Chapter 12

Kid Blink

Olivia was rather distressed. It was almost 1:00 and the only person that had wished her a happy birthday was Mr. Kloppman. She was 17 years old today, shouldn't someone care? Mush had barely said a word to her all day, let alone "happy birthday." Could he really have forgotten?

"Shock and Scandal! Nude Corpse found on Ellis Island!" she cried out, selling her last five papers. She counted up her money. Ninety-five cents, from just the morning edition! That was a 60-cent profit! Maybe she'd treat herself to a nice birthday meal later. "Mush!" she called. She looked around and found Blink instead.

"Mush went back to da boardin house," Blink told her, a worried look in his eye.

"Why?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

He shrugged. "He wasn't feelin good…looked pretty bad too. Said he had a stomach ache, I felt his forehead an he was hotter den an iron."

"Why didn'tcha tell me?!" she exclaimed, slapping him on the back of his head. "He needs someone wit 'im!"

"Kloppman's dere!" Kid replied indignantly.

She sighed with exasperation. "He needs me!"

"Why you?" he asked suspiciously.

She looked down and smoothed out a wrinkle on her skirt. "Jus…because."

He grinned. "You likes Mush a lot don'tcha?"

"Everyone likes Mushy…" she shrugged.

"No no, I mean…ya likes him da way you used ta like Spot when ya were his goil," Kid replied.

She blushed slightly. "You'se full of it, Kid," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"No I ain't, an you knows it!" he replied.

"I don't love Mush that way," she said.

"Den why do you'se always spend so much time tagetha?" he asked her. "An hows come I always see you twos lookin at each udda, den lookin down when da udda one looks up? Sick'a it, I am!"

She grabbed his arm. "He does that?"

"Acourse he does," he said matter-of-factly.

"He likes me?!" Olivia asked eagerly. He nodded. "He likes me!" she exclaimed excitedly, then caught herself and blushed.

Kid smiled from ear to ear.

* * * * *

Author's Note: Ok, very short chapter, I must admit. Thanks for the nice reviews for chapter 10, it made me feel a lot better about it! The story will be wrapping up soon, just so ya know! I'd say there's about two or three chapters left. Thanks for reading!