A few hours later I found myself at the bottom of the ladder leading up to where Mr. Kelly lived.

How did he talk me into coming back'ere? 

I didn't even know if he was here yet, maybe didn't really mean it. I-I don't know if he knew what he was saying. Hmm, should I try to yell up to him? I didn't want to attempt to climb the ladder because I didn't think that would end well. And, I wasn't in the best condition from my boss beating me up again dis afternoon for being late.

I need to tell Mr. Kelly that he can't burden himself wit take'in care of me and dat I can fend for myself. But, I think dat he deserves to hear dat from me face to face. After all, he was real nice to me. I mean, I guess I could-

"Help!"

I whipped my head around toward the piercing scream I heard, immediately turning and starting to run as fast as I could toward the sound. I rounded the corner just in time to see a small boy getting knocked to the ground by a man, his newspapers flying out of his bag and fluttering to the ground. 

I pushed aside my fear and darted my eyes around the ally, spying a brick close by and picking it up with shaky hands. I took careful aim and let go, the sound of the hard stone connecting with bone rang out through the deserted alleyway.

The man fell down unconscious and I rushed over to the boy's side.

"Hey, are ya okay? Let me help ya up."

I reached forward and gently helped the small boy up, leaning him against the side of the alleyway and taking off his hat. I wanted to make sure his head wasn't bleeding. To my surprise, shoulder length hair flooded out of his-no her hat and she quickly snatched it back. 

"What'cha do'in! I can take care'a myself!"

She quickly stuffed her hair back into her hat and crammed it back onto her head, turning to me and menacingly advancing forward, prodding her finger repeatedly into my chest as she spoke.

"Hey! I am a proud Newsie of New York an i'm not gonna let another... boy, take dat away from me! Got it!"

She ended her statement with a shove and I quickly started backing up, putting my hands up and nodding my head.

"I-I promise your secret's safe wit me. No one's gonna hear it from me!"

She narrowed her eyes at me and pursed her lips, her brow wrinkling as she thought.

"How can I trust da like's a you?"

I gave her a small smile and winced as the muscles in my back constricted, complaining at the treatment I had been receiving. I leaned up against the brick wall and sat down beckoning her over to my side. She gave me a small frown before she hesitantly walked over and sat down beside me. 

"I can't make ya trust me and I don't blame ya if ya don't, but I give ya my word that I won't give, that's all I can off'a ya." 

The girl chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully, shrugging her shoulders before sticking her hand out to me, spitting into her palm before meeting my gaze.

"Okay, i'll give ya one chance, don't screw it up!"

I smiled and gladly shook it, spitting into my own palm in kind and thrusting my hand into hers. I was startled by a shout and loud footsteps coming around the corer.

"Smalls! Smalls! Where are ya?"

I scrambled to my feet and ushered myself to the farthest part of the alleyway, pressing myself into the shadows and waving goodbye to the girl. She looked at me with a cocked eyebrow, confused at my actions. She whispered a quick 'stay here' to me. I nodded to answer her request, she then turned and walked out to the front of the ally. I watched her as she went.

"Hey! Jack! I'm here!" Wait, Jack?

I watched with interest as Mr. Kelly came around the corner, only to draw the firl-no Smalls, into a hug.

"Smalls! Thank goodness, I thought dat Weasel had gotten here first."

Smalls rolled her eyes and ducked out of his embrace, gesturing to the unconscious man on the ground and muttering something I couldn't understand. Mr. Kelly scowled as he went to take a look the man i'm assuming was Weasel, dropping to his knees as he bent over to inspect him. His expression changed to a mixture of relief and disappointment, signifying that he was still alive. 

Smalls tapped him on the shoulder and whispered into his ear, nodding in my direction and causing Mr. Kelly to raise an interested eyebrow. He turned his head and looked straight at me, even though he couldn't see me. 

"Crutchie? Dat you?"

I swallowed nervously, slowly walking out of my hiding place. I was careful not to hurt myself further by tripping on the uneven cobblestones. I flicked my line of sight to meet Mr. Kelly's, sending him a small, shy smile.

"Hey Mista Kelly." 

His frown turned into a wide grin as he watched me walk towards him. 

"Crutchie! Thanks for save'in Smalls'ere."

He had slung his arm around the girl's shoulder and she now shook it off.

"I can save myself Jack!"

She tried to sound firm but her statement ended up coming out a bit whiny. Jack just laughed and beckoned me over, I complied and sat down beside them.

"Crutchie, I told ya earlier, call me Jack. Me and you is equals, remember dat."

He took my hat off and ruffled my hair, taking my hat and putting it on me backwards. I just stared at him with my mouth hanging open, absolutely shocked. I blinked at him, my eyes blown wide.

"E-Equals? Y-You and me?"

I held up and finger and pointed to myself causing him to let out a laugh.

"Yes Crutchie, you an me."

Jack stood and popped his neck, rearranging his paper bag before looking at the papers that had been scattered over the ground.

"These ya pape's Smalls?"

The girl looked at the papers on the ground and nodded sadly.

"Do ya think dat we can save any of them Jack?"

"Well, we can try. Could you help us Crutchie?"

I nodded enthusiastically, giving them a bright smile before I set to work. We spent the next fifteen minutes picking up sheets of paper and piecing them back together so they formed a full paper, folding them back up properly and then putting them in Smalls' bag. A wide grin took over Smalls' face when all the salvageable papers were put back in her bag.

"Thanks Jack, and you Crutchie! I gotta get back to the house,  my curfew's 'bout ta start. See ya tomorrow Jack!"

Smalls smiled at us and waved before she disappeared around the corner of the building, leaving Jack and I alone in the dark alleyway.