Thanks for the reviews Calzino :)

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His bright grin faded instantly as he glanced around suspiciously.

I stood there for what felt like forever while he seemed to be suddenly sizing me up. I shifted uncomfortably and my smile vanished. I looked at him questioningly and was about to turn and run from the increasingly awkward situation, when he finally spoke.

"Sorry, I can't help ya." He said quickly, avoiding eye contact. He turned and stepped into the busy street, disappearing in the crowd.

I stood there bewildered. Of all the possible responses I could have received, that was the last one I would have expected. It wasn't what he said. I had heard that exact same thing many times before. It was how he said it, how he had looked at me.

I was suddenly forced back to the present by a shove from behind and a shouted insult about being in the way. I realized I was standing in the middle of the sidewalk and quickly moved back to the safety of the cold shadows. I sat in the corner, where a stoop intersected with a building, and pulled my legs up close.

I tried to rethink what just happened. No matter how I played it back in my head, it just didn't make sense.

I stood and brushed myself off, deciding to start looking for a place to sleep for the night. I pulled my jacket close as the wind started to pick up. Walking down the nearest alley I saw a rather large trash bin of sorts, and curled up next to it.

I sat contemplating the events of the day for several hours, the sun beginning to set as I drifted in and out of sleep. It was clear the boy knew something. He was the first person I had met so far that obviously recognized the name, and he just walked away. Well, I thought, resting my chin on my knees, I'm not going to give up that easily.

I woke up to the bright sun shining on my face and the sound of people bustling about the streets. I slowly realized that though the sun was on me, I was freezing. I pulled my brown coat close and wrapped my arms around my knees, not wanting to wake up and face another day. Suddenly I remembered. The events of yesterday came pouring back as I became more conscience. The boy, the papers, the apple... the apple? Suddenly my stomach growled and I sighed. First things first I thought. Slowly I got to my feet feeling shaky and weak. It wasn't a new feeling for me but it's not exactly something you ever get used to. I stood for a moment and tried to clear my head and gather some warmth, then wrapped my arms around my sides tightly and stepped out of the alley.

Right away I was dodging people and sticking to the sides of buildings. With every breath a white cloud puffed from my mouth, the bright sun being simply a blinding nuisance as opposed to a source of warmth. I stopped and leaned against the corner of a brick building at a busy intersection and scanned the area for food. The slight breeze was continuously blowing annoying strands of hair and interfering with my vision. There were a few vendors here and there, but I was worried about having to escape when I wasn't sure my legs would work too well today.

Why didn't I eat more yesterday? I thought angrily to myself. It was far warmer and I was far less tired and overall cranky then. I reminded myself again of the events of yesterday and what needed to be done today. I just had to eat something so that I could try and figure things out. I sighed and gazed at the buildings around me and it finally hit me. A feeling of familiarity grew inside me as I realized where I was. I grinned to myself as I turned and just as I suspected, saw the nuns in the distance. I had been here a few times in the past. All I knew was that some nuns would come out and just give you food. Mostly it was kids I remembered that would gather around the wagon, and as I got closer, I saw that this time was no different. I stood in the back and waited for the crowd to clear slightly, then worked my way forward accepting a small bread loaf from a nun. I grinned and mumbled my thanks, feeling somewhat guilty having food just given to me, and turned to leave.

I wove through the crowd again, that mostly consisted of boys, and sat on the curb to eat greedily. As I finished I stood and saw as large group of newsboys came pouring out of some gates. They shouted headlines as they slowly dispersed through the streets. A smile spread across my face as I spotted the boy from yesterday walking with another newsboy toward central park.

I quickly stood from my spot on the curb and walked briskly across the street. As I neared the two, I slowly sank back, increasing the distance between us. What am I doing? I thought as they rounded a corner and I continued to follow. I suddenly realized I had no idea what I planned on doing when I reached them. The memories of yesterday's encounter came back to me and I recalled the cold, skeptical look I had been given.

I was starting to slow my pace, but something wouldn't let me stop. I just kept following him. The boy who knew something. He had a name didn't he? I couldn't remember what we had discussed before I had asked him about my brother. It felt like that was all that happened. Did I tell him my name? I wondered. I sure hope so, I thought, thinking it would have been rude to have not told him. Oh what does it matter? I scolded myself for wasting my thoughts on such trivial things and went back to deciding my next course of action.

I watched as eventually he and the other boy seemed to find spots they liked in the park, and stood a good distance apart hawking headlines. I pulled up my hood on my coat and sat on a nearby bench and just watched. I had no idea what to do. I so badly wanted to approach him, ask him what happened yesterday and beg him to help me... but then of course the other part of me, the sensible part, reminded me of my childish shyness and ridiculous embarrassment.

I sighed and pulled my knees up to my chest and sat in a ball on the bench, hoping I would think of something, but my mind being a blank slate. I watched the boys sell into the afternoon, still just sitting in a ball, mentally slapping myself for being so afraid. Finally it seemed they sold all of their papers and started heading off together back in the direction they came. The direction that I happened to be sitting in.

I pulled my hood closer to my face and just watched as they passed by, laughing and shoving each other, seemingly enjoying themselves. I frowned, watching their backs as they eventually vanished into the crowded streets. I didn't feel I needed to follow him anymore. I knew myself too well, and knew I would never have the nerve to confront him. I slowly slid to the left and rested my head on the bench. I felt my eyes burn as I buried my face in my sleeve. I was completely frustrated with myself. Lying there, I didn't realize when I started falling asleep.

When I woke, I was first startled at the fact I had been sleeping, knowing a park bench at night was never a good idea. I looked to the sky and was relieved to see the sun was only just beginning to set. I sighed and got up, smoothing out my clothes and stretching out. I started to walk. I didn't really care where I was going. I kept a good eye out though for a nice place to stay for the night, glancing down alleys every now and then. I walked with my head down for the most part, looking very glum, kicking little stones along the sidewalk as I went. I started to notice that it was becoming dark and sighed as I looked up to the sky.

As I turned to continue walking something caught my eye. I stood staring at it for some time. There was a warm glow coming from the inside and even from across the street I was sure I heard voices and laughter. I felt a renewed hope building inside me as I stared at the sign. Newsboys Lodging House