"Guys! It woiked!" Jinx busted through the door at Tibby's, where Jack, Bam, and Race were anxiously waiting. "He said I wasn't good enough, and dat dere was only one goil who was!" Jinx was glowing from the fact that everything seemed to be going according to plan, the other newsies only feigned enthusiasm. Bam couldn't even muster that. She knew that in a few short days, she would be back under the same roof as the one person who hated her the most. Jack and Jinx huddled closely to discuss the next step in their big plan.
"Well, I can go dere for a little bit, and tell 'im dat I couldn't get her to come back..." Jinx was speaking quickly, and with excitement.
"And den, we can have Bam..." Jack cut Jinx off. It was clear the two were barely listening to each other, both too involved in their own versions of what was to happen next. Bam sat and watched them for a minute before a feeling of panic started forming in her stomach. I can't go back there.
Later that day, Jinx was on her way back to Brooklyn, this time for good. Before she left, she gave Bam a hug goodbye. "Remember, I'll be in touch every day. If its not safe, then I won't let you come." Bam knew Jinx sincerely meant her words, but had a hard time believing them. In Bam's opinion, Brooklyn was already unsafe.
As Jinx reached the Brooklyn Bridge, a boy popped out in front of her, and bent over in an exaggerated bow.
"Runna's da name. Welcome home, Miz Jinx." Jinx jumped back, startled. Her first instict was to run, but every direction she went, the boy managed to stay right in her path. "It ain't no use, Miz Jinx. Just stay and tawk ta me." She stopped trying to get away from him, but remained silent. Runner cocked his head to the side, looking at her curiously. Neither spoke for what seemed like an eternity.
"If ya ain't got nothin' ta say, let me by!" Jinx said with frusteration. She didn't know who this strange boy was, how he knew her name, or why he had stopped her just to stare at her.
"Oh I got lots ta say, just depends on who I'm tawkin' to," he said with a sly grin, making Jinx even more irate. Runner looked around quickly, then said in a hushed voice, "I t'ink you should know, it ain't such a good idea you comin' back ta Brooklyn. You t'ink ya got one up on Spot, but ya don't. I just want ya ta know dat." Jinx stood speechless, her mouth wide open. "I told ya my name. You t'ink about how I knew yours."
"You... but... I..." Jinx stuttered, flustered by Runner's seemingly random comments.
"No worries, Miz Jinx. I ain't da one ya need ta be concerned about." Runner gave her another exaggerated bow. "I'll be around. I'm always around," he added with a wink.
Jinx made the rest of her way to the Brooklyn Lodging House without incident, her mind churning over her strange encounter with Runner. When she arrived, she was welcomed at the door by both Spot and Knox.
"Welcome back, Jinx," Spot said without emotion. "I was under the impression you would be bringing a friend..." He gave Jinx a glare that sent chills down her spine, and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into the house.
Bam found herself wandering the streets of Manhattan alone. She knew Jack and Race would throw a fit if they caught her alone, but she didn't care anymore. She remembered a time, not that long ago, where all she wanted was to not be alone anymore. Now it seemed like she could never get a minute alone. She thought of when she had stolen that lousy bit of change from Racetrack, and how that one act had caused her all this trouble. And now the only way to get out of all this trouble, seemed to be to put herself, and her friends, right in the line of fire. Bam laughed to herself as she thought about her friends. Were they really her friends? Jack seemed sincere, but it had been his lie that had made Spot so angry in the first place. And Race. He had made such a damn fuss that Jack had to come up with that lie. Jinx and Fleet had known she was in danger, living so closely with Spot, but didn't bother to warn her. Sway seemed to be the only one who hadn't been deceiving in anyway. Bam tried to shake the thoughts from her head. I'm just being paranoid. She tried to force this feeling out of her, but her mind kept circling back to same thought. Why do these damn newsies give a shit what happens to me?
"Aw, darlin', we'se just tryin' ta help!" Sway said soothingly. "All of us have been in trouble at one time or anudda, and we all know what its like ta not have someone ta help ya out." Being the only person she felt hadn't been two-faced, Bam had unloaded her mind onto Sway in a rush of emotions. "Ya had ta be in a rough place ta do what ya did in da foist place, and den ya come ta da newsies and we cause more trouble! No one meant for dat ta happen. So now we're tryin' ta help smooth things ova again. Besides," Sway added, "it gets borin' sellin' dose papes everyday. Everyone likes ta get involved in whateva drama comes up! Adds a little excitement, ya know?" Bam looked at Sway, to find her grinning like a devil. The two were laughing when Jack came up behind them.
"Good ta heah ya laughin' Bammie. You been so down lately." Sway saw the look in Jack's eyes and decided it was time for her to take leave. She said a haisty good bye and quickly exited. "I'm real sorry about all dis mess, Bam." Jack said seriously. Bam raised her eyebrow, wondering what Jack was doing. The last time he spoke to her in this manner was when he kicked her out of Manhattan. "I don't like ya walkin' 'round Manhattan alone. You know dat."
"How did ya know I was walkin' around alone?" Bam asked suspiciously.
"I followed Race."
"So what you followed Race? How..." Bam stopped, putting two and two together. "You still have him following me?" Jack said nothing. "You followed Race, following me?" Bam was outraged. "You're all fucking crazy, ya know that? Crazy!"
"No, I ain't askin' him ta follow you. I don't know why he was. I went lookin' for ya, ta tawk, ya know? And I saw ya, a few blocks ahead of me. And I saw Race, a little behind ya. I wanted ta tawk ta ya. But dat crazy bastard was dere, followin' ya. Dat's why I'm heah now. So we can tawk. Without anyone else around." Jack tried to explain. Bam instantly become nervous when Jack made mention of wanting to get her alone.
"So talk, Jack." Bam demanded. Instead of saying anything, Jack put his arms around her waist, and pulled her close to him.
"I guess I don't really have much ta say, but..." He pressed his lips against hers. Bam was surprised by his actions, he had never really shown any romantic interest in her. She wanted to pull away, but it had been so long since she had a loving touch that she found herself frozen in his kiss.