Dawn's POV

One Week Later

Even though the job wasn't that bad now, I had been pretty much cut off from everything that related or pertained to the gang. Meals in the dining hall I probably missed the most, though it was my choice to eat down in Sector C with Ms. Jay. The worst thing was that I had been completely cut off from all the gang chatter and everything going on around and outside of the gang.

It really sucked, it was almost like I was in my own little desolate world.

Since I didn't have anything else to focus on or think about, I busied myself doing my job. Cooking, cleaning, and watching after the kids. Sounding typical, it surprisingly didn't feel like I was a nanny or maid.

It had been a week since I had started, and Ms. Jay had been complaining since day three about me doing so much of the work.

"Dawn dear," Ms. Jay called as she walked into the large playroom. "Can you go and organize the storage closet for me? And see if we need anything?"

I set down the toy train I had been holding and stood up from Ethan and Chloe who were busy playing. "Already done Ms. Jay," I said with a small smile. "We should be good for about another month if our usages stay the same."

She shook her head at me with a small smirk. "I should've known," she said with a small chuckle. "Well then, can you make sure all the stuff is picked up in the kids' bedroom?"

I took a quick look around the room to make sure all the kids were staying out of trouble. " That's already done as well Ms. Jay," I said while looking back at her.

Ms. Jay shook her head even more. "Did you happen to get all of their sheets changed off their beds too?"

This time I was the one to smirk as I chuckled. "That and I even got Ethan and Sam to help me out with them," I explained while feeling quite accomplished.

She widened her eyes at me before closing them and sighing. "Dawn, you're getting way too good at this job," she said while walking over to Jack and giving him one of his favorite toys. "It's to the point where we've only been up for a few hours and I don't have to do anything except watch the kids and maybe cook and clean up after them."

Ms. Jay paused for a moment as she quickly walked across the room to where Will and Sam had started fighting over a teddy bear. Ms. Jay grabbed the bear and sent the two of them to opposite sides of the room without any toys. Knowing it was coming, the two kids thankfully went without complaint.

The tantrums around here were probably the worst part of the job.

Walking back towards me, Ms. Jay gave me a soft smile after looking at the two corners of the room to make sure Will and Sam had listened to her instructions.

"As I was saying," she said as she took a place next to me. "It's to the point where I almost don't have a job honey, and it's not that I don't appreciate the help, but I need to stay busy," she said to me with a sorry look. "After all these years this job has kept me so busy, I don't know what to do with myself with a helper."

Not looking at her, I nodded as I looked around the room at the kids. It was a little funny actually, knowing that I was being too helpful to Ms. Jay. It was better than having a job where I was constantly behind and working like a dog to catch up, but I guess it was proof that I had the skills for a more qualified job.

There was a shout from the other side of the room, and I quickly started walking over towards the noise on instinct. I was relieved when it was just Ethan shouting because he had dropped a toy on his face while he was laying down.

Turning back towards Ms. Jay, I walked over to the small living room type area that she had migrated to. I took a seat on the couch across from Ms. Jay sitting in one of the plush arm chairs, and we were silent for awhile as we resumed watching the kids.

After awhile, Ms. Jay sighed and caught my attention as she turned towards me. She had a thoughtful look on her face, one that told me she had been trying to figure something out for awhile.

"You know Dawn," she said slowly, while finally taking her eyes off of the kids. "I think that there's enough evidence to take to Kaiden that proves you weren't given the right job," she paused for a moment whilst seemingly thinking more. "You should go talk to him this afternoon," she suggested.

I was a little surprised at her suggestion, it definitely wasn't something that I was expecting her to say.

Thinking about going to talk to Kaiden, I was a little wary about it. As much as I wanted to change my job, I hadn't seen or spoken to Kaiden in a week and I wasn't sure where his thoughts were about what happened. If he even had thoughts about it that is, he probably blew it all off and moved on to all the important things he had going on.

"I'm not so sure...." I said while glancing at the ground, still reluctant about it. "Is it even possible to get your job changed? I didn't think something like that was allowed."

Ms. Jay smirked at me and gave me a knowing look. "As far as I know dear, it's only happened once, and that was quite awhile ago," she said while looking like she was having a flashback to the past. "Some of the members on the council were normal gang members at that time so it's a possibility. Plus you'll have me vouching your evidence so I think you'll have a good chance."

I nodded at her, letting all of this information sink in. I was glad that she hadn't mentioned the other half of why I was reluctant as she somehow seemed to know, but I knew that in all honesty Ms. Jay was right.

It was something that I needed to do for myself, or at least try to do. The evidence was substantial and I didn't know how long I could last doing this job without getting bored.

"Alright, I'll go talk to Kaiden later today, after we feed the kids lunch," I said, not really knowing what time it was but hoping lunch wasn't for awhile so I could possibly prepare myself for whatever would happen up in his office.

Ms. Jay smiled at me with a benevolent smile. "Well, lucky for you Dawn," she said while slowly getting up from her chair. "We have to head down and start making lunch right now."

She started walking towards the door after announcing to the kids that we'd be down in the kitchen and that they better be behaving themselves up here.

Shaking my head to myself as I stood up, I couldn't help but think that Ms. Jay was just trying to speed everything up to get me going and to actually make me put my agreement in action.

Whether it was Ms. Jay or not, it seemed like just my luck.

*******

As I walked up the last step and came into the hallway, I shook my head while thinking about how fast lunch had seemed to go by.

Ms. Jay was sneakier than I had thought.

She had practically everything already pre-made and called the children down in a max time of five minutes.

The entire time I glared at her in a playful way, hoping she'd realize I was onto her. In truth it didn't really matter considering she was doing it for a good reason.

After the kids ate, Ms. Jay handed me own small plate of food. She gave me a look that told me not to try and prolong the inevitable, so I ate my food as fast as normal. Offering to help clean up once done with my food, Ms. Jay none the less shooed me away and told me to get going and just get it over with. Knowing that once again she was right, I began to make my way out of Sector C and up to Kaiden's office.

I shook my head as I passed my quarters, thinking about stopping and camping out for awhile, but knowing I'd be in the same place as before I thought against it and continued on my way down the hall towards the Crater.

Nearing the end of the hallway, I passed by a few people who gave me curious looks. Thinking about it, I realized no one had seen me alive in about a week.

"Wouldn't be surprised if they just forgot about me," I whispered to myself as I stopped in the entry way of the hall and looked at the people bustling around the Crater.

I decided it'd be a good idea to see if I could find Kaiden before I walked all the way up to his office. I didn't want to awkwardly be waiting up there for however long, while anxiously hoping for him to walk through the door.

Shaking my head, I re-focused my attention on the faces passing by. None of them seemed familiar to me, which was an interesting concept considering that this was my home and my gang was my family now.

Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I caught sight of a familiar face. Turning towards it, I was surprised to see Xavier walking with Jake up the the stairs from one of the entrances that lead out into the city. They were deep in conversation, and I could only wonder what they could be talking about.

I stared at them as they walked through the crowd, a small path parting for Jake as usual. It was weird seeing familiar faces after not talking or seeing anyone for awhile. Jake looked the same as before, but Xavier was the one that surprised me.

Xavier walked confidently next to Jake as they continued their conversation. Examining his face, I couldn't help but notice that he looked a little older that before, and sure of his task and destination.

It was almost unrealistic as I watched them walking by me, the simple fact that they didn't know I was there made it seem like one of those dreams where no one can see you. It also hurt a little, knowing that everyone had moved on, not caring about what happened to me or trying in the least to talk to me somehow or even stop by my room.

Shaking my head yet again, I cleared my thoughts as I watched Jake and Xavier walk out of the Crater and into Ground Zero. As of now it didn't really matter what they were doing, or what they and other people were thinking. I had something important I needed to take care of, and that was all that was relevant to me at this point in time.

Though it was nice to see that they were doing well.

After awhile, It got tiring to have to stare at all the faces passing by, and I finally gave in and decided it was time to walk all the way up to Kaiden's office. I was about to step into the mass of people, when a massive gap opened up between a section of people, and I knew it could only mean one thing.

Kaiden was walking through.

Staying in place at the entrance of the hallway, I watched as Kaiden finally came into view, taking swift confident steps across the floor. I couldn't help but notice the signature smirk on his face and the fact that his black hair was perfectly in place like usual.

It made me smile a little.

I was about to jump into the crowd and follow him up the stairs he was walking towards, when another figure appeared next to him and I stopped in my tracks.

A girl had suddenly stepped up from behind him, and I couldn't help but glare at her and her existence. She immediately stepped closer to Kaiden, until their shoulders were touching, and Kaiden laughed immediately after she had said something to him.

Staring this mysterious girl down, I couldn't help but size her up.

She was tall, taller than me and almost as tall as Kaiden. I could tell that she was a little older than me, and that she was thin but muscular, her black hair flowing down to her hips, outlining her smaller body frame. Her hair was sleek and shiny, the only thing shining more was her teeth and eyes when she smiled at Kaiden. She was absolutely gorgeous.

Glaring daggers her way as she and Kaiden made their way up the metal stairs, the only thing I could wonder was who she was and what she was doing with Kaiden. I had never seen her before, or ever heard Kaiden or Jake mention her.

Letting my eyes relax from the glare as I watched them climb higher up the stairs, I realized that she had no idea I was there or that I even existed. Rolling my eyes I watched as they got to the top of the staircase and entered the hallway that lead to Kaiden's office.

They were probably heading up there for some "fun".

Letting out a deep sigh, I knew I couldn't go up there now, seeing as it was occupied with something of more importance. I turned around and started walking back towards the staircase that would take me back down the Sector C.

Walking down the hall, I thought about how coming up to the Crater was a waste of time, I admitted that I had at least figured out one of the problems that I was having. Beginning my descent down the stairs, I rolled my eyes in annoyance as I replayed the scene of Kaiden and that girl walking through the Crater and up into his office.

I had figured out that Ms. Jay was wrong, and Kaiden obviously had no interest in me anymore, as a person or anything more than that. He had moved on to better things, including people at that. He had left behind any thoughts of me or our problems.

Opening the door the Sector C, I angrily threw the door open, and as I walked inside I realized something yet again.

I had been in my head the whole time, making up feelings for him after he had done normal things. "Our" problems were actually only my problems, and I was only dragging Kaiden into the saying because he was at the other end of what was causing the problem for me.

Pulling the door back towards it's frame as I walked into the small playroom, I listened to the door shut quietly behind me as I had my final thoughts on the matter.

Kaiden didn't care about me in any way shape or form, and it was indisputable. He portrayed everything as real, when it was only a game, and he put me in a place deep down and as far away from him as possible with this job. He got me out of the picture and moved on to what he truly wanted.

All I could say was well played Mr. Black.

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Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Things seem to be getting crazy for Dawn, I feel for anyone who constantly has a battle going on in their head or many problems swamping their thoughts. I can imagine how exhausting it is.

Once again I hope you liked the chapter! If you did then you should take the short adventure over the the star and give this chapter a vote! I'd really appreciate it!

Last but not least, feel free to leave comments or anything of the sort. I'd love to hear anything that you're thinking about.

- Delaney :)