Reputation

"We're just gonna have to ride this one out."

"He's sent me everything Fundy has found, look, it's insane." Dream waves the phone in Punz's face until it's snatched out of his hand.

"What are all the numbers?" Punz questions. Punz has the curtains drawn and the lights on despite the sun still being out. Dream guesses he's been feeling sad too.

"Not sure what all of them are, but run down is that Eret is using bribery to get their way. If they were to take this to court, they'd be sure to win."

"So we'd get split again? Or I could end up back there?" Punz visibly shivers, face scrunching up in discomfort and Dream shakes his head quick to reassure him.

"We're not getting split up and you are definitely not going back. I promise. We're gonna fix this. We just have to send all this to the right person and once they find out who Eret really is...we'll get justice!"

"How? We're just kids compared to Eret and their money. Not even Puffy is much against them. Do you realise how bad it looks on her because you and Purp ended up in hospital? Social workers don't usually take too kindly to that kind of stuff and given everything that is packed in our files... Dream, we're fucked. We're bad kids and we'll always be bad kids until we end up being bad adults." Punz slips the phone back into Dream's hand. "We're just gonna have to ride this one out."

Dream sits there stunned for a minute. Punz doesn't even look defeated, just bored. He supposes he gets it.

There were a couple more homes that Punz had stayed at after Eret's. Of course they weren't as bad, but the eldest was on his own. He was used to being a piece of property rather than a person; a pass the parcel that nobody can get to the center of. In the end disappointment turned into defeat and defeat turned into acceptance. Whatever happens, simply happens.

And it shouldn't be that way. And for the second time, in a short period of time, Dream is going to do something.

A few things happen in the span of a week.

Purpled comes home and they celebrate by getting takeaway and a cake. It's more of a celebration than Purpled thinks he deserves, but he beams the whole day regardless.

Punz gets offered an interview for the apprenticeship he applied to. Albeit, it's not until a long while, but it feels nice to forget about the shitty things for a while.

Lastly, Dream gets invited to a party.

"A gathering." Sapnap insists. "It's just Karl, George and I, and you hopefully. Quackity has a family thing, but you can get to know one of my boyfriends better, and maybe even confess your undying love for George."

"I don't know Sap, I've got a lot on my mind."

"Then it's a good opportunity to have a break. I see those designer bags under your eyes. It's just food and maybe a movie, but Karl has a karaoke machine and it's his pride and joy, he brings it out every birthday and holiday."

"Designer bags?" Dreams laughs, and Sapnap hits his shoulder.

"You're not listening, you need to chill."

"Fine, fine." Dream gives in, hitting Sapnap back. "Where and when?"

Sapnap's smile is radiant.

Puffy is delighted when Dream mentions the party ("gathering").

"I think it's brilliant." She says, "I'm glad you boys are doing things that make you happy."

Perhaps their negativity has had a bigger impact on the house than they originally thought. They had a few days in a row of complete silences and forced smiles.