paint splattered scars || dnf

In the Way

TW: mentions/signs of abuse, anxiety, swearing, yelling

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George fell asleep in Dream's arms on the couch. He still didn't know what to make of the situation. Was it super upfront flirting? Was it Dream pitying him? Maybe Dream just likes hugs. 

When he slowly woke up the next morning, he panicked for a moment and tried to pull away from the blond, almost falling off the couch in the process. He suddenly remembered what had happened. He shook Dream's shoulder.

"Hey? Dream?" he whispered. Dream mumbled something unintelligible. "Come on, Dream. School today. You can't just lay on the couch." George felt an odd sense of intimacy when with the boy, but he couldn't explain it. They hardly knew each other, but Dream so easily embraced him. "Dream."

"Huh- FUCK!" He yelled in a flurry of emotions. "God..." He inhaled sharply. "I forgot... Sorry."

"Sorry... It's just- It's six, so-"

"Why'd you wake me up at six a.m.?!" Dream complained, holding a pillow over his face. George stood up and stared at him.

"Sorry," he whispered. "I just normally- No, I'm sorry. No excuses, you can just go back to sleep..."

Dream tossed the pillow at George. "I was only joking. It's not a big deal. Why would you get up a six though? School's like... fifteen minutes away."

George didn't know how to explain that he normally woke even earlier at 4:30 so he could be ready and leave the house before there was even a slim chance of his uncle waking up. "I... I dunno, just a habit."

"Well it's a stupid habit," Dream mumbled, swinging his legs over the edge of the couch. He looked up at the shorter's soft brown eyes. He looked hurt, like Dream had said the worst thing possible. "Hey, like I said. I'm kidding. It's okay. I'm not upset with you for waking me up, m'kay?"

George nodded. "I'm gonna go get ready..." He turned around and walked away on the balls of his feet. 

Dream felt a smile tug at his lips. He'd seen George walking on the front of his feet in the halls before, but he never thought much of it. He thought it was kind of funny, like he was doing it to give himself a little bit of height. His smile faded, though, when George stepped on a creaky floorboard and flinched a bit. "Jesus..."

---

"Sap and I normally bike together. He meets here around 7:30... Do you want to come with us?"

He didn't really, but he felt it'd be rude to decline. "Sure."

"Alright. Also, it's like... ninety degrees out. Take off that hoodie, dude. You'll die of heat stroke."

George felt like the air was ripped from his lungs. "N- no. I'm fine... Thanks-" he choked out.

A concerned look was plastered on Dream's face, but he shrugged. 

When Sapnap arrived, he glanced at Dream, then the brunette behind him. "Dude, what the fuck?" he whispered to Dream.

George crossed his arms, trying not to make eye contact. Dream whispered something back harshly. Sapnap's eyes widened. He looked at George, then to Dream. "Whatever... Let's go."

Dream and Sapnap rode side by side, chatting. George stayed behind them a good fifteen feet. He didn't want to intrude on the best friend's time. He didn't want to get in the way.