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Chapter 6: Brooklyn

Blink's view

I leaned against the crates she was laying on, afraid of getting too close. I didn't want to scare Alleyway off. I didn't want to lose the small relationship I had with her. I stared into the dark, night sky. I was glad I had grabbed my jacket before I had run up the stairs to get Alleyway.

Speaking of Alleyway, I heard her fall asleep behind me. I continued to gaze into the night sky. Suddenly, I heard her shivering. Her teeth were clacking together. I was afraid she was cold.

I sat up and leaned over her. I put a cold hand on her warm face. "Alleyway. Alleyway," I said.

She woke up. Well, not really. Her eyes were only half open and she still seemed deep in the sleep she needed.

"Snoddy?" She asked.

I resisted the urge to slap whatever dream she was having about Snoddy right out of her head. My face fell and I sighed. "No. It's Blink." I said. "Kid-Blink."

She smiled and muttered, "Blink," as she tried to snuggle deeper into her over-shirt.

I smiled and resisted the urge to kiss her right there. "Are you cold?" I asked, but she was already asleep again.

I sighed. I took off my jacket and my over-shirt and laid them both on top of her.

She absent-mindedly and sleepily pulled them closer to her. I smiled in delight. I touched her hair tenderly.

Alley's view

I woke up around sunrise the next morning. Blink's jacket and over-shirt were pulled around me and I found that I had gripped them tightly to myself in my sleep. I smiled. Why was he acting so sweet?

Suddenly a teenage boy appeared in front of me. He was wearing a key around his neck. But, what scared me is that he was carrying a cane and holding a slingshot.

I placed a hand on Blink's shoulder. "Blink!" I whispered. "Wake up!" He didn't. I crouched down to his ear and whispered. "Kid! Get up!" He did.

"Hey, Spot," he said, greeting the fierce and intimidating boy in front of us.

"Blink," Spot said emotionless.

"Listen," Kid said. "We need a place to stay."

"I only have one open bunk," Spot said meaningfully.

I sighed. "My brother still here?" Blink asked curiously. I didn't see what that had to do with anything.

"Rust?" Spot asked. "He's still here."

"Mmm," Blink muttered, and then got back to the bunk problem. "We'll share the bunk," he suggested.

I looked at him like he was crazy.

"No," Spot said, even-temperedly. "Jack sent word when Alley-Girl first became a newsie. Saying that if any of you boys tried to go anywhere with her any of us leaders had permission to soak the bum."

Blink sighed. "Give her the bunk. I'll take the floor."

"No," I argued. "You take the bunk. I'll take the floor."

"I'm giving you the bunk." Blink insisted.

"No," I said. "I'll take the floor."

Spot rolled his eyes with a smirk. "You two can have the bunk and the floor. Okay? But, you deal with the sleeping arrangements."

"Thanks, Spot," Blink said. Then, turned towards me to say, "You take the floor."

"No, you take the floor!" I insisted. I suddenly realized what I said and slapped my forehead. "Ug! I'll take the floor!"

"Too late. You said I could take the floor." Blink said with a smile, turning away from me. I slipped off the crates I had been sleeping on. I handed Blink his shirt and coat. He took the shirt, but handed me back the coat. I smiled and sat next to him.

"How long do we stay here?" I asked.

He smiled and put an arm around my shoulder. "What? You don't like it here?"

I put a hand on his chest and whispered in his hear, "Spot is scary!"

Kid Blink nodded and pulled me close to him. I smiled. He wasn't all that bad. He was able to show me just as much, if not more, love as the others were able to.

"What did I tell you, Blink!" Spot's voice suddenly rang out around us.

Kid-Blink and I pulled apart suddenly.

Blink's view

Damn Spot. I was close to her for that one moment. It would have been easier to make her mine if we were back in Manhattan.

I sighed. "What's wrong?" She asked. I smiled and replied, "Nothing."

She bit her lip. "Are we selling papes today," she asked. I shook my head. "Why not?" She asked.

"In case the bulls are looking for you or us," I answered.

"They would come after us?" She asked quietly with wide eyes.

My heart began to beat quickly. There was an us! I just calmly shrugged. "If someone spilled the beans. And, if someone did, it was probably Crutchy. You know what I mean, Alleyway?"

Alleyway laughed. "Why do you call me Alleyway?"

My face fell. "You don't like it," I asked.

She smiled and shrugged. "It's fine. I love it." She rested her head on my shoulder and fell asleep with no warning. She was good at that.