runaway

five ~ middle child

George's POV

"Are you sure I'm not invading?" I'm out with Dream. My mom recently hired a caretaker, noticing I've been out later than I usually am, and she told me I needed this. I hate to admit it, but spending time with Dream outside of work has been one of the best weeks I've had in a while.

"I'm sure." He pulls me up the front steps as he walks into the door, "Dream's here!" I hear someone shout, everyone racing over to the mud room. Dream takes off his shoes, I follow his steps, only to cause the least amount of disruption.

A girl stops in her tracks at the door, a large smile on her face, "who's that?"

Soon enough, two adults peek around the corner, their looks turning into curious ones. I raise my hand, like a wave, but immediately put it down.

"This is George, a friend of mine."

"No way! Someone else but Sapnap?" The girl walks over to me and reaches her hand out, "I'm Drista."

"George."

"Got that! So how did you meet my idiotic, dumb-headed, brother o' mine?" I chuckle as I pull my hand away, "Drista!" A woman's voice scolds, who I'm guessing is Dream's mother.

"What? It's a genuine question."

"I work with him." I tell her. Her head snaps back towards me and the biggest smile invades her features, "wait! You have an accent!" I nod and she looks over at Dream, "I like him more that Sapnap already."

"Well, that's rude."

"How would that be rude? I'm just that amazing, Dream." His eyes lock with mine before they search my face, "I know, Darling, but she can't-"

"'Darling?'" Drista interrupts, now coming closer to Dream and I. "It's just a stupid nickname."

"As much as I'd stay to chat here, we are about to have supper." I look down almost immediately, feeling bad if they ask me to stay for supper. "Is your friend going to join us?"

"I'll wait in the car-" i tiptoe and whisper to Dream, offering solutions to the problem.

"For nearly two hours? No way." Dream whispers, "I promise you're welcome, George. My mom always makes more than she should, if that's what you're worried about. We always have leftovers."

I look back down and nod, "okay."

— — —

I sat there and listening to the chatter the family kept up. I listened in on the bickering, the jokes, the remembrance, all of it.

"Dream used to run around with his pants on top of his head, saying that he had four legs instead of two." His mom remembers, causing the entire table to laugh.

The laughter felt familiar. The excited chatter felt familiar. The looks they all gave each other felt familiar. The bickering, the threats, the excuses, the moment all of it felt familiar.

I can't help but smile at their antics. They all look so close. They all look happy. It would only make sense Dream came from such a beautiful environment. It's free.

I glance over at Dream and see the largest smile on his face. He sees his family nearly every night, but he is always happy to see them. He's happy here.

After a few moments, I can see he looks back at me, taking on a small smile. I immediately look down and fiddle with the loose string on the tablecloth.

The environment starts to grow quiet around me as I start to get further and further into my own thoughts.

Is this how we were? Were we all this close? How could I have forgotten?