Chapter Two

Leah followed the two newsies, as they called themselves back to their lodging house. It was only a few minutes away from where they had met, which she was very glad about. Her legs and chest were aching from too much running.

She vaguely heard Calliope explain that this was the girls lodging house. Race lived down the street a bit more, in the boys lodging house. Leah was led to a bed, and told that that was where she would be sleeping. As Callie explained that none of the other girls were there right then, they were all off working. "I'd better be off doing the same." Callie said, " Or I won't be able to eat tonight. We're going to be at Tibby's later, meet us there at around 6. It's Jack' birthday, and we're gonna celebrate. It's two blocks down on the left, ya can't miss it. See ya later!" And with that she was gone.

Leah couldn't help but feel lost. It seemed like she had withdrawn from her body, and it was just doing as it pleased. Everything was happening in a blur, her mother's death, being put out on the streets. She couldn't grasp it all. Not right now. The only thing she seemed to be able to control right now was her breathing. So that's all she did, she didn't think or move, she just sat on her small bunk. Existing.

She must have sat that way for hours. Her back was aching and her right leg had fallen asleep. She grimaced as she moved it, sending tiny pains up and down her leg. She jumped as the bunk room door slamed open, and two girls entered chatting animatedly.

"So I guess there's some new girl staying here now. Callie was telling me about her, said she doesn't talk much. I think her name is Lynn… or Leigh… something like that."

"Leah." Leah told them, causing them both to jump.

The girl who had been talking blushed deeply, embarrassed to be caught talking about someone, especially being caught by the person she had been talking about.

The other girl recovered quickly, "The name's Cheatah," she said thrusting her ink stained hand out. Leah regarded the stains for a moment before grasping it in a handshake. "That's Magpie." Cheatah said, after a moment of silence.

Magpie put out her hand as well, and Leah shook it. "Nice to meet you."

"Yeah… you too."

Just then Callie burst through the door. "Hey, Cheatah, Magpie… didja meet Leah?"

"Yeah," Cheatah said. "Ya just missed the introductions. We goin' over to Tibby's or what?"

"Course. We'll meet you over there."

Cheatah and Magpie nodded, before turning away and heading down the stairs.

Callie walked over to the bunk she would be sharing with Leah, and sat down next to the girl. "Hey, are you ok? You've been real quiet."

Leah smiled halfheartedly. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Look, I don't know your story. And that's the way it goes with a lot of street kids. But sometimes… sometimes it helps to get it all out." Callie shrugged, "Just something to think about."

Leah regarded Callie, her blue eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Thanks. I'll- I'll keep that in mind"

Callie smiled, her lighthearted smile returning to her face. "That's enough of being serious, let's go to Tibby's, Jack's birthday is always a big bash."

Leah nodded, getting up to her feet, her cramped legs protesting painfully. Together, she and Calliope left the lodging house and started down the street towards Tibby's.

They chatted a bit on the way, Leah slowly opening up to the friendly girl that seemed determined to be her friend.

"That's Tibby's up ahead." Callie said, pointing to a small diner a few doors down from where they were.

Leah stopped in her tracks when she saw it, memories flooding into her head. It was the same diner her mother had taken her too for her eighth birthday. She could remember it like it was yesterday. She had only been out to eat three times in her life. Once when she was five years old, shd lost her favorite doll, Annie, she had cried for three days, until her mother had taken her to a small restaurant on 52nd street to make her feel better. Once when she was six, she had broken her finger, when one of the windows in the deteriorated old brownstone had slammed down on it, he mother had taken her out then too. And the last time, for her eighth birthday.

She felt the tears well up in her eyes again, but this time she couldn't hold them back, they streamed down her face in twin rivers. That one memory had released a torrent of memories, from the last fourteen years. She absentmindedly fingered the small locket that still hung around her neck.

"Leah- Leah, are you ok?" Callie asked, looking at her, worriedly.

"I- I gotta go. I'm gonna go back to the lodging house."

"Ok… well, let me walk with you." Callie said, taking her arm.

"No. No, I just need to be alone, please, please, I just want to be alone."

Callie bit her lip, "Ok, well… do you know the way back?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine," Leah squeezed the words out through her tears, before turning on her heel, and running back towards the lodging house.