The Audition (dreamnotfound)

second chances

A/N school has been rough so it took a while but im back! THANKS FOR 700K ON BRUISES I LOVE YOU ALL SM<3 sorry for the dialogue lol

   Tick. Tick. Tick.

   The clock ran around in circles. There was only an hour left to decide now and Dream still hadn't even come close to a decision. George or his own future? It was an impossible decision to be selfish or selfless, because no matter what, he would be selfish in the end. The obvious act of self-preservation would be to take the record deal. Yet, there would always be that cloud looming over him about George.

   If he chose his one and only best friend and complicated "situationship", then maybe, just maybe, he could still fix what was broken oh so long ago, he could still preserve their love that got locked away oh so long ago, he could still make everything right that went wrong oh so long ago. 

   The card that held his two different worlds daunted Dream in his hand, teasing him that there is a music career out there for him, but it may not be with a band. 

   That broke his heart into thousands of pieces. 

   No matter what, he had to call that manager guy to give him his decision, and it was now or, quite literally, never. But it was tough, basically impossible. A new question, though, loomed in his mind at this point.

   Was it better to speak or to die? 

   He didn't know, but the phone was ringing and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Less than a minute to make a decision. One chance, one choice, one word. A simple yes or no, but still  he wanted and desperately needed a third option, a compromise, but it didn't matter.

   He was out of time.

   "Hello?"

______________

George's pov

   Still no word from Dream about his decision. Did that mean the unthinkable?

   He said yes to the offer? He really agreed to the lucky, yet at the same time, unfortunate circumstance that just happened to come out of the blue for him? Did he even try to propose a deal about the record deal, a compromise where the band also gets to shine alongside him? 

   Or did he not care about history, their  history? 

   George was sweating bullets; he had been staring at his phone for the past hour, just patiently waiting for a ring, a notification, anything signaling that he was staying. The brunette needed him to say no, his heart needed the other boy to say no. 

   Finally, after an agonizing period of time, there was a sudden buzz from his phone. A text from Dream, the answer to a potentially doomed fate. It was to the band's group chat. 

   Meet me in the parking garage in an hour; bring your instruments.

   What the hell does that mean? Is it like a last dance situation where they have the best time of their lives, literally, one last time? Or could it be another chance to convince that random music manager to give the whole pop off operation a chance? 

   In George's heart, he prayed that it was the second option. Though, in his mind and gut, he had a feeling it was going to be the first. It hurt like hell knowing that this was their last dance in the starlight as a true team. 

   The pair definitely had their peaks and valleys within their time together, but their relationship was just starting to feel comfortable; like home. Shaking away the gut-wrenching suspicion of grief, George grabbed his guitar that was in a case and headed out the door.

   He needed to be positively surprised today. 

   Or else a storm that had been brewing for a while would finally be let out into nature, which would cause catastrophic consequences upon all of the boys, not just George. Everything would fall apart.

   Again. 

______________

   George strolled with despair juxtaposed by a hopeful glint in his eyes into the garage. Everyone in the band was there except Dream. He planned the event, and he was late?

   What a dumbass. 

   "Hey Gogs!" Karl cheerfully exclaimed, running up to him to give him a tight hug, followed by Sapnap and Quackity. 

   "You guys still realize that my chest barely functions properly, right?" The brunette chuckled, then coughed into his elbow. Everyone quickly apologized and giggled, looking at each other with stars in all of their eyes. No matter what happened with Dream, they were the originals. Nothing could break them apart forever, even if it seemed like the world was going to end. 

   "Let's make a promise. If this is our last chance as a fully-formed band that includes the blondie, we make it count and we NEVER split up permanently. Please," Sapnap suggested, holding out his pinky like a little kid.

   All of the boys smiled, though their grins were full of sorrow. They all interlocked their smallest finger on their hands and promised.

   "If Dream does leave, we should be called the core four! Am I right or am I right guys? I am pretty sure I am correct in this situation," Quackity rambled, which made all of them laugh. 

   George was going to miss this. The hope that was spread throughout the air of the parking garage that smelt like crop dust in Whole Foods, the unique, tea kettle-like wheezes that erupted from all of them, the sheer joy of just being around one another. 

   Once the practically inevitable happens, everything will change; for the worse. 

   But there was no time to think about that right now. All that mattered what that they were genuinely happy. That was the small victory he needed to get through the rough news that he thought he knew was going to happen. 

   Sometimes, though, people are wrong. 

   After half an hour, Dream finally arrived and strutted into the garage with a beaming, wide grin spread across his face. He had a pep in his step, and an aura that just screamed excitement. Maybe it wasn't bad news after all.

   "GUYS! I have news."

   "Well, that's why we are even here dumbass. You literally organized this and came late! What a great host, am I right?" Quackity sarcastically stated, making the air seem a lot lighter for some odd reason.

   "Yeah... sorry about that. BUTTT, besides the point, the guy from the bar? Randy or whatever his name is? Yeah, he is coming here. In two hours. I convinced him to give the whole band another shot because obviously I wasn't going to go without you guys. I care about you idiots too much!!" Dream exclaimed. 

   All of the boys were utterly stunned. Without hesitation, George sprinted up to the blond and gave him a giant bear hug, unimaginatively happy that he was wrong about the situation. Being a pessimist does sometimes lead to happy outcomes. All of the bandmates formed into a group hug, not believing their ears. 

   "I know we are all super WOO and giddy right now, but I think we may need to practice before Randy shows up," Dream points out, separating all of them.

   "Let's get a record deal!"

(1200 words)

A/N here is the chapter you ALL have been waiting for, the answer to your questions! I hope this satisfies all of your needs for happiness for a while because with me as the author you never know when im gonna add unexpected angst;) but anyways i love you all<3 make sure to take care of yourselves!