Kita was having a bad day. She was irritable, confrontational and mouthy- not entirely unlike her usual self. However, to add to her typical foul demeanour, she had not eaten today and it was getting late. She had carelessly slept most of the day, rising only when it was approximately the time the shelter that supplied an evening meal opened. Only, this miserable day, no such joyous event occurred. The doors remained closed, inexplicably, while Kita and five or six others waited impatiently. She expressed her anger to the others but they just stared at her with their vacant eyes- the stares of those who have already died on the streets but still walk around like ghosts of their former lives. Kita was the first to give up, abandoning the shelter in disgust, and returning to Cedarwood Park. The park had ended up being a preferred haunt of hers, ironically enough considering at any point she could be walking over the spot where her mother was assaulted. Still, to Kita, Cedarwood was at the very least a place she had an irrefutable connection to. It was not home, but it was a place that knew her, knew a significant piece of her past and therefore, she felt comfortable here.

She did not habitually spend her nights here, choosing the more private option of an alleyway or the like, yet tonight she did not feel like walking any further. Having slept far more than she should have, and having eaten far less, she was wide awake and impossibly hungry. This inconvenient combination led to her sitting cross legged on a bench staring irately at the ground. It was cold in the park, which made her further regret her decision to stop here. The snow had soaked through her tattered sneakers and the hems of her black denim pants. Her hands were tucked into sleeves and shoved into the pocket of her hoody, not adding as much heat as desired.

Before she froze right to the bench, Kita jumped to her feet. In every major city, insulation was minutes away. Scouring the area, she gathered up an armful of discarded newspapers, as dry as she could get and returned to the bench. Bunching up the papers, she stuffed them into the inner folds of her hoody. She knew how ridiculous this looked, making her appear fat and oddly lumpy with the occasional sound of crinkling. However, it had definite benefits over freezing to death in the night. After having filled any loose bits of clothing with her acquired padding, she resumed her cross-legged position. Sure, she was bored but there was not much option for anything to do at this hour of night with no money. In time, her boredom might get the best of her and she may go for a walk, but for the time being she was going to sit where she was. Until she got tired and fell asleep, or until something more interesting came along.

Her baby... Her baby was dooing well at two and a half months along, according to the doctor she had visiten ealier this night. Things had been looking up for Billy these past few days and the doctor had told her to be sure and get a bit of excersise, so she had decided to go for a walk.

Billy Jean was actually on her way to the playground, a place where she often liked to think, when she saw something familliar.

Familliar not because she had seen others do it, but because she herself had done similar things. Having runaway from home in Philly... She had come here with no family, no friends, and no money. And the girl... The girl didn't look much older than herself, maybe even younger a little.

"Hun... It's gonna get colder tonight..." Said the girl in a soft voice with a small smile. she hesitantly aproached the girl, she knew how it could be on the street and she didn't know what this girl had already been through. But... Maybe Billy could offer her a place to stay for the night. A shower, food...

"You sure you wanna be out here like this?"

Kita was not expecting someone to talk to her. It was a rare and unusual act, more so at night when people were even more cautious. Startled out of her thoughts, she stared openly at the girl who had approached her, relieved to see a normal citizen and not some cop going to tell her to move along. Still, who would come up to a street kid half-wrapped in newspaper? Not quite sure what to expect, she replied to the first statement warily.

“Yeah, it’s cold.” She spoke more sharply than she intended to, using a harsh tone with the girl because she thought it was a bit rude to rub that fact in. It was cold, but Kita had no where else to go.

In her mind she half-hoped the girl was offering her some place to stay but after her experiences with so-called Samaritans, she believed otherwise. This girl would probably say that Kita should go to one of the night shelters to stay warm. Yet, Kita knew, those places were first come first serve. People waited all day to have somewhere to sleep at night. She was about ready to tell the other girl to back off when she caught herself just before the words could escape. Scrunching up her face thoughtfully, she realized that if she was going to be rude to every nice person then of course no one was going to help her. Being polite, though, was not really part of her nature.

“Do ya think I wanna be out here? I ain’t got no place to go so if you just making fun, you can get lost, a’ight?”

"Why would I make fun of you? You're about my age and I'm not in much better of a situation." She pointed out. After all, a sixteen year-old, former prositute who was pregnant from what for all intents and purposes was rape...

She shook her head with a sigh.

It wasn't to late to call her sisters... And they'd be willing to take her in for a night or so. And she was sure that even Michael wouldn't mind. But did she really want someone to end up with the same sort of life as she had? No.

"Would you like a place to stay the night or something? I don't think my Fiance would mind at all. After all, he helped me out a lot... I don't think he'd have any objections to me doing the same." And knowing the girls situation from her own life, she was probably hungry too. "And it'll be nice to have someone to sit down and eat with for a change." She offered with a smile. After all, Michael seemed to always be out and about for meals. Billy could cook, but she never felt like it since it was always just her.

"Or are you gonna be stubborn and just stay out here?"

Inclined to be stubborn most of the time, Kita glared at the girl. Yet, again, before she could reply with something particularly nasty, she stopped herself and thought about the situation. This girl, this stranger was actually offering her a place to stay. Right out of the blue. Was this not the opportunity Kita had hoped for on cold nights such as this? Finding it difficult to accept that the girl may actually be genuinely a nice person, Kita made an attempt to respond in a more pleasant fashion. She even went so far as to return the girl’s smile, although it was a bit forced on her end.

“Some food would be cool.” She admitted, mumbling. She was feeling a bit stupid for being rude- an almost daily occurrence. She was also remembering at this moment just how silly she looked. It was bad enough she was usually filthy, but being covered in damp newspaper was not helping.

Her attitude jumped back into defensive mode when her thoughts turned irrationally to thinking the girl must be judging her appearance. “I ain’t got any money so don’t be expecting no thanks.”

"Well, I figured if you did have money you wouldn't be out here dressed like me." She grinned. After all, her own denim jeans and hoodie weren't in the best of condition either. And it wasn't as if she were judging the girl. Just reading her. Before she had joined up with the other girls, she had been in much the same situation only a few months ago.

"But as far as thank you's go, a simple thanks will always suffice. That one doesn't cost a penny." She gave her head a little jerk as she shoved her hands in her pocket. "C'mon. I'm getting cold and I'm already hungry. I dunno if Michael will be home, but he won't tell ya to get out or anything. "Look though, you can stop wondering why I'm helping you, and you don't have to keep your guard up all the time." Perhaps the girl had been out on the streets too long. Maybe not long enough.

"There are some nice people in the world... My Fiance, Michael... When I met him in one of the clubs, he offered to give me a real home. He offered to take care of me even when I was in a bad situation with some even worse people... And we've grown to love each other." She smiled over at the girl. "One nice person can change a life. That's all it takes."

Why was she so hesitant to say she had been a prositute? To talk about Dante and the mafia? That was just a chapter of her life she wasn't too proud of...

Taking a deep, slow breath, Kita tried to force her discourteous way of behaving to dissipate. Some people are just nice people. One of the only things that her mother had said that still stuck with her. She was too young at the time to remember much but she did recall that her mother had been one of those nice people. Perhaps this girl, as remarkable as it may be, was just one of them too. She yanked some of the paper out of her clothes as she rose off the bench.

“Thanks then.” She said, unable to shake her customary sense of suspicion.

She listened to the girl as she spoke and was caught up wondering how someone, just a year older than her, had a fiancé. Curiosity compelled her to ask, somewhat bluntly: “You getting married?”

Having sufficiently de-newspapered herself, Kita sent the girl an uneasy look. “Listen, I ain’t meaning to offend ‘cause it’s great you helping me. But my mama had me when she was your age, that ain’t easy. You gotta be careful.” She said all this in her casual direct manner, not having the slightest clue that her conversational target was in such a condition.

"Well... Maybe one day... It's mainly so that he has some legal rights and has an obvious reason to be with me." She said quietly.

Billy had to blink though as the girl mentioned her mother having her when she was about their age. "Well... It's a little late for the warning... But it's not what you think..." She shook her head. "It's a bit complicated, and I'd rather not talk about it now. But Michael's older. Twenty-three... But we love each other and he's already promised to help me with the baby. I know everything will be okay with him." She was smiling fondly now as a hand went to her belly. The baby might not have been Michael's but he would be a great father.

"We'll be a family and that's all that matters to me." She shook her head. "Anyway, what would you like to eat?" She asked changing the subject. "We've got just aobut everything so variety isn't really problem."

“I uh.. I didn’t mean nothing by it.” She managed her best at an apology, regretting the fact that she had opened her big mouth in the first place. Life was hard for girls on the street, a lot of them ended up in tough situations. Kita should have known better than to say anything. She was more than willing to let the girl explain it in her own time- if she wanted to explain it at all. Since Kita had already made an ass of herself, she would not be expected to be privileged with such private information.

Kita had not had a choice in food for a long time, taking only what was supplied- or candy bars and things she shoplifted. Actually being asked what she would like left her drawing a bit of a blank. She scratched the back of her head pensively before settling on something she was used to at the shelters. “I like mac and cheese.” She said this almost in the form of a question, as if hoping it was an acceptable thing to ask for.

“Hey uh… my name’s Kita. Kita Mudiwa. You know, if we gonna be hanging for a bit, gotta get that out of the way. You live ‘round here?”

"It's okay." Billy said with a smile. "Never know something untill you ask right?" And wasn't that the truth? Billy didn't mind questions if someone didn't know after all, curiocity was only natural. "But Michael's nice. He might come home later so you'll get to meet him."

Billy couldn't help but laugh and nod as the girl suggested mac and cheese. "Sure. No problem. I prefer veleta myself. So that's what we have if that's okay. Easy to make, not a display of my talent's but it'll work."

She tilted her head at the girl's unusual name, but her's wasn't really any better. "Well... My name's actualy Wilhimena... But Uh, I go by Billy most of the time really. It was a family name to the people who adopted me after I was born." She never hid the fact that her mother must have never wanted her. After all, she had been with a good family for the most part, untill the woman she called mother died. Then it had all gone to hell.

"But I live about five blocks away. I was just actually going for a walk before I made something to eat." She grinned. "Coincidence huh?"

“Yeah but it wasn’t my business, eh? We’ll just forget I said anything.” She shrugged the matter off. At least she had not offended her. She smiled in response to the name, a genuine smile. “Billy’s good. I like it.” Wilhimena was a pretty extravagant name, more so than Katherine but Kita had shortened her name and could easily relate to Billy chopping syllables off hers.

The prospect of food had her close to salivating, and she was eager to go. However, she stood still, obviously unsure of the direction and patient enough to wait for Billy to lead the way. She was feeling more comfortable as time passed, the sensation of unease being replaced by a more casual demeanour. Billy was nice, and Kita was not going to screw up this opportunity as she had done with others in the past. It was hard to trust people in this city- in any city really. Kita had lived in Demaitre all her life, and knew well there were dark parts of town that no sane person should be going to.

Still, unless Billy was an incredible actress, Kita was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. She let her smile continue at the mention of a coincidence. After all, she rarely spent the night in the park, so they truly had met by chance. “I guess we was just meant to meet, eh?” She grinned.

“It’s okay Kita, really.” Billy reassured her. “I don’t get mad at people for asking questions. But you com’n or not?” She asked as she began to walk. She wanted to tell the girl her story; after all, it would be a good warning, an inspiration of sorts really.

“So… Where are you from then? Ya sound like you were born here at least.” She said, sticking her hands in the pocket of her hoodie now. Her fingers were colder than the rest of her, and she was regretting not bringing her gloves with her. It had been light and even slightly warm when she had left this afternoon to a weekly check up. Most women didn’t have to go in that often but the woman who was now Billy’s ‘official’ doctor at the clinic was worried for her and the baby because she was so young and petite. Not to mention being malnourished.

The woman was kind and beginning to grow on Billy really. It was always heartwarming when the woman fussed over her. It was almost like having a mother again.

“But then again some people just adapt to their surroundings better than others really.” She gave a shrug.

Kita caught up with Billy quickly, walking beside her comfortably while inwardly hoping the familiarity was acceptable. It was rare people talked to her and even rarer having an actual conversation. She followed Billy’s example and shoved her hands in her pockets as it really was not a cosy evening out. She stared down at her feet tramping throw the snow until her companion spoke up again, asking her where she was from.

She nodded at Billy’s proficiency at guessing that she was born here. “Yeah, born and raised.” She said, laughing at her own sardonic joke, considering she was hardly ever ‘raised.’ Realizing it really was not all that funny, she scratched her chin in musing. “Been in the city all my life. Never felt like going anywhere else. Never had the money.” She shrugged in turn.

“Some people just gotta adapt. Some people ain’t got a choice. Me, I chose here. I’m gonna get a job and make my mark on Demaitre. No harm in looking out for yourself.” While they walked, she cast side glances at Billy, looking the girl up and down. She wondered herself how such a small girl was going to handle pregnancy and the strenuous act of labour.

Since she did not seem to mind be asked questions, Kita ventured with another. “So, you seeing a doctor? Baby doing good?”

She nodded as the girl spoke. "Ah, I'm from Philly myself. Came here about... two years ago acutally... It doesn't seem that long ago really... But my foster mom died and my foster father began to change. Came here and found some work... The only work I knew how to do really." She gave a little shrug. "Kinda didn't have a choice. I just went wherever people took me for a few days until I thought I was far enough away."

And she didn't have a choice for a job either really... With being only fourteen, and with only one job on her resume...

She looked up at Kita's questions. "Hm? Oh. Yes... There's a free clinic that I have connections with. One of the Doctors there has decided to help me. Pro bono actually... I guess she gets a tack write off or whatever. But I go to see her every week, she's concerned because of my age and cause I'm small..." After all, as the other girl would know, street life was hard. Billy was under five feet and was lucky if she weighed a hundred pounds.

"But the baby's doing good. We won't know if it's a boy or a girl for about another month... I'm kind of excited... I've always wanted a baby... Just... Not this soon you know? But as long as we both get through it alright, I'll be happy." She said honestly.

Kita mumbled understandingly. “You’ll be fine.” She was not entirely sure whether Billy really would be fine, but it seemed like the appropriate thing to say. Kita knew that teenage pregnancy was risky in the first place, more so if the mother were as petite as Billy was. Still, considering she herself was the result of such a risk, she could not feel anything but respect for the other girl. If Kita’s mother had not taken the risk of giving birth, she would never have existed.

Out of the blue, she blurted out. “You know, I think it’s good what you’re doing. Keeping the baby an’ all. Not a lot of people do that. People like me gotta respect that.” She smiled again.

“What kinda work you got?” She asked bluntly. It had taken a moment for her to debate whether Billy was being intentionally vague and did not want to talk about it, or whether this was another opportunity for a question to be answered. She figured if it was a bad topic, she would just let it go, no problem. She was curious, however, as she herself was looking for work and if some employer was hiring teens like Billy maybe they would hire Kita. On the other hand, Kita thought, the vagueness may be due to the unsavoury nature of the job.

She smiled brightly as Kita complemented her. It truly meant a lot to her. "Thank you Kita... But how could I do anything but?" Dante had given his life to save hers, and Michal was unable to have children, it was a gift that she could only cherish.

"Hm? Oh... I don't work right now... But..." Billy looked down hesitantly. "I was a night girl... I used to live with all the other girls in an appartment about halfway across town. Nothing you would want to do... Nothing no one should ever have to do..." But they did. She had done it... "I was trying to get out when I ran in to Michael... I didn't trust him at first. But he saved me when I was in a bad way with a rough group of Italians... One of their guys took me in, wanted to marry me, but the boss didn't like me so they wanted me dead cause I already knew too much by the time they had decided my fate." Why not just tell her the whole story? The had a few minutes walk left still...

"Dante was doing something to save my life... I didn't understand it then... But its a bit complicated... But Michael broke in, and he and Dante had something planned to get me out, but Dante was killed, he died to save me, and our baby." Her hand went to her belly again with a warm smile. "I cared for Dante greatly. But Michael, the man I truly love, he can't have children. I didn't find out untill about three weeks ago, but this child is truly a gift."

“Damn girl, that’s rough.” Kita exclaimed sympathetically. She had been hoping that life had not really been so harsh for such a nice girl but it did not seem like that hope was going to pan out. Life always seemed to make things harder the kinder a person was, it was not fair to people like Billy. Kita shook her head angrily. “Lucky you got out. Not everyone gets a second chance.”

Kita tried not to think about her mother but it was getting harder as the conversation progressed. Billy had it hard, running in with the run crowd like that, but what was the reason behind her mother’s death? Her mom had been a good person, she did not even run in with a bad crowd. One day, some bastard just decided that she deserved to die. Life was not fair.

Trying again to shake off darker thoughts, Kita focused in on what Billy was saying. The bits and pieces of her past revealed almost reluctantly. She smiled sincerely at the other girl, encouraging her that it was okay for her to talk about it. Kita did not mind, after all, she was not here to judge another kid from the street. “Sounds like you’re gonna be a good mom, eh?” Kita chipped in optimistically. “Maybe you even got a good man ‘round to help ya out. Can’t say I had a dad. Don’t know him. Your kid’s pretty lucky.”

Still, she was curious. “So uh, how’d you end up where you were? I thought you said you was adopted.”

"Yeah I know... I was really lucky to run in to Michael that night." She admitted, nodding her head sincerly.

Billy laughted full heartedly as Kita said that she would be a good mother. "Oh, I hope so... Like I said, I always wanted to be a mom..." But she looked over as Kita spoke of her father, or really, lack there of. But sometimes that was better. "Well... If he was a creep or something... Maybe it was better that he wasn't around ya know... I actually came here because of my father... Well not my real one though... I was born in Jersey... My mom didn't want me for whatever reason... So I was left on a hospital doorstep..." She gave a little shrug as if it didn't really matter what had happened.

"My adoptive parents were the only ones I ever knew... They told me when I was about nine... That they weren't my real parents... But I still loved them.. I was just upset that they had lied to me all that time." She gave a small sigh before continuing. "My 'mom' died about two years later... And my dad just lost it... I ran away when I was fourteen and ended here." No need to tell what her father did to her. How he had sold her, beat her... How she had to go to a Mental Clinic... Those days were behind her now and she would never go back to them.

"But I just kinda came here and figured I'd gone far enough." She ended with a little shrug.

Kita accepted the explanation easily, knowing there were still pieces missing but allowing the knowledge to sit that they would come in time. That is, if she continued to be in contact with this girl after tonight. She hoped so, though, as it was so very rare to meet someone so amiable; even if she did have an unfortunate history.

“Yeah, always hear bad things ‘bout dads. You probably right, better I didn’t have one.” She avoided commenting on Billy being abandoned at a hospital, as she was not sure what to say. Poor kid must have really had it rough.

“Sounds like its going better for ya now.”

They had reached the edge of the park before Kita had even realized it. She looked around, as if the direction would somehow reveal itself to her. Of course, this was absurd, and she turned her gaze to Billy. “So hey, which way we heading?”

((OOC: Should we be heading over to Living Spaces soon?))