Judging by the position of the sun, she figured it had to be around five o'clock at night. Her legs, which felt like they were on fire, slowed to a walk without permission. The dark haired girl had been running for a good two days now and hadn't allowed herself to stop for a real meal. Her only thought was getting away. After deciding that she was safe for the time being, she looked around in a desperate attempt to locate some dinner. She finally stopped in front of a restaurant with a beat-up sign that read "Tibby's"

Entered hesitantly, she scouting out her surroundings before settling into a booth. She wasn't planning on ordering, but she also hadn't realized how hungry she was. The waitor came over and, acting on impulse, she ordered a coke, two cheeseburgers and a large order of fries. The food came about ten minutes later. She was so preoccupied by having real food in front of her, that she took no notice to a steady flow of rowdy boys entering the restaurant. By the time she finally noticed, there were about eleven of them and they were all in booths, clowning around. The one who happened to be in the center of the chaos looked up, his eyes resting on her. After a moment, she quickly looked away and finished the last of her drink. When she looked back, the boy's eyes were no longer on her, but instead on a lively Italian boy, who seemed to be telling some sort of elaborate story.

After looking around once more to make sure no one was watching her, she quietly got up from the booth. As quickly as she could, she sprinted for the back door. By the time the waitor realized she had skipped out on the check, he was too late.

Once outside, the girl realized she had nowhere to go. A voice cleared their throat behind her and she spun around, finding herself looking right into the eyes of the boy from the restaurant.

They held eachother's gaze for a minute before she took off running in the opposite direction. He was right behind her, but the girl was nothing if not quick. She took as many different turns as she could, trying desperately to lose the boy. To his advantage, however, the boy had grown up on these streets. He knew them in and out, which is way, a few blocks later, he was able to cut off the girl. Rounding the corner, she ran right into someone, cursing when she saw who it was.

"I ain't gonna hurt ya," the boy assured her. "Me name's Jack. Jack Kelly."

"Congradulations," came the mumbled reply. "What do you want with me?"

"I was watching you at Tibby's. You skipped out on the bill." The girl shrugged, clearly not seeing what the big deal was. "I don't know where you're from, but around here, people calls the bulls for shit like that."

"I still don't see why you care."

Jack sighed. "Because," he explained, "me and me friends eat there everyday. And I don't don't wanna have to find another place, just because the bulls are hanging around there." He paused, waiting for a reaction but the girl said nothing. "Look, me and the boys paid your bill. But that means that you owe us now." Again, he was greeted by only silence. "What's your name?" he demanded.

There was no way she was going to give him her real name, so instead she replied with the name her father used to call her. "Cheetah." Originally had called her 'kitten', but as she grew up she said she wanted a stronger, wilder nickname. Thus, Cheetah was born.

A large group of boys were coming towards them. Jack waved. "Those are the others."

"Other what?" Cheetah questioned.

"Other newsies."