Thalia strolls leisurely beside Finn, the warm Vancouver sun casting a golden glow over the city streets. In her hand, she bears a melting popsicle, the sweet and nostalgic flavour of cherry on her tongue.

All of it feels eerily familiar and nostalgic, and her heart skips a beat once she realises.

She glances down at herself; she's a child again, her school bag slung over her shoulder and her hand tightly gripping the popsicle stick.

Beside her, Finn is also just a kid, his face adorned with youth, and his own popsicle leaving a trail of sticky red drips in its wake.

They're just two kids, walking home from school side by side; nothing has changed.

"Finn?"

He halts his rambling about some movie she's forgotten, shifting his gaze toward her. "Yeah?"

"Where are we going?"

"Home, idiot."

The realisation deepens as Thalia discerns that this isn't just an ordinary lucid dream-it's a memory being revisited.

While the memory isn't particularly vivid, just a routine walk home from school, it still resonates with her.

They chat animatedly about everything and nothing, their laughter mingling with the sounds of engines within reach and the birds chirping overhead.

However, as they round the corner onto their street, Thalia detects Finns pace quickening.

She furrows her brows before attempting to match his stride, finding herself falling behind.

"Hey! Wait up!"

Finn sneaks a fleeting glance over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. "Sorry, Lia. I have to go."

His voice sounds as if it's coming from miles away, muffled and distant.

Thalias heart pounds within her chest as she halts in her tracks, her popsicle long forgotten, melting into a sticky puddle in her hand.

"Finn, wait!"

Her words seem to fall on deaf ears as he continues to walk away, his figure becoming smaller and smaller until he disappears into the distance.

Awakening with a jolt, Thalia catches her breath as she sits up abruptly. After one or three heartbeats, she manages to compose herself, shutting her eyes briefly.

Sensing Finns absence beside her, she furrows her brow ever so slightly. Her attention drifts to the beside table, where a note rests beneath the lamp.

Gone out
I'll be back before you wake up ♡

Juniper

Hi.

did you just wake up

Yeah.

so date went good?

Whatever you think happened didn't.
But the date itself went very well.

that's good
btw you're living with the guy you
went on your first date with yesterday

I know that.
It's not weird.
Joey and Rachel were roommates
before they started going out.

ok
fair enough

Can I tell you something?

thalia
i have a gf and you have a finn
this is no time to confess your love for me

You're not funny.

thank you
go on

I had two odd dreams recently.
One was on the plane, the other was today.

i wish i could come over rn

Me too.
I hate texting.

call me

"So, you think the dreams mean something?"

Thalia sighs, propping her legs above the armrest as she reclines on the couch. "I don't know, I've never had dreams like this."

"I might be reading too much into it, but I just don't believe in coincidences" Juniper begins, "I think you're getting a message from the universe."

"Go on."

"Sometimes our instincts pick up on things before our minds do. Maybe those dreams are your subconscious trying to tell you something."

Thalia chews on her lip, lost in contemplation. "But, they're just dreams. I don't wanna jump into conclusions."

"It's safe to assume the worst. I'm not saying something terrible is bound to happen, but the dreams are definitely worth paying attention to."

Thalias gaze wanders into the distance, pondering the significance of it all.

Is her subconscious weaving a deceitful tapestry, or is there truly a deeper truth behind her dream?

These past few days, everything has been progressing smoothly with Finn, yet now a mere dream is painting her mind with subtle shades of doubt.

"I'll keep that in mind."

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

The night envelopes the city in a blanket of darkness, the distant hum of traffic serving as the backdrop to the eerie silence that hangs in the air.

Thalia stands alone on the balcony, her figure illuminated only by the faint glow of the moonlight filtering through the dense clouds above.

The cool breeze gently tousles her hair as she gazes out into the sprawling cityscape.

In her hand, a cigarette burns slowly, its ember casting an ephemeral glow as wisps of smoke curled and dance in the night air.

With each inhale, she feels a fleeting sense of calm wash over her, momentarily quieting the storm of thoughts raging within her mind.

Finn was expected to return hours prior to the sun setting, and now it's nighttime.

Where has he gone? Why hasn't he answered her calls or responded to her texts? Is he in danger, or has his phone died?

As she stands there, the city below seems to pulse with a quiet energy, its streets teeming with life and motion even in the dead of night.

She takes another drag of her cigarette, the bitter taste mingling with the bitterness of her worries.

"Hey, what are you doing out here?"

Thalia doesn't bother to glance over her shoulder, prompting Finn to slide the glass door shut and enter the cold tiles of the terrace.

Even as he stands beside her, she doesn't remove her focus from the city below.

"I'm sorry, I knew I said I'd be home earlier, but stuff got in the way and my phone was dead and-"

"I'm not mad at you, don't worry."

"You're not?"

She shakes her head, finally meeting his eyes. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

Finns eyebrows crinkle at her declaration, but he nods nonetheless. Thalia takes one last drag of her deteriorating cigarette before tossing it into the ashtray.

"While I was coming here, I had a very strange dream on the airplane."

Finn listens with intrigue, tilting his head to the side ever so slightly. "What was it?"

"I don't wanna go into details but it involved you, me and rejection."

Finn nods, and Thalia continues. "I had another one last night. We were both little, walking home from school while eating popsicles. It was cute but then everything went really fucking weird. You started walking way too fast, leaving me behind until you were out of reach."

Searching her eyes for any testimony to what she may be feeling or thinking, Finn clears his throat.

"Those are both alarming dreams to have, but I'm sure it's just a coincidence, Lia."

Thalia scoffs, fiddling with strands of her hair. "Yeah, I know. I'm not stupid. Jun said they were signs, and I think that's ridiculous... but the first dream did sort of come true, right?"

Her voice adopts a tone of inquiry at the end of her statement. She hesitates to accuse him or cast blame, but feels compelled to prioritize her vigilance.

Thalia seeks absolute assurance that her investment in Finn isn't misplaced, that their connection is genuine and fated.

She needs confirmation that his feelings mirror her own, dispelling any lingering doubts about the reciprocity of their love, a revelation she only recently embraced.

"Only for a bit, but then I came to my senses and realised how dumb I was for ever listening to my conscience." Finn shrugs.

Thalia releases a snicker, a smile finally falling upon her face.

"Lia, I promise you have nothing to worry about. I can't be certain on why you're having those dreams, but I know that I'd never do anything to hurt you. I'll do whatever it takes for this to work."

She lifts her gaze to meet Finns, a smile gracing her lips as she draws him closer with her arms encircling his neck. His smile mirrors hers, his eyes lingering on her lips.

Their lips meet in a brief kiss, and as they part, their faces hover close.

"Do you understand just how much you mean to me?" Finns whispered words against her lips send a shudder down her spine.

"I'd go to any lengths for you, Lia."

His thumb traces the curve of her cheek, his palm cradling her face with an ever so gentle touch. She surrenders to the sensation, melting under his delicacy.

They both sense the subtle shift in the atmosphere, their lips drawn together by an irresistible and magnetic pull.

In an instant, the moment intensifies. Their kiss is fuelled by a sense of desperation as they drag themselves back into the house, forgetting to shut the door of the balcony.

After a long awaited make-out session, the two opt to waste their time constructing a makeshift blanket fort in the living room, using just a corner, pillows, and blankets.

The fort proves unexpectedly cozy, with the lack of space failing to serve as a problem the way it would have just days earlier.

Nestled beside Finn, Thalia rests her head on his shoulder as they brainstorm ideas for how to fill the remaining days of her visit.

"What if we go out right now?"

"No." Thalia groans.

"Come on. We can go on a walk, maybe try to find something interesting. It's so boring in the house."

"I don't want to. Plus, it's like 4am right now."

"It's almost 10pm." Finn chuckles, receiving a glare from the brunette.

"I don't care. I'm not going."

Thalia shifts within the confines of the claustrophobic fort, meeting Finns gaze as she rests her head on his chest.

"One thing I do wanna do is meet your parents."

Before he earns the opportunity to respond, she follows it up, "not as... whatever I am to you right now, but as a friend. I miss them."

Sporting a grin, he drapes his arm around her, gently running his hand along the side of her waist.

"Of course you'll meet them. I forced you to let me reunite with your parents, so it's only fair." He plants a kiss atop her head.

"I do have a question, though."

"What is it?"

"It's a hypothetical question. So, hypothetically, imagine we're at a party, and at this party, I wanna introduce you to someone."

She furrows her brows, listening attentively as he continues. "When I hypothetically introduce you to said hypothetical person at this hypothetical party, what should I refer to you as?"

A grin tugs at her lips. "Well, you could say... that I'm your girlfriend?"

"Hypothetically."

"Right, hypothetically."

"And hypothetically, you could refer to me as your boyfriend."

Thalias smile widens, radiating through her eyes as well. She leans in to press a kiss onto his lips.

She's here for a remaining seven days, although she would prefer far longer.

The persistent nagging from Pierre, Juniper, and Adeline has begun to grate on her nerves, and despite her reluctance to admit it, she misses them as well.

And though Vancouver feels more like home than her actual home, she knows she can't linger here indefinitely.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

A gentle morning breeze brushes through the ambience, adding a touch of serenity to Thalia and Finns stroll as they head toward the coffee shop.

Once they proceed through the doors, dulcet music and the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee beans greet them. The vibe evokes memories of the cafe Pierre works at, eliciting a smile from Thalia.

This particular place is Finns go-to for breakfast on lazy mornings. He approaches the front while Thalia scouts for a cozy spot to settle in.

Finding a secluded table nestled in a corner, she takes a seat. Pulling out her phone, she awaits his return.

"Hi, sorry to bother you, but can I ask you something?"

Thalia sneaks a fleeting glance up from the bright display of her phone, noting the blonde girl that's stood facing her.

"Go ahead."

"Is your friend single?"

Thalias fingers pause their dance across the screen as she sets her phone down, diverting her attention to the unfamiliar face before her.

With a feigned smile mirroring that of the stranger, she forces herself to maintain the facade of civility.

"Considering that's my boyfriend, I don't think so."

The strangers face drops, and she curses beneath her breath. "Shit... I'm sorry, I didn't know-"

"It's fine."

Maintaining a forced smile, Thalia remains silent, her gaze unwaveringly fixed on the individual until they walk away.

"Good job, super-girlfriend." Finn chuckles and strolls toward the table, bearing breakfast.

Thalia scoffs. "Shut up."

Snatching one of the cups of coffee, Thalia hastily lifts it up-to her lips to sip the scalding liquid.

"Lia, that's too-"

Before Finn can finish his warning, Thalia burns her mouth and sets the cup down on the table with a thud. She exhales a quiet curse, sensing her tongue go numb within the confines of her mouth.

"Are you okay?" Finn stifles a laugh.

She directs a glare at him prior to gingerly sipping the coffee, her gaze fixated outside the window alongside her.

"No way."

Thalia furrows her brows at Finns words, glancing at him through the corner of her eye. "What, weirdo?"

"You're jealous." He smiles.

Rolling her eyes, Thalia emits a scoff. "Why would I be jealous? Because of that random girl? That's ridiculous."

Finn maintains his gaze on her, not daring to place it elsewhere. His lips curl into a smile as she avoids eye contact.

"You are so jealous."

Thalia rolls her eyes once again, finally turning her eyes to Finn. Heat rushes to her cheeks as she realises he's already gazing at her, his eyes glued onto her as though she's the most captivating sight he's ever beheld.

"I hope you die." She smiles with the statement, contradicting her own words.

AUTHORS NOTE

As I'm writing this, eternal sunshine just got released!!! I love it so much :(