Here's the next chappie:) Notes.

Maeko-Nohara: I know, I agree a bit on Spot, but at the same time I wanted to show where a possible weakness might be. It's a hint at things to come. :)

Chapter 12

"Mama, this is Jenna Thomas," Davey said as he walked through the door of his apartment with Jack, Les, and Jenna. It sounded strange to Jenna to hear her name coming from anyone but her mother. The newsies simply called her 'Toothpick.'

"Jenna, not Jim, right?" she asked as Jenna nodded slowly, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

"Yes, Ma'am," she murmured.

"I think it's wonderful what you're doing for your mother," she said, startling Jenna. It wasn't the fact that she had spoken, it was her words. Jenna had honestly expected them to be hostile to her for lying, but the whole family had the opposite reaction. They seemed to welcome her with open arms so readily that she was overwhelmed, her face turning a bright red.

"It's nice to officially meet you, Toothpick," Sarah chuckled as she held out her hand. Jenna had to think twice before shaking it, careful not to spit in her pal first. "So, what's it like?"

"We'll talk during dinner, right now we're all sitting down to eat," her mother said.

"Oh, thank you, Mrs. Jacobs, I'm starvin'," Jenna sighed as she pulled off her hat and they approached the table. There was something mystifying about Jenna's hair. Everywhere there was light to shine on it, it gave off a shimmery, glossy appearance. For a moment even Les stared, even though he saw it everyday.

"Oh, Jenna," Sarah breathed as she gazed upon the long locks of glorifying red hair shining under the dim light hanging over the kitchen table.

"What?" she asked, sitting down at the table as everyone else slowly took their seats.

"Your hair is so beautiful," Sarah said.

"Oh, thank you," she said, blushing again. "Me dad always liked it too."

"Your dad?" Sarah repeated.

"Yeah, he always told me that it was too pretty ta cut, so I promised him I never would," she explained.

"That's why ya didn't cut ya hair to become a newsie, right?" Jack asked as she nodded.

Later that night Jenna offered to help Sarah with the dishes and through it was to be helpful she also had her own selfish reasons. This was her chance to connect with Sarah, even if it was over soapy water and dirty dishes. Sarah handed her a wet, limp rag and took one for herself, turning the hot water on and taking a plate caked with mashed potatoes and steak sauce in her hands. She poured some soap on it and began to scrub lightly as Jenna followed.

"So, what's it like?" Sarah asked. Jenna turned to her with a confused look. "Being a newsie, I mean." She smiled, realizing she hadn't clarified her question very much.

"Ah, it ain't nuttin' special, just a bunch a boys day in and day out," Jenna replied, shrugging.

"It must be hard, not just being a newsie, but your whole life, Davey told me what he knew about your mother. What exactly is wrong with her?" Sarah asked, immediately feeling as is she'd pried too far. Surprisingly though, Jenna didn't seem to exhibit that feeling.

"She has cancer," Jenna replied plainly.

"Oh, I'm sorry, how long?" Sarah asked softly.

"She's had it for over two years, about two years and four months. She got it about two months after me fadda died," she explained.

"How did he die?" Sarah asked delicately.

This, however, did hit a nerve. Jenna's brow seemed to furrow as she thought about how to answer this question. Her father had died so rapidly that it scared her. Maybe that was one reason she was afraid of her feelings for Racetrack. Life was so uncertain and emotions cost too much to just give them away. Jenna would rather talk about her mother's condition than her father's death any day. For ever person it's different, the desire to know when death is near. For Jenna there was no option, she would rather knew hands down.

"Look," Jenna said, pointing to the plate in her hands. All of the green beans still remained as well as most of the steak. "Les." She began to chuckle as Sarah joined in.

"I'm sorry," Sarah apologized after they had had a good laugh. "I shouldn't have asked that, it wasn't my place."

"It's all right, it's just that me fadda's death, well, yeah-" Jenna broke off as Sarah nodded.

"It's all right, I understand," she replied with a sweet smile.

"Oh, gosh, what time is it?" Jenna asked suddenly, looking frantic. Sarah glanced at the clock on the mantel over the fireplace.

"Almost eight," she replied.

"Gaw lee, I gotta go," Jenna cried, quickly handing the dirty rag in her hands back to Sarah, who just stood there looking horrible confused. "Thank ya so much, Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs, supper was wonderful!" And with that she rushed out the door.

"Why was she in such a hurry?" Davey asked as Sarah shrugged.

"I don't know," Mrs. Jacobs said, slowly rising from her position on the floor to the door. She reached for her shawl and headed out the door.

"Jenna, Jenna dear!" Mrs. Jacobs called after the figure of the rapidly disappearing teen. Jenna slowed her run to a jog and finally stopped.

"Yes, Ma'am?" she asked.

"Is there anything wrong?" she asked.

"No, not at all, oh, wait, me mom, she ain't gonna be too happy that I'm still out, can ya, no-" Jenna broke off reluctantly.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I was getting' ahead of myself, it's too much ta axe of ya," Jenna said.

"Jenna, if there is anyway I can help you please let me know," Mrs. Jacobs said.

"Well, I'm teachin' Mush to read an' usually we meet at seven but tonight I told him eight because I was havin' supper wid you. I'm already late. Can ya please let me mudda know I'll be home soon?" Jenna asked softly.