(My first ever Broadway celebrity crush as a teenager was Ben Cook. I discovered something on Hulu. Go onto Hulu if you have it, find Law and Order: SUV I think, and go to Season 18 Episode 11. You will not regret it. ALSO, I think we all want what Anthony Zas and Emma Catherine have, it's the purest thing.)

Eventually, I made him go to sleep so that I could deal with the scrapes on my own. He reluctantly did so. Once I was finally done, I climbed back into my bed to go to sleep. The Morning Bell rang seemingly just a few moments after I shut my eyes. I then got out of bed and woke Elmer up.

"Bell?" He guessed drowsily. I nodded. "You didn't get much sleep, did'ja?" I shook my head. "You should stay back from sellin' today."

"Absolutely not." I shook my head as I clipped my suspenders onto the top of my khakis. "My bandana's gone!"

"I thought you took it off before goin' to bed." His dark brows furrowed in thought.

"No, I keep it on." I shook my head, climbing up to the top bunk and feeling around the thin blanket and stiff pillow. It wasn't there. "I must'a dropped it."

"We'll find it." Elmer promised. I nodded in response and we headed out. The Delancey's gave no problem to any of the boys or me. Elmer didn't push me staying back from selling.

Over the next week, nothing at all happened. The bruises faded mostly and the scrapes settled. I grew to be friends with most of the Newsies. My circle included Elmer, Racetrack, Albert, Crutchie, and JoJo. We all decided to meet at Jacobi's Deli after selling to grab some food and water.

"I'll take a seltzer." Albert told Mr. Jacobi absentmindedly. We were all sitting at a booth. I was in between Elmer and Race. Elmer was closest to the window, Race on the opposite side of me. Across from the curly blond haired boy was Albert. Across from me was Crutchie, and across from Elmer was JoJo.

"Al, the price ain't gonna change no matter how many times you cancel your order." Racetrack told him, reaching over with his cigar and attempting to whack the ginger's wrist. Albert snatched it away and pocketed it.

"Hey, that's--" Race started, being cut off by Crutchie.

"Your cigar. We get it." He finished with a laugh.

"That'll be two cents." Mr. Jacobi reminded Albert as a way to reel the conversation back in.

"Whatever." Albert shrugged. "I sold good today. Gimme a seltzer."

"Pretty ballsy of you." Race's eyes widened. Elmer leaned towards me.

"Albert's never bought a seltzer before." He breathed. For absolutely no reason, a tiny chill went up the back of my neck. I nodded and we all told Mr. Jacobi our orders.

"Jack and Katherine got busted by Mr. Pulitzer last night." Crutchie informed us. All eyes turned to him. 

"Whaddya mean?" JoJo asked, cocking his head. 

"He caught Jack bringing Katherine home after sneakin' her out." Crutchie elaborated. 

"Oh no." I gasped. "What'd he do?"

"Jack or Mr. Pulitzer?" The lame boy turned back to me.

"Pulitzer." I added hastily. 

"Needless to say, he was not happy." Crutchie told all of us. "I think he did that angry dad voice and threatened to shoot Jack."

"Is that a guess or what Jack told you?" Elmer asked. The five of us were all listening curiously. 

"Educated guess?" Crutchie shrugged. Mr. Jacobi came back with our orders. I got water and a sandwich. Elmer got water and a cup of soup, Racetrack got water and a sandwich, Albert got a glass of seltzer and a cup of soup, and JoJo and Crutchie got the same thing as Racetrack and I. So, just the cheapest things on the menu.

"The heck?" Elmer breathed, peering into his soup. There were bits of mushroom swirling around the surface of the liquid.

"You don't like mushrooms?" I guessed with a grin. 

"Who likes mushrooms?" He turned to me quickly. I didn't have a chance to back away to give him room, so our faces were barely inches apart. Race laughed loudly and pushed me. My face crashed into Elmer's, which clearly wasn't what Racetrack wanted to accomplish.

"Ow!" Elmer yelped. I whipped around and shoved Race just enough for him to teeter dangerously on the edge of the booth seat, but not fall down. Although it would have been hilarious if he had fallen. 

"It was worth a shot," Race shrugged as he scooted.

"I like it." Crutchie nodded slowly.

"Me too!" JoJo agreed excitedly. 

"What?" I turned back to them. Albert was assessing the situation.

"That thing you guys got." JoJo clarified.

"There's a thi--" Elmer started in shock.

"I like it too." Albert declared. Race nodded in agreement. 

"There's nothing!" I objected.

"I would know." Elmer nodded in agreeance with me. JoJo beckoned him over, so they leaned across the table to each-other. JoJo whispered urgently in the younger boy's ear. 

"A whole tart?" Elmer exclaimed. "You know it!" 

Joy flashed across JoJo's face before Elmer swiftly and lightly turned my face towards his and speedily kissed me and let me go. Before I could say anything, JoJo flagged Mr. Jacobi down.

"Tart, please." He asked.

"We don't do desserts." Mr. Jacobi shook his head before leaving. 

"What just happened?" Crutchie asked, looking around. His gaze hovered over Elmer and I for a bit longer than the others. I was certain my face was bright red. Elmer was grinning ear to ear, probably because JoJo had to buy him a tart.

"Good question." I turned dramatically to stare at JoJo. 

"What happens out of earshot stays out of earshot." He shrugged in response.

After a short back and forth, I stopped trying to learn what he whispered to Elmer. We left into the night air. As we were passing the Deli's window, I saw something heart-wrenching tucked away on the counter.

Hebrews 13:5, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"