In the later hours of the afternoon, I could hear the bell resonating from Diamond City Elementary as it was time for the students to go home. I thought to myself,

Karla: "Should I go and catch 18-Volt now?"

but then I decided that I would wait for Dribble and Spitz to give the signal, so I just continued to wonder around aimlessly, making sure I would blend in with the rest of the crowd so the Volt boys wouldn't notice me straight away.

Karla: "It's a good thing" I thought, "Dribble and Spitz's office is just a couple of blocks down and so the Volts should pass it".

That's exactly what happened. Inside, Dribble was commenting to Spitz,

Dribble: "It's home time for the school kids now isn't it? We've gotta go outside and tell 18-Volt about the girl that's waiting for him".

Spitz was feeling a bit lazy in the afternoon and in addition to that, he was Dribble's boss, so he could order Dribble around.

Spitz: "Meh, you go, I'm gonna stay in here and just take another sip of my magically brewed cappuccino".

Dribble didn't look happy as when they weren't doing any taxi work, Spitz always ordered Dribble to do the hard jobs around the office. Regardless of the order, Dribble happily complied as he knew he was doing a favour for Diamond City's newest member.

I decided to head over for a tree because I felt like it would be worth some entertainment to watch the action unfold, if there wasn't going to be any big events. 9-Volt and 18-Volt approached the start of the next block when Dribble was calling out from the open door but then at the last minute, Spitz decided to join him too. So Dribble called out,

Dribble: "Hey 18-Volt! Someone's lookin' for ya!".

The boys stopped in-front of Dribble and Spitz and were eager to hear more.

Dribble: "A girl in a blue stripy dress wants to meet ya and oh boy, she's got a cool story to tell".

So then I walked out from behind the tree and have a friendly wave to both 9-Volt and 18-Volt. Meanwhile, Dribble and Spitz had gone back inside to get my suitcases as I think they actually saw me coming out from behind the tree. At the start, 9-Volt and 18-Volt looked confused as to why I wanted to meet 18-Volt but I had to introduce myself before I could explain everything. So I went up to 9-Volt and shook his hand and then 18-Volt had stuck his hand out but instead, I went in to give him a hug, which surprised 18-Volt but he rather showed his gratitude and hugged me back.

9-Volt:""So who are you?"

But I wasn't ready to tell my full story yet. I thought that since 9-Volt and 18-Volt were kids themselves, I'd wait a while before I told them, even being tempted to let them discover my special identity on their own.

Karla: "As I said before, my name is Karla and I'm a 19 year old that's come all the way from Australia".

The boys' mouths widened when they found out that I was from Australia.

18-Volt: "Whatcha doin' here?"

At that I point, I started to feel like I was going to end up in an awkward situation.

Karla: "I'm just on a holiday at the moment".

The boys asked me where I was going to stay but I told them I didn't have anywhere yet.

Karla: "I was hoping I could stay with 18-Volt".

The boys paused, becoming frozen in their animation and in the meantime, Dribble and Spitz came out with my two suitcases, wishing me luck for the rest of my time in Diamond City. I thanked them and then turned back to 9-Volt and 18-Volt who weren't too sure of what to do. 

18-Volt: "Hey ma'am, I'm sorry to do this to ya, but I don't feel too comfortable with that idea. Ya know? I'm a guy and you're a girl. You should find a girl-friend to hang out with".

My early prospects of being with 18-Volt were shattered and I didn't know how to reply. 9-Volt whispered into 18-Volt's ear,

9-Volt: "Uh, she's gone all quiet".

18-Volt after sighing: "I know..." and then turning back to face me, said "Cya kid", as he walked off with 9-Volt.

As per their usual school day, the Volts were now on their way to 9-Volt's house to have their major episode of gaming, but also 5-Volt nagging them to do their homework.

9-Volt: "Man, she looked like she was about to have a breakdown back there".

All of a sudden, 18-Volt grew a look of shock on his face as apparently he didn't notice me looking upset at all.

9_Volt: "I sure hope she finds a good place to stay"

18-Volt: "But why does she want me so much?".

The boys stopped and looked at each other.

18-Volt: "Is that the girl that was at our school today?"

9-Volt: "So that's who it is. Yeah, her voice, it sounded the same"

Later on that afternoon, the boys had finished their homework and were well and truly into their gaming spree. Both boys seemed to be enjoying themselves but 18-Volt had now seemed to be inundated with a guilty conscience.

18-Volt: "Ya know 9-Volt, it feels like that girl knows somethin' about me... I jus' don't know what to do".

9-Volt: "You did the right thing 18-Volt. Why would you let someone into your house that you've never met before?".

After thinking about 9-Volt's words of wisdom, 18-Volt ended up agreeing with him and continuing on to enjoy their evening of gaming.

As for me, I was now on the streets. I thought to myself,

Karla: "I don't know anyone else in Diamond City, at least not any of the girls. I wanted to stay with 18-Volt but if that can't happen, then I guess I'll be relocating to the streets".

As sad as I was, I figured that the place I was in at the moment felt a bit exposed and wouldn't be a very good environment for sleeping. So I grabbed a suitcase with each of my hands and went to find a spot to sleep. I found a lone house on the corner of a block with a couple of trees next to it, I thought I could set up shelter in-between the trees. Little did I know that this house was actually 18-Volt's house, my mind was not yet aware of this.

Just before nightfall, I decided that I would write in my magic waking life journal to report the day's disappointment to my guards. I also had no idea that 18-Volt had finished at 9-Volt's and so was kneeling on the other side of one of the trees, sticking his head out from the side and quietly watching me as I wrote. Since Sindo was the keeper of the crystal ball, I had to direct the letter to him. And so I wrote:

"Dear Sindo,

I don't know where to start. You guys told me it would be easy and that 18-Volt would happily have me stay with him... But it's actually quite the opposite. He told me he wasn't comfortable having a girl with him that he had never met before, so here I am, on the streets, camping next to some random house. I mean I could have found somewhere else to stay indeed but I know nobody else at all in this area... 18-Volt is the only one I had prior knowledge on before coming here due to him acting as a guide in my dreams, so his place was the only place I made plans for. Maybe he's angry because I mistakenly called out as I observed Grey 5-Volt actually haunting them at their school and then when the boys asked who it was that called out, I hid and then ran... Maybe that's it? But then both 9-Volt and 18-Volt actually sounded okay when I first met them in the afternoon, just outside Dribble and Spitz's taxi shop where my luggage was actually being looked after. I don't know what to do... I'll probably continue camping here until I get kicked out of the area by some nasty local, only problem is I don't know what to do with the suitcases, I'll probably have to drag them around with me during the day. Dribble and Spitz were nice enough to give me $100 US dollars but that's not much, so that'll be running out by the end of the week... And plus who am I, a measly tourist, to keep sucking the money out of their pockets? Could one of you please write back to me? I need some advice and fast! Thank the Lord above it's not winter or I'll be eating ice in the middle of the night.

Currently lost, seriously confused and partially damaged,

Your Mistress, Karla.

18-Volt was made speechless but at the same time, didn't feel like he was ready to speak to me yet. So rather, he held his head low and entered into his house to get ready for the next school day.