Disclaimer: In case of horrible writing, this story doesn't belong to me--my evil twin wrote it. If it's good...well, thank you very much. I don't own Newsies, and this story is just to get it off my compy so I can start on other, better stuff.

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A small thump from the window of the boy's dormitory temporarily distracted the two poker players. A few minutes later, after quickly returning to the cards in their hands, Race called silently, not wishing to be caught by Jack, considering the late hour.

"Rememba, Blink, if I win, I git to read dat thing agin." Blink sent a glance between a weak smile and a grimace. Race often asked to read the poem Red had written him.

It seemed like so long ago. That was in September. When she left, it was three days before his birthday. Sweet sixteen was spent reading Red's stories. Six months had been spent pushing away thoughts of that girl. He wondered what had attracted him to her in the first place. The gangly redhead with eyes the color of slate. He dismissed the thoughts and turned back to the game.

Blink calmly watched Race lay down his cards. Four aces. Not bad. A small grin soon enveloped his face as he slapped his hand on the makeshift box-table.

"Royal Flush, Race. I t'ink I've won dis 'and."

Blink concentrated on Race. First the small gambler's eyes widened, then his jaw dropped open in disbelief. Blink triumphantly reached into the center of the table to collect the small pot, when he heard a voice from behind him speak hoarsely.

"Amazin'. Neva t'ought I'd see da day when da great Racetrack Higgins lost a poka game."

Blink froze, his hands protecting his newly earned kale. Race's astonished face had never been on Blink's win. He slowly turned on the wooden crate that served as a chair.

Another small thump came with the dropping of an old burlap bag on the floor. A small chuckle came from the small figure shrouded in the shadows cast by the lantern. Blink stared in shock as the figure stepped into the light.

"Surprise." Her weary face was intensified by the lamplight.

Race was the one who first reacted. "Red!" he shouted, almost running around to hug one of the few friends who were shorter than himself. Blink looked on as the two raised enough noise to wake the dead.

"SH! We're not even sposed ta be up, guys!" His urgent whisper quieted them quickly. Blink motioned them to sit on his empty bottom bunk, and he followed with the lantern. He smiled to himself as he set the lantern down and took a spot on the other side of Red.

Blink slung an arm over Red's shoulders, squeezing a friendly half-hug. Race caught Blink's eye and winked at him. He then proceeded to noisily yawn and say something about being tired, jumping up to his bunk.

Blink painstakingly turned to face Red, an imperceptible drop of grief, anger, resentment, and curiosity residing in the corner of his eye. He deliberately placed his hand over hers and whispered. "Ya know dis is comin', roight?" She nodded, waiting for the questions to begin flowing. "Where didja go? Six months, an' all I got was one letta."

Her eyes filled with sorrow as she tried to explain. "I lef' ta take kire o' a frien' o' mine I met on da way ova from Ireland. She'd written me a while back, 'splainin' a situation I could help wit'." She paused, bit her lip, and turned her head away from him. "Circumstances forced me away agin. Didn't have nowhere else ta go, so I came back."

He took hold of her chin and forced her head back to him. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then clamped it shut. His hand weakly floated back down to his lap and he intently studied his fingernails. "I missed you."

Red looked at him. "I missed you too."

Another silence was endured. Blink finally looked back up. "I…uh…all the guys really liked their poems." He paused, biting his lip. "You…your stories have been a great hit at night." He glanced to find her face studying him. "Uhm…you…it…"

"Jist kiss 'er already!" Racetrack's insistent voice came from muffled in his pillow.

Red glanced up to his bed and let a small grin onto her face. She looked back to Blink. "I…uh…should go to bed…" She started to get up, but he grabbed her hand, standing as he did so.

Without a moment's thought, he kissed her. Pure and sweet and innocent and brief. A moment later they pulled away at the same instant. A blush started to bloom in Red's face as she quickly went over to pick up her bags and start out the door.

"My…uh…bed's still up dere, right?"

"Yeah." Just as Red started to close the door, he whispered. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

After the door closed, Blink flopped down on his bed, arms bent behind his head. He let out a long sigh. Race mumbled through his pillow above.

"Finally!"

"Oh, go blow it out yo' old wazoo!"