Feeling For You (DNF)

Chapter 24: Secrets and Sorrow

Author's note:

As always, thanks for reading! This is officially the 2/3 point in Feeling For You! Votes and comments are so appreciated!! <3

Word count: 3,500

⚠️TRIGGER WARNINGS: Verbal conflicts and other potential triggers in this chapter, please scroll down for a detailed list if you want to preview!

For this chapter, I recommend listening to This is What Heartbreak Feels Like by Jvke, Say Something by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera, and/or Mercy by Shawn Mendes.

Faint yelling filters into the living room, I don't know the closed bedroom door is a blessing or a curse. Would it be better if I knew what my best friends were screaming at each other, instead of sitting here clueless and terrified? 

In all honesty, it would probably be worse, but I don't want to think about that.

Cries of selfish and sacrifice and stop echo down the staircase, and I curl my knees to my chest. Patches buts her head against my shoulder in an innocent gesture of concern that makes me want nothing more than to dissolve into a weepy puddle- but I just managed to stop crying, so I blink back the blurriness. 

This is fine. We'll be fine. It's just an argument, friends argue all of the time. 

I don't quite believe my fragile reassurances, and a loud noise from upstairs makes my stomach twist. 

Then, the sound of a door flying open, and the yelling voices double in volume. 

"What the hell! Dream, get back in here, we're trying not to freak George out anymore than we already have!" I flinch at my name, very aware that part of the reason for the argument is me. I don't know enough of the details to figure out why, exactly, but I know it regards the secret Dream is so afraid to tell me. 

"And don't even think about running off to your room, we aren't done with this." Sapnap's voice is scarier than I've ever heard it, sharp and loud. His faint southern accent always shows more when he's upset, and right now, he sounds like he just flew in from Austin. 

If Dream answers, I can't hear it. The next sounds are loud footfalls on the stairs, and wrap my arms protectively around myself. Why are they coming downstairs? I thought they wanted to be away from me..?

"Dream! Stop running away, you fucking coward! I swear to god, if you don't tell him right now, then I will. You can't keep dragging this on!"

Dream stumbles into the staircase, but recovers his footing and practically dives for the front door.

"Dream? What-" What the hell is happening? What are you running from? What could be so horrible that hiding it from me could cause this?!

He doesn't answer, only sparing me a quick glance. His eyes, usually so golden and glimmering, are a dull yellow. His hair is disheveled, like he's been running his hands through it, and his familiar cat beanie is missing. His face, from what I can tell, is pale. His hands fumble clumsily for the latch, and Sapnap appears at the top of the stairs.

I didn't think it would be possible, but Sapnap looks even worse than Dream. He looks as if he's been crying, and he's noticeably shaking. I'm sure he's on the brink of a full blown breakdown, something that simultaneously making me worried for my friend and for myself. If he starts panicking, what do I do? Who do I help, Sapnap or Dream?

Or myself, I think belatedly. But I've never been very good at that, have I?

"Dream, if you don't get your ass back here, I'm telling him!" Sapnap threatens, chasing Dream down the stairs.