Jersey:

The sun wasn't shining, and it was almost dreary outside. Dark cloudy sky; the smell of rain about to fall. The streets weren't crowded as usual, Race was thankful for that in a strange way. He didn't feel like watching where he was going, or bumping into people. Walking alone, thinking; that was his hobby now. The newsie had been in New Jersey for the last two months. During that time he had mostly sold papers, and thought.

The newsie kicked a pebble as he walked along. 'I'm tired of being here.' he was having a conversation with himself. 'Why am I here anyways?' 'Good question.' 'Your here because you wanted to give eachother time to sort out your feelings.'

'Three months is time enough right?' Race turned the corner and walked into the lodging house he had been staying in.

ZzZzzZ

Manhattan:

Firefly stared out the window, looking down into the streets. Her blue eyes glazed over, her mind off somewhere in thought.

"He'll come back Fire."

Jack pushed himself away from the door way, and walked towards Fire, stopping a few feet away. Sighing she blinked bringing herself back to the present. "I hope so Jack." She turned and faced the Manhattan leader. Race had been gone for some time; and surprisingly enough during her best friend's absence Jack and Firefly had become friends again. "He's been gone for about three months now. I miss 'im." she shrugged. Jack let his eyes run over her, wishing once again that he had not been so stupid, and wishing for another chance to be with her.

Grabbing her cabby Firefly walked past some newsies that were moving about the bunk room. "Jack I'll be back later. I'm goin' ta the other boroughs, again." Sighing she walked out of the door, mentally kicking her-self; for the thousandth time, for having let her friend leave. Jack followed her with his eyes. It seemed that was all he could do, watch her. He knew she would never give him another chance but he could dream.

Kid Blink looked from Jack to Fire's retreating form. Jumping down off his bunk the tall boy with blue eyes and a patch, followed the girl down the stairs and out of the lodging house, catching her at the door. "Hey

Firefly! Wait up!"

She spun around, her light brown hair whipping over her shoulder. "Oh, Blink... Hey."

"Hey."

"You need something?" she asked quietly.

"Nah, I jist thought you might want some company 'er somethin." Blink took a step closer and then let his eye rest on her's. Firefly shook her head. "No, uh, sorry Blink I've. I've got to go."

He watched her run off down the crowded street.

ZzzZzzZ

Firefly shook her head. It was close to six o'clock and she had been to all the boroughs.

Every leader gave her basically the same answer.

"Spot yer sure he ain't here?"

"Fire I told you the last two times you were here. I haven't seen Race. An he ain't been here for about

two months."

"I know. I just... thought he might have come by dis time." Spot shook his head.

ZzzZzzZ

"Slash, Race hasn't been around, has he?"

"Fire, Harlem ain't a real safe place for ya ta be running around."

"Have you seen him Slash?"

"No."

"Thanks."

ZzzZzzZ

She kicked at some dirt. "No one has seen him. Not a

Bowery boy, or a Brooky, or Staten, or Long Island, or anyone."

Firefly opened the door to the lodging house. "Where

da hell is he!"

"Wheah da hell is who?" Snot looked up from her card

game, blowing some blonde strands of hair out of her

face. "Jack's up stairs."

"Not Jack. Race." Firefly looked over at Snot annoyed.

"Race who?"

"You wouldn't know him. He left before you came."

Snot just nodded her head and went back to the game.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX