"Blinky my boy, we're goin' out." Racetrack combed his hair, parted in the middle, and straightened his suspenders. "Medda's puttin' on a special show for us."

"Well, you have fun, Race," Blink said, leaning against the window frame and smoking.

"No, you're comin' too, pal." Race put a hand on his shoulder and reached up to affix a hat on Blink's head.

"Thanks, but I don't feel much like--"

"Don't make excuses. Me an' the fellas, we got a present for ya."

Blink stubbed out his cigarette, tossing it to the ground below. "That's real nice of ya, Race, but I just don't feel like goin' out."

"Blink, shut the hell up." Race grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out the door.

Irving Hall was packed, practically from floor to ceiling. By the time Race and Blink arrived, Medda was already into her third song, but it made no difference to either of the boys. They made their way to the center of the floor, where several newsies waited at a table.

Blink said his hellos, then noticed the girl sitting at the table.

"Blink," Race said, "This is Delilah."

Delilah greeted him with a smile. She was pretty; she had a lovely face with a look of innocence, but her outfit and the roughness to her voice betrayed her. Blink looked closer, examined her makeup – he knew exactly what she was.

He looked around at his friends, baffled. They just grinned back at him. Delilah stood up and took him by the hand. "Would you like to dance?"

"No, thanks. I'm not much for dancing."

"Blink! Where are your manners?" Racetrack scolded him. "The lady wants to dance with you."

Delilah dragged him out to the dance floor, where he swayed with her awkwardly for a few minutes. After a while, she pulled away, looking him dead in the eye.

"What?" Blink tried to find a place to focus, anywhere but on her face.

"Whattaya say you and me go find someplace more private?"

"I, um..." He looked down at his shoes. "I'd really rather--"

"God, how do your friends stand you?" She threw back her head and laughed. "Come with me."

She led him through the crowd and to a deserted hallway, through a door into what used to be a prop room. Closing the door, she was on him.

Under the makeup, her lips were dry and rough, used too many times by too many people. Calloused hands ran over him, through his hair, over his trousers, undid the buttons on his shirt. He stood outside his body and observed the situation, noticed how out of it he was and how her moans were as fake as her smile.

She pulled him to the floor, tugging his shirt and suspenders free. Ready and waiting, she whispered foul-mouthed things in his ear as she unbuttoned his trousers – but nothing happened.

Angered, Delilah stood up. "What the hell is this!" She yelled, stomping her foot.

"I-- I, uh," Blink stammered, propping himself up on his elbows.

"I'm the prettiest girl in the whole God-damn city! What's wrong with you? Everybody wants me!"

"You ain't the prettiest," he mumbled, then prayed she hadn't heard him. But she had, and she stormed out the door, leaving him half-dressed and very confused.

Outside, it was cool and quiet, perfect conditions for Blink to walk home alone. He was angry; angry at Delilah for yelling at him, at himself for being completely incompetent, and at Racetrack, for thinking getting him a two-bit whore was a good idea. It's the thought that counts, chimed a little voice in his head. Yeah, but who the hell thinks, Gee, my friend is down, I'll get him a hooker to cheer him up?

Fuming, he kicked at a rock and headed for home.

A/N: Poor Blink. The guy just can't catch a break, can he? Jeeze. Well, I have the next chapter all plotted out, and it was going to be part of this chapter, but then I decided it'd be better as two. So here you go.

Guh. It's been such a productive day for me... I'm completely exhausted. I wrote two chapters of Lean On Me, one chapter for this fic, and an entirely new fic. I think I'm breakin' records here! I think I'll try and shell out one last chapter and then take a break. But you guys are all fantastic, and I love you. I'll love you even more if you leave me some reviews! Thanks! -Layne