Saying the name changed everything.
Because now—
It wasn't just a feeling.
It was real.
"…You said it," CJ muttered.
"…You did too," Sebastian replied.
Cy slammed her hands on the desk again.
"I KNEW IT!"
"STOP DOING THAT," CJ snapped.
"I WAS RIGHT!"
"You're always loud, not right."
"I'm both!"
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"No, you're not—"
"Guys," Ezekiel cut in.
They stopped.
"…Focus."
CJ exhaled sharply. "…Right."
Sebastian nodded slightly.
"…We heard each other's names."
"In the dream," CJ added.
"Before we even said it here," Sebastian continued.
Silence.
Cy leaned forward slowly.
"…So you're telling me…"
CJ glared at her. "Don't."
"…That you two—"
"Don't."
"…were calling each other's names—"
"CY."
"…in your dreams?"
Silence.
Then—
"…Yes," Sebastian said.
Cy screamed.
"I WIN."
"You didn't win anything," CJ said.
"I won everything."
"You won nothing."
"I won the entire story."
"That's not how that works."
"It is now."
Dean shook her head slightly, smiling faintly.
"…This is getting complicated."
Ezekiel nodded. "…It already is."
---
The rest of the day felt different.
Because now—
There was no denying it.
Every glance.
Every pause.
Every moment—
Meant something.
---
CJ leaned against the wall outside the classroom.
Sebastian stood beside him.
Not too close.
Not far either.
"…So what now?" CJ asked.
Sebastian exhaled quietly. "…We figure it out."
"How?"
"…Together."
CJ glanced at him.
"…You say that like it's easy."
"It's not."
"Then why say it like that?"
"…Because it sounds better."
CJ let out a quiet laugh.
"…You're annoying."
"You've said that."
"I'll keep saying it."
"I know."
Silence.
But not awkward.
Not tense.
Just—
New.
"…Do you remember anything else?" CJ asked.
Sebastian shook his head slightly. "Just the feeling."
"…Yeah."
"The same one."
"…Yeah."
CJ looked away briefly.
"…It doesn't feel like a dream anymore."
"…Because it's not," Sebastian said quietly.
CJ frowned. "…Then what is it?"
A pause.
Then—
"…Something we forgot."
That answer stayed.
Because it felt right.
---
Inside the classroom—
Cy watched them from a distance.
Eyes sharp.
Smile growing.
"…This is better than fiction," she whispered.
Dean glanced at her. "…You're enjoying this too much."
"I'm witnessing history."
"You're witnessing confusion."
"Same thing."
Ezekiel added calmly, "…They'll figure it out."
Cy tilted her head.
"…Or fall harder trying."
Dean looked back at CJ and Sebastian.
And for a moment—
Her expression softened.
"…Maybe both."
---
Outside—
CJ and Sebastian stood side by side.
Closer than before.
More aware.
More real.
And for the first time—
Neither of them pulled away.
Because whatever this was—
It wasn't something they could ignore anymore.
And maybe—
They didn't want to.
---
Because sometimes—
The truth doesn't come all at once.
Sometimes—
It comes in pieces.
In dreams.
In moments.
In names whispered
before they're ever spoken.
And when it finally becomes real—
There's no going back.