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[Justin]

Just sat down on the edge of the giant statue in the middle of the square. Sugar had told him that's where he'd find most people. He sighed and looked up at the statue. He looked around at the people passing. No one seemed to notice him sitting there. He kicked some pebbles on the ground. They hit the building opposite him unless they hit passerbys. He didn't really know his way around yet. So, he couldn't go anywhere to look for his sister. He was about to go about his own way and just get lost until someone stood in front of him blocking his way.

[Street]

Street had not been having a good day. She was avoiding both Levi and Mush, frazzled over everything. To be totally honest, she was not ready for love. She certainly was not ready for Levi's fierceness nor Mush's eighteen-year-old seriousness. She spotted a blonde boy leaning against the Horace Greene statue. She looked him over quick, going into pickpocket mode, but saw nothing. He was as poor as her. So, she settled for standing in front of him.

"Hello, ya know, it ain't so good ta sit there. Some boys come through here ta sell their papes and they might think yer invading on their turf." Street told him cheerfully, her hands behind her back, swinging back and forth, her bare feet and dirty, skinny ankles obvious.

[Justin]

Justin looked at Street. He touched his hat. "Howdy." He looked around. "I clearly ain't selling papers so i don't think they got ta worry about me." He smiled at her. He held out his hand to her. "I'm Justin Larson. Pleased to meet you." He wondered if this was one of the girls Sugar had described to him. She said she knew Newsies, so she very well might be. She was very pretty. He glanced down and saw she didn't have any shoes. He grimaced. "Don't your feet hurt? Sorry i don't mean to sound rude."

[Street]

Street took his hand quickly and with a friendly air. "Nice ta meet ya too! My name's Street, nice ta meet ya, Justin." Street, being Street, missed his last name and just smiled softly. She was tired, it was kind of cold and the ground under the bridge was frozen. Very hard. "My feet?" She looked at her feet surprised. There was a little cut on her right big toe, but other then being very red, they were fine. "My feet? Nah, they're fine, ya know how it is, gotta survive anyway ya can!" She laughed. "Don't worry, ya ain't rude. I've known ruder." She waved her hand dismissively.

[Justin]

Justin looked at her like he didn't believe her. She could get frostbite that way. "Come on let's get you inside." He looked around and saw TIbby's pub and bar. He motioned for her to go first. "After you." He smiled at her. Maybe if he'd bought her a warm meal, she could show him around a bit and maybe help him find his sister.

[Street]

Street smiled slowly. "I don't know... I stole from 'em the other day and they asked me not ta come back. As long as I stay behind ya, it should be fine..." She nodded and ducked behind him, pushing him through the door. "Ta the booths, okay?" she nudged him in that direction and slid into a booth, facing the door, away from the head waiter. "So... Why are ya so eager ta talk ta me?"

[Justin]

Justin shrugged and walked in. He nodded and headed toward the booths. He looked Street straight in the eyes. "Actually i have some questions. You said they call you Street. Why is that?" He didn't think Street was her real name. It must be a nickname or something, he decided. Like everyone back home called him Babe, not Justin. Well, everyone that knew him well anyway. He waited for her to answer his question before he asked his other one.

[Street]

Street grinned. "One of my favorite stories..." She took a deep breath and began. "Well, when I was four, my parents left me in an alley and some newsies found me, then when I was seven, I started livin' on the streets again, and that's why they call me street, 'cause not a lot of kids could survive as well as I have. But then again, I haven't survived all that well anyway..." She thought of Goldie, of Levi slashing her stomach, of Killer attacking people, of well... Everything that had gone wrong lately. But now something good was happening! "What are ya other questions?"

[Justin]

Justin listened to Street's story with interest. He thought it best not to ask about it. He cleared his throat. "Well, do ya know Star? Uh- Natasha Larson?" He bit his lip anticipating her answer. Sugar had told him she was here. He didn't want to be let down. He hadn't seen her in years.

[Street]

Street thought for a while. "I think so, I mean... Asher told me 'bout a girl named Natasha, she came on a train not to long ago. I think they're gonna perform at Irish and Poet's weddin' together... Asher really likes her, he says he don't, but I can tell. 'Cause I'm his best friend." Suddenly, she paused. "I remember ya! Yer the new Queens leader, 'cause Poet's pregnant, right?" She asked, leaning forward.

[Justin]

Justin smiled. "Yeah that's me." His smile got bigger. She was here. And she was gonna perform at Poet's wedding. Justin's day just got better and better. "You goin' to the wedding with anyone?" He asked Street. He didn't have anyone to go with yet. The only people he knew so far were Sugar, Street, and Poet. Sugar hadn't said anything about going that he could remember and Poet was the bride. Even if he didn't go with anyone, he hoped he could meet more people there. He'd only been in town a few days when he met Poet and she asked him to be Queen's leader. He thought it would help him out in a new place, so he said yes.

[Street]

Street grimaced. "I'm goin' but not with anyone. And don't look at me like that 'cause I don't intend ta go with anyone! It'll only cause problems and I want Poet and Irish ta be the center of attention. Besides I show up with ya and Levi hits ya and I see that look in Mush's eyes again." She shook her head. "Don't mean ta sound rude, but it also wouldn't be smart seein' as yer the new leader and all. People might think yer startin' ta play favorites, ya know? I've had enough of boys so far. I know! Ya should go with Sugar, 'cause she told me about ya and she's been real lonely since Henri paid for her service. She fell hard for that boy, like most of the girls he's talked ta so far..." She shook her head. "Yeah, ya and Sugh make a cute couple." She smiled at him softly. "Don't mean ta sound rude, but ya know what I mean, right?"

[Justin]

Justin shook his head. "I wasn't thinking about askin' you." He said. Justin had always been a terrible liar and he doubted moving somewhere where no one knew you would help him any. "Ok i was, but i can take a hint. I just don't know anyone here, and it's- different." He hesitated searching for the right word. He thought about Sugar. The prostitute? He was no rocket scientist, but didn't prostitutes sleep around a lot? And she was how many years older than him. He shook his head to himself. "Nah, i'll just go myself. I'll see everyone there." He smiled at Street.

[Street]

Street narrowed her eyes. "Don't be judgin' Sugh. She's as good as they come and ya don't know why she does what she does. Don't act like ya do!" Street slapped her small hand off the table. "There, I said it!" She laughed. "I'm goin' by myself. Here's a few tips, stay away from Ace 'cause of Chase, stay away from Chase 'cause of Asher-though Asher isn't in love with him anymore... But uh... What was I sayin'? Oh stay away from Goldie, she hates us white people even more since Eli died, she blames Feely and all, but it was Killer and I think Tybalt's fault... Talk ta Sean, he'll get ya set up, and talk ta Henri and Levi and Mush, they'll be good friend ta ya. But Henri can be a smooth talker, so watch out for that, Levi will hit ya soon as look at ya, Mush is kinda freakin' out towards Levi, and Sean is obsessed with his bird and Asher's sister." Street tapped her chin. "I think that's all ya have ta know. But I'll give ya the lay down on Killer. We think his name's Alphonse Kingsblood and he targets women, he works with a gang, and we think they're called the King's gang... But anyway, him and his gang go around, find woman, rough 'em up a bit, then leave 'em for dead. So far he's attacked Poet, Brooke, and Ace, and he went after Ophelia at the dance and ended up killin' Eli instead." Street nodded. "We're doin' all we can ta catch 'im, but keep yer eyes open for anythin' unusual, eh?"