Kate doesn't say anything. The two of us walk downstairs in silence and meet Ella, who has her hair in a messy bun, her glasses hanging around the collar of her sweater. She lifts her head up at the sight of us in greeting and goes back to eating.

"Chicken fingers," I wink at Kate playfully when I see the meal she prepared, "thanks."

She just stares at me as we take a seat simultaneously. My sisters and I eat in silence at times, but the atmosphere isn't usually this awkward.

Ella most likely thinks it's about Mom and Dad getting the virus, so she sighs. "They're gonna make it," she tells us, "they don't have any symptoms. They're asymptomatic so it can't be that bad—"

"Think positive," Grandpa ruffles Ella's hair the way he usually does. She smiles at him, beaming like the little kid she is. "They'll be fine, hija. Just—"

Kate slams her right hand on the table and both Ella and I flinch. Her eyes pierce through mine. "You found a rebound."

Oh god. "Dominic is not a—"

"His name's Dominic?" Kate's eyes widen, "that sounds hot."

Ella wrinkles her nose. "That was fast, Ann."

I narrow my eyes at her. "Cornell and I broke up a year ago!"

"But you started to grieve just recently," Ella retorts. When she sees the look on my face, she adds, "well, considering you found out about him and Krista just recently so—"

"So you DO admit there's something between you and this Dominic guy." Kate giggles.

I shake my head frustratedly. "He's the new guy I'm grouped with for the research paper," I point out strictly, "nothing more. Nothing less."

"I can tell he's hot. I heard his voice," Kate tells Ella. I make a face at her.

Ella grins sheepishly before looking at me. "Tell us more about him."

"He's a classmate," I clarify, "that's it."

"Is he cute?" Grandpa asks, wiggling his eyebrows. Kate giggles.

I dodge the question. "He's French."

Kate scoffs. "So he's cute? I'm confused."

"He's a friend." I emphasize, "and besides, I'm not ready." Not yet.

Kate looks at me straight in the eyes. "You're really gonna let Cornell ruin men for you?"

"Kate—"

"No one's every truly ready, but when you find someone who makes you feel alive again, why not take the risk?"

I look down at my plate. "Because this whole thing... it can't be real."

The excitement in the room dies down. "What do you mean?" Grandpa asks genuinely. I love how much I'm comfortable discussing this stuff even around him.

I dreamt of him for five consecutive years.  It was a dream. He's supposed to be fictional. He isn't supposed to be real.

And yet here he is.

"Nothing," I smile at them, knowing the explanation sounds too disturbing and complicated. What if they don't believe me? What's the point? "Nothing at all."

When I join Leo and Dom the following Monday, I automatically hear Leo singing the chorus of 'I Want it That Way' by Backstreet Boys enthusiastically.

"Hey Ann!" he sounds drunk, which doesn't surprise me, "guess who got a hundred on Calc."

I mock his voice. "Can't be you for sure."

"Ooh! Savage!" Leo bursts out laughing, "that's where you're wrong— because it is me. Actually, everyone got a hundred - me, Sean, Anton, Robb, Joshua—"

"Thanks to me." Dom cuts him off with a sprinkle of light humor. My mouth forms a thin smile when I hear his voice.

Leo clicks his tongue, "that's right! Turns out I'm going to get into a good college after all."

"They'd be foolish not to accept someone as smart as you," I joke sarcastically, joining the fun.

Leo stops laughing, and for a minute I fear I've said something wrong, except he lets out an impressed gasp. "I didn't know THE Ann Brooke had humor." He says admiringly.

"There're a lot of things you don't know about me." I shoot back lightly.

"I know a lot of guys are in your DMs."

I make a face even though he can't see me. "That's... not true." I lie.

"Fuck you mean?" Leo doesn't sound pissed, just puzzled, "lots of guys find you pretty. They just never made a move on you because you're dating the school quarterback and you look intimidating."

I do? "That's what my sisters say too," I frown.

"It's true," Leo complies, "you always have this 'don't talk to me' vibe. And you barely respond to the guys in your DMs."

That's true, but I never made it a big deal though. "And how do you know this?" I question, fazed. I'm not the type of person to respond to strangers who message me online considering I'm not so into social media.

He chuckles like I said something stupid. "I have friends all over the globe," he answers like it's obvious, "also numerous guys in school asked me about you considering we've had some classes together."

"Mmm." I know I'm attractive, but I didn't think anyone would exert effort and ask around about me.

"It's true," Leo snorts like it's no big deal, "but you look intimidating AND scary—"

"I do not."

"-not to mention the quarterback boyfriend."

"Ex."

"Yeah yeah," Leo sighs, "is his new girl as pretty as you?"

The reminder of Krista and Cornell brings back the huge smiles on their faces when I saw them together in the back of his truck. My stomach flips, but unexpectedly, I just chuckle. "Nah."

Leo whistles, and I hear Dom make a smirking noise. I cover my mouth when I realize my cockiness slipped. "I'm kidding," I save myself quickly, knowing I'm going to get in trouble if they find out it's Krista I'm talking about - one of my best friends.

"What really happened?" Leo finds himself asking. The question startles me. "Everyone in school thought it'd be you guys till the end."

How do I even start? Before I can answer, Dom clears his throat. "You don't have to answer that, Annika."

"But—" Leo starts.

"She doesn't have to." Dom interrupts him icily,
I laugh the whole thing off, not answering the question. Leo and Dom are cool, but I'm not super close to the two of them.

And who knows what'd happen by the end of the semester when we're done with the research paper? Will we even still be friends?

And will Dom still be Dom? Will he still be here?

The whole situation still seems unreal, but I've learned to shove it past me. Dominic Archer is a real human being, whether I like it or not. I'm not really sure what I feel about the whole thing, but one thing's for certain - he is NOT the Dominic Archer I've dreamt of.

Because if he is, then what if all of this is just a dream?

I don't want all this to be a dream.

"Ann! What do you think?" Leo calling my name snaps me back to reality. I realize I just zoomed out.

Dominic lets out an annoyed sigh. "Shut up, Mayne."

"Maybe you're not into girls," Leo fusses, making fun of Dominic.

Dom grunts. "I assure you I am."

"Then why haven't you gotten yourself a girl yet?" Leo states seriously, "we only live once, mate. Do flings and shit."

"I don't do flings."

"Then you're missing out!"

I can't help but tease. "Leo, you sound pissed."

"Of course I'm pissed," Leo plays along dramatically, "he's missing out. Lower your pride, Archer."

"I do lower my pride," Dom says casually, "for certain people."

We get to finish the first chapter of our research paper while in the call for the whole afternoon.

"It's sad, isn't it?" Leo says glumly out of nowhere.

"What's sad?"

"The fact that there's no cure for Alzheimer's," Leo clarifies. "It's horrible."

I don't say anything in response, and I remain silent throughout the rest of the call. Eventually I had to go eat my late lunch, and when I go back to Discord to check Leo's server, the two of them are still in the voice channel.

A week goes by, I begin getting comfortable with Leo and Dominic. Leo's a really fun person to be with, and I guess I can see why he and Nina are best friends. One time, I couldn't stop myself from asking Nina if she ever considered the possibility of her and Leo together.

She told me she didn't want to break their friendship, and that she was certain neither of them felt that way for each other. I wanted to tell her that I felt like Leo liked her, but remembered that it was none of my business.

Dominic, on the other hand... he and I have been getting along. Although Leo's always around, it's no lie that Dom and I are becoming friends.

Yesterday, we submitted our first chapter and got a solid 100. Leo bragged and said it was because of him that we got a good score. Both Dom and I just ignored him.

"Nice work, guys." I said to them upon getting our score that night, pleased.

Leo laughed arrogantly. "I've said it before and I'll say it again - YOU'RE WELCOME, PUSSIES."

"Leo, shut the fuck up," Dom exclaimed, "and Ann..."

Him saying my name will always make me nervous. "Yes?"

"Nice work." Dom said before leaving the call.

It's a Saturday evening. After dinner, I open Discord and check Leo's server. LeoNotCaprio, ninuhnahnuh, seesean, joshua and archerdom are all in one voice channel.

I know it's them despite the silly nicknames and random profiles. There are two other people in it too — yosoytonio and robbabank. I'm not sure if I'm right, but I assume it's the new guys Anton and Robb from the other section.

Hesitating to join the channel, I stare at my screen.

Sometimes I wish I'm like Nina. She isn't as sociable as Liz, but she could vibe easily with the guys.

I admit I can be awkward at times, which is why I can come off as snobby. I'd rather ignore people than put effort into starting and extending a conversation with strangers I have no interest in knowing. I don't like wasting my time.

My phone beeps - I just received a text message:

Dom: join the call

I feel my cheeks flush. I blink twice to make sure it's really Dominic who texted me.

Playfully, my mouth twists into a smile.

Ann: Why? miss me?

I bury my face immediately on my pillow, letting out an excited squeal. I wonder what he'd reply... I wonder—

My phone vibrates, and I automatically sit upright, my heart pounding. It's been a long time since I've felt like this. I slowly reach out for my phone.

Dom: nina wants u there

Pouting, I roll my eyes. I was expecting a playful reply in return, but instead I get a serious one. Now I feel stupid.

My phone vibrates again.

Dom: she says it's urgent

Ann: She can just call me

Dom: she's using her iPad

Ann: Just say U miss me bruh

Usually I'm not this goofy, but it's Dominic - a guy who's literally from my dreams. What's the worst that can happen?

Dom: okay

Dom: i miss u

Dom: can u come join the call now?