"Nick says: if Dream doesn't man his bitch ass up and tell George that he is Clay then I will." Vincent reads, sitting at the breakfast bar in their house.

The tour had ended only a few days prior and the boys were sad to see it end but more than happy to be back home - Darryl and Zak to their shared house and Vincent and Clay to theirs in Florida.

"Tell Nick that if he says a word then I will hunt him down." Clay replied, padding to his coffee machine - he shouldn't be having coffee this late in the afternoon but he didn't care.

Clay felt bad about lying to George, of course he did, but he was afraid. He was afraid that if he told George now, George would freak out and stop talking to him or something. He just couldn't risk losing him.

If he hadn't used a stan account to message George, George probably would have never even considered telling him everything that he had done. Clay wouldn't have found out that George has a cat and that George is colourblind, that George is bi and that George loves his friends but hates his job. Clay wouldn't have found out that George is probably the most cute, funny and easy to love person that Clay has ever met. And it wasn't as if he was lying, necessarily.

He just wasn't telling George the whole truth.

"Nick says: not if I hunt you down first." Vincent typed for a moment longer before his eyes widened. "Clay, you need to tell George. Now."

Clay raised his eyebrows in surprise and confusion. "What, why?" Before Vincent had the chance to muster up the right response, Clay's phone went off. "Hold that thought, George needs something."

When George mentioned the meet, Clay felt his heart rate hasten. And when George admitted he had a crush on Dream, a real one, Clay swore he felt his heart stop.

"YES!" Clay screamed, startling Vincent. "Holy fucking shit..." he continued, laughing to himself and gripping a fistful of his own hair.

Clay felt lightheaded and new he was grinning something mad but he could care less. George liked him. George actually liked him. He should respond so George doesn't freak out.

But then George continued and Clay's heart dropped to his feet and shattered. He liked someone else as well. Clay drew a blank with what to say.

Eventually, the conversation ended the way it always did. With George refusing to send him a heart.

"Fuck!" Clay yelled, throwing his phone at the couches and roughly dragging his hands over his face and up to grip at his hair. He was grateful that Darryl was at home at the moment but also wished for his friend's wise advice - Darryl has always been good at comforting people.

He hadn't bothered with his mask like makeup - Vincent had already seen what he looked like without it and he wasn't planning on leaving the house today.

"What happened?" Vincent asked, glancing between Clay and the discarded mobile.

"Well, George likes me back!" Clay stated and, before Vincent could react, continued "but he also likes someone else at the same time!" Clay cheered sarcastically. He sounded somewhat insane.

Vincent didn't have the chance to stop himself before the words came out. "It's you." Clay froze.

"What?" Clay didn't know what Vincent meant by that. Of course Dream was him.

"It's not my place to say but you two idiots clearly aren't getting anywhere on your own. George likes Dream and Clay. He just doesn't know they're both you. That's why you need to tell him, now."

"You know I can't do that, Vin" Clay tried, still reeling from the fact that they are both him. George liked him... twice. Today sure was one hell of a rollercoaster.

"But you have to, Clay! You have to tell him at some point or you will lose him anyway. Were you just planning on never letting him hear or see you? Never meeting him?" Clay pulled at his hair, frustrated. Vincent was right but Clay didn't like it.

"I can't lose him, Vincent!" Clay shouted, balling his fists.

"But you will if you don't fucking tell him!" Vincent shot back, standing from the stool. Vincent stormed away and Clay groaned. He was itching to punch something. Instead, he grabbed his scalding coffee and chugged it.

Vincent returned with his keys and wallet and walked towards the front door. "Where are you going?" Clay asked, throat still burning.

"Out. Until you calm down and come to your senses." And, with that, Vincent left. Clay wanted to punch something again.

This wasn't the first time they'd argued like this, it was usually when Clay was being stubborn and Vincent was saying things he didn't want to hear. Even so, that didn't make it any easier to deal with.

Clay dropped himself on the couch and picked up his phone again. He took himself to his and George's messages on autopilot. George always helped him calm down.

////:\\\\
4/2/20

Clayyyyy
Okay, my turn
10:23pm
Hmmmmmm, do you have any pets?
10:23pm

Georgie
Yes, I have a cat
10:23pm
And Nick
10:23pm

Clayyyyy
So do I! A cat, not a Nick
10:24pm
What's your cat's name?
10:24pm

Georgie
That's two, it's my go
10:24pm

Clayyyyy
Nah, I told you I had a cat too, that was your go
10:25pm

Georgie
What? But I didn't ask?
10:25pm

Clayyyyy
Too bad, show me the goods
10:26pm

Georgie
Fine
10:26pm
[a selfie of George's cat laying on his chest. George is laid on top of his bed covers, wearing Dream's hoodie. Only the bottom half of George's face is showing but it's enough for his soft, sleepy smile to be fully visible]
10:30pm

Clayyyyy
I meant tell me your cats name but I'm not complaining ',:)
10:36pm

Georgie
Ew, what is that face?
10:36pm

Clayyyyy
It's a raised eyebrow
10:36pm

Georgie
Gross
10:37pm

////:\\\\

Clay remembered that night, playing twenty questions with George, where twenty became thirty and forty and so on until George fell asleep. Clay had been nervous, of course, but he was more happy to be getting to know George.

He'd stared at the photo for a few moments too long, evident by his late reply. He couldn't find it in himself to care though as he had saved the photo to his "George blackmail" folder. (Really it was just an excuse for Clay to save all the photos George sent him.)

////:\\\\
19/3/20

Georgie 🥺
Nick won't listen to me so now you have to
1:03am

Clayyy :)
Glad to know I'm just your side
1:03am

Georgie 🥺
Absolutely
1:03am
I want a Dream hug again
1:04am
I'm wearing his hoodie and that's kinda sad but his hugs were so nICE
1:04am

Clayyy :)
George, please go to sleep
1:10am

Georgie 🥺
>:( fine
1:10am

Changed "Georgie 🥺"s contact name to "Georgie 💕"

////:\\\\

Clay remembered that night - or morning? - even better. It was the night Clay realised his feelings for George were more than just a passing crush. And, like every high school girl does when they catch feelings, Clay changed George's contact.

He hadn't changed it since, nor the photo. The photo was sent as a forfeit for not answering a question (have you ever dated someone before?). It was a selfie of George in Dream's hoodie again - when wasn't he? - with the hood up and the sleeves pulled over his hands. Both of his hands were splayed at the camera, fingertips barely visible, and he was clearly holding back a smile. It was one of Clay's favourite photos of him.

Clay groaned, having calmed down. As much as he hated to admit it, Vincent was right. Clay would have to think of a way to apologise when Vin got back.

Speak of the devil. Clay thought as he heard the door open. Moments later, Vincent's head poked around the corner to look for Clay. He found him, slumped on the couch.

"You calmed down?" Vincent asked, moving to lean in the doorframe with his arms crossed. Clay nodded guiltily, mumbling a sorry. Vincent huffed, pushing off the doorframe and walking towards Clay.

Clay stood and enveloped his friend in a hug. Clay pushed away the observation that it was very different from hugging George. As they pulled back, Vincent searched Clay's face.

"You know I'm right." Clay sighed and nodded.

"I'm just... scared." Clay admitted, weakly.

"I know you're scared but you can't keep running away. It's hurting both of you." After a moment of reading the atmosphere, Vincent thought it was safe to add "and it's hurting my brain." Clay chuckled softly. "So, you're gonna tell him?" Vin asked, crossing his arms.

"Yeah. I've gotta prepare myself, but I'm gonna tell him." Clay pulled his phone out and let his eyes flick to the time. "Maybe I should wait until tomorrow, it's like four in the morning for him." Vincent nodded, checking the time for himself.

"Alright. If you haven't told him by the time I wake up tomorrow then I get to tell him." Vincent decided, walking away to his room before Clay had the chance to argue.

Clay didn't bother going after Vincent. He instead trudged to the bathroom to shower and get ready for bed.

He hadn't had the time to properly register what this all meant. Too much had happened in too little time. So, as Clay lay awake staring at the ceiling, he reflected.

George liked him. Both versions of him. George actually, truly, liked him. As more than a friend.

Clay wasn't really sure what to do with himself. He wanted to smile and laugh and shout those words from the rooftops. He also wanted to cry and scream and punch something.

It wouldn't be easy. Not explaining himself, not meeting George, not whatever may happen after, none of it. None of it would be easy.

First, he'd actually have to tell George and pray that George didn't hate him. And, if he did? Then... Clay didn't want to think about it.

And, if he didn't hate him, then what? Would George still want to meet him? Still want to take him to the café just down the road from George's house because they made the best warm drinks? Still want to have their cats meet and pray they get along? Still want to visit Clay in Florida and have Clay take him to all the places he went as a kid?

Clay begged the universe that the answer to all of those was yes.

But, on the flip side, could Clay handle knowing none of these things would ever happen? No. He needed to see George again in person, if only to have the boy reject him.

Clay scrambled for his phone and checked the time, calculating when it would be for George. 7:34am. He'd be awake by then.

////:\\\\
8/5/20

Clay 😊
I want to meet you
2:34am

Georgie 💕
Goodmorning. I want to meet you too
2:34am

Clay 😊
Yeah?
2:34am

Georgie 💕
Yeah
2:34am

Clay 😊
Good
2:34am
I'm glad
2:34am

Georgie 💕
You know that meeting me would mean showing me your voice and face, right?
2:41am

Clay 😊
Yes
2:41am

Georgie 💕
And you still want to?
2:45am

Clay 😊
Yes
2:45am

Georgie 💕
Clay, what time is it for you right now?
2:52am

Clay 😊
Almost three in the morning
2:52am

Georgie 💕
Go to bed Clay, you aren't thinking straight
2:57am

Clay 😊
No, George, I really want to meet you
2:57am

Georgie 💕
Go to sleep. If you still want to meet me when you wake up then text me
2:57am
Sleep well
2:58am

Clay 😊
I'll try
3:00am
Goodnight Georgie <3
3:00am

George 💕
Goodnight Clay
3:12am
Seen

////:\\\\

And with that, Clay fell into a fitful rest.

———————————————
2k words

A lot of formatting went into this chapter.

Feedback is welcome and appreciated!!!

~Dandelion