AN: I have another warning: I will be making up some fictional places in real cities…like high school names and stuff. Don't mind the slight inaccuracy, cause I'm a lazy bum who doesn't like doing hours of research.

No CC characters in this chapter. In the next one there will be, though. But in this chapter I have two characters that just kind of came on a whim…they're quite funny, and they think Blink is a German tourist!

                                                                                                                                               

Blink

            The entire car ride was a basic lesson in futuristic stuff. Andrew tried to show me how the car worked, while Roxanne kept an eye on the cars around us to make sure my assassins weren't following.

            I eventually sat back and took a look at the list, looking desperately for the last name 'Meyers'. And of course, it was at the very end of the list, all the way across the country. A whole 12 names before him.

            Most of the names I didn't recognize. However, the first one's last name was Kelly, so I assumed that it had to be Jack. There was also a Jacobs, a Conlon, and a Higgins. And near the end of the list there was a last name that looked almost German or Dutch…maybe Dutchy.

            14 of us had been kidnapped and sent to the future. Pulitzer had to be insane to go that far. Absolutely insane.

            "So…how do I avoid dose guys?"

            Roxanne raised an eyebrow. "What guys?"

            I rolled my eyes. "Ya know, da ones out ta kill me?"

            "Well, first off, they're not guys. They're two highly trained female assassins. And I have no idea how you're going to get out of this alive, so don't ask me."

            "Roxanne!" Andrew snapped. "Blink, we honestly didn't know these people were going to be after you until we started getting death threats at our door if we helped you. We have no idea who they are, and I'm sorry to say we didn't plan on them being here."

            "So you's sayin' exactly what she said."

            "Um…well, yeah. Only in a much less blunt manner."

            I sighed and leaned back, staring out at the large wooden poles that stood by the side of every single road we'd been on. I'd pretty much adjusted to the sight of the cars and semis, but when something huge and metal flew over the car, I immediately ducked.

            "Blink? Blink, what's wrong?" Roxanne asked, turning around to look at me.

            "Didn't ya see dat?"

            "See what?" Andrew asked, looking around the area while still trying to keep the car on the road.

            "It flew right ovah da damn car!"

            Both Roxanne and Andrew burst out laughing at the same time, and I sat up, glaring at them from the backseat.

            "What's so funny?"

            "That was an airplane, Blink. It's just like a car…only it flies."

            "You mean…dey actually made flyin' cars?"

            Roxanne was still laughing at me, but managed to calm down and say, "Yeah. Flying cars."

            It was a couple of hours to Philadelphia, and once we got there, problems only seemed to compound themselves. We had no idea where to even begin to look to find 'Andrew Kelly'. And let me tell you, Philadelphia was no small city in 1899, and it certainly hadn't gotten any smaller. The streets were almost as crowded as the ones in New York City, people and cars everywhere, but some of the architecture a little more familiar- some looked like it was pulled straight out of 1899 NYC.

            "Andrew…Where do we start?" Roxanne asked, the fact that she was nervous finally shining through.

            "Well…I say we check the local high schools."

            "What if he's home-schooled?"

            "Hang on…how do ya know he goes ta school? Jack wouldn't go to school!" I said.

            Andrew shrugged. "Nowadays kids are required to go to school. It's not an option."

            "You have to go to school?!"

            Roxanne laughed. "Wish we didn't."

            Wham!

            The car jolted forward and I snapped against my seatbelt, the breath getting knocked out of me and my head snapping forward. I gasped for air as Andrew and Roxanne recovered, both of them spinning around at the same time to look behind us.

            "Blink, run! Go!" Roxanne yelled, yanking off her seatbelt and jumping out of the car. Andrew leaped out as well, and when I got out and turned around, I found out why.

            Two women in black suits were getting out of their now-wrecked car, each having a gun holstered to her side and watching me carefully as I stood frozen. Then, Roxanne cut loose.

            She got in three kicks before one of the women even reacted. One of the women took on Roxanne- who was moving too fast to follow with expert punches and kicks- while the other woman's eyes locked on me.

            "Run, you idiot! Go find Andrew!" Andrew yelled, and then he stepped between me and my assailant. I turned around and took off down the street, bolting between cars and ignoring the horn blasts and the constant yelling.

            I turned back only momentarily to see Andrew get thrown face-first onto the hood of the car, and for a moment I debated going back to help. But then I remembered that I was the one that they wanted to kill…a good reason to avoid them, at all costs.

            I only stopped running after I couldn't possibly have taken another step, and I found myself in front of a library. I decided that this was the last place they'd look for me, and so I stepped up to the doors…

            Which promptly swung open without me laying a finger on them.

            I jumped back as the doors stood open, looking around for anyone who could've opened the door, from the inside or the outside, but there was no one around. Two people walked past me and into the building, and nothing happened to them, so I cautiously stepped through the self-opening doors.

            Now, this wasn't too bad. Except for the 'computers' which Andrew described to me and told me I'd be seeing all over, this looked pretty simple, non futuristic. A place I could relax and catch my breath until I felt safe again.

            I sat down at one of the tables, down a few seats from a group of people who looked to be around my age. They were involved in their own conversation, but they would cast short glances over at me, as if I wasn't a 'usual' in here.

            "Hey kid." One of the girls snapped, and I looked up. "Do you have a cell phone?"

            A cell phone…what in the hell was a cell phone? I'd heard them mention it when I was on the street in New York, but that was one thing Andrew hadn't explained.

            I quickly shook my head, knowing that if I didn't know what it was, I probably didn't have one with me. The girl nodded and they got up to leave, but I suddenly got an idea.

            "Hey. Um…do ya know an Andrew Kelly?"

            The kids looked at each other with absolute disgust on their faces. Then the same girl spoke again. "Yeah, we know him. That bastard cost us the regional academic competition."

            Regional what? Oh well, that didn't matter. They knew him, so that was a plus."Do ya know where I could find him?"

            'Well…since it's during school hours, he's probably at school. Um…Kingston High School. Right guys?"

            One of the guys snorted. "Yeah, that school for nerds. Come on, let's get back to class before we get caught."

            With that, they left, and I stood up and headed for the door. Once again, it opened without a single push or pull, and I stepped out onto the busy streets again.

            Okay, now what? I thought, looking around the street. Get directions to the school. Simple enough.

            I stopped the first people I saw, two middle aged ladies who seemed to be pretty decent looking people.

            "Excuse me, ladies. Do you'se happen ta know where da Kingston High School is?"

            The women looked at me as if I were from a different planet. Then, one turned to the other and asked, "Is he speaking English?"

            "I think so."

            "It kind of sounded like German."

            "Well, why don't you ask him?"

            They both looked at me, and I realized that my accent must be pretty bad. I mean, one hundred years…I didn't even know if anyone talked like me anymore! I quickly juggled my thoughts to try and clean up my grammar- something I only had to do when yelling headlines.

            "Where is Kingston High School?"

            "Oh! It is English!" one of them said, and I rolled my eyes. Usually I was polite with ladies, but these two were getting on my nerves very quickly.

            "You're a long way from Kingston. You'll need a cab to get there. It's on 3rd street."

            I mentally panicked again. "Um, ma'am…what's a cab?"

            Both of the ladies burst out laughing again.

            "I knew he was a foreign tourist! The poor thing…Gillian, let's give him a ride there."

            "We're kind of in a hurry, June."

            "But he's so adorable, and he's obviously lost. Please?"

            It was amazing. I could stand here and not say a single word, and these two women could hold an entire debate in reference to me. I watched as 'Gillian' considered for a moment, and then nodded.

            "Oh, alright."

            June grabbed my arm and pulled me along toward their small silver car. "We'll take you right to the high school, hon! Don't worry!"

I sat in the back and listened with abated interest as the two women in the front began a conversation with me…without me talking at all.

"So what's your name?" Gillian asked, but before I could answer, June stepped in.

"What if he doesn't understand English?"

"He's alone in Philadelphia. He has to know some English."

"Where do you think his parents are?"

"June, if he does understand English, we probably shouldn't guess out loud."

"Oh…right." A silence followed, and I just sighed. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until just now- after all, I technically hadn't eaten since yesterday morning.

June couldn't keep her mouth shut for long, though. She turned around and studied me carefully, arching an eyebrow.

"He doesn't look German. Um…Dutch, maybe?"

"What are German people supposed to look like?"

"I don't know. I just don't think they look like that."

"Dutch people are like…blond hair, blue eyes, right?"

"That's Swedish."

"I thought those two were like…the same."

And so this continued for the whole half hour car ride. Both women discussed my family, my nationality, my religion, what happened to my eye, and my current place of residence without ever asking me a single question. Well, Gillian would ask questions, and June would answer for me. And finally we pulled up to a large brick building that said Kingston High School on the side.

"Well, there you go, kid. Have fun applying for school here, but they only accept the best of the best. And your English skills being the way they are…"

I finally couldn't take it any more. I stepped out of the car, and then leaned on the open passenger side window, looking right in at June and preparing myself to throw my accent out the window for a full minute.

"My name is Blink. I'm from New York City, I've lived there all my life. I lost my eye from talking back to my dad. I'm not religious, but I believe in God. I'm not German or Dutch…actually, I think my dad said I was Scottish, British, and Native American, some kinda mutt mix. My mom died when I was two years old in a fire. I'm not applying to this school, in fact, I'm looking for a friend who I knew 104 years ago who now goes here. I have no current place of residence; to make it perfectly clear to you fine ladies, I'm homeless. And you know what else?" I leaned into the window a bit further, ignoring the fact that their jaws were already on the car floor. "I speak perfect English."

With that, I threw a "Thank ya!" back at them, losing the proper language and grammar and walking away from the car.

I heard the car screech away at top speed, and I walked up to the doors, and thankfully they didn't open by themselves. And as I walked in, a shrill sound cut through the air, and people poured out of the doors on both sides of the hallway.

I was soon lost in the bustle of kids, and I watched with growing interest as they opened small doors for storing books on the side of the hallways. They were dressed in all kinds of strange fashions, and some even had hair that was brightly colored, like Roxanne's had been, or standing completely on end.

I stopped a kid who looked at least halfway normal, having to practically yell over the din of the hallway. "Do ya know an Andrew Kelly?"

He smiled and nodded, and then he pointed out the door, and I thanked him and quickly made my way back outside. Upon getting to the bottom of the steps, I saw something I thought I would never see.

There was Jack, carrying a two foot high stack of books and wearing huge glasses on his face. He was wearing a clean-pressed white shirt and black pants, and his hair was cut short but smoothed down cleanly. Not a smudge of dirt was to be seen on his whole outfit.

But it was definitely Jack. I just knew. Although I could've had doubts when three guys came up and started taunting him, knocking his books to the ground and shoving him around.

Nobody does that to Jack without going through me first. That was one thing that didn't change with time.

I approached the scene and started helping Jack…well, Andrew…pick up his books, ignoring the taunts of the three thugs and the growing crowd. They seemed to be enjoying the entertainment, like we would when Jack soaked Oscar and Morris every morning.

"Hey, freak…do you want a good beating too? Have us take out your other eye for you?"

Okay, that was just plain uncalled for. Had people lost all respect for people like me in one hundred years?

I stood up and handed Andrew his books, and then I turned to the three very stupid guys. "Look…get outta here or I'll soak all three of you, ya scabbers." I threatened, and they all started laughing. Once again, I knew my accent was to blame.

"What language are you speakin'?" One of them said, and I raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I's speakin' English. But if you don't understand dat, I'll try a more universal language."

With that, I just punched the guy in the face. He was thrown to the ground, and the other two looked at him in shock before coming after me.

Let me tell you right now, no matter how advanced these kids were in technology, they couldn't fight worth shit. Much to the amusement of the other kids, I took them out in about two minutes. They eventually ran for it, yelling insults and threats the whole way, and I turned back to Andrew.

"Hi Andrew. You okay?"

He adjusted the books in his arms and looked at me with confusion all over his features. "Do…Do I know you, sir?"

He called me sir. I couldn't believe it. Jack Kelly had just called me sir! "Yeah, well…ya knew me. But I guess you don't remember me, do ya?"

He shook his head, and then switched his books from one arm to the other and held out his hand. "I…well, you know my name already, I guess…But my friends call me Andy."

I was about to spit in my hand, but seeing that he didn't made me realize that it probably wasn't in common practice anymore. "I'm Blink."

"Just Blink?"

"Yeah. Just Blink. Or Kid Blink, if ya wanna get to particulars."

"And…where exactly should I know you from?"

I took a deep breath, thinking, here goes. "Well, you lived wit' me for about seven years. We worked together."

He suddenly gasped, and I jumped in surprise.

"Are you an alien? Was I abducted? Did you erase my memory, send me back here?" he rattled off, and I was so lost in his strange words that I couldn't find the words to answer.

"I knew it! I knew we weren't alone! How did you take on human form?" he asked, and I shook my head frantically.

"I'm…I'm not an alien. I…I'm from the year 1899. I've been looking for you, Jack."

"Jack?"

"Um…Andrew."

"Why'd you call me Jack?"

"Well…that was your name. Back when you were a newsie."

There. It was out, all laid on the table. And he was looking at me like I was crazy. This was going to be absolutely impossible…hell, I'd been called an immigrant and an alien, and either one would've been easier to believe than a time traveler!

"Do you…wanna come back to my house? I mean, with time traveling and all…you've gotta be hungry. My mom makes a mean dish of macaroni."

My head snapped up. He actually believed me? Was he serious?

"Um…sure."              

He led me to his car, and we began the short drive to his house. I was getting really sick of cars. No one went anywhere in this time without a car! It was crazy! Couldn't they walk once in a while?

Jack's house was big. Not like the mansions of the upper classes of New York City, but it was still really big. And I was once again relieved that the door didn't fly open upon approach. I walked in, and I was amazed at how lavish the furnishings of the house were.

"Mom, I'm home!" Jack yelled, dumping his books on the couch. A stout, heavyset woman who looked nothing like Jack waddled- yes, waddled- out of the next room, enveloping Jack in a hug and then turning to me.

"And who's this young man?" she asked.

"His name is Blink. He helped me out today after school."

"Oh, were those three bothering you again?"

"It wasn't anything big…"

"Oh, nonsense. Those boys need to be taught some manners. That's the third time this week!" she exclaimed, and then she hugged me tightly. "I'm sorry. You're…Blink, right? I'll make you some macaroni."

Jack motioned to the couch, and I sat down quickly, wondering what in the world 'macaroni' was. But right now, I didn't really care. I just needed to eat. And I needed to fully convince Andrew that he had been the city-famous, bold leader of the Manhattan newsies. And though he seemed to believe me about the time traveling…strange as that was…it was a whole different ball game to get him to come with me to Cleveland, Ohio to find the next newsie on the list…

                                                                                                                                               

AN: Next chapter, we see if alien freak Jack is willing to take a major leap of faith…and we see if Blink's assassin's have figured out where he is. Oh, and I didn't spell check this chapter before posting it…didn't have time…so don't mind the minor mistakes.