There was something dangerous about almost remembering.
Because it meant you were close—
But not close enough.
---
CJ didn't like being close to something he couldn't understand.
And right now?
He was too close.
"…You too?"
"…Yeah."
The words still lingered from earlier.
Simple.
Short.
But heavier than anything they had ever said to each other.
CJ leaned against his desk, arms crossed. "So what—now we just pretend that's normal?"
Sebastian shrugged lightly. "It's not normal."
"Then?"
"…We deal with it."
CJ scoffed. "That's not a plan."
"It's better than panicking."
"I'm not panicking."
"You look like you are."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't—"
"YOU DO."
Both of them paused.
Then turned.
Cy stood there, eyes wide, practically glowing.
"…This is new."
CJ sighed. "Go away."
"No."
"Please."
"Absolutely not."
Sebastian let out a quiet laugh. "She's not going anywhere."
"I noticed," CJ muttered.
Cy crossed her arms, grinning. "You two just admitted something."
"We didn't."
"You did."
"We didn't."
"You did."
"We didn't—"
"You both said 'you too' at the same time," she pointed out.
Silence.
CJ blinked.
"…That doesn't mean anything."
"It means everything."
"It means nothing."
"It means something."
"It doesn't."
"It does."
Sebastian shook his head slightly. "You're reading into it again."
"I'm reading correctly," Cy shot back.
Ezekiel, from behind them, added calmly—
"…She's not wrong."
CJ turned. "You too?"
"I observe," Ezekiel replied.
"That's not helping."
"I'm not trying to help."
CJ exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
"…This is stupid."
"Then explain it," Cy challenged.
CJ opened his mouth—
Then stopped.
Because he couldn't.
Because there was nothing to explain.
Not in a way that made sense.
"…Exactly," Cy said, smirking.
Sebastian leaned back slightly, watching CJ.
"…You almost said something," he said.
CJ's head snapped toward him. "What?"
"In the dream," Sebastian continued. "You almost said a name."
Silence.
CJ stared at him.
"…You too?"
"…Yeah."
That same pause again.
That same strange connection.
Cy looked between them slowly.
"…Okay," she whispered. "Now I'm definitely not imagining things."
---
The day moved on—
But nothing felt the same.
Because now—
They both knew.
And knowing made it worse.
---
"Focus."
"I am focusing."
"You're not."
"I am."
"You're staring at nothing again."
"I'm thinking."
"You're overthinking."
"That's different."
"It's not."
CJ groaned, dropping his pen. "Why are you even here?"
"Because I'm your conscience."
"You're my problem."
"Same thing."
CJ glanced sideways.
Sebastian sat two desks away.
Quiet.
But not distant.
And every now and then—
Their eyes met again.
Longer.
More aware.
More—
Intentional.
CJ looked away first this time.
"…This is annoying," he muttered.
"Jealous?" Cy asked instantly.
CJ choked. "What?"
"You heard me."
"I am not jealous."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not—"
"You are—"
"OF WHAT?" CJ snapped.
Cy leaned back, satisfied. "That reaction."
"That's not a reaction."
"That's a reaction."
"It's not."
"It is."
"It's not."
"It is."
CJ grabbed his notebook. "I'm leaving."
"You're not."
"I am."
"You're not."
"I am—"
"Sit down," Ezekiel said calmly.
CJ paused.
Then slowly sat back down.
"…I hate all of you."
"We know," Cy said sweetly.
---
Lunch.
Same table.
Same tension.
But now—
It was obvious.
At least to everyone else.
CJ sat down first.
Sebastian followed.
This time—
Right across from him.
Not beside Cy.
Across.
Direct.
Intentional.
CJ noticed.
Of course he did.
"…You switched again," he said.
"Thought I'd try something different," Sebastian replied.
"Suspicious."
"Maybe."
Cy looked between them, barely holding back a smile.
"…Oh, this is good."
CJ ignored her.
"…You're doing this on purpose."
"Doing what?"
"That."
Sebastian tilted his head. "Sitting?"
"Don't act dumb."
"I'm not acting."
CJ narrowed his eyes.
"…You're annoying."
"You say that a lot."
"Because it's true."
Sebastian smirked slightly.
"…You don't sound convinced."
CJ didn't respond.
Because for some reason—
He wasn't.
---
Across the table—
Cy was practically vibrating.
Her eyes moved between them nonstop.
Then—
She leaned toward Ezekiel.
"…This is better than my old ship."
Ezekiel didn't even look up. "You said that yesterday."
"And I meant it more today."
Dean, sitting quietly beside him, glanced over.
"…They're not even doing anything," she said.
"That's the best part," Cy whispered. "The tension."
"There is no tension," CJ said immediately.
"There is so much tension," Cy corrected.
"There isn't."
"There is."
"There isn't."
"There is."
Sebastian chuckled. "…You're proving her point again."
CJ frowned. "I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not—"
"STOP."
They both paused.
Cy clutched her chest. "See? Married couple."
"We are NOT a married couple," they both said at the same time.
Ezekiel nodded slightly. "…Consistent."
Dean hid a small smile.
CJ groaned. "I'm surrounded by idiots."
"Correction," Cy said. "You're part of the idiots."
"Wrong."
"Right."
"Wrong."
"Right."
"Wrong—"
Sebastian cut in quietly.
"…You said it."
CJ stopped.
"…Said what?"
"In the dream," Sebastian said, eyes on him now. "You started saying a name."
Silence.
CJ's chest tightened.
"…So did you."
"…Yeah."
The table went quiet again.
Even Cy didn't interrupt this time.
Because something about that—
Felt important.
"…What did you hear?" CJ asked.
Sebastian frowned slightly. "…It started with a 'C.'"
CJ's breath caught.
"…Mine started with 'Se.'"
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
Cy's eyes widened slowly.
"…No way."
Ezekiel looked up now.
Dean too.
Because now—
Even they could feel it.
"…That's not a coincidence," Cy said softly.
"No," Sebastian agreed.
"It's not," CJ added.
And for once—
They weren't arguing.
---
That night—
The dreams came back again.
But this time—
There was no distance.
---
CJ.
He was already there.
Waiting.
"…Say it," the voice said softly.
CJ stepped forward.
Closer than ever.
"…I can't see you," he muttered.
"…You don't need to."
"I do."
"…You don't."
CJ clenched his jaw.
"…Then help me."
A pause.
Then—
"…Come closer."
CJ did.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Just—
Pull.
And this time—
He saw more.
Not clear.
But closer.
Closer than ever before.
"…Say it," the voice whispered.
CJ's chest tightened.
The name—
Right there.
So close.
"…Se—bas—"
The world trembled.
"…Not yet," the voice said.
"No—!"
Darkness.
---
Sebastian.
Same place.
Same moment.
"…Say it."
Sebastian stepped forward.
"…I'm trying."
"…Try harder."
"I am."
"…You're close."
"I know."
His chest tightened.
The name—
Right there.
"…C—J—"
The world shattered.
"…Next time."
---
Morning.
Again.
Same place.
Same people.
But now—
They didn't hesitate.
CJ walked straight to Sebastian.
"…Say it."
Sebastian looked at him.
"…You first."
"…Sebas—"
"…CJ."
Silence.
Everything stopped.
Because this time—
They didn't almost say it.
They did.
And somehow—
That made everything worse.
And better.
At the same time.