One Shots and Scrapped Stories

It wasn't that they didn't get along. They just weren't the best of friends. George never really made the best of friends with his roommates. He wasn't obnoxious or loud or even snobby like most people here. The school was full of rich snobs, all throwing around money like it's nothing to them. George wasn't like that. He didn't have a lot of money.

Truth be told he was only there on a scholarship of sorts for good grades. He hadn't gotten anything less than an A up until this point. He was now in his sophomore year of college. Attempting to major in computer coding. He was definitely smart. He didn't need to pay off teachers or push another kid into getting them to do his homework just to get a good grade, he was just smart.

His roommate this year was Dream. He never thought he'd room with someone he knew before. Him and Dream were somewhat friends beforehand. George was good friends with Karl while Dream was good friends with Sapnap, Sapnap and Karl are dating. They were all pretty well known too, practically everyone in the college knew who Sapnap and Karl were and knew they were both off limits. Because of the shared friends, George and Dream often got stuck being third and fourth wheels together.

So it isn't to say they aren't friends, they just aren't best friends. They got along just fine, George never thought he'd be rooming with him though. He never asked for a specific roommate, he wasn't put off to the idea of making new friends, he was just pretty closed off and that made it hard. He filled out a suggested roommate form to try and get someone else like him, another reason he was surprised to see Dream. All the two ever did was talk lighthearted shit about Karl and Sapnap so they never really got to know each other. Maybe they had more in common than George originally thought?

"You can pick first, I don't mind which bed I get." Dream offered. Setting his small bag of things on the ugly carpeted floor in front of him.

George looked up to him, Dream was taller than he remembered. Without saying a word George walked to the bed farther from the window.

Dream made his way to the other before the silence got uncomfortable again, "not a window person?"

"I tend to stay up late and sleep in, I don't like the morning sun in my eyes." George responded blankly.

"Ah, that makes sense. I'll be up early for practice anyways." Dream was a sports guy. He did any sport he could: football, soccer, swimming, even tennis. Dream only played on the college team for football though, he simply went to the gym building a lot and George would often hear him talking to Sapnap about what sport he indulged in that day.

George forced a smile. "Then it works out." He wanted so badly to get along with Dream. It would make things easier, more enjoyable. Though he wasn't here for enjoyment, he was here for coding. He couldn't have too much fun if it meant letting that 4.0 gpa drop.

The full ride he was here on was paid for by some rich friend of his parents back home in the UK. So it wasn't technically a scholarship, but it could still be taken away at any moment like one. The only requirement is: he has to continue keeping his grades up. Even just one A- could be the end for him. That terrified him. The pressure was certainly there, unable to ignore it. If last year was a tell for anything, he'd be up all night again reading books, writing essays, and trying his best to understand math. He was smart, yes, but not an automatic calculator.

Dream on the other hand, came from the stereotypical rich family everyone else at this school did. He played football last year just like he did this year. He wasn't the smartest but he enjoyed things, he had enrolled in some of the same coding classes George did, probably the leading factor in why they ended up as roommates. He wanted to get better at it, it was only a minor degree Dream was going for compared to George's wish for a major. If he was being honest, Dream had no idea what he wanted to major in, time was coming up, he's not even a freshman anymore but a sophomore, he really needed to figure things out. He's not short of reminders from his parents that he needs to choose a major. He's surprised he even made it this far.

Back in high school Dream was close to dropping out. College wasn't much better. He hated school life, the only things keeping him here being: Sapnap and the freedom he has from his overbearing parents. He was never too bad when it came to grades, he averaged a B. He didn't care nearly as much as George seemed to about grades though. He knew from friendly sleepovers in Sapnap and Karl's dorm that George wasn't one to put things off. He watched George stay up until almost 3 am, not because they were having fun but because he had homework to finish.

"Yeah, it works out." Dream smiled back. He was going to make it his mission to get George to have fun this year. He had already decided as soon as he saw George's name written down as his roommate. Karl had warned him George was strict with his homework. Dream didn't think it would matter that much and he would be able to take George out of his homework trance. "Are you going over to Karl's tonight?"

George sighed, "Probably not, no. I need to get some rest before classes start tomorrow, I need to make sure my grades stay as high as possible."

"What that's so lame! It's just one night, classes don't even start until 11." George could tell Dream was just being dramatic.

"Maybe," George looked at Dream with a skeptical eye. "Maybe."

That was much easier than Dream expected. "Great! We can go there together around 7."

"I said maybe-"

"Maybe means yes."

George couldn't help but smile a little at the stupidity coming out of Dream, "That kind of thinking could get you in trouble."

"I think I'll be ok." Dream smiled back.

"Dream! George! You came!" Sapnap greeted Dream with a large hug.

Karl stood up from Sapnap's bed, "Well we expected Dream here. I'm glad you're here too George!" Karl shot George a warm smile.

"Thanks." George smiled back.

"Anyone else coming?" Dream asked as he entered the room and sat down at Sapnap's desk.

"Just Quackity. He's bringing pizza." Sapnap answered.

Karl wrapped his arms around George's shoulder. George looked awkward, like he wanted to be anywhere other than here. Despite this, he actually wasn't too mad about being here, it wasn't the worst thing in the world and he liked being around his friends... or at least Karl.

Sapnap had a slight look of jealousy on his face at the attention Karl was giving George. He hadn't even noticed until he saw Sapnap elbow Dream, both turning to look at Karl. Dream had the same kinda look but George couldn't see why. Maybe he liked Karl too. But this was just normal for Karl, he was always touchy, it was his thing.

Without much time to get comfortable, a knock rang loud through the small dorm. "Let me in bitches or I'll drop your food!" A familiar voice yelled through the door.

"Quackity's here!" Karl quickly skipped his way to the door, unlocking it and letting Quackity in. Karl smiled wildly and took the pizzas from the shorter boy. There was about 4 pizzas all together, George didn't understand why they needed so many until he was reminded of Dream and Sapnap's appetites. Football players could really eat, couldn't they?

The night was fun, George was glad he let Dream convince him to go. He couldn't help but wish he could do that more often. That's part of the reason he hadn't before. He didn't want to get attached to something he couldn't continue doing. He really had to stay in and do homework though, unless he wanted to be shipped back to England, which he didn't.

Classes tomorrow we're going to suck. He always hated going back after summer. George had been laying in his bed, staring at the ceiling for probably an hour already. Dream passed out in the bed across the room almost as soon as they got back. He glanced over and rolled his eyes, Dream was snoring loudly, sleeping on his stomach, and had a leg and an arm both halfway off the bed. How could anyone sleep like that? George focused back on the ceiling and finally shut his eyes.

"Hey." A poke placed itself on his cheek. "Wake up." Another. "Don't you want to get a head start on the day?" Yet another poke. "Your alarm has been going off for 10 minutes." This time a full shake to his shoulder. "There's sleeping beauty." George heard as he opened his eyes to Dream smiling over him.

"Don't call me that." George weekly pushed Dream away from his face.

Dream continued speaking as if George was listening, "Classes start today."

George rolled his eyes before smiling, "is that so? I had no idea."

"I would've thought a go-getter like you would know that and be ready by now." Dream playfully crossed his arms.

"What time is it?"

Dream picked his phone out of his pocket, "nine."

"I still have like an hour to sleep." George whined before rolling over and covering his ears.

Dream groaned before he walked back over to George's bed, "but I'm bored and Sapnap's with Karl- I'll pull you out of bed if I have to."

George covered his head with his blanket, muffled, he replied, "can't you annoy someone else-" George was immediately cut off by Dream's arms wrapping around his waist and pulling him out of bed. "Dream! What the hell-"

"You weren't getting out of bed yourself." Dream shrugged as he set George down on the floor.

"Is this how it's going to be everyday?" George asked, attempting to rub the sleep out of his eyes.

"Probably." Dream smiled before pushing George towards their bathroom, "and don't take too long I need someone to talk to."

"You're not going to talk to me through the door?" George fake pouted as he stood in the doorway and slammed the door in Dream's face. George grabbed a towel and took a shower to wake himself up. Normally he wouldn't be up until 10 so he had less sleep than he was prepared for. He was totally looking forward to having to put up with an early bird this year.

He came out of the bathroom in the same sweatpants and t-shirt he wore to bed the night before, running the towel over his wet hair. He noticed Dream staring at him but decided to ignore it, that was until he started to feel Dream's eyes burn into his back.

"Do you need something?" George asked plainly.

"Sorry," Dream shook his head like a dog covered in mud, "I just- space out sometimes." George didn't really buy it but he left it alone anyways.

Classes for the day took forever to finish and George already had homework. He had two classes with Dream though, that was nice, someone he knew. Dream decided to even sit next to him in both classes. George half expected him to go sit by literally anyone else.

Dream had asked George if he wanted to go out to lunch with him after their last class. Of course, George said yes, it wasn't like it would take all day so he could still work on any homework he had and it would give the two some time to get to know each other better.

A few weeks went by and Dream asked George everyday since if he wanted to go to lunch, it was like a small daily tradition, Dream's treat. George normally didn't like when people paid for things, it made him feel bad since he knew he most likely wouldn't be able to pay him back but a lot of the time the two ended up working on homework. Which meant he was helping Dream through anything with coding he didn't understand.

Dream paying was like payment for the laid back tutoring George did for him. It felt like some days Dream didn't even need the help but he asked for it anyways. George grew fond of the daily occurrence and almost dreaded weekends since they didn't have any classes that gave them a reason to go to lunch after over the weekends.

Unfortunately for George, the one class he didn't have Dream in was kicking his ass. He was sitting at a solid A-, normally this wouldn't bother him, if it weren't for the deal. His parents' friend checks up on his grades at the end of each month, the end up September was just next week. If George didn't get his grade up soon, this was it for him. He wouldn't be able to go back home knowing he only made it to sophomore year, he was better than this.

September 30th rolled around, he dreaded that phone call, he knew it was coming, he hadn't sent his grades to his parents and without that they couldn't give it to their friend. He knew it was coming. His A- wasn't good enough, he was going to have to beg. All lunch George was on edge, knowing it was coming soon. Dream didn't know about his deal he made and George had no plans of ever telling him.

Dream noticed George's shaking leg under the table, hard to not notice something that's shaking the table almost aggressively. "Is everything ok?" He asked, clearly already knowing the answer.

George's eyes shot up from his textbook and met Dream's, he hadn't noticed before but Dream's eyes were a bright green color. They reminded him of emeralds. They were pretty, George got lost for a moment before he remembered Dream had asked him a question.

"I'm sorry," George looked back down to the book in front of him, "I have a lot on my mind is all- hey!" Dream had reached over and shut George's book.

"Why don't we take a break then." Dream smiled warmly.

"I can't, I have to keep going." George scrambled to reopen his book before Dream reached over to it and took it from him.

Dream tucked the book into his backpack, along with his own, "you need a break."

George crossed his arms, "How do you know what I need?" Dream stood up from the table and held his hand out to George.

"Give me your phone." Dream reached.

"What-"

"We're going to do something without phones and without that stupid textbook." Dream smiled, he had a bright smile, like it could light up the room and everything in it if George let him.

Without even thinking, almost in a trance, George reached his hand into his pocket and grabbed his phone. 8 missed calls. They probably figured it out by now, they had to have figured it out. His parents weren't stupid. He was either dead or his grades slipped, though to George there wasn't much of a difference.

He handed his phone to Dream, he didn't know why, maybe it was a last hurrah before his parents put him on a long 8 and a half hour flight back home. Dream took his arm by the elbow and dragged him out of the small, on campus, cafe. George noticed a couple people staring at him as Dream held him close as if they both had known each other their whole lives, he would've cared more if he didn't think these were his last moments here.

Dream was warm, the grip he had on George was strong despite him not putting in any effort into it. George was smaller than Dream, almost a whole half a foot shorter and significantly thinner, that's not to say Dream was fat, he just had a lot of muscles. It most definitely wasn't something George hadn't noticed before. Every football player had muscles though so it wasn't out of character.

There was a pit growing slowly in George's stomach, he should really call his parents. His phone however had been handed to Dream and sat somewhere in his backpack. No matter how much he may try, George knew he wasn't going to get that back till they were done with this break Dream insisted he needed.

Dream dragged George all over campus it seemed. George wasn't the most active person, he stays inside and works on homework almost 24/7. He didn't have time to be active unless it was a part of an assignment. Honestly, he would be working on homework right now if it weren't for that damn A-. It wasn't even a bad grade in his eyes but it's less than a perfect A. Just the thought of that A- almost made him tear up. It sounds stupid, he knew that, but with that A- sitting there he will loose all his friends he had made and have to face his parents back home.

They did all they could to get him here, he knew the requirements and yet he didn't push himself far enough. He stayed up late every night just for it to end like this. It's almost a pity it's just an A- and not an F. It's definitely the little rebel in him wanting to go out with a bang if he must go out at all.

Maybe he could get a loan, would America even trust him? He's never had a credit card so he has no credit score, would that matter with a loan? He never fully understood America's economic system anyway, maybe he should learn-

"Watch out." Dream pulled George to the side, attempting to stop him from walking into a poll, "you're really out of it today, are you sure you're ok?" Dream held the back of his hand to George's forehead and cheeks in an attempt to make sure he wasn't sick or overheated.

A few giggles could be heard around them, what was this high school? "I'm fine." George swatted away at the hands around his face. If it weren't for the height difference and clear athlete build, George would be willing to say Dream reminded him of his mother right now.

"Would being with Karl and Sapnap make you feel any better? They're together right now which can be a bit annoying but maybe being with friends would help!" Dream seemed eager to help George fell better, almost bouncing on his heels.

"Sure, that would be fine-" George couldn't even finish his sentence before Dream pulled his arm along again, running back to their shared dorm building. It wasn't too far from here. The walk, or George guesses a slow run, was actually kinda nice, the leaves on trees looked beautiful.

People along the way continued to glance over at them. George didn't get it, why was everyone looking, was there something on his face? Is there something going on he didn't know about?

Dream knocked on the dorm room's door, after hearing a groan that was clearly Sapnap's. Karl opened the door with his normal bright smile. Dream pushed George in first with the cliché saying "age before beauty," and a smile.

"What's up guys?" Karl asked, sitting back down on Sapnap's bed under his arm. The two didn't care about being all touchy in front of people, it was their fault for looking if it bothered people so much.

"Somethings wrong with George." Dream pushed him forward more.

George sighed, "I told you, I'm fine." George sat down on the end of Karl's bed.

Karl squinted at George for a second, "no, something is definitely wrong." Karl concluded as if that had solved the problem.

George pulled his legs up to his chest for a second, the pit in his stomach kicked him hard. He looked up to Dream and opened his mouth to speak and ask for his phone back before deciding it was probably a lost cause. He looked to his feet before he jolted at the sudden phone getting tossed at him. It was almost like Dream knew what he was going to ask for, could he read minds?

The brunette quickly opened his phone to the now 16 missed calls from parents and 1 from an unknown number. He had never talked to his parents' friend before, maybe that was him. He was really in for it now whenever he answered. His parents had texted him a few times as well just trying to make sure he was ok. He quickly typed up a simple "I'm ok" and sent it before he could think too much about it.

"Should we call Quackity? Would that make him feel better?" Sapnap suggested. Over the past almost two months now, George got a lot closer with Sapnap, Quackity, and most importantly Dream. He grew really fond of their companies even if they didn't hang out all that often. He saw Dream a lot but that's only because they lived together.

George stayed silent, he thought of it as weak but he knew if he said anything he risked bursting into tears. The reality of it all set in. He was going to have to leave this, all of this, the dorm life, his friends, college, lunches with Dream after classes everyday. He was going to miss it, it's the most comfortable he's ever been before.

Home was alright, not bad or traumatic, just boring, his family wasn't poor but they had a few money scares, he could never do much at home. Going out everyday for lunch with a friend is only something that would happen in a dream.

He could write letters to his friends, or text like a normal person. It wasn't like they couldn't talk anymore. But he'd be stuck across an entire ocean just hearing about all of his friends hanging and having fun without him, that would sting the worst.

His eyes began to almost hurt before he covered his face with his knees. He knew they were all watching him, he could feel their eyes burning right through him. A hand wrapped itself around him and pulled him in. That's when he broke, it wasn't loud, he was probably the only one who knew it was happening, but it hurt. The tears themselves burned his skin, this felt stupid, he was so weak. He was used to beating himself up over stupid things but this felt terrible. He was in front of friends and as soon as he lifted his head they would all see him crying.

"What's going on?" A large hand ruffled with his hair.

Karl got up from the bed again and went over to comfort his friend. Karl and George had a few classes together freshman year which is how they originally became friends. The two were really good friends, Karl easily put up with George's extensive studying and didn't ridicule him like most people did.

Freshman year George had someone named Wilbur as his roommate, Wilbur definitely didn't like George's studying habits. They got along fine but had fights almost every night when George would refuse to go to sleep because he needed to study.

Another hand rubbed circles on George's back, "you ok kiddo?" Karl asked, already knowing the answer was no.

George contemplated telling all three of them right then and there about his situation, maybe they could have a fun last night there with him. George sniffled, if they didn't know he was crying already, they definitely knew now. He expected Dream or Sapnap to make fun of him, to laugh at the fact he was acting like a child. But they didn't. Dream only pulled him a little closer and rested his chin on top of George's head.

That only made things worse, he thought about never being able to feel that stupid chin on top of his head again or the ridiculously warm arms that held him close while he bawled his eyes out.

Dream squeezed him a little, "it's ok, whatever's going on is going to be ok."

"No it's not," George's voice was shaky, clearly on the edge of breaking more.

"What's going on?" Karl slid down next to him and attempted to look George in the eyes.

George only stayed silent, not wanting to make the crying worse. This was already bad enough. He gave in, "I have to go back home, I know it." He ended with another sniffle.

"Go back home? Like back to London? Or wherever you're from?" Sapnap asked, coming over to them. The informality almost made George smile before he remembered why he was crying.

George lifted his head to breathe a little, his legs were stuffy, "yeah. Probably as soon as possible." George glanced at the constantly lit screen due to the amount of calls and texts he was getting.

"Why would you have to leave?" Karl asked with a large pout.

"I got an A-." George didn't expect them to get it, the weird looks all three of them gave him were exactly what he assumed would happen, "I can't get worse than an A."

"An A- is still technically an A-" Sapnap started.

George quickly cut him off, "not to the person paying for my schooling." George sighed, part of him was glad to get it off his chest even if he knew his friends would only have more questions.

"Person paying for your school? You mean like your parents." Dream asked.

George couldn't look him in the eyes, he cared about Dream, he cared about Sapnap and Karl and Quackity too but there was something about Dream he knew he would miss the most, "my family doesn't have enough money to send me here, and no job I could get would be enough, so they have a close friend paying for it on the agreement I only get A's."

All three went silent for a second, "that's a lot of pressure to put someone under." Karl continued to rub circles on his back.

"What if you get someone else to pay for it? Someone who wouldn't force you to only get A's?" Sapnap asked.

"I don't know anyone else who could, it's a miracle this guy even wanted to. He said he was passionate about coding too and knew this was a good school for it so he agreed. I thought I could do it..." George trailed his voice, still crying.

Dream looked at him, George could just feel the pity oozing from him, all of them. Pity is the last thing he wanted, "what if I paid for it?" Dream lifted a hand and brushed some tears off George's face.

"No!" George stood up from the bed and crossed his arms, "I don't want your pity money, not to mention how expensive it is." Karl's eyes lit up brightly like this was the best thing he had ever heard since Sapnap had finally asked him out.

"It's not pity money! I have far more than I know what to do with anyways." Dream stood up and stood directly in front of the shorter male.

George looked up to Dream, wiping a tear from his own face, "I didn't do anything to earn it, all I did was room with you for only two months."

"Then why don't you earn it?" Sapnap stood almost in between the two, "like a deal, you do something for Dream and he pays for your tuition."

"Dream, you need someone to do your homework? A maid maybe? Oh George would look so cute in a little butler's outfit." Karl ran over and pinched George's tear stained cheeks.

Dream tilted his head, as if he was imagining George in a butlers outfit. A grin appeared on his face, wider than any of Karl's. "Oh no, what's that face?" George looked to his feet, afraid of what Dream would say next.

Dream's smile only grew, "Pretend to date me. Be my fake boyfriend and I'll pay for your tuition." Dream stated as if he knew George would say yes.

"What-"

"Sugar daddy Dream, oh my." Karl cooed.

"Dream-"

"Awe I knew you would ask him eventually but I didn't think I'd be here for it." Sapnap playfully punched Dream's shoulder.

"Eventually? What- what's going on? What's happening right now?!" George's hands gripped his hair tightly, at least he wasn't crying anymore.

"I thought it was pretty clear." Dream shrugged, "I'm offering you a deal, pretend to date me and I'll pay for your tuition, all of it. You can get any grade, A- accepted."

"I can't- I'm not some prostitute Dream-"

"No sex involved," Dream laughed, "unless you want that of course-" Dream was cut off by an abrupt punch to the gut from George, it was so light it only felt like a little tickle. Well that's not completely true, it hurt a little.

"It's not prostitution it's more like you're a sugar baby." Karl explained as if it made anything better.

For a second George felt himself contemplating the offer, he really wanted to stay. George's phone lit up again, his parents were calling again. Dream picked it up and answered, turned it on speaker and shoved it into George's hands. This was happening.

"George! Sweetie! Don't give us a heart attack like that again!" He heard his mother yell. The care in her voice drowned out any actual anger. George made his way back to Karl's bed and sat on the edge. Dream sat next to him, like a reminder of the fact he was about to give in to this stupid deal.

"I'm sorry mom-"

"You know we call every last day of the month! Why didn't you answer, our friend was thinking about stopping payment just based on the fact you didn't answer." His mom sounded frantic.

George sighed deeply as he looked Dream in the eyes, he had never seen a more serious look on his face. Dream looked about ready to take the phone from him and tell his mom he was going to be paying from now on, "I know, I should've answered earlier, it's late now where you guys are."

"It is, but I- we wanted to make sure you were ok before we went to bed or made any drastic decisions about your schooling." His mother seemed more calm now.

"I answered the phone- um, to talk to you about that." George fiddled with the strings of his sweatpants. He looked to Dream again for reassurance, he got lost again in those pretty emerald eyes, "I actually found someone here who would pay for my college-"

"What?! I tried so hard today to make sure you could still- just for you to find someone else!? Are you... failing."

"No! I just," George bit onto the string before remembering that everyone in the room was watching him, "I have an A-..."

"George." Disappointment could be heard through that one word. Dream fought the urge to roll his eyes, the pressure of good grades was ridiculous. Maybe he could get George to let loose a little more if he didn't have to worry about grades all the time.

Dream never put thought into why George felt the need to study so much, Dream barely did and he still passed with pretty good grades. It makes sense now, he just wished he had found out sooner.

"An A- isn't bad-"

"Not bad but not good enough." His mother sighed, "we can book you a flight back home-"

"No! I told you, I found someone else." George bit on finger nails while avoiding eye contact with anyone else in the room.

His mother paused, "Do I know this person? How do I know it's trustworthy? You aren't involved in a gang or anything, right?"

"You don't know him, I do though, I know he's trustworthy." George could see the smirk on Dream's face out of the corner of his eye, "He's not a gang leader if you're genuinely worried about that."

"Will an A- be good enough?" His mother worried.

George smiled for a second, he was really going to stay, and all he had to do was pretend to date someone he was almost always around anyways, "any grade is good enough."

His mother sighed with relief, "ok, but call us still, we miss you sweetie."

The brunette also sighed with relief, he definitely got the easier parent, "I- I will."

"I love you Georgie. We all miss you."

"I love you too mom." George hung up and threw himself backwards onto the bed with a huff.

The room was filled with a comfortable silence before Karl burst out laughing, "Georgie!" Karl laughed again.

"Oh shut up!"

Dream smiled and turned to face George better, "so we've got a deal?"

"It's a deal." George responded, holding out his hand for Dream to shake. Dream took it and the two shook on it.

George sat across from Dream at their normal cafe spot, "Why do you need someone to fake date you anyways?"

"My parents have been pressuring me to get a girlfriend." Dream took a large bite of his sandwich.

George rolled his eyes, "I'm not a girl."

Dream looked up at George, mouth still full of food, "I'm not into girls."

The older of the two felt his face go red, he should've realized that sooner. He hadn't thought about his own sexuality that much but he wasn't turned off by the idea of fake dating Dream so he definitely knew he wasn't fully straight, "Sorry." George started poking at his food with his fork.

Dream laughed through his food, "don't be sorry, you didn't know."

"It seems kinda obvious now that I know." George avoided eye contact again, "why not get a girl to fake date you while you actually date a boy then?"

Dream whipped his face with his sleeve, "not into anyone right now, plus I kinda wanna see my parents face if I tell them I'm dating a boy." Dream said the word "dating" with air quotes. George knew it was only fake dating, still he couldn't help but get a little sad at the idea of it all just being to spite his parents.

The rest of lunch went well, studying was much more lax without the pressure of needing to get an A. On the walk back to their dorm room Dream held his hand. If the way they acted just yesterday wasn't enough for people to get their thoughts rolling about Dream and George, the hand holding really sold it.

George didn't completely get why everyone at school needed to know if this was simply to spite his parents but he didn't mind. Dream's hand was warm, just like his arm when it placed itself around his shoulder, just like the letterman jacket Dream folded over his free arm, just like the feeling George felt in his stomach, warmth.

As soon as they got back to their dorm Dream went to go shower, leaving George to his own devices. Normally, George would study, this is no longer normal. He sat on his bed and scrolled mindlessly on his phone until Dream was done in the shower.

At lunch they had negotiated rules, unless being in a fake relationship made George uncomfortable, it was necessary for the money. When alone or with Sapnap, Karl, or Quackity they don't need to be all lovey dovey. When in public George would hold Dream's hand and such, maybe wear some of his clothes. He liked the idea of wearing Dream's letterman jacket.

Dream would pay for some things such as lunches and he would get to sort of spoil George, if it meant being more convincing George would do it but he wasn't too happy about it. It made him feel almost like a puppy that Dream got to drag around and play dress up with whenever he wanted. Like he had no say in the matter. Though things could be worse.

The teasing from Sapnap and Quackity was through the roof. All they ever talked about around him and Dream now was how cute they would be as an actual couple. George never looked to see how Dream reacted to that but George rolled his eyes every time, it wasn't part of the deal.

Dream was allowed to touch George, this meaning hugs and maybe cheek kisses if George was feeling it that day. Dream agreed to stay respectful of George's boundaries, he didn't want to make him uncomfortable. If at any time George wants to call it quits he's allowed to; he just has to think of something else he could do instead, but he thinks he can handle the current deal.

George is snapped from his thoughts as Dream walks out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist, "Are you going to the Halloween party at the end of the month?" Dream asked nonchalantly, as if he wasn't practically naked right now.

Hands covered his face as he gave a muffled response, "I didn't know there even was a party."

"We should go, maybe wear a couples costume." Dream said, grabbing some clothes and walking back into the bathroom. This deal was going to feel like forever. Dream wasted no time walking back out in just some grey sweatpants. George could help but look, it was like looking at an AD on TV, "my eyes are up here." Dream joked.

"Sorry!" George covered his face again.

Dream laughed, George found it almost attractive, "I'm only messing with you." Dream grabbed an Oklahoma hoodie from the floor and put it on. He moved to sit next to George on his bed, the rules said they didn't have to be close when they were alone, not that they couldn't. George liked the company. He rested a head on Dream's shoulder before the younger man started to speak yet again, "do you usually do Halloween costumes? We could do something cliché and dumb if you want to."

"Cliché? Do I look cliché to you?" George laughed.

"Maybe a little." Dream laughed as George hit his side, "that's not exactly a no, are you saying you will go to the party with me?"

George felt a smile tug at his lips, "I still have to study but sure, I'll go with you." It felt nice to not have to fight someone about not going somewhere, it was nice to get to go out with his friends rather than stay in studying while they all went out and had fun. It would also be more convincing if they were actually trying to get people to think they were dating.

Something about Dream's excuse didn't sit right with George, it felt off. He tried not to think too much about it and just go with it, he wasn't getting paid to question Dream's motives. "I'm glad you want to go." Dream placed a small kiss on top of George's head.

"I've always wanted to go to things, just didn't have the time." The brunette smiled at the affection, something about it made him feel nice.

"Then I'm glad you have the time." Dream stated as if it wasn't solely because of him that he now had the time to do more. George leaned into the arm that laid over his shoulder, even after just getting out of the shower, Dream was warm. How could someone always be so warm? "You're cuddly when you're fake dating someone."

"Can't say I've fake dated anyone before, haven't even actually dated someone before."

"No way you've made it to college without dating someone, with the way you look?!" Dream laughed but it didn't feel like he was laughing at George, more like laughing with him.

"What's wrong with the way I look?" George tried to take it personally but he was laughing through the whole question.

Dream stopped laughing for a second, just long enough for George to notice, it made him feel what he was about to say was going to be too serious, "Nothing, trust me, you're just... very handsome... so I was just surprised is all-"

George burst out laughing, "what! You're so stupid, stop talking."

The two ended their meaningless bickering, both stopped by their phone lighting back up with life at a text.

Quackity: ayeee guess who scored some beerrrr
Quackity: let's hangout tonight!!

Sapnap: ayo??

Karl: how'd you manage that O_o

Dream looked enticed with the offer while George clearly had no interest in drinking. George had tried alcohol and he could stand it, he wasn't very much of a light weight surprisingly, usually someone his size couldn't take much. He had been to a couple parties before with other underage drinking, not something he had in mind for tonight though.

"We should go." Dream suggested.

George looked at him to make sure he was being serious, "I don't want to drink."

"You don't have to! No ones going to pressure you to drink." Dream looked confident so George believed him.

That was not the case, Quackity called him lame and handed him a beer despite him saying no. George was old enough, this wasn't illegal for him. Dream, Quackity, and Sapnap on the other hand... were definitely not old enough. Just a year off but it still didn't sit right with George. Karl didn't seem too concerned.

After downing a few cans George questioned why he even agreed to this. Karl, clearly drunk already, set his head on George's shoulder, "you're funner when you're not doing homework all the time."

"Funner isn't a word Karl." George pat Karl on the top of his head in response.

Quackity jumped up as if he had just come up with the best idea in the history of ideas, "we should play truth or dare!"

Sapnap rolled his eyes, "that game is for children, do we look like children."

Quackity stared at Sapnap, both were obviously drunk out of their minds already, "yes, you do look like a child." Sapnap stuck his tongue out at Quackity's bluntness.

"I love truth or dare!" Karl piped up from George's shoulder.

Dream glanced at George, quick enough for George to just about notice it, "I'll play."

"I don't want to play truth or dare with a bunch of drunk people." George said with a serious tone.

"Drunk people who look like children." Quackity corrected.

George crossed his arms in response, "that doesn't make it any better."

"Come on don't be lameee, Dream and I are fine!" Quackity's words slurred a bit, showing he clearly wasn't sober. Dream looked fine though, that was good for him, having to bring a drunk roommate back to his room would suck.

He was trying to have more fun, maybe this was fun for people. He could possibly enjoy it, truth or dare hasn't hurt him in the past, "fine, I'll play."

"Hell yeah George!" Quackity yelled far too loudly.

"I'll start!" Karl raised his hand like he was asking for permission, "Sapnap! What's your favorite thing about me." Karl batted his eyelashes.

"You didn't ask me 'truth or dare'. But you also can't make me pick a favorite!" Sapnap whined. Quackity gagged. "I like your sense of humor." Sapnap answered tamely, George half expected something more. "Ok my turn now! Dream!"

Dream glanced up, it looked like he wasn't expecting to be called on just yet.

"Truth or dare?" Sapnap had a devilish look in his eyes.

"Dare." Dream's response was plain.

Sapnap rolled his eyes, he seemed to want Dream to pick truth, "I dare you to email one of your professors that baby picture of you riding on a crocodile."

"It's an alligator, and that's stupid." Despite his comment about it being stupid, Dream pulled out his phone, trying to find the picture.

Quackity quickly got up and stood over the sitting Dream's shoulder, "There's a picture of a tiny Dream on an alligator? I have to see this."

After Quackity stopped laughing hysterically, Dream finished writing an email asking for help on an assignment and attached the picture at the bottom, "alright, my turn now, George." Dream turned to the older boy with the same devilish grin Sapnap had earlier, "truth or dare?"

George weighed his options like his life depended on it. If he picked truth, Dream could ask him something super personal and potentially put George in a tough situation. If he picked dare, it could be something like Sapnap's and George would definitely back out of emailing a professor. "Dare."

Karl got up and whispered something in Dream's ear. Dream looked surprised at first before he nodded his head and turned back to George, "I dare you to sit on my lap until it's your turn again."

George should have known it would be something stupid, though this was arguably better than having to email a childhood picture of himself to a professor. Without saying a word George crawled over to Dream and sat on his lap, crossing his arms as if pouting would get him out of this. Karl giggled.

"Quackity, truth or dare?" George asked.

Quackity smiled, "no snarky comment first about Dream's dare?" George shot him a look, "alright alright, truth."

"Why do you always look at Karl and Sapnap like they have some kind of disease?" George asked, assuming it wasn't that hard of a question.

Quackity looked surprised for a split second before he rolled his eyes, "because they're gross, always all over each other, couples are gross..."

"You don't have to look, you know." Sapnap answered.

"I- I know that, do you think I don't know that?!" Quackity snapped.

Karl looked at him with playful eyes, "no need to get so worked up Quackster, if you wanna join in all you have to do is ask."

Quackity's face got almost as red as a tomato, "that's not what I said at all!"

Karl leaned out of Sapnap and hugged Quackity, only making the poor boy even more red. George and Dream just watched, this wasn't anything new. The only reason George asked was because he could see the look Quackity gave them every time. He gagged and pretended to throw up but you could tell he wanted in.

Dream put his chin on George's head, Dream knew how much George liked that despite not wishing to show any attraction to the younger male. George finally uncrossed his arms, he became more comfortable, "couples am I right?" Dream scoffed and George rolled his eyes at the blonde's stupid comment.

"You are aware we're technically a couple right?" George tilted his head up as much as he could without forcing Dream to remove his chin.

Dream hesitated, "I think that's already the end of truth or dare." George looked forward, seeing what Dream was referring to, Karl, Quackity, and Sapnap were all practically asleep on each other's shoulders.

"We could just head back to our dorm if you want then." George suggested.

Dream reached for another beer, "no way, I'm not even tipsy yet." George rolled his eyes and leaned back into the hold Dream had on him.

"Can't you just bring some back with you?" George blindly believed Dream wasn't drunk despite watching him down far too many cans before they even started playing.

Dream dropped the empty can of the beer he literally just picked up, "why don't we just stay here? Not like it's not allowed."

George yawned, the tiredness finally setting in. He looked over to the two dorm beds, Karl's was always neat and untouched. He probably never actually slept in his own bed. As much as he wished to stay in Dream's arms forever he got up and ruined Karl's never before used bed, "fine but I'm going to bed, no more alcohol."

"I'm not going to make you drink any more." Dream laughed as he picked up another full can of beer, cracking it open.

"How many of those are you going to have? You're going to feel like shit tomorrow morning at this rate." George opened his eyes as he continued to lay on the bed.

Dream only shrugged in response. He sat down on the bed next to George's legs, finishing off another can. Any normal person would be blasted by now, "till I'm tipsy. Think I'm done." Dream laid down on top of George's legs.

"Go sleep on Sapnap's bed you idiot." George attempted to kick Dream off of him.

"Gross, I don't know what's on that bed." Dream sat back up anyways.

George assumed that meant he would go to the other bed, but he was wrong. Dream laid down next to George on the small twin sized bed, not leaving any room in between them both.

"Is this alright?" Dream asked. Of course it was alright, but George wasn't going to give him that ego boost. He simply nodded in response.

Dream took that as permission to put an arm around George and pull him as close as he could. As much as he didn't want to admit it, George was glad he took the deal. He loved this attention and being here was so much better than being at home.

Part of him felt like this was wrong. It was only fake dating, he wasn't proving anything to anyone by cuddling with Dream while practically alone. No one else would know it was even happening, and unless the other three boys woke up before them in the morning, not even they would know it happened.

He thought of it as training, like to make things more believable when they were in front of people. His mind filled with thoughts of what exactly was happening. He didn't want to think too much about it but this was something he hoped would happen, not necessarily with Dream but with someone in general.

Before he left home to come here he didn't put a name on his sexuality, he had girls go after him but he never wanted to date any of them. He chalked it up to just being uninterested in dating, but if he wasn't interested in dating then why did even just fake dating Dream make him so happy?

He decided he didn't want to think anymore about it. He was tired and super comfortable. George closed his eyes again and fell asleep with his face buried in Dream's chest.

George awoke to Karl's familiar giggling that he knew all too well. His face was still in Dream's chest. The brunette heard the snap of a camera and sat up quickly in the bed. The sudden and fast movement woke Dream up with it.

Karl was facing them and trying to hastily shove his phone in his pocket. Quackity and Sapnap were still knocked out but sometime in the night must've moved to Sapnap's bed. Karl smiled brightly as he always did, he knew George heard the sound but he was prepared to deny it anyways. Time to lightheartedly gaslight George.

The oldest of the five glared at Karl, "delete it."

"Delete what?" Karl looked extremely believable. If it weren't for the fact he knew it happened, George would've believed Karl.

He rolled his eyes, "the picture." Dream pulled on George, trying to get him to lay back down.

"It seems you're busy, we can talk about it later." Karl smiled again before turning around and walking towards the door. George was about to get up and follow but the arm pulling him back down was too warm and comforting to deny.

A couple hours later the two boys woke up again but this time all three other boys were gone. They just left Dream and George alone in their room. George picked up his phone to see a ton of texts from Karl, Sapnap and Quackity.

Karl: *image attached*
Karl: O_o

Sapnap: ew gay ppl in our dorm

Quackity: 🤢🤮

Karl: it's kinda cute :]

Sapnap: watch out, calling Dream cute never works out for people
Sapnap: except for George probably

Quackity: 🤢🤮

Karl: oh no
Karl: I'm so scared T_T

Sapnap: I'll protect you!

Quackity: 🤢🤮

George rolled his eyes and opened the picture, it was kinda cute. He felt his face turning red before he managed to suppress the feeling.

George: you guys suck :P

Karl: you love us :))

Sapnap: you love Dream 😈

George: shut up

Dream was awake but he was still laying down, he grabbed his phone and laughed at Sapnap's text, "you love me Georgie?" He looked up to George with puppy dog eyes.

"You're annoying." George shoved the blanket from Karl's bed into Dream's face.

As soon as Dream managed to pull it down he smiled, "that's not a no." He sounded flirty, as if the answer he was looking for was 'yes'.

George rolled his eyes, "I'm leaving."

"Still not a no!" Dream sat up, "hey wait for me!" Dream called as George was just about to twist the doorknob to leave.

With a sigh George complied, waiting for Dream to get up from the bed and start getting ready to leave. He picked up some empty cans and tossed them in the trash before brushing himself off and announcing he was ready to go.

The two debated on what they wanted to do for the day before they got another text.

Sapnap: hey losers!

Karl: how rude! Be nice!

Dream: why are you talking to yourself Sap?

Sapnap: whatever
Sapnap: who wants to go bowling?

Quackity: please guys he won't shut up about it

Karl: it's all he's been talking about

George: I'll go bowling with you surpnurp

Sapnap: grge 🥺

Dream: ok alright, enough of that
Dream: I'll go too

Karl: yay! We'll meet you guys there in like 20 minutes!!!

Quackity: 🤢🤮

The walk to the bowling alley on campus was nice. Dream and George joked and laughed along with each other as they walked. They held hands and talked about how badly they were going to crush the other three despite George telling Dream he has no idea how to bowl.

George knew there was a bowling alley on campus but he had never been, bowling was never really his thing. But Sapnap sounded so excited to go and it wasn't like he hated bowling he just never did it often. He had been bowling a longggg time ago and he remembered sucking, maybe Dream could teach him.

They stepped through the doors of the building and felt the wave of almost a smoky smell. It smelled almost as bad as how George imagined the party he agreed to go to for Halloween. However it wasn't as full as they expected it to be. Sapnap, Karl, and Quackity were all up by the counter paying the entry fee to get in. Karl waved eagerly for Dream and George to follow.

George let his hand fall to his side and Dream's was quick to interlock fingers with his own and pull him forward. They got to the counter, Dream paid. George tried to pull out his wallet and help but Dream only pushed it away. It was honestly the only annoying thing about this whole situation. His friends took his financial situation a lot better than he thought they would but now they always offer to pay, he has money he's not completely broke. With a little punch to Dream's shoulder, they met their friends in their lane.

"Hell yeah! I'm so excited." Sapnap rolled up his sleeves like that would help his performance.

Dream rolled his eyes, "hold on tiger, we still have to pick our balls." Quackity laughed quietly at the use of the word balls.

"I prefer pandas." Sapnap stated as he walked towards the racks of bowling balls.

George stood staring, not really remembering how to do this. He wasn't very strong so he had to pick a smaller ball and his hands were probably average sized, whatever that meant. The same familiar blonde rested an elbow on George's shoulder, "usually my favorite color is the one that ends up working for me, no idea why." Dream reached for a green ball and carried it back to the lane.

George went for a light blue one, it was his favorite color. Surprisingly, it worked, the bowling ball was light enough and it fit his hands perfectly. He walked back to the lane and placed it next to the others.

Karl was up first. He stepped up to the lane in those typical ugly bowling shoes that somehow went with his outfit. As soon as the ball left his hands you could tell it was a good throw, he knocked down nine pins in one and the last one on his second try, getting a spare.

Sapnap cheered loudly and gave Karl a kiss on the cheek for getting a good score. George was set to go last on the board, which gave him the entire first four moves to make him worry about how terrible he was going to be.

"Georgie! Your turn!" Quackity yelled as he walked back after hitting eight pins down.

George stood up, he clearly looked nervous, "here I'll help you Georgie." Dream said the name in a clearly mocking tone of Quackity.

George stood awkwardly in front of the lane, not ready for the embarrassment he would get if he rolled the ball himself. Dream stood behind him and put his hand on top of George's, "you have to keep your thumb facing in the direction you want the ball to go." He moved his hand so George's thumb was looking straight at the center, "then swing." Dream pulled George's arm back and the ball left the brunette's hand, moving straight in a line towards the middle.

Maybe bowling wasn't the worst idea after all... the ball hit the pins and knocked down each one, making George the only one to get a strike. Karl clapped loudly while Sapnap pouted, "no fair he had Dream quite literally holding his hand!"

"Awe does somewone want Dweam to wold his hand?" Quackity teased Sapnap with a puppy dog face.

"Good job kid." Dream smiled, not taking his hand off George's quite yet.

George stood, still facing away from Dream, "I'm older than you." He tilted his head up.

Dream pulled on the older boy's hand and spun him around so they were facing each other, "I'm aware... kid." Dream kissed the top of George's hand, making the brunette go red in the cheeks.

A similar camera click as that same morning went off as Quackity yelled, "That's a keeper!"

Dream rolled his eyes as George stole his hand back and covered his face, "you guys are so weird." George sat back down, it was Karl's turn again now.

Once George finished his second turn his seat had been taken by Sapnap in retaliation for Dream helping George again. Sapnap crossed his arms and stuck his tongue out at George. Karl got up and skipped over to his ball, getting ready to get another great score.

George didn't want to steal Karl's seat so for a bit he just stood. Dream gave him a look though and patted his lap, almost as if he was trying to invite George to sit down on him. George rolled his eyes and walked away. Dream didn't seem to want to take no as an answer though.

The younger male got up and wrapped his arms around George's waist. Making the whole "couple" thing look pretty convincing. Dream watched people walk past, his eyes on a certain group of people. George tried his best to not pay attention and simply watch Sapnap fawn over Karl's bowling skills, or just Karl in general, he couldn't tell anymore.

Once the group Dream had been staring at passed by he let go. The loss of touch felt like the end of the world to George. As much as he didn't want to admit it, George liked the whole fake dating thing, a lot more than he should. He wondered what his parents would think about all this. Here he is, in the middle of a bowling alley, not doing homework, fake dating a boy.

The whole situation was definitely nothing he thought would ever happen to him, this was something you saw in a movie. Did that make him a main character? Was this all some sort of weird dream?

"George! Stop thinking about Dream and go bowl!" Quackity yelled, running back from the lane, "it's your turn!"

George rolled his eyes and stepped up to the lane again. George rolled all without Dream's help and ended up knocking down nine pins. As soon as he went to sit down Sapnap yelled his name.

"What?" George sounded jokingly annoyed.

Sapnap liked their arms together, "come with me to go get some drinks." Sapnap pulled him along to the counter, "so, thoughts on Dream?"

"What-"

"Just answer the question." Sapnap pushed.

George looked over his shoulder at Dream who had taken Sapnap's turn and purposely made both turns go into the gutter causing the other two to laugh, "he's alright, why?"

"No, like thoughts thoughts on Dream." Sapnap smiled as the line moved forward a little.

George shot Sapnap a confused look, "did I not answer the question the first time?"

"I mean romantic thoughts on Dream." George sort of knew that was what Sapnap was getting at but still chose to not answer in the way he wanted.

George looked over his shoulder again and noticed Dream smile at him. He waves back
with a smile and turned to Sapnap, "he's... alright."

Sapnap looked unamused, "I think you like him."

"Why would I like Dream?"

Sapnap started listing things off his fingers, "he's nice, he offered to pay for your tuition, he's handsome, oh and I don't know, you two are fake dating!"

George scoffed, "what does that have to do with anything? Maybe I'm not into guys, did you ever consider that?"

"Oh please, you're more fruity than a white mom's kitchen table centerpiece."

George rolled his eyes in response, "white moms usually have fake bowls of fruit in the middle of a table so that argument is dumb, just like you." George lightly flicked Sapnap's head.

"My mom has real fruit!" Sapnap argued back.

The line moved forward again and they were at the front. Sapnap ordered only two drinks, one for him and the other for George. Sapnap immediately turned to George after receiving the drinks. George crossed his arms, forcing Sapnap to carry both drinks, "you never answered my question you know!"

"I think I did? I said he's alright. Looks like we're back though so I guess we'll have to stop talking about it." George slyly smiled and walked just a little faster than Sapnap.

"Even the way you walk is fruity!" Sapnap called after him. George flipped him off.

The rest of the bowling went pretty well, George didn't lose! Sapnap came in last after all the times someone took his turn and made him lose that round. They played a couple more games before calling it quits.

On the way back to their dorm George was met by Dream's hand curling it's way into his own, Karl, Sapnap, and Quackity all doing the same. The urge to put his head on Dream's shoulder as they walked was immense but he decided against it, holding hands was enough, they weren't even actually dating anyways.

Dream and George waved the other three off as they reached their floor and walked back to their dorm. All the dorms were small, just two beds and two desks to fill the small space with a closet on each side and a small bathroom with a shower and a toilet. The smallness of the dorms really bothered George, especially when Wilbur was his roommate.

So far the small room didn't matter all that much, George got used to sharing a space with Dream over just this small bit of time they've spent together. He thought it was odd how comfortable he was around Dream. But that's just how Dream is, he's a nice person.

At least that's what George chalked it up to. Maybe there was something more to it, apparently Sapnap thought so. But for now he was just going to leave it alone. As soon as they closed their dorm door Dream sighed loudly, clearly begging for George to ask what was wrong. So he did, he didn't want to, but something told him to, "what's sound that for?"

"Some old friends were there tonight, at bowling. Just reminiscing I guess." Dream replied, a tinge of sadness in his voice.

He wasn't sure what pushed him to do so but George sat on Dream's bed, leaning next to the taller male with his back against the wall, "old friends huh? I get like that too sometimes." That was a lie, most of the time George couldn't remember many happy memories and never had to think back to good times and wish he could relive them. He didn't have a sad life before this, just mediocre.

"One of them..." Dream trailed, "she was just a friend but I still can't help but miss her. I wish we still talked."

George had no reason to doubt what Dream was saying, it all sounded genuine, but for some reason something felt off, "why don't you talk anymore?"

Dream hesitated, why did he hesitate? "We just drifted apart too much." Dream got up from the bed, clearly he wanted to stop talking about it, "I'm gonna shower before going to bed." Dream picked some grey sweatpants off the floor and a towel and made his way to the bathroom.

This was stupid, George should've just kept his mouth shut. Maybe asking about it made
Dream uncomfortable. If he wanted to really be friends with Dream, it seemed he should try a bit harder.

"How about baking?" Dream suggested, grabbing common ingredients from the store shelves, "I have my moms recipe for chocolate chip cookies in my phone somewhere. They're amazing."

"Baking sounds fun." George absentmindedly replied, pushing the cart slowly behind Dream. The two were looking for something to do take up time.

Dream scrolled through his camera roll as quickly as possible, "got it!"

He started listing off ingredients and the two walked around searching for anything they needed. The shared kitchen in the common room of the dorms had a few supplies but not very much, more of just the basic bowls and whisks. The store they were in wasn't too big so it didn't take long to find all the things they needed, as well as a few things they didn't on the way.

When they got back to their dorm hall, only one person was down in the kitchen area. His name was Bad, Dream knew him pretty well, George didn't. Bad was Quackity's roommate, no one ever understood that decision or how the two hadn't managed to burn the dorms down yet. It probably had something to do with Bad's patience levels, he was almost like a father figure based on that alone.

Bad waved at the two, "I'm almost done here, I'll be out of your way in just a second."

Dream set the bag of ingredients down on the counter, "you could help us if you want. I don't think either of us know what we're doing." He laughed.

George stayed pretty quiet, he hadn't ever actually been introduced to Bad yet. He had simply heard of the older boy from Quackity.

"Who's your friend?" Bad smiled at George, he had a very welcoming aura to him.

"I'm George." The shorter boy held is hand out to Bad.

Bad instantly took it, "I'm Bad." The oldest boy went back to his cooking before it started to burn, "I can help if you'd like, I've got nothing better to do tonight."

"Great!" Dream opened his phone to try and refund his mother's recipe, "we're making cookies."

"Oh I love sweets!" Bad perked up a little more.

George stayed quiet once again, opting to not talk to someone he had only just met. He felt a vibrate come from his phone but figured it'd be rude to answer while he was out with people.

Dream began to take the ingredients out of the plastic store bag and set them all out on the counter. He grabbed a bowl and with a free hand ushered George to come over. George followed and scanned the recipe, he didn't say anything earlier but he used to bake all the time with his mom at home. It was one thing they could both do together that didn't cost too much money. So George knew exactly how to bake these cookies, but he wasn't going to turn down any help from Bad.

"We didn't get any measuring tools." George stated plainly, how could he have forgotten those?

"Oh I brought my own!" Bad chimed in, placing his freshly cooked food onto a plate and tossing some small measuring spoons their way, "feel free to use them."

George knew in his head the conversions from spoons to cups, it would be a lot more scooping but it was better than just eyeballing it. Dream just sort of watched as George worked out the math in his head, he had never bothered to even ask George if he knew how to bake. Bad watched from across the table and was impressed by the fast calculations.

A group of two people entered the commons room on the tv side. There was one girl and one boy, George had no idea who they were and didn't pay them any mind. Something clicked in Dream however, the already close blonde moved a bit closer and moved behind George, resting his head on the shorter boy's shoulder as he poured things into the bowl.

The girl in the group of two noticed the other three in the room, occasionally glancing over, but she never waved or smiled or even introduced herself. She simply looked, seemed to roll her eyes, and go back to resting her head on the other boy's arm while watching something on the tv.

George could feel Dream stiffen from how close they were. Dream suddenly got a lot more affectionate, no real cause was present for George to notice. He moved his head a little closer and began to quietly kiss George's neck. Bad gave them a look that screamed, "awe you both look so cute together."

The feeling of someone's face so close to George's neck made him laugh, it tickled a little. He punched Dream's face away with a smile, getting a small handprint of flour on Dream.

The blonde looked at George as if that was a playful challenge, he stuck a finger in the bowl and put whatever came off onto George's nose, "gross!" George laughed, "go wash your hands, you heathen."

"Ok mom." Dream laughed as he pulled George's face closer and kissed his covered nose.

"Hey there's raw egg in there!" George pushed Dream towards the sink.

"Doesn't stop it from already tasting good." Dream simply shrugged.

Bad rolled his eyes, "Dream, raw egg is absolutely terrible for you."

"Yeah yeah, I know, I know." Dream rolled his eyes as he made his way back to the table.

George pushed the bowl towards Dream, "here, mix."

The blonde listened and began to mix the cookie batter, George correcting him anytime he thought it was necessary. Eventually the mix was stirred completely and they could start to put it on a baking sheet. But not before Dream licked the spoon he stirred with, making both Bad and George yell at him.

George offered to start laying out the cookies while Dream washed the dishes, both compromising by doing something they already knew how to do. The brunette put the cookies in the oven as Dream just about finished the dishes. They did it all without Bad's help.

"Now we just have to wait." George brushed his hands off on his pants. Without really even asking if it was ok first, Dream walked over to George and started to be oddly affectionate again. He put his arms around George's waist and gave him kiss after kiss after kiss. By now, George had already forgotten the other two people in the room, Dream had not, "Dream-" George attempted to push the taller boy off of him but he wasn't quiet giving in.

George didn't want to say anything, in fear of fucking something up, but he was starting to get a little uncomfortable. He wasn't used to this attention and as much as he liked it alone, there were several people around, all people he barely knew. George managed to reach in his pocket and pull out his phone, he was reminded of the phone call he got earlier but ignored. There had since been several other missed calls, all from the same person, "oh shit- my dad called, he never calls." George spoke, making Dream pull away for a bit.

"What's up?"

"My dad- I should go call him back." George started dialing his number and walking out of the room. No one was out in the hall so he didn't feel too bad about talking to someone in the phone.

His dad took his sweet time answering the phone but eventually picked up, "when we're you going to tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"Tell me that you had a boyfriend!" He couldn't tell if his dad sounded angry or not.

"Excuse me?!" How would he possibly know that?

"I have the right to know about that sort of thing George." His father seemed to calm down a bit.

"I don't-" George tried to think about what he should say, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb with me. How could you hide something like that?"

"I don't have a boyfriend-"

"You do, unless you just let all your male friends kiss you."

"Kiss me? How do you-" a boy started walking down the hall, making George lower his voice, "how would you even know about that?"

"Is it really important to know how I know that? What's this blonde's name? Do we know him? Is he the person you got to pay for your schooling?"

"It's extremely important for me to know how you know that!" George heard the door to the common room open and close, assuming it was just the boy who he had just seen walking down the hall, "it's not even- you don't understand."

"Hey, everything ok?" The girl from the common room put her hand on George's shoulder.

"What-" everything happened so fast George began to stumbled a little.

"Woah-" the girl reached out for him and offered him stability.

"Son, did you really think I wouldn't find out about that somehow-" his dad began to speak again, George hung up the phone. He could deal with this right now, he wasn't prepared to have his father ask that. How could his dad possibly know about Dream? He had no way of getting to the US and George didn't know anyone here from home.

"Who- who even are you?" George asked, trying to I focus on something other than his father.

"I'm Caitlin." She smiled, she seemed nice. The girl was still holding onto George as if he needed her to, "you are?"

He hesitated to answer, "George."

"It's nice to meet you George." She greeted, "I heard what sounded like yelling so I figured I'd check on you, make sure everything was alright?"

"Yeah... everything's fine. I'm fine." George pulled away from her and shoved his phone back into his pocket, "I should go back."

George was quick to make his way back to the common room, "it was nice to meet you!" She called out, also walking towards the common room but much slower than George.

Dream and Bad both smiled at George's return, George however didn't smile back. He looked around him like there was some camera or spy of sorts, how could his dad possibly know about that?

He didn't sound angry with George, other than with the fact he was hiding something. He wasn't even really hiding it, he just didn't deem it necessary to tell his parents, it wasn't like he was actually dating Dream anyways. He should've told his dad that.

"Hey, I don't feel very good. I think I'm just going to head back to the dorm-" George started.

"I can come with you if you want." Dream offered, George stepped back.

"No!" George almost yelled, making a few other people look at him, "I mean, someone has to get the cookies right? I'll be fine, I just need some sleep or something." George quickly turned and ran back to his dorm. It wasn't far, just down the hall. He hastily opened the door and practically slammed it shut behind him. Leaning against the door, George took a few deep breaths. He pulled his phone back out to see a few new missed calls, all from his dad again.

He set the phone on his desk and walked to his bed, that way even if his dad did call again, he wouldn't even be within range to answer unless he got out of bed. He tried his best to take a nap, get some sort of rest, but it simply wasn't happening. He laid awake on the bed, overthinking.

The party was in just three days, they still had no idea what they wanted to go as. Due to the nature of most college parties, George wasn't sure he wanted to go at all. Last time Dream told him he didn't have to drink, Quackity messed that up, granted it wasn't Dream's fault.

On one hand they could go as cheesy cartoon characters like Shaggy and Scooby Doo or Cosmo and Wanda. They could also go as just a general couples thing like peanut butter and jelly or two halves of an avocado, though George hated those two ideas the most.

Dream had suggested a cat and a dog since the two were pretty opposite just like a cat and a dog. Plus he wanted to see George in cat ears. It had been the only idea either of them had thought of that George didn't immediately shut down. Although he almost didn't have the right to complain, George was picky and the costumes had to be perfect or he was going to stay in and not go at all.

Dream suggested they go as Karl and Sapnap because "that way everyone would know we were dating." George took back what he said about the avocados, this was the worst idea Dream had, it definitely made him laugh though.

After more debate they settled on the cat and dog, George being stuck as the cat and Dream the dog. After searching online for something appropriate that would get here within three days, they found it.

George got a black turtleneck and sweatpants he already owned along with some black cat ears and a stupid clip on tail that Dream deemed necessary. Dream got a brown jacket, some dog ears on a headband and a clip on tail just like George's, if he had to have one, so did Dream.

The day of the party came by before they even knew it. George's stomach turned at the thought, he had never done this and was actually really nervous about it. He pulled on the turtleneck and cat ears, rolling his eyes at the jingle. He looked in the mirror of their small dorm's bathroom, he looked stupid. Why did he agree to this?

"You're forgetting something." Dream held up the worst part, the tail, "we should've gotten a collar." Dream joked as he clipped the tail to the waistband of George's sweatpants.

"I'd rather die." George responded plainly.

Dream put his arms around George's shoulders in the mirror, "I think it'd be cute, maybe a leash."

George rolled his eyes, "cats don't wear leashes Dream, maybe we should've gotten one for you instead." George teased as he slipped under Dream's arms and walked out of the bathroom.

The sky looked dark, it had to be at least 9 o'clock... which meant it was time. There was no way of getting out of this now. Suddenly there was a knock at their door. Dream was still in the bathroom so George went to answer it. It was their three friends, all piling into the room.

"Georgie! Where are your whiskers!?" Karl ran over to him and put a hand on his cheek, pulling out some eyeliner.

The brunette's face scrunched up, "no please, no whiskers-" Karl frowned before he continued, successfully giving George cat whiskers.

"Awe how cute." Quackity stood on his tippy toes to reach Karl's shoulder.

George rolled his eyes again with a sigh, this was how the rest of the night was probably going to go. Dream walked out of the bathroom, Karl immediately ran over to him as well, shouting something about a dog nose.

As soon as Karl finished, they were off. It was getting a little colder out, the lack of sunlight didn't help. The party was at a frat house just on the edge of campus. Everyone who knew anyone was going to be there, the perfect time to prove they were dating to people.

George could see Dream and Sapnap whispering something to each other. It felt a little sketchy but he didn't want to think about it, he was determined to have fun. He talked to Quackity earlier too about alcohol, knowing there would probably be some here. He wanted to leave completely sober tonight.

You could see the party from a block away, loud music was blaring and some were already passed out on the grass in the front. George wanted to turn around and run away, this was far too much for him. Karl held his hand tightly and dragged him along the sidewalk.

As soon as they got close Karl's hand was replaced by Dream's, for the first time he wanted to rip it away from Dream's grip. It was comforting in the crowd of people but he felt like he was being babied and that was the last thing he wanted at a college party with a ton of his peers. So he did, he took his hand away from Dream. The tall blonde gave him a look of concern before he accepted it and continued.

"Dream!" Another blonde man yelled, pulling him in for a hug, "dude I'm so glad you came, Bad's going crazy back there, inviting him was such a bad idea." The man laughed. George had seen him before, he went by the name Punz. He normally hung out with people like Boomer and Sam. He only knew him from the few times he had seen Sapnap with him.

"Bad isn't that bad, he's just a little more by the book than everyone else." Dream laughed.

"More like a total mood killer, someone should've gotten Skeppy or Puffy to come." Punz responded with a punch to Dream's shoulder, "who's this kid." Punz messed up a bit of George's hair.

George tried his best to fix the mess of hair, "My name is George."

"Another British kid, nice." Punz smiled and used his hands to signal the two to continue forward. George hated that Punz called him "kid" but he figured it wasn't worth fighting. Dream walked like he knew where he was going and George decided to follow. People were all close together and sweaty, wearing skin tight costumes and showing every bit of that skin they could. Trying to squeeze through everyone was hard, maybe he should've kept a hold of Dream's hand.

Soon enough they popped outside to the backyard, a DJ booth was set up next to the pool outside, there was a boy talking to the DJ like he was bargaining with him. From the way Punz talked about Bad, this had to be him. George knew Bad from when they baked cookies in the common room but he didn't recognize him with the costume.

"Sorry about this kid, he'll get out of your hair." Dream smiled to the DJ as he ushered Bad away from the booth.

"Dream! He was playing music that talks about sex and drugs, college kids like us don't need to be hearing about that!" Bad reasoned. Even George wasn't this bad, he was a next level good student. Bad didn't seem so uptight when George met him the first time.

The brunette shook Bad's hand. "Hi Bad."

"My boyfriend." Dream wrapped a hand around George's waist and pulled him in close, placing a kiss on his head.

Bad gave them a look you'd give to a newborn puppy, "You never told me you two were officially dating! I'm so glad you were able to move on Dream."

"Move on?" George questioned.

"Yeah from-" Bad started.

"From my parents overbearing rules... about who I could date." Dream cut Bad off and gave him a look that begged him to stop.

"Right, that." Bad's expression screamed that he was lying, as if the interruption from Dream wasn't enough to know that wasn't true.

There was an awkward silence filling the air between the three. George opened his mouth to speak but decided against it. Clearly something was happening that Bad knew about and George didn't but he didn't want to make Dream mad by putting him on the spot, he could ask later.

"We should get some drinks, got anything in you Bad?" Dream suggested, turning towards the house.

George looked at him, something was off, "I don't want any alcohol."

"George and I can stay here while you go get some." Bad smiled to Dream, letting him know that would be ok.

Dream nodded and walked off. George looked at Bad, he was average in everything, average in height, average in looks, average in weight. The way he acted was like a parent, he was surprised he even let Dream go get a drink. Part of him wanted to ask Bad what he was going to say before Dream cut him off but that wouldn't be fair.

Who cared about being fair though? "What were you going to say earlier? Before Dream cut you off."

"Oh it was nothing, don't worry about it."

George blinked, assuming Bad knew he was definitely going to worry about it, "right... I'm going to go find Quackity now." George walked off without a word from Bad, only a caring smile and a wave. George walked into the house and immediately heard someone screaming in Spanish, he definitely found Quackity.

As he followed the loud voice over the even louder music and crowds of people he found Quackity with a drink in his hand and a flashlight open on his phone, waving it in the air like he was listening to a slow song at a concert. The music was anything but slow.

Quackity noticed George and instantly smiled, "George! Would you hold my drink buddy?" Without waiting for an answer Quackity had shoved his drink into George's hand and grabbed the other to drag him into another room.
George held the drink up to his noise, it smelled like a fancy wine but it was poured into a typical red solo cup. Quackity had pulled George to the kitchen, presumably to get more alcohol. George spotted Dream across the fancy kitchen. It was large enough for Dream to probably not even notice he was there.

Quackity came bouncing over to him and started to pour more wine into the plastic cup. The shorter boy was clearly already tipsy. He handed George another empty cup and poured even more into it, insisting George have it.

As George watched Dream from across the kitchen chatting with a girl he sipped from the cup Quackity gave him. If he was going to have to watch Dream fawn over a girl he was going to try and have at least a little fun of his own. He didn't care much to have people think he was actually dating Dream but something still felt wrong with Dream talking to a girl, even if he had told George he wasn't into females.

George watched them for longer than he should have, the girl had extremely puffy curly hair, it was half white and half brown and she had some kind of horns on her head and a pirate outfit on. He knew he had no right to be jealous, him and Dream weren't even actually dating but that didn't stop the feeling building up inside him.

With another sip from the cup, Quackity grabbed George again and brought him upstairs. Drunk couples filled the halls, all devouring each other's faces like they needed it to survive. There was a door at the end of the hall that George was dragged to.

Upon entry there was Sapnap, Karl, Punz, and some guy with what looked like a gas mask on and green hair. They were crowded near a TV with controllers in their hands. There was also a girl hanging on Punz, similar to the Karl hanging off of Sapnap.

The person in the gas mask was Sam, George had seen him before but never really talked to him. The brunette hadn't noticed before but Quackity had taken the whole bottle of wine from the kitchen, he pulled it out to give some to Karl, a beer was passed to Punz, Sam and Sapnap.

The room reeked of smoke, they definitely had to have some sort of drugs up here. It wasn't long before George's cup was empty and refilled again. He drank it slowly but the more tipsy he got the quicker it left his cup. He was offered the end of a blunt from Quackity but he politely declined.

He expected a little more if he was honest, he expected to be stuck down stairs in the sweaty crowd of people not up here watching his friends play a video game on a tv. He came here for Dream if he was fully honest and Dream was no where to be seen.

Quackity's cup grew empty again, but so had the bottle he smuggled from the kitchen. George volunteered himself to go steal another, a little bored of the room he was in already.

He knew his way back to the kitchen. Through the heat of people dancing far too close together and people passed out on the staircase he saw the familiar room just up ahead.

"Woah! Gogs what are you doing at a party!?" Another British voice beamed, wrapping an arm around George's shoulder.

Wilbur's breath smelled like every alcohol available all in one, it was disgusting. "Here for the same reason as everyone else, to have fun." George continued walking until he made it to the kitchen, this time Dream wasn't there.

"That's not true, if everyone else was here for Dream you'd have much more competition-"

"If you knew why I came, why'd you even ask?" George stuck his arm to the back of the fridge, grabbing a full and unopened bottle of wine as well as a few extra beers.

Wilbur smiled, "I like to tease you. You're hanging out with Quackity tonight though right? I mean I saw Dream outside with a couple girls around him and from what I saw you were upstairs. Quackity is always upstairs."

"You keep tabs on Quackity? You freak." George tried his best to push past Wilbur and get back upstairs but Wilbur was significantly taller than him.

"I could say the same for you, dating Dream now huh? You know your little crush was always pretty obvious-"

"I do not have a crush on Dream. Even if I did, don't call it that you sound like a grade school student." George rolled his eyes and finally managed to slip past the taller man. Wilbur was quick to follow, "leave me alone!"

George was quickly snatched away and moved out of the way, "leave him alone Wilbur, he asked nicely." There he was, the man who had disappeared on him all night.

"My bad sir, won't happen again." Wilbur bowed to Dream like he was royalty, clearly sarcastic.

Dream was quick to grab George again. George knew this was his first time but he could handle this, people didn't have to drag him everywhere. "Where have you been, I've been looking for you everywhere." Dream looked angry but concerned.

"I was just upstairs with Quackity, jeez."

Dream snatched the bottle of wine from George's hand and looked at it, "I thought you didn't want to drink?" He didn't return the bottle.

"You know Quackity isn't going to be happy if I return with no alcohol-"

"George-" Dream's words were drained out as George noticed a small purple stain on Dream's neck. It was just about visible over the collar of Dream's jacket, "are you even listening to me?" Dream shook the older boy's shoulders to shake him from the trance he was in.

"Where have you been all night?" George asked, not answering Dream's question.

Dream hesitated, it was painfully obvious, "I told you already, I was looking for you," that was a lie.

George brushed a hand on Dream's neck, pulling him down so he could talk right in Dream's ear, "Not very well." He snatched the bottle back from Dream and turned to walk back upstairs. It wasn't clear if Dream was following him or not. He got back to the room from before and they all cheered at his arrival.

Another bottle was downed quickly, mostly by George himself. Part of him really wanted to drink until he couldn't even remember seeing the hickey on Dream's neck. So that's exactly what he did. He downed cup after cup, ignoring the sick feeling in his stomach. He wasn't going to like this decision tomorrow but that's for morning George to deal with.

The pirate girl from before opened the door to the room and entered. Dream wasn't with her, she seemed completely sober. Soon after Bad came back in, sitting down next to her. George downed another cup. He was feeling it now, he was definitely drunk. Quackity took the cup from George's hand, telling him he had enough.

Dream walked in. To George it felt like everything else stopped, Dream was here now. He almost forgot why he was even mad until he saw it again. George jumped to his feet, wobbling a little. Shouting could be heard from behind him, Karl was definitely winning the game they were playing, George didn't even need to see the screen to know that much.

Dream met George in the middle and hugged him. If it weren't for the strong hold, George definitely would've fallen. His head hit Dream's chest. George pulled at Dream's collar, like he was asking for it to be taken off.

"Get a room!" Punz shouted from behind them.

"Can we leave?" George asked, wrapping his arms around Dream's waist.

Dream sighed, "I think we're going to just get out of here." He announced, looking at Sapnap before he waved a goodbye and holding George by the shoulder, making sure he didn't fall. As soon as the night air his George's face he started to feel a bit better. No more sweaty bodies against him, no more Wilbur, no more girls, just him and Dream.

"I think I'm going to throw up." George announced.

Dream stopped walking and pulled George over his shoulder, "alright let's get you to the dorm before than happens." The walk back felt like forever. Dream put him back on his feet just outside their building. George stumbled backwards before Dream reached out for him.
This felt like babysitting for Dream and George had to be on his best behavior for the people at the check in desk. It was awkward at first before he decided to play off the drunkenness on George just being extremely tried, "he had a full day."

"I like your guys' costumes!" The girl at the desk beamed.

"Thanks, we just want to check in, go back upstairs to our dorm."

"Perfect," George leaned his head on Dream's arm as the girl spoke, "you guys are all checked in, you can head on up."

"Have a good night." Dream smiled as he pushed George forward towards the elevator. As soon as the door closed he pulled George back over his shoulder, not setting him down until they got back to their dorm. The shitty dorm mattress had never felt better. He would've stayed in bed until the afternoon tomorrow if it weren't for the fact he still had to throw up. He ran to the bathroom as fast as he could.

He always hated throwing up, he thought it wouldn't happen till the morning but he was mistaken. He shouldn't have drank so much so fast. He felt terrible afterwards, he quickly brushed his teeth to get the taste out of his mouth and walked back into the room. Dream sat up on his own bed scrolling on his phone.

"You alright there princess?" Dream asked without looking up from his phone.

George whipped his chin with his sleeve, "I told you before, don't call me that. Plus, I could be asking you the same, that hickey almost looks like a bruise." Dream looked up from the phone after that and went to cover his neck with his hand, "did you think I wouldn't notice that?" George threw himself onto his bed, "I'm not stupid you know."

"I know you're not."

"What did you move on from? Why'd you actually need me to date you?" George stared up at the ceiling. There was no answer. An almost fitting silence was thick in the air, "I know I shouldn't be mad, we're not even actually dating anyways, you're allowed to do what you want."

"George..." Dream spoke softly, like he was tip toeing through the conversation. Like any little slip up and he would be done for. What could be so bad he couldn't tell George about it?

The drunk George stood up from the bed, walking over to Dream's. He got on and put a leg over Dream, straddling his thighs. Dream's face burned red. George had no idea what he was doing, he definitely hadn't done this before. He leaned over to whisper in Dream's ear just as softly as Dream had spoken, his breath was hot on Dream's ear "but I am mad. I'm mad it wasn't me."

George knew what people told him about being drunk, you're more honest that way, but he didn't think he would have the confidence to be this honest with Dream. He kissed Dream's neck, the opposite side of where the purple stain was. He attempted to make his own art with that same purple paint.

If he didn't know how out of his mind George was right now, he would've let him continue. But he didn't, Dream pushed him off, "you're too drunk to make this decision right now."

George pouted at him like a child who didn't get what they wanted, "but I always want to, I just won't have the confidence to if I don't do it now." The brunette's voice was whiny, "it's just a hickey, you seemed unbothered by the other one."

"Go to bed, we can fight about it in the morning." Dream practically lifted George off of him as he pushed himself under his own covers.

George stood there for a bit, trying to understand what had just happened. He walked back to his own bed without a sound. Turning off the lights he hopped into bed and closed his eyes, not knowing if he would even remember this tomorrow morning.

The morning sun beamed over his eyes, making falling back asleep practically impossible. Pain spread through his whole head the more he remained awake. The urge to throw up again was what finally made him pick up his head from his pillow.

Dream was asleep on his bed still, back turned to face George's side of the room. George really must've messed up.

The bathroom floor was cold, the smell of boys not being able to aim or clean up after themselves didn't help with the urge to throw up that was slowly overpowering George. His back rested against the wall in front of the toilet, he was going to be here all day at this rate.

Movement could be heard from the other room. He wasn't going to hear the end of it after his little honesty spree yesterday. He wondered if he'd be able to pass it off as a joke, or maybe a lie, some sort of sick prank.

He had never gotten drunk enough to lose his memory, that fact stayed true. He remembered everything he said and did yesterday. He remembered why he was mad at Dream and how he told the blonde exactly what he was thinking.
The movement he heard made his head hurt even more. He heard their door shut and some shuffling down the hall, it seemed Dream wasn't going to even acknowledge his existence.

With a hard head hit the wall George got what he was waiting for, that final tipping point where he managed to finally throw up again. He didn't want to but he knew it was coming, he wanted it over.

This was horrible, he was stuck by the smelly toilet, throwing up, and Dream didn't even want to look at him. Could things get any worse? A knock on their door certainly didn't help. He dragged himself up to his feet and made his way to the door. He didn't know who he expected to see by the door, but it certainly was Bad.

"Oh no, you look like death," Bad let himself into their dorm, "have you had any water, medicine maybe." George shook his head in response, words were hard. "I'll get you some water." Bad ushered George to sit down as he grabbed a cup from George's study desk and brought it to their bathroom sink. George never liked tap water but it would do for this occasion.

"I think we should talk." Bad sat down on the bed next to George, handing him the cup of water, "I think we got off on the wrong foot, you clearly didn't believe me when I said it was nothing." Bad fumbled with his fingers, "it's just, if you didn't already know, then it's something Dream should tell you."

The brunette sipped on the water, it made him feel a bit better, "what if I did believe you and now you're admitting you lied?"

"No that's- it's not that I lied! I just thought I should clear it up a bit, it's not important though, really." Bad scrambled to answer before George could come up with any other excuse.

George held onto the cup of water with both hands, like it was going to try and walk away from him, "if it's not important then why can't you just tell me?"

It was a valid question, Bad knew that, "well it might be important to Dream, I don't know the details of your relationship-"

"We're not even really dating, it's just a deal the two of us have." George let his back touch the wall next to his bed.

Bad's silence filled the air, making it obvious that information like that would've helped before they had this conversation, "that makes more sense."
"What is that supposed to mean?" George pushed.

"I just- it makes things make a bit more sense in my brain is all, not that that's bad or anything-"
Dream entered the room, "Bad? What are you doing here?" Dream had a small fast food bag in hand. Tossing the bag at George, Dream sat on his bed, asserting himself into the conversation, "burgers helped me whenever I'm hungover," Dream explained when George looked skeptically at the bag that had been thrown in his direction, "if you were hungry- it might help."

"Thank you." George tossed a glance to Dream but the blonde seemed much more interested in his twisting fingers.

"I was just leaving anyway." Bad smiled, "that was very nice of you Dream. Hope you two can work things out, the air is clearly tense here." Bad stood up and smiled at the two of them, exiting the dorm room and leaving them alone once again.

Another awkward silence covered the boys, neither knew what to say. Both at one point opened their mouths to speak but decided against it. This was going to be an interesting conversation once they actually found out how to start it.

"So," Dream broke the thick air, "where do you want to start?"

George looked at him awkwardly, he could feel the red in his cheeks, "I would prefer not to actually-"

"You tried to give me a hickey. Someone is clearly jealous, would you like to start there?" Dream cut George's sentence short.

"What do I have to be jealous of?" The older boy scoffed.

Dream similarly rolled his eyes, "I don't know really, why don't you tell me? We're not really dating you know? Mister 'I'm mad it wasn't me'." The last part was clearly meant in a derogatory way, the air quotes Dream used were a dead sign of that.

"I know that..." George's word trailed.

"Do you?"

"I'm pretty sure I do."

"Pretty sure or sure? Maybe this was a bad idea." Dream's word stung, though George couldn't really tell why. Dream hadn't pushed him away like this before, "we should think of something else for you to do to earn the money, I don't think this is working."

"Dream it was one time-"

"But if you can't even tell me that you understand we're not really dating then, who's to say it won't happen again? Who's going to be there when you drink away your problems again? Real college student you are." Dream's words hurt worse than anything he had heard before. This was the worst kind of pain he had ever felt.

The hole was dug, no coming back up from here, "it won't happen again, I'm sorry." George looked down towards his feet, avoiding even looking at Dream, "please give me another chance."

"Do you even know what you did wrong?" Truth be told, not completely. George knew he pushed himself a little farther than the two had gotten before but they were flirty when alone before, why was this any different? He only apologized because he wanted Dream to stop yelling so much, he hated yelling and it certainly didn't help his headache. George tried thinking for a bit before Dream started to speak again, "you assumed. You assumed the makeup Puffy put on my neck was real and you decided you wanted to redeem yourself, like you had something to prove to me. George, you don't have to prove anything, I like you the way you are."

"Makeup?" George hadn't even noticed but the hickey had disappeared, had it been real it would still be there only the morning after.

"My friend Puffy was trying out special effect makeup and asked if she could use my neck to make a bruise. It obviously looked real but not like a bruise." Dream explained. George felt stupid, he had overreacted over nothing, over makeup! He even started some unsaid beef with the half and half haired girl just because she had spoken to Dream.

He shouldn't have jumped to conclusions but Dream didn't make it very easy to tell, he could've mentioned that it was fake the moment George acknowledged it. The older male closed his eyes and set his head against the wall behind him.

"I don't mind the advances you tried to make, if you weren't drunk I wouldn't have stopped you. But you assumed I had gone off with someone else and cheated in our fake relationship. Why would I do that if the relationship was for my benefit, not yours?"

"I don't know! It looked real, I was already a little drunk when I noticed it." George tried to excuse his actions, "the thought of it being fake never crossed my mind, and the thought of it being real hurt me. I don't know why, it just did."

Dream sighed, "did you mean it?"

"Mean what?"

"That you were mad, last night, that you weren't the one who... you know."

George's face grew red again, "wouldn't that be bad?"

Dream didn't say anything at first, thinking about how he should respond, "I don't think so." His tone sounded questionable, like he wasn't really sure about the answer.

George stayed silent, he didn't want to fuck something up again while Dream was busy thinking. He attempted to analyze the answer Dream had given him, what was it supposed to mean? It seemed like a pretty straight forward question, yes or no, why did he answer like that?

"Listen, George," the blonde's voice was a little shaky, George wasn't going to like whatever Dream was going to say, "I like you. I do, but I'm not ready for another relationship- like a real one."

"That wasn't what I was asking for-"

"I think we should stop beating around the bush like this. I think we should stop this and try something else instead, before you get attached." Dream looked strict. If they were allowed to switch roommates halfway through the year like this, George was convinced Dream would ask for someone else.

George scoffed, Dream was acting as if George was the problem here, "I'm not attached- "

"Good, let's keep it that way. We can think of some other way for you to earn your tuition. Or if you're ready I can just pay for it without anything in return-"

"I'm not taking your pity money Dream, we've been over this." The two played a continuous game of cutting each other off and seeing who's voice could get louder than the other.

Dream sighed, "think of it as compensation for this conversation."

"No. I'm not doing that, I'm not some useless kid who can't do anything for himself." George was heated, this conversation was far too much for him.

"Why don't I pay you for the tutoring we do everyday at lunch?"

They had both calmed down a bit, ready to make civil eye contact and not scream at each other, "I'm not stupid Dream. You're smart, you don't need it."

Dream looked sad, the pain behind his face was extremely visible. This conversation hurt both of them, not just George, not just Dream. As much as they hated it, it would have to happen eventually. Dream saw it coming, he noticed the way George looked at him, he always did even before they became roommates.

Even if George wasn't aware of it, everyone else was. The way George laughed more at Dream's jokes than anyone else's, the way he always wanted to be around him whenever they hung out as a groups of friends. He always just said it was because Karl and Sapnap were gross and he didn't want to be near them but you could see he didn't care about them, other than him wanting someone to act like that with him.

He always had the same look Quackity had when having to watch Karl and Sapnap. Except he didn't want in like Quackity, and he certainly didn't want out of the room. George wanted Dream, it was painfully obvious.

Dream wasn't ready for that kind of commitment, but he was too far gone and too fond of George to just let him go. He noticed he had to do something just a couple weeks into it. George was nosy, too nosy. There were things Dream couldn't- didn't want to tell George.

But he cared, George cared a lot about Dream and it was obvious. Dream didn't want to hurt him, that was never a goal. Throughout the conversation though... he could tell George wasn't getting it. He could see George beating himself up over this and he knew it hurt but he had to, before he got attached too.

He could tell George lied when he said he wasn't attached to Dream, if he really wasn't he wouldn't be on the verge of tears because of this conversation. Dream didn't mind the lie, if it made George feel better then it was ok. Dream had lied, about a lot now that he thought about it.

Dream lied about why they made the deal in the first place, he lied about his interests, he lied about his anger in this conversation. He wasn't angry now and he never was. He couldn't be angry at George, feelings were never in someone's control. He knew that all too well. That's why they were here.

After her... Dream wasn't ready to give himself to someone else but he could feel himself falling for George. Breaking things off was never something he thought of doing. If it weren't for what Sapnap had said that same morning they wouldn't be here right now.

He had texted Sapnap to see if he wanted to go get some food with him. He noticed George not in his bed and bathroom door closed so he took the opportunity to leave without any interrogation.

The walk up to Sapnap's dorm was lonely, ever since he started paying for George to go here, George was practically attached at the hip. He went everywhere with George. This time George sat on their bathroom floor, probably fighting the need to throw up all the alcohol he had last night.
He knocked on the door, expecting Karl to open it, surprised to see Sapnap at the door frame, "Hey Dream! What's up?"

Dream let himself in, "do you ever check your phone?"

Sapnap looked around and noticed his phone on the floor just in front of his bed. He picked it up to see it was dead, "nope, and it's dead so I can't check it right now." Sapnap plugged in his phone and re-entered the conversation that had walked through his door.

Dream noticed Karl laying on Sapnap's bed, still knocked out. He decided not to comment on it, "do you want to get food?"

"You came all the way up here just to ask if I wanted food?" Sapnap laughed, "sure, I'll get some food with you. Where are we going?"

"I'm in the mood for a burger, wanna walk to the McDonald's just off campus?"

"Sounds good." Sapnap walked to the door.
Dream looked back to the bed, "what about Karl?"

"He's not feeling well, he could use the rest." The two left the room and walked off campus.
It was cold out. Dream wore his almighty letterman jacket, everyone knew where he was from. He almost felt guilty, he had let George wear it so often in just the two months they had been fake dating. He thought George looked cuter in it than him. Though he would never admit that.

Sapnap and Dream had been friends for years, knowing each other well before college. Sapnap could tell when something was wrong with Dream. He wanted to ask but was afraid it would be overstepping. Dream was pretty held off compared to most people. He kept to himself a lot.

Sapnap noticed something different with Dream lately, this entire year so far had been different compared to the Dream he knew. Something had been up for a while, it was about time he asked.

"Hey, I've noticed how... different- you've been acting different, weird even. What's wrong?" Sapnaps look was sympathetic.

They reached the McDonald's and Dream held the door for his shorter friend, "I don't think anything's wrong."

Sapnap could hear the lie from a mile away, "does it have to do with George?"

"Does what have to do with George?"

"The reason you're acting weirdly." Sapnap stepped into the line.

Dream laughed loud enough for a few people to look in their direction, "nothings wrong, so nothing has to do with George."

"I can tell you're lying." As Sapnap spoke, Dream's smug smile whipped clean.

"I don't know what's wrong, ok? Something is but I don't know what it is and I don't know if it has to do with George."

They reached the front of the line and ordered, Dream ordered an extra just plain cheese burger, in case George wanted one. He wasn't going to tell Sapnap but that's why he suggested burgers, he knew protein helped with hangovers and he didn't want to see George in pain.

"So you admit somethings wrong?" Sapnap sat in a booth, facing Dream.

Dream poked at the food he got for himself, "yeah."

"Do you..." Sapnap hesitated, "do you have feelings for George?"

Dream's face went pale, "I don't- I don't think so?"

"I notice the way you look at him. Everyone notices-"

"I don't. I can't." Dream looked like he was getting war flashbacks in the middle of this McDonald's booth.

"Hey calm down, it's ok-"

"It's not ok! I can't Sap, I can't like George."

Sapnap looked at Dream with caring eyes, he had figured it what was wrong, "why not? Maybe it'll help you get over... you know, her."

Dream stayed silent, his eyes looked like they were about to start pouring. "I know you probably don't want to, but she's moved on, you should too."

"Sap, it's only been two years-"

"Exactly! It's been years Dream, it's ok to move on. She's happy, you saw her at the party yesterday, you deserve to be happy too." Sapnap had been waiting for so long to tell Dream to get over it. The first two months he was supportive but the more Dream just let himself feel shitty and not get over her the more he grew tired of helping.

"I don't think I'm ready to be happy yet."

"Do you want some advice?" Dream looked at Sapnap and nodded his head in a silent response, "either make things official with your little lover boy or break it off. I know you've noticed the way he looks at you compared to other people. It's not fair for you to drag him along with no intention of giving him what he so badly wants."

"Ok." Dream had made up his mind the second Sapnap had given him the offer of sorts. He knew he wasn't ready for it, he had to break it off then. For the rest of the meal he tried to think of a way to end things. He decided on using what happened last night as an excuse.

The walk back was just as cold. He at least wasn't lonely, Sapnap was there, but for a few seconds, he wished he hadn't invited Sapnap.

"Why did you ask him to fake date you?" Sapnap asked.

Dream sighed, "I want to make her jealous, I want her back. I knew he liked me, I was being selfish and I took advantage of that." That was honesty, Sapnap could tell. Dream was never good at lying and why would he drag himself for a lie? He wouldn't, Dream hated admitting he ever did anything wrong.

"So you weren't expecting to fall for him?"

"I- I didn't, Sap, I don't like him like that."

That was a lie. Sapnap couldn't tell if Dream knew it was a lie or not, but Sapnap knew it was, "I think you do, you just don't want to admit it."

"Sapnap, stop. I like her, not him. You're right, I can't keep giving him what he wants in hopes he'll get it when he won't." Dream started walking a little faster. He wanted the conversation to stop.

"Dream," Sapnap reached for Dream's hand, "you know, you look at him the same way you used to look at her."

Dream stared at Sapnap, not saying a word. He snatched his hand back and walked forward, leaving Sapnap behind. He didn't want to have this conversation now.

Then he got to the room, Bad was there but left quickly. They fought, now they are here. He should've thought of something else, something else for George to do for the money. He should've known George would never just take it from him, he should've known George would insist on earning the money.

"I don't want to fight anymore." George's voice was shaky this time as he broke the uninterrupted silence between them.

Was this what Sapnap felt when he saw Dream on the verge of crying? It always feels shitty knowing you're the reason someone you care about was crying. Dream had pushed it too far, he knew that. He knew he should've said something sooner. Maybe he should've told George the real reason for the deal when he asked the first time so he never got his hopes up like this.

Dream fucked up, he knew that. And because of his fuck up, George thought he fucked up. George blamed himself for Dream's fuck up. That caused George to cry, he was the reason George was crying. If anyone should be beating himself up it should be Dream.

George covered his mouth, feeling the puke rise again. He ran to the bathroom once more, the conversation was over now. George left Dream sitting alone on his own bed. Not that George could help leaving, but he was probably waiting for that excuse to finally leave the awkwardness.
Dream didn't know if he was going to be able to make it up to George, things were going to be weird now after this. There was no way things would be fine. What if George goes back to studying 24/7, it would be Dream's fault this time.

The toilet flushed, but the bathroom door didn't open. Instead the shower started. Usually George's showers weren't very long, this was an exception. It was about 25 minutes before the water finally stopped. Dream got up, he didn't know if he could do this right now. He left again. He sat there for 25 minutes waiting for George to be done just to chicken out and leave.

This wasn't like Dream, he felt terrible for hurting George. Part of him even felt sad, the attention George gave him was similar to her. It was sad to see it go. He was sad to see George go.

Stepping out of the shower, George felt cleaner. With everything that has happened he felt dirty. With the amount of sitting on their bathroom floor he had been doing, a shower was much needed after last night.

The cold air cut George's skin. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around himself. He looked into the dirty mirror above their sink. He stared at himself longer than he should've. Despite being physically clean, the dirt from their conversation still laid on his shoulders.

What did he do wrong? How was a stupid assumption wrong enough for them to be here now. He hated himself for even touching that stupid plastic cup. This was all his fault, he ruined it.

Why did it matter so much? It wasn't like it had been real anyways. Even still, George would give anything to feel Dream's arms wrapped around him again for comfort... anything at all.

He knew why it mattered to him so much, he liked Dream. More than he'd like to admit, he was terribly, excruciatingly, head over heals for Dream. He wanted him more now that he was gone. You always want what you can't have, don't you?

George picked up his phone and texted Karl. George: hey you alone?

Karl: nah but it's just Sappy up here
Karl: why wassup???

George: I'll be up in like 10 minutes
George: that's a warning

Karl: :))
Karl: I'll keep that in mind, see you soon

George quickly got dressed and ran up to Karl's dorm. He didn't mind Sapnap being there, he just wanted to make sure Dream wasn't there. After he had noticed Dream had left their dorm he wasn't sure where he was going to be. As long as he didn't run into the blonde, everything would be fine.

A few giggles from Karl could be heard after he knocked on the door. It opened and to George's surprise, it was only Karl and Sapnap there. He half expected Karl was lying. "George!"

"Hey Karl." George forced a smile on his face.

Karl frowned and dragged George into the room, "that was the fakest smile I've ever seen in my entire life."

"Is it that obvious?" George laughed a little.

Sapnap sat on his bed, scrolling mindlessly on his phone. Every now and then he glanced up at George. Sapnap wanted to say something, he needed to say something. George was sad and it was most likely because of what he suggested Dream do earlier that morning, "what's up Georgie?"

"It's not important," George waved, "I just want to hangout is all. Got a lot I wanna keep off my mind."

Karl hugged him, almost randomly, "it's ok to cry George."

"Ok what do you two already know?" George rolled his eyes, though the gesture seemed to make him more comfortable.

"I talked with Dream this morning." Sapnap announced, "Around an hour ago now."

George's posture slumped and he sighed, "then you probably know more than I do." Karl ushered George to sit on his bed.

"There's just things, it's all something Dream should tell you about-"

"Everyone says that!" George cut off Sapnap, "everyone says it's something Dream has to tell me but he clearly has no plans on doing so. I just wish I didn't screw things up."

"Wish you didn't screw things up?" Karl questioned, looking to Sapnap.

George sniffled a bit, already getting riled up, "Dream said all this bullshit about what I did wrong to make our fake relationship end not even a full three months in." George wiped a tear before it could even fall.

"It's not your fault at all," Sapnap started, "neither of you know this but Dream had a girlfriend. Her name was Caitlin and she goes here and he still pissy about it even after a full two years of being together."

"C- Caitlin?" George stuttered. He reminded himself of the girl who came to check on him when is dad called a few weeks ago.

Karl stayed silent, ushering Sapnap to continue, "it's really not my business to be telling but clearly Dream lied about something. You're my friend too George, I want you to know it wasn't your fault at all."

"But..." George wiping another tear, "he told me..."

"Dream likes to lie to cover up his own shit-"
A knock on the door. They all went silent, looking to the door that seemed to quietly pound.

The door kept pounding relentlessly, "Sapnap! I think I fucked up!" A familiar blonde's voice yelled through the door.

"Ah shit-" Sapnap muttered as he noticed Karl angrily walk to the door, "Karl!"

Without a second to process things, Karl opened the door hastily. Dream almost looked scared of the short boy as Karl glared at him, "fuck you!"

"Woah woah woah-" Sapnap got up from his bed to help Karl calm down. George stayed on Karl's bed, trying to ignore his roommate standing in the doorframe, "let's be calm about this."

"Fuck you and fuck all that you stand for, you lying little-" Karl would have continued is Sapnap hadn't put his hand over the boy's mouth.

Dream backed up a bit, trying to see if he could just bolt down the hallway and have this conversation another day. But if he was serious about this, about cutting George off, he needed to prove that. He stood tall and looked at George above Karl's head, he hated this. The boy looked sad, he hated the fact he had to make George sad.

"How about we talk about this like the college students we are." Dream whispered as he saw a few people down the hall looking at them.

Karl still continued to glare at Dream, he wasn't done yet, "You should've been swallowed!"

"Karl!" Both George and Sapnap yelled in unison.

Karl ushered for Dream to enter the room with a subtle, "If you must."

Karl sat next to George on his bed while Sapnap sat next to Dream on his. They were some sort of mediators it seemed, though one was clearly biased.

"Ok, talk." Sapnap deadpanned.

"About what? We've already talked!" George sounded done with this already.

"What was it you think you fucked up?" Karl rolled his eyes at Dream.

"N- nothing, I just... needed Sapnap's attention is all."

"Ok even I know that's a lie. If we want to resolve anything then we need to be honest." Sapnap tried to further the conversation, "I have a feeling I know what it is you think you messed up."

"Sap, no." Dream looked at him like he would murder him if he said another word.

The two boys looked at each other without speaking, as if they were telepathically communicating, "ok can we not?" George spoke up, "this is childish, I thought you said you wanted to talk like college kids." Dream turned his head to George, blinking slowly, he sounded angry, "I'm tired of this stupid back and forth. We're all supposed to be friends, friends don't keep secrets or stop talking to you and not tell you the truth about why!"

"George, it's not that easy-" Dream started.

"But it is! You open your mouth and start talking! You clearly know how, you do it all the time." George crossed his arms, he was definitely mad.

"Oooo, burn." Karl tried to lighten the mood but to no avail.

George took a deep breath in, "I'd rather hear the truth than think there's something going on when there isn't. What did I do wrong? I want the actual truth."

"Yeah, tell George what he did wrong? All he did was have a crush on you-"

"I do not!" George cut Karl off.