First Day of the Rest of My Life

[Irish]

Irish deflated. "Well, hell-pardon me, ma'am, Oi dunno where Street is-Oi didn't even know she had a sister. Oif anythin' Oi thought Mercury was a relation." Irish shrugged. "Anyways, Oi bet Snoop could find Street... But then again, Snoop's expensive." Irish grinned, getting a sudden idea. He climbed a nearby ladder and stood on the fire escape. "Street! Street Lexeme! Spot's waitin' for ye outside the coal factory!" He shouted at the city, some people yelled back, but Irish ignored them, sliding back to the earth. He wiped his forehead, revealing his white skin under balck dust. "Oi hate workin' at the coal factory."

"O'Reilly!" Someone called, Irish waved them away. Suddenly, people were being shoved out of the way.

Irish grinned, "Oi knew it would work." He said smugly, Levi applauded but stopped as he was shoved out of the way by an out-of-breath Street. She looked thrilled then throughly annoyed.

"Where is he, O'Reilly?" She growled, her small stature radiating danger. Irish placed his hands in front of him in surrender. "Ya had better tell me where Spot is. Right. Now."

"Spot ain't here," Asher murmured, she rounded on him.

"Are ye lyin'?" She demanded. Asher shook his head quickly. "Alright, then why'd ya shout ta the sky ta get me outta here?" Street demanded, her blonde hair flying wild. She placed her hands on her hips and tapped her bare foot. Irish grinned, mock-bowed to her, winked at Mush, Levi, and Asher (which caused Asher to blush and fan himself) and then strolled away to get his paycheck. Street turned on Levi and Mush, she pushed Levi roughly. She was annoyed-she had been about to pick a pocket and get dinner. "Well? What is it?"

[Mush Meyers]

Mush, Levi, and Asher had placed themselves in a trianlge in front of Ophelia. She couldn't see Street and Street couldn't see her. Mush nudged Levi's arm and they stepped out of the way. "I wanted ya to meet ya sister." Mush said. He watched as the two looked at eachother. It was like looking at someone and their reflection. They were twins. Mush could tell and so could Levi by his sudden intake of breath. Asher hadn't done anything, but Mush didn't turn to look at him. He didn't take his eyes off the two girls.

[Irish]

Street was struck dumb. She opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again. She finally said, "My family's dead. Besides, if I remember correctly, my siblings were all older." She looked at Ophelia and then moved closer. She touched Ophelia's hair with one hand and ran a hand through her dirty, un-kempt hair. She sighed. "I... don't remember." She said, looking at them, her hand still touching Ophelia's soft hair. Ophelia stirred. "What did ya do ta her anyways?"

"Mush..." Ophelia groaned, sitting up slowly and holding her head, Street's fingers slipped away. Street looked incrediably sad. She knelt beside Ophelia and held up the silver key.

"Do ya recognize this?"

"Yes, of course I do. It is on all the letter Grandmother sends me. It is the Lexeme family crest. Where did you get it?" Ophelia asked, confused.

Street wiped away something that looked suspiciously like a tear and blinked rapidly. "It was left with me... when I was abandoned in the alley." Street whispered. Ophelia touched Street's face carefully.

"Oh, Rosalind." She whispered back, sobbing now. She launched herself at her younger sister and hugged her tightly. "Oh, I am terribly sorry." She said, clutching the smaller girl to her.

"It's alright. Ophelia..." The name rolled of Street's tongue uneasily... She barely remembered the name. "I'm fine. Honest! I don't blame ya, either." She laughed nervously, still blinking and trying not to cry.

"Are you cryin'?" Levi asked Asher, chuckling. Asher shook his head violently and impatiently wiped tears away. Levi ruffled his hair and punched Mush lightly in the shoulder. "See? Worked out in the end. Turns out, say Spot within a ten mile radius of Street and she comes runnin'." He grinned, trying to ignore the two girls kneeling in the middle of the sidewalk.

[Mush Meyers]

Mush smiled at the reunion. Ophelia had said his name. "I'm here." He told her. He looked back at Asher, who was crying, and a laugh burst out of him. He looked back at the girls. He breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't known what this would be like. He's just happy it turned out okay. He looked at Street. "We didn't do anything to her. She just i don't know, freaked. Levi says it was the hotdogs."

[Irish]

Street smiled gently. "I believe ya, Mush." She said as she clutched Ophelia back. Ophelia grinned, she nodded, agreeing with the hotdog part. She was crying to hard to talk. Levi smiled and patted Asher on the shoulder. He winked at Mush, enjoying watching the smaller boy cry.

"So are you twins?" Ashed asked, hiccuping. Street chuckled and shook her head.

"Nah, Ophelia's-what was it again?"

"I am two years older. I am seventeen, Rosalind is fifteen." Ophelia smiled, wiping her eyes hurriedly. Asher gave up and hugged both of them.

"Save it for Tyler." Levi growled, pulling him back. Just 'cause Asher was gay didn't mean he should be able to hug every girl he saw.

[Mush Meyers]

Mush laughed as Levi pulled Asher off of the girls. "Wow really? You two look so similar." He looked back and forth from Ophelia to Street. They both looked at him. Their eyes were deffinatly similar. Mush was amazed and confused at the same time. He thought they were twins since he first laid eyes on Ophelia. All though he wouldn't be fallin' for Street. She'd probably kill him if he was. Mush chuckled at the truth of it. He liked Ophelia. He really really liked her.

[Irish]

Ophelia dried her eyes on a hankerchief. She offered it to Street, but she waved it off. "Asher can hug us if he wants." She said to Levi, but she grinned and said, "Don't feel left out now," She hugged Levi. "Thank ya so much."

Ophelia nodded. "Yes, thank you." She murmured, smiling at Levi. "You also, Mush. Thank you for everything." She touched his shoulder gently. Street nodded, agreeing with her sister. The only difference was height and the fact that Ophelia was cleaner and prettier. Ophelia also had much longer and nicer hair. "I cannot thank you so much."

[Mush Meyers]

Mush looked at Ophelia and at Street, who was hugging Levi. He winked at Levi and then said to Ophelia, "Don't worry about it. I'm glad to help." He put his arm around Levi's shoulders'. You goils wanta go for a walk or somethin'? You too Broadway." He knew Asher would prefer to go get Tyler but Mush still wanted to put an offer out there. He looked back at him. Asher was still wipping his eyes. Mush smiled at him. He looked back at the girls. Mainly at Ophelia, anticipating their (her) answer.

[Irish]

Asher shook his head. "I can't... Tyler... Tibby's..." Then he ran off before he could burst into tears again. Street nodded, Levi gave him a thumbs up as she pulled away.

"Do ya want ta, Ophelia?" Street asked nervously. "I know ya wouldn't wanna walk with some street rats, but..."

"No! No, I would love to!" She nodded, she took Street's arm and Mush's on her other side. Levi walked on Street's other side silently-which was unusual. Sure Street wasn't the prettiest (or smartest) girl in New York, but she was cheerful.

[Mush Meyers]

Mush smiled. "Great." Was all he said. He took Ophelia's arm in his and she linked arms with Street, and Levi walked on the other side. He was quiet. Too quiet. Mush looked over at him full of curiosity. He didn't bother asking. Levi would get around to it when he got the time. Mush, Ophelia, Street, and Levi walked together down the street. "So um, where's we goin'?" Mush asked still grinning like a fool.

[Street]

Street grinned. "I dunno. I was thinkin' of gettin' Spot back for parading around with Ace, but..." She threw a quick glance to Levi and then Ophelia. "It'd be rude though." She murmured.

Levi snorted, "Damn right it'd be rude." He snapped at her, she looked hurt then countered by reaching into his back pocket and lifting his knife. She winked at Mush and Ophelia before slipping it in her haversack. Ophelia looked confused.

"Who is Spot?" She asked. Street shrugged.

"Only the guy that Street talks about day and night." Levi said miserably. He gave Mush a meaningful look as if to say 'I'd rather be with Ace or someone else-actually getting some'. It seemed that was all Levi cared about. Ever since he'd heard of Irish hooking up with that Honey girl and then turning around and getting engaged to Poet. Some guys had all the luck... He thought as he kicked a stone.

[Mush Meyers]

Mush withdrew his arm from around Ophelia and punched Levi playfully in the arm. "Don't ya worry bout it none Boo. You'll find someone." He looked at Street and cocked an eye brow. He didn't think she had anyone either. But he wasn't sure. He could probably get them together but he didn't think that was what Levi wanted. He put his arm back around Ophelia then asked where she was staying tonight. He didn't think she would want to go back to the place she came from. But he didn't want her sleepin' on the street corner or under a bridge either.

[Levi Akecheta]

Levi made a face. He glanced at Street and grimaced, holding Mush back. "You girls go on ahead." he said. "Look, just because you are all googly-eyed for the girl," He gestured to Ophelia, "Does not mean that I will take the sister out to make your life easier. No way. Street's insane. Crazy. She stalks me. Stalks!" Levi said. He looked stubborn and furious. "Look, right now I could be picking up a pretty girl that doesn't talk. Or if they're pretty enough, I can overlook the talking. Like Moira O'Reilly. Her face makes up for all the mindless chatter." Levi sniffed. "If you want me to occupy Street, you're gonna have to make it worth my while." He said slowly. "Like... a bribe." He grinned. "Otherwise, I'm gonna walk away now and let you try and distract Street while trying to capture her sister's heart."

[Mush Meyers]

He waved his hand at the girls as Levi held him back. Levi got real serious while explaining something to Mush. When he was done, Mush looked at him and laughed. "You think i want you ta hook up with Street. Ha oh man Levi. Na man ya gots it all wrong. Ya i want her gone, but i gave her that look so she'd leave ya alone." He said slowly. "I thought she'd take it the wrong way not you. If ya want ta go hook up with Irish's sister go for it. Just be good ta her or Irish'll kill ya." He looked at Levi. He'd asked about a bribe. "I don't need ta capture Ophelia's heart. I already got it." He smirked and waited to see what Levi would do. Besides, he wasn't going to drag Ophelia from Street when they just found eachother.

[Irish]

Levi frowned. Damn, there goes dinner money. He clutched at Mush. "Look, I don't want to make things difficult, but... How do know that Ophelia isn't like... betrothed or something? Do you just want this to be a fling like Brooke, or do you want it to be something special?" Levi asked. "Look, If I leave now, Street's gonna go crazy. I mean... She never shuts up!" He shook his head. "They think I'm insane but her..." He pouted. "I don't know what I'm saying, honestlly... But I can't spend anymore time around you and Ophelia 'cause Street's here."

"Don't ya like me, Levi?" Street asked, looking at him. She looked like she was about to cry.

"Ah, that's not it... Really." Levi stammered, reaching toward her, she jerked away.

"You are very rude." Ophelia told him, she lead her sister away and sat on a bench with her, obviously comforting her.

"Damn it..." Levi muttered.