I look out the window and see that the planet we have landed on looks a LOT like earth. What? I shake my head. I must be going slightly crazy. I find the minikeyboard and type in the coding for shield, which will basically make our pod invisible until I get some sleep. I also type in the code for ant-size, so no one will get suspicious when they bump into something almost as big as them, only not visible. I rack my brain for anything else I could possibly need to protect us for a few hours, but I know that that class didn't really go that deep after we learned the basic protection methods. I mean, I don't blame the teachers... we were only 4th graders! What can you really trust a 4th grader with besides basic protection for their personal safety? I must know something, though. Anything! As I try to muster up even the tiniest bit of helpful knowledge, I suddenly feel a presence next to me. Without even turning around, I know it's Rafael. "I didn't know anyone else was still awake," I whisper, still staring out the window. "You know I'll always be here for you," he whispers back, his breath only inches away from my ear. "I've waited so long for this," I murmur, hoping that he won't hear but I know I'm too exhausted to think anything to myself without dropping to the floor and not waking up for a long time. "I know. I..." "What?" I ask, swiveling around so that we're... well... face to chest? (I'm not really that tall...) What if he doesn't really like me? What if he just said yes as to not hurt my feelings, just like he did to Courtney? Panic overtakes my entire body, too nervous for his answer to drop down and sleep anytime soon. But I look up at him, and I wait with all the patience I have for his answer.

"I know it may seem like I might have just said yes because you're my friend, and I can't say no to you, but the truth is that the reason I'm not able to say no isn't because we're such good friends, Dawn," he says softly, and my heart swells with so much joy that I'm not sure that I'll be able to contain it. "Dawn, I didn't bother you in 6th grade just because I like to annoy people. The truth is, I really liked you, and I never stopped." I stare up into his shining ocean eyes, and he's staring right back. "I love you so much, Rafael," I say, never breaking the gaze. "I love you too, Dawn." And then it's midnight all over again.

I wake up to rock music playing. What happened last night? I remember gazing into Rafael's eyes, and then a flashback experience... Then... Um... Oh! Right! I was so tired, I didn't want the night to end, but it was almost 3:30 AM and I was about to pass out, so we went to bed. I remember dreamily recounting the last hour, and then... darkness. I was so tired, I didn't even dream.

"Dawn! Dawn, look!" Points a wide-eyed Rodney. I laugh. Sometimes he's so mature, like a psychologist ready to talk about anything with anyone, and sometimes I swear he's just like a 3-year old. "Yeah, I know, Rodney. Last night when you were all either sleeping or too caught up in your electronics, the pod malfunctioned and I had to use my coding skills to save us from spontaneously combusting. We ended up landing here. Then I coded it to appear really small and invisible, and then..." I trail off. "What did you do after that?" Rodney smirks. I shove him, blushing. He smirks again, happy to have successfully embarrassed me, and turns back to Tasha. Now it's my turn to smirk. When Rodney turns back around, no doubt to get more food, he glares at me. I smile, happy to have successfully embarrassed him. Then he gets up, pulling me along into the tiny kitchen.

"So," Rodney says smoothly, leaning on one counter. "How was your... night... with Rafael?" I blush and try to hide behind my hands. "It was... um..." I try to explain, not really able to know how much to tell him. "Did you kiss him, and dare I say, again?" Rodney questions, thoroughly enjoying the fact that my face is fire-engine red, and knowing that this discomforts me so much. I look down at my friend, the floor. "How did you know about the first time?" I reply, stiffening up as I usually do when I'm uncomfortable. Hey, everyone has their weird habits! "Oh, come on, Dawn. I know everything," He says, so explanatory as usual. "No, but seriously. Other than your amazing powers of perception, how did you know about the first time?" Rodney looks at me like I'm the most stupid person on earth. "Dawn, I have friends. Those friends can't hide anything from me, and if they try, I will figure it out." Of course Rafael told him. I guess he does tell people stuff, after all. Then I look back up at him and grin. "I waited a long time for this," I say, recounting all of the years that I wished that he liked me back, and that I had any guts whatsoever to at least tell him how I felt during midnight, for goodness sake, but I would chicken out even then. When I finally asked Rafael out this midnight, I was so overfilled with joy that he liked me back that I didn't care about anything in the world. I had liked him for so long, or at least it seemed that way to me, and I guess I kind of just had to get it out. "I know how you feel..." Rodney says softly. "No, you don't!" I shove him. He and Tasha have pretty much liked each other since, well, forever, and they've always been a really cute couple whether they're actually allowed to date or not. "But I do!" He argues, knowing perfectly well that I will easily win this one. "Rodney, I waited years before I found out that my crush liked me a day ago. You have pretty much known that your crush liked you your entire life! So you can't even argue on that one." I cross my arms. Even though the enrichment teacher hated me my entire school career and never let me be on the debate team, I have always liked to debate and argue, provided from arguing with my sister all of those years. I look back over at Rodney, who just sighs. "I have to give you this one, but know I'll be back!" He says, and leaves the door swinging behind him. "Oh, Rodney," I say to myself. "You know I always win." And with that, I swiftly leave the room, too.

SO, PEOPLESES, I HAVE COMPLETED YET ANOTHER CHAPTER IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME! I PROMISED I WOULD UPDATE MORE AND I WILL LIVE UP TO THIS ONE! SO, HOPE YOU PEOPLES ENJOY, ENJOYED, AND LEAVE A COMMENT DESCRIBING WHY YOU DID OR DID NOT! UNTIL NEXT CHAPTER...

~meliketosmile4 :)