The rest of the day went well and Baby didn't run into Devi. She was happy she was with Paxton, but she didn't know if that would escalate the situation even more. She talked to Eleanor and Fabiola a little bit and they told her that hopefully Devi would back off.  

Baby is currently walking to a bakery to apply for a job, she had arranged with one of the moms to pick up and babysit Zeke after school, the money she had is running out and she needed to pay rent somehow. Baby walked up to a small family owned bread bakery, it was a beautiful greenish bluish color and had bread props in the window with Italian Bread and Biscuit written on the window. On the sign it said SERENA'S BAKE SHOPPE in large cursive letters.

"Hello, I'm looking to apply for a job."  Baby put on her best smile and asked the person in the front.

"Of course, are you Baby?" The woman in the front had short brown hair, blue eyes, and was around 40 years old.

"Yes." Baby nodded.

"I'm Serena, the owner, we talked on the phone." Serena smiled at the beautiful girl inf ront of her.

"Nice to meet you." Serena then led Baby to a small booth near a window.

"So, now we'll do the interview, I just have a couple of questions."

"Ok."

"Alright, why do you think you should work here?"

"I'm very hard working, I am a great learner, and I love working with people." Baby smiled sweetly. She noticed Serena writing things down on a notebook.

"What hours could you work?" 

"On weekdays I would prefer to not work weekends, I have to watch my little brother." Baby hoped that wasn't a deal breaker.

"That's fine, may I ask where you're parents are?"

"Sure, um well I am emancipated, I decided to move my brother an I for our safety and for a better life. That's part of the reason I need this job." Baby told her.

"Alright, well, everything checks out, you got the job." Baby squealed.

"Thank you so much." She shook Serena's hand and walked out of the shop. Baby was happy, everything seemed to be going right. It was time to pick up Zeke and Baby arrived at the house.

"Hey Baby, Zeke's ready for you." The mom she had asked to take care of Zeke, Marian, opened the door. 

"Sissyyy." Zeke rushed into Baby's arms. His ninja turtle backpack bouncing on his back as he ran. 

"Hey Sweetie did you have fun with Ms. Marian?" Baby asked hugging him tight.

"Yes, we played with dinosaurs." Zeke then decided to play with Baby's shirt, well Paxton's shirt.

"Thank you, Marian, I got the job by the way." Baby smiled thankful. 

"Great, no problem, but um I don't think I will be able to watch Zeke again." Baby's smile dropped.

"What? Why?" Baby asked.

"Well my husband doesn't want me to be around your type of people."

"My type of people? He's a kid!" Baby started to get upset.

"Well, sorry but I guess you'll have to find someone else." Marian shut the door and Baby felt defeated.

"Sissy, are you okay?" Baby snapped her head to Zeke.

"Of course, my little prince, how about we go to the park?" Baby gave him a fake smile and grabbed his hand.

"Yes, I wanna go on the swings." Zeke skipped as the two walked together towards the park.

It was about a 8 minute walk to the park, once they got there, Zeke took off.

"Be Careful!" Baby hollered after him. To which he waved smiling. 

Baby sat on a bench watching her little brother. She felt tears coming up in her eyes. She didn't have a babysitter anymore, she would lose the job she just got, and she didn't have any money to pay for a babysitter, the only money she had was for a month of rent.

"What am I gonna do?" Baby started to cry.

"Baby?" A male voice made her turn around. She recognized the boy, he was from her history class, him and Devi had a weird hate towards each other. 

"Oh Hey, Ben." Baby wiped away her tears and fake smiled.

"A-are you okay?" Ben sat next to her.

"No, but I will be, what are you doing here?" Baby tried to divert the conversation.

"I usually go here when I'm feeling kinda down, I'll tell you my issues if you tell me yours." Ben nudged her shoulder grinning. Baby laughed a little.

"Uh well, you see that little boy over there," Baby pointed towards Zeke, " that's my brother,  I just lost a babysitter for him which means I can't work after school, which means no money. You know, everything was going so well, maybe I'm being dramatic." Ben gave Baby a hug. The hug only made Baby cry harder. Ben was surprised to see that Baby had a brother with Downs Syndrome and he wondered where her parents were.

"What am I gonna do, Ben?" Baby cried into his shoulder. 

"Sissy, why are you crying?"  Baby quickly wiped her tears and smiled.

"What, are you talking about silly boy, who's crying not me." Baby tickled Zeke making him giggle. Ben was impressed on how quickly Baby could change her emotions.

"Who are you?" Ben looked down at the large brown eyes that looked up at him.

"I'm Ben, a friend of your sister." Ben stuck out a hand but Zeke hugged him instead. Ben's eyes widened, he hadn't had a genuine hug in a long time. His heart melted looking at the small boy.

"I think I have a solution." Ben told Baby, "Do you wanna come to my house, I'll drive." Ben pulled Baby of the bench.

"Sure, Zekey are you ready to go?" Baby grabbed Zeke's hand.

"Yes, yes." 

The three go in Ben's car and drove a 10 minute drive, the whole time Zeke chattered about how cool Ben's car is.

They arrived to a huge house.

"Damn." Baby whistled making Ben laugh, "I knew you where loaded but this is boujee."

"Thanks, come on in." Baby held Zeke's hand as they walked into the large house.

"Patty!" Ben yelled looking around. 

"Oh yes, welcome home darling, and who are these cuties." A cheery woman with a thick accent and reddish hair smiled at all of them.

"This is Baby and Zeke, Zeke needs a baby sitter after school and I thought maybe you would willing to watch him." Ben smiled at her.

"Of course, look at this cutie." Patty hugged Zeke making him giggle.

"Ooo, let me show you Ben's old toys." Zeke turned to Baby.

"Pleaseee?" 

"Yes, listen to Ms. Patty." Baby kissed his head.

"Thank you so much Ben." Baby watched them go off in the house. 

"Yeah no problem." Ben stood with his hands in his pockets.

"So you're with Paxton?" Ben asked noticing her sweatshirt and the gossip going around the school.

"Yeah, he asked me out today actually." Baby smiled. Ben knew that a girl as beautifulas Baby wouldn't stay single for long. Ben also realized he had no feelings for Baby except friendship.

"He's a cool guy, but isn't Devi like in love with him." Ben asked.

"Yeah, but she'll just have to deal with the fact we are together." Baby shrugged 

"So, you never told me your issues." Baby switched up the conversation.

"We should sit down." Ben led Baby to the couch.

"Uh, I'm lonely. I am ignored by my parents, by my so called "friends", by Shira, I feel like I have no one.  I have no friends. And I'm lonely in some horribly deep way and for a flash of an instant, I can see just how lonely, and how deep this feeling runs. And it scares the shit out of me to be this lonely because it seems catastrophic." Ben had tears in his eyes. Baby reached out and held his hands.

"Hey, it's okay, you don't have to be lonely. Zeke and I are there for you. I am your friend. Come here." Baby pulled Ben into a hug. They sat on the couch together for a while and Ben just let it all out. Baby knew her life was messed up but she still always had Zeke. He came before her friends, before Paxton, before everyone. 

By the time they all settled  down it was 8:00. Tomorrow they had school and it was time for Zeke to go to bed. Ben drove them home and carried Zeke up to there apartment. Baby hugged Ben good night and he went home. 

Baby realized that even the most privileged of people could have there issues. Sure money could by things to make you happy  but if you don't have anyone to love you and care for you, you'll be the most miserable person on Earth. 

Hey guys, Thanks for getting this book to 500 reads, crazy! I don't intend for Ben and Baby to be anymore then just good friends and I wanted to introduce them. Next chapter I'm gonna do the holocaust project which will lead to Trent's party. Thank you!