The Fill-in Boyfriend // DNF

-~21~-

It felt unreal.

Well, when did anything feel real?

But this time, it was different. It was real. George was actually dating Dream. Really dating. Not forced, not acted, real.

Real. Real. Real.

George repeated the word in his head a few times as if saying it meant he was cementing it in his brain.

He never thought he would ever get to this point. With a guy of his dreams. With someone like Dream. His life was practically perfect now.

Brushing the last of his stray hairs into a neat sweep on his forehead, George hit the bathroom light and hurried downstairs to go to his first class. Sylvia was already at the table eating cereal and he joined her after grabbing his own bowl.

"Hey Lyvi." George said brightly as he poured some cereal into his bowl and reached for the milk.

Slyvia pushed the milk carton over and waved a hand, her mouth full. "Hey." She raised an eyebrow at his face and swallowed carefully. "What's got you in a good mood today?"

George shrugged, playing dumb. "Oh nothing. Just that I've got a boyfriend." He smirked at Slyvia's shocked expression.

"What?! Since when!?" She cried, forgetting for a moment their surroundings.

"You remember that dance you went to like a month or so ago? Well, that's when I met him."

Slyvia set her spoon down and gaped at him. "How come I never heard this sooner huh?" She asked, not even pausing to question the use of him.

George let his smile slip a bit. "Well, It was complicated. And still kinda is, I suppose. But we're figuring things out together." He explained. He stirred the last cereal flakes in his bowl absentmindedly.

"I've got to meet him—" Slyvia started but she quickly closed her mouth as their dad stepped into the room with their mum right behind him. Their expressions displayed painfully obvious that they had overhead just about enough of the two's conversation.

George felt like throwing up the cereal he had just consumed. Why did everything always go wrong on the best of days?

Slyvia's face had gone blank, and George's white as they observed their parents disapproving glares.

His dad spoke first. "Boyfriend you say?" He prompted.

George felt dread grip his throat in a chokehold. He coughed to loosen it before speaking. "Boy space friend." He said, trying to cover up what he really meant.

It didn't amuse his parents.

"Oh shut the fuck up. We aren't idiots. You're gay?" His dad spat the last word like a disease and at that point and time, George really believed it was from the amount of fervor his dad spoke it with.

His mum shook her head disappointed and George frowned at her. It was the wrong move.

"Don't look at your mother when I'm speaking to you!" His father yelled.

George whipped his eyes back to his dad's. "I'm not... gay." He said unconvincingly.

"Oh yeah. And we're just supposed to believe you?"

George winced.

"Slyvia. Go to your room."

Dead silence fell over the room before Lyvi quietly got up and ran up to her room, shooting a pitying glance at George. It was all she could do.

"Maybe I should smack some sense into that thick brain of yours. Gay? Really? I thought we had actually raised you right, but I was so wrong. What did we do wrong with you?"