"Here, it’s just a few more streets down," Heidi said, leading her parents to where Blink sold papers. "Don’t worry, you’ll like him."

She continued walking, feeling relieved that her father had at least agreed to come along. He hadn’t spoken to her for three days, although her mother tried talking to him, so Heidi hoped that meeting Blink would help move her father along. She turned the corner and instead of seeing Blink selling papers, she watched in horror as he leaned across and kissed the brunette girl he was talking to.

"Uh… it’s just a few more streets," Heidi said, turning quickly and walking the opposite direction across the street. Her mind fumbled around, trying to get a grip on what she’d just seen, and what she would do about her parents meeting Blink. It had been a surprise she was hoping Blink would enjoy, but instead it turned out to be a horrible surprise for her. Heidi looked across the street and saw Dave, and was struck with a last minute idea.

‘He’s a nice guy, I’m sure he’ll play along,’ Heidi told herself hopefully.

She walked up to Dave and, giving him a pleading look, said "Blink, I’d like you to meet my parents. Mother, Father, this is Dave, my fiancé."

Dave’s eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered and shook her father’s hand, adding, "it’s very nice to meet you, sir."

"So you’re the one my… my daughter is engaged to," her father said gruffly.

"Uh, yes sir," he said, shooting a look at Heidi. She nodded quickly, and he smiled up at her father.

"Well, it’s very nice to meet you," her mother said, breaking the short silence. "I do hope you’ll come by more often so that we can get to know you."

"Oh, yes ma’am," Dave said humbly. "I’ll try to do that."

When Heidi’s parents finally left with her promise to be home by dinner, she turned back to Dave and said, "thank you very much. I don’t know what I would have done without you."

"Well sure, but what about Blink," he asked, confused.

"I’d rather not talk about it," she responded, remembering the sight of him kissing the other girl. Heidi shook her head to clear her mind of the memory. "Look, I’ll see you later. Thanks again," she said, then hurried off towards Central Park.

Without realizing it, Heidi ended up at the Lodging House. She stared up at the sign above the door and smiled bitter sweetly, remembering all the times she and Blink had spent together.

‘Well, it can’t hurt to go inside,’ Heidi told herself, and opened the door. "Good afternoon Kloppman," she said, seeing the old man sitting behind the counter.

"Well hello Heidi," Kloppman responded. "Where’s Blink?"

"Oh, I’m not sure," she lied. "I just figured I’d wait for him here."

"Well I’ll tell him when he gets here."

"Thank you Kloppman," Heidi said honestly. ‘I’m going to miss him, at least.’

Heidi walked up the stairs and into the bunkroom. Looking around and not seeing anyone, she fell down on one of the bottom beds and started to cry into the pillow.

"Heidi," she heard softly above her. "Are you okay?"

Heidi looked up and saw Bumlets looking worriedly down at her. "Oh, I just…" She stopped and looked at him for a moment, remembering how attractive she’d found him when she first met all the newsies. She stood up slowly. ‘Well it’s not like I have anything keeping me from doing this now,’ Heidi told herself, then leaned her head up and kissed him.

"Whoa, what’re you doin’," Bumlets asked, backing away. "What about you an’ Blink?"

"Apparently, he’s found someone else," Heidi responded, raising her chin defiantly. "So now I’m free to do whatever I want with whoever I want," she added, trying to reassure herself.

"Oh, jeez, I’m sorry Heidi. D’you wanna talk about it," Bumlets asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Heidi looked down at his hand resting so close to her bare skin, then back up at him. She didn’t say anything, but leaned up to kiss him again, pulling him up against her. "No, I don’t want to talk," she said breathlessly when they broke the kiss.

"Heidi, I don’t wanna do anything you’ll regret," Bumlets said carefully.

"Would you regret it," Heidi asked in response.

Bumlets said nothing in response, only looked down at her. Heidi could feel his breathing, their bodies still pressed up against each other, and after what seemed like an eternity to both, their lips met again.

Not knowing if it was her or Bumlets leading them, Heidi found herself laying down on one of the beds with him laying down on top of her. She undid his shirt, but kept it on, trying to keep herself from going to far.

When Bumlets shirt and Heidi’s dress were both unbuttoned, their hands and lips still on each others, Blink suddenly walked in the room.

"Heidi, I’m… Oh my god," he said, stopping dead in the middle of the room.

Heidi looked up at him, and got up after Bumlets rolled off of her. "Well, how are you doing, Blink," she asked, trying not to let too much anger or hurt into her voice.

"What da hell were ya doing," he yelled.

Heidi took a deep breath, saying what she’d had planned since the moment she saw his lips touch someone else’s. "Oh, well I thought that since you were kissing another girl, it would be alright for me as well," she explained.

"What do ya mean, kissing another girl," he erupted. "I ain’t kissed no one except you Heidi!"

"Well then who was that brunette girl I saw you kiss an hour ago at your selling spot," Heidi retorted.

"What in da world are you… wait, Sarah? You mean Sarah," Blink asked, letting a small grin through.

"You think this is funny," Heidi said, still seething.

Blink laughed. "Well yeah, I do. She’s Jack’s girl, and Dave’s sister… and one of my good friends who’s been out of town for a few months and came to say she was back."

"Oh… oh dear," Heidi said. All the rage started to leave her, and Heidi was left with a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. She turned and looked at Bumlets still sitting on the bed they’d been making out on, then back at Blink. "So about what you just saw…"

Blink’s grin abruptly turned into a scowl. "Yes, I’d like an explanation for that."

Heidi grimaced. "Well I thought you were seeing someone else when I took my parents to meet you today, when I saw you kissing her, and I just figured you were cheating on me. So I suppose I just wanted to make it even."

Blink looked over at Bumlets who was just finishing buttoning his shirt up. "Ah. Well I’m not happy ‘bout it," he said, adding a glare in Bumlet’s direction for good measure, "but I guess I can see where you’re comin’ from."

Heidi sighed gratefully, then fell into Blink’s arms, emotionally exhausted from the past four days and all that had happened. "I’m so sorry Blink, I didn’t mean it."

"I know," he whispered, tickling her ear with his warm breath. "So why were you bringing your parents to meet me?"

Heidi grimaced again. "Because they know that we’re engaged."

"You’re engaged," Bumlets blurted out. "Aww dam - uh, I’m sorry about all dis Blink."

"Well, I’ll forgive you dis time," Blink said, smiling to show that he was no longer angry. "So whadda ya say we go introduce me ta your parents," he said looking back at Heidi.

"Sounds wonderful," she said, hugging him once more.

"Mother, I need to talk to you for a moment," Heidi called into the parlor.

"Yes, of course Heidi," her mother responded cheerfully. "What is it."

"Well, you know that boy I introduced you to today? Dave?" Her mother nodded in agreement with a smile on her face, so Heidi continued quickly, "well, he wasn’t exactly the one I’m engaged to."

"I’m not sure I understand, Heidi," her mother said, confused.

"It’s a long story, which I’ll tell you all about later, but here, this is my real fiancé," she said, waving her hand for Blink to come into the room. "His name is Blink."

"Blink?"

"Another long story," Heidi said, smiling up at Blink.

"Well then, I’m very pleased to meet you, Blink," her mother said.

Heidi heard a shuffling noise behind her, and saw her mother’s eyes look up. She turned around and saw her father come into the room, his head down and his eyes on the carpet below him.

"Heidi, I must apologize for the way I behaved the other night," he said. "I said those things in anger, and I do wish to make it up to you." He finally looked at her, tears of happiness shining in his eyes. "And I plan to start with the planning of your wedding with Dave."

"Oh, about that," Heidi trailed off, then looked at Blink.

"Dave," he repeated, an amused grin on his face. "You told them you were marryin’ Davey?"

"Oh drat," Heidi sighed. "I really have some explaining to do."

"Yes, you certainly do," Blink said, kissing her quickly and smiling.

"Have I missed something," Heidi’s father said, an eyebrow raised to complement the confused expression he bore.

"Father," Heidi responded, "I’d like you to meet Blink. My fiancé…"