For a few days Dream stayed up all night and slept all day, looking at his phone and playing games on his computer. Having no responsibilities felt great. No school to wake up for. It was awesome to do whatever he wants. But it didn't take long for Sapnap and George to rudely storm into his bedroom and drag him out.
"You said we were gonna do fun stuff this summer!" Sapnap whines, pulling Dream up off his bed.
"We are! It's only been like two days dude." Dream laughed.
George shook his head from behind Sapnap, "Um no, it's been five. Sapnap and I have been so lonely without you! Every time we come over you're dead asleep." Sapnap nodded in agreement, letting go of Dreams hand when he was finally standing.
"Sorry..." Dream said. Trailing off down the hall to the bathroom, George and Sapnap close behind. "I was tired." He said as he grabbed his toothbrush from the drawer. George and Sapnap stood in the hall watching him like they've never seen someone brush their teeth before.
"Whatever. We're gonna go to the amusement park, the one with the waterpark by it." Sapnap said excitedly, turning to shake George who was now looking at something on his phone and not paying attention. George mumbled for Sapnap to stop as he shook his shoulders.
"Okay well I wanna shower first." Dream moved Sapnap and George further out into the hall so he could close the door. His toothbrush hanging out of his mouth and toothpaste foam dribbling down his chin. George nodded, leaving to go sit on the couch and wait, and dragging Sapnap with him.
After Dream speedran the shower they all loaded in George's smelly minivan and began their journey to the amusement park. They've been a couple times but never all together. George has never been too fond of rollercoasters and Sapnap usually doesn't have enough extra money to go. Luckily the stars aligned today. George blasted some annoying movie soundtrack while Sapnap gave pained looks to Dream in the back seat. George never lets anyone else have the aux in his car, he argues some bullshit about how 'I'm the one who pays for this car, I should get to decide the music!' So Sapnap and Dream just have to suffer through whatever headache inducing music he's obsessed with at the moment.
When they got into the park Sapnap didn't waste any time to start dragging his friends to the biggest rollercoaster there. He ignored Dream when he suggested they save the best for last. George groaned, probably already regretting going there. Dream had to find some way to endure Georges whining and Sapnaps overly dramatic screams when there was a drop on the roller coaster.
Several hours of running around the park and going on every ride at least four times was beginning to take a toll on Dream. His eyes blinked slower as they weaved through people and judged line lengths. Dream had been lazily trailing behind Sapnap and Dream for the past thirty minutes. His friends were having a quarrel about the history of one particular ride.
"No you idiot! It was built in 1922 and was the first rollercoaster ever." George insisted, throwing his hands up.
Sapnap groaned impatiently, "Are you dumb? 1922? Rollercoasters have been around for a lot longer than that, right Dream?"
"Huh?" Dream whipped his head up from the ground he had been so intently looking at. "I have no idea. Google it."
The two nodded their heads, cursing each other for not thinking of it ten minutes ago when their argument began. "Look! This says the first rollercoaster was built in 1884!" Sapnap cheered, shoving his phone in Georges face despite the brunet scowling like he just lost a battle.
For the sake of his own sanity Dream has to zone out from the conversation. Fixing his ears on the sound of people around them. He can hear a group of adults having a conversation about car crash that happened a few days ago, the sound of high pitched screams rushing by, and people munching on popcorn. Dream watches the people, taking a look at their shoes. He's always liked to take note of what shoes people are wearing. It's a funny thing, how what shoes someone wears can say so much about them. A middle aged mother with two little kids, she is wearing converse and the kids are wearing matching glitter vans. One kids shoelaces are untied. A young pair of friends, the taller one has super dirty off brand sneakers and the shorter has brown sandals. Maybe they come from different money.
Dream looks up as two guys wearing nikes walk past. His gaze zooms out so he can see their whole bodies. The one on the left is talking while the other is listening. Dream notices that they're holding hands. The one whose listening has his free hand wrapped around the others bicep.
Damn. Something about that makes Dream hurt. What if that where him and Sapnap? Dream doesn't want to let the thought linger for too long. They've held hands before. They hold hands all the time, but it's never quite like that. At least Dream doesn't think it is. He assumes it isn't the same thing to Sapnap.
But Sapnap loves when Dream holds his hand. Sometimes it's only briefly, just for a moment he'll feel the comforting touch of Dreams hand on his. Whether it's while sitting at lunch or walking to George's house, their hands seem to find each other. It's always been something about physically touching each other. Sapnap knows it would be so difficult for them to be friends if they weren't able to touch each other all the time. It wouldn't be the same.
The first time their fingers intertwined was at a concert when they were 16. Sapnap could feel his chest getting tight, he couldn't stop imagining the audience was closing in on him. Squished between a bunch of strangers in a small venue with little to no fresh air. Admittedly, Sapnap wanted to go home. He wanted to make a run for the exit. Surely Dream could see that.
"You okay man?" Dream asked.
"Yeah, yeah I'm alright." Sapnap replied, his eyes darting around the crowd. Maybe if he kept an eye on all of them he could manifest them all backing up several feet. "Actually. No. It's like super crowded in here, I can't breathe."
Within seconds Dreams arms are wrapped around Sapnap. Hugging him gently, not enough to overwhelm him any more but just to let Sapnap know he's right here. Willing to protect and help his friend in any way.
"Do you wanna leave?"
"No, no we should stay." Sapnap thought about how they had been looking forward to this concert for months. They even saved up money so they could ride the train there and back. He didn't want to be a party pooper.
While Sapnap was busy raking his brain for ways to stop freaking out Dream was eyeing him, thinking the same thing. Dream slid his hand down Sapnap's arm, down to his hand. Warm fingers in Sapnaps palm, glancing up at Dreams sympathetic smile. He let Dream slide his fingers into his and stay there for the rest of the concert. Quickly, Dreams gesture was able to calm Sapnap back down.
Hands aren't something Sapnap ever thought he would be particularly attracted to. But Dreams are a different story. His knuckles always look rougher than they feel. When Sapnap got the chance to stroke them they seemed to be so soft, so warm, so loving. Easy to mold to. Sapnap examines every inch of the skin on Dreams hands, feeling the creases and calluses from days on the playground when he was a kid.
Sapnap always feels so special when Dreams hand finds his under the dining table. Stroking the back of his hand ever so gently. Sometimes Sapnap would grab Dreams. Casually intertwine their fingers behind Dreams back when he was talking to a classmate. It's never been a particularly secret thing but neither would dare to do it out in the open when walking to class together. Its complicated to determine when they deem it appropriate.
It's okay to remain secretly bothered. To wish that Dream would just reach out and hold his hand in front of everyone. It's okay to be jealous when he sees their friend George holding his girlfriends hand, wishing that himself and Dream could do that too.
Dream lets his mind run with thoughts of what would happen if him and Sapnap were like the couple at the amusement park. What if Sapnap was holding his hand? As the couple walks further away and get absorbed by the crowd Dream is forced to look away. Advert his gaze over to Sapnap whose now laughing with George, head thrown back and clutching his stomach. Maybe now isn't the best time for Dream to fantasize about doing coupley things with his best friend.
On the ride home Dream gets shotgun. Really only because Sapnap felt bad for calling it on the way there. Dream wishes they would just both sit in the back, even though there's no middle seat they could still hold hands across the way. Maybe Dream could just reach back from his seat in the front, maybe Sapnap would scoot forward in his seat so they'd be close.
YOU ARE READING
Set Fire (dreamnap)
Fanfiction"Secretly lying in his bed at night, making up stories in his head to fall asleep to. Mind wandering to Dream, his impossibly soft hands, long comforting hugs, meaningful words, and handsome face that's matured so gracefully. Letting his thoughts go...
