnap stifles a laugh and Karl giggles. The brunet places a hand up to his mouth to stop himself, then rubs Dream’s back to soothe him. “Well, in order to help you fix it, we’d need George here. But Dream, the way to fix it all is to quit moping and hating yourself. You’re right, think positively of George. Cherish any memories you have. Acknowledge that if it was meant to be, then he’d come back. Give it time and focus on yourself. Like I said earlier, you are a gift to the world. Don’t you see that?”
“It’s hard to see that when I don’t feel like a gift. I ruined everything with George, how am I going to come back from this?” Dream questions, rubbing down his face with his hands. Karl sighs gently and shrugs. He sucks his bottom lip between his teeth as he thinks. “Maybe you don’t,” Karl starts. The two men stare at him in confusion. He continues, “Maybe you don’t for a while, like what’s been happening for months. Maybe it’s going to take time, but I know for a fact the Dream I know will come back to be himself again. You’re a hero, you’ve made so many people’s lives better.”
“You helped George’s life too, Dream. He’s going to come back to you, I know it,” Sapnap adds. Dream lets out a deep breath and sits back against the couch again. “Thank you, guys. I know I need to focus on myself, I just have to put myself to it. I need to do this to better myself. Where do I start?”
“When’s the last time you made something to eat—actually cooked?” Karl asks, raising an eyebrow. A smirk tugs at one corner of his lips, causing Dream to snort. The blond shakes his head and answers him, “I’m not even sure.” Karl stands up, extending his arm out for Dream to accept it. He does and Karl pulls the taller man up. He motions for him to follow and walks to the kitchen. Sapnap scours the fridge for ingredients and pulls out what is needed to make tacos. “Good thing Dream’s mom dropped off groceries the other day,” Sapnap mentions.
Dream bites his bottom lip as he stares at the meat. He groans, “This is so easy to make, though.” Sapnap pushes Dream toward the stove while Karl pulls out a frying pan and places it on the range. He puts a giant spoon in his hand and Sapnap hands him the package of meat. “Cook,” they order.
Dream sighs heavily and browns the meat while the two men stand beside him, making small conversation. Once the meat is done, he adds the taco seasoning. He grabs the plates and offers them to Sapnap and Karl. “You didn’t tell me to cook anything else, so I hope this is enough. Enjoy.”
The three of them make their tacos and sit down at the island to eat. Sapnap and Karl compliment his cooking, and a bright smile forms on Dream’s face. He purses his lips, staring at the two men. “You know what? I think I’m going to be just fine. I know I will be with your help,” he admits.
“We love you, Dream,” Sapnap states. Dream nods, the smile never leaving his face. “I love you two as well.”
—
Dream wanders the aisles, restocking items where he’s required to. He moves from the baby aisle to the laundry aisle, then ends at the figurines section. A voice startles him, “Clay, I’ve been looking for you. I need you to work at one of the cash registers.” Dream turns his head to look at Jude. He forces a smile and nods his head. “Got it, sir.”
Dream pushes the cart back to the supply room, then makes his way to the front where the cash registers are. He stands behind the cash register and waits for customers, trying his best not to drop his head and take a rest. The first customer comes through with a large amount of items, causing Dream to stress out over how fast he needs to be with scanning. He manages to get through it, but it leaves him drained. Unfortunately, even more customers pile in his line. He scans their items quickly and finishes with the last one. The blond sighs deeply and leans against the counter, resting his body so he doesn’t have to put the energy in to keep himself upright. He stares at the floor and counts the tiles, then kicks the toe of his shoe against the floor. He groans, wishing he could pull out his phone or interact with Sapnap. Alas, he is cursed to be alone at work, banished to his own mind where his thoughts are of nothing but George. He tries to rid himself of his own thoughts, and instead thinks of Sapnap and Karl. He tries to imagine them together with him, reminding him that he needs to better himself. His mind turns to his mom. He decides he’ll sneak away to call his mom, hoping her reassuring words will take him to a safer place where he can heal.
Dream moves away from the cash register and pulls out his phone from his pocket. He presses her contact and hits the call button. It rings once before she answers. “Hello, son,” she says softly.
“Hey, mama,” Dream whispers into the phone. He can imagine the raise of her brows as her face morphs into shock and confusion. She asks immediately, “Why are you whispering? Is everything okay?”
Dream sighs, covering the phone with his hand. “I’m at work. I’m in my head again, I just needed to hear your voice.”
“Clay, everything is going to be okay. You’re going to get better. Focus on your job, honey. That’s what you need to do, instead of whispering to your mother over the phone. I’ll save the scolding for now. I love you, be brave, my boy,” she puts his mind at rest. He lets out a deep breath, his fears expelling from his mind. He responds, “Okay, I love you. Thank you.”
She says “Goodbye” and hangs up the phone call. Dream frowns, pouting his lip, then he walks back to the cash register.
“I was waiting on you,” a familiar voice says with a thick British accent. Dream’s head jerks up to look at the brunet, several different emotions filling him. He’s rendered speechless and shocked still. An alarm blares in Dream’s brain, screaming at him to speak. It’s like his brain shuts down and he has to wait for it to power back on. He regains consciousness and clears his throat, “You’re back.”
George nods his head, shrugging. “And you’re still here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Dream questions, tugging at his sleeve. His eyes scan George’s features, attempting to figure out how well or bad he’s doing. He hopes to see eye bags and pale skin, but instead all he sees is perfect ivory skin and gorgeously sculpted features. George looks as wonderful as a dream—he is Dream’s dream. The blond doesn’t think the same could be said about him for George.
“Well, you’re a billionaire. Why are you still working at Target?” George explains. The shorter one places a pack of gum onto the conveyor belt. Dream flips the switch to bring it closer to him, nothing but the sound of the conveyor belt moving filling the space. He scans the pack of gum and offers it to George. Dream finally answers him, “It makes me feel human, something I’ve lost touch with. Here’s your gum.”
Their fingers slide against each other as George takes the pack of gum from him and he hands Dream the money. Both choose to ignore the spark that ignites with their touch. George stares up at Dream with uncertainty, his lips parted slightly. He inhales deeply before speaking, “I really don’t get you, Dream.” The blond presses his lips together in a thin line before sighing. “I don’t either, to be honest.”
George furrows his dark eyebrows before he turns away. He stops in his tracks and faces the man again. Letting out a deep breath, his eyes gaze up to meet Dream’s olive green eyes. “You’re so hard to talk to sometimes. I’ll see you around, Dream,” the brunet says, and then he walks away.
Dream’s feet have a mind of their own as they take him away from the cash register to the staff area. Once he’s in the small room, his head spins. He wobbles sideways, almost running into the table. Kit is by his side immediately, words rushing out of their mouth. He doesn’t hear anything. Kit forces him to sit down in one of the chairs before it gets worse. Tears fill in Dream’s eyes and nausea hits him, causing him to double over and squeeze his eyes shut. His body finally releases his emotions properly, allowing him to sob. Kit stares at him in concern as they analyze his symptoms.
“Dream, shit, sorry. Clay, can you hear me?” Kit questions. Dream’s gaze darts up to look them in the eyes, fear etched onto his face. He struggles to speak, his words broken up as he asks, “How did you know?” Kit shakes their head, placing a hand on Dream’s shoulder. “George. That doesn’t matter, you’re having a panic attack. I need you to focus on me.”
Dream nods, focusing his eyes on Kit’s brown one’s. They take his hand and place it on their shirt, forcing him to feel the texture between his fingertips. They ask him, “Can you describe that to me?” He nods before replying, “I-It’s rough. I’ve always hated the feeling of these shirts.”
They smile softly. “Good. Can you tell me something about myself? Like about my looks.”
“Your hair is blonde,” he answers, pointing at their wolf cut. They nod and motion their hand outwards, showcasing the room they’re in. “Can you describe the smell of the room? And then something you hear?”
“It smells like some cleaning product, and I hear your voice,” he responds, his breathing easing. He automatically takes a deep breath when Kit does, then smiles shyly. He sighs gently, “Thank you. I don’t know why this happened.”
“I do. George is back,” Kit notes. Dream sucks in a shaky breath and exhales out his mouth. He manages a smile. “Yeah, George is back.”
“Are you going to be okay?” Kit questions. Realization dawns on the man. He beams, “Of course. George is back! This is great news.” He stands up quickly and exits the staff area to go back to his job. A smile is planted on his lips.
George is back. Time to fix the problem.
—
“I didn’t know he was coming back to work today,” Dream says into the phone. Sapnap lets out a breath on the other end, then sighs, “So, why are you calling me, Dream? Try and talk to him, maybe? You’re supposed to be working.”
“I know, I know. I just- I see him, but I can’t walk up to him. It’s impossible,” Dream explains, chewing on his bottom lip. Sapnap hums in thought. Dream darts around a corner to dodge George’s line of sight. Sapnap hears him mumble “Shit.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re stalking him,” Sapnap groans. The blond gulps, peeking around the shelves to stare down the aisle. He watches George move down the aisle, closer to him. Dream shrieks and hides again. “I’m observing,” he whispers.
Dream stares out at the other sections, his back to George. Suddenly, a figure comes in front of him, forcing him to look down. His eyes widen in fear, but he manages a gentle smile. He mumbles, “George, hi.” The brunet presses his lips into a thin line, his gaze hardening. He questions him, “Are you watching me?”
The blond freezes, a nervous smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His voice is almost squeaky as he speaks, “What, no. I’m about to head to break.” George narrows his eyes at him before motioning for him to follow. Dream walks behind him as they head to the staff area. George marks his break, followed by Dream. The taller one follows in his footsteps, grabbing his lunch after George does and sitting down at the table. They sit in silence, eating their meals. Dream purses his lips, trying to think of an idea to get George to talk or show signs that he cares. He creates a scenario in his head of them talking to each other, then thinks of social media. A light flips on his mind, and he grabs his phone, George’s eyes watching his actions. He tweets stream tonight! and watches as George’s phone lights up with the notification. George’s eyes dart between the lit up phone and Dream’s olive green eyes. He huffs, “I never turned them off.”
“I don’t even know why I’m telling you that,” George adds, stabbing his salad. Dream shrugs, acting calm and collected. He smiles softly. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me anything, I can just forget it.”
“Good. Forget it,” the Brit demands, standing up to toss his salad away. Dream follows quickly, throwing away his own meal to mark the end of his break. The two walk silently out of the staff area and through the store until Dream spots something. “Holy shit, you’re kidding me,” he groans loudly, slapping a hand to his face.
“What?” George asks, exasperated. George’s eyes widen, a look of concern surprisingly written on his face. He almost touches Dream’s arm, but he pulls his hand away in disgust before he can touch skin. Dream sighs harshly and moves to point in front of them, stopping to speak to George. “George, I’d like for you to meet someone.”
“What, who?” George’s eyes dart around the store until they land on the people in front of them. George’s jaw drops, his angry demeanor falling. He scoffs, “No way.”
Dream steps forward, this time George being the one to follow. He walks up to the two men and greets them, then motions to George to introduce him to Karl. Karl’s bright eyes widen, slowly crinkling at the sides as he smiles. Karl greets him, then George comes to a realization. “Oh, you probably know everything…”
“George, I want to speak to you. Alone, away from these goons,” Karl admits, grabbing George’s forearm. The blue-eyed man pulls him away from Dream and Sapnap, tugging George until they’re a great distance away from them. Dream and Sapnap watch them interact, they talk for a moment before exchanging numbers. George waves at him, then glances at Dream and Sapnap, debating on if he should wave goodbye. He does, and a smile forms on Dream’s face. Karl walks up to them with a smirk on his lips. “I got his number, Gogmeister and I are friends now,” Karl snorts, highfiving Sapnap.
Dream ignores the brunet and lets out a small chuckle. He croons, “He waved at us, at me. That’s progress, right?” Karl and Sapnap pat his shoulders on opposite sides. Sapnap laughs, “Sure, buddy.”
—
Dream yawns, exhausted after staying up late for his stream. He slides his hands around his mug and grips it gently to bring it up to his mouth. He sips, admiring the ease of his tea, the chamomile in it filling his nose with comfort. He glances around the café to analyze his surroundings. Vanilla from the incense burning mixes in with the scent of chamomile. He takes a deep breath, taking in the warmth the café offers. He kicks his feet against the floor, careful not to squeak them against the tile, and takes another sip of his tea. The bell above the door chimes, grabbing his attention. He watches as a man with dark oak hair walks in with a blonde woman. Dream’s face contorts into confusion as he watches the backsides of them as they order. That man looks familiar. Once the man turns around, Dream’s face falls. George is here with somebody else, with a female carbon copy of Dream.
Dream stares, his eyes burning into George’s skin. He watches them sit down and his mind races with thoughts. Who is she? Is she from the UK too? What is she to George?
The blond cannot take anymore of his incessant questions. He takes one last sip of his tea and stands, rushing toward the door as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get far due to a voice calling his name. “Dream,” George repeats, forcing Dream to turn around and face him.
“Oh, hi,” he greets, pretending like he didn’t see George and his… something. George grins and Dream resists the urge to kiss him. The brunet motions towards the woman beside him. He introduces them, “This is Juniper. Juniper, this is Dream.”
“You can call me ‘Clay,’” he states, offering out his hand for a shake. She accepts it, a giggle slipping past her lips. George lets out a scoff and sends a glare towards Dream. “Uh, Dream,” he hisses.
“Uh, George,” the taller one mimics, forcing a smile on his pink lips. He doesn’t dare show off his pearly whites, neither of them deserving enough for his genuine smile. Dream points at the door and tilts his body away from the two. “I would love to stay and chat, but I’ve got to get going.”
He immediately exits the café, not allowing them to speak another word. He’s out the door and turning, walking past the glass windows when a hand latches onto his elbow. “Dream, wait up,” says that voice with the familiar British accent.
Dream turns slowly, pain etched into his features. He confesses, “George, I can’t do this.”
“Do what? What are you talking about?” George questions, his voice raising in pitch. He’s making Dream feel like he’s going insane. The blond sighs and runs a hand through his curls. Slowly, he looks up from the ground to stare into George’s brown eyes. “Do you love her?” he whispers, his heart cracking in two with his question.
George furrows his eyebrows, his face contorting into a grimace. He lets out a deep breath and closes his eyes before answering. Somehow, Dream feels his heart shatter again, though it’s been in pieces ever since George left for the UK. George finally speaks up, “No. We’re just best friends.”
Dream lets out a sigh of relief, the corners of his lips tugging upward. George meets his green eyes again and Dream swears something shifts. He can feel their magnetic pull again, can sense that feeling of stability they used to have. Brown stares into green and they blend where they meet, the root of the tree spreading out into tiny twigs with leaves. Along with their eyes, a flower blooms in Dream’s chest. He wants to pick it and offer it to George, and George- George would still accept it, Dream decides. His ideas are proven when George says, “We need to talk. Let me tell her I’m leaving with you.”
“What?” he asks in disbelief, watching George turn around and walk back into the café. He stares through the window as he sees George walk up to Juniper and speak with her. She’s all smiles and nods, and then George is back out the door. “We walked here. Did you drive?” George says once he’s outside.
Dream nods and points to his car, then opens the passenger door for George. The brunet rolls his eyes—hopefully playfully—and Dream jogs to the driver’s side. He starts the car and backs out of the parking spot while George messes with the radio. It reminds Dream of all the other times they’ve spent in a car together—happier times. He holds back his sigh and focuses on the road. The car ride passes by with nothing but the radio, neither wanting to speak in a place they can’t escape from.
Once they arrive at Dream’s house, George is quick to rush to the door. Dream unlocks the door and George charges straight for the blond’s bedroom, crossing his arms defensively once he’s standing in the middle of the room. George chews on his bottom lip as he watches Dream close the door behind them and mutter, “Sapnap and Karl are home.” The brunet huffs and paces while Dream stares awkwardly. George finally speaks, “You can’t act like that, like at the café. You have no right. You hurt me, I can do whatever I want.”
Dream furrows his eyebrows. “I have no right? I am in love with you. I’ve treated myself like shit for months over what I did to you, and you say I have no right? I’m hurting just as you are, I’m part of this breakup. You can’t sit here and tell me how I can’t act when my heart has been split in two as well,” he rambles, getting angry. He sighs right after and adds, “I’m sorry. I mean, I guess you’re right.”
“See this is what I meant when I said you’re hard to talk to. You’re back and forth. Say what you mean, pick a side and defend it. You should’ve done it sooner when you decided to date me and be Dream and Clay,” George remarks, malice lacing his voice. It takes Dream back to their “Killjoy” days. The taller one runs a hand through his dirty blond curls, then moves to sit down on the bed. He stares at his beat up shoes and watches as tears fall onto them. “I’m so sorry. You’re right, George. I’m me though, I’m your Clay. I’m your Dream.”
“Are you crying?” George’s voice cracks. He brings a hand to his mouth to silence himself. “I can’t do this.”
Dream stands immediately, watching George’s face fill with sorrow once he sees Dream’s tears. Dream gulps and wipes away his tears. Green meets brown. Dream doesn’t think there’s any flowers blooming in George’s chest. He pleads, “I just need to know if there’s a chance for us again. I’m so sorry for what I did to you, but please, George. Speak to me.”
“As much as you own my heart, it’s over, Dream! It’s over. Is that what you wanted to hear?” George screams, not caring to be heard by Sapnap and Karl. Dream watches his bottom lip quiver. The brunet turns his head to the side and covers his face with one hand to hide from Dream. For a third time, Dream’s heart is shattered in pieces on the floor. How does he live with no heart, now? How does he stand here, staring at his lost lover with no beating heart?
George walks toward the door and opens it before Dream stops him. Defeated, he sighs, “I’ll get Sapnap and Karl to drive you home.” George nods, watching Dream walk up the stairs. At least this time, George was able to watch Dream be the first to leave.
—
“Is there anything else you need, Sap?” Dream questions, yawning into the phone. He scans the shelves for the candy he wants while he waits for Sapnap to answer. The younger one beams, “Can you get me two white monsters? Also, drive safe. You shouldn't be out this late.”
“It’s only 10 PM, but okay, dad. I’ll see you and Karl in a bit, love you,” Dream says, walking to the aisle with the energy drinks. Sapnap responds quickly, knowing what to say immediately, “Love you, brother.”
Dream pockets his phone after hanging up and grabs two of the zero sugar white monsters, then places them into his basket. He thinks of what else he might want, then proceeds to the chip aisle. Once he;s there, he freezes. George stands in his pajamas, scanning the shelves full of chips. The blond slowly inches forward, focusing on the shelves instead of the man near him. He picks out his bag of chips and plops them into the basket. A gasp is heard from beside him. “What are you doing here?”
“None of us could sleep, we wanted snacks and stuff. What are you doing here?” Dream says defensively. George scoffs, “I couldn’t sleep either.”
The brunet’s face quickly softens. He tugs his own basket closer to his torso, and looks Dream up and down. “How are you?” he asks, shuffling his basket again.
“I’m okay, how are you?” Dream shrugs as he speaks. He watches George carefully. Dream notices him swaying, so he offers a smile. George instantly smiles back, making Dream’s heart swell. “I’m okay, too. What are you doing? Shit, sorry. I know what you’re doing, I just-”
“It’s okay, George,” Dream chuckles. An idea pops into his head, a really wild idea. He’s unsure if George will take him up on the offer, but he decides it's worth a shot. “Wanna go for a drive? Let me take you somewhere.”
“What? You want to take me somewhere?” George questions, bewildered. Nonetheless, he steps forward and Dream knows he has agreed. “Yes, now, let’s go!” Dream orders, rushing to checkout. They quickly scan their items and pay, then run to Dream’s car. They get in and Dream cranks the car up and drives out of the parking lot. He follows the roads and George connects his bluetooth, and Dream knows he’s in a better spot mentally. He’s also not yelling at him, which is a good sign.
They arrive at the place and George hesitates getting out of the car. “The beach?” his voice almost cracks. Dream nods, a smile on his lips. “Promise it’ll be worth it. Follow me.”
He moves to sit down on the sand and George follows him. He points at the sky and sighs. “That is why it’s worth it.”
“It is gorgeous,” George notes, staring at the stars in the sky. He reaches his hand up and drags his finger along the night sky, connecting the stars together. Dream watches him closely. If one was watching him, they could see the adoration written on his face. He feels like a little kid, so giddy as he effuses, “You did that the first time we came here. Do you know constellations?”
“A little. This one is Orion,” he says, moving his finger to show Dream, “The reason we can see it is because of its location, it’s one of the most visible constellations. Its name comes from a hunter in Greek mythology.” The blond lets out a long ‘ah’ in astonishment. He begins to ask for more facts when his phone vibrates.
Dream pulls out his phone to check the message—it’s from Sapnap, wondering where he is. He ignores him and slides his phone back into his sweatpants pocket. “Who is it?” wonders George. Dream smiles gently and answers him, “Sapnap. Asking me where I am.”
“He’s a good friend,” the brunet mentions, staring up at the starry sky. Dream follows his gaze and nods. “He wants to get to know you better, would love to be your friend.”
Dream feels George’s brown eyes on him, can feel his skin heat up at the sensation. He waits for George to speak. George lets out a short breath, as if he doesn’t believe the man. He questions, “He does?” Dream nods, turning his head to meet George’s eyes. There’s something different about tonight, about being on the beach at night. There’s something different between them, something that feels like home. Dream catches the moon’s reflection in George’s eyes and that’s when he knows. The difference is the moonlight. It makes them feel at peace, yet it does have the side that makes someone act wild. Dream would run into the water and drag George along with him if the situation was better than what they have. He knows this because George is the same way: he has a sophisticated side and one side where he can make you laugh for hours. That’s why George is the moonlight, along with his looks.
“I’m sorry for the way I acted the other day. I was wrong, you’re hurting too.” George shivers, Dream casts his glance down to stare at the older one’s frame. Dream doesn’t respond, he just looks up at the moon. A smile forms on George’s lips. He knows he’s forgiven. Silence encompasses them, leaving them with a comforting peace. The ghost of George left Dream long ago when his George came back, so now silence is a beautiful thing. His pearly whites appear as he admires the moon. George decides to speak up again, surprising both of them, “Dream, tell me about the sun and the moon.”
The younger one chuckles, remembering his stream. He sighs softly, “The sun and the moon. I think they’re my favorite story. You see, the moon and the sun are in love, but they’re stuck in this endless chase. They’re rarely out at the same time, but still, they can’t help but admire each other. The moon adores the sun’s rays and the sun is infatuated with the moon’s craters. They made each other love themselves, the sun helped the moon with its insecurity about its craters, and the moon helped it believe it being dangerously hot was a positive thing. But this chase, it’s so difficult for them to love one another because they barely have time together. That’s why I wonder if the moon still loves the sun, but I think I got my answer.”
“I think the moon still loves the sun,” George croons. Dream tries not to cry.
“I do too,” he whispers.
—
Dream steps through the doors of the restaurant. He scans his surroundings, anxiety bubbling in his chest due to being here alone. Sapnap informed him that they’d meet up with him at the restaurant, said that he promised to take Karl to get flowers first. The blond pulls out his phone to check his messages with Sapnap in order to make sure he has the reservation right. He walks up to the host and smiles. With a lilted voice, he says, “Reservation for Jacobs.”
“Right this way,” orders the host, picking up a menu. Dream follows the host to his table until he sees who’s already sitting down. “George, what are you doing here?”
George’s eyes shoot up to meet his green one’s. His lips are parted in shock, and slowly, he opens and closes them like a fish. Finally, words fall from his lips, “Karl told me to meet him here.” Dream sighs, moving to sit down. George stares at him, confusion written on his face. Dream forces out a laugh, “We’ve been set up. This is my fault. I told Karl and Sapnap about our night on the beach, I think they took that as a sign or something. I’m sorry, I can go.”
“No, no. It’s okay. Stay, let’s order. I think it’d be good for us,” George admits. The corners of Dream’s lips tug upwards to form a soft smile. His voice is gentle as he says, “Thank you.”
George matches his smile and signals for the waiter. She comes up to their table with a bright grin on her face. She asks, “Are you two ready to order?” Dream quickly scans the menu and nods his head. They tell her their orders and Dream asks for a glass of water, which she soon comes back with. Dream takes a sip of his water. He clears his throat, “How was the UK?”
George’s eyes widen at the question. He shrugs before he answers, “Good. I needed it, to be honest. Being here reminded me of you too much, watching Dream, you, was all I knew when I got to Florida. Meeting you was always on my mind, along with work, of course. I’ve always been one to have goals and focus on them.” Dream nods his head. “And what are your goals now?”
“Well, one was to avoid you, if I’m being honest. That was hard to do. You’re everywhere.” George takes a sip of his drink, staring at Dream over the glass. Dream chuckles, “You came up to me at Target first.”
For once, George finally grins. It makes Dream’s heart soar. The brunet laughs shortly, “I know. I wanted to. I think with time my goal became to face you. A part of me always wanted to accept the fact that you’re Dream and Clay. I’ve been too angry instead of being honest. I’m done with that.” Dream focuses his eyes onto George’s. He gulps. “And why’s that?”
George doesn’t answer. He stares at Dream with soft eyes and his lips curved down, and then he shrugs. Dream sips his water again, this time wishing it was alcohol—something to force him to be okay with this conversation and not feel like his throat is constricting. Their food comes out soon after that, so then they’re able to eat in silence with a good reason. Dream finishes first and pulls out his wallet to leave a tip. The older one watches him, his gaze intense. Dream moves to stand up, but George stops him. “Can we go to your house? I’ll follow you in my car.”
Dream’s mouth falls agape at the request. His lips move, but no words come out. He finally sucks in a deep breath and nods. The brunet pushes his plate away immediately and stands with Dream. He doesn’t argue when Dream pays, and he follows him out the door. Dream orders for him to drive safe before he walks off. They get into their own cars and George follows him to his house.
Once they arrive and meet at the front door, George surprises him. He suggests, “Let’s go to your studio.” Dream’s eyes widen, but he nods and leads the way. George immediately moves to the PC to power it on. He watches the login screen pop up and he motions for Dream to sign in. The blond sits down and logs in, then glances up at George. “What now?”
“Pull up Minecraft,” George demands, pulling up a chair. He sits down beside Dream and their elbows knock together. Dream eyes him, then does as George says. “Why?” he questions.
“Teach me how to be good at Minecraft.” Their shoulders hit each other. Dream can’t help but smile, his pearly whites showing. He manages to smirk, his eyes meeting George’s. “You need to come here for that.”
A flush covers George’s cheeks and nose. He shakes his head, but scoots closer. His knee hits Dream’s, but neither says a word. Dream loads up a new world and instantly gathers wood and cobble, then crafts a stone axe and pickaxe. He runs up to a sheep. “Every time you hit a mob, you want to jump and swing. It’s a critical hit,” he informs.
George nods his head, a soft smile on his lips. Dream watches him for a moment and licks his lips. He takes a deep breath. “Stay the night,” Dream pleads, “I'll sleep on the couch, you can take my bed.”
George’s lips part as he turns his head to look at Dream. The blond watches him think it over, notices the slight furrow in his brows. He breathes gently and answers, “Okay.”
“Okay? Seriously? I’ll teach you Minecraft all night,” Dream playfully threatens, but there’s hope laced in his voice. George nods, then focuses back onto the monitor. “I’m okay with that,” he confesses.
—
“George,” Dream calls softly, flipping the light on. He steps toward the bed where George lays and smiles at the sight of the man wrapped up in the blankets—Dream’s blankets. He sits down on the edge of the bed and carefully runs a hand through George’s messed up hair. He sighs gently, stroking his cheek and ear. He hates to ruin the moment, but he has a plan for today.
“Psst, George. Wake up,” Dream whispers, shaking George gently. The brunet groans and rolls over, tossing an arm over his eyes to shield them away from the light. Dream shakes him again and whispers loudly, “Wake up! I want to take you somewhere.”
“Where?” George mumbles, his voice ever so gentle. He squints his eyes open ever so slightly to where Dream can see a sliver of chocolate brown. Dream stands up quickly, not wanting to intrude in George’s space now that he is awake. The blond clears his throat, “It’s a surprise.”
“Oh, great,” George mumbles, sitting up in bed. He blinks his eyes slowly to try and get used to the bright light, but then Dream notices and steps in the way, casting a shadow on George. George stares up at him with a confused look; he’s still trying to wake up. Dream smiles at him, his eyes crinkling at the sides. “I’ll meet you in the living room.”
Dream forces his back to George and rushes out the door and into the living room. He sits on the couch as he waits for George, and soon the older one comes in with a new outfit. He’s wearing a gray shirt that appears to be two sizes bigger than him, but he has on the same black jeans he wore yesterday. Dream gulps, “You’re wearing my shirt.”
George shrugs, pursing his lips. “Mine felt dirty since I slept in it,” he informs.
“That’s fair. Uhm, let’s go,” Dream exhales shakily. He grabs his keys and walks to his car, George following behind him. He backs out of the driveway, careful not to hit George’s car, and starts on the road. George connects his bluetooth, his hands slipping on the buttons. They laugh together, and this time, they talk to each other during the drive.
Dream pulls up to the house and George furrows his eyebrows. “Where are we?”
“My mom’s house, but that’s not why we’re here. Follow me,” Dream states, getting out of the car. He heads for the forest and George catches up with him so they can walk side-by-side. “Why are we here?”
George stops at the start of the trees, forcing Dream to turn around and face him. He looks down at George with wide pleading eyes. “You’re going to love it, I promise. You just need to trust me,” he explains, taking a step backwards into the woods. George sighs before nodding, “Okay. I trust you.”
Dream turns around and steps deeper into the forest. He looks around the trees, scanning the area for the spot he and Sapnap sat on the rock at. He glances back at George to catch him staring at the moss covering the rocks and trunks of the trees. The blond grins, his pearly whites showing. Sticks snap under their feet, but neither care. Dream soon finds the giant rock and hops onto it. He bends down, offering his hand to George. Surprisingly, he accepts it and allows Dream to help hoist him up onto the rock. George sits down immediately, making Dream chuckle. “You scared?”
“Shut up.” George rolls his eyes playfully, then he catches the sight of the sun shining through the trees. His jaw drops slightly as he stares. Dream nods and he takes a deep breath, “It’s pretty, isn’t it? I love looking up at the sky and seeing the sun shine through the leaves.”
George angles his neck to look up at the sky. Dream decides at this moment, if the trees were to collapse on them, he’d be okay with going out. As long as he has George. Abruptly, he stops staring at the sky to look at George. He watches his eyes move around, taking in every part of the sky. The blond takes a deep breath, “George.” George drops his head to meet Dream’s green eyes. “Yeah?”
Dream looks away from him and begins to pick at the skin around his fingernails. He sniffs and wipes his eye to try and trick it into not shedding tears. He stares at the sticks and leaves on the ground, then sighs gently. “George, I’ll be right back,” he decides, then he jumps off the rock and runs for the car.
He retrieves an item from his car and runs back to George, leaving him out of breath. George stares at him bewildered. George questions him immediately, “What just happened?” Dream takes a deep breath and offers him the item—the scrapbook. He hops back onto the giant rock while George stares down at the object, running his fingers over the cover. “It’s a scrapbook. This is how I was going to tell you I was Dream. I was going to show you how much you meant to me, show what we had, apologize profusely, and hope you’d stay. George, I messed up, I know that. There’s no changing the past, so all I can do is hope.”
George nods, flipping through the pages full of pictures of them and lovey-dovey stickers. He sucks in a harsh breath, but continues scanning the pages. Dream decides to continue, “George, I’d give you all the years of my life, whether it be we spend those years together or me fixing us. If neither of those are the case, then I’ll be spending my whole life getting over you. I’ll learn to accept the fact that we’re over, but I just needed you to see this. You mean everything to me, George. I’ll always be in love with you.”
“Don’t say that when it isn’t true,” George barks, his head still angled down to look at the scrapbook. Dream sighs, “It is true. My heart is yours.”
The younger one turns his head to look at George with tears spilling down his cheeks. George notices the movement in the corner of his eye and glances up, his face softening when he sees Dream crying. His lips press into a thin line as he thinks, and Dream watches his eyes well up with tears. The brunet closes the scrapbook and places it by his side, then turns to face Dream fully. He sniffles, then a hand comes around to lay on the back of Dream’s neck. His head is forced closer until their foreheads knock against each other. Their eyes close and Dream hears George sniffle. Dream opens his eyes and watches George cry.
“I f-forgive you, Clay. You’re my Dream. I love you so much, I tried not to, but I just couldn’t stop myself. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, you’re all I’ve dreamed about. Please, never hurt me again,” George sobs, rubbing his forehead against Dream’s. Dream caresses George’s cheeks, forcing the brunet to open his eyes. “You mean too much for that, I’m never going to hurt you again. I love you so much, George.”
George is the first to connect their lips together. He presses into him as if his body relies on Dream to live, for his heart to beat. Dream’s heart already beats for no one but George. Their breaths mix as the kiss becomes more passionate.
They share a moment for just themselves in the forest, it’s a moment of George giving his heart back to Dream and it’s Dream’s heart repairing itself with George’s love. It’s forgiveness and restoration. They kiss under the sunshine as their own lights meet and one reflects off of the other. The moon and sun find each other again.