Chapter One: The Beginning

DAWN

The alarm rings and the students break out, shouting and laughter filling the room. 

The teacher sighs before walking out of the class and I close my book. Grabbing my textbooks from the seat next to me and raising up; I make my way out of class. 

 It's already lunchtime and of course, the hallway is filled with students who are more than eager to get out of class, even more, eager to get to the cafeteria and among those students is me, dragging my feet to my locker. 

I breathe out in relief when I finally make it to my locker without having to fight my way through. 

I drop my books in there and bring out a novel, shutting the locker back and turning to see Kira. 

I jump back in fear and she chuckles, shaking her head at my expression of course and I scowl at her. 

"That wasn't funny. You scared me! "

 I snap at her and she chuckles, laughing and throwing her head in the back. 

Of course, she finds this funny. She practically finds everything weird funny.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to... Wanted to surprise you. "

 She says amidst laughter and I roll my eyes before making my way down the hallway and she's trailing behind me. I know she would, she always does.

"Where are you going again? The cafeteria is that way. "

She says and I shake my head, rolling my eyes once again. A habit that I've always grown used to now.

"I'm not going to the cafeteria. I'm going to the garden, I need to finish this. "

I wave the novel between her face and the small space between us. 

She rolls her eyes before grabbing my hand, pulling me along. 

"You are not going to that garden again! You are always going there, Live your life a little. Your friends want to spend time with you. "

She rambles on as we reach the entrance of the cafeteria and I sigh before looking back at her. 

She smiles at me and nods her head towards the door, I shake my head and open the door, walking in. 

I guess I could just read it while I eat. 

"Hey, guys. "

Kira grins as we both take a seat around the group and I drop my tray of chips and smoothie on the table. 

"Wow, Dawn. I feel like it's been ages since I have seen you in here. "

 Jason smiles at me and I return it before staring down at my food. 

I have a group of friends and we are ten in number. 

We have Jason, Ian, Bryan, Lily, Kira, Ella, Carly. Nora. Nick and me. 

We have all been friends since third grade and we pull our friendship up to here. 

I used to spend most of my time with my friends but after what happened, I just want to always be alone but that doesn't seem to always work because of Kira of course. 

"That's because it's been practically ages since we have seen her. She hasn't been showing up much here after what happened. I hope you're fine though."

Lily stares at me and I give her a small smile.

"I'm fine. I had things to do, I'm sorry I haven't been able to show up here. "

I smile and they all nod while I smile again. The kind of smile that says I'm alright even though I'm not. 

I don't think I will ever be alright again. 

I grab a chip and squeeze it in my mouth before opening the novel.

Novels are something that I love. Romance novels in specific cause they keep me off from thinking about my terrible life. Recently terrible life. 

"Oh, that's right! I almost forget, we are all going clubbing tonight. I feel like we should go have some fun. What do you all think? "

Nora grins from where she's sitting and I almost roll my eyes. 

She's the kind that loves having fun... A lot more than she loves puppies. 

"I think it would be great, it's our last year of high school, we should do something fun more often and oh, dawn. You're coming. "

Kira turns to me and I shake my head. 

I will rather stay in my room and watch the paint dry than do that. Clubbing. 

"No, I'm not. Thanks for asking though."

I shake my head and she chuckles. The kind of chuckle that tells her she has something up her sleeves.

"I wasn't asking babe, I was telling you that you're gonna come. "

"No, I'm not. "

I shake my head at her and she raises her brows at me, almost as if she's daring me to say that again.

"You have to go or I will tell Matt that you have a crush on him "

My eyes widen immediately. 

"Are you insane? You can't do that! Don't! "

I start raising my voice, not caring about the eyes that turn to me. She must be nuts if she tries telling Matt that I have a crush on him. 

Matt is like the school bad boy and he's in the soccer team also but he has a girlfriend. A hot girlfriend that doesn't like me too much and I'm just... Me. 

Ugly, quiet, and lonely Dawn. 

Telling him will create lots of trouble for me which I don't want. 

"Fine then, I won't . But you're coming. "

She grabs a chip from mine and I turn to look at the others who all have a grin plaster across their face. They must be kidding me! 

"Oh, that's him coming. Maybe I should just go.... "

She starts standing up when I go silent and I quickly pull her back. 

"No, sit. I will go. "

I growl and she chuckles before sitting down, winking at me. 

"That's more like it. We are going to have the best fun of our lives…"

She practically squeals next to me and I sigh before letting out a long drag of my breath and staring at the novel that's still in my hand as my friends discuss the fun they are going to have while I take utmost pleasure in zoning out.

"God! I can't wait for it, I feel like it's been so long that we have ever had fun together. "

"Yeah, especially Dawn. I'm just glad she's coming, right Dawn?"

I raise my head when I hear my name being called before smiling at Nora.

"Do I have a choice?"

And once again, Kira squeals next to me.

And that's it. My friend practically dragged me to go clubbing but it was for this one night and that's all.