"I'se guess now," Swifty said as he stood up from the table. Lizzy smiled at the others and waved good-bye as she followed Swifty towards the door. As Lizzy walked past her best buddy she informed her of what was going on. Jane smiled and let her friend follow her new love interest.

            "So how long have you been a newsie?" Lizzy asked Swifty as they walked down the street towards his selling spot.

            "Ever since I'se was a kid," Swifty answered with a shrug. He didn't look at Lizzy and kept his eyes on the ground in front of him. Lizzy couldn't help but smile. This guy was painfully shy and it was really sweet.

            "Are you always this shy or is this a recent development?" Lizzy asked as she stopped walking and crossed her arms over her chest. Swifty looked up at her and gave her a little smile.

            "I donno," He replied.

            "Ahhh, how can you not know? Ok we'll quiz you," Lizzy said as she and Swifty continued their trek to his selling spot. "Do you hate drawing attention to yourself?"

            "No…well…sometimes…it depends."

            "On what?" Lizzy asked a bit surprised. She was had never really been shy around people and loved it when she was in the spot light, which was probably a good thing since she loved being in the theater.

            "Well when I'se sellin' papes it's one thing, but when I'se have ta get up in front of people and talk it's another. Well dis is it," He said and stopped walking. "Dis is me sellin' spot." Lizzy looked around at the street corner where they had stopped. It was bustling with activity with people going from here to there and back again.

            "All right then, teach me," Lizzy said grinning. The rest of the day Swifty taught Lizzy how to sell papers and Lizzy tried, but failed to get Swifty to become less shy.

            "What are you scared of?" Lizzy asked as they made their way to the lodging house. Lizzy and Swifty had run into Kid Blink who was showing Jane around and they had made plans to meet up at the newsboys' home later.

            "What?" Swifty asked confused.

            "I mean, you have to be scared of something, other wise you wouldn't be so shy. Are you scared I'll think you're a dork or something?"

            "I'se guess dats it. I'se donno," Swifty replied with a shrug. "I'se just quiet…"

            "And shy."

            "Yeah dat too."

            "Ok fine be shy I'm tried of trying to get you to open up!" Lizzy exclaimed, her patience gone. "You know if you'd rather I'll get a new selling partner tomorrow, maybe Skittery."

            Swifty's eyes grew wide and he looked up at Lizzy. "What? No, you'se don't need a different sellin' partner!" He exclaimed.  

            "I don't?" Lizzy asked her eyebrows arched.

            "No, you'se don't. I'se mean it's nice ta have someone around. Besides goils never wanna be wid me, dey usually go fer Jack or Mush. I'se guess you just kind-a surprised me." Swifty looked at Lizzy as he said this and she could tell that he was very nervous about actually saying all of this to her face. She smiled and gave Swifty a hug that he wasn't suspecting.

            "That was great! You really opened up! And I love being your selling partner, even if you don't say much." Lizzy released Swifty smiling. A gave her a small smile and they headed into the lodging house together.

SHOUT OUTS…yeah yeah I know they usually go before the chapter but I'm doing them now. J

Corky Higgins…RAoB fics rock! Tow of my friends worked on one but didn't finish it. They really need to. LOL and I know the men in the white coats very well!

Kora…yeah I wanna fall in too. See all the newsies! That would be the best!

Mondie…HEY!!! LOL I'm sure you don't mind Mush going on strike against pjs…who wouldn't?

Morbid Muse…thanks for the review!!! Hope you read the rest!

Caroline Gottschalk Jackson…LOL thanks for the review. It was great ::rolls eyes:: talk with you later! Can't wait for school ::snickers:: yeah right!