"DUN WORRY ABOUT IT!" Race said in his heavy New York accent, taking another puff of his cigar.
"HEY FELLAS!" Jack yelled, and all of the boys looked up from what they were doing.
Most of them were just sitting on the bunks, talking, or playing cards. Some of them filed over to where Jack and Race were standing.
"Hey cowboy!" some of the boys yelled back at him, not really paying attention or looking over.
"Wut is this boys? Wut, do you think me and Race came back to the lodgin house for nuttin?" Jack yelled to them, because they didn't notice Kylie.
They all looked over at him and when they saw her, most of them rushed over to where they were standing.
Jack smiled his little side-smile to Kylie.
"hey guys" Kylie said to them all as they surrounded her. Jack introduced her to all of the boys.
She could hear some of the older guys asking Jack where he had found her.
"Nice ta meet ya sweets," one of the older kids said to her.
She smiled at him and when Jack saw this, he stood a little in front of Kylie, so the older kid was kind of pushed away.
"Ok here's the deal boys!" Jack yelled out. "Kylie here is gonna stay wit us for a few days"
All of the boys started to hoot and cheer.
"A few days?" Kylie started, "I wasn't even planning on spending the night!"
Jack just brushed it off. "You aint got no where to go. And even if ya do, ya don't wanna be there. Am I right?" He smirked.
All of the boys started to file out of the lodging house.
"Time fer sellin papes!"
"Sellin papes?" Kylie asked Jack with a confused face.
"That's the game," he said, as he Race handed him a big pile of newspapers.
"Thanks Race," Jack said to him.
He handed Kylie half of the stack.
"Le's go," Jack said as he grabbed her hand.
"So why were you really sleepin out on the streets like that if i've never even seen you around here before?" Jack asked her, curiously.
She hesitated to answer him.
"I dunno," she said as she looked at her feet as they walked side-by-side.
"Now thats not a very good answer. kinda weak," he said, smirking at her.
She smiled.
"I don't know. It's like everytime, I'm always stuck in a moment. And it was never meant to be," she said.
"Whattaya mean by that?" he asked.
"I had this one boy for about two years. And he was like my everything," she started.
Jack raised his eyebrows at her.
"It just hurts. I hate myself for losing him. And dying doesn't really seem so cruel." She said.
Jack looked at her. "You don't mean that," he said.
She paused. "I know. But it just feels that way"
He put his arm around her and she smiled.
"You'll be ok. I got you know girl"
"Thanks Jack. I probably woulda gona crazy if i was still by myself right now," she said.
"Hey, no problem. But i just have one question for ya," he started.
"What's that?" she asked.
"I know I told all da boys that yous was stayin for a few days, and i know i dont have any say ova how long yous stay. But... well...would yous stay wit us for atleast a few days?" he said, trying to be cool with his words.
Kylie looked up into Jack's big eyes. His hair was a little greasy but it looked good. She melted everytime she saw that smile go across his face. He fiddled with the red bandana tied around his nack until she answered him.
"Of course I'll stay longer. I don't think I could make myself leave anyway," she smiled.
"So whataya say when we's done sellin papes, you come back to get some lunch wit me n the boys at Tibby's?" he asked.
"I'd like that," she said, and when she did, Jack smiled and slowly took her hand, hoping she wouldnt pull back, which she didnt.