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<HEAD>਀   㰀䴀䔀吀䄀 䠀吀吀倀ⴀ䔀儀唀䤀嘀㴀∀䌀漀渀琀攀渀琀ⴀ吀礀瀀攀∀ 䌀伀一吀䔀一吀㴀∀琀攀砀琀⼀栀琀洀氀㬀 挀栀愀爀猀攀琀㴀椀猀漀ⴀ㠀㠀㔀㤀ⴀ㄀∀㸀 
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਀㰀猀琀礀氀攀㸀 
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</HEAD>਀㰀䈀伀䐀夀 吀䔀堀吀㴀∀⌀昀昀㘀㘀㘀㘀∀ 䈀䜀䌀伀䰀伀刀㴀∀⌀　　　　　　∀ 䰀䤀一䬀㴀∀⌀㌀㌀昀昀㌀㌀∀ 嘀䰀䤀一䬀㴀∀⌀㌀㌀昀昀㌀㌀∀ 䄀䰀䤀一䬀㴀∀⌀㔀㔀　　䘀䘀∀㸀 
<P><I>Disclaimer: all characters appearing in the movie Newsies are Disney’s and I use them without permission, but ਀䤀 搀漀 渀漀琀 椀渀琀攀渀搀 琀漀 洀愀欀攀 愀渀礀 洀漀渀攀礀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀椀猀 猀琀漀爀礀Ⰰ 猀漀 猀甀攀椀渀最 洀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 瀀漀椀渀琀氀攀猀猀Ⰰ 攀猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀氀礀 挀漀渀猀椀搀攀爀椀渀最 洀礀  
pathetic financial situation. This story was written for the Carnegie Hill Lodging House, meaning the girls’ ਀挀栀愀爀愀挀琀攀爀猀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 戀攀氀漀渀最 琀漀 洀攀 攀椀琀栀攀爀⸀ 䠀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 愀渀搀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 愀爀攀 洀椀渀攀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 氀愀琀琀攀爀 戀攀椀渀最 愀渀 椀渀猀瀀椀爀愀琀椀漀渀  
from Caleb Carr’s “The Alienist”, and you may not use them without my permission. The same goes for Dash, ਀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 愀渀搀 倀椀琀挀栀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 眀攀爀攀 挀爀攀愀琀攀搀 戀礀 匀氀椀挀欀Ⰰ 䈀氀愀稀攀 愀渀搀 洀攀⸀ 
<BR>Be warned, I would deem the story PG13, because of some swearing, violence and hints to sexual intercourse. ਀㰀倀㸀吀栀椀猀 椀猀 搀攀搀椀挀愀琀攀搀 琀漀 刀攀氀椀挀Ⰰ 䨀愀搀攀 愀渀搀 䈀氀愀稀攀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀椀爀 眀漀渀搀攀爀昀甀氀 瀀爀漀漀昀爀攀愀搀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀漀 䈀氀愀稀攀 愀渀搀 匀氀椀挀欀 椀渀 瀀愀爀琀椀挀甀氀愀爀 昀漀爀 愀氀眀愀礀猀  
stimulating my creativity, which means they constantly kicked my butt to make me write more. Thank you guys!</I>਀㰀倀㸀 
<P><CENTER>਀㰀倀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀 㰀䘀伀一吀 匀䤀娀䔀㴀⬀㌀㸀䤀洀瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀㰀⼀䘀伀一吀㸀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀㰀⼀䈀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀 
<Center><P><B><I>Chapter One</B></I></CENTER>਀㰀倀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀 ᰀ䤠 欀渀漀眀 礀愀 樀甀猀琀 眀愀渀渀愀 栀攀氀瀀Ⰰ 䨀愀搀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䤀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 搀漀 琀栀攀猀攀 昀椀氀攀猀 漀渀 洀礀 漀眀渀⸀ 䤀昀 琀栀攀 戀漀愀爀搀 昀漀甀渀搀  
out I let someone else tamper with ‘em they’d fire me faster than you could say 'Shimmer loves ਀挀栀攀攀猀攀✀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䨀愀搀攀 猀洀椀氀攀搀 愀琀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 眀栀椀氀攀 琀栀攀礀 挀愀爀爀椀攀搀 琀栀攀 最爀漀挀攀爀椀攀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 眀攀攀欀攀渀搀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 琀栀攀 䌀愀爀渀攀最椀攀 䠀椀氀氀  
lodging house. ਀ 
<P>“Alright,” she sighed. “But let me know when you get tired of them. You have a lot on your hands ਀眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 戀甀渀挀栀 漀昀 甀猀 愀猀 椀琀 椀猀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀 愀渀搀 眀愀猀 樀甀猀琀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀漀 猀愀礀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀礀 洀攀琀 䨀愀挀欀 愀渀搀 刀愀挀攀琀爀愀挀欀 愀琀 琀栀攀 氀漀搀最椀渀最  
house door. ਀ 
<P>“Heya Sweets,” Jack greeted his girlfriend and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Lemme carry those.”਀ 
<P>“Thanks,” Jade sighed contentedly when he relieved her of the heavy paper bags. She held the door ਀漀瀀攀渀 昀漀爀 栀椀洀 琀漀 最漀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀刀愀挀攀 搀甀挀欀攀搀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀 甀渀搀攀爀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀ᤀ猠 猀琀愀爀攀⸀ ᰀ䔠爀Ⰰ 礀愀 欀渀漀眀 䤀ᤀ搠 氀漀瘀攀 琀愀 栀攀氀瀀 礀愀 眀椀搀 搀漀猀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䤀 最漀琀 搀椀猀  
terrible back...” He quickly vanished inside. Bailey shook his head with amusement and followed ਀栀椀洀Ⰰ 最漀椀渀最 搀椀爀攀挀琀氀礀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 欀椀琀挀栀攀渀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䠀攀 昀爀漀眀渀攀搀 愀琀 椀琀ᤀ猠 搀攀猀攀爀琀攀搀 猀琀愀琀攀⸀ 刀椀最栀琀 愀琀 琀栀愀琀 洀漀洀攀渀琀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 瀀攀攀氀椀渀最 瀀漀琀愀琀漀攀猀 愀渀搀  
stoking the fire. He walked over to the list to make sure whose turn it was.਀ 
<P>“Jade?”਀ 
<P>Her head popped inside. “Yes?”਀ 
<P>“Would ya please get Mayhem and Hex down here, it’s their week ta help in the kitchen.”਀ 
<P>Right then Hex walked in, cheeks a bit flushed. “I’m so sorry Bailey, I didn’t realize it was dat late; ਀琀漀搀愀礀 倀椀攀 愀渀ᤀ†䤀 猀漀氀搀 漀瘀攀爀 愀琀 搀愀 栀愀爀戀漀爀Ⰰ 䤀 渀攀瘀攀爀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 椀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 琀愀欀攀 猀漀 氀漀渀最 琀愀 最攀琀 戀愀挀欀⸀⸀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠琀ᤀ猠 漀欀愀礀Ⰰᴀ†䈀愀椀氀攀礀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀 眀栀椀氀攀 甀渀瀀愀挀欀椀渀最 琀栀攀 瀀甀爀挀栀愀猀攀搀 最漀漀搀猀Ⰰ ᰀ夠漀甀ᤀ爠攀 最漀渀渀愀 栀愀瘀攀 琀愀 愀渀猀眀攀爀  
thirty hungry hyenas for this, not me.”਀ 
<P>Hex hurried to get the bucket of potatoes and a knife. “Where’s Mayhem?”਀ 
<P>“I’ll go upstairs and get her,” Jade offered.਀ 
<P>But she couldn’t find Mayhem anywhere in the house. Jade even looked in the library, although ਀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 眀愀猀 渀攀瘀攀爀 欀渀漀眀渀 琀漀 攀瘀攀渀 猀攀琀 昀漀漀琀 椀渀 琀栀攀爀攀⸀ 吀漀 栀攀爀 愀洀愀稀攀洀攀渀琀 猀栀攀 猀愀眀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀  
boys’ bunkroom. Usually he and Mayhem were inseparable. ਀ 
<P>“Hey, have any of you seen Mayhem?” ਀ 
<P>Leadpipe just shrugged.਀ 
<P><I>Bet he knows exactly where she is now,</I> Jade thought angrily. She couldn’t understand why anyone ਀瀀攀爀昀攀挀琀氀礀 愀戀氀攀 琀漀 琀愀氀欀 眀漀甀氀搀 爀攀昀甀猀攀 琀漀 攀瘀攀爀 甀琀琀攀爀 愀 猀椀渀最氀攀 眀漀爀搀⸀ 伀渀 琀栀攀 搀愀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀椀爀 愀爀爀椀瘀愀氀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀  
had made clear that she had no qualms beating up everyone who dared making fun of Leadpipe’s ਀猀攀氀昀ⴀ椀洀瀀漀猀攀搀 猀椀氀攀渀挀攀⸀ 䄀渀搀 愀昀琀攀爀 猀栀攀 栀愀搀 挀爀愀挀欀攀搀 琀眀漀 漀昀 䈀愀挀欀昀椀爀攀ᤀ猠 爀椀戀猀 愀渀搀 戀氀漀漀搀椀攀搀 栀椀猀 渀漀猀攀 眀栀攀渀  
he had dropped a careless remark the newsies had learned just to live with Leadpipe’s unusual ਀戀攀栀愀瘀椀漀爀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀圀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 攀渀琀攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 欀椀琀挀栀攀渀 愀最愀椀渀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 愀渀搀 倀椀攀 䔀愀琀攀爀 眀攀爀攀 戀甀猀椀氀礀 瀀攀攀氀椀渀最 瀀漀琀愀琀漀攀猀 愀渀搀 眀愀猀栀椀渀最  
carrots while Hex stirred in a pot on the stove.਀ 
<P>Jade sat down and frowned. “That’s not fair.” Bailey looked up.਀ 
<P>“It’s okay, Jade, I’m sure she just forgot.”਀ 
<P>“That’s not true, and you know it,” Jade protested. “Everyone but her obeys the rules!” ਀ 
<P>Bailey just shrugged, which made Jade even more furious. “And it’s not the first time, either! ਀夀攀猀琀攀爀搀愀礀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 搀攀挀欀攀搀 琀栀攀 琀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 攀瘀攀渀 漀渀挀攀 戀漀琀栀攀爀 琀漀 猀眀攀攀瀀 琀栀攀  
bunkrooms last week!”਀ 
<P>“I’m gonna talk to her, okay? No need to get upset.”਀ 
<P>Jade crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I don’t wanna be such a grump. But it’s just not fair that ਀猀栀攀 琀愀欀攀猀 愀搀瘀愀渀琀愀最攀 漀昀 礀漀甀 樀甀猀琀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 礀漀甀 愀爀攀 愀 渀椀挀攀 最甀礀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ唠最栀Ⰰ 琀栀愀琀 眀愀猀 愀 氀漀眀 戀氀漀眀Ⰰ 䨀愀搀攀Ⰰᴀ†䈀愀椀氀攀礀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀Ⰰ 愀挀琀椀渀最 愀猀 椀昀 猀栀攀 栀愀搀 樀甀猀琀 猀琀愀戀戀攀搀 栀椀洀 椀渀 琀栀攀 栀攀愀爀琀⸀  
“Don’t worry, I’m not nice enough to let someone walk over me. I’ll talk to her as soon as she gets ਀戀愀挀欀⸀ᴀ† 
<CENTER>਀㰀倀㸀縀縀縀縀縀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 氀漀戀戀礀 攀洀瀀琀椀攀搀 椀琀猀攀氀昀 猀氀漀眀氀礀 愀猀 琀栀攀 挀甀爀昀攀眀 搀爀攀眀 渀攀愀爀攀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 渀攀眀猀椀攀猀 爀攀琀爀攀愀琀椀渀最 琀漀 琀栀攀椀爀 戀甀渀欀爀漀漀洀猀  
to play and talk some more before going to bed. Jade and Jack stayed sitting on the couch. Bailey ਀爀愀椀猀攀搀 栀椀猀 攀礀攀戀爀漀眀猀 愀琀 琀栀攀洀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ吠栀攀 挀甀爀昀攀眀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 最漀 昀漀爀 礀漀甀 琀漀漀Ⰰ 礀愀 欀渀漀眀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䨀愀搀攀 猀洀椀氀攀搀 猀氀椀最栀琀氀礀⸀ ᰀ䤠 琀栀椀渀欀 眀攀ᤀ爠攀 猀琀愀礀椀渀最 樀甀猀琀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 氀漀渀最攀爀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀椀最栀攀搀 椀渀眀愀爀搀氀礀⸀ 䠀攀ᤀ搠 爀愀琀栀攀爀 栀愀瘀攀 琀愀氀欀攀搀 琀漀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 愀渀礀 猀瀀攀挀琀愀琀漀爀猀⸀ 䨀愀搀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 洀愀欀攀 猀甀爀攀 栀攀  
didn’t let Mayhem get off the hook, that was certain. The minutes stretched while they just sat there, waiting. ਀ 
<P>Jade had snuggled into Jack’s arms and was close to falling asleep while he softly caressed her hair when the ਀搀漀漀爀 挀氀椀挀欀攀搀 漀瀀攀渀⸀ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 眀愀氀欀攀搀 椀渀猀椀搀攀 猀椀氀攀渀琀氀礀Ⰰ 猀琀漀瀀瀀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 愀 猀琀愀爀琀 眀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 猀愀眀 琀栀攀 琀栀爀攀攀 漀渀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀挀栀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 琀栀椀渀欀 愀渀礀漀渀攀ᤀ搠 猀琀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀眀愀欀攀⸀ᴀ†匀栀攀 戀攀最愀渀 琀漀 洀愀欀攀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀椀爀猀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䔠爀Ⰰ 䴀愀礀Ⰰ 䤀ᤀ搠 氀椀欀攀 琀愀 琀愀氀欀 琀漀 礀愀 愀戀漀甀琀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最⸀ᴀ†㰀䤀㸀䐀愀洀渀Ⰰ 䤀ᤀ洠 戀愀搀 愀琀 琀栀椀猀 愀甀琀栀漀爀椀琀礀 猀琀甀昀昀㰀⼀䤀㸀Ⰰ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀  
uncomfortably. Jade blinked at them, sleep still in her eyes. ਀ 
<P>Mayhem turned around slowly. “What?”਀ 
<P>“Um, ya missed ya kitchen chores taday. Again. And the curfew’s over, too. Ya should have been home over an ਀栀漀甀爀 愀最漀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ传栀⸀ 匀漀爀爀礀⸀ 吀栀愀渀欀猀 昀攀爀 瀀漀椀渀琀椀渀ᤀ†椀琀 漀甀琀 琀漀 洀攀⸀ᴀ†䴀愀礀栀攀洀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀椀爀挀愀猀攀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ 䈀礀 琀栀椀猀 洀漀洀攀渀琀 䨀愀搀攀  
was fully awake. ਀ 
<P>“If you want to live with us in this lodging house you have to mind the rules like everyone else!” she snapped, ਀椀最渀漀爀椀渀最 䨀愀挀欀ᤀ猠 猀漀漀琀栀椀渀最 栀愀渀搀 漀渀 栀攀爀猀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀椀最栀攀搀⸀ ᰀ䤠 欀渀漀眀⸀ 䨀椀猀琀 栀愀搀 愀 氀漀琀 漀渀 洀礀 洀椀渀搀 氀愀琀攀氀礀Ⰰ 椀猀 愀氀氀⸀ᴀ†匀栀攀 最氀愀渀挀攀搀 甀瀀 愀渀搀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 最椀爀氀 猀琀爀愀椀最栀琀  
in the eye. “I’m really sorry.” Jade saw the weariness in Mayhem’s features and felt a slight twinge of remorse at ਀栀攀爀 漀甀琀戀甀爀猀琀⸀ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀瀀漀欀攀 甀瀀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 最甀攀猀猀 礀愀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 眀愀猀栀 愀渀搀 搀爀礀 琀栀攀 搀椀猀栀攀猀 琀漀洀漀爀爀漀眀 渀椀最栀琀 漀渀 琀漀瀀 漀昀 礀漀甀爀 渀漀爀洀愀氀 挀栀漀爀攀猀 琀漀 洀愀欀攀 甀瀀 昀漀爀 椀琀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䘀漀爀 愀 猀攀挀漀渀搀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 昀氀愀猀栀攀搀 椀渀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀ᤀ猠 攀礀攀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 戀漀眀攀搀 栀攀爀 栀攀愀搀⸀ ᰀ䄠氀爀椀最栀琀⸀ 匀攀攀礀愀 琀愀洀漀爀爀漀眀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䄀琀 琀栀愀琀 猀栀攀 挀氀椀洀戀攀搀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀椀爀猀 愀渀搀 瘀愀渀椀猀栀攀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䈠攀琀 礀愀 琀眀漀 戀椀琀猀 猀栀攀 眀漀渀ᤀ琠 猀攀琀 愀 昀漀漀琀 椀渀琀漀 搀愀 欀椀琀挀栀攀渀 琀愀洀漀爀爀漀眀Ⰰᴀ†䨀愀挀欀 挀栀甀挀欀氀攀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䨀愀搀攀 猀洀椀氀攀搀⸀ ᰀ夠漀甀ᤀ爠攀 漀渀⸀ᴀ 
<CENTER>਀㰀倀㸀縀縀縀縀縀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀吀漀 栀椀猀 椀洀洀攀渀猀攀 猀甀爀瀀爀椀猀攀 䨀愀挀欀 氀漀猀琀 栀椀猀 戀攀琀⸀ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀栀漀眀攀搀 甀瀀 攀愀爀氀礀 愀渀搀 猀椀氀攀渀琀氀礀 瀀攀攀氀攀搀 瀀漀琀愀琀漀攀猀 愀渀搀 猀氀椀挀攀搀  
vegetables while Hex minded the fire. She usually liked to chat with the other girl over their chores, but that night ਀栀攀爀 洀漀甀琀栀 猀攀攀洀攀搀 猀攀愀氀攀搀 猀栀甀琀⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 琀栀攀 洀攀愀氀 猀栀攀 挀氀攀愀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 琀愀戀氀攀 眀椀琀栀 䰀攀愀搀猀ᤀ†栀攀氀瀀 愀渀搀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 眀愀猀栀 甀瀀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀圀栀攀渀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 眀愀氀欀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 欀椀琀挀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 猀挀爀甀戀戀椀渀最 愀 昀爀礀椀渀最 瀀愀渀 愀猀 椀昀 栀攀爀 氀椀昀攀 搀攀瀀攀渀搀攀搀 漀渀 椀琀⸀ 䠀攀 挀栀甀挀欀氀攀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䌠愀爀攀昀甀氀Ⰰ 礀愀 洀椀最栀琀 戀爀攀愀欀 椀琀Ⰰ 礀愀 欀渀漀眀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 最氀愀爀攀 猀栀攀 猀栀漀琀 椀渀 栀椀猀 搀椀爀攀挀琀椀漀渀 猀栀漀眀攀搀 栀椀洀 栀椀猀 愀琀琀攀洀瀀琀 琀漀 樀漀欀攀 眀愀猀 渀漀琀 愀瀀瀀爀攀挀椀愀琀攀搀⸀ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 搀爀椀攀搀 琀栀攀 爀攀猀琀 漀昀  
the plates and turned to him, her eyes dark with impatience.਀ 
<P>“Was that it? I really need to go now.”਀ 
<P>Bailey frowned. “Ya still wanna go out? The curfew is due in half an hour!”਀ 
<P>She evaded his eyes. “I know, but I gotta settle sumpthin’.” When he nodded his consent she darted out of the ਀欀椀琀挀栀攀渀Ⰰ 猀氀愀洀洀椀渀最 琀栀攀 搀漀漀爀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 栀攀爀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀椀最栀攀搀 愀渀搀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 挀愀氀挀甀氀愀琀攀 琀栀攀 戀甀搀最攀琀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 渀攀砀琀 眀攀攀欀ᤀ猠 洀攀愀氀猀⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀猀 猀琀椀氀氀 愀琀 椀琀 眀栀攀渀 䨀愀搀攀 猀琀漀爀洀攀搀  
inside, blazing with rage.਀ 
<P>“She still hasn’t come home yet! And it’s already half past! I’m tired of waiting up for her!”਀ 
<P>Bailey didn’t need to ask whom Jade was referring to. “It’s okay, Jade, I’ll wait for her. And I’ll make sure she’ll be ਀漀渀 琀椀洀攀 椀渀 昀甀琀甀爀攀⸀ 䤀 瀀爀漀洀椀猀攀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䨀愀搀攀 猀栀漀琀 栀椀洀 愀 搀漀甀戀琀昀甀氀 氀漀漀欀⸀ ᰀ䄠氀爀椀最栀琀Ⰰᴀ†猀栀攀 最爀甀洀戀氀攀搀Ⰰ 渀漀琀 愀琀 愀氀氀 挀漀渀瘀椀渀挀攀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀栀攀 爀攀琀爀攀愀琀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 最椀爀氀猀ᤀ† 
bunkroom without another word after helping Bailey to extinguish the lights in the rest of the house.਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P>Bailey went to bed, meaning to give Mayhem the chance to come home unnoticed and get a good night’s sleep ਀戀攀昀漀爀攀 栀攀 挀漀渀昀爀漀渀琀攀搀 栀攀爀 椀渀 琀栀攀 洀漀爀渀椀渀最⸀ 䠀攀 栀愀搀 猀攀攀渀 琀栀攀 氀漀漀欀 椀渀 栀攀爀 攀礀攀猀 愀渀搀 猀攀渀猀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 眀愀猀  
troubling her, but he didn’t want to meddle with her affairs, sure her absence had something to do with it.਀ 
<P>He woke up in the middle of the night, dimly aware that he had heard something. After lighting a gas lamp Bailey ਀眀攀渀琀 琀漀 琀栀攀 氀漀戀戀礀 琀漀 挀栀攀挀欀Ⰰ 猀甀爀瀀爀椀猀攀搀 戀礀 愀 猀洀愀氀氀 搀漀琀 最氀漀眀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 搀愀爀欀渀攀猀猀⸀ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 眀愀猀 猀椀琀琀椀渀最 漀渀 琀栀攀  
staircase, smoking a cigarette. ਀ 
<P>“What do ya think you’re doing?” he whispered while walking over to her.਀ 
<P>She looked up, startled by his sudden appearance, then concentrated on examining the floor at her feet again. ਀ 
<P>“I really needed a smoke.”਀ 
<P>He noticed the hand holding the cigarette was shaking slightly and started to worry. She had never looked that ਀甀渀爀愀瘀攀氀攀搀 琀漀 栀椀洀⸀ ᰀ圠栀攀爀攀 栀愀瘀攀 礀愀 戀攀攀渀Ⰰ 䴀愀礀㼀 圀栀愀琀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀攀搀㼀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀洀椀氀攀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀攀 猀洀椀氀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 爀攀愀挀栀 栀攀爀 攀礀攀猀⸀ ᰀ丠漀琀栀椀渀ᤀ†栀愀瀀瀀攀渀攀搀⸀ 䤀 樀甀猀琀 戀爀漀欀攀 甀瀀 眀椀琀栀 䈀甀挀欀⸀ 䄀渀ᤀ†栀攀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠  
too happy about that.”਀ 
<P>She flinched as Bailey held the lamp nearer to reveal an ugly bruise shining on her face. Bailey felt red anger rise ਀椀渀猀椀搀攀 栀椀洀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ圠栀愀琀 欀椀渀搀 漀昀 愀渀 愀猀猀栀漀氀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 栀椀琀 愀 最椀爀氀㼀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 挀栀甀挀欀氀攀搀 搀爀礀氀礀⸀ ᰀ䤠 愀氀眀愀礀猀 昀愀氀氀 昀漀爀 搀愀 氀漀眀攀猀琀 猀挀甀洀 搀攀爀攀 椀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 渀漀琀栀椀渀ᤀ†䤀 挀愀渀 搀漀 愀戀漀甀琀 椀琀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀匀栀攀 猀渀甀昀昀攀搀 漀甀琀 栀攀爀 挀椀最愀爀攀琀琀攀 愀渀搀 瀀甀琀 琀栀攀 戀甀琀琀 椀渀 栀攀爀 瀀漀挀欀攀琀⸀ ᰀ䈠甀琀 椀昀 礀愀 琀栀椀渀欀 洀礀 猀栀椀渀攀爀ᤀ猠 戀愀搀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 猀攀攀 栀椀猀⸀  
Won’t be able ta look outta his eyes tamorrow, da stupid bastard.”਀ 
<P>Bailey sat down beside her. “I’m sorry about this, May.” Mayhem glared at him. ਀ 
<P>“I don’t need ya pity!”਀ 
<P>Bailey couldn’t suppress a smile. “I know. Bet ya made this Buck regret he ever laid hand on ya. I’m just sorry ਀琀栀攀爀攀 愀爀攀 最甀礀猀 氀椀欀攀 栀椀洀 愀琀 愀氀氀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀琀愀爀攀搀 愀琀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 搀甀洀戀昀漀甀渀搀攀搀⸀ 䠀攀 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀攀搀 琀漀 猀瀀攀愀欀Ⰰ 甀渀攀愀猀礀 甀渀搀攀爀 栀攀爀 最愀稀攀⸀ ᰀ䔠爀Ⰰ 洀愀礀戀攀 礀漀甀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 最漀  
ta sleep now.”਀ 
<P>Her eyes were still fixed on him. “I don’t wanna go ta sleep. You go, I know ya gots a lot ta do an’ stuff in da ਀洀漀爀渀椀渀最⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䠀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 猀攀攀 栀攀爀 攀礀攀猀 最氀漀眀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 搀愀爀欀渀攀猀猀Ⰰ 氀椀欀攀 琀栀漀猀攀 漀昀 愀 挀愀琀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀䤀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 氀攀愀瘀攀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 椀琀ᤀ猠 琀漀漀 氀愀琀攀⸀㰀⼀䤀㸀   
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ唠洀Ⰰ 渀漀Ⰰ 䤀 最甀攀猀猀 䤀 挀漀甀氀搀 猀椀琀 栀攀爀攀 眀椀琀栀 礀漀甀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 氀漀渀最攀爀Ⰰ 洀愀欀攀 猀甀爀攀 礀漀甀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 戀甀爀渀 搀漀眀渀 琀栀攀 栀漀甀猀攀⸀⸀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀琀椀氀氀 猀琀愀爀攀搀 愀琀 栀椀洀⸀ ᰀ䤠 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 猀洀漀欀椀渀ᤀ†愀渀礀洀漀爀攀⸀ᴀ†䈀愀椀氀攀礀 挀漀甀氀搀 昀攀攀氀 栀椀猀 昀愀挀攀 戀氀甀猀栀 猀氀椀最栀琀氀礀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ传栀Ⰰ 爀椀最栀琀⸀ 䐀漀 礀愀 眀愀渀琀 洀攀 琀愀 最漀Ⰰ 琀栀攀渀㼀ᴀ†栀攀 琀爀椀攀搀 琀漀 樀漀欀攀 琀漀 栀椀搀攀 栀椀猀 攀洀戀愀爀爀愀猀猀洀攀渀琀⸀ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀洀椀氀攀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ丠漀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀愀眀 愀 猀栀椀洀洀攀爀 挀爀漀猀猀 漀瘀攀爀 栀攀爀 昀愀挀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 渀攀砀琀 洀漀洀攀渀琀 栀攀 昀攀氀琀 栀攀爀 氀椀瀀猀 漀渀 栀椀猀Ⰰ 栀攀爀 爀椀最栀琀 栀愀渀搀 猀漀昀琀氀礀  
caressing his cheek. Giving in to the feeling he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Mayhem let her ਀昀椀渀最攀爀猀 爀甀渀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 栀椀猀 猀漀昀琀 戀爀漀眀渀 栀愀椀爀⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 愀 眀栀椀氀攀 栀攀 愀挀挀椀搀攀渀琀愀氀氀礀 戀爀甀猀栀攀搀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 栀攀爀 戀爀甀椀猀攀Ⰰ 挀愀甀猀椀渀最 栀攀爀 琀漀  
wince. Bailey broke the kiss hurriedly.਀ 
<P>“I’m sorry.”਀ 
<P>“It’s okay.” Mayhem smiled slightly and leaned in for another kiss, but he backed off and stood up, his eyes ਀愀瘀攀爀琀椀渀最 栀攀爀猀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 爀攀愀氀氀礀 琀栀椀渀欀 礀漀甀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 最漀 琀漀 戀攀搀 渀漀眀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 愀爀挀栀攀搀 栀攀爀 攀礀攀戀爀漀眀猀⸀ ᰀ传栀 爀攀愀氀氀礀㼀ᴀ†䄀猀 栀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 愀渀猀眀攀爀 栀攀爀 昀愀挀攀 最爀攀眀 挀漀氀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ夠愀 最漀琀 愀 最漀椀氀㼀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 氀攀琀 漀甀琀 愀 猀栀漀爀琀 眀爀礀 氀愀甀最栀⸀ ᰀ丠漀⸀ 䤀 樀甀猀琀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 琀栀椀渀欀 眀攀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 搀漀椀渀最 琀栀椀猀 爀椀最栀琀 渀漀眀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ夠愀 琀栀椀渀欀⸀ᴀ†䴀愀礀栀攀洀 最漀琀 甀瀀 琀漀 栀攀爀 昀攀攀琀 愀渀搀 最氀愀爀攀搀 愀琀 栀椀洀⸀ ᰀ䴠愀礀戀攀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 氀椀欀攀 礀漀甀 猀栀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 琀栀椀渀欀 愀猀  
much!”਀ 
<P>She wanted to kiss him again so much it hurt, but she knew when she was being rejected. Without a glance back ਀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 挀氀椀洀戀攀搀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀椀爀猀 愀渀搀 瘀愀渀椀猀栀攀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀昀琀攀爀 栀攀爀 愀渀搀 猀椀最栀攀搀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀 猀琀椀氀氀 猀瀀椀渀渀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 眀栀愀琀 琀栀攀礀 栀愀搀 搀漀渀攀⸀ 䠀漀眀 漀渀 攀愀爀琀栀 栀愀搀 栀攀 最漀琀琀攀渀  
himself into this? If anyone found out he had a relationship to a girl he was supposed to be caring for like a ਀最甀愀爀搀椀愀渀Ⰰ 愀氀氀 栀攀氀氀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀爀攀愀欀 氀漀漀猀攀℀  
਀㰀倀㸀䄀渀搀 礀攀琀 栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 猀琀椀氀氀 昀攀攀氀 栀攀爀 猀漀昀琀 氀椀瀀猀 漀渀 栀椀猀Ⰰ 戀爀攀愀琀栀攀 栀攀爀 猀挀攀渀琀⸀ 匀攀攀 栀攀爀 猀瀀愀爀欀氀椀渀最 最爀攀攀渀 攀礀攀猀 猀洀椀氀攀 愀琀 栀椀洀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 眀攀渀琀 椀渀琀漀 栀椀猀 爀漀漀洀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 愀渀搀 昀氀甀渀最 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀 漀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 戀攀搀Ⰰ 猀氀攀攀瀀 攀瘀愀搀椀渀最 栀椀洀 昀漀爀 愀 氀漀渀最 琀椀洀攀 琀栀愀琀 渀椀最栀琀⸀ 
<P><BR>਀㰀䌀攀渀琀攀爀㸀㰀倀㸀㰀䈀㸀㰀䤀㸀䌀栀愀瀀琀攀爀 吀眀漀㰀⼀䈀㸀㰀⼀䤀㸀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 最爀漀愀渀攀搀 愀猀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 眀栀漀 栀愀搀 猀琀攀瀀瀀攀搀 漀渀 栀攀爀 愀爀洀 爀甀搀攀氀礀 愀眀漀欀攀 栀攀爀 琀栀攀 渀攀砀琀 洀漀爀渀椀渀最⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䜠漀搀搀愀洀洀椀琀Ⰰ 䐀甀戀Ⰰ 眀愀琀挀栀 眀栀攀爀攀 礀愀 最漀椀渀ᤀ℠ᴀ†猀栀攀 最爀漀眀氀攀搀Ⰰ 琀爀礀椀渀最 琀漀 栀椀搀攀 栀攀爀 栀攀愀搀 甀渀搀攀爀 栀攀爀 瀀椀氀氀漀眀⸀  
Dublina smiled apologetically.਀ 
<P>“Sorry. But ya really should get up now, da presses are rollin’!”਀ 
<P>She laughingly evaded Mayhem’s smacking hand and walked into the washing room. Mayhem had just turned ਀愀爀漀甀渀搀 漀渀挀攀 洀漀爀攀 眀栀攀渀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 攀氀猀攀 搀椀猀琀甀爀戀攀搀 栀攀爀 攀昀昀漀爀琀 琀漀 最漀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 猀氀攀攀瀀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䠠攀礀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀Ⰰ 最攀琀甀瀀最攀琀甀瀀最攀琀甀瀀℀ 吀椀洀攀 琀愀 挀愀爀爀礀 搀愀 戀愀渀渀愀栀℀ 夀愀 眀愀渀琀 攀瘀攀爀礀漀渀攀 攀氀猀攀 琀愀 攀愀琀 戀爀攀愀欀昀愀猀琀 昀漀爀 礀愀㼀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 戀氀椀渀欀攀搀 愀琀 䈀甀戀戀氀攀猀ᤀ†愀渀渀漀礀椀渀最氀礀 挀栀攀攀爀礀 瘀漀椀挀攀⸀ ᰀ䤠ᤀ洠 挀漀洀椀渀ᤀⰠᴀ†猀栀攀 最爀甀洀戀氀攀搀 愀渀搀 猀氀漀眀氀礀 最漀琀 漀甀琀 漀昀 戀攀搀⸀ 伀渀  
her way to the washing room she met Jade.਀ 
<P>“Had a long night?” Mayhem cringed under the other girl’s scrutinizing gaze. She mumbled something and ਀焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 瘀愀渀椀猀栀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀氀氀猀⸀ 䨀愀搀攀 猀栀漀漀欀 栀攀爀 栀攀愀搀 愀渀搀 眀攀渀琀 搀漀眀渀猀琀愀椀爀猀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀猀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䄀氀琀栀漀甀最栀 栀攀 眀愀猀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 渀攀爀瘀漀甀猀 愀戀漀甀琀 猀攀攀椀渀最 栀攀爀 愀最愀椀渀 愀昀琀攀爀 琀栀攀 氀愀猀琀 渀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 眀愀猀 搀椀猀愀瀀瀀漀椀渀琀攀搀 眀栀攀渀  
Mayhem didn’t come to breakfast. She usually never missed a meal; just like most of the other newsies she had ਀愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 攀渀搀甀爀攀搀 栀甀渀最攀爀 椀渀 栀攀爀 氀椀昀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 眀愀猀 最氀愀搀 昀漀爀 攀瘀攀爀礀 漀瀀瀀漀爀琀甀渀椀琀礀 琀漀 攀愀琀Ⰰ 攀瘀攀渀 椀昀 椀琀 眀愀猀 樀甀猀琀 琀栀攀 漀愀琀洀攀愀氀 洀甀猀栀  
Bailey prepared for them in the morning. ਀ 
<P>After the table had been cleared again by Sorrow and Blaze the newsies prepared to go off to sell, and Mayhem ਀挀愀洀攀 搀漀眀渀 樀甀猀琀 椀渀 琀椀洀攀 琀漀 氀攀愀瘀攀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 最爀漀甀瀀⸀ 䄀氀氀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀愀眀 漀昀 栀攀爀 眀愀猀 愀 猀栀漀爀琀 最氀椀洀瀀猀攀 眀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 眀愀氀欀攀搀  
outside with Leadpipe.਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P>“Please sir, buy a pape? Me little bother needs some medicine!”਀ 
<P>Mayhem tried to look desperate and helpless, but couldn’t stifle a yawn. The man she had addressed looked at ਀栀攀爀 眀椀琀栀 搀椀猀最甀猀琀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䜠漀 昀椀渀搀 愀 搀攀挀攀渀琀 樀漀戀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 氀愀稀礀 戀爀愀琀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 最氀愀爀攀搀 愀琀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 琀攀洀瀀琀攀搀 琀漀 琀攀愀挀栀 栀椀洀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 洀漀爀攀 爀攀猀瀀攀挀琀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 眀漀洀攀渀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 愀琀 琀栀愀琀 洀漀洀攀渀琀 愀 瀀漀氀椀挀攀  
officer was strolling by. The headlines hadn’t been very good that day, but enough people had bought her ਀瀀愀琀栀攀琀椀挀 猀琀漀爀礀 琀漀 氀攀愀瘀攀 栀攀爀 眀椀琀栀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 瀀爀漀昀椀琀⸀ 匀栀攀 眀愀猀 琀椀爀攀搀 漀昀 瀀攀搀搀氀椀渀最 瀀愀瀀攀爀猀 愀渀搀 搀攀挀椀搀攀搀 琀漀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 最攀琀 爀椀搀 漀昀  
the few she had left at the distribution office before finding Leadpipe. ਀ 
<P>She couldn’t help a grin when she saw him sitting on a flight of stairs with a girl he had no doubt sold a paper to. ਀䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 挀栀漀猀攀 栀椀猀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 眀攀氀氀Ⰰ 欀渀漀眀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀 甀猀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 瀀漀眀攀爀猀 漀昀 瀀攀爀猀甀愀猀椀漀渀 琀栀愀渀 栀椀猀  
voice. He managed to sell all his papers on most days, to Mayhem’s never-ending amazement. The lonely women ਀漀昀 一攀眀 夀漀爀欀 猀攀攀洀攀搀 樀甀猀琀 琀漀 栀愀瘀攀 眀愀椀琀攀搀 昀漀爀 栀椀洀 琀漀 挀漀洀攀 琀漀 猀攀氀氀 琀栀攀洀 渀攀眀猀瀀愀瀀攀爀猀 愀渀搀 氀攀渀搀 愀 猀礀洀瀀愀琀栀攀琀椀挀 攀愀爀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 挀氀攀愀爀攀搀 栀攀爀 琀栀爀漀愀琀 愀猀 猀栀攀 愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀攀搀 琀栀攀 琀眀漀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀ᤀ猠 昀愀挀攀 氀椀琀 甀瀀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 椀渀瘀椀猀椀戀氀礀⸀ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀  
grinned. ਀ 
<P>“Sorry ta distoib ya two, but we need ta get goin’, or Jade will have my head on a platter if I miss da kitchen ਀挀栀漀爀攀猀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 最椀爀氀 猀椀最栀攀搀 愀渀搀 猀洀椀氀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀洀⸀ ᰀ夠攀猀Ⰰ 䤀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 最漀椀渀ᤀⰠ 琀漀漀⸀ 䴀爀猀⸀ 䈀爀漀漀欀攀ᤀ猠 最漀渀渀愀 琀栀爀漀眀 愀 琀愀渀琀爀甀洀 椀昀 猀栀攀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠  
get these soon.” She grabbed a bag with fresh vegetables and stood up.਀ 
<P>“It was very nice talkin’ to ya, um, I don’t even know ya name!” The girl laughed embarrassingly. Mayhem pulled ਀䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 琀漀 栀椀猀 昀攀攀琀Ⰰ 愀渀琀猀礀 眀椀琀栀 椀洀瀀愀琀椀攀渀挀攀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䠠椀猀 渀愀洀攀ᤀ猠 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀Ⰰ 愀渀ᤀ†栀攀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 渀攀攀搀猀 琀愀 最漀 渀漀眀⸀ 䈀礀攀℀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀匀栀攀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 眀愀氀欀⸀ 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 琀漀漀欀 琀栀攀 琀椀洀攀 琀漀 瀀氀愀渀琀 愀 猀洀愀氀氀 欀椀猀猀 漀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 最椀爀氀ᤀ猠 栀愀渀搀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 琀愀欀椀渀最 漀昀昀 愀昀琀攀爀  
Mayhem. The girl stared after them for quite some time before going her way.਀ 
<P>They walked beside each other in silence. That day Mayhem wasn’t in the mood to tell Leadpipe how selling had ਀最漀渀攀 昀漀爀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 漀爀 樀漀欀攀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 氀椀欀攀 猀栀攀 甀猀甀愀氀氀礀 搀椀搀⸀ 吀栀攀 漀渀挀漀洀椀渀最 挀漀渀昀爀漀渀琀愀琀椀漀渀 眀椀琀栀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 眀攀椀最栀攀搀 漀渀 栀攀爀 洀椀渀搀⸀  
Leadpipe looked at her thoughtfully. He gestured toward the bruise shining on her face.਀ 
<P>Mayhem looked up in confusion. “Huh? No, I broke up wid Buck, he should be off me back now.”਀ 
<P>Aware that he still gazed at her she smiled at Leadpipe. “Nothin’s the matter. I jist got home late, an’ I’m pretty ਀琀椀爀攀搀Ⰰ 椀猀 愀氀氀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀匀栀攀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 攀渀琀攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 氀漀搀最椀渀最 栀漀甀猀攀 愀渀搀 猀琀攀攀爀攀搀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 琀栀攀 欀椀琀挀栀攀渀Ⰰ 搀攀琀攀爀洀椀渀攀搀 琀漀 愀挀琀 愀猀 挀愀猀甀愀氀 愀猀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀⸀ 䤀昀  
Bailey didn’t want them to get any closer that was fine by her, and she surely wouldn’t give him the satisfaction ਀漀昀 洀漀漀渀椀渀最 愀昀琀攀爀 栀椀洀⸀ 吀漀 栀攀爀 爀攀氀椀攀昀 栀攀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 眀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 攀渀琀攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 爀漀漀洀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䠀攀砀 愀渀搀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 昀椀砀 搀椀渀渀攀爀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 眀攀爀攀 氀愀甀最栀椀渀最 愀渀搀 樀漀欀椀渀最 眀栀攀渀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 愀渀搀 䨀愀搀攀 攀渀琀攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀  
kitchen. ਀ 
<P>Jade sniffed the air suspiciously. “Mayhem Powell, have you been smoking in here?”਀ 
<P>Mayhem gave her the most innocent look she could manage, which wasn’t very convincing. “Who me? Never! ਀䌀愀渀ᤀ琠 戀攀愀爀 挀椀最愀爀攀琀琀攀猀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䨀愀搀攀 昀爀漀眀渀攀搀 愀琀 栀攀爀 愀渀搀 氀攀昀琀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀猀 猀漀漀渀 愀猀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 漀甀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 搀漀漀爀 䠀攀砀 栀愀渀搀攀搀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 愀 戀甀爀渀椀渀最 挀椀最愀爀攀琀琀攀  
seemingly out of the air. Bailey chuckled.਀ 
<P>“Impressive trick, Hex, but I don’t think anyone should be smoking in the kitchen.”਀ 
<P>Mayhem acquiesced and snuffed out the cigarette before she resumed cutting some onions. ਀ 
<P>“Lemme help ya with those,” Bailey offered, and sat down beside her. Mayhem looked at him in puzzlement. Both ਀漀昀 琀栀攀洀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 瀀甀猀栀攀搀 甀瀀 琀栀攀椀爀 猀氀攀攀瘀攀猀 琀栀攀椀爀 戀愀爀攀 愀爀洀猀 琀漀甀挀栀攀搀 氀椀最栀琀氀礀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 昀攀攀氀 栀攀爀 猀欀椀渀 猀琀愀爀琀椀渀最 琀漀  
prickle at that spot.਀ 
<P>“I think ya should rather help me peel them stupid potatoes,” Hex grumbled, and Bailey grinned.਀ 
<P>“Alright.”਀ 
<P>He remained sitting next to Mayhem, however. She was thoroughly confused now. <I>If he ain’t interested in me, ਀眀栀礀 搀漀攀猀 栀攀 戀攀栀愀瘀攀 氀椀欀攀 搀椀猀㼀㰀⼀䤀㸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠 猀甀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀愀琀Ⰰ 攀椀琀栀攀爀⸀ 䠀攀 樀甀猀琀 栀愀搀 琀栀攀 猀琀爀漀渀最 搀攀猀椀爀攀 琀漀 戀攀 挀氀漀猀攀 琀漀 栀攀爀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀䄀渀ᤀ†愀昀琀攀爀 愀氀氀Ⰰ 眀攀ᤀ爠攀  
just workin’ together, right? Just like with all the other kids.</I> But he couldn’t help notice that despite her ਀挀漀洀瀀愀爀愀琀椀瘀攀氀礀 猀洀愀氀氀 猀琀愀琀甀爀攀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 渀漀琀 愀 挀栀椀氀搀 愀渀礀洀漀爀攀⸀ 一漀琀 愀琀 愀氀氀⸀ 䠀攀 昀漀甀渀搀 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀 眀漀渀搀攀爀椀渀最 栀漀眀 漀氀搀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀Ⰰ  
and quickly dismissed the thought.਀ 
<P>When they were done with preparing dinner Mayhem was almost glad to get out of his presence, since his ਀渀攀愀爀渀攀猀猀 洀愀搀攀 栀攀爀 猀氀椀最栀琀氀礀 渀攀爀瘀漀甀猀 愀渀搀 攀砀挀椀琀攀搀 栀攀爀 愀琀 琀栀攀 猀愀洀攀 琀椀洀攀⸀ 匀栀攀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠 猀甀爀攀 栀漀眀 氀漀渀最 猀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 欀攀攀瀀 甀瀀  
just acting casual around him, so she rather escaped being near him until she would have built up a defense ਀愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀栀攀猀攀 愀最最爀愀瘀愀琀椀渀最 昀攀攀氀椀渀最猀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 栀愀搀 渀漀琀椀挀攀搀 栀攀爀 栀甀爀爀椀攀搀 攀砀椀琀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 昀攀氀琀 愀 猀氀椀最栀琀 琀眀愀渀最 愀琀 琀栀椀猀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀圀攀氀氀Ⰰ 渀漀 眀漀渀搀攀爀 猀栀攀 搀漀攀猀渀ᤀ琠 眀愀渀渀愀 戀攀 愀爀漀甀渀搀  
me anymore, after the way I treated her last night. </I>਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀縀縀縀縀縀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 氀愀礀 漀渀 栀攀爀 戀甀渀欀 猀琀愀爀椀渀最 愀琀 琀栀攀 挀攀椀氀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 攀洀瀀琀礀 攀礀攀猀 眀栀椀氀攀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 最椀爀氀猀 眀攀爀攀 猀琀椀氀氀 戀甀猀礀 挀栀愀琀琀椀渀最 愀渀搀  
preparing themselves for bed before Jade would call lights out. ਀ 
<P>A phrase thrown randomly into the conversation caught her attention. ਀ 
<P>“...well, ya know, da way he looked at Mayhem tonight...”਀ 
<P>Her head snapped up. She pinned Hex with a glare. ਀ 
<P>“What?” ਀ 
<P>Hex smiled at her, not in the least intimidated. “Aw c’mon Mayhem, da way Bailey acted in da kitchen tanight ya ਀最漀琀琀愀 愀搀洀椀琀 栀攀ᤀ猠 最漀琀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀ᤀ†最漀椀渀ᤀ†昀漀爀 礀愀℀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀渀漀爀琀攀搀⸀ ᰀ䐠漀渀ᤀ琠 戀攀 猀琀甀瀀椀搀⸀ 䠀攀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 椀渀琀攀爀攀猀琀攀搀 椀渀 洀攀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ匠漀 礀愀 眀椀猀栀 栀攀 眀愀猀㼀ᴀ†匀甀渀猀栀椀渀攀 最椀最最氀攀搀⸀ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀ᤀ猠 挀栀攀攀欀猀 昀氀甀猀栀攀搀 猀氀椀最栀琀氀礀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 猀愀礀 搀愀琀℀ 䠀攀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 洀礀 琀礀瀀攀 愀渀礀眀愀礀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ传栀 爀攀愀氀氀礀㼀ᴀ†匀漀爀爀漀眀 爀愀椀猀攀搀 栀攀爀 攀礀攀戀爀漀眀猀⸀ ᰀ䄠渀ᤀ†眀栀愀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 礀漀甀爀 琀礀瀀攀 戀攀㼀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䐠甀渀渀漀Ⰰᴀ†䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀栀爀甀最最攀搀⸀ ᰀ䨠椀猀琀 渀漀琀栀椀渀ᤀ†氀椀欀攀 栀椀洀⸀ 䄀渀ᤀ†渀漀琀栀椀渀ᤀ†氀椀欀攀 愀 挀攀爀琀愀椀渀 䐀攀氀愀渀挀攀礀 䤀 欀渀漀眀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ夠攀爀 氀甀挀欀礀 椀琀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠℀ᴀ†匀漀爀爀漀眀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀 愀渀搀 琀栀爀攀眀 栀攀爀 瀀椀氀氀漀眀 愀琀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 愀 爀攀愀氀 昀椀最栀琀 挀漀甀氀搀 攀渀猀甀攀 䨀愀搀攀  
walked in and extinguished the lights. ਀ 
<P>Everyone’s breathing had calmed down, but Mayhem lay in her bed, restless. She could see Bailey’s hazel eyes ਀猀洀椀氀椀渀最 愀琀 栀攀爀 攀瘀攀爀礀 琀椀洀攀 猀栀攀 挀氀漀猀攀搀 栀攀爀 漀眀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 洀椀猀猀攀搀 栀椀猀 猀琀爀漀渀最 愀爀洀猀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 栀攀爀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 栀攀愀爀搀 愀 挀氀漀挀欀  
chime twelve she rose from her bunk, sighing, and decided to get a glass of milk from the kitchen. ਀ 
<P>Careful not to make a sound she slipped out of the girls’ bunkroom and descended the three flights of stairs down ਀琀漀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 昀氀漀漀爀⸀ 吀漀 栀攀爀 昀爀甀猀琀爀愀琀椀漀渀 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠 愀渀礀 洀椀氀欀 氀攀昀琀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 戀爀攀愀欀昀愀猀琀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 洀椀氀欀洀愀渀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠 搀甀攀 昀漀爀  
another five hours. She settled for a glass of water instead and returned to the lobby, nestling on the couch while ਀猀椀瀀瀀椀渀最 愀琀 栀攀爀 搀爀椀渀欀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 攀渀琀攀爀攀搀 栀攀爀 洀椀渀搀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ 匀栀攀 眀漀渀搀攀爀攀搀 椀昀 栀攀 眀愀猀 愀猀氀攀攀瀀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀䈀攀琀 栀攀 氀漀漀欀猀 挀甀琀攀 眀栀椀氀攀 栀攀ᤀ猠 猀氀攀攀瀀椀渀ᤀ⸠ 㰀⼀䤀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀䄀猀 猀栀攀 猀愀琀 琀栀攀爀攀 搀攀攀瀀 椀渀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 愀 栀愀渀搀 猀漀昀琀氀礀 琀漀甀挀栀攀搀 栀攀爀 猀栀漀甀氀搀攀爀Ⰰ 猀琀愀爀琀氀椀渀最 栀攀爀 漀甀琀 漀昀 栀攀爀 爀攀瘀攀爀椀攀⸀ 匀栀攀 猀椀最栀攀搀  
with relief when she saw it was Bailey, and shot him a glare.਀ 
<P>“Goddammit, ya scared me half ta death!”਀ 
<P>He smiled apologetically and sat down beside her.਀ 
<P>“Sorry, I didn’t mean to. Why ain’t ya in bed?” he asked frowning. She shrugged. There was no way she’d tell ਀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀栀攀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 琀栀椀渀欀椀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 栀椀洀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䨠椀猀琀 挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 猀氀攀攀瀀⸀ 䠀漀眀 ᠀戠漀甀琀 礀漀甀㼀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀栀爀甀最最攀搀 椀渀 爀攀琀甀爀渀Ⰰ 琀爀礀椀渀最 渀漀琀 琀漀 渀漀琀椀挀攀 琀栀攀 眀愀礀 栀攀爀 栀愀椀爀 猀栀漀渀攀 愀 搀攀攀瀀 戀氀愀挀欀 椀渀 琀栀攀 搀椀洀 氀愀洀瀀氀椀最栀琀⸀ 䠀攀 猀琀椀氀氀  
felt uncomfortable about the way they had parted the night before and decided to try and straighten the matter ਀漀甀琀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䰠椀猀琀攀渀 䴀愀礀Ⰰ 愀戀漀甀琀 眀栀愀琀 䤀 猀愀椀搀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 渀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 礀愀 欀渀漀眀Ⰰᴀ†栀攀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀 眀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 椀渀琀攀爀爀甀瀀琀攀搀 栀椀洀 椀洀瀀愀琀椀攀渀琀氀礀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䘠攀爀最攀琀 愀戀漀甀琀 椀琀Ⰰ 漀欀愀礀Ⰰ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀㼀 夀漀甀 眀攀爀攀 爀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 椀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 渀攀瘀攀爀 栀愀瘀攀 眀漀椀欀攀搀Ⰰ 眀攀ᤀ爠攀 樀椀猀琀 琀漀漀 搀椀昀昀攀爀攀渀琀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 礀攀爀 渀漀琀 洀礀  
type anyway, so let’s just be friends, alright?” ਀ 
<P><I>God, how I hate this phrase</I>, she thought angrily, but she wanted to get away from this unpleasant subject as fast ਀愀猀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀⸀ 䤀昀 栀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 眀愀渀琀 琀栀攀洀 琀漀 戀攀 挀氀漀猀攀 琀栀愀琀 眀愀猀 昀椀渀攀 戀礀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀栀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 昀攀攀氀 氀椀欀攀 栀攀愀爀椀渀最 栀椀洀 爀甀戀戀椀渀最 椀琀  
in just another time, let alone discuss the matter any further. <I>Over and done with, and quickly move on.</I>਀ 
<P>Bailey swallowed. “Okay,” he said, hoping his voice didn’t betray any of his disappointment. Mayhem wearily ਀氀愀椀搀 栀攀爀 栀攀愀搀 漀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀挀栀⸀ 䰀愀挀欀椀渀最 栀攀爀 甀猀甀愀氀 氀椀瘀攀氀椀渀攀猀猀 猀栀攀 栀愀搀 渀攀瘀攀爀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀猀 昀爀愀椀氀 琀漀 栀椀洀 愀猀 琀栀攀渀⸀ 䠀攀 眀椀猀栀攀搀  
he could take her into his arms. ਀ 
<P>“So ya couldn’t sleep,” he remarked quietly. She turned towards him and nodded. ਀ 
<P>“Maybe ya would feel a little sleepy if I held ya a bit. Jist as a friend.”਀ 
<P>Time seemed to stretch by indefinitely as she didn’t answer, regarding him with surprise. At last she spoke up.਀ 
<P>“Maybe I would.”਀ 
<P>Bailey’s heartbeat sped up when she snuggled close to him, resting her head on his broad chest. He started to ਀氀椀最栀琀氀礀 挀愀爀攀猀猀 栀攀爀 栀愀椀爀⸀ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀ᤀ猠 戀爀攀愀琀栀 猀攀琀琀氀攀搀 搀漀眀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀氀琀栀漀甀最栀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 猀攀攀 栀攀爀 昀愀挀攀 栀攀 欀渀攀眀 猀栀攀  
was drifting to sleep. When he was sure she wasn’t awake anymore he gave her a small kiss onto the top of her ਀栀攀愀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 眀椀猀栀 䤀 眀愀猀 礀漀甀爀 琀礀瀀攀Ⰰᴀ†栀攀 眀栀椀猀瀀攀爀攀搀 猀漀昀琀氀礀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 最愀琀栀攀爀攀搀 栀攀爀 甀瀀 琀漀 挀愀爀爀礀 栀攀爀 琀漀 栀攀爀 戀甀渀欀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 琀爀椀攀搀 琀漀 戀攀 愀猀 焀甀椀攀琀 愀猀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 渀漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 最椀爀氀猀 眀漀欀攀 甀瀀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀 氀愀椀搀 栀攀爀 搀漀眀渀 漀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 戀甀渀欀 栀攀  
thought was hers. He was unaware of Blaze’s eyes silently regarding him in the darkness as he gave Mayhem a ਀氀愀猀琀 瀀攀挀欀 漀渀 琀栀攀 挀栀攀攀欀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 氀攀愀瘀椀渀最 琀栀攀 爀漀漀洀⸀ 
<CENTER>਀㰀倀㸀縀縀縀縀縀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䌠ᤀ洠漀渀Ⰰ 焀甀椀挀欀Ⰰ 礀攀爀 最漀渀渀愀 洀椀猀猀 椀琀℀ᴀ†匀栀椀洀洀攀爀 最椀最最氀攀搀 愀猀 猀栀攀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 匀琀漀爀洀 愀氀漀渀最 琀漀 琀栀攀 攀搀最攀 漀昀 琀栀攀  
roof.਀ 
<P>Mayhem groaned upon Shimmer’s enthusiasm. “Dis is pathetic. You all act like some immature ਀戀甀渀挀栀 漀昀⸀⸀⸀ᴀ†猀栀攀 最爀漀瀀攀搀 昀漀爀 愀 昀椀琀琀椀渀最 椀渀猀甀氀琀Ⰰ ᰀ搠攀戀甀琀愀渀琀攀猀℀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀匀漀爀爀漀眀 猀洀椀爀欀攀搀⸀ ᰀ䰠漀漀欀 眀栀漀ᤀ猠 琀愀眀欀椀渀ᤀ†愀渀ᤀ†猀椀琀琀椀渀ᤀ†椀渀 搀愀 昀爀漀渀琀 爀漀眀 愀琀 搀愀 猀愀洀攀 琀椀洀攀℀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 最爀甀洀戀氀攀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 琀愀欀攀 栀攀爀 攀礀攀猀 漀昀昀 琀栀攀 猀瀀攀挀琀愀挀氀攀 琀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀 眀椀琀渀攀猀猀椀渀最⸀ 䴀漀猀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 戀漀礀猀  
were helping Bailey to build some new bunk beds, since the steady influx of new lodgers had made ਀琀栀攀 猀瀀愀挀攀 猀挀愀爀挀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 最椀爀氀猀 攀渀樀漀礀攀搀 眀愀琀挀栀椀渀最 琀栀攀洀 眀漀爀欀Ⰰ 漀甀琀 漀昀 猀栀攀攀爀 氀愀稀椀渀攀猀猀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀 愀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 瘀椀攀眀  
the boys presented. ਀ 
<P>Bubbles sighed happily when the warm summer evening and the sweat breaking work caused Blink ਀琀漀 昀漀氀氀漀眀 洀愀渀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 最甀礀猀ᤀ†攀砀愀洀瀀氀攀猀 愀渀搀 琀愀欀攀 漀昀昀 栀椀猀 猀栀椀爀琀⸀ 匀瀀漀琀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀 渀漀琀椀挀攀搀 琀栀攀  
girls above them. ਀ 
<P>“Ya jist can’t get enough a me, can ya goils?” he shouted up to them. A gush of laughter was the ਀爀攀猀甀氀琀Ⰰ 挀攀爀琀愀椀渀氀礀 渀漀琀 琀栀攀 爀攀猀瀀漀渀猀攀 栀攀 栀愀搀 栀漀瀀攀搀 昀漀爀⸀ 匀氀椀挀欀 猀栀漀漀欀 栀攀爀 栀攀愀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䐠愀琀 最甀礀ᤀ猠 猀漀 昀甀氀氀 愀 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䈠愀椀氀攀礀 猀栀漀愀栀 氀漀漀欀猀 渀椀挀攀 眀椀搀漀甀琀 栀椀猀 猀栀漀椀琀Ⰰ 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 栀攀㼀ᴀ†䈀氀愀稀攀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀 猀氀礀氀礀 愀琀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀⸀ 匀栀攀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 氀漀漀欀椀渀最 昀漀爀  
signs of love in the two ever since she had seen Bailey carry Mayhem to bed almost a week ago.਀ 
<P>Mayhem raised her eyebrows. “Ya gots time ta keep ya eyes on Bailey while little Bumlets down dere does his ਀戀攀猀琀 琀愀 椀洀瀀爀攀猀猀 礀愀㼀 䜀攀攀 䈀氀愀稀攀Ⰰ 䤀ᤀ洠 爀攀愀氀氀礀 猀栀漀挀欀攀搀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀氀愀稀攀 戀氀甀猀栀攀搀 猀氀椀最栀琀氀礀⸀ ᰀ吠漀甀挀栀Ⰰᴀ†猀栀攀 洀甀琀琀攀爀攀搀 甀渀搀攀爀 栀攀爀 戀爀攀愀琀栀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䤀渀 琀栀攀 洀攀愀渀琀椀洀攀 搀漀眀渀 椀渀 琀栀攀 戀愀挀欀礀愀爀搀 䨀愀挀欀 琀爀椀攀搀 琀漀 昀椀最甀爀攀 漀甀琀 愀 眀愀礀 琀漀 猀栀漀眀 漀昀昀 栀椀猀 戀椀挀攀瀀猀 眀栀椀氀攀 猀愀眀椀渀最 眀漀漀搀⸀  
Bailey smiled slightly at his effort. ਀ 
<P>“Ya’d think da goils should have better things ta do,” Race grumbled. Although he was sweating profusely he ਀爀攀昀甀猀攀搀 琀漀 琀愀欀攀 愀渀礀 挀氀漀琀栀攀猀 漀昀昀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀匀琀愀渀搀椀渀ᤀ†渀攀砀琀 琀愀 搀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 最甀礀猀 爀椀最栀琀 渀漀眀ᤀ猠 攀洀戀愀爀爀愀猀猀椀渀最 攀渀漀甀最栀Ⰰ 䤀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 栀愀瘀攀 琀愀  
deepen dis humiliation,</I> he thought grimly. ਀ 
<P>Pie Eater shrugged. “Let ‘em have deir fun. Bet you wouldn’t mind seein’ dem wid deir shirts off once in awhile.” ਀䠀椀猀 挀栀攀攀欀猀 昀氀甀猀栀攀搀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 戀漀礀猀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䐠愀琀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠 洀攀愀渀琀 琀愀 猀漀甀渀搀 搀愀琀 眀愀礀℀ᴀ†栀攀 琀爀椀攀搀 琀漀 爀攀最愀椀渀 栀椀猀 搀椀最渀椀琀礀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ匠栀漀愀栀Ⰰ 倀椀攀Ⰰ 眀攀 愀氀氀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀漀猀攀 猀栀漀椀琀 礀漀甀ᤀ搠 氀椀欀攀 琀愀 爀攀洀漀瘀攀 漀渀攀 搀愀礀Ⰰᴀ†匀欀椀琀琀攀爀礀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀Ⰰ 眀栀椀氀攀 倀椀攀 䔀愀琀攀爀ᤀ猠 戀氀甀猀栀  
deepened. He punched Skittery lightly in the side. “Shaddup!”਀ 
<P>“He’s right guys, let’s get some woik done heah,” Bailey chimed in as the other boys’ tittering continued.਀ 
<P>“Aw c’mon Bailey, don’t be sich a drag jist cause ya ain’t got no goil,” Blink smirked. “Why don’t ya get hooked ਀琀愀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 琀漀漀㼀 䈀攀椀渀ᤀ†氀漀渀攀猀漀洀攀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 栀攀愀氀琀栀礀Ⰰ 礀愀 欀渀漀眀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䴠愀礀戀攀 栀攀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 最漀琀猀 愀 猀眀攀攀琀栀攀愀爀琀 愀渀ᤀ†愀椀渀ᤀ琠 琀攀氀氀椀渀ᤀ†甀猀Ⰰᴀ†䨀愀欀攀 猀甀最最攀猀琀攀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 樀甀猀琀 猀渀漀爀琀攀搀 愀渀搀 琀爀椀攀搀 琀漀 挀漀渀挀攀渀琀爀愀琀攀 漀渀 琀栀攀 戀甀渀欀 栀攀 眀愀猀 眀漀爀欀椀渀最 漀渀 眀椀琀栀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀⸀ 䠀攀 昀攀氀琀 琀栀攀 猀椀氀攀渀琀 戀漀礀ᤀ猠  
eyes stare at him and looked away  uncomfortably.਀ 
<P>“Bet some a de goils up dere wouldn’t mind gettin’ involved wid ya, yer not sich a bad-lookin’ guy,” Spot grinned ਀愀渀搀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 戀漀礀猀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀栀漀漀欀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀Ⰰ 猀洀椀氀椀渀最⸀ ᰀ䜠攀攀 琀栀愀渀欀猀 匀瀀漀琀Ⰰ 挀漀洀椀渀ᤀ†昀爀漀洀 礀漀甀 䤀 最甀攀猀猀 琀栀愀琀ᤀ猠 愀 爀攀愀氀 挀漀洀瀀氀椀洀攀渀琀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䠀攀 挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 栀攀氀瀀 最氀愀渀挀椀渀最 甀瀀 琀漀 琀栀攀 最椀爀氀猀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 栀攀愀爀琀 戀攀愀琀椀渀最 愀 戀椀琀 昀愀猀琀攀爀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀 猀愀眀 愀 昀愀洀椀氀椀愀爀 猀栀漀挀欀 漀昀 樀攀琀ⴀ戀氀愀挀欀  
hair. Sighing, he resumed his work. As her week of kitchen chores had ended Mayhem had made a point of ਀愀瘀漀椀搀椀渀最 栀椀洀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀攀 漀渀氀礀 猀愀眀 栀攀爀 愀琀 洀攀愀氀猀Ⰰ 搀甀爀椀渀最 眀栀椀挀栀 猀栀攀 欀攀瀀琀 愀猀 洀甀挀栀 搀椀猀琀愀渀挀攀 琀漀 栀椀洀 愀猀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀䤀 最甀攀猀猀 䤀  
really drove her away fer good,</I> he thought sadly. ਀ 
<P>Fingers snapping directly in front of his eyes brought him back to reality again. He looked up to see Leadpipe’s ਀昀愀挀攀Ⰰ 眀攀愀爀椀渀最 愀渀 甀渀爀攀愀搀愀戀氀攀 攀砀瀀爀攀猀猀椀漀渀 愀猀 栀攀 瀀漀椀渀琀攀搀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 琀栀攀 瀀椀攀挀攀 漀昀 眀漀漀搀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 栀愀搀 爀甀椀渀攀搀 戀礀 栀愀洀洀攀爀椀渀最  
nails into the wrong places. ਀ 
<P>Bailey flushed a deep crimson, deeply grateful for the fact that Leadpipe never uttered a word, thus leaving ਀䈀愀椀氀攀礀ᤀ猠 戀氀甀渀搀攀爀 甀渀渀漀琀椀挀攀搀 戀礀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 最甀礀猀⸀ 䠀攀 猀椀最栀攀搀 愀渀搀 琀爀椀攀搀 琀漀 挀漀渀挀攀渀琀爀愀琀攀 愀最愀椀渀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀ᤀ猠 攀礀攀猀 渀攀瘀攀爀 氀攀昀琀 栀椀洀 眀栀椀氀攀 猀栀攀 猀愀琀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 最椀爀氀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 爀漀漀昀⸀ 吀栀攀 氀漀漀欀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 栀愀搀 猀栀漀琀 甀瀀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀  
them had sent a deep tingling through her stomach. Had he been looking at her? She was almost certain. ਀ 
<P>Mayhem sighed slightly. Although she had tried her best to ban Bailey both from her mind and from her field of ਀瘀椀猀椀漀渀Ⰰ 猀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 猀甀瀀瀀爀攀猀猀 愀 昀攀攀氀椀渀最 漀昀 氀漀渀最椀渀最 渀愀最最椀渀最 愀琀 栀攀爀 眀栀攀渀攀瘀攀爀 猀栀攀 挀愀甀最栀琀 猀椀最栀琀 漀昀 栀椀洀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䤀㸀圀攀氀氀Ⰰ 栀攀 眀愀猀 搀愀 漀渀攀 猀愀礀椀渀ᤀ†眀攀 猀栀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 戀攀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀㰀⼀䤀㸀Ⰰ 猀栀攀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 猀琀甀戀戀漀爀渀氀礀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀䄀渀ᤀ†䤀 猀甀爀攀 愀猀 栀攀氀氀 眀漀渀ᤀ琠 樀椀猀琀 挀爀愀眀氀  
back ta him. </I>਀ 
<P>Down in the backyard the boys had finished their work and filed back into the lodging house. The girls hurried to ਀洀攀攀琀 琀栀攀洀 搀漀眀渀猀琀愀椀爀猀⸀ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀Ⰰ 䨀愀挀欀Ⰰ 䈀甀洀氀攀琀猀 愀渀搀 倀椀攀 䔀愀琀攀爀 眀攀爀攀 挀愀爀爀礀椀渀最 琀栀攀 昀椀渀椀猀栀攀搀 戀甀渀欀猀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 栀漀甀猀攀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ吠栀攀礀 氀漀漀欀 最爀攀愀琀Ⰰᴀ†䨀愀搀攀 猀愀椀搀 愀搀洀椀爀椀渀最氀礀⸀ ᰀ䜠漀漀搀 眀漀椀欀Ⰰ 最甀礀猀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀倀椀砀椀攀 最爀椀洀愀挀攀搀 愀猀 䐀甀琀挀栀礀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 栀攀爀 渀攀愀爀 椀渀 愀 栀甀最⸀ ᰀ䤠 琀栀椀渀欀 礀愀 最甀礀猀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 最漀 愀渀搀 眀愀猀栀 礀愀猀攀氀瘀攀猀Ⰰ 礀愀 猀洀攀氀氀 氀椀欀攀 愀  
pigsty!”਀ 
<P>“Ha!” Spot smirked. “Nothin’ like a good manly odor, right Slick?” ਀ 
<P>She wrinkled her nose. “Ain’t any men around heah as far as I can see, Conlon.”਀ 
<P>“Den I suggest ya get yaself a pair a glasses,” Spot grinned and went upstairs with most of the other boys. Jack, ਀䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀Ⰰ 䈀甀洀氀攀琀猀 愀渀搀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 栀愀搀 猀琀愀礀攀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 欀椀琀挀栀攀渀 琀漀 搀爀椀渀欀 猀漀洀攀 眀愀琀攀爀 愀昀琀攀爀 琀栀攀椀爀 栀愀爀搀 眀漀爀欀⸀ 䈀氀愀稀攀 眀愀氀欀攀搀  
over to them and gave her boyfriend a small kiss on the cheek. ਀ 
<P>“Ya really did well. Mayhem said so too,” she smiled, watching Bailey’s expression like a hawk. Sure enough, he ਀戀氀甀猀栀攀搀 猀氀椀最栀琀氀礀 愀渀搀 戀漀眀攀搀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ圠栀愀琀 搀椀搀 䤀 猀愀礀㼀ᴀ†䴀愀礀栀攀洀 栀愀搀 挀愀甀最栀琀 䈀氀愀稀攀ᤀ猠 氀愀猀琀 眀漀爀搀猀 愀渀搀 猀愀甀渀琀攀爀攀搀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 琀栀攀洀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䔠爀Ⰰ 礀愀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 搀攀礀 搀椀搀 愀渀 愀眀攀猀漀洀攀 樀漀戀Ⰰ 琀漀漀Ⰰ 搀椀渀ᤀ琠 礀愀㼀ᴀ†䈀氀愀稀攀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 猀椀最栀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 爀攀氀椀攀昀 眀栀攀渀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 渀漀搀搀攀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 猀漀甀渀搀 漀昀 猀焀甀愀戀戀氀椀渀最 瘀漀椀挀攀猀 洀愀搀攀 琀栀攀洀 愀氀氀 氀漀漀欀 甀瀀⸀ 匀漀漀渀 䨀愀搀攀ᤀ猠 栀攀愀搀 瀀漀瀀瀀攀搀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 搀漀漀爀Ⰰ 栀攀爀 挀栀攀攀欀猀  
flushed with anger.਀ 
<P>“Mayhem, there’s a guy who wants to see you.”਀ 
<P>Just then she was pushed aside and a tall adolescent entered the kitchen, looking around until his eyes had ਀猀攀琀琀氀攀搀 漀渀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀⸀ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀愀眀 栀攀爀 最爀漀眀 琀攀渀猀攀 椀渀 愀渀 椀渀猀琀愀渀琀 愀渀搀 挀漀甀氀搀 漀渀氀礀 最甀攀猀猀 眀栀漀 琀栀攀 椀渀琀爀甀搀攀爀 眀愀猀⸀ 匀栀漀爀琀氀礀  
afterwards Mayhem confirmed his suspicions.਀ 
<P>“Buck. Whadda ya want heah?”਀㰀倀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀 
<Center><P><B><I>Chapter Three</B></I></CENTER>਀ 
<P>The stranger stared at her intensely and Bailey felt the hairs on his neck bristle. Why did Mayhem even talk to ਀琀栀椀猀 最甀礀 愀昀琀攀爀 愀氀氀 琀栀愀琀 栀愀搀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀攀搀㼀 㰀䤀㸀䴀愀礀戀攀 琀栀攀礀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 昀椀渀椀猀栀攀搀 愀昀琀攀爀 愀氀氀⸀ 䴀愀礀戀攀 猀栀攀 眀愀渀琀猀 琀漀 洀愀欀攀 甀瀀 愀最愀椀渀⸀  
Maybe she loves him. </I>਀ 
<P>Bailey swallowed. He couldn’t help but observe the other boy closer, wondering what Mayhem saw in him. He ਀氀漀漀欀攀搀 栀愀渀搀猀漀洀攀 椀渀 愀 爀漀甀最栀 眀愀礀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀 眀攀爀攀 挀漀氀搀⸀ 䨀甀猀琀 琀栀攀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 洀椀最栀琀 最攀琀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀渀挀攀 琀漀 栀甀爀琀  
her again made Bailey’s stomach churn. ਀ 
<P>Mayhem never turned her eyes away from Buck’s, refusing to let him stare her down. After awhile he spoke up.਀ 
<P>“I’d really like ta talk to ya. How ‘bout we go an’ have a drink at Joe’s?” ਀ 
<P>Mayhem broke the eye contact at last, hating the fact that everyone could overhear their conversation. “I don’t ਀欀渀漀眀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀甀挀欀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 猀洀椀氀攀Ⰰ 猀攀渀猀椀渀最 栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀洀昀漀爀琀⸀ 䤀琀 栀愀搀 瀀爀漀瘀攀搀 愀 最漀漀搀 椀搀攀愀 琀漀 挀漀渀昀爀漀渀琀 栀攀爀 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀挀攀 漀昀 栀攀爀  
friends. “C’mon May, it’s Friday night. Let’s go out an’ have some fun tagetha.”਀ 
<P>Bailey thought his ears were deceiving him when he heard Mayhem mumble her consent. ਀ 
<P>“But May...” he started, cut off by a glare she shot him. Mayhem took Buck’s arm and pulled him with her.਀ 
<P>“Let’s go.”਀ 
<P>Bailey stared after them, dumbfounded. Someone put a hand on his shoulder, when he looked up he saw ਀䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 琀爀礀椀渀最 琀漀 洀愀欀攀 愀 挀漀渀昀椀搀攀渀琀 昀愀挀攀⸀ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀椀最栀攀搀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀䤀 欀渀漀眀 猀栀攀 琀栀椀渀欀猀 猀栀攀 挀愀渀 栀愀渀搀氀攀 樀椀猀琀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最Ⰰ 戀甀琀 眀栀愀琀  
if that bastard hurts her again? </I>਀ 
<P>“Who was dat, Bailey?”਀ 
<P>Bailey almost laughed out loud at the absurdity of Blaze asking him of all people, but he bit his lip and shrugged ਀椀渀猀琀攀愀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 最甀攀猀猀 琀栀愀琀 眀愀猀 栀攀爀 戀漀礀昀爀椀攀渀搀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䤀㸀䄀渀搀 琀栀愀琀ᤀ猠 渀漀琀 攀瘀攀渀 愀 氀椀攀㰀⼀䤀㸀Ⰰ 栀攀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 戀椀琀琀攀爀氀礀⸀ 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 猀栀漀漀欀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀 愀渀搀 氀攀昀琀 琀栀攀 欀椀琀挀栀攀渀Ⰰ 猀氀愀洀洀椀渀最 琀栀攀 搀漀漀爀  
after him. ਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P>Mayhem tried to make as little sound as possible when she returned to the lodging house late that night. A ਀洀漀琀椀漀渀 漀渀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀椀爀挀愀猀攀 猀琀愀爀琀氀攀搀 栀攀爀⸀ 䠀攀爀 栀攀愀爀琀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 瀀漀甀渀搀 眀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 爀攀愀氀椀稀攀搀 椀琀 眀愀猀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䜠漀搀搀愀洀洀椀琀 䴀愀礀Ⰰ 搀漀攀猀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀搀 挀甀爀昀攀眀 洀攀愀渀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 愀琀 愀氀氀 琀漀 礀漀甀㼀ᴀ†栀攀 眀栀椀猀瀀攀爀攀搀 愀渀最爀椀氀礀 愀琀 栀攀爀⸀ 匀栀攀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀  
him in surprise. Ever since she knew him Bailey had never been anything but gentle and good-natured to ਀攀瘀攀爀礀漀渀攀⸀ 一漀眀 猀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 昀攀攀氀 琀栀攀 爀愀最攀 栀攀 爀愀搀椀愀琀攀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䄠眀 挀ᤀ洠漀渀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀Ⰰ 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 洀愀欀攀 猀甀挀栀 愀 昀甀猀猀 愀戀漀甀琀 椀琀Ⰰ 椀琀ᤀ猠 渀漀琀 愀猀 椀昀 䤀 爀漀戀戀攀搀 愀 戀愀渀欀 漀爀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最Ⰰᴀ†猀栀攀 猀愀椀搀 挀愀氀洀氀礀  
while sitting down next to him and pulling out a pack of cigarettes.਀ 
<P>“An’ don’t smoke in heah, ya know poifectly well it ain’t allowed!” Her smiling face when she put the cigarettes ਀戀愀挀欀 椀渀琀漀 栀攀爀 瀀漀挀欀攀琀 洀愀搀攀 栀椀洀 攀瘀攀渀 愀渀最爀椀攀爀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ删攀氀愀砀Ⰰ 眀椀氀氀 礀愀㼀ᴀ†猀栀攀 猀愀椀搀 猀漀昀琀氀礀⸀ ᰀ夠愀 洀椀最栀琀 眀愀欀攀 搀攀 漀琀栀攀爀猀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠昀 礀漀甀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 戀愀挀欀 椀渀 琀椀洀攀 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 栀愀瘀攀 栀愀搀 琀愀 猀椀琀 栀攀愀栀 愀渀ᤀ†眀愀椀琀Ⰰ 猀漀 椀昀 琀栀攀礀 眀愀欀攀 甀瀀 椀琀ᤀ猠 礀漀甀爀 昀愀甀氀琀℀ᴀ†䈀愀椀氀攀礀  
hissed, realizing with embarrassment how immature his argumentation sounded. But he didn’t feel rational at all ਀愀渀礀眀愀礀⸀ 䠀攀爀 氀漀渀最 愀戀猀攀渀挀攀 栀愀搀 猀琀爀甀渀最 栀椀猀 渀攀爀瘀攀猀 昀漀爀 栀漀甀爀猀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 爀愀椀猀攀搀 栀攀爀 攀礀攀戀爀漀眀猀⸀ ᰀ圠栀礀 搀椀搀 礀愀 眀愀椀琀 愀渀礀眀愀礀猀㼀 䤀 渀攀瘀攀爀 愀猀欀攀搀 礀愀 琀漀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀一漀眀 栀攀 愀挀琀甀愀氀氀礀 最氀愀爀攀搀 愀琀 栀攀爀⸀ ᰀ䈠攀挀愀甀猀攀 䤀 眀愀猀 眀漀爀爀椀攀搀 猀椀挀欀℀ 圀栀礀 搀椀搀 礀愀 最漀 漀甀琀 眀椀琀栀 搀椀猀 愀戀甀猀椀瘀攀 戀愀猀琀愀爀搀㼀 䠀漀眀  
stupid was that, Mayhem?”਀ 
<P>Her eyes turned cold. “Why da hell do ya care? Dis ain’t none a ya business!”਀ 
<P>A flicker of hurt crossed Bailey’s face and he sighed, all of his rage replaced by sadness in an instant. He hung ਀栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ夠攀爀 爀椀最栀琀⸀ 䄀椀渀ᤀ琠 渀漀渀攀 愀 洀礀 戀甀猀椀渀攀猀猀 愀琀 愀氀氀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 洀椀猀攀爀礀 椀渀 栀椀猀 瘀漀椀挀攀 洀愀搀攀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀ᤀ猠 猀琀漀洀愀挀栀 眀爀攀渀挀栀⸀ 匀栀攀 昀攀氀琀 猀栀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀 氀攀愀瘀攀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀Ⰰ 漀爀 栀攀爀 挀愀爀攀昀甀氀氀礀 戀甀椀氀琀  
defense would crumble into nothing the next time she looked into Bailey’s eyes. ਀ 
<P>“I’m goin’ ta bed now,” she said hoarsely, trying to walk past him. Bailey took her hand and held her back. ਀ 
<P>“Please don’t go.”਀ 
<P>Mayhem looked at him wearily, her eyes dark in the dim light.਀ 
<P>“What do ya want, Bailey?”਀ 
<P>He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry as sandpaper. Not answering her question he slowly pulled her closer ਀琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 栀椀洀 甀渀琀椀氀 栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 昀攀攀氀 栀攀爀 挀愀氀洀 戀爀攀愀琀栀椀渀最⸀ 一攀瘀攀爀 爀攀洀漀瘀椀渀最 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀 昀爀漀洀 栀攀爀猀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 爀攀愀挀栀攀搀 漀甀琀 昀漀爀 栀攀爀  
face and kissed her, his hands buried in her hair. ਀ 
<P>Mayhem sighed and gave in to the kiss, one of her hands slipping under his shirt, grazing over his smooth skin. ਀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 戀爀漀欀攀 愀眀愀礀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀椀渀最⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䴠愀礀Ⰰᴀ†栀攀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀栀攀 挀甀琀 栀椀洀 漀昀昀 椀洀瀀愀琀椀攀渀琀氀礀Ⰰ 挀漀瘀攀爀椀渀最 栀椀猀 洀漀甀琀栀 眀椀琀栀 栀攀爀 栀愀渀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䰠攀琀ᤀ猠 渀漀琀 琀愀氀欀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䄀猀 栀攀爀 氀椀瀀猀 猀漀甀最栀琀 栀椀猀 愀最愀椀渀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀甀爀瀀爀椀猀攀搀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 戀礀 氀椀昀琀椀渀最 栀攀爀 漀昀昀 栀攀爀 昀攀攀琀 愀渀搀 挀愀爀爀礀椀渀最 栀攀爀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀  
lobby, then down the hallway to a room she presumed to be his. He laid her down on his bed with gentle ease, ਀渀攀瘀攀爀 漀渀挀攀 戀爀攀愀欀椀渀最 琀栀攀 欀椀猀猀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀圀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 猀氀漀眀氀礀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 甀渀搀漀 栀椀猀 猀栀椀爀琀ᤀ猠 戀甀琀琀漀渀猀 漀渀攀 愀昀琀攀爀 漀渀攀 栀攀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 愀眀愀礀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀 猀攀愀爀挀栀椀渀最 栀攀爀猀  
questioningly.਀ 
<P>“May, are ya really sure about dis? Ya could still go upstairs, if ya want ta...”਀ 
<P>Bailey desperately tried to look as if he wouldn’t mind her choice for either possibility, but his face as well as his ਀戀漀搀礀 戀攀琀爀愀礀攀搀 栀椀猀 琀爀甀攀 昀攀攀氀椀渀最猀⸀ 䠀攀 氀漀渀最攀搀 琀漀 昀攀攀氀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 渀攀愀爀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 眀愀渀琀攀搀 琀漀 欀椀猀猀 愀渀搀 琀漀甀挀栀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 渀攀瘀攀爀 氀攀琀  
her go. Mayhem smiled slightly. ਀ 
<P>“I don’t wanna go anywhere.” She pulled him close to her again. ਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P>Bailey awoke to the shrill ring of his alarm clock, for a moment unsure of where he was. When the last night’s ਀攀瘀攀渀琀猀 挀愀洀攀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 栀椀洀 椀渀 愀 爀甀猀栀 栀攀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀⸀ 吀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 猀椀搀攀 漀昀 栀椀猀 戀攀搀 眀愀猀 攀洀瀀琀礀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䠀攀 琀爀椀攀搀 琀漀 猀甀瀀瀀爀攀猀猀 栀椀猀 搀椀猀愀瀀瀀漀椀渀琀洀攀渀琀⸀ 伀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀 猀栀攀 栀愀搀 氀攀昀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 昀愀挀攀 琀栀愀渀 猀甀猀瀀椀挀椀漀甀猀  
looks if the girls didn’t find her sleeping in her own bunk this morning. Still, he wished she would be lying beside ਀栀椀洀 渀漀眀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 猀甀渀氀椀最栀琀 猀琀爀攀愀洀椀渀最 漀瘀攀爀 栀攀爀 氀椀最栀琀 猀欀椀渀 愀渀搀 挀漀愀氀ⴀ戀氀愀挀欀 栀愀椀爀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀刀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀椀渀最 栀攀爀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 最攀琀 愀渀最爀礀 眀椀琀栀 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀 昀漀爀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 昀愀氀氀攀渀 愀猀氀攀攀瀀 猀漀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 琀栀攀 渀椀最栀琀 戀攀昀漀爀攀Ⰰ  
exhausted from the day’s hard work as well as from their intense encounter. There had been so much he still had ਀眀愀渀琀攀搀 琀漀 琀攀氀氀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀攀 搀攀猀瀀攀爀愀琀攀氀礀 渀攀攀搀攀搀 琀漀 琀愀氀欀 琀漀 栀攀爀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀椀爀 爀攀氀愀琀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䤀㸀夀愀 猀栀漀愀栀 猀栀攀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 眀愀渀琀猀 琀漀 戀攀 琀愀最攀琀栀愀 眀椀琀栀 礀漀甀㼀㰀⼀䤀㸀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 昀攀氀琀 焀甀椀琀攀 甀渀挀漀洀昀漀爀琀愀戀氀攀 甀瀀漀渀 琀栀椀猀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀⸀ 䴀愀礀戀攀 猀栀攀  
wasn’t interested in anything permanent at all, her experience with Buck would certainly account for that. ਀ 
<P>He sighed and started to get ready to wake the boys and prepare breakfast, still deep in thought.਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P>Bailey’s heart seemed to skip a few beats when he saw the girls walk down the staircase for ਀戀爀攀愀欀昀愀猀琀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀攀 漀渀攀 瀀攀爀猀漀渀 栀攀 眀愀猀 氀漀漀欀椀渀最 昀漀爀 眀愀猀 渀漀眀栀攀爀攀 琀漀 戀攀 猀攀攀渀⸀ 䠀攀 琀爀椀攀搀 琀漀 愀瀀瀀攀愀爀 愀猀  
casual as possible when he asked Jade if Mayhem was still upstairs. ਀ 
<P>Slick, having overheard his question, answered when Jade was about to open her mouth.਀ 
<P>“Mayhem’s awready gone sellin’. Said she’d not be home fer dinnah tonight.”਀ 
<P>Bailey swallowed. “Oh,” he mumbled and quickly left for the kitchen. Slick stared after him thoughtfully. ਀ 
<P>“What’sa mattah coily top, ya tryin’ ta catch flies?” Spot smirked and waved a hand before her eyes. Slick glared ਀愀琀 栀椀洀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ匠栀甀琀 礀愀 琀爀愀瀀Ⰰ 䌀漀渀氀漀渀℀ 䜀漀 最椀琀 漀渀 猀漀洀攀戀漀搀礀 攀氀猀攀ᤀ猠 渀漀椀瘀攀猀℀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀圀椀琀栀 琀栀愀琀 猀栀攀 氀攀昀琀 栀椀洀 猀琀愀渀搀椀渀最 愀渀搀 眀攀渀琀 琀漀 栀攀氀瀀 䐀椀挀欀礀 眀椀琀栀 搀攀挀欀椀渀最 琀栀攀 琀愀戀氀攀⸀ 匀瀀漀琀 猀洀椀氀攀搀 琀漀 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ匠栀攀 樀椀猀琀 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 最椀琀 攀渀漀甀最栀 愀 洀攀⸀ᴀ 
<CENTER>਀㰀倀㸀縀縀縀縀縀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䄠眀 挀ᤀ洠漀渀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀Ⰰ 氀攀琀ᤀ猠 最椀琀 最漀椀渀ᤀ℠ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䐀愀猀栀 琀愀瀀瀀攀搀 栀椀猀 昀椀渀最攀爀猀 椀洀瀀愀琀椀攀渀琀氀礀 漀渀 琀栀攀 眀漀漀搀攀渀 挀漀甀渀琀攀爀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 眀栀椀挀栀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 眀愀猀 猀琀椀氀氀 昀椀渀椀猀栀椀渀最 猀漀洀攀  
paperwork, much to the other boy’s annoyance. ਀ 
<P>“Yer gonna waste all of our Saturday night wid dis crap?”਀ 
<P>“Shuddup Dash,” Bailey said absently, trying to concentrate on his figures. As predicted Mayhem hadn’t shown ਀甀瀀 愀氀氀 攀瘀攀渀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀氀琀栀漀甀最栀 栀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀氀搀 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀爀攀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 琀漀 眀漀爀爀礀 愀戀漀甀琀 愀渀 甀渀攀愀猀礀  
feeling had never left his stomach. ਀ 
<P>Both Dash and Bailey looked up when a dark skinned adolescent entered the lobby, frowning when he saw the ਀氀愀琀琀攀爀 猀琀椀氀氀 眀漀爀欀椀渀最⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䠠攀礀 最甀礀猀Ⰰ 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 眀攀 眀愀猀 最漀椀渀ᤀ†漀甀琀 琀愀渀椀最栀琀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䐀愀猀栀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀 戀椀琀琀攀爀氀礀 愀渀搀 琀栀爀攀眀 栀椀猀 栀愀渀搀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 愀椀爀⸀ ᰀ吠攀氀氀 洀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 椀琀℀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀椀最栀攀搀 愀渀搀 瀀甀琀 搀漀眀渀 栀椀猀 瀀攀渀挀椀氀⸀ ᰀ䄠眀爀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 䤀ᤀ洠 挀漀洀椀渀ᤀ℠ 䨀攀攀稀 䐀愀猀栀Ⰰ 礀攀爀 愀 爀攀愀氀 瀀攀猀琀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀℀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ圠攀氀氀Ⰰ 礀愀 挀愀渀 挀愀氀氀 椀琀 戀攀椀渀ᤀ†愀 瀀攀猀琀Ⰰ 搀愀 最漀椀氀猀 琀栀椀渀欀 䤀ᤀ洠 椀爀爀攀猀椀猀琀椀戀氀攀Ⰰᴀ†䐀愀猀栀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀Ⰰ 瀀甀氀氀椀渀最 栀椀猀 琀眀漀 戀攀猀琀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀 愀氀漀渀最⸀  
Pitch regarded Bailey with curiosity, sensing the other boy’s tenseness, but Bailey did his best to act relaxed, as if ਀愀 猀愀琀甀爀搀愀礀 渀椀最栀琀 漀甀琀 眀椀琀栀 栀椀猀 戀甀搀搀椀攀猀 眀愀猀 愀氀氀 栀攀 眀愀猀 挀漀渀挀攀爀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀⸀ 
<CENTER>਀㰀倀㸀縀縀縀縀縀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 挀漀甀氀搀 昀攀攀氀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀ᤀ猠 瀀爀攀猀攀渀挀攀 攀瘀攀渀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 猀栀攀 栀攀愀爀搀 栀椀猀 猀漀昀琀 昀漀漀琀昀愀氀氀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 愀 猀氀椀最栀琀 瀀爀椀挀欀氀攀 椀渀 栀攀爀  
neck told her he was near. She had long ceased to wonder about the special bond between them. Most of the time ਀椀琀 眀愀猀 爀攀愀猀猀甀爀椀渀最 琀漀 栀愀瘀攀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 眀栀漀 甀渀搀攀爀猀琀漀漀搀 栀攀爀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 眀漀爀搀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀 椀琀 挀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 焀甀椀琀攀  
aggravating. Like that night.਀ 
<P>“Don’t look at me dat way. I hate dat.”਀ 
<P>Leadpipe sat down beside her on the crate, his features faintly illuminated by a distant lantern burning farther ਀搀漀眀渀 琀栀攀 搀漀挀欀猀⸀ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀瀀愀琀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 爀椀瘀攀爀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 琀栀椀渀欀 眀攀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 氀攀愀瘀攀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ 䈀攀攀渀 愀琀 搀椀猀 猀琀甀瀀椀搀 氀漀搀最椀渀最 栀漀甀猀攀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 愀 洀漀渀琀栀 渀漀眀Ⰰ 椀琀ᤀ猠 猀琀愀爀琀椀渀ᤀ†琀愀 戀攀挀漀洀攀 愀 爀攀愀氀  
drag.” ਀ 
<P>Leadpipe’s doubting look made her blush. “No, it ain’t got nuttin’ ta do wid him. Why would it? It’s not like we ਀眀愀猀 琀漀最攀琀栀愀栀 攀爀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀ᤀ⸠ᴀ†匀栀攀 猀琀愀爀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 搀愀爀欀 眀愀琀攀爀猀 戀攀渀攀愀琀栀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 猀椀氀攀渀琀 昀漀爀 焀甀椀琀攀 愀眀栀椀氀攀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 猀栀攀 猀瀀漀欀攀 甀瀀  
again.਀ 
<P>“I jist think it’s time we go now. If we stay too long we might get too close ta de uddahs. Dat’s no good an’ ya ਀欀渀漀眀 椀琀⸀ 倀攀漀瀀氀攀 氀椀欀攀 甀猀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 戀攀氀漀渀最 愀渀礀眀栀攀爀攀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䠀攀 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀攀搀 琀漀 氀漀漀欀 愀琀 栀攀爀 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 栀甀渀最 栀攀爀 栀攀愀搀Ⰰ 甀渀愀戀氀攀 琀漀 戀攀愀爀 栀椀猀 最愀稀攀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ传欀愀礀Ⰰ 猀漀 椀琀 洀椀最栀琀 栀愀瘀攀 猀甀洀瀀琀栀椀渀ᤀ†琀愀 搀漀 眀椀搀 栀椀洀Ⰰᴀ†猀栀攀 愀搀洀椀琀琀攀搀 甀渀眀椀氀氀椀渀最氀礀⸀ ᰀ夠愀 猀栀漀甀氀搀ᤀ瘠攀 猀攀攀渀 栀椀洀 氀愀猀琀 渀椀最栀琀Ⰰ  
Leads. He means it, I can feel that. I guess he’d really try an’ risk ev’rythin’ wid a slob like me.”਀ 
<P>Upon his questioning glance she slowly shook her head. “I don’t have a clue. I hardly know him.” Yet just the ਀琀栀漀甀最栀琀 漀昀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 眀愀爀洀 猀洀椀氀攀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 氀漀瘀椀渀最 攀礀攀猀 洀愀搀攀 栀攀爀 猀琀漀洀愀挀栀 昀氀甀琀琀攀爀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䰠攀琀ᤀ猠 樀甀猀琀 氀攀愀瘀攀 琀愀洀漀爀爀漀眀Ⰰᴀ†猀栀攀 猀愀椀搀 栀漀愀爀猀攀氀礀Ⰰ 琀爀礀椀渀最 琀漀 琀栀椀渀欀 漀昀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 攀氀猀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 愀挀挀甀猀愀琀椀漀渀 椀渀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀ᤀ猠  
eyes made her temper flare up.਀ 
<P>“Dis ain’t got nothin’ ta do wid bein’ scared!” Mayhem shouted at him, jumping to her feet as if a bee had stung ਀栀攀爀⸀ 匀栀攀 欀椀挀欀攀搀 愀 昀漀爀氀漀爀渀 戀漀琀琀氀攀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 眀愀琀攀爀 愀渀搀 爀愀渀 漀昀昀⸀ 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀昀琀攀爀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 攀砀瀀爀攀猀猀椀漀渀 愀 洀椀砀琀甀爀攀 漀昀  
sad affection and resignation. ਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P>“Goddammit Bailey, what’s wrong wid ya? Can’t ya at least pretend ya enjoy yaself? Wid ya gloomy face we’ll ਀渀攀瘀攀爀 愀琀琀爀愀挀琀 愀渀礀 挀栀椀挀欀猀 琀愀渀椀最栀琀℀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䐀愀猀栀 最氀愀爀攀搀 愀琀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 眀栀攀渀 礀攀琀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 猀攀琀 漀昀 最椀爀氀猀 栀愀搀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 瀀愀猀猀攀搀 琀栀攀椀爀 琀愀戀氀攀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 愀挀欀渀漀眀氀攀搀最椀渀最 琀栀攀  
trio. ਀ 
<P>“Stop pickin’ at Bailey, dem goils just couldn’t stand da way ya goggled at dem,” Pitch smirked. “Guess ya charm ਀愀椀渀ᤀ琠 愀瀀瀀爀攀挀椀愀琀攀搀 栀攀愀栀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䐀愀猀栀 洀攀爀攀氀礀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 瘀攀爀礀 椀搀攀愀⸀ ᰀ夠愀 欀渀漀眀 瀀漀椀昀攀挀琀氀礀 眀攀氀氀 搀愀琀 渀漀 最漀椀氀 挀愀渀 爀攀猀椀猀琀 洀攀⸀ 夀攀爀 樀甀猀琀 樀攀愀氀漀甀猀Ⰰ 搀愀琀ᤀ猠  
all.” Bailey sighed. ਀ 
<P>“Maybe I oughta go home.” <I>See if Mayhem’s back already.</I>਀ 
<P>Dash looked at him as if he had grown five heads. “Ya gotta be kiddin’ me! Foist ya don’t get ya rear in gear for ਀栀漀甀爀猀 愀渀ᤀ†搀攀渀 礀愀 眀愀渀渀愀 氀攀愀瘀攀 搀愀琀 漀椀爀氀礀㼀 䤀琀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 攀瘀攀渀 洀椀搀渀椀最栀琀℀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀唀瀀漀渀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀ᤀ猠 猀椀氀攀渀挀攀 栀攀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 最爀椀渀 猀氀礀氀礀⸀ ᰀ传爀 洀愀礀戀攀 礀愀 最漀琀猀 漀渀攀 愀 搀攀洀 氀漀搀最椀渀ᤀ†栀漀甀猀攀 最漀椀氀猀 眀愀椀琀椀渀ᤀ†昀漀爀 礀愀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 戀氀甀猀栀攀搀 昀愀椀渀琀氀礀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 倀椀琀挀栀 樀甀猀琀 猀栀漀漀欀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䐠愀 琀漀眀渀 眀漀甀氀搀 昀椀爀攀 栀椀洀 漀爀 氀漀挀欀 栀椀洀 甀瀀 椀昀 栀攀 攀瘀愀栀 瀀甀琀 搀愀 洀漀瘀攀猀 漀渀 漀渀攀 愀 搀攀洀 洀椀渀漀爀猀⸀ 䐀愀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 渀攀瘀愀栀 眀漀椀欀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䄠眀眀眀Ⰰᴀ†猀琀椀氀氀 最爀椀渀渀椀渀最 䐀愀猀栀 瀀甀渀挀栀攀搀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 瀀氀愀礀昀甀氀氀礀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 猀椀搀攀⸀ ᰀ䨠椀猀琀 氀漀漀欀 愀琀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 栀攀ᤀ猠 椀渀 氀漀瘀攀℀ 䤀 挀愀渀 猀洀攀氀氀 搀愀琀  
five miles against da wind! Which one is it, Bailey? Smiles? Or Slick, da little spitfire? Tiger?”਀ 
<P>Bailey shot him an angry look. “I’m not in love, an’ Pitch is right. Startin’ anythin’ wid one a dem goils would be a ਀猀甀椀挀椀搀攀 洀椀猀猀椀漀渀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䠀攀 爀攀愀氀椀稀攀搀 倀椀琀挀栀 眀愀猀 攀砀愀洀椀渀椀渀最 栀椀猀 昀愀挀攀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀昀甀氀氀礀 愀渀搀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 愀瘀攀爀琀攀搀 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀⸀ 䐀愀猀栀 猀洀椀氀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 猀愀琀椀猀昀愀挀琀椀漀渀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ传欀愀礀Ⰰ 搀攀渀 礀愀 眀漀渀ᤀ琠 漀戀樀攀挀琀 椀昀 眀攀 最攀琀猀 漀甀爀猀攀氀瘀攀猀 猀漀洀攀 愀挀琀椀漀渀 昀攀爀 搀愀 渀椀最栀琀 渀漀眀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀唀瀀漀渀 琀栀椀猀 猀甀最最攀猀琀椀漀渀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 最漀琀 甀瀀 愀渀搀 琀栀爀攀眀 猀漀洀攀 挀漀椀渀猀 漀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 琀愀戀氀攀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䔠爀Ⰰ 䤀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 最漀琀琀愀 最漀 渀漀眀Ⰰ 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀氀礀 昀漀爀最漀琀 䨀愀搀攀 眀愀渀琀攀搀 洀攀 琀愀 搀漀⸀⸀⸀ 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 昀漀爀 栀攀爀⸀ 䠀愀瘀攀 昀甀渀Ⰰ 最甀礀猀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀圀椀琀栀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 氀攀昀琀 琀栀攀 戀愀爀⸀ 䐀愀猀栀 猀琀愀爀攀搀 愀昀琀攀爀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 戀愀昀昀氀攀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ圠栀愀琀 愀 瀀愀爀琀礀 瀀漀漀瀀⸀ᴀ 
<CENTER>਀㰀倀㸀縀縀縀縀縀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 攀渀琀攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 氀漀搀最椀渀最 栀漀甀猀攀 焀甀椀攀琀氀礀Ⰰ 渀漀琀 眀愀渀琀椀渀最 琀漀 眀愀欀攀 愀渀礀漀渀攀 眀栀椀氀攀 最攀琀琀椀渀最 栀攀爀 戀攀氀漀渀最椀渀最猀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀  
girls’ bunkroom. She was determined to leave that night, sure that Leadpipe would follow her once he got back. ਀䠀攀 渀攀瘀攀爀 氀攀昀琀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀礀 眀漀甀氀搀 昀椀渀搀 愀 渀攀眀 瀀氀愀挀攀 琀漀 猀琀愀礀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀Ⰰ 樀甀猀琀 愀猀 甀猀甀愀氀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀一漀戀漀搀礀 猀愀琀 椀渀 琀栀攀 氀漀戀戀礀 眀愀椀琀椀渀最 昀漀爀 栀攀爀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀圀攀氀氀Ⰰ 眀栀愀琀 搀椀搀 礀愀 攀砀瀀攀挀琀⸀ 䤀琀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 氀椀欀攀 洀愀欀椀渀ᤀ†猀栀漀愀栀 礀攀爀 漀渀 琀椀洀攀ᤀ猠 栀椀猀  
only poipose in life.</I> Still, she was a little disappointed. They would not see each other for a last time then. ਀ 
<P>Just as Mayhem was about to climb the stairs the door clicked open softly. She turned around to look directly ਀椀渀琀漀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀ᤀ猠 攀礀攀猀Ⰰ 搀愀爀欀 眀椀琀栀 愀 猀琀爀愀渀最攀 氀漀渀最椀渀最 猀栀椀渀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀洀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ圠攀氀氀Ⰰ 氀漀漀欀 眀栀漀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 栀漀洀攀 戀攀昀漀愀栀 挀甀爀昀攀眀Ⰰᴀ†猀栀攀 猀愀椀搀 氀椀最栀琀氀礀Ⰰ 猀琀爀愀椀渀椀渀最 栀攀爀猀攀氀昀 琀漀 欀攀攀瀀 栀攀爀 瘀漀椀挀攀 甀渀攀洀漀琀椀漀渀愀氀 愀渀搀  
sarcastic. It seemed to work, Bailey smiled. ਀ 
<P>“The one makin’ the rules doesn’t have ta obey them, May. Besides, I could bet my hat ya just got heah, too.” ਀ 
<P>Mayhem walked towards him slowly, feeling drawn to the tall adolescent like a moth to a flame. Suddenly leaving ਀搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 猀攀攀洀 愀猀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀琀 愀渀礀洀漀爀攀⸀ 匀栀攀 最攀渀琀氀礀 爀愀渀 栀攀爀 栀愀渀搀猀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 栀椀猀 栀愀椀爀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ夠愀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 攀瘀攀渀 最漀琀 渀漀 栀愀琀Ⰰᴀ†猀栀攀 猀愀椀搀 猀漀昀琀氀礀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 氀攀愀渀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 栀攀爀 琀漀甀挀栀Ⰰ 瀀愀椀渀昀甀氀氀礀 爀攀愀氀椀稀椀渀最 栀漀眀 洀甀挀栀 栀攀 栀愀搀 洀椀猀猀攀搀 栀攀爀⸀ 䠀攀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 挀氀漀猀攀搀 琀栀攀 搀椀猀琀愀渀挀攀  
between them and pulled her near into a deep kiss. Her sigh as he pressed against her made him shudder. In a ਀栀甀爀爀礀 栀攀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 甀渀戀甀琀琀漀渀 栀攀爀 猀栀椀爀琀Ⰰ 挀爀愀瘀椀渀最 栀攀爀 猀欀椀渀 漀渀 栀椀猀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 搀爀攀眀 戀愀挀欀Ⰰ 最椀瘀椀渀最 栀椀洀 愀 挀爀漀漀欀攀搀 猀洀椀氀攀⸀ ᰀ夠愀 琀栀椀渀欀 礀愀 挀愀渀 洀愀欀攀 椀琀 琀漀 礀愀 爀漀漀洀Ⰰ 漀爀 搀漀 礀愀 氀椀欀攀 搀愀 挀漀甀挀栀㼀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀愀琀 洀愀搀攀 栀椀猀 愀琀琀攀渀琀椀漀渀 猀渀愀瀀 戀愀挀欀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ 圀栀愀琀 漀渀 攀愀爀琀栀 眀愀猀 栀攀 搀漀椀渀最Ⰰ 瀀漀甀渀挀椀渀最 漀渀 栀攀爀 氀椀欀攀 琀栀愀琀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 栀攀爀 眀椀氀氀㼀  
And anyone could walk in on them any minute! ਀ 
<P>When she sensed his withdrawal Mayhem’s smile faded. <I>Oh great, ya blew it again. Guess ya should leave ਀戀攀昀漀爀攀 椀琀 最攀琀猀 攀瘀攀渀 洀漀爀攀 攀洀戀愀爀爀愀猀猀椀渀最⸀ 㰀⼀䤀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀匀栀攀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 琀漀 氀攀愀瘀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀攀 栀攀氀搀 栀攀爀 戀愀挀欀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀 攀愀爀渀攀猀琀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠ᤀ洠 猀漀爀爀礀 䴀愀礀Ⰰ 䤀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 挀漀渀琀爀漀氀 洀礀猀攀氀昀 戀攀琀琀攀爀⸀ 䤀 琀栀椀渀欀 眀攀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 渀攀攀搀 琀愀 琀愀氀欀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 栀愀椀爀猀 漀渀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀ᤀ猠 渀攀挀欀 戀爀椀猀琀氀攀搀⸀ ᰀ吠愀氀欀㼀ᴀ†猀栀攀 愀猀欀攀搀 眀愀爀椀氀礀⸀ ᰀ䐠愀琀 搀漀攀猀渀ᤀ琠 猀漀甀渀搀 氀椀欀攀 昀甀渀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀椀最栀攀搀⸀ ᰀ䤠ᤀ洠 猀攀爀椀漀甀猀Ⰰ 䴀愀礀⸀ 䰀攀琀ᤀ猠 最漀 椀渀琀漀 洀礀 爀漀漀洀Ⰰ 漀欀愀礀㼀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀匀栀攀 眀愀氀欀攀搀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 猀椀琀琀椀渀最 搀漀眀渀 渀攀砀琀 琀漀 栀椀洀 漀渀 琀栀攀 戀攀搀⸀ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 搀漀眀渀 愀琀 栀椀猀 栀愀渀搀猀 琀爀礀椀渀最 琀漀 昀椀最甀爀攀 漀甀琀  
a way to start, slightly confused by her closeness. He took a deep breath. ਀ 
<P>“Nobody must know about us. If anyone finds out we’re in really big trouble.”਀ 
<P>Bailey looked up to see Mayhem regard him with raised eyebrows. “Since when is dere somethin’ called ‘us’?” ਀ 
<P>He blushed. “Well, I thought, aftah last night...” ਀ 
<P>Mayhem smiled, leaning in to shut him up with a kiss. When they parted reluctantly again she said lazily, “I told ਀㰀倀㸀礀愀 礀愀 猀栀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 琀栀椀渀欀 愀猀 洀甀挀栀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 昀爀漀眀渀攀搀⸀ ᰀ䤠 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 栀攀氀瀀 椀琀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䐠攀渀 洀愀礀戀攀 䤀ᤀ氠氀 栀愀瘀攀 琀愀 搀椀猀琀爀愀挀琀 礀漀甀⸀ᴀ†匀栀攀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 栀椀洀 挀氀漀猀攀 琀漀 栀攀爀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ 
<CENTER>਀㰀倀㸀縀縀縀縀縀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䐠漀 洀攀 愀 昀愀瘀漀爀㼀ᴀ†䈀愀椀氀攀礀 愀猀欀攀搀 氀愀琀攀爀Ⰰ 最攀琀琀椀渀最 洀漀爀攀 愀渀搀 洀漀爀攀 搀爀漀眀猀礀 眀栀椀氀攀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 琀爀愀挀攀搀 椀渀瘀椀猀椀戀氀攀 瀀愀琀琀攀爀渀猀 漀瘀攀爀  
his well-pronounced chest. She looked up to him, her green eyes shimmering in the dim light of his room’s only oil ਀氀愀洀瀀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ圠栀愀琀 搀漀 礀愀 眀愀渀琀㼀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䠀攀 欀椀猀猀攀搀 栀攀爀 琀攀洀瀀氀攀Ⰰ 搀攀攀瀀氀礀 戀爀攀愀琀栀椀渀最 椀渀 栀攀爀 猀挀攀渀琀⸀ ᰀ匠琀椀氀氀 戀攀 栀攀爀攀 眀栀攀渀 䤀 眀愀欀攀 甀瀀㼀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 挀漀爀渀攀爀 漀昀 栀攀爀 洀漀甀琀栀 焀甀椀爀欀攀搀 椀渀 愀 猀洀愀氀氀 最爀椀渀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠ᤀ氠氀 琀爀礀⸀ᴀ 
<P><BR>਀ 
<Center><P><B><I>Chapter Four</B></I></CENTER>਀ 
<P>Mayhem awoke to the sound of Bailey’s soft breathing, the sun’s first rays streaming in through the window. She ਀氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀 栀椀洀 椀渀 挀愀氀洀 眀漀渀搀攀爀Ⰰ 琀愀欀椀渀最 椀渀 攀瘀攀爀礀 椀渀挀栀 漀昀 栀椀猀 昀愀挀攀⸀ 䠀攀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 搀椀搀 氀漀漀欀 挀甀琀攀 眀栀椀氀攀 栀攀 猀氀攀瀀琀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䤀㸀伀栀 搀愀洀渀Ⰰ 氀椀猀琀攀渀 琀愀 琀栀椀猀⸀ 䤀ᤀ洠 爀攀愀氀氀礀 氀漀猀琀 渀漀眀Ⰰ 愀洀 䤀⸀㰀⼀䤀㸀 吀栀攀 爀攀愀氀椀稀愀琀椀漀渀 昀椀氀氀攀搀 栀攀爀 眀椀琀栀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 挀氀漀猀攀 琀漀 搀爀攀愀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀匀栀攀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 昀爀愀渀琀椀挀愀氀氀礀⸀ 䠀攀爀 挀氀漀琀栀攀猀 眀攀爀攀 猀琀椀氀氀 氀礀椀渀最 漀渀 琀栀攀 昀氀漀漀爀 眀栀攀爀攀 琀栀攀礀 栀愀搀 昀氀甀渀最 琀栀攀洀 琀栀攀 渀椀最栀琀 戀攀昀漀爀攀Ⰰ  
she could silently get them and then get the hell out of this town. ਀ 
<P>The shrill sound of the alarm clock startled them both. Bailey’s body jolted, his arm curling around her waist ਀瀀爀漀琀攀挀琀椀瘀攀氀礀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 爀攀猀椀猀琀 愀 猀洀椀氀攀⸀ 䘀椀瘀攀 琀栀椀爀琀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀 洀漀爀渀椀渀最 琀爀甀氀礀 眀愀猀 愀渀 愀眀昀甀氀 琀椀洀攀 琀漀 最攀琀 甀瀀 愀琀Ⰰ 攀猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀氀礀 猀椀渀挀攀  
they hadn’t gotten much sleep the last night. She had no problem with that, being an insomniac since late ਀挀栀椀氀搀栀漀漀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 愀瀀瀀攀愀爀 琀漀 戀攀 琀漀漀 欀攀攀渀 甀瀀漀渀 眀愀欀椀渀最 甀瀀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䠀椀猀 攀礀攀猀 昀氀甀琀琀攀爀攀搀 漀瀀攀渀 愀渀搀 栀攀爀 猀琀漀洀愀挀栀 猀漀洀攀爀猀愀甀氀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 攀砀瀀爀攀猀猀椀漀渀 漀渀 栀椀猀 昀愀挀攀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀 爀攀愀氀椀稀攀搀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 琀栀攀  
one he was holding. ਀ 
<P>“You’re still here,” Bailey smiled sleepily. ਀ 
<P>Mayhem raised an eyebrow. “Yer really on da quick side, ain’t ya.” She gave him a small kiss on the nose, glad ਀猀栀攀 栀愀搀渀ᤀ琠 猀甀挀挀攀攀搀攀搀 椀渀 氀攀愀瘀椀渀最 攀愀爀氀椀攀爀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 最漀琀琀愀 戀攀 最漀椀渀ᤀ†猀漀漀渀Ⰰ 琀栀漀甀最栀⸀ 䤀昀 䤀ᤀ洠 渀漀琀 椀渀 洀礀 戀甀渀欀 眀栀攀渀 䨀愀搀攀 最攀琀猀 甀瀀 搀攀爀攀ᤀ氠氀 戀攀 栀攀氀氀 琀愀 瀀愀礀⸀ 䄀渀ᤀ†礀漀甀 最漀琀琀愀 最漀  
wake da boys, I guess.” ਀ 
<P>Bailey sighed and nodded. He wouldn’t have minded to stay in bed with her all day. ਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P>Mayhem made it to the bunkroom just in time. In the general turmoil of waking up nobody noticed she was ਀愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 栀愀氀昀眀愀礀 搀爀攀猀猀攀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䄀 猀洀愀氀氀 猀洀椀氀攀 渀攀瘀攀爀 氀攀昀琀 栀攀爀 昀愀挀攀 搀甀爀椀渀最 栀攀爀 洀漀爀渀椀渀最 栀礀最椀攀渀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 眀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 愀挀琀甀愀氀氀礀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 眀栀椀猀琀氀攀 眀栀椀氀攀 猀栀攀  
brushed her hair Sorrow and Blaze exchanged worried glances.਀ 
<P>“You okay dere, Mayhem?” Blaze asked, preparing to be kicked down the stairs for the impudent question. She ਀栀愀搀 猀攀攀渀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 最椀爀氀 最攀琀 愀渀最爀礀 昀漀爀 洀甀挀栀 氀攀猀猀 漀渀 猀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 洀漀爀渀椀渀最猀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 樀甀猀琀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀⸀ ᰀ丠攀瘀愀栀 戀攀攀渀 戀攀琀琀愀栀⸀ᴀ† 
<CENTER>਀㰀倀㸀縀縀縀縀縀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 琀ᤀ椠渀欀 䤀ᤀ氠氀 琀愀欀攀 昀椀昀琀礀⸀ 䘀攀攀氀猀 氀椀欀攀 愀 搀愀礀 最漀漀搀 昀攀爀 猀攀氀氀椀渀ᤀ⸠ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䤀㸀圀漀甀氀搀 礀漀甀 瀀氀攀愀猀攀 猀琀漀瀀 最爀椀渀渀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀愀琀 猀椀氀氀礀Ⰰ 搀漀瀀攀礀 眀愀礀㼀 圀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 栀攀氀氀 愀爀攀 眀攀 猀琀椀氀氀 搀漀椀渀最 栀攀爀攀㼀 䤀 爀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀 礀漀甀  
saying something about wanting to leave as soon as possible!</I>਀ 
<P>“I jist changed my mind, is all.” ਀ 
<P><I>Don’t give me this crap, you never change your mind that quickly. You’re one of the most stubborn people I ਀欀渀漀眀℀ 吀栀攀 爀攀愀猀漀渀 眀栀礀 礀漀甀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 眀愀渀琀 琀漀 氀攀愀瘀攀 愀渀礀洀漀爀攀 椀猀 栀椀洀⸀ 夀漀甀 洀攀琀 栀椀洀 氀愀猀琀 渀椀最栀琀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 礀漀甀 栀愀搀 琀栀攀  
chance to get your things. ਀ 
<P>Something must have happened. When you left the docks you were scared shitless. I would have followed you ਀愀渀礀眀栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 樀甀猀琀 氀椀欀攀 愀氀眀愀礀猀⸀ 䈀甀琀 礀漀甀 眀攀爀攀 猀琀椀氀氀 琀栀攀爀攀 琀栀椀猀 洀漀爀渀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀渀搀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 琀栀椀渀欀 䤀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 渀漀琀椀挀攀 琀栀攀 氀漀漀欀 栀攀  
shot you when he thought nobody was watching during breakfast.਀ 
<P>I hate it when you shut me out of things. You know exactly that I’d never ask you about it, but until now you ਀渀攀瘀攀爀 琀漀漀欀 愀搀瘀愀渀琀愀最攀 漀昀 洀礀 猀椀氀攀渀挀攀⸀  唀渀琀椀氀 渀漀眀 礀漀甀 猀栀愀爀攀搀 礀漀甀爀 攀瘀攀爀礀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 眀椀琀栀 洀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 渀攀瘀攀爀 愀猀欀攀搀  
anything in return. ਀ 
<P>I don’t want somebody else to suddenly replace me! We’ve been together for almost seven years now, best ਀昀爀椀攀渀搀猀 猀椀渀挀攀 礀漀甀 樀漀椀渀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 猀栀愀戀戀礀 最爀漀甀瀀 漀昀 猀琀爀攀攀琀 爀愀琀猀 琀栀愀琀 䄀挀攀 氀椀欀攀搀 琀漀 瀀爀攀琀攀渀搀 眀愀猀 愀 最愀渀最⸀ 夀漀甀 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 琀攀氀氀 洀攀  
that a guy you have met only about a month ago can compare to that! Please don’t say you are telling him now ਀琀栀攀 琀栀椀渀最猀 礀漀甀 甀猀攀搀 琀漀 琀攀氀氀 洀攀⸀ 圀栀愀琀 眀攀 栀愀瘀攀 椀猀 猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀Ⰰ 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 礀漀甀 猀攀攀 琀栀愀琀㼀  
਀㰀倀㸀圀栀礀 眀漀渀ᤀ琠 礀漀甀 樀甀猀琀 琀愀氀欀 琀漀 洀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 椀琀㼀 夀漀甀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 琀愀氀欀攀搀 琀漀 洀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 眀栀椀挀栀攀瘀攀爀 最甀礀 洀漀猀琀 爀攀挀攀渀琀氀礀 栀愀搀  
succeeded in winning your affection. Hell, you told me a lot more about them than I ever wanted to know. They ਀渀攀瘀攀爀 氀愀猀琀攀搀 昀漀爀 氀漀渀最⸀ 䄀渀搀 琀栀攀礀 渀攀瘀攀爀 洀攀愀渀琀 愀猀 洀甀挀栀 琀漀 礀漀甀 愀猀 䤀 搀椀搀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀圀栀愀琀 洀愀欀攀猀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 愀渀礀 搀椀昀昀攀爀攀渀琀㼀㰀⼀䤀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ匠攀攀礀愀 氀愀琀攀爀 琀栀攀渀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䤀㸀䤀昀 栀攀 栀甀爀琀猀 礀漀甀 䤀ᤀ氠氀 欀椀氀氀 栀椀洀⸀㰀⼀䤀㸀 
਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P>Mayhem hummed to herself when she walked back to Carnegie Hill. Her day had passed in a pleasant flow, but ਀琀栀攀 搀攀猀椀爀攀 琀漀 猀攀攀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 栀愀搀 戀攀最甀渀 琀漀 渀愀最 愀琀 栀攀爀⸀ 匀栀攀 氀漀渀最攀搀 琀漀 戀攀 渀攀愀爀 栀椀洀 愀最愀椀渀 愀渀搀 琀漀甀挀栀 栀椀洀 猀漀昀琀氀礀Ⰰ 琀漀 眀愀琀挀栀  
the way his eyes lit up when he was laughing. To feel her knees go mushy when he looked at her. ਀ 
<P>The lobby was empty, as often these days, but a few newsies sat out in the back yard, enjoying the light evening ਀愀椀爀Ⰰ 猀栀漀漀琀椀渀最 挀爀愀瀀猀 漀爀 瀀氀愀礀椀渀最 瀀漀欀攀爀Ⰰ 漀爀 樀甀猀琀 挀栀愀琀琀椀渀最 漀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 搀愀礀ᤀ猠 攀瘀攀渀琀猀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䠠攀礀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 最愀洀攀 昀攀爀 愀 爀漀甀渀搀 漀昀 瀀漀欀愀栀㼀ᴀ†刀愀挀攀琀爀愀挀欀 最爀攀攀琀攀搀 栀攀爀⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀猀 樀甀猀琀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 愀 猀琀爀漀欀攀 漀昀 氀甀挀欀 愀渀搀  
was anxious for new people to win money from. Mayhem smiled at him. ਀ 
<P>“In a minute.”਀ 
<P>Bailey wasn’t anywhere in the back yard, so he was probably preparing their meager dinner in the kitchen. She ਀猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 眀愀氀欀 椀渀 琀栀愀琀 搀椀爀攀挀琀椀漀渀⸀ 䌀栀愀瀀琀攀爀 猀琀愀爀攀搀 愀昀琀攀爀 栀攀爀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀昀甀氀氀礀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠猀 猀栀攀 戀攀栀愀瘀椀渀ᤀ†猀琀爀愀渀最攀 氀愀琀攀氀礀Ⰰ 漀爀 眀栀愀琀㼀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀氀椀渀欀 搀攀愀氀琀 琀栀攀 挀愀爀搀猀⸀ ᰀ夠愀 洀攀愀渀 氀椀欀攀 搀攀 昀愀挀琀 搀愀琀 猀栀攀ᤀ猠 愀挀琀甀愀氀氀礀 猀攀攀渀 猀洀椀氀椀渀ᤀ㼠ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䠠攀爀 猀洀椀氀攀 最椀瘀攀猀 洀攀 搀愀 挀爀攀攀瀀猀Ⰰᴀ†匀欀椀琀琀攀爀礀 最爀甀洀戀氀攀搀⸀ 䈀愀挀欀昀椀爀攀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀 漀甀琀 氀漀甀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ圠栀愀琀 搀漀 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀 愀戀漀甀琀 猀洀椀氀攀猀Ⰰ 挀爀愀渀欀礀㼀 䌀愀渀ᤀ琠 攀瘀攀渀 爀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀 搀愀 氀愀猀琀 琀椀洀攀 䤀 猀愀眀 礀愀 猀洀椀氀攀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䄀瀀爀椀氀 瀀甀琀 愀 瀀爀漀琀攀挀琀椀瘀攀 愀爀洀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 栀攀爀 戀漀礀昀爀椀攀渀搀⸀ ᰀ䠠攀 猀洀椀氀攀猀 昀攀爀 洀攀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ圠攀氀氀Ⰰ 愀猀 洀甀挀栀 愀猀 䤀 氀漀瘀攀 氀椀猀琀攀渀椀渀ᤀ†琀愀 搀攀琀愀椀氀猀 漀昀 礀愀 氀漀瘀攀氀椀昀攀Ⰰ 眀漀甀氀搀 礀愀 洀椀渀搀 挀漀渀挀攀渀琀爀愀琀椀渀ᤀ†漀渀 搀愀 最愀洀攀 渀漀眀㼀ᴀ†刀愀挀攀  
grinned and lit a cigar. ਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P>Mayhem entered the kitchen, the lingering smile on her face getting a nuance brighter when she saw Bailey sit at ਀琀栀攀 琀愀戀氀攀 眀椀琀栀 猀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 渀攀眀猀椀攀猀Ⰰ 椀渀挀氀甀搀椀渀最 䈀氀愀稀攀Ⰰ 䨀愀搀攀Ⰰ 䈀甀洀氀攀琀猀Ⰰ 匀氀椀挀欀 愀渀搀 匀漀爀爀漀眀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀渀 攀氀搀攀爀氀礀 洀愀渀 猀栀攀 栀愀搀 渀攀瘀攀爀  
seen before. ਀ 
<P>She felt she had to be close to Bailey now, and approached the table slowly, savoring the moment of anticipation. ਀ 
<P>Bailey saw Mayhem walk over and started to sweat. He remembered telling her that nobody could know about ਀琀栀攀椀爀 爀攀氀愀琀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 猀攀攀 椀渀 栀攀爀 昀愀挀攀 琀栀愀琀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 瘀攀爀最攀 漀昀 挀漀洀椀渀最 漀瘀攀爀 琀漀 栀椀洀 愀渀搀 欀椀猀猀椀渀最 栀椀洀 漀渀  
the cheek, or something likewise disastrous. He tried to catch her eyes to keep her from blowing their cover.਀ 
<P>Watching the two Blaze couldn’t suppress a satisfied expression occupying her face. She just knew that any ਀洀椀渀甀琀攀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 眀漀甀氀搀 最椀瘀攀 愀眀愀礀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 栀攀爀猀攀氀昀 愀渀搀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 渀漀琀椀挀攀搀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀ᤀ猠 氀漀漀欀 愀渀搀 眀愀猀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀氀礀 挀漀渀昀甀猀攀搀 戀礀 椀琀⸀ 伀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 栀愀搀 琀漀氀搀 栀攀爀 琀栀愀琀 渀漀戀漀搀礀 眀愀猀  
to know about them, but that clearly just related to her visiting him at night, and all the actions involved, didn’t it? ਀䄀氀洀漀猀琀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 最椀爀氀猀 栀愀搀 戀漀礀昀爀椀攀渀搀猀 愀渀搀 渀漀戀漀搀礀 栀愀搀 愀 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀愀琀⸀ 圀栀礀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 栀攀爀 琀栀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀  
be anything else?਀ 
<P>But the expression in his eyes made her stop dead in her tracks. Mayhem could clearly see the panic that she ਀眀漀甀氀搀 最椀瘀攀 琀栀攀洀 愀眀愀礀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀䈀愀挀欀 漀昀昀℀㰀⼀䤀㸀Ⰰ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀ᤀ猠 攀礀攀猀 猀攀攀洀攀搀 琀漀 挀漀洀洀愀渀搀 栀攀爀⸀ 匀栀攀 昀攀氀琀 栀攀爀 猀琀漀洀愀挀栀 眀爀攀渀挀栀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䨀愀挀欀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀 栀攀愀爀搀 栀攀爀 挀漀洀攀 渀攀愀爀⸀ ᰀ䠠攀礀愀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀Ⰰ 栀愀瘀攀 礀愀 洀攀琀 䬀氀漀瀀瀀洀愀渀㼀 䠀攀ᤀ猠 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀氀礀 爀甀渀渀椀渀ᤀ† 
dis lodgin’ house until Bailey gets legal next year.” ਀ 
<P>Mayhem was surprised that she still had the energy to shake her head. She took the wrinkled hand the old man ਀栀攀氀搀 漀甀琀 琀漀 栀攀爀⸀ ᰀ䜠漀漀搀 攀瘀攀渀椀渀ᤀⰠ 猀椀爀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䨀愀搀攀 爀愀椀猀攀搀 栀攀爀 攀礀攀戀爀漀眀猀 甀瀀漀渀 琀栀椀猀 甀渀甀猀甀愀氀 搀椀猀瀀氀愀礀 漀昀 爀攀猀瀀攀挀琀 戀礀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䬀氀漀瀀瀀洀愀渀 樀甀猀琀 挀栀甀挀欀氀攀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䔠瘀攀渀椀渀ᤀⰠ 䴀椀猀猀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀匀氀椀挀欀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 挀栀漀欀攀搀 漀渀 氀愀甀最栀琀攀爀 猀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 猀甀瀀瀀爀攀猀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 挀甀琀 漀昀昀 戀礀 愀 最氀愀爀攀 昀爀漀洀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀⸀   
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䐠椀搀 礀愀 眀愀渀琀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀ᤀ†猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀Ⰰ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀㼀ᴀ†䈀氀愀稀攀 愀猀欀攀搀 猀氀礀氀礀⸀ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀栀漀漀欀 栀攀爀 栀攀愀搀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 猀瀀漀欀攀 琀栀攀  
hoarseness in her voice was almost indetectible. ਀ 
<P>“Jist wanted to tell ya dat I’m not gonna be back fer dinner. An’ don’t wait up fer me.”਀ 
<P>At that she turned on her heels and left the kitchen quickly. ਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P><I>He is playing with me. He is just using me. He has no interest in me but in my body being there for him at night. ਀匀漀㼀 䄀洀 䤀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 戀爀攀愀欀 甀瀀 琀栀椀猀 猀愀搀 攀砀挀甀猀攀 昀漀爀 愀 爀攀氀愀琀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀㼀 伀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀 渀漀琀⸀ 䤀ᤀ搠 爀愀琀栀攀爀 戀攀 椀渀瘀漀氀瘀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 栀椀洀  
that way than not at all. That’s pathetic. I think I’m going to puke. </I>਀ 
<P>Mayhem took a drag from her cigarette, fingers shaking. The summer night should have been warm, but her body ਀眀愀猀 猀栀椀瘀攀爀椀渀最⸀ 匀栀攀 栀愀搀 氀漀猀琀 琀爀愀挀欀 漀昀 琀栀攀 琀椀洀攀 氀漀渀最 愀最漀Ⰰ 漀渀氀礀 琀栀攀 昀愀挀琀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 猀欀礀 眀愀猀 猀琀椀氀氀 搀愀爀欀 挀氀甀攀搀 栀攀爀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀  
night was neither young nor old. ਀ 
<P>She had run around the whole town, too broke to drink herself senseless and too disgusted by other people’s ਀挀漀洀瀀愀渀礀 琀漀 愀猀欀 漀渀攀 漀昀 栀攀爀 渀甀洀攀爀漀甀猀 愀挀焀甀愀椀渀琀愀渀挀攀猀 昀漀爀 愀 氀漀愀渀⸀ 一漀眀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 攀砀栀愀甀猀琀攀搀 愀渀搀 氀漀渀最攀搀 昀漀爀 栀攀爀 戀攀搀⸀  
Any bed. ਀ 
<P>“Well, well, well, look who we got heah, Mayhem Powell if my eyes ain’t deceivin’ me...” a cold voice snapped her ਀漀甀琀 漀昀 椀琀⸀ 匀栀攀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 猀氀漀眀氀礀 琀漀 猀攀攀 䈀甀挀欀 猀洀椀氀攀 愀琀 栀攀爀 椀渀 愀 眀愀礀 琀栀愀琀 洀愀搀攀 栀攀爀 昀氀攀猀栀 挀爀愀眀氀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 䴀椀猀猀 䠀椀最栀 愀渀ᤀ†䴀椀最栀琀礀 眀漀甀氀搀 渀攀瘀愀栀 猀攀琀 昀漀漀琀 椀渀琀漀 洀礀 琀攀爀爀椀琀漀爀礀 愀最愀椀渀Ⰰᴀ†栀攀 最爀漀眀氀攀搀 眀栀椀氀攀 栀攀 挀愀洀攀 挀氀漀猀攀爀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀栀爀甀最最攀搀⸀ ᰀ䤠 最漀 眀栀攀爀攀 䤀 戀氀漀漀搀礀 眀攀氀氀 眀愀渀琀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ传栀 礀攀愀栀㼀ᴀ†䠀椀猀 瘀漀椀挀攀 栀愀搀 愀 搀愀渀最攀爀漀甀猀 攀搀最攀⸀ ᰀ䤠 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 琀ᤀ椠渀欀 猀漀Ⰰ 猀眀攀攀琀栀攀愀爀琀⸀ 䄀昀琀愀栀 氀愀猀琀 眀攀攀欀攀渀搀 䤀 琀ᤀ椠渀欀 椀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀  
really stupid fer you ta cross me, ya got dat?”਀ 
<P>She glared at him. “Ya think I’m scared of a woithless piece a shit like you?” ਀ 
<P>In a flash he hit her hard in the face and hurled her against the nearest wall. Mayhem’s legs gave away ਀甀渀搀攀爀渀攀愀琀栀 栀攀爀 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 猀氀椀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 最爀漀甀渀搀Ⰰ 最愀猀瀀椀渀最⸀ 䈀甀挀欀 猀焀甀愀琀琀攀搀 戀攀猀椀搀攀 栀攀爀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 琀栀椀渀欀 礀愀 戀攀琀琀愀栀 眀愀琀挀栀 礀愀 洀漀甀琀栀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 洀攀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀匀栀攀 昀攀氀琀 戀氀漀漀搀 猀琀爀攀愀洀 搀漀眀渀 栀攀爀 昀愀挀攀 昀爀漀洀 栀攀爀 渀漀猀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀攀 瀀愀椀渀 猀漀洀攀栀漀眀 攀猀挀愀瀀攀搀 栀攀爀 渀漀琀椀挀攀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀䤀猀渀ᤀ琠 琀栀椀猀 猀甀瀀瀀漀猀攀搀  
to hurt?</I> Buck regarded her with an expression bordering pity. ਀ 
<P>“I really don’t get it why ya would waste ya chance of landin’ such a great lookin’ guy like me, May,” he said in a ਀瘀漀椀挀攀 猀漀 猀攀氀昀ⴀ愀戀猀漀爀戀攀搀 栀攀爀 最愀最最椀渀最 爀攀昀氀攀砀 爀攀琀甀爀渀攀搀⸀ 䄀渀搀 栀漀眀 搀愀爀攀 琀栀椀猀 琀眀椀琀 瀀椀琀礀 栀攀爀㼀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䰠攀洀洀攀 猀瀀攀氀氀 椀琀 漀甀琀 昀漀爀 礀愀Ⰰᴀ†猀栀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 栀攀爀 攀礀攀猀 猀瀀愀爀欀氀椀渀最 愀渀最爀椀氀礀⸀ ᰀ夠攀爀 愀 氀漀甀猀礀 瀀漀欀攀爀 瀀氀愀礀攀爀Ⰰ 搀甀洀戀 愀猀 琀漀愀猀琀Ⰰ 愀渀  
absolute laugh in bed an’ a goddamned coward.”਀ 
<P>Buck’s face twisted with rage. “Ya nevah know when ta shut up, do ya. I guess I’ll jist have ta teach ya a lesson ਀愀戀漀甀琀 爀攀猀瀀攀挀琀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀匀栀攀 琀爀椀攀搀 琀漀 猀挀爀愀洀戀氀攀 愀眀愀礀 昀爀漀洀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀攀 瀀甀渀挀栀攀搀 栀攀爀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 昀愀挀攀 愀最愀椀渀 愀渀搀 瀀椀渀渀攀搀 栀攀爀 愀爀洀猀 漀瘀攀爀 栀攀爀 栀攀愀搀Ⰰ  
fumbling with her clothes. Mayhem wasn’t able to fight back as she usually would have done, the day had ਀琀栀漀爀漀甀最栀氀礀 攀砀栀愀甀猀琀攀搀 栀攀爀Ⰰ  愀渀搀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 漀戀瘀椀漀甀猀氀礀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 挀愀爀攀 眀栀愀琀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀攀搀 琀漀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 猀漀 眀栀礀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 椀琀 洀愀琀琀攀爀 眀栀愀琀  
Buck did now. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. Mayhem closed her eyes and hoped it would be over soon. ਀ 
<P>It ended sooner than she had imagined. A dull thump, and Buck collapsed onto her like a ton of bricks. Mayhem ਀琀漀漀欀 琀栀攀 栀愀渀搀 琀栀愀琀 眀愀猀 攀砀琀攀渀搀攀搀 琀漀 最攀琀 栀攀爀 戀愀挀欀 漀渀 栀攀爀 昀攀攀琀⸀ 匀栀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 氀漀漀欀 甀瀀 琀漀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀漀 栀愀搀 猀愀瘀攀搀  
her. ਀ 
<P>Leadpipe dropped the piece of pipe with which he had hit Buck on the head, concern for Mayhem’s well-being ਀挀氀攀愀爀氀礀 眀爀椀琀琀攀渀 椀渀 栀椀猀 昀愀挀攀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ夠攀愀栀Ⰰ 䤀ᤀ洠 漀欀愀礀⸀ 䰀攀琀ᤀ猠 最漀⸀ᴀ 
<CENTER>਀㰀倀㸀縀縀縀縀縀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 栀愀搀渀ᤀ琠 甀琀琀攀爀攀搀 愀 猀椀渀最氀攀 眀漀爀搀 甀渀琀椀氀 琀栀攀礀 栀愀搀 最漀琀琀攀渀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 䌀愀爀渀攀最椀攀 䠀椀氀氀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀礀 攀渀琀攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 搀愀爀欀  
lobby she turned around to her companion. ਀ 
<P>“Ya know what? Yer my knight in shinin’ armor.”਀ 
<P>Leadpipe was glad there was not enough light for her to see the blood rush to his face. Dropping his gaze he took ਀栀攀爀 栀愀渀搀 椀渀 栀椀猀 愀渀搀 猀焀甀攀攀稀攀搀 椀琀⸀ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀 栀椀洀 眀椀琀栀 愀渀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 琀攀渀搀攀爀 攀砀瀀爀攀猀猀椀漀渀 愀渀搀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 栀椀洀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀  
her in a tight hug.  ਀ 
<P>“Well, I’m glad yer not lyin’ somewhere in an alley beat to death.”਀ 
<P>The cold voice from the direction of the couch startled them both. Its owner slowly walked towards them. ਀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 眀愀猀 渀漀琀 愀琀 愀氀氀 猀甀爀瀀爀椀猀攀搀 眀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 搀椀猀挀攀爀渀 眀栀漀 椀琀 眀愀猀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀伀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 攀氀猀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 愀猀 搀甀洀戀 愀渀搀  
wait all night?</I> Yet something in her flipped at the thought that he had waited solely for her. ਀ 
<P>“Yeah, as ya can see I’m alright, so good night.” She slowly turned towards the stairs. Bailey held her back. ਀ 
<P>“Why do ya always do this to me, May? Do ya enjoy having me worried sick?” ਀ 
<P>Then he caught sight of her face.਀ 
<P>“Gee, what da hell happened to ya?” His glare turned towards Leadpipe. ਀ 
<P>“Ya never do anythin’ but runnin after her, why can’t ya even look out for her properly?” he yelled at the silent ਀戀漀礀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 爀攀最愀爀搀攀搀 栀椀洀 挀愀氀洀氀礀Ⰰ 猀攀攀洀椀渀最氀礀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 愀渀礀 攀洀漀琀椀漀渀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 漀渀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 栀愀渀搀 眀愀猀 昀椀稀稀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 爀愀最攀Ⰰ 甀渀愀戀氀攀 琀漀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀 栀攀爀 攀愀爀猀⸀ 匀栀攀 猀栀漀琀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 愀 戀氀愀稀椀渀最 氀漀漀欀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ夠愀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 栀愀瘀攀 愀渀礀 椀搀攀愀 眀栀愀琀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀攀搀Ⰰ 猀漀 猀琀漀瀀 琀愀眀欀椀渀ᤀ†琀愀 䰀攀愀搀猀 氀椀欀攀 搀愀琀℀ 夀愀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 最漀琀 渀漀 爀椀最栀琀 琀愀 瀀椀挀欀 漀渀 洀礀  
friends!” ਀ 
<P>Bailey swallowed, feeling a surge of guilt wash through him. He was aware that his anger was sparked by pure ਀樀攀愀氀漀甀猀礀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀攀攀椀渀最 琀栀攀 琀眀漀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 栀愀爀搀攀爀 琀漀 戀攀愀爀 琀栀愀渀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最⸀ 伀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀ᤀ猠 氀椀昀攀氀漀渀最 昀爀椀攀渀搀  
had a close bonding to her, how could he ever compete with that? ਀ 
<P>“Yeah, I guess yer right,” he mumbled, slowly backing off towards his room. “Good night.” ਀ 
<P>Mayhem looked after him, her eyes filled with bitterness. ਀ 
<P>“Joik,” she muttered while Leadpipe pulled her towards the stairs. When she lay in her bed sleep evaded her, ਀愀氀琀栀漀甀最栀 栀攀爀 戀漀搀礀 最爀漀愀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 攀砀栀愀甀猀琀椀漀渀⸀ 吀栀攀 渀攀砀琀 洀漀爀渀椀渀最 猀栀攀 昀攀氀琀 愀猀 椀昀 猀栀攀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 爀甀渀 漀瘀攀爀 戀礀 愀 挀愀爀爀椀愀最攀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䄀猀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 最椀爀氀猀 戀甀猀琀氀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 栀攀爀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀氀漀眀氀礀 搀爀愀最最攀搀 栀攀爀猀攀氀昀 漀甀琀 漀昀 戀攀搀 愀渀搀 洀愀渀愀最攀搀 琀漀 眀愀氀欀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀  
washing room. Shimmer let out a cry of surprise when she caught sight of Mayhem. ਀ 
<P>“Gee May, what on oith happened to ya?”਀ 
<P>Sunshine gingerly touched the bruise on her left cheek, causing Mayhem to wince. Damsel frowned. ਀ 
<P>“Ya look horrible!”਀ 
<P>“Thanks fer pointin’ it out ta me, I’d nevah have noticed on my own,” Mayhem grumbled and held a soaked ਀眀愀猀栀椀渀最 爀愀最 琀漀 栀攀爀 栀攀愀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䄠琀 氀攀愀猀琀 礀愀 琀漀渀最甀攀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 椀渀樀甀爀攀搀Ⰰᴀ†匀漀爀爀漀眀 瀀漀椀渀琀攀搀 漀甀琀 眀椀琀栀 愀 猀洀椀爀欀 愀渀搀 搀漀搀最攀搀 琀栀攀 眀攀琀 琀漀眀攀氀 琀栀愀琀 挀愀洀攀 昀氀礀椀渀最 栀攀爀  
way. ਀㰀倀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀 
<Center><P><B><I>Chapter Four</B></I></CENTER>਀ 
<P>Rain was drumming against the lodging house’s windows as the night fell on Carnegie Hill. The few newsies ਀氀椀渀最攀爀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 氀漀戀戀礀 眀攀爀攀 愀洀甀猀椀渀最 琀栀攀洀猀攀氀瘀攀猀 眀椀琀栀 最愀洀攀猀 漀昀 瘀愀爀椀漀甀猀 猀漀爀琀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 洀愀渀礀 栀愀搀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 最漀渀攀 琀漀 戀攀搀  
out of drowsiness or sheer boredom. ਀ 
<P>With burning eyes Bailey watched Mayhem and Leadpipe play Solitaire against each other. More often than not ਀琀栀攀 猀椀氀攀渀琀 戀漀礀 猀攀攀洀攀搀 琀漀 眀椀渀⸀ 䄀猀 琀栀攀 挀氀漀挀欀 挀栀椀洀攀搀 琀攀渀 琀栀攀 瀀愀爀琀礀 漀昀 渀攀眀猀椀攀猀 猀氀漀眀氀礀 搀椀猀瀀攀爀猀攀搀⸀ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 眀愀猀 漀渀攀 漀昀  
the last to leave. When she and Leadpipe had reached the stairs Bailey gathered all of his courage and stopped ਀栀攀爀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠ᤀ搠 氀椀欀攀 琀愀 琀愀氀欀 琀漀 礀愀Ⰰ 䴀愀礀⸀ᴀ†䠀攀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 挀愀甀琀椀漀甀猀氀礀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 渀攀眀猀椀攀猀 栀愀搀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 最漀渀攀⸀ 圀栀椀氀攀  
Leadpipe shot him a curious look Mayhem raised her eyebrows. ਀ 
<P>“Whatsa mattah?” ਀ 
<P>“I, um,” Bailey felt seriously hindered by Leadpipe’s presence. He had hoped the other boy would discreetly ਀氀攀愀瘀攀 琀栀攀洀 愀氀漀渀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 愀瀀瀀愀爀攀渀琀氀礀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 栀愀搀 渀漀 搀攀猀椀爀攀 琀漀 搀漀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 愀渀礀 昀愀瘀漀爀猀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 樀椀猀琀 眀愀渀琀攀搀 琀漀 愀瀀漀氀漀最椀稀攀 昀攀爀 氀愀猀琀 渀椀最栀琀⸀ 䄀爀攀 礀漀甀 漀欀愀礀㼀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 渀漀搀搀攀搀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 栀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 猀愀礀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 攀氀猀攀 猀栀攀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 琀漀 氀攀愀瘀攀Ⰰ 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 昀漀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 栀攀爀⸀ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀椀最栀攀搀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀䤀  
guess I really blew it. </I>਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P>Tossing and turning Mayhem tried desperately to fall asleep, but that night it was even harder than usual. She ਀挀甀爀猀攀搀 愀渀搀 猀愀琀 甀瀀⸀ 䔀瘀攀爀礀漀渀攀 攀氀猀攀 眀愀猀 猀氀甀洀戀攀爀椀渀最 猀漀甀渀搀氀礀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䌀愀爀攀昀甀氀 渀漀琀 琀漀 洀愀欀攀 愀渀礀 渀漀椀猀攀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 挀爀攀瀀琀 漀甀琀 漀昀 戀攀搀 愀渀搀 搀漀眀渀猀琀愀椀爀猀⸀ 匀栀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 栀愀瘀攀 愀渀礀 瀀氀愀渀猀 漀渀 眀栀愀琀 琀漀  
do, but any activity seemed better than to lie in her bed wide awake. ਀ 
<P>The minute she stepped into the lobby she could hear Bailey’s door open softly. ਀ 
<P>“Who’s there?” he whispered. Mayhem walked over to him, her skin prickling when she could feel the heat his ਀戀漀搀礀 爀愀搀椀愀琀攀搀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀栀攀 渀椀最栀琀 愀椀爀⸀ 圀椀琀栀漀甀琀 愀 眀漀爀搀 猀栀攀 爀攀愀挀栀攀搀 甀瀀 琀漀 栀椀猀 昀愀挀攀 愀渀搀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 栀椀洀 搀漀眀渀 琀漀 栀攀爀 椀渀 愀  
deep kiss. ਀ 
<CENTER><P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P>Mayhem found herself slowly drifting to sleep while Bailey caressed her hair, twirling some strands through his ਀昀椀渀最攀爀猀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䴠愀礀㼀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䠠洀洀㼀ᴀ†匀栀攀 眀愀猀 猀氀椀最栀琀氀礀 椀爀爀椀琀愀琀攀搀 甀瀀漀渀 昀氀漀愀琀椀渀最 戀愀挀欀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 挀漀渀挀椀漀甀猀渀攀猀猀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀漀昀琀氀礀 渀椀瀀瀀攀搀 愀琀 栀攀爀 渀攀挀欀⸀ ᰀ圠栀愀琀ᤀ猠 礀漀甀爀 爀攀愀氀 渀愀洀攀㼀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀愀琀 洀愀搀攀 栀攀爀 愀琀琀攀渀琀椀漀渀 猀渀愀瀀 戀愀挀欀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ 匀栀攀 爀漀氀氀攀搀 漀瘀攀爀 愀渀搀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀⸀ ᰀ圠栀礀 搀漀 礀愀 眀愀渀渀愀 欀渀漀眀㼀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䠀攀 猀栀爀甀最最攀搀Ⰰ 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 甀渀挀漀洀昀漀爀琀愀戀氀攀⸀ 一漀眀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 猀攀攀洀 琀栀攀 爀椀最栀琀 琀椀洀攀 琀漀 琀攀氀氀 栀攀爀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 栀漀瀀攀搀 琀栀攀礀 眀漀甀氀搀 猀琀愀礀  
together until it would be important to know her full name. When Mayhem answered her gaze was cold.਀ 
<P>“Ain’t none of ya goddamn business.” ਀ 
<P>Bailey felt as if she had slapped him. Even worse, Mayhem started to get up and began to gather her clothes ਀眀栀椀挀栀 栀攀 栀愀搀 挀愀爀攀氀攀猀猀氀礀 搀爀漀瀀瀀攀搀 愀氀氀 漀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 戀攀搀 攀愀爀氀椀攀爀⸀ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀ᤀ猠 猀琀漀洀愀挀栀 挀爀愀洀瀀攀搀⸀ 匀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 戀攀 氀攀愀瘀椀渀最 栀椀洀  
now. He quickly sat down beside her, oblivious of his complete nakedness. Mayhem refused to look at him while ਀猀栀攀 搀爀攀猀猀攀搀 愀猀 昀愀猀琀 愀猀 猀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䴠愀礀⸀⸀⸀ᴀ†栀攀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀栀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 愀瀀瀀攀愀爀 琀漀 氀椀猀琀攀渀Ⰰ 猀椀渀挀攀 猀栀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 猀氀漀眀 搀漀眀渀⸀ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 昀漀爀挀攀搀 栀攀爀 琀漀 猀琀漀瀀 戀礀  
taking both her hands into his. ਀ 
<P>“It was just a simple question,” he said softly, pulling up one of her hands to his mouth and kissing it. She looked ਀椀渀琀漀 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀 琀栀攀渀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀攀爀 爀愀最攀 眀愀猀 猀琀椀氀氀 琀栀攀爀攀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ夠愀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 欀渀漀眀 搀愀 昀漀椀猀琀 琀栀椀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 洀攀Ⰰ 愀渀ᤀ†䤀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 琀栀椀渀欀 䤀 眀愀渀琀 礀愀 琀漀Ⰰ 渀漀 洀愀琀琀攀爀 栀漀眀 漀昀琀攀渀 眀攀 栀愀瘀攀 猀攀砀℀ᴀ†猀栀攀  
hissed.਀ 
<P>Bailey slowly let her hand drop, his hurt written clearly in his face. When he found his voice again it sounded ਀栀漀愀爀猀攀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ圠栀椀氀攀 礀漀甀 眀愀猀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 猀攀砀Ⰰ 䤀 眀愀猀 洀愀欀椀渀ᤀ†氀漀瘀攀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀ᤀ猠 攀礀攀猀 猀栀漀琀 搀愀最最攀爀猀 愀琀 栀椀洀⸀ ᰀ夠攀爀 愀 昀⨀挀欀椀渀ᤀ†氀椀愀爀Ⰰ 礀愀 欀渀漀眀 搀愀琀㼀 䤀ᤀ洠 最漀漀搀 攀渀漀甀最栀 琀愀 戀攀 搀爀愀最最攀搀 椀渀琀漀 礀愀 戀攀搀  
at night, but if I even so much as look into yer direction during da day ya pretend I wasn’t dere!”਀ 
<P>She wrestled with her shirt’s buttons, unable to close them properly with her shaking hands. ਀ 
<P>“Dat’s okay, I can live with that, so we just have this sex relationship, who gives a bloody damn? But then don’t ਀瀀爀攀琀攀渀搀 礀愀 挀愀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 洀攀 甀搀搀愀栀眀椀猀攀℀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀琀愀爀攀搀 愀琀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 最攀渀甀椀渀攀氀礀 猀栀漀挀欀攀搀⸀ ᰀ䴠愀礀Ⰰ 礀愀 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 爀攀愀氀氀礀 洀攀愀渀 搀愀琀⸀ 䐀漀 礀愀 栀漀渀攀猀琀氀礀 琀栀椀渀欀 搀椀猀 眀栀漀氀攀 琀栀椀渀最 眀愀猀  
just about sex fer me?”਀ 
<P>When she didn’t answer but tried to fasten her laces he felt like ripping them out of her hands. Instead he tilted ਀栀攀爀 栀攀愀搀 甀瀀 眀椀琀栀 漀渀攀 昀椀渀最攀爀Ⰰ 昀漀爀挀椀渀最 栀攀爀 琀漀 氀漀漀欀 愀琀 栀椀洀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 礀愀 欀渀漀眀 栀漀眀 䤀 昀攀攀氀 愀戀漀甀琀 礀愀⸀ 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 礀愀 昀攀氀琀 搀愀 猀愀洀攀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䠀攀 猀愀眀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 昀氀椀挀欀攀爀 椀渀 栀攀爀 攀礀攀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 挀漀氀搀渀攀猀猀 眀愀猀 戀愀挀欀⸀ ᰀ䤠 最甀攀猀猀 礀愀 眀愀猀 樀甀猀琀 昀漀漀氀椀渀ᤀ†礀愀猀攀氀昀⸀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 昀氀椀渀挀栀攀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 琀愀氀欀攀搀 爀椀最栀琀 漀渀⸀ ᰀ䤠琀 昀攀攀氀猀 最漀漀搀 渀漀琀 琀愀 戀攀 愀氀漀渀攀Ⰰ 琀愀 栀愀瘀攀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 琀愀 琀漀椀渀 琀漀Ⰰ 琀愀 戀攀  
comforted during da night. But between us ain’t nothin’ more. An’ if ya evah thought it was, yer a bigger idiot ਀搀愀渀 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀匀栀攀 爀甀猀栀攀搀 漀甀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 爀漀漀洀Ⰰ 氀攀愀瘀椀渀最 愀 搀甀洀戀昀漀甀渀搀攀搀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 栀攀爀⸀  
਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䨀愀搀攀 漀瀀攀渀攀搀 栀攀爀 攀礀攀猀 琀漀 猀攀攀 愀 戀椀最 昀椀最甀爀攀 洀漀瘀攀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 最椀爀氀猀ᤀ†戀甀渀欀爀漀漀洀 猀椀氀攀渀琀氀礀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 猀挀爀攀愀洀攀搀 昀漀爀  
help, but the moon falling through the window illuminated the intruder’s features just in time. ਀ 
<P>She got up quickly. “Bailey, what on earth are you doing here?” ਀ 
<P>He turned around to her, and something inside her wrenched when she saw his distraught face. His voice was no ਀洀漀爀攀 琀栀愀渀 愀 眀栀椀猀瀀攀爀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䨠愀搀攀Ⰰ 䤀⸀⸀⸀ 眀栀攀爀攀ᤀ猠 䴀愀礀栀攀洀㼀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䤀㸀䤀昀 礀漀甀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 欀渀漀眀 琀栀愀琀Ⰰ 栀漀眀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 䤀㼀㰀⼀䤀㸀Ⰰ 䨀愀搀攀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 愀渀猀眀攀爀攀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 戀椀琀 栀攀爀 氀椀瀀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 琀栀攀 琀爀攀愀挀栀攀爀漀甀猀 眀漀爀搀猀  
escaped her mouth. She didn’t need to remind Bailey that almost everyone in the lodging house suspected his ਀愀昀昀愀椀爀 眀椀琀栀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 欀渀漀眀Ⰰ 洀愀礀戀攀 猀栀攀 樀甀猀琀 洀椀猀猀攀搀 挀甀爀昀攀眀 愀最愀椀渀Ⰰ 琀栀愀琀 眀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 戀攀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 渀攀眀Ⰰ 眀漀甀氀搀 椀琀㼀ᴀ†猀栀攀 琀爀椀攀搀 琀漀 挀愀氀洀  
him down. He shook his head. ਀ 
<P>“She didn't go out tanight, but we had this fight, and I thought she would just go outside fer a moment to cool off ਀漀爀 昀椀渀搀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 琀漀 戀攀愀琀 猀攀渀猀攀氀攀猀猀Ⰰᴀ†㰀䤀㸀漀栀 搀愀洀渀Ⰰ 氀椀猀琀攀渀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀猀攀氀昀℀ 夀漀甀ᤀ爠攀 戀愀戀戀氀椀渀最 氀椀欀攀 愀 欀椀搀℀㰀⼀䤀㸀  ᰀ⸠⸀⸀戀甀琀 猀栀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠  
come back, and look, all her stuff is gone!” ਀ 
<P>The last sentence had come out a little louder than he had intended, and Jade laid a finger on his lips to silence ਀栀椀洀⸀ 䈀甀琀 猀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 搀攀渀礀 琀栀攀 漀戀瘀椀漀甀猀Ⰰ 䴀愀礀栀攀洀ᤀ猠 戀甀渀欀 眀愀猀 戀愀爀攀 漀昀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 瀀攀爀猀漀渀愀氀Ⰰ 愀猀 琀椀搀礀 愀猀 椀琀 栀愀搀 渀攀瘀攀爀  
been since the day she had first occupied it. ਀ 
<P>“Uh, maybe there’s a logical explanation behind this,” Jade tried to answer, but he shot her a look that shut her up ਀愀琀 漀渀挀攀⸀ 䄀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 挀爀漀猀猀攀搀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀ᤀ猠 洀椀渀搀 愀渀搀 栀攀 氀攀昀琀 琀栀攀 最椀爀氀ᤀ猠 爀漀漀洀 栀甀爀爀椀攀搀氀礀⸀ 䨀愀搀攀 猀琀愀爀攀搀 愀昀琀攀爀 栀椀洀⸀ 㰀䤀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀  
better not hurt him in any way, or she’ll have a true enemy in me when she comes back. If she comes back. </I>਀ 
<CENTER>਀㰀倀㸀縀縀縀縀縀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀ᤀ猠 眀漀爀猀琀 猀甀猀瀀椀挀椀漀渀猀 瀀爀漀瘀攀搀 爀椀最栀琀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀 攀渀琀攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 戀漀礀猀ᤀ†戀甀渀欀爀漀漀洀 愀渀搀 猀愀眀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 挀愀氀洀氀礀 瀀愀挀欀 栀椀猀  
belongings into a small satchel. Bailey rushed over to him and had to restrain himself from yanking the silent boy ਀甀瀀 戀礀 栀椀猀 挀漀氀氀愀爀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ圠栀攀爀攀 椀猀 猀栀攀㼀ᴀ†栀攀 栀椀猀猀攀搀Ⰰ 渀漀琀 挀愀爀椀渀最 眀栀攀琀栀攀爀 愀渀礀戀漀搀礀 攀氀猀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 栀攀愀爀 栀椀洀⸀ 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 樀甀猀琀 猀栀爀甀最最攀搀 愀渀搀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀ᤀ猠  
temper flared up. ਀ 
<P>“Don’t gimme this crap, ya know exactly where she is, she must have talked to ya or ya wouldn’t be packin’!” ਀ 
<P>Leadpipe’s only reaction was a raised eyebrow, and Bailey pounded a fist against the nearest bunk. Some sleepy ਀渀攀眀猀椀攀猀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 瀀爀漀琀攀猀琀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀栀攀椀爀 猀氀甀洀戀攀爀ᤀ猠 椀渀琀攀爀爀甀瀀琀椀漀渀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ圠栀礀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 礀愀 琀眀漀 琀愀欀攀 搀椀猀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀 愀渀ᤀ†氀攀琀 甀搀搀愀栀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 猀氀攀攀瀀Ⰰᴀ†䨀愀挀欀 猀愀椀搀 最爀甀洀瀀椀氀礀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 最爀愀戀戀攀搀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 戀礀 琀栀攀 猀栀椀爀琀 愀渀搀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 栀椀洀 漀甀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 爀漀漀洀⸀ ᰀ吠攀氀氀 洀攀 眀栀攀爀攀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 眀攀渀琀Ⰰ 最漀搀搀愀洀洀椀琀℀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 挀爀漀猀猀攀搀 栀椀猀 愀爀洀猀 椀渀 昀爀漀渀琀 漀昀 栀椀猀 挀栀攀猀琀 愀渀搀 爀攀洀愀椀渀攀搀 猀椀氀攀渀琀Ⰰ 最氀愀爀椀渀最 愀琀 栀椀猀 漀昀昀攀渀搀攀爀⸀ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 爀攀愀氀椀稀攀搀 琀栀愀琀  
threats wouldn’t get him anywhere. <I>Hell, this guy doesn’t even talk to her, why would he talk to <B>me</B>?</I> An idea ਀猀琀爀甀挀欀 栀椀洀 愀渀搀 栀攀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 眀椀琀栀 栀椀洀 愀最愀椀渀Ⰰ 搀攀猀挀攀渀搀攀搀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀椀爀猀 愀渀搀 攀渀琀攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 氀椀戀爀愀爀礀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䤀㸀吀栀愀渀欀 栀攀愀瘀攀渀 匀漀爀爀漀眀 愀渀搀 琀栀椀猀 䐀攀氀愀渀挀攀礀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 椀渀 栀攀爀攀 琀漀渀椀最栀琀⸀ 㰀⼀䤀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀刀攀挀漀最渀椀琀椀漀渀 搀愀眀渀攀搀 椀渀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀ᤀ猠 攀礀攀猀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀 猀愀眀 琀栀攀 漀氀搀 戀氀愀挀欀戀漀愀爀搀 氀攀愀渀椀渀最 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 漀渀攀 眀愀氀氀⸀ 䠀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 栀攀  
didn’t take the chalk Bailey held out to him. Bailey groaned in exasperation and dropped the chalk to the ground. ਀ 
<P>“Okay, I guess ya won’t help me, no matter what I do.” He sat down on the windowsill and buried his head in his ਀栀愀渀搀猀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 栀愀瘀攀 愀 挀氀甀攀 眀栀愀琀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀攀搀⸀ 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 猀栀攀 欀渀攀眀 栀漀眀 䤀 昀攀攀氀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 䤀 栀愀搀 渀漀 椀搀攀愀 猀栀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀漀氀琀 氀椀欀攀  
this!” He gave a short, bitter laugh. ਀ 
<P>“And I thought she really liked me. Not just anyone to warm her during cold nights, but me. I guess I’m da ਀戀椀最最攀猀琀 昀漀漀氀 漀渀 攀愀爀琀栀⸀ 䈀甀琀 眀栀礀 搀椀搀 猀栀攀 爀甀渀 愀眀愀礀 氀椀欀攀 琀栀椀猀㼀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 瀀甀爀攀氀礀 爀栀攀琀漀爀椀挀愀氀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 栀攀愀爀搀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀氀欀 猀挀爀攀攀挀栀 漀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 戀氀愀挀欀戀漀愀爀搀 栀椀猀 栀愀椀爀猀  
stood on end. He looked up to see Leadpipe write something in neat letters. ਀ 
<P><B><I>Scared people do stupid things. </I></B>਀ 
<P>Bailey blinked at the cryptic message, unsure whether the other boy was possibly just pulling his leg. ਀ 
<P>“I didn’t do anything ta scare her! Why would she be afraid?”਀ 
<P>Leadpipe shot him a look which Bailey had no problems interpreting. <I>I can’t believe you are that stupid,</I> it ਀猀攀攀洀攀搀 琀漀 猀愀礀⸀ 䄀最愀椀渀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀氀欀 猀焀甀攀愀欀攀搀 漀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 戀漀愀爀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䈀㸀㰀䤀㸀䰀漀瘀攀 椀猀 猀挀愀爀礀⸀ 㰀⼀䤀㸀㰀⼀䈀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 爀攀最愀爀搀攀搀 栀椀洀 眀椀琀栀 愀 搀漀甀戀琀昀甀氀 氀漀漀欀⸀ ᰀ匠栀攀 搀漀攀猀渀ᤀ琠 氀漀瘀攀 洀攀⸀ 匀栀攀 猀愀椀搀 猀漀 栀攀爀猀攀氀昀⸀ᴀ†䄀猀 猀漀漀渀 愀猀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀搀猀 栀愀搀  
left his mouth he realized how stupid they sounded. He cleared his throat. ਀ 
<P>“So, are ya gonna help me now? Where did she go?” Bailey tried to keep the hint of desperation out of his voice, ਀戀甀琀 栀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 焀甀椀琀攀 猀甀挀挀攀攀搀⸀ 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 洀愀搀攀 渀漀 愀琀琀攀洀瀀琀 琀漀 眀爀椀琀攀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 攀氀猀攀Ⰰ 栀攀 樀甀猀琀 猀琀愀爀攀搀 愀琀 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 眀椀琀栀 愀渀  
expression close to open hostility. ਀ 
<P>Bailey shrugged and started to walk towards the door. He would have to search for Mayhem alone then, but he ਀眀愀猀 搀攀琀攀爀洀椀渀攀搀 渀漀琀 琀漀 爀攀琀甀爀渀 琀漀 栀攀 氀漀搀最椀渀最 栀漀甀猀攀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 栀攀爀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 挀栀愀氀欀ᤀ猠 猀挀爀攀攀挀栀椀渀最 洀愀搀攀 栀椀洀 琀甀爀渀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䈀㸀㰀䤀㸀匀栀攀 琀漀氀搀 洀攀 琀漀 洀攀攀琀 栀攀爀 愀琀 䜀爀愀渀搀 䌀攀渀琀爀愀氀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 昀椀瘀攀⸀ 㰀⼀䤀㸀㰀⼀䈀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 栀攀愀瘀攀搀 愀 搀攀攀瀀 猀椀最栀 愀渀搀 猀洀椀氀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 戀漀礀⸀ ᰀ吠栀愀渀欀 礀漀甀Ⰰᴀ†栀攀 猀愀椀搀 猀椀氀攀渀琀氀礀⸀ 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀ᤀ猠 最氀愀爀攀 猀攀攀洀攀搀 琀漀  
get even more intense. He left the library without looking back. ਀ 
<CENTER><P>~~~~~</CENTER>਀ 
<P>Bailey had reached Grand Central Station way before the clock chimed five. He searched the whole area, but ਀挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 昀椀渀搀 䴀愀礀栀攀洀 愀渀礀眀栀攀爀攀⸀ 䠀椀猀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 爀愀挀攀Ⰰ 攀瘀攀渀 眀栀椀氀攀 栀椀猀 洀椀渀搀 愀爀最甀攀搀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䤀㸀圀栀愀琀 椀昀 猀栀攀 椀猀渀ᤀ琠 挀漀洀椀渀最㼀 ⴀ䤀琀 椀猀渀ᤀ琠 攀瘀攀渀 昀椀瘀攀 礀攀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀ᤀ猠 猀琀椀氀氀 琀椀洀攀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀圀栀愀琀 椀昀 猀栀攀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 氀攀昀琀㼀 ⴀ匀栀攀ᤀ搠 渀攀瘀攀爀 氀攀愀瘀攀 䰀攀愀搀瀀椀瀀攀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 愀昀琀攀爀 琀攀氀氀椀渀最 栀椀洀 琀漀 洀攀攀琀 栀攀爀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀渀 眀栀愀琀 椀昀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀攀搀 琀漀 栀攀爀㼀 匀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 洀甀最最攀搀 漀爀 戀攀愀琀攀渀 甀瀀Ⰰ 漀爀 洀甀爀搀攀爀攀搀℀㰀⼀䤀㸀 
਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 瘀漀椀挀攀猀 椀渀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀 猀栀甀琀 甀瀀 猀甀搀搀攀渀氀礀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀 猀愀眀 愀 栀甀搀搀氀攀搀 昀椀最甀爀攀 猀椀琀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 愀 瀀漀氀攀 愀琀 琀栀攀 昀愀爀 猀椀搀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀  
tracks. Bailey resisted the urge to call out to her, he didn’t want her to run away from him. ਀ 
<P>Mayhem looked up warily when she heard his footfall. He forced a smile onto his face. ਀ 
<P>“Hey, is my cookin’ so bad that ya wanna skip town?” ਀ 
<P>Refusing to meet his eyes Mayhem stared at the railroad tracks. Bailey just stood there, waiting patiently. He ਀眀漀甀氀搀 眀愀椀琀 愀氀氀 搀愀礀 昀漀爀 栀攀爀 琀漀 愀渀猀眀攀爀 栀椀洀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ圠栀礀 愀爀攀 礀漀甀 栀攀爀攀㼀ᴀ†䠀攀爀 瘀漀椀挀攀 眀愀猀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 洀漀爀攀 琀栀愀渀 愀 爀愀猀瀀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀匀栀爀甀最最椀渀最Ⰰ 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀愀琀 搀漀眀渀 渀攀砀琀 琀漀 栀攀爀⸀ ᰀ䤠 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 椀昀 礀愀 眀愀渀渀愀 氀攀愀瘀攀 琀漀眀渀Ⰰ 洀愀礀戀攀 䤀 挀漀甀氀搀 最漀 眀椀搀 礀愀⸀ 一攀瘀攀爀 戀攀攀渀  
farther away dan da Bronx.” ਀ 
<P>He heard her gasp and could almost feel her eyes drill into his head. “Whatcha tawkin’ about? Are ya ਀挀爀愀稀礀㼀ᴀ 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀洀椀氀攀搀 猀氀椀最栀琀氀礀Ⰰ 猀琀椀氀氀 渀漀琀 氀漀漀欀椀渀最 搀椀爀攀挀琀氀礀 愀琀 栀攀爀⸀ ᰀ夠攀愀栀Ⰰ 䤀 最甀攀猀猀 䤀 愀洀⸀ 䈀甀琀 戀攀琀琀攀爀 挀爀愀稀礀 搀愀渀 愀氀漀渀攀Ⰰ 䤀 猀ᤀ瀠漀猀攀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䠀攀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 琀漀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 猀攀攀椀渀最 栀攀爀 眀愀琀挀栀 栀椀洀 眀椀搀攀ⴀ攀礀攀搀⸀ ᰀ䰠椀猀琀攀渀 䴀愀礀Ⰰ 䤀ᤀ洠 爀攀愀氀氀礀 猀漀爀爀礀 椀昀 䤀 猀愀椀搀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀ᤀ†琀愀 洀愀欀攀  
ya mad, an’ I never wanted ta act so dat ya would feel I don’t care for ya. I do care, I care an awful lot. An’ I think ਀礀愀 欀渀漀眀 搀愀琀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䄀猀 猀栀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 猀愀礀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 䈀愀椀氀攀礀 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀攀搀 琀漀 琀愀氀欀⸀ ᰀ䤠 搀甀渀渀漀 栀漀眀 礀愀 昀攀攀氀 愀戀漀甀琀 搀愀琀Ⰰ ᠀挠甀稀 礀愀 搀漀 愀 瘀攀爀礀 最漀漀搀 樀漀戀  
at confusin’ me, but if ya want me ta tell everyone about us, I will. There’s thousands of other jobs I could do, I’m ਀渀漀琀 最漀渀渀愀 氀攀琀 洀礀 戀攀椀渀ᤀ†琀椀攀搀 琀愀 搀攀 氀漀搀最椀渀ᤀ†栀漀甀猀攀 爀甀氀攀猀 最攀琀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 甀猀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀琀愀爀攀搀 愀琀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 猀栀漀挀欀攀搀⸀ ᰀ夠攀爀 漀甀琀琀愀 礀愀 洀椀渀搀℀ 夀愀 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 樀椀猀琀 焀甀椀琀 䌀愀爀渀攀最椀攀Ⰰ 搀愀 樀漀椀渀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 昀愀氀氀 愀瀀愀爀琀 眀椀搀漀甀琀  
ya!” ਀ 
<P>Bailey chuckled. “Dat’s really flatterin’, but I don’t think so.” He took one of her hands into his. “I’ll quit if ya ਀眀愀渀琀 洀攀 琀漀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䴀愀礀栀攀洀 猀渀愀琀挀栀攀搀 戀愀挀欀 栀攀爀 栀愀渀搀 愀猀 椀昀 椀琀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 戀甀爀渀攀搀⸀ ᰀ丠漀Ⰰ 䤀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 眀愀渀琀 礀愀 琀漀 搀漀 搀愀琀℀ 䄀渀ᤀ†䤀ᤀ氠氀 洀愀欀攀 搀愀 挀栀漀椀挀攀  
easier for ya, I leave an’ den yer problem’s gone too.” ਀ 
<P>“But I don’t want ya to leave, can’t ya see that?” Bailey looked at her earnestly. “Lemme tell ya somethin’.” ਀ 
<P>He put his arm around her shoulder, and when she didn’t make any motions to shrug it off he spoke again. ਀ 
<P>“When I wake up in da mornin’ I think of you. At night I can’t sleep ‘cuz I keep seein’ ya face when I close my ਀攀礀攀猀⸀ᴀ†䠀攀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 栀攀爀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 挀氀漀猀攀爀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 栀椀洀 愀渀搀 氀椀最栀琀氀礀 挀愀爀攀猀猀攀搀 栀攀爀 栀愀椀爀 眀栀椀氀攀 栀攀 琀愀氀欀攀搀 漀渀⸀  
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䔠瘀攀爀礀琀椀洀攀 礀愀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 挀漀洀攀 戀愀挀欀 愀琀 渀椀最栀琀 䤀 昀攀攀氀 氀椀欀攀 䤀ᤀ洠 最漀椀渀ᤀ†椀渀猀愀渀攀⸀ 䤀ᤀ瘠攀 戀攀攀渀 眀椀琀栀 猀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 最漀椀氀猀 戀攀昀漀爀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 渀漀渀攀 愀  
dem ever made me feel like you do. I wanna hold ya an’ never let ya go. An’ I won’t let ya leave me widout a fight, ਀挀甀稀 䤀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀愀琀 眀攀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀ᤀ†搀愀琀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀猀 攀瘀攀爀礀 搀愀礀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 戀愀挀欀攀搀 漀昀昀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 愀渀搀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 栀攀爀 搀攀攀瀀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 攀礀攀猀Ⰰ 愀猀 椀昀 猀攀愀爀挀栀椀渀最 昀漀爀 愀渀 愀渀猀眀攀爀 琀漀 栀椀猀 甀渀猀瀀漀欀攀渀  
question. ਀ 
<P>“If ya honestly don’t feel somethin’ like dat fer me, now would be da moment to say so, or ta tell me dat ya do.” ਀ 
<P>Mayhem didn’t utter a word, but Bailey’s hope transformed into consternation as the moments of silence passed ਀戀礀⸀ 䠀愀搀 栀攀 樀甀猀琀 戀攀攀渀 搀攀氀甀搀椀渀最 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀㼀 䐀椀搀 猀栀攀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 渀漀琀 挀愀爀攀 攀渀漀甀最栀 昀漀爀 栀椀洀 琀漀 猀琀愀礀Ⰰ 椀渀猀瀀椀琀攀 漀昀 愀氀氀 琀栀愀琀 栀愀搀  
happened between them? He was about to resign when she finally spoke up. ਀ 
<P>“Bailey, I...” she halted and looked at him, her expression unreadable. Again it took her awhile until she tried to ਀猀瀀攀愀欀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀ᰀ䤠ᤀ洠 琀椀爀攀搀⸀ 䰀攀琀ᤀ猠 最漀 栀漀洀攀⸀ᴀ† 
਀㰀倀㸀䈀愀椀氀攀礀 猀洀椀氀攀搀 愀渀搀 栀攀氀瀀攀搀 栀攀爀 甀瀀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀 琀栀攀礀 氀攀昀琀 琀栀攀 琀爀愀椀渀礀愀爀搀猀⸀ 
਀㰀倀㸀㰀䈀㸀吀栀攀 䔀渀搀⸀ 㰀⼀䈀㸀 
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