October 31, 1899

"Me and some of the boys are going out tonight, you should come. We've barely seen you lately." David's words from the morning echoed in Jack's head as he returned to his apartment early in the evening. How could he tell his best friend that the reason he hadn't been spending time with the boys was because he had been with another girl so soon after Sarah's death, that the two of them were screwing and practically playing house in his seedy apartment? He weighed his options for what had to be the millionth time as he walked up the rickety old staircase. He could go, bring her, and risk his friends being angry (and probably without another second chance); or he could stay and not even mention the outing to her, and distance himself from the boys he called his family even more than he already had. Either way, he thought as he turned the key in the lock, I'm pushing it with the boys. So why not?

Cassidy sat up in bed when she heard the door begin to open, and engrossed herself in the book she was reading once more. Jack didn't need to know that she'd been watching for him to come back, that would be unnecessarily awkward. So he came in and spoke a greeting as he walked to the bed, and she responded with a casual "Hey," and put her book on the bedside table.

Jack took a seat beside her, sitting cross-legged so he could face her. "Listen," he began, an opening which she wasn't sure if she liked or not, "a bunch of the boys are going out tonight, since it's Halloween and all. I didn't say if I'd go or not yet, because, well…I was wondering if you'd like to come. With me. And meet the boys and all." It was silent for a moment as they stared at each other. "I mean, you don't have to, I just thought it might be nice to get out together and all, but-"

"I'd love to," she admitted, practically jumping out of the bed so she could get dressed.

A wide smirk spread across Jack's face as he watched her slip out of her nightgown and into a blouse and long skirt. "What did you say?" he asked curiously, sliding off the bed and putting the change from his pocket into the drawer of the bedside table where he kept all his earnings.

She stopped and turned to look at him. "I said…I said…I'd love to," she said softly, consequently turning a pale shade of pink.

"That's what I thought you said." He chuckled, and she, in turn, smiled, and continued dressing. It crossed Jack's mind as he watched her to warn her about the way the boys might react. They'd all known Spot, and they'd all heard about her, and he knew it wouldn't be fair not to tell her that there was a possibility they would be hostile about him bringing her. But he decided against it. Telling her might make her want to stay home, or get her upset, neither of which he wanted to happen. So, instead, he smiled while she finished dressing.

Half an hour later, Jack lead Cassidy down the road to the Duane Street Lodging House, the place he used to call home. He found himself suddenly uneasy, though he tried not to let on his worries of what the boys would say to not only his uninvited guest, but also to the fact that she had been Spot's girlfriend. Standing by his decision not to tell her, he instead mentioned that it may not be a good idea for a girl to go traipsing into the boys' lodging house, and so they waited outside.

It was a matter of minutes before the gang of boys paraded out the door, lead by a laughing Racetrack. His smile, as well as some of the other boys', faded when they saw Jack holding the hand of a familiar-looking redhead. "Jackie, that ain't who I think-" he hissed, eyebrows raised, but was cut off by Jack.

"Race, boys, this is Cassidy. Cassidy, this is Racetrack, Kid Blink, Mush, Skittery, Boots…the boys. And David." His eyes lingered on his best friend, who had that "look". The look of utter disproval, the one that Jack hadn't seen since the truth about his parents had been exposed in court after the rally. Jack had seen it coming, really; he should have expected that David would be cold. But the rest of the boys were silent, too, clearly all recognizing the girl, and Cassidy was looking at Jack for something to say. Jack was at a loss for words himself, too, except a soft "Dave, I'm sorry," which was met with David frowning, shaking his head gently, and looking away.

"You're Spot's girlfriend," Blink finally said, breaking the awkward silence.

Cassidy's palm was beginning to sweat, but she clutched Jack's hand tighter as she nodded. "I was," she corrected. "But he's dead now, and I can't change that."

David stepped forward, that nearly-disgusted look that made Jack cringe still on his face. "So, this is where you've been the past month, huh? With some tramp?"

"Don't, David," Jack warned, shaking his hand loose and pushing Cassidy behind him.

David scoffed and continued. "Oh, as if it's not bad enough that her boyfriend - one of your best friends, if I recall - hasn't been dead for a month yet. But Sarah, Jack! My sister, your supposed girlfriend. What about her? What about us, me and Les and our parents? Do any of us mean a thing to you?" His voice had escalated to a yell, and Mush put a hand on David's shoulder to calm him down. "You know, I was right about you that day you sold us out. You don't care about anyone but yourself." He'd quieted, but he spoke with a tone laced with bitterness and resentment.

No one spoke, but it was clear to everyone that Jack was furious. His hands were clenched into fists, his muscles tensed. "Jack, Jack, don't, please," Cassidy pleaded, putting a hand on his shoulder that he instantly brushed off. "It's not worth it, Jack. We should just go."

Jack looked back at her. "Alright," he choked. None of the boys except David had ever seen him get that visibly upset, but it relaxed her more to hear him concede.

The two didn't say any goodbyes as they walked away, but after a few feet, Jack stopped and turned around again, to look at all the boys, talking again. "David," he called out, and the brown-haired boy turned. "I ain't gonna do nothing tonight. But someday you'll regret you said that." He stared a moment at the boy he could no longer call his friend, then as he felt a tug from Cassidy on his hand, returned to walking.

"Jack," Cassidy said softly as they neared the apartment building, after a silent walk. "Why did you do that, stand up for me like that? They were right about me. I have no right to be with you after I was with Spot for so long, so soon after his death." Her light voice was sad, defeated even.

Jack sighed. "Hey," he murmured, and stopped walking. "It's not like we did this on purpose. We just happened to meet is all. And, well…" He paused.

"What?"

"Well, I'm glad we did. Meet, I mean."

She said nothing, but they continued walking, until they entered the building and reached the door to the apartment. "Jack?" she said, as he turned the key in the lock, "Me too."