A/N: Well, perhaps it was because AdrenalineRush updated her story that I felt so compelled to finish this chapter and post. :) Hopefully this is the first of more writing to come. Thanks, Addie!

+Lost a Bet+

He had lost a bet – a stupid bet. And he had lost the bet to Kid Blink. He should have known by now that it was foolish to make a wager against Racetrack – that kid would do anything to earn a buck. But there was a fine line between earning a dollar and looking like a complete fool, and this time Skittery thought they had him. It was something very few of them would ever be caught dead doing, so he figured Racetrack would never accept. How very wrong he had been – if Racetrack had had any decency it would have been Kid Blink walking in the pouring rain to buy a new pack of cigarettes, not him.

Skittery kicked irritably at the lamp post as he passed. At least the store wasn't too far, although in this kind of weather any distance seemed a stretch. He was soaked straight through every layer of clothing he was wearing and even into his shoes. It was a miserable condition to be in, but then again, misery had been his company for the past few weeks.

Wrenching open the door, Skittery stepped inside the little convenience store. All he had to do now was grab a pack of cigarettes, pay, and then he could get back to the lodging house – not that getting back had much incentive; it was loud, crowded, and stunk like a dirty sock, but at least it was dry and relatively warm.

Skittery weaved his way to the back of the store to the display of cigarette boxes. Just as he was plucking a pack from the shelf, a couple of voices caught his attention. One of them was all too familiar and it made his blood run cold; he had no desire to face the owner. He knew full well who those voices belonged to without having to look, but he wasn't able to help himself; still clutching the carton of cigarettes, Skittery slowly turned his head and glanced over his shoulder. Two girls, one with curly jet-black hair and the other with short dark brown locks, stood with their backs to him, contemplating the shelves that held the cosmetics.

Edging further toward the back of the store, Skittery crouched down behind a tall display of candy.

"Do we really have to do this, Inky?" Tug asked, a hand perched defiantly on her hip.

Inky groaned, likely with an eye roll. "Of course we do. You said ya wanted to look nice tomorrow night, didn't ya? Well, yer gonna need some of these."

"Fine, if that's what it takes. Let's make it quick though, I've got to meet Rook in a bit, alright?"

Rook? Skittery thought the name sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. It had to be a newsy from one of the smaller territories. He shrunk back against the wall, following the lead of his stomach which seemed to shrivel at the realization that Tug was seeing someone else. If he could have he would have made for the door right then, but that would have run the risk of being seen; that was the last thing he wanted.

So he waited for them to leave. Crouched behind the candy display, the wait felt like an eternity. At one point Inky stood opposite him perusing the selection of chocolates; Skittery held his breath, but she didn't linger long enough to discover his hiding place. Peering around the display he watched the two girls leave the store with their purchases. Relieved that he hadn't been seen, Skittery hurried to the cashier to pay for the cigarettes he had come for. Pocketing the carton, he slumped back out on to the streets.

As he journeyed back to the lodging house, his mind reeled with images of Tug with this other boy – who he was, where he was from, what he looked like, and how he treated her. Each thought made him both angry and sick to his stomach. He did not want to think about Tug with another boy, but the images would not leave his head – all the way to the lodge.

Slamming through the front door, Skittery stalked to the back room and chucked the pack of cigarettes on the card table between Blink and Racetrack.

"What took ya so long?" Racetrack asked, shifting a deck of cards through his fingers.

Skittery scowled. "You two ever heard of a newsy called Rook?"

Blink looked up at him and nodded. "Yeah, he's from down in Battery Park – their leader."

"Wonderful," Skittery grumbled sarcastically and turned to leave.

"Why?" Blink called after him.

"Forget it," Skittery replied without looking back.

Racetrack and Blink shared a look; both knew better than to meddle when Skittery was in a mood. Blink would just pester Skittery about it later after he had some time to calm down.