Scratches // DNF

Chapter 16

Dad only came home when he brought my sisters back from school. He stormed through the house, his head held high, and walked straight into his office, not even saying a word to my mother. Real fucking mature.

Mum wouldn't take it. She marched right in behind him, through the closed office door. It was hard to make out exact words, but her raised voice easily penetrated the walls as she yelled continuously at him.

During the shouting, Dream sat very noticeably uncomfortable in the living room. His posture was unnaturally straight as he hacked at his fingernails, peeling off surrounding skin. My sisters rushed over to bombard him with questions about why he was here, where was George, why was mummy yelling? He answered apprehensively, his discomfort worsening.

Truthfully he didn't know where George was. He hadn't chased through the door after him, knowing his friend needed space. Instead he'd paced around the house all day, waiting for an appearance or word.

He didn't have to wait much longer.

Interrupting the stream of questions was a knock at the door, quiet and apprehensive.

Dream jumped up and practically ran to the door. George stood the other side, the outside air having pinched some colour into his, previously paper white, cheeks.

"Where the hell have you been?" Dream instantly demanded. He seemingly remembered why George had left in the first place and lightened his tone. "I mean, how are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," George said in a surprisingly strong voice. "I just needed to think." He tugged at Dream's arm, pulling him onto the outside step so he could speak quieter. "What are we gonna do tonight? You've got to be exhausted, you haven't slept in god knows how long, and are probably still hungover."

"I'm fine."

"Well, anyway," George continued, obviously disbelieving Dream's lie. "Should we find a B&B like we used to? Or should we try a hotel? Just for tonight, we'll go home then first thing tomorrow."

"No you won't." Mum appeared, standing where Dream had stood seconds ago in the hall entryway. She must have heard the knock and sneaked out of the office. "You'll both stay here - we have a free room."

My room. My empty, abandoned room.

"Oh no, we don't want to intrude, we've taken up enough of your time. We can always sleep in the car anyway -"

"Oh now you're being silly," mum smiled. "Please come in, I'll help carry your bags."

After little bickering, they each lugged the scarce luggage out of the SUV and into my room. It wasn't locked as my room with Dream and George had been. They awkwardly stumbled in, scanning where they'd spend the night.

It wasn't exactly as I'd left it. The wardrobe door was open, revealing neat piles of spare clothes which were certainly not my doing. I'd always shoved my clothes in messily and if the doors latched shut, I was satisfied.

Since it was my childhood room, it had peeling, childish posters coating the bright blue walls. The remnants of my teenage years also lay about, such as the violin I'd never quite stuck to and my game controller laying in front of the small monitor.

"Now there's the double bed, but also the sofa if you..." she trailed off, looking questioningly at the both. It suddenly came to me that my mum had no idea if Dream and George were dating or not.

"I'll take the sofa," Dream quickly said, uncomfortable. He walked over to the tiny couch in the corner, stuffed below shelves of video games and children's books. There he tossed his overnight bag upon the chair.