Setting Sun

13 | Apophenia | 13

"George, please listen to me!" Wilbur begged, but George wasn't listening. They were standing outside the door to Dream's apartment, and Wilbur was trying to convince him of the most absurd thing he'd heard in a long time. "I'm telling you, she's coming, I'm sure of it!"

"Why would my mother be coming here? She never cared about me, I was a burden to her, her opinions on that aren't gonna change overnight," he said skeptically.

"I told you, my sister called me. I don't know how she got my number, but she did, and she called me to inform me that your mom and my dad have been plotting something, and now they're apparently leaving. Where to, she had no idea."

"Sorry Wilbur but I don't believe you. Too much has happened for me to change everything solely on your word."

"George, if you don't listen to me, you will regret it, I'm telling you."

"Is that a threat?" George asked, daring Wilbur to continue. If the situation had occurred under any different circumstances, George would heed his words with intense precaution, but right now he couldn't find the will to care. Dream was waiting on him, and if George took any longer he'd come searching. George didn't want to know what would happen if he found Wilbur there.

"N-no of course not! I'm just trying to warn you, George, I don't wanna see something bad happen to you," Wilbur said, his eyes saddening.

"It's okay, Wilbur, you don't have to worry about me anymore. You can go back to your normal, everyday life now."

Wilbur looked like he wanted to say something else, disagree maybe, but he didn't get the chance because the door to the apartment opened. Dream stepped out, staring at Wilbur with eyes full of anger and hatred.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Dream said, rage present in his voice.

"Um, I-"

"How did you know where to find us?" he interrogated.

"I have ways."

"What does that mean?" George asked.

"George, go inside," Dream said, gaze not lingering from Wilbur. He grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back inside, but Wilbur stopped him.

"No, George didn't give me his word. I'm not leaving until you do."

"Yes, you are," Dream said, continuing to put distance between the two brunettes.

"Word on what, Wilbur?" George said, staying in place. "What do you want me to say? That I'll look out for my mother, searching around every corner and down every alleyway until the day I die to make sure I stay safe from her?"

"What?" Dream asked George, confused now.

"No, I just want you to be careful until I get more from my sister," Wilbur pleaded.

"If I say yes, will you leave?" George sighed. Wilbur nodded and George said, "Okay then, I will be careful."

"Okay, thank you. I'll go now." Wilbur turned, walking down the hall quickly. George noticed now how ominous his movements were, every step was taken with caution and every glance to take in his surroundings were filled with explorational curiosity.

"What was that all about? Something about your mother?" Dream asked George once Wilbur was a safe distance away.

"It was nothing, I'm not worried about it," George said casually.

"It's not nothing to me, if you're in trouble I want to know so I can be on the lookout." The care and concern in Dream's eyes melted George's heart, his entire body softening out of the tense form it had taken on when Wilbur was there. It also slightly angered him, the fact that Wilbur had to come along and ruin their wonderful day. Maybe it was apophenia, but George swore that trouble was the only thing to come with Wilbur.