Jack walked into the bed room.

"It's late." I said disapprovingly.

"I know it's late things took longer then I expected."

I shook my head. What was I saying? I must have sounded horrible! I stood up and wrapped my arms around him.

"I'm sorry about what happened." I whispered.

He simply nodded.

"Does it look like he's getting any better?" I asked hopefully.

"I don't know... But honestly, I think he's fading fast." He looked down.

"I'm sorry I know you're all so close-"

"Don't be like that, there is still a chance."

"He needs a doctor."

"You know none of us can pay for that. If we put our money together then by the time we have enough then..." He sighed.

I released him from my hold.

"You should have let me go with you to see him."

"No, you shouldn't have. I don't need you catching whatever he has."

"But-"

"No! None of that!"

The sudden anger in his voice scares me. He looked at me for a moment.

"I'm sorry. It's late, I'm tired." He shook his head.

There was a long pause between us. It made us both awkward and uncomfortable.

"I'm sleeping in one of the empty bunks, I don't want you getting sick."

He turned around and opened the door to walk out.

"Jack." I called.

He turned around to look at me.

"What is it honey."

His lips turned up in a smile, likely more for me then him.

"Spot's going to be okay."

"I hope so." He nodded his head. "I love you."

"I love you too."

He closed the door and it was just me standing alone in a room. I sat down. It was simple, Spot Conlon was walking a thin line between life and death. I remembered him, crystal blue eyes, sandy hair, pain skin and surely Irish. I sat down. It was all wrong! I came here to escape didn't I?

Not to get wrapped up in some mess of fear and death and starvation... I'd lost several pounds in my time at the boarding house. But thinking about that seemed selfish. It had been a week since I had talked to Faith on the fire escape about Spot. We didn't know much then, but now we know how ill he is. We know because he came out. He finally told us because he was bed written.

Faith hadn't taken it well. But then again nobody did, really. She'd been quiet lately. The poor girl was so scared scared. Faith still sold her newspapers. Life went on. I looked down at my hands. Now they were dry and cracked. It was from being outside. I didn't go outside much when I was a rich girl. Well when I lived in New Jersey I hardly ever went outside. I shouldn't think of that. I laid down on Jacks bed and stared at the ceiling. I closed my eyes and slept.

In the morning I awoke to the sound of yelling. But it wasn't the usual screams and shouts... It was like the yelling of my parents fighting, yelling and screaming. I was able to ignore the shouts long enough to dress myself. But then I couldn't take it anymore! I marched over to the door and through it open. Jack and Faith were screaming at each other. I turned my head to the side slightly. Jack and Faith? I had expected it to be the stupidity of some of the boys. I thought some boys would be fighting over something that didn't really matter. I hadn't been expecting this at all.

"I can't sell today!" Faith yelled.

"I'm not about to let you just stop selling."

She sighed, "Jack, I am busy."

"No."

Jack shook his head.

"It's only for today." She tried to explain. "It isn't like I'm just going to stop selling all together."

"You're going to take off today, then in two days you'll take off again. Soon you'll keep doing it more and more and-"

"No! I won't! I'm not going to keep fighting with you about this. I'm leaving."

Jack grabbed her arm.

"No you're not leaving."

"This has nothing to do with you." She hissed.

Nobody was aware I was standing there in the doorway, watching these events unfold in front of my eyes. Jack let go of Faiths arm.

"Fine, fine. Go ahead, run off to Brooklyn and go see your boyfriend. You ain't got enough money, not my fault. You get sick some how, not my fault." He snarled.

Faith glowered at him. She said nothing. But her look said all that needed to be said. She stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind her. We all could still hear her stomping down the stairs and then we heard here slam the door front door. It grew silent, oddly silent.

Jack sighed and turned around. He looked right at me.

"Did I wake you up?" He asked breaking the silence.

I shook my head.

"No..." I lied.

He nodded. Jack clapped his hands together.

"Well alright, lets get ready to go." He shouted.

I walked quickly to the washroom, avoiding Jack's gaze. Before I could reach the washroom Jack placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Hey," He whispered. "you okay?"

I looked up at him.

"I'm fine... You just scared me a little." I admitted.

He wrapped his arms around me.

"I'm sorry, but you know I'm just trying to do what's best for her."

"I know Jack, but she's grieving right now. Just give her some time. You've been through some very hard things in life. But you had to find a way to cope, so does she."

"I'll talk to Faith the next time I see her, to apologize. Will you be happy if I do that?"

"Yes, but I don't want you to do this for me."

"Okay." He kissed me.

I smiled.

"Now get dressed." I said.

I shoved him playfully. He smiled at me and started to walk away.

I walked to the washroom and washed my face and hair.

"Hey Porcelain." I heard.

I turned to see Kid Blink washing his face in the sink next to me.

"Good morning." I said.

"Morning. Some fight back there between Jack and Faith, eh?"

He nudged me.

"Yeah." I said.

Now that Jack was gone the boys were free to gossip as much as they wished.

"Poor Spot though... You think he's going to make it?" Blink asked.

I shrugged, "I haven't seen him. But I hope he's aright."

"I know you don't know him to much. If he gets through this then you'll get to know him better, trust me."

"I really hope he gets through this."

Slowly Kid Blink nodded.

"Yeah..."

We walked out of the boarding house. I bought twenty-fife newspapers. I needed some time alone for thinking, for I bought half of usual number of papers. I sold them fast (as you would expect by selling few papers). I walked home.

"Hello Maria, how was your selling?" Kloppman asked when I entered.

"It was great."

"You got back here fast."

"Yeah, I just sold twenty five papers today."

"Well, have a good day." Kloppman smiled.

"Thank you ," I said in a proper voice that I hadn't used for quiet awhile. "I hope your day is lovely also."

I walked upstairs. I walked into Jacks room and laid down. I was desperate for a nap.