warmth [dreamnotfound] | ✓

chapter seventeen. feels like we only go backwards.

4:40 PM.

When George woke up, the car was parked in a gas station and Dream was inside. Or so he guessed. The car was off and the keys were gone but the doors were locked and George pulled on the lock as he blinked the sleep out of his eyes, popping the door open.

He squinted in the bright Floridian sunlight and looked around for a moment, closing the door and stepping into the gas station. He could only presume that was where his friend had gone. George stretched his arms and wandered down the first aisle he spotted, looking around for Dream. After a moment, he spotted a tuft of blond hair disappearing around a corner.

"Oh Dream..." he whispered, following the boy and tapping on his shoulder. Dream whirled around with a look of surprise, nearly knocking the sunglasses off his nose.

"George! What are you doing in here?"

"I woke up and figured you were doing something inside so I thought I'd come bother you."

It was then when he noticed what was in Dream's hands. He had two tall bottles, one of lemonade and the other of Coke, along with snacks. Nothing sugary but he did have a couple bags of chips and a wrapped platter of cheese, crackers, and sliced meat. It looked like a proper meal.

"What are you gonna do with all of that?"

"It's for us! For dinner."

"Dream, dinner isn't for another hour or two and we'll be in Orlando by then anyway," George questioned as the two started walking toward the check-out counter. Dream just shrugged and set the items down.

"We'll eat it in Orlando then." He paid for the snacks and headed back out to the car with George trailing on his heels. The taller was about to walk toward the driver's side when a hand gripping the back of his shirt stopped him. "George what-"

"I'm going to drive the rest of the way."

"What? No? I can do it." Dream shook of George's hand and opened the back door, setting the food and drinks on the back seat. "You can just relax and take your pictures, okay?"

George frowned. "Dream no, I'm going to drive the rest of the way." He needed to do something for his friend. The friend who he'd made drive almost the entire previous day. The friend who had to comfort him through a fucking panic attack. The friend who got him out of L'Manberg. George needed to repay him somehow, even if it was in the smallest way possible. He was going to do this whether Dream wanted him to or not.

Dream turned to him, slamming the door slightly on the car and facing him head-on. This was the first time they'd been standing so close and George couldn't help but look up. Dream was over half-a-foot taller than him. "George seriously, I got it."

The older boy held his ground. "I just- I want to drive you to Orlando. You deserve a break."

"But what if I don't want one?"

George took a step forward. "You're just gonna have to deal with it then." He got an idea. He stared dead into the green eyes, leaning in close with a smile across his lips. Dream took a step back until he was pressed against the car, face flushing a dark red. George could feel Dream's breathing hitch slightly and knew it was working. His distraction tactic was a success.

"What are you-"

He grabbed the keys out of Dream's stunned hand and lept back with a cheer. "Ha! Got you Dream!"

Dream's reaction was way too delayed. He stared for just a moment too long at the spot where George's face had been before noticing the missing keys. "GEORGE!" He chased the older boy in a circle around the car, completely determined to get the keys back.

His surprise wouldn't work if George was driving. He would get suspicious sooner or later and the plan would fail and Dream would have to explain himself and that was something he simply couldn't do. He couldn't fail. He would have to drive the rest of the way. And yet, George pulled open the door and hopped into the driver's seat with a whoop.

Dream stood outside of the car, leaning against the open door and peering inside at the British boy. He was adjusting the seat to his shorter height, messing with the rearview mirror and turning the key to start the vehicle. "Come on, George. Let me drive."

"Nope." George popped the 'p' obnoxiously and turned back to his friend. "Why do you want to drive so badly anyway? Yesterday you wouldn't stop asking for breaks."

"Uh-" Dream could feel his face growing red and was glad for the sunglasses that covered the tops of his flushed cheeks. "I just want to drive, is that so hard to believe?"

"Yes it is, Dream." George's dark eyes narrowed and he put his hands on the steering wheel. "I am going to drive and you're going to take a break and you're going to appreciate it." His voice sounded a bit more strained than he intended. More upset.

"You okay, George?" Dream bent down to his height, poking his head into the car. "Why do you want to drive so bad?"

George sighed, unable to make eye contact. "I... I already said it, but I want to give you a break. I want to drive you to Orlando, Dream. You've earned it. For paying for everything... doing most of the driving... please Dream?"

And just like that, Dream's resolve cracked before shattering completely. His mind raced with a dozen other ways that the surprise could still work out as he stared into dark eyes and felt a little smile tug at his lips. George cared about him. It might not have been the romantic confession of his dreams, but it was nice to be confirmed and so Dream slowly nodded, backing away from the driver's side and walking around to the passenger seat. He slid in and gave George a little grin.

"Alright then, just one rule: you have to follow the GPS, no matter what."

"Huh?" George closed the door and watched the device flicker on, loading up the previous route before continuing it. "Why wouldn't I do that?"

"I can't really explain, but I need you to trust it. Trust me."

George felt suspicion creeping up on him. Something was off here. Was there something wrong with the GPS? Something wrong with Dream? Did he change his mind and set the route to L'Manberg? "Dream, you're not making sense."

"I know but... just trust me, alright?"

"Um, okay."

George pulled out of the parking lot and started on the route the GPS gave him, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He trusted Dream, that much was true, but he didn't know why the boy felt the need to clarify something that he was already doing. George was always the mysterious one here. Dream was always straightforward. He didn't like the sudden role reversal and wondered when they could switch back.

Either way, George was happy to be in the driver's seat, even if it came with an awkward tension between he and Dream. He could change the radio station at will and take in the scenery and finally get his first good look at Florida. He didn't really mind the state, but he knew it would be perfect for his friend. The sunshine would tan his skin to a beautiful gold and the heat would add little waves to his hair. He would fit in with the locals perfectly and make friends and find love...

Okay, maybe he didn't want to think about that. George shook the idea out of his head and turned to look at the boy, who was watching the road signs intently and reading each one. Big town names zoomed past: Orlando, Miami, Naples, Tampa. He recognized most of them but most of all, the one where Dream would be living for the next four years. Orlando. In just a few short hours, they would be pulling into the town and George would be waving goodbye to his best friend. He gleaned down at the GPS and saw the angry black numbers staring back at him. They would arrive at their destination in two hours.

He didn't want to think about that either.