Guess what!! We're getting a new computer and it's going in my room. My room + brand new computer= Very Happy author and Happy author + no homework= often updates. So lets all hope that I get less homework.

Hmm what should I hand out to my reviewers this chapter........Umm I'm thinking. I will think of something.

Shout Outs:

Sapphy: I love school house rock!!! John says 'thank you' for letting him borrow Ted.

Merp: It must be an 8th grade thing because I learned it in 8th grade too. Several of my friends did also.

Cici: Wow a lot of people had to memorize the preamble I thought it was just my insane, but awesome teacher.

AngelFish: Maybe you will, seeing as Cici and Merp did too. Never know though. Singing it is actually quite fun because everyone else has to sing too.

Clips: Uooo another new face (well name).. Yay! Thank you for the review. Uhh Spot is a stretch but I think I could do Skittery or one of the Brooklyn boys.

Chapter 10

"But I would walk 500 miles, And I would walk 500 more" I sang quietly to myself as I walked around trying to find a good spot to sell. I gave the people around me a brief intermission from my singing while I began to bellow the headlines.

"Ya can't sell word beans," I heard laughing from behind me.

I turned to see Riley hawking the headlines at the absolute top of his lungs and getting two sales.

"If I can't sell then what do I need to improve?" I asked not letting Riley crush myself confidence.

"Ya need to be louder," He said.

I rolled my eyes. Someone telling me to be louder was an oxymoron but I was willing to give it a try.

"Horse on rampage kills whole family," I yelled as if I was back on the competition floor with my squad cheering at the top of my lungs so we could be heard over the music but still with clarity.

Riley was still laughing at me but with his eyes this time. The kind of laughing that doesn't hurt but when done by a boy like Riley makes you melt. Trust me right about then I was a popsicle that had been out in the sun too long. "What now?" I asked hoping for another tip.

"No one cares about de dumb hoise."

"Alright then what should I yell then?"

"Things wid catchy woids," Riley replied. "Things dat aren't in the normal conversation of people."

"Like big words?" Big words, hopefully that would work. "Or maybe something in another language?"

"Yeah try that."

I glanced through the paper in search of something I could improve. 'Highly Respected Inventor Cries to meet Ends' uber lame headline that could use some improving.

"So I could change something like 'Highly Respected Inventor Cries to meet Ends' to 'Eminent Inventor Catches Horrible Case of Histrionics'." Riley gave me a blank stare that meant he had no idea what the second phrase meant. "All right I guess I'll use that then."

Riley nodded and went back to selling his stack of papers.

"'Eminent Inventor Catches Horrible Case of Histrionics!'" I bellowed cheer style and got several sales. "Distinguished Science Community Shuns him!" This was fun! Dude it would be fun to walk around school yelling things that people only had a sliver of knowledge of what you were saying. Distinguished and Eminent probably wouldn't work but not many people know what Histrionics means. I love knowing big words.

I sold the rest of my stack using similar improvements. It was a blast! I swear it was almost disappointing when I ran out of papers. Riley appeared out of no where when I was finished selling and took my hand.

My eyes shifted between his hand in mine and his eyes. To me it was clearly a hint for him to let go of my hand but he didn't seem to get. I sighed and tried to pull my hand away. He held it tight.

"Calm down," He whispered letting go of my hand and pulled me into a tight hug. He casually glanced to his right then let me go.

"What'ja do that for?" I asked a little angry and confused.

"Dere was a guy ovah dere I know giving ya looks," Riley replied starting to walk.

"So?" I snapped catching up with Riley.

"So if he dinks dat yeh me goil den he'll leave ya 'lone," Riley replied.

"I still don't see why you did that," I growled lightly.

Riley stopped and looked me in the eye. He was being a mixture of Riley and Spot right now and it confused the heck out of me when he did this.

"Ya don't want a guy like dat going after ya," He said his usually emotionless face showing slight concern. "Guy's like that ah only looking foh one ding."

"How would you know?" I replied. "Maybe he's really just a nice boy who would like some attention from the opposite gender."

"De look on his face told me,"

"Fine, Whatever," I said starting to walk. I wasn't sure why I had been arguing with Riley over that so I decided it was time to end it. I really didn't have much ground to argue there so I had been fighting a losing battle.

"Ya think yeh all tough, and ya ah Julie, but ya don't seem ta know how ta take care of yehself on da street." Riley said grabbing my arm.

I turned and stared at him. What was with the tough statement seemed a little out of the blue to me.

"Why do you care so much? Maybe I just need to figure out how to take care of myself on the streets." I snapped back despite my confusion.

"Fine good luck," Riley replied turning full Spot again his eyes completely cold. He turned and walked away with out a second thought from what I could see. I felt very alone all the sudden without him there. I turned and disappeared into the crowd to find Flame.

~~~~****~~~~****~~~~

I woke up exhausted but knew that I wouldn't be late again. Mom, as the others had insisted I call Mrs. Konell, had agreed to wake me up an hour before the others. I growled and got up for another long day of trying to stay alive.

"Yeh not usually up wid us this early," Miracle said from where she was getting ready. Miracle had a little longer than shoulder length chestnut hair and was about 1 year I guess younger than me.

"I've only known you for a day now," I replied sleepily. Miracle shrugged and went back to getting ready. Miracle sold in Manhattan like several of the other girls and slept here because there was no lodging house for girls in Manhattan. They had to get up earlier than even me for the walk.

After getting ready I headed towards the door.

"Leaving so eoily?" Clips asked standing by the stair case.

"Unfortunately," I muttered staring to get a headache.

"Alright," She replied. Clips also had chestnut color hair but with crisp blue eyes.

I sighed at headed out for another long and most likely boring day. At least that's what I thought then.