Chapter 6.

Keys breathed heavily, helping Finch down the street. It had been an hour of limping, away from Queens, towards Manhattan. The Lodging House came into view and she let out a strangled sigh of relief. Safety wasn't much farther. She had to get him there, to the boys, to home.

"Keys?" A voice shrieked from the staircase. Stars stood, hair frazzled, staring at the girl. Race was by her side, clinging to her arm. "Where the bloody hell have you been?"

Race looked at his girlfriend and smirked, "I didn't know you was British."

Stars was obviously not amused and turned back to Keys, "I'm not going to repeat myself."

But at that very moment, Finch collapsed in a heap of blood and ragged clothes. Keys dropped onto one knee and winced, "He's hurt. Finch is hu-hur…" And with that, she burst into tears. They shook her body, and left Keys unable to speak.

"Jack!" Stars called up the staircase. It didn't take long for Jack to come down, followed by Crutchie, and the rest of the group.

"What happened?" Jack had a flame in his eyes that Stars hadn't seen since the strike.

Keys was shaking, but managed to unsteadily stand, "F-Finch was kidnapped-d b-by Onyx. I went-t to r-rescue him, but w-we both were h-hurt. And h-he needs-s medical a-attention."

Jack's eyes darkened considerably. "What?"

An response came from next to him, "She got Finch kidnapped and hurt." Stars's lip curled, "She got him hurt."

Keys looked up, face tear-stained and broken, "W-what?"

"Keys. Is that true?" Jack almost snarled from beside Davey and Specs, who had knelt down beside the bloodied boy.

"I didn't… I didn't mean to! I would trade my life for his in a seco-"

Jack stopped her with a raised palm, "Stop. I can't have ya' stay here-"

Finch convulsed on the cobblestones, "Keys… Keys… Keys…"

She held his head in her hands, "I'm here. I'm here, Finch. Shhh… Shhh…"

"Don't leave." He groaned, holding her hand as tightly as possible.

"I-I won't." But Jack's face told her otherwise.

Jack whispered something in Stars's ear, and her expression clouded. "Yes. I will. C'mon Keys."

Keys placed Finch's head in Davey's palms, watching as he looked over his brother. And with that, she rose and stumbled into the house.

Stars followed her friend. They climbed the rickety stairs in silence. At the top, Stars wheeled around, "Leave."

Keys had disbelief etched across her features, "What?"

Stars stood like a statue, her face stone cold. "Ya' heard me. Leave."

"Stars, ya' gotta know I didn't mean for this to happen, I-"

"Ya' hurt him," Stars voice was nothing short of a whisper. "I told ya' not to hurt him, and ya' did."

"Stars. Why? I thought ya' knew how much I-"

"How much you what? Cared? We both know that's not true. You've denied feelings for him for as long as I've said ya' did. Ya' say 'I'm not in love with bird boy-.'"

"Well it ain't like you've been perfect either!" Keys stomped her foot down, silencing Stars. "Don't talk to me like you've done everythin' right with Race and Romeo! Cuz I know what happened last year. They were hurt even more than Finch was."

"You don't get to talk about that," Stars growled.

"I can talk as much as I damn well please! You are the one who gave up on looking for your own brother! I've been looking for a friend of mine for three years. Haven't given up, because I have faith in my friends. I don't turn on them the moment they've done somethin' even a little bit wrong! Because I'm not like you. And I will never be."

"You're right," Stars pushed past her. "You'll never be like me. Because you will never be a part of this family." She looked back at Keys one last time, her face twisted in an angry sneer. "Now, get out."

Not saying a word, Keys grabbed her Newsie paper bag and tossed it at Stars's feet, her eyes cold and dark. She grabbed a single item from below her bunk. It was her slingshot. She snapped it in two, and handed it to Stars.

"There. The worthless slingshot for the worthless friend."

Stars was speechless.

"And when Finch wakes up-"

"I'll tell him the truth. That you're a heartless goil who deserted him."

Keys growled and stormed out the door, slamming it shut.

Down at the doorway to the house, the boys waited in shocked silence. The shouts they had heard were silenced by a door slamming. Keys then appeared, holding back tears. She shoved past Jack, and took one last look at a place that may have been home.

Finch was gone, along with Race, Davey, and Specs. They had taken him upstairs, as to tend to his various wounds.

Apparently she was taking too long, so Jack stepped forward, voice cold. "Go. Don't be 'round here again, ya hear?"

Choking back a wail of sadness, Keys managed a sneer, "Wouldn't dream of it, Cap'n Jack." She mockingly bowed, sweeping her hat off of her head.

Finch's POV:

My eyes open and the world is fuzzy. I can see blurry outlines of faces. Davey, Specs, Jack, and Race. My mind tells me. I agree, before starting a little at my leg. It's covered in bandages, but still a little bloody. The pain is what's making my eyes funny. But one face is missing.

"Keys!" I shout, trying to see her, "Where is she?"

Jack's face is grim, "Stars will fill ya' in."

I search the room for her. And in the corner, Stars stands, eyes distant.

She speaks up, and her voice is raw, "She abandoned you. She got you hurt."

"No! She wouldn't! She ain't like that-"

"-She is. And that's what she did. So now we kicked her out." Stars interrupted,

"No." My voice was hoarse and full of dread, "You didn't…"

This time it was Jack who spoke, "We had to, Finch. Ya' can't go 'round hurtin' folks and expect ta get away with it."

But I wouldn't hear them speak about her that way, "No! You'se is all wrong. She saved me life! Without her, I'd be dead."

The room grew quiet, before Race stood, "We'se couldn't let her stay. We'se didn't want to… But I'm sorry."

At that, I did what nobody expected. I unsteadily got to my feet, and punched Jack. Our leader. Our brother.

"You damn bastard. Why didja throw her out? She don't deserve ta be in da streets. I do!"

Jack held his stomach, "Sit. I'm lettin' ya stay cuz ya' one of us. But don't make me regret that."

I do as he said, anger still simmering. Jack thought he was doing what was right. But he was wrong. Keys shouldn't have to be fending for herself. At least not without me.

"I want to sleep. Can I be alone?" I mumble. Davey nods to the boys. They all walk out, whispering excitedly about the events that had come to pass. I sighed, squatting down on the bottom of the staircase.

Why did I think it would be a good idea to get close to her? I wonder, She was bad news before I met her. She's a goil with a mind of her own, and took my mind over. She made me think about her constantly. She trapped me under her spell. But all the same, I cared about her. The spell wasn't her doing, it was me. I fell for her, and she for me. She didn't curse me. I cursed myself.

"I'm sorry," I looked up. Stars was still standing in the doorway, her arms crossed. I scowled at her.

"Ya' don't have a right to be," I growl. "You'se the one who kicked her out."

"Finch, please. I know ya' loved her, but she hurt you. And we couldn't allow that-"

"Oh, just like how Jack hurt all of us last year during the strike? Or when Romeo chose to protect Race instead of you? You've been hurt just as much as I have, Stars, we all have! Should they be thrown out because they 'hurt' you? Keys tried to save me. She could've just stayed here and wept, but she rescued me."

Stars swallowed, "No, that's different, they-"

"-different? How? Stars, she was your friend. And- and I-"

"You what? Loved her? I doubt it… You told me yourself, you don't love."

I stare at her, throat dry, before I whisper, "Guess that's changed. Stars, I loved- no- love her."

Stars sighed, sitting down next to me. "I love her too, Finch. She was literally the only other girl who took any initiative. Not even Smalls or Sniper would've done that. But I love you more than I loved her. And before anyone else, I gotta protect my brothers."

"No," I stared at her. Her deep brown eyes were stormy. "Now ya' gotta protect your sister."

Stars frowned, "I want to. But Jack said-"

"-Jack said? When have you ever listened to what Jack said?"

A small smile crossed Stars' face, "Fair point. Now, go to sleep. You need rest after that." She gestured to my leg.

I give her a smile back, "Alright. Now, go to Race. He'll be missin' his goil."

"Oh shut up," Stars stood up, extending her hand for me.

"Ya' ain't really gonna keep Keys away, are ya'?" I asked as we hobbled up the staircase. She didn't answer me until we stopped at the doors between our two rooms.

"Course not, bird boy."

No POV:

Stars had just gotten her papes. It had been three days since Keys was kicked out, and Finch was still staying in bed. It wasn't so much his broken leg, it was his broken heart. Stars had tried to talk to Jack, but he wouldn't budge. Keys wasn't going to come back. Their leader would make sure of that.

An arm snaked around Stars's waist and when she spun around, she found herself looking up at Race's twinkling blue eyes. "Hiya."

"Hiya yourself." She lightly hit him on the chest, grinning a little. But what Stars saw when she looked over Race's shoulder made her smile freeze on her face. A pretty girl was walking along, green eyes glancing around suspiciously. She had on a familiar low cut dress. It was dark pink, and stood out among the blues and purples dotting the crowded city streets. A handsome teen strolled by and the girl stopped him.

It was too far away to hear what the girl was saying, but Stars got the picture. A few words floated over the heads of pedestrians.

"Yes… Handsome… Me too… You're… You don't say!" She was flirting, one hand around his shoulders, while one hand pickpocketed the man. Stars saw a flash of silver as the girl pocketed the coins. And it wasn't just any girl… Stars moved away from her boyfriend, squirming out of his arms.

"Hey, Stars." Race whined, touching his cheek, "A kiss? Cuz I'm ya' favorite Newsie."

Smirking a little, she was about to peck his cheek, but stopped, "Nah. Maybe later." A protest came out, but she held up a hand to silence him. All traces of laughter were gone from her face. "Race. Later."

She then ran to catch up with the girl who had made her way down the street. A single word, a name, escaped her mouth, as she came closer to the thief of a girl.

"Keys."