Although the wind was up slightly, it didn't seem to be cold. She clutched her shawl tight even so; it just felt colder when she was tired. Jane moved swiftly, she didn't exactly like walking home alone in the dark but there was friendly light setting warmly down from the street lamps and a couple of wagons rolling along down the street. The night felt peaceful.

There was a scuffling noise behind her. Jane paused momentarily between her strides. Then continued. It would only be a rat. Or maybe even a cat… best not to even think about it Jane, or stop to find out. She thought, quickening her pace slightly. Maybe she should have accepted Jack's offer to accompany her home. He seemed kind, all the boys she met at Arlene's seemed nice. Her mind drifted back to the performance at Irving Hall, maybe hoards of newsies in a drunken state was a little too much to deal with, but Jack and Race and their friends were not at all. I can't believe Arlene… she giggled to herself; well actually, she drinks after performing all the time, but leg-less and in bed missing her own party! Ha! She couldn't wait to pick fun at her.

The scuffle came again.

This time, Jane turned quickly, her eyes searching the shadows.

"Who's there?" her voice was small.

A few seconds past before a voice from the shadow of the looming wall of a building came back at her.

"Jacky-boy was right ya know," said the voice "ya neva know what kinda dirty scumbags are crawlin tha streets at dis time a night."

The blue eyes stepped out of the shadows. The young man from the bar, and then the party. Jane was absorbed in the deep-ice gaze.

"Erm…"

"Don'cha worry. I ain't gonna hurt ya." His look became a little softer as he walked towards her further.

"Why are you following me?" she questioned, still clutching her shawl.

"I ain't following yous, yous following me."

"What? You're standing behind me… in the dark… behind me…" she stumbled for words. He made her feel funny.

"I'se walkin here!" he seemed defensive. He started walking around her, "Besides, yous followed me ta tha party, I was dere foirst."

The last word rolled off his tongue in his deep New York drawl, a smirk forming on the edge of his lips as he knew he was right. Jane looked confused.

"Yes but…"

"But what?" he grinned

She huffed. "Well! I'm sorry for following you. Goodnight."

Before he had chance to answer, she had turned on her heel and set off down the street. She then heard his footsteps on the dirty path immediately next to her,

"Hey nows hold on a minute," he tried to talk to her, "We'se both walkin here, da least I'se can do is walk ya to ya door, seein I'se already here wid ya."

Jane's face was fixed straight ahead. She thought about it. Then she stopped.

"Fine. I suppose it is too late to walk alone."

He grinned at her and nodded his head as they began walking together. They walked in silence for a short while. He was walking quite slowly as her paces were shorter. He had longer legs than hers, but only by a little bit. He must be about three inches taller, she reckoned, trying not to glance at him too much. He wore a gray cap and dark slacks, she remembered the red braces. Jane caught a glimpse of what she thought was a slingshot in his back pocket, it looked pretty lethal and well worn…

He glanced at her.

Oh god! She panicked; please don't let him think I was looking at his behind…

"So… Ya normally fight off drunk's yaself?" he asked, referring to when he first saw her at work earlier.

"Oh yeah, about that…" she looked at him sincerely, "I just wanted to say, erm… thanks… you know, for helping me out…" Why the hell couldn't she talk properly??

He laughed a little, "Yeah, betcha had it all under control, eh?"

"Well not exactly…"

"Yous women… ya all go putting yaselves in situations ya neva can get out of."

"Excuse me, but it was an unusually busy night with all the newsies and as well as regulars and stage folk…" she tried to defend herself.

"Yeah, yeah… den I'se come along; save ya pretty face, den later ya goes runnin off inta tha night alone." He looked at her smirking again. Her stomach felt a little twang.

"Okay, I see your point…" she half smiled back at him realizing she did sound a little silly when he put it like that. This guy was cocky, but for some reason he got away with it, not to mention his smile could melt butter…

"So why are yous walkin in tha night alone?" he enquired, bringing her out of her own thoughts.

"Well… I finished at the Hall ages ago, and then it was Arlene's party…" Jane explained, "I was thinking I may have stayed over at her place, you know, incase I got too drunk or it was too late, but then there were all these people there, and then Arlene became a drunken mess…"

"I getcha."

"So I decided to go home anyway, by myself, which now seems stupid..." she was rambling on, "… and god knows I wouldn't want to run into any Brooklyn newsies…"

If Jane had looked at that exact moment, the boy's expression changed fleetingly, as if taken aback. Then, quick as it had appeared, his look vanished as she then regarded him, not noticing any difference.

His voice was inquisitive, "Brooklyn newsies, eh? Ya eva met a Brooklyn newsie?"

"No, and no thank-you." Jane replied "I don't even want to think what I'd do." She looked at him somberly. "They'd probably treat me like a free meal…"

He observed her, his face somewhat amused, a faint glimmer of something in his eyes.

Jane continued, "Anyway, luckily for me, you showed up."

"Guess it's just ya lucky night." He said smugly.

She smiled back at him. "Guess so."

They walked a few moments more, then around a corner.

"It's just this one here, on the end." She stated, gesturing sloppily with her hand to the stone steps leading up to her building entrance. She felt herself trying to act casual as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She felt like some sort of giddy school girl. "Um… thanks again for walking me home, mister…?"

"Conlon." He replied "But ya can call me Spot." His boyish grin beamed at her.

"Well thank-you Spot Conlon for taking care of me today." She said pleasantly, "Do you have far to walk? Whereabouts do you live?"

"Oh ya know," he looked a little vague, "Just down the way, not far." He glanced down the street briefly. Then he brought his eyes back upon her. She felt mesmerized in them. He didn't blink once.

"Okay, well…" she fumbled, "Goodnight!" she said, a little too high-pitched.

She turned quickly and started up the stone steps, only she set off a bit too fast and in her rush, one foot seemed to plant itself in front of the other, causing her to trip and fall flat onto the steps with a loud thud.

"Ah! Ow!" o dear god! She could feel every ounce of her blood rush to her face as she pushed herself up off the cold stone. As she did, she felt two strong arms lifting her entire body upwards, she felt like she was floating.

"Jesus, woman!" He helped her sit upright on the stoop. Jane took a second to focus as she realized his face was in front of hers, examining her intently. "Yous alright?"

Pain thumped on her forehead. She lifted her hand to touch it. He grabbed her wrist to stop her, "Na, don't touch it, ya bleedin a bit dere."

"What?" she said meekly, feeling quite dizzy. She attempted to start to get up and wobbled.

"Alright, steady on dere now." He said softly as he draped her arm over his shoulder. He carefully scooped her up and she felt as if she were dreaming as he carried her up the steps and through the entrance into the hallway.

"Err…" he looked around, "Where ya live?"

"Umm..?" she gawped at him. She felt really tired now; his arms were so comfortable…