Raindrop skipped a stone across a lake in Central Park. She was about half asleep, as were Race, Blink, and Mush. She joined them on the grass. Suddenly she rolled over and scooped up a hand full of water and threw it on Race. He jumped up and yelled.

"What're ya tryin' ta do goil?!" He grinned and Blink and Mush jumped up. Together they picked her up and threw her in the lake. She resurfaced, shrieking.

"Ya bums! Ya joiks! Yer gonna pay fer dat ya scabbahs!" She took off after them. They tore down the crowded streets of New York, running into people left and right. Raindrop caught up to Mush and stole his hat. She ran on ahead of them, laughing, making them chase her even faster. Blink was quickly gaining on her. Raindrop turned at the next street and ran into someone head-on. They both fell to the ground hard.

"Watch where yer goin'!" the boy yelled. Then he looked at her. "Jiminy! Raindrop!?" Raindrop turned around and looked at him. Her face turned pale.

"Heya Spot." They looked at each other for what felt like eternity, neither speaking. Just then Race, Mush, and Blink ran up. They looked at Raindrop and Spot in surprise.

"Heya Spot," Mush said, first to recover. "What're ya doin' 'round heah?" Spot stood up and shrugged.

"Jist comin' ta see Raindrop." He leaned over and offered his hand to her. She uncertainly took it and he helped her up.

"Well, you'se seen me. Now I gotta be goin'," she said without emotion. She tossed Mush his cap and the four began walking off.

"C'mere goil," Spot almost commanded, "I wanna tawk ta you'se." Raindrop stopped and sighed.

"Not now, Conlon," she muttered. Then she turned to Blink Mush and Race. "Go on, I'll catch up latah," she said. Then she turned around and walked back to Spot. "Yeah?" Spot grinned.

"Good ta see you'se. What 'ave ya been doin'?" he said, beginning to walk back towards Brooklyn. She hurried to catch up with him.

"Jist da regulah," she said casually. Spot began to tell her about everything that had been going on in Brooklyn the past week or so. At last they reached Brooklyn.

"Ya eat lunch?" Spot asked. Raindrop shook her head. Spot walked over to a nearby street vendor and bought sandwiches.

"Ya don' need ta do dat·" Raindrop trailed off. Spot ignored her. He handed her one of them, and they walked to a deserted part of the docks. Soon they finished eating.

"Pierre's bettah," Raindrop said off-handly. Spot nodded.

"Been der lately?" he asked. Raindrop shook her head.

"Not since da last time we went," she said "You?" Spot shrugged.

"Once, maybe twice," he replied, unwilling to lie to her, but not exactly keen on telling her about his talks with Pierre. She didn't reply. On a sudden impulse he spoke. "Ya wanna go der fer dinnah?" She looked at him in surprise, but almost as quickly masked it. It was just long enough for Spot to see it.

"I guess so·I don' t'ink da boys'll be too upset if I'se not at Tibby's tanight. Jist kain't stay too long·I don' wanna be back late." Spot nodded.

"Awright. So·what d'ya wanna do until den?" he asked. She looked at him.

"What d'ya mean?" Spot shrugged.

"Ya don' really wanna jist hang around heah until den do ya?" She shrugged.

"I guess not." Spot stood up.

"Well, c'mon den," he said. They walked around Brooklyn for a few hours, just talking. At last they reached the pier again. Spot looked at Raindrop and grinned suddenly.

"Let's go swimmin'!" He kicked off his shoes and socks, left his cane and slingshot on the dock, and pulled off his shirt. Then he dived in. Raindrop laughed and took her shoes and socks off as well. Then she jumped off the dock. She resurfaced behind Spot, who was looking for her. She jumped up and pushed his head under the water. He had just gone under when he grabbed her ankle and pulled her underneath with him. They resurfaced undernearth the pier. The water was colder there. The sun was already setting and it was hard to see under the dock. Raindrop was laughing even as she shivered.

"Cold?" Spot asked. She nodded, growing serious.

"Jist a liddle bit." Spot grinned, pulled her closer, and put his arms around her.

"Bettah?" he asked softly. Raindrop smiled and nodded slightly. Then she frowned, realising exactly what he had done.

"Spot, I·I should go," she said nervously. She turned to swim back to the rope ladder hanging off the pier. Spot didn't let go, but pulled her closer. With one hand around her waist he held her, and lightly wiped the water out of her face with his other. He looked deep into her eyes. He slowly leaned forward, and began kissing her. Thrills shot through Raindrop. She couldn't think. It felt like time stood still for hours. After what had felt like the most incredible thing she'd ever experienced, Spot stopped. Raindrop opened her eyes and looked at him with a mixture of emotions on her face. Astonishment, wonder, and a thrilled expression. She felt weak all over. Spot looked at her with an expression she'd never seen before. Not grinning as if he'd achieved something.

"Raindrop," he said, and smiled to himself, "You'se·you'se got no idea how long I'se wanted ta do dat." She didn't reply. He held her for awhile, as they silently looked at each other. The sun slowly slipped below the horizon.

"We should go·" Raindrop trailed off quietly. Spot's eyes flickered away from her for a moment. He nodded.

"Yer right. C'mon." They swam to the rope ladder and climbed up. They walked back to the Brooklyn Lodging House quickly, the night air even colder than the water had been. They walked in the Lodging House and were greeted with stares. The Brooklyn newsies were not expecting their leader to return sopping wet, along with the dark-haired girl that had spent so much time with them. Tricks grinned.

"Heya Raindrop! Long time, eh?" Raindrop laughed.

"Sumpt'in' like dat. I'll see you'se in a bit - I'se freezin'," she said. She followed Spot into his room, and then frowned.

"Spot, what'm I gonna wheah?" He turned and frowned.

"Dat's a good question," he said, and thought for a minute. "I know. I'se got an extra set o' clothes. You kin weah dem ta Pierre's. Pierre's gotta goil 'bout yer age, I'se shoah she kin help ya out. Den I kin weah me clothes." Raindrop nodded.

"Awright." Spot handed her some dry clothes and left. Raindrop changed and joined the newsies in the main bunk room.They stayed and talked to the newsies for a few minutes, but Spot wanted to get to Little Italy before it got much colder out, so he could change. They didn't talk much on the way, instead hurrying along so they could change. At last they reached Pierre's, entering through the back.

"Buon giorno," Pierre said and smiled when he saw them. He also looked curiously at Spot. "My friend, why are you so wet?" Spot shrugged.

"We were swimmin', an' Raindrop don' have any extra clothes in Brooklyn, so I lent 'er mine an' we came ta see if yer daughtah coud lend 'er a dress an' git some dinnah." Pierre smiled and nodded.

"Yes, yes, of course. Maria would be glad to share." He motioned for Raindrop to follow him. A pretty, black-haired girl was sewing in a room above the restaurant.

"My Maria," he said, "This is a young friend of mine. She is in need of your help. Would you lend her a dress of yours?" Maria looked up and smiled.

"Of couse Papa." Raindrop looked at Pierre before following Maria into her bedroom.

"I'll give dese clothes ta Maria an' if you'se could give 'em ta Spot so he kin change·" Pierre nodded.

"Of course." Raindrop then joined Maria in her bedroom. She smiled shyly.

"I'se Raindrop." Maria nodded.

"You're a newsie aren't you?" she asked. Raindrop nodded.

"Yeah, I'se am. Da boys call me Raindrop, but you'se kin call me Lissa." Maria smiled.

"It's nice to meet you Lissa. I'm Maria. What are you doing here? Do you always wear boy's clothes?" she asked curiously, as she looked through her closet for a dress that would fit Raindrop. Raindrop shrugged.

"Usually, yeah. It ain't easy ta live wit boys an' sell papes an' wear goil's clothes too. But I got one dress. I ran inta Spot taday an' we wen' swimmin', an' I didn' have any extra clothes, so Spot lent me dese," she said, indicating the clothes she was wearing, "An' as soon as I'se borrowed one ah yer dresses den Spot'll change outta his wet clothes an' den we'll have dinnah." Maria looked at her curiously.

"Are you Spot's new girl?" she asked. Raindrop blushed, and shook her head slightly. Maria looked at her skeptically, but didn't say anything more on the subject. She pulled a dark green dress out and showed it to Raindrop.

"This should do. It will look stunning on you," she grinned. While Raindrop changed Maria took Spot's clothes to him. When she returned Raindrop was buttoning the last buttons. Maria smiled.

"That dress looks better on you than it does me!" she laughed. Raindrop smiled, obviously embarrassed. "No, really!" Maria exclaimed, "You look wonderful!" She picked up her brush and sat Raindrop down, and began brushing her hair. When she was finished she braided it and stepped back as Raindrop stood up. "You look incredible," was her final judgement. Raindrop laughed.

"An' you'se are incredible! I kain't t'ank ya enough!" Maria smiled.

"Just come back, alright? Papa's pretty strict, but I'm sure he'll let me spend time with you." Raindrop nodded.

"Of coise!" Maria showed her the stairs to the restaurant and she walked over to the table Spot was sitting at, and joined him. He looked up and grinned.

"Heya·ya look nice. Real nice," he said, at a loss for words. Raindrop nodded.

"Maria's real great fer letting me borrah dis," she said.

"Pierre said 'e'd have our spaghetti real soon," Spot said, trying to break the silence. Raindrop nodded.

"Awright." Soon Pierre brought their food, to the relief of both newsies. After that conversation slowly grew easier.

"I'se not shoah I kin take dis any longah," Raindrop announced. Spot looked at her in surprise.

"What?" he asked. Raindrop sighed dramatically, and feigned exasperation.

"Dis is as good as it gets!" she exclaimed, "it don' git any bettah dan dis!" she cried, indicating her food. Spot laughed and shook his head.

"You jist don' give up goil, do ya?" He signaled Pierre. "Dis goil," he said, "Don' sem ta t'ink you'se kin do any bettah dan dis." Raindrop looked at Pierre.

"Dis spaghetti is da best stuff I'se evah tasted. Der jist ain't no way sumpt'in' bettah!" Pierre laughed.

"I'll work on it, if you like, Benjamen," he said. Then he left to attend other tables. Raindrop looked at Spot curiously.

"Benjamen?"Spot shrugged.

"Me real name." Raindrop nodded slowly.

"Why didn' ya evah tell me dat?" Spot shrugged again.

'Nevah came up, I guess. 'Sides, I like Spot bettah." At last they finished eating, said goodbye to Pierre, and left. They started walking towards Manhattan, but Raindrop objected.

"Spot, hey, let's walk 'round fer awhile b'fore goin' back," she said. Spot grinned.

"Sounds good ta me," he said. They walked towards Brooklyn Bridge.

"Spot," Raindrop said suddenly, "Why did'ja do it?"

"Do what?" Spot asked, knowing full well what she meant.

"Kiss me," she said quietly. He grinned.

"If ya say so." Raindrop glared and shoved him away.

"Ya know what I mean! Dat ain't what I was sayin'!" They reached the Bridge by then, and she leaned on the side, looking at the river. Spot didn't say anything for a long time.

Why ain't he answ'rin'? Raindrop thought to herself. Don' 'e know? Does 'e 'ave ta decide 'ow 'e feels 'bout me? Is 'e mad? At the same time Spot finally decided what to say.

"Hey, listen ta me," he said softly, turning her around. "I'se nevah met a goil like you'se b'fore. Yer so easy ta tawk ta, an' fun, an' poitty, an'·" he trailed off.

"But?" Raindrop prompted, her heart sinking. Spot shook his head.

"No buts. I love ya, an' dat's all der is ta it." Raindrop looked at him in shock.

Dat ain't what I was expectin'. More like, "Ya t'ink I really meant dat?" I nevah even really t'ought 'e'd say 'e liked me. An', an' 'e says 'e loves me· Spot shifted his weight, watchin' her stunned expression.

"Say sumpt'in' goil. Yer makin' me noivous." That seemed to bring her out of her daze.

"D'ya really mean dat?" she asked. Spot hit his palm against the bridge, and then turned back to her.

"Jiminy goil, ya t'ink I jist go 'round sayin' stuff like dat? Yer da foist goil I'se evah said dat to an' I don' even know if ya like me b'yond friends!" Raindrop looked at him seriously.

"Den why'd ya say it?"

"'Cause dat's how I feel," Spot answered. Raindrop looked back out at the river. She said something inaudible.

"What?" Spot asked. She looked at him with shining eyes and smiled.

"I love ya too."