Most of the boys had gone to sleep by now, so it was just me, Elmer, Jack, and Racetrack remaining. I learned that Racetrack hates the boy his little sister has been seeing, Jack used to want with all his heart to leave the city and moved to a town in New Mexico called Santa Fe (Katherine and Crutchie convinced him otherwise), and Racetrack is like an older brother to Elmer. 

"Go to bed." Jack finally ordered all of us. Elmer nodded with relief and we retreated back to our room. Racetrack shuffled back to the one he shared with Albert and JoJo. 

"That was interesting." I commented once the lights were off and we were both in our bunks. "I learned a lot."

"Me too." Elmer agreed drowsily. "For example, I learned that you hate chocolate."

"Yes, I hate chocolate." I sighed with a smile. 

"We'll change that." He vowed before falling asleep. I stayed awake longer, pondering everything. Then I was slapped in the face by a memory I had written off: That one time at Jacobi's Deli when Elmer kissed me out of the blue. How did I forget about that? I demanded inwardly. Although I was almost certain he had just done it so he could get a tart from JoJo, I felt many emotions wash over me. Relief, disappointment, panic, and thrill. Has JoJo even gotten him a tart yet? 

I pushed the conflicted thoughts from my head and shut my eyes tightly, willing myself to go to sleep. The Morning Bell rang and Elmer didn't wake up.

"What if I clattered pots and pans when the Bell rings?" I asked before I tried to wake him up in hopes that he was actually awake. He rolled over with closed eyes.

"You'd have to drag me out of bed." Elmer muttered. 

"Y'know what?" I laughed. "I will!" I then grabbed his hands and yanked him off the bed.

"Woah!" He yelped, tumbling to the floor while incased in his blanket. "Hey!" He swiftly seized my hand and pulled me down to the wooden floor with him. I was caught off guard and stumbled, which ended up with me toppling over on top of him. His arm wrapped around me and he ruffled my hair.

"And now you're awake." I grinned after escaping his grip and scooting away a little bit. 

"Says who?" Elmer laughed, proceeding to re-cocoon himself in his blanket and climb back up into his bed.

"No!" I whisper yelled as I tried to take the blanket. "We gotta go!"

Elmer moved back over to face me. "Fine." He nodded after much consideration. I got ready, clipping on my suspenders, slipping on my boots, shaking on my vest, and braiding my hair down my back.

"Maize?" Kid Blink asked after popping his head into the room.

"What's up?" I nodded for him to proceed. 

"Here," he said, handing me a black Newsie cap. "I'm a bit too old to be a Newsie now. Miss Medda got me a job."

"How old are you?" I cocked my head after reluctantly taking the cap.

"'Bout twenty-one as of next month." He informed me. Elmer was watching from the other side of the room. 

"Oh, well, thanks." I nodded solemnly, fastening the cap on my head.

"And I don't need that anymore." Kid Blink finished. Then he ducked back out of the room

"That's a shame." Elmer sighed.

"At least he's got a job." I tried. He nodded in agreement and we left to go down to the gate. They were already open and most of the boys had already bought their papers, so it was just Mr. Weisel, the Delancey brothers, Elmer and I, and three lingering News Boys (Crutchie, Romeo, and Finch). 

"Mornin', girlie." Oscar sneered, leaning forward on the counter. 

"Please don't call me that." I said as I placed down the coins to buy my papers. 

"Call you what?" He mocked while nudging his brother to join in. "It ain't like you're anyone else's girl."

"'Else's'?" I raised a brow.

"I got it." Elmer whispered to me before stepping in front of me defensively. "What's your goal?"

"I'm lonely, ain't no crime to gettin' a girl." Oscar shrugged. I waited until Elmer had bought his papes before pulling him away to avoid a fight. "Hey, you wasn't dismissed!"

"We gotta sell!" I yelled in response without turning around. I heard shuffled footsteps behind us then decided to turn. Just as I did, Oscar's fist swung and collided with my stomach. I grunted and made a move to retaliate when Elmer pushed me away and threw a defensive punch at Oscar. Morris rounded on him and he was soon nearly over-powered. I got over myself and rushed to my friend's aid. A fist landed on the side of my face and I kicked Morris's legs out from under him. That gave Elmer and I an advantage, so we battered Oscar until he ran away with his brother in tow. 

"Are you okay?" Elmer panted, taking his hat off and running a hand through his black hair. His dark eyes swept over me worriedly. 

"Yeah." I nodded. I noticed that he had a bruise quickly forming right under his eyes. "Are you?"

"Uh-huh." He nodded as well. We then, probably both with pounding headaches, went to go sell our papers.

Proverbs 14:30, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."