Dream walked back to the campsite hours later, after he had thought everything out and the sun had nearly set.

George's eyes snapped to him and he stood up, starting to walk towards Dream. Dream evaded him, keeping his eyes downcast as he pushed his shoulder past George.

"Dream, wait."

A hand gently grasped his wrist, but Dream yanked his hand away, muttering, "I don't wanna talk about it."

Dream sat down, leaning against the tree and staring into the fire. George stood still for a long moment before sighing and sitting near Sapnap. Dream could feel two pairs of eyes on him and he hated the way he shifted uncomfortably in their presence.

He glared at Sapnap, still avoiding George's eyes and pulled the cloak of his hood over his head. A shadow was cast over his face, providing him with something to relax under. Sapnap and George talked for a little longer before Sapnap went to sleep.

"I never said thank you," George said quietly.

Dream didn't reply and George added, "So, thank you, for the bracelet."

When Dream didn't move or speak, George whispered, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kissed you... I just― I thought you..."

Felt the same, Dream could hear the rest of the sentence even though it wasn't said. Dream inhaled slowly before responding, his voice cold, "Go to sleep."

"What about―"

"It meant nothing to me," Dream interrupted.

"Oh," George whispered, "but―"

"Nothing is happening between us and nothing ever will."

Dream looked to George, who had hugged his knees to his chest. His eyes were trying to find Dream's under the hood of his cloak. George stopped trying and looked to his wrist, his fingers tracing over the bracelet Dream had made.

"Dream..." When Dream said nothing George said, his voice quiet, "I'm sorry."

Again, Dream stayed in wordless silence, watching the fire and pushing away the feeling of guilt creeping in his stomach.

George stayed awake for a long while, fidgeting with his bracelet and looking to Dream. Eventually his eyes drooped close and he fell asleep under Dream's watchful presence.

Dream's eyes darted back to George, regretting it instantly. George just seemed to lure him in with his pretty features illuminated by the soft firelight. Maybe I was wrong... Dream thought before scolding himself, no, George means nothing to me.

So that was how Dream was going to treat him, like George meant absolutely nothing to him.

~one week later~

After a solid week of walking through a terribly long jungle, things were still tense between Dream and George.

The two had hardly spoken, although George often tried to talk to him. Dream would just ignore him and continue forward without another word. Sapnap offered conversation, awkwardly trying to help.

Dream was currently using his sword to slice through the thick bamboo forest they were travelling though. George and Sapnap followed behind quietly, the 'shuck' of the bamboo being the only sound.

After clearing the last of the bamboo, Dream was breathless. He sheathed his sword, not pausing as they continued through the jungle.

"We should stop for the night," Sapnap commented, observing the orange-ish sky.

Dream sighed and sat down under the shade of a tall jungle tree moments later. They took their familiar placements around Sapnap's fire; Dream sat by himself, hiding under his cloak, and George and Sapnap sitting next to each other, a few feet apart. Ever since Dream had distanced himself from them, it was their new habit.

"I'm gonna get some kindling," Sapnap muttered, "so the fire doesn't die when I sleep."

George nodded and Dream didn't bother to respond. Sapnap's figure faded through the trees and bamboo and then it was just him and George. George sighed, looking at Dream for the millionth time that day.

Dream was motionless, his frown hidden under the hood of his cloak. George sighed again and asked, "Dream?"

When Dream didn't reply, George said quietly, "Why are you being like this? Did I do something wrong?"

"It's my fault, not yours."

George sat up, not having expected a response. He whispered hesitantly, "What exactly is your fault?"

Dream cringed and said, "What happened between us... I shouldn't have let it happen. I know better now."

"Why?"

"Why?" Dream asked, a low laugh coming from his throat. He muttered, "George, I don't like you, so stop trying to make me act like I do."

George winced. His fingers ran over the bracelet on his wrist and he asked, "Then what does this mean? Why did you make it for me?"

"I already told you. It's payment for helping me recover."

"Payment?"

"Yeah, payment― nothing more, nothing less."

"Oh," George whispered. He was quiet for a moment before he asked, "Can you take off your hood? I wanna see your expression right now."

"So you can see if I'm lying?" Dream snorted. "No, fuck off, I'm keeping it on."

"I guess that means you're lying," George said casually.

Dream sighed. He sat forward and pulled down his hood. His expression was cold and unforgiving as he stared George dead in his eyes and said, "George, you mean nothing to me. You never have and you never will."

Dream swiftly pulled his hood back on, hating the guilt that ate at him. After his comment, George flinched and looked away. George swallowed and Dream could tell he was holding back tears.

The silence between them was tense when Sapnap returned a while later. Dream saw a figure behind Sapnap and stood up quickly, pulling out his sword.

Sapnap lifted his hands defensively and said quickly, "Dream, wait! He's a friend."

Dream didn't drop his sword as the figure stepped into the firelight. It was a faun. A half human half goat creature. His legs were that of a goat but his torso was human. He had animal-like ears and two horns, similar to deer antlers. A blue coloring dusted his cheeks and eyes, almost looking like paint. But the most noticeable thing about the faun was the two bandages over his mouth.

He didn't look threatening so Dream slowly sheathed his sword. Sapnap's shoulders sagged in relief and he said, "He was in the jungle and came up to me... he doesn't talk, but he helped me bring some wood back."

Dream noted the wood in the faun's arms and asked, "What does he want?"

Sapnap shrugged. The faun put the wood in a neat pile on the ground and used a stick to write in the dirt. Sapnap tilted his head to read it. Sapnap said, "It says he wants to help."

"Why?"

The faun shrugged and wrote again. Sapnap read aloud, "He wrote 'I've been lost in this jungle for years... I want to help in any way I can, in exchange for helping me get out.'" Sapnap cleared his throat and said to Dream, "I think we should help him."

Dream glanced at George, who was staring blankly into the fire. Dream sat down muttered, "Fine."

The faun clapped in happiness and sat next to George. George didn't even bother looking at him or saying anything. The faun looked between Dream and George and then looked to Sapnap, a question in his eyes.

Sapnap sighed and sat down, saying, "They're fighting. Lovers' quarrel, if you will."

"We're not lovers," Dream snapped, not missing George's flinch.

"Clearly," Sapnap deadpanned. He asked the faun, "What's your name?"

The faun wrote in the dirt and Sapnap smiled, "Callahan? That's a name I've never heard before. Nice to meet you Callahan, I'm Sapnap. Sitting next to you is George and the mean one over there is Dream."

Callahan nodded in understanding and he and Sapnap continued to make conversation. Dream droned out Sapnap's voice and Callahan's stick scribbling in the dirt. He observed George from under his hood, watching as the brunet continued to stare into the fire.

Dream sighed quietly, George's eyes darting to him seconds later. George swallowed and mumbled, "I'm gonna go take a walk."

He stood up, but Callahan's hand darted out and grabbed George's wrist. The faun shook his head frantically and wrote in the dirt.

George muttered, "I'll be fine, Callahan."

Sapnap said, "I think you should listen to Callahan, George. If he says it's dangerous then I don't think you should wander out. You could get hurt."

"Then I'll get hurt," George snapped. "I mean nothing anyways, so why do you care?"

Sapnap blinked in confusion. "George, you don't mean nothing. Who told you that?"

George said nothing. Sapnap glared at Dream and said angrily, "Dream, what the fuck? Since when did you become such a dick?"

"What do you mean?" Dream replied, his voice even, "This is how I always am."

Sapnap's eyes narrowed and George muttered, "It's fine, Sapnap. I'm just taking a walk."

"No―" Sapnap started, but Callahan interrupted him, scribbling something into the dirt. Sapnap sighed. "Fine. You can go George, but Callahan is going with you."

George shrugged and walked into the jungle, the faun following behind. Sapnap watched them disappear from the firelight and he turned to Dream. "What the hell are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

Sapnap gave Dream a pointed look and said, "You and George... what happened? It's been over a week and I still don't know shit. Tell me."

"No."

"Yes."

Dream scoffed. "I don't have to."

"But you're going to, so tell me... please."

Dream's shoulders sagged at Sapnap's 'please'. Sapnap was looking at him with a stubborn expression, but his eyes were sad, worried even. Dream could tell he was tired of the long silences and angry shouts. It wasn't fair to him, Sapnap missed his friends.

Dream sighed and pulled his hood back. He blinked tiredly and looked at Sapnap. Dream whispered, "He― he... kissed me."

Sapnap's mouth dropped. He muttered, "Finally, it took you two long enough..." Sapnap's expression went from relief to confusion as he asked, "So what's the problem? Why...?"

"Why am I pushing him away?" Dream finished for him. Sapnap nodded and Dream sighed. "I... Sapnap, I can't be in a relationship with him."

"Why not?"

"I- I... he reminds me of someone and I hate it. It's not his fault, it's mine."

"Who does he remind you of?"

Dream looked down at his wrist, his face softening at the bracelet. He whispered, "Someone who meant everything to me..."

"And you don't want George to be the same..." Sapnap said, realizing Dream's point, "So you told him that he means nothing to you."

Dream didn't reply. Sapnap said softly, "Dream, pushing him away won't solve anything. George likes you― he really likes you― and I can tell you like him too. I think it would be best to just talk to him."

Dream's head lifted when George and Callahan returned before he could reply. George didn't bother meeting his eyes and Callahan's head tilted when he saw Dream's face.

Callahan wrote something in the dirt. Sapnap chuckled and George looked over, his face morphing into a scowl at Callahan. The faun's eyes crinkled at the edges, his way of smiling. Callahan winked at Dream and Dream raised an eyebrow.

George glared at the faun and Sapnap burst out laughing. Sapnap said through his laughter, "Dream... Callahan thinks you're hot."

Dream's lips tugged into a smile. He joked to Callahan, "Are you gonna do something about it?"

Callahan winked again, suggestively this time. Dream laughed softly, watching George's eyes widen in surprise and a hint of anger. Dream leaned back against a tree and crossed his arms. Callahan didn't bother to hide his stare as he eyed Dream's chest and biceps. Dream could tell that the faun was just messing around, but George clearly couldn't.

George snapped quietly, "Back off."

Callahan's shoulders shook in laughter and he patted George's head as if to say, 'don't worry, he's all yours.' George sent Callahan one last glare before looking back to Dream, an embarrassed flush on his cheeks.

Even with the tenseness between the two of them, Dream winked at George. George blinked in surprise, a small smile creeping on his face. His eyes were asking a silent question and Dream nodded as if to say, 'tomorrow, we'll talk tomorrow.'

George's shoulders sagged in relief and Dream couldn't help but relax. Tomorrow, they would talk tomorrow.

---------

here's where I took inspiration for Callahan's character:

artist's tiktok: sessabobessa

why can't I draw like this? :,(