Thanks Again to Smiley94, and Snick-a-doodle for all your help, and inspiration on this chapter, you know what you did. Thanks! Finally here is the next chapter hope you all enjoy. Please review!

I awoke suddenly, flinging myself upright in fear. I was breathing heavily in and out, sweat pouring down my face. I had been dreaming about 'hattan again. All I could see was Dewdrop's face floating through my mind, her perfect features teasing and naggin at me. The guys were still all over her Skittery, Dutchy, Race, Mush, Bumlets. Blink… all of em'! In my dream I could see the sad expressions on the girl's faces as they watched all the boys being sucked in by Dewdrop's perfection. I felt terrible leaving them there, but I felt even more terrible for being so unwanted that they wanted me as far away from Manhattan as I could get. I didn't mind Harlem too much anymore. Stomp was the biggest jerk I had ever met, but I could deal with that, I was stubborn and strong willed. I was used to it by now, and had already accepted it as my home. But I kept having these dreams over and over again, almost every night. The memories of Manhattan haunted me. Physically I was in Harlem, but it always seemed like my mind was in Manhattan. All I wanted was to forget Manhattan I was never going back and it wasn't a part of my life anymore.

I tossed and turned in my bed, eager to get back to sleep so I wouldn't be too tired to sell well tomorrow. It was no use I couldn't fall asleep if my life depended on it. I sat up and flung my feet over the side of the bed, and quietly hopped to the floor. I tiptoed silently out the door and over to the stairs. I crept down the stairs only to find Seal all huddled up in a ball. He was hunched over his knees, his body was shaking with sobs. His light brown hair was in disarray from sleeping, and his eyes were red and puffy. I silently sat down next to him and placed a comforting hand gently on his shoulder. I wondered what in the world could be troubling him. This tough Harlem newsie who rarely cracked a smile except when using sarcasm, and here he was crying so hard his body shook. His head snapped up as soon as he felt my hand on hi shoulder.

"Oh Snap it's only you, I was afraid it might be Stomp." Seal said quickly using the back of his hand to wipe away the tears. Whatever was bothering him must have been very serious. Anyone who had looked into his eyes at that moment would have known that.

"Seal? Seal, what's wrong?" I asked in a hushed whisper, looking at him with concern.

"Nothing, nothing, just couldn't sleep is all." He answered turning away.

I took him in a one arm embrace and asked him again. "Seal you don't bawl your eyes out just because you can't sleep. There's a reason why you can't sleep and that is what's really bothering you. Seal you can tell me, I'm a great listener, and I'll give you any advice I can. It'll help to get whatever is nagging at you off your chest. In Hattan I was known for cheering people up when they had a problem." I said soothingly trying to ease it out of him.

"You miss Hattan a lot don't you?" He asked looking me in the eye. I let out a deep sigh before answering. "Yes, yes Seal I do miss Manhattan a lot." I said staring at the floor.

"Then why did you leave? Why did you come here? To Harlem where we have a leader who aint ever loved anybody in his life! A leader who doesn't know the meaning of love, or family, or even friendship!" Seal asked anxiously getting a little edgy.

I took a deep breath and before I knew it was spilling all of it out to Seal. I don't know what it is about him, but he's special and I trust him. Tears ran down my already tear stained cheeks as I reminded myself of all I had been through. As I spilled out all my problems to Seal I saw a different side of him, a side he had kept well hidden before. We had changed positions, and now he had a comforting arm around me. I was grateful for it; it was exactly what I needed at a time like this. I recalled all the events that led up to me leaving. When I was finished I looked up to see a completely shocked Seal. I wiped my eyes and turned to him.

"Alright Seal now it's your turn." I said causing tears to once again come to his eyes.

"It…it was a dream I had about my sister." He began in a shaky voice, the tears flowing freely now. "She's dead and it's all my fault!" He said as the sobs shook his body. "She was complainin one day, and she just wouldn't shut-up. I got angry with her for nagging me and being annoying. I yelled at her real loud, and accidentally spooked a nearby horse. I was ahead of her, and couldn't get to her in enough time. She was unable to get out of the way, and the horse trampled her killing her instantly. Her frail body just couldn't take a beating like that." He said, crying harder than I had ever seen anyone cry before as he recalled all these horrible memories.

"I lied to my parents" He continued. "I tolde em' it wasn't me, that I had nothing to do with it. But they found out anyway, from a witness. My pop beat me real bad, I still have scars from it today, my leg being one of them. "He explained patting the leg he usually limps on. "He sent the bulls after me, said I deserved to rot in jail for what I done. The bulls are prolly still looking for me. I ran away from home, and came here." He said, finally finishing his long, terrifying story of how he had become a Harlem newsie.

I once again took him in a warm embrace, and whispered comforting words. Seal was a special kid and I knew it. I could see him and I becoming very good friends.

"Seal never blame yourself for what happened to your sister. No matter what anyone says it wasn't your fault. It was an accident, and it couldn't have been helped. If you continue through life blaming yourself, you're gonna have many sleepless nights ahead of you." I said, trying to give him some comforting advice.

"Snap I aint never told anyone bout that, not even Stomp." He said looking up at me.

I gave him a small grin. "Don't worry Seal my mouth is shut!" I told him.

Just then we both seemed to jump as we heard footsteps come to the top of the stairs. We both turned around to see exactly who we had expected to be standing there. Stomp.

"Oh heya Stomp. What ya doin up so late?" I asked, trying to flirt a little as I did so, in order to distract him.

"What are you doing with your arm around me second in command" Stomp asked accusingly.

"I was uh..well I was showin him a move." I blurted out. It was the quickest excuse I could come up with, and the dumbest I have ever heard, he was never gonna buy it.

"Oh yeah…what kind of move?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"A defense move" I said trying to come up with anything to get him off my back.

"uh come on Seal we better get goin to bed now, it's really late." I said standing up and walking up the stairs.

Stomp must have dismissed the matter cause he didn't say anything else about it. Seal walked up the stairs ahead of me and nodded a good night to Stomp as he passed him. As I went to pass Stomp he grabbed my arm. "Not so fast there goily" He said, causing me to flinch. I was really in for it this time.

"Uh Yeah Stomp what is it?" I asked trembling.

"Good night doll face." He said winking and kissing me on the cheek. Not wanting to take a chance of getting in trouble with him, after what he had just seen, I decided to let this time slide. I smiled shyly, and continued up the stairs. Seal gave me a smile that said "sorry I got you in trouble" from his bed as I past by his to get to mine. I just smiled and whispered Good night to him. I had gotten a lot closer to Seal tonight, and it felt good to actually have a friend again.