start over | dreamwastaken x reader (sequel to split)

The stars are out and they fill the night sky. I look up as we walk studying the ways the bright lights dance in the sky. I never appreciated the way the stars twinkled about in the sky until I moved here. It's like never taking time to smell the roses. You always need to do that. I enjoy the little things now. The things I never got to enjoy being confined in the walls of Clay's house.

"No, honestly though. All serious." The boy stops us as we walk past a bench lining the sidewalk.

We take a seat and I ponder the answer to his question. Of course I had a name, but hadn't been called it in years. Nick and George didn't even call me by my name. The two of them always came up with their own nicknames for me. Just as Clay had done.

Even at my jobs no one called me by my real name. It kind of went unspoken. More of a hey you or miss at places of employment. It was easier to stay hidden from the world that way. I liked my privacy. I liked my name being hidden from the world. A name only to be cherished coming from the lips of my parents.

"No one uses my name. When I started here," I point in the direction of the place I work, "I told my boss that I can't share my name with the world so, no name name tag it was."

"So what do people call you then?" The boy questions as he stretches out his arm and places it on the bench behind me.

"Whatever they want to." I shrug my shoulders. "I think you've found your name to call me already." I glance towards him with a sly smile on my face.

"Have I?" He questions, his attention perched to hear the answer. So oblivious to the world. The complete opposite to Clay and I. Or even Nick. All of us are so hyper focused on the world around us. There is no state of being oblivious.

"Star Gazer." I smile as I shift my eyes back to the stars. I can see him nod his head out of the corner of my eye. He is deep in thought over something so simple as a name. Names aren't a big deal. They are ever changing, always being replaced with something new. Clay, Dream. Nick, Sapnap, Alex, Quackity. The list goes on.

"So tell me yours." I adjust on the bench and turn to face the boy beside me. "I don't think you'll enjoy the nickname I've concocted in my mind for you. So might as well tell me yours."

"Lake." He replies simply. I wonder if he's telling the truth or just trying to be ambiguous like I am. I narrow my eyes to study him. Read his body language to see if he shows any signs of lying. But I see nothing. No telltale signs of a lie.

"Fitting. Florida boy surrounded by all forms of water. Lakes, rivers, swamps, ocean. Parents picked the most simple name for quite a unique boy."

"How do you know I'm a Florida boy? It's never right to assume." Lake challenges me. It brings back the fire. The fire Clay filled me with when he challenged me.

"I know a Florida native when I see one. I've lived with Floridians and non-Floridians. You can tell the difference between the two." I giggle to myself as I think back to the differences between Nick and Clay.

"Have you now?" Again the blue eyed boy challenges me. Questions me for what I'm worth.

"I have. I've had the chance to spend my time around a lot of different people. If you aren't a native, you'll shock me." I stare at him and wait for his answer.

He is cute. The moon gives me just enough light to study the features on his face. His nose tilts up at the end. His cheeks match Clay's with freckles. He's got a beauty mark on his cheek bone right under his right eye. Something about that one simple mark makes me smile. It's cute.