Take Your Time

17. Everything I Never Wanted.

December 2nd, 10:59 p.m.

3 hours left.

"I have this uh-" A shaking exhale left George's mouth while he clenched his phone a little tighter, "...stupid question, which I know you will not approve, but can I speak to Clay?" His phase of talking sped up as an unsettling feeling settled in. "He isn't picking up his phone, I'm worried and want to know if he got back home." George spoke as he phased through Sea's living room.

"He never came home..." The female voice on the other side of the phone replied, a hint of worry in her voice, "I don't know where Clay is."

- - - -

Dream clenched his fists, tears dripping down his face as he bended his head low. He didn't want to get people's attention.

Why am I even crying?

Dream covers his mouth and drops to the ground onto his knees. He just couldn't get himself to move, and no one else around him seemed to care. People rushed past him, all in their own world and thoughts. The light switched to red and cars started to honk.

I know where to go, I know what to do.
I have everything under control...

Someone grabbed his arm, pulling him up. "Hey, what are you doing here?" A comforting voice called out. Dream turned, his eyes red caused by the fallen tears.

Wilbur...

The cars rushed past them as soon as they reached the sidewalk, showing how careless everyone else was. Wilbur's smile faded and he pointed to the door of the apartment complex. "Go inside and talk."

"Drop it, I'm leaving." Dream pulls away as the tears are still streaming down his face. "Hey!" Wilbur yelled and grabbed his hand. He could feel that the boy was upset about something. "Where are you even going at this hour?"

"I'm out of time." Dream whispered as he withdrew Wilbur's hand. He keeps moving but it's no use, Wilbur catches him by the arm. "And I'm concerned about you." Wilbur gently squeezed Dream's shoulder, "Come with me... Just for a little while." Dream looked at his watch and hesitated for a second.

A huge amount of relief fell off his shoulders when he saw Dream nod. And a few minutes later, Dream was sitting on the couch, staring at the living room he had so many memories in.

"George is at Seamus's place." Wilbur walked out of the kitchen and saw him sit hunched over, resting his head on his knees. Dream quickly sat back and watched Wilbur place a hot chocolate on the table before sitting down in front of him.

"I know..." Dream whispered, his eyes low on the ground with an empty stare.

"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" Wilbur asked while lighting a cigarette. The boy shook his head and remained silent. "I just don't want anything bad to happen to you."

"Don't worry so much, it's bad for you." Dream said as he leans over to and grabs one of Wilbur's cigarettes. He felt pathetic for... For what exactly? Was it George that made him feel stupid? Maybe it was his own mother that made him lose hope. Perhaps he didn't expect this kind of betrayal, and maybe that's the reason why it hurts so badly. Could it be?

"... You're acting different, it's really not settling my nerves at all." He paused to inhale the smoke, "What's causing this? The pain, I can see it in your eyes, Dream." The similarly of Wilbur's sentence unlocked a memory, bringing him back to that moment.

'I can see it in your eyes, little Dream.' Cody explained as they sat down on the ground in front of Dream. 'It's not scary! It won't hurt me, okay?' 11-year old Dream nodded, unaware of what the spoken words actually meant. 'If I die first, I don't want you to die, too.' Cody studied their little brother's expression closely, 'Got it?' They asked, hoping that Dream would just secure it with a promise.