Philocaly | THE SEQUEL

3 - masked

She ruffled his now messy hair one last time before he walked past her into the hallway, then into the living room. She followed him all the way to the front door.

"I can just wake up Charlotte."

"Don't worry about it, she didn't get much sleep last night."

"Really?"

"Yeah. She came in my room."

She crossed her arms over her chest, peeking behind her:

"Did you talk to her?"

Dream nodded, biting the inside of his cheek. "Maybe you should ask her about her life. Ask her about how she's doing."

"Where's this coming from?"

"She just- she just seems like she needs it. Drista hasn't had someone to socialize with much besides you and dad, and everyone else is living on their own."

By everyone else, he meant all the other siblings.

His mom was worried now, probably about both her son and her daughter.

"Alright, Clay. Safe driving."

They hugged one last time before Dream left, got back into the car and was ready to be alone again with his head.

It felt way too quiet today. The grass was still damp, the roads wet from all the rain last night. The sun didn't peak its way out today- instead only some grey clouds.

The weather didn't really matter to Dream. The weather made him feel nothing. All weather made him feel loneliness.

Maybe I should be responsible. Maybe I should've stayed with my sister for a little longer to make sure she's okay at least.

He pulls over into the grocery stores parking lot, hurrying in to grab Patches more food and grab himself some snacks.

The entire time in the store, Dream debated his own mind like usual.

Should I call George, or should I just join vc and act like everything's normal again when I get home?

He payed for his items, left the store and climbed back into the car.

Before Dream could pull out of the parking lot, his phone rang. For some reason, Sapnap was calling.

"Hello?"

"Ha! I bet I tricked you into thinking I'm George."

"You do know I can read the fucking contact name, right?"

"Pfft."

"You're such an idiot."

"Shut up, anyways, hurry up and get on. We're on the smp."

He glances outside each car window. It started sprinkling again.

"I can't."

"Why the hell not? You haven't been on the smp in ages."

"No- I mean I can't because I'm in the car. I'm in the parking lot."

"You just went grocery shopping like the day before yesterday."

"Patches needed food, and I needed snacks."

"Well can you hurry the hell up and get home then? Spreedrun driving."

"Nah, don't feel like getting pulled over today. Not really in the mood."

Dream could hear Sapnap scoff further away from the phone, which he glared at.

"Well, what's up dude?"

"Huh."

"What? Is it weird to ask how friends are doing?"

"No, that was just kinda out of no where."

"I already called you so I might as well start conversation."

Florida beach house. Walking away from George, Darryl and Karl to go with Sapnap to get ice cream, and to talk. Getting angry at him for teasing.

"I told my family everything."

"Everything?"

Sapnap knew exactly what Dream was talking about, and Dream knew that was for sure. Sapnap could read him like a book.

"Everything." He confirmed. Dream ran a hand through his hair, watching as a father and his kids are walking out of the grocery store.

"Wow. Dude, that must've been so hard."

Dream laughs. "Trust me, it was one of the hardest conversations I've ever had in my life. I didn't even think Charlotte would take me seriously."

Sapnap laughs, too. His voice is suddenly soft.

"Did you tell George you talked to them?"

"No, but I will. Sometime soon, when we're talking alone again. I really miss that guy."

"I know you do. You literally ranted about it two weeks ago on call with me and Karl. Any hey! He's still traumatized by the way."

"C'mon, you just had to make this awkward."

"How can I not? You didn't even bother to take him out to dinner first-"

"Nick!"

"Okay, okay, too far I'm sorry."

Although Sapnap apologized, Dream knew that was full of shit.

He buried his face in his hand, throwing his phone to the leather passenger seat.

Sapnap was cackling like a child.

"Okay but on a serious note, I'm proud of you man."

Dream picked up his phone again, exhausted, holding back up to his ear.

"I'm proud of myself, too. I just wish I could see him again."

"You literally can."

"I know he's going to try avoiding the conversation. George is acting like everything's the same before he came."

"Maybe that's.. how he prefers."

"Why would you say that? I'm already insecure enough about this."

"I didn't intend to make it sounds bad- but maybe that's just how he shows affection."

Dream scoffs. "Affection? He shows affection by treating me like he did before he came to America and make out with me?"

"Just talk to the damn Brit, boy!" Sapnap mocks in a terribly presented British accent.

Sapnap then hangs up the call when Dream was about to talk again.

"Motherfucker."

Dream was just glad Sapnap cared. It's just masked with humor.