CHAPTER 2

Jack studied the girl who had just appeared. She had long awbern hair that cascaded down her back, and her eyes were a curious shade of purple that left him stunned. And although she looked like she hadn't been cleaned in many days, she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. Yes! Even prettier than Sarah! Yet the two girls were beautiful in completely different ways. Sarah, in her thoughtfulness for others. But Jack saw a different kind of beauty in the eyes of this new girl. She had spirit, attitude, and pride.

"Wha's ya name, goil?", Jack said, mortified that this beautiful girl had been listening in on him wallowing in self pity.

"Da name's Zoey, don't wear it out!"

"What are you doin' here?"

"What is this, 20 questions or something?"

"Well, I'd like ta know why ya're creepin' around in alleys all by yaself. That's dangerous fer a goil as pretty as you."

"Can the sweet talk, kid-",

"-The name's Kelly, Jack Kelly."

"Whatever. If ya really wanna know why I'm here, I'll tell ya, but it's none of ya business. My parents died a couple month's back. My motha got tuberculosis, and my fatha was so in love wit her that he died too-"

"-I'm sorry," Jack interrupted.

"I'm not done. When me parents died, I had nowhere to go, so I was a street rat. Livin' on the streets was tough, but not as tough as me. I was starvin' so I stole some food."

"I like how ya think," Jack snickered.

"Yeah, ha. That woiked out for a while, but then I got caught and sent to da refuge. About a week ago, I broke out, and I've been hiding in the streets ever since," Zoey finished.

"That don't sound like any kinda life worth livin'."

"Yeah? What's it to ya what I gotta do to survive?," Zoey snapped, slightly offended.

"I'm just sayin' that if ya looking for somewhere to stay, I know a place."

"Yeah?", Zoey inquired, genuinely interested.

"That is, if ya willin' to take on the life of a newsie."

"A newsie? That'd be so boreing. Selling newspapers all day long?" Jack was genuinely offended.

"Well, than be my guest and continue livin' in the gutta!", he retorted. Zoey shifted uncomfortably while he walked away. Finally she decided that living as a newsie would be better than struggling every day and not knowing where she was going to find her next meal. At least with the newsies she'd have a sense of stability. I sighed and ran to catch up with him.

"Alright, alright. I'll try it. But If I hate it, I'm leaving, and you can't stop me," Zoey said, in step with Jack.

"Fine by me", and he spit in his hand and held it out. Being no stranger to the streets and it's inhabitants, Zoey did the same. They walked in silence for a while until Zoey finally said

"So what happened to ya?"

"Whatcha mean?"

"Somethin big musta happened fa someone to be cryin' their eyes out like you were in that alleyway. Unless ya just a big baby and ya girlfriend broke up wit ya, and that's how you handle it--" Zoey said. Jack's face went bright red, and Zoey realized that what she said was what acatully happened to her new companion.

"--oh…," Zoey felt really awkward.

"Yeah, turns out my goil was lesbian for one of my parents' old friends…"

"ouch. That must suck, sorry," Zoey stumbled through her apology.

"Yeah. I'd rather not think of that right now", Jack said as he winced. Every thought of Sarah brought a stabbing pain through his heart, and once again he found himself fighting to keep back the tears welling up in his eyes. He decided to change the subject

"So, I think you'll like the lodging house. It ain't nuttin' fancy, but the otha boys their are real good guys. Of course there's Race, Mush, Blink, Skittery, Crutchy-nevamind, I'll introduce you to them when we get there. But don't worry, I won't let them touch ya."

"I'm a big girl, I think I can take care of myself," Zoey chided. They walked the rest of the way in silence. Apparently Jack's new companion didn't want to make conversation. Zoey thought they would never stop walking, when Jack made them turn to find an old building with a green sign that said "Newsboys lodging house".

"Okay, this is it," Jack said, and he held open the door for her.