That night, laughter and dancing were flowing liberally around the building. Several newsies had brought girls, but since those girls were off-limits, Sarah had many a reel with the other, not-so-lucky guys. A few boys had smuggled in two bottles of whiskey.

Red sat on the side in a wooden chair, looking very stiff and proper and uncomfortable. She wore the burgundy dress she had received from Sarah on her birthday. She never came to these things. "Too frivolous," she would exclaim, usually with a huff and walking away. Sarah had also cajoled her into letting Sarah and Mrs. Jacobs do her up for the night. They had expertly covered the fading black eye. Red dubiously fingered a small curl that had landed in her face. After wetting her hair, they found how curly it was and decided to let it hang the way it was. She sighed, flicking it back, wondering how in the world she had been convinced to do this. Definitely too much soda, she concluded, just as she also decided to leave early. All the fancyin' up…too much ta do fer one night. She rose from her seat.

Blink came to her side, breathing hard. He let out a large exhalation.

"Whew! I'm jist gonna rest here a moment 'fore I head back in. Ya mind?" he asked as he proceeded to take the chair next to her. She reluctantly sat back down, stiffening when his arm fell across the back of her chair, but relaxed a little bit.

"Why ain't ya been dancin', angel?"

She glared at him. "Don't call me dat."

He grinned. He could usually rile her that way. At least her glaring was better than the deer-caught-in-headlights look she'd had all evening. Even as he looked at her, she wrung her hands almost to the point of exhaustion and kept glancing every five seconds or so at the door. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs.

"So, ya still ain't answered me question, goil." Red glared at him again, but didn't open her mouth.

"What, 'm I gonna hafta kiss it outta ya?"

She scooted over a few seats. "Touch me an' die," she hissed. He continued as if he'd never heard her.

"Cuz, there really ain't any udda goils heah to dance wit…an' Jack's lookin' pretty green ova dere tryin' ta get Sarah back."

Red opened her mouth, hesitating, then snapped it shut. "Oh, I dunno. I guess it's kinda stupid I spose. I…well…I neva danced b'fore."

Blink laughed. "Whaddya mean, ya've neva danced b'fore? Evryone kin dance."

She shook her head, a small smile creeping onto her face. "Nah. Màthair coul' dance real well, but I took afta my athair. We both had two left feet…but boy, could we make music. Back in Ireland…athair would play da fiddle. Reels and folk dances…t'was almost like a dream."

Blink enjoyed hearing whatever he could about her family. He'd shared a lot of his history with her before the Incident a few months ago. Now a little more of her was coming out sometimes. But you wouldn't catch it if you weren't around.

He held out his hands to her. "Ya wanna try yer hand…er, feet…at dancin'?" A fast song had started by the musicians. She shook her head.

"Nah. I think I'll jist leave. Dere's not room fo' me heah."

Blink grabbed her hands and tossed her into the group of dancers. Circling and swaying, clapping and stepping, Red laughed every time she stepped on a foot. Her laughter was once heard for three minutes straight, so that the boys almost thought it was part of the song. After the song ended, she almost ran to the edge of the group, back to her chair. Blink was waiting. She held up a finger and a very stern face, as if to scold him.

"Why you…you…thù gòrach!" He grabbed her hand.

"Hey, no insultin' me. I kin knock ya down in two seconds flat."

A small, imperceptible smirk appeared on her face as she jerked her hand away from his. "But you would neva hit a goil. Would ya, Blinky-poo?"

His face flashed crimson. "I tole ya neva ta call me dat!"

She grinned in full force this time, flipping his hat off his head. "You do it ta me. I kin do it ta you."

He angrily grabbed his hat and slammed it on his head. But before he could retort, a proud-looking, clearly tipsy Snoddy came by and grabbed Red's hand. She sobered almost instantly.

"Ya lookin' purty tanight, Red." A slight scent of whiskey wafted towards her nose.

She turned her head away from him, not even cracking a smile. "Must be da lightin'. Ooh, look at dat!" She pointed across the room to nothing. While Snoddy glanced in that direction, she took her chance to free her hand and start off towards the exit.

Before she could get there, a calmer Blink stopped her.

"Dance wit me?"

She kindly shook her head. "No, thanks though."

He growled and grabbed her. "I won't let ya go 'til ya dance wit me." She rolled her eyes, trying to free herself from the bear hug she got from behind.

"No, Blink. I don't dance!"

He slowly loosened his grip, pleading in her ear. "Please, Red?" He turned her so she could look at him. "Please?"

She looked at him and sighed, reluctantly. "Fine. Only one. Then I leave. Deal?"

He spit in his hand. "Deal."

They shook on it, and just as the music started, Blink led her out onto the floor. Red reluctantly stepped into the waltz, varieties of the dance being echoed through the room. She jerked involuntarily when his arm encircled her waist, pulling her body closer to his. She looked around to see all the bodies swirling and swaying faster than the simple box step she and Blink were performing.

As time goes by

She looked up from watching her footsteps. Blink was staring at her face. Her brow furrowed. "Whatcha starin' at, dunderhead?"

We're never the same

He ignored her words. "Explain me sumptin'."

As time goes by

She looked at his one good eye, her face puzzled. "Depends on what da question may be. Shoot."

You'll forget me again

"Few minutes ago, Snoddy comes up ta ya, says ya look purty. Why'd ya brush it off?"

As time goes by

Red almost dropped his hands and ran, but Blink held on fast. He leaned his face over to her ear, whispering. "Cuz ya are. Theresa Lynn O'Bryan, would you do me the honor of bein' me goil?"

You were right there waiting

Red started shaking. Her steps slowed, and Blink was soon forced to stop. He dropped her hands. "What? Wha' did I say?"

But as time goes by

She just shook her head. How can you explain something you don't even know the meaning of?

You became a memory

He led her off the floor to her chair. "I must've done sumptin'. No one goes inta a conniption fit witout havin' a reason."

She took a deep breath. "Let's jist say it's kinda like dancin'. Guys are like me 'n dancin'. They neva really woik. Eva. And da Snoddy thing? He was drunk. Ya could smell it across da room."

He snorted. "Mo' excuses, woman. You'se beautiful, talented…" His voice trailed off. "What?"

She turned away. "I gotta go. I gotta go."

He touched her shoulder. "Then lemme walk ya back to the house."

She flinched. "No! No. I'm…I'll be fine. Just…I'll see ya tomorra."

Red walked out the door, never looking anywhere but straight ahead, her shoulders straight back, her head erect. Blink looked after her, wondering.

One tear escaped down her cheek.

As time goes by

We're never the same As time goes by You'll forget me again

As time goes by

You were right there waiting

But as time goes by

You became a memory

And sometimes you forget

That forever is forever

But you'll always remember

That never is never

And time goes by

And you're free

Like the wings

Of a bird

On the wind

And the rain

Keeps fallin' down on me

As time goes by

I can't recall your face

As time goes by

You forget this place

As time goes by

My heart won't forget

As time goes by

I know yours did

And the wind and the moonlight

Shine down on me

As time goes by

You're just a memory

- - - - - - - - -

So, thank you madmbutterfly for reviewing for me, you are much appreciated! Hope everyone else enjoys the change in plot added, and...ummm...go...buy a mocha moolatte for me. Cuz DQ closed. thanks! -rj