I Used to Know -DNF-

Chapter 31 - Micheal

Song Recommendation - Without Me (Halsey)

TW - Homophobia, toxic family, censored slurs

George and Dream were sitting in the parking lot and staring at the text Dream's phone.

"Well, what if we don't go?" George tried, turning to Dream in the car.

"He sees that I read it," Dream said, unable to look away from the words on his screen. He hoped that maybe if he stared at it long enough, it'd disappear.

"What if you fake sick?"

"He knows I'm at a friend's house for Christmas." Dream scratched his head with his free hand. "He threw a fit about it."

"What if I don't go?" George asked. "He'll never know we were together."

Dream shook his head. "It'll take too long to get to your house and get back to mine. Besides, knowing him, he probably tracks me or something."

"I can hide in the car."

"Fuck that," Dream scoffed. "I'm not making you do that. It'll be so uncomfortable, I have no idea how long it'll take, and you have cheer tryouts to dominate." George giggled, despite the tense situation. Dream smiled. "Y'know what, let's just go." Dream set down the phone and put the car in gear.

"And your house won't be uncomfortable?" George half-joked. When Dream didn't respond, George pleaded with his eyes. "Dream-"

Dream cupped the brunette's face with his hands. "I know. But I have to do this. And if he lays a single fucking finger on you, he's getting a beat down and we're leaving. I promise."

"You sure about this?" George says, pressing his forehead to Dream's.

"No, but I don't have much choice," Dream chuckles painfully.

"Well, I'm right here. I'll always be right here."

"Thanks, Georgie." Dream sighed, and started backing out, ready to go back to his house.

________

They pulled up to the cul de sac Dream's family house sat on. It was a lovely fern-green house, a white painted porch inviting people inside. The swinging bench caught in a breeze flowing by, a cool welcome in the Floridian heat.

"Stop whining, Georgie," Dream laughed. "It's not hot, it's-"

"-It's humid." George finished. "I think you've said it a couple... thousand times before."

They smiled, but both the smiles faded as Dream parked the car outside the house. "Well, we'll be inside soon. Micheal at least buys A.C."

"Micheal?" George had never heard the name before.

"My father," Dream explained. "Ever since I woke up in the hospital, he never felt like a real dad, so I never treat him like one. I treat him like I'm a guest in his home, but he's a family friend, y'know?"

George nodded. "Go on. I know there's more on your mind."

Dream chuckled. "You know me so well. Alright, fine, I call him dad once in a while, like once every week, but he's kind of adopted Micheal as what his kids should call him. He yells at Drista when she calls him Dad, and keeps telling Tommy that he should 'be more like his brother because Micheal is a good name.' And it's complete bull. But, someday I'm gonna get rich and get them out of this hell-hole."

"How are you going to go about that?" George asked, unbuckling his seatbelt. Dream did the same as he contemplated his answer.

"I think I'll try to get big on YouTube. I really like Minecraft, and stories are fun. I'll also write books, sure, but having people know me more personally than writing is really... inviting, I guess."