CalPal

-14-

    "Thanks. I'll be rooting for my team too!"

    "I wouldn't expect any less of you."

    After that, I got up from the couch and stretched, "I should probably get going."

    "If you must."

    I walked off to my room to start packing my things up. It didn't take very long as I'd kept the majority of my things in my bag for the duration of my stay here. Dream literally stood in the doorway texting someone while I packed up. I assume he was texting his boys because that's all I ever see him texting whenever I see his phone.   

    When I was done packing, Dream pocketed his phone and grabbed my bags to bring to my car. I decided not to wear my shoes out to the car since I was going to take them off as soon as I got driving anyway. I grabbed my keys off the key holder and stepped outside with him close behind. I popped my trunk and Dream put my things away.

    "Thanks for this spontaneous trip. I really needed this," I told him.

    "I really liked having you around."

    "Well that'd be awkward if you didn't."

    "Oh shut up," he chuckled, shoving my shoulder.

    I rolled my eyes and smiled, "In the summer, you're visiting me."

    "Deal."

    "Alright."

    "Can I have a hug?"

    I giggled, "Of course."

    He enveloped me in his arms and it was just as cozy as the first hug when I arrived a week and a half ago. We stayed like that rocking back and forth for a minute straight until we broke the hug in unison. He stared at me for a solid ten seconds after that. It was almost as if he zoned out and was thinking about something. What I would give to hear his thoughts.

    "Drive safe, okay? Call me when you get home so I know you're safe."

    "Okay, I will."

    "Okay. I'll talk to you soon then."

    He nodded his head and opened my car door for me. I turned the car on and played one of my playlists through the bluetooth, then Dream closed my door. I rolled down the window and waved goodbye to him before pulling out of the driveway. He watched as I drove away and even as he was almost fully out of my field of view, he still made no move to go back into the house.

    Leaving his house was kind of bittersweet. It was nice being in the company of someone again since I lived by myself, all my classes were online, and I haven't visited any of my family to be safe since my mum has a compromised immune system. I don't know what any of my friends are up to either. We only really talk when we're planning to hang out. We all go to different colleges and some of theirs are in different states that are on ground this semester.

    For the first hour of the trip, I analyzed and rethought over every single thing that Dream and I did while I was there. He never really commented on how I look. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I took it as he didn't want to say anything since I was so sensitive about a face reveal. I'm sure Dream thought it was better to be safe and not say anything rather than speak and possibly say the wrong thing.

    Regardless though, it was a fun trip. I do wish that we would've kept it completely between us and our friends though. The fans blew it way out of proportion and are still talking about it. I get how it might be a huge deal because of the circumstances Dream and I are in. It is really frustrating though to constantly see it on social media. Next time him and I spend time together, I definitely want to keep it private so we can just have it to ourselves. The hate I'm getting is a bit irritating.

    In Dream's streams now, people have started donating to ask him what I look like. Obviously he either ignores it or says he won't expose me like that. At one point, he went on a ten minute tangent about how disrespectful it is to ask him something like that and how the fans should just respect my privacy. I appreciate how Dream isn't afraid to call out when his fans are doing something wrong or disrespectful, just like they're not afraid to call him or other Dream SMP creators out for doing something wrong.

    Overall, I wouldn't change anything from the past four months. I appreciate the love I've gotten from his fandom and I know my fans have shown him a lot of love as well. We're just both aware that with us having such a big following comes some people that throw hate around. I'm just glad that Dream and I became friends regardless it being in the weirdest way possible. It was nice to have someone just like me who's almost in the same exact boat as me. Not to mention, we were such a dynamic duo if I should say so myself. Iconic really. Powerful. Unstoppable. I am the better one out of us two though. It's a toss up as to whether he'd agree or not. His ego wouldn't agree, but deep down he knows it's true.