((AN: Lyrics are still MFH's. Newsies is still Disneys. New York is still not mine.))

I've finally come to realize that we are all the same
If there's nothing left to lose then there's everything to gain
All the paragraphs and pages you could write could not contain
It is curious and careless and it's flowing through my veins

I swung the door of the restaurant open, scanning the people inside for a familiar face. I finally spotted Jack, sitting in a corner booth, a half eaten sandwich on the table in front of him. I made my way over to him, looking around and taking in the details of the room. It was Tibby's, the same place we'd had our strike meetings. I hadn't been here since then, but the place looked exactly the same. It was weird that something could feel like a lifetime ago, and then in the space of a few seconds, feel like it had just happened yesterday.

I slid into the booth across from Jack, shaking my head at a waiter who offered to get me a drink. "So, Jack, what'd you want me to meet you for?" I asked, getting right to the point.

Jack took a bite of his sandwich, chewing for much longer then was necessary. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I really don't know what Jack would do with himself if he didn't have enough attention. Finally he swallowed. "Well, I've got a proposition for ya."

"Whaddya mean?" I asked, my eyes narrowing suspiciously. Anytime Jack said something like that it made me suspicious. And I'm not a very suspicious guy, most of the time.

The fear of growing old, and doing what you're told

You can't disguise a heart while it's breaking
You hide behind the smile you're faking
It's all about the chance you're taking
Oh, and you know that you're making it all come alive
It all come alive

Jack smirked at me, "How'd you like to go out west with me?"

Well, that wasn't what I was expecting. "Are you serious? You're going west? Since when?"

"I'm going ta Sante Fe. C'mon, Skitts, you know I've been talking about it forever. Well, I'm finally gonna go. I thought you might wanna come along, shed this hole in the wall city and start over somewhere new."

Well, my first thought was that he had gone completely crazy. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, why not? There's nothing around here for us, but living on a few lousy dollars a week? There's adventure out west. And space. Not like here."

I sat back on the bench, staring at him thoughtfully. I'd never considered it before. To be honest, I liked the city. It was always moving, always alive. The west sounded kinda boring. And it always freaked me out to think of all that space with so few people. But maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all. Starting over sounded nice.

"So whaddya say?"

"I don't know." I answered. If I said yes now I would never have a chance to back out. Jack was the kind of guy to take an idea and run with it. He didn't exactly give it a whole lot of thought. "Let me think about it."

"Alright, well, you think about it. And when you've decided to come with me, let me know." Jack dropped some coins on the table, and pushed out, offering one last smirk before he left.

Same old cocky Jack.

If your life is so damn comfortable then why do you complain?
A reflection in the alcohol you're pouring down the drain
Just because you paint a picture doesn't mean it fits the frame
This is my west coast intervention and I'm getting on that train.

I was just about to follow him out the door when it swung open again, revealing none other then Beth-Anne. Somewhere, somebody's having a good laugh at my expense. It just wasn't normal. I spent a whole year without seeing the girl, and now it was like I couldn't get away from her. And if I'm being completely honest, only half of me wanted to get away from her. The other half of me… The other half couldn't stand to not be near her. That half was dying to jump out of my seat, and go to her, tell her how sorry I was for being a jerk. Beg her to forgive me.

But that first half was the stubborn half. So instead I stayed rooted to my seat. Willing her not to see me.

I couldn't help myself. I chanced a glance back at her, still standing by the door. I really shouldn't have looked. She looked different. Her hair was still perfectly pinned, her dress clean, and no doubt expensive. She stood with her back straight, scanning the restaurant. To everybody else she looked like the perfect lady, maybe a little out of place in a cheap diner.

To me, she looked all wrong. It was her eyes… they looked so different. I couldn't quite place it, they just seemed wrong.

Against my better judgment, I slid out of my booth, making my way over to her. "Hello, Beth."

She met my gaze, and forced a small smile. "Skittery. We just keep running into each other."

"Yeah, I guess we do. Would you like to sit?" I swear, I'm way nicer then people give me credit for.

She nodded, and I led her over to a clean table. We sat, both of us silent. I guess neither of us new what to say, after our last encounter. I traced the pattern of the wood grain on the table, lost in thought. I had to admit, I'd changed a lot in the last few months. At least it felt like I did. I'm pretty sure it was because of Beth. But she'd changed too. I still couldn't believe she was getting married. It just seemed so wrong. It made me want to throw up. I glanced at her hand, looking for the ring. Which wasn't there. The ring wasn't there.

"Wha-" I started to ask, but she cut me off before I could get the word out.

She smiled, a little bitterly I might add, holding up her left hand, as if she'd known what I was about to say. "I gave it back." She said, before allowing her hand to drop back down to the table. "You were right… everything you said the other day." She shrugged, her voice trailing off.

I closed my eyes, wishing I could sink into the floor. Not that I hadn't been right, or anything, she was just making me feel really crummy about it. I hated to think it was my fault that she was upset. And I'm not even being sarcastic when I say that.

When all of your mistakes are keeping you awake

You can't disguise a heart while it's breaking
You hide behind the smile you're faking
It's all about the chance you're taking
Oh, and you know that you're making it all come alive
It all come alive

"I'm sorry." I said after a minute.

She smiled again, this time it wasn't as bitter, "Liar."

I let out a small laugh at that, nodding in agreement, "Yeah, I am."

The tension eased after that, we both seemed to settle more comfortably in our seats. "Listen," I began, trying to find the right words, "What you said the other day- you were right, too. I can be a real jerk sometimes, you know?"

"I guess we both can." She answered, shrugging, "Maybe I understand why a little more now."

The sun is setting and it's ending 'cause you're letting it go
Forgetting everything you already know
And it all goes to show that you're moving to slow
It will end up changing you, it will end up changing you

Silence settled over us once again, but this time is felt comfortable.

"You know," I began, breaking the silence after a few minutes, "You're good for me."

A full smile spread across her face, and her eyes changed again. Now those were the eyes I remembered. I could actually feel my heartbeat skipping around in my chest. I missed her looking at me like that.

"I think you're good for me too."

"So, what'd your dad say about all this? You not getting married again?'

I just can't keep my mouth shut when I should. That light in her eyes flickered again, but it didn't go out all the way. Not like before.

"He's pretty upset with me. He hasn't talked to me in two days." She shrugged, looking back at me, "It's ok though, he'll come around. He just wants what's best for me. He worries about me, now that Mama's not around."

"He doesn't need to worry about you. You've got a good head on your shoulders."

"Did I see Jack leaving when I came in?" She asked changing the subject.

"Yeah, he had an offer for me." I said, not giving details.

"Are you going to take him up on it?"

"No. No, I don't think I am."

Life flies by so you have to embrace it
Forget the past 'cause you can't outrace it
So live the dream, and learn to chase it
And when you can almost taste it
It's all come alive