Feeling For You (DNF)

Chapter 8: Trust

Author's Note:

Hey guys! Thanks so much for reading! If you enjoy the story, please comment, follow, and/or vote! 

Also, I hope you guys have been liking the song recommendations at the start of each chapter! I always put a lot of though into choosing the best songs, from a wide variety of artists and genres! If you have a song you'd like to suggest to me, please comment the song name and artist, and I'll check it out! 

Word count: 3,430

For this chapter, I recommend listening to Lucky by Jason Mraz, Hey Jude by The Beatles, and/or El Mismo Sol by Alvor Soler.

⚠️TRIGGER WARNINGS: This chapter does have a trigger warning that's pretty intense, so please scroll down to check the elaborated list of warnings if you want to make sure reading won't affect you. 

"Are you ready? This might hurt..." 

Dream squares his shoulders. "Let's just get it over with." His voice trembles slightly, and he looks down, feeling guilty for reacting like anyone would in his place. I'd learned, through our years of close friendship, that Dream didn't like to show vulnerability, especially when the situation could negatively affect someone close to him. He would rather suffer in silence than than admit to his feelings and cause anyone to worry. That was exactly what he had done last year, when he'd gotten so sick that he had to be temporarily hospitalized because he didn't want to bother anyone and get proper help. It was exactly what he had done when my first Visa was denied, putting on a brave face to help me deal with the crushing disappointment and loneliness of going even longer without meeting him. I'd been devastated, of course, but so had he, yet Dream never showed any sign of it. He hadn't wanted to make it worse for me by acting sad, so he bottled up everything.

I bite my lip, wanting to comfort him but not knowing how, or if he would even want my compassion. He's supported me so many times over the years. It's the least I can do to help him doctor his cut, though I'm not doing this out of obligation. I volunteered to help him because he was Dream, my best friend, and even with my feelings about him so complicated I would still do anything to help him.

Dream was one of the few people who had my complete trust and loyalty. I warm up to people and made new friends with relative ease, but it takes me years to trust, and even longer to feel a sense of devotion like I do for Dream. Sapnap and my family and pretty much the only others who I hold in the same regard, with the addition of Karl.

Unlike Dream, who shows his feelings through kind words and physical touch, as well as frequent gift giving, my love language has always leaned more towards quality time and acts of service. Maybe that's part of the reason why I didn't hesitate to open the bathroom door, and offer to help him. Was I subconsciously trying to show my love?

Love, where did that come from? I might have a crush on Dream, but I'm not in love with him. I probably just meant that I loved him, in a (somewhat) platonic way. I don't have to be in love with him to love him, after all. 

Dream shifts awkwardly, blinking away a trickle of blood making it's way down his cheekbone. I feel a pang of sympathy for him, and can't help but let my brow furrow as I think about his situation.

How could he be this unlucky? Not only did he hit his head, he cut it open, and it looks like he hasn't slept at all. In fact, he was still wearing the clothes he had on yesterday, which was weird. 

I frown, remembering entering the bedroom after hearing a thump and finding Dream and Sapnap acting so oddly. I wouldn't have realized Dream was bleeding, but then he tripped, I had gotten a glimpse at something red (I was pretty sure it was red, anyway) on the side of his covered face.