Meanwhile, in a building so battered and old looking it looked abandoned, four other teenagers lounged around. One was watching TV. He had pale hair and gave you the impression that he was lazy. He wore a baggy jumper which was a creamy colour. His jeans were ripped in many places and yet still intact. His trainers were the only clothing intact.

Another was dancing around the place, simply enjoying himself. He was short and skinny, wearing a bandana, loose blue shirt and denim (three quarter length) shorts. At the moment he had no footwear. His hair was red and it dangled over his eyes but he didn't seem to bother him. He was the smallest of the group.

The third boy was tall and bulkier, simply lying around. He had short black hair and wore dark clothes. Again, his clothes had holes in them and were baggy against his body.

And finally, the odd one out, was a girl. She was medium height and very attractive. She had long, dark brown hair reaching past her shoulders, a lean, curvy body, olive colored skin and the only member who had perfect clothing. A blue shirt that matched her eye shadow and tight navy blue jeans. All of the kids look bored out of their minds, well, apart from the dancing boy.

The dancing boy began to sing to the music, disturbing the boy watching TV.

"Tito, shut up!" he barked, glaring at him. The small boy, Tito, grinned sheepishly. Tito and the other boy, Francis, never really got along. Tito knew all of Francis's weak spots, one of them being annoying him when watching TV.

"Oh, come on, Frankie! You need to chill, man!" Tito said, deciding to stand in front of the TV, not at all to the amusement of Francis.

"Will you get out of the way, I'm trying to watch the show." he said, leaning side to side to see the screen.

"Oh, so what happens! Does he die? WOW!" Tito said in pretence amazement, pressing his hands against the screen. "Frankie! Give the Tito some info!" he laughed.

"Francis, you little pipsqueak. Not Frankie, Francis."

"Yeah, whatever. Put the game on." Tito said, turning around and reaching for the control. Francis snatch it back.

"This is my show, now move!"

"But it's boring!" Tito insisted, again reaching for the remote.

"Hey, cool it you guys." the girl by the name of Rita said, glaring at the two.

"Yeah, Francis." Tito laughed. Rita rolled her eyes but then turned extremely serious.

"Francis, did you get some food?" she demanded.

"Yeah, so what did you bring in today?" Tito nodded. The third boy, Einstein, stared at Francis with curiosity.

"Well, err… I got sidetracked and…" Francis stuttered.

"Oh, Frankie." Rita moaned.

"Frankie!" Einstein sighed.

"No, you didn't get sidetracked, you just couldn't be bothered to go!" Tito exclaimed, no longer in a joking mood.

"Oh yeah?" Francis snarled. His eyes blazed. He was supposed to get food as everyone took turns too saving arguments. They also wanted to look after their guardian (more on him later). But now that Francis had forgot, they would have to go a night without dinner.

"Yeah!" Tito barked. Francis then leaped for Tito and got him into a headlock. "Hey, let go man!" Tito cried.

"Hey whoa, whoa! Cool it, Dodger fans!" came a voice from the stairs that led to the door. There Dodger stood, bag tightly in hand, a smug grin set in place. Everyone looked up and then stared at the bag.

"Oh, please say that's dinner." Einstein breathed hopefully.

"I hope you guys like cold hotdogs." Dodger said, strolling down the stairs. He opened the bag and everyone took a sausage, scoffing them down as if they hadn't eaten in days.

"So how did you do it this time, Dodge?" Rita asked, helping herself to another one. Dodger smiled.

"Well, let's just say I got a helping hand." he said.

Little did the teenagers know that they were being watched. Oliver had successfully stayed hidden from Dodger and was now thinking of a way to get his meal. But he also couldn't help but realize that as selfish as that boy was, he was taking care of what he presumed family. It saddened him deeply. He wished that he had a family, someone to love him and take care of him, something his mother never did. He wanted to be wanted.

As he watched, he didn't realize that the planks he lay on were about to give way! Dodger was explaining what had happened, his friends laughing when they heard that Oliver had given chase. By this point, Oliver was trembling with anger. Because of this, the wood gave way. Oliver cried out in horror and when he hit the floor, he let out a yelp of pain.

Everyone screamed in shock and panicked, running off to a corner.

"Intruder!" Tito screamed. Oliver was panicking, crawling away into the far corner and the darkest section. Dodger, spotting him before he hid, sighed and shook his head in frustration. Rita walked forward and got down to Oliver's level.

"Cool it guys, it's only a kid." she said, glaring at a frightened Oliver. "How did you find this place?" she demanded, her eyes a blaze. Oliver shivered in fear.

"I… I followed a kid… Dodger, his name was!" he insisted.

"Dodger?" Rita repeated, momentarily confused. But then Dodger's story came back to her and she then smiled. "Relax." she told Oliver before getting up. "Dodge, why pick on the youngest?" Rita said to Dodger. Dodger grinned sheepishly. Oliver only glared at him, still angry about the whole ordeal.

"Well, you did want one, and you came to get one." Dodger told him, throwing a sausage his way. Oliver gasped before catching it. He stared at Dodger for a moment and then took a bite. It may have been cold but it still tasted amazing in his mouth.

"Poor things starved." Rita said, watching Oliver consume the sausage in a matter of seconds. Oliver eyed her wearily. Even though Dodger gave him a sausage it didn't mean that he could now be trusted. Oliver knew that the others would be the same. He looked at them all, seeing that they were four or five years older than him, which meant they could easily hurt him. They all stared at him, eyes sharp, like daggers.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted something to eat. It's not easy not eating for three days." he begged. He saw that Rita's eyes softened slightly. Dodger's too. Actually, everyone's did. But another word couldn't be aid when footsteps were heard.

"Fagin, my man!" Tito yelled excitedly. Everyone grinned at the coming man. Fagin was a skinny, pale and not so attractive man but with a heart of gold. Wearing clothes just as tattered as the children's (with an added red hat), it was clear that he was struggling for a living. He had taken these kids in because they had no where else to go, and because of that, they all looked up to him. Even though he stole things, he only did for the best intentions. At the moment though, he owed money. A lot of money.

"Hey, you guys." he said, smiling. "Have you got anything good?" he asked hopefully. Everyone's bright face went dim.

"I looked but the only thing I could get hold of was food." Dodger said. Then he smiled. "With a little help, that is." he looked at Oliver, still cowering in the corner.

"And who's this?" Fagin asked and a perfectly friendly way.

"Uh… Oliver, sir." Oliver said. But before he could say anything more, Fagin cried out and rushed around, seeming to be searching for something. He was late. He needed something valuable.

"Oh, no, no, no!" he said, panicked. The others could only stand and watch in fear. But too late… a fierce beep of a car echoed though the shack, making everyone jump.

"Sykes!" Fagin gasped in terror. And then…

"Fagin, Fagin, Fagin. What ever are we going to do with you?" said a cold, intimidating voice. The voice was so cold it sent shivers down Oliver's spine. He shoved himself further into the shadows, no longer visible. He had every reason to be frightened. Everyone did.