warmth [dreamnotfound] | ✓

chapter sixteen. falling for u.

12:45 PM.

Dream and George sat across from each other in the Atlanta Waffle House, both eying the menu but one sneaking glances at the other.

George had decided a while ago that he was simply going to ignore all feelings for his friend from that moment onward and thus refused to acknowledge the fact that he couldn't take his eyes off of Dream. The boy's sunglasses were nestled amongst his hair and the bruise on his nose was starting to fade. He smiled to himself as he looked over the options for lunch and George felt his heart skip. He ignored it.

If he were honest with himself, George would understand what he was feeling. He would acknowledge it and accept himself and carry on through life knowing that he'd had a crush on his best friend for more years than he'd like to admit before letting him go for good instead of shooting his shot, but nothing was ever that easy and so he lied. To Dream. To himself.

"Are you boys ready to order yet?"

"Uh, yeah," George managed to get out before ordering one waffle and a water. Dream got the same but with apple juice. The woman walked away and they were left alone again, this time without the menus to distract them.

"So how'd you sleep?" Dream asked casually. He still looked a little sleepy, but much better than the previous day. He looked happier too.

"Not too bad," George danced around the words at the tip of his tongue. Ones about cuddles and heat and a hand on his bare waist. "I'm still a bit tired though."

"You can sleep in the car."

"Don't you need your travel buddy though?" George felt bad leaving Dream alone after making him drive most of the previous day. The more he thought about the previous day as a whole, the guiltier he felt. George decided that he was going to forget it and start over. Well, he was going to forget about the bad parts.

"George, if you're tired you can sleep. I won't mind." Dream looked at him with genuine golden eyes and George froze, unable to do anything but nod. He was starting to remember how he'd felt years ago and why he'd distanced himself so much from that part of his past. It made sense though, right? Anyone would feel something funny in their chest if Dream looked at them like that... right? "Unless you miss cuddling with me too much?"

The look on George's face must've been nothing short of awful because Dream immediately lost it. He shook with laughter, smacking his hand against the table lightly. "YOU DO! ADMIT IT!"

"Do not! You were so fucking warm and wouldn't stop kicking me! That's why I'm so tired, you- you-" George couldn't finish his sentence over Dream's laughter, settling for jokingly glaring at the boy until his wheezing died down. "I- I'm not even going to try with you Dream."

"Come on George, you're no fun." He stretched and leaned back in his seat slightly. "It's fine though. You cuddled into me so I know you liked it."

"Fuck you, Dream. I will take the keys to the car and walk out right now and leave you in this fucking Waffle House."

"You would never, Georgie."

"That's it!" George could hardly keep the laughter in as he tried to stand up jokingly but Dream grabbed his wrist and stopped him. He froze dead on the spot and whirled around. Dream didn't let him go. The blond could definitely feel his pulse and could probably tell his heart was about to explode.

"Fine George, I'll be nice! We only have like six hours left anyway..." They would be to Orlando by dinnertime. Dream would be gone for good. George sat back down.

Shortly after, their waffles arrived and the two fell back into a comfortable quiet that mixed well with the busy atmosphere of the restaurant. Not long after, they were back in the parking lot and George was moving the boxes behind his seat out of the way so he could pull a lever and lean the passenger seat back a bit. He stretched out and rested his feet on the dashboard and Dream was back behind the driver's seat, plugging his phone into the aux cord and starting the car again.

Traveling through Atlanta wasn't too bad. It got a little busy at times, but George spent most of it watching out the window and snapping pictures occasionally. He was building quite the collection now and, as they left the city, he scrolled through it and saved some of his favorites.

The pictures of Dream seemed to stare at him and he felt his face warm as he looked at them. The real Dream was paying no attention, lost in his thought as he drove with two hands and hummed to the song on the speakers. George let him be, watching him out of the corner of his eye every once in a while to make sure he was doing alright.

The British boy was a lot more observant than most gave him credit for. He knew Dream had been crying the previous day. He knew his friend very well and could take a few good guesses as to what he was thinking of. He didn't push though. If Dream didn't want to talk, he wasn't going to force it.

Eventually, he turned off his phone. The picture of Dream staring into the sunset seemed to be burned into his eyelids as he felt his eyes flicker closed and rolled onto his side, readjusting his seatbelt before slipping into a peaceful sleep.

-

Dream had always known he wasn't straight. It was never really a question for him, he just felt the same way about boys as he did girls and that was always okay. He never had anyone to tell and so he never did, but he always knew. That was all that mattered.

So as he drove down GA-401 for hours on end, he thought about his feelings for George. It was obvious he had them, that much was true. There was no hiding it. When he looked over at the sleeping boy beside him, a smile crossed his lips and that didn't happen with just anyone. It wasn't that surprising that it happened either. Dream had a bit of a history for falling for anyone who even treated him to even the slightest affection. Maybe it wasn't the best, but it was just how his brain seemed to work so he never questioned it.

It was only inevitable that he developed feelings for George. He saw the way the boy looked at him. How he blushed when they held hands. How he'd looked against Dream's chest in that little motel bed. Dream didn't want it to end. He wanted to feel the way he felt when he was with George forever. He wanted to be loved.

That realization followed him through Georgia and into northern Florida as midday shifted to later afternoon. He sped down the highways, going nearly 20 over the speed limit just to keep himself interested. His playlist had cycled through so he put on a radio station. It was definitely something George would like if he were awake.

He almost wanted to wake the older boy. Wanted to take his last couple hours with him selfishly, spending every minute soaking up his energy and his laughter and his smile. But Dream left him alone. He let George sleep. He wasn't sure where the brunet was going, but he would probably need the sleep.

Dream couldn't imagine George staying in Florida. His friend had never liked heat or sun and besides, where would he stay? Dream would gladly let him live in his dorm in a heartbeat, but he knew there would be no space and his roommate wouldn't allow it and if he got caught... Dream couldn't risk getting kicked out of college. He'd have nowhere to go.

It was nearly 3:30 now and Dream watched a sign whiz past that let him know he was entering Florida. It was a cute sign with a little graphic of a sunset over an ocean. As Dream's gaze shifted over to George's sleeping form, he got an idea.

It was a really good one and the blond knew in a heartbeat that there would be no going back from it. If he did it, who knew what would happen. But that could be a good thing. It could buy him time. Maybe George could figure out his feelings in that time. Maybe Dream could work up the courage to speak his aloud. What would happen if they did though?

So many thoughts raced through Dream's brain as he tapped on the steering wheel nervously. The same idea circled through his head over and over and over until it was practically screaming at him from all sides.

"Okay that's it. I'm doing it."