"Drat!" Heidi said under her breath.

"Heidi," her father said looking up sharply, "please don’t say such things. You wouldn’t want a suitor to hear you and then decide not to give a marriage proposal."

"Of course not, father, please forgive me," Heidi murmured. ‘Not that I want to marry any of them in the first place,’ she thought. Heidi put her hands back on the white keys and resumed playing.

She stared out the window again, looking across the long front yard and into the street. A group of three newsboys walked down the dirty street selling newspapers. One of them, a blonde with a patch over his eye, looked in the window and made eye contact with Heidi. Her playing faltered again, and when she looked back out the window after checking the music, the boy was gone.

"And all Nathaniel ever does is talk about his money," Heidi fumed to Marguerite, her maid. She drew in a deep breath and held it while Marguerite tightened the corset. "Oh I hate these dratted corsets," Heidi sighed. "And do you know what else I hate?"

"Yes miss," Marguerite said grinning. "Those dratted balls."

Heidi smiled at her maid, only a few years older than herself. "Well you wouldn’t want to go to them, would you?"

"I’ve never been to a ball, miss, I wouldn’t know," Marguerite answered.

"Trust me, you wouldn’t like them. Everyone smiles at everyone else and pretends they like everybody, but it’s all fake. And you can’t run and skip and play, you have to be very proper." Heidi flopped down on the bed. "And I don’t even like any of the boys that I have to dance with."

Marguerite looked down at Heidi, like a mother at her child. "We all have to do things we don’t want to."

"I know," Heidi sighed. "… but at least they could have some good food!" And the girls collapsed into giggles.

"May I have this dance, Heidi," Nathaniel said, seconds before Heidi would have taken a seat next to her parents.

Heidi sighed and put on a falsely bright smile. "Why of course Nathaniel," she said. "But this really must be my last dance, I’m absolutely exhausted."

"Well we wouldn’t want such a fragile girl to overextend herself this evening," Nathaniel said condescendingly, as they walked towards the dance floor.

Heidi bit her tongue to keep from saying anything, and tried to act as distant as possible throughout the dance, without being rude. When the small band finished the song, Heidi applauded, then excused herself back to her family’s table at the front of the room, and feigned exhaustion the rest of the night.

As the carriage bumped along the dirt road, Heidi clenched her jaw to keep her teeth from hitting against each other. She stared out the window at the people passing on the street, and suddenly saw the newsboy from the previous day.

"Father, may I please buy a newspaper," Heidi asked, turning quickly towards her parents.

"Of course, dear," he father answered. "Michael, please stop the carriage," he called up to the driver.

The carriage bumped to a halt, and Heidi climbed quickly out, grabbing her skirt and walking towards the boy. She tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around.

"Um… hello," Heidi stammered.

"Hey," he responded.

Heidi stood there mute for a few moments before she remembered her excuse for talking to him. "Oh, yes, I’d like to buy a newspaper, please."

"Oh, right, a’ course," the boy said, grabbing a paper out from under his arm. "Here ya go."

"Just a penny, correct," Heidi asked, taking the paper from him.

"Yeah," he replied.

Heidi grabbed a penny out of her small purse and held it out to him. "Thank you, mister…"

"Blink," he said as their fingers touched. "My name’s Blink."

"Well thank you, Blink," Heidi said softly. She smiled at him, then turned and walked back to the carriage, looking back at him as it again started it’s bumpy path down the road.

"Mary, will you please do me a favor," Heidi called into the kitchen the next afternoon. She stepped carefully inside and stood next to the door.

"Well of course, dear," Mary said, wiping her hands on her once white apron as she walked over. "What do ya need?"

"I was wondering if you could make a lunch for two people and put it in a picnic basked," Heidi asked shyly, hoping the cook wouldn’t ask the reason for the odd request.

"Shoa, honey," Mary responded cheerfully. "It’ll be ready in about ten minutes. You want me to bring it out to ya?"

"Yes please," Heidi sighed. "Thank you, Mary." She pushed open the swinging door and walked up the large marble staircase to her room.

"Marguerite, do I have anything that doesn’t positively scream money?" Heidi looked around her room; it appeared to have been hit by a tornado. There were dresses everywhere. "I want something that looks nice, but not snobby," Heidi explained.

"How about this," Marguerite asked, pulling a dress out from the back of the large closet. It was white with a dark red sash and cherries along the collar. It looked nice, but no fancier than a sundress.

"Finally," Heidi said, sinking onto her bed. "Oh, yes, I need to hurry," she remembered, jumping up and pulling the dress on. Marguerite pulled some of Heidi’s hair back and put a red bow in to keep it in place.

"There," Marguerite said. "Beautiful. Have fun today, miss Heidi," she called after Heidi, who was already running down the stairs.

Heidi walked to the kitchen just in time to see Mary walking out with a picnic basket in her hand. "Here ya go, Heidi," Mary said, handing her the basket.

Heidi leaned down to smell the contents. "Oh Mary, it smells wonderful," she breathed. "Thank you so much."

"Well a’ course, dear, it’s my pleasure," Mary responded. "Have a good time."

Heidi walked to the door, trying not to skip in excitement. "Charles," she told the butler who was standing next to the door, "will you please tell Mother and Father that I’ve gone to have lunch in the park?" He nodded and opened his mouth to say something. "Yes, Charles, I’ll be careful," she added before he could say it. She walked out toe door that he held open for her, and did succumb to skipping down the steps. "Good bye, Charles," she called back, then pushed open the front gate and walked alone into the large city.

A soft breeze blew the dust up off the street. "Drat," Heidi said under her breath, looking at the flecks of dirt on her skirt. "I had to pick a white dress, didn’t I."

She’d been walking for ten minutes and still hadn’t seen a sign of any newsies, when suddenly she turned a corner and practically ran into Blink.

"Oh, hello," Heidi said, her cheeks flushing.

"Hey there," he responded, grinning broadly at her. "What’re ya doing?"

"I was just going to have a picnic in the park," she said, gesturing to the basket slung over her arm. "… Actually, would you care to join me," she added, hoping it didn’t sound too rehearsed.

"Shoa," he responded, surprised. "I can finish sellin’ these last papes on da way."

Heidi sighed. "Wonderful." They started walking towards Central Park in general silence, when suddenly she blurted out, "is Blink your real name?"

Blink looked over at her and smiled. "Naw, it’s my nickname. When I joined da newsies, I’d just gotten outta da hospital an’ didn’t remembah anything’, even my name. So Blink’s da only name I got."

"Oh… What were you in the hospital for," she asked softly.

"Well, I dunno exactly, but whatever it was, it made me not be able ta see outta dis eye," Blink replied.

"Wow," Heidi sighed, and they continued the rest of the way in silence.

"Man, dis is really good," Blink said, finishing off his second roast beef sandwich. "Did you make dese?"

"No, our cook did," Heidi said quickly, hoping he wouldn’t hear anything but the ‘no.’

"Oh, well your… wait, you got a cook?"

"Yes," she answered. "Why, is that a bad thing?"

Blink grinned. "Naw, it’s kinda neat."

"Alright, good," Heidi sighed.

"So um… you busy tonight Heidi," Blink asked, his cheeks flushing slightly.

"I’m not sure, why?"

"Cuz I was wonderin’ if you’d like ta go ta dinner with me," Blink responded.

"Oh! Well I uh… I think, um… well sure," Heidi said, flustered.

Blink sighed in relief. "Great. So I’ll meet you here around six, ok?"

"Okay," Heidi agreed, grinning.

"Well, I gotta get back ta sellin’, so I’ll see ya then," Blink said, standing up.

"Okay," Heidi said again. "Good bye."

"Bye Heidi," Blink called back as he started to walk away.

Heidi started to pack up the picnic basket, then slung it over her arm again. "Wonderful," she whispered, grinning as she made her way back home.

"Marguerite, do you think I should change my dress, or would that appear too stuck up?" Heidi asked.

"I think that dress looks find, miss," Marguerite answered.

"So I should just stay in this one then," Heidi said to herself. "What about my hair?" she asked a little louder.

"It’s fine miss. I told you, everything’s just fine."

"Well uh, what if my parents find out where I am? Or who I’m with," Heidi asked, bordering on hysteria. "Father will never let me out of the house again!"

Marguerite put her hands on Heidi’s shoulders. "I’m going to tell them you’re in bed already. Don’t worry, everything will be fine."

Heidi took a deep breath to calm herself down. "Ok. Everything will be fine," she repeated, then looked up at Marguerite. "I don’t know what I’d do without you, Marguerite. Thank you."

"Of course, miss, my pleasure," Marguerite responded. "Not sneak out the side door while they’re still eating."

‘I should have brought a sweater,’ Heidi thought to herself, shivering at the breeze, colder now that the sun had set. Goose bumps rippled across her arms as she stepped out onto the dirt street. The breeze turned into wind, whistling down the streets and whipping Heidi’s hair into her face. She hastily pushed it back, turned the corner, and almost ran into Blink for the second time that day.

"Hello," Heidi said, grinning at him.

"Heya Heidi," Blink responded. "Ya ready to go?"

"Of course," she said through chattering teeth. "I’m positively freezing."

"Well den, we better hurry." Blink held out his arm and Heidi wrapped hers through his, and they set off down the street.

The cold breeze had chilled Heidi nearly to the bone before they got into a small restaurant called Tibby’s. Blink held open the door and Heidi gazed inside to see a room full of very attractive boys, all about her age. Feeling her eyes start to open wider, she bit down on her tongue to keep from doing or saying anything improper. As the pain in her tongue started to fade, Heidi realized that Blink was talking to her.

"… a lot of ‘em, but you’ll learn ‘em quick. So dis is Jack, our leadah, also known as Cowboy. This here’s Race, ‘cause he always…"

Heidi’s mind was reeling by the time Blink got done naming all the newsies in the restaurant. She knew she’d forget most of them within a couple minutes, but there were a few of them who’d really stood out to her.

‘Davey, Bumlets, and Skittery,’ she thought to herself, dreamily. ‘I wish I could meet boys like this at all those parties I have to go to.’

Blink walked Heidi over to an empty booth, and they sat down across from each other. She sat patiently for awhile before asking, "where are the menus?"

"Menus," Blink responded, surprised. "There aren’t any. Just dat chalkboard over dere," he added, pointing towards a pole across the room.

"Oh, alright," Heidi said.

A waiter came soon afterward to take their orders, and returned fairly quickly with the food. Heidi tried to concentrate on eating, but she and Blink kept making eye contact with each other. When they finally finished, Heidi sighed and said, "I hate to go, but I really must be home before my parents find out I’m gone."

"Dat’s ok, Heidi," Blink said, showing only a little disappointment. "Can I at least walk ya back home? Da streets ain’t safe at night."

Heidi bit back a huge smile. "That would be wonderful."

"Well, here it is," Heidi said softly. She gazed over at Blink. "I had a very nice time this evening."

"Me too," Blink responded. "So uh, can ya sneak out again tomorrow night," he asked shyly.

Heidi felt her heart flutter. "Sure. I’ll meet you at Tibby’s at seven."

"Ok, great." Blink paused, as if about to say something, then leaned toward Heidi slowly and kissed her. She was so surprised that when Heidi finally realized that she should kiss him back, Blink had already pulled away.

"I’ll see ya tomorrow Heidi," Blink said, his eyes sparkling.

"Ok," she responded quietly. "Goodnight."

"G’night."

Heidi carefully pushed open the front gate, hoping that it wouldn’t squeak like it sometimes did, and slipped quietly into the front yard. She closed the gate behind her, and waved at Blink before he turned to walk back home. Creeping carefully along the path, Heidi made it to the side door and snuck back inside the warm comfort of her home.

When she got up the stairs and opened her door, Heidi was surprised to see Marguerite sitting in the rocking chair with her eyes closed.

"Marguerite," Heidi whispered urgently, "did anyone find out?"

"No, miss," Marguerite answered sleepily. "Everything’s fine." She stood up and looked at Heidi’s beaming face. "You had a good time?"

"Yes!" Heidi responded excitedly. "He even kissed me goodnight. And I’m going to see him again tomorrow. Can you make sure my parents don’t find out again?"

"Of course, miss," Marguerite said. She paused, then asked, "so he kissed you?"

"Yes," Heidi said, no longer to keep the excited grin off her face. "Here, I’ll tell you about the whole night," she added, settling onto her soft bed.

Heidi’s mother gazed across the table at her daughter. "You look much better after yesterday," she said.

Not realizing what her mother meant, Heidi’s head shot up and she stared at her parents for a few seconds before everything clicked. "Oh. Yes. Going to bed early helped, although I still feel slightly ill," she said. "So if it’s alright, I might retire early tonight as well."

"Of course darling," her mother responded, adding, "we want you to be in top shape for the ball next Thursday."

"Yes mother," Heidi said, disheartened at having been reminded of another ball. ‘Well maybe my parents will let me bring Blink,’ she thought idly, almost laughing a the absurd idea.

"Now I don’t know what time I’ll be back, so just leave the side door unlatched. If my parents ask anything, tell them that I still felt ill, and have already gone to bed." Heidi smiled nervously at Marguerite. "I promise to tell you everything that happens when I get back."

"Have fun, miss," Marguerite said in reply, holding the bedroom door open and smiling back.

Heidi slipped out of her room and down the stairs. She turned to leave through the side door, but heard her parents voices, and ducked quickly into the parlor. She heard them talking about her, saying that they hoped she got well soon. Heidi felt a pang of guilt, and tried to justify it by telling herself that they’d understand once they met Blink. When their voices had died down almost to nothing, she crept back out of the parlor and out the side door.

Heidi’s mind was racing by the time she finally got to Tibby’s trying to decide how much guilt she should feel over sneaking out of the house, but when she saw Blink’s face light up with a smile for her, her problems suddenly seemed unimportant. She walked up to Blink and, feeling a renewed sense of courage, kissed him quickly on the lips.

"Well, aren’t you da little dare devil today," Blink said.

They sat down next to each other in one of the booths and Heidi blushed, saying," well not really, I’m normally shy but I just feel so comfortable around you. As if I don’t have to worry about anything."

"Well it’s nice to make your acquaintance, DareDevil," said a blonde boy who slid into the seat across from them. Heidi, not recognizing the boy across from her, reached her hand next to her and put it in Blink’s hand.

He squeezed her hand reassuringly and said, "dis is Spot, da leadah of da Brooklyn newsies."

Heidi smiled politely at him. "I’m very pleased to meet you, Spot," she said holding her hand out to shake his. Instead, her turned her hand over and kissed the back of it, adding, "pleased ta meet you too."

"Hey now," Blink said next to her, "don’t be makin’ eyes at my girl, Spot. I wouldn’t want ta hafta hurt you."

Heidi turned her head quickly to look at Blink, and realized that he was kidding. Blink smiled at her and squeezed her hand again. Spot and Blink said their goodbyes, then Spot got up and went to sit with Jack and Dave.

Heidi snuggled up next to Blink and rested her head on his shoulder. "So I’m your girl," she asked slyly.

"If ya wanna be," Blink responded seriously.

Heidi lifted her head and gazed up at Blink. "Yes, I do," she said finally, then kissed him softly and settled her head back on his shoulder.

After about two hours, some of the newsies finally started getting up to leave. Blink looked at Heidi and asked, "d’ya wanna go back home or come to da Lodgin’ House for awhile?"

Heidi thought for a moment, then replied, "I’ll come with your for awhile."

"Ok, great." Heidi scooted out of the booth, and Blink got out after her. They linked hands again and followed the rest of the boys slowly dwindling out of the small restaurant. It was a ten minute walk back to the lodging house, and by the time they got there, Heidi’s hand was practically numb. The other hand, still interlaced with Blink’s, was fine, but as they stepped through the door and into the light, Heidi looked down to see her right hand between blue and purple.

"Oh jeez, why didn’t ya tell me you were dat cold," Blink asked, seeing her hand as well.

"I didn’t realize it was quite that bad," Heidi responded, grinning sheepishly.

Blink started to lead her up the stairs. "Here, dere’s a furnace in one of da back rooms, it’ll warm ya right up."

They got to the top of the staircase and walked down the hallway, then Blink opened a door to the left. He pointed at the bed next to the furnace and waited until Heidi sat down on it, then said, "I’ll be right back, I’m gonna grab a blanket for ya."

"Alright, thank you" Heidi replied. The door clicked shut behind Blink, and she got up to look around the room. There was nothing besides the bed and furnace, so she opened the closet door. Inside, there were pillows and towels stacked practically to the ceiling, and after looking back at the bed with only a bottom sheet on it, Heidi grabbed a pillow and walked back to the bed. She tossed the pillow down and then lay on top of the bed, curling up to keep warm. She closed her eyes, and a few seconds later heard the door open and Blink walk in.

"Tryin’ ta concentrate on bein’ warm," he asked as Heidi opened her eyes.

"No, just resting my eyes a little."

Blink walked over and put the blanked on top of her, then lay down and crawled under it as well. He kissed Heidi’s nose. "Getting’ warmer yet?"

Heidi snuggled up in his arms, mumbling, "yes, much warmer," into his shoulder. She looked up at Blink and waited for him to kiss her. It took only a few seconds, and then their lips were drawn together. Again finding courage that she didn’t know she had, Heidi reached her hand up and slowly undid the top button of Blink’s shirt. He broke the kiss and looked carefully at her.

"Are you shoa ya wanna do this," Blink asked quietly.

Heidi kissed him softly, then looked into his eyes. "Yes," she whispered.

Heidi woke up the next morning to the sounds of cheering and cat calls. When her eyes were finally able to focus, she looked at the door and saw more than half of the newsies crowding the door and grinning. Heidi then gazed down at the blanked that almost didn’t cover her completely, remembered the night before, and practically buried herself next to Blink.

"Oh my goodness," she moaned into the pillow.

Blink finally woke up net to her, and also took a few seconds to realize what was happening. "Hey, get outta here guys, dis ain’t a show!"

"Well it looks like our little Blink got lucky," Mush said laughing.

"C’mon, out," Blink repeated, and the boys, grumbling, finally started to leave.

When the door finally clicked shut, Heidi took her head out of the pillow. "I’m so embarrassed," she said, resting her head on Blink’s snoulder as she hugged him.

"Aww, don’t worry about it," Blink responded. "Dat’s all the teasin’ they’ll do."

Heidi sighed. "Good." They stayed like that for a few seconds until Heidi’s head shot up. "Oh, drat! I have to get back home or my parents will find out."

"It’s ok Heidi," Blink said trying to calm her down. "It’s still really early, dey prolly aren’t awake." He rubbed her arms reassuringly. "Let’s get dressed an I’ll walk ya back home, okay?"

"Okay." Heidi kissed him, then finally broke away. "Thank you."

Heidi waved once more at Blink, blew him a kiss, and slipped quietly inside the side door. She closed it silently behind her and, just as she turned the corner, came face to face with her mother.

"Heidi, what were you dong," her mother asked sharply.

"Oh, uh, I was taking a walk to get some air," Heidi stammered.

"In the same dress you wore yesterday?"

Clasping her hands tightly behind her back, Heidi replied, "I just put on the first thing I saw."

"Well just be careful, dear," her father said as he walked up behind her mother. "It’s not always safe out there."

Heidi bowed her head slightly in compliance. "Yes Father, I’ll be careful."

"That’s my girl," he responded, kissing her cheek.

When her parents finally turned to leave, Heidi walked up the stairs to her bedroom. She knocked on the door lightly and added, "it’s me, Marguerite," then opened it and peeked inside.

"My, you gave me a fright, miss," Marguerite muttered. "I thought it was your parents coming to check on you… And what did you do all night," she scolded. "You should have been back a long time before now."

Heidi failed at trying to bit back her excited grin, and Marguerite peered at her for a few moments before her eyes widened in realization. "You… did you…?"

Heidi nodded ecstatically. "Oh my goodness," Marguerite responded, then fell to the floor in a dead faint.

"Oh dear," Heidi sighed, reaching across her vanity for a glass of water to wake her unconscious maid.

The next month and a half seemed to pass in a blur for Heidi. Looking back on it, all she could discern was happiness when she was with Blink and a general feeling of nothingness when she wasn’t. Some people started to notice a difference in her, other’s didn’t.

"What’s happened, Heidi," Nathaniel had asked only days after the night with Blink. "You seem different."

"Oh, nothing. I’m just in a good mood," was the response she began to give when questioned.

Some nights, she’d be in the Lodging House with Marguerite covering for her, other nights Blink would sneak into her room. They didn’t see each other every day, so that Heidi’s parents didn’t become suspicious, but they learned to cope with the time apart.

"Hey Heidi, I got a question," Blink said one evening as they lay curled up together on his bunk.

"Yes, what is it," she asked sleepily.

"Would I hafta ask your parents’ permission ta marry you?"

Heidi’s eyes shot open and she started at Blink, unable to form a coherent sentence. "Well that, but you want… huh?"

"Will you marry me Heidi," Blink whispered.

"I… uh…"

"Okay, let’s try a different question," Blink said. "D’you want to marry me?"

"Yes, I do. But my parents…" she trailed off.

"Don’t worry," Blink comforted her. "Everything will work out somehow."

"Okay," Heidi said, resting her head on Blink’s chest.

Heidi slipped in the side door that night at around 2:30, and as always, walked quietly up the stairs and opened the door to her room.

"What do you think you’re doing young lady," she heard her father growl as he and her mother stepped out of the shadows of her room.

"I…" Heidi felt her throat choke up and tears threaten to slip down her cheeks. She knew that no matter what she said, the lie was over, but she wasn’t relieved like the thought she would be. All Heidi felt was fear.

"You’ve been seeing a boy," her mother stated, trying to keep back her hysteria. "You’ve lied to us, Heidi."

"Luckily," her father broke in, "Nathaniel is still willing to take your had in marriage."

"What?!" Heidi exploded. "No, I can’t marry him Father."

"And why is that," he asked, his voice cold like steel.

Heidi paused and bit the inside of her cheek. Her gaze shifted across the room to look at Marguerite, now one of her closest friends, sitting in the rocking chair with her eyes wide in horror at the scene unfolding in front of her.

"Because I’m already engaged," Heidi said, looking at Marguerite but speaking to her parents. She took a deep breath, then finally looked up at them.

"Good heavens," her mother gasped, sinking onto the bed.

"To one of those newsboys," her father said angrily. "My daughter is engaged to…" He paused, then continued, "you’re no longer my daughter," and walked out of the room.

The tears finally fell, and as Heidi felt them sliding down her cheeks, she sat down next to her mother and whimpered, "daddy, no. Please."

Those tears became sobs, as Heidi thought about how hard it had been to keep everything from her parents, and when she finally started to calm down, she realized she was crying onto her mother’s shoulder.

"Mommy," she said through the tears, "I’m sorry."

"Shh, it’s alright Heidi," her mother said, pulling Heidi tighter into her embrace.

When Heidi finally calmed down enough to where the pain was little more than silent tears, her mother asked, "so when do I get to meet this boy?"