Smile as Sweet as Butter

 

It Takes a Smile as Sweet as Butter

Fifth & Final Story in the Sunny Days Series

By Laces Kai

 

February 1st 1901

 

It was late afternoon in New York City and the winter winds were well upon the city.  Spot Conlon walked down the bridge coming back from Manhattan.  He was in a bad mood because some things had been happening that shouldn’t have been happening.  Fists walked not to far behind Spot, not wanting to get in his way because he knew that when Spot was in a bad mood no one should get in his way unless she was a girl with a pretty smile. 

 

“Can you believe what is going on,” Spot was mumbling to himself.  A paper flew into Spot and he carelessly flung it away.  A girl ran into him after the paper. 

 

“What did ya do that for Spot?” the girl asked as she watched the paper fall into the depths under the bridge.  Spot looked at her a moment and smiled, she was not going to help him get into a better mood. 

 

“Buttercup?  Where have ya been?” he asked. 

 

“Me, busy.  Sorry Spot but I have to go.” Buttercup started to walked away.  Spot grabbed her arm though. 

 

“No, you’re coming with me,” he said. 

 

“But Spot,” Buttercup started,  “I can’t I have to get home.  I need to be home,” Buttercup said. 

 

“Fine,” Spot growled a bit.  “We need to talk though and ya can’t keep avoiding it forever.” He let go of her harshly and she looked at him a moment before walking away from him.  Spot turned to Fists. 

 

“Follow her, but don’t let her notice.  Tell me where she goes.  And if ya lose her tell me boyds about it.  Tell them I want information.  Got it,” Spot said.  Fists nodded and walked away slowly after Buttercup.  Spot continued back to Brooklyn. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack sat there with his head in his hands, Blink and Race were sitting with him ready at hand for anything that he might ask them to do. 

 

“Every time a leader changes there is trouble.  Every time you would think that they would give us some warning before they get up and leave,” Jack mumbled to himself. 

 

“Sometimes it just happens Jack.  It ain’t their fault.  Sides, wes always had problems with the Bronx,” Blink said. 

 

“That kid though, he’s so stupid.  As soon as he gets to boss people around he tries to act all tough and attack us.  He’s messing with the wrong people.  How is Sand?” Jack looked out the window. 

 

“Sand’s fine, it’s amateur work, they don’t know how to handle themselves yet.  Most of the Bronx has moved on and become something else in the line of work.  Some have even settled down.  Most of the ones left are the younger ones, the ones that are around Les’ age.” Race puffed at his cigarette. 

 

“The new leader is about 14 years old Jack.  Decker is what they call him I think,” Blink said. 

 

“I don’t want to start nothing because he just got started, but he should know better.” Jack shook his head trying to calm himself. 

 

“All that kid knows is that the Bronx has a bad feeling for Manhattan and Brooklyn.  Even though we have been good for a while now,” Blink said. 

 

“Spot came over here because they tried soaking Marbles, but he outsmarted them.  He got a few good soaks but nothing more.  Spot and me are heading over there tomorrow,” Jack said. 

 

“You two have to be careful, don’t get anything started.  I ain’t afraid that we can’t take the Bronx cause I know that we can, but it ain’t never good and ya know it,” Race said. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces was walking down the street on her way to get Pixie who was at Caroline’s place.  She skipped down the street and looked at the sky.  It was a beautiful sunny day.  Laces wasn’t paying attention to where she was going when someone ran into her. 

 

“Hey watch where ya going,” Laces said as she fell back a moment, having to gain balance again. 

 

“Sorry.” The girl pushed her hair out of her face and looked down at the ground embarrassed.  Laces eyed her a moment catching a glimpse of some of the jewelry that she wore around her wrist, some random things that Laces would have never thought to use as jewelry.  The girl was blond, a dirty blond but blond and had blue eyes from what Laces had seen and had an unusual appearance. 

 

“What’s your name?  I haven’t seen ya round these parts before.”

 

“I’m Kawaii, I ain’t from round here,” the girl replied still looking at the ground.  “Who are ya?” She looked up for this question and looked straight at Laces. 

 

“Ise Laces, pleased ta meet ya.” Laces put her hand out.  Kawaii pushed her hand out at Laces. 

 

“Laces, the Brooklyn and Manhattan Laces?” Kawaii suddenly said. 

 

“Well this is Brooklyn and are there anymore Laces?” She laughed. 

 

“I guess not.” Kawaii grinned. 

 

“Well I must be going, see ya around Kawaii.” Laces started to walk away, Kawaii stood there for a moment and then walked into an alley.  Laces looked behind her and when she saw no Kawaii she stopped and looked around a moment. 

 

“I wonder,” she said to herself. 

 

“Hey Honey,” someone called to Laces from the side of the street near another alley.  Laces walked over t him. 

 

“I ain’t honey,” Laces said. 

 

“Oh sting maybe she’s more like a bee,” someone said from behind Laces.  Laces turned around and there was another boy. 

 

“What do ya want?” Laces asked. 

 

“Ya, I’ve heard ya an easy prize ta win and a hard one at that,” the first boy said. 

 

“What does that mean?” Laces spit. 

 

“What do ya think it means pretty, we want ya.  Gimme a kiss,” the second boy said.  The first one was taller then Laces and the second one was about her height.  She knew that they were most likely younger then her.  Maybe not by much, but by a little. 

 

“Get your little friend to give you a kiss,” Laces said. 

 

“What do Manhattan and Brooklyn see in ya?  You’re too talkative for me.  Women should be seen and not heard.” A third boy emerged on another side of Laces, he was a little shorter then herself. 

 

“That shows how big of a man ya are, oh wait ya aren’t a man.” Laces glared at him. 

 

“Ya should watch what ya say ta us baby doll, we don’t want to damage that pretty face of yours.” A fourth boy was on Laces’s other side.  Laces looked at all four of them, 2 of them were taller then her, one was her size and the last one was shorter than her. 

 

“Any of ya boys touch me and I swear ya’ll regret it,” Laces warned. 

 

“I’m sure we will doll face,” the fourth one said as he took a step closer to Laces.  She looked at him, he grabbed her wrists and she shook her hand.  She kicked him and he let go of her wrists.  Then she pushed her way pass them and down the street she went running. 

 

The boys looked after her and Kawaii came down the street. 

 

“Decker ya all right?  Want us ta go after her?” the shortest boy asked. 

 

“No, Ise fine.” Decker, the tallest one and the fourth to come out got up from the ground.  He looked after Laces and smiled. 

 

“I didn’t want to do that,” Kawaii whined. 

 

“Sh, Dolly there isn’t anything wrong with what ya did.” Decker pulled Kawaii in and kissed her on the forehead.  Kawaii slowly gave in and the five walked down the street. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Angel was in a bar with Pockets, Pockets was playing a game of poker in the back of the place while Angel was playing in another part of the bar but in a different way then Pockets.  She was walking around the bar playing with a feather that she was brushing against some men’s faces as she brought them their drinks.  The bartender paid her for this and she got some tips, it was a quick way to make money. 

 

Angel sat in one man’s lap as she gave him his drink, Pockets watched her from his corner.  When he saw this he waited a moment until the game finished which he won and collected his winnings as he walked towards Angel. 

 

“What are ya doing?” Pockets gritted his teeth. 

 

“Go play poker Pockets,” Angel whispered to him. 

 

“Angel, come on, come play with me,” Pockets said.  Angel got off the man’s lap and pulled on Pockets so that they were in a corner of the place. 

 

“What is going on?” Angel demanded. 

 

“What do ya mean what is going on?  What was that?  Ya know betta then ta get on a bar guy’s lap.”

 

“Pockets, I’ve been doing this for years and ya know it.  I know how ta take care of meself, there ain’t no problem with that.  Just because we been getting closer lately don’t mean I suddenly forgot how.”

 

“Ya shouldn’t be doing that.  It’s dangerous.”

 

“I can’t believe ya.” Angel started to storm off.  That’s when the bulls entered the building. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Buttercup hurried along the streets she walked down the crowded street of Manhattan going in and out of people.  She felt like she was being followed and was almost positive she was being followed.  So she was trying her best to get this person off her tail and she had learned to maneuver herself well.  As soon as she was far enough down the street she went down an alleyway and ran down it until she hopped over the fence and went around the building and took a breath before entering. 

 

It was an old looking building, it was a brick one with pale paint stains on the near corners of it.  There were many windows most small, some with curtains others just windows.  There was a worn sign on the door, Miss Bordeaux’s Boarding House.  Buttercup walked into the building on her tip toes in an attempt to not be heard. 

 

“Miss Sophia I need the rent three days ago,” a gruff voice came from behind the small desk.  Buttercup turned to face the woman. 

 

“I am sorry Miss Bordeaux, but I needed the money for food and I haven’t quite collected it yet,” Buttercup started. 

 

“I am sick of your excuses Sophia, I want my money by tomorrow,” the lady said. 

 

“Yes ma’am,” Buttercup grumbled as she jumped up the stairs into her small 2nd story room.  She looked around, there was a bed, a mirror and a small trunk.  It was truly nothing, but it was a place to sleep and Buttercup had as long as she remembered coming to New York always had a place to sleep.  She had been privileged that way because she had always had a bed, maybe not food, but a bed.  Now she was barely making any money with this new laundry thing she was doing.  She wasn’t making enough because there wasn’t enough business and she knew because she spent so much time on the Brooklyn Bridge.  She sat on the bed and looked in the mirror. 

 

“What am I going to do.” She sighed. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Fists had followed her, he was always good at following people he wanted to follow, or had to.  He leaned against the building that Buttercup had entered.  She had been fast, but so had he.  He looked at the sign and stood there for a few minutes in case she decided to come out.  When he noticed that she wasn’t coming out he went in search of a “boyd” as Spot referred to them sometimes. 

 

Fists walked down the street of Miss Bordeaux’s place when he saw her across the street. 

 

“Irish!” he screamed across the street.  When the girl didn’t respond he remembered she didn’t respond to that and called out her name. 

 

“Rootbeer!” he called out.  The girl looked up and around when she saw who had been calling her.  She crossed the street and grinned. 

 

“I don’t know much, that’s why I haven’t reported if Conlon is wondering.” RB sighed. 

 

“No, he’s got a job for ya.”

 

“Oh well, what is it?”

 

“The building down there, Miss Bordeaux’s place, ya know it?”

 

“Yeah, I know it.  Sometimes I stay there even though that Miss Bordeaux is a pain.”

 

“Well a goyl is staying there, with tinted black hair and hazel eyes.”

 

“That might as well be anyone,” RB replied sarcastically. 

 

“Yeah, well this goyl wears skirts,” Fists started. 

 

“No really?”

 

“Okay, all right ya know her when ya see her.  She’s about 16 years old, maybe 15.  She ain’t too tall and she wears a wooden band around her left finger that’s closest to her pinky,” Fists said. 

 

“Fine, tell Conlon that there has been talk around bout him and Jack about what they going to do with the Bronx.  Also tell ‘im that the gang, the one that Pepper and James left behind has fallen apart.  That’s all I got,” RB said.  Fists nodded. 

 

“I will, thanks.”

 

“Not like I have a real choice.” RB smiled as she walked away from him down the street to get a room for the night. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot walked onto the docks, he was alone.  He was almost never alone anymore, he used to be all the time.  Even right after Laces showed up on his doorstep he was still alone most of the time.  But now Laces stayed in Brooklyn more and there was Pixie and not to mention Spades’ gang was always around.  Spot didn’t have much of a problem with it, but he hadn’t had time for himself and he liked being by himself sometimes. 

 

Spot took his slingshot out of his back pocket and shot it at the nearest thing hitting it with perfect aim.  He did that for a little while before heading back to the lodging house.  He hit a great many things thinking about Buttercup more than the Bronx situation, he was thinking about some of the other girls he had dated the past months that Buttercup had been around but not around.  He had gone out with a girl almost every week, coming close to his old routine.  Many girls of the city were again thrilled to have Spot Conlon on the market for good thinking that they themselves had a chance to get him for themselves.  None of them had any impression on him though.  They were all pretty girls that might make someone happy, but they weren’t something new or good for Spot Conlon. 

 

After at least an hour of being on his dock, Spot started towards the lodging house to talk to some of his newsies and hoping that Fists was back now with news of Buttercup and any other things that the “boyds” might have told him. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces jumped up the stairs to Caroline’s apartment and knocked on the door.  Jim answered the door and smiled at her. 

 

“How are you Audrey?”

 

“I’ve been betta Jim, and ya?” Laces asked as she walked in. 

 

“Oh all right, what is wrong?” Jim asked. 

 

“I’m not sure yet.” Laces shook her head.  Caroline walked in with Scott and Pixie at her sides.  Scott was whispering in Pixie’s ear and Pixie giggled.  Laces laughed at the scene.  Caroline shook her head. 

 

“They are so cute,” Laces whispered to her sister. 

 

“That little girl may I say watches you,” Caroline commented as she walked into her kitchen. 

 

“Why, what does that mean?” Laces asked. 

 

“You know very well what that means,” Caroline said.  Laces smiled. 

 

“Pixie we have to go now before it gets dark.  Spot will get worried,” Laces said.  Caroline looked up from her pot. 

 

“Why?  Is there something going on?” she asked. 

 

“What would be going on?  Where do you get that impression?”

 

“Why would Spot worry unless something was going on?”

 

“Because Spot always worries,” Laces commented as she held out her hand for Pixie’s.  She went towards the door. 

 

“Bye, take care.” Laces walked out with Pixie. 

 

“Something is wrong,” Caroline said. 

 

“Now dear, ya always think the worst,” Jim said from the table where he was reading his newspaper. 

 

“Because it involves Audrey.” Caroline smiled as she watched Laces on the street below skip with Pixie. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Angel walked straight into the bulls and the tall policeman who she walked into stared at her. 

 

“How old are ya?” he barked at her.  Angel not really noticing much who he was, only his tone, was about to responded in a hiss. 

 

“I’m 16.” She looked up at him and noticed who he was and the trouble she was getting herself into.  She stood there for about a moment before trying to push her way out.  One of the officers grabbed her though and as she struggled for her freedom the bartender was asked if there were anymore minors in here and if Angel had done any gambling. 

 

“Gambling, she didn’t gamble none in here, she just walked in and I gone and told her ta leave because this ain’t no place for a lady nor a minor,” the bartender said in a strong southern accent mixed with the New York one. 

 

“That ain’t no lady, that’s some street goyl who shouldn’t be gambling.  She knows betta,” the Policeman said.  “Sides she seems too sassy for her own good.”

 

Angel struggled and once she tried to run away the officer just held her harder.  Pockets watched from his corner, he of course took a seat at a nearby table and had his hat pulled low and was smoking.  He blended well because he was tall for his age and looked like he could be older then he was. 

 

“That goyl there wasn’t gambling, she was just leaving.  She ain’t done nothing wrong, you should let her go,” the bartender said. 

 

“She was planning on gambling and that is just as bad as gambling.  Which means that she probably gets two weeks in the joint unless she’s a usual.  I think she might be by the looks of her,” the officer said.  Angel was getting mad at this because she hadn’t been caught doing anything wrong.  Maybe she had been doing something wrong, but that wasn’t the same as being caught doing something wrong.  There is a difference that everyone on the streets learns to see between doing and being caught. 

 

“Come on Missy off ta the court with ya before it closes for the day,” the Officer said.  Angel was carried out the door and Pockets came out from his corner once he thought the coast was clear. 

 

“Damn her stubborn ways,” he mumbled to himself.  The bartender went down to him. 

 

“This ain’t going ta be good for business.  Tell the others that they should stay away from the bars for a little while, it ain’t safe.  They might suspect,” he said.  “Sorry about the goyl, she is a favorite here.  I didn’t think they would take her.”

 

“Never mind, she shouldn’t get long.  She should know better then to say how old she is.” Pockets shook his head as he took a slip of a drink and then walked out of the bar pocketing the amount of money he had won. 

 

“Now I get to tell Spades and Blue.” He shook his head as he walked towards the building. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot was sitting on the counter talking with Rick about the new leader of the Bronx when Laces walked into the lodging house with Pixie. 

 

“Hi Spot!” Pixie bounced. 

 

“Heya Spot,” Laces also said.  Spot jumped off the counter and greeted them also. 

 

“How was your day?” Laces asked.  Spot looked at her a moment and then looked at Pixie who was watching a small firefly who had gotten into the lodging house fly around. 

 

“Pixie play around with someone, Laces and me will be upstairs all right?” Spot said.  Pixie nodded and Spot and Laces headed upstairs. 

 

“Do ya know about the Bronx leader?” Spot asked Laces. 

 

“Well no, I don’t think so,” Laces responded. 

 

“What do you mean you don’t think so?”

 

“Well tell me first.”

 

“There’s a new one, they beat up Marbles and Sand because he wants to prove something or another and he really doesn’t like us because the Bronx has always had a problem with Manhattan and Brooklyn but we had been doing well before.”

 

“Poor Marbles and Sand.  Are they all right?”

 

“They fine.  Anything happen?” Spot was looking at Laces he could tell something had happened, he knew how to now.  He had seen a lot of things happen to her not to know when something had happened. 

 

“Four boys, taller then me never seen them in these parts before starting to try and attack me.”

 

“Attack you?”

 

“Well I think that they were planning something, come to think of it the goyl might have been in on it too.  Both of ‘em asked me if I was the Laces from Brooklyn and Manhattan and one of the boys didn’t understand the obsession over me or something like that.”

 

“What did ya do ta get away?”

 

“I kicked the main one and ran.  Ain’t that what I always do?”

 

“I guess it is.  No more going out by yourself, not until this is over,” Spot started. 

 

“Conlon, don’t start this again, I can take care of meself.  Spades’ goyls have made sure of that.  I have been on the streets before,” Laces said. 

 

“Someone always helps ya out Kid, there is this pull about ya.  Someone is always around the corner for ya,” Spot said. 

 

“I don’t care, I can take care of meself,” Laces stated. 

 

“Fine, but Pixie has got ta go somewhere before they try anything with her,” Spot said.  “We don’t know how far this is going to go.”

 

“Fine, I will take her to Caroline’s tomorrow and ask Caroline if she will watch her for a week or so.”

 

“That will work.” Laces got up and started to walk away. 

 

“Laces, be careful and if anything,” Spot started. 

 

“Kick and scream.  I know Spot.” Laces walked out of the room. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Pockets walked into the abandoned building, or what seemed like an abandoned building to those who didn’t know it.  Spades was sitting on the counter like usual with Blue at her side. 

 

“Pockets!  How are ya?” Spades said in an unusually good mood. 

 

“All right I ‘pose.”

 

“Where’s Angel?” Blue asked.  “I thought she was going with ya, don’t tell me that ya guys already had ya foist fight. 

 

“Well, ya could say that.”

 

“Where did she take off ta?” Spades asked. 

 

“I um, well it’s sorter like, it went like this,” Pockets started to stumble over his own words. 

 

“ Pockets what happened?” Blue demanded. 

 

“Angel got taken away.”

 

“By who?  You let them take her away?” Spades jumped off the counter and went at Pockets.  Pockets moved out of the way and took a deep breath. 

 

“The bulls they took her away because we was in a bar and we ain’t pose ta be gambling cause we too young and everything.  She was mad and so she didn’t think bout what she was saying and she told ‘em how old she was.  They didn’t even catch her doing nothing wrong but she was being sassy,” Pockets said. 

 

“Why didn’t they get ya?” Spades demanded she was angry but was controlling it as much as possible. 

 

“Cause I was in the corner and I didn’t say nothing.”

 

“What were ya doin’ in the corner?  Ya always drinking and gambling when yous in a bar,” Blue said. 

 

“Angel and I had a fight, that’s why she was mad in the foist place because I didn’t like how she was sitting on someone but that goyl didn’t care.  It ain’t safe for ‘er ta be doing nothing like that in that type of a place.” Pockets let out a frustrated tone. 

 

“Why I oughta!” Spades lunged at him, Blue quickly having thought Spades would sooner or later do that jumped down and grabbed Spades. 

 

“Ya know me goyls know how ta take care of themselves, ya seen ‘er do that millions of times and now ya care because she’s ya goyl!” Spades was yelling.  There had never been a time that she and Angel had not been together, ever since Angel was born they were together.  They got laughed at together, they got in trouble together, everything.  It was tearing Spades up that she wasn’t sure where Angel was and that it was Pocket’s fault that Angel wasn’t spending much time with her anymore.  She pushed against Blue. 

 

“Lemme go,” she said.  Blue looked at her a moment and let her go, she went upstairs.  Blue stood there for a moment looking at Pockets. 

 

“I’m sorry,” Pockets finally said. 

 

“I should have warned ya, reminded ya of what they do fore I let ya go with her ta work.  I forget, I figured ya get used ta it without me warning.  Ya been round ‘em as long as I have but ya never dated one.” Blue shook his head. 

 

“It just ain’t right though, she could get hoit.  Ain’t no business for her ta be doing that.”

 

“Pockets, I’ve known ya a long time.  Ya’ve known me a long time, ya ‘ave known ‘em a long time.  Why did we start doing this such a long time ago?” Blue asked. 

 

“Money, we needed a way ta live.”

 

“We do it now for the same reason.  I know and ya know and the goyls know that we can all do something else ta get money.  But this is what we used ta, this is what we do well, we get more money then we’d be able ta the first few months of sellin’ or workin’ at a factory,” Blue said. 

 

“I know.”

 

“I know that ya don’t like how Angel flirts but that is what she knows how ta do, that is what ya have watched her do was it right before?”

 

“No, I guess it wasn’t.”

 

“And what did ya do about it then?”

 

“Nothing, didn’t think about it that way,” Pockets said. 

 

“That’s what ya do now.” Blue nodded at the idea.  He dealt with Spades, then he added something else, “or just don’t go with her when she works.  If ya don’t feel like ya can deal with it,” Blue assured him. 

 

“Where do ya think she is now?” Pockets asked. 

 

“Not sure what did the bulls say?”

 

“Something about wanting ta gamble being as bad as gambling and that she would probably go ta the refugee for some time unless she was a regular.”

 

“A regular, when was the last time we was here and got put in the refuge,” Blue wondered. 

 

“Maybe a few years, five or six years tops,” Pockets said. 

 

“So they might not recognize her?” Blue said. 

 

“Synder don’t run the place anymore, there is almost no way,” Pockets said. 

 

“Good, two weeks and she should be back with us,” Blue said. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

February 2nd

 

“Decker do we have ta?  I don’t want ta.  Why can’t we just leave her alone,” Kawaii whined. 

 

“We can’t leave her alone, ya don’t have ta go.  Just don’t help none.  Stay ‘ere,” Decker said. 

 

“Fine!  I won’t.” Kawaii stomped up the stairs.  Decker looked after her not really caring much for her sudden out burst against what he was going to do. 

 

“We can do it without her,” Decker said to his boys. 

 

“Decker, why ya so settled on this goyl anyway?” one of the boys asked. 

 

“Ya know how much she means ta Brooklyn and Manhattan.” The boys nodded remembering how important she was to them, they remembered the stories of the wars and problems she had caused.  All the kids in New York who knew anything about the streets and the newsies and the leaders knew about Laces and the run-ins she had with everyone.  Some had even met her occasionally on the streets knowing who she was just by stories or that’s what some said, which was doubtful because anyone who knew Laces never went away. 

 

The Bronx boys headed towards Brooklyn, they weren’t sure where they were going to find her or if she was even in Brooklyn because it was possible that she was in Manhattan or somewhere else all together.  Decker had thought that she could be staying with friends if Spot and Jack got the idea that she was in some kind of trouble, but she had a reputation for finding trouble so it didn’t really matter much.  He also thought that maybe she would be with Spades’ gang, but no one knew where they stayed in the city.  Especially not in Brooklyn and everyone knew that besides them being someone not to mess with they were well acquainted with Spot and Jack. 

 

Decker also knew that the Brooklyn boys and Manhattan boys along with any of Conlon’s famous birds were on the look out for him and any of his boys that may be familiar to them. 

 

“Decker what are we going to do when we find her?” one of the boys asked. 

 

“We will play with her a bit, not much though just enough to scare her some.  Then after that we will send Kawaii on her, get her to become friends with her and things like that until we lure her in for anything we want and we will have Brooklyn and Manhattan in our hands,” Decker said. 

 

“What if Kawaii don’t want to do that?” one of the boys commented. 

 

“She don’t got a choice, does she?” Decker responded angry that they had suggested that she did, Kawaii was one of his girls.  She followed him around, she had since they were young and she did everything he said it was no real time for her to start thinking on her own, or so Decker thought. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Angel was on the top bunk in the refuge there had been no way to get around it.  The judge had been so annoyed that they came in two minutes before he was supposed to leave that he just rushed through it and handed her over to the refuge without much thought to it at all.  Angel had been so mad at Pockets, at the stupid officer that had brought her there, she hated being there by herself, she had never been in a refuge by herself.  She got sentenced two weeks because fortunately no one had recognized her, she wasn’t sure if it was because she had changed or because she wasn’t with Spades. 

 

“Hey?  What ya doing up there and ain’t ya gonna say nothing?  Is this your first time or something?” A 16 year old girl with long black hair asked.  Angel laughed at the suggestion of it being her first time in the refuge.  She looked down at the girl she was about Angel’s age and very pretty from the looks of it she had been on the streets a lot. 

 

“Me first time in a few months,” Angel finally said.  The girl looked at her again and frowned. 

 

“So why is ya just lying up there acting like the world has come ta an end, only new timers do that.”

 

“I never did that when I was a new timer,” Angel responded. 

 

“Where is she?” Someone came into the bunkroom shouting that.  Angel didn’t even turn around to look at what it was the person wanted. 

 

“Where is who?” someone asked back. 

 

“Angel?” the voice said.  At that Angel sat up and turned around and looked at the person.  At that moment the person looked over at her and they stared at each other for a few moments. 

 

“Oh my god,” Angel whispered for a second not really thinking about it. 

 

“I heard ya were here and I didn’t believe it because I asked about Spades and they said that there was no one in here by that name.  I was like that is impossible it must be some other Angel because my Angel comes with Spades or not at all,” the girl said. 

 

“What are ya talking about Middy?” the girl who had been talking to Angel before asked. 

 

“Luna ya don’t recognize her?” Middy said in an astounded voice. 

 

“This isn’t Angel?” Luna asked surprised. 

 

“Look at her, she looked like she did when we last saw her except maybe a little older and sad,” Middy said. 

 

“Middy?  Luna?  I don’t believe this, it’s been ages since I last saw you guys,” Angel finally said. 

 

“So what, ya know this Angel from somewhere else?” someone asked. 

 

“Hello, goyls this is Angel from Spades’ gang, the bar skippers.” Middy saluted Angel. 

 

“You’re Angel?” many voices said.  Angel grinned and nodded. 

 

“Coise I am,” Angel said.  Luna and Middy smiled and Middy walked over to her bunk. 

 

“So what ya been up ta?” Middy asked. 

 

“What ya doing in here without Spades?” Luna asked. 

 

“Well I was caught in a bar,” Angel said. 

 

“Look something new,” Middy grinned. 

 

“But I wasn’t gambling or drinking or anything, I was actually on me way out.”

 

“And ya didn’t get out of it, don’t tell me ya lost ya touch.  Ya use ta be able ta get out of anything.” Middy frowned. 

 

“Well I was mad because I had just been in a fight with Pockets, we were the only ones working today and I wasn’t really thinking and when the bull asked me how old I was I responded sixteen,” Angel said.  Luna and Middy shook their heads. 

 

“Ya know betta then that,” Luna said. 

 

“So ya and Pockets an item now?”

 

“Us yeah we are Middy, it just happened.  It was a little fast considering he had just really gotten over Laces.”

 

“Laces?  Ya know Laces?” Middy asked surprised. 

 

“I hear that goyl’s name everywhere, I haven’t ever met her,” Luna commented. 

 

“Yeah I know Laces,” Angel said. 

 

“LIGHTS OUT!” someone barked.  Luna and Middy quickly arranged to grab the bunks next to Angel’s and once the lights went out and the guard was gone they started to talk to each other again.  No one around them really minded because they were hearing a story that a lot of the people on the streets would love to hear.  Having no real time and money for entertainment, kids on the street went off of the stories that they heard.  And everyone loved the stories that the newsies made up or lived in, especially Manhattan and Brooklyn ever since the strike.  Laces lately had been a hot topic, it was what kept everyone entertained.  And learning more about Spades’ gang never hurt either. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces was walking in the middle of Brooklyn, not the safest place in Brooklyn to be walking alone in.  The were food carts all down the street it was market time, early in the day when mothers and sisters went out to get the small bits of food that they would use to make lunch and dinner.  Laces was trying to sell a few papers and stay away from the Brooklyn boys.  Spot had made it clear that he didn’t want her walking around alone without one of them.  Today she had given one of them the slip and she knew that if Spot knew he would be looking for her like crazy and sooner or later he would find her.  She didn’t want to be followed around though, she always got tired of that quickly whenever it happened. 

 

Decker and his boys were walking down the busy market street in Brooklyn looking for Laces.  Decker didn’t think she would be on this street, it wasn’t the safest street to be on and everyone knew that.  The mothers and daughters who shopped here kept close to each other and when they could brought a brother with them.  Decker scanned the crowded street for the girl he was looking for, when he spotted her on the corner of a nearby street. 

 

“There she is!” Decker said. 

 

“What is she stupid or something she’s on this street alone?” one of the boys mumbled to himself. 

 

“Come on boys, this shouldn’t be hard,” Decker said.  The boys pushed their way through the crowds and got to Laces in no time.  She didn’t notice them though thinking that they were just some other people on the street that wasn’t going to buy her last few papers she continued to call out her headlines. 

 

“Well hello to you too,” Decker said as his boys began to circle around her.  Laces looked at him and groaned inside but said nothing. 

 

“Come on into our office why don’t you,” one of the boys said as he kind of pushed her into the alleyway. 

 

In the alleyway some of the boys stood at the opening of it and Decker and two others stayed at Laces side. 

 

“So Laces?  Miss us?” one of the boys asked.  Laces glared at them, she didn’t like the look that they were giving her.  Especially the one that Decker was giving her, it gave her a strange feeling, she thanked that she had already left Pixie with Caroline earlier that morning and that the little girl wasn’t with her. 

 

“Miss ya?  How can I miss ya if ya won’t go away?” Laces demanded. 

 

“They’re right she is sassy, even when it can be dangerous,” one of the boys said. 

 

“Dangerous, ya guys don’t even look like ya could hurt a fly,” Laces responded getting impatient with this.  But the boys were a good distance from her, so she couldn’t quickly kick one of them and if she tried to run one of them would surely grab her. 

 

“Now are ya sure of that?  Maybe you want to make sure?  Test it out,” Decker gritted his teeth, now she was getting to sassy.  Decker took a few steps closer to her and then warned her.  “Don’t even think about trying your little trick because one of me boys will grab you before you get out and then you will be sorry.” Laces rolled her eyes as Decker got very close to her, he started to pull out strands of her hair looking at it with a critical eye, then he circled her once in a while touching at her clothing or her hands or kicking at her legs. 

 

“What is this an examination?” Laces asked annoyed and ready to kick him but she knew that he was right one of the others would grab her.  She had to figure a way out of the alley.  Also she was figuring that maybe they weren’t going to hurt her because if they wanted to they would have already. 

 

“Maybe.” Decker grabbed Laces’s chin at that with his hand and started to look at her face.  “A warning might settle a mark to make showing Kelly and Conlon that we ain’t playing.  That we know what we are doing and they have to think about what they are doing.  They aren’t going to be the most powerful anymore,” Decker said.  Laces jaw was hurting, he had a strong grip on her and if she tried to move he would jolt her in a painful way. 

 

“So what do you think Sassy?  A mark that you will forever remember me by or maybe one that will just cause a lot of pain but won’t be there forever?” Decker asked. 

 

“A mark?” Laces said, in a voice that showed that she had no fear.  Decker let go of her chin and at that not really wanting to know what Decker wanted to do Laces pushed him hard and started to run towards the alleyway exit.  The boys there were waiting for her and quickly pushed her back.  Decker stood up from the ground. 

 

“Now Sassy, you’re gonna wish ya hadn’t done that,” Decker said shaking his head.  “Grab her boys.” He motioned for the two boys that were near him.  They both grabbed her arms.  Decker came over and looked at her a moment. 

 

“I don’t want to ruin that face of yours, too many people would be after me, somewhere where it will be noticed, but doesn’t really matter,” Decker said as he pulled out a blade from his back pocket.  Laces let out a scream. 

 

“Oh now you’re scared,” one of the boys said. 

 

“Hold her around stomach.  And you hold her legs.  Put her on the ground, it will be easier,” Decker said. 

 

“What are you going to do to me you bastard?”

 

“Oh name calling, that ain’t nice Sassy.” Decker smiled at her anger and not fright. 

 

“I can understand ya wanting to hurt me, it must make you feel so much better about how ugly you are.” Laces sighed. 

 

“Now,” Decker said.  The two boys struggled a moment with Laces to get her pinned to the ground and one of them held her legs down hard and the other held her arms down. 

 

“Shiner, let that arm go,” Decker said as he grabbed it and slowly slide the blade over Laces skin, without touching it. 

 

“Now, I am going to make a nice little heart here,” Decker punched the tip of the blade a little into Laces skin to just pierce it. 

 

“Ow!” Laces said as she turned her head from side to side the only movement that her body was able to make. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack was in Brooklyn looking for Spot.  He hadn’t seen him in his usual selling spot and thought now that maybe something was wrong because he hadn’t seen Laces anywhere either or many of the Brooklyn newsies anywhere.  He tried the lodging house and Rick had said that nothing was wrong, maybe they had changed selling places or something because they hadn’t said anything to him.  Jack walked down some small alleyways and turned onto the market street.  Someone whistled and Jack turned around. 

 

“Kelly, God ya would think that you’re deaf or sumthing,” the girl said.  She had red curly hair to about her shoulders and kind brown eyes. 

 

“What ya need?” Jack asked not really recognizing who she was. 

 

“Well seeing as ya don’t member me, Ise Voodoo and Ise one of Conlon’s “boyds” as I’ve heard ‘im call me sometimes.  That boy got a head bigger then who knows who,” Voodoo mumbled to herself. 

 

“Oh Voodoo, yeah sorry I ain’t really thinking right,” Jack apologized for not remembering her. 

 

“Well, the only reason I called ya was cause that goyl, Laces I think her name is, she’s in that alleyway over there and I think she may need help.  I ain’t been able to get too close to her though because those boys may see me and then where would that get us?”

 

“What alley?  What boys?” Jack was beginning to get worried. 

 

“Over there Kelly.  See ya around.” With that Voodoo turned and ran in another direction.  Jack looked after her a moment before moving, but when he started to move he ran with his life to the alley. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Buttercup had left the boarding house early in the morning to avoid Miss Bordeaux and went out to see if maybe she could get together enough money to be able to pay the rent by tonight.  If not she was not going to come back to the boarding house and she would have to find a place to sleep. 

 

RB had a sense about things and she came out as Buttercup was going down the stairs, that sense is what Conlon had seen when he first met her.  That is what had doomed Rootbeer to become a Brooklyn bird, as they were called at times.  No one knew who they were, only Conlon, some of his most trusted boys and Jack Kelly.  They made money anyway they could figure out how, shinning boots, selling papers or matches, or gambling even.  They always had money, they were never left hungry and when they really needed a place to stay Spot would find them a place. 

 

RB followed Buttercup down the street and wondered what she was doing out so early.  She had a feeling that she was owing for the rent of the place, it seemed that way, but she wasn’t sure.  RB had only paid for the night that she stayed; it wasn’t that great of a place. 

 

Buttercup walked into the laundry building hoping that maybe they would give her something more to do today so she could get some more money. 

 

“Sophie, ya early,” someone said as she walked in.  Buttercup was startled at someone’s voice. 

 

“Yes sir,” she replied knowing well who’s voice it was speaking to her. 

 

“Now, Sophie.  This is nice getting here early, but it doesn’t make up the fact that you haven’t been doing your job and someone has been informing me that ya sit on the Brooklyn Bridge all day,” he said to her.  Buttercup kept her head down and stared at the ground, she knew what was coming.  She hated to think of it, but it always happened and she had begun to wonder when it would happen. 

 

“Is that true?” he asked her. 

 

“Yes sir,” Buttercup said. 

 

“Well ya leave me no choice, you’re fired,” the man said at last and then he turned away.  Buttercup stood there a moment looking after him.  Then she walked out. 

 

RB stood outside of the building leaning against the wall, she hadn’t been sure what Buttercup was doing here at this place.  But she had managed to sell two boxes of matches while she waited.  When Buttercup came out quickly RB was a bit startled but followed. 

 

“What am I going to do?” Buttercup started to say to herself.  She looked around the street there were girls selling flowers, there were boys shinning shoes, there were boys selling matches.  She shook her head though she could do none of those because she would need more money then she had at the moment to be able to buy any of those.  She had 10 cents, that was it.  She looked further down the street, men and women who owned shops, kids working as errand runners, mothers and daughters cleaning floors of large corporations together.  Still nothing that she could do, she decided she might as well walk around until she found something to do. 

 

“I wonder what she’s doing?” RB said to herself.  She shrugged and kept following once and while stopping and selling some matches to anyone passing by on the street that looked like they needed them. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“God Damn it, wait until I get my hands on that goyl.  Why I ought, I don’t believe her.  Can you believe her?  She doesn’t learn,” Spot was mumbling, Bullseye and him were looking for her everywhere.  Since Trigger had went up to him and told him that she had run off Spot had dropped everything and started looking for her.  He wasn’t in the best mood and with no sign of Laces it wasn’t getting any better. 

 

“Well she can take care of herself Spot,” Bullseye said.  Spot looked at him with a critical eye frowning for a moment. 

 

“Ya know as well as I do how far she can really take care of herself, when real trouble starts she don’t know what to do.  And if she does it’s too late to do anything,” Spot sighed. 

 

“Don’t worry so much Spot she’ll be fine.”

 

“It’s Laces we’re talking about.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack slammed into the guys that were in his way when he entered the alleyway. 

 

“LACES!” he said as he saw her on the floor with a knife that was very close to her skin.  Decker was startled and had accidentally cut her a little more.  There was a line of blood dripping from Laces’s arm and she had tears streaming down her face but she was gritting her teeth.  She didn’t want to give Decker the satisfaction of her crying out.  Decker looked up at Jack and the boys at the entrance of the alleyway got scared thinking that the rest of the newsies must not be far behind and took off running. 

 

“Let go of her now,” Jack demanded.  The two boys who were holding her had loosened their grip and were now ready to run if they had to.  Laces felt the loosening that they had done and thinking quickly kicked at the one at her feet and punched the one at her side as she pulled her arm away from Decker and rolled over and got to her feet.  Jack helped her up and pulled her running before she was even on both feet.  He held her hard and ran quickly away down the street around the corner and into an alleyway.  Then he stopped. 

 

“Laces, what was going on?” Jack asked her.  Laces was on her knees though gasping for breath and looking at the blood that was now staining her shirt and dripping down her arm.  Jack looked at it a moment and then sighed as he took off his over shirt and rolled it up.  He tied it around her arm and looked at her a moment making sure that nothing else was bleeding. 

 

“Come on, we’ll go to the lodging house where we can get you something to put on that arm,” Jack said as he helped her up.  Laces took a breath, thinking about what Spot was going to say and then what Jack was going to say. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Maybe she went back to the lodging house and we’re standing around here looking for her like idiots.  That would be something that Laces would do,” Bullseye said. 

 

“If she’s sitting in the lodging house I think I would kill ‘er,” Spot grumbled as he decided to turn around and head back to the lodging house.  “But if she’s not there we’re coming back out again,” Spot warned. 

 

The two headed back to the lodging house, the late afternoon breeze was rolling into Brooklyn.  Spot was now in a very bad mood and even light hearted Bullseye was getting annoyed with the whole thing.  There had been no trace of Laces anywhere. 

 

“Where are all me boyds when Ise need them,” Spot said as he walked into the lodging house.  Rick was holding his little first aid kit and was walking into the parlor. 

 

“What’s wrong Rick?  What’s going on?  Who’s hurt?” Spot quickly asked. 

 

“It’s not that bad Spot, it’s Laces,” Rick said, but before he could finish Laces screamed.  Spot and Bullseye ran into the parlor and Jack was standing there blowing on Laces arm that was bloodstained and trying to hush her. 

 

“What the ‘ell happened?” Spot demanded.  Jack looked up and grinned in an odd way, what he does sometimes after something like that. 

 

“Okay Spot, I know how much you would love to do this right now, but you can’t until I get her cleaned up,” Rick said quickly pushing Spot out of the room.  Bullseye followed and closed the door. 

 

“Why do I have a feeling that you’ve gotten yourself into more trouble,” Rick said as he looked at her arm and shook his head.  Laces tried to smile and then she closed her eyes tight and bit her lower lip as Jack again dripped more of some disinfect stuff.  Rick quickly cleaned the cuts.  There were four of them, two which were punctures to the skin.  He wrapped them up and then looked at Laces a moment and then at Jack. 

 

“You don’t know much about this do you?” he said to Jack. 

 

“Why?” Jack asked. 

 

“Because if you did you would be yelling,” Rick said.  “Now Ise really sorry that I got to do this Laces, but I leaving now and going to let Spot in.”

 

Laces shrugged and looked at her arm again. 

 

“You’re lucky none of those were deep,” Rick said as he opened the door and walked out.  Almost immediately Spot walked in and closed the door behind him. 

 

“What the hell, how many damn times have I told ya not ta do things like that.  Ya scared the hell out of me, look at what happened ta ya?” Spot yelled. 

 

“Conlon wait, what happened?” Jack asked. 

 

“Oh don’t you know either, I don’t know what happened to her, but she was supposed to be with Trigger, she ain’t allowed to be alone.  She knows that because of the problem we’ve been having.  I mean ya think that after she was attacked the first time.  God Damn it Laces.” Spot began pacing. 

 

“Wait a minute, you’ve been attacked before?” Jack asked. 

 

“Well, yeah once yesterday,” Laces answered. 

 

“And ya were supposed to be with Trigger?  Why weren’t you with Trigger?”

 

“Well, I was sick of being with Brooklyn boys.  I get tried of that quickly.  I like selling by meself.”

 

“Ya know betta, ya know what could have happened if I hadn’t come along.  If someone hadn’t told me that you were in that alleyway.  There were six thugs, they had you pinned your lucky the only thing that they was doing was cutting at you.  And what the ‘ell were ya doing on that street anyway?”

 

“What street?  What the ‘ell street was she on?” Spot suddenly asked. 

 

“Well, Market Street,” Laces said. 

 

“MARKET STREET!?  What is wrong with ya?  I mean God Laces, Market Street is one of the most dangerous streets in Brooklyn.  Ya know that ya should never go there alone even when there is nothing wrong anywhere,” Spot started.  “Geez what is wrong with ya?  Running away from Trigger, almost getting yourself killed, I don’t know what Decker is capable of!”

 

“Spot, I don’t know why you’re acting this way.  I am fine now, really.  And sides, ya know how much I hate being babysat by the Brooklyn boys, I can take care of meself.  I ain’t a kid anymore.” Laces pouted a bit, trying to gain some defense for her actions. 

 

“You’re not a kid anymore!  Then why are you so irresponsible!  Look at this, if you’re not thinking about yourself ya should at least think about the rest of us and how much we would worry about ya because ya ain’t with someone, or where we thought ya were.” Jack let out an angry sigh. 

 

“But ya all know I can take care of meself.” Laces was getting annoyed with this whole thing. 

 

“TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!  Look at your arm!  Look at it Laces.” Spot pointed to her arm. 

 

“They had you pinned to the floor, there were five of them Laces!  There was a knife up to your arm, it could have easily been moved to your throat!” Jack was clenching his fists.  Laces was being stubborn and acting like Pixie did sometimes even though she was quite a few years older. 

 

“No but,” Laces tried to begin, but Spot cut her off. 

 

“I don’t want to hear it.  Ya know what, go to your room.” Spot pointed out the room and glared at Laces. 

 

“What?” Laces was shocked. 

 

“You heard me go.  Or I’ll carry ya up,” Spot said. 

 

“But,” Laces started. 

 

“Laces,” Jack said.  Laces looked from both faces and then stormed out of the room and up the stairs.  Jack sat down and Spot did too. 

 

“What are we going to do with her?” Spot asked. 

 

“I don’t know.  It’s getting dark,” Jack said. 

 

“Can you believe her, God.”

 

“I think she’s just lucky that Voodoo told me when she did that Laces was in that alleyway.  Thank God for your boyds.”

 

“Yeah and I couldn’t find one of them.  They all everywhere.”

 

“Did ya see Laces face when ya told ‘er ta go ta ‘er room?” Jack laughed. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Buttercup had gotten to the Brooklyn Bridge and sat down on it, it was getting dark and she only had six cents in her pocket, she had spent four on something to eat.  She stared at the water below and let herself go into her little world. 

 

RB was still following, she had all day.  She had sold all her matches making a nice amount of money, but was tired.  She had seen all of New York by following Buttercup around, Conlon better be grateful was her only thought through out the entire day.  Once Buttercup stopped on the bridge, RB had finally figured out what was wrong.  Buttercup had been fired, or she had quit her job and she didn’t have much money left for lodging otherwise why would she travel all that time and leave so early that morning?  RB was trying to decide what she was supposed to do.  She didn’t know if Spot wanted Buttercup in Brooklyn because if he did then she would finally talk to Buttercup.  But if he didn’t then she didn’t know what to do because she knew that Spot and Buttercup had been an item. 

 

“Ah screw what Conlon wants, I ain’t leaving this goyl ‘ere with no place ta stay,” RB said to herself. 

 

“Who are ya?” Buttercup looked up at her, she only seemed like she was dazed out, but she always knew when there was someone on the bridge. 

 

“I’m Rootbeer, most people call me RB though.  I was just wondering do ya have a place ta stay tonight?”

 

“Why?  What do ya care?  I ain’t never met ya before.”

 

“Well I just see ya on this bridge a lot and I saw ya in another part of the city today and thought I had seen ya before,” RB said. 

 

“How did ya see me fore?” Buttercup asked. 

 

“I was selling matches in another part of the city today.  I am going to see some friends now and I think that they will have a place for ya ta stay.”

 

“Really?  Why would ya trouble yourself like that?”

 

“Because if people like us don’t look out for each other who will?” RB smiled as she held out a hand for Buttercup and Buttercup took it, having no idea that she was heading for where Spot Conlon was. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I don’t believe them!  Oh I can’t believe them!” Laces was pacing back and forth.  Bullseye slipped into the room laughing a bit to himself, he had heard her slam the door and heard the conversation from his bunk.  Spot and Jack were yelling pretty loud everyone in the lodging house heard them.  When Laces noticed him she frowned. 

 

“Do ya want ta yell at me ta?”

 

“Me?  Why would I want ta do that?  I love ya kid.” Bullseye smiled. 

 

“Yeah sure.” Laces frowned.  She sat on her bed and looked out the window.  Bullseye came over and sat next to her and smiled. 

 

“Ya knew that would happen.” Bullseye looked at her. 

 

“Maybe I didn’t.”

 

“Do ya really think that ya could get away with not getting a word out of Conlon or Kelly?  Or any of us?” Bullseye asked. 

 

“They’re treating me like a kid, I ain’t a kid and they got no right ta treat me like no kid.”

 

“Laces, ya acting like one and who has the right to treat ya like a kid better then Jack and Spot?”

 

“No one has any right, no one is me parents.”

 

“Your parents would have a problem with the things ya was doing though and if Caroline knew she would have a problem.  And the people who have watched over ya like brothers, which is pretty close ta family like ya older brudders or sumthing and then they could treat ya like their kid sister.” Bullseye smiled. 

 

“They still had no right to send me ta me room, I mean only certain people is allowed ta do that.”

 

“Is one of those certain people Caroline, cause I am sure that if ya ‘ave such a problem with Spot and Jack telling ya ta go ta ya room and lecturing ya and putting ya in line when ya make mistakes and act like a kid.  That’s what we all are.”

 

“No, I don’t want Caroline ta know nothing, ya say a word ta her and I’ll kill ya,” Laces warned. 

 

“I thought so, this is the way we work Laces ya know it as well as the rest of us.  We all kids, we don’t like ta think of it that way but we are.  We keep each other in line, some of us more then others, but that’s the way it has always worked.  Spot and Jack keep each other in line in their own ways ,sometimes ya keep them in line, and ya with the younger boys,” Bullseye said. 

 

“Yeah I pose,” Laces shrugged.  Thats when the door opened and in came Bottle Cap with a mad little look. 

 

“Laces how could ya?  After so many things that have happened and ya go out and do something like that.  I don’t believe you.” Bottle Cap groaned. 

 

“Ah not another one,” Laces whined putting her head on Bullseye shoulder. 

 

Bullseye smiled at Bottle Cap and got up.  Before he walked out the door he said something to Bottle Cap. 

 

“Go easy on her Cap.” Bullseye walked out. 

 

“Bullseye!” Laces whined a moment. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

RB walked into the building, Buttercup lagged behind and noticed what the building was. 

 

“Wait is this your friend’s place?” Buttercup asked.  RB knew that she would hesitate if she answered that it was the place she was supposed to stay and so she quickly replied. 

 

“No I just need to stop here and get something,” RB lied. 

 

“Um I think that I will stay here and wait for ya.”

 

“No come on, I will only take a moment is something wrong?”

 

“No nothing is wrong.  Why would ya think that something is wrong?”

 

“Come on then Buttercup.” RB motioned and Buttercup slowly went up the stairs and into the building.  The lights were still on and Spot and Jack were sitting with some of the boys talking in the parlor. 

 

RB walked in quickly without giving Buttercup time to think about it.  When both of them walked in to the parlor Buttercup went to turn back as the heads turned to look at them but RB shut the door. 

 

“Buttercup?” Spot whispered.  Before more time to think Jack cleared the room with a few words. 

 

“Hey everyone why don’t ya get moving, get some sleep, check on Laces,” he said.  The boys in the room moved out and Jack of course stayed with Spot. 

 

“Irish what is this?  Ya know betta then ta pop in ‘ere.  What if someone figured it out,” Spot started to say. 

 

“Stop ya bickering Conlon and don’t call me Irish, I told ya that fore,” RB said. 

 

“What is going on?” Buttercup asked. 

 

“Ya going ta stay ‘ere.  Ya have no where else ta go.  Ya should just stay ‘ere,” RB said. 

 

“I’ll talk ta ya later Irish, go on,” Spot said.  RB glared at him and then turned and left. 

 

“Spot, let’s not do this now,” Jack suggested he knew Spot was not in the best mood, he was still mad at Laces.  And he wasn’t on the best terms with Buttercup, Jack knew what Spot wanted, he wanted his relationship back, but he didn’t want to give in. 

 

“Go away, I need to talk to Buttercup,” Spot said.  Jack stood his ground though and didn’t move. 

 

“Tired BC?” Jack asked, as he moved his eyes from her eyes to her wooden band. 

 

“A little, but maybe I should go.” Buttercup started to twist her wooden band around her finger. 

 

“Ya staying ‘ere.  Ya ain’t got nowhere else ta go, there is no aunt to go to and ya can’t sleep on that bridge.” Spot got up.  “Ya can stay with Laces, Pixie’s bed is empty,” Spot said.  Buttercup nodded and turned to head out. 

 

“Oh and Buttercup don’t think about going anywhere, we need ta talk and this time there ain’t nowhere ta go,” Spot warned her with a threat.  Buttercup shrugged and headed up the stairs, she was under shock of being there with Spot.  She had avoided him at all costs and here she was staying in the same building with him.  She knew that there was no getting out of it now, Spot had her cornered and she was going to have to talk to him. 

 

Buttercup walked up the stairs and into the room she knew was Laces’s.  She didn’t even bother to knock and when she walked in Bottle Cap stopped in mid sentence and Laces took her pillow off her face. 

 

“Tate?” Laces sat up in surprise. 

 

“I think I am done now, just promise me one thing Laces?” Cap said. 

 

“I won’t ever go on Market Street without someone again, I promise,” Laces quickly said.  Cap shook his head and hugged her. 

 

“We just worried about ya,” he said as he walked out.  Buttercup closed the door after he went out and looked at Laces a moment. 

 

“What kind of trouble did ya get into that ya got everyone in this place jumping?” Buttercup grinned as she went to sit on Pixie’s bed. 

 

“Me trouble?” Laces smiled.  Buttercup laughed.  “Tell me what ya been doing, where ya been hiding and what ya doing ‘ere and I might tell ya me troubles.”

 

“Spot found me.  Through one of his famous boyds,” Buttercup said. 

 

“A boyd?  Ya meet a boyd?  Ya know who one is?” Laces asked.  She had always been curious about the boyds, she never heard much about them in the lodging house.  They were hush and shush there.  Spot never really mentioned them like that, not with her anyway.  Whenever she asked about them he just avoided the subject and here Buttercup found out who one of them was. 

 

“Yeah, she was nice.” Buttercup smiled. 

 

“The boyds are goyls?” Laces was shocked. 

 

“I don’t know, she was.” Buttercup nodded.  “But enough about that, she tricked me into coming here and Spot and Jack aren’t going to let me leave.”

 

“Jack’s still here?” Laces asked.  Buttercup looked at her a moment and nodded. 

 

“Nothing has happened between ya two yet?” she asked. 

 

“No, I don’t see him a lot.  And whenever I do it’s because I gotten into something.” Laces smiled. 

 

“It has been a little while since Sarah?” Buttercup asked. 

 

“Yeah, but he has been seeing other goyls on and off.”

 

“Yeah, what bout Spot?”

 

“Oh I ain’t getting into that, that ya two ‘ave ta talk bout.”

 

“Laces come on.’

 

“No.”

 

There was a knock at the door and then Jack walked in and looked at the two goyls. 

 

“Need something?” Laces asked. 

 

“I need a few more words with ya, I still ain’t ta happy with ya,” Jack said. 

 

“No more not right now Jack, I promise I won’t ever go into Market Street by meself again,” Laces groaned. 

 

“I don’t know if ya ever have a chance ta again, with the way that Conlon is going ta have ya watched.” Jack smiled as Laces groaned again.  “But don’t worry much about that, we decided something just now and that’s what I came up ‘ere ta tell ya.”

 

“Well what is it?” Buttercup asked. 

 

“Go ta sleep Laces, we leaving early tomorrow,” Jack said. 

 

“I’m going to Manhattan?” Laces asked. 

 

“Yeah and Buttercup ya staying ‘ere with Spot and the Brooklyn boys.”

 

“Who says so?” BC got defensive. 

 

“I say so, got a problem with that?” Spot came into the doorway. 

 

“No they have no problems do ya?” Jack said, but before there was an answer he quickly said good night and closed the door. 

 

“I don’t like how every time there might be a confrontation of any kind ya do something ta stop it,” Spot said. 

 

“If it wasn’t for me Conlon ya would ‘ave died a long time ago because of being so hot headed.” Jack grinned. 

 

“Ise hot headed, look who’s talking.” Spot shot back as he entered his room. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

February 3rd

 

Morning came and Angel, Luna and Middy got up after grumbling a bit.  They hadn’t slept much, talking most of the night away they only got a few hours of sleep each.  Between the three of them, they still hadn’t achieved a full night’s sleep. 

 

“By the way Luna, ya three have been stuck with kitchen duty,” one of the girls told Luna as she skipped out of the washroom.  Luna groaned and Middy rolled her eyes, Angel shrugged. 

 

“Nothing new.  I always get stuck with kitchen duty, the whole gang does.”

 

“The gang, how are all of ‘em?” Middy asked suddenly. 

 

“They good.”

 

“There still only 7 of them?” Luna asked. 

 

“Yeah and Blue and Pockets.”

 

“Blue still around?  Still with Spades, and Pockets that boy.”

 

“Yeah Blue is with Spades.  And Pockets and me are sort of a thing now.  But he and I had a fight.” Angel sighed. 

 

“A fight bout what?” Luna smiled. 

 

“’e was having a problem with the way that I was working,” Angel started. 

 

“If ya three don’t get out in five seconds ya going ta the cells!” someone barked. 

 

“Geez, ya think we was in here forever.” Middy shrugged. 

 

“Ya have been!  Get ya selves out of t‘ere,” the guard yelled. 

 

“We going hold on,” Angel mumbled. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spades sat on her bed, she had always known who the Brooklyn birds were.  She almost became one herself a while back without Spot knowing who she really was.  Just one of them, he found his birds in different ways and she was one on his list.  She never did become one though and ever since she had come back to Brooklyn Spot had told her who his birds were.  Or at least who some of his birds were.  She was allowed to use them just like Jack would, because she was Spades. 

 

She had gone on a search the night before with Blue for one, she had found Firecracker.  One of newest ones, Spot had just made her a bird less then six months ago, but she was quick and perfect for the job.  Spades sent her to find out what was up with Angel and now she had to wait. 

 

Pockets mopped around the place like someone who had lost something so special that they could never even think about finding it.  The girls went to work like they always had done, but felt strange not being in the refuge with Angel or having Spades, but no Angel.  Things were not the same they couldn’t be.  Blue walked around Brooklyn selling papers and not really talking with anyone. 

 

Spot waltzed into Spades’ room and looked at her a moment. 

 

“I came thinking there wasn’t something wrong, I ain’t heard of ya in days,” he said.  Spades looked up at him. 

 

“Firecracker is finding out where Angel is for me,” Spades said.  

 

“What happened to Angel?  Did she disappear?  What happened, why the ‘ell didn’t ya tell me sooner.  Ya know when something like this happens ya should tell me I got more people then ya ta help find her.  What if something happened to her already?” Spot began to pace. 

 

“Conlon, there ain’t nothing that bad, she got caught by the cops in a bar.  That’s all we’re not sure where they sent her or for how long or nothing.”

 

“Still Spades, I need ta know these things.  Would it kill ya ta let me know when something happens?  I mean god you’re about as bad as Laces,” Spot grumbled. 

 

“What did the kid do now?” Spades asked not surprised at all. 

 

“That’s the other thing I came ta tell ya, be careful.  I don’t know what these guys are up ta, and I know that ya goyls can take care of yourselves and all, but we’ve been having problems with the new leader from the Bronx.”

 

“Oh god, that’s great.  I heard something about that.  Not really sure what it was though,” Spades shrugged.  “So what happened to the kid?”

 

“Laces, I really don’t know what I am going to do with her.  Jack is taking her to Manhattan with him for a long while.  He thinks that I need a break and sides I have Buttercup, she’s back.  But Laces was on Market Street yesterday by herself after she ran away from one of me guys who was suppose to sell with her.  She got attacked by the boys from the Bronx, it’s the second time.  You would think after the first time she would get the picture, for some reason I think they have this thing with her.  They had a knife up to her and were going to cut her up a little when Jack came along.” Spot sighed shaking his head. 

 

“That goyl really does walk all over ya guys.” Spades nodded at her own comment. 

 

“What do ya suggest we do oh mighty Spades?” Spot said sarcastically. 

 

“I just saying Spot, I mean look at me goyls.  None of ‘em act up like Laces.” She grinned at this.  She knew herself that even if Laces was part of her gang she would have problems.  Laces would still do the things she did to Spot and Jack maybe not as many, but she still would. 

 

“Yeah, but Laces is the only one who does anything like that,” Spot said. 

 

“If I member correctly I think Cap was like that for a little while too,” Spades commented.  Spot glared at her. 

 

“That was ‘fore what happened and that was part Laces’ fault,” Spot said.  “Laces is just different that’s all, she listens to no one.  And that’s the way she will always be.  I need to figure out something to do with her though and soon or else she’s going to end up dead, either by her doings or me killing her,” Spades laughed. 

 

“Ya wouldn’t harm a hair on that goyl’s head and ya know it Conlon.”

 

“One of these days she’s gonna tempt me.  I betta get going fore BC tries to run off fore I get a chance ta talk ta her.” Spot sighed and walked out. 

 

“Oh and Spades don’t forget to tell me anything ya heard about Angel.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack walked into Laces’s room, he was already running late.  He did want to sell today even though it looked a little cloudy and like it might rain he had planned to sell.  Laces though still hadn’t gotten up.  Jack had knocked on the door for a while trying to get her up but she didn’t get up. 

 

“LACES get out of bed!” Jack said as he stomped into the room making as much noise as possible to get Laces out of bed.  BC groaned as she pulled a pillow over her head. 

 

“Go away Jack.” Laces waved her hand at him. 

 

“Laces get up!  We got to get going,” he said as he opened her window and let the light pour into the room.  Laces pulled the covers over her head.  Jack shook his head and then pulled the covers off of Laces and pushed her off her bed.  Laces glared at him as she got up. 

 

“I hate ya,” she said as she walked towards the washroom. 

 

“I know ya do.” Jack smiled back.  He closed the curtains and walked out leaving BC to sleep some more. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Ya would think that after so much of our cooking this place would get a real cook,” Middy mumbled. 

 

“Well once and a while they find themselves someone who can actually cook.” Angel smiled as she peeled some more potatoes. 

 

“Ya like ya, stop cooking so well!” Luna grinned as she poked a fork into the few vegetables that they were boiling. 

 

“Well, I can’t help it.  When I was a little girl I loved the kitchen and that first time we were in the refuge in Harlem I think it was, the kitchen girls taught me how to cook.  I can’t help if I know how to make food out of these things that they give us.” Angel took a deep breath. 

 

“What’s wrong Angel?” Middy asked noticing the breath. 

 

“Oh nothing, really.”

 

“Hmm, really?” Luna mocked. 

 

“There ain’t nothing wrong, nothing about missing Spades and Pockets and the rest of ‘em.” Middy nodded.  “That’s it.”

 

“Well, can’t say that I don’t.  I have never been anywhere without Spades and Blue, and well Pockets.  I guess I did fall in love with him, I don’t know when it happened but it happened.”

 

“It was bound to happen me dear.” Luna nodded her head sympathetically.  “Can’t say the boy isn’t attractive.”

 

“And I miss Spot and Laces.  I miss hearing about what she is doing to make Spot’s hair stand on ends.”

 

“Spot Conlon?  Having a goyl he can’t handle?  Now that’s a picture that I would love ta see.” Luna laughed. 

 

“Oh more then can’t handle, can’t have, can’t control, can’t get rid of, and can’t love anymore.” Angel shook her head. 

 

“He’s in love with her?” Middy’s jaw almost dropped. 

 

“I think he was, now it’s a brother love.  She reminds me a lot of Fiona to begin with, I think it finally kicked in to Spot.”

 

“Fiona was so much like her brother.” Luna nodded remembering. 

 

“Laces is a lot like Fiona would have turned out to be, I am almost sure.  And Laces lost her brother when she was young it’s almost like she was meant to find Spot, and Spot was meant to find her,” Angel commented. 

 

“Laces’s brother was a dear, I was only 4 or 5 when he got killed.  Laces was too young to think much about it and before long he just became someone in the past, no one important.  Then Caroline left and she got bent out of shape and when everything started happening, the goyl needed someone like Spot.” Middy nodded thinking back to it.  Her and Laces had run into each other a few times since their past together ended and sometimes it was just too painful to talk long.  They made each other remember things that they wanted to forget. 

 

“Well I am done peeling potatoes; kitchen duty isn’t really that bad.”

 

“Speak for yourself Angel,” Middy said. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack and Laces were walking down the Brooklyn Bridge and Jack was lecturing yet again about Laces being on Market Street and not listening to Spot. 

 

“Laces, I just don’t understand.  Ya have known Spot for some time now,” Jack said. 

 

“Three years.” Laces smiled. 

 

“But ya don’t know him as well as ya think ya do.  I don’t even know him as well as I think I do and I have know him for most of our lives.”

 

“What’s your point Jack?”

 

“My point is Spot Conlon is known for his temper all round New Yawk and ya have seen it in action sometimes, the only time that it might have been close to his boiling point was with Frost.  But Laces ya push it too much and Spot one day will go over the boiling point.  And I trust Spot with your life and with mine, but when he gets that mad it ain’t something I want ya around.  I know some of the things Spot can do when he is mad and it’s dangerous.” Jack sighed. 

 

“What are ya suggesting?”

 

“To cool it down, you’re a trouble maker and we all know that, but push too many of Spot’s buttons at one time and he’ll blow.” Jack warned her.  “That’s why I took ya with me, ya haven’t been around in a while and Spot needs a rest.  Ya remind him too much of Fiona, ya remind me of the kid and it kills him when ya pull stunts that can get ya hurt or killed,” Jack said.  Jack’s guilt trip was making Laces feel worse about what she had done, she loved Spot like a brother and to be thought of as anything near Fiona was something she valued, but she never liked authority. 

 

It started to drizzle, the light drops of rain slowly turning bigger, hitting the dirt on the streets with a splash.  Laces smiled at the water trickling down her face and would stop and look towards the sky with eyes closed and let the water fall into her mouth.  She loved water, she loved rain and playing in it.  She had a phobia of the East River, but that was only because of the things that it represented for her. 

 

Jack smiled as he watched Laces play in the rain, he didn’t mind the rain.  He had walked alone in it so many times that he had become familiar with it, almost like walking in the sunlight or the snow.  The rain comforted him, once Peach had told him when he was young that the rain was the time when all sorrows were washed away.  So he always felt renewed after the rain.  While Jack was thinking of this Laces had stopped again and now she was staring at him for a moment. 

 

Laces ran up to Jack and tagged him, “Your it!” she called as she began to run down the street stepping in as many puddles as she could, or so it seemed.  Jack quickly snapped out of his trance and began to chase after her down the street in the rain.  They seemed to be sending water and mud everywhere.  Near the lodging house there was a large puddle that had formed with the rain and the roof of the building next to the lodging house.  Laces not noticing it ran straight into it and slipped sliding into the mud. 

 

When Jack reached her he stopped just in time, knowing about the puddle that always formed when it was raining.  As soon as he saw what had happened to Laces he began to laugh at her.  Laces glared at him and then tried to get up and when she kept slipping she sat there for a moment. 

 

“Jack, I can’t get out.  Can you help me out, I am getting cold,” Laces said from her position in the middle of the puddle.  Jack looked at her a moment and then walked a little into the puddle carefully and held out a hand for her.  Laces took it and then smiled as she pulled him down into the puddle. 

 

“Oh you little!” Jack called out as he came splashing into the puddle.  Laces fell back into the mixture of mud and water laughing at Jack.  He splashed at her and she splashed back. 

 

“Come on, we got to get out of this, we need to get into the lodging house fore we get sick,” Jack said as he stood up and held his hand out to her again.  She sighed and got up also with his help and they stepped out of the puddle. 

 

“Come on, we are going to wash ourselves up a bit before going into the lodging house,” Jack said as he went to the corner of the lodging house where there was a stream of water falling.  He stepped into it and got drenched and then Laces did the same, dripping wet they entered the lodging house. 

 

“Well looks like ya two got caught in the rain!” Kloppman exclaimed. 

 

“Just a bit.” Laces smiled warmly. 

 

“Well go and change fore ya two go and catch a cold!” Kloppman shoed them away.  Jack and Laces ran up the stairs and changed quickly into their extra pair of clothing and went back down to the parlor.  None of the newsies were home because they were all caught in the storm and trying to sell newspapers. 

 

Laces sat on the couch curled up on a corner reading a book and Jack was trying to get a fire started because now they were both cold.  Once Jack got the fire started he went to sit on the couch with Laces. 

 

“Laces?” Jack asked after a while of silence.  Laces looked up from her book. 

 

“Yeah Jack?” she asked. 

 

“What ya reading?” he asked.  Laces smiled and spread herself on the couch, resting her head on Jack’s lap. 

 

“A penny novel written about people like us.  Don’t seem like something we would come across much, but it’s okay to read I guess.” Laces smiled. 

 

“Yeah what’s it about?” Jack asked. 

 

“A boy who lives on the streets and sells matches,” Laces responded. 

 

“Oh, a match boy?” Jack asked.  Laces nodded, she started to read a bit out loud.  In the middle of the passage Jack interrupted her. 

 

“Laces.”

 

“What?”

 

“Are ya in love with Spot?” Jack asked as he played with the ends of Laces’s hair. 

 

“What?” Laces put her book down and looked up at Jack. 

 

“Are ya in love with Spot, I mean that is the only reason that I can think that ya never come around here anymore.  And that key ya wear around ya neck, does it mean that ya waiting for him?”

 

“Jack Kelly, how can ya think that?  Spot has Buttercup,” Laces responded. 

“That don’t matter none, can’t say that Sugar really mattered when he first kissed ya that first time.  I just thought that maybe you was in love with him, or ya was saving ya self for him, waiting.”

 

“Spot Conlon is one of the most annoying people I have ever met, stubborn as the devil himself, conceited, controlling, and I love him.” Laces smiled. 

 

“So ya are in love with him.” Jack slowly began to pull his fingers away from her hair. 

 

“Jack, I love him like a brother.” Laces grabbed his hand. 

 

“So why don’t ya come around here anymore and that key?” Jack started. 

 

“The key, is a gift Spot gave me, making me his sister.  Part of his family,” Laces responded ignoring the other question.  Jack waited for the response though so Laces sighed and spit it out. 

 

“I don’t come around here anymore because well,” Laces started.  The door flew open and Race and Blink carried Snipes in and called out Jack’s name.  Jack looked up quickly and Laces sat up. 

 

“What happened?” Jack jumped up. 

 

“He fainted, there was some Bronx guys going at him and they got a knife out and ya know Snipes’s thing with knives.  So he fainted that’s when we got there,” Blink quickly informed Jack. 

 

“Get him upstairs,” Jack said as he followed them up the stairs.  Laces sat there worried about Snipes but not really thinking about him.  She looked at the fire and ran her fingers through her hair. 

 

“I don’t come around anymore because I am in love with ya Jack Kelly.” She sighed to herself as she closed her book, put it back and headed upstairs. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot got back to the lodging house and went up the stairs.  He walked into Laces’s room and found Buttercup still sleeping and Laces’s bed unmade.  He shook his head when he saw that Laces had left without making her bed and decided to make it.  Once he made it he sat there and watched BC sleep, he couldn’t believe that she was still sleeping but he didn’t want to wake her.  He wanted to sit there and watch her, know that she was with him and nothing was wrong.  When she was sleeping she couldn’t run away from him, or ignore him or fight with him.  Everything was right and perfect. 

 

Spot sat there for a while before Buttercup woke up and turned to look at him. 

 

“Morning Spot.” She smiled. 

 

“Morning Buttercup.” He smiled back. 

 

“Is there something wrong?” she asked. 

 

“We need to talk.”

 

“Talk then, what are ya waiting for?” She yawned.  Spot took a deep breath and thought about the perfect atmosphere that he was going to ruin. 

 

“Why ya been ignoring me?  Where did ya go?  What has been going on?”

 

“Ignoring ya?  Well I thought you were mad at me and I ain’t one much for confrontations Spot.”

 

“Yeah no kidding,” he snorted. 

 

“Where did I go, I was living in Harlem.  Some little boarding house.”

 

“What happened to your aunt?” Spot demanded. 

 

“That’s what I’m getting into Spot dear ya have to be patient,” BC stated as she stretched and sat up.  “I have no aunt, not that I know of anyway.  I have lived in New York since I was 8, I have always found someone to take me in though.  Every time I changed where I was staying then I would changed how I looked thinking that someone from me family could be after me, looking for me and I didn’t want to go back.  No one ever looked for me though, I don’t know which one is worse, not being looked for or being found.” Buttercup shook her head as she thought about it. 

 

“Anyway, I have met you a few times in the past.  I knew ya back when ya was still in Manhattan.  Ya knew me then as Baby.  I think that was the first time that I met ya.  I had blonde hair at that time and I only wore blue skirts with crème colored shirts.”

 

“Baby?” Spot mumbled to himself surprised that now he noticed the resemblance. 

 

“Yeah, that was me, the next time we met I was Alexandra, with Red hair and I only wore white daytime dresses.  The thing was that I find a family who would take me in, and either when something happened or when I was sick with them then I would leave.  I was with me last family for almost two years, I was attached to them.  They were the ones that I have felt the closest too,” BC sighed. 

 

“Alexandra?” Spot was shocked to find out these things. 

 

“Yeah and then that last time was when ya met me as Buttercup.” BC smiled at Spot’s baffled face, he was so cute when he was confused. 

 

“But why would ya keep doing that?” Spot asked. 

 

“Because that’s what I was used to, it’s like why do Spades and the goyls keep doing what they do?”

 

Spot nodded understanding.  He looked at BC. 

 

“What about us?” he asked. 

 

“I don’t think that’s a question that ya should be asking me, ya should ask yourself,” BC said.  “I still love ya, but sometimes that just ain’t enough.”

 

“Well I want ya ta be me goyl, but I don’t know anything about ya.” Spot sighed. 

 

“What do you want to know, I can tell ya.  I think we have all day,” BC said as she saw the rain trickle down the window pane.  Spot looked over towards the window and understood. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Decker stood at the bottom of the staircase glaring at the window and the rain.  There was no way he could go to Brooklyn in search of Laces in this rain.  Kawaii skipped down the stairs and smiled at him cheerfully. 

 

“Wanna play a game Decker?” She asked.  He looked at her a moment, and shrugged. 

 

“Yeah why not.’ He said, as he began to think about how to soften her up so that she would do what he needed her to do.  He had a feeling that Laces wasn’t going to be in Brooklyn anymore, not after what had happened the day before.  But there was no real way to find out and Decker had thought of every way he could find out more about Laces.  He had even thought about possibly of making Kawaii try and become a Brooklyn bird, but that was almost impossible because no one knew how to become one, it was not something people knew much about, they just knew that they existed.  Even if they found out how to make her a Brooklyn bird she would be discovered as someone associated with Decker, it was almost a sure thing.  There would be a bird that would tell Conlon and then there would be no way around it. 

 

“Decker!  Ya aren’t paying attention!” Kawaii whined as she threw her cards down.  Decker snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Kawaii. 

 

“I am sorry baby, but I just get distracted, ya know being the new leader and all,” Decker said. 

 

“Yeah, don’t even have time for me anymore,” Kawaii mumbled. 

 

“Oh poor Kawaii, come ‘ere I’ll teach ya a new card game I learned at the hall the o’her day.” Decker patted his lap for her to come sit with him.  Kawaii smiled and went over to him and sat in his lap, smiling as he put his arms around her waist. 

 

“Okay, now we start with this card.” He started knowing that after this he would be able to lure Kawaii into doing anything he wanted. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

February 4th

 

Laces was in the bottom bunk the one below Jack fast asleep while the rest of the newsies were all up and about already getting ready. 

 

“Conlon spoils her, look at her she’s fast asleep.  When she was ‘ere there wasn’t one day that she slept longer then the rest of us.  I mean look at ‘er she would already be awake with this noise,” Race put up his suspenders as he commented to Blink. 

 

“Well can’t say we ain’t doing the same thing, none of us have woken her up either.  I mean maybe Spot just needed her to stay asleep that much time ta prepare himself for ‘er.” Blink shrugged as he pulled a clean shirt on. 

 

“Ah she ain’t that bad, we were always able ta handle Laces,” Race said.  “And as for us doing the same thing as Brooklyn I’ll go wake ‘er up now,” Race said as he picked up his cigar and walked over to her bunk. 

 

“Laces,” he whispered at first as he lightly shook her.  When she didn’t wake up with that he shook her harder and then she opened half of one eye and glared at him. 

 

“Did ya need something Race?” She yawned. 

 

“Me, need something.  No not really,” Race started, startled by her reaction. 

 

“Then?” Laces said. 

 

“Get out of bed Laces me dear, time for selling papes, ya know that thing that newsies do ta make a living.” Jack walked out of the washroom and stood there tying on his bandanna. 

 

“I don’t want to sell today.” Laces turned to her side.  “Not the morning paper anyway.”

 

“Now Laces, I didn’t say do ya want ta, I said ya have ta.  Now get up, this ain’t somewhere ya can choose if ya want ta sell or not specially after what happened yesterday.  We ain’t leaving ya alone for one moment of the day.  Understood?” Jack said in his stern voice that made Laces shudder.  She let out a frustrated sighed as she jumped out of bed and mumbled something on her way to the washroom. 

 

“Nice try Race, ya just ‘ave ta get use ta ‘er again.” Jack patted Race on the back. 

 

“I shouldn’t have ta get use ta her again, she’s Laces.  And she’s ours as much as Brooklyn’s I don’t know why she spends all her time over there.  It just ain’t right, it ain’t that safe over there anyway,” Race complained. 

 

“Don’t worry Racetrack, she’s going to be with us for a while.” Jack smiled.  “She’ll become what she was for us,” Jack said.  Race said some more complaints under his breath and walked out with Blink and Mush.  Skittery stood at the door. 

 

“Brooklyn changes her, it’s has been a long while since she stayed here for a while,” he said.  Jack looked over at him and nodded. 

 

“Yeah, it has been.  I missed having her around,” Jack said. 

 

“Why is that?  Her not coming around anymore?” he asked. 

 

“I don’t know.  She was going to tell me last night.” Jack remembered. 

 

“Who is she selling with today?” Skittery asked, hoping that Jack would let him take her for the day.  He had things he wanted to talk about with her, he had missed her as much as everyone else.  He always felt close to Laces, she had this pull about her and ever since he had brought her back by force that time so long ago to him he felt like he had a responsibility for her. 

 

All the guys in Manhattan missed seeing her, often missed her laugh, her smile, her trouble.  Everything, her way of hawking the headlines like Jack, her way of acting tough like Spot.  Everything about her she had from someone else that’s why it was so hard to dislike her.  She was a part of everyone and the boys had really missed her. 

 

“So who is she selling with?” Skittery asked again.  Laces walked out of the washroom and looked at the both of them. 

 

“I sell alone,” she commented. 

 

“Do you really think we’re going to let you sell alone after what happened last night?” Jack shook his head at her.  Laces frowned.  “She’ll sell with me this week, who knows what she’ll do if she’s with one of you.  Next week she can sell with one of you.” Jack smiled.  The three of them started walking out of the bunkroom.  Laces started to say to Jack. 

 

“Jack, do you really want me stealing business from ya?”

 

“You’re not getting out of it Laces,” Jack said. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot knocked on the door trying to get Buttercup to wake up.  He liked the morning routine, he was happy that at least Buttercup was now going to be there for a while because without her, and without Laces he would go back to feeling lonely and like he used to.  He knew that Jack was going to keep Laces for a long while this time, he had been saying that it wasn’t right that she was always in Brooklyn.  The Manhattan boys missed her. 

 

“Buttercup!” Spot said as he walked into the room and opened the window.  Buttercup groaned a moment and then smiled at Spot when she opened her eyes. 

 

“Morning Spot.”

 

“Morning Buttercup, get up.  I teaching ya how ta sell papes,” he said.  Buttercup laughed as she sat up. 

 

“What are ya laughing at?” Spot asked. 

 

“Me?  Teaching me ta sell papes?”

 

“Yeah, ya ain’t never been a newsie fore, ya ain’t never sold papes fore,” Spot said. 

 

“That’s don’t mean that I don’t know how.  I dated Jack Kelly member?” Buttercup said.  Spot looked at her a moment. 

 

“Sides Jack and ya boys are always talking bout how they sell papes,” Buttercup said.  Spot looked a bit sad for a moment because he wouldn’t be teaching her how to sell. 

 

“Well get up, we selling together,” Spot said as he smiled and pulled Buttercup out of bed.  He pulled her in and kissed her before he walked out of the room.  Buttercup stood there dazed for a moment. 

 

“I have missed him,” she said as she touched her lips for a minute before heading to the washroom.  Buttercup was ready in no time and her and Spot headed to the selling docks for their day of selling. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Decker woke Kawaii up slowly. 

 

“Kawaii, wake up,” he said softly.  Kawaii woke up and smiled, it wasn’t often anymore that Decker woke her up.  She loved seeing him in the morning she loved seeing him all the time. 

 

“Morning Decker.” She yawned. 

 

“Kawaii, I needed ya to go to Brooklyn for me and find out what’s going on over there,” Decker said. 

 

“What for?” Kawaii asked. 

 

“Every good leader knows what’s going on in Brooklyn and Manhattan, talk to everyone you can, but don’t tell them what ya doing there.  Got it.”

 

“But Decker,” Kawaii started. 

 

“Ya want me ta be a good leader don’t ya?” Decker asked angry. 

 

“Yeah, coise Decker, but I don’t want to go,” Kawaii said. 

 

“God Damn it Kawaii!” Decker stood up pounding his fist against the wall.  Kawaii quickly got up looking at the ground she nodded to Decker. 

 

“I’ll go, sorry.  Ise just a little tried,” Kawaii said as she ran off quickly.  Decker stood there for a moment. 

 

“I hope she finds out what I need,” he mumbled. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces walked around Manhattan following Jack, he wouldn’t let her fall behind though he knew that she would run off.  They called out headlines every so often and people would come up and buy their papes for them. 

 

“Jack, I never told ya why I don’t come around here much anymore,” Laces said as she sold her last paper.  Jack looked at her. 

 

“No you didn’t.  It ain’t that important though cause ya going to be in Manhattan for a while this time,” Jack said. 

 

“Really?” Laces said. 

 

“Yeah, no matter what ya want or what Conlon thinks he wants.  It’s betta for everyone if ya stay here,” Jack said. 

 

“I sure ya would think so, but what if I told ya I didn’t want to be here,” Laces stated. 

 

“Then I would tell ya that ya got no choice in the matter,” Jack said.  Laces frowned at him and began to run away from him.  Jack shook his head as he ran after her. 

 

“Come back here Laces!” Jack called after her.  Laces ran into a near by alleyway.  Jack ran in right after her and put his hands around her waist turning her around.  “Now why is it that ya wouldn’t want ta be round ‘ere?” Jack asked. 

 

“Me, no reason,” Laces responded.  Jack pulled her closer to him. 

 

“No reason?” he said.  Laces looked at him and then buried her head in his shoulder as she mumbled something. 

 

“What was that?” Jack lifted her head from his shoulder and bent his head down a bit so that he was looking straight into her eyes. 

 

“I..  well, I um,” Laces took a deep breath.  “I love you,” she said as she again buried her head in his shoulder.  Jack held her for a moment as he looked down at her.  He was in shock, he couldn’t believe what she had just said.  After a while of silence Laces slowly looked up at Jack.  When Jack noticed her looking up at him he slipped his hands under her arms and lifted her to his eye level where he started to kiss her.  Laces started kissing back slipping her arms around his neck. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“So what’s going on with Decker and Spot?” Blue asked Spades. 

 

“I am not sure, neither are the birds, so I think everyone is in the dark on this one.  I think that this Decker kid just wants to prove something and so he thinks he can take on Jack and Spot.  That’s what happens sometimes, that was the way that Jack and Spot were.  Well sort of anyway because they only did it within so that they could get to the top,” Spades commented. 

 

“How much money did we make yesterday?” Blue asked. 

 

“At least 15 dollars, we did really well.” Spades took a wad of money out of her pocket. 

 

“Where has Cheeky been lately.  I haven’t seen the goyl around much.”

 

“Yeah, I have been wondering about that.  Candy has been slipping out a lot too.” Spades nodded. 

 

“They haven’t said nothin’ ta ya?”

 

“No, nothing.  They all old enough ta know what they doing.  I would like to know what they doing, but I don’t demand it.  There ain’t never been a need ta.  There shouldn’t be nothing wrong.”

 

“Yeah, it worries me some though.  Ya know that we always been a family,” Blue said. 

 

“We can ask the goyls maybe they know.  Seeing as we have been a little busy thinking about Angel.” Blue nodded and cupped his hands over his mouth. 

 

“GOYLS!  GET IN HERE!” He called out.  Outside the door there were footsteps, and Shady came in through the door, then Scorch and Vigor. 

 

“Ya bellowed, good ya starting to act like Conlon,” Shady mumbled. 

 

“I would have ta leave if ya started ta act too much like ‘im,” Scorch groaned at the thought. 

 

“I ain’t never been summoned by someone great,” Vigor joked. 

 

“Goyls, Ise got a question for ya.  Where Cheeky and Candy?” Spades asked from the window. 

 

“Oh them?  Is that all this is about?  For a second I thought we were in trouble.” Vigor smiled. 

 

“Trouble?  Why would ya be in trouble?” Spades quickly looked over at Vigor. 

 

“No reason,” Vigor responded quicker then Spades asked.  Spades grinned at her, but shrugged. 

 

“It’s your own problem if ya get into trouble and ya know it,” Spades responded. 

 

“Cheeky and Candy got themselves some boys that they been hanging around for months now.  It’s just ya haven’t really noticed because they usually meet them when they were working, or when ya were out.  Now that ya have been here so often because of Angel and everything, ya starting to notice,” Scorch said. 

 

“Why didn’t they tell me nothing?” Spades demanded.  She didn’t like her girls keeping secrets from her.  She didn’t mind, but she didn’t like it. 

 

“They never saw a real need ta, Sides there ain’t been a time ta, we don’t spend as much time as we use ta together,” Shady said. 

 

“And they were going to tell ya the other night, but,” Vigor began to say as Shady elbowed her. 

 

“But what?” Spades glared at Shady for elbowing Vigor. 

 

“They ain’t from around these parts,” Shady grinned at Spades. 

 

“So what if they ain’t from around these parts.” Spades frowned at how the girls were fumbling over their own words.  No one responded and Blue put his hands on his hips and looked at the three girls as he cleared his throat as a sign that they were waiting for an answer. 

 

“Angel knows,” Scorch finally managed to say. 

 

“What does she know?” Spades asked getting frustrated with this. 

 

“That the boys are from the Bronx,” Vigor said. 

 

“The Bronx?  Candy and Cheeky are running around with boys from the Bronx?  They haven’t told them who they are, have they?  Do they know how dangerous that is?” Blue demanded. 

 

“Blue, not with them,” Spades said quietly from her corner.  Blue looked from the girls to Spades. 

 

“Fine,” Blue said as he sat on Spades’ bed.  The girls stood there for a moment. 

 

“Go on, with ya.  ‘ere go out ta dinner ta night.  Don’t stay out ta late though.” Spades took out a 5 dollar bill and handed it to Shady.  Shady took it and nodded. 

 

“Thanks Spades,” she said as she motioned for Vigor and Scorch to follow her. 

 

“Spades, that ain’t safe,” Blue said. 

 

“We ain’t going to talk about it now, we will talk about it with them when the get home.” Spades sighed. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kawaii walked to Brooklyn where Decker had sent her.  She hated going to Brooklyn by herself.  She didn’t know anyone there and she was scared of the people.  They weren’t the nicest people and everyone all over New York knew it.  She walked down the bridge glancing to the sides looking for anyone sitting on the edges she could stop and talk to.  No one was there though, there was a low fog setting in on the river, but no one sat to watch it.  Not many people in New York had the time to do that, the city seem to be moving so fast. 

 

Kawaii walked off the bridge and there stood Spot Conlon, someone she knew by sight, but had never meet and a goyl, something that did not surprise her.  Spot Conlon was known to always be with a new girl.  She had even met some girls that had been with Spot Conlon, they were all so different.  It was hard to be able to tell what kind of girl Spot liked, she had always wondered that.  She was wondering if she should stop and talk to Spot and his girl.  She had done this type of thing before in different places for Decker, but she was scared of Spot.  Who wouldn’t be with the stories that she had heard. 

 

“Morning,” Kawaii said to them. 

 

“Hello.  Lost?” Buttercup asked. 

 

“Hmm, no not really.  I just always wanted to walk that bridge.  Ise never gotten to by meself, just for fun,” Kawaii said.  Buttercup looked at the bridge with a smile, she took a deep breath and almost wished she could be sitting on the edge of it like she use to. 

 

“I ain’t never seen ya around these parts, what’s your name?” Spot asked being cautious. 

 

“My name, Ise Jenny,” Kawaii responded quickly without thinking. 

 

“Jenny, where ya from?” Spot asked. 

 

“Leave her alone Spot, she’s just walking the bridge,” BC said to hush him. 

 

“Yeah well,” Spot said. 

 

“Is there anything else that I can see around here?” Kawaii asked. 

 

“Well there are a few shops that ya could look at and the docks, that’s about it,” Buttercup responded. 

 

“Oh, there ain’t nothing else?  And none of those things are dangerous are they?  I’ve always heard the Brooklyn ain’t the safest place ta be.”

 

“Just don’t do nothing to no one and no one will do anything to you.  Just be careful, like any other place in this city.  That’s it, and ya could be careful for some guys from the Bronx, they have been attacking people in Brooklyn lately,” Buttercup said. 

 

“Really why?” Kawaii asked. 

 

“No one knows,” Spot said. 

 

“Oh, well thanks for the help,” Kawaii said walking away.  Buttercup smiled at Spot, and Spot looked at her with a frown. 

 

“I didn’t like her,” he said. 

 

“Why not?” Buttercup asked. 

 

“There was something about her,” Spot replied. 

 

“I liked her,” Buttercup said. 

 

“Only cause she liked the bridge,” Spot told her as he began to shout another headline.  BC smirked and called out another headline. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack held Laces’s hand as they walked into Tibby’s for lunch.  They had sold a few papers in an excited heat, Jack kissing Laces every so often and Laces playing with his hat.  Laces was now full of joy and wondered if the boys were going to notice.  The little bell above the door sounded and Laces and Jack walked in smiling.  They walked over to their usual booth and sat down.  David was sitting at it with Blink. 

 

“Heya ya two.” Blink smiled. 

 

“Good afternoon Laces, how ya been?” David said. 

 

“I am great!” Laces smiled brightly. 

 

“I see the morning Laces has died!” Race called out as he saw her smile. 

 

“Shut up Racetrack!” Laces said.  Jack put an arm around Laces shoulder as he ordered some food.  Blink and Dave didn’t really notice though. 

 

“So Laces what is this I hear about the trouble ya have gotten yourself into that has brought ya back to us?” Dave asked as he sipped from his soda. 

 

“Me trouble, where does everyone get the idea that I got into trouble?” Laces demanded. 

 

“Because that’s what ya do, it’s like your middle name.” Blink smiled in a goof. 

 

“I didn’t get into trouble this time your wrong Walking Mouth,” Laces said. 

 

“Really?” Dave looked at Jack. 

 

“She didn’t do what Spot told her, she ran away from him and got attacked by the Bronx boys,” Jack summarized. 

 

“Laces.” Dave frowned. 

 

“I didn’t do nothing wrong.” Laces smiled innocently. 

 

“Sure ya didn’t.” Blink grinned. 

 

“I swear ya name should have been Trouble not Laces,” Jack said. 

 

“I guess Spot couldn’t think of that when he first saw me.  Only saw me shoes,” Laces said.  Jack smiled at her and then bent down to kiss her again.  As Jack kissed her Dave dropped his french fry and Blink spit out part of his drink.  When Jack and Laces separated again, they had a lot of eyes on them. 

 

“What was that?” Mush asked. 

 

“A kiss Mush dear,” Laces responded. 

 

“Smart ass.” Jack shook his head. 

 

“Well?” Blink asked. 

 

“Well what?” Laces asked. 

 

“Are ya two finally together?” Race asked. 

 

“Finally what is that suppose to mean?” Laces asked as she glared at Race. 

 

“Well it’s about time, ya two been playing with each other forever,” Dutchy commented. 

 

“Excuse me!” Laces said.  Jack laughed at her as the boys all laughed too. 

 

“Maybe this will mean that ya will stay out of trouble?” Skittery asked.  At this Laces laughed. 

 

“What gives ya the idea that I get into trouble?  And if I did that wouldn’t mean that I would stay out of it because me boyfriend will get to lecture me?” Laces smiled.  The boys groaned thinking of her new advantage of having Jack being her boyfriend because she could now sweet talk him out of things. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spades and Blue sat in the parlor of their building, they had named the building Irish Rose.  They’re parents had all been Irish and it just seemed fitting.  They were waiting for Cheeky and Candy to get home, Spades was calm, or as calm as she could be.  Blue though was going insane waiting for them, he had always felt like he was if not a fatherly figure a brother to the girls in the gang.  He had never felt much of a need to say much, the girls had all gone out with different boys, but there was never much time for it anyway so Blue had never worried. 

 

But they had been in Brooklyn now for a while and the girls had been wanting someone to hang out with.  They were getting tired of just each other.  The rest of the girls were off at dinner with the money that Spades had given them. 

 

“Where could they be, it’s getting late?” Blue was pacing back and forth a habit he had picked up from Spot, or maybe that Spot had picked up from him.  No one knew they had both been doing it since they could walk, or so everyone thought. 

 

“Blue it ain’t that late.” Spades looked outside it was only about 7 o’clock. 

 

“How can ya not be going insane?” Blue asked. 

 

“I don’t know.  The fact that Angel knew makes me feel better.”

 

“But Angel didn’t know about the problems we was having in the Bronx,” Blue said. 

 

“Still, if I get too mad, Angel would never get mad.  That’s why they told her, they didn’t tell me.” Spades looked at her shoes.  Blue looked at her a moment and then sat down. 

 

“Spades, ya never done anything wrong in how ya treated the girls.  They love ya, ya love them.  That’s the way that it goes.  We’ve been parents ta each other, that’s what we do.” Blue put his hand on the side of Spades head.  She made a face and nodded at Blue.  Just then the door opened and Cheeky and Candy walked in laughing and giggling. 

 

“Hiya goyls,” Blue said.  The two girls jumped as they looked at Blue and noticed Spades right behind him. 

 

“Blue, Spades, hello,” Candy said. 

 

“Where ya been?” Spades asked quietly.  The girls looked at her a bit stunned at her calm and quiet voice. 

 

“Us, nowhere really.  Making a little extra money,” Cheeky said. 

 

“Where?” Spades asked her question again. 

 

“Um, in a poker hall.  One of those underground ones.  We made a few bucks.” Candy took a wad out from her pocket of ones and coins. 

 

“Why didn’t ya tell me where ya was going?” Spades looked at them. 

 

“We thought that ya was busy.  Didn’t think ya would mind.” Cheeky was biting on her lower lip. 

 

“Who are these boys ya going with now?” Blue was getting impatient with Spades questioning and jump straight to the point that he was worried about. 

 

“Boys?” The girls almost jumped out of their skin right there. 

 

“Yes, who are they?  Where they from?  Where did they come from?” Blue questioned, Spades glared at him from her couch. 

 

“Um what boys are ya talking about?” Cheeky asked. 

 

“Ya know what I am talking about, now I want some answers.” Blue had one thing on his mind, boys took advantage of girls, boys from New York were bad, boys from the Bronx were worse and boys he didn’t know were his enemies. 

 

“They’re names are Trapper and Stage.  We’ve been seeing each other for a few months now.  We really like ‘em Spades and we trust them that’s why we ain’t seen no problem with them.” Candy looked over at Spades, she wasn’t saying anything.  She was barely looking at them, there was something going on with her that no one understood. 

 

“They’re from the Bronx though?  Do ya know how dangerous that is?” Blue demanded. 

 

“But we been seeing them since before Decker ‘came the leader of the place.  I swear that kid might have a bigger head then Conlon’s.  Our boys don’t like ‘im one bit.  They don’t really know what he is doing, they ain’t never been told or nothing.  We wouldn’t be seeing them if they was dangerous Blue.” Cheeky stared at him. 

 

“They don’t know who ya are?”

 

“Us?  They know who we are.  But if you’re asking do they know about Spades?  Then no.” Candy shook her head.  “No one would know that as long as we’re a gang.  No one knows, only those few who know the gang.”

 

“Good.” Blue nodded satisfied with the answers he had heard, not that he liked these boys any better. 

 

“Blue, go away,” Spades said.  Blue looked surprised and even hurt at first and then walked away.  Spades looked at the two girls. 

 

“Do you love them?” she suddenly asked.  The two girls were startled by the question. 

 

“What?” Candy stuttered. 

 

“Do ya love them?” Spades repeated. 

 

“Well, gosh I think it’s too early to tell.” Cheeky laughed a bit.  Spades shook her head though. 

 

“It’s never too early.  And look at ya two, ya know what ya feel about them.” Spades sighed. 

 

“What’s wrong Spades?” Candy asked. 

 

“Why didn’t ya tell me when ya first started seeing them?” Spades asked. 

 

“There was no need to Spades.”

 

“But ya told Angel.” Candy noticed the hurt in Spades over the fact that they had told Angel and not her. 

 

“Angel was around when we first started seeing them.  She had more time, if ya ain’t working, ya with Conlon, or if ya ain’t with Conlon, ya with Angel or Blue.  That’s the way it is now.” Cheeky shrugged. 

 

“I am sorry,” Spades mumbled. 

 

“Bout what?  Spades, we don’t have much time anymore for each other.  It was bound to happen.  We make our money we spend some time together at night or on the weekends or Sundays, but we have been a gang for years now.  Ya’ve always had Blue so ya don’t notice how much the rest of us miss having boys.” Candy rubbed her finger around her ring finger. 

 

“We’re getting too old for this aren’t we?” Spades suddenly asked. 

 

“No, we won’t get too old for this for another while.  One day though.  I think it will be that we have gotten too old for this, we won’t love it like we used to.” Cheeky looked around the room.  “But we will always love what we had Spades, ya given me a family for years and I never did say thanks.”

 

“Thanks?” Spades was surprised by the way that Cheeky had put it.  She had never really thought of where any of the girls would be without the gang.  So many of them had lost their families to poverty, disease, fire.  It had never crossed her mind that if she, Angel, and Blue had not started the gang these girls that she had become like sisters with would have gone to the refuge and stayed there or died on the streets.  Spades shuddered at the thought and then got up and hugged the two girls. 

 

“Just do me a favor don’t go off and leave yet?” Spades asked as she let go of them. 

 

“We won’t,” Candy replied not thinking much about the words, just about the hug.  Spades was from Brooklyn, if that was enough to say about her.  She didn’t show her emotions, having been through what she had been through it wasn’t something that came in handy to her and so she had stopped showing them.  Except for maybe disappointment sometimes and love for Blue in certain ways.  But hugging was not a Spades thing to do and so the girls were a little surprised by the action and that’s how Spades left them as she went upstairs to find Blue. 

 

Just then the other girls walked in and saw Candy and Cheeky standing there mouths hanging open. 

 

“How did it go?” Shady asked them. 

 

“Good.” Cheeky snapped out of her shock. 

 

“What happened?” Scorch asked. 

 

“Spades gave us a hug.” Candy looked at the stairs. 

 

“A hug?” The three girls said in unison. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Angel was sitting on the bunk in the bunkroom of the refuge wondering what everyone was doing in the city.  She tried to think of what Laces might be doing to get Spot mad at her, and what Pixie was doing, and how Spot was dealing with everything.  She wondered about how business was going with Spades and the girls.  And about the relationships of Candy and Cheeky, it had been almost 6 months now for the two girls and the boys. 

 

“Angel?” Luna waved a hand in front of Angel.  Angel slapped it away. 

 

“What?” Angel asked. 

 

“Guess what we heard?” Middy smiled wickedly. 

 

“What?” Angel asked. 

 

“News,” Luna responded. 

 

“Bout Brooklyn?” Angel jumped down. 

 

“Maybe.” Middy grinned. 

 

“Tell me!” Angel looked from Middy to Luna. 

 

“Should we tell her?”

 

“I swear I’ll soak ya if ya don’t tell me Middy!”

 

“Oh there’s the Brooklyn spirit now,” Luna commented.  Angel glared at them both. 

 

“Fine we’ll tell ya.  Spades is keeping the girls away from the bars or so was heard this morning from one of the guards,” Middy said. 

 

“The guards were talking about Spades and the girls?”

 

“No, they were talking about other girls in bars.  Like ya, they thought maybe it was a gang that ya was part of, but they have been sitting in bars all over town for a few days and nothing.” Luna laughed.  “Spades was always smart about those things.”

 

“What else?”

 

“Well, Laces is in Manhattan, but that’s all we’ve heard,” Middy said. 

 

“How do ya know that Laces is in Manhattan?”

 

“Someone told us,” Luna said. 

 

“Who would know?”

 

“The new person that came in today.” Luna smiled. 

 

“Who is the new person?”

 

“Critter got caught for stealing this morning,” Middy said. 

 

“Critter?” Angel smiled with glee.  “Where is he?”

 

“How long has it been since ya been in a refuge?” Luna asked. 

 

“Only a few months.  Maybe 6.” Angel looked puzzled. 

 

“He’s in the cells,” Middy said. 

 

“Oh poor Critter, I haven’t seen him in such a long time.”

 

“No one has, Critter has been out of state for a few years now.  Maybe two,” Middy said. 

 

“Really?” Angel couldn’t believe it. 

 

“Let’s wait a bit and then we can see him.  Can’t say that I don’t have a few questions for him meself.” Luna smiled. 

 

“I don’t believe this, Critter.  Oh.  How does he look?” Angel wondered out loud. 

 

“Never got to see ‘im, only heard we got a new kid named Critter.  So sad how this new generation of New York street kids knows nothing.”

 

“Well we’re getting older,” Angel commented. 

 

“We ain’t that old.  Only 17 and 18.” Luna frowned. 

 

“That’s old enough in the world we live in,” Angel said as she watched the kids run around, all of them were in their early teens. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack was sitting in the parlor of the lodging house with his arms around Laces who was on his lap wearing his hat.  Laces was smiling and the other newsies were trying to ignore them. 

 

“Gosh, ya would think that ya would be able ta keep your hands away from each other for at least 30 seconds,” Race said.  Laces looked over at him. 

 

“But Race, it’s so much fun not to.” She smiled. 

 

“Laces ya really do give in very easily,” Snitch commented from behind his paper. 

 

“Me give up easily?” Laces frowned. 

 

“And if it was any other guy that you were all over like that Jack would have a problem with it.  We’re having a problem with it.” Blink pulled the hat off of Laces’s head. 

 

“So what ya saying Blink?” Jack asked. 

 

“Nothing much, just that ya guys could try and act like a more decent couple.”

 

“We ain’t that bad!” Laces grabbed the hat back. 

 

“I wonder what Spot would say about this picture,” Specs wondered out loud.  Laces laughed. 

 

“Ya must not know Spot well, he wouldn’t say anything.  First he would glare then he would come over and pull me away from Jack telling me to go do something and then he would talk to Jack.” Laces giggled at the thought of Spot. 

 

“Ya have been in Brooklyn too long.” Jack laughed as he pulled his hat off of her head and slipped it back around his neck.  Laces pouted a bit about him taking his hat back.  “Why don’t ya go get some rest, we have to get up and sell papers tomorrow and seeing as your not use to that…” Jack grinned. 

 

“I don’t like selling the morning papes!” Laces said. 

 

“Too bad, ain’t it.” Jack shrugged. 

 

“Don’t start bossing me around Jack, that’s why I left Spot back in Brooklyn.” Laces said. 

 

“He made you leave Brooklyn and so did I.” Jack laughed. 

 

“So sooner or later that’s why I would have left Spot in Brooklyn,” Laces said in a matter of a fact way. 

 

“Go on with ya.” Laces went off and said goodnight as she ran up the stairs to the bunkroom.  She knew that when Spot found out that she was now Jack’s girl he might have a bit of a problem with her sleeping in the bunk under him, but she decided that Spot could deal. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot and Buttercup were heading back to the lodging house after a long day of selling papers.  Buttercup was not all that bad at selling papers, but selling next to the bridge distracted her a little.  They turned into one of Spot’s allies and there was a loud chirping. 

 

“Wow some little bird is happy,” Buttercup commented.  Spot nodded and smiled, looking cautiously around as he led Buttercup out of the alleyway. 

 

“All right, Buttercup go down that alley right there.” Spot pointed. “And then follow it until it turns left and then follow that and take the first right and ya be at the lodging house.  Can you handle that?  I have something to do before I get back,” Spot said as he walked her down to the alley that he had shown her.  BC looked at him a moment. 

 

“What are you going to do?” she asked. 

 

“Oh some boring leader stuff that I have to get done before today is over, it won’t take long I promise I will be right behind you.” Spot kissed her lightly and BC nodded and headed down the alley.  Spot stood there for a few moments making sure that nothing happened to her and then turned and walked back to the alleyway that they had just been in.  He looked up onto the fire escape and saw her sitting there swinging her legs back and forth. 

 

“Get down here!” Spot called up to her.  The girl looked down and frowned as she jumped up and quickly ran down the fire escape. 

 

“Heya Spot,” she said as she stood in front of him. 

 

“Relic, ya know ya have to be more careful then that.  Sitting there don’t ya think that someone could have seen ya and put together that ya were the one that was chirping?” Spot demanded. 

 

“Well, I could, but ya know.  It’s so much fun to chirp.  The only fun part of doing this anyway.” Relic pouted a bit.  Spot nodded but still didn’t look to happy about it. 

 

“Well?” Spot asked. 

 

“Um, Decker hasn’t left the Bronx today, he sent someone though.  Or that’s what we think.  We’re not sure who, or when.  I think there is something more behind him coming to Brooklyn and Manhattan.  It started out as a thing to prove himself, but him always going after Laces makes no sense.  Oh about Laces, she is doing fine in Manhattan her and Jack finally got together.”

 

“WHAT?” Spot said rather loudly. 

 

“Conlon, shhh.” Relic put her finger up to her mouth. 

 

“I don’t believe that,” Spot said. 

 

“It was bound to happen, ya knew that for a while now.  Don’t tell me that ya still have feelings for her?” Relic said. 

 

“Me feelings for Laces aren’t like that no, more like competitive feelings.  I guess if I couldn’t have her I didn’t want Jack to have her,” Spot said. 

 

“I wish the rest of New York could see ya like I do half the time.” Relic laughed.  Spot glared at her. 

 

“Ya say a word of that to anyone Relic and ya know what will happen,” Spot said. 

 

“Yes oh master!  Why do I try and insult thee,” Relic mocked him.  Spot glared at her but said nothing about it. 

 

“Is that it?” Spot asked. 

 

“Um, Cheeky and Candy seem ta have boys, but haven’t found out much about them.  RB has a feeling that something bad is going to happen,” Relic said. 

 

“Something bad huh?” Spot sighed.  There was a ruffling of feet somewhere and Spot quickly pushed Relic against the wall and started to kiss her lightly.  The feet got closer and then they stopped and someone tapped Spot on the shoulder. 

 

“That really isn’t necessary,” the voice said.  Spot backed away from Relic a bit.  Relic smirked as she looked at the owner of the footsteps.  Spot glared at the person who had been walking into the alley. 

 

“What?” she said. 

 

“Ya know that if it’s ya, ya suppose ta chirp.  Or call or do something like that.  Otherwise I have to figure out what to do with whoever I am with,” Spot said to her. 

 

“Ah Conlon, I’ve been on the roof, I knew that it was only ya and Relic and there is no one around for miles,” she said. 

 

“But I didn’t know that!” Spot said. 

 

“Oh Spot, it’s not like it’s the first time you’ve had to kiss me.” Relic smiled.  “Never objected before.”

 

“Ah shut up Relic,” Spot said.  “What is it Irish?”

 

“Don’t call me Irish!” RB said. 

 

“Keep your voice down and don’t do stupid things and I might not call ya Irish.” Spot smiled. 

 

“Maybe I won’t tell ya what I know then.” RB crossed her arms and looked at him.  Spot got a shadowed over look and glared at her. 

 

“Rootbeer, tell me what ya know, now,” he commanded.  Relic moved a bit away from Spot.  He was a nice guy, she knew it, all the birds did, but never should you ever not tell him the news ya got and tell him that you aren’t telling him.  Rootbeer saw that Relic was moving away and she looked over at Spot and sighed. 

 

“Critter, he’s back in town.” She sighed. 

 

“He’s back is he?  Well why hasn’t he made himself known?” Spot asked. 

 

“He was caught stealing in Manhattan,” RB said. 

 

“He was caught?  And stealing?” Spot was shocked. 

 

“Yeah, he’s with Angel in the refuge.  Or so we think.  We don’t know how long he’s in there for or anything,” RB said. 

 

“Critter, I got a few things to say to him.  Keep me informed.  And ya two be careful getting back,” Spot said. 

 

“We know Conlon.  Bye thanks for the kiss.” Relic laughed as she pulled herself up the escape and started running up it. 

 

“Bye,” RB said as she ran around the building.  Spot stood there for a moment as they disappeared and there was silence.  He turned around slowly and lit a cigarette and walked down to the lodging house. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

February 5th

 

Manhattan was a quiet place in the morning, or in the early morning anyway.  On the lodging house street there were a few carts rolling around and inside the lodging house the boys were starting to get up and get ready. 

 

“Laces get up!” Jack looked down at her from his bunk.  Laces opened her eyes and smiled. 

 

“Hey Jacky.”

 

“We have to sell papers,” Jack said. 

 

“I know,” Laces mumbled a reply.  Jack jumped down and picked her up and put her on her feet. 

 

“Thanks.” Laces smiled as she walked over to the washroom.  The newsies got ready quickly and headed out to the selling docks to get their papers.  The boys were all hanging out in front of the office seeing that it wasn’t open.  They could hear the “move its” that the kid who handled the circulation was calling.  A thin girl with curly blonde hair and rosy cheeks walked towards the distribution office.  She wore a blue skirt and a low cut white top.  She smiled as she got closer to the group of boys that was standing in front of the office waiting for it to open. 

 

“Heya boys,” the girl said.  The boys looked up and Blink’s eyes went wide. 

 

“Luv?  Lovely?  What are ya?  How did ya?  Who?” Blink started. 

 

“Blinky dear, spit it out.” Luv went up to Blink and smiled as she stood next to him waiting for him to say what he was going to say. 

 

“I just, I mean I heard that you were out of town.  That ya got into some trouble,” Blink said. 

 

“Ya shouldn’t always believe what people say Blinky.  Where’s Jack?” she asked looking around carefully. 

 

“He’s over there with Laces,” Blink said. 

 

“Laces is still around, isn’t that cute.” Luv looked over at where Blink had been pointing and Jack was whispering something in Laces’s ear. 

 

“What is that?” Luv asked. 

 

“What?” Blink asked. 

 

“Look?” Luv pointed at Jack and Laces. 

 

“Oh that, they’se together now,” Blink commented. 

 

“Are they?  She always did have a thing for him, or Spot.  Never could tell with her.” Luv sighed. 

 

“Yeah, neither could they,” Race said. 

 

“So she’s not with Spot, good,” Luv said. 

 

“Luv, Spot is with Buttercup,” Mush said. 

 

“Buttercup?  The one that went with Jack for a while?” Luv asked. 

 

“Yeah that’s the one.” Blink nodded. 

 

“Thanks.” Luv walked away from them thinking to herself she could handle BC.  She would have liked to use Jack to get what she wanted but she had never minded Laces and she didn’t want to ruin anything.  She walked over to where Jack was with Laces, they were laughing. 

 

“Heya Jack, Laces,” Luv said.  Jack and Laces looked over at her. 

 

“Luv?” Jack said surprised. 

 

“Nice ta see ya too Jacky Boy,” Luv said.  “Laces ya got a nice catch here.”

 

“Thanks.” Laces frowned a bit. 

 

“No problem,” Luv said. 

 

“Luv what are ya doing?  Are ya in some kind of trouble?” Jack asked. 

 

“Me, no not any more.  Why do you think that I would come to you if I was in trouble?” Luv asked. 

 

“I don’t know Luv.” Jack shrugged. 

 

“I was in trouble, but I can get myself out of it as well as the next person,” Luv said. 

 

“Sure ya can.  What ya need?” Jack asked. 

 

“I don’t come around here when I need something I come around here when I want to say hi, or greet some of me favorite people,” Luv said.  “I have always told ya that I have always liked you and Spot the best.  I love you boys,” Luv said. 

 

“I know Luv.” Jack nodded.  The bell rang and Jack and Laces started to head in to get papers. 

 

“Ya guys still have lunch at Tibby’s?” Luv asked. 

 

“Yeah we still have lunch at Tibby’s.” Jack nodded. 

 

“Then I will see you two at Lunch.” Luv smiled sweetly and walked away down the street.  Jack and Laces looked after her a moment. 

 

“She’s up to something,” Laces said. 

 

“I wouldn’t be to sure, she is right you know.  She only comes around to say hello sometimes.” Jack shrugged as he got his papers from Mick.  Laces shook her head, she knew there was something that told her that Luv wanted something this time. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Spot, how late were you out last night?” Buttercup asked as she slipped her hat on her head. 

 

“Not that late, just a little after ya got back,” Spot responded.  “Why?”

 

“No real reason, what did ya have to do?” Buttercup asked. 

 

“Nothing ya want ta hear about.”

 

“But I do want to hear about it why else would I ask about it?”

 

“Buttercup, really it’s stuff that Jack and I do.  Nothing no one else needs to know.  Got it?”

 

“Fine.” Buttercup sighed she didn’t like not knowing what it was that Spot had been doing but she couldn’t say much more on it. 

 

“Let’s go sell.” Spot said.  Buttercup nodded and they walked out.  There was a faint chirp that Buttercup didn’t hear, but Spot looked up and around him.  He shook his head and took a deep breath. 

 

“Buttercup, why don’t ya go get some papers.  Ise sure ya can sell by yourself today right?” Spot said. 

 

“Yeah sure Spot.” BC nodded. 

 

“I’ll meet ya for lunch,” Spot said as he turned to walk away in the other direction.  BC shrugged and walked towards the selling docks.  Spot turned into an alleyway next to the lodging house and went down to the alleyway that he had been in the night before.  No one was ever in that alleyway.  It was small and cramp for light and not many people knew that there was even an alley there.  Spot pulled himself up onto the fire escape and climbed it quickly to the roof. 

 

There he thumped his cane down and stood there waiting. 

 

“Come on out, I don’t have all day,” Spot said sharply.  Someone came up the side of the roof and smiled. 

 

“Hey Conlon,” he said. 

 

“Matches!  I haven’t seen ya around for a while.  Where ya been?  Getting into trouble?  Ya know that I can get ya out of it.  I can’t afford ta lose ya.” Spot shook hands with him. 

 

“Nah, just been hanging around the skirts seeing what I could pick up around there ya know.  Recruiting some new kids maybe.” Matches smiled at Spot’s cane. 

 

“New kids huh?  Names?” Spot said. 

 

“I only found two that would be any good, not like we need anymore anyway though.” Matches pushed his auburn hair back a bit from his forehead. 

 

“I think we got enough right now as it is, unless someone’s leaving and ain’t telling me.” Spot frowned.  Matches shook his head. 

 

“No, no one’s leaving.  We been doing this for a while now, some come and go but most of us staying for while now.” Matches nodded at his own statement.  “I heard about Relic last night.  Got ta be careful Spot.”

 

“I know what I am doing Matches,” Spot said in a warning tone not to ever tell him what to do.  Matches back off a bit but shook his head. 

 

“I’m just saying dating one of us ain’t never good.  Ya know that, Jack knows it.  Sugar was round last night,” Matches said. 

 

“I know, dating is bad.  Relic knows why I did what I did, it’s to keep her ass safe.  Everyone knows it.” Spot groaned.  “What did Sugar want?”

 

“To report some stuff, she ain’t never quit.  Ya know that, she still comes in ever so often not as much as she use ta but she’s there.  Won’t ever report ta ya again.” Matches sighed. 

 

“I know.” Spot nodded. 

 

“Yeah.” Matches pulled up his pants a moment and then yawned. 

 

“Are ya taking care of yourself?” Spot asked. 

 

“Yeah, just gotta get some rest that’s all.  I will don’t worry bout it.  These new kids though I just had to run them by ya.  I’ll send them over ta ya so ya can look ‘em over with someone sooner or later.”

 

“Do ya know who they are?  Ya found out about them and everything?” Spot asked. 

 

“Yeah, they check out all right Spot.  Just look ‘em over and that’s it,” Matches said. 

 

“Great.  See ya Matches.” Spot turned and climbed down the fire escape quickly.  He went towards the distribution office for his morning papers. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The door was open and out fell a tall boy and hit the ground with a loud thump.  The boy opened his eyes quickly and standing up with a jump.  The guard laughed and pointed down the hall.  The boy mumbled something and shuffled his feet down the hall.  He knelt down and picked up his cap that had flown off and slid his hand through his brown sand colored hair that spiked up when he slept or kept his cap on.  He put his cap back on his head as he yawned and then pulled up his brown pants and tying the rope that held them up.  As he kept walking he folded up the sleeves of his worn red shirt and yawned once again. 

 

He got to the end of the hall and opened the door at the end of it.  He stepped into an office where there was a man sitting at the desk.  The man had no hair on his head and wore a cheap suit probably bought on a street that these kids knew well.  He had a hat lying on the desk and sat with a half lit cigarette in his mouth. 

 

“Don’t ever come in here again without knocking or you’ll be sorry,” The man said. 

 

“Sorry,” the boy said. 

 

“Sit down,” the man commanded as he glared at the boy.  The boy though didn’t mind the glare and stared right back at him. 

 

“What’s your name?” the man asked. 

 

“Cr… Chris,” the boy responded. 

 

“Chris?” the man said. 

 

“Chris O’Connell,” Chris said. 

 

“And what did ya do?”

 

“Me, I um stole some food,” Chris responded. 

 

“Why?”

 

“I was hungry so I stole some food.”

 

“Food huh?” The man looked at Chris suspiciously. 

 

“Yeah food.” Chris nodded keeping a straight face. 

 

“I’m Mr. Grimm.  I don’t want any trouble from ya.  I ain’t never seen ya round these parts before.  One week and 3 days.  That’s it.” Chris nodded and sat there.  “Well get on with ya, go out that door,” Mr.  Grimm said.  Chris nodded and headed out the door. 

 

He walked down the hall and suddenly was pounced on. 

 

“Critter O’ Connell!” someone said from behind him. 

 

“Critt!” someone else said. 

 

“O’Connell,” yet a third person said.  He turned and saw three girls standing there staring at him.  He recognized the first one. 

 

“Luna!” He smiled as he hugged her and then looked at the girl next to her for a moment then smiled. 

 

“Middy.” He hugged her and then last he looked at the girl next to her.  He didn’t recognize her, she didn’t look like anyone that he had ever met. 

 

“Critt?” Angel smiled.  Critter looked at her again and then gasped. 

 

“Angel?  Angel My Rosy Angel?  That last time I saw was ye high?” Critter hugged Angel and swung her around.  “Are ya still roaming wild with Spades?”

 

“Indeed I am but I do not roam wild Critter, that’s what ya do.” Angel smiled. 

 

“Maybe it is, now what did ya three goyls do ta get in here?  I thought that ya was as good as gold.” Critter grinned. 

 

“Stolen gold.” Luna smiled. 

 

“What bout ya, ain’t ya betta then getting caught?” Angel asked. 

 

“The best of us get caught Angel dear.”

 

“What did ya do?” Middy asked. 

 

“I was hungry so I stole some food.” Critter’s smile grew wider. 

 

“Food, huh?  Didn’t he pick on that?” Middy laughed. 

 

“Jack hasn’t been in here since Synder left.” Luna rolled her eyes. 

 

“That excuse is older than this city.” Angel shook her head. 

 

“Maybe, come on goyls tell me bout what has been happening in this city.” Critter smiled his heart melting smile as he held out his arms for the girls to grab on to.  Angel and Luna readily grabbed one of his arms each and left Middy to lead the way. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Tibby’s was full of newsies, Laces and Jack walked in laughing and sat down at their usual booth.  Dave sat there grinning as he shook his head at them. 

 

“Now, I know ya two don’t want to hear this and especially not now but warning ya now don’t sell together everyday, and don’t spend every waking hour with each other.” Dave said cautiously.  Jack and Laces frowned at him but shrugged.  Laces was about to responded when Luv walked in and over to their table.  She smiled sweetly as she sat down next to Dave. 

 

“Ya never were one much for change Jack.” She smiled. 

 

“Why?” Laces asked. 

 

“Him and Spot had been sitting in this booth since long before even I met them,” Luv said.  Then she turned and looked at Dave. 

 

“I don’t think I know you, what’s your name?” Luv asked. 

 

“I’m Dave Jacobs.  Ya are?” Dave smiled.  Luv held out her hand to him in a downward matter. 

 

“Luv.  The one and only Lovely.” Luv blushed a bit to add effects to what she said.  Dave melted as every boy who had ever met Luv did.  He took her hand and looked at her for a moment.  Jack coughed to get Dave back into the real world and Luv took her hand and faced Jack and Laces again. 

 

“Oh Jack I forgot to tell you this morning Crystal says hello.” Luv took a light slip of Dave’s drink. 

 

“Crystal?” Laces questioned. 

 

“My sister,” Luv informed her then she looked around and shrugged.  She ordered a cookie from Bill. 

 

“So Luv, where have ya been?” Jack asked as he munched on some of the fries that he had ordered. 

 

“Me, well I went upstate.  Just to get some new scenes and things.  Ya know and get away from some things,” Luv commented. 

 

“How long ya been back?” Laces asked. 

 

“I got back yesterday morning.  I got to Midtown.” Bill handed the cookie Luv had ordered to her.  Luv took it and began to take pieces of it.  Jack put a hand around Laces and Luv took a napkin and wrapped the half of her cookie that was left. 

 

“Well I must get going nice to see ya all again.” Luv smiled as she stood up.  She held her hand out to Jack and Jack out of familiarity took it and kissed it lightly. 

 

“Bye Luv.” Luv smiled at his gesture and held her hand out to Laces to shake her hand.  Laces looked a little jealous for about 2 seconds, but then smiled her carefree smile and shook hands with Luv.  Luv nodded at Dave and waved to the rest of the boys as she walked out of the restaurant. 

 

“She going to cause trouble?” Blink asked as he came over and sat at the booth next to Dave. 

 

“I really don’t know,” Jack said. 

 

“I do, she is.” Laces nodded. 

 

“How do you know?  We’ve known Luv longer then ya have.” Blink looked at Laces curiously. 

 

“She wants Spot.  She always has wanted Spot,” Laces said. 

 

“She wants Spot?” Dave sounded disappointed. 

 

“Don’t sound so disappointed Davey, she is nice and pretty, but she ain’t your type.” Laces laughed. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kawaii walked down the streets towards the Bronx, she had stayed in Manhattan the night before because she was tired of walking and had been out all day finding out things for Decker.  She found out a few things, she laughed at herself as she imaged that she was something like a Brooklyn bird now because she found out information for a leader, maybe not Spot, and maybe not for Brooklyn, or even as well as the Brooklyn birds, but she could be one if she just looked at it generally.  When the birds first began to appear or people first began to talk about them she had always wanted to be a Brooklyn bird.  A lot of street kids wanted to be Brooklyn birds now, it was a safe but dangerous job to have all at the same time and it was just so fantasy like it came out of a story book. 

 

Kawaii hoped that she found out what Decker wanted.  She didn’t want to have him mad at her.  She tucked some of her blonde hair under her hat quickly and started to walk faster, she wanted to get home fast.  Once she arrived in the Bronx she headed to Decker’s selling spot hoping that he had some papers that she could sell because she didn’t want to head all the way to the selling docks and there probably wouldn’t be many morning papers left anyway. 

 

Decker stood in his usual selling spot, luckily for Kawaii she found him there not much after she walked into the Bronx. 

 

“Decker!” she called out to him as she again picked up her pace and went up to him.  Decker smiled at her and gave her a hug when she came up to him. 

 

“Kawaii, what did ya find out?” he asked as he let go of her and handed her about 20 papers. 

 

“Me?” she said a little absently.  Decker nodded at her rolling his eyes.  She smiled a goofy smile as she nodded in remembrance.  “Spot has a new goyl, I don’t really know what her name is, Laces ain’t in Brooklyn anymore she’s in Manhattan with Jack.  The buzz was that her and Jack are finally a couple.  Kids still trying to figure out where Spades’ gang stays and who the birds are but there ain’t nothing on those.  Spot didn’t seem too concerned with the Bronx thing, his goyl though warned me that ya might attack.  Have ya been attacking people Decker?” Kawaii stopped and looked at him as she handed a paper and received money from a man in a hurry. 

 

“No, we don’t attack people.  It’s all self defense Kawaii dear,” Decker said. 

 

“Self-defense does that mean that the Brooklyn boys attacked ya first?” Kawaii asked. 

 

“Yeah they did Kawaii.  They don’t think that the Bronx is as good as Brooklyn,” Decker said. 

 

“Oh.’ Kawaii nodded as she sold yet another paper. 

 

“Did ya find out anything else?” Decker asked.  Kawaii shook her head. 

 

“No that was it.” She smiled. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Luv walked down the allies in Brooklyn, she had learned them by heart when she dated Night.  He had been a character she smiled as she remembered.  That was right before she went over to Manhattan and fell in love with those boys.  She smiled as she remembered when she first met Jack and Spot.  She was attracted to Jack first, him being of a bigger built then Spot, and charming to the core, and not to mention a new leader.  She had this thing for guys in power which had never seem to have gone away. 

 

Luv picked up her skirts as she went up the steps of the Brooklyn Lodging House, she wondered if Rick was still the caretaker as she opened the door and took light steps in.  She went up to the desk and smiled sweetly as Rick looked up from his work. 

 

“Well I’ll be, Lovely?” Rick was surprised. 

 

“Afternoon Rick.  Got an extra bed for tonight?” she asked.  Rick looked at her a moment and then smiled. 

 

“Well we got an empty bed seeing as Laces is staying in Manhattan at this moment.  But ya ain’t going to cause any trouble are ya?” Rick asked. 

 

“Rick, I don’t cause trouble.  I just get caught up in it,” Luv stated.  Rick nodded. 

 

“Buttercup is sharing a room with ya,” he said. 

 

“Ain’t there no other bunks?” Luv asked.  Rick shook his head. 

 

“Watch your step me dear, this girl is going to fight.  And not that I don’t like ya, but I’m rooting for her.”

 

“Ricky?  Whatever are ya talking about?”

 

“Ya know what I am talking about.”

 

“I love him,” Luv whispered. 

 

“No, ya want him.  She loves him,” Rick whispered back.  Luv glared at Rick but then smiled again sweetly and walked up the stairs to the room she knew was probably Laces’s.

 

“Let the war begin.” Rick shook his head, he knew that he should have just told her that there was no rooms here but she still would have stayed.  It still would have happened, and there was no stopping it.  When Luv wanted something it wasn’t often she didn’t get it. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Spot, but why ain’t you going to sell the afternoon papers with me?  And what was so important this morning?” Buttercup asked. 

 

“BC look this really ain’t something that involves ya, got it?  I ain’t going sell the afternoon paper I am going to go see Pixie.  The kid probably thought we abandoned her or something,” Spot said. 

 

“Then I’ll go with ya,” BC said. 

 

“But ya should sell, I know ya want ta.” Spot nodded at her. 

 

“But I want to be with ya,” BC said. 

 

“Look BC, it’s betta if we ain’t with each other every moment of the day.  We will get sick of each other.  I know it will happen no matta how much we love each other.  I only going to go see Pixie then maybe to the docks then back to the lodging house.  I am a little tired.” Spot yawned at this.  BC nodded. 

 

“Guess your right.” She smiled. 

 

“Coise I am, I am always right.” Spot grinned as BC glared at him and was going to hit him with her hat when he got up kissed her on the hand and walked out. 

 

“That boy.” BC shook her head as she finished her food. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot walked down the street towards Caroline’s place and climbed up the stairs.  He knocked on the door and Caroline came to get it. 

 

“Hello Spot, I haven’t seen you in a while.  How are things going?” Caroline led Spot in and motioned for him to sit down as she poured an extra drink for him. 

 

“Hello Caroline, things been going all right.  Decker hasn’t done anything that I know of since we sent Laces to Manhattan,” Spot said. 

 

“Ya sent her there?” Caroline asked. 

 

“Well, yeah.  She ain’t been going there a lot lately, so ya may not see her in a while.  Jack wants to keep her there for a while.  She ain’t been no angel while she was with me, and Jack thinks I need a break.” Spot sighed. 

 

“What did she do?” Caroline asked as she brought over his drink and three others and then got the plate of cookies. 

 

“Well, she was attacked the other day coming over here for Pixie.  I don’t think she told ya,” Spot said as he looked at Caroline’s face.  She shook her head as she sat down. 

 

“And well the next day I had her sell with one of the boys, or I told her to sell with one of the boys.  She ran away from him and headed to Market Street and Decker found her and started cutting her up.  Had Jack not shown up when he did who knows what they would have done to her,” Spot said. 

 

“Oh that goyl.  Wait until I see her, I will give her a piece of my mind.  Doing something like that, getting herself in danger, not listening to what ya say.” Caroline shook her head as she called out to Scott and Pixie.  The two came running out of playing in Scott’s room. 

 

“SPOT!” Pixie screamed when she saw him and ran over to him.  Spot smiled as he held his arms wide open for the little girl, she jumped into his lap. 

 

“Hey Pixie, ya been good for Caroline?” Spot asked. 

 

“Ise be as good as a button, huh Caroline?” Pixie looked over at Caroline.  Caroline laughed and nodded. 

 

“That’s a good goyl.” Spot messed up her hair a little. 

 

“Where’s Laces?  Am I coming home?” Pixie asked.  Spot frowned a bit. 

 

“No.  Laces is in Manhattan for a while.  Ya have ta stay here for a while longer.  Is that okay?” Spot asked. 

 

“I want to go home, but I am having fun with Scott.” Pixie smiled at Scott who was sitting eating his cookie.  Pixie slipped down out of Spot’s lap and went to sit next to him. 

 

“Hey Squirt, how ya been?” Spot asked. 

 

“Fine, Spot,” Scott mumbled a response through his cookie filled mouth. 

 

“Scott, do not talk with your mouth full,” Caroline scolded.  Spot smirked and took a sip of his drink. 

 

“Tell us the story about the strike Spot!” Pixie begged as she took a cookie. 

 

“You’ve heard that a few times Pixie,” Spot said. 

 

“But I want to hear it again, and Scott hasn’t heard it from ya.  Tell it like Jack tells it,” Pixie asked again. 

 

“All right, I tell it, but then I got to go.” Spot said. 

 

“Okay.” Pixie smiled with glee. 

 

“It all started when Pulitzer, the man who owns the World Newspaper in Manhattan, decided to hitch up the prices of distribution to the newsies by 10 more cents a hundred,” Spot started the story he had told so many times.  Pixie and Scott sat intrigued and even Caroline found herself interested in what had happened with the strike and the newsboys. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I am going to go see Medda, Jack,” Laces said as she sold her last paper. 

 

“Wait a few minutes and I’ll go with ya.” Jack still had 4 papers left. 

 

“Why don’t ya meet me there, it’s only a few blocks away,” Laces said. 

 

“Fine, but take all the main streets don’t go through no short cut allies, it ain’t safe.  Understood.  And straight to Medda’s nowhere else,” Jack warned Laces.  Laces frowned as she nodded. 

 

“Yes father,” she mocked as she did a curtsy.  Jack frowned at her as he pulled her in for a hug and then kissed her on the forehead.  Laces giggled as she ran off down the street towards Medda’s.  She skipped wondering how Spot was, how Buttercup was, how Pixie was, how Brooklyn was doing without her.  She was attached to Brooklyn and she had always loved Manhattan she knew that she use to be able to skip back and forth, but with Pixie around she really didn’t know what was going to happen after this got over with.  Pixie was going to turn 5 soon, that was still so young though.  She knew that she would start selling papers soon though.  There was no way to avoid it, Pixie would want to sell and Laces would let her. 

 

Medda’s theatre was closed during the day, it usually was.  Laces knocked on the backdoor and Medda opened it. 

 

“Vell Hello!” Medda smiled.  “Laces?” she said. 

 

“Medda, nice seeing ya!” Laces jumped into the theater.  Medda closed the door. 

 

“Why ya haven’t been around here in a while.” Medda laughed as she hugged Laces. 

 

“I know.” Laces nodded. 

 

“Don’t tell me that ya avoiding Jack.” Medda looked at Laces. 

 

“No, not anymore I am not.” Laces grinned as she put a hand to her cheek. 

 

“Oh about time for you two.” Medda laughed. 

 

“Everyone keeps saying that.” Laces frowned.  Medda and her started to head up the stairs toward the stage.  Spring was singing on stage wearing a beautiful red dress. 

 

“Wow she’s good,” Laces commented. 

 

“Yes, she sings very well.  I am so glad that Jack brought them to me and business has gotten better since they came.  They attracted more people into the theater and they are so lovable.  I feel like I have several daughters when they are all here.” Medda sighed.  Laces nodded and stood there watching. 

 

Lily came over and stood next to Laces. 

 

“Haven’t seen ya around here in a while Kid,” she said.  Laces turned to her and smiled. 

 

“I know.  I going to be around more often for the next month or so.  I don’t know when I am going to be allowed back to Brooklyn,” Laces said. 

 

“Allowed?” Lily asked. 

 

“Oh that’s a long story.” Laces smiled. 

 

“They always are with you.  Do you know that you and your brother had this thing with long stories.” Lily sighed. 

 

“You knew my brother?” Laces suddenly asked. 

 

“Like the rest of the goyls only by stories.  Peach used to tell us her stories either when she was real sad or she wanted to tell us one.  I feel like I knew him.  Spring saw him once, she’s the only one that saw him out of this little group we got here.  But there is one goyl, Peach’s best friend who knew your brother and Peach well.  She was one of Bobby’s girls, he picked her up the same day as Peach just later on.  She ran away though almost a month after Bobby killed Bryan.  Bobby and Pepper found her a few times, but no matter how hard he tried and how much he hurt her she would keep running off.”

 

“Who?  Who was she?” Laces urged Lily. 

 

“Pixie.”

 

“Where is she now?”

 

“I don’t know.  I haven’t heard from her since Pepper finally decided to give up on her.  That was about 1 or 2 years ago.  I lose track of time.” Lily shook her head. 

 

“Did she have anywhere she might go?” Laces asked. 

 

“I don’t know, you should ask Spring.” Lily shook her head.  Spring was walking off stage and she saw Laces and Lily. 

 

“Lily go practice me dear,” Spring said sweetly.  Lily frowned and went on stage to start practicing. 

 

“Laces, come let’s talk in my dressing room.” Spring smiled as she led Laces towards her dressing room.  Once they were in the room Spring went behind a little wall and began to change. 

 

“So Laces, what are you doing around these parts and where’s Pixie?” Spring asked. 

 

“I’ve been in Manhattan for about two days now.  Spot and Jack decided it was better, Spot also decided it was safer for Pixie to stay with Caroline not many people know about her being around or anything and well Pixie does enjoy Scott’s company.” Laces sat down near the mirror looking at all the small trinkets and make-up things. 

 

“Why what’s going on?”

 

“The new Bronx leader is causing us problems.  He has attacked me twice already and Spot thought it was safer for me to be here and safer for Pixie to be with Caroline.”

 

“Caroline never did enjoy the spotlight that your family always seemed to attract.  Very few people knew that Bryan had two sisters.  They knew about you, you attracted attention all by yourself, but the only time in her life that she attracted attention was when she ran away to get married.” Spring came out from behind the dresser wearing a plain afternoon dress her hair still in curls on top of her head. 

 

“Caroline is just different then us.” Laces smiled. 

 

“I understand her not liking it, after Bryan died it tore her apart and you later on acting like Bryan and what happened with your father and things just tore her apart.  She ran away to get married because of your father and your mother and to get out of the spotlight.  The society knew, they gossiped about your family, but the stories were told over and over again was on the street by us street kids.  Street kids have been interested in your family for years now.  It all started with your uncle when him and your father were kids.” Spring smiled remembering the stories that she had learned almost by heart.  They were like the fairy tales that she never got to hear. 

 

“My Uncle?” Laces asked. 

 

“Yeah, but I tell you that story another time,” Spring said. 

 

“How do you know all these stories Spring?” Laces asked. 

 

“Laces, the streets of New York are filled with street kids who don’t got fairy tales or nothing like that and they settle for stories about other kids, maybe kids from a society they wish they was part of or other street kids.  Your family has this pull about it. Your uncle being a kid from a good family getting involved with the wrong people started it.  Your brother falling for a street girl kept it going even when your family lost everything, there are probably even stories made about you that aren’t even true,” Spring said. 

 

“Spring I got a question.’ Laces whispered. 

 

“What is it?” Spring looked at her curiously. 

 

“Do you know anything about Pixie?”

 

“Didn’t you just tell me she was staying with Caroline?” she asked. 

 

“No not that Pixie the real Pixie.” Laces looked at her. 

 

“That Pixie, now why do you want her?” Spring asked. 

 

“She knew my brother?” Laces looked hopeful.  Spring nodded. 

 

“That she did, sometimes it seemed as if she was his sister too.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes.  Now what do you want to know about her?”

 

“I just wanted to know if ya know anything about where she might be right now.  I would love to hear about my brother, anything from anyone.  Everyone says that I am so much like him.”

 

“You are.  I recognized ya the moment I saw you.  It’s incredible the resemblance in your eyes.  In everything, it’s really something strange and I only meet your brother once.  He was one to be disarmingly charming, I think every girl he ever meet ended up with some attachment to him.  He was just so perfect.” Spring sighed. 

 

“Did you like him too?”

 

“It was hard not to fall in love with your brother, which seems to be the case with you.  A perfectly charming girl that seems to be the love interest of every boy that ever meets you.  Bryan would not have let half of them come near you, he was very protective of you especially you being the baby and all.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah, when I met him he was with ya.  Ya were so little then, but even then you look something fierce like Bryan.  Is it your mother or your father that looked like that, or that had those eyes?” Spring suddenly asked. 

 

“My mother,” she responded without even having to think about it. 

 

“Laces?” Jack walked into Spring’s dressing room. 

 

“Jack, don’t ya know how ta knock?” Spring asked. 

 

“Me knock?” Jack pointed to himself and made a face.  Laces smiled and stood up. 

 

“I thought that ya had gone and run off again and that I would have to get Spot to help me look for you.” Jack joked. 

 

“Now Jack, Laces here is more responsible than that.” Spring smiled as she stood up.  Jack grinned. 

 

“Are we talking about the same Laces, or is there another one running around.”

 

“Jack, I wouldn’t run away after ya told me not to,” Laces said. 

 

“Now it wouldn’t be the first time it would happen,” Jack responded. 

 

“Name another time?” Spring asked.  Laces bit her lower lip. 

 

“Well, just recently she did it to Spot, and back when the war between Brooklyn and Manhattan was going on I told her a few times to stay and she ran off.  And then there was that time that she ran off from both Spot and I, and then when we found her again she ran off from Spot again.” Jack went off. 

 

“That’s enough,” Laces said.  Spring was staring at her. 

 

“Ya really do like attention don’t you?”

 

“Me?” Laces whispered. 

 

“No, the other Laces that is responsible.” Jack joked as he put his arm around Laces. 

 

“Jack,” Laces whined.  Jack walked her out as they watched the show. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Luv was in bed long before some of the newsies were even upstairs.  She was fast asleep when Buttercup walked in.  Buttercup had been talking to some of the boys and to Spot about different things that had happened through out the day.  Finally though Spot had kissed her goodnight and she had gone to bed. 

 

She entered the room and quickly undressed without the light and slipped into bed without ever noticing that someone was in Laces’s bed and it wasn’t Laces.  Buttercup and Luv slept in the same room, dreaming about the same guy. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

February 6th

 

The sun shone through the window and Luv stretched and sat up, she looked over to the other bed in the room.  She glared at a sleeping Buttercup. 

 

“Time for Spot to do better then her.” Luv thought to herself and got into her dress and looked in the mirror.  She started to pinch her cheeks and do several things that girls do.  Buttercup woke up a little after Luv not noticing her standing in front of the mirror at first. 

 

Buttercup sat up and stared at the back of Luv.  She wasn’t sure if she knew who she was, she knew for sure though that she wasn’t Laces. 

 

“Who are you?” Buttercup asked.  Luv turned slowly and smiled sweetly.  When she turned to face Buttercup, she knew who she was. 

 

“What are ya doing here?” she demanded. 

 

“Just visiting.  How are you?” Luv smiled sweeter then ever and Buttercup frowned.  She knew about Luv, Laces had told her all about her.  They had even met each other a few times but never had Buttercup disliked her as much as she disliked her now.  When she had dated Jack, she had never really feared Luv because it was always noticeable that she was in love with Spot.  Now it was different though, she was in love with Spot and ready for his love. 

 

There was a knock on the door and then Spot came in. 

 

“Morning Buttercup,” he said smiling.  He noticed that Buttercup was frowning. 

 

“Spot!” Luv threw herself at Spot and gave him a hug.  Spot caught completely off guard tumbled a bit and then regained his balance but not his shock.  He looked at Luv and shook his head in disbelief. 

 

“What are ya doing here?” he demanded. 

 

“Me, visiting.  I mean ya know that you’re my favorite.” Luv smiled. 

 

“But, ya was in some kind of trouble ya weren’t even in this city.  Didn’t think that I was ever going to see ya again,” Spot said. 

 

“What aren’t you happy to see me?” Luv got a disappointed look on her face.  Spot looked from Luv to Buttercup, took a deep breath and grabbed Luv’s shoulder. 

 

“BC get dressed,” Spot said as he pulled Luv out of the room and shut the door.  He led Luv into his room and shut his door.  Buttercup didn’t like the idea of the two of them together and so she got dressed as quickly as she could. 

 

“Luv what are ya doing here?  Really?” Spot asked. 

 

“What is it with ya and Jack, not everyone who comes to ya two is looking for trouble or help.  Believe me, I’m just visiting.  Ain’t nothing else.  I don’t need your help, I can get myself out of trouble.” Luv shrugged. 

 

“Sure ya can Luv, lemme just warn ya then.  Ya cause any trouble then I will kick ya out.  Ya know I won’t hesitate.” Spot glared at her.  Luv smiled sweetly ignoring his cold glare. 

 

“Now Spot, I love ya too,” she said as she skipped out and walked out of the lodging house without saying anything to anyone about anything. 

 

Spot walked out of his room and shook his head.  He didn’t want to think of what problems he was going to have.  What he did however want to know is what was going on with his birds and why they hadn’t told him about Luv.  He would have to have a talk with them tonight, he decided. 

 

“So is she gone?” Buttercup asked.  Spot snapped out of his thoughts. 

 

“Yeah, she’ll be back tonight though.”

 

“Why?” Buttercup demanded.  Spot gave her a look, but answered. 

 

“She ain’t done nothing wrong BC, she just needs a place to stay.  Actually she is just visiting.  Ain’t nothing wrong with that,” Spot defended her. 

 

“Nothing wrong with that?  She wants ya!” BC screamed.  “Can’t you see that?’

 

“Buttercup Tate.” Spot walked over to her and kissed her lightly.  “I love ya and I don’t see why ya getting so worked up about this.  It’s just Luv, she’s a good friend of mine.  Ain’t nothing more.  Don’t tell me you’re jealous?”

 

“Jealous?” BC sounded surprised. 

 

“Come on, I’ll sell some with ya today.” Spot led her out of the room and onto the street toward the selling docks. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Are we going to Manhattan today Decker?” Whiskey asked. 

 

“Nah, not today.  Let them think that maybe we have gone away for a while.  We’ll strike when they least expect it.  I just got to figure out how,” Decker said. 

 

“Well what ya want to do?”

 

“I am not sure yet.  I want to do something to Laces though.”

 

“What is it with that goyl that has got ya so into her?”

 

“Why?” Decker got defensive. 

 

“Nothing.  Ya like her don’t ya?” Whiskey asked. 

 

“No, I don’t know what Brooklyn and Manhattan see in the goyl.  She’s sassy and don’t listen ta a word anyone says.  She ain’t all that bright neither,” Decker commented.  Whiskey shook his head but shrugged. 

 

“We’ll figure out something I’m sure.  Where’s Kawaii today?”

 

“Ah, who knows she’s been having mood swings today.  I think something may be wrong or something.” Decker shrugged. 

 

“She likes ya,” Whiskey said in a matter of a fact way. 

 

“Nah she don’t.  We grew up together, ain’t no way that Kawaii thinks anything of me but a brother.”

 

“Ya blind as a rat’s ass ain’t ya?” Whiskey lit a cigarette. 

 

“What did ya say ta me?” Decker glared at Whiskey. 

 

“Ah don’t get tied into knots.  Ya don’t scare me and ya know it,” Whiskey commented. 

 

“Ise the leader now, it’s all different,” Decker growled. 

 

“Different my ass.” Whiskey was never one for being soft on people. 

 

“Ya betta watch your step,” Decker said. 

 

“Ya ain’t never going to be like Conlon and Kelly and ya know it.  I don’t know why you’re trying so hard.  And Kawaii is in love with ya, otherwise why would she still be around.  Ya treat her like she ain’t even there half the time.” Whiskey puffed away.  Decker did not lift his glare, Whiskey had been one of his best friends, but one of the most annoying people he had ever met.  Whiskey spoke his mind whenever he wanted to.  He was full of hot air and had a big mouth but nothing more then that. 

 

“I think ya got things all wrong Whiskey.  But think whatever ya want ta think, I ain’t never been able ta change yer mind.” Decker shrugged.  

 

“Nope.” Whiskey nodded. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I don’t want to get up!” Angel moaned. 

 

“Wow?  No sunshine today?” Luna smiled. 

 

“She was to busy thinking about Critter last night to sleep,” Middy joked. 

 

“I was not!” Angel cried. 

 

“Sure ya weren’t.  Have ya completely forgotten about what was his name?” Middy asked. 

 

“I don’t remember, he was that guy.  The one with the green eyes wasn’t it?” Luna played along. 

 

“Stop!  I really wasn’t thinking about Critter,” Angel said as she jumped from her bunk. 

 

“Not thinking about me?  Now why not me dear?” Critter stood at the door and made all three girls jump. 

 

“No reason.  And he’s name was Pockets.”

 

“Pockets?  Harper?” Critter sounded surprised. 

 

“Yeah, that’s the one.” Angel nodded. 

 

“What about him?” Critter asked. 

 

“Oh him and her are an item,” Luna said. 

 

“Really?   I never would have thought, I thought ya didn’t like him that way?”

 

“Back then I didn’t,” Angel said in response. 

 

“Kitchen!” someone called out. 

 

“Kitchen duty huh?” Critter asked. 

 

“How would ya know I thought you had never been in one of these places?” Luna said. 

 

“Never think about becoming a bird Luna me dear, ya would never get your information right.” Critter laughed. 

 

“Me a bird, like that would happen.  No one who wants to become birds would become one.  Conlon and his system, no one knows who any of them are.” Luna laughed. 

 

“Yeah, those birds must be lucky people.” Critter laughed.  The four of them walked out towards the kitchen. 

 

“Going to cook with us Critter?” Middy asked. 

 

“Why not?  Can’t say that it would hurt me much.” Critter shrugged light hearted as he was, he really didn’t mind cooking. 

 

“Not like there’s much to cook.” Angel smiled. 

 

“Ya always find something to cook.” Luna looked at Angel.  Angel shrugged and they entered the kitchen and started to search for what to make for lunch and dinner. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

It was lunch time and Jack and Laces were in Tibby’s together with the rest of the newsies. 

 

“So nothing has been heard of the Bronx lately.  Is that over do you think?” Race asked. 

 

“Maybe, I really don’t know.  That Decker kid is a real hot headed one.  I don’t trust him much.  He’s looking for a war to fight,” Jack said. 

 

“Why haven’t we started one Jack, he’s done enough to get us to start one,” Blink said. 

 

“Because Spot and I don’t want to get into another one right now, we’re waiting to see what the kid’s going to do.  If it means we’ll end up in a war then we will, but that ain’t what we want to do.” Jack shrugged. 

 

“Hey Jack, is it all right if Laces sells with someone else besides ya.  I really thinks she’s out of the Brooklyn spirit and ready not to run away from someone,” Skittery joked. 

 

“I would not run away from anyone,” Laces cried.  All the boys laughed. 

 

“Sure ya wouldn’t.” Race messed up her hair a little. 

 

“I would not,” Laces said. 

 

“Ya have before.”

 

“Ya would again.”

 

“You’re Laces,” were the various things that the boys said. 

 

“I don’t believe ya boys,” Laces said. 

 

“Ya do have quite a history of running away Laces,” Dave said.  As the little bell over the door rang and two people walked in. 

 

“Ah shut up Dave.” Laces smiled as she took a sip from her drink. 

 

“Jeez.  Someone’s in a bad mood,” a voice said from behind Laces.  Laces jumped and turned to see who it was. 

 

“SPOT!” Laces smiled as she jumped from her seat and hugged him.  “Buttercup!” She smiled and hugged her too. 

 

“God, we just get her out of the Brooklyn habit and ya have to come around a ruin it Spot!” Blink said. 

 

“Thanks Blink, glad ta see ya too.  And what is wrong with the Brooklyn habit?” Spot demanded as he glared at Blink. 

 

“Nothing, expect that ya let Laces there run wild,” Specs commented. 

 

“Let her would not be my choice of words.” Buttercup laughed.  Dave moved down for Spot to sit down with Buttercup. 

 

“Now what is going on here?” Spot asked. 

 

“Nothing Spot,” Laces automatically responded.  Jack laughed as he put his arm around Laces. 

 

“Well, Decker ain’t been around here for a while, what about in Brooklyn?”

 

“Nope, ain’t shown his face, maybe the kid gave up,” Spot said. 

 

“Doubtful.” Dave shook his head. 

 

“How’s Laces been?” Spot asked. 

 

“Ah decent enough, she ain’t caused too much trouble.  She’s been good.” Jack smiled. 

 

“I am sitting here ya know!” Laces said. 

 

“Good cause if she was causing any problems at all I would have to take her back to Brooklyn.” Spot smiled. 

 

“Where do ya two get the idea that I would go where ya tell me to?  Ya can’t tell me what to do.” Laces crossed her arms.  The boys rolled their eyes. 

 

“I think they can Laces,” Les piped up.  Laces shook her head. 

 

“No they can’t.” She was about to get up to walk away but Jack pulled her back down. 

 

“Let me go!” Laces cried. 

 

“No.” Jack said.  Then he pulled her in and kissed her. 

 

“What are ya doing!” Spot said loudly.  Laces pulled away from Jack. 

 

“Kissing Spot,” she responded. 

 

“She’s just so cute when she’s mad,” Jack said.  Spot shook his head. 

 

“I don’t like it,” Spot said. 

 

“Like what Spot?  The kissing or me being mad?” Laces asked. 

 

“I’ll talk ta ya about it Later,” Spot said. 

 

“Oh!” Laces sighed. 

 

“So um Spot, what happened with Luv?” Jack asked. 

 

“Luv, ya knew about her?” Spot asked surprised. 

 

“Yeah she was here yesterday morning.  Before she went over to Brooklyn,” Jack said. 

 

“Why was she going over to Brooklyn?” Buttercup asked. 

 

“She said she was just visiting,” Laces responded. 

 

“She went and stayed the night and was there this morning.  She said she was staying there for a while.  Nothing really happened.” Spot shrugged.  “Sure was surprised to see her though.”

 

“Yeah so was I.” Jack nodded. 

 

“And I was too.” Laces nodded too. 

 

“I think everyone was,” Blink called out. 

 

“Did she tell ya guys where she’s been?” Spot asked. 

 

“No she never told us.” Jack shook his head.  “Just said that she had been in some trouble but she got herself out of it without our help.  That goyl sure is something else.” Jack shook his head. 

 

“Yes she is.” Spot nodded. 

 

“So how are you boys?” BC asked. 

 

“We’re all fine.” Blink smiled. 

 

“Laces come here.  Let’s take a walk,” Spot said as he stood up. 

 

“What if I don’t want to?” Laces asked. 

 

“Get up Laces,” Spot said.  “We’ll be back in about five minutes.” He grabbed Laces and pulled her out of Tibby’s. 

 

“Don’t those two just get along great,” Race commented. 

 

“Wonderfully.  So BC how ya and Spot been holding up?” Jack asked. 

 

“All right.” BC shrugged. 

 

Spot still held Laces hand as he led her outside a bit. 

 

“Spot! Let go of me,” Laces said. 

 

“Ain’t going to run away are ya?” Spot asked. 

 

“No I won’t run away,” Laces said sarcastically.  Spot looked at her closely and let go of her hand. 

 

“Now what is it ya wanted to talk about?” she asked. 

 

“So you’re dating Jack?” Spot asked. 

 

“No we just like kissing sometimes,” Laces replied shaking her head. 

 

“Don’t get smart with me.”

 

“Yeah Spot.”

 

“Where are ya sleeping?” Spot asked. 

 

“In the bunkroom,” Laces responded. 

 

“Where?” Spot asked. 

 

“In the bunk under Jack’s.”

 

“Ain’t there a separate room where ya could sleep?”

 

“Spot, there is nothing wrong with where I am sleeping.  Nothing is wrong with it understood.  I am not sleeping anywhere else.” Laces shook her head. 

 

“Are ya taking care of yourself?” Spot asked. 

 

“Yeah, I am.”

 

“Eating right, and sleeping right?”

 

“Yeah.  Stop worrying will ya.  I am a big goyl.”

 

“Yeah maybe when ya act like one.” Spot mumbled.  “I saw Pixie yesterday.”

 

“Really?  How is my girl?”

 

“She’s fine.  Missing ya and things.”

 

“What about Caroline?  And Scott?”

 

“They fine too, Caroline ain’t to happy with ya right now.  And I think that Scott and Pixie are getting along well.”

 

“I think it’s so cute, I think they like each other.”

 

“What?” Spot asked. 

 

“I think that they like each other Spot, ya know a cute little couple.”

 

“Couple!  They too little to be any kind of couple.” Spot frowned.  Laces laughed but said nothing more of the subject. 

 

“So Decker hasn’t tried anything new?” Spot said. 

 

“No, nothing.  I haven’t seen him around.  Of course I haven’t been anywhere without one of the guys at me heel.”

 

“Good.  That’s the way it should be, I knew that it would be safer here for ya anyway.  Anything happen though, ya send someone for me right away.”

 

“I know Spot.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“What’s wrong, is everything okay with ya and Buttercup?”

 

“Yeah, I think it is.  I mean the whole Luv thing shook her up a little.  And I also found out Angel is in the refuge and Pockets is depressed and Spades is worried.  A few other things and an old friend was in town.” Spot shrugged indifferently about everything. 

 

“Angel got caught huh?” She smiled.  “Poor Pockets.  I should talk to him.”

 

“Yeah.” Spot nodded.  They were back in front of Tibby’s. 

 

“How are the Brooklyn boys?” Laces asked. 

 

“They’re all right.”

 

“Bottle Cap?”

 

“Ain’t nothing like he used to be.  I thought that after a while back in Brooklyn he would go back to his old self, but nothing.  I hate seeing him like that.  I mean he ain’t sad or nothing just he ain’t like he used ta be.  He misses ya, but is glad that ya here safe and under more control.” Spot smiled. 

 

“I don’t understand you two.” Laces said as she opened the door to Tibby’s.  The newsies were all laughing and joking with Buttercup as she had explained to them what she had told Spot just days before about who she really was.  Jack couldn’t believe it and the rest of the guys just laughed about the whole thing.  It was strange finding out that the girl that ya had known a few years back and disappeared was the same girl sitting in front of them. 

 

“BC ready to go?  I have something I need to take care of tonight, so we have to get going,” Spot said. 

 

“Yeah Spot, I am ready to go.  Nice talking to ya guys!” BC smiled. 

 

“Bye BC,” Jack said.  “Or wait what do ya want me ta call ya?” Jack looked confused. 

 

“Buttercup, I still Buttercup.  I ain’t any of the others anymore.” She smiled. 

 

“Bye Buttercup,” the boys said. 

 

“See ya boys around,” Spot said.  He leaned in close to Jack.  “Anything happen and ya get me.” Jack nodded. 

 

“Don’t worry Spot,” Jack said back.  Spot walked out with Buttercup on his arm. 

 

“What did Conlon need to talk to ya about?” Blink asked. 

 

“Nothing, just checking up on me and all.” Laces shrugged.  “Spot does that, he needs to,” She responded. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The day was growing older and the night sky was falling, Spades sat on the counter. 

 

“Counting day ain’t it Spades?” Blue asked as he popped up from his box. 

 

“Yeah, I think it is.  But it just ain’t the same without Angel here ta help me,” Spades said. 

 

“Spades, the rest of us is here ya know,” Shady said. 

 

“I know.” Spades nodded as she sat up and looked at the girls, they were all sitting there. 

 

“So are we going to count?” Scorch asked as she threw her box of matches into the air. 

 

“Yeah, we’ll count.  That will cheer all of us up.” Spades jumped off the counter and pulled into the small circle in the middle of the room.  Blue got up and headed over there and the girls pulled in closer. 

 

“Empty yer pockets and get me all the money ya’ve made.” Spades motioned as she emptied her pockets throwing wads of money onto the floor.  Candy took off her shoes and took out the money that was wadded at the tip of it.  Scorch took off her hat and spilled the coins and bills.  Each girl, and Pockets and Blue took out the money they had been collecting this week. 

 

“All right, separate the coins,” Spades said as she started to collect the bills.  There weren’t as many bills as usual, business had been slow because of the bars not being safe and Angel and stuff.  Spades counted silently to herself once she collected all the bills.  The rest were still working on separating the coins. 

 

“15 dollars,” Spades said as she held the money in her hand. 

 

“I think we got about 3.  50 in coins.” Blue nodded. 

 

“18.  50.  That ain’t that bad.  Each of ya can deal with a week’s pocket money of a dollar and 12 cents right?”

 

“Yeah that should be enough for the week’s pocket money.” Cheeky nodded.  

 

“So that will leave ya each with a dollar and 19 cents for anything that might come up or just to keep saving.” Spades said as she took a dollar from her pile and handed one to each person.  Blue took the coins and counted out 12 cents for everyone.  Spades then took the rest of the money and went to the counter were she opened a safe with a key that she had in her pocket.  And put the money in to everyone’s compartment.  Spades had started making everyone save money just about a year ago when they had started staying in one place.  Everyone was getting up the healthy amounts and it made her happy to know that even when this gang was done with that her girls would still have some money to live on for a while.  Also at the beginning of each month Spades collected money from everyone for gambling purposes.  Usually the only ones who gambled in the gang were Pockets, Blue and Spades.  Shady did sometimes and Vigor did at times, but usually it was just those three and they needed money to gamble on. 

 

“Spades, when we going to start going back to the bars?” Vigor asked. 

 

“Maybe next week, but I still don’t want ya girls there.  Understood?” All of them nodded their heads. 

 

“Yeah we understand,” Candy said. 

 

“Good.” Spades closed the safe and sat on top of the counter as she stuck her money into her shirt pocket. 

 

“Anyone going to work tonight?” Pockets asked.  Everyone shook their head. 

 

“Why Pockets?” Blue asked. 

 

“I wanted to go get ourselves some drinks.” Pockets shrugged. 

 

“We haven’t had some drinks in a while.” Cheeky nodded. 

 

“But I thought we were going to stay away from bars,” Candy said. 

 

“Ah but one drink ain’t never hurt no one,” Shady said. 

 

“If one is all we’re having then why bother to go,” Scorch said. 

 

“We’ll go to Medda’s have some drinks and maybe make some money in the process,” Spades said.  Everyone agreed and they headed out. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot walked down a few allies not thinking about where he was going.  He knew where he was going and now he didn’t even have to think about it.  It was a clear night and he knew that most of them should be in the one place where they usually were.  He walked quickly turning every so often and only making the sounds of his heels hitting the ground and his cane hitting it every so often also. 

 

He got to the lower part of Brooklyn that wasn’t far from the lodging house, there was a large building.  There was no real lights in it, and it looked old and was falling apart.  The building was close to the other building which was one of the main reasons he had picked this building, also almost no one came to it.  It was in the middle of a group of empty buildings that a lot of street kids stayed in sometimes. 

 

Spot walked into the building and went towards the back wall where he opened a door.  The door lead to the basement of the building, there was a dim light that Spot followed down the stairs and then a small hall. 

 

He got to a large room that was filled with laughter and the smell of money and alcohol.  Spot looked around and shook his head.  He put his two fingers in his mouth and whistled loud and long.  The people in the room all looked up surprised. 

 

“To what do we owe this wonderful unexpected visit?” A tall boy with only semi curly black hair that hung to his ears smiled.  He walked over to Spot and spit in his hand. 

 

“Long time no see.” Spot nodded. 

 

“Been busy since ya put me in charge, ya birds ain’t exactly the easiest bunch of people to handle.” The boy smiled. 

 

“Yeah Jasper, I know.” Spot nodded he looked around. 

 

“Why are so many of ya drinking?” Spot demanded. 

 

“We only human Conlon.” RB grinned.  Spot shook his head. 

 

“No wonder none of ya good for nothings knew.  Maybe I should stop wasting me time with ya.” Spot grumbled. 

 

“What happened Spot?” Matches asked. 

 

“What Happened?  Get the rest of me sorry ass birds down here.” Spot motioned to Jasper.  Jasper grimaced, whenever Spot said anything about his birds not being worth his time.  He really wasn’t happy with them. 

 

Jasper took a deep breath as he walked over to an empty shaft.  He poked his head into it and made a loud chirping sound that echoed through the building.  People started filing into the room.  Spot stood in the middle, not looking all too happy playing with his cane.  Of one of the people that came in was Sugar, she stood there for a moment staring at Spot. 

 

“Come on Sug, who knows what he wants.  He never comes around much here anymore.  No time and always said it ain’t safe.” RB pushed Sugar along. 

 

“God I should hate him,” Sugar mumbled.  The birds gathered around Spot, there was about 15 of them.  There was a mixture of worried faces with what the hell does he want now and I was sleeping. 

 

“Someone tell me what ya are?” Spot asked. 

 

“We’re people Spot,” Relic called out.  Spot glared at her. 

 

“YOU’RE BIRDS! BROOKLYN BIRDS! What do ya do?” Spot asked.  No one answered this time.  “Ya find out what is going on in this crummy city that has anything to do with anything and tell me!  Is that hard?”

 

“Well sometimes,” Firecracker said quietly. 

 

“Why in the world would that be hard?” Spot asked her. 

 

“Well we can’t be everywhere at once Spot,” Firecracker said back. 

 

“That’s why ya ain’t the only birds there are.  There are at least 5 birds in each part of this city.  Don’t tell me that ya ain’t been talking to each other!” Spot looked over at Jasper. 

 

“What is it we didn’t tell ya this time?” Jasper asked. 

 

“Luv is in town!  Did anyone in this room know that?” Spot asked looking at everyone. 

 

“Well I did,” Sugar said from the back of the room.  When Spot turned to glare at her he was surprised for a moment but he didn’t let it show. 

 

“Why didn’t ya tell me?” he demanded. 

 

“I didn’t know until this morning and by then I also knew she was already with ya and it was pointless.  Besides Spot, I don’t tell ya anything anymore remember?” Sugar said.  Spot glared at her. 

 

“Did ya all know that she has been in town for almost two days now?  She has been in Midtown and Manhattan before Brooklyn?  And she has been in the outskirts! How could none of you seen her?” he demanded.  He was looking at Matches. 

 

“So we missed one thing, not like it is that important that Luv is back in town.” Matches shrugged. 

 

“If ya can miss Luv being back in town, then how can I count ya good for nothing worthless birds to be sure to know when something with Decker happens, or if something happens in Manhattan or to Laces?” Spot demanded. 

 

“Spot, we’re good.  We’ve been working none stop with this Decker thing.  Ya can’t expect us to know everything,” Jasper said. 

 

“That’s what Brooklyn birds are Jasper.  The one group of people in New Yawk that know what is going on all the time!” Spot said. 

 

“Sawry,” Firecracker said.  Spot took a deep breath and shook his head. 

 

“Anyone know when Critter gets out of the joint?” Spot asked. 

 

“In about a week,” Matches said. 

 

“Why does Critter matter so much?” Firecracker asked. 

 

“How long ya been a bird Firecracker?” Spot asked. 

 

“Bout 6 months now,” she responded. 

 

“Someone tell her about Critter,” Spot said.  “And as soon as he gets out of the joint someone send for me,” Spot said. 

 

“Why is it ya only come around here to yell at us?” Relic asked. 

 

“Cause Jasper don’t yell at ya enough,” Spot said. 

 

“I do what I can.” Jasper shrugged. 

 

“Relic, I hope ya haven’t been saying too much about our little kiss the other night.  I know how much of a mouth ya got on ya,” Spot said. 

 

“I do not have a mouth,” Relic cried. 

 

“Sure ya don’t,” Spot responded. 

 

“Drink Spot?” Jasper asked. 

 

“Sure, why not.” Spot sat down with Jasper and Matches. 

 

“What have ya heard from the others?” Spot asked. 

 

“Daisy been watching the old place where Peach use to stay, she says that no one important has been around there.  There has been no sign of Pepper’s old gang anywhere.  After James threw himself off that bridge it’s been all good.”

 

“Dais been taking care of herself?” Spot asked. 

 

“As far as I know.” Jasper nodded. 

 

“Good.  I have to get going.  I have to come make sure ya keeping in line next week.  I want this place cleaned up.” Spot stood up. 

 

“Do ya think Critter is coming back?” Jasper suddenly asked. 

 

“I don’t think he has a choice,” Spot said as he got a shadow cast over his eyes.  “See ya lata.”

 

“Spot sure is something else,” Matches said. 

 

“Spot is where Brooklyn got it’s power,” Jasper said. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

February 8th

 

“We’ve been watching her, she sells with one of them everyday, but they always pass this one alley.  It will be easy to get her by herself in front of this alley.  I think I know what I am going to do.” Decker was talking to Whiskey as they headed towards Manhattan. 

 

“Well I want to see what it is you’re going to do to make Brooklyn and Manhattan know that you’re serious.” Whiskey laughed. 

 

“Shut up,” Decker said back. 

 

“So where are we suppose to go?” nne of the boys asked. 

 

“Just wait,” Decker said. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces was selling with Skittery today, he had finally convinced Jack to let her sell with someone else besides him. 

 

“So Laces, how ya been holding up kid?  I mean any of this stuff getting to you?” Skittery asked. 

 

“I am fine.” Laces shrugged indifferently. 

 

“Ya have been with Spot too much,” Skittery said. 

 

“Why Skitt?  Cause I don’t care.”

 

“Yeah that’s why.”

 

“It really isn’t that much of a problem,” Laces said. 

 

“Sure it isn’t.” Skittery laughed. 

 

“I am going to sell a little bit down there all right,” Laces said as she moved away from Skittery.  He gave her a look but didn’t say anything.  She was still in his view so it was all right.  Laces was selling near an alleyway. 

 

“Extry! Extry!” she cried as she called out her headlines.  Someone walked out of the alleyway and walked in front of Laces.  Laces at first did not take notice of him, neither did Skittery. 

 

“Heya Laces,” the person said.  Laces was about to say something when the boy threw his arms around her in a hug.  Skittery looked over and shrugged figuring that it was just someone that Laces knew. 

 

“LET GO OF ME!” Laces whispered in the boy’s ear. 

 

“Now Sassy, Don’t fight it or I will gut you.” Decker held a knife very closely to Laces’s stomach.  Laces took a deep breath as Decker looked over at Skittery making sure that he wasn’t looking and slipped into the alleyway he had come out of. 

 

Skittery looked over when he didn’t hear Laces call out any more headlines. 

 

“Aw Shit, where did she go?” Skittery mumbled.  Jack was walking down the street when he saw Skittery. 

 

“Skittery where’s Laces?” Jack asked. 

 

“She was, I mean like less then 5 seconds ago she was standing right there.  This guy came out and said her name and they hugged and then when I turned to look again she was gone.” Skittery was staring at the spot that Laces had been in.  Jack dropped his papers and ran over to where Skittery was looking.  He looked into the alleyway. 

 

Decker meanwhile had heard Jack and now had Laces up against the wall and was kissing her.  He had forced Laces arms around his neck and had his around her and a knife to the side of her stomach.  Jack stood there staring at Laces and this boy.  He couldn’t see his face, only his back and he had never really seen him before.  Decker pulled away from Laces a little but still did not turn around.  Laces saw Jack standing there and then he turned. 

 

“JACK!” Laces said loudly.  Jack didn’t turn around though. 

 

“JACK!  WAIT!” Laces screamed.  Decker though took advantage of it and pushed his lips onto Laces again.  Laces started shivering and Skittery came over to the alleyway and stood there in mere shock.  Decker let her go as she started crying.  She was biting her lower lip trying to keep from falling into complete hysterics.  Decker smiled. 

 

“Did I leave ya silent for once Sassy?” he asked. 

 

“Ya bastard, ever touch me again, ya’ll regret it.” she whispered. 

 

“What are ya going to do?  And I am sure that after this Jack will finally give up on you.” Decker grinned an evil grin. 

 

“Go to ‘ell.” Laces spit at him and he put his knife away. 

 

“I love ya too Sassy.  We’ll finish this later.” Decker walked away.  Skittery walked away, not having heard any of the conversation but the last part that Decker said and not seeing anything but the kiss and hug. 

 

“Skittery!” Laces cried.  But he didn’t turn around this time either he kept walking.  Laces stood there supporting herself on the wall.  She burst out into tears and fell to the ground sobbing.  She sat in the entrance of the alleyway. 

 

Race was walking along and found Laces in a curled up position. 

 

“Laces?  What’s wrong where’s Skittery?  Did that bum leave ya here all by yourself?” Race asked as he got down on his knees.  “Did you run away from him?”

 

Laces didn’t answer him and she just sobbed more into her knees. 

 

“Laces what happened?  Did something happen?” Race was trying to get an answer out of her when Blink walked by. 

 

“What happened Race?” Blink asked. 

 

“I don’t know.  She ain’t talking to me.” Race shrugged. 

 

“Laces?” Blink said.  She didn’t respond. 

 

“Let’s take her back to the lodging house,” Race said.  Blink nodded and dropped down to pick her up.  When he picked her up she sobbed into his shoulder. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Decker walked down the alleyway and turned the corner.  He heard laughter from behind him.  He turned glaring at the person behind him. 

 

“So ya don’t like her?” Whiskey grinned. 

 

“So what if I do.  I just ruined her relationship with Jack and that other one.” Decker spit out. 

 

“There is still Conlon.  You have to throw both of them off her side.  And even if you achieve that what in the hell does that do?” Whiskey demanded. 

 

“Well,” Decker started. 

 

“What are you trying to prove?”

 

“That we’re as strong as Brooklyn and Manhattan.”

 

“We might be as strong as one of them, not both of them.  And we sure as hell are stupider.” Whiskey took a little bottle out of his back pocket and drank from it. 

 

“We are going to gain the power they have.” Decker gritted his teeth.  “If it’s the last thing I do.”

 

“No one has or ever will have their kind of power Decker.  Hold you’re breath long enough and you’ll die,” Whiskey said as he put his bottle back. 

 

“I will get it.  I will,” Decker said. 

 

“Probably get killed or they’ll beat it out of ya if we get into a war,” Whiskey said as he walked away. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Spot’s going to want to know about this.” Firecracker sighed as she started to sprint across the rooftops towards the bridge.  She was getting real tired by the time she reached the bridge.  She didn’t know how much longer it would take to get to Brooklyn. 

 

She saw Filly walking down the bridge, she did that sometimes.  She watched the bridge.  She of course couldn’t be there all the time only sometimes.  She sat there or walked to each side, checking out the area around the bridge.  She had found out a great many things by doing this. 

 

“FILLY!” Firecracker said loudly.  Filly turned and looked at Firecracker. 

 

“Geez, don’t say me name that loud.  Someone might hear ya,” Filly scolded.  Fire rolled her eyes and bent down onto her knees trying to catch her breath. 

 

“Found out.  Laces kissed by guy.  Didn’t see guy.  Didn’t see what did.  Just know they kissed.  Jack saw them he left her.  Skittery saw he left her.  But Race and Blink found her and took her to lodging house,” she said all in short sentences in between breaths.  She was talking softly, one because ya never know who could be listening and two she needed to regain her breath. 

 

“All right, get back there.  Try and find out who.  That will get ya yelled at nicely for later.” Was all that Filly said as she started to casually walk the opposite direction.  The birds were taught a few things, one was when they talked to each other somewhere in public like the bridge never to run right away.  Only when out of view.  Once she was in an alley though she ran as her life depended on it, she looked up at the sky it was about noon time, he would be having lunch.  She ran through crowded allies, through games of ball, through trash filled cracks between buildings.  She only thought about how fast she needed to get to Spot, because well speed counts.  She had news and he would want it.  And how much a bird had to go through, what she did to get Spot his information. 

 

She got to the place where Spot had lunch in no time, and sat there on the corner catching her breath.  She was thinking how she was going to get his attention.  She decided that seeing that this was important information, not something that they just reported every week or something that she would go inside the restaurant.  That was one thing that the birds weren’t supposed to do, go talk to Spot directly somewhere.  They usually met in the allies of the city that not many people knew of or in their buildings that were scattered throughout the city, but this was different.  Spot had said he wanted anything that happened concerning Decker and/or Laces and he wanted to know about when it happened or he would have their heads and send all their sorry asses away, in some exact words like that.  Filly smirked and got up fixing her hat a little and her hair that had been wind brushed. 

 

She took a deep breath and walked into the small restaurant.  She spotted BC and Spot in no time sitting at a little table towards the back.  She went over near the table and sat down at the table right next to theirs that was in plain sight of Spot.  She sat there thinking that Spot would look over soon enough.  She played with the napkin and ordered a drink and still Spot didn’t notice her.  Finally she decided to whistle a little tune, nothing unusual just something someone might do when they got bored.  So she began to whistle a tune, that use to be used in the bird world long before her time.  She looked at the ceiling as not to attract attention to the fact she wanted Spot to notice her. 

 

Spot heard the song and scanned the room, without drawing attention to what he was doing.  He noticed Filly at the table near his.  He waited until she looked down again before he made a quick but noticeable to those who were waiting for it motion with his hands.  He keep talking to BC while doing it so it was almost a natural gesture. 

 

“Ya are enjoying selling papers right?” he was asking her.  Filly caught the action and finished her drink and stood up paying the waiter and walked out.  She walked around the building and into an alleyway.  She stood outside a little window for about five minutes talking to a little bird that was sitting on the escape of the building next door. 

 

“Can ya believe this?  What I do!” Filly was sighing.  “Do ya like to sing?  Sing me a song.”

 

“What is it Filly?” Spot asked from the window.  Filly jumped a little but turned around. 

 

“Laces was kissing someone, and Jack and Skittery left her,” Filly said. 

 

“WHAT?  Kissing who?  And they left her?  Why those bums I could soak them,” Spot started. 

 

“I don’t know who she was kissing.  FC didn’t see, I wasn’t there.  And they left her yeah, Jack and Skitt saw the kiss, I don’t know what happened exactly, but they left her.  Blink and Race found her and took her with them.” Filly finished off.  “And I ran from the bridge here.  through all sort of things.”

 

“Thanks Filly,” Spot said as he walked away.  Filly nodded and started her walk back to the bridge. 

 

“It’s just so interesting to be a bird,” she thought to herself as she walked back shaking her head. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Blink was about to walk into the lodging house, but Laces started to scream no and shook her head. 

 

“What Laces?  It’s just the lodging house.” Blink held her tight. 

 

“No!  Please no.  Not in there not right now.” Laces shook her head as tears began to fall again. 

 

“Laces, where else would we go,” Race asked.  Laces shrugged she didn’t know, but she didn’t want to go in and face Jack and Skittery.  They would never believe her, they probably wouldn’t even listen to her. 

 

“At least make sure that Jack isn’t anywhere please?” Laces pleaded.  Race groaned but agreed as he went inside to check.  Blink put Laces down and they sat on the steps. 

 

“Tell me what happened,” he said. 

 

“Nothing Blink.” Laces responded. 

 

“Come on, ya don’t fool me.  We found ya crying Laces and ya still crying.  I think something happened.” Blink nudged her a little.  Race came back. 

 

“I don’t think that Jack is here.  No one is here.” Blink stood up and held a hand out to Laces so that she would be able to get up.  She took it and they walked inside and upstairs. 

 

“Jack and Skittery saw me kissing someone else,” Laces said as they walked into the bunkroom.  She kept walking, Blink and Race though were stuck at the door.  When she turned back to them she saw them standing there gaping. 

 

“Who were ya kissing?” Blink gasped out. 

 

“I thought ya loved Jack?  I was so sure.” Race shook his head. 

 

“It wasn’t my fault!” Laces cried.  “Decker, it was Decker and he hugged me and Skittery thought he was someone I knew.  He had a knife up to me, he wants to gut me.  He did this to me.  I don’t doubt he would.” Laces held out her arm where Decker had before started and not finished. 

 

“But Decker, didn’t Jack know it was him?” Blink asked. 

 

“I don’t know.  I think it was because Jack only saw his back.” Laces was beginning to whimper again. 

 

“Why didn’t ya say anything?” Race demanded. 

 

“I called after him and then after Skittery, but they walked away.  And I couldn’t say much because of the knife.  Decker and his stupid knife.” Laces let hot and angry tears fall.  “Jack left me and Skittery who has always come to my rescue when I needed it from Spot and Jack walked away from me.”

 

Blink and Race looked at each other and walked over to her. 

 

“Come on let’s go get you tea and then you can get some rest,” Blink said as he put an arm around her.  Race nodded. 

 

“Yeah, ya can’t get this alters or something cause it ain’t good for ya.  The doc told us so.” Race patted her on the back.  Laces sniffled a little and nodded as they went to the kitchen. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack and Skittery walked into Medda’s and into the bar of the place. 

 

“Get us some beer please,” Jack said as he sat there with Skittery. 

 

“I just don’t believe this,” Jack said. 

 

“I don’t either Jack.  She has always been in love with ya.  I was sure of that.  I didn’t ever think it would come to this.  Of course there was the whole Spot and you thing, but I don’t know.” Skittery shook his head. 

 

“I love her!  God damn her, her charm, her beauty, her terrible pull!” Jack hit the bar with his fist.  The bartender brought them their beers. 

 

“She does have this power over guys.  I even had a thing for her before she got pushed into that river.  She was so charming.  Someone once said, my old girl, that she was a lot like a female you or Spot in her charm and way with men.” Skittery gulped down some of his beer. 

 

“God!  Why I am so stupid.  She has played with so many hearts.  Why did I think I was going to be different.  Look at what she did to Pockets!”

 

“Everyone thought it was going to be different with ya.”

 

“I haven’t even ever seen this guy.  Where did he come from has he been around all along?”

 

“I don’t know Jack.” The two boys kept drinking mostly in silence now until late into the night.  Medda was informed of them being there and she came down to try and cool them down and get them to stop drinking, but she couldn’t get anything done before she had to get on stage.  Spring came down and pulled the two boys from their ears out of the bar and locked them in one of the backrooms with her until they told her what happened.  When they told her she didn’t let them leave.  Because one, she didn’t want to think what they would do in their drunk stage of anger and two she thought it better if they stayed. 

 

“You two can sleep here, there are two cots there and I can get ya a pillow and blankets,” she said as she walked out. 

 

“That girl, so much like her brother.” Spring shook her head. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I need to go to Manhattan I think I am going to bring Laces home.” Spot said to BC that night. 

 

“Why?  Is anything wrong?” she asked. 

 

“Something happened between her and Jack,” Spot said. 

 

“What?  Did one of your birds find something out?” BC asked.  Spot glared at her. 

 

“That ain’t none of your business,”he snapped. 

 

“Jeez, it must of been something pretty bad,” BC said as she began to walk away. 

 

“No come back.  Here I’ll tell ya.  Jack caught her kissing someone else.  That’s all I want to say and that’s all I want to hear on it,” Spot said quickly. 

 

“But Why would she?” BC started.  But Spot shook his head. 

 

“No more on it.  I don’t want to talk about it,” he said. 

 

“Why not?” BC demanded. 

 

“Cause I don’t.” Spot was stern on his position. 

 

“Fine.  Luv has been awfully quiet,” BC mentioned. 

 

“Yeah she has been.  I think she’s leaving in a few days.  See I told ya nothing would happen with her.” Spot smiled. 

 

“Not yet it hasn’t.  She’s planning something though.”

 

“No she ain’t.  I love ya.” Spot kissed BC on the cheek. 

 

“Night Spot.” BC nodded and walked away.  Spot sat there. 

 

“I hate it when she does that.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Firecracker was in the Birds building and Jasper was asking about the information about the day.  Each person had something to say big or small it was there.  He came to Firecracker. 

 

“Laces and Jack got into a fight, Laces was kissing someone else.  Skittery and Jack left her.  Blink and Race found her.” Firecracker said from her seat that she was tilting back in. 

 

“Who was she kissing?” Jasper asked. 

 

“I don’t know,” she replied. 

 

“Well then find out.” Jasper frowned.  “What did he look like?  Maybe we can help.”

 

“I don’t know what he looked like.” She gulped. 

 

“Why not?”

 

“I didn’t see him.  After I saw Laces get picked up by Blink I didn’t follow whoever it was she had been kissing.  I only saw him hug her and then pull her into the alley with him,” FC said. 

 

“WHY DIDN’T YA FOLLOW HIM?  YA SUPPOSE TO FIGURE OUT WHO HE IS,” Jasper said loudly. 

 

“I don’t know.  I didn’t think it really matter that much.” Jasper glared at her. 

 

“I should put ya through training again,” he mumbled. 

 

“No.  I really.  I mean I didn’t think that it really matter.  I came to tell Spot as soon as I could.  Filly told him after I got to the bridge.  Laces should know who it was.  I knew she would tell him.  I made sure that nothing bad happened to her,” FC said.  Jasper shook his head but kept going to the next bird. 

 

“I deal with it lata FC.  But this better be the last time ya depend on someone else to finish you’re job,” he said to her before continuing. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

February 9th

 

“Get over it already.  She’s getting out in less than a week and you still moping around like it was yesterday that she got caught,” Shady snapped. 

 

“But, I just don’t feel good about her being in there without Spades or me.  And it was our first fight and we still haven’t made up,” Pockets whined. 

 

“Spare me!  Ya can make up when she gets out.  Think of it as time ya got to cool down.” Vigor sighed.  

 

“But she doesn’t get out until after Valentine’s day.  This was going to be our first Valentine’s Day and we’re fighting and not even together.”

 

“Pockets.  God ya sure have turned into a sap.” Scorch groaned. 

 

“Yup.  The Pockets that I first met would have never let a girl do this to him.” Blue smiled. 

 

“I don’t believe that she would like to see you like this,” Spades commented shaking her head. 

 

“What do you want me to do?” Pockets glared at them. 

 

“Well do something don’t just sit there whining about it,” Vigor said. 

 

“But what can I do?” Pockets said. 

 

“Well.  Something.  All I know is that you want to be with her on Valentine’s Day don’t ya?” Spades grinned.  Pockets sat there for a moment looking at her and he jumped. 

 

“I know what I am going to do.  You aren’t going to see me around for a while.  Don’t worry about me.” Pockets smiled. 

 

“Just don’t do something to stupid,” Blue warned. 

 

“Nah, it will only get me a week.” Pockets smiled and walked out of the room. 

 

“What’s he going to do?” Vigor asked yawning. 

 

“He’s going to be with Angel on Valentine’s Day,” Spades replied. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot was about to head out for Manhattan to get Laces back.  Buttercup and Luv were still sleeping or so he thought.  He was downstairs getting his hat from the parlor when someone walked in. 

 

“Morning,” Spot said without turning around he put his hat on. 

 

“Morning,” Luv said back she was right behind Spot so when he turned around he was eye level with her. 

 

“Did ya need something?” Spot asked as he started walking around her.  Luv grabbed his arm though and he stopped and looked at her.  She held him there. 

 

“Did you need something Luv?” he asked.  Luv nodded and then she bent forward and kissed Spot as she wrapped her arms around his neck.  Spot at first fought it, but it was so familiar, calling to him.  He surrendered after a moment thinking that maybe if he kissed her back, she would stop kissing him. 

 

Rick sat watching at his desk, he knew what happened.  Spot was only human, but he just didn’t want to think about it.  He heard footsteps and he looked over to the staircase, Buttercup was coming down rubbing her eyes. 

 

“Oh no,” was all that Rick said as he walked into his backroom.  Buttercup stopped at the bottom of the stairs and yawned.  She stretched and then she turned to look into the parlor and saw Spot and Luv.  She stood there for a moment, this seemed all too familiar to her. 

 

She felt like she was falling, she held on to the door post.  Luv pulled away from Spot, BC watched intently as she noticed that it was Luv who pulled away not Spot.  She felt like she had her heart in her throat she put her hand on her chest.  Spot and Luv still hadn’t noticed her. 

 

“So you do still love my kisses,” she said.  At this BC had enough she lunged at Luv. 

 

“Ya good for nothing!  Ya give women a bad name!” Luv taken by surprise was pushed clear into the wall by BC.  BC started to punch her in the stomach.  Luv didn’t know how to react at first and then she grabbed some of BC’s hair and began to pull as hard as she could. 

 

“Ow!” BC screamed.  She in return punched Luv in the eye.  Spot watched for a second not knowing what to do, if to let them fight or break them up.  He went over to break them up. 

 

“GO AWAY!” Was the response from both girls.  Spot backed off as the rest of his boys started to come down the stairs. 

 

“Bullseye!” Spot called out.  Bullseye came over to him. 

 

“Something happen?” Bullseye laughed at the scene. 

 

“Ya get BC, I’ll get Luv,” he growled.  Bullseye nodded and the two went off and grabbed each girl.  Spot picked up Luv kicking and walked across the room towards the common room.  He shut the door behind him as he put Luv down. 

 

“I NEVER EVER want to see you around me again!” Spot shouted. 

 

“But I know ya love me.” Luv shook her head. 

 

“I don’t love ya.  I never really have.  Ya’re pretty, you’re seductive, you’re not what ya seem to be.  Ya only want what ya want when ya want it.  Who knows when you’ll get tired of me.  I don’t love ya.  I don’t want to see you ever again,” Spot growled at her.  Luv stood up and looked at Spot. 

 

“Spot, I love ya and I always will.  You and Jack hold special places in my heart.  Promise me two things and I don’t want to never be able to see you again.  If you fix you’re relationship with Buttercup and are still with her the next time I see ya I promise to not get involved, but I have to be able to see you again.” Luv took hold of Spot’s hand.  Spot glared at her but shrugged.  He knew he wouldn’t be able to stop her. 

 

“All right what’s the second thing,” he said. 

 

“I want a goodbye kiss.” She smiled.  Spot stood there he didn’t say no, but he didn’t say yes.  Luv took that as a yes and bent forward to kiss Spot on the lips he moved his face and kissed her on the cheek.  Also forcing her to kiss him on the cheek. 

 

“There ya go.  Hope not to see you for a while,” Spot said.  “A long while.”

 

“You’re wish is my command Spot.” Luv battered her eye lashes and walked out of the room and out of the building.  Spot walked back out to find BC attacking Bullseye. 

 

“Ya scum!  I was killing her!  Why didn’t ya let me kill her!” BC was slamming her fists onto Bullseye in a girl manner. 

 

“Quit it BC.  Come on,” Bullseye said as he grabbed her fists.  Spot walked in and took BC’s wrists and Bullseye let go. 

 

“Let go of me!  I don’t want to talk to you,” she stated.  Spot looked at her hurt in his eyes for about a second then he released her and walked away.  He went up to his room where he slammed the door.  Bullseye went up after him. 

 

“Spot!” He knocked on the door. 

 

“What!” Spot called. 

 

“We need to sell papers,” Bullseye called back. 

 

“I ain’t selling the morning papers,” Spot called back. 

 

“He’s really caught up in this one,” Bullseye mumbled to himself as he walked away. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces woke up to no Jack or Skittery.  She was worried about them, but kept thinking about other things. 

 

“You’re selling with me today,” Blink said to her.  He was always second in command whenever Jack wasn’t around. 

 

“Blink, I can sell by myself.” Laces yawned.  Blink just shook his head. 

 

“No, ya can’t.  See what happened yesterday.  I ain’t letting you out of my sight for one second.  Who knows what would happen.” Blink walked over to Laces and held out his hand for hers.  She smiled a bit at the gesture and took his hand.  They walked out holding hands to get their papers. 

 

“Blink, why do I hurt the people around me so much?” Laces asked as they waited in line. 

 

“Laces, ya don’t hurt anyone,” Blink responded. 

 

“But I do Blink.  I’ve hurt Jack a few times, I’ve hurt Spot.  I hurt my mother, my father, I forgot my brother, I hurt his one true love, I hurt Skittery, I hurt BC, I’ve hurt everyone.”

 

Blink looked at Laces through the corner of his eye.  She really did believe that it was her fault and he had to admit half of it she helped along if she did cause it.  If she just stayed and listened to what she was told.  If she didn’t insist on being so stubborn.  A lot could be prevented, but then she wouldn’t be loved like she was. 

 

“I wish I could stop hurting everyone I know,” Laces said.  Blink turned and put his hand gently under her chin bringing her eyes up to his. 

 

“I would never ever want or let anyone change a thing about you,” he smiled.  Laces looked back and saw that he meant it, he really meant it. 

 

“Thanks Blink.” She smiled warmly. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Pockets walked outside the refuge of Manhattan, he didn’t know what he was going to do yet.  He knew what he wanted, but how to get it.  He saw a bull across the street and an idea caught his mind as he watched a young pick pocket try and steal something. 

 

Pockets was amused by the young pick pocket, at the small mistakes he made that could cost him the job.  Pockets had perfected the art of picking a pocket long ago, when he was young.  That’s how he became Pockets.  He walked across the street towards the bull.  He got close enough and in plain view because he was in front of the bull when he started to badger him. 

 

“Got any money sir?” he asked. 

 

“Scram kid,” the cop said. 

 

“But sir, just a penny would make me go away and get me something to eat.” Pockets took off his hat and held it towards the bull. 

 

“Leave me alone before I decided to throw ya into the joint for disturbance,” the bull warned.  Pockets smiled to himself as he spotted he saw a pouch.  He knew what was in the pouch all bulls carried it, but he wanted to get thrown in sometime today.  And he wasn’t thinking like his usual self, so he acted like an amateur and grabbed for it. 

 

“Hey!” Yelled the bull.  Pockets got it loose and started running.  Pockets didn’t run to fast because that was another he had learned to do, out run a bull.  He ran slowly and in the main street, another stupid move.  The bull caught up to him quickly and even with a buddy. 

 

“Stupid kid.  There’s bullets in here.” The bull snatched the bag from Pockets. 

 

“That will get you at least a week in the joint.  Let’s go.” The bull grabbed Pockets shirt collar and dragged him to the refugee. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot sat in his room when there was a knock on his window.  Spot sat up and looked out the window, there stood Sugar.  He jumped and opened the window. 

 

“Sug?  Something wrong?  Anything happen to Laces?  Decker?  Jack?” Spot asked surprised to see her.  Sugar shook her head. 

 

“Nothing has happened that I know of.”

 

“Then what are ya doing here?”

 

“I never thought I would see the day Spot Conlon is in love.  Actually in love aren’t you?” Sugar asked. 

 

“What?”

 

“You are.  Look at you.  Never have you stopped selling papers for anyone but maybe Laces.  But she was different right Spot, she was a prize to be won between you and Jack an unspoken challenge.  You never really loved her like that.  Ya loved her like a sister, but this one.  She has got a hold on ya that I would have wished I had,” Sugar said.  Spot sat there staring at her like she had finally gone completely insane. 

 

“What are ya talking about?”

 

“Ya and her.  Luv did something didn’t she.  Wait she kissed ya and she found ya two.”

 

“We’re ya watching?” Spot glared at her. 

 

“No, I don’t need to watch Spot.  I know you.  You’re a ladies man, you’ve always been!” Sugar sighed. 

 

“I am not.” Spot shook his head. 

 

“Oh please!  Before I came along you were with a new girl every week.  And then Laces came along almost ruined you and then her.  I have known you for a long time Spot and I have thought that I had come to have that hold over you because you and I were together for such a while.  I thought that maybe, just maybe we were in love.  Maybe we were but not for long.  Her though, there is something about her isn’t there Spot.  I wonder what it may be.”

 

“Sugar why do you care?”

 

“I should hate ya.  Oh how many times I have said that I should hate ya.  I can barely stand to look at you, only because I still hold ya close to my heart.  Hell you’re Spot Conlon, I just can’t damn get rid of you.  And you haven’t gotten any uglier.” Sugar took a breath. 

 

“Sugar, I don’t hate ya.”

 

“You shouldn’t! I didn’t do anything wrong.  It was you!  All you!” Sugar glared at Spot.  “But we’re not here to talk about us.  Us is over, has been forever.  We’re here to talk about her.  She has you, and you have her.  Don’t let this do anything to you Spot.  Stop thinking that the world is going to change because you’re Spot.  It doesn’t work that way, goyls are not going to quit coming on to ya even if they know about her,” Sugar said. 

 

Spot glared at Sugar, but didn’t say anything.  She hadn’t changed, she still stood proud.  She still had her blue eyes and her blonde hair around her face.  Spot sat there and thought for a moment, it was true he had dated a lot of girls.  He knew he had, he still remembered all of them.  He had liked all of them, but Sugar was right, she was one of the first that he had loved even if it had been only for a little while.  He hated her because she could see through him, her and Laces and Buttercup three of the girls who had always been able to look through him.  The only others were Spades and Angel, but they should be able to.  Luv had been able to see through part of him, the part that she knew didn’t want the kind of commitment he had to Buttercup. 

 

Luv always came along when a relationship got to long to meaningful.  She broke it up, she knew her Spot the one she had met a few years back.  He didn’t like long relationships, he didn’t like one girl having that much power over him.  But Spot had grown since Luv first met him, but now the feeling was still there not as strong as it once was, but it was there.  When Luv broke Spot and Sugar up he was almost grateful, of course she hadn’t done it alone that time Laces had helped.  But now, he did love BC he didn’t want to hurt her.  Spot looked up to say something to Sugar but she wasn’t there anymore. 

 

“God, she even knows how much I hate saying thanks,” Spot mumbled to himself. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Blink and Laces were selling at Blink’s spot, Jack came walking up to them.  Laces didn’t notice him Blink did though and he didn’t know what to do. 

 

“Hey Blink.  Thanks for watching her,” Jack said.  Blink nodded.  Laces turned around and saw him standing there.  He didn’t look very well, his hair was a mess, his shirt wasn’t tucked in all the way, he had dark circles under his eyes.  Laces shuddered as she recognized the look as one her father had worn a few times after coming home in the morning. 

 

“I need to talk to Laces if you don’t mind Blink,” Jack said.  Blink nodded and looked over at Laces, she looked a little nervous but he knew that she needed to talk to Jack so he moved away. 

 

“Laces, why did you do it?” Jack asked. 

 

“Jack you’ve been drinking,” Laces said back. 

 

“So what if I have.  Answer my question why?”

 

“Jack, it wasn’t my fault.  It was...”

 

“It’s never you’re fault.  Never!  It’s always someone else’s fault.  Laces, I ain’t buying it anymore.  It is you’re fault.”

 

“No Jack, it was…”

 

“You are such a two bit whore.  Maybe you should have done that when your father asked ya at least then you would be making money off of all of us.” Laces shuddered. 

 

“We should talk about this later Jack at the lodging house, after you’re not mad anymore, when you haven’t been drinking as much.”

 

“No.  I want to talk about it now!  I don’t want to talk about it later.  We’re going to talk about it now.”

 

“No we’re not.” Laces shook her head.  She was going to walk away but Jack grabbed her arm. 

 

“I said I wanted to talk about this now.”

 

“I don’t, you’re hurting me.”

 

“Good maybe I can hurt you as much as you’ve hurt me.”

 

“Jack let go of me!” Laces said.  Blink seeing what was going on ran over and pulled Jack’s hand off of Laces.  Laces ran away from them and through the street. 

 

“What did you do that for?” Jack demanded. 

 

“You were hurting her.  Ya ain’t in any mood to be talking to her about this Jack.  You don’t know what happened.  Maybe there is a perfectly good explanation for what happened.”

 

“Always!  You and the rest of the guys are always protecting her!  How many times I’ve said she ain’t no damn princess.”

 

“You never know Jack.  She could be royalty in disguise.  Remember that saying always be kind to strangers who are far from home because they could be angels.” Blink looked at Jack.  Jack glared at him. 

 

“This is no time for you’re jokes Blink,” Jack said. 

 

“Jack come on.  Go to the lodging house, sleep some.  I hope you didn’t spend al your cash on drinks last night.”

 

“Nah, I got some for lodging tonight.” Jack nodded. 

 

“Go.  I will let Laces explain this whole situation to you when you’re in a better mood and when she’s calm,” Blink said. 

 

“I don’t want to hear her excuses.” Jack walked away. 

 

“You’ll want to hear this one.  I hope she doesn’t run to far away and that she comes back.” Blink looked around she was already out of sight. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“What’s you’re name?” Mr. Grim asked. 

 

“Po...  I mean Ben Harper.” Mr. Grim frowned at him. 

 

“What are you in for?”

 

“Um.  I guess stealing.”

 

“You guess?” Mr. Grim frowned again as he looked at the complaint that the officer made. 

 

“Badgering an officer.  What are ya an amateur?” Grim looked at Pockets.  Pockets didn’t say anything though. 

 

“A week.” Grim shook his head.  Pockets got up and left the room.  He walked down the hall, it had been a while since he had been in a refuge, can’t say that he missed the joint either.  It was late afternoon he knew that everyone would be heading back to the bunkrooms soon.  So he stood in the hallway leaning against the wall waiting for everyone to come back. 

 

After a few minutes people started rushing down the hall, no one really took notice of Pockets.  Pockets skimmed the crowd for familiar faces, there weren’t many.  Actually there were maybe two out of the whole crowd that he might call familiar, but they didn’t even recognize him. 

 

“Guess I am getting too old for this.” He smiled.  The last ones to come up, he would recognize all four of them but he only noticed Angel first. 

 

“Angel!” he called out. 

 

Angel looked around by hearing her name, she then saw Pockets standing there with a grin on his face.  She ran over to him and he held his arms wide open for her. 

 

“Pockets!” She smiled as he picked her up and kissed her. 

 

“Hi Angel.” He smiled as he put her down. 

 

“What are you doing here?” she asked. 

 

“Oh nothing, I was around town.  Thought I would stop by and say hi.” He smiled. 

 

“Oh ya horrible boy.  What did you do?” she asked. 

 

“Nothing really.  I only got a week.  I tell you that story another time though.” Pockets smiled.  By this time Middy, Luna and Critter were standing near them.  Pockets took notice of Luna and Middy first. 

 

“What are you two?” Pockets stared at them shocked.  The two girls laughed. 

 

“Our question exactly.” Middy grinned. 

 

“You’ve grown.” Luna looked up at pockets he was almost a head taller then the three girls. 

 

“Wow I thought your bad girl days were done.  The both of you.” Pockets smiled.  The girls shrugged. 

 

“We thought so too.” Middy nodded.  He hugged the two girls and then turned to Critter. 

 

“Harper!  You still owe me a nickel.” Critter grinned.  Pockets looked at Critter surprised. 

 

“A Nickel huh?  How long ago was that?” Pockets asked. 

 

“I don’t know when you were about 4 feet tall I think.  You little sneak cheated me out of it.” Critter laughed. 

 

“What can I say, you’re too slow.  That wasn’t my fault.” Pockets laughed. 

 

“Yeah well, I want my nickel.” Critter held out his hand. 

 

“I tell ya what we can play a poker game for it.” Pockets grinned. 

 

“Poker?  You going to cheat me again?”

 

“No I can win fair and square.”

 

“Yeah.” Critter laughed. 

 

“So you two know each other?” Luna asked. 

 

“Yeah, this little scum ball owes me a nickel.” Critter patted Pockets on the back. 

 

“This is going to be interesting.” Middy nodded. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Buttercup was running down the street she didn’t know what to think.  All she could think was this is so familiar.  All this is too familiar and it was.  It was what happened with Jack and her, it’s what happened with Sugar and Spot.  It was something that happened in Jack and Spot’s lives a lot.  She should have learned, but no there she was, having dated one and dating the other. 

 

“Stop blaming yourself,” someone said.  BC turned and found a blonde girl with blue eyes that was about a head taller than her.  She was slim and of pale skin tone. 

 

“Who are you?” BC demanded. 

 

“Geez stop the horses, don’t run over me.  I didn’t do nothing.  Ise Sugar.”

 

“Sugar?  Not the same Sugar?” BC looked over the girl.  She had never really met her, she had known that she had been around and everything, but never had she met her. 

 

“Yup the same.  Please to meet you.” Sugar smiled and spit in her hand and pushed it towards BC. 

 

“Yeah.” BC took it and they shook hands. 

 

“I just came to tell you, go talk with him.  Get it out now, don’t let it wait.  You’ll lose each other that way.  Don’t let the like of her ruin what you have.  And it ain’t your fault, it’s not even really Spot’s it just the way things are.”

 

“But?  What, where, how?” BC started asking confused.  Sugar shook her head sending her blonde hair into the air flapping around her face. 

 

“No.  I just came to tell you that.  I hope you listen to me.  Believe me, if you have him.  If you tame him completely it will be one of best accomplishments.” Sugar turned to walked away. 

 

“Really?” Was all the BC said.  She was too confused to get the last part of what Sugar told her.  Sugar disappeared before her eyes though and BC stood there trying to understand what had happened.  She was still mad at Spot though and she wanted to kill Luv.  Too much familiarity in the problem, she shook it off and tried not to think about it. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces was walking right into the Bronx.  Right into it and she knew it.  She didn’t care though, at this point she didn’t care where she was going. 

 

“Look what we got here.  Ain’t that Laces?  The girl that Decker is all tied up for?” A boy asked. 

 

“I think it is.  What does he see in her, look at her she’s not all that pretty.  She’s short, her hair looks like a broom, and she’s dark,” the other boy said. 

 

“She ain’t that bad.  Look at her, she could be kind of pretty,” the first boy said. 

 

“Should we get her Beaver?”

 

“I think we should Rod.” The boys walked over to Laces from behind. 

 

“Lost miss?” Beaver asked.  Laces didn’t even turn around. 

 

“No, I know where I am thanks.”

 

“No miss.  I really think that you’re lost,” Rod repeated. 

 

“Do you want me to go with you to Decker?  Or would you prefer to make it look like you beat me up to get me there?” Laces turned to face the two boys.  Beaver was short and a little fuller than Rod, he had large teeth and short brown hair that was a bit of fuzz.  Rod was taller and had his hair tied back in a pony tail like some of the immigrants that walked around New York City did. 

 

“What?” Beaver was surprised. 

 

“Don’t you stay with Decker?” Laces frowned. 

 

“Yeah we do, but you ain’t supposed to want to come with us.” Rod was scratching his head. 

 

“I don’t care anymore.  He’s basically ruined my life.” Laces shrugged.  Beaver and Rod looked at each other confused but shrugged. 

 

“Well, if you’re really going to follow us we won’t hurt you.  But we’ll just hold ya to make sure,” Beaver said. 

 

“I won’t run away, I don’t care,” Laces said indifferently.  In a tone that almost made Beaver and Rod shudder.  The three walked to the Bronx Lodging House where Whiskey and Decker had gotten just a few minutes before.  The boys walked in with Laces. 

 

“Decker!” Beaver yelled. 

 

“I ain’t deaf Beaver!  I’m only right here!” Decker said back from the parlor. 

 

“We found that goyl that you wanted,” Rod said back as they entered the parlor of the lodging house. 

 

“You did what?” Whiskey asked surprised as they walked in with Laces. 

 

“Laces?” Decker was in shock. 

 

“Hello Decker, I thought you would like to finish the job.” Laces sat down.  Rod, Beaver, Whiskey and Decker stared at her. 

 

“What job are you talking about me dear?” Whiskey asked. 

 

“Gutting me, that is what you wanted to do ain’t it Decker?  I wasn’t sure if you meant for real or just in feelings, cause you sure as hell finished me off in feelings if that was you’re goal,” Laces said.  Rod and Beaver looked at Decker. 

 

“She’s been talking like that since we found her,” Beaver said. 

 

“Get out.  Laces, what happened?” Whiskey asked.  Beaver and Rod looked hurt but walked out tipping their hats to Laces.  Decker just stood there staring at Laces, he couldn’t believe this girl, she knew that he would cut her up on the streets when he saw her and yet she came here.  Willing she came to her attacker’s place it didn’t make any sense to him her boldness. 

 

“Well what are you waiting for?  I thought you wanted to finish me off?  Jack hates me, all I do is hurt everyone anyway.  I don’t see how anyone can love me.” Laces sat there holding her arms out to Decker waiting for him to do something.  Whiskey laughed.  Laces glared at him. 

 

“Do you find something amusing?” she asked. 

 

“Actually I do.” He nodded.  “Decker come here.” He walked out of the room.  Decker followed him. 

 

“You have her where you want her,” Whiskey whispered to Decker. 

 

“I do?” Decker asked. 

 

“You do, look at her.  She’s broken down into pieces, you make her believe that you are in love with her and will never hurt her.  You make her love you, she will tell you anything you want to know about Brooklyn or Manhattan.  She knows it, she is the key!” Whiskey whispered. 

 

“Do you think I can?” Decker asked. 

 

“You idiot!  Isn’t this what you wanted?” Whiskey stood up.  Decker glared at him. 

 

“Yeah it is, and I will do it.” Decker walked back into the room. 

 

“Oh dear, the only thing that will make me worry is Kawaii.” Whiskey shook his head.  He himself had always been attracted to Kawaii so this left it open for him, but she was in love with Decker and this would hurt her. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

February 11th

 

“Jack, she didn’t come home last night.” Blink was looking out the window worried. 

 

“She’s probably fine Blink with that new boy of hers,” Jack said back. 

 

“All right Jack, you’re acting like a jerk!  Laces doesn’t have a new guy.” Blink shook his head. 

 

“How would ya know Blink, ya always on her side.” Jack shook his head. 

 

“It was Decker!  Ya moron.  Decker kissed her, had a knife up to her.  Ya were to busy thinking that it was someone else.  That she was playing ya that ya didn’t take a second look!” Blink yelled. 

 

“What how do ya know that?” Jack asked looking confused. 

 

“Because I talked to her while ya were busy getting drunk.” Blink shook his head. 

 

“Why didn’t she say anything?  Why didn’t she tell me?” Jack asked. 

 

“Ya didn’t listen to her!  She had a knife to her side she couldn’t exactly say what he was doing and then when ya talked ta her ya were drunk and cruel.” Blink glared at Jack. 

 

“Blink where do you think she is?  Where do you think she went?  What if he found her again?  What if something happened to her?” Jack was shaking Blink.  Blink grabbed Jack’s arms. 

 

“Stop!  First ya have to pull yourself together and then we have to split up and go looking for her,” Blink said. 

 

“Al right, all right.” Jack nodded running a hand through his hair and taking a deep breath. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“DAMN!  Haven’t they found her yet?  How the hell could she have lost her!” Jasper slammed his fist against the wall.  It was one of the first times he had been out since he was put in charge.  The birds were on all alert, Voodoo who had been watching Laces had lost her when she dozed off for a moment. 

 

Jasper was out with Matches being look out’s near the bridge.  Filly was running back and forth on the bridge and every bird was on the lookout. 

 

“I don’t know, all I’ve heard is that she dozed off.” Matches shrugged. 

 

“Damn.  I’m going to have to have a talk with that girl.” Jasper was getting very frustrated, they had been up all night but nothing had been discovered. 

 

“Spot ain’t going to be happy about this,” Matches said. 

 

“Spot ain’t finding out about this unless we don’t find her.  Sides he is a little busy with BC right now.” Jasper sighed. 

 

“This ain’t good.” Matches shook his head. 

 

Through out the city there was birds chirping above the sound and ya could pick it up if you were looking for it. 

 

Smalls was sitting on the roof of the building across the Bronx Lodging House, she had positioned herself there around 3 in the morning.  She was now waiting for the boys to head out because she was thinking that Laces could be being held by them. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces woke up in the Bronx Lodging House bunkroom. 

 

“Laces.  Wake up,” Kawaii whispered.  Laces opened her eyes and sighed. 

 

“Heya Kawaii.  Thanks for waking me up.” Laces jumped up. 

 

“Ya going to sell today?” Kawaii asked. 

 

“No.  I don’t think so.” Laces shook her head. 

 

“Why ya so sad?” Kawaii asked. 

 

“No real reason.  Just sad.” Laces shrugged.  Kawaii nodded. 

 

“I get like that sometimes.” She smiled. 

 

“Yeah.” Laces nodded. 

 

“Laces!  Ya look so beautiful this morning.” Decker smiled. 

 

“Um, thanks.” Laces frowned a bit. 

 

“Will ya join me in selling the morning papers?” Decker asked extending his hand to her.  Kawaii watched shocked and Laces started to shake her head.  Then she remembered she was in Decker’s territory now.  She had come here, he had a knife and she wasn’t sure if he would hesitate to use it. 

 

“Sure Decker.” Laces nodded.  Kawaii stared at her confused.  Decker and Laces walked downstairs and Whiskey came up to Kawaii and put an arm around her shoulder. 

 

“Morning.” He smiled. 

 

“What is going on here?  I come home to find her here.  I thought that Decker wanted to use her to get to Brooklyn and Manhattan this isn’t making any sense.” Kawaii shook her head. 

 

“Don’t worry about it Kawaii I don’t really get it either.” Whiskey nodded.  “Want to sell with me?”

 

“Sure Whisk.” Kawaii nodded. 

 

They all headed out, Smalls spotted Laces out of the crowd quickly.  Smalls quickly put her fingers into her mouth and whistled one long whistle and then three short ones as she started to run along the roof tops after Decker and Laces. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“There it was!  Someone found her!  Thank god, I was getting real tired.” Firecracker yawned. 

 

“God we betta get back send word, Jasper must be ready to throw someone off the bridge.” Relic smiled. 

 

“And I’m sure that some of the birds need sleep.” FC nodded.  The two girls ran in different directions and after going a while, whistled one long whistle and then three short ones.  FC went down a fire escape and Relic kept going her direction on the rooftops. 

 

The birds throughout the city found out that Laces had been found and slipped out of their hiding spots and into allies, buildings, anywhere and fell asleep for a quick nap.  They were all tired out. 

 

Jasper heard a long whistle, then three short ones from the middle of the bridge that Filly sent his way. 

 

“They found her.  Oh thank god they found her.” Jasper sighed. 

 

“Now what do we do?” Matches yawned. 

 

“We wait until whoever it is that found her sends more information.” Jasper sighed as he sat back down. 

 

“How many of the birds ya think are sleeping?” Matches asked. 

 

“About half.  They betta not sleep long.” Jasper looked across the bridge and could see Filly sit in the middle on the ledge watching the water below her. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“BC won’t talk to me.” Spot shook his head. 

 

“Have ya tried talking to her?” Bullseye asked. 

 

“No, cause she won’t talk to me,” Spot said back.  They were selling papers in Spot’s usual spot. 

 

“Ya don’t know that.  After a day to cool down, I think she should be ready to talk to you,” Bullseye said back. 

 

“I had to go to Manhattan yesterday.  I think I should go today,” Spot said. 

 

“No, ya should talk to BC.  Manhattan can wait.  Laces is a Brooklyn goyl she can take care of herself sides she’s got Jack and the others,” Bullseye said. 

 

“Yeah, but she got into trouble with Jack.” Spot shook his head. 

 

“Jack would never let anything happen to her though.”

 

“But ya can do crazy things when ya in love with that goyl and she’s got ya mad.”

 

“There are still the others.  Ya need to talk with BC.” Bullseye shook his head.  “And the birds will tell ya if anything happens to Laces.”

 

“Fine, I’ll talk to her.  Will ya stop badgering me about it.” Spot groaned. 

 

“Maybe.  I really never thought I would see the day.” Bullseye laughed. 

 

“Don’t start.  Please!” Spot said weary of the subject already. 

 

“It’s true though.” Bullseye laughed. 

 

“Shut up.  Before I soak ya,” Spot warned.  Bullseye laughed and shook his head. 

 

“All right.” He nodded. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Why haven’t ya finished me off yet?” Laces was asking Decker.  “Is it because ya want to make me scared?  Did I ruin it by coming to you?  Would I have been better off acting scared?  Cause I can act scared if that will mean that you will finish me off.”

 

“Why do ya want me to finish ya off so badly?” Decker asked. 

 

“Because I do.” Laces shrugged. 

 

“Let me tell ya something, I ain’t going to finish ya off until ya tell me why ya want me to so badly,” Decker said. 

 

“God, where’s Pepper when ya need him.  I know he wouldn’t even think twice about shooting me.  Bobby would probably do the same thing.  My brother would hate that though, I think he would never talk to me which would make me so sad.” Laces began to ramble. 

 

“You got a brother?” Decker asked.  Laces turned to look at him. 

 

“Ya didn’t know that?” she asked. 

 

“Nah, I didn’t know that.”

 

“Well he’s dead.  But everyone I thought knew that.  I mean ya are chasing me, I figured ya had some type of a reason.  Everyone does.” Laces shrugged. 

 

“I do, but I didn’t know ya had a brother.” Decker frowned. 

 

“Ya should learn to find everything out about your target it’s better that way.  Pepper said that to me when he had me.  Man I hate that guy.  Maybe I wouldn’t want him to shoot me because that would give him too much pleasure.  Sides he has killed too many already.  I mean can ya believe him?” Laces was still rambling on and confusing Decker. 

 

“Laces?” he said.  She turned to look at him and he kissed her again.  Laces pushed him away lightly, but she did. 

 

“What are you doing?” she asked. 

 

“Kissing ya,” he replied back. 

 

“Are ya like trying to work me mind or something like that?” Laces asked. 

 

“What?” Decker scratched his head. 

 

“Ya know like play with me head so that when ya kill me ya like have like done something or another.  I don’t know I read about it once in the paper,” Laces replied. 

 

“No I don’t think so.  It’s just ya just so.  I don’t know.” Decker replied. 

 

“I’m what?” Laces demanded. 

 

“Ya beautiful and just so interesting,” Decker replied. 

 

“Ya think I’m beautiful?” Laces asked. 

 

“Well hell yeah.  Look at ya,” Decker said. 

 

“Thanks.  I didn’t think that I was beautiful.  Not many people say that to me.” Laces shrugged. 

 

“They’re all idiots,” Decker said. 

 

“You’re not that bad, what is your deal.  Threatening to kill me and all.  You’re never going to finish me off huh?” Laces asked. 

 

“Um I have to go,” Decker said as he walked away.  Laces stood there confused but shrugged as she finished selling papers. 

 

Smalls was standing across the street and as soon as Decker left Laces standing there she ran across the street and pushed her into the small store near where Laces was. 

 

“Hey!” Laces said. 

 

“Sorry, are ya okay?  Did he hurt ya?” Smalls asked pushing her hair out of the way and fixing her hat. 

 

“Who are ya?” Laces demanded. 

 

“I’m Smalls,” she replied.  “Now did he hurt ya?”

 

“No I’m fine why would ya care?” Laces asked. 

 

“I need to get ya out of here.  I don’t know how he got ya in the first place without anyone noticing.” Smalls shook her head as she tried to figure out what to do. 

 

“What are you talking about.  I ain’t going anywhere with no one,” Laces replied. 

 

“But Decker will hurt ya if ya stay here.  I don’t know why ya haven’t tried to run yet.  Was he holding a knife up to you?” Smalls asked. 

 

“No, Decker isn’t going to do anything to me.  I think he’s in love with me.  I came here by meself, I don’t know where ya came from,” Laces replied. 

 

“Ya came here on your own are ya crazy?” Smalls asked. 

 

“I don’t like being asked stupid questions.” Laces started walking away. 

 

“Wait!  Ya can’t go back he’s going to hurt ya!” Smalls called after her.  Laces didn’t pay attention though and kept walking. 

 

“Shit,” Smalls mumbled as she walked back out and watched Laces and once she had a lock on her crossed the street.  As she watched Laces sell her remaining papers she thought about who perched in this area.  She couldn’t think of anyone and Laces was moving quickly. 

 

“Oh God,” Smalls mumbled as she followed Laces. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The day was growing old and Jack and the rest of the Manhattan newsies could not find Laces.  They searched high and low, finally Jack found Relic. 

 

“Hey!” he called to her, he was with Blink.  Relic turned to look at them and stopped sighing. 

 

“Jack, Blink.” She nodded. 

 

“Where the hell is she?  Do ya know?  Ya have to know?” Jack asked. 

 

“I don’t know where she is.” Relic shook her head. 

 

“WHY NOT!” Jack grabbed Relic. 

 

“Let me go.” Relic warned.  Blink pulled Jack away from Relic. 

 

“Jack, get a grip,” Blink said. 

 

“I don’t know where she is, but we have found her,” Relic replied. 

 

“What?  Found her so she’s okay?” Jack asked. 

 

“I don’t know.  Haven’t heard any news since this morning when someone found her.  We were up all night looking for her cause in the park yesterday when Jack went to talk to her Voodoo dozed off for a moment and the next she was gone,” Relic said. 

 

“God.” Jack shook his head.  “This is my fault.”

 

“That it is.” Relic nodded. 

 

“Does Spot know?” Blink suddenly asked. 

 

“I don’t know if he knows yet.  Haven’t heard word of that.  I think Jasper is waiting until we know where she is to tell him.  Otherwise he’ll just have a fit,” Relic responded. 

 

“Thanks Relic,” Blink said. 

 

“No problem.” She nodded.  She walked away and Jack stood there with Blink trying to get him to move. 

 

“Blink what if something happened to her?  I will never be able to forgive myself.” Jack shook his head. 

 

“Jack, don’t think about it.  She’s Laces member her way with people.  She’s okay, I know that,” Blink said. 

 

“She better be okay.  I can’t live without her Blink.  I don’t know how we ever did.” Jack shook his head. 

 

“I don’t remember much about life before Laces,” Blink said.  “I also don’t remember a moment of peace since she got here.”

 

“I hope you’re right about her being okay.” Jack nodded as they headed back to the lodging house to wait.  Now that they knew that she had been found, they knew that the Spot would go and get them when he knew anything about it.  Now they had to sit and wait. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The night was now completely fallen and Laces entered the lodging house and Smalls took a deep breath hoping she didn’t’ go anywhere.  But just in case she whistled two short ones.  She sat there waiting for a response for about a minute and someone responded.  Exactly five hoots not far away, Smalls sighed as she hooted back 3 times, and then whistled once in a short breath.  She hopped down quickly and stepped into the street.  Someone about three buildings away stepped out too and walked towards her. 

 

“Smalls.” The girl nodded. 

 

“Dais, what are ya doing in these parts?” Smalls asked. 

 

“I was actually thinking about going to Brooklyn for a little while, everything is pretty clear in Harlem right now and there are 3 other birds in the place.  They will watch around.  Sides as soon as I get to Brooklyn Jasper will send someone else out there.” Daisy smiled. 

 

“Oh.” Smalls nodded. 

 

“What did ya need?  Sounded urgent,” Daisy asked. 

 

“It’s Laces,” Smalls started. 

 

“No surprise there.  I was up all night looking for her and it’s always her now.” Dais shook her head. 

 

“Well I’m the one that found her and she’s in the Bronx Lodging House.  I talked to her this afternoon apparently she came here on her own free will and Decker isn’t going to hurt her.  I need ya ta make sure she don’t move, or run to tell someone else that can run and tell Spot,” Smalls said. 

 

“Spot doesn’t know any of this yet?” Daisy asked. 

 

“Nope nothing.” Smalls shook her head. 

 

“I’m guessing ya been either sitting or running after her all day?  What do ya want to do stay and watch or run and tell?” Dais asked. 

 

“Well, if ya don’t mind watching.  I would like to run,” Smalls replied. 

 

“Go ahead honey.” Dais laughed as she walked towards the escape to climb to the roof. 

 

“Thanks Dais!” Smalls smiled and took off running down the street.  Smalls ran fast, which she could.  She got to the bridge where Filly was still sitting in the middle of. 

 

“Filly,” Smalls said. 

 

“Smalls?” Filly yawned. 

 

“Yeah it’s me, we might be getting some sleep tonight after all.” She smiled.  Filly jumped. 

 

“What do you know?” she demanded. 

 

“I’m the one who found her.  She’s in the Bronx, but at her own will.  She ain’t hurt and she doesn’t think that Decker will hurt her,” Smalls said. 

 

“Who did ya leave her with?  Ya didn’t leave her there.  With our luck she’ll be gone by the time we go back.” Filly sighed. 

 

“Dais is with her, I ain’t in training Filly.  I know what I’se doing.” Smalls sighed. 

 

“Yeah well so did Voodoo and FC but they have fowled up lately,” Filly replied. 

 

“But they just started, everyone messes something up when they just starting,” Smalls replied.  The two girls heard a whistle. 

 

“Jasper about to have our heads.” Filly groaned. 

 

“Ah if it was Critter he would already be down here kicking our asses.” Smalls laughed. 

 

“Jasper was always more patient than Critter.” Filly laughed.  They heard the whistle again. 

 

“I’ll go and run and tell him, ya sit there.” Filly pointed to her spot, Smalls nodded and sat down while Filly ran across the rest of the bridge and towards Jasper’s building.  She climbed it and found Jasper with arms crossed. 

 

“Well?” he said. 

 

“Laces is in the Bronx Lodging House, she went there on her own will.  She doesn’t think Decker will hurt her and he hasn’t yet.  Dais is watching her and Smalls was the one who found her and is now sitting on the bridge,” Filly said. 

 

“About time,” Jasper said. 

 

“Matches, go tell Spot,” Jasper ordered. 

 

“But Jasper!” Matches started, but Jasper glared at him.  Matches ran off. 

 

“Ya sit here Filly in case of anything.  I am heading back to the place.  Who knows what else might be going on in this city by now.” Filly nodded and Jasper walked away. 

 

Matches was running towards the Brooklyn Lodging House, he really didn’t want to be the one to tell Spot this.  It wasn’t something he liked to do, break the news to Spot about something as important as this.  He was more of the one who found out what was going on.  He saw RB walking across the street.  He stopped and hooted once.  She turned to him and he smiled. 

 

“Laces is at the Bronx Lodging House, she went there on her own free will, she ain’t hurt and she’s there right now.  She doesn’t think Decker will hurt her.  Go tell Conlon,” Matches said.  RB frowned. 

 

“Jasper sent ya to tell him didn’t he?” she asked. 

 

“No,” Matches replied. 

 

“Lair,” she said before she took off.  Matches started walking around her part of town.  RB got to the lodging house in no time. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“BC please talk to me!  Come on.  She kissed me, ya know I love ya!  Come on!” Spot was sitting in the parlor trying to get BC to talk to him but she was not even looking at him. 

 

RB stood outside jumping up and down outside the window, but he didn’t see her until he turned around out of frustration. 

 

“Fine, we’ll talk about this tomorrow.” Spot said as he walked out of the room quickly and out into the street. 

 

“Spot!” BC called after him.  But he didn’t turn around. 

 

“What is going on?” Spot asked as he stepped out. 

 

“Laces has been in the Bronx for the past day and night,” RB said. 

 

“WHAT?  WHY in the hell had I not been told?  God is she okay?” Spot gripped his cane harder. 

 

“She’s all right, she went there on her own free will,” RB replied. 

 

“What?  Is she crazy.  Oh God.” Spot shook his head.  “Tell Jasper that we are going to talk about this when it’s all over,” Spot said back to her.  RB nodded knowing that was coming, boy were they going to get yelled at again.  Spot walked to the door and opened it. 

 

“BULLSEYE!” he called out.  Bullseye came running down the stairs. 

 

“Yeah Spot?” Bullseye asked. 

 

“Spot!” BC was saying. 

 

“I’m going to get Manhattan and then I’m going to the Bronx, get me a group of the boys.  Ya can come, but then Fists stays,” Spot said.  Bullseye nodded and whistled twice long.  A group of the boys came down. 

 

“I’ll stay, I ain’t feeling up to a fight tonight,” Fist said as he stood at the top of the stairs.  Spot nodded and Bullseye did too. 

 

Buttercup jumped and went over to the group. 

 

“Spot what is going on?  A fight?  What happened?” BC asked. 

 

“Stay here BC.” Spot said as he turned around most of the boys followed him and Bullseye stayed a moment holding BC. 

 

“Don’t follow us, it ain’t safe.  All right.  Promise me?” Bullseye asked. 

 

“No, what is going on?” BC demanded. 

 

“Look I don’t really know, but ya can’t follow us.  Come on promise?” Bullseye asked quickly. 

 

“Fine,” BC said as she started to pout.  Bullseye started out quickly. 

 

“Be careful,” BC whispered as she walked back to the parlor and sat to wait. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The night wasn’t getting any younger it was around ten, Jack and the rest of the guys were sitting around the parlor waiting for any news. 

 

“Do ya really think she’s okay?” Mush was asking. 

 

“For the thousandth time I think she’s all right.” Blink sighed.  “I hope,” He mumbled to himself. 

 

“Yeah Laces is fine, she’s probably out in the refuge because she tried to pick pocket again, member she ain’t any good at that.” Race tried to laugh. 

 

Spot stormed into the Manhattan Lodging House with a group of boys behind him. 

 

“What is going on?” Kloppman asked.  One of the Brooklyn boys started to explain. 

 

“Kelly!  Ya ready to go.  We’re going to the Bronx now,” Spot said. 

 

“Why what happened?” Race asked nervous. 

 

“No time to explain.” Spot shook his head.  Jack nodded got up and headed out the door with half of his newsies.  Mush, Blink, Skittery, Jake, Dutchy, Specs, Race and Snitch headed out with Jack. 

 

“Be careful!” Kloppman called after them as the group left the lodging house. 

 

“What was that about?” Snipeshooter asked not really understanding. 

 

“Laces.” Bottle Cap stood at the door.  “Coming Snipes?”

 

“Ya two shouldn’t be going, who knows what going to happen.” Kloppman warned. 

 

“Well, we’re going to find out.” Snipes shrugged and the two headed out.  Kloppman shook his head. 

 

“The one time that Bottle Cap acts like his old self is when Laces is in danger.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Bottle Cap and Snipeshooter caught up with the group of boys in no time. 

 

“So are we going to fight?  I didn’t even know that we had declared war,” Snipes said. 

 

“What are you two doing here?” Skittery moaned. 

 

“We always come along.  Sides this time ya didn’t say we couldn’t.” Bottle Cap shrugged. 

 

“Stay back here, don’t get near or in the sight of Jack and Spot.  They ain’t in their best moods, they shouldn’t have to deal with ya right now,” Skittery warned.  The boys nodded. 

 

The group walked towards the Bronx most of them not really knowing why, only that there was about to be a rumble. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces was sitting in the parlor with Decker, Whiskey and Kawaii. 

 

“So what are ya going to do Laces?” Whiskey asked. 

 

“About what?” Laces asked. 

 

“Are ya going back to Brooklyn or Manhattan?”

 

“I don’t know.  I was thinking about leaving New York.” Laces shrugged. 

 

“Now what could those boys have done to you to make you want to leave New York?”

 

“Nothing, they didn’t do anything but care for me.” Laces shrugged.  Decker was staring at her from his chair, Whiskey kicked at him to get him to stop. 

 

Suddenly someone stormed in.  Decker jumped and pushed Laces towards the back of the room behind him.  Whiskey did the same with Kawaii.  Spot and Jack stormed in, Jack grabbed Decker and Spot grabbed Whiskey. 

 

“Where the hell is she?” Jack demanded. 

 

“Who?” Decker acted stupid. 

 

“I’m right here,” Laces said from behind Decker.  Skittery went over to her and picked her up. 

 

“Put me down!” Laces said. 

 

“What did ya do to her?  I can’t believe ya so stupid as to go as low as to kidnap her!” Jack pushed Decker to the wall.  Spot glared at Whiskey. 

 

“Stop!” Laces said.  No one stopped though, Jack started to punch Decker and Spot began to fight with Whiskey. 

 

“Stop!  Skittery let me go!” Laces screamed.  Skittery didn’t let her go though.  Bottle Cap and Snipes kicked Skittery in the back part of the knee. 

 

“Ow!” Skittery let go of Laces she ran over to Jack and Decker. 

 

“Stop!  Please!” She sighed trying to pull Jack away from Decker. 

 

“This isn’t the time Jack, this means war Decker,” Spot said as Jack got up. 

 

“NO!” Laces screamed.  All the boys looked at her. 

 

“Laces honey, ya have to calm down.” Blink went towards her. 

 

“Don’t come near me Blink!” Laces said to him.  “No War!  I don’t want a war!” Laces said as she looked at Jack and Spot. 

 

“Laces they kidnapped ya, they’ve attacked us, mostly ya.” Spot said glaring at Whiskey. 

 

“They didn’t kidnap me!” Laces said. 

 

“What?” Spot and Jack said in unison. 

 

“I came here,” Laces said. 

 

“Ya weren’t thinking right.” Spot shook his head.  “Have they hurt ya?”

 

“No they haven’t hurt me!  No war.  No war.  Not over me.  Not again.” Laces shook her head. 

 

“Laces this was going to happen.  It’s what we wanted.” Decker sighed. 

 

“Why?” Laces asked.  Decker shrugged.  She walked over to him and took his hand and started to walk out of the room.  Blink, Mush and Race though stood at the door not letting her pass. 

 

“Move.” Laces glared at them, directly at Mush though who sooner or later would crumble.  He moved aside and she pushed pass Race and across the hall. 

 

“Where are ya going?” Spot demanded, Laces didn’t respond though.  She went into the room and shut the door with Decker. 

 

“What is it that you want Decker?” she asked. 

 

“What?”

 

“Why do you want to fight this war?  What is so important?  It isn’t for me?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then what is it for?”

 

“Power.  I want Brooklyn and Manhattan’s power.” Decker shrugged. 

 

“Why?  What is it about their power?  And don’t ya know that ya can’t have that!”

 

“What why not?  Tell me how to get it Laces.  Ya know everything about them.”

 

“No, no I don’t.  I don’t understand them anymore then you do.  And ya can’t win their power, they have gained their power through years of battles, and strength that they have.  Just because ya come along, you’re young and new, but ya can’t get that kind of power just like that.  Ya can’t get it in a war.” Laces shook her head. 

 

“How long have ya been with them?”

 

“A few years now,” Laces replied. 

 

“Ya don’t think that I could win this war?” he asked. 

 

“I know ya can’t fight this war,” Laces replied. 

 

“Fine.” Decker nodded. 

 

“Thank you.” Laces kissed Decker on the cheek and the two walked out. 

 

“Laces what the hell do ya think you’re doing?” Spot demanded. 

 

“No war.” Laces shook her head. 

 

“I don’t want to fight a war with ya,” Decker said. 

 

“After everything ya’ve done.” Jack stared, eyes angry.  Laces walked up to him. 

 

“No war.” She shook her head.  Jack looked at her a moment and then at Spot. 

 

“Fine no war.  Let’s get out of here.” Spot groaned and the boys started to walk out.  Spot grabbed Laces arm. 

 

“Let’s go,” He said. 

 

“Wait, I’ll be out in a second.  I promise,” Laces said. 

 

“Ya got two minutes and then I’ll come back in here for ya.” Spot warned as he walked out. 

 

“See ya Laces,” Decker said as he climbed the stairs.  Kawaii and Whiskey stood there mouths hanging open. 

 

“Wow, ya just.  Did ya just do what I think you did?” Kawaii asked. 

 

“I didn’t do anything.” Laces smiled a bit.  “Thanks for being so nice Kawaii.” Laces hugged Kawaii. 

 

“No problem.”

 

“Thanks Whiskey,” Laces said. 

 

“For what?” he asked. 

 

“I don’t know.” Laces shrugged. 

 

“Ya really are some kind of goyl.” Whiskey sighed. 

 

“No, I am not.” Laces shook her head as she walked out. 

 

“I heard about her I did, but never did I really think she was like they said she was.” Whiskey shook his head. 

 

“She is.  Exactly like they say she is.” Kawaii nodded. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I don’t believe ya!  What were ya doing?  I heard that ya came here on your own free will?” Spot was asking Laces. 

 

“Spot, I don’t want to talk about it,” Laces said. 

 

“You’re going to talk about it.  Jack she’s coming home with me,” Spot said. 

 

“Spot, I need to talk to her too,” Jack said. 

 

“I don’t want to talk to you,” Laces responded.  “Not now.”

 

“What is going on here?” Spot demanded. 

 

“Nothing Spot.  Can we just go,” Laces said. 

 

“I don’t like this, I will get this out of you Laces.” Spot was mad, annoyed and everything else that he could be at that moment.  He kept walking and Jack kept walking.  Skittery tried to talk to Laces but she wouldn’t talk to him either.  Blink tried to get her to talk to someone but she wouldn’t talk to anyone but Bottle Cap and Snipes. 

 

“Laces did ya know that the stars in the sky are millions of miles away,” Snipes said.  Laces nodded. 

 

“Don’t mind Spot Laces, he’s not only mad at ya.  BC and him are having a fight,” Bottle Cap said. 

 

“Jack and Laces are having a fight too, even though I don’t know about what,” Snipe said to Bottle Cap. 

 

“You two boys should stay out of people’s business,” Laces suddenly said. 

 

The Manhattan boys stayed in Manhattan and the Brooklyn boys went back towards Brooklyn, night was almost morning when the boys got back.  BC was waiting but Spot went straight up to his room and Laces did too. 

 

“Laces what happened?” BC asked. 

 

“Nothing BC.” Laces responded as she got into bed without as much as taking her hat off.  BC looked at her strangely but shrugged at least she knew that everyone was okay. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

February 12th

 

“Angel is starting to fall for Critter!” Middy laughed.  

 

“Am not, I love Pockets,” Angel responded.  “You two are just annoying.”

 

“Nah, ya just don’t want to admit that you love Critter.” Luna smiled.  Pockets was standing outside the bunkroom when Luna said this.  He couldn’t believe it.  Could it be true that Angel was in love with him?  Pockets being the hot headed type of guy he was walked over to where Critter was and threw him against a wall. 

 

“What is wrong with ya?” Critter asked. 

 

“Ya!  How could ya, didn’t ya know.  Now ya know she’s mine.  Finally mine!” Pockets started to punch Critter.  Critter pushed Pockets and the two boys were rolling around the ground before no time. 

 

“Fight!  Fight!  Fight!” someone started yelling.  Angel, Middy and Luna ran out and saw that it was Pockets and Critter fighting. 

 

“What are you two doing?  Stop this!” Angel said. 

 

“Critter come on, get up quit it,” Middy said. 

 

“Pockets get off him, come on.  What has gotten into you two?” Luna asked.  The guards came down and tried to grabbed Pockets and Critter.  They didn’t succeed though.  Mr. Grim came out of his office with a bucket and dumped it onto Pockets and Critter. 

 

“What the!” Pockets and Critter jumped away from each other.  The guards grabbed them. 

 

“You two need to cool down.  Cells for two days.” Mr. Grim said. 

 

“What?” Critter said. 

 

“Don’t talk back.” Mr. Grim said.  The guards carried them off. 

 

“What was that all about?” Luna wondered out loud. 

 

“I don’t know, but I will find out,” Angel said. 

 

“Geez, two days in the cells that would drive me insane.” Middy shook her head. 

 

“Yeah same here.” Luna nodded as they looked down the hall. 

 

Pockets was pushed into the cell next to the one that Critter was pushed into.  They were locked in, Critter slammed against the door. 

 

“I didn’t do anything!” he called but no one was around anymore.  Pockets sat down staring at his shoes he remembered he had met Laces in a similar position, or he had introduced himself to her, because they had meet when she ran into him. 

 

“What the hell is your problem Pockets?” Critter called out. 

 

“She’s mine.  I don’t want to fight off more guys.  Laces was the same way, but she was in love too.  I lost her too, before I knew her I lost her.” Pockets shook his head. 

 

“What are you talking about?” Critter asked. 

 

“Angel, she’s mine.  Why do ya have to show up?” Pockets asked. 

 

“Why do ya think that Angel and I are?” Critter started. 

 

“I heard them talking about it, Middy says that she’s in love with ya.” Pockets sighed.  Critter didn’t say anything more.  The boys were silent sitting in the dark cells. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Laces I need to talk to you!” Spot was saying. 

 

“Go away!” Laces would respond. 

 

“No, I will talk to you.  And then to you, Buttercup,” Spot said as he stormed in. 

 

“You need to talk to Buttercup,” Laces said as she got up and walked out. 

 

“Where are you going?” Spot asked. 

 

“Spades’,” Laces responded.  She kept walking out of the building towards Spades’. 

 

“Buttercup, I’m sorry about not staying last night.  Laces was in the Bronx with Decker,” Spot said as he sat down. 

 

“That’s fine.  When Laces is in trouble ya run to save her,” BC said. 

 

“Do you have a problem with that?” Spot demanded. 

 

“No Spot.  I don’t.” BC shook her head. 

 

“BC, come on.  I’m sorry about the kiss.  But it was Luv.  She comes around, she says she loves me.  But she knows that I love you.  She knows it, and I love you,” Spot said. 

 

“Spot, how could ya kiss her?  You didn’t pull away, she pulled away.  How could ya do that to me?” BC demanded. 

 

“BC, come on please forgive me, I love ya.  Ya know it.  I don’t know how I could get on without knowing that I don’t have your love.” Spot got onto his knees.  BC looked at him and all she could think in the back of her head was how many times will you hear Spot Conlon beg and get down on his knees. 

 

“Spot.” BC was planning on making him beg more but she looked into his eyes and she crumbled.  “You know that I love you.” She sighed. 

 

“I know that but do you forgive me?” Spot took BC’s hand and held it tightly as he looked at her again. 

 

“I just, ya hurt me Spot,” she said. 

 

“I know, I know.  I didn’t mean to.  I didn’t want to.  And I know I don’t deserve for you to forgive me but,” Spot was saying. 

 

“I forgive ya.” BC nodded. 

 

“I just, ya know.  I couldn’t help myself but I love you.” Spot kept going. 

 

“Spot, I forgive ya,” BC said.  Spot smiled and got up and kissed her. 

 

“Now I need to figure out what is going on with Laces.” Spot said. 

 

“Can’t that wait until tomorrow?” BC asked as she started kissing Spot. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Laces walked into Spades place.  Spades was sitting with Blue on the couch.  Scorch was sleeping on the counter and the others weren’t there. 

 

“Laces, haven’t seen you around these parts in a while.  Mad at someone?” Spades asked. 

 

“Mad at someone?  Is that the only reason ya think that I come out here,” Laces asked as she sat down. 

 

“It always has been, usually ya in some kind of trouble or ya mad at someone.  Even when we first meet ya it was that way,” Spades said. 

 

“I guess.” Laces shrugged. 

 

“So who is it Spot?  Or Jack?  Did ya two have your first fight?” Blue asked. 

 

“First fight would be an understatement, even though it is our first as a couple I guess.” Laces shrugged.  “And he had it, I just won’t talk to him right now.  He just, I don’t believe him.”

 

“What happened honey?” Spades asked. 

 

“Decker was kissing me and Jack didn’t know it was Decker and thought it was just someone else and that I was using him.  He got mad and left me, then when he came to talk to me he was drunk.  He reminded me of my father, I ran off.” Laces shook her head. 

 

“Yes I heard about ya running off to Decker’s I meant to talk to you about that.” Spades nodded. 

 

“How did ya hear it was just last night?” Laces asked. 

 

“Ya forgot how the birds chirp.” Blue smiled. 

 

“Oh them.” Laces nodded. 

 

“Are ya stupid or something Kid?  Going to Decker’s?  I mean he wanted to kill ya and ya just go looking for trouble?” Spades asked. 

 

“Spades!  The kid is having a fight with Jack, she hasn’t had the best night.  I bet ya Conlon was on her case, she don’t need this from you,” Scorch mumbled. 

 

“Yeah, well.  I don’t like it,” Spades mumbled. 

 

“Ya can’t even have a normal fight can ya Laces?” Blue said. 

 

“What?” Laces looked confused. 

 

“Nevermind.  So what did Conlon say about all this?” Blue asked. 

 

“Not much, well he said a lot last night but I stopped listening and then he wanted me to talk and I wouldn’t,” Laces responded. 

 

“He must be loving that.” Scorch laughed a little. 

 

“Him and BC are fighting I think he’s a little busy with that at the moment.” Laces shrugged. 

 

“So no one has really told ya how stupid it was to go to Decker’s last night?” Spades sounded surprised. 

 

“Oh yeah, all the boys did.  Decker and Whiskey even told me so.  But I don’t care.” Laces shrugged. 

 

“Oh my god.  I swear I would have killed ya had I gone last night to get ya.  Decker and Whiskey?  Did they do anything to you?” Spades asked. 

 

“No, Decker is in love with me.  He’s power hungry that’s where this whole problem started.  He should be fine now though.”

 

“You fixed it?” Blue tried not to laugh. 

 

“Yes, actually I did.  I caused some of it, but I fixed it.” Laces nodded. 

 

“Oh dear.” Spades shook her head.  Blue put an arm around Spades. 

 

“How’s Pixie?” Blue asked. 

 

“I don’t know I haven’t seen her.  I just got back to Brooklyn last night.  Spot made me come back.  He isn’t happy with Jack.”

 

“Coise not, probably blames it on Jack.  Which is probably making Jack unhappy because he’s always saying no one really blames you for half the things you do.  But of course it is partly his fault.” Spades nodded. 

 

“So where is everyone?” Laces asked. 

 

“The girls are working, Cheeky and Candy are with their boys, I think.  Angel and Pockets are in the refuge together,” Scorch said from her counter. 

 

“Really?” Laces said. 

 

“Yup, ya can miss a lot in a small amount of time.” Cheeky and Candy run into the building crying and running. 

 

“Where’s the fire?” Scorch sat up.  The girls didn’t respond they ran straight up the stairs and slammed the door to their room. 

 

“Something’s wrong with them.” Laces looked after them. 

 

“I better go talk to them.” Spades got up, Blue held her hand a moment and then let her go. 

 

“Now Laces, about all of this.  What ya going to do kid?” he asked. 

 

“I don’t think that me and Jack should be together,” Laces said. 

 

“And why not?  I thought you loved Jack and I am sure that he loves you,” Blue said in a common sense way. 

 

“That doesn’t matter.  I just can’t.  All any of my relationships ever do is cause trouble.” Laces shook her head. 

 

“I thought ya always looked at everything sunny side up?” Blue grinned. 

 

“I did, I still do, but.  I can’t hurt Jack anymore.  I’ve hurt him and Spot so many times.”

 

“Laces, that isn’t all your fault though.  And ya don’t think telling Jack this won’t hurt him?  Won’t make him blame himself for driving you away?” Blue asked. 

 

“I don’t know, in the long run though I think it would be better if I wouldn’t hurt him as much.”

 

“You know that it wouldn’t end that way, I don’t think that either of you would be happy.” Blue looked at Laces piercing through her eyes. 

 

“But Blue.” Laces shook her head. 

 

“Hey it’s your choice, but I personally don’t think that you can really tell Jack that.” Blue shrugged. 

 

“I will tell him what I feel,” Laces responded. 

 

“Then it sure as hell ain’t going to be that you don’t love him anymore and don’t want to be his goyl.” Blue arched his brows.  Laces glared at him but didn’t say anything more. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spades knocked on Cheeky and Candy’s door a few times. 

 

“Come on goyls, what’s wrong?” Spades asked as she stood at the door.  When no one responded and there were only muffled sobs, Spades entered the room.  She stood there looking at how the girls had thrown themselves onto their beds.  Spades sat on the small counter in the middle of both beds. 

 

“Now what’s wrong?  What happened?  If those bums did anything Blue and I will go soak ‘em for ya right now,” Spades said fiercely. 

 

“No, it’s nothing Spades.” Cheeky sat up. 

 

“Nothing makes ya cry?  Not goyls in my gang.” Spades grinned. 

 

“Stage and Trapper they’re going out west.” Candy sat up and sniffled a bit. 

 

“Out west huh?  When?” Spades asked. 

 

“They leave soon, they ain’t sure when,” Cheeky said. 

 

“They were telling us about the new towns springing up all over the place that the great opportunity.  They want to get over there, there ain’t really nothing awaiting them here.” Candy sighed. 

 

“See I told ya that ya loved them.” Spades sighed.  The girls sat there pouring their hearts out to Spades for the rest of the night. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“BC, I really got to go.  I will be back later tonight, I shouldn’t take all that long.” Spot was pulling away from BC’s arms. 

 

“But Spot.  Where are you going?” BC asked. 

 

“Got to go take care of some leader stuff,” Spot said.  Bullseye stood at the doorway. 

 

“Which in other words means that he is probably going to go yell at people,” he commented.  BC and Spot looked over at him, BC smiled and Spot glared. 

 

“Laces back?” Spot asked. 

 

“No, she’s still over at Spades’, maybe get her to come back with ya on your way back,” Bullseye said.  Spot nodded. 

 

“Night Tate.” Spot nodded and walked out. 

 

“Why does he always have leader stuff to go do?” BC asked. 

 

“Because he’s a leader, I don’t know,” Bullseye responded. 

 

“Great.  When do most boys stop being the leader of a place?” BC asked. 

 

“When they think they’re too old for it.  But let me warn ya now, Spot likes this.” Bullseye smiled.  Bottle Cap came into the room. 

 

“Bullseye when Pixie coming back?  Ain’t all this over with?  I think she’s been with Caroline too long,” he said as he sat down next to Buttercup. 

 

“I think Spot and Laces will go get her soon, don’t worry about her.  She’s fine, I think she should be having fun with Scott.” Bullseye ruffled the boys hair a bit. 

 

“Yeah, but she should be here.  Ya think that she’s going to start selling papers soon?” he asked. 

 

“Maybe, it all depends.” Bullseye shrugged. 

 

“Where’s Laces?”

 

“Ya have a lot of questions.  Ya worry too much.” BC smiled. 

 

“It’s Laces’s fault.” Cap grinned. 

 

“She’s at Spades’, don’t worry about her.  She’s got enough people doing that for her,” Bullseye said. 

 

“Not enough.” Cap shook his head. 

 

“How do you figure that?” BC asked. 

 

“She still has the worse time, always someone after her, making her life harder,” Cap responded. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot walked into the building and down the stairs and whistled loudly.  Everyone looked up and groaned. 

 

“And I gone and thought ya forgot,” Relic moaned. 

 

“Jasper!” Spot called out. 

 

“I’m right here, ya don’t got to yell.  Lemme guess ya mad about something?” Jasper made a face. 

 

“Me?  Coise ya half wit!  What was this about not telling me that Laces was missing for a whole night and day!” Spot hit Jasper on the head with his cane. 

 

“Spot we were all a little busy looking for her, no one slept,” Jasper said. 

 

“Who the hell lost her to begin with?” Spot demanded. 

 

“I did Spot,” Voodoo whispered.  Spot didn’t hear her though. 

 

“Voodoo dozed off for a moment when Laces ran off and she couldn’t find her after that.  Then Smalls found her again with Decker.” Spot got tense as he turned to face the birds. 

 

“Voodoo come ‘ere.” Spot motioned for her to follow him as he entered a small room.  She shut the door after herself. 

 

“Spot, I can explain,” Voodoo started. 

 

“Look Voodoo, I ain’t mad,” Spot said. 

 

“Ya ain’t?” she asked. 

 

“No, I’m very mad.  How could ya fall asleep on the job?  If ya was tired then ya should have traded with someone.  Not dozed off, especially when ya watching Laces!  Ya know that.  God Damn it.” Spot knocked his cane against the wall. 

 

“She was with Blink and Jack had her in a grip.  I just dozed off for a second and then she was gone when I opened my eyes, but Jack and Blink were still standing there Spot.  It won’t ever happen again.  I promise.” Voodoo shook her head. 

 

“What did Jasper say about this?” Spot asked. 

 

“He yelled at me and said that I ain’t doing night watches anymore for a few weeks until I get some sleep,” Voodoo said. 

 

“Is that it.  There are too many screw ups.  Too many lately.  Ya going through training again, with Smalls,” Spot said. 

 

“But Spot, training come on?  Haven’t I been a bird long enough not to have to go through that again?” Voodoo whined a bit. 

 

“How long have you been a bird?” he asked her. 

 

“Almost 10 months now.”

 

“No not long enough.” Spot walked to the door.  “SMALLS!” he said loudly.  Smalls got up and walked in as Voodoo walked out looking annoyed. 

 

“Ya bellowed Spot?” Smalls asked. 

 

“What did ya do when ya found Laces?” Spot asked. 

 

“I found her, I didn’t want to lose her.  She was with Decker and when he left her.  I went to talk to her try and get her to leave,” Small said. 

 

“What did she say back to you?”

 

“She said that she didn’t want to leave, she didn’t know who I was.  Didn’t understand but didn’t care.  She said that Decker wouldn’t hurt her.” Smalls shrugged. 

 

“Then what did ya do?” Spot asked. 

 

“I kept following her until that night she went back to the Bronx Lodging House, where she stayed.  I whistled for someone to go tell all the other birds or to sit and watch while I went and told the others.” Smalls took a breath.  “I found Dais and she stayed to watch while I ran to the bridge.” Smalls finished. 

 

“Voodoo is going to do training with ya,” Spot commented. 

 

“Training?  Don’t ya know that’s a pain for the person ya stick them with unless it’s a new bird?” Smalls shook her head. 

 

“Not all of them, unless ya can’t handle it,” Spot said. 

 

“Nah, I can handle it.  Don’t worry about it,” Smalls said as she walked out.  Spot walked out. 

 

“The next person to mess up during a job is going through training again, with me.  Understood?” Spot said.  Everyone nodded. 

 

“Wow.  That would be hell,” RB mumbled. 

 

“Oh yeah.  Ask Jasper, the only other person worse than Spot for training is Critter.” Daisy nodded. 

 

“Spot, when are ya going to have time for those new kids I told ya about?” Matches asked. 

 

“Bring ‘em to me in about a month,” Spot said.  “Too many things going on right now.” Matches nodded and Spot nodded at everyone. 

 

“Good job last night all of ya finding her,” he said before walking out. 

 

“Wow, that girl does have something over him.  That’s one of the first times I’ve heard him thank us.” Matches looked after Spot. 

 

“Spot’s changing.” Jasper nodded. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

February 13th

 

The sun peeked over the edge of the window and Laces got up smiling, she had a wonderful dream.  No one had gotten her out of bed early in the morning to sell morning papers.  She was back in Brooklyn and if Spot didn’t feel like going through the hassle he didn’t wake her.  She would always sell the afternoon and the evening paper.  She was thinking that she should go get Pixie today, but she would have to talk to Spot. 

 

She got dressed and headed out to get morning papers if there was any left.  Spot and BC were selling together near the bridge and all seemed like it use to be, almost. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack had moped around now for an entire day, he was in a foul mood.  He was mad at everyone and no one could ask him anything because he would bark at them. 

 

“Jack!  Get a grip of yourself.  Ya driving all of us nuts,” Blink said. 

 

“But she hasn’t come back Blink, she didn’t want to talk to me.  I reminded her of her father.  I don’t deserve her.” Jack hung his head in his hands. 

 

“You’re right, ya don’t deserve her.  But for some strange reason that I can’t seem to figure out she loves ya.” Blink shrugged.  Jack shook his head. 

 

“I have to get her to talk to me,” he mumbled. 

 

“It might require getting up and going to Brooklyn to find her,” Race suggested. 

 

“Yeah that’s what I’ll do.  That’s what I’ll do.” Jack got up and started to walk out. 

 

“Want someone to come with ya?” Skittery asked.  Jack didn’t respond. 

 

“Ya better go with him make sure he doesn’t jump off a bridge if Laces don’t talk to him.” Mush nodded. 

 

“Yeah.” Skittery got up and walked after Jack. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The guards were no where to be seen, and the boys sat in the darkness of their cells, talking to themselves and each other. 

 

“So where have ya been for these past years?” Pockets asked. 

 

“I was here for a while since ya guys last left Brooklyn and then I headed to the outskirts,” Critter responded. 

 

“Has Spot seen ya?” Pockets asked. 

 

“No, no Conlon hasn’t seen me.” Critter shook his head slowly pushing his hair out of his face.  “How is he?”

 

“Spot?  Oh well, a clear cut hard core image of Brooklyn.  But lately he has been changing because of them.  Laces could do it by herself but then Buttercup she is slowly changing him to.  He can’t be Brooklyn for much longer,” Pockets said.  “That girl does things to everyone.”

 

“What girl?” Critter asked. 

 

“Laces.  Kai she is,” Pockets replied. 

 

“I’ve heard of her.  Actually more of her brother.  I have been out of town a while,” Critter said. 

 

“Well ya have missed a bit then.  Laces has let hell run lose in this city, with the people who were after her.  With the charm she had on Jack and Spot.” Pockets shook his head as he looked down at his shoe that was untied. 

 

“Really?  I was wondering when those two would fall for the same girl,” Critter said. 

 

“Everyone fell for this girl.  The latest one the leader of the Bronx,” Pockets said. 

 

“What’s so special about her?” Critter asked. 

 

“I don’t understand her.” Pockets shrugged. 

 

“I’ll have to see about this girl.” Critter smiled to himself. 

 

“Be careful Critt.  Jack and her just finally got it together and ya seem to have her problem.  Girls fall at your heels like guys to hers,” Pockets warned. 

 

“But if I recall Conlon and Kelly are also cursed with that.” Critter laughed a bit. 

 

“Yeah, but ya never know.  Spot’s charm failed on Laces, it took a little while but it did.  And hers sooner or later faded to him.  Spades and Angel say that she reminds them of Fiona,” Pockets said. 

 

“Fiona Conlon?” Critter almost sounded choked. 

 

“Yeah, I wouldn’t know though I never meet her.” Pockets shrugged again. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Jack walked into the Brooklyn Lodging House as everyone was just getting back from their day of selling.  Skittery stepped in behind him. 

 

“Kelly, what ya doing here?” Fists asked. 

 

“Came to talk with Laces,” Jack replied. 

 

“Who knows if she’s going to talk to you,” Cap said. 

 

“I need to talk to her though.” Jack shook his head. 

 

“She’s with Spot, they should be getting back soon enough,” Bullseye said.  Jack nodded and sat down, Skittery sat down next to him. 

 

“Jack, how could ya leave Laces in an alley like that?” Cap sat down near Jack and asked.  Jack took a deep breath. 

 

“I was mad.” Jack shrugged. 

 

“But ya knew it wasn’t safe for her,” Cap insisted. 

 

“Cap, when ya that angry ya really don’t think much.” Jack didn’t want to talk about this anymore.  Cap was about to say something else when the door opened and in walked Laces, pouting a bit, BC shaking her head and Spot scowling. 

 

“Bullseye make him stop!” Laces whined as she ran over to Bullseye and hide behind him. 

 

“Stop what?” Bullseye asked. 

 

“Lecturing her on thinking before she does something stupid like go to the Bronx and Decker.” BC laughed a little. 

 

“Spot, that’s old news, ain’t there nothing new she’s done that ya could lecture her about?” Bullseye smiled.  Laces slapped him.  Jack stood up. 

 

“Laces,” he said.  That’s when they noticed him. 

 

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you Kelly,” Spot said. 

 

“I need to talk to Laces though.” Jack looked at Laces, she was standing there hand on Bullseye’s upper arm considering she couldn’t reach his shoulder with the same comfort. 

 

“I don’t want to talk to you.” Laces turned and walked up the stairs.  Jack started to follow her but Spot held his cane out to stop him. 

 

“I have to talk to you first,” Spot said. 

 

“Fine!” Jack pushed Spot’s cane and walked across the hall.  Spot followed and shut the door of the kitchen. 

 

“How could ya have left Laces in that alleyway by herself?” Spot demanded in an angry tone.  “God she could have ended up dead!”

 

“She was kissing him Conlon,” Jack responded with an equal tone. 

 

“No, he was kissing her.  She called after ya, didn’t ya hear the distress in her voice?”

 

“No, I didn’t notice Conlon.  It was like when ya found me kissing her, did ya think about anything.  The only reason ya stayed there was because you were mad at me and at her and ya knew who I was.  I had no idea who this person was, I had never really seen Decker before.” Jack shook his head. 

 

“She wanted him to kill her Jack.  It was all your fault.  I don’t think ya should go out with her.” Spot shook his head. 

 

“Who are ya to tell me who I can and can’t go out with?  Haven’t ya noticed she’s got a mind of her own?” Jack demanded. 

 

“Ya going to break her heart in the end Jack.  I don’t want her to go through that and it’s my duty.  She’s like my little sister and I have to take care of her from people like ya,” Spot said. 

 

“Get a grip Conlon, she ain’t Fiona.  Ya can’t replace her.” Jack shook his head.  Spot dropped his cane and ran towards Jack pushing him up against a wall. 

 

“I am not trying to replace Fiona.  Don’t ever say that again,” Spot growled.  Jack was mad too though and this was not helping.  He kicked at Spot causing Spot to fall back a bit.  The boys started fighting, they were rolling around on the floor, knocking over chairs and banging into the cabinets when Bullseye entered. 

 

“What the ‘ell is going on in here?” he demanded.  “Knuckles!  Skittery!” he called out.  The two boys came running in. 

 

“Oh jeez,” Knuckles mumbled as the three boys started to get Jack and Spot away from each other.  After a few punches were thrown at Knuckles, Skittery and Bullseye, Spot was being held by Bullseye and Jack by Knuckles and Skittery. 

 

“What has gotten into you two?” Bullseye demanded.  Neither would responded they were to busy glaring at each other. 

 

“Well?” Bullseye loosened his grip on Spot and Spot lunged at Jack again.  Skittery and Knuckles moved out of the way and Spot and Jack again ended up rolling around on the ground. 

 

“God Damn it,” Bullseye mumbled.  “Let ‘em kill each other,” Bullseye said as he walked out of the room, Skittery and Knuckles walked out of the room behind him. 

 

“What is going on in there?” BC asked. 

 

“Spot and Jack finally lost it and are soaking each other.” Knuckles shrugged. 

 

“WHAT?” BC asked. 

 

“Yeah.” Skittery nodded. 

 

“Well aren’t you going to do something?” BC asked. 

 

“No, we tried it didn’t work.  Now just let them fight,” Bullseye said.  BC shook her head and tried to go into the kitchen, but Jack and Spot were holding the door shut. 

 

Just then the door opened and in walked Spades and Blue laughing. 

 

“Afternoon everyone.” Spades smiled. 

 

“Spades, Blue.  Maybe ya two can do more then these knuckleheads.” BC smiled. 

 

“About what?” Blue asked. 

 

“Jack and Spot are killing each other in the kitchen,” Skittery said. 

 

“Oh just what I like to hear.  I come to visit me cousin and he’s causing trouble in the kitchen,” Spades mumbled but walked over to the kitchen with Blue and walked in shutting the door again behind them. 

 

“Blue get whoever is on top off,” Spades said.  Blue nodded and picked Spot off the ground. 

 

“Afternoon Patrick, Francis.” Spades nodded.  Spot and Jack glared at Spades. 

 

“Sit down.” Blue nodded at Jack and Spot.  They sat down across the table from each other glaring at each other.  Spades sat down and so did Blue. 

 

“So what are ya two fighting about now?” Spades asked. 

 

“He did,” Jack started. 

 

“I wouldn’t have,” Spot started and both went off telling their own stories. 

 

“Hey!  Stop it!  God.” Spades shook her head.  “Jack what happened?”

 

“Spot attacked me,” Jack said.  “After he told me that I couldn’t see Laces anymore.”

 

“Spot?” Blue asked. 

 

“Jack said that I should stop thinking she was Fiona, and that Fi could never be replaced,” Spot said. 

 

“See and I just thought this was some stupid little fight ya two were having about nothing.” Spades rolled her eyes. 

 

“So what are you two really mad about?” Blue asked. 

 

“What are you talking about Blue?” Spot glared at him. 

 

“Nothing.  All right.” Spades nodded.  “Course who are we to think that you two are mad because of anything else.  Spot, even if Laces was Fiona, which I ain’t saying she is, nor that she could be.  Ya wouldn’t be able to keep her from dating Jack.  And I know that ya feel like Laces could be ya sister and I know ya want to keep her safe, just like ya wanted to keep Fiona safe, but Jack is your best friend and he would never do anything to hurt Laces purposely.” Spades sighed. 

 

“But he has already hurt her so much.” Spot shook his head. 

 

“Well sides, don’t ya think it’s her decision if she’s going to stay with Jack or not?” Blue asked. 

 

“She ain’t talking to me.” Jack sighed. 

 

“Ya both got quite a temper on ya.  I don’t see why anyone would love you two.” Spades shook her head. 

 

“Cause their just so loveable,” BC said from the doorway.  She had watched some of the conversation that Spades and Blue had with Jack and Spot.  They all looked over her way. 

 

“They might be, then again the only reason I love them is because I have to.  Otherwise who knows what kind of trouble they would get into,” Spades grinned. 

 

“Don’t give yourself to much credit Spades.” Jack shook his head. 

 

“Coise not she always has me behind her,” Blue said. 

 

“Now I know who to call when they get out of hand.” BC laughed. 

 

“Yeah just get me over here and I’ll give them a talking to.” Spades nodded.  Spot shook his head. 

 

“And ya say that I got a big head?” Spot sighed.  Jack got up and started walking away. 

 

“Where ya going Kelly?” Blue asked. 

 

“To talk to Laces,” Jack said. 

 

“But I thought ya said she wasn’t talking to you?” Spades asked. 

 

“She ain’t, but I ain’t leaving until she does, and she can listen until she ready.” Jack walked out. 

 

“Or until she gets sick of hearing him talk.” Spades nodded. 

 

“So what has been going on around here?” Blue asked. 

 

“Like you two don’t already know.” Spot shook his head. 

 

“Maybe we don’t.” Spades shrugged. 

 

“What about the gang they all right?” Spot asked. 

 

“Cheeky and Candy ain’t really all that great.  Those boys of theirs from the Bronx, leaving to go out west.  They told them yesterday.” Spades shook her head.  BC came and sat down where Jack had been sitting. 

 

“I should go soak ‘em.” Blue frowned. 

 

“I’ll go with ya.” Spot nodded. 

 

“No, ya will not.  They can deal with it.  Sides they better fighters then both of ya and can manage their temper.” Spades and BC laughed.  The boys shrugged. 

 

“Us Irishmen, we have tempers.” Blue shrugged. 

 

“Irish ya are, men I ain’t so sure,” Spades teased. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Laces are ya okay?” Cap asked he sat there watching her stare into a small mirror she had. 

 

“I’m fine.” Laces nodded. 

 

“Why don’t ya want to talk to Jack?” Cap asked. 

 

“Cause I don’t want to right now,” Laces replied. 

 

“Now there has got to be a reason.  I know ya got one.”

 

“No Cap there is no reason.”

 

“Yes there is, come on ya can tell me.  I promise I won’t tell no one if ya don’t want me to.  I won’t even say anything if ya don’t want me to.” Laces turned and faced Bottle Cap, he had grown so much and sometimes when he was mad or worried he reminded her of Spot. 

 

“I don’t want to see Jack until I am sure that I can tell him what I have to say.”

 

“What is it you want to say?  And why can’t you say it right now?”

 

“I don’t want to see Jack anymore.”

 

“Really?  I thought ya loved him?”

 

“I did.” Laces took a deep breath. 

 

“Ya do.” Cap shook his head. 

 

“No I don’t.” Laces refused. 

 

“Ya do to.  Otherwise ya would be able to tell him so right now.” Cap challenged. 

 

“I can.” Laces shook her head. 

 

“Really?” Cap said.  There was a knock at the door. 

 

“Laces?  I need to talk to you,” Jack said from the other side.  Laces looked at Cap. 

 

“I can,” she said in a whisper and walked over to the door.  She opened it and looked at Jack, she could feel her whole body trembling. 

 

“I…  I…  I can’t.” Laces shook her head.  “I don’t want to talk to you.” She closed the door.  Cap shook his head and went to stand next to Laces. 

 

“I told ya so.” He smiled lightly and then kissed Laces on the cheek before walking out.  Jack looked at Bottle Cap. 

 

“Am I wasting my time?” Jack asked. 

 

“I don’t know, do you love her?” Cap replied before skipping downstairs.  Jack knocked again. 

 

“I know ya may not want to talk to me, but I ain’t leaving until you talk to me.  So I’ll just talk for a little while and then I might go to sleep in the bunkroom if ya still ain’t talking to me,” Jack said.  Laces sat on her bed and stared at the door. 

 

“Laces, I am sorry for everything that has happened in the last few days.  I always knew that we were meant to have a relationship together, deep down I knew I knew.  Even though anyone told me I would deny it, thinking that I couldn’t have one with you.  Not after what we’ve been through, I thought never will Laces let me, and I wouldn’t let her.  Well here we are, we let each other.  At the first sign of trouble I got hurt, I thought it was not going to happen anymore.  Not once you were mine, I thought people were going to know that you were mine and not going to bother with you anymore.” Jack stood there his forehead resting on the door as he looked at his shoes.  Laces sat inside her room, tears streaming down her face but she didn’t notice.  There was silence, and then Jack started again. 

 

“Laces, I just want you to know.  I love the way you laugh, the way you smile and think that everyone in the world is good and nice.  I love the way ya never really bother with your hair but it always seem to look great.  And the way that ya wear pants and my old shirts because ya hate dresses, and the way ya bicker with Race.  I love everything about ya and I just hope that ya’ll talk to me again.” Jack was silent again.  Laces walked over to the door and let her hand fall on the knob.  She opened the door and looked at Jack.  She kissed him lightly on the lips. 

 

“Thank you, night Jack,” she said as she slipped back.  “I love ya too,” she whispered as she closed the door again.  Jack stood there for a moment and nodded to himself before heading back downstairs. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

February 14th  

 

The sun rose early in the morning, Pockets watched it from his window.  Once it was high enough in the sky, the guards came and opened the cell doors. 

 

“Ya can come out now,” the guards barked.  Pockets squinted a bit and walked out, Critter walked out of the cell next to him.  The two walked down the hall in silence and knocked before entering Mr. Grim’s office. 

 

“Come in!” he barked.  Critter opened the door and walked in and Pockets followed. 

 

“Ah it’s you two.  Enjoy your stay in the cells?” he grinned a crooked grin. 

 

“Coise they always a pleasure,” Pockets responded. 

 

“What?” Mr. Grim barked. 

 

“Nothing.  Sir.” Pockets shook his head, reminding himself that he wasn’t in Harlem.  And that he didn’t want to get more time for nothing. 

 

“I hope that there will be no more misconduct otherwise I will have to keep both of you here for another month,” Mr. Grim said. 

 

“No, we are very sorry Mr. Grim for our foolish actions.” Critter looked sorry.  Mr. Grim nodded. 

 

“Go on, out with you,” he said.  The boys got up and walked out of the office.  They walked over to the kitchen and Critter nudged Pockets. 

 

“There she is, now talk to her,” he whispered. 

 

“She must be mad at me.” Pockets shook his head. 

 

“Talk to her!” Critter pushed Pockets in as he smiled at Luna and Middy. 

 

“Was I missed?” he asked. 

 

Pockets grabbed hold of Angel’s hand and pulled her out of the kitchen. 

 

“Pockets!” Angel pulled her hand away from him. 

 

“Angel, I need to tell you something,” Pocket said. 

 

“What is it?” Angel rolled her eyes. 

 

“I love you and I was afraid that ya were in love with Critter,” Pockets said. 

 

“What?” Angel looked shocked.  “Ya silly boy, I have never really liked Critter for more then a friend.  I love ya.”

 

“Ya do?  Cause I was thinking that ya probably hate me now.  Even after I came here to be with ya on Valentine’s Day,” Pockets grinned . 

 

“Oh you did?” Angel asked. 

 

“That is so cute!” Middy laughed. 

 

“Oh how sweet!” Luna said. 

 

“Shut up!” Angel said back.  She kissed Pockets and he kissed back.  When they separated, Critter, Luna and Middy were clapping. 

 

“Quit it,” Pockets said.  “Happy Valentine’s Day Angel.” Pockets grinned as he took a little trinket out of his pocket. 

 

“Oh, it’s a little angel!” Angel took it and examined it.  Pockets had carved it out of wood. 

 

“I made it years ago, when we first met about.  I tried to make it look like you at first but then I just made it an angel.  I have been carrying it around ever since, and well I thought you would like it.” Pockets smiled as she looked it over.  Angel hugged him again. 

 

“How about a group hug?” Critter suggested.  As he went in with Middy and Luna and they hugged around Pockets and Angel who started kissing again. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spades sat on her counter with Blue sitting next to her. 

 

“How many Valentine’s Days is this for us?” he asked.  Spades shrugged. 

 

“How old are you again?” she asked. 

 

“Almost 19,” He smiled. 

 

“So I would guess almost 18 Valentine’s days.” Spades laughed. 

 

“Spades?” Someone called in from the door. 

 

“What?” Spades called back.  Cheeky walked in with Candy. 

 

“We were wondering if maybe it was all right if we let Stage and Tapper come and see the place?  Just for Valentine’s Day?” Candy asked.  Spades looked at Blue and shrugged. 

 

“Sure girls why not,” she replied. 

 

“Thanks Spades.” Cheeky smiled and walked back out with Candy. 

 

“Hey Spades, are ya getting soft or something?” Shady asked from her couch. 

 

“Me soft?  Ya wanna see?” Spades asked. 

 

“Nah, just asking.” Shady shook her head. 

 

“I thought so.” Spades nodded. 

 

“I hate Valentine’s Day.” Vigor pouted. 

 

“That’s only because we don’t got boys.  Otherwise it would be a great holiday,” Scorch said. 

 

“Nah, the bars are almost always empty and ya see everyone kissing and stuff.” Shady shook her head.  Spades laughed as she leaned in to kiss Blue. 

 

“Like that?” Vigor asked as she pointed to Blue and Spades. 

 

“There are like 20 other rooms in this place and ya two have to do that here?” Shady said.  Cheeky and Candy walked back in with Stage a tall boy with sun toned skin and black eyes and dark hair.  And Tapper not as tall as Stage but not short with curly blonde hair and gray eyes. 

 

“Everyone!” Candy said.  All the girls looked at her and Spades and Blue broke their kiss. 

 

“Where ya just like outside?” Scorch asked. 

 

“This is Stage.” Candy smiled, ignoring Scorch’s question. 

 

“And this is Tapper,” Cheeky said, as he put an arm around her. 

 

“Well hello boys, I’m Spades.  This is Blue and this is our gang,” Spades replied as she hopped down from her counter and spit in her hand holding it out to Tapper.  Blue did the same holding his hand out to Stage. 

 

“Ya part of Spades’ gang?” Stage asked Candy a little shocked.  Candy nodded. 

 

“We thought ya were part of some gang, but never did we think that ya were part of Spades’ gang.” Tapper shook his head. 

 

“Something wrong with Spades’ gang?” Shady asked from her couch. 

 

“That’s Shady, that one right there throwing the box of matches is Scorch and the one sitting on the ground is Vigor.  Angel and Pockets are in the joint at the moment,” Candy introduced. 

 

“Wow.” Tapper was shocked. 

 

“Well then I guess we should ask your permission then before we ask them,” Stage said to Spades. 

 

“Yeah we should.” Tapper nodded. 

 

“Ask me permission for something?” Spades asked. 

 

“Yeah, cause well it does involve your girls.  And I would suppose that we should have your support before we ask them.” Stage nodded. 

 

“Guessing that they would take us,” Tapper added. 

 

“Whatever ya going to ask them it’s there business not mine.  So ya can ask them whatever ya want to ask them.” Spades put her hands on her hips.  The boys shrugged and got down on their knees. 

 

“What are they doing Shady?” Vigor whispered. 

 

“Shh!” Shady responded. 

 

“Candy, I loved ya since I meet ya and I know ya young, but we leaving soon.  In about a month and I don’t know what I would do without you.  So I was wondering if you would marry me?” Stage said. 

 

“And Cheeky, I know that we haven’t known each other that long, but the six months that we’ve been together have been some of the greatest I have know and I wouldn’t change them for the world.  And now I don’t want to leave for a new adventure without you, so will ya let me take your hand in marriage?” Tapper asked.  There was complete silence, Spades, Blue, Shady, Vigor and Scorch had their mouths wide open. 

 

“Oh my god,” Shady whispered. 

 

“Wait!” Spades started, but Blue put a hand over her mouth.  Candy and Cheeky looked at each other and then looked around the room.  They stopped at Spades and Blue then looked back down at Stage and Tapper.  They nodded. 

 

“Yes we will,” they said together.  The boys jumped up and hugged the girls, spinning them around and then kissed them. 

 

“Wow,” Scorch said. 

 

“I always thought that Blue and Spades would get married first,” Vigor said. 

 

“Excuse us for a minute,” Spades said as she pulled Candy, and Blue pulled at Cheeky into the parlor. 

 

“You’re too young to be getting married,” Spades said. 

 

“Spades, we’re 17.  That ain’t that young.  Ya know my mother married at 14,” Cheeky said. 

 

“Look at what happened to her!” Spades said. 

 

“Spades, ya told them they could ask us cause it was our decision,” Candy said. 

 

“But, but I never thought they were going to ask you to ruin your lives,” Spades said. 

 

“Spades dear,” Blue said. 

 

“Spades, we love them.  Now we get to go with them, now we get to start a new life.  We get to go out west and make a new life with a husband, start a family in the open space out there,” Cheeky said. 

 

“We aren’t ruining our lives, and even if we aren’t ready to leave ya yet we will.  One day or another we would have.  It just happened sooner.  And I am sorry that it did, but then again I ain’t,” Candy said.  Spades stood there trying to remain calm. 

 

“But you’re so young, and the gang, and Angel isn’t here.” Spades shook her head.  Blue put his arms around her.  The doors opened and Stage and Tapper stood there. 

 

“We couldn’t help over hearing,” Tapper said. 

 

“They were listening!” Vigor said. 

 

“So were you,” Candy said to her.  Vigor shrugged. 

 

“We were trying to welcome them to the family,” Scorch said. 

 

“Sure ya were,” Cheeky grinned. 

 

“Spades, no offense or nothing, but we ain’t going to hurt them.  And we ain’t leaving for about another few months.  Can’t leave until winter’s over.  So we ain’t taking them from ya just yet.  And we could even get married here,” Stage said.  Spades looked at the girls and nodded and smiled. 

 

“Thanks Spades,” the girls said again together.  The boys also said their thanks and they all went back into the lobby.  Spades and Blue stood in the parlor though. 

 

“I’m losing me gang Blue,” Spades said. 

 

“It was bound to start happening soon Spades.  You’re turning 18, I’m turning 19.  The rest of the girls are turning 17.  This ain’t getting any easier as we get older and our interests is changing,” Blue said. 

 

“But Blue, I always thought that well,” Spades started. 

 

“We would get married first?” Blue asked. 

 

“Well yeah.” Spades nodded. 

 

“We will get married one day, unless ya don’t want me.  But there ain’t no rush, I want to make sure I can support ya decently before I go jumping into that.” Blue smiled.  Spades nodded and Blue kissed her. 

 

“But here if it makes ya feel better, I’ll ask ya now, will you Christine marry me in the future?” Blue asked with a grin.  Spades laughed but nodded. 

 

“Yes I will.” She nodded as they walked out into the lobby.  “Oh what Angel has missed.”

 

“She’ll get caught up when she comes home in two days.” Blue hugged her. 

 

“So what do ya two do for a living?” Shady was asking. 

 

“We’re newsies,” Tapper replied. 

 

“Yeah, good newsies?” Shady asked. 

 

“Maybe, what do you do?” Tapper asked. 

 

“None of you’re business,” Shady snapped. 

 

“Give him his wallet back Shady,” Spades said. 

 

“I don’t got his wallet,” Shady replied.  Spades stared at her, but she shook her head. 

 

“Vigor?” Blue said. 

 

“What makes ya think that I got it?” Vigor asked.  Blue went over to her and took off her hat and the wallet fell to the ground. 

 

“That’s what we do.” Scorch smiled,as Blue handed Tapper his wallet back. 

 

“Along with drinking, gambling, flirting,” Vigor added. 

 

“So ya see what ya two are getting is full bred bad examples, a moral ruin I once heard a nun say about us,” Shady said. 

 

“But Jesus still loves us,” Candy laughed.  The group got to knowing the boys and got very comfortable with each other by the end of the day. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Spot and BC were sitting on the docks together watching the sun set. 

 

“Ya think Laces and Jack are okay?” BC asked. 

 

“I don’t know.  Let’s not talk about them though,” Spot said. 

 

“What should we talk about?” BC asked. 

 

“Let’s not talk at all.” Spot leaned in and kissed her as he slipped his arms around her neck. 

 

“Spot wait.” BC pushed away for a second. 

 

“What?” Spot asked. 

 

“While we were fighting, there was this girl who talked to me.  A blonde girl, who was she?” BC asked. 

 

“She was me first love,” Spot responded truthfully. 

 

“She’s pretty,” BC said. 

 

“She is, but you’re the only girl I have eyes for,” Spot said. 

 

“You’re a charmer.” BC laughed. 

 

“Are ya making fun of me?” Spot asked. 

 

“No of course not who would make fun of oh mighty Spot?” BC asked.  Spot pushed back from her. 

 

“You’re now mocking me name,” Spot said.  BC just laughed.  Spot pushed her into the water.  BC fell in with a splash. 

 

“Spot!  I can’t swim!” BC said as she went under.  Spot quickly jumped in after her and brought her to the surface and back onto the dock. 

 

“Why don’t ya know how to swim?” Spot asked.  BC didn’t respond she just pushed him back into the river.  She sat there laughing.  Spot came back up and stood towering over her as she sat on the dock. 

 

“You’re such a liar,” he said to her. 

 

“Me lie?  Never I only improve the truth,” she said back, he held out his hand to her and she took it.  She stood up and he pulled her in for a kiss. 

 

“Happy Valentine’s day BC,” Spot said as he pulled away and pushed her back in, she had a hold of his arm though and he went in with her.  They surfaced under the dock.  BC kissed Spot. 

 

“Happy Valentine’s Day to you too Spot.” She laughed. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“You forgive me then kid?  I was going through a moment of insanity.” Skittery was sitting on the roof smoking with Laces. 

 

“Yeah Skittery I forgive ya.” Laces nodded.  Skittery nodded then he turned around hearing footsteps and got up. 

 

“I think there is someone else who wants to talk to you,” Skittery said as he walked away.  Laces turned and saw Jack who sat down next to her. 

 

“I heard someone saying that ya didn’t love me anymore,” Jack said. 

 

“Who told ya that?” Laces asked surprised. 

 

“Oh some little bird.” Jack shrugged. 

 

“Cap did.” Laces nodded making a note to herself. 

 

“Why did ya say that ya didn’t love me anymore, I don’t think it’s true,” Jack said as he looked down at the alley below. 

 

“I think that I hurt you too much,” Laces whispered.  Jack looked at her for a moment. 

 

“If anyone hurts anyone too much it’s me,” Jack said. 

 

“No, it’s my fault.” Laces shook her head. 

 

“But so then you do love me?” Jack asked.  Laces looked at Jack. 

 

“Yes, I always have loved ya.  I didn’t think you would ever notice and then you did and…” Laces smiled. 

 

“And we ended up here,” Jack finished. 

 

“Yeah.” Laces nodded. 

 

“How about we promise to try not to hurt each other anymore?” Jack asked.  Laces nodded.  She held out her hand.  Jack spit in his and they shook hands. 

 

“Do you know what today is?” Jack asked. 

 

“No.” Laces shook her head. 

 

“Valentine’s Day,” he said back. 

 

“Oh, that used to be my mother’s favorite holiday.” Laces sighed. 

 

“Really?” Jack asked.  Laces nodded. 

 

“She loves the story about St. Valentine,” Laces said. 

 

“Oh.” Jack nodded there was a silence. 

 

“Is it true that you love the way my hair is always a mess?” Laces asked. 

 

“Yes I do.” Jack nodded. 

 

“I love that you’re so stubborn.” Laces smiled. 

 

“I am not stubborn.” Jack smiled.  They looked over the city as the sun set. 

 

“What does it take to turn this city upside down and then get it all fixed at the same time?” Jack said. 

 

“I don’t know.” Laces shook her head. 

 

“Your smile, a smile as sweet as butter.” Jack was leaning into her now. 

 

“Really what about a kiss as sweet...” Laces didn’t finish her sentence; Jack was kissing her.  The couples around the city were all kissing as the sun set on Valentine’s Day in New York City. 

 

The End