― do over

chapter | 9

He was back in the dream world.

He had expected it, despite being so tired from the days activities, but he wasn't really expecting this scene exactly. 

Clay was in his high school. He knew it was his sophomore year as his favorite chemistry teacher waved him down the hall, a beam on her face as she called to him, "Good luck!"

He wasn't sure what the good luck was for, though.

Maybe he had a project? He wasn't sure, but yet again, his dream self called the punches and simply lead him through his old life. It was like watching a movie, because  just like before, Dream couldn't stop himself from walking into that damn room. 

His heart stammered in his chest as he finally fiddled with something in his hand, a note of some sorts. He willed himself to look at the note, but he kept it securely crumbled in his hand.

He paused in front of a light blue locker, identical to all the rest, but a sticker with clout goggles made it stand out. A smile touched his face- of course, it was George's locker. The amount of love notes he had left in it was easily triple digits, as he wrote one everyday and slipped it in his locker. He wondered if George still had them, as silly as they were. 

He slipped the note into the open vents in the locker, before dashing away like a school girl. Dream didn't quite understand the dramatics, really. He would draw more attention to himself by running than just calmly walking away, but oh well.

But he did realize where he was now, and he wasn't entirely opposed. 

His friends waved to him as he walked out the school doors and climbed onto his bus. His nerves were buzzing in his hands as he pulled out his phone with a shaky grasp. His eyes scanned the most recent message, which was a picture of the note from minutes ago.

George 
[ It's a poorly taken picture of the note. It says: "Meet me in the field at 9! I have something to show you :D" ]
whats this?

Clay
dont worry about it, youll be there right?

George
are u gonna kill me?

Clay
did you want me to??

George 
....ill be there

Clay
pack it up pessimist

George
wtf

Clay
k

George
k?? oml bye nerd

Clay
later colorblind, get well soon <3

Dream felt the smile on his face. The future didn't sound so scary anymore, and he was fine with living in this alternate reality for a little bit. If he could choose, he would live this day over and over.

The dream went on for ages as he faded in and out of consciousness within the dream, blanking out whenever something insignificant happened- half the time, he couldn't even see what was going on, until he appeared in a field he knew all too well.

Between him and George's houses was a plain, frond dotted field. A tree circle surrounded it, the forest just beyond there. At night, fireflies would hide in the stalks, and if you ran through it, they would fly up into the air. It was his favorite thing on earth.  What he would give to go back.

Dream was alone for the time being, so he crept to the center of the field without disturbing the fire bugs. He was left with his only witness being the moon, and so he asked it for good luck and make sure the lightning bugs were actually there. They weren't paid actors, but they were pretty necessary.

He heard the delicate brush of grass against denim jeans, as it was a sound he was used to hearing. He turned around just as a few fireflies stirred around George, making him appear as some sort of disney princess. Add a bird and a gown, and he would nail the job. 

"This is a fancy place to be laid to rest," George observed quietly, moving to Dream's side as the last of the fancy bugs settled back down. "If you do kill me, that is."

Clay smiled weakly. The nerves bundled up in his chest, and he couldn't manage any other reaction. Doubt resurfaced  despite his well planned speech. He could back out of it, but his present self knew better. He knew how this night ended. 

"You look kinda pale, you alright?" The brunette grabbed his hands, turning Dream so they faced each other. His brown eyes were soft with compassion, as he desperately tried to read his best friend.

His dream self took a deep breath. "I need to tell you something. And, I don't think you'll like it, but if I keep it to myself any longer I might actually combust."

"Oh, okay. I'm listening," he fidgeted anxiously.

"I- look, you've been in my life for so many years," Clay breathed. "And I wouldn't have it any other way. But in the last year, I've found myself falling head over heels for you, and I- I'm in love with you. I just had to get it off my chest, even if you don't love me back. I want to keep being your friend even if you don't like me back, because you mean the world to me."

His present self could feel the sadness of the future looming. It was like some massive dark cloud that threatened to swallow his existence, and in reality, it kinda did looking back on it. 

"George?" The brunette had been silent, his breath hitched.

Of course. He hadn't noticed it before.

The flash of panic in his eyes. 

He was afraid to date Dream. He had always been.

Clay felt sick.

"I love you too, I had no idea you felt the same way," he finally gasped. "I've loved you for so damn long."

"Oh."

George giggled. "What is there not to love about you?"

I don't know, you tell me. Was I never enough?

"I know, I'm perfect," Dream's leo-star sign seemed to say for him, and the boys laughed for a few seconds, but the air grew tense and made them quiet down. Clay leaned away, dragging his foot through the grass stalks around him so the fireflies flew up into the air at once, like they were surrounded in a chapel of fairy lights. 

He looked back at his boyfriend- were they dating now? - and beamed with a stupidly happy grin. George shook his head, crossing the distance between them to trail a single finger on Dream's jawline.

Dream trembled under his touch, locked away in a spell. For each slow second that passed by Dream felt lulled under his trance before George pulled him closer, cupping his face as their lips met carefully and tentatively. 

It was everything he remembered. The tiny sensations trailing down his fingers, the pounding in his ears. His eyes fluttered closed, bringing his hands to George's waist to pull him impossibly closer. The twirling butterflies in his stomach disappeared as the rest of the world did. The stars above had nothing to say, as the fireflies buzzed their merry way into the night sky. 

George's hand made its way into his hair, tussling it affectionately as he had to lean up on his tip toes to meet Dream's face entirely. His lungs were burning, with lack or oxygen or suffocation of the moment when they drew away, the moment lingering with peace.

"I love you," the brunette whispered, his head against the other's chest as he wrapped him in a hug.

"I love you too."

-

( 1436 words )

an: ayo idk if this is finished? its just a dream btw so dont get confused even tho i keep confusing myself. short chapter because *finger guns* background

i have literally two(?three??? idk) other scenes planned for this fic so im still winging it- more angst or more fluff?

also according to wattpad statistics, only a small percent of you actually vote for chapters you enjoy. y'know u should vote, its free, and u can always unvote anytime, and it always helps out the author c; 

!!if you dont understand the dream stance: its kinda like lucid dreaming, in a way.

dream is having a flashback in his dreams, and hes force to sit and watch the dream unfold. he knows how he felt IN the moment, referred to as his 'dream self' and he also feels things in the present. for example- in this dream, his past self was anxious for george's rejection, but his present self knew how the dream ended and was actually excited. essentially hes just watching a movie in his head and hes the narrator, lol.