"So I was thinking that lovely green dress in the window would really bring out the red highlights in your hair," Frankie said, slightly out of breath.

"Do I know you?" A small girl with red-brown hair wearing a deep blue dress turned and looked at Frankie strangely as he struggled to keep up with her.

"Well..." Frankie paused to think for a moment. "No. No. You have no idea who I am. I'm not even from New York," he said flatly. "I'm a mysterious foreigner," Frankie said dramatically and wiggled his eyebrows. The girl just started walking faster.

"Ah, ah, ah," Frankie said, turning around so that he was walking backwards down the street. "My name is Frank DeLanci. It's a pleasure to meet you," Frankie extended his hand. The girl looked at him with wide blue eyes before turning her gaze back to the ground.

"Excuse me. Please," she said, trying to step around Frankie who promptly moved to block her way. Frankie grinned stupidly as she tried to get past him. Finally, the girl stopped and sighed. Frankie extended his hand once more. The girl glared at Frankie before grudgingly placing her hand in his.

"As I just said, Frank DeLanci."

"Marianne Whitfield," the girl said tersely, snatching her hand back from Frankie's grasp. Marianne finally brought her gaze up to meet his. She glared at him.

"Well," Frankie said, trying to mask his injured feelings, "it wasn't that painful, was it?" he asked quietly.

Sighing, Marianne pursed her lips. "If you'll excuse me, Mr. DeLanci-"

"Frank."

"If you'll excuse me...Frank," she met his gaze upon uttering the word, "I have an appointment." With that, she brushed past Frankie and continued down Amsterdam Avenue. Frankie sighed and rolled his eyes, his shoulders sagging.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Angela asked as she stepped out of the candy store and onto the street.

Frankie sighed. "Nothing." Angela shifted the bag of candy and studied Frankie for a moment. It was more than obvious from his forlorn expression that Frankie's �nothing' was indeed something. He sort of looks like a sad puppy dog, Angela thought to herself. She then turned and followed Frankie's gaze. He was staring at pretty brown-haired girl across the street. She was talking to a blond boy wearing an all-too-familiar eye patch. Blink? Angela though to herself. The girl suddenly laughed at something Blink said and he smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Frankie sighed heavily.