Drowning (DreamNotFound)

[3]

Dream awoke to the disappearance of familiar warmth. The small boy that made his heart flutter had left his side. George had been sleeping next to Dream since he arrived in Florida, and he had been there for a couple of days. Dream had requested that George stay with him through the night, and George was more than happy to do so. 

Dream rubbed his eyes as he sat up from his bed. He took notice of the brunette cleaning up Dream's room. Again. He didn't like it. He felt as if he was being babied. He hated that feeling. "G'morning," Dream said groggily. "Good morning." George set down the plates that were in his hand and walked over to the blonde boy. 

"How are you feeling?" 

"I'm fine."  

"Dream, be honest. I'm serious. How are you feeling?" 

"Sorry, I guess I'm a little sad."

"Stop saying sorry. You don't need to be sorry for anything."

"Sorry- I mean ok."

George giggled at Dream, which made the dirty blonde's stomach fill with butterflies. The feeling made him sick. Why was he having these feelings toward his best friend? His thoughts were paused for just a moment by the British voice echoing through his ears. "Hey, Dream, I know you don't want to take a shower but please do. I'm worried about you and your hygiene."

Suddenly, George had a burst of confidence and rested a hand on Dream's cheek in a comforting manner. Dream's eyes widened by the actions made by the brunette, his face revealing a faint pink color. Immediately, he jumped back and quickly got up from the bed, walking to the bathroom to shower. George sat back, smirking at the events that had just occurred. 

Dream shut the door behind him, shocked at what had just happened. Why did he react that way? Why did George do that? What was he trying to accomplish? Did George- no he didn't. Dream was overthinking. He needed to take a shower like George said. He took off his clothes and began running the water. As he stepped inside, he melted into the hot water running over his skin. He hadn't felt like that in a while. He savored it. 

When he finally got out of the shower, he missed it. It had been a new, amazing feeling to him. It was wonderful. He wrapped a towel around his waist and walked into his room to grab his clothes. George was sitting peacefully on his bed before Dream walked in with nothing covering him but a small towel. His eyes widened at the sight, he focused his attention on the six-pack that took his breath away. 

Dream laughed at George's reaction, slightly smirking. "Like what you see, George?" George shook his head, returning to reality. "Uh- um. I- wasn't- I mean- nevermind. Ugh." George crossed his arms and sighed in defeat as Dream wheezed loudly. "Payback for that stunt you pulled before I got in the shower." George fell back on the bed. "Whatever." Dream laughed once again at the brunette's reaction, grabbing his boxers and baggy cargo pants from his dresser before changing into them behind the bathroom door. "Yeah, the way you were looking at my abs was not 'whatever', George," he said with a sly smirk, walking out from behind the door.

Their conversation was interrupted by Sapnap walking into Dream's room. Quickly, Dream hid the backside of his arms behind his back. Sapnap raised a brow at Dream's sudden movements. "Um, okay. Anyways, I was thinking we could go somewhere today." George perked up. "Where?" Sapnap rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Uh, I was actually thinking we could go to an abandoned place I guess."

"That is the best thing I've heard all day. That sounds so fun. We have to do that now," Dream said, stuffing a black Nike hoodie over his head to conceal his scars. George looked over at him, a sad grin passing over his face as he realized the reason he put on the hoodie. "Alright, we leave in an hour. Get ready," Sapnap stated as he walked out of the room. 

Once George saw that Sapnap was completely out of the room, he opened his mouth to speak. "The best thing you heard all day, huh?" Dream looked in the brunette's direction, giving him a confused look as he fitted a silver chain around his neck. "I mean you sure acted like you enjoyed listening to me getting embarrassed when you asked me if I liked what I saw," George said, crossing his arms in confidence as a smirk began to slide across his face.  "Flustered. You mean flustered, not embarrassed," he said, an obvious smile showing through his words. Dream walked over to George, getting only inches from his face before opening his mouth to speak. "I win." 

-

When they arrived at the old, abandoned house, Dream was beyond excited. He was happy. For the first time in a long time, he was actually happy. Of course, his version of happiness was skewed. Any bit of emotion he felt would be mistaken for genuine happiness. Truly, he hadn't been happy his entire life. 

He was diagnosed with depression and ADHD at a young age, and it hadn't been easy for him. His mother never put him on meds either. She thought that they were "from the devil" and she didn't even believe that mental illness existed. She thought that it was something that you could just get over. His father was the one to get him diagnosed, though he was never useful after that. 

His family life wasn't good. His father appeared and disappeared, his mother was crazy, and money was tight. Before his parents' divorce when he was fifteen, his dad was never home. His dad was never able to get him and his siblings new clothes, but somehow always had Marlboro money. His mother was never able to take her anger out on her husband because he would abuse her, so instead, she would take it out on her kids. Never physically, but mentally.

"You ready to go in, Dream?" Dream looked up at the two-story house that stood in front of him. "Yeah," he smiled. And with that, the three went into the building unaware of what would happen when they entered. 

A/N: I'm actually really proud of this chapter. Also, I promise I am going to make this book have a happy ending. I know my last book was very sad, so I guess I'm kind of making up for it. Even though this book is still sad, it going to have a happy ending. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed it!