Memories in the Dark DNF

Moonlit discussion

(TW: Panic attacks)

Dream opened the door using the key he'd had for way longer than he could remember. He stepped into the house silently, letting out a long, relieved sigh. He figured George would be asleep by now as it was late at night. Dream walked down the dark hallways and into his room. 

Using the flash from his phone, he hastily put his jacket back into the closet, his eyes catching something. Dream crouched, shining the flash towards the floor.

Dream froze. All 7 of the boxes marked with years were gone.

Panic seeped into Dream's chest, He felt his chest rise and fall quickly like it had a few days ago. 

Quickly Dream ran out of his room and down the hall to George's room, tripping over his own feet on the way. He didn't even knock. 

Dream flung the door open, a frantic look on his face as he looked at George who sat on his bed surrounded by boxes and journals. 

"Dream...I didn't know you were home yet." George let out quietly, trying to break the ice.

Dream started to breath heavily, fast, panicking. He felt himself panicking again.

Broken strings of words screamed into the cold darkness of the room as Dream sunk to the floor. George immediately sprung from the bed and rushed to his side but Dream pushed him away.

"YOU HATE ME" Dream screamed, scratching his throat with terrible sobs that prevented him from saying anything else. 

George panicked, Dream wasn't thinking clearly. Had George somehow made it seem like he was angry? "No Dream I don't hate you! I'd never say that."

Chest heaving, Dream looked up through chocked out sobs "Yes you do"

George sighed "Dream, I could never hate you. We've been friends for 7 years and seeing these journals hasn't made me upset. It's made me realize how thoughtful you are. I don't hate you Dream, and I'd be crazy if I ever did"

Dream's breath faltered, his heaving breaths became softer sobs, his sobbing became slow tears that trickled down his face. "George you don't have to lie. There's no way you could think highly of me after reading all those gross things."

George sighed, carefully approaching Dream again and pulling him into a hug. "The way you feel isn't gross Dream. I don't know what it'll take for you to realize that I'm telling the truth but I swear I am." 

Dream felt his body shaking as he tried to catch his breath. "I don't believe you" 

George sighed and pulled Dream close, he whispered in a soft voice. "That's ok, you don't have to, but if you think for a damn second that your sexuality makes you 'gross' then I'm sorry but I can't agree with you on that one"

Dream laughed. Through all of the pain, he laughed. "Thanks George."

George nodded, shifting positions and allowing Dream's head to rest on his shoulder.

"So...how much did you read?" Dream took minutes to muster out the sentence that seemed to weigh him down.

George swallowed the lump in his throat, he knew this part would be hard. "All of it"

Dream let out a long, shaky sigh. "Well...What does that mean?"

George frowned, looking to the ceiling as he spoke. "I don't know Dream, what does it mean to you? I've read so much, it's given me a lot to think about. I can tell that you have a lot of bottled up feelings but I'm also worried, and concerned to be honest."

Dream furrowed his eyebrows, "Concerned, worried?"

George nodded "Yeah. It sounds like you've been having a lot of trouble accepting yourself. You even said that I hate you when in reality it sounds like...it sounds like you hate yourself Dream."

A single tear hit George's shirt, leaving a damp splash mark only visible by the moonlight that shone through the window.

George waited for Dream to speak but he didn't, so George continued. "I'm also worried because you seem to have a lot of anxiety that you don't know how to cope with. I've been there and it doesn't fix itself on it's own so I'm afraid."

Dream finally spoke, broken and soft tones. "Afraid of what?"

George sighed. "I'm afraid that you'll get worse mentally, and that I'll loose the Dream that has changed my life for the better, the best friend who never fails to make me smile."

Dream nodded, he could tell the tears were back and flowing quiet steadily now. "I've been afraid too George. I don't understand why I've been feelings like this, I don't like it and it's scary."

George nodded, wordlessly reaching for Dream's hand and interlacing their fingers. "I know what it's like, I think the best option is to see a psychiatrist. That helped me get through it and I know getting help for something isn't easy but I'm here for you. We can do this...together."

Dream smiled wearily "Thanks George, I think that's a good idea. But I also just tend to always listen to you"

George chuckled lightly as they sat up. "A lot has happened and I know you must be tired, but there's a huge elephant in the room that we kinda need to address"

Dream sighed "I know. Do we really have to?"

George smiled sheepishly. "Yeah we kinda do, but let's get off the floor first"

Dream nodded as he followed George out of his room and into the cool and windy backyard. George had carried a throw blanket from his bed and spread it onto the grass, motioning for Dream to lie down. The two of them laid down on the blanket, nothing but the moon and stars looking at them. 

"So Dream, I thought for a few hours after I read your journals. I know that feelings aren't easy and I've already decided how I want to proceed. I have feelings of my own obviously, and you know I've never been big about expressing them. I mean I've never even been willing to say that I love you on stream as a joke. I think over time I'll be able to get better at expressing myself and my feelings. I think...I think I'd like to work on that with you Dream."

Dream turned to look at George "Are you saying what I think you are?"

George smiled softly "Yes Dream, I am."

Dream smirked "Don't be shy, say it out loud, let's start right now."

George sighed, bringing his hand up to his face and dragging it back down dramatically. "Ok ok...Clay, will you go out with me?"

Dream looked confused, but on top of that, flustered. George always called him Dream, just out of habit, and hearing his real name made it feel so much more serious. Dream felt himself smile, although it was a goofy grin, it was a grin either way. "Yes, I will."

George smiled, moving a little closer to Dream. "There is one catch though" Dream nodded as George paused between sentences "...You have to promise me that you'll start seeing a psychiatrist."

Dream let out a long sigh "There it is..."

George smiled "I know I know. But I promise it'll help, and I'm not willing to give a relationship a try unless you make that promise."

Dream frowned, looking at the moon and stars once more. "I promise."

George smiled and shifted himself until he laid with his head on Dream's shoulder, their faces inches away. Dream smelled like the candles they'd been burning through all week. George smiled to himself, resting himself comfortably in the crook of Dream's neck.

Dream reached his left arm around George, resting it in his soft short hair. He ran his fingers through it softly. 

Dream and George laid together outside for a while before heading inside for the night, They snuggled up into each other on the couch. Night welcomed the two into it's arms, comforting the ache in their hearts.

Meanwhile, miles and miles away, Sapnap boarded a flight home, completely oblivious as to what awaited him upon his return early the next morning.

Words: 1314