Chapter Text
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George was content with his uneventful routine.
He woke up early, attended his classes, and worked at his part-time job with his best friend. The main part of his week was the hockey game that Sapnap dragged him to. Even though George wasn't a fan of sports, he appreciated Sapnap's enthusiasm and the chance to get out of the house, since he never attends the dozens of parties he gets invited to by Sapnap. The games were always freezing, and George would bundle up in several layers of clothes just to stay warm. Despite the cold, he enjoyed the comfort of the crowd and the excitement of watching the players glide across the ice, even if he's antisocial. It makes him feel less alone. George enjoyed the simplicity of his life. He liked his routine, and stuck with it.
But he also loved that he got to feel involved in something, even if it's something as silly as a university game. Though he’d never admit it to Sapnap, his head doesn’t need to be any bigger.
He'd been sat on the couch in the living room of his and Sapnaps small home. It was cozy, a small two bedroom and 1/2 bath, and easy to maintain. It had history, it was his very own, and he loved it. He was waiting for Sapnap to finish finding his missing ice skate and his "lucky hockey puck" which, George didn't know those existed. It had snowed all day, and George was positive they'd end up getting snowed in if he didn't hurry.
Sapnap was slouched over in the hallway closet, scavenging through the shoes, bags, and his hockey sticks in a major rush.
"Found it!! Hell yes!" Sapnap shouted "Alright, let's go now before I'm late for startup. Coach will be on my ass" George removes his blanket and gets up from the couch, returning his phone to his hoodie pocket and walking towards the front door.
"For the 6th time the past 4 months? Surprised he's still shocked" George stated with a laugh. "And is Dream still captain? Isn't he your literal brother?"
Sapnap and George agreed to move in after high school together. They'd been the closest, and that meant that Dream always found his way in somewhere, no matter how much of a sensitive topic he was.
"Yes. But he's still in charge of telling our coach who's late and who's on time. He's already covered for me twice, I can't do it again" Sapnap exaggerated with attitude, picking his bags up and rushing toward the front door from his spot on the floor of the hallway. "Well let's go then??" He's the first out of the house, tripping on George's garden gnomes sat on the porch steps. They were cute, bought during spring. George takes pride. "Watch it!! Those are mine" George yells. They're both rushing toward the car now, Sapnap on the driver side and George on the passenger. They pulled off, Sapnap never finding his missing hockey skate.
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"I don't know why I still bother to with these games. It's mid October and freezing outside" George says, the cold air smoke around their breath. He hates cold weather. Christmas is nice though. Shutting his car door, they’re both walking toward the rink beside their college. The campus was beautiful, a three story school and the dorm buildings beside it, the football field across the road and skate rink right next door. The red and white flag was waving side to side, blown around with the wind with the big yellow bear on it. It was basically dark out, with daylight savings time leaving a clear dusk on the horizon. "Only a few minutes late, I'm sure Dream won't mind. And you love me, that’s why" Sapnap smiles anxiously. "Well. Considering he's an arse half the time I'd be surprised he doesn't. And hardly" he says with a laugh.
George was never a fan of Dream. Dream never did his work in any class, with somehow straight As. He got babied by every teacher for being "a class clown". He got everything he wanted, and hockey was his only personality trait. It seemed to be the only thing he cared about, in George's opinion. And that was only half of what George could say about him. He was always picking on George in some manner, being "a rude arrogant prick" as he'd say, or trying to "aggressively flirt" what he calls it.
Sapnap has told him to cool it, and he did. For awhile. But he started right back up again.
"He's not that bad. I told him to back off, didn't I?" Sapnap tells him, while they're walking to the rink. "Doesn't mean I hate him any less. Or that he listened for that matter" he rolls his eyes at George's remark. "You guys will love each other soon enough. For the sake of me, you have to tolerate him anyway. Since you come to my games, and he's my brother" George roles his eyes.
They walk into the rink, going to the locker room around the bleachers of the arena, George following along to help carry Sapnaps bag and extra sticks. He did mention having to borrow a spare set of skates, that would end up getting him in trouble.
"See. We made it, you're just dramatic" George proves to him while Sapnap is quickly dropping everything and shoving what he's carrying into his locker and begins changing into his red and white jersey, with the big "5" across the front.
"Well barely. Now set that bag down, and can you grab my socks out of it? I forgot to throw them on"
He looks down at Sapnaps sandled feet. He quacks out a laugh, and Sapnap begins to pout.
"Just help me. Dickhead"
He grabs the sock for him, watching him finish getting in his uniform as Dream walks up to where Sapnap is standing at his locker, with that stupid, atrocious, cat beanie. Shoving his extra stick and lucky puck in, but looking at George ."Hey honey. I missed you" throwing him a wink and going in for a fake hug with a kissy face.
"Shut it. I'm going to sit Sap. Need anything else?" George asks him. "I need something" another wink. "Please stop flirting. Dream help me tie this damn skate. The thing barely fits" he exaggerates. George throws his arms up in confusion, and gives up. He turns around, hearing "Leaving so soon sweetheart?" In the distance. He flips him off as he's going to have a seat, Dream wheezing and watching George walk off.
He makes his way toward the bleachers, he's sat in the front row where he can see through the glass best. It's cold, but he enjoys the view. He sees Karl, Sapnap, and Dream skate out first. This would be the 5th match he's come to watch this year. Sapnap says "it's better luck" when George comes to watch. They've won every game but 1, the players on the opposing team were 3x bigger. So they were bound to lose, Sapnap explained to him at that time.
He watched as they get into starting position. Each team having around 20 members, Sapnap having a little trouble with his skates.
The buzzer blared, signaling the start of the game. The players took off, skating across the ice with lightning speed. Despard had the puck, and they went back and forth. Dream, who had already won every point but three tosses it to Sapnap. The crowd roared with excitement, their cheers echoing through the arena.
George watched intently as he took control of the puck and skillfully shot it through the opposing team's net. George leaps out of his seat, cheering loudly along with the rest of the fans. Sapnap was surrounded by his teammates, who congratulate him with cheers and hugs, helmets clanging together in celebration. The team had won the first round, and only one more remained.
George moves from his seat, and goes back behind the rink toward the concession. "A tea, please." He smiles at the tall, curly haired man taking orders. "2 dollars, that'll be all for you then?” The man says with a blushing smile. He remembers Sapnaps request. "Oh. Sorry, could I get a candy bar too?" He asks. "Yes. Of course, free for you." The tall man winks at George, and George smiles back. He's certainly not ugly, or being creepy. So a win for him he supposed.
George hands him the money, and turns around to move back to his seat as the line continues. He sees Sapnap huddled around with Dream, Karl and a few others near the stand and walks up to them. "Winning huh?" He asks Sapnap. "So far dude! Can't believe it. With these damn things too" he wiggles his loose skate up in the air to prove to George.
"I bought you this" he hands the Twix to Sapnap. "Thanks Gog" he takes the Twix and starts opening it. George rolls his eyes at the nickname. "Was that concession guy flirting with you? I seen him wink" he nudges George with his shoulder in a suggestive manner. "I suppose so. Not exactly" he blushes, brushing it off. He'd never made it officially clear that he liked guys, but Sapnap always had that “feeling”
Best friend intuition, he gets. And George never denied it.
Dream begins to interrupt the conversation. "So when are we doing that, next weekend? Or the one after." He butts in. Changing the subject from whatever he was talking about with Karl, taking attention away from the concession stand man. George gives him a twisted look. "Oh. Um, I have to ask George still." "Ask what?" He replies. The announcers loud speaker voices in "The game will start again in about 3 minutes, everyone please return to your seats." "I bet he says no" Dream smiles.
"To what??" George asks, aggravated. "I'll ask after the match, go sit, quick. bye bye" George once again, shrugs in confusion, and watches as the team rushes back to the locker room. And George makes his way back to his seat.
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They all in all win the match. It's 35-24, close but not close enough for them to have lost. Dream scores the winning point, receiving all of the usual hugs and cheers to him.
He watches as everyone leaves the bleachers. The opposing teams fans leaving with disappointment and frustration, but at least they tried. Oh well
He waits a few minutes to get a message from Sapnap that says he's ready for him to come back, now deciding to head over to the trash cans beside the concession stand to throw out his cup. He notices a line of numbers written on it. Concession stand man. The tall, curly haired man walks up behind him, on his way out from the door of the concession stand.
"Hey. I never got your name" he says, smiling. "It's George, what's yours" he smiles back at him. "It's Ben. But I wanted to ask you if I could maybe-" he's cut off by Dream walking up towards them and bumping into Ben. He gives an annoyed look. "Oh. Sorry." He rudely interrupts "Hey, Sapnap said he's ready. Want me to walk you to him?" Dream asks him. "Oh um. Sure? I guess." George turns to see Ben, "Another time. Sorry" Dream rolls his eyes at Ben as they walk off, him following close behind George.
"The hell was that for?" George exasperates. "Saving your ass, kids weird" Dream states. "And you're not? With the 'honey' and 'sweetheart'. Fucking prick. And get off me" he shrugs Dreams hand away from the spot on his waist. "Don't be a dick to me. You just got saved" He explains with a serious, straight face. Incredible. "I would've rather fell into the bin I was tossing my trash into. Please remove your hand" he shrugs Dreams hand away, once again.
"Did you get my message?" Sapnap asks, walking up to the two and giving Dream the usual handshake. "No, was dealing with dickhead here. What did you need earlier" he asks. Sapnap already smiling. "I'll tell you when I get home. Remind me to add you to our hockey groupchat, just a few of the guys and me. And Dream I set the skates in the closet by Karl's locker." He was in a clear rush to finish talking, running around the arena with exhilaration and after George had waited for him to get out of the bathroom he'd helped Sapnap carry all of the bags back out to the car. "What did he do now?" He asks as George shuts the trunk. "Just be Dream. I have every reason to hate him for that alone"
George kind of had a point. He sat in his seat of the car, thinking about the stupid stuff Dream would do.
The first year of college, Dream would purposely spill his milk on George. He'd steal George's pencils, move his books around the room, and when George went to the hockey games, he'd steal George's phone or house key and hide them in his locker. George never liked him. He called George several names, words he didn't even know existed. "Twat" was one. Which, what even? And, pushed him in the hallway once over a comment about his hockey skills. And most recently, he's acted flirty. In a joking manner. And George hates immaturity. He's never put up with it, and he doesn't intend to start now. He watches out the car window as Sapnap drives smoothly back to their home.
He never quite understood the concept of being enemies with his life long best friends brother, it's extremely niche though, in his eyes.
"You'll warm up. Anyway, Me, Dream-" George interrupts Sapnap. "No. I'm not going" he shrugs.
"No. It's not even a party" Sapnap whined. "As I was saying. Me, Dream, and Karl were going to have a small Halloween get together. Since we don't have school on Halloween this year, we thought it'd be fun to go to either ours or Karl's, and watch a few movies. Maybe drinks, probably not. But that's it. Nothing too too crazy"
"Ours. But no drinks at our house, you of all people know how I feel about alcohol." George explains to him. "Okay. Deal, no drinking. But you'll allow it?" Sapnap asks, eyes sparkling with hope. parking the car beside their house on the street. "Yes, deal." He starts fist bumping the air
"Yes! Dream owes me" Sapnap shouts "WOO" he gets out of the car, running up to the house with his hockey gear.
George follows, wondering why he let this man move in with him.
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After George had ordered pizza for dinner because Sapnap's failed attempt at making lasagna, it was about 10pm. He forgot about the recent coding assignment that was given out. It was the rubric, anyway. What he had to do to get the most points and what would cause him to get a better grade, and it was a partner project, too. Mrs Clifford would end up picking the partners herself, she does every time. He sat at the kitchen island going over his notes and Sapnap is sat on the counter across, on his phone and munching his pizza.
"I added you to that groupchat. Just me, you, Dream and Karl." George nods to what he says. Eating his pizza, and finishing his notes. "Well. I'm gonna go play some games in the living room, join if you want. If not, goodnight" he smiles at George. Giving him a big hug from behind on the way to the living room, George of course laughing it off and faking disgust.
George knew he probably wouldn't. Any other night, sure. But he had a programming test tomorrow, along with the project for starting. Which, each class about an hour and a half, he knew he'd need sleep.
He headed back, stepping over the mess Sapnap made earlier in the hallway and toward the bathroom by his room. Sapnap got the bedroom with the half bath, and George got the bigger room. So, each of them really won in the case.
He began to strip his clothing, and start the showers warm water. Holding his hand out and wait for it to be the right temperature, his phone buzzed.
He shook the water off of his hands and wiped them with the hand towel hanging up. He unlocks his phone to a message from an unknown number, and can only assume he knows who it is by the message.
unknown: hey cutie. wyd :)
george: pls leave me alone. im showering.
unknown: without me?! :0
George rolls his eyes. Once again, immaturity. He couldn't deal with it. He puts on an act, but is a dick in true form.
unknown: im sry. got ur number from the gc. goodnight sweety pie <3
George see ignores it, and continues on with his shower.
He doesn't quite understand Dream. One minute it's poking fun, calling him pet names. Next he's shoving him or pouring milk on his book-bag.
Sapnap doesn't like the distance between them, always wanted them to be a trio. The "dream team" as Sapnap once referred to them as. But in all honesty, George can't see a life where he can physically, or mentally, stand Dream.
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Afterward, George lays in bed. Drifting into a peaceful sleep, hearing Sapnap yell through the wall at his video games. The typical night in their household. "Get the fucking blaze are you stupid!!??" Hearing Karl's screech on the other line. Dreams wheeze too.
He opens his phone
george: goodnight. delete my # if u keep it up.
saps brother: goodnight 'gogs'
He rolls his eyes. Immaturity
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End of chapter one