Something was changing.
And neither of them could ignore it anymore.
"CJ."
No response.
"CJ."
Still nothing.
Cy narrowed her eyes before slamming her hand on his desk.
"CJ!"
He flinched slightly. "What?!"
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"That thing where you disappear mid-conversation."
"I'm right here."
"Physically," she corrected. "Mentally? Debatable."
CJ scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "You're overthinking."
"You said that yesterday."
"And I meant it yesterday too."
Cy stared at him for a moment longer.
Then—
"…You look tired."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I said I'm not."
"You literally have eye bags."
"That's rude."
"That's honest."
CJ clicked his tongue, looking away.
Because—
She wasn't wrong.
Sleep didn't feel like rest anymore.
Not when every time he closed his eyes—
He went somewhere else.
"Maybe you should sleep earlier," Cy added.
"Maybe you should mind your business."
"I am your business."
"That's the problem."
Before she could fire back—
A chair scraped lightly across the floor.
Sebastian.
He dropped into the seat beside Cy like it was his designated spot now.
Like it had always been.
"…You look worse than yesterday," he said casually.
CJ's eyes snapped to him.
"…Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
Cy nodded. "See? I told you."
"You two are annoying," CJ muttered.
"And you're sleep-deprived," Sebastian replied.
"Mind your own—"
"Didn't sleep well?" Sebastian cut in.
CJ stopped.
Just for a second.
"…Why do you care?"
Sebastian shrugged. "You look like you fought someone in your dreams."
CJ's chest tightened.
Not visibly.
But enough.
"…I didn't."
"Sure."
Silence lingered—
Just for a second too long.
Because something about that question—
Hit too close.
CJ looked away first. "It's nothing."
Cy watched both of them carefully now.
Because that—
That didn't feel like nothing.
---
Across the room—
Ezekiel stood near the window, watching.
Observing.
Like he always did.
Dean was nearby, flipping through her notebook quietly, though her attention drifted every now and then.
"…They're acting weird," Dean said softly.
Ezekiel nodded slightly. "Yeah."
"Both of them."
"Yeah."
Dean closed her notebook. "Do you think it's because of each other?"
Ezekiel didn't answer immediately.
Because—
He had noticed it too.
The way CJ and Sebastian looked at each other now.
Longer.
Sharper.
Like they were trying to figure something out—
Without asking.
"…Maybe," he said finally.
---
Lunch felt different again.
No one said it.
But everyone noticed it.
CJ sat down first this time.
Sebastian followed.
Then Cy.
Ezekiel last.
Same group.
Same table.
But the air—
Wasn't the same.
"You're quiet," Cy said, looking at Sebastian now.
"…Am I?"
"Yes."
"That's new," CJ added.
Sebastian glanced at him.
"…You noticed."
"I notice everything."
"That's a lie."
"It's not."
"It is."
"It's not."
Cy groaned. "Here we go again."
But this time—
It didn't escalate.
Because Sebastian looked away first.
"…Didn't sleep well," he admitted.
CJ stilled slightly.
"…Same."
The word slipped out before he could stop it.
And just like that—
The table went quiet.
Cy blinked. "Wait—both of you?"
Neither answered.
Because neither of them knew how to explain it.
How do you explain a dream that feels like a memory?
How do you explain a feeling that doesn't belong to the present?
"…What kind of dreams?" Cy asked, curious now.
CJ shrugged. "Nothing important."
Sebastian echoed him. "Yeah. Nothing."
But they didn't look at her when they said it.
They looked at each other.
And something passed between them.
Unspoken.
Unclear.
But real.
Cy leaned back slightly, watching them both.
"…You're hiding something."
"We're not," CJ said.
"You are."
"We're not."
"You are."
"We're—"
"Drop it," Sebastian said quietly.
CJ stopped.
Cy blinked.
"…Okay," she said slowly.
But her eyes narrowed.
Because now—
She was sure.
Something was going on.
---
That night—
The dreams came back.
But this time—
They didn't feel distant.
They felt real.
---
Sebastian.
He was the first to fall into it.
Darkness—
Then light.
But not soft.
Not calm.
This time—
It was clearer.
Sharper.
The place around him formed faster.
Walls.
Ground.
Space.
Real.
"…Again," he muttered.
But he didn't sound annoyed.
Not this time.
Because he already knew—
He wasn't alone.
"You came back."
Sebastian turned.
The voice—
Clearer now.
Closer.
The figure—
Still blurred.
But not as much.
The outline was stronger.
The presence—
Undeniable.
"…You again," Sebastian said.
"…Me again."
He stepped closer this time.
Not hesitant.
Not confused.
Just—
Drawn.
"…Who are you?"
A pause.
Then—
"You still don't remember."
"I asked you first."
"…Someone you used to know."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting right now."
Sebastian frowned.
But he didn't push further.
Because something about this—
Felt different.
Less threatening.
More…
Familiar.
"…You're closer," he said.
"…So are you."
Silence.
But not empty.
The space between them felt charged.
Like something was building.
"…Why does this feel real?" Sebastian asked.
"…Because it is."
That answer—
Didn't make sense.
But it didn't feel wrong either.
Sebastian took another step closer.
"…If I knew you…"
"You did."
"…Then why can't I remember?"
The figure didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He stepped forward.
Close enough that Sebastian could almost—
Almost—
See him.
"…Because you weren't ready to."
The words landed softly.
But heavily.
Sebastian's chest tightened slightly.
"…Ready for what?"
A pause.
Then—
The world shifted.
Not violently.
Not like before.
But enough to break the moment.
"…Not yet," the voice said quietly.
And just like that—
It started fading again.
"Wait—"
But the figure was already disappearing.
"…You'll remember."
Darkness.
---
At the same time—
CJ.
He was already there.
In that same space.
But different.
Warmer.
Closer.
"…You're back," CJ said quietly.
"I never left."
The voice—
Clearer now.
Closer than ever.
CJ didn't hesitate this time.
Didn't question it.
He stepped forward—
And this time—
He could almost see him.
Almost.
"…You're getting clearer," CJ whispered.
"…So are you."
Their hands brushed.
Not accidental.
Not unsure.
Intentional.
Familiar.
CJ's breath caught slightly.
"…Why does this feel like I know you?"
"…Because you do."
Same answer.
Different voice.
Same feeling.
Stronger.
CJ stepped closer—
Closing the space completely.
And this time—
He didn't stop.
The closeness returned.
But deeper.
More real.
More felt.
"…You're warm," CJ muttered.
A quiet laugh.
"You always say that."
CJ frowned slightly. "I do?"
"…Every time."
The words lingered.
Because that meant—
This wasn't new.
This had happened before.
Many times.
CJ didn't understand it.
But his body did.
Because he didn't pull away.
Didn't hesitate.
Instead—
He leaned in.
Closer.
And closer.
And just as the moment was about to cross into something more—
Something clearer—
Something undeniable—
—
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
CJ groaned, eyes snapping open.
"…Again?"
He reached for his phone, turning off the alarm with a frustrated sigh.
His chest rose and fell unevenly.
"…What is this…"
Because now—
It wasn't just a dream.
It was a pattern.
And worse—
It was starting to feel real.
---
The next morning—
They both walked into the classroom.
At the same time.
Paused.
Looked at each other.
And for the first time—
There was no teasing.
No sarcasm.
No immediate words.
Just—
Recognition.
Not full.
Not clear.
But enough.
"…You didn't sleep either," CJ said.
"…No," Sebastian replied.
Silence.
Then—
"…Weird," CJ muttered.
"…Yeah," Sebastian agreed.
And neither of them realized—
They were one step closer
to remembering everything.