After selling, we were walking back down to the Lodging House.

"So the Delancey brothers sure seem pleasant." I said sarcastically.

"Yeah, absolute gems." Elmer halfheartedly agreed with a light smile. "I wonder why they only really target the Newsies?"

"Maybe it's 'cause we buy the papes from them." I shrugged.

"But they ain't their papes." Elmer objected.

"I dunno." I shook my head slowly. "I guess they just feel like they got some kind of authority over us."

"And Jack is gonna have Oscar's head for this mornin'." Elmer laughed. He then suddenly grabbed my hand and veered me away from our path to the Lodging House. 

"Wait, where're we goin'?" I yelped, startled by the very abrupt change of course.

"You'll see!" Elmer yelled back. We were running down an open alley-way. I was only running because he was pulling me along with him. We ended up in the middle of the bustling market.

"Elmer!" I protested when he took off again (with me in tow). Then he finally stopped and turned around to face me.

"Stay here." He instructed hopefully. I nodded reluctantly and he smiled and dashed across the market. I watched as he, with his back facing me, bought something, hid it in his pocket, and raced back over. 

"What'd you get?" I asked curiously. 

"Nothing." He grinned. "You'll never know."

"What?" I gaped. Elmer laughed and led me from the market. We still weren't going towards the Lodging House. "Where're we goin' now?"

"Park." He replied, reaching back and taking my hand again. After the short run just a few minutes ago, the bruise Oscar had left on my stomach was faltering my want to run. He was about to start running again but I winced and just barely stumbled. Elmer whipped around and looked me over. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" I shook my head. "But can we not run?"

"'Course!" He nodded and released my hand. We walked side by side towards the park. When we got to a bench, he spoke again. We got sat down and he pulled something out of his pocket. "Close your eyes."

"Absolutely not." I laughed.

"C'mon, please?" Elmer pleaded. "You trust me, right?"

"I do!" I conceded.

"Then close your eyes!" He grinned. When I didn't, he swiftly pushed the hat that Kid Blink had given me down over my eyes. His hand remained there so I couldn't pull it back up. "Gimme your hand."

"Why?" I asked suspiciously. I heard him laughed and felt him take my hand again and put something cold and metal in it. He let go of my hat and readjusted it before I could do it. I looked and saw that it was a small metal tin. "The heck is this?"

"Open it." Elmer beamed excitedly. I cautiously pried the lid open to reveal a small card of parchment paper. Underneath it appeared to be coffee beans. I opened the card and read it.

"'Sebastopol Chocolate Inc.'." I read before slowly dragging my gaze back to Elmer, who was narrowly biting back laughter. His ears were bright red. "You're a nightmare."

(I named it after the Sebastopol Cookie Company in California. I keep their business cad in my jacket pocket for no reason at all, and if you EVER decide to go there: The lavender cookie is THE BOMB and DO NOT EVER get the butter coffee. I was sick on the way to Dutch Bill. Also, I'm pretty sure my family has rights to own that whole city bit because it was founded by my great, great, great, great grand-dad.)

"I said I was gonna get you the best chocolate in the world!" He burst out in laughter.

"I will try one piece." I negotiated grimly as I picked up the bean-shaped bit of chocolate. I'd actually rather eat a raw coffee bean. After having popped the candy into my mouth, I did my best to hide a grimace from Elmer. He was watching closely for my reaction.

"Thoughts?" He asked, trying to gather information. 

"I don't like chocolate." I mumbled. He laughed and took the tin back before tossing a few of the chocolate beans into his mouth. I did my best to get the sticky taste out of my mouth. 

"It was worth a shot!" Elmer exclaimed after pocketing the tin.

"It was." I agreed. 

"Let's go back now." He suggested. "You good?"

"Was I not before?" I cocked my head, standing up.

"Wasn't you hurtin'?" Elmer followed the motion of tilting his head like a puppy. 

"More or less?" I shrugged as I began to walk forward, towards the Lodging House. Elmer followed suit.

"Worst comes to worst, I carry you back." He hiked his shoulders momentarily.

"No!" I swung my head around to face him indignantly.

"What?" His dark eyes widened. "I've done it before!"

"When!?" 

"When you fell asleep downstairs!" He explained hurriedly. "I had to carry you up!"

"You could'a just woken me up." I laughed.

"I was gonna, but I think the boys would've killed me." He chuckled. We were at the step of the Lodging House rather quickly.

Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."