Despite everything that happened that night, George's life dropped back into normalcy almost immediately. The most exciting thing, other than Bad replying to his apology tweet a few days after the concert, that had happened in the few months following had been his developing friendship with user @Dreamishot.

They talked often, about any and everything, and George always looked forward to it. Over the time, they got to know eachother. George learnt that the guys name was Clay, that he was younger than George but only by a few years, that he travelled often but had a cat, that he knew a LOT about (Dream)ing Of The Disco, and much more.

He told Clay things about himself too, of course. That his favourite colour was blue because it was one of the few he could actually see properly, that Dream hadn't actually been his bi awakening (baywatch was to blame for that. I mean, who puts the Rock and Pamela Anderson in the same film and expects people NOT to panic?), that he also had a cat, that he hated his job and much more as well.

Anyone would have thought it logical for them to have, at the very least, voice called but no. That was the only thing George could never bring Clay around to: video or voice calls.

George had no idea why Clay was so adverse to it. George had even sent a picture of his own face to try and convince Clay but to no avail. Clay simply called him pretty, pointed out that he'd already seen his face on Sapnap's streams and moved on with the conversation, avoiding the topic completely.

It annoyed George to no end, and Nick would know that.

"I mean, seriously! It's not like I'm some stranger trying to get him to meet me in some back alley. I'd be happy with just a voice call! He's heard my voice and seen my face but he always stays muted and messages me instead. It's not fair."

Nick rubbed his temples, exasperated. "Why does it matter so much that this dude shows you his face or voice anyway?"

"You know why, Nick." George sighed. "I just... he's like my best friend, I'd like to think he'd trust me enough to show me his voice or face."

"One, rude. If he's your best friend then what am I?" George huffed a 'you know what I meant' "Two, maybe he does trust you enough, he just doesn't want to disappoint you or something." Nick replied, rapidly typing something on his phone.

"But he wouldn't disappoint me. Even if he had a gross voice or an ugly face or something, I'd still like him the same. He should know that" George paused. "I'm friends with you and you're hideous."

"Hey!" Nick shouted slapping a hand to George's shoulder. George laughed. "You're just jealous because I'm hotter than you."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." George replied, slumping down on the couch.

"Maybe he's actually really hot and has a sexy, gravely voice and just doesn't want you to fall in love," Nick joked, still endlessly typing.

George dragged his hands over his face and grumbled "Don't even joke."

The realisation hit Nick like a truck and he almost choked.

"George, do you... do you like Clay?" Nick asked, finally stopping typing and looking over at George. George looked confused for a second.

"Of course I like Clay. He's my friend and I wouldn't get this worked up if he wasn't." Nick shook his head.

"No, do you like Clay?" Nick emphasised, sitting forward. George blushed and looked away.

"I dunno..." George mumbled, rubbing his neck.

"You do!" Nick realised. "I thought you liked Dream though?" He asked, glancing at his phone.

"I do still like Dream, of course I do!" George insisted.

"But you like Clay too?" Nick asked. George deflated.

"Yeah..." He huffed.

There was a moment of silence and Nick picked up his phone again, seeming to type even faster.

"Who are you even talking to?" George asked, attempting to glance at the contact name. Is that the French flag...? George couldn't be sure.

"No one important, don't worry." Nick brushed of, tilting his phone away.

"So, who do you like more?" Nick asked, glancing from his phone to George and back to his phone again.

"I honestly don't know. I don't know who'd be the easier option either. My celebrity crush turned regular crush because I met him or my anonymous internet friend." George pretended to weigh each option on his hands. "They both sound like something straight out of a badly written fan fiction."

"What if they turned out to be the same person?" Nick asked, pausing typing to search George's face. George barked out a laugh.

"I wish. There's literally no chance." George replied. Nick laughed as well, returning to typing.

"It would be mad," Nick stated, almost nervously.

"Seriously, dude, who are you texting?" George asked, leaning forward once more. Nick leaned back, shielding the phone.

"I said it was no one, don't worry!" Nick laughed out, typing one last message before turning of his phone entirely. "There, no more texting." George rolled his eyes.

"But what do I do, Nick? I should probably just give up on Dream because there is no chance he'd ever like me back but I just... can't." George said, shrugging. Everything was telling Nick to just tell George but he knew it wasn't his place to say.

"But If Clay doesn't even trust me enough to show me his voice then there's no chance he'd like me back either." George huffed. Not telling George had become physically painful. Nick sighed.

"I can't say much because I've never been in your situation before but I can say give him time. If he didn't like you, even just as a friend, then he wouldn't message you as much as he does. And he definitely wouldn't randomly check in on you at ungodly hours just to make sure you're still alright." George smiled softly.

"Does Clay know that your crush on Dream is more than just a celebrity crush?" Nick asked, carefully.

"I think he knows I find Dream attractive and funny and all that but I don't think he knows that it's... a genuine crush..." George said, feeling pathetic having said it out loud. You meet a hot celebrity once... George thought.

"Tell him and see how he reacts." Nick shrugged and George spluttered, giving Nick an incredulous look.

"He'll think I'm insane!" George yelled.

"The guy's username is Dream is hot, I think he'll understand more than you give him credit for." Nick reminded. George groaned, thinking it over.

If he told Clay, he'd be able to gauge from Clay's reaction where he stands. And, if Clay doesn't like him back, maybe he'll have some advice on what to do about Dream. George hated when Nick was right.

"Fine." George finally decided, pulling out his phone. Nick grinned.

////:\\\\
7/5/20

Georgie 💕
Hi, you free?
10:34pm

Clay 😊
For you? Always.
10:34pm

Georgie 💕
You're such an idiot
10:34pm
I need some advice
10:39pm

Clay 😊
You've come to the right place
10:39pm
What's up?
10:39pm

Georgie 💕
Okay, um, just...
10:40pm
Just don't judge me or anything, okay?
10:42pm

Clay 😊
I'm suddenly afraid
10:42pm

Georgie 💕
Shut up
10:43pm
Okay
10:45pm
You remember I met Dream at the beginning of their tour like,,, the day before I met you?
10:49pm

Clay 😊
Yeah?
10:49pm

Georgie 💕
Well, I had a massive celebrity crush on him before I met him, as all sane fans do, but after I met him it became more of a... regular crush?
10:53pm
Please don't laugh at me, I'm genuinely having a crisis
10:55pm
Clay?
10:57pm

Clay 😊
No, yeah, I'm here
10:59pm
I'm not gonna laugh at you
11:00pm

Georgie 💕
Thank you
11:00pm
But that's not all of it...
11:02pm

Clay 😊
?
11:02pm

Georgie 💕
I think I have a crush on someone else as well? At the same time?
11:07pm

Clay 😊
Oh
11:07pm
Who?
11:07pm

Georgie 💕
It's not important
11:10pm
They're no more available than Dream is
11:10pm
I just... don't know what to do
11:10pm
I don't think I like either one of them more than the other
11:11pm
And I've tried to get over both of them but I just
11:11pm
Can't.
11:12pm

Clay 😊
I wish I knew how to help you, George, I really do but I've never been in a situation like that before
11:13pm

Georgie 💕
Nick said the same thing
11:13pm
I think I just have to... wait a while
11:14pm
See whether my feelings go away for one of them
11:14pm
Or both
11:17pm

Clay 😊
I'm always here for you, no matter what
11:20pm
I may not be able to solve your problem but I can distract you from it
11:20pm
Because what's better than facing your problems?
11:20pm
Avoiding them.
11:21pm

Georgie 💕
Suddenly I understand why you have so many problems
11:21pm

Clay 😊
Hey!
11:21pm

Georgie 💕
But thank you
11:21pm
I'm always here for your dumb problems too
11:23pm

Clay 😊
Thank you :) <3
11:23pm

Georgie 💕
No problem :)
11:23pm

Clay 😊
Send one back <3
11:23pm

Georgie 💕
Never
11:23pm
Seen

////:\\\\

George groaned, throwing his phone onto the couch away from him.

"So?" Nick asked, looking up from where he had been scrolling through Twitter.

"Clay didn't have any advice but I'm certain of my crush on him now." George grumbled. Nick gave George a sympathetic pat on the knee.

"How did he react to it?" George leant to grab his phone again and showed the messages to Nick.

"He totally likes you back. 'For you? Always', 'Oh. Who?' and 'send one back'? He's so into you!" Nick insisted, reading the conversation.

"No he's not, he's always like that. He thinks it's funny to flirt with me. And if I told you I had a crush on someone, wouldn't you want to know who?" George reasoned and Nick rolled his eyes.

"I would already know who because you're horrible at hiding your feelings." Nick stated, ignoring George's grumble of 'i'm not' "I bet fifty British pounds that this guy is into you." Nick crossed his arms.

"You're on." George replied, determined. Really, the bet was over before it begun.

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1.8k words

How do people feel about the big time skip? I figured it'd be a lot better to just sum up the mostly uneventful bit rather than have hundreds of filler chapters.

Feedback is welcome and appreciated!!!

~Dandelion