I sat on the bed.
"Jack I'm telling you something is wrong!"I protested.
"Maria, nothing is wrong." Jack shook his head.
"No, Jack you have to listen to-"
"Faith is fine."
"Can you just talk to her?" I asked.
Jack stayed silent.
"Please! Please!Please!Please!Please!Please! Plea-"
"Alright!"He said. "Alright, just make it stop."
I laughed. I stood and walked over to him.
"Thank you." I kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you too. I'll talk to her first thing in the morning, okay?"
"Yes, okay."
He kissed my forehead.
"So how'd you sell today?" He asked.
"I did well. I was a bit distracted today. How about you?"
"Same as usual." He shrugged.
I was just glad he had finally given in, after thirty minutes of bickering.
"I'm just worried about Faith." I said.
"I know, I know."
"She's my friend and I really think she's... upset about something."
"Don't worry about it. I promised you that I'd talk to her, didn't I?"
"I know you did." I smiled. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me. I only want to make you happy, I love you."
He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me lightly.
"Jack, I'm going to head out for a little while, okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, have a good time. Be back soon."
"Don't worry I'll be right on time."
"No, you have to swear it." Jack smiled.
I laughed, "I swear it. Are you happy now?"
"Yeah, very happy. Have fun."
"I will."
I opened the door and walked out of the room.
"Hey Porcelain, how you doing?" I heard.
I turned to see Kid Blink.
"I'm fine." I said. "Hey Blink, do you know where Faith is?"
"I don't know,"He shrugged. " but maybe she's out on the fire escape, that's the first place I would look."
"Thanks." I said as I gave him a kind smile.
I began to walk away. I looked out the window and there was Faith sitting by the railing of the fire escape. I crawled through the window.
"Hey Faith." I greeted her.
She turned quickly.
"Oh Maria. You scared the crap out of me!" She laughed.
"I'm sorry about that."
"Oh no don't worry about that." She shrugged.
"So," I started. "how are you doing?"
She talked a deep breath.
"I've been better." She murmured.
"I know what you're talking about. What's bothering you?"
"God... It's such a long story."
I stood there for a moment wondering what to say. I really had no idea how to respond.
"We've all had our days." I tried.
"More like weeks."
I nodded.
"You know Maria, it's really nice to have another girl in the boarding house."
Her words were kind, but she was obviously trying to change the topic.
"Thanks." I smiled.
"I like living with the guys. But it's nice to be able to talk to someone who's your same gender."
She let out a sigh.
I laughed. I saw something on Faiths arm,
"What is that?" I asked pointing to her arm.
Faith looked down at her arm.
"Oh that? Just a scar, from when I was younger."
"What happened?"
"My dad would hit me."
"Mine to."
"I know."
"How?"
"Jack."
My mouth formed a silent oh.
"Does everybody have something that happened to them in their childhood or past?" I asked.
"Yeah. Welcome to the home of horrid childhoods and mutilated pasts."
She had a decent vocabulary. I was surprised (not completely but a bit). Once again I was clueless on how to respond.
"It's not just you and Jack trust me." Faith said.
I nodded slowly.
"That's how most of us get on the street. We're either orphans or runaways. Everything from abusive childhoods to ragging fires. It gives us something similar." Faith explained.
"How bad was it?" I asked.
"Pretty bad. But that was a long, long time ago. It doesn't really matter anymore."
"What's been bothering you, if it isn't that."
Oh god, I hadn't meant to say that! I stood there awkwardly, hoping that she had not heard what I'd said. Faith sighed, "Issues in Brooklyn." Faith paused. "It's nothing to worry about. I'm just worried for Spot's sake. He's been acting... strange lately."
"Why do you think?"
"I'm clueless, absolutely clueless." She shook her head.
"I'm sure he's fine."
"You're probably right," She smiled. "thanks."
"No problem. I'd better head in, it's getting late."
"Yeah. I'll see you."
"Bye."
"Bye."