"Jack, let's go get you cleaned up. Come on." She said, a fearful feeling arising in her stomach. It was kind of scary to see him so hurt. Ayleiyah felt like it was her fault. She grabbed a moist towel and blotted all of the blood off his face. He winced a little as she cleaned up the cuts by his eyes, his lip, shoulders, chest, and several other places. When he was all cleaned up and bandaged, he put his shirt back on and took Ayleiyah's hand.

"Thank you." He said politely, staring her in the eyes. "We don't have to worry about dem eva botherin' us again."

"No, Jack. Thank you. I feel bad, you should have just let them take me or something, I mean, it would've saved a lot of trouble and pain." She replied, kissing his cheek.

"Hey-it was woyth da trouble and pain, cuz it woulda been more trouble and pain if you were in Hahlem instead'a heah, wit' me." He ran his hand down Ayleiyah's arm. "I woulda lost me goil.and me best friend." He leaned forward and kissed Ayleiyah's lips, softly and sweetly. She closed her eyes and kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his waist as he did the same. When their lips parted, Ayleiyah hugged Jack and laid her head on his strong shoulder as he held her.

"Do you feel dat?" He asked her, kissing the top of her head. "I can feel ya heart beatin'."

"I feel yours, too."

The couple parted and went into the bunkroom with Kid Blink, Melaena, Spot, and Sweets. Spot and Blink were telling the girls about the fight, with crazy antics and the full-blown obscenities. Ayeliyah found it just a tad bit evident that Sweets disapproved of Spot's use of language. Ayleiyah rolled her eyes and silently told the girl to get over it.

Night had fallen by then, and Ayleiyah and Jack wanted to go for a little walk, sort of a "date." Ayleiyah changed into a knee-length pink skirt and a pink tank top with a little ribbon at the scoop neck. Right before she walked downstairs to meet back up with Jack, she studied her mirror image. It was the same girl as she was, as she had always been. The color and fit of her skirt brought out her tan skin and long, thin legs and body. Her long, golden brown ringlets had already been sunbleached by the spring sun. Her dark brown eyes were black now, full of intensity. They had always changed shades with her mood-lighter when she was upset, darker when she was happy. But they had never been completely black until now. Ayleiyah pondered the reason for this, but quickly pushed the idea out of her mind as she finished applying her makeup and walked down the stairs to meet Jack.

"Ya look gwogeous, Jewels." Kid Blink said, taking Ayleiyah's arm. "Cowboy's waitin' outside. Come on." Blink left her at the doorway, and she looked outside. Ayleiyah saw Jack standing all by himself, staring up at the stars. She snuck up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her chin on his broad shoulder. He turned around, a smile on his face, and kissed her lips sweetly.

"Ya look beautiful." He whispered, taking her hand. They slowly walked down the street, talking and laughing with each other. Ayleiyah noticed now something she had never seen before-Jack's estimation. He had a leadership thing going on, and everyone seemed to pick up on that, especially the girls. As the couple walked by the bars and restaurants, any girl in sight would stare at him and giggle to her friends about him. Jack was a ladykiller. He was respected by everyone who know who he was, and admired by all the women.

After some time, they finally reached the Brooklyn Bridge. Jack stopped at the middle of the bridge and turned towards the moon overlooking the water. He leaned up against the rail and looked at Ayleiyah. She cocked my head a little in question of his actions, but he pulled her to the rail with him and pointed to the stars shining overhead.

"When I was little." He started quietly. ".My mudda always told me dat all da stahs were angels lookin' down on us." He looked at Ayleiyah quickly, then focused back on the stars. "She tol' me, if I eva get lost, to ask da stahs ta guide me."

Jack turned to Ayleiyah now, looking her in the eyes with such determination, such intensity. "I'm ain't jus' a pooah street rat wit' nuttin' goin' on up heah," He tapped his head, "ya know? I'm somebody, just like everybody else. I got feelins, ya know? Sometimes.sometimes I wunda if dey know dat?" He looked at Ayleiyah, as if for reassurance. She ran her fingers down his arm and looked intently into his determined hazel eyes.

"I think they do. Because they're all the same way. And I know. I saw behind your image from the second I saw you. Don't doubt that your friends know the same thing. Crutchy, Mush, Blink, Race, they all know you deep down. They know what kind of person you are underneath what they see."

Jack smiled. "You mean dat? Or'ya just tellin' me dat cuz it's what I wanna heah?"

"I mean it." Ayeliyah whispered as Jack leaned in to kiss her.

"You're an angel," He said quietly as he momentarily pulled away. Their lips met again, locked in a deep kiss. Ayleiyah closed her eyes, deeply savoring the moment. She'd never had such a kiss in her life. This was a kiss better than any she could ever have dreamed of.

To her surprise, minutes later, Ayleiyah pulled away, gasping for air; partially because she was out of air, but also because.she felt something.

**Jack's P.O.V.

She looked deep into my eyes, wit' a surprised look on her face. "Whatsa matta?" I asked curiously. Frankly I was a little flabbahgasted myself.

"Jack." She stahted. ".I.I, don't know. I felt.kiss me again, like you just did."

So I kissed her again, even though I was wonderin' what all dis was for (not dat I didn't enjoy kissin'er again). I pulled away, breathless, givin' her a curious look since I couldn't find woids ta say nuthin'.

"I.Jack, I can't explain it." She said, a smile on her face. "I felt.I felt something I've never felt before.I've never felt something so deeply, I can't.it was so overwhelming, I've never had a kiss like that before.oh my god, I'm sorry.I sound like an idiot." She said.

I smiled at'a. "Ya don't hafta explain it." I said. "I felt it too."

**Narrator

Overwhelmed, Ayleiyah hugged him. She wanted this kiss to be something special, something She'd cherish. Jack wrapped his arms around her, kissed the top of her head and rested his head on hers. She felt so safe, so secure when she was in his arms.

They held each other, standing in the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge, for what seemed like eternity.

**

Jack quietly inhaled as he held her. She smelled so good, the sweet citrus scent becoming stronger with each breath he took in. It was then that Jack realized how much Ayleiyah meant to him. She made him feel like a real person, a person with feelings. He knew she was one of the few that really understood him. And she was so beautiful, how did he manage to get a girl like her? He knew that she could have whomever she wanted, but she had chosen him-why?

Jack quickly decided that it didn't matter. He quickly shook the thought out of his head. "We'd betta be goin' back, gotta get up eoily tomorra." He said, not wanting to let go.

Ayleiyah hugged Jack tight for a couple more seconds, and then they both walked back to the Lodging House.