For the First Time

George

My face is beat red, and I can't help but grin from ear to ear!
"Clay, you're real! I can't believe this!" I clamp a hand over my mouth, hiding my enormous smile for a moment.
I glance up at the camera screen and see that my face is, in fact, red like an apple.
"George! You're blushing!"
"Shut up!" I yell through the world's biggest smile. "You look so different than I expected!"
"Yeah?" Dream asks, hesitant.
"Not in a bad way! I'm just trying to match your stupid face to your stupid voice."
Dream, or Clay, chuckles. His smile is lovely, and so are his curls. I wish I could reach out and run my fingers through them.
Stop it, I think to myself. The fear of scaring off my best friend scares the thoughts away.
"I'm getting a professional haircut after this," he says, glaring in the direction I assume Sapnap's room is.
"I'll punch him for you." I offer with a wink.
"No, it's okay." Dream averts his gaze from the phone.
"Is he there with you?" I try to look at the edges of where the camera is.
"No, I'm just not used to talking to a camera, is all." Now he's blushing.
"I still can't believe you're real!"
We talk about how my flight will be and the last things I'm packing. The next few days will be saying goodbye to friends and family. I'll miss them, and I know that. But the grief is subsided by the excitement of seeing my best friend.
***
I'm tucked into the sleeper pod of the plane. Take-off was thrilling. I only wish I had someone to talk to in the airport, to sit next to on the plane. Yet, how can I complain? I'll see my best friend for the first time in seven years!
The rest of the world went WILD over Dream's face reveal. It was exciting, yet I couldn't get over my face's redness during my reaction video! I shove those thoughts away and focus on the present.
I watch one of Dream's favorite movies, Live Die Repeat/The Edge of Tomorrow. Usually, I'm not a movie person. However, the 9-hour flight must be filled with something other than sleeping.
***
Security escorts me from the plane. It's surreal. But fantastic to ensure there's no rioting.
Sap picks me up. He's standing in the airport with a little sign with my name written. "You idiot, I'm the only one here."
Sap shrugs. "I didn't know you had airport security taking you to a private sector."
I want to joke about being unique, but instead, I order him to grab two of my suitcases.
"Let's go get your dream boy," Sapnap teases.
Immediately I go for the wrong side of the car, and he teases me. Once I climb into the right seat, he blasts music and tears out of the parking lot.
For a mellow, sweet guy, he's a wild driver. He laughs hysterically as I grab the 'oh shit' bar, as I've heard Americans call it.
We sing, and I use my phone to capture our off-pitch singing.
There are palm trees everywhere, and we pass signs directing us toward Disney World.
There are little ponds everywhere, and I try to look for alligators.
Eventually, we enter a gated community. The lawns are well kept and beautifully decorated. There's a second gate we stop at. Sap types in a code, and the black, metal doors creak open.
We drive to the end, and I take in the house.
"It's a greenhouse," Sapnap announces.
"Really? Gross."
I turn on the camera and hand it to Sapnap. We hop out of the car.
"It's really happening!" Sapnap squeaks. He hurries away to get Dream.
I stand awkwardly by Sapnap's car, my heart pounding in my ears. I'm going to see my best friend—the person I love most on this blue and green planet.
"He's coming!" Sap says.
The world moves in slow motion as a figure emerges from one of the many doors on this giant home. The sun shines above, and I can't see Dream's face until he's a few feet away.
"Oh my God! George is found!" He shouts.
I step close to him, and we hug and jump up and down. It's real! We continue to film and run around the entire house, or more like the estate, filming my meet and greet with Patches, and I try her water!
"This is your room!" Dream says, opening a door on the second floor.
I run to the bed and jump into it. "Join me in the bed, Dream!" I order, patting the comforter beside me.
Sap laughs and takes the opportunity to swan dive beside me. We're both laughing, and Dream joins in on the laughter but only rolls his eyes. Eventually, Sapnap spots Patches by the doorway and chases after her.
"Will this do the trick?" Dream asks, shutting off the camera.
I sit up on my elbows. Dream fiddles with the top of his hair. It's untamed, and he seems self-conscious. All I want to do is pull him toward me and tell him he's gorgeous.
We lock eyes for a minute, and I offer a half smile. Dream, or rather Clay, is real.
"Come on!" Sapnap yells from the first floor.
Dream snaps his eyes away and gestures for me to come.
Hopping out of my bed, I walk past Clay and try to keep my gaze forward. I take in his wonderful smell and tell myself we're friends. We're just best friends who live together now.
The three of us collapse in the living room on the couches and start discussing our video plans.