Vin smiled as he noted the Jaguar pull up to the curb outside his run-down apartment building in Purgatorio. He began to walk toward it slowly, weaving his way through the group of children that surrounded him. Several groans were heard as Vin left them, pleas for him to stay and finish the game of stick ball they were playing. He shrugged and parted company with them, quickly arriving at the car and grinning as he surveyed its driver. He could hear the car's stereo from the outside and grinned wider knowing how displeased Ezra would be if he found out.
Josie stepped out of the vehicle and met Vin at the back of the car. Her eyes were full of concern as she surveyed the neighborhood.
She asked, "I shouldn't have brought this car here, should I?"
Vin glanced at the gleaming Jag and responded with a question, "Ezra lets you drive his car?"
Josie looked toward the sky and shrugged nonchalantly, "Sure."
Vin caught the tone in her voice and grinned, asking sarcastically, "Really..."
Josie grinned back at him and said, "Well, it needed to be driven, right? I mean, he's been gone a week and it was just sitting in the garage collecting dust. He wouldn't want it to get run down, now would he?"
Vin grinned and leaned toward her a little, then said slyly, "I won't say a word."
Josie wrinkled her nose and said, "That'd be best."
They laughed together but were quickly interrupted by a shy little girl with long dark hair and large black eyes tugging at Vin's sleeve. He looked down at her then leaned over so she could whisper in his ear. After a moment he smiled and looked up at Josie.
"They wanna know who you are." He was grinning as he shrugged, "Not a lot of my friends come out here."
Josie pointedly looked around the area and remarked, "I can't imagine why." Vin shot her a sideways glance of mock warning.
Josie squatted down to the little girl's level and said, "My name is Josie. I'm a friend of Vin's. What's your name?"
Vin looked at Josie in surprise as she began to speak to the girl in her own language. The little girl quietly replied, "Rosalie."
Josie smiled and said, "Hello, Rosalie. You have a beautiful name. How old are you?"
Rosalie held up two hands to reveal six fingers.
Josie nodded, saying, "Six. I liked being six years old. There's a lot of fun when you're six, isn't there?"
Rosalie's shyness began to drift away as Josie spoke with her. And with no hesitation, she asked Josie, "Are you Vin's girlfriend?"
Josie's eyes widened slightly and then an amused but embarrassed smile covered her face. Vin immediately turned toward Rosalie and playfully scolded, "Rosie! You shouldn't ask that."
Josie quickly responded, "I'm Vin's friend. Just like you."
Rosalie's smile lit her eyes, showing a respect and admiration for the woman before her.
Vin interjected, "Rosie, you should go back to the others. Josie and I need to leave now."
He touched the end of her nose slightly and smiled at the girl.