Jayde sat at her desk, her foot bouncing under the table, a telltale sign of the anxiety creeping up her spine. The blank page of her notebook stared back at her, mocking her inability to focus. The looming assessment test hung over her like a storm cloud, ready to burst at any moment. She wasn't alone in this—Wes and Kyle, who sat nearby, wore matching expressions of unease as their teacher rattled on about the "new format" of the upcoming exams. Everyone was on edge, even if no one wanted to admit it.

The assessments had always been a big deal, but something about the way the teachers were talking about them now felt...different. Ominous, almost. Like this was more than just testing their knowledge and skills. It felt personal, as if these tests would peer into their souls and determine their entire futures.

Jayde tried to suppress a shudder.

"Do you think the assessments are really going to change everything?" Jayde whispered to Wes as she stared at the front of the classroom, where their teacher continued to explain how this year's test would go beyond the usual academic subjects.

Wes, who was doodling absentmindedly on his notebook, shrugged without looking up. "They say it's just a new format, but I don't buy it. They're always trying to figure out where we fit in, but this feels... different. Like they're trying to decide our entire futures with one test. And why so much secrecy around it?"

Kyle, sitting behind them, leaned forward, his voice barely above a whisper. "I overheard some of the teachers talking in the hallway. They mentioned something about 'new protocols' and 'behavioral evaluations.' Doesn't that sound creepy? I mean, they've always tested us for career paths, but this... feels like something else."

Jayde's stomach turned. "Behavioral evaluations? What do you think that even means?"

"I don't know," Kyle replied, his eyes flicking nervously around the classroom. "But I don't like it. They're not just assessing our knowledge—they're assessing us as people."

Wes let out a low whistle. "That sounds like they're trying to figure out what we're worth. You know, beyond just skills. Like they're going to rank us or something."

Jayde didn't respond, but her mind was racing. What if these tests went beyond that? What if they were meant to measure something deeper—like loyalty to the regime? Or even... potential threats?

"Hey, don't look so freaked out," Wes said, nudging her gently with his elbow. "We'll be fine. We've got each other's backs, right?"

Jayde forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Right."

The bell rang, pulling them out of their anxious reverie, and they gathered their things. The usual hum of excitement as students filed out of the classroom was notably absent, replaced with low murmurs of concern. Jayde couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversations as they walked to the cafeteria for lunch.

"Do you think they'll find out about the stuff we do outside of school?"

"They wouldn't actually do that, would they? It's just a test..."

"Something about this doesn't sit right with me."

Everyone was on edge, not just Jayde and her friends. It felt like they were all walking into something they couldn't see—a trap they wouldn't even know existed until it was too late.

---

Lunchtime at school was usually the time when everyone could relax, laugh, and forget about the pressures of the day. But not today. Today, the tension in the air was almost palpable. Jayde, Wes, and Kyle sat at their usual table in the far corner of the cafeteria, picking at their food as they continued to digest the news of the assessment.

Wes leaned back in his chair, balancing on two legs as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You know, I don't want to sound paranoid, but what if these tests are designed to figure out who's a problem for them? I mean, they already know what we're good at. What else could they be testing?"

Jayde's heart skipped a beat at the thought. "You mean, like, they're trying to see who's... not going to follow their rules?"

Kyle nodded, his eyes narrowing as he lowered his voice. "Exactly. What if they're using this as a way to weed out anyone who doesn't fit into their mold? What if they're looking for rebels—or Dreamers?"

The word Dreamers hung in the air between them like a dark cloud. Jayde's mind immediately went to her father, the man who had dared to defy the Regime's strict control over thoughts and creativity. He had believed in a world beyond the one they were told to accept, and that had cost him everything. Now, the mere mention of Dreamers brought with it the weight of her father's memory, and the fear that she might be caught in the same web.

Wes set his chair down with a soft thud and leaned forward. "Look, we can't let this test define us. We know who we are, right? It doesn't matter what they're looking for—we'll stick together and figure it out. We've gotten this far."

Jayde smiled weakly, appreciating Wes's optimism, but the gnawing pit in her stomach remained. What if it wasn't that simple? What if this was more than just a test? What if they really were looking for something specific—something dangerous?

Kyle broke the silence with a sigh. "I just don't get why now. Why suddenly change everything about how they assess us? It's not like the old system was perfect, but at least we knew what to expect."

"Maybe they're scared," Wes said, his voice quiet but steady. "Maybe they know people are starting to question things, and they want to keep control. They want to know who's a threat before they become a problem."

Jayde bit her lip, her mind racing. Was that it? Were they really that afraid of losing control? And if so, what did that mean for people like her—people who might not fit the mold?

She glanced at Wes and Kyle, both of whom looked equally unsettled. Despite Wes's attempts to stay positive, even he seemed shaken by the weight of what was happening. It wasn't just the test itself—it was what it represented. Control. Power. The ability to decide their futures with a single assessment.

---

After school, the three of them walked together in tense silence, each lost in their own thoughts. When they reached the edge of the school grounds, Wes stopped, turning to face Jayde with a serious expression.

"Hey, can we talk?" he asked, his voice a little softer than usual.

Jayde nodded, her heart quickening slightly. "Sure. What's up?"

Kyle glanced between them before offering a small, knowing smile. "I'll catch up with you guys later. Don't keep her too long, Wes."

With a casual wave, Kyle walked off down the street, leaving Jayde and Wes alone. Wes turned back to her, his eyes flicking up to meet hers, and for the first time, she noticed just how nervous he looked.

"I've been thinking," Wes began, shoving his hands in his pockets. "With everything going on—the assessments, the Regime, everything—I just... I don't want to wait any longer to tell you something."

Jayde's pulse quickened as she studied his face, her own nerves spiking. "What is it?"

Wes took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving hers. "I like you, Jayde. Like, really like you. I've felt this way for a while, but with everything going on, I just didn't know how to say it. And now, with this test coming up, it feels like there's no time left to wait."

Jayde blinked, caught completely off guard by the sudden confession. Her mind raced as she tried to process his words, her heart pounding in her chest.

"You... like me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Wes nodded, his face flushing slightly. "Yeah, I do. And I know this probably isn't the best time to bring it up, but I couldn't keep it to myself anymore. I don't know what's going to happen with these tests, but I know how I feel about you. And I just... I needed you to know."

Jayde's thoughts spun wildly, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion, excitement, and fear. She hadn't expected this—not now, not with everything else going on. But as she looked into Wes's eyes, she realized she had known all along. She had just been too afraid to admit it.

"Wes," she began, her voice trembling, "I... I don't know if this is the right time. With everything going on, with the tests... what if they find out? What if they use this against us?"

Wes stepped closer, his expression softening as he reached for her hand. "I don't care what they find out. What matters is what we have, right here, right now. I'm not going to let some stupid assessment get in the way of that."

Jayde's breath hitched as his hand closed around hers, the warmth of his touch grounding her in the moment. Despite the fear that gripped her, there was something about Wes's certainty that made her feel safe—like they could face anything as long as they were together.

But still, doubt gnawed at the edges of her mind. "What if they separate us? What if they decide we're not... compatible or something?"

"Then we'll deal with it," Wes said firmly, his gaze unwavering. "Whatever happens, we'll figure it out. Together."

Jayde swallowed hard, her heart aching with a mixture of hope and fear. She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that they could face whatever the future held. But the unknown loomed large, and the weight of the coming assessment hung over them like a shadow.

For a long moment, she simply stood there, her hand still in his, as the world around them seemed to fall away. The fear, the uncertainty, the tests—it all faded into the background, leaving only the two of them standing in the quiet aftermath of Wes's confession.

Finally, she smiled, her heart lifting ever so slightly. "Okay," she said softly. "We'll figure it out. Together."

Wes grinned, a look of relief washing over his face. "Yeah. Together."

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Jayde felt a spark of hope—a small flicker of light in the darkness.