It was Friday night --or Saturday morning, depending on how one looked at it-- on Liberty Ave. and every queer within a twenty-mile radius could be found mingling through the streets or at a club. At first glance one would assume that it was Halloween, but a veteran of the avenue would know differently. Men dressed in skirts and wigs, dykes dressed in leather and chains, streamers and ribbons adorned lampposts. All of it gave the street its appeal; its sense of home. If you're lost come to Liberty Ave. and find out who you are or who you could be, which was exactly what one boy was trying to do. Hidden among the throngs of people one young man was searching for something, something that mattered.

Currently, he was tucked away in the back booth of the Liberty Diner, nursing the remains of a water and absentmindedly counting the money that lay in front of him. He was tired, hadn't slept in days, which was obvious if you managed to catch a glimpse into his eyes; a fact that hadn't escaped the portly woman behind the diners counter. She had been there all night and knew everyone that entered the diner, but he was new, a virgin to Liberty Ave. and to her.

"Hey, kid," said the red haired woman, nudging the boy lightly. "Do you need anything else?" The blonde had been there for more than a few hours and had been drinking nothing but free waters. Normally, she would have told him a long time ago that the space was needed for actual customers, but at this late hour she didn't have the heart. The only people left in the diner were hustlers and tweaked out club kids with the munchies, anyway. She discerned from his disheveled appearance that he wasn't a club kid, and although he didn't fit the part she hadn't pushed the hustler idea out of her head, yet. She was an expert when it came to hustlers having seen so many in her lifetime.

"Just another water, please," he said, his voice tired and worn.

"The names Debbie," She answered even though he hadn't asked. "Debbie Novotny. What's yours?"

The blonde looked up at her and smiled, a weak smile, "Justin Taylor."

"Well, Justin, you look like you could use something more than all that water you've been consuming. How about you eat something?"

"I'm fine," He answered as he looked longingly at the crumpled dollars and meager change that lie in front of him.

"I don't mean to be a pain, kid," she chuckled softly before continuing, "Well, actually I do, but unless you order something I'm not gonna have to kick ya out." She reached out and rubbed his shoulder lightly.

"Okay, I'll take a donut and a water."

"Coming right up." She walked to the window and slid his order onto the carousel. Turning back around she could see him straightening out his small amount of money on the table and it instantly pulled at her heartstrings. She didn't know how kids did it these days; leaving home with no prospects. He couldn't be more than 17, but she knew instantly that he was more mature than his years. Hell, he was probably more mature and had more life experience than a lot of people she knew. Her thoughts were broken into by the ding of the bell and the sound of a plate being slid onto the ledge. She reached over and picked it up making sure to grab his water on her way.

"Hamburger and fries," Debbie said placing the dish in front of the young man.

"I didn't order…"

"Sorry, must have gotten the order wrong," She said before giving him a wink.

Then she was gone, off to wait on the next twink that had entered the building.