Feeling For You (DNF)

Chapter 12: Blackmail

Author's Note:

Hi everyone! Just a reminder, Feeling For You updates every Friday at about 7:30-11:00, Eastern Standard Time. Please remember to follow, comment, and/or vote if you enjoy the story! Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Word Count: 4,549

For this chapter, I recommend listening to Happy Now by Zedd, Bad Days by The Score, and/or The DJ Is Crying For Help by AJR, because even though it has nothing to do with this chapter, it's still a banger ;)

⚠️TRIGGER WARNINGS: A few big ones for this chapter, but overall it's a pretty happy and fluff filled chapter today! But things will change soon... very soon... *insert evil author laugh*. If you want to preview the list of warnings, it's typed out at the bottom of the chapter! Remember to stay safe, and check the list of possible triggers if you could be affected by reading!

I stare after Dream, shocked by his sudden exit. What could have caused it? I rack my brain, analyzing his behavior this morning in search of clues I might have missed.

He hasn't been looking great for the past hour of streaming. When he ended stream, his face was pale, his eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed exhausted. Maybe he was sick? Or could it be some kind of concussion from hitting his head earlier? Or was it just a side effect of the anxiety he experienced from streaming with the camera on?

I tilt my head towards Sapnap, deciding that I needed a second opinion. "Hey, Sap. Do you know what that was about?"

"Uh. No," he says unconvincingly, eyes glued to his phone.

"Sapnap, I'm serious," I grumble, and wait till he looks up before continuing. "Don't try to avoid the question by acting like you can't look away from your phone. Something's been wrong with Dream. Do you know anything about it?"

His eyes widen slightly, but he tries to play it down. "Do I- what? No, no, I don't." He shakes his head, acting as if he hadn't just told the worst lie in the history of humanity, as if he isn't wearing an immensely guilty expression and refusing to make eye contact.

"Sapnap. Cut the bullshit, and tell me what you know." I demand, eyes narrowing. He knows something. I'm sure of it.

"What?"

The obvious denial and refusal to acknowledge my question crumbles my remaining self restraint. "You heard what I said," I growl, fed up with the feeling that he and Dream have been keeping secrets from me, that something is wrong with Dream and no one will tell me what it is, and that everyone's been acting differently since I arrived. I'm more worried about Dream than anything else, though, and my worry is just pissing me off even more.

Sapnap looks surprised at the intensity of my tone, but his own instinctive hostility fades as he looks at me, seeing the concern I'm covering with anger. He starts to deny knowing anything, but stops, reconsidering. His mouth pulls into a burdened frown, and he puts a hand in my shoulder. I don't push him off, but I don't soften my glare, either.

"George, it's not my secret to tell you. It's Clay's. When he's ready, you'll know what it is, I promise. But you can't force him to tell you, and I don't want you to ask me about it again."

"But," I splutter, "what if he needs my help? Whatever this thing is- it's why he's been upset, right? Why can't I know? I want to help! He's my best friend, too. He doesn't need to keep things secret from me!" When have I ever made him feel like he can't tell me something? I've always listened to his secrets, and I've never once judged him or reacted in a negative way. I'm willing to tell him anything...