This morning it isn't my alarm clock that wakes me up, or the light shining in my eyes. It's a knock at the door. I sleepily tumble out of bed with my blanket still wrapped around me, and walk towards the door. Looking to the side at a mirror on my way there, I see that my hair, which was in a top knot when I went to sleep, is now sticking out at random angles.

"Whatever," I groan at my reflection and reach for the doorknob.

I open the door to see Anna, phone in hand, staring back at me.

"Hi!" She says cheerfully.

"Um, hi," I open the door a little wider. "It's kinda early you know."

"Oh really? I didn't notice." She smirks. "Get changed, we're going for breakfast."

"Okay," I laugh. "Come on in."

"Don't mind if I do," she strolls in and plops herself down on my beanbag chair.

"I'm going to the gardens later this morning if we're not asked to go for another Sim or something," I call from the bathroom.

"Oh? With who? Carries here, aren't you worried about waking her?"

"Nah, she sleeps like a bear during hibernation," I pull a blue tee shirt on over my head.

"Avoiding my question?" I feel the grin in her voice.

"I'm just going with Shaun, Anna. No big deal."

"Mmhm."

"Really!"

"Well, enjoy your date."

"It's not a date!"

"Okay, then mind if I come?"

"Not at all!" I say truthfully. "He's just a nice guy that doesn't have many friends here."

"Okay, I believe you," she laughs. "Would you hurry up?" I can hear her pacing by the door.

"Anna, it's 5am. I am barely awake. I cannot go any faster," I finish brushing my hair and put it in a French braid.

I come out to find my bed made, closet tidied, and my books put back in the bookcase that Carrie and I share.

"I got bored," Anna shrugs.

"Okay, well thanks," I smirk. "Let's go then."

While we walk towards the door, Carrie starts to move in her sleep.

"She's awakening!" Anna says with mock terror.

"Run for our lives!" I whisper-yell back.

We bolt out the door and slam it shut behind us.

"Oh oh she's definitely awake now," Anna grins.

"Run!" I giggle and dash down the hall. Anna follows after a few seconds, and quickly catches up to me. At that speed it doesn't take long to make it to the cafeteria, only a few minutes, even with the few people standing in the halls that we have to dodge.

"I asked Erik if he wanted to come too," she pants.

"Cool. He seems nice," I comment.

"Yeah, he is; but so quiet!"

"I noticed," I said with a slight laugh. "He talks to you, though."

"He does," she bends over and puts her hands on her thighs. "I don't think I've ever ran that fast in my life."

"I could barely see you, you were going so fast," I joke.

Anna looks up at me and grins, her face still slightly red from the exercise. "That's gonna be my ability, just you wait."

"Sure it is!" I laugh and roll my eyes. I think back to all the days in Gym when the PE teacher would ask us to do laps, and Anna would just raise an eyebrow and after a very loud and noticeable sign, start jogging.

We go up for our breakfast and sit down at a table near the very back of the room, overlooking everything.

"This is my favourite place to sit," I say between mouthfuls of my scrambled eggs.

"Yes, because of it's difference from every other table in the room," Anna replies, after gulping down the rest of her milk.

"Yeah," I nod. "Can't you tell it's a darker black then all the other tables? It's clearly special!" I say sarcastically.

"Definitely. Has a certain charm to it too. Oh! Eric's here!" She turns her eyes over to the counters, where he stands with his tray, most likely waiting for a drink. After being handed a glass of water he hurriedly moves over to the table.

"Hi," he says quietly after setting his tray down and sliding into his seat.

"Hey."

"Morning."

"You sleep okay?" He asks. The question seems to be directed towards Anna, as he's looking at her while he asks.

"I slept wonderfully, thanks for asking!" Anna grins. "And yourself?"

"Pretty well," a slight smile goes over his face.

"That's good."

"So, uh, what're you guys gonna do today?" I cut in.

"Nothing planned," Anna takes another bite of her breakfast.

"I might go to the library, and I have a Math class later," Erik replies. It's probably the longest sentence I've heard him say, although I've only been around him a few times.

"I have History," I reply.

"Oh? When?" Anna asks.

"At nine."

"You've got a while yet then," Anna takes my empty plate and stacks in on hers, then puts my tray underneath her tray.

"Yeah, and I think I have skills class in the evening."

"Same," Erik and Anna say simultaneously.

"I'll take that," I pick up the stacked trays and dishes. "See you two later?"

"Probably!"

"Bye!"

I put the tray on the 'Dirty Dishes' table and head out down the hall. There is quite a few more people here now then there was when Anna and I got here. I've gotten to know a lot of the other people's names by now, but aren't close with any of them. Well, except one of the two Twelves that are left. She likes Dutch braids, but doesn't know how to do them herself, so every once and a while she comes to my room and asks if I can do her hair. Her name is Bree.

I see her skipping towards the cafeteria and stop to talk to her. She's always so excitable, it's adorable. I hope she doesn't have to be one to leave.

After telling me everything she's seen and done since I saw her last, she wraps her arms around my torso and squeezes. "Have a good day Aria! I love you!" She then happily continues on her way. I smile after her and keep walking the way I was going.

Eventually the hallway splits into two separate halls, right side is where the girls rooms are, and the left hall is where the guys rooms are. I wander down the left side slowly. Nate and Jason's room is practically at the very end, but Shaun's is closer to the beginning of the hallway. He has his own room now because his old roommate was eliminated a few weeks ago.

I stand and stare at his door, leaning against the opposite wall. I turn my head to look down the hall, and start to walk towards Nate's room, but then take a step back and turn to Shaun's door. After knocking, I hear a thump and scurrying to reach the door. He opens it and blinks at me.

"Hi?" He says sleepily, still in pyjamas.

"Oh, hi. Um it's early. Sorry, I woke you up, I can come back later. I don't know why I thought you'd be up already," I babble.

"No, it's fine. What time is it though?" He runs a hand through his hair.

"It's six..." I bite my lip.

"Wow," he laughs. "Uh, come in," he holds open the door.

His room is a light yellow on both sides of his room, so I assume his roommate was a Seventeen as well.

"I'll be right back," Shaun says awkwardly.

"Okay," I reply. He has a few books, lots of video games and movies, and a small TV. I pick up the movies and read the descriptions. Most of them I've never watched, over even heard of before.

"Thanks for waiting," his voice startles me. I turn around to look at him, now wearing a yellow tee-shirt and black sweats. "You like any of those?"

It takes me a minute to realize he means the movies. "Oh, I don't know, I've never watched most of them," I respond.

"You should come over and watch one sometime then!" He smiles.

"That would be fun. Again, sorry for waking you up."

"Don't worry about it, my alarm would've gone off in a while anyway."

"A while?"

"An hour and a half... But it's no big deal, really."

I laugh and set the movie down.

"Wanna go see that garden now?"

"Yeah, sure," I reply, distracted.

Shaun doesn't seem to notice, and walks out the door. I follow, but stop in the hall and stare down. You just can see the second last door from here, but just barely. Without thinking, I find myself walking slowly towards that door.

"Uh, Aria? You're going the wrong way," Shaun says.

"No."

"No?" He sounds bewildered.

"Oh," I turn around. "Right. Garden is the other way..." I walk briskly past Shaun and out of the hall.

**********

I hardly pay attention at all the whole time we're at the gardens. My mind keeps wandering off. I can't even carry a conversation about my favourite bands. I don't mean to, I just can't focus. Finally Shaun mentions it.

"Are you okay? You're kind of... Distant?"

"I'm fine, tired I guess. I'm sorry, I really was looking forward to this," I phone beeps and I see a text from Nate.

ARIA! I HOPE YOU'RE AWAKE, I HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU RIGHT NOW! COME OVER PLEASEEEE"

"I have to go! See you later Shaun!" I race back through the garden room and out the hallway, straight to Nate's room. When I get there I'm red faced and gasping for breath.

I'm here

Almost immediately after I send the text, the door flies open. "Good," Nate says, grabbing my arm. "Come with me."

"Where are we going?" I ask.

"Do you remember where the train came in and left us here?"

"Yes, I think so. Why?"

"Because it's not there anymore."

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Hey guys! I can't believe school starts in a little over 3 weeks! ;( Whyyyyyy must summer end!! Oh well...
don't forget to vote! :3
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