'Snitch brought you in here and was your sellin' partner.'

'Your good.' Whispered Dreamer.

'I'm not done. Snitch is jealous of you and Blink, he doesn't like you two going out.'

'Is he?'

'It's obvious.'

'So why is Blink so angry with me at the moment?'

'I don't know,' lied Ice, she knew better than to stir up more trouble. She also knew if she told her friend Dreamer would probably throw Snitch out of the window and that would be a shame. She'd sort it herself, she'd do anything for Dreamer after all they were best friends.

Ice woke up the next morning and so did Snitch, with the help of a sharp prod from Ice.

'What?' he moaned

'I want a word outside,' they both got dressed and went out.

'I want to know what you've been sayin' to Blink to stop him liking Dreamer?'

'What? I dunno what your tawkin' about.'

'yes you do,'

'have you told Dreamer about it?'

'no, she's my friend, I don't want to hurt her, she thinks she's done something wrong so just stop with the comments.'

'Why should I?'

'because although you think you love her, she doesn't love you and you can't mess things up for her just because your not happy.'

'Hey Ice wake up,' said Dreamer until she realised her friend had already gone.

'Dream, I'm sellin' today, I reckon the limp will me the sympathy vote.'

'Let me put a clean bandage on it.' She redressed the wound which was definitely healing. Blink got down from his bunk.

'mornin' she said and kissed him on the cheek, he pushed her away pretty vigorously

'Ow,' she exclaimed 'what was that for?' but he ignored her and walked away.

'Don't walk away from me when I ask you a question,'

'just leave it.' He said dismissing it with a wave of his hand.

'no I won't leave it.'

'fine,' he said getting angry. 'your my goil right but you spend all your time with the others,'

'You read Mush stories and make him stuff, you hang out with Spot, you choose him over me when you went to Pulitzer. You nurse Race like he's gonna die.'

'What? Your jealous of your best friends because I spend time with them?

I'm in a room with seventeen lads I don't intend to sit on my arse in silence, I like these people and I thought they liked me, but obviously not all of them.'

He starred her full in the face, she carried on.

'Blink you haven't mentioned the fact that, I sell with Snitch or I sewed up Mush's trousers or yesterday I sat next to Snipes four half an hour.'

Tears were streaming down her face, she grabbed her bag and was about to leave but then she turned.

'when I was helpin' Race beat up those guys do think I should've stopped and said sorry Race cant help you I have a boyfriend therefore I have to let you get battered to death.' She left in a run. Outside she bumped into Snitch,

' Dreamer, what's wrong?'

'It's Blink he went psycho, I'm really scared,' Snitch put his arm round her, 'No,' she said 'leave me alone.' And she ran away.

In the bunk room no one spoke, Mush whispered to Race 'shouldn't someone talk to him,'

Race nodded, 'Hey Blink, dontcha reckon you should go after her? I mean dis is Dreamer were tawkin' about, she don't know the city and if she runs into trouble den she hasn't got da energy to fight proper has she?'

'You go if your so concerned,' said Blink 'you all love her so much, you go.'

'Blink, she hasn't done anything wrong has she?' said Mush.

'Yeah, she's been real nice to us,' said Boots

'We don't want any harm to come to her,'

Snitch and Ice came in, 'where did Dreamer go?' asked Snitch

'Dey had a row,' Mush whispered 'she ran off.'

'Isn't anyone going to find her?'

'We was just discussing it.'

'how about you go buy your papers, we can sell and those who want to help can.'

All the Newsies agreed with Ice.

They split up into little groups and they spread themselves out all around Manhattan. All except Blink he didn't buy or sell he just sat on some steps and starred at the ground.

Ice was with Snitch, 'we have to reunite them,' said Ice but Snitch looked doubtful.

'If we do they'll be fixed proper won't dey?'

'yes, and that's a good thing,' Snitch's emotions didn't change,

' Dreamer's not the only girl in the world.'

'she was to me,'

'really? The only girl?' she smiled at him. He looked at her

'What you smilin' about?'

She moved closer to him and took his face and kissed him, after the initial shock he kissed back.

'come on,' he said 'we've got to find Dreamer.'

They went all around Manhattan and couldn't find her, but then Ice noticed a figure sat on the pavement. 'There she is,' she said.' You go find Blink and I'll go to her.'

'What do I say to Blink?'

'you'll know when you get there.'

Snitch reached Blink. 'Blink, we found her,'

'So?'

'You've gotta go see here,'

'Why?'

Snitch took a deep breath 'all those things I said, I'd blown the whole situation out of proportion.'

'den why did ya say em?'

'I wanted, I wanted Dreamer for myself.'

'What?' Blink rose.

'I know, I'm a fool but I, I realise it now and I was just being a selfish kid. Please don't split because of me, I'll show you where she is ok?' Blink nodded and followed.

When she saw them Ice rose, blink walked towards Dreamer. 'Heya Dream,'

'Blink?' she whispered and lifted her head to see him.

'sorry I've been an idiot and really I don't mind you spendin' time wiv da others.'

'I did make you something,' she said and got out a piece of paper, he looked at it, it was a portrait of him,

'Sorry it's so bad, I was never good at art.'

'It's perfect.' He said and hugged her.

After a much needed silence Blink said 'I'm sorry I shouted at you.' 'I'm sorry I'm a bad girlfriend, ' said Dreamer 'you just tell me how to change and I will.'

'I don't want to change you, I like you just da way you are.' They rose and walked together to the Distribution centre to see if there were any more papers left to be sold

'no a low moan,' said Dreamer

'Yeh, but then a loud crack.'

'it was more of a bang.'

'no, it was a crack.'

'bang,'

'crack,'

'can't we compromise on a 'crang'' said Dreamer.

Snipes, Boots and Mush, all grinned at the two girls were discussing their last few moments in 2000, Snitch and Blink sat either side of the two. Since Snitch had announced that he and Ice were together everyone had started to act with more respect and the fact that it seemed he helped get Dreamer and Blink back together made him even more popular.

'So der was a loud crack or bang,' said Mush

'Crang,' both the girls said,

'and den what happened?'

'I dunno, do you?' Ice shook her head.

'as far as I know the next thing that happened was that I was here in Manhattan, which is a lovely part of the country,' said Dreamer.

'And I ended up in Brooklyn.'

'weird,' they said in unison.

It was a week since the Friday they had met, they would keep the Newsies amused for hours with their stories. They had to sing for Pulitzer the next day and they had spent numerous hours practising their songs and were taking Blink and Snitch as chaperones. Racetrack was now fully recovered except for the scar on his leg. He didn't speak about Snap, Dreamer kept her promise and didn't ask, neither did she feel compelled to talk about Snap to Ice, and Ice never felt there was a reason for her to go back there. Ice and Dreamer sold together, Snitch sold with Dutchy, it worked best that way and it turned out the girls were a pair of top class newsies and were very happy with the situation they were in, for the moment.

After they finished talking they looked up to see a crowd had gathered.

'I didn't know you two argued,' said Itey,

'We don't argue we discuss,' they said as one. A lot of things they said were in unison but as they explained. 'when you've been friends for as long as we have you just know what the other will say.'

The crowd moved away, Ice spoke to Dreamer, 'do you think the song's were doing will be ok?'

'of course they will, anyway Pulitzer said he wanted something different.'

'about 100 years different?'

'so, they don't know, different is different.' Dreamer smiled she was really looking forward to Saturday night.

'we've got the perfect combination, a bit of this, a bit of that and some Andrew Lloyd Webber!'

'Do you remember in class we had to sing 'memory,' and no one could sing the high bit so we all went quiet and the teacher went psycho?' they both laughed at memories of 2000,

'come on fellas, we've got papes to deliver. The afternoon instalment won't sell itself.'

The girls left Tibby's, when they got to their spot, Dreamer spotted a familiar figure. 'Hey Denton,' she called. He turned and saw here. 'Hi Dreamer, how's the eye?'

'fine now,' she said,

'and Racetrack, how's he?'

'he's ok now, just got one hell of scar.'

'which he's proud of,' added Ice.

'Oh Denton, this is my best friend in the whole world, Ice.'

'Nice to meet you,' said Ice shaking Denton's hand.

'word is that your singing for Pulitzer, tomorrow,' said Denton, scratching his chin.

'absolutely, not just me though Ice is as well,'

he nodded, 'very good' he said and walked off.

'hey Denton,' Dreamer called, again he turned 'you forgot your paper,' he smiled 'what?'

'You took up valuable sellin' time it's only fair you buy a paper.'

'But I work for the opposition,'

'So we won't tell anyone now come on.' she grinned.

'How can I refuse?' and he took his paper and walked off.

That night the girls took over the washroom, the Newsies sat around listening to the two laughing,

'Der's a lot of laughin' goin' on in der,' said Mush

'Goils,' Snipes rolled his eyes,

'Oh yeah, what would you know about goils?' said Skittery throwing a pillow at him. 'Plenty' Snipes said with a grin on his face.

Both girls danced out of the washroom. They fell onto their bunk and the Newsies starred at them worried.

'What? were just havin' fun.'

The Newsies grinned at each other. Since Dreamer and Ice had moved in they had been grinning a whole lot more. Blink was out on the fire escape, Dreamer joined him.

'You know you shouldn't smoke, it can kill,'

'yeah right, next you'll be tellin' me dat in da future horses an' carts don't have horses and run by themselves and you start them by sayin' magic words.'

'that's right,' said Dreamer, 'except for the magic words,'

Blink looked puzzled, she flicked a bit of his blond hair. He put his arm round her, 'Dream, I's been meaning to ask you.' he spoke quietly 'has Race said anymore about Snap?'

'No, and neither has Ice.'

'Ice? What's she got ta do wiv Snap?'

'That's who she was staying with in Brooklyn,'

'Really does Race know?'

'Yeh, I told him.' Blink nodded

'Why do you ask?'

'It's just dat it aint like Race not wan'ing to get someone back for what dey did.'

'Maybe he doesn't want to dig up the past.' Dreamer suggested.

'I don't think Race eva lived in Brooklyn.'

That night Ice woke up, really cold. For a day in June, that is a night in June, it was really cold. Dreamer had hogged all the cover and Ice didn't know where the extra blankets were kept. Snitch would know, and he wouldn't mind that much if she woke him up. She crept out of bed being careful not to wake Specs up who slept above them.

'Snitch' she whispered 'Snitch,' he opened his eyes and looked up, when he saw it was her he smiled a sleepy smile, 'I'm freezin' where are there more blankets?'<

He looked around and grinned 'get in' he whispered 'come on,' he said

'What will the others say?'

'Nothin' if we wake up early enough they wont find out,'

She looked around, pointless really considering it was pitch black. 'ok' she said and got in. Ice lay in Snitch's arms. She wasn't shivering anymore. She could feel him breathing, she yawned silently and fell asleep. They did wake up early and Ice climbed back into her bunk and waited for Kloppmann to walk in. Dreamer awoke 'hey Ice, how's your vocals?'

'as good as ever,' Ice grinned.

'tonight's going to be a lot of fun.' said Dreamer as she got up.

As the Newsies flocked out of the boarding house a lonely figured woke up, she wiped the sweat away and tried to stand, she was getting shakier every day.

The girl solemnly followed the Newsies to the distribution centre. She saw Specs and Skittery leave, she gasped and reached for a picture in her pocket, she looked back at the boys but they had disappeared. She sat back down feeling a lot worse.

The evening drew nearer and Dreamer and Ice prepared themselves, they practised their scales all the way to Pulitzer's house. Pulitzer's butler opened the door,

'were here for the party,' said Dreamer 'were the entertainment.' Pulitzer was ready to meet them.

'Mr Pulitzer, dis is my partner Ice,'

he looked at her,' nice to meet you.' she smiled politely.

'Oh yeh, dis is Blink an' Snitch, our chaperones.' 'only da best Mr Pulitzer.'

'well I'll introduce you then you can begin, boys you can sit at the back.' he ushered them in.

'You'll be swell,' said Snitch kissing Ice.

' you'll do great,' said Blink kissing Dreamer 'break a leg, dats right isn't it?'

Their songs went brilliantly the applause getting louder at every song. They finished with their favourite duet, a duet in fact which got them first place in a competition at school.

'I know him so well' from 'Chess' by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It was a hit, the audience erupted into applause, after they had finished bowing, Pulitzer went to them.

'girls,' he said 'thank you very much, this evening has been extremely memorable.'

'Joe, aren't you going to introduce us to the stars of tomorrow?' asked one of the guests,

'If only dey knew,' Blink whispered to Snitch. The two were sat at the back and had been clapping as loud as they could, they were pleased their girls talent was appreciated by others.

'This is Mr Gammon, he owns the New York Sun.'

'Oh yeah, Bryan Denton woirks for ya right?'

'Yeh,'

'keep aholda him Sir, he's a good guy.'

'Thank you, I intend to.'

'heya Joe,' said Dreamer 'great party but we gotta be headin' home now.

We've got papes ta sell tomorrow and you don't want to be four Newsies down do ya?'

The guests laughed a little as Pulitzer nodded he paid Dreamer who slip the money with Ice and they left.

'Well see ya Joe,' she said and they left.

They walked through the streets, it was dark but that didn't bother them.

The boys put their arms round the girls and they carried on.

'Thos girls were good Joe,' said Gammon who was stood by the fire watching Pulitzer smoke his cigar, his was a little put off by the fact that he had not been offered one. Pulitzer mumbled in agreement.

'They were pretty, especially the quiet one,' 'I hadn't noticed,' said Joe, but he had. Ice was beautiful and silent, Dreamer was pretty but had too much to say for herself. Ice would never be cheeky whereas Dreamer would jump to the chance to be cheeky.

'You know when you were talkin' about Denton, Pulitzer said I had to see him in his office,' Ice was worried.

'It'll just be for a file, I had to go, he's not scary, believe me.'

'Hi guys,' Mush was sat waiting for them 'how did it go?'

'Unbelievably well,' said Dreamer as she did a little dance and hugged Blink.

'Hey Mush, do you want another chapter read?'

'Yeah,' said Mush. He was excited to find out about Aslan, the lion. She read to him,

The next day, Ice appeared at the World building, she had not allowed anyone to go with her as she didn't want anyone not to sell. 'I'm here to see Mr Pulitzer,' she said. She kept her accent because she couldn't fake accents it was too hard.

'Go in kid,' she walked into his office. Their conversations was very much the same as the one he had with Dreamer, pretty standard questions and Ice answered them all. That was until Pulitzer seemed to be getting too friendly he sat next to her asking questions all the time, she nervously edged away. 'I think I should go now, Mr Pulitzer.'<

'No, don't, stay.' He put his hand on her leg. 'Do I make you uncomfortable?'

'Um, Mr Pulitzer. I don't mean to be rude but,'

'No, I understand,' he walked away 'To you I'm just a bitter old man,'

Ice felt guilty. 'No nothing like that,' He walked towards her, she started to back away.

'You see I scare you,' he continued to walk towards her. She continued to back away until she got to the wall, and she could go no further. He took her by the arm and kissed her. She pushed him and she broke away from his grip.

'Mr Pulitzer, I really am going now,'

'You know your problem kid? Your too polite, if you'd of been Dreamer you'd have kicked me and shouted a load of criticism. But you know what? Your a whole lot prettier than she is.'

Ice looked as if she was going to cry, she mumbled something inaudible and ran out of the building. She didn't stop when she got outside, she ran until she saw the first person she recognised.

'Mush,' she cried and fell into his arms sobbing.

'Ice what's up?'

she was crying too hard for him to understand.

'What's up wiv her?' said Race who was sellin' with Mush that day.

'I dunno, will you go an' find Dreamer maybe she can help.

'Hey, Dreamer,' said Race as he approached her 'somethin' up wiv Ice.'

'Is she alright?'

'Dunno, she's cryin' into Mush at da minute,'

'Race, do me a favour, go tell Snitch,' she said and sped off.

'Do I look like a bleedin' messenger?' he asked but he went anyway

'Hey Snitch, somethin's up wiv your goil,'

'What's happened?'

'Dunno, Dreamer says you should go now,'

'ok, Dutch I'll see you later,' Dutchy nodded.

Race tutted, 'Dese goils and der problems.'

Ice had calmed down but was still seeking comfort in Mush, Snitch reached them first, Mush was only too glad to transfer Ice onto Snitch's shoulder. Dreamer approached,

'What happened?'

Mush shrugged 'all I got out of her was Pulitzer,'

'Pulitzer, Pulitzer made her cry?'

'Ice, what did he do ta you?'

'He wouldn't let me go, he, he held on to me and he kissed me.'

'He did what,' exclaimed Dreamer, 'I've a good mind to go down there and tell him what I think of him.' 'oh yeh? Well what are we going to do?' she asked 'sit on our arses and let him get away with it, I don't think so,' she ran in the direction of the building, Mush pursued her, she carried on walking while he spoke

'Dreamer, your gonna make thing worse.'

'Yeh, worse for him that's for sure.' She walked faster.

'Dreamer, stop.' He said sharply.

'What, Mush if your not going to help me then get lost.'

'Fine,' he said and walked off.

She went into the building and straight into his office, despite the fact she was asked not to by the people on the desk.

'Your a dirty old man.' She said making Pulitzer jumped out of his skin.

'What?' he put down the paper and starred at her

'I believe you had my friend in here today, Ice?'

'Oh, yeh the pretty one,'

'Well it's not a pretty sight at the moment, she is traumatised she's crying her eyes out.'

Pulitzer was silent and then realised something.

'Where's you accent?'

Shit thought Dreamer but said 'My accent is not the issue here, the issue is you apologising to Ice,'

'Ha, I don't see that happening,'

'Well I do, a written apology will do,'

'or else what?'

'or else your reputation will be ruined,'

'You've got no proof, now get out,'

Double shit, she thought and then, 'I've got no proof of what you did to her, but I can come up with some from what you did to me.'

'You, I didn't do anything to you.'

'You know you didn't and I know you didn't but they don't know you didn't, if I was to unbutton my shirt and scream at a huge volume, that would attract a lot of unwanted attention.'

'You devious street rat,'

'So it's either, your reputation or an apology note to Ice,'

'It'll never work, they won't believe a street rat over a respected figure like me .'

'We could always try it out,' she said starting to undo her top button.

'Ok, alright. I'll do it.' She sat opposite him watching him do it, he passed it to her and she read it.

'Put in that your a dirty old man and sign it and that'll be just fine.' She grinned

'wait, how do I know you won't use this to disgrace me?'

'well Joe, your just gonna have to trust me on that one,' she snatched the note and left.

Mush had returned to outside the world building, he feared Pulitzer may call the cops, Dreamer emerged triumphantly and hugged him.

'Ah Mush, you came back,'

'Did you get into trouble?' he eyed her nervously.

'No, in fact I got an apology letter,'

'Lets see,' said Mush amazed.

'No, were going to Tibby's to read this to Ice.'

In Tibby's Ice was sat with Snitch recovering with the help of a sandwich.

'Hey, Dreamer, how did your over reacting go,' said Snitch

'why what did she do,' asked Racetrack

'Sped of to see Pulitzer, an' crack the top of his skull,' said Snitch

'So what did the big guy say?' asked Blink.

'Something along the lines of Dear Miss Bramwell, please accept my full apologies for the events that happened earlier today, I regret my actions and hope you can forgive a dirty old man, signed J. Pulitzer.'

'You got Joe to write an apology, what did you say to him?'

'I just told him that if he didn't apologise I'd expose him as a dirty old man.'

'Way ta go Dreamer,' said Blink

'Thanks Dreamer,' said Ice looking up at her.

'That's ok,' she said, 'I'd do anything for my best friend.'

Later that evening Dreamer was reading to Mush, 'Now, Mr Beaver, just reach down that ham. And here's a packet of tea, and sugar and there's some matches.'

'Stop tawkin' about food will ya,' said Snipes throwing a pillow that just missed her head.

'Stop it Snipes, I'm tellin' the story.' As she was looking at him another

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