won't you say goodnight, so i can say goodbye

three

The evening air is icy but refreshing. Dream smiles, which dissolves into quiet giggling as he listens to his friends rant about something stupid. The group is sitting together on a small playground, where all the equipment is closely spaced in a circle.

George seems to be passionately whining about something while sitting on the ground, throwing the bark occasionally. Sapnap and Wilbur laugh at his misfortune from the bottom of the slide, adding their own snarky remarks as they team up to bully the Brit. Bad and Karl sit giggling quietly, watching the three go back and forth as they swing on the swingsets. Dream himself sits atop the monkey bars, dangling his feet from the top. The blonde isn't paying too much attention to the topics, other than laughing when someone says something stupid that passes through his mental barrier.

"No, but the worst part is that I got in trouble. Like me? For something my sister bought? I'm not even gay. Why don't my parents believe me?" George rants, his voice rising as he complains, hands flailing in an attempt to physically show his annoyance.

It's Friday, which means they can all relax and be kids while not having to worry about school the next day. It's a small moment of peace in their hectic lives since, with this being their final year of school, the teens never get many moments to themselves like this anymore.

"Honestly, Gogy, I think you had it coming," Sapnap adds, smirking at Georges exasperated expression. The brunette stutter's at the implication, getting cut off by another voice.

"Yeah, you're kinda oblivious, Georgie. What's it like in the closet anyway?" Wilbur pipes up, winking mischievously at his partner in crime. George groans, facepalming. Dream hides his snickers behind his hand. George's head whips to the blonde, playfully glaring daggers.

"Dream, don't you dare laugh. I know you'd have to deal with some shit from your two gremlins,"

Dream gasps, slapping a hand to his heart in mock offence, leaning back on the monkey bars. "How could you imply such a thing, Gogy. Have a little faith since you are sorely mistaken. My brothers are angels,"

"I'm all for bullying George, but I'm gonna have to disagree with you on that one big man," Wilbur says, "Those two arrived at my house before I left today and when the three of them come together? Absolute and utter mayhem."

"That sounds like a you problem, Wil," Dream snarks, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.

"Well, why don't you try having them at your house for once. Then you can decide," Wilbur retorts, failing to remain serious and breaking into laughter soon after. The other's in the group join in, throwing their heads back as they cackle. Honestly, they're not sure why they find it so funny. It just feels good to laugh.

Too caught up in themselves and throwing comments back and forth, no one notices Dream's smile falter, nor that his laughs sound forced and devoid of joy. He sways slightly, flinching and catching himself before he falls off the monkey bars. The other's notice this and laugh harder. Luckily, his facade is back up before they can even notice, moulding his laughter to make it more natural.

That conversation is redirected to another topic by Bad, who decided to bring something else to the group's attention, and Dream has never been more thankful. Though Bad didn't do it because of Dream, the blonde was happy to avoid responding either way.

The conversations resume, bringing lighthearted teasing and ranging themes, from pets, to bullying Karl, to graduation, and everything is happy.

As the sun begins to disappear over the horizon, all bad thoughts leave Dreams mind as soon as they appear. How can he be negative when he's surrounded by his best friends? He feels like nothing can ruin his mood, especially as they all stand from the equipment and start walking to the public football field across from the playground. From here, they can admire the beautiful sunset as it fades behind the treeline.