I woke up wrapped in Jacks arms... It must have been early. I looked at the the window. Yes I was up early, the sun was just rising. Maybe it was five in the morning. It couldn't be anytime before that. I looked at Jack, he was soundly sleeping. I wondered what he was dreaming about.

I sat up and got dressed. I figured I might as well get an early start. I kissed Jack on the cheek. I walked out through through the room crowded with bunk and into the wash room. Faith stood there leaning over a sink with her hands on her face.

"Hey," I said in a low voice. "are you okay?"

She turned around.

"I'm fine. I'm just... tired." She said cooly.

The was a pause. She looked down at the floor. She opened her mouth closed it then opened it again and said, "By the way, I won't be selling papes today. I'll be selling again tomorrow."

"Alright. Why you up so early?" I asked.

"I just couldn't sleep. You?"
"Woke up early."

She nodded slowly.

"I'll see you later." She mumbled abruptly.

She hurried out onto the fire escape. I watched her go. Why did she feel the need to go? Maybe she just needed to be alone. But what set her off? I washed my face and got ready. Every now and then I'd look to see if she was okay.

Soon people started waking up. It started with Blink who woke up Mush, then woke Boots, who woke the cat, who ate the rat, who lived in the house that Jack built. Race walked over to me.

"Hey Porcelain. How's it going?" He asked.

"I'm alright." I paused for a moment. "What's Faith doing?"

"Oh... She's just going through some stuff."

Maybe he could use a better noun then stuff, but I wouldn't say anything. Wait maybe I was "proper"... Damn.

"Personal?" I asked.

"Personal." He affirmed.

"Well then no more questions."

I didn't want to be that person that drilled you for information until you finally gave in.

"She won't tell me anyway." Race mumbled.

I could see disappointment on his face.

"I'm sure she'll come out with it soon. She'll talk to you before anybody." I reassured him.

"Not me, Spot would be her first person to go to."

I'd almost completely forgot about Spot. What was his last name? Something with... A c right?

"But you're best friends-" I started.

"Yeah since we were five. But she loves Spot. He's important to her." He shrugged. "I get that."

I nodded. I understood also. I thought of Jack...

"Yeah, I get it too." I said in a low voice. "I'm sure she'll be fine."

I gave him a smile, a smile which he returned.

"Hey."I heard.

Jack walked in.

"Where were you this morning?" Jack asked.

"I figured I'd get an early start." I explained.

He wrapped his arms around me from behind and kissed my head.

"Why's Faith sitting on the fire escape?" Jack asked.

"She won't tell me." Race said in an annoyed tone of voice.

"She's just in a mood." Jack rolled his eyes.

"Don't be like that Jack, maybe she's going through something." I said.

"Oh yeah like what?" Jack muttered.

"Shut up Jack, she has issues." Race gave him a look. "I've got to get selling."

Race stormed off. Jack sighed, "I pissed his off."

"You defiantly did."

"I didn't mean to."

"I know, I know. I have to go sell. I love you." I kissed his cheek.

He smiled, "I love you too."

"Will I see you by the news stand?" I asked.

His face lit up.

"We'll see."

He winked at me. I laughed a bit. Yes, he'd be there. I started walking out of the boarding house.

"Hey!" I heard.

I looked up. Faith stood leaning over the balcony.

"Don't forget to be loud! Get attention from buyers, got that?" She shouted.

"Yeah, I got that!"

Faith's newsie wisdom. I continued walking until I got to the newsstand, where Jack met up with me about five minutes after I 'd gotten there. I bought about fifty papers that day. I walked to the spot I'd been yesterday. I'd gotten an okay headline, a fire (but this time nobody died). I remembered what Faith said : "Don't forget to be loud! Get attention from buyers..."

"Extra! Extra! Read all about it fire in Richmond!"

I quickly sold all of my papers. It wasn't a hard headline to sell. I headed back to the boarding house.

Faith was still on the fire escape. I wondered what was bothering her... Something had to be. It seemed to be resent because nobody seemed to have noticed until today. Also she'd gotten quiet and had seemed uncomfortable while we were at Tibby's last night. We were talking about Spot Conlon. It seemed to make sense once I put the pieces together.