AN: I spent nearly eight hours on this chapter and while it wasn't really as good as I had hoped it would be, im pretty happy with what I came up with. I hope you all enjoy, and let me know what you think!

CW: Mentions of Self-harm

Two days passed. George hadn't heard from Dream since the night of his panic attack, and had grown convinced he had scared the other man away. Numbness settled over his heart, and cuts settled over his skin as his addiction to self-harming grew. He wasn't sure what to do with himself. Everyday felt the same to him: wake up, add to his collection of scars, wash the blood away, and then go back to his bed to ponder his existence.

He often wondered what Oliver was out there doing. Wondered if he was happier with his new lover, if they were doing better than George was. Wondered if Oliver had already touched Edward, with that loving touch that used to caress George's skin.

George's skin that was, currently, being put to use as a cutting board. The comparison made him laugh.

Day one without Dream and his doorbell was ringing again. A man he didn't recognize stood behind the door, wringing his hands nervously. George frowned at him and adjusted the blanket around his shoulders.

"Can I help you with something?" He asked suspiciously. The other kicked at the ground, brown eyes avoiding his gaze.

"You- you're George, right?"

George's eyes narrowed. "And what about it? Who are you?"

The man inhaled and looked up, finally meeting George's gaze. "I'm Edward. Oliver's boyfriend."

George's eyes widened and he stared at the other in disbelief.

"Listen, I know that you and Oliver were...together, and for a really long time, and it didn't really sit right with me that he just left and I just wanted to make sure you were okay-"

"You have got some type of nerve to show up at my door right now," George broke in, fury rising in his throat. "You really think I want to see the face that my ex boyfriend cheated on me with?"

Edward coughed awkwardly. "I just wanted to reach out and see if you were okay? I'm really sorry-"

"You're sorry?" George was stunned. "Sorry? He broke my heart and you're sorry? I can't fucking believe this. You're joking right?"

Edward frowned. "There's no need to be hostile about it."

George laughed humorlessly. "Hostile? You haven't even seen hostile, Edward. Do you know the kind of shit I've been going through because you can't keep your hands to your own man? And you have the balls to show up at my door and say you're sorry? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Edward shot George a fiery glare. "Don't pin this on me," he said angrily. "This wasn't my fault. Maybe if you had just done your job as someone's boyfriend, we wouldn't be in this position right now."

"He cheated on me," George hissed, opening the door wider and getting closer to the other. "That isn't something I did. That was all him. Him and . Do not even think about blaming this on me."

Edward rolled his eyes, but George saw the way his hands shook as he took a step away from him. "Maybe Oliver was right," he shot back. "You're just an attention-seeking whore. Can't even believe he wasted his time on you."

George felt the words go straight to his heart, shocking him to his core, but he didn't let it show that it had affected him.

"Get out of here," he said, spitting at Edward's feet. The man staggered back and glared at him in disgust. "Next time I see you here, I'll call the police and report you for trespassing."

Edward's eyes widened, and as he turned to leave he uttered two last words:

"You're crazy!"

George smiled in satisfaction as he watched the man hurry down the stairs, waiting until he was gone before stumbling inside and slamming the door, sliding down to the floor and letting out a choked sob.

Did Oliver really think that little of him?

That night, he received a call from an unknown number. With high hopes that it was Dream and that he had just gotten a new phone, he answered quickly and held the device up to his ear.

"Dream?!"

A short silence. "...No. It's Olly. I wanted to talk to you about Edward."

George's heart sank and he pressed his hand over his mouth. "Oh." he whispered, hurt evident in his tone.

"Listen, Georgie-"

"Don't-" George interrupted. "Don't call me that. You lost that when you left me."

Oliver paused. "Alright," he said softly, pain evident in his quiet tone. "I deserve that. Will you listen to me?"

George nodded and sat up from where he had been laying in his bed. "I guess."

"Listen, Georgie- George. I...I know what I did was- I regret it, alright?"

George's eyes grew large.

''I miss you, every day. I love you so much it hurts."

"Then why would you leave me?" George whispered, tears falling down his cheeks.

"I can't answer that. I don't even know how to answer that. I just know that I love you so much, and every day without you is just....agony."

"You can't keep doing this to me," George said sadly. "You can't keep leading me on like this. First you tell me there's someone else, you break up with me, you call to check in on me and see how I am- Your new boytoy shows up at my house and tells me exactly what you've said about me, and now you're telling me you still love me? It doesn't make any sense, Oliver. You can't keep this up, it's killing me."

''Edward showed up at your house?" Oliver sounded scared. "What....what did he say?"

George shook his head, his dirty hair falling across his face. He brushed it away in annoyance. "I don't think that matters. I just know that...you can't keep doing this to me. It's just not fair. Please."

"George, I-"

"Oliver," George said softly. "Please. You...You need to stop calling. I can't keep doing this with you anymore. I'm sorry."

With that, George hung up the phone and laid back down, his bed the only comfort he had these days. Too tired to cry, he simply allowed himself to drift off to sleep.

He dreamt of warm arms holding him, and sweet nothings being whispered in his ear.

Day two without Dream wasn't as eventful. Oliver had dropped off George's cat, Cat, and left without having to see the other, appearing to obey George's wishes and leaving him alone.

Cat had purred contentedly as George held her, stroking behind her ears the way she liked. George smiled gently, holding her close to his chest. He had missed her.

At least he wasn't as alone anymore. Cat wouldn't leave him.

He went grocery shopping, bundling his frail body in many layers before venturing out into the bitter weather. He brought home food for Cat, some apples, and microwave dinners. He didn't know how to cook.

That had been Oliver's job.

He stopped in the park on his way home, sitting down on a bench with the paper bag holding his groceries resting in his arms. He watched silently at the ducks that swam in the small pond, wondering if they were as cold as he was. His hands were freezing - he couldn't imagine what that water felt like.

He stayed on the bench for a few minutes before continuing on his journey home, taking his time to enjoy the fresh air. He knew he wouldn't have the motivation to leave his apartment again anytime soon.

He would waste away in there.

Cat greeted him as he unlocked his front door, curling her tail around George's ankle as he walked inside, kicking the door shut behind him.

"Hey baby," he cooed, setting the bag of groceries down on the kitchen counter so he could pick the tabby up. Patting her head gently, George smiled as she let out a loud purr and tucked her head beneath his chin.

"Sorry baby," he said quietly, setting the cat back down on the ground. Cat meowed at him and stalked off, tail flicking irritably. George breathed out a laugh and started putting away his groceries.

As he ate an apple, he began to think.

CW: body image issues?

What did he do wrong?

Maybe it was as simple as Oliver said - maybe he wasn't doing his job in the bedroom. Maybe he just wasn't attracted to him anymore? Was it the way he looked? George glanced down and slowly lifted his shirt, peering at his flat stomach. His ribs were visible. His bones peeked out at him through skin that was so pale it was nearly translucent. George dropped the apple into the trash and walked into the bathroom.

His hair was growing out, getting shaggy after weeks of not getting it cut. Patches of facial hair spotted his jawline - he hadn't shaved in a while. He stared in disgust at himself.

No wonder Oliver left. Edward was definitely an upgrade from whatever he had become.

Pinching the nearly nonexistent skin around his stomach, George grimaced. Maybe that apple had been a bad idea. He was glad he had thrown it away now. He didn't need to be gaining any more weight than he already had.

Maybe if he was prettier, Oliver would've stayed.

His doorbell rang late that night and before George could even get out of bed, he heard the front door pushing open. George's heart pounded in his chest as he hurried out to the front room, comforter tucked around his shoulders.

There stood Oliver, drenched to the bone from the rain that was pouring relentlessly outside. George couldn't even say anything, too stunned to speak. Oliver shook his head, water flinging every which way.

"George," he said breathlessly, like he had ran the whole way here.

"What are you doing here, Oliver?" George said, finally snapping out of his daze. His heart already hurt, knowing that whatever was about to happen couldn't be good. "I told you, you can't keep doing this. I asked you to leave me alone. I really meant that."

Hadn't he locked his front door? How did he even get in?

Oliver laughed and moved closer to George, who backed up until the backs of his knees hit the coffee table, nearly knocking him over. He could smell the alcohol from here.

"I know you didn't mean that, Georgie."

George grimaced. The man was clearly drunk and, despite still being in love with him, George had suddenly grown extremely uncomfortable by Oliver's presence.

"You should go," George said nervously, looking anywhere but at the other. "You're drunk."

Another laugh escaped from Oliver's lips, and he leaned closer, their noses brushing. "Don't make me go," he breathed. "I ran all the way here. Help me get out of these clothes, will you?"

George frowned and pushed Oliver away. He was so drunk that the small action nearly made him fall to the floor.

"I don't want you here, Oliver," George said sternly. "You moved on, so please just let me do the same. Please leave."

Oliver braced himself on the arm of the sofa, glaring drunkenly at him. "Don't you tell me what to do," he slurred angrily. "You can't just kick me out."

"You don't live here anymore," George said slowly. Oliver looked furious. He didn't want to anger him anymore than he already was. "You need to leave."

Oliver opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, another voice joined them. Footsteps came closer down the hall.

"George?"

George's eyes widened, immediately recognizing the yellow eyes that looked at him with confusion and concern. "Dream?" Behind him, someone new joined. "Sap? What the hell are you guys doing here?"

Oliver, seemingly tired of being ignored, staggered over to George and gripped his shoulder tightly, hard enough to bruise.

"So they get to stay, but I can't?" He demanded. "Already moving on so fast, huh? I knew it. Whore."

George winced at the hold he had on his arm and pushed him away. "You can't say that," he said, eyes darting nervously over to where Clay and Nick stood, both looking ready to step in. "You moved on too. I didn't know they were coming, I swear."

"Maybe you should leave, man," Sapnap spoke up, Oliver's head whipping around to shoot him an icy look. "George doesn't want you here. Get out."

While Oliver was busy with Sapnap, Dream made his way over to George and gently moved him further away from the drunk man.

"What are you guys doing here?" George whispered, gaping at the blonde man. Dream shook his head and wrapped him up in a hug.

"I'll explain later," He muttered into George's ear, making the shorter shiver.

"George!"

George jumped and pulled away from Dream's embrace. Oliver was staring at him again, tears now welling in his eyes. His mood swings were giving George whiplash.

"You need to go. Now, please," George murmured, crossing his arms tightly across his chest. "Don't come back. I mean it."

Oliver gaped at him like a fish before closing his mouth and turning to leave.

"I'll see you soon, Georgie. Don't miss me too much."

George twitched at the menacing tone - he had forgotten how rude Oliver got when he was drunk.

The door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the apartment. The three of them were quiet for a moment before George spoke again.

"What- what are you guys doing here? I didn't know you were coming."

Nick grinned and hurried over to scoop George into a tight hug. "We were worried about you, Gogy," he said excitedly. "So we took some time off so we could come and visit you for a while."

George looked back at Dream, who nodded his confirmation.

"I'm sorry, I don't have the guest room cleaned or set up or anything, I've barely got any food-" George stammered on, suddenly realizing he wasn't mentally prepared to have his two closest friends here. Relief coursed through him as he took note of his baggy sweatshirt, which hid his arms perfectly.

"Georgie, it's fine," Dream assured. "One of us can sleep on the couch or something, and the other can sleep with you. Is that okay? Just until we get the guest room set up."

George rubbed his face. "I suppose," He said through his palms, his words muffled.

"Perfect!" Sapnap grabbed his and Dream's bags and dragged them forward a bit. "Lead the way Georgie-poo!"

George scoffed at the nickname before leading the two towards his room. Other than his messy bed, it was relatively clean, if you disregarded the shirts scattered across the floor.

"Dream can stay in here with you," Nick said, dropping two of the bags he was carrying onto the floor and quickly backing out of the room. "I'm going to go to bed, goodnight!"

George blinked at how fast he left, letting the door click shut behind him. Dream moved his bags to the corner of the room and then turned back to George.

As soon as his arms opened, George was in them, clutching at Clay's shirt tightly with tears already falling. Dream held him close, whispering sweet words into his ear.

"It's okay," he murmured, rubbing George's back.

"I'm here now."

AN: I hope you enjoyed! thank you all so much for over 3.5k reads in two days!