Author's Note: I'm sorry that it's taking so long to update this story. I had so many things happen to me this year. I moved into my own place, got a job, my grandfather passed away, and I lost the papers that had my story in it so I had to reread everything on here. I promise I'll keep this story going and I'm sure you'll be surprise along the way.--Armonia.

Chapter 9: A New Friend

After work the next day, Grim begged Race to take her along with him to the tracks and to a few of his poker games. She took all the money that she had and put some of it on to horses. The first one lost but the second horse won and she got a huge jackpot which she doubled in amount at the poker games. She even surprised Race with how good of a player she was. Well, she thought, I do have a lot of practice with keeping a straight face.

The day after that, she put some of her valuable items into a bag and had Skittery show her where the pawn shop was. Inside the bag was a few rings and a jeweled hand mirror that the organization claimed was her mother's. Also in the bag was a locket with a picture of a man and a woman on one side and a baby girl on the other. Grim often wondered if the baby was her mother but she could care less about the answer or, at least, that's what she told herself.

"Well," the girl behind the counter, who looked around Grim's age, said, "I can definitely give you something for these. I'm sure the jewels aren't fake and the mirror is cracked a little but it's not completely unsellable. The locket is a little tarnish but it can be cleaned. We don't take pictures so you can have them back. I'll give you a ticket for all of these. You have a month to claim them if you want them back but you'll have to pay back the money. If you don't claim them in a month, we'll sell them. Why are you pawning these if you don't mind me asking?"

"Is it important?" Grim asked.

"No, it's not. We'll take them either way. My boss doesn't care about the people but I like to know the reason behind their act. I've heard some really heartbreaking stories since I've been working here." she answered.

"Oh, well, my friend needs money for his family's rent and I'm helping out." Grim said.

"You're doing this for some boy?" the girl asked.

"What's wrong with that?" Grim snapped at her.

"Nothing's wrong with that. Is he your sweetheart?"

"Why do you care?"

"I'm just making conversation. I'm Zelda by the way."

"Grim."

"Grim? Interesting name. Is the boy your sweetheart?"

"Again, why do you care?"

"You're pawning your things for him. I don't know the history behind these things but I can tell you one thing. I've been in this business for a few years now and these things stay in the family. You don't pawn them unless you either have to or you love someone. Well, you don't live with him so it must mean he's your sweetheart." she explained.

"He's just a friend of mine. That's all." Grim said, finding it hard to say the word friend.

Zelda just smiled at her then she went to get Grim's ticket and money. David isn't my sweetheart, she thought defiantly. She would like to have him as her sweetheart but maybe David wouldn't have that. I'm probably wrong, she thought. She sighed loudly. Of course, he wants her to be his. He made that clear the other day when he kissed her. She haven't really talked to him since that day because she's been so busy trying to get the money.

"Here you go." Zelda said when she got back to the counter and handed Grim the money.

"Thanks." she said sadly.

"Are you okay?" Zelda asked, genuinely concerned for Grim.

"Can I ask you something and I'm pretty sure it's going to sound really crazy."

"I've heard some pretty crazy things in my life. Go ahead. I'm listening."

"Well," Grim sighed again, "how do you…be close to someone?"

"Close to someone? You mean to the boy you're helping?"

"He likes me and I like him too but I don't know how to show him that. I know that's crazy but I don't know any other girls to talk to about this."

"Well, Grim, just be yourself. He knows you care about him because you're doing this for him. Just tell him how you feel about him."

"Yeah, I tried that and it didn't go so well."

"What happened?"

"Let's just say I messed up our date."

"I like you, Grim. You're strange." She hit the counter. "Make another date with him then let me know. I'll make you up so good, he'll drop dead from the sight of you."

"Okay." Grim said, sounding unsure of the offer, "I have to go."

Grim left the pawn shop and quickly headed to Central Park where David was waiting for her. He hasn't talked to her much these past two days because she's been too busy getting the money for him and she wouldn't tell him what she was doing. David actually missed seeing her all the time. He hopes that one of the reasons why she's not seeing him that much isn't because of the kiss. He knew it was too soon to do that but she was being so nice to him and he just felt the need to feel her.

"Sorry I'm late." Grim said out of breath as she sat next to him and handed him her change purse, "I had to stop by the lodging house for this."

"Grim," he said as he looked inside, "I can't accept this."

"Why not?" she asked, trying not to snap at him.

"There's a lot of money in here." he said quietly. "I can't take this. Do you know what you can do with this kind of money? You can get a better job and rent a room somewhere. You can start your life over."

"What's the point in staring my life over when yours is ending? It's fine, David. I already took out all the money I need for the week. The rest is yours for rent and food and whatever else your family needs."

"How did you get this?" he asked, suddenly fearing the worst.

"Race took me to the tracks and some poker games. I also pawned some things I didn't need."

"What kind of things?"

"Nothing important. David, can I ask you a question?" she asked. David looked at her and waited. "Do you want to try that date again?"

"What?" he asked surprised.

"Do you want to go on a date again?"

"I would like that but what's with the change of heart?"

"I talked to a girl. It's one thing to get advice from Crutchy but it's another when it comes from another girl. She had a good point." she explained.

"I would like to try it again and thank you so much for this. You don't know what this means to me."

"I think I do."

David looked back at the change purse. He's so thankful to have someone like Grim in his life. I'll pay her back, he thought, I'll give her a better life one day. Suddenly, he felt Grim's lips on his cheek. He looked at her and she quickly looked away. He couldn't help but smile.