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Angel crept through the streets of Manhattan. She knew that what she was doing was wrong, but she couldn't help it. She was taking advantage of the chaos at home to fulfill her own desires, mainly, trying to find that boy who was starting the fires. She had to. She had been all over the districts asking people if they had seen him and she had finally gotten a hot tip from a girl who served him at a restaurant in West Side. When she finally reached West Side, it was pitch dark, usually the only time when she could prowl like this unnoticed. She looked in any alley that came in front of her, searching for that boy.

Finally, she thought she saw something move on a street near her, but as she crept closer, her air was cut off when a hand clapped over her mouth. She tried to gasp, but couldn't. The hand over her mouth wouldn't let her. She struggled, trying to get air to breath. The huge hand was covering her nose as well. She couldn't breath. As she started to slip out of consciousness, the hand released her and she fell to the ground, limp and tired. She finally looked up and saw her captor. The black hair shone in the moonlight. His face was stern and unmoving. "What are you doin' back here? What are ya doin'? Followin' me?" He asked. Angel jumped to her feet, swaying somewhat. "Yeah actually. I wanted ta know who ya are an' all 'bout ya." The boy laughed. "Obviously ya must tink I'm a soft hearted fool ta fall fer a goil like you an' tell you all my secrets." He laughed.

"Hey! I'm a nice lookin' goil if I do say so myself!" Angel protested. The boy smiled as he looked her over. "Yeah dat ya are. Yer right 'bout dat angel-goil." He commented. "You know dat dat's my name doncha?" Angel asked. The boy nodded. "Yeah I do. But dat doesn't mean dat I'm gonna like ya anymore. I gotta go keep watch." He said, starting to walk away. Angel grabbed his arm and he started, trying to throw her grip off on impulse. Angel looked at him surprised. He stared at her, then shook his head, trying to walk away again, but not being able to. "Please lemme go." He said quietly. Angel shook her head. "Not till you tell me who you are." Angel said. He finally turned to her, fixing his blue eyes on her. "It's Wolf okay. Now will ya let me go? I've got woik ta do." He said, pulling away from her. "Tell me 'bout you Wolf." She spoke up again.

Wolf stared at her, exasperated. "Look kid, I ain't got time fer story tellin'! I gotta go on watch!" He protested. "I ain't a kid! I'm Angel! C'mon Wolf! Lemme help ya watch! I kin watch real good!" Angel insisted, following behind Wolf as he walked away. A few moments later, Wolf found himself standing in a nearby alley keeping watch with Angel by his side. She was right. She was a good look-out. For some reason, he also enjoyed telling her about the things he had done, excluding the fires and his personal life. He actually enjoyed her company. When the clock in the center of town struck eleven, Angel started. "Oh no. Me parents is gonna have a fit if I don't git back soon. I gotta run Wolf. I'm comin' temorra!" She said as she walked away. But Wolf grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Oh no you ain't." He insisted. "Yeah I am. I wanna tawk ta ya some more. See you temorra." She said as she tried to pull away again, but he pulled her back. "I cain't have ya hangin' around. It's too much trouble an' you could git hoit." He insisted. "Aw shucks Wolf. I kin take care of meself. Temorra den." She said, jerking out of his grasp and walking away from him. Wolf shook his head, but as he did so, he smiled. "Dats one interestin' goil." He murmured to himself.

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Angel returned to West Side many times in the next few weeks. During those times, she discovered that Wolf was fifteen, the same age as her twin brothers, Picks and Pockets. He had been born in Queens, but he wouldn't say anything else about his past. She finally coaxed it out of him that he was the one starting the fires. "Wolf, I saw ya okay! Ya don't need ta keep hidin' an' pretendin' like I don't know!" Angel laughed. Wolf frowned and shook his head. "Yer a piece of woik Angel. Not exactly like some of da udda goils I've known in me lifetime." Wolf said, gradually smiling. Angel smiled and rolled over on her back, looking at the stars.

"You eva had a goil Wolf?" She asked quietly. Wolf started and pulled back, sitting up against the alley wall. "Naw. Neva had time." He replied. "I ain't neva had a guy neitha. I jest had crushes on 'em. Me brudda's got a goil dough. He's known her since dey was born an' she's his best friend's sista! Her name is Joy, an' she's real pretty. Grabs loves her. An' me bruddas Picks an' Pockets like Jade Conlon. Dey fight ova her all da time. An'," She said, before Wolf cut her off. "Yer bruddas like JADE Conlon? Dey like ta aim high don't dey? You know da Conlons?" Wolf asked. Angel nodded. "Oh yeah. Spot was me Mama an' Papa's friend when dey was real little. An' me sista Sunshine, she's me twin ya know, she likes Sketch Conlon. An' actually, he likes her too." She said quickly, stopping for breath.

Wolf pushed his hat back on his head and whistled. "Sketch Conlon huh? Geez. I ain't neva seen him. I tought he was gonna be leada of Brooklyn dough." Wolf murmured. Angel immediately sobered. "Well, he ain't no more. His brudda Flames is leada. An' plus, he's done run off. Nobody's seen him." Angel said quietly. Wolf eyed Angel's serious face. "Why'd he run off?" He asked. Angel shrugged and played with her hair. "Nobody knows. But I ovaheid Mama tellin' Papa dat Spot tinks it's his fault fer spendin' too much time wit' Flames an' none at all wit' Sketch." She said. "That'll do it. I'd do da same ting if I was Sketch Conlon." Wolf murmured.

"But what 'bout you Angel? I mean, I cain't believe dat dere's not a guy waitin' on ya somewheres. Dere's gotta be some guy who likes ya." Wolf said in a teasing tone of voice. Angel grinned. "Nope. Nobody. I like you dough Wolf. If I was gonna pick somebody, I'd make him be like you." She said easily. Wolf stared at her. "Me? Why me? I ain't nothin'." He said. "Oh but ya is. I kin tawk ta you 'bout anythin'. Everytin'. An' ya undastan'. Yer a great listener, yer good fer a joke, yer da greatest Wolf." Angel said, smiling. Wolf blushed a deep red and smiled. "Well danks I guess. I guess I'd pick someone like you too." He said in a low voice. "Ya would? Dat would be neat! We'd make such a poifect pair! But listen ta me! Tawkin' like I could eva be yer goil! Ya got so much ta do." Angel prattled, but not without a tinge of regret, Wolf noticed.

"Yeah, it's a pity huh?" Wolf said. Angel nodded and stood. Wolf stood beside her and grabbed her arm before she could leave. "Angel, don't come temorra." She cocked her head to the side. "Why not?" She asked. "Jest don't Angel. I'm makin' me move. If dis woiks, it's all ova. All da fires. Everytin'." Wolf said earnestly. "Dat'll be great Wolf! But what 'bout me?" She asked. "I'll come an' see ya an' tell ya dat it's all done. Don't worry 'bout it." He laughed. "It's a pity I don't have a goil! I could ask her fer a kiss fer luck." He said, grinning broadly. A contemplative look remained on Angel's face as she quickly leaned in and pecked him on the cheek. Wolf drew back slightly, surprised. "Well you needed some good luck. No ya've got it." Angel stammered. "I gotta go." She whispered, starting to run off. Wolf grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him, kissing her gently on the cheek. "Danks." He whispered, blushing a deep red. Angel blushed as well, her hand feeling the spot on her cheek he had kissed before running off, leaving Wolf to collapse against the side of the alley and feel an emotion he thought he'd never feel again: love.

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