"We may have only been in this pod for a few days," I announce, "but there's a whole new world out there and we can't just hide here forever. We can have the rest of today to eat and rest up, but at midnight we will go out into the mysterious world outside!" Well this ended up as a pep talk! Ah, oh well. A pep talk is better than something that makes everyone not want to leave, after all! Rafael gets up on the pedestal with me and I pout. "I was supposed to be the tall one here!" You people don't understand! I don't get to be the tall one a lot. Don't you steal my thunder! Rafael grins and stands with perfect posture so that he's even taller. "I, for one, agree with Donatello! (He had to sneak that in there) We will move onward and upward as of midnight!" "Onward and upward!" We all shout, then disperse. While everyone else goes their separate ways, I drag Rafael into our magnificent fort.

"So," I say, sitting cross legged across from him, "You talked to Rodney about last night." Rafael shifts somewhat uncomfortably. "So, you found out about that..." He averts his eyes and kind of scoots away. "No, it's fine!" I say, laughing, and pull him closer to me again. "Believe me, there are a lot of people that I place my trust in. Why should I be mad at you for talking to one person?" "Oh!" Rafael says, surprised. "I thought you were going to be mad or something..." "No, it's totally fine!" I assure him, and he edges closer.  I look at him, and he looks back with the same meaningfulness. We're about to kiss when all of a sudden I am aware of a presence outside our fort, about to crash into it.

"RODNEY!!!!" I yell, coming out of the fort. "DON'T YOU DARE!!!!!!!" Rodney is standing on a wooden stool and is poised over the fort with a rubber hammer and has an evil look on his face. "Please, Rodney. Don't do this to me," I beg, using my puppy dog eyes. Rodney looks like he's going to afire, but just sighs. "Fine. I'll let you win this time, Dawn. But you just wait..." He gets down from the stool and I smile, satisfied. At least this didn't get ruined! I just have to be on Rodney watch for a while until he decides to do something...

I look at my watch and see that it's 9:30. I should probably pack up my few things to save and bring with me when we leave the pod. I put a sleeping bag, a few beloved books, a flashlight, and a key ring that Rafael gave me in 6th grade that really has no meaning, all it says is "bestie," (one of the many nicknames he used to annoy me that year) but it still meant a lot because it just so happened that the same day he gave me the keychain was also Valentine's Day, and I could only hope that that meant something. I stuff them all in a bag that I found and throw it over in the corner.

I twiddle my thumbs, not sure what to do. "Whatcha doin'?" Asks a voice above my head. And who could it be but... Adam? (That was sarcastic, by the way.) All of a sudden I have something to do! At least I can finally yell at Adam now! I look over at Adam, who has now slid down the wall and sat next to me. A little too close for comfort, if I may add. I scootch away but still keep Adam at a close enough distance so I can yell at him. "What exactly are you doing?" I ask as Adam comes closer again. "Nothing!" He replies, shocked, putting his hands up. "I just thought, you know, I'm a single guy now, and..." "No!" I shout a little too loudly, putting my hand in front of his face. "In case you haven't noticed, Adam, I'm not single. And if you broke up with Sadie just so you could try to make a move on me, nice try." I fire, finally getting all the words out that I never got to say before, trying not to hurt Sadie or make her mad. Adam just looks at me, surprised. He didn't think I had it in me, did he? Ha! I showed him! But really, Adam is no good and everyone always did think Sadie could do better. I watch Adam carefully, and he beckons for me to follow him into a different room-ish thing with dried up food in it. Seriously, I need to start exploring places! Who knew there were these many rooms? I follow Adam into the room and sit in a folding chair that was in the corner for some reason.

"What are you trying to do?" He asks, his eyes laughing but the rest of his face completely serious. I don't think Adam could ever be completely serious in his life. even if he was in complete and utter danger and had a dozen weapons aimed at him, he'd probably still make some kind of joke out of it. "Adam, why did you break up with Sadie?" I ask inquisitively. Hey, as long as he's here, I might as well find out! Adam looks like I just jumped out of a corner and he didn't know I was there. Complete and utter shock. "My question first," he says quietly, his eyes still wide open like he's just seen a ghost or something. "Well..." I trail off, not really sure about my reasons. "I guess I'd been wanting to say all of that for a while, and I guess I just wanted to get it all out." Adam looks at me and shrugs. "Eh, happens a lot. Just never thought you were ever going to do it!" He nudges me and I inch away again. Hopefully this will send a message... "Now answer my question, Adam," I push. I need my answers! "I could tell you, but you wouldn't like it..." Adam looks at the ground, seeming uncomfortable. "Knew it." I mutter, and leave the room, leaving Adam still standing there.

I look at the clock in the main room of the pod and see that it's almost 11:45. This brings me memories of that person not to long ago, a mere skeleton of who I am now. Waiting so hopefully for 11:55 and only being so brave because I knew there were no real world consequences. Now I know that taking chances is the only way to make anything happen, no matter what the risks are. It's amazing how much can change in only a few days.

"Come on!" Rafael nudges me, taking my hand and trying to lead me out the door of the pod. It's midnight already? "Wait!" I say, stopping him. "We forgot one last thing." I dash over to the minikeyboard and undo both codes. We can't come out looking like invisible ants! That wouldn't be very helpful... I march over to Rafael one last time and take his hand in mine. Everyone else trickles out, until it's only Rafael and me left. "What are you waiting for, Dawn?" Rafael taps his foot impatiently. "Let's go!" I take one last look at the pod and step out the door.