It was raining late one night when a girl ran through the wet streets of Brooklyn in a panic. She turned around and started running backwards, to see if the person she was running from was behind her. Not watching where she was going her heel got stuck in a tree root that was sticking out of the street. She fell down hard, hitting the back of her head on a large rock. She was knocked unconscious; she lay on the street with blood coming out from the back of her head.

Two figures ran over to the girl. The older one of the two, picked up the girl in his arms. The younger one picked up a book that had fallen out of the girl's hand, and then helped the older boy carry the girl into a building that was only a few feet away from where the girl fell.

******

She heard distant voices but they were all unclear. After a moment she was able to make out what they were saying. Her eyes opened slowly and everything began to come into focus. At first all she saw was white, then the outline of objects, finally she was able to see clearly.

"Hey guys, she's comin' to." The boy that spoke walked over to the girl and sat down next to her.

"You'se alwight?" He asked her.

The girl sat up. There was a pain in the back of her head. She rubbed her eyes, her hands were cold. She didn't know where she was. She wasn't even sure who she was.

"Where am I?" She asked touching the bandage on her head.

"You'se in the Brooklyn Newsboys Lodging House. I'se Dimples. You'se been asleep fer hours. Our Kloppman, Terry, wanted ta call da doctah. I told 'im da 'e shouldn't 'cause then if they couldn't find yer parents they would call the bulls or something like dat, so I said that I would watch ya to make sure that you'se get beddah." The boy said smiling.

She looked at him, he was fifteen years old, the same age as her, with jet-black hair that was parted in the middle and dark brown eyes. He had a pudgy face and dimples when he smiled, the rest of his body was mostly muscle. He was wearing brown pants and suspenders with no shirt.

"You'se got a name?" He asked still smiling.

"I don't know," she said.

She looked around the room. It was large and had a ton of beds in it. It was a bunkroom where all the boys there slept. There was one light in the middle of the room that hung down from the ceiling. In the very back of the room she saw a large opening to another room which contained a lot of sinks, mirrors, and small bathrooms. She assumed that it was the washroom.

Boys were everywhere in the room. In one corner she saw a couple of boys playing a game of poker and smoking cigars, the rest of the boys in the room where sitting around counting money or talking to one another. A few of them, she saw, were sleeping.

"You'se aint got no name?" Dimples asked.

The girl shrugged.

"How did I'se get heah?" She asked.

"You'se was lyin' outside a heah. Me'se an' Jax saw you'se and brought ya in. You'se was soppin' wet."

Dimples realized that the window was open, and that rain was coming inside. None of the other boys in the room looked like they were going to close it, so he walked over to it and shut it. The girl stood up to go over to where Dimples was. Everyone in the room focused their eyes on her. Dimples turned around and saw her, he looked very surprised. He turned back around. The girl looked at herself realizing that she was only in her underclothes she quickly ran back into the bed and covered herself back up with the thin patched up covers.

"Where'se me clothes?" She asked.

She looked at Dimples. He turned back around and smiled at her. He walked back over to her.

"Terry had ta take off yer dress so you'se didn't get pneumonia. You'se had a book wid ya, I put it on da nightstand. Don't worry, it didn't get ruined. Yer dress is still wet though. We should find ya some clothes dat you kin sleep in, since those covers aint dat thick an' it's kinda cold tanight." He looked over at the all the boys in the room, "any of you'se gots any extra clothes?" Dimples asked scanning all their faces.

"We'se alls got wet in th' rain too. Only dry clothes we'se got are the ones we'se wearin'." A boy close to them who Dimples pointed out as Jax explained.

The girl looked over at him, he was short and about fourteen years old. His hair was short and light brown and his eyes were light brown also. He was wearing brown pants but with a white shirt.

"Wait, I think I'se knows where some clothes is." Dimples said.

He looked in a pillowcase next that was next to the bed the girl was in.

"Heah," he said.

Dimples handed the clothes over to the girl. Jax had a surprised look on his face.

"Hey Dimps, those are Spot's clothes." Jax asked.

"He aint gonna notice."

"Who's Spot?" The girl asked.

When she said this the whole room became quit. Everyone looked over at her. The few boys that were asleep weren't anymore, they were now also staring at the girl. She looked at all of them wondering if maybe she was supposed to know who Spot was.

"No one," Dimples said looking over at the girl.

She wrapped the covers around herself, went into the washroom, and then into one of the bathrooms to change. The rest of the boys went back to what they had been doing before. All except for Dimples and Jax who were still arguing about the girl.

"Hey Dimps, Spot aint gonna be to happy when he finds out you'se givin' his clothes ta dat goil." Jax said.

"Don't ya think dat I'se already knows dat Jax, but she's aint got nuthin' else and she can't rememba a thing."

"So," Jax said.

He was becoming a little more impatient with Dimples, because he wasn't giving him a straight answer. Jax also was becoming irritated because he knew that Spot may return in any moment demanding that the girl leave.

"So, it means she's gots amnesia. She don't know who she is or were she's from or nothin'." Dimples looked over at the other boys in the room. "Hey guys!" All the guys looked over at Dimples. "Any of you'se disagree that we help 'er?" None of the boys answered him.

"She's aint are responsibility Dimps." Jax said.

"What's da matter wid you'se guys? Da least we'se kin do is be 'er friend! She can be a newsie wid us."

"Dat's fine, but we'se still gonna need ta ask Spot." Jax blurted out.

The girl walked out of the bathroom, in the clothes that Dimples had given her. They were brown pants and a plaid shirt. They fit her perfectly, she guessed that her and Spot must be the same size. She walked back in to the bunkroom. All the boys were watching her. She felt a little uneasy. She was sure that all of the newsies were nice, she just wasn't use to them yet. She went back over to Dimples and Jax and put the covers she had brought in with her on the bed.

"Hey how would you like ta live heah an' sell papes wid us?" Dimples asked the girl.

"Yeah we can always use anudda newsie." One of the boys called out.

The rest of the boys agreed.

"Alright," she replied.

"Great! Now we'se jist gotta give you'se a newsie name." Dimples said.

"What da you'se mean a newsie name." She asked.

"Well a newsie name is sort of like a ah...codename or a nickname." Jax explained.

"I'se not really sure how ta be a newsie though." She admitted to them.

"Don't worry," Dimples said, "We'se got faith 'n ya." Dimples thought for a moment. "Hey that's what we'll call ya ...Faith. Everyone dis is Faith. Faith dis is Linx, Trotter, Games, Slick..." He read off each one of the newsie's names pointing to them as he said them.

"It's gettin' kindas late, we bests be gettin' ta sleep." One of the boys Dimples introduced as Aaron said.

Everyone agreed with him and they climbed into their bunks. Dimples told Faith that she could sleep in Spot's bed, the same bed that she had been sleeping in earlier. She climbed into the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin.

"Good night Faith." Dimples said.

She turned around in the bed and looked at him. He looked at her then thought for a moment.

"Don't worry, you'll git use to da guys." He said trying to comfort her.

The bed she was in was farther away from the other boys. There was a nightstand next to it also. The other boys did have nightstands next to their beds, but they had to share them with other newsies. The pillow was thin and the mattress was very hard. All the other boy's beds were the same.

Faith thought that this kid Spot, that everyone was talking about, must be pretty lonely. She didn't know why anyone would want their bed so far away from all the other beds. She also didn't know why everyone seemed afraid of him. She couldn't see how anyone could be so intimidated by one boy. She heard the rain on the roof. The rhythm finally made her fall asleep.

In the middle of the night a wet figure climbed through the window. He threw off his shirt and climbed into the bed Faith was sleeping in, not knowing that she was there. They both jumped out of the bed screaming. Dimples jumped quickly out of his bed and lit a candle. The light was dim but he saw Faith standing on one side of the bed and Spot on the opposite side.

"What da hell is dis? Why's dere a goil sleepin' in me bed!?" Spot yelled.

He looked at Dimples, who was the only one woken by the screams, waiting for an answer.

"Spot, we'se didn't knows you'se be home." Dimples said.

"You'se knows I aint neva gone more than three days. Who is she?" Spot demanded.

He was breathing heavy and rain was dripping off him and getting the floor wet.

"Dis be Faith, we ah...found 'er. We'se was gonna let her stay wid us an be a newsie." He said.

Dimples walked over to the other side of the room with Spot. They started talking to each other. They were speaking too low for Faith to hear them.

Faith thought of what might happen to her if Spot forced her to leave. She liked where she was and liked the idea of making money by being a newsie.

"Fine, she kin stay," Spot said loudly.

He grabbed his shirt from off the ground and climbed back out the window and into the rain. Dimples ran to the window after he climbed out and looked to see if he could see Spot. He did, Spot was just getting down off the building then he started running down the street.

"'E's lettin' me stay?" Faith asked.

"Yeah, 'e's way to tired tonight ta fight 'bout it." Dimples told her.

He sighed and went back to his bunk. He waited for Faith to get back in to Spot's bed before he blew out his candle. Once he did Faith laid in the dark for awhile-longer thinking. Eventually though, she was able to fall back to sleep.

******

She woke up the next morning and heard the voices of all the newsies. They were all partly dressed and getting ready for a day of selling papers. The only newsie she didn't see was Spot. She just figured that he was probably still mad her from the other night.

"You'se up?" Jax asked her. She nodded her head. "Good, Terry don't want ya out of bed taday. 'E says dat 'e wants ta be sure dat yer head is healed before you'se go out an' sell papes. Me an' Dimps are gonna stay wid ya taday."

All of the newsies said good-bye to Faith as they left. Once they were gone Jax brought Faith some soup that Terry had made for her.

"Terry says dat you'se gotta eat da soup." Jax told her.

He put the soup on a small table then moving it closer to her. She was still very tired but she forced herself to sit up. Dimples and Jax each sat down next to her.

"So, do you'se rememba anything yet?" Dimples asked.

Faith shook her head. She slowly lifted the spoon filled with soup to her mouth. She sipped it then placed it back down. It was hot and burned her throat a little when she swallowed it. A little more awake now she decided to start a conversation. She wanted to know as much as she could about them.

"Why don't you'se guys tell me 'bout yerselves? Like why you live heah an' not wid yer parents?"

The two boys looked down. Faith could tell something wasn't right. The subject was a sad one for both of them. They each had bad pasts, but they decided to tell her anyway. They thought that maybe she would better understand all the newsies if they told her what they had been through.

"Well, all da newsies dat live heah eidda dey aint got no parents, or dey ran away." Jax explained.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's alwight." Jax said.

"What happened ta yer parents?" Faith asked.

She didn't realize what she said until after she did. She didn't want to be so rude as to ask how he came to live where he was.

"Well, I didn't know me dad. Me mom took care of me. Den one day I'se woke up and she was gone. I didn't know what happened to 'er. I still don't. So, one day Terry saw me sleepin' outside. I told 'im dat I had been livin' on da streets fer two years, an' 'e said dat I could be a newsie. An' dat way I could pay ta live heah. So, I'se been livin' heah fer da past three years or so." Jax told her.

"What happened ta you Dimples?" Faith asked.

"One day when I was eight, I'se got mad at me mom an' me dad." He pause for a second remembering what had happened to him. "I don't even rememba why anymore. I told dem dat I'se was gonna run away.

So I grabbed a few of me clothes and left da house. They didn't even try ta stop me. Dat night, afta I had cooled off, I figured dat I would, you know, go back home. When I'se got to my house da door was locked. So I tried to get in through da window, but day were all locked too. When I'se looked inside, da place was empty. It looked like no one had eva lived dere. Dey had left me. I couldn't believe it, so I waited, I waited for hours. Day neva came back. I rememba dat night like it was yesterday. It was freezing cold and it had been rainin' hard all day. Eventually I gave up waitin' fer dem. I slept were eva I could for three years.

One night I saw da lodging house and crawled in through da window. One of da boys wasn't asleep an' he saw me come in. I told 'im everything dat I had been through, an' 'e said dat I could live dere wid 'im and da rest of da newsies. And fer da foist time in years I slept inside in a bed."

"Which one of da boys let you stay dere?" Faith asked.

"Spot," Dimples replied.

Around six o'clock at night, they realized that they had been talking all day.

"Wow, look at da time, we'se betta go an' get dinna," Jax said. "I'll go down ta Larry's Diner an' pick up somethin' ta eat an' den I'lls bring somethin' back fer you Dimps." Jax ran out of the room quickly. Dimples stood up and brushed his hands through his hair. "I'll go down stairs an' get Terry ta make ya some soup." He left the room.

After they left she looked over at the night stand next to the bed she was in. She picked up the book that Dimples said she had with her when they found her. Faith opened it, it looked like a very old book. She wondered why she had a book with her and not money or clothes. The book must have meant something to her, she just didn't know what. She started reading it. Dimples and Jax were gone a long time, but Faith didn't notice. After about an hour she heard them coming up the stairs, she folded the page in the book that she was on and put it back on the night stand. Dimples was walking slowly so he wouldn't spill the soup.

"Sorry it took so long Faith but Terry couldn't get da stove ta work." Dimples explained placing the soup on the table next to Faith.

She licked her lips and quickly began to eat. Jax handed Dimples a sausage on a roll. He stared eating it right away. Jax had eaten his food on the way back to the lodging house. By the time they had both finished eating the rest of the newsies stated walking into the room. They all greeted each other when they walked in. The first thing they did when they entered the room was throw off their shirts and through down the money that they made that day. Faith was very tiered so she lied back down in the bed and fell asleep. The other boys made sure that they weren't that loud so they wouldn't wake her up.

******

Faith got out of bed, the next morning, and saw that the cut on the back of her head was almost healed, she took the bandage off. She looked in a mirror that was hanging on a wall next to the sinks in the room, and saw that her hair looked very ratty, from the rain and not having brushed it in days.

"You'se gotta brush?" Faith asked looking over at Jax.

Jax nodded his head and walked over to the night stand next to Spot's bed. He opened one of the drawers and took out a brush then he handed it to her. All the newsies had left by then and it was only Jax, Dimples, and Faith that were still inside.

"We'll wait fer ya outside."

"Alwight," Faith said bushing her hair. The two boys left the room.

Faith had light brown hair that came down a few inches past her shoulders. She had light brown eyes as well. Once she was finished brushing her hair she put it up in a half ponytail. She got up and opened the drawer that Jax had taken the brush out of. When she looked inside of it she saw a necklace with a key on it. She picked it up and looked at it.

"What are you doing?" A voice asked from behind her.

She turned around and saw Spot practically standing over her. He looked exhausted, like he had been up all night. Faith was speechless, the only thing that she could do was stare at him. He grabbed the necklace from her and put it around his neck. They stood in silence for a moment, staring into each other's eyes. Neither of them were sure of what to say or if they should say anything at all. Spot didn't look angry, but Faith didn't know Spot, and didn't know what he looked when he was mad. She started moving slowly towards the door, but she never looked away from him. When she got to the door she turned and ran down the stairs.

She stopped running when she saw Dimples and Jax. Dimples put his harm around Faith's shoulder, Faith was still a little shaken up from seeing Spot so this was very comforting to her. She felt as if Dimples knew that Spot had been up there with her. Faith was afraid of Spot now and as they walked down the street she kept looking behind herself to see if he was there.

"Ya knows Spot really aint all dat bad." Dimples said after the third time Faith turned her head to see if Spot was coming.

"He didn't seem all dat nice ta me." Faith replied.

"You jist don't know 'im. I'se known 'im fer years."

"What's 'e like?" She asked him.

"'E's keeps to 'imself most of da time. Don't evah really talk to anyone, 'cept me, even den 'e don't talk ta me dat long. And 'e neva tells anyone what's botherin' 'im." Dimples explained.

"What happened ta 'is parent?"

"No one knows, 'e never opens up ta anyone, no one even knows 'is real name. Not even Terry, and 'e has ta keep a record of all da kids livin' in da lodging house. Spot just comes and goes when 'e pleases. But 'e is our leada, everyone would be lost widout 'im."

******

Faith, Dimples, and Jax walked up to the Distribution office where they bought their papers. Dimples paid for Faith's. Dimples and Jax each had 60 papers. Faith was only given 15.

"Oh yeahs, I'se almost forgot," Dimples said taking a slingshot out of his back pocket. "If you'se wanna be a Brooklyn newsie you'se gotta know how ta use a slingshot." Dimples handed the slingshot to Faith. "Spot's da best in all New Yawk. If 'e teaches ya how ta use a slingshot and sell papes you'se could as good as 'im."

"I don't think Spot likes me, no ways 'e eva wanna teach me ta do anything," Faith told him.

Dimples looked over at Faith and smiled. He could tell how scared she was of Spot. Spot was the one person in News York who you didn't want to be your enemy. Dimples thought that it would be best if Faith and Spot became friends.

"Don't worry 'bout Spot I'll talk ta 'im. Trust me, you guys will be friends in no time."

******

"No way Dimps, I aint doin' it," Spot said angrily to Dimples.

It was in the evening now and Faith had finished selling her papers, so Jax to her out to get something to eat. Spot was still trying to get rid of the last ten of his usual 100 papers.

"Come on Spot she's gotta learn. At least think 'bout it."

"I don't need ta think 'bout it. You'se good enough, you'se teach 'er."

"Spot, you knows yer da best." Dimples said. "Could ya at least be nicer to 'er? She thinks you hate 'er. She could probably use you as a friend."

Spot didn't answer him. This worried Dimples a little, he didn't know what he was going to tell Faith.

"Listen, I'm gonna be goin' ta Manhattan eoirly tomorra mornin', so look afta da guys fer me for a few days." Spot said after selling his last paper.

"Okay Spot."

******

"What did Spot say?" Faith asked later that night in the Lodging House.

Dimples didn't reply at first. He sighed heavily and very slowly shook his head. He sat on his bunk and looked at all guys.

"Spot's goin' ta Manhattan fer a few days. I'm in charge while 'e's gone"

With that said, Dimples blew out the candle next to his bed. The other boys all then went to their beds. A very short red headed boy, who Dimples said was named Games, was the last one to bed so he turned off the light.

Faith didn't sleep that night, she stayed awake wondering how she could get Spot to help her. She wondered why Spot hated her, and how she would be able to get him to help her. By early morning she still didn't have an answer.

She left the Lodging House early just to walk around the street and think. She wrote them a note saying that she went out and she that she would meet them at the distribution office if she wasn't back by the time they left.

While she was walking down the street she saw Spot walking a little further down the road.

"Where's 'e goin'?" She asked herself aloud.

She decided to follow him. She kept a far enough distance so she was sure he wouldn't see her. They walked a long time and Faith was beginning to get tiered. Finally Spot stopped in front of a building that read 'Manhattan Newsboys Lodging House.' They had walked to Manhattan. Spot entered the building. Faith decided to climb on the roof and look in the window to see inside.

When she looked in she saw a bunch of boys greeting Spot as he entered the room. The window was partly open so she was able to listen to their conversation.

"So Spot what brings you ta des parts?" A 17 year old boy with a cowboy hat on asked.

"Well Jacky boy me boys found is goil few nights ago. Deys want me ta teach 'er 'bout bein' a newsie." Spot explained sitting down on one of the beds.

"So, why don't ya?" Jack asked.

"It aint dat simple."

"Sure it is. What's the worst dat kin happen da boys find out you'se do gotta heart." Jack told him laughing.

The roof was slippery from since it had rained the night before and Faith was starting to slip off. She wanted to listen to the rest of their conversation but she also didn't want to fall of the roof. She decided that she should climb down before she fell.

"Do ya mind if I spent a few nights heah?" Spot asked.

"You'se always welcome heah Spot. Da only oddah beds we got are da ones in dat room back dere."

Spot looked to were Jack was pointing. The room was connected to the bunk room and was only separated by a door. Most of the time that room was used for kids that got hurt or were sick. They were put in a separate room so if the kid was sick, the other boys wouldn't catch what they had.

******

Faith didn't remember the way back to Brooklyn, so she had to wait until Spot came outside so she could follow him back. Unfortunately she didn't know that Spot was staying there. She went to the side of the building. The Manhattan newsies ran out of the building to sell their papers. She didn't see Spot with them, so she stayed were she was. By night, Spot still hadn't left the building, she finally gave up waiting for him. She didn't think he would be leaving that night, so she lied down on the grass and tried to fall asleep. All of her thoughts kept he awake.

******

"Jax, aint Faith back yet?" Dimples asked in the lodging house that night.

"No, I aint seen her all day."

"Alwight, everybody listen up." All the boys in the room stopped what ever they were doing to listen to Dimples. "If Faith aint back heah by tomorrow morning we'se all gonna go all around New Yawk until we find her. Games, you and Linx will go ta Midtown. Trotter, and um... Slick you will go ta Queens. Rider, and Slingshot you'se will go ta Harlem. Jet and Aaron you guys will have the Bronx." He gave almost all the boys places around New York to look for Faith if she wasn't back by tomorrow. "Anyone I didn't say either stay heah in case she comes back or look around the town fer her. Everybody got dat?"

They all nodded their heads.

"Hey Dimps, She could be in Manhattan wid Spot." Jax said.

"I'se knows, dat's why you and me are gonna go ta Manhattan." Dimples paused for a second then suddenly had an angry expression on his face. "If she is there and if Spot did anything to her I'll kill him."

They all woke up early the next morning. Dimples was the first one up and ran to Faith's bed hoping that she would be there. She wasn't. Jax walked over to Dimples. Faith meant a lot to Dimples and if she never returned he would blame himself, even though he knew that it wasn't his fault that she left.

"Faith aint heah so I'se want ya ta go to da places I told ya'se ta last night." Dimples said.

"We gotta sell are papes first Dimps." Games said putting on his hat.

"No! No one sells any papes until we find her." Dimples ordered.

"You're kiddin'. How are we gonna get money ta eat?" Aaron asked angrily.

"You'se wastin' time standin' around heah arguing'. Now go!" Dimples yelled.

The left the Lodging House and started looking for her. They felt sorry for Dimples and they missed Faith but they needed money to survive. They would have to look really hard to try and find Faith or they would starve.

******

By the time it was light out Faith heard the newsies coming down the stairs. She looked over and saw that Spot was with them. He was walking with Jack in front of all the other newsies. She was pretty sure that he wasn't going to be going back to Brooklyn, since when they were leaving she heard Spot say that he would sell his papers here.

After they left she walked around Manhattan looking for a place to eat. She had hardly any money, but she knew she would have enough to buy a roll, and she would still have money afterwards to buy another one for lunch.

The first store she saw was a place called Tibbys. She walked inside and bought a roll, she then decided that she would skip lunch and use the money to buy a roll for dinner. When she walked out of the store she saw Spot and Jack selling papers. She quickly walked back into the store so Spot wouldn't see her.

She looked out the window to see if they were leaving. She waited for hours but they didn't go anywhere. The only way out of the diner was the front door and if she went though there Spot would surly see her. So she would have to wait for them to leave.

Two boys walked up to Jack and Spot. Faith couldn't see their faces at first but she finally realized that it was Dimples and Jax. She wanted to run out and hug them and tell them that she missed them. After all her first memory was of Dimples. She wanted them to take her back to Brooklyn. If she showed herself Spot would think that she had been spying on him and then he would never teach her how to use a slingshot. She had to stay were she was no matter how much she missed Dimples and Jax.

******

"Hey Dimps, what are you doin' heah?" Spot asked as they spit-shook.

"'Memba Faith?" Dimples asked.

"Da goil dat stole me bed, right?"

"Yeah, well she went out fer a walk yesterday mornin-" Dimples was interrupted by Spot.

"You mean you'se let 'er walk around Brooklyn widout anyone with 'er'?"

"No, she left before we'se was up. Anyway, she didn't come back to da lodging house last night. And da guys hadn't seen her at all yesterday. I sent all da guys all ova New Yawk ta look fer 'er and me and Jax are lookin' fer 'er heah. You'se aint seen 'er, have ya?"

Spot shook his head.

"Are ya sure you'se aint seen her?" Dimples asked again.

"Why would ya think I have?"

"Well you told me you'se was leaving eoily in da mornin' and Faith left real eoily-" Spot interrupted Dimples again.

"It sounds like yer accusin' me of somethin'." Spot said with a smile on his face.

He folded his arms and stared at Dimples. Jack looked back and forth at the two boys. Looking at their facial expressions. Dimples looked angry and upset while Spot looked very calm.

"If I find out that she was heah and dat you did anything to her, I will kill ya." Dimples told him.

"Is dat a threat?" Spot asked still smiling.

"No, dat's a promise."

Dimples walked away, not looking back once at Spot or Jack. Jax looked at Spot and shrugged, then he turned around and started running to catch up with Dimples. Jack wondered how Spot could still be smiling after being threatened by his own newsie.

"Why ya smiling? Do ya think 'e's bluffin'?" Jack asked fixing his cowboy hat.

"Oh no I'm positive dat he'd try ta kill me if dat goil was heah, 'e loves dat goil like a sistah."

"Yet you manage ta keep smiling."

"I aint afraid of 'im or anyone else fer dat matta." Spot told him. "Let's get somethin' ta eat I'm starvin'."

After Faith heard what they had just said she hid in a booth next to the door. Spot and Jack walked in and went to the back of the diner and sat down with two other newsie that had been in there. Faith sunk out the front door once she was sure that Spot wouldn't be able to see her.

She ran back to the lodging house and went behind the building. She was out of breath and breathing heavy from running. She sat down behind the building and wiped sweat off her face. She tucked her knees up and hugged them in her arms and fell asleep.

******

She woke up only three hours later, but the sun was already going down. She was still very tiered from not sleeping for two night before. She walked to Tibby's to get something to eat. Faith walked in figuring that all the newsies had already eaten dinner. She was wrong, when she walked in Spot was sitting alone at one of the tables. She didn't see him and walked over to the counter and bought a roll with the remainder of her money. Spot looked up from his food and over at Faith, he stared at her for awhile then finally he recognized her. He stood up and started walking over to her slowly.

"Faith?" He asked half way over to her.

She turned around quickly and saw Spot coming over to her. She didn't want him to know it was her. She ran out of the building as fast as she could. Spot quickly ran after her. Faith was a little dehydrated and hungry she also was very tired so Spot easily caught up to her. He tackled her to the ground as soon as she came into arms reach.

"What's da mattah wid ya?" Spot asked standing up off the ground.

"I didn't want ya ta know it was me," she told him.

"So you are Faith." He said

She nodded. He grabbed her hand and helped her stand up.

"Me newsies have been lookin' all ova fer ya. Jax and Dimples came ova heah, did ya know dat?" He asked. She nodded her head again. "Come on, you gotta go back ta Brooklyn."

"I'm not goin' back until you each me how ta sell papes and use a slingshot." Faith said crossing her arms she stared at Spot hoping he would say okay.

"You'se gotta be kiddin' me. Dimples will kill me if he finds out you'se are heah and I didn't tell 'im."

"If you promise to teach me I'll go back to Brooklyn tomorrow mornin'." Faith told him.

"You'se know Jack is da best at sellin' papes, not me."

"Alwight, I'll go back ta Brooklyn tomorrow and den come back heah so'se you'se and Jack can teach me. But you'se have to come ta Brooklyn wid me 'cause I don't know da way."

"Alwight it's a deal," Spot said.

He spit in his hand and held it out towards Faith. She hesitated for a moment then spit in her own hand and then they shook. Faith smiled at him. Spot shook his head and sighed.

"I don't think dat's we'se evah really bin introduced. I'se Spot Conlon."

"I know, Dimples told me who you where. I'm Faith."

"Yeah, Dimples told me who you were too."

Faith saw him smile a little. His expression changed quickly back to being serious though. He rubbed his arm with his hand and focused his eyes on Faith. She looked at him waiting for him to say something.

"Let's go back to Tibbys and I'll buy ya somethin' ta eat and drink. Den you'se can come to da lodging house and sleep dere." He forced a small smile so Faith wouldn't think he was mad.

They walked back to Tibby's and Spot bought Faith a glass of water and some food. After she finished eating they walked back to the lodging house. It wasn't late at all when they got to the building so all the lights were on and they knew everyone would be awake.

******

Spot walked into the room first and Faith followed close behind. When they entered all the boys looked at them most of them started to whistle. A few made rude comments to Faith. Spot moved Faith closer to him. He could see that she was scared. She didn't know who these guys were, or what they were capable of.

"Hey Spot, jist 'cause you'se got a private room don't mean you can bring goils ova." A boy with a patch over his eye said.

"Shut up Blink." Spot said angrily. "This is Faith. She is a new Brooklyn newsie and wants Jacks help ta teach 'er how ta sell papes. If any of ya try anything wid her. I'm gonna kill ya, and you know I aint kiddin'." Everyone became silent. "Dat's betta. Faith met da boys, dis loud mouth right heah is Kid Blink. Ovah dere playin' pokah is Bumlets, Skittery, Snipeshooter, an' Boots. Da guys in da way back dere is Swiftly, Pie Eater..." Spot went on introducing everyone.

Faith looked at all the boys. They looked different from the Brooklyn newsies. They looked smaller, and a little happier. With the Brooklyn newsies you could tell just by looking at them that they had a hard life, they hardly ever smiled at anyone other than other Brooklyn newsies. That was their reputation and they were always trying to live up to it even if they didn't want to.

They were nothing but cold hearted newsies, that only cared about themselves. Faith knew that this wasn't true. That was what everyone thought about them though. They were obviously nothing like Manhattan newsies. All of the Manhattan newsies looked happy and full of life. Brooklyn newsies were by far more muscular and intimidating.

"... Da guy ovah dere wid da crutch is Crutchy, an' dat short kid right dere is Shorty. Oh, an' dat's Jack. Aint der a few of yer boys missin'?" Spot asked.

"Racetrack took Mush and Devon to the Sheepshead Races fer da day. They should be back soon." Jack explained.

"Mush at the racetracks? Now there's somethin' I'd pay ta see" Spot said.

"Oh an' why is dat?" A voice from behind asked.

Spot jumped a little, he wasn't expecting anyone to be behind him. He looked at the other newsies to see if they had seen him jump, it didn't look like they had. He turned around, Mush was standing at the door way with Racetrack and Devon next to him. Spot smiled at them. He walked over to Mush, Faith made sure she stayed close to Spot.

"Hey ya Mush," Spot said.

They spit-shook. Mush only just now noticed Faith standing beside Spot.

"Yer pretty lucky ta have Spot, you two make a good couple. You'se got a fine lookin' goil heah Spot" He said.

Faith looked confused. She didn't know what he was talking about.

"She aint me goil Mush, dis goil wants me and Jack ta teach 'er how ta be a newsie. I'll tell you'se what I told dem, don't try anything wid 'er. Come on Faith," he said taking her hand. "Your gonna sleep wid me."

Spot stopped walking upon realizing what he said might be taken the wrong way by some of the more immature newsies.

"In my room, you kin sleep in my room in da bed next to mine." He said

Spot took Faith into the room where he had been sleeping and closed the door behind him. In the room Faith slid off her shoes and took down her hair and then she started to giggle.

"What?" Spot asked. She shook her head. "What are ya laughin' at?"

"You should have saw yer face when you realized Mush was right behind ya." Faith told him trying to keep herself from laughing. "You'se looked so scared."

"I wasn't scared, 'e startled me."

"You were scared and you know it," Faith said climbing into one of the beds. "I aint scared of nobody." Spot said.

Faith couldn't see him, but Spot was actually smiling. He took off his shoes and his shirt getting ready for bed. Spot lied down in his bed and then looked over at Faith, she was already asleep. He tried to go to sleep but he couldn't, he had too many thoughts on his mind.

Spot wondered what he was going to do. He knew that Dimples and Jax might think that he lied to them. He also knew that they were going to be even more upset when Faith told them that she was going to be leaving to be going back to Manhattan. He only wished that there would be an easy way to tell them. Spot stayed up half the night thinking but eventually he fell asleep.

******

They left the lodging house before everyone else woke up. While they walked back to Brooklyn, Faith was able for the first time see what Spot really looked like. Every other time she had a chance to see what he looked like it was too dark, and the last time she saw in him in daylight she was too scared to notice what he looked liked.

He had brown hair parted in the middle and crystal blue eyes. He had a key tied around his neck and was holding a black cane with a gold top and bottom in his right hand.

When they were only a few blocks away from the lodging house they saw Dimples and Jax.

"Dimples, Jax!" Faith screamed so she was sure that they would hear her.

They turned around and started running towards her. When they got to each other Dimples picked Faith up and started spinning her around while hugging her.

"Where were ya?" Dimples asked putting her down.

He then realized that Spot was there. He grabbed his shirt and was getting ready to punch him

"You lying son of a-"

"Hey she followed me I didn't even know she was heah 'til last night." Spot said defending himself.

He pulled away and brushed his shirt with his hands. Dimples was furious with Spot. Spot knew that he would be. Jax on the other hand didn't seem all that mad. He was just glad that Faith was back. He didn't really care that she was with Spot, either that or he just didn't want to get on Spot's bad side.

"Well den why didn't ya bring 'er back last night?" Dimples asked putting has hands on Faiths shoulders.

"She was starvin', thirsty, and she said dat she hadn't slept in days. She needed rest Dimples."

"Hey Faith guess what? We'se was able ta get ya yer own bed." Jax blurted out.

"Really dat's great!" Faith said excitedly while hugging Jax.

"To bad she won't be sleepin' in it fer awhile." Spot said accidentally.

He knew Faith wanted to tell everyone herself that she was going back to Manhattan, but for that moment Spot had forgotten.

"What's 'e talkin' 'bout Faith?" Dimples asked.

"I wanted ta tell ya myself. Spot said dat he'd help me use a slingshot and Jack said dat 'e can teach me ta sell papes."

"Is Jack coming ta Brooklyn?" Dimples asked. Faith shook her head.

"You'se gonna leave us?" Jax asked.

"I'll be back. You'se guys can visit me when eva you'se want, right Spot?"

"Well not during da day dat's when you'se is gonna be learnin'', but afta you'se done sellin' papes dey kin come." He explained to her.

"Spot kin I talk ta ya?" Dimples asked moving away from Jax and Faith.

"Sure Dimps."

He walked over where Dimples was. He had a worried expression on his face.

"It aint like you'se neva gonna see her again." Spot told him.

"I aint worried 'bout dat, I knows she'll be back. I don't want her ta get hurt over there, so keep an eye on her for me. And don't let anyone in dat lodging house fool around wid 'er, there are some boys in there dat I'se don't trust. Anyway how come Jack can't just come ta Brooklyn?"

"Jack aint neva gonna leave 'is newsies. It's saver in Manhattan anyways. We'll come back as soon as we'se finished teachin' 'er. An' don't worries 'bout da boys I'se already took care of it nobody's gonna come near 'er."

Dimples looked at Spot for a moment. He didn't want Faith to leave, especially after that long search they had sent out. He had to admit that Spot was right it was a whole lot saver in Manhattan. Dimples walked back over to Faith and gave her another hug.

"Say hi to the boys for me." Faith said.

She said goodbye to them and gave them both a kiss on the check. Spot and Faith turned around and started walking back to Manhattan. Faith turned around and waved to them half way down the road but the two boys had already left.

******

"Wake up." Spot said to her the next morning. He shook her lightly to try and get her to wake up. She sat up. "Look I'se gots ta go somewhere taday, Jack's busy too, so I'm gonna get some of Jack's boys ta help ya today." She nodded her head, then he left the room.

She tiredly stood up and rubbed her eyes. Faith closed the door and changed into another pair of clothes that Spot had given her. She walked out of the room and saw all of the newsies getting ready for the day. Devon and Racetrack, and Mush walked up to her.

"I don't think dat we'se were properly introduced to ya da udder night." Racetrack said putting his vest on. "My name is Racetrack but you'se can call me Race."

"My name's Devon."

Faith looked at the two boys. Race was sixteen. He was short with short dark brown hair that almost looked black and dark brown eyes. He had what looked like a very expensive outfit on. It wasn't worn out or ripped like some of the other boys and he had a gold watch in one of his vest pockets and the gold chain from the watch was hanging out of the vest.

Devon was thirteen. He had sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. He had on a gray shirt and gray pants. Devon was average weight for his age, but for a thirteen year old he was a little short. She looked over at the third boy. He was smiling shyly, and was trying not to make eye contact with her.

"Dis is Mush." Race told her.

Mush had short brown curly hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a white worn out shirt and brown pants that went down to his knees. He was muscular and had an innocent looking face. He was fifteen, but looked like he was only fourteen.

"Spot asked us ta help ya wid your papes taday." Race told her.

"We'se betta get down dere an' buy our papes for dere's aint none left." Devon said grabbing his hat from the bed post.

******

They walked down to the Distribution office to buy their papers. Race gave Faith money to buy her own papers. They got in line and waited for their turn to buy their papers. Much, Devon and Race all bought 50 papers.

"15 papes please." Faith said.

She gave her money to the man inside the building that the other boys called Weasel.

"15 papes for the new girl!" He screamed to the back.

"Hey there tootsie how 'bout you and me go out sometime." A 17 year old boy in the inside of the building said holding Faith's papers.

"Leave her alone Morris." Race said stepping in from behind.

"What? Is she your goil?"

"She's one of me best friends. I'll soak ya if you'se come near 'er."

"I'm shaking. Me and my brother could take you." Morris said.

"What about the two of us?" Devon said. "Or da three of us?" Mush said walking back up to where Devon and Race were.

All of there arms were crossed across their chest and they had a very serious expression on their faces. Morris could tell that they weren't messing around.

"Hey, all right, fine." Morris said.

He handed Faith's papers to Race. He then gave them to Faith. They walked to the side walk and sat down on the curb.

"See Faith just stick wid us an' you'll be fine." Devon said.

He rubbing his hand against Faith's head messing up her hair. She giggled and gave him a playful push.

"Hey!" Devon said falling on the road. He moved back up to the curb and sat down.

"Besides, if anything happens ta you, Spot will kill us." Mush said smiling.

They looked through heir papers tying to find a good story.

"Now the first thing you'se wanta do when sellin' papes is to spice up all da headlines. Like dis one "Goil dat has been missin' fer four years in found dead hidden' in an ally." If you say somethin' like...uh... Goil's been found murdered beaten up in ally. Everyone is gonna want ta buy yer papes, cause day thinks dat its happened recently." Race explained.

"Jack taught us dat." Mush added.

"In Brooklyn we neva make up headlines." Faith told them.

"Dat's 'cause in Brooklyn you'se don't need ta make up headlines. In Manhattan to make money you'se got ta. Got it?" Faith nodded. "Okay den try ta sell a pape." Race told her.

"Now?" Faith asked a little surprised.

"Yeah."

She stood up and cleared her throat. She held her paper up in the air.

"Extra, extra! Young goil found murdered, beaten up in an ally!" Faith yelled.

A man took one of the papers and gave Faith a penny.

"Thank you." She said.

She turned back around and looked at the three boys smiling. Devon walked up to her.

"See dat you'se a natural." He told her patting her back.

******

They all went to Tibby's after they were finished selling their papers, and stayed there the rest of the day talking. They got to know each other very well. Faith found out the Mush's parents died in a fire when he was six. His little sister Mary was sent to live with relatives that lived far away. Mush wasn't allowed to go with her. So instead of going in a foster home he decided to become a newsie. Racetrack's parents had also died. His mother by pneumonia, when he was five, and his father was killed in a factory accident, on Race's eleventh birthday. The Kloppman asked him if he wanted to be a newsie and Race agreed.

Devon ran away when he was ten. His mother had never paid any attention to him and his father would beat him when ever he got the chance. He was lucky to have only lived on the streets for a few weeks before the Kloppman found him on a street corner and brought him to the lodging house. When it began to get dark they left Tibby's and went back to the lodging house. They were very exhausted and went strait to their beds as soon as they entered the room. Faith went into the separate room were she saw Spot sitting on the bottom bunk. He didn't notice her come in. He was looking at an old picture. Faith was curious to see who it was of, so she started walking over to Spot.

"Who's dat?" She asked. Spot quickly shoved the picture in his pocket.

"No one." He said. He climbed into his bed and lied down.

Faith figured that she'd better not ask any other questions. She took off her shoes and walked over to her bed. She lied down and fell asleep.

******

"Wake up Faith!" Mush said early the next morning trying to wake up Faith.

He shook her gently, she opened her eyes. She yawned and looked up at Mush. She could tell that he was in a good mood. He was smiling more than ever and his face was glowing. Faith sat up and stretched.

"Faith, I'se gotta great idea. How 'bout instead of sellin' our papes taday I'se take ya around town?" He said.

"That'd be great. Let's go." Faith said.

She got dressed and her and Mush left the lodging house and started walking around the town. He showed her all the different sites in Manhattan. She had never before taken the time to look closely at how beautiful Manhattan was. They spent the whole day together, they stopped to eat at different restaurants.

They didn't get back to the lodging house until late at night, even after all the rest of the newsies were asleep. They had been walking all day, so the first thing that they did when they came in was lye down on their beds. They talked to each other for about an hour, Mush's bed wasn't that close to Faith's so he had to talk load enough for her to hear him, but not so loud that he might wake up anyone.

******

For the next couple of days she spent most of her time with Mush, Race, and Devon. But mostly with Mush, they had become really good friends. The only time she wasn't with him or the others was when Jack would teach her how to sell papers. She only saw Spot was at night when he when he would enter the lodging house to go to sleep. Faith hadn't seen Dimples or Jax in two weeks and she was really starting to miss them. She wanted desperately to go back to Brooklyn, but she also wanted to stay in Manhattan with her other friends.

It was surprisingly quiet when she woke up the next morning. Usually she would her all the boys screaming at each other. She looked to see if Spot was still in his bunk, he wasn't. Oh my God I slept in, they must have left ta sell papes wid out me. Why didn't Mush wake me up? Faith asked herself as she flung open the door that connected her room to the room were the other newsies slept. As soon as she opened the door she saw Spot sitting on a beds tying one of his shoe.

"'Bout time you'se got up." He said looking up at her. Faith looked confused. "Don't worries we aint sellin' papes taday. Taday I'm gonna teach ya how ta use a slingshot. Sorry I's aint been around all dis time but I'se been busy. there's a pair of clothes on me bed dat you'se kin wear."

"Ya know dis is only da third time you'se talk ta me since we'se bin heah."

"Come on, git dressed."

She walked back into the room and closed the door behind her. She walked over to the top bunk and saw a pair of clothes folded on the bed. The shirt was blue and the pants were brown. She got changed and walked back to the room were Spot was waiting for her. He was standing at the door way wearing a plaid shirt and brown pants smiling. He motioned for her to follow then he walked out the of the building, Faith went out after him.

******

They stopped walking when they came to a small park. Spot took out his sling shot and a few marbles from his pocket. He explained to her what she had to do to get prefect aim. Then he loaded his slingshot with one of the marbles and shot it a bottle that he had been set up before hand, the bottle broke and he looked over at Faith smiling.

"Yer turn." He said handing a marble to her.

She took it and loaded it in the slingshot that Dimples had given her. She tried her best to aim but when she shot it the marble to high up and to far to the right. She looked over at Spot frowning. He shook his head still smiling and took out another marble out.

"Heah try it again." He moved up close to her and put the marble in the slingshot.

He stood behind her and straightened her arms. The took her hand that was holding the rubber band back and pulled back trying to aim they released it and it hit the bottle. She looked up at him and smiled. He gave her another marble and then he stepped back. She shot it again and missed. It was closer to the bottle this time.

They stayed out there for hours practicing. By the time they were finished they were famished. They went to Tibbys for dinner. They each paid for their own meal and they sat in a small booth in the corner of the restaurant. They didn't talk at all while they were eating, but after they were finished Faith decided to start talking. She wiped her mouth with a napkin and looked up at Spot. He had just finished eating his dinner, and then he took the last sip of his drink.

"So whats ya bin doin' all da time I'se bin heah?" She asked.

The question made Spot a little nervous. He quickly looked up at her with wide eyes.

"Nothin'" He responded.

"Come on you'se had to have bin doin' somethin'."

"Well what have you'se bin doin'?" Spot asked trying to make sure that the conversation stayed off of him.

"Well, you are lookin' at one of da best papah sellahs in town. Jack's bin teachin' me for awhile now an' 'e says dat I'ms a really fast learnah."

Faith didn't think that Spot really cared what she had been doing, she just figured that he didn't want to talk about himself. Spot did care though. He loved listening to Faith's voice. He thought that she had so much confidence in herself. He only wished that he had agreed to help Faith sooner.

******

After she finished telling him what she had been doing they left the restaurant and went back to the lodging house. As soon as Spot entered he was immediately dealt into a game of poker. Faith had never played poker before and was curious about who to. She sat down on the floor next to Spot and watched him, Racetrack, Snipeshooter, and Kid Blink play.

Snipeshooter was twelve years old and a little pudgy. He had curly dirty blond hair and blue eyes. He had on a gray hat and was wearing a white shirt with gray shorts that went down to his knees. He was smoking a cigar and laughing at a joke Race had just told.

Kid Blink had parted blond hair his right eye was green and the other one as covered up with an eye patch. He was five foot seven and about sixteen years old. He was wearing a dirty white shirt with brown pants.

A little bit into the game they heard foot step coming up the stairs. Everyone looked over to see who was coming. The door opened and Dimples walked in. Faith saw him, jumped up quickly and ran over to him. She jumped into his opened arms and hugged him.

"What are you'se doin' heah?" Faith asked excitedly.

"Well I'se was in da neighborhood an' thought dat I'se would jist stop by an' say hi."

"Yeah right." Spot muttered under hid breath.

Snipeshooter heard him but didn't say anything.

"It's so great ta see you'se!" He said holding her hands.

Spot got up and walked over to them.

"You'se guys kin go talk in da room so you'se kin have a little privacy."

He tried to sound glad that Dimples was here, but he couldn't, and he wasn't sure why. They went in to the room that Spot and Faith had been sleeping in and closed the door behind them. Spot took a deep breath and then walked back over to the poker game. He picked up his cards and sat down.

"What's da matta Spot?" Snipeshooter asked taking the cigar out of his mouth so he could talk.

Spot shook his head looking down at his cards.

"You'se didn't seem to happy ta see Dimps." Snipeshooter said.

"Nothin's wrong! Now let's play." Spot said looking up from his cards.

His eyes scanned all three of the boys' faces, then they looked over to the rest of the boys in the room. Who were staring at him. Snipeshooter started to say something but Race stopped him. No one would dare contradict Spot. If Spot said nothing was wrong then would leave it at that even if you knew that something was wrong. And everyone there new that something was bothering Spot, but he would never admit it.

******

Dimples and Faith sat down on the bed side by side. Dimples had missed Faith deeply, she was like a sister to him. He wanted to take her back to Brooklyn but knew that he couldn't unless Spot said that she was ready to leave.

To Faith Dimples didn't change at all during the weeks she had been gone. She though he looked a little taller though, but that was probably just because most of the Manhattan newsies were short.

"So whats you'se bin doin' heah all dis time?" Dimples asked taking off his dark brown hat and then placing it on his lap.

She started telling him about Race, Mush, and Devon and how they have been showing her around Manhattan and how that they became her friends. She also told him how that Spot had only started teaching her how to use a slingshot that morning.

"Well since you'se done learnin' how ta sell papes, you'se kin come home an' Spot kin teach ya how ta use your slingshot there. Right?" Dimples said hopefully.

It suddenly occurred to her that she would have to chose between staying with Race, Mush, and Devon in Manhattan, or going back to Brooklyn and being with Dimples and Jax. Faith wasn't sure what to tell Dimples.

"So how's everyone back in Brooklyn?" She asked changing the subject.

Dimples wanted to know why she wouldn't answer the question. But he didn't want to force her to. He told her everything that had been happening while she was gone. He talked for about twenty minutes, and then told her he had to leave. She walked him to the front of the building and then walked back inside and upstairs.

When she walked back in Spot wasn't there. She looked in her room but he wasn't there either. She sat down next to Mush.

"Where'd Spot go?" She asked.

"'E said dat 'e had ta go take care of somethin'. 'E didn't tell us what though, 'e never does."

He blew out the candle next to his bed and lied down. Faith stood up and walked into her room. She stayed up all night waiting for Spot to come back. Around midnight she saw the window in the room start to open. She pretended she was asleep as Spot entered the room. He walked over to her to see if she was asleep. Then he climbed in to his bed. She heard him sigh. A few minutes later, once she was sure that Spot was asleep, she got out of her bed and went over to his'. She watched him sleep.

She wondered where he goes when he is gone all day. Spot moved a little and Faith quickly ran over to her bed and threw the covers over her. That was the most scared she had been in a long time. She didn't know what she would have done if Spot had woken up and saw her standing over him.

*****

She woke up just as Mush walked into the room. He walked over to her and sat down.

"'Mornin'. How was yer night?" He asked flashing her a smile.

"Fine."

"Spot's waitin' fer ya. 'E's taken you'se home ta day." Mush said.

He tried to sound happy but he was obviously very upset. He knew he would miss Faith a lot.

"Really?" She asked surprised.

"I'm gonna miss ya." Mush gave her a hug and then walked out of the room.

She closed the door after Mush left and got changed. Most of the newsies were still in the lodging house when she walked out of her room. She walked over to Devon and Race who were sitting on a bed putting on their shoes. She sat down next to them and smiled. They knew that she was leaving so they hugged her and said good-bye.

"You'll visit us wont ya?" Devon asked.

"Coise!" She hugged him again and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"We'll miss ya." Race told her putting a piece of her hair behind her ear.

She walked out the door. When she came out of the building Spot was sitting on the curb waiting for her. She walked up behind him smiling. He turned around and smiled at Faith. He stood up and looked in her eyes. He wanted to say something to her, to try and help her get over Mush, Race, Devon and all the other Manhattan newsies. But he knew that there was nothing that he could say. He knew that she would see them again, but he hated seeing her so sad.

He turned away from her and started walking down the road. Faith followed him. He stopped when he came to a wagon that had barrels in the back. The driver jumped in the front and took the rains of the of two horses that were tied to it. Spot grabbed Faith's wrist and an over to the wagon making sure that the driver couldn't see them. He climbed into the back and pulled Faith in next to him. They stayed down low for a long time. Finally, Spot jumped off the wagon. Faith jumped off after him.

"See we'se git ta Brooklyn a lot fasta if we'se steal a ride from a wagon." Spot said. Faith smiled.

"I can't wait to see Dimples!" Faith said walking down the street with Spot.

"We'se aint gonna go back ta da lodging house right away. You'se still gotta practice some wid yer slingshot." He explained.

"Alright," she replied.

******

They walked for a wile until they came to a dock. There was no one else there but them. They walked to the edge of the dock, then Spot took out his slingshot. Faith did the same. He took out two marbles and gave one of them to Faith.

"What are we'se suppose ta shot at? Dere's no bottles or nuthin'." She said.

"Dis is ta practice distance, not aim." Spot loaded his slingshot and shot the marble. "See, now you try."

She put the marble in the slingshot and shot it. It didn't go anywhere near as far as Spot's but it did go far for her first try. Faith looked disappointed. They stayed out on the docks for a few hours. Faith couldn't get the marble to shot far enough. She was getting very frustrated. She sat down on the dock and let her feet dangle off the end.

"I'm neva gonna git this." She said to Spot.

He sat down next to her. He knew that she was trying her hardest, and he hated seeing her give up. He wasn't sure what he should tell her. He thought for a moment and then looked over at Faith.

"You know Dimps couldn't shot the marble that far his first day." He said trying to cheer her up.

"Really?" She asked. Spot shook his head.

"No, I jist said dat ta make you'se feel bettah." He confessed.

She started laughing and pushed him in the water. He didn't come back up. She looked around but didn't see him. Then she felt something grab her foot and pull her in the water. She fell in and started screaming. Spot wasn't all that sure what as going on. She went under the water and didn't come back up.

Spot was scared when he finally realized that Faith couldn't swim. He swam around the lake, going under the water to look for her. He stayed under the water as long as he could. It was no use, he couldn't find her. He started swimming back to the dock but something caught his eye. It was about ten yards away from him, he swam closer then realized that it was Faith. She was floating on her stomach. He swam over to her as fast as he could. He flipped her over on her back and started pulling her to the dock. Spot grabbed on to a rope ladder that hung from the dock down to the water and started climbing it with Faith in his arms.

He lied her down on the dock and checked her pulse to see if she was still breathing. She wasn't. Her lips were purple and her face was pale. Spot wasn't all that sure of what to do. Then he remembered a year ago what a friend of Jack's did when Snipeshooter fell in the water, before he learned to swim. Spot tilted Faith's head back and brought his mouth to hers and breathed into it, trying to fill her lungs with air.

He didn't realize it but he was shivering from how cold the water had been. After the third time she started coughing up water. He sat her up so she would be able to breath easier. She rested her head on Spot's chest and closed her eyes. She was still very weak so Spot carried her to the Brooklyn lodging house. She was asleep in his arms when he walked into the building. He went upstairs and lied her down on a bed.

He undressed her and put her in a dry pair of clothes. Spot kneeled next to the bed she was in and watched her sleep. He was still wet but he didn't care. His only concern was Faith.

******

Dimples walked into the lodging house smiling but when he saw Faith lying in a bed with wet hair it reminded him of the day that he and Jax found her. He quickly ran over to her. Her lips were still a little blue.

"Faith? Faith can you hear me?"

"She's jist sleepin'." Spot said from behind him.

Dimples let out a sigh of relief. He turned around and looked at Spot, he still hadn't changed out of his wet clothes. He was carrying a bowl of soup. He walked pass Dimples and put the soup down on a small table. He walked over to Faith and sat down next to her. He woke her up. She rubbed her eyes and sat up. Spot grabbed another cover from someone's bed and wrapped it around her shoulders. Dimples moved the table over to her.

"Faith if I knew dat you'se couldn't swim I would of neva pulled you'se in da wadda." Spot said.

"You'se didn't know, I didn't even know." She said.

"You did this to her?!" Dimples yelled.

Spot didn't respond. He just walked over to Dimples and stared at him. Dimples was breathing heavy and was ready to fight Spot.

"Go ahead, punch me." Spot said calmly.

"Dimps it was my fault he didn't know I couldn't swim." Faith said.

She was trying to make sure that they didn't start fighting. Spot turned away from Dimples and waked back over next to Faith.

"You'se luck she aint dead Spot." Dimples said.

******

She woke up the next morning from hearing Terry yell to the newsies to wake up. She yawned and got out of bed. She was used to having her own room, so it was never this noise when she would wake up back in Manhattan. She walked over to Jax.

"Where's Spot?" She asked.

Jax didn't hear her. There was a knot in his shoe lace and he couldn't get it out. It was making him very frustrated, Faith got down on the ground and started getting the knot out of his shoe. He waited for her to finish getting it out before he thanked her.

"Jax, where's Spot?" She asked again.

"Dimples told 'im dat 'e should stay away from you. 'E said dat afta what happened to ya yesterday 'e should leave you'se alone. 'E says dat 'e kin teach ya tomorrow, jist not taday. It was kind of funny. Usually if someone tells Spot ta do somethin', Spot punches him in the face, 'e neva does what de person tells 'im ta do. But 'e did dis time. It's weird, eva since 'e meet you 'e's been acting really different, coise 'e doesn't admit it, but it's obvious." Jax explained.

"What's obvious?" Faith asked.

"Nothin'. If he even knew that I told you as much as I already did, he'd kill me."

Faith and Jax stood up. Jax patted Faith on the back and grabbed his hat. He put it on his head, smiled at her and left the building. Faith was so use to wearing Spot's clothes it never even occurred to her to get clothes of her own. She had been wearing Spot's clothes before she had even meet Spot.

Spot kept all of his clothes in a pillow case under his bed. She pulled it out and grabbed a pair of clothes. Transferring her money into the pant's pocket. She changed in one of the washrooms then left to buy her papers.

******

"50 papes please," she said to the distribution.

She reached into her pocket and took out everything that was in it. She gave him the money and then took her papers. She walked over and sat down on a curb. She still had all the stuff that was in Spot's pants pocket in her hand. Usually he would always empty his pockets before he put his clothes back in the pillow case. She looked in her hand and saw a picture. It was folded in half. She unfolded it and looked at it. It was a picture of a man, a woman and a three children. She thought that this must have been the picture that he didn't let her see before. She folded the picture back up and put it back in her pocket.

She wondered who those people were in the picture all day. She wanted to ask Spot. He didn't want to even show her the people before, she wondered why now would make any difference.

Her bed was close to Spot's so she was able to hear him breath as he slept. He sounded so peaceful, his breathing was in a steady rhythm. She stayed up most of the night thinking about what his life was like before he became a newsie. She wondered if maybe he had ran away like Devon, or if his parents had died like Mush and Race's. Or she even wondered if he had been abandoned like Dimples had been. She thought that either way, his past must have been really bad since he would never talk about it. All these thought raced through her head and in doing so brought back memories of all of her friends in Manhattan and how much she missed them.

She didn't know what to do. It was a long way from Brooklyn to Manhattan, and she wanted to see her friend on a regular basis. She it a candle on a table next to her bed. She took her book out from under her pillow and started reading. She heard Spot move around in his bed. Faith looked over at him to see if he was awake. He turned over and looked at her. He flashed her a small smile.

"Why aint you asleep?" He asked in a soft voice so he wouldn't wake up any of the newsies.

"I was reading," she told him. "Do you want me to blow out my candle so you can sleep?"

Spot shook his head. She took off his covers and walked over to Faith's bed and sat down. Faith sat up and showed him her book.

"Ya like readin'?" Spot asked.

"Yeah. I kin spend hours readin' any type o' book." She told him.

"What's dis one about?" He asked.

She explained to him what the book she was reading was about. Spot looked very interested in what she was talking about. Faith flipped back some of the pages in the book she stopped and then handed it to Spot.

"Here read this, it's me favorite part." Faith said.

Spot looked at the page she opened to and stared at it. It looked like he was having trouble reading it. He brushed his hair with his hand and closed the book, and handed it back to her. Faith didn't understand what was wrong. She thought that he looked a little nervous or embarrassed, she wasn't sure which. Then it hit her, Spot couldn't read.

"You can't read, can you?" She asked.

He looked at her but didn't say anything. It didn't matter, she knew the answer. She felt sorry for him, she loved reading. She never would have guessed that Spot couldn't read.

"How do you know what the headlines are so you can sell papes?" She asked.

"Dimples tells me. 'E's da only one dat knows I can't read. But I guess you know now too." He explained.

"But I saw you selling papes with Jack in Manhattan. And Dimples told me that you were a newsie before him. How did you manage then?"

"I listen to what all the other newsies were screaming and I just repeated it. Do you know what would happen ta me if de udda newsies found out I couldn't read? I would lose all of their respect. What kind of a newsie can't even read 'is own papes? You can't tell them I don't know who to read, Faith."

"I wont tell them. But only if you promise you'll let me teach you." Faith said.

"Alright, you teach me ta read an' I'll teach you ta swim." She spit in her hand, he did the same and then they shook. Spot smiled at her and went back over to his bed. Faith lied down and blew out her candle.

******

"Faith. Faith come on let's go." Spot whispered to her the next morning.

She got out of bed expecting the other newsies to be getting ready. They were all still sleeping. She looked over at Spot he was putting his shoes on. She walked over to him.

"Why did you wake me up so eoily?" She asked.

"Shh. Ya don't wanna wake everyone up. Taday is yer first lesson on swimmin'. I know ya said dat you'se wanted ta leave eoily, an' nobody will be at da lake dis eoily. We should be finished before da udda guys finish sellin' deir papes. Probably ever eoilyer." He explained.

Spot took Faith to a shallow part in the lake. He went in to the water with her and told her to float on her back. He put his hands under her back and her head she didn't go all the way under. The water was freezing but Faith new she had to learn how to swim. Where they were in the lake the water only came up to their waists.

"Let's go in a little deeper." Spot said after about a half hour a Faith floating in her back.

Faith was worried about how much farther they would be going in but didn't say anything. She trusted Spot, and knew he wouldn't endanger her on purpose. They walked into the water until it came to just a little below their shoulders.

"Lie on your stomach, keep your head up and start kicking." Spot told her.

She tried but went under the water. Spot pulled her above the water. He took both of her arms.

"Now try." He said

She did and was able to stay above the water but only because Spot was holding her up. Even if he was holding her up she still felt like she accomplished something. She was thankful for Spot for teaching her to swim. It would still be awhile until she was able to swim well though. It would take Spot a lot longer for him to learn to read than it would for her to learn to swim, but she was up to the challenge.

******

They finished around noon, just in time for lunch. They went to Larry's Diner to get something to eat. Most of the newsies were in there. Spot saw the booth that Dimples and Jax were sitting in. Once Faith saw them she ran over to where they were sitting and sat down next to Dimples, and across from Jax. Spot walked over to them and smiled at all three of them. He sat down next to Jax.

"Why'd ya guys leave so eoily? If ya waited fer us to git done sellin' we'se woulda helped ya." Dimples said.

Faith didn't want everyone to know she couldn't swim. It was her idea to go in the morning so no one would be there. She didn't want to tell Dimples that, she thought that it might make him fell bad. She looked over at Spot to see if he had an answer, he smiled at her, then turned his attention over to Dimples.

"It's easier in da mornin'. To many people are around latah in da day. She'd neva learn anything wid all 'er friends around." He explained.

Dimples didn't say anything else about the subject. Once Faith and Spot got their food, Jax started telling started telling them about his day. Jax always had the most exiting days out of all the other newsies. Sometimes Jax would act like a very mature for his age, but when he told his stories it was like he was five years old. Faith wondered if Spot's days were as exiting as Jax's. He never talked about what had happened to him or what he had seen during the course of his day.

With Jax, he would run into the lodging house every night and told anyone that would listen to him about what had happened. Some of his stories were lies, or he would enhance them to make them seem more interesting. You could tell when he was lying, but no one cared. If you ever needed to hear a good story, he was the one you came to.

Dimples was watching Spot while Jax was talking. He noticed something different about him. He had changed, but he wasn't sure how. Jax knew exactly how Spot had changed, but he wasn't going to say anything. Spot didn't usually care for Jax's stories, but today he was listening to his every word. He turned his attention to Faith next. He noticed that she wasn't watching Jax talk. She was watching Spot. Dimples felt sorry for Faith when he realized that she liked Spot. All the girls in New York liked Spot. He was known for being a flirt. He was never serious about any of the girls he went out with. Dimples didn't want to see Faith get hurt.

******

After all the newsies were asleep that night, Spot and Faith went out into the hallway, to start Spot's reading lessons. Spot had told Faith that they should work in the hallway instead of in the bunk room so they wouldn't wake anyone up. Faith brought her book with her so he could learn from the words in there. They each had their own candle holder with a candle in it and they put them on the ground right outside the bunk room door. They brought their covers and pillows out with them because they would have to work on the floor since there was no furniture in the hallway and the ground was cold.

They lied down next to each other, Faith smiled at Spot and opened her book. They stayed up all night. Faith taught him some very simple words. Spot was eager to learn. He did the best that he could and Faith could see how much he wanted to read.

When the sun started to come up, Faith and Spot went back into the bunk room. They were both very tiered. They had been up for almost twenty-four hours. They put their pillows and cover on the bed and as soon as they lied down they fell asleep.

Dimples woke up. He started waking up the other newsies in the room. He came over to Faith and looked at her. He could tell that she hadn't slept. He didn't want to wake her up, she needed her sleep. He went over to Spot's bed. He looked just as tired as Faith. Dimples didn't want to wake him up either. So he didn't, he told all the other newsies to be quiet so they didn't wake Faith and Spot.

Dimples wondered to himself why the two of them were so tiered. He didn't know about the reading lessons, or what time they had gotten up the day before to start teaching Faith to swim. He looked at them one more time before he left. The only time Spot ever looked peaceful was when he was asleep. Faith moved a little in her sleep, Dimples went over to her and fixed her covers for her. He bent down and kissed her on her forehead. He smiled and then left.

******

Faith opened her eyes, she was expecting to be hearing all the other newsies, but all that she heard was silence. She got up, none of the newsies were there. She looked over at Spot's bed, he was still asleep. She went into the washroom, and into one of the many showers that were in there.

Spot woke up from the noise of the water running. He also wondered were everyone was. Then he realized that Dimples or one of the other newsies must have noticed how tired he was and they allowed him to sleep. He was glad they did, he wouldn't have been able to sell papers or do anything else for that matter if he had gotten up that early.

He wondered who else was in the lodging house. He was still practically asleep, so it never even crossed his mind that it was Faith. He went into the washroom. Spot splashed his face with water to try and wake up more. The cold water woke him up a little. Spot was rarely ever this tiered. He was use to staying out late, and then waking up early the next morning. He had also never spent the whole day teaching someone to swim, and then all night being taught to read.

The running water in the shower stopped. Faith walked out wearing only a towel. She didn't notice Spot hovering over one of the sinks. She rubbed her eyes with her hands not knowing that there was still soap on them. Suddenly she felt her eyes begin to burn. She went to one of the sinks, and quickly flushed her eyes with water.

Spot looked at Faith, once he realized that he was staring at her he turned his face away. Faith lifted her head up from the sink and gasped with surprise that Spot was there. It wasn't so much that she was in a towel, it was just that she wasn't expecting anyone to be there. She could see Spot blushing. She didn't want to make a big deal out of it, being seen in a towel didn't bother her. She didn't want to make Spot feel uncomfortable though, so she grabbed her clothes and went into the bathroom to get changed. When she came out she saw Spot buttoning up his shirt. She wondered to herself if this would be a good time to ask about that picture she found, they were alone after all. She took it out of her pocket. Faith went over to were Spot was standing.

"Spot?"

"Yeah?" He asked.

He seemed a little nervous to her. He wouldn't look her in the eye. He was still a little uneasy about being around her because of the incident that had happened only moments before. It wasn't so mush that she was half naked, but that she and Dimples were like brother and sister. The last thing he needed was for Dimples to walk in and see Faith walking around in a towel and him in the same room with her.

"Can I ask you something?" Faith asked.

"Sure," he said.

He walked over to one of the beds and sat down. Faith sat down next to him. She held the picture out. He looked down at it and took it from her.

"Where did you get this?" His voice was so soft that it was almost a whisper.

"I was changing and a found that in the pocket. Is it your?"

He kept his eyes on the picture and nodded.

"Is that your family?" She asked.

He nodded again.

"What happened to them?"

"I don't wanna tawk 'bout it." Spot said.

He stood up and started walking around the room.

"Come on Spot, you kin tell me."

"Don't ya listen? I said I didn't wanna tawk about it." He told her.

He was getting really irritated with Faith. He didn't want to talk about what happened to him in his past.

"I not gonna tell anyone, Spot. You kin trust me." "Damn it goil when will you give up!?" Spot yelled.

"When ya tell me." She replied calmly.

"Well why don't ya tell me 'bout yer family?"

"Didn't Dimps tell ya?" She asked.

"Tell me what? Da only thing dey eva told me 'bout you was dat dey found ya, I don't know what 'e meant by dat, but dat's all 'e said."

"They found me lying unconscious on the street. I don't know what I was doing out there. I don't know who my family was. I don't even know my real name. Spot I have no idea who I am." She explained to him.

"You're lucky." He told her.

"What are you talking about?" Faith asked.

"Do you really wanna know what happened ta my family?" He asked.

"Yes."

"You're sure?"

"Yes I'm sure. Now will you please tell me?"

"Fine. I aint neva been ta school, me family couldn't afford it. I've been working' eva since I was five, because my excuse fer a fathah left me, my mom an' my bruddah when I was three." He told her.

"Wait, in dis picture you look older than three." She said.

"Yeah, I was five der. Da guy in dat picture is me step faddah. Only reason my mom married 'im was because she needed money, an' 'e had a job. After awhile 'e spent all da money 'e made on liquor. Mom would have left 'im but she was too scared. One night that bastard came in drunk as a mule. He set the damn house on fire. Me an' my bruddah weren't there, but my mom was. They got her out of the house but she was already too hurt. We got to see her though, right before she died and she gave me this key." He showed her the key that was around his neck. "She said that if I kept it den she'd always be wid me. Da next day a lady came up ta me an' said da Erin, dat was me muddah's name, that she had died. After dat my bruddah, Eric stopped eatin'. He hadn't eva been away from my mom before. I tried to get 'im ta eat but 'e wouldn't. I was left ta take care of 'im by myself, no way was I gonna go to an' orphanage. I was six, Eric was only three. 'E died afta about a month. And it's all my fault. If I only would have tried harder, 'e might still be heah. But I didn't, and now 'e's dead!" A tear rolled down Spot's cheek, but he quickly wiped it away.

"Spot, it wasn't your fault, you were just a little kid. It's okay." Faith said.

"No it's not okay! It's not okay. Sometimes I just wish that I was in the house the night of the fire, and that it would have killed me too."

"Don't say that Spot!" Faith yelled.

"It's true! I would have rather died with someone that loves me than live and see my brother die."

Spot sat down next to Faith. He covered his face with his hands but he didn't start crying. Faith put her arm around him. There was three children in the picture. Spot had only talked about him and one other kid. She wondered who the little girl in the picture was, and what had happened to her. She didn't say anything though.

******

They stayed together in the lodging house the whole day. Most of the time Faith was helping Spot read. When she wasn't they just sat around talking. They didn't talk about anything in particular, just little things to try and pass the time.

By night fall Dimples, Jax, and the other newsies started to pile into the lodging house. They were all talking to each other about their day. Jax went over to Faith and started telling her stories about what happened to him. Dimples sat down next to Spot and then the two of them started talking. They stayed up for a few more hours and then they when to their beds.

Faith spent the next whole week with Spot. Each morning Spot would take Faith to the lake to swim. Then they would spent the afternoon selling papers, and at night Faith would help Spot with his reading. It was hard for them at first to get use to waking up so early and then going to bed so late. Eventually it started to get easier and easier for them. Spot was getting really good at reading. Faith had also started to teach him to write. She was surprised at how neat his hand writing was getting. Each day it was would get better.

******

Faith and Spot didn't want to go out to sell their papers on Friday morning. They had stayed up later than they usually did the night before. No one knew why all of a sudden Faith and Spot where always tiered. An hour after the other newsies left Spot and Faith heard someone running up the stairs. The door flung open and Mush ran in.

"Faith!" He yelled running over to her.

Faith ran to Mush and hugged him. He had a wide smile on his face. He was so glad to see Faith again. It had been weeks since they last saw each other.

"Faith I've missed ya so much!" He said toughing her face lightly with the back of his hand.

"I've missed ya too. How'd ya know you'd be heah an' not out sellin' papes?" She asked.

"I ran into Dimps on da street an' 'e said dat you'se was heah." Mush looked over at Spot. "Hey ya Spot."

"Hey Mush." Spot said.

He went over to Mush and Faith and spit in his hand. Mush did the same and they shook. Mush was smiling even more than he was when he first came in. He was always in a good mood. Mush was one of those light hearted, sensitive boys who always had a smile on his face. He only ever came to Brooklyn when he absolutely had to. He didn't fit in in Brooklyn. They hardly ever smiled, or acted happy. Mush could never understand how anyone could be that unhappy all the time.

"Why aint you sellin' yer papes?" Faith asked.

"I thought dat I would take a day off ta see ya." Mush explained.

"Kin you afford ta miss a day o' sellin'?" Spot asked.

"Umm... yeah, yeah, I can afford it." Mush said lying.

Spot knew that he was lying. He didn't want to say anything though. He saw how glad Faith was that Mush was there and he didn't want to upset her.

"Hey, how 'bout I take you two out fer some breakfast?" Mush asked.

"Alright." Faith replied.

"Spot?" Mush asked questioning if Spot was coming or not.

"Sure I'll come," Spot said grabbing his hat from the bed post.

******

For breakfast they went to a small restaurant. They didn't order a lot, but they spent about an hour there talking. After breakfast they walked around town, talking to some of the newsies that were selling their papers as they went by. The three of them walked around Brooklyn until about five o' clock.

"I bettah start gettin' back to Manhattan." Mush said.

"Tell, Devon, and Race I said hi." Faith said.

"I'll bring them wid me da next time I come. See ya Faith, see ya Spot."

"Bye Mush." They both said as he walked away.

"Hey, Faith, I wanna show ya somethin'. Follow me." Spot said.

Spot took her to the Brooklyn bridge. Faith had been on the Brooklyn bridge before and didn't know why Spot wanted to show her it. He went over to the rail and leaned over it looking at the water below him. Faith went over to him

"Why'd ya bring me heah?" Faith asked.

"Dis is my favorite place ta go to. I mean, just look at dis view." Spot said.

Faith looked out across the ocean. The sun was setting. It made the sky beautiful shades of red, yellow, orange, and there was a little bit of purple and blue mixed in too. Faith had never seen any that magnificent before.

"It's so pretty," Faith said.

"It's gorgeous." He said as he stared at her.

She turned her head to look at him watching her. She smiled, let out a small giggle, and then turned back around to look at the sun. He smiled and then looked out into the horizon. They stayed there until the last bit of the sun went down.

"Thank for bringing me heah Spot." Faith said.

Faith leaned over to Spot and kissed him on his check. Spot looked surprised. "What was dat fer?" Spot asked.

"Just for being yourself." She said.

Faith started walking off the bridge towards the lodging house. Spot smiled to himself and then followed Faith.

******

All the newsies were getting ready to go to Tibby's for dinner the next night, when Spot walked over to Faith. He looked nervous. Faith smiled at him. He smiled back at her.

"Hey Faith, I was wonderin', do ya wanna go ta dinnah wid me? Dere's dis fancy restaurant, an' I was wonderin' if maybe you'd wanna go dere wid me instead of Tibby's. You don't have ta of coise." Spot said.

"I'd love to Spot. I'll put on my dress." Faith said.

She grabbed the dress that she had on when she was found in from under her bed and went into the washroom to change.

"Hey Spot what are ya doin'?" Dimples asked.

"I-I don't know. I just wanna be alone with her." Spot said.

"Do ya have anything ta wear"?" He asked.

"Nope," Spot replied.

"Come wid me."

Dimples took Spot down the stairs and into the Terry's office. They saw him sitting down at a desk reading. He was the complete opposite of the Manhattan Kloppman. He was young, in his late twenties. He was muscular and had dark brown hair.

"Hey Terry, Spot here's gotta date." Dimples said.

"It's not a date Dimps, I'se jist goin' out ta dinah wid Faith." Spot said.

"Anyway, 'E needs somethin' ta wear." Dimples said.

Terry put down his book. He stood up and walked to the closet in the corner of the room. He took out a black tuxedo. Dimples took it from him and looked at it, then looked at Spot to see if it would fit him. "This used to be my little brother's, he was about your size, so it should fit ya." Terry said.

Dimples handed the tux to Spot. He took it and went into a small bathroom in the office to change. He walked back in wearing the suit. He had his hair gelled back, and he was fixing the jacket to the suit.

"Lookin' good Spot." Dimples said.

"Yeah, now ya better get upstairs before Faith comes to her senses and realizes that she going to diner with the same guy who once tried to fight the all the Harlem newsies because their leader called you short." Terry said.

"That was a long time ago." Spot said.

"Hey Spot, I'se know dat you'se bin out wid a lot of goils before, but Faith's different, so don't take advantage of 'er." Dimples.

"I know Faith's different. When I'm around 'er, I feel, I don't know, I jist feel, complete. I wanna be around 'er all da time. When I'm not wid 'er, I'm thinkin' about 'er. I don't evah wanna hoit 'er, Dimps." He explained.

Spot smiled at Dimples and Terry, and left the office. As he was about to go upstairs but stopped, with his foot on the first step, when he saw Faith coming down. She had on her violet colored dress and her hair was up in a bun. She walked down the steps, Spot greeted her with his right hand extended out towards her. She took his hand and smiled.

"Shall we?" Spot asked.

"One second," Faith said.

She ran over to Dimples, who had been waiting silently at the other end of the room, and hugged him. She kissed him on the check, and he kissed her back.

"Buy Dimps," she said.

"Buy Faith, don't git back to late." Dimples told her.

She went back over to Spot and the two of them left.

******

At the door to the restaurant, a waiter greeted them. He showed them to their table. Spot and Faith sat down. They each ordered their food, and then the waiter left.

"I aint nevah bin a place so nice before," Spot said.

"Never?" Faith asked.

"Who am I suppose ta take ta a place like dis, besides you dat is?" Spot said.

"Ya never brought any of yer girlfriends heah?" Faith said.

"They don't mean all dat much ta me. I date goils jist so I aint evah lonely. Every now an' then there's one goil dat I really like, but I can't evah git to close to them." Spot explained.

"Why not?" She asked.

"Everyone I git close to, I end up losin'." He said.

The waiter walked up to them and put their food on the table. Spot and Faith both knew that they wouldn't be able to pay for the food, they just didn't know how they were going to get out of paying it. The waiter left and Spot and Faith started eating their food.

"Spot, I've bin meanin' ta ask ya, ya know dat picture of your family?" Faith said.

"Yeah, what about it?" Spot asked.

"Well, in da picture there was a little girl in it, I was jist curious about who she was." She said.

"I knew dat you'se we're gonna bring dat up. She's me little sistah, Vanessa. Ya know how all da time you'se was in Manhattan I was nevah around?" Spot asked.

"Yeah," she replied.

"Well I with my sistah. Do ya wanna see 'er?" He asked.

"Sure." She said.

Spot stood up, he put all the money that he had with him on the table. It wasn't enough, but he didn't think that the owner of the store would care too mush if they didn't pay for the whole meal. They walked out of the room quickly just in case the waiter counted the money, and realized that all the money wasn't there.

******

They walked for a long time and stopped when they came to a large building. Spot started climbing up the fire escape. Faith followed him. Spot stopped and looked in one of the windows. Faith stood next to him and looked in over his shoulder.

She saw a girl, about eleven years old sleeping in a bed. She looked like Spot, she had the same hair color and the same face.

"Ya see, when my mom died, I tried to take care of Eric an' Vanessa. Da cops found out dat Eric died an' dat me an' Vanessa were orphans, so they put us in an orphanage. We'se was dere fer two years, den Vanessa was adopted. I found out what family took 'er, an' I ran away from da orphanage, an' became a newsie. I watched 'er ovah da years, an' den when she got a little older, I started tawkin' to 'er, an' I told 'er dat I was 'er bruddah. She didn't believe me at foist, so I told 'er ta ask 'er adopted parents if she had bin adopted, an' if she had a bruddah when she was in da orphanage. She found out dat I really was 'er bruddah, so now I come ovah an' tawk to 'er when evah I kin." Spot explained. "Let's go, I don't wanna wake 'er up."

******

The walked down off the fire escape. Faith's shoes were hurting her feet so she took them off and carried them. Spot unbuttoned the suits jacket and un-tucked the white shirt underneath it. They sat down on a bench and started talking to each other.

They stopped talking after a half an hour. Spot moved over closer to Faith, and faced her. They leaned forward to kiss each other. Right before their lips touched two large hands smacked down on the back of the bench. It startled Faith and Spot, and they quickly looked up to see who was there. A man was standing over them. He was very muscular and has light brown hair and brown eyes.

"I know dat I'd find ya Haley!" The man yelled angrily.

Faith suddenly got her memory back. She remembered who she was, and why and who she was running away from the night Dimples found her.

"Peter." Faith said.

"Surprise! I've come ta take ya home?" Peter said.

"Faith?" Spot said, not sure what was going on.

"Faith? Is that the name you've bin goin' by, no wonder why I couldn't find ya. Let's go!" Peter said grabbing Faith's arm.

Faith tried to pull away. Spot jumped up and kicked the guy in the shin. He released his grip on Faith's arm and her and Spot started running down the road. Peter chased after them. Faith was getting tired, and she was starting to slow down. Spot grabbed her hand, so she wouldn't fall behind.

They ran in-between two buildings and leaned up against the wall. After they saw Peter run by the ran the opposite way to the lodging house.

******

The lodging house was empty when they walked in. That night a poker game was being held in Harlem, so the newsies wouldn't even be back until the next morning. Faith and Spot had told everyone that they would meet them there after they finished diner, and changed.

"Who was dat guy?" Spot asked.

"Peter Young, he's my stepbrother."

"Hey, when did ya git yer memory back?" Spot asked.

"When I saw Peter it all sort of came back ta me." She said. "Ya see, I ran away from home, because my stepmother would beat. No matter how many times I tried ta please 'er, it nevah seemed ta be good enough. I didn't want to live like that so, one day me and her started arguing, she started ta hit so dat's when I grabbed the book that my real mother had given me and I ran. My stepbrother started chasing after me. He's a few years older than me, and he hated me, so 'e wanted ta see me suffer. It was raining that night, I tripped on something, and that's when Dimples, and Jax found me."

"Do ya think dat 'e's still gonna be looking fer ya?" Spot asked.

"Yeah. I remember I had ran away before and my stepmother when she found me, started beating me up, saying that I didn't appreciate her. She told me no matter how many times I ran away she would always find me again, and that she would hurt me even more than the time before. I knew that she wasn't gonna stop hurtin' me. " Faith said.

"I think dat you should stay in Manhattan fer awhile, now dat yer brother knows yer heah he'll be lookin' fer ya in Brooklyn." He said.

"Yeah, yer probably right. I'll miss ya, Spot." Faith told him.

"I'll miss ya too Faith, or I guess yer name's Haley, so I'll miss ya Haley."

Spot moved over to Faith and kissed her lips. He put his arms around her waist, and she wrapped her hands around his neck. He moved even closer and gently lied Faith down on the bed. They started to unbutton each others shirts, all the while still kissing.

******

When Faith woke up the next morning, she remembered everything that happened the night before, and she was glad that it did. She turned to her right and saw Spot lying down with his head rested on his hand looking at her. She smiled at him and he smiled back.

"Good mornin'," He said.

"Good morning," Faith replied.

The two of them heard the door to the lodging house hit the wall as it was flung open. They jumped out of the bed that they were in, grabbed their clothes and started getting dressed. They could hear the newsies running up the stairs. They each sat down on separate beds just as the bunk room door opened and the newsies started to pile in.

"Hey ya two, we'se missed ya at da game last night. Where were ya?" Dimples asked.

"We ah.. we go in late an' jist went ta bed." Spot said. "Hal-umm Faith is gonna go back ta Manhattan."

"Why Faith?" Jax asked.

"Well, I-I got my memory back." Faith said.

"Really? How?" Jax asked.

"Well, it started on our way back to da lodgin' house..." Faith said.

She told them the whole story of what had happened, leaving out the part that happened after they got back to the lodging house. Jax and Dimples both agreed that she should leave. Dimples, and Jax walked Faith down to Manhattan, and then told the newsies there about their situation. They of course sad that she could stay with them, after all Manhattan was her second home.

******

Two weeks later, all the newsies in Manhattan woke up to get ready to for the day. Some of them got up more easily than others, but they all eventually woke up. Faith, as soon as she got out of bed, ran to the bathroom. Race and Devon walked over to Mush, who was putting on his shirt.

"Where's Faith?" Devon asked.

"She's bin in da bathroom all mornin' barfin'" Mush told them.

"Hope she's alright." Devon said.

"You guys go on down ta git yer papes, I'll stay heah an' wait fer Faith." Mush said.

"Alright," Devon and Race both said.

They left with all the other newsies. Mush waited for Faith. It wasn't until the lodging house was empty that Faith came out of the bathroom wiping her mouth with her sleeve.

"Are you alright?" Mush asked.

"No, no I'm not." Faith said.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Mush, I'm pregnant."

"What?" Mush asked.

"Remember two weeks ago, the night I got my memory back?" She asked.

"Yeah, I remembah."

"Well, after we ran away from Peter an' came back to da lodging house, me an' Spot started kissin' and well, I think you kin figure out da rest." She explained.

"I'm gonna kill 'im!" Mush yelled.

"Mush please, ya can't tell anybody. I don't want anyone ta know about it, not even Spot, not yet at least." Faith said.

"Ya mean ya haven't even told Spot yet?" He asked.

"I don't even know if I should tell 'im. I don't know what ta do Mush." Faith said as she started to cry.

"Faith listen ta me, ya have ta tell 'im, 'e has a right ta know. Promise me ya'll tell 'im, an' if 'e doesn't want any part in his child's life than come back heah an' stay wid me an' I'll help ya raise da baby." Mush said.

"Thanks Mush," she said.

"Ya really only have ta ask yerself one question, Faith. If ya love 'im. If ya do, an' 'e loves ya back, den everything will work out in da end." Mush paused for a moment. "Ya bettah go tell Spot."

"What if 'e doesn't love me?" Faith asked.

"Well den ya know where ta find me, remembah I'll always be dere fer ya." Mush said.

******

Faith decided not to leave Manhattan until night, she wanted time to think. She walked to Brooklyn, the whole time she was still thinking about what she about how she was going to tell Spot. She wondered if maybe she should tell Dimples first, she quickly erased that idea from her head after she remembered how Mush said he was going to kill Spot. Mush never liked starting fights and would never threaten anyone, if he was able to say that than Faith wanted to only ever wonder what Dimples could do.

Faith went up the lodging house stairs and into the bunk room. It was noisy, she knew that it was going to be hard to talk to Spot in private. She saw him talking to a bunch of newsies on the other side of the room. She walked over to him.

"Spot." She said, just trying to get his attention.

"Hey Faith glad ta see yer back." He said.

The newsies kept talking to him. Spot was trying to listen to all of them. Faith called Spot's name again, but the room was too noisy and he wasn't able to hear her.

"Spot, I have ta tawk to ya." She said.

"Kin it wait Faith, I'm kind of busy." He said.

"No it can't." She said. Spot didn't hear her. "Spot! Spot!" She yelled.

The room was way to crowded and noisy for him to hear her. She didn't want everyone to know she was pregnant and the last thing that she wanted to do was scream it at the top of her lungs so he could hear her, but this was going to be the only way to get him to listen.

"Spot I'm pregnant!" She yelled.

Everyone heard her. The whole room was quiet. Spot was in shock. Dimples heard her, and walked in front of the crowd that surrounded Faith and Spot.

"Spot?" Faith said.

Spot was still in shock. He stood looking at her not saying anything. He didn't know what to say. After a few moments Spot looked around the room. He didn't know how he should react.

"What?" Spot asked.

"I said..." Faith started to say.

"No, I hoid what ya said, I wanted ta know why I would care? So some guy gits ya pregnant, ya don't have ta cry ta me about it." Spot said.

"What? Spot!"

"Ya come ta me like I got ya pregnant, an' I aint nevah touched ya. If I had Dimps heah would kill me." Spot lied.

"Spot yer da only one I've evah been with." She said.

"I don't know what yer tawkin' about." He lied again. "I hate you!" She screamed.

******

Faith ran out of the building. Jax ran after her. With tears running down her face, she ran down the street. As she ran pass a building two large arms grabbed her and put a gag in her, so she wouldn't be able to scream. Jax stopped where he was and watched Faith struggle to break free from Peter's grip.

Jax followed Peter as he started walking away carrying Faith. They walked inside a small house. Jax ducked down at the window and looked inside. A woman with dark brown hair and wearing a light blue dress was standing in the corner of the room. Peter threw Faith down on a couch, she quickly sat up and pulled the gag out of her mouth. The woman that was standing in the corner walked over to Faith and slapped her. Jax ran back to the lodging house to get help.

"Dimples! Faith needs help!" Jax screamed as entered the bunk room.

"Where is she?" Dimples asked.

"Her step-bruddah came an' took 'er to dis house, an' den dis lady slapped 'er." He explained.

Spot ran out of the lodging house. Jax and Dimples ran after him. Once they caught up with Spot, Jax told them where Faith was. They ran up to the house. Jax and Dimples knelt down by the window, but Spot ran in. They tried to stop him, but couldn't.

When Spot ran in, he saw Faith sitting on a couch and a woman, whom Spot presumed was her stepmother, was yelling at her. Peter was standing quietly next to her. Everyone in the room looked to see who had barged into their house.

"Dis is da kid dat I told ya a saw wid Haley. Turns out 'e aint no more than street trash." Peter said.

Spot paid no attention to him. He ran over to Faith to see if she was okay.

"Come on Faith, lets go." Spot said.

"She isn't going anywhere. She is my daughter, and I know what's best for her. This is none of your business. Now git out of heah before I call the cops!" Faith's stepmother yelled.

"It is my business! I love Faith an' I'm not gonna leave heah widout 'er!" He yelled.

"Fine. Peter, call the cops." She said.

Peter walked into the other room. Spot could hear him talk to the person on the other line. He hung up and walked back to where his stepmother was standing.

"Come on Faith lets go!" Spot yelled trying to get Faith up.

She wouldn't move. Faith was too scared to get up. Her face was red from crying. Peter ran over to Spot and pulled him away from Faith. He threw him against the wall. He ran towards Spot again and was about to punch him. Spot ducked out of the way and Peter's fist went threw the wall. Peter grabbed a lamp that was on the table and threw it at Spot. It missed him and broke when it hit the ground. A fire started on the floor. It quickly started spreading throughout the house.

Spot grabbed Faith and ran out of the house. Peter and his stepmother made it out too, just as the police reached the house. Jax and Dimples, who had been waiting outside, ran over to Faith and Spot. Spot sat Faith down on the grass and held her. The police ran over to all of them, as the fire department tried to put out the fire.

"What happened here?" One of them asked.

Spot, Jax, and Dimples explained to the officers what happened that night. Luckily the police officers believed them. Most of the time if something would happen, the officers would believe the adults and not the children, especially if the children were newsies.

The four kids watched Faith's stepmother and Peter be put into the police carriage. All the commotion had drawn a crowd. The crowd left when the police did. No one stayed to see if the kids were okay. Spot helped Faith to her feet and then him, Faith, Dimples and Jax went back to the lodging house.

******

They walked in, and saw all the newsies still there, including all of the Manhattan newsies, who had came over after they heard what happened. Mush, Devon and Race ran over and hugged Faith as soon as she walked in the room.

"Oh my God, Faith are you alright?" Race asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay." She said.

"Faith I'm so sorry fer everything I said eoilier tanight. I didn't mean it." Spot said.

"If ya didn't mean, den why did ya say it?" She asked.

"I don't know. I was jist bein' a jerk. I never wanted to hoit ya, I love ya Faith, I love ya more den life itself. Even if ya don't love me back, I would still like ta be a part of dis baby's life." He said.

"I do love ya Spot." She responded.

"Faith, I love ya an' I wanna spend da rest of me life with you. Marry me?."

"Of coise I'll marry ya, fer God's sake we'se already started a family." Faith said.

Spot hugged her. All the newsies cheered for them.

******

One year later Spot sat down on his bed in the lodging house. He was waiting for Faith to return from Manhattan. It was at night, and all the newsies were doing their various activities. Faith walked in the room holding a baby girl in her arms. She walked over to Spot and handed the baby over to him. He looked at her and smiled.

"Hey dere Erin." He said to the baby.

She grabbed his finger with her hand and giggled. Faith sat down next to Spot. The rest of the newsies in the room started to gather around Spot and Erin. Dimples broke through the crowd. He took Erin from Spot and lifted her up in the air. He brought her down and looked at her. She had Spot's eyes and his color hair, and Faith's face. He rocked her in his arms until she fell asleep then he lied her down in the bed.

"So Faith, ya planin' on havin' any more kids?" Dimples asked smiling.

"Not fer awhile," she told him.

"An' yer sure ya wanna be wid dis guy?" Dimples asked referring to Spot.

"Hey, she's lucky ta have such a nice, well respected, hansom, guy." Spot said flattering himself.

"I was referring ta you Spot, not ta myself." Dimples said.

"Shut up." Spot said.

They all talked for a few more hours then once they realized how tiered they all were they went to their beds. Faith lied down right next to Erin. Spot went in to the bed next to theirs, since the one wasn't big enough for all of them. Jax turned out the light. Once Faith's eye adjusted to the darkness she looked over at Spot. Spot saw her watching him.

"Goodnight Faith." He said smiling.

"Night Spot, I love ya." Faith said.

"I love ya too Faith." He said.

THE END

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