What They Don't Know

Dawns Family

My badge began beeping loudly. I knew that meant it was time to wake up.
It had been almost two weeks since I got here. Nothing had changed.
I'd see Carter everyday at breakfast. He would always be at a large table with his boys.
It killed me that we didn't talk.
"Riles!"
I turned around in my seat. I saw Dawn coming to my table.
"Hey Dawn. Guess What" I exclaimed.
"What?"
I leaned it close to her ear and whispered.
"I Know How To Get Out"
Dawn froze.
"Riley We Can't-"
"No But Look. I Have Blueprints In My Room. We Just Need To-"
"Look. You're My BestFriend But I Can't Let You Do This"
"And I Can't Stay Here"
She shook her head.
"It's Dangerous Out There"
"It's Dangerous In Here"
I had been mapping out the entire CloverFord area. There were a few risky exits. But there was one that would certainly work.
"Riley Don't Go."
I sighed. Why didn't Dawn want to come with me?
"Okay Dawn. I'll Stay, For You."
She smiled.
"Obviously. I'm Awesome"
We laughed together.
"Ooh Cute Boy At 3 O'Clock"
I turned around to see Hayden walking towards our table.
Once he reached us he slid on to a seat.
"Riley, Dawn"
"Chicken Boy"
Dawn giggled. Her laugh was quiet but bouncy and light.
"You Don't Forget Do You?"
"Why Would I Want To?"
He smirked at me.
"Hey.. I'm Going To Check Up On Emma."
Dawn winked at me before standing up and walking away.
"Dawn No Wait-"
"Have Fun!" She called.
I twisted around and Hayden sat opposite me.
"Where Have You Been Riles?"
"Don't Call Me That"
"Sorry. I Just-"
"No I'm Sorry. I've Been Exploring, You Know Trying To Fit In"
"You'll Never Fit In Here"
I locked eyes with him.
"Why Not?"
"You're Different"
I couldn't help but smile. Hayden smiled back before pushing a piece of paper across the table.
"See You Later Butterfly"
He walked back over to his all boy table.
I opened the paper.
'Meet Me Outside Of The Archery Hall At 6'
Was this his way of asking me on a date?
Well, I wasn't really up for dating right now. Before any of that, I needed to get over Carter.
I scrunched up the note.
Dawn hurriedly sprinted back to me.
"Ooh Riley's Got A Date"
She spun me around before dragging me outside.
We began talking about our families.
"Do You Remember Them?"
"Yeah Actually. My Mum Looked Just Like Me. And My Dad, Just Imagine Me As A Man"
Dawn Laughed.
"Did You Have Any Siblings?"
"Nope. I've Always Wanted Sisters Though"
"Well. Now You've Got Me."
I faced her and nodded.
"What About Your Family?"
She smiled widely.
After a while of walking, she began jogging.
"Come On!" She yelled.
"Where Are We Going Dawn?"
"You'll See"
It seemed like 10 minutes before we reached another building.
"What Is This?"
"I Want You To Meet My Family Riles"
I stopped. Dawns family lived here too. Was that a usual thing? Did all family's live here? I was a little nervous.
"Wait Here"
Dawn pressed her badge against the door and walked inside. I stood out in the warm breeze for a short amount of time before I saw Dawn again. This time she was with her parents and sister.
Her mom had short, black hair as did her dad. Her whole family shared the same blue eyes as Dawn. Her younger sister was different. She had thick, brown hair and dark green eyes. She looked around the age of four.
"Mom, Dad. This is Riley."
"Ah, So She's The One You've Been Blabbering On About. Hello Riley, I'm Nathan"
Her dad shook my hand.
"Riley, Give Me A Hug! I'm Tabitha"
Her mom squeezed me but because of her pregnant stomach, it was quite an awkward hug.
"Hi Riley. I'm Luna"
Luna smiled, exposing her little teeth and gums.
"Aren't You Gorgeous!"
"Thank You Ma'am" I replied.
"Oh Please, Call Me Tabby"
I smiled at Tabby.
Dawns family were all so perfect. She looked so happy when she was standing with them. I felt like a part of something for once.
We strolled around the gardens for a while.
"Where's Your Mommy?"
Luna asked me. Everyone went silent.
"Luna No"
"It's Okay Dawn."
I bent down in front of Luna.
"My Mommy And Daddy Died When I Was Younger Like You. I Lived With My BabySitters, Georgie And Dean. But The Outside World Took Them From Me Aswell"
"Do You Miss Them?"
"More Than Anything"
Luna shook her head.
Dawns parents looked at me in sympathy.
"I'm Sorry Sweetheart"
Tabby said. She was close to tears.
"Please. It's Okay. I've Been Alone Practically My Entire Life"
"Not Anymore"
Dawn hugged me and Luna wrapped her small arms around my legs.
After talking for a while, it was time to head back to our building.
"Luna's Not My Biological Sister"
"Oh?"
"My Parents Adopted Her When She Was Born. They Couldn't Have Children"
"But Your Mums Pregnant?"
"Not Naturally. She's A Surrogate Mother"
"That's Amazing"
Dawn Smiled At Me And Nodded.
"It Is Isn't It?"
We continued to talk. But when we got into our rooms, we said our goodnights.
I kept thinking of my parents. I kept thinking of Dean.
Maybe here was the best place for me. It was safe and normal, well the most normal I'll ever get in this world. Sure I didn't have a family or even Carter, but I guess it's time for a fresh start.