"Wait, hold on. It was Morris!? Penny, you have to watch out for them, or at least sell with someone from now on." I just looked at the ground taking Davey's words in with guilt. I knew I should have gone with someone. I didn't even benefit that much from going alone. I sighed and looked up at Davey.

"Thanks," I accepted his hug and he held my face to get a better look at my wound. It started stinging really bad, but I let him get some of the dirt and grime off. Les watched with worried eyes but tried to sell his papers at the same time.

"Hey, look on the bright side! I'm sure it'll help you sell more papes?" Davey said with a smile. I laughed lightly and counted the papers that remained in my beat up bag. 31. I'm sure I could finish before it got too cold. I sold with Les and Davey the rest of the day, and when they finished before me, Les insisted that they help me out and split the rest of the papers.

I felt so grateful for my new family. They were always there to pick me up when I couldn't stand alone. I was just afraid I would betray them. I really hoped that the tiny feelings I had for Morris weren't real. I really did love Crutchie. He was the sweetest, most considerate person I've ever met, and I knew he loved me back. That was the greatest feeling, but I feel horrible wanting something that he can't give me. It doesn't seem fair to him. As usual I tried not too worry about it, but then I worried about worrying about it. Ugh, what if I can't let those feelings go? What if Morris gets in between me and Crutchie? I couldn't let that happen. I won't.

The three of us finished selling and headed back to the Lodging House. A gust of warm air met us as we opened the door. I thanked the brothers again for helping me out and headed up stairs to wash off my hands and face. I snuck into my bathroom without anyone noticing. I wasn't in the mood for company right now. My hands had small scrapes scattered around them, but they weren't nearly as bad as my face. They still stung, but it was very mild. It was hard to mend my cut without the materials my mother would have used but, I did the best I could and it looked slightly less painful, even though it was stinging more than before.

I sighed, brushed out my hair, tied it up, and emerged from the bathroom to find Specs standing right outside the door, with a glimmer of animation in his eyes. I tried not to seem as gloomy as I was and forced a smile on my face.

"Hey Specs, what's up?"

"Your birthday is next month right?" He asked practically bouncing right in front of me.

"Ya it's the 24th.." I answered with little suspicion. What was he up to? Is he really getting me a birthday present?

"Okay, thanks! Oh, are you okay?" He asked pointing towards my cut. I sighed on the inside. It never ends does it?

"Ya, I'm fine. Just a mishap while selling," Specs gave me that look. He knew I wasn't telling him everything. He knew when I lied.

This time I sighed out loud. "Do I really have to tell you?" I asked, pleading, even though I knew he would win. "Fine," I said dropping my shoulders slightly. I looked around the bunk room to see if Crutchie was in here and luckily he wasn't. I didn't want him to know what happened. At least not yet. I grabbed Specs' hand and lead him up to my bunk. We sat opposite each other, criss-cross-applesauce.

"Okay well, I actually did have a mishap while selling, but.."I hesitated before starting recalling the events that occurred earlier that day and when I got to the part with Morris, I felt myself tell the story in a different light. Almost as if I was dreaming. I knew I had to tell Specs what I was feeling, but honestly, I don't think he'll understand. I tried anyway.

"It's just... I just... When he held me so close to him and I looked up into his blue-green eyes...I...I forgot about Crutchie." I could tell the tears were forming around my eyes, and I pulled my hands up to hide my face. My cut still stung though. Specs looked at me with sympathy, which I hated and appreciated at the same time. I hate it when people are sympathetic, but it was hard to hate Specs for it. I felt his soft hand on my knee and he said something I wasn't expecting. He said, "I know. It's hard to see an enemy in those, stunning eyes of his." I looked up, but was surprised to find that I wasn't really surprised with his statement, if you know what I mean. He smiled and looked down at my sheets.

"Specs?" I asked putting my hand on his. "Do you wanna talk about something?" I knew I wouldn't be surprised with the conversation we were about to have, but I'm sure Specs needed to tell someone. He took in a shaky breath and removed his hand from underneath mine.

"Nope," he said trying to stay "put-together." And with that last word, he scurried down the ladder and headed downstairs. I really wasn't expecting that from him. Besides his family, he was usually so open to talking with me. I groaned and fell back onto my pillow. Why is life getting so difficult right now? Can't the difficulty wait? I closed my eyes but the serene darkness didn't last for long as I heard Crutchie hobble up the stairs. So many pangs of guilt struck me in so many places as I listened to his crutch hit the steps, one at a time. I sat up in my bed and began down the ladder.

"Uh, Hey Penny," he said with a shy smile, still feeling the slight tension that was here this morning as well. I gave him a small smile in return and his face was overcome by worry and fear and concern all at once. For a moment I was confused. What was so bad?

"Oh my god, where'd ya get dat scratch?" I relaxed in relief, but tensed up again remembering what happened earlier today. Don't lie. Don't lie. Don't lie. Don't lie. Don't lie. Don't lie. "Oh, um ya.. I just tripped over my shoe today. I think one of my laces came undone." My stomach churned. You lied.

A/N YAY! 2 chapters in one weekend! y'all better love me now and review! The strike is almost here! and I'm getting really excited! again please read adn review! tell yo friends about how this is now your favorite story! I sure hope it is!

Love Always,

GTHN