Dawn and Tara walked into the pizzeria, the kind of warm place that always smelled like melted cheese and busy people. Dawn spotted Alex at the counter and headed over, already wearing the smile she puts on for the world.
"Who are you with?" Alex asked, eyes flicking to Tara like she was deciding if she approved or not.
"That's my cousin, Tara," Dawn said, keeping it light.
"And your siblings? They good?" Alex pressed, like it was her duty to check.
"They're fine, yeah. Thanks," Dawn replied. Smile still fixed, even though her cheeks were kind of tired of holding it.
She ordered pasta, took the tray back, served Tara first, then finally sat.
"So," Tara said, leaning in a bit, "you're telling me you got that creepy message, and you still have no idea who sent it?"
Dawn nodded, jaw tightening. "Yeah. And I don't want the twins to know. They'll just freak out and think we're in danger or something."
Tara reached over and squeezed her hand. "We'll figure it out. Don't stress too much."
Dawn let out a slow breath. For a moment, it helped.
* * * * * *
Later, they walked down the street, heads still full of theories.
"I think it's Peige," Dawn admitted. Saying the name felt uncomfortable, like chewing stones.
Tara shook her head. "Even if she's… who she is, she's still human. She wouldn't go this low again."
Dawn was about to argue when her phone buzzed. Daphne's name flashed.
"Dawn, can you please go to the hospital? Adam's there with Ava. I'm stuck at the company," Daphne said, rushed and worried.
"I'll go," Dawn promised, hanging up.
She told Tara everything. Tara didn't even hesitate—"I'm coming with you."
* * * * * *
At the hospital, the air smelled like sanitizer and quiet sadness. They asked for Ava's ward, went in softly. Adam was already there, sitting so still you'd think he was part of the chair.
Dawn stepped closer. "Hey. How is she?"
"Same. No change," Adam said, voice thin, like he'd used up all the strong parts of himself already.
Dawn took his hand, squeezed gently. "She'll wake up. I mean it. I'll visit often too."
Something in Adam's shoulders dropped, just a little. "Thank you."
Tara gave Dawn a small signal—she was heading out. Dawn waved her off and stayed with Adam a while longer. Eventually, she left too, giving him one last warm smile on the way out.
* * * * * *
Back home, Dawn found the twins turned into matching blobs of sadness on the couch.
"What's wrong now?" she asked, already bracing herself.
Leslie pouted first. "I didn't want to fight her because you told me not to."
"So what happened?"
"She called me a stray. An adopted stray. She keeps saying it. Everyone laughed." Leslie's eyes were already glassy.
Dawn felt the anger hit fast and hot. "I'll go to your school tomorrow. I'll talk to the principal. Some people only understand life the hard way."
"Just let me handle it," Leslie begged.
"No fighting," Dawn warned, then turned to Jason. "And what's with the thunder face?"
Jason crossed his arms. "I don't like seeing her sad. That's why."
Dawn blinked. "Wait. You two don't even get along. You're always dragging each other through a war zone."
Jason shrugged. "She's still my sister. I love her."
Dawn blinked again. Emotion caught her off guard. "Wow… I'm impressed."
Jason suddenly grinned. "Quick, gimme your phone. I need to record this moment before she turns evil again."
Dawn handed it over, amused. Jason shoved the camera toward Leslie. "Your turn. Say the thing."
Leslie groaned. "Fine. Thanks for sticking up for me. I love you too, blah blah."
Jason smirked, saved the video, and before anyone could react; set it as Dawn's ringtone and bolted upstairs.
"Ha! Got you! And just so we're clear...I don't love you back!" he yelled from the stairs, already laughing.
"My phone," Dawn muttered, but she was smiling anyway.
"And I fell for it," Leslie groaned, stomping away.
A knock came at the door. Dawn opened it and found Alex standing there, expression sharp enough to cut glass.
"You seem busy. With your new friend," Alex said, voice edged with jealousy.
"I told you, Tara's my cousin. And we're working on figuring out who sent that message."
"Oh. A whole case I wasn't even told about. Are we still friends, Dawn? Or am I just supposed to watch from the outside now?" Alex said, voice trembling just a bit.
"You're my best friend. Of course we're still friends."
"Then tell me everything."
So Dawn did. Every detail.
"Who's your suspect?" Alex asked.
"My aunt. Peige."
Alex frowned. "You might be wrong. Sometimes the real enemy is right under your nose."
Dawn stared. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Alex had no real answer. "Just… don't trust too easily. Not even your so-called cousin."
Then she left. Just like that. And Dawn's thoughts immediately turned into tangled wires.
* * * * * *
The next morning, Dawn packed food for the twins and Amy, the usual morning routine holding her together more than she admitted. She gave Leslie a look. "I'm coming to your school today. I'll talk to the principal."
She waved them off, went inside to change, and when she opened the front door, she froze.
Adam stood there.
"Adam? What! How did you even find my house?"
"My mom gave me the address," he said, rubbing the back of his neck like he wasn't sure if that was allowed. "So uh… about that ice cream we talked about?"
Dawn couldn't help it, she smiled. "Sure. Why not?"
* * * * * *
They walked through the cold part of town, cars honking like everyone was in a hurry for no reason. They just talked about small random stuff till they finally got to the ice cream shop.
Dawn nudged him. "You know Amy's going to call this injustice if she hears about this."
"Then you owe her one," Adam said with a faint grin.
That little grin did something to her. She didn't know what, but it was something.
He asked about her siblings, and she talked. Really talked.
Amy, the tiny sweetheart.
Leslie, fire in human form.
Jason, chaos with Wi-Fi.
"And you?" Adam asked quietly.
Dawn blinked. "Me?"
He nodded.
"I'm just… the eldest. Doesn't matter what I want. What matters is that they're fine."
Adam looked at her for a long moment. "You're stronger than you think."
Her chest tightened, not in a bad way. Before she could reply, her phone buzzed. A message from Tara:
I know who the mysterious person is.
Dawn's stomach flipped.
Excitement.
Fear.
Answers she wasn't sure she was ready for.