(sniff) I can't believe I only got two reviews last time.

Blink- Aw, it's okay. I know you'll get more this time

(sniff) You really think so?

Blink- (nods)

(smiles and huggles Blink) I hope you're right. Thanks to those who have reviewed so far. I'm doing the best I can with trying to get chapters out, what with school and everything. I know it's no excuse but for me it is. I can't get on the computer as much as I would like. Otherwise I'd probably be whipping these out. Anyway, please enjoy this and don't forget to REVIEW!

I saw her bounce away with Lucky to, no doubt, talk about a boy. Who he might be I have no idea. But I think it's Jack, I've been noticing the way he and Lucky act around each other. A squeal from Siren, "I knew it! I told you so," confirmed my suspicions. I couldn't help but grin as I imagined Lucky and Jack as a couple. Fights everyday, screams echoing throughout the lodging house...a shoe being thrown. Oh yeah, I said it. A shoe. Lucky's anger comes off in strange ways.

Pretending to be observing the clothes but really trying to listen in on Lucky and Siren, I went over in my mind what I was going to say to her. How her reaction might be, what she would say, what she would think. I cared about her so much that she didn't even know it. We liked each other as more than friends, that was admitted a long time ago. Then I met someone else and why I didn't make a move sooner was my own stupid mistake. Now this is sprung on me...I sighed. I don't know what to do anymore. Our earlier talk today was not helping my decision at all either. I couldn't choose what I should go with more: my heart or my brain. And was it just me, or was I getting a strange vibe from Siren?

Finally, Siren and Lucky's conversation stopped and Siren turned to face me. I could see that she was extremely happy about something. That made me smile. I hate to see anyone, especially her, sad or upset. When she told me about that Allie girl earlier I assumed the fight was about me. Or if not me then about another newsie because she looked at me with fear in her eyes. I didn't worry about it. People tend to look at us like that or avoid us at all costs except for when they want a pape. I'm used to it by now.

"So, Blink, what did you want to talk to me about?" Siren asked, bringing me out of my trance. I opened my mouth to answer her, but a sudden noise made us all jump. Siren looked at us, paralyzed. "I think it's Amy. Time to go," she whispered, and Cat, Specs, and Lucky hurried quietly for the exit. I lingered back. "Blink, get out of here! I'm not trying to be mean but I could loose my job!"

"I know, I know. Look, meet me in the park under the tree."

"Which tree?! It's a park, there are hundreds of trees!"

"Our tree!"

Siren blinked. "We have a tree?"

I sighed impatiently. "Yes! Nine-thirty." Siren nodded and I ducked out and caught up with the others. I looked back and caught a glimpse of her through the dusty window. She was sitting at her desk again, her back was to me and I could see another woman, possibly Amy, standing over her. I hope we didn't get Siren in trouble.

"Can you believe that? I didn't even get me hat back!" Lucky complained.

"Don't worry, I'll get it. I'm meetin' her later." I informed. Cat and Specs walked a ways ahead of us and so Lucky turned to me, eyebrow raised.

"First ya drag us ta see her at work, now you're gonna meet up with her?"

"Yeah. I wanted to tell her somethin', but we got kicked out remember?" I reminded her.

"What's goin' on between you two? Mainly you," Lucky said. I sighed and dug out something from my pocket. I handed it to her, she scanned it over, and looked back at me with wide eyes. "Blink, I-I don't know what to say." I took it back and stuck it in my pocket again.

"Me either. How do you think she's gonna take it?"

"Not very well." Lucky answered truthfully.

"Damn. Why now? Why me?" I said, slumping down onto a street bench. Cat and Specs turned back.

"Blink, Lucky, ya comin'?" Specs called to us. I put my head in my hands, elbows on my knees, and I felt Lucky sit next to me and put a hand on my back.

"You guys go on. We'll catch up." Lucky said to them.

"Ya sure?" Cat asked.

"Of course," they nodded and walked in the direction of the lodging house. Lucky turned back to me. "You all right, Blink?" I lifted my head up.

"Sure I'm okay. I just might have to leave the girl I love, but I'm all right," I said sarcastically and rolled my good eye. "No, Lucky I ain't gonna be all right."

"What didja say?" Lucky asked in a quiet voice.

"Which part?" Wasn't she listening?

"That first part. Repeat it." She demanded.

"I just said that I was okay, that I might have to leave the girl I love but-"

"That part! You love 'er?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Yeah. Where have you been? I thought it was pretty obvious."

"Well, I knew that you liked her, but you love her!" Lucky said excitedly. I knew Lucky was a little clueless sometimes, but how could she not notice this? I've always sent signals to Siren, and her and Lucky are attached at the hip so I just kind of figured that Lucky would have seen it.

"I've always loved her, even when I started datin' Amber, but-"

"But? There's a but?"

"Amber," I said again. "I like her too...I think."

Lucky shook her head. "No, you don't."

"I don't?"

"Nope. Believe me, every time I saw you with Amber you'd be lookin' at Siren. And not just lookin'...I mean lookin'. You'd downright stare at her and prolly woulda made a move if Amber wasn't with you," Lucky told me all of this in a very matter-of-factly tone, like she knew so much more than me. I did not stare at Siren. I think I would have noticed and she definitely would have noticed. I told this to Lucky and she sighed and smacked her forehead. "Well, you really wouldn't notice, would ya?"

"I would too!"

"No, you wouldn't. Trust me, I know these things. So, what are you gonna say to her?" I opened my mouth to retort, but she changed the subject quickly. Instead, I said,

"I dunno. I don't wanna hurt her, but I gotta do this. I miss him, ya know?" Lucky nodded and suddenly stood up. Something over my shoulder caught her attention and she smiled.

"Heya, Jack," Lucky greeted and I turned and Jack was indeed behind me. He returned the smile to Lucky and grinned at me.

"Hey, guys. What's goin' on?"

"Not too much," Lucky looked at me, "I'm goin' back to the house. See ya then?" I sighed.

"Yeah. See ya then." Lucky motioned for Jack to walk with her. He waved to me, looking a little confused, but going with Lucky anyway. As they walked away, Lucky took a step closer to Jack and took his hand in hers. I smiled at that, but wishing my situation was as easy as that.

Nine-thirty rolled around and I stood up against the tree. The night was still here in Central Park. I could see the lights of the city in the distance and was glad that the tree was so far away. It was like a little retreat from the hassle of the noise and the lights and the smells. A small breeze drifted in from the river, cool and refreshing, and I took a deep breath. I was going to miss this place.

Footsteps from my right made my ears perk up and my head whip around. A shadowed figure was coming toward me and, considering what time it was and where I was standing, I knew it was Siren.

"Blink! Are you here?" I heard her whisper. I took a step forward so she could see me and she smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, I found the right place. So this is our tree?"

"Yeah. Don't you remember? This is where we first met." I said, the memories coming back to me. I saw her wrinkle her forehead, deep in thought. Then her eyes cast up to meet mine and recognition flooded them.

"Oh yes, I remember now. I bought a paper from you." Siren laughed and I smiled. She had just moved here, about a month after the strike. I usually go to the park to get away for a while or to just think. That day I was thinking about everything that had happened the month before. Siren and her mom were taking a walk through the park and...Well you can guess what happened next.

The two of us stood in each other's presence, my hands in my pockets, Siren looking over the tree.

"Did you want to talk to me about something?" Siren asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, I did. I-I...this is hard. Um, I-well what I mean is that...See, somethin' happened and I..." I paused. Siren grinned.

"Are you always this articulate?" Arti-what?

"Well, I...No, I don't-," I sighed, pulled out a crisp white envelope, the same one that I had given to Lucky, and thrust it in Siren's hands. "Here, read that." Her grin faded as she opened the envelope and pulled out a single sheet of paper.

I watched her eyes travel across the paper, watched them widen, and watched them fill up with tears. I knew it was going to come to this. I knew, but I also knew that it needed to be said. Her hands trembled slightly, and as she looked up at me, silent tears were rushing down her cheeks like rapids. I didn't know what to do, my feet would not move. I watched her crumble the paper in her hand, drop it, and sink to the ground, her body leaning up against the base of the tree.

"What are you going to do?" I heard her ask through her tears. I looked down at her, but she stared straight ahead, as if willing herself not to look up. I have thought long and hard about this, my dad asking me to move back in with him. I got the letter last week, I've just been putting off telling anyone about it because I didn't know how to tell them. I love my dad, and I've missed him since him and mom divorced when I was seven. I hated my step-dad, still do, so I ran away when I was ten. I'm seventeen, I'll be eighteen in a couple of months. I can't go on being a newsie all my life. Dad offered me a real job at Ellis Island, where he moved to, and he said that I could live with him until I got a place of my own. It was a hard offer to pass up.

"I'm sorry. I'm goin'." I said. She buried her face in her hands and I knew she would be mad if I tried to comfort her. So, I did the only logical thing. I turned around, and walked away.

I KNOW, I KNOW! I'M SO EVIL! Well get over it. LoL, just kidding

Race: What the hell kind of ending was that?

It's not over yet you know

Blink: I walk away?! Man, I would SO pick that girl up and comfort her

(rolls eyes) I know you would. But not yet! We'll get to that later

Anyway, enough of that. Please REVIEW! and I will love you forever. Thanks!