"Where wath ya, Red?" Tyke pleaded that night. Red grinned and ruffled his hair. A chuckle rippled through the newsies gathered in a circle around the chair Red sat in, with the younger ones sitting at her feet.

"I 'ad ta go 'elp a friend in Minnesota, kiddo."

Blink glared at her from his position across the room. Several friends had tried to get him over to the circle formed, but he had stubbornly refused. He leaned against Kloppman's desk, arms folded over his chest and a scowl firmly in place. Why couldn't she 'ave jist said dat las' night?

She 'as her reasons, Blink. You shoul' know by know she ain't like no udda goil.

Well, why cain't she be normal?

She looked up from telling her stories across the room, surrounded by an attentive group of newsies, to look at him.

Cuz I gotta be me, Blinks.

His furious façade faded away at this realization. Reluctantly, he rejoined the group. He came just in time to hear,

"…an' den da bear ran off. We got Mr. Gregry safely ta St. Paul an' me friend an' me stayt in a fancy 'otel one night." She laughed, a sound all were glad to hear after such a long departure. "Dere was dis boy in da lobby 'oo kept lookin' at us like we 'ad t'ree 'eads, me'n pants an' accent an' Kaity in 'er muddy skirts 'n all."

"What wath da 'otel like, Red?"

She went on to describe red carpet, gold trimmings, and silver dinnerware. Soon the younger ones were yawning and the older ones trying to herd them to the bunkroom. Kloppman came in at just the right time, demanding a lights out in five minutes. Red took her time getting up from her chair, while the sounds of scampering feet echoed up the stairwell. She bid goodnight to Kloppman and climbed the stairs haltingly.

Passing the younger children's door, she was bombarded with hugs. Red smiled, peeling them off her, and kissed each of them on the head. The younger children smiled. Red hadn't forgotten their nighttime ritual. She smiled, ruffled their hair, and caught Tyke as the rest of the children headed to bed. She kneeled down in front of him.

"Did you miss me, my prince?"

"Yeth." Red grinned. His two front teeth were missing.

"I missed you too, my prince." She picked him up in a hug and whirled him around twice. She stopped, and before she put him down, whispered, "I love you, Miles Tyke Leland the third!"

"I love you, Red!" They giggled as they rubbed noses, then Red let him down and sent him to bed.

A round of goodnights came from the boys' dorm as she passed it. She laughed and returned the greeting, then laboriously climbed the stairs.

She finally gained her room, but before she could close the door, Blink came out of the shadows. She whirled around to face him.

"Whadda ya doin' heah?"

"I 'ad ta talk t' ya, I spose." Before she could say a word, he'd cut her off. "I wuz jist sorry 'bout what I said oilier, an'—"

She placed a hand on his shoulder. "I undastand." A sorrowful front dropped in front of her face. "I'm sorry too, 'bout 'ow I was actin'."

"Why couldn't you had tole me where you 'ad been?"

"I…Last night…I thought I might've been followed. Afta what I did this morning, they think I'm new…if I been followed."

"Why woul' someone be followin' you?"

She threw up her hands in exasperation. "Don't ask me! Ask them!"

"I still can't believe the stunt you pulled dis mornin'."

She let a small grin creep onto her face. "I spose challengin' da strongest newsie in Manhattan weren't a good idee?"

Blink smiled at her. "Not really." He twisted his mouth confusedly. "Why didja do dat anywhose?"

She shrugged. "Human nature thrives on attention. We all, in some way, wanna be recognized as sumptin' special." She sighed slightly, and her next words were barely heard by Blink.

"Jist wish I coul' stop actin' like a fool fer dat ta come true."

Blink pulled her in for a hug. She willingly slid her arms around him, happy once again to be hugged by her best friend. She buried her cheek in the sweet sweat smell of his soft muslin shirt.

"I did miss ya, Red." He looked down into her eyes. Slate and steel melted away to reveal shining silver. "You're precious."

She smiled at him and pulled away, wrapping her arms around her body, almost protectively, Blink noticed. "You…ya betta git ta bed, 'fore someone comes lookin' fer ya."

Blink nodded, a little put off, and walked out the door, shutting it quietly behind him. Red sank to her bed, worn out in more ways than physically.