Disclaimer: I do not know the Newsies. All characters in the exception of the Newsies and others in the movie are mine. Please don't Plagiarize.

A Bond Worth Breaking

By: Sarah

Chapter 1

The heat, the smell, the man with the menacing smile. It all made her grimace with fear. She dare not move, she just stand there her back against the wall, the man's hand traveling over her body….

---

Nichole’s eyes ripped open. Her body was shaking…from fear? She turned her head, her eyes peering into her friend's. They held a look of fear and panic. Oh Shit! It was happening! Her curly brown hair flew wildly around her face as she sat up, crawling to the end of the broken mattress she called a bed, and ripped a tattered bag from underneath it.

“How long do we have, Mary?” Nichole asked searching the bag checking if she had everything. Shirt, pants, cigarettes. It wasn't much, but it was hers.

“Not much. I was trying to wake you for a while.” Mary's hand tightened around the pillowcase that held her belongings. The same as Nichole’s in exception of the cigarettes. Her eyes expanded, her emotions becoming more evident. “You were having that dream again, weren't you?”

Nichole paused, the images floating back to the depths of her mind. That night, that dark miserable night. It occurred two years ago at the age of thirteen, but the dreams still haunted her. Mary was the only one who knew, and probably stay the only one. She shook her head furiously placing a cigarette in her mouth. “I can’t talk about this now. Let’s just get the hell out of here.”

Mary quickly dropped the painful subject and they left, but not before glancing back at the small room, they called a home for so long. The only home they ever had. Besides the orphanage, but that wasn’t a home that was hell. Imparting a sigh, they closed the door to one of the many chapters of their obscured lives.

---

Mary watched lazily as a small stone sailed through the sky, the sound of splashing water echoing through the cool night air. She leaned against the frosty steel of the bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge to be exact. Sweeping a hand through her limp blonde hair she swung around and hung her feet over the edge. They still ached from the lengthy two-day walk, although they had been sitting here for about an hour. Mary’s face still held a smirk, though. She couldn’t even imagine how stupid her expression was as the bridge came into their view. Nichole nearly threw herself on it. They almost lost all hope after walking north for two days straight, no food, no civilization, and not knowing where they would end up. They really didn’t have time to consider what route to take, or where they would end up. Just to get away from that house as soon as possible.

Mary threw a smug smile in Nichole’s direction. “You think New York is a good place to stay?”

“There is no good place to stay. We ain’t safe nowhere.” Nichole truthfully replied, sending another stone into the water.

Mary’s smile faded, her face stern, thinking how her life ever turned out like this. What if she hadn't run away with Nichole, but instead she stayed at the orphanage? Would she be somewhere in Queens living the high life? And what would have happened to Nichole? She laughed silently to herself. She'd be in jail. That’s where she would be. They would’ve hauled her ass to jail long ago if I weren’t there to sweet talk the basterds out of it. She laughed loudly into the night air this time. Yup, we make a good team. The sweet talker and a streetsmart jabber.

Nichole stopped throwing rocks and turned sending Mary a bewildered look. “What are you laughing about?”

She shook her head. “Nothing really, just thinking of the what-ifs and buts. You know what would have happened if we never met. If I stayed at the orphanage and lived a normal life.”

“Nobody lives a normal life.”

There was a short silence. The only sound was their steady breathing.

“Do you regret running away?” It was a stupid question, which she already knew the answer too. It just seemed like the right thing to say.

Mary searched her friend’s face for some kind of emotion. “You know I don’t. It’s just those two days of walking tired me out, and you know how I get when I’m tired. Life just seems so meaningless sometimes.”

“Well, you know you can always head back."

“What! Is that some kind of joke. We are too far away to go back. Besides, I would never make it without you.”

Nichole lip tugged into a playful, aggroant smile. “Yup, I know.”

They both slapped each other playfully. Standing, they grabbed their bags and headed into Brooklyn, the beginning of what they hoped would be a decent life.

---

The spark of a match illuminated the small area the two friends sat. The shade of probably the only tree in the city protecting them from the morning sun. Nichole flicked the match to the ground and help herself to a long drag of the cigarette. Mary eyed her with discust.

“Nick, I don’t know how you sit there and enjoy inhaling that crap.”

Nichole shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s relaxing. You should try it. You seem tense.”

Mary pushed the offering away, laughing. “I think I have a reason to be tense. We’re in Brooklyn with no money and no where to stay.” She ran a hand over her tired face. “You said it yourself, we ain’t safe nowhere.”

Nichole exhaled a cloud of smoke and returned the laugh. That was true, she had said that, but the fact was they were in New York. Thousands, maybe even millions of people lived here. It would be impossible to find two teenage girls if you didn’t know where to look.

“Yea, I said that, and it’s true, but look at the bright side. We’re in New York, the place dreams come true.” Nichole spread her hands out infront of her.

Mary rolled her eyes playfully. "Dreams? What dreams? We ain’t got no dreams.”

“Yea, well we better get some, because I plan to fulfill some kind of dream while we’re here.”

Mary’s face flushed with embarrassment. Her eyes concentrating on the cigarette Nichole threw to the ground. “I know what I like to accomplish while I’m here.”

Nichole rolled her eyes in the same fashion Mary had earlier. Her eyes watched her friend's smile widen, and her face flushed a nice shade of red. She had to laugh. Mary took it up to herself to remind her every chance she had, that she wanted a boyfriend. The result of her poor upbringing, and the need to be loved.

Nichole pointed an accusing finger. "You, Mary Robinson, are not as innocent as you look.”

---

“You think this is a good place?”

Mary shrugged, leaning in the opening of an alley. “If you want to know what I think. I think we should split up. We could cover more ground that way. Pick more pockets.”

“I don’t think it matters if we split up or not. There are enough people walking past to make us rich.” Nichole pushed her body off the cold cement of the alley, joining Mary at the entrance. “I think we should stay together. It’s safer that way.”

Nichole nudged her lightly in the side to win Mary’s attention back from a boy towing a stack of newspapers with him. Her cheeks grew red, furiously. “Would you stop looking at boys! We kinda need to make a living here.”

Mary sighed, focusing her attention back on Nichole. “Sorry. Look, why don’t you go and scoop out Manhattan. See what kinds of people live there. I’ll stay here.”

Nichole nodded, and glanced around the corner, catching a backside glimpse of the boy. She could not understand why Mary would want to associate with these boys. Maybe as a friend, but as a mate?…No. They didn’t know how to love; they just knew how to break hearts.

“Fine. Just be careful. I’ll meet you back here in a few hours.”

Mary mumbled a response and watched Nichole until she could see her no more. She looked out into the crowded streets, her eyes clouding over with thought. She should have said something. She should have told Nichole she didn’t want to do this. Pickpocket, that word was repulsive to her, running through the streets stealing others belongings.

“What do you want us to do? Get a job in the factory? It’s either this or we starve and die in the streets”

That is exactly what Nichole would say. She was just that kind of person. All she cared about was herself. She long ago accepted the fact that the streets were the only place for her. She didn’t want rules, and people telling her what to do and how to act. She wanted to be her own person, and the only way to do that she told Mary once, was to be a streetrat. She was made to live that way.

Mary on the other hand didn’t belong in the streets, nor did she want to be there. She had admited to herself a long time ago it was a lot better of then the orphanage, but this was no way to live. She'd rather own a house, and have a loving husband to take care of her. Mary couldn’t survive out here, she was too soft spoken and loving. Besides her talent of sweettalking herself out of dangerous situations, she had nothing. Nothing to protect her except Nichole. She depended on her.

She rubbed her face, anger written all over it. She was angry with herself. Angry she was thinking all these thoughts. She loved Nichole like a sister and would do anything for her. Sometimes she just had to get away, away from her harsh reality.

---

Nichole weaved in and out of the throngs of people invading the street. Her pace slowed her feet aching from the enduring walk from Manhattan. Her eyes brightened as her fingers played with the numerous wallets in her pocket. The walk was absolutely worth it. If Mary had done as well as she had, they would be well off.

She halted, her eyes searching the alley she left hours ago. Her eyes clouded over with confusion and fear. Mary was no where to be seen. Nichole’s mind suddenly flooded with every horrible situation possible. She could be in an alley raped, maybe even dead. Rats crawling over her body…No, No! Don’t think like that. Just remain calm and you will find her.

For the second time that day her body ceased to a halt. The world around her froze, her stare locked on the Pub and her friend. Two boys escorting her to danger. Mary was too drunk to acknowledge it. Nichole’s eyes narrowed into an icy stare as she flew across the street and threw a murderous punch.

With one down and the other to shocked to move, she leaned Mary’s limp body against a building. She was too involved in Mary’s drunken condition to acknowledge the boy behind her. She was soon on her feet in a tight bear hug. She was losing her breath quickly.

Using her elbows, she jabbed him in the sides and wiggled free. She shifted her weight to her right foot and sent the same murderous punch she had to the first. A crunch of bone and blood stained pavement signified a broken nose. Standing up straight, as if she was stretching, she took a breather. She caught movement of the first boy out of the corner of her eye. Something clicked in her mind.

These boys belonged to a gang, cult, whatever you decided to call it. The point was they all stuck together. You soak one you soak them all. The moment this got out, they would be all over her like rat on cheese. Being a girl didn’t stop this impulse. They had to find a place to stay, a place very distant from Brooklyn.

---

Chapter 2

Jack smiled, gratefully accepting the pennie for his last paper. Dropping it in his pocket with the others, he removed the coyboyhat off his head, wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead. High noon or somewhere around that time Jack had guessed. Whatever time it was he was heading over to Tibby’s. Food, friends, relaxation. The only time he expected to get some today. A newsies job was never done.

Jack grinned entering Tibby’s; the small bell ringing like it did everyday. His eyes wandered, only to see the placed was filled with Manhatten newsies, and the noise was overbearing. Jack manuvered his way through the crowd, receiving enough slaps on his back for three lifetimes. He plopped himself down in a booth, along with Racetrack, Mush and Kid Blink.

"Hey you guys. How was your selling day."

Race threw his bread down and shook his head. "Fine. Same old same old. I picked my papes up, and I sold them. Nothing ever changes around here."

Jack pointed a thumb, looking towards Blink, and Mush for some kind of explanation. "What's the matter with him?"

"Bad day at the races." Blink replied.

Jack nodded. "Well there will be other days. How about you guys, anything exciting happen that I should hear about?"

Blink leanded over the table, motioning Jack to do the same. His eyes watching the others behinde him not wanting to cause somekind of huge riot. Anything could stur a newsie up.

"I heard this rumor going around, I don’t know if it’s true or not though. Something about the Dalancey brothers getting soaked by some girl. Morris said they were pickpockets and they tried to rob him, but that scab is a damn liar. He probaly just couldn’t take her."

"Whoa, wait, when did this supposingly happen, and how did it get past me?"

"Don’t know the time, but it happened outside the pub about four blocks from here."

Jack sat back confused. If this soaking supposingly happened then would Spot be here. He always enjoyed a good fight with the Dalancey brothers, especially if it envolved a girl. Blink must have read his mind because he then replied.

"Newsies from Brooklyn were just in here before you came. Spot will be down here before you know it."

Jack groaned inwardly. All hell is going to break lose. Not because of the Dalancey brothers, or the fight, if he heard the word pickpocket he was going to go off. Spot may have been the leader of the Brooklyn newsies, and got involed in a few fights in his time but he was a decent guy. He believed the classes should stick together, and that meant looking out for one another. Pickpockets were not something he took lightly. Jack rose from his seat the release Race from the booth. Race turned giving one more slap to Jack’s back.

"Sorry, we got to go. Daily poker game tonight."

"Hey Race do me a favor," Jack asked grabbing his arm lightly. "If I’m not back before Spot gets there tonight send somebody for me. I got to talk to him."

"Will do cowboy."

Race gave Jack another slap before he left, along with Mush and Blink, leaving Jack with his thoughts. Sitting back down in the booth he began to eat the dinner the waiter brought over while he talked with Blink. Jack chewed his food thoughtfully. He had to think of a way to flip the story. No pickpockets, just the Dalancey’s and the fight. Yea, that’s was he would do. However, he had to get to Spot first.

Jack pushed his plate away and patted his full stomach. He now sat alone. The other newsies left only moments ago alowing him to have a comforting silence.

The little bell above the door rang again, causing Jack’s head to turn. Spot?…No just two girls fifthteen maybe sixteen. He whistled inwardly, not wanting to catch their attention. A catcall if that’s what you wanted to call it. They weren't what he would call beautiful, or even attractive, but they way they dressed caught his attention. Both wore similar clothes to him, which surprised him to say the least. He hadn’t seen girls like this around here before. He snapped out of his trance, the brunette literally dropping her friend into a seat. She was either extremly tired, or extremly drunk.

---

Nichole dropped Mary down. Sitting opposite of her, she lit a cigarette and turned away. She didn’t want to look at her only friend in this condition. The what-ifs and buts flashed through her mind, causing her to cringe noticebly. If she could afford it, she would buy ten packs of cigarettes and smoke every single on of them right there. Her head pounded, and she was sleep deprived.

Mary said something, but it only came out in gibberish. Nichole turned, not even going to try to ask what she just mumbled. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she took her first good look at her friend. Mary was absolutly wasted, and the fact that this was her first time to drink didn’t help. Sucking the rest of the life out of the cigarette, she snubbed it on the table.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous what you just did was?"

Mary responded by resting her head on her folded arms. Her head pounded, feeling as if her skull had been ripped in two. She knew everything Nichole was rammbling on about was true. She had long ago thought of asking "What about you? You get drunk all the time!" Yes, she thought about saying it…yelling it. However, she hadn’t, not yet anyway. She had done this for one reason and one reason only. To escape reality. The outcome wasn’t what she had planned it to be.

Mary lifted her head, barely. The pain was still imennse. She tapped Nichole’s elbow to get her attention. "Nichole…Nichole…Nichole…Shut up!" She rested her head in her head a few moments before continuing.

" I know what I did was wrong and I’m sorry. I…I just…I don’t know what I was thinking." You liar, you know exacly what you were thinking and doing. Your just afraid to tell Nick the truth.

Nichole turned her glare down to the table, taken back by Mary’s outburst. "Well you should have been thinking! Do you have any idea what would have happened to you if I hadn’t came at the time I did? Those boys…they would have tired…tired too…"

Mary grabbed Nichole’s hand to comfort her as her voice faded. Silence washed over the yelling and arguing. Their moment was quickly inturrupted by a young man literally falling into the resturant. He bent over, trying to regain the air in his lungs. He stood, his eyes darting directly to the back.

"Hey Jack!" His voice held a heavy New York accent, like most around here. "Did you hear about the Dalancey’s? They both got soaked by some girl."

Jack rolled his eyes and watched as the Brooklyn newsie walked towards him. He never made it though, stopping he examined the brunette’s face, his eyes flashing with shock and disbelieve. "Yous the girl. Yous the girl that soaked the Dalanceys."

Nichole groaned both shocked and annoyed. She slammed her hand down on the table with a sigh, causing the boy to jump slightly away from her. His face was still of disbelieve.

"Goddamit! We’re in Brooklyn for what? Two days? And we are already screwed."

If it was possible Mary’s headach suddenly worstened. There goes that word, Nick’s trademark word. If you wanted to know when they were in deep shit, just listen for Nick to say, "We’re screwed." Mary eyed the lone boy and almost laughed at his expression. New York girls obviously didn’t know how to fight. She began to lay her head back in its previous position, but was ripped to her feet when Nichole grabbed her by the wrist, dragging her outside.

"Yous two better watch your backs. The Dalanceys are lookin to soak you."

Grabbing a breadstick from a basket that lay on a table, Nichole turned to face the boy. Bestowing him an obscene gesture, she ripped the bread out of her mouth taking the end with it, and walked out the door leaving the boy it yet another stage of shock.

Jack slapped the boy on the back, his eyebrows raised in amusment. He couldn’t help but release a snicker. "Well, she’s a fiesty one, ain’t she?"

---

Nichole paced the musky alleyway, her eyes searching everywhich way waiting for any kind of danger. She stopped for only a split second, to eye Mary who slept in a fedal position on the cobblestone ground.

Two days they sat in that dirty alley switching position, one sleeping, the other looking out for anything suspicious. Both days they hadn’t heard anything, and Nichole was beginning to become anxious. Picturing the last four days they spent in Brooklyn caused her blood to rush. Not even in one place for a week and they were already screwed over.

God, it was exciting. The danger, the fear, the what-ifs of being caught. Hell she wouldn’t worry about that until the basterds corner her in an alley. Growing up not knowing her parents, or where she came from taught her to not take shit from anyone, stare danger in the face. Which help her through her difficult life, but also almost got her killed.

Nichole sat against the hard brick watching her shadow appear as the sun sank down in the sky. Evening taking over the day. She moved over as Mary sturred and sat up out of her sleep.

Mary placed a hand over her mouth to surpress the yawn that was yearning to be released, and eyed Nichole tiredly. "Anything happen while I was asleep?"

Nichole stood and walked towards the opposite wall, sliding down in a sitting position again. "Well, I’m still here, and we’re still in the same alley we’ve been in for two days, so…nope nothing happened."

"For Christ sake, you think they would have found us already. There has to be more then two of them looking for us."

"You want them to find us?" Nichole asked confused with her friend’s words.

"No! It's just this anxiety. It’s going to kill me before this damn thing blows over." Mary leaned her head back banging it lightly before continuing. "I just want everything to be back the way it was before we came here."

Nichole was still confused. Was she saying she wanted to go back? Go back to the hellhole they grew up in?

"You want to go back to the orphanage?"

Mary was surprised by the hurt and resentment that flowed out with Nchole’s voice. "No. I…I don’t really know what I want anymore. Our lives are so screwed up it’s impossible to think they’re going to improve. Maybe we could just go back for a few years, until we are eighteen. Everything sould be fine then."

Wherever that hurt and resetment came from the first time she spoke, it was gone now. Anger took over. After all these years of friendship, Mary just wanted to go and throw it away.

"You want to go back, well you go ahead and go back, but you’re going by yourself, cause I ain’t going nowhere."

Mary stared after her as she walked out of the alley, tears threatening to spill over her eyes. She quickly composed herself and chased after her.

"You know I can’t make it without you. I don’t want to stay here anymore. I want to be somewhere where I feel safe. I want a real bed, real clothes, real food. I don’t want to have to go around and steal to live." By the time she finished the tears spilled over and dripped down her face.

Nichole had long ago turned and stared at her friend, her eyes holding no compassion what so ever. Her inside however were being torn apart. Another thing she learned living in the streets. Never show your emotions. "You think if you leave New York everything will dissapear? Well, you thought wrong. We are going to be chased and threathened wherever we go, because we screwed up." She poked herself in the chest harshly trying to release somewhat of her anger. "We screwed up and we can’t go back and change it. We have to go forward and deal with it. You can’t just turn around retrace your steps and pretend like nothing happened, because it is always going to be there with you."

Nichole turned away from Mary again, her own words echoing through her head. <I>We screwed up and we can’t go back to change it.</I> Hell that was a lie. The truth was she screwed up, not Mary. She was just an innocent onlooker, dragged through Nichole’s many problems. Both stood in silence, Nichole listening to Mary’s occasional sniffel and Mary listening the any sign Nichole would forgive her.

They both turned to look at one another at the same time, their eyes holding the same look of fear, and confusion. The sound, they both heard it. Footsteps, a mass of them. They both stared to their left, the way the noise was coming from and froze. They didn’t move until they saw the first group of boys round the corner, chains, sticks and other weapons in their hands.

Neither of the girls waited to see if they were indeed after them. They took off running, their feet pounding against the hard ground. Masculine hoots and yells erupted through the quiet night encouraging the girls to give all their energy into running.

They went on like that, block after block after block. Their feet becoming tired, but they never slowed. The yells died down and became almost an echo in the night, and by that, Nichole judged the distance between the two groups. Deciding they were as far away as they were going to get, she ran to a house trying the door. Locked.

They tried a second a third and a fourth, but none opened. Nichole jumped over the ralling of the stoop she stood on and jumped to another, determined to not give up. She tried the knob and to her suprise, it turned. Runnig down the steps she grabbed Mary roughly and threw her through the door then entered herself, shutting the door and leaning against it.

Nichole closed her eyes trying to regain her breath. A jab in the side released a choke from her throat, and she turned towards Mary, questionably. Mary didn’t say anything she just grabbed her face roughly and turned it to stare in front of her. Any comfort Nichole held in her body left as her eyes searched over a sea of boys, wairly. The boys stood as shocked as the two girls, ceasing their activities to stare and gape.

"They musn’t get many girl visitors, or see many girls for that matter." Mary thought almost laughing. "How the hell are we going to get out of this one?"

Nichole answered her question when she leaned over whispering something in her ear. Run? Yea that was it. She watched Nichole point secretly to a door that look like it led up to the roof. With their luck it probaly didn’t.

Taking a chance they ran for it, throwing the door open. Thank god, it wasn’t locked. A flight of stairs loomed in front of them. Running up them two by two, they barged through the door at the top and ended up outside on the roof. They leaned against it.

"Ha, I knew It lead up to the roof. I just knew it." Nichole boosted, breathlessly.

Mary gave her a sarcastic smile. "Yea, yea. I don’t think it’s the time or place to be boosting. We are stuck on a roof that houses boys, which are probaly downstairs wondering what the just happened. What are we going to do?"

Nichole stared thoughtfully at the ground. Grabbing anything she could find, which was a stick, she jammed it into the door to hold it closed. Mary carefully lifted her weight off the door making sure it wouldn’t open. When she was sure it wasn’t she joined Nichole at the edge of the roof and stared down at the streets with her.

"You aren’t planning to jump are you?"

Nichole shook her head and leaned over the get a better look of the street. "Nope. But I think I figured something out."

"And whats that?" Mary looked at her almost afraid to ask.

"That’s the only way down."

Mary would have laughed at that remark in any other situation, but now wasn’t the time.

"Hey, what do you two think yous are doing?"

They turned and were surprised to see a boy sixteen maybe seventeen, with a cowboy hat hanging from his neck, standing behind them. Mary’s eyes looked him over. Damn, she hoped the others that lived here where attractive as he was.

Nichole smiled sheepishly at the boy, shrugging her shoulders. "Ummm, getting a better veiw of the city?" Mary rolled her eyes and watched the boy do the same. Maybe staying in the New York wouldn’t be as terrible as she thought.

---

Chapter 3

“Where the hell is he, I kinda wanna finish this game sometime tonight.” Race threw his cards down and stood. He pushed his way threw his fellow newsies, stopping next to Blink. He pointed to the open window. “How long has he been up there, twenty minutes?” He rolled his eyes. “What could they be doing up there?”

Blink slapped his back. “Don’t sweat it. He’ll be down.”

“Yea, unless they soaked him like they did the Dalanceys, and we’re just standing around doing nothing.” Race replied remembering their conversation at Tibby’s. He still had a hard time believing a girl beat the crap out of both Dalanceys. She either had to be really stupid or a born fighter.

Race became alert hearing the yells of the newsies crammed in the small room of Jack’s return. Everyone watched intently as Jack jumped threw the window. He eyed up the room, and turned offering his hand to a young girl.

Her blonde hair fell over her eyes as she stepped off the ledge of the window. She looked around the room shyly, her blue eyes sparkling. She was absolutely beautiful. Unlike everyone else, Race looked shocked. This could not be the right girl. She looked too…what was the word…fragile, yea that’s it. She looked excessively fragile to soak anybody.

Another girl, smaller but muscular, jumped through the window. Everyone muffled a laugh as she knocked Jack’s helping hand out of the way, stating she didn’t need any help. Watched, intrigued by her, as she flipped a brown curl out of her face. Like her friend, she was beautiful, but the confidence look she held made her stand out.

Both wore boys clothing, similar to every boy in the room. Button down shirt, and pants with suspenders. The blonde, however, was dressed in a very neat fashion, while the brunette looked as if she just awaken and threw whatever she could find on. Her shirt hang, untucked, and her suspenders hung to her sides. The look somewhat suited her.

Jack moved forward and cleared his throat. “Fellahs, this here is Mary and Nick. They got in alittle trouble with the Dalanceys and need a place to stay. I already agreed they could stay. Everyone make them feel welcome and don’t hassle them.”

The next few moments were a flash of chaos. Names flew from every which way, causing both girls heads to spin. Mary greeted everyone with a friendly hello, while Nichole stood, catching maybe two or three of the forty names she heard. The only two names that stuck in her mind were Spot and Race.

Spot just for the fact that he caused her to laugh, inwardly of course. The way he walked up to her and introduced himself as the leader of the Brooklyn newesies just struck her as funny. This scrawny little boy, a leader? She had more muscles in her arm then he did in his whole body. He was one person she was going to avoid.

Race, she couldn’t explain what she thought about him. There was just something, he couldn’t say that she liked him, he just interested her.

Everything calmed down, everyone finding something to occupy themselves. Nichole sat on the windowsill she entered an hour ago by herself. Mary insisted she join her and Kid Blink in a poker game. She declined. She needed some alone time, which she wouldn’t get much of living in a boarding house with forty boys, so she wanted to take advantage of it. She glanced over at Mary. Besides her and Blink looked comfortable by themselves. Nichole made a mental note to watch the two of them. Like she said before guys in this city just wanted one thing.

Nichole didn’t know how long she sat there. An hour maybe two, she lost all track of time when her eyes fluttered closed involuntary. Every activity of the last few days sinking into every muscle of her body.

An eight-year-old girl skipped across the dusty wood floor, wisps of hair that escaped the two braids that hung by her ears tickling her face. Placing the tray of food she held on the table, she pulled her tiny body on the bench. She flashed a triumphant smile to her friend across the table as she finally settled.

Her eyes sparkled mischievously as her eyes searched the small room crammed to the limit with kids. Her face scrunched with disgust as her eyes traveled down to the food in front of her. Stale bread and some kind of watery soup. Hesitantly she dipped the spot covered spoon in the soup and tried a sip with a slurp.

Grabbing a part of her faded shirt she rubbed her tongue, attempting to get the taste out of her mouth, without any prevail. Forgetting the foul taste on her tongue, she quickly looked up at her friend who ate her soup innocently.

Her lips curled in a coy smile. Filling her spoon, she flicked her wrist and sent soup flying. The room fell silent for half a second before erupting in complete and utter chaos. Spoons, bread, hats, anything kids could get their hands on flew in every direction. Her eyes filled with pain, and her booming laughter turned into a groan of agony. Her friend’s eyes clouded over with tears as she watched her friend was dragged away by a nun.

The girl cowered in the corner of the room she was dragged into. The nun advanced towards her, ruler beating against her hand in a smooth beat. Each blow was like a dagger piercing her skin. Tears trickled down her face as the blood from the fresh cuts on her back bleed. Blow after; blow after blow, until her body wracked with tears.

---

Mary glanced over in the direction Nichole sat on the windowsill. Her face dropped immediately, and she stood ignoring the glances she received from Blink and every other person that sat around the table.

She knew that look. The look that was engraved deeply in Nichole’s sleeping face, she knew the look all to well. She reached out a shaky hand slowly, one question racing through her mind. Should she wake her? She turned towards Blink who stood behind her, his hand on her should.

“What’s the matter?”

Mary opened her mouth to give him an answer, but nothing came out. She couldn’t tell him, not here, not now. Besides that, she couldn’t even imagine what Nichole would do if she did. She gave Blink a reassuring smile.

“Nothing, I was just getting tired and thought I should wake Nick up too. You know so she doesn’t have to sleep on a window sill all night.”

He squeezed her shoulder, and left her standing surveilling her friend. Any sort of commotion that surrounded the room ceased to a breathless whisper as a THUMP! Filled the air.

Mary looked down, her hand over her hand in shock, at her friend that now lay on the floor.

The impact of the fall woke Nichole instantly. She lay still although she was awake listening quietly to her surroundings. Was it real? It seemed, as it was, as if she just relived a part of her childhood…No, she was just dreaming.

She opened an eye, but quickly closed it and inhaled sharply. Why did everyone have to stand around her, and stare like she was an animal caged in a zoo? Maybe if I just lie here they will all eventually leave.

“Nichole, you okay?”

Damn my luck. “Yea, I’m fine, just tired. I think I’ll just lie here until tomorrow.”

It was a mumble against the floor, and Mary probably didn’t hear, but Nichole could careless. She said something, now maybe everyone would leave. Her head grew dizzy as the floor began to move farther and farther away. Her head fell limply and her eyes moved left to right. Race on her left and Jack on her right. Each held an arm.

Nichole ripped her arms from the grasp of the two boys and carefully moved to Mary. She slung an arm around her and nodded towards a boy, a patch covering his eye and a bundle of blankets in his arms.

“Blink is going to show us where we can stay.”

Nichole nodded only half listening to Mary’s words. She followed the two into a room that seemed almost hidden. If you didn’t know it was there, you miss it. Blink opened the door to a plain room holding two beds and a burro. Mary snapped her head to Nichole who was now half-awake and stared at her astounded. Blink stopped smoothing the sheets over the beds catching the glance.

“What?”

“We get our own beds?”

Blink grinned widely and continued to dress the beds. “Yea, ain’t you ever slept in a bed before?”

“Yea, when we were little. I just thought that since we aren’t newsies that we wouldn’t…” Mary trailed off perplexed, not knowing how to end her own sentence. She looked down at her hands embarrassed. Nichole rolled her eyes.

Blink finished the beds and threw a thin pillow on each. He walked over to Mary and patted her shoulder. “It’s okay just get some sleep. You need it.” His gaze shifted to Nichole. “You too. Go to sleep. I’ll see ya tomorrow.”

Mary’s eyes followed Blink out of the room until the door shut quietly. She sighed contentedly, and turned towards Nichole who already lie under the covers. She followed her example.

“You seem to have Blinky boy there wrapped around your little finger.”

Mary changed positions, taken back by Nichole’s accusion and surprised she was still awake. “I do not.”

Nichole removed the covers from her head, and shot her a “yea right” look. “If you asked him to sleep with you right then and there he would have jumped at the chance.” She giggled at Mary’s shocked expression, and ducked the pillow that flew past her head.

“You know I ain’t like that!” Mary replied defensively. Nichole gave another short giggle and threw the pillow back to Mary’s bed.

“Mmm Hmm. You tell me when you are like that so you can tell me every detail of that “special night”

Mary ignored Nichole, and placed her pillow under her head and rolled over to face the wall. She knew in her heart the moment she lost her virginity, she would go straight to Nick.

“Mar?”

“Yea?”

Nichole eyes softened as Mary faced her. She hesitated for a moment. “I’m sorry about earlier this evening…everything I said it was wrong, and I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“You don’t have to apologize.” Mary reassured her.

“Yes, I do. You are my only friend and probably will always be my only friend. I don’t want my temper to ruin that.”

Mary looked across the room at her friend. The sincerity and compassion in her voice caused her eyes to tear. What nobody knew about Nichole was she had a caring side behind her tough exterior. A side not many got to see.

“You know I’ll always be there for you Nick, always.”

---

Chapter 4

"Come on get up. Carry the banner!"

The soundless sleep of the newsies was disturbed by the booming yells of the lodging house owner, Kloppman. His wrinkled face, glasses and stern glare made his seem vile, but the fact was he wouldn't harm a fly. He loved every newsie like a son.

He shook his head disapprovingly at the boys still in a deep sleep. His hand slapped a pair of dirty feet that hung over the metal railing of a bed.

"I didn't do it!" the owner of the feet sat up, his short unkempt hair sticking everywhere.

"What do you mean you didn't do it Skittery? When you gotta get up, you gotta get up."

Kloppman left the drowsy boy, shaking his head again, in disapproval. He continued on his daily routine through the small bunk room, waking the snoozing boys. Soon crowds of boys filed into the washroom preparing themselves for another day of selling papers.

"So, whose going to wake the girls up?" Race asked dryly, pulling a comb through his thick hair.

Jack stared at him blankly from his position across the row of sinks, his eyes holding no recollection of the events last night. Race removed the unlit cigar from his mouth, and returned the look.

"You know, the girls from the roof?" He threw his hands in the direction where Blink stood drying his hands. "Blink was all over the blonde one…"

This comment gained Race a back slap to the head. "I was just being friendly, and you have to admit they are pretty cute."

Race rolled his eyes, and combed down his ruffled hair. Blink always had his mind on some girl.

Jack, finally realizing what Race was talking about, just shrugged. "I don't care who wakes them up. Just let them know as long as they stay here they don't get no special treatment. They get up the same time everyone else does." Jack wiped the remaining shaving cream from his face and left the two friends to discuss it among themselves.

Blink turned towards the shorter boy next to him, a toothy smile replacing his usual smirk. "I guess it's you and me Race."

---

"You think they're decent?"

Blink stared intensely at the wood door as if somehow he could see what was going on behind it. His shoulders slumped in reply to Race's question. "I don't know. They must be half decent. They had to sleep in their clothes, I didn't give nothing to change into."

Race groaned, and snuck a glance at his pocket watch. "That's the problem, they either slept in there clothes or half naked."

"Well, they don't got nothing I ain't seen before." Blink grinned.

He elbowed Blink, laughing himself. Lifting a hand he knocked on the door in two short raps. The two stood in silence while they waited for a response. They never received one. Race's eyes wandered back to his watch. If they didn't leave soon they wouldn't be eating tonight.

He knocked again, but his actions were again met with silence. He let his head lull back, and a frustrated cry floated to the ceiling. Blink gave his friend a slap on the back before opening the door and walking into the girl's room. Race followed behind him gratefully.

The room obtaining no windows was completely dark, in exception to the streaks of sunlight flowing threw the opened door. The boys shuffled farther into the room, their eyes never leaving the lumps that lay on the beds. Both girls seemed to be in a deep sleep; Race and Blink didn't have the heart to rouse them.

The room remained completely mute while the two stood observing the girls. Race moved to the right bed, breaking the silence with his footsteps. Blink followed his example. He staled at the foot of the bed his brain searching for a name to match the face.

"Nick…" He whispered the name to himself. Deciding that was her name, he grabbed her shoulder and gave her a good shake. Receiving no response he looked over his shoulder, where Blink stood with the other girl. If his memory served him right, her name was Mary.

Mary caught his eyes a discouraging, and annoyed look pouring out of them. She slide an arm around his shoulder. "You want me to wake her up?"

Race grinned at the shy girl, placing a hand around her waist pulling her into a small hug. Blink stood behind them a hint of jealously sparking in his eyes.

"Naw, you go with Blink and get cleaned up. I think I can handle her."

Mary reluctantly left the room a smirk curling her lips. Race had absolutely no idea what he was getting himself into.

"Hey, wake up! Carry the banner!" Race turned back towards her and shook her with more force.

The lump groaned, and threw the blanket to the end of the bed. "What?" He backed away, barley dodging the flying blanket. Steadying himself, his eyes focused on the girl in front of him. He motioned his head upwards thanking god she was fully dressed. His eyes returned to her still body.

"Time to get up. Carry the banner."

Nichole opened her eyes ready to murder the short Italian boy nagging her. She grumbled in response. "Whatever the hell that means I ain't doing it."

Race turned towards the empty hallway hoping with all his heart Mary would be standing there to offer her help. An exasperated sigh flowed lightly through his lips as he stared at emptiness. He was going to have to do this the hard way.

Race placed his cigar in his pocket for safety, before climbing on the bed and straddling Nichole's body. Feeling the weight on her back, Nichole began to squirm, but was not quick enough to move out of Race's grasp. He pinned her wrist to the bed, pausing a few minutes to allow her to awake.

Nichole struggled very little; allowing Race to drag her body to the floor, through the door and down the hallway. She was still too tired to fight with her full strength. She let her head fall to the right, catching a glance at the boy's bunkroom.

She groaned in somewhat of relief as she was dragged only a few more feet, and her hands were dropped. Race's smirking face appeared above her.

"Morning dollface." He laughed lightly and gave her a nudge with his shoe. "Get cleaned up and meet me outside. We got to get going if we want to sell any papes today."

Nichole laid there until the room turned silent again, Race's final footsteps fading into the air. Propping her small body up on her elbows, her droopy eyes searched around the room. A line of sinks, a few stales, must be a bathroom. She pulled her body off the creaky floor heading towards a sink, and muttering to herself.

Nichole walked out of the lodging house ten minutes later as clean as she was going to get with a washcloth and a tub of warm water. Race stood leaning against the stoop puffing a cigar. He turned hearing her light footsteps advancing towards him.

"You ready?"

He snubbed his cigar and looked her over. She still wore the same clothes, but the dirt and mud that once concealed her skin was gone. Pale freckled skin took its place. His eyes began to move to her face, but the necklace that lay against her chest caught his eye. It was a simple chain; a ring hanging at the end of it. A gift from her parents, or perhaps, a gift from a past boyfriend. He thought.

Nichole impatiently snapped her fingers in his face. Race jumped back surprised by the sudden movement.

"Are you going to just stand there and stare at me all day?"

Race ignored the question. Grasping her hand with his he hurried down the street in a sorry attempt to hide his crimson face. Nichole followed behind him quietly through the buzzing streets of New York. She still wasn't awake enough to to fight him; she was awake enough, though to notice he was advioding eye contact. Did she make him nervous? She moved the possibility to the back of her head when she felt her hand drop from his.

She stared at the opened gates, and turned to look at him strangely. "What the hell are we doing here?"

"We're buying papes…"

"Why?"

He stared at her incredulously. "To sell. We streetrats need to make a living somehow." He motioned to a few empty crates near the entrance. To her surprise Mary sat there too, along with Blink. "You wait out here. We don't need you getting in anymore trouble with the Dalanceys."

She obeyed Race's instructions and strolled over to Mary and Blink. She received a friendly hello from both. Taking a seat next to Mary, she leaned against her sleepily. Mary giggled at her friend.

"You still tired, Nick?"

A yawn threatening to escape her mouth, Nichole just nodded. "I haven't slept in a real bed for so long I forgot how good it felt. I haven't gotten a full nights sleep in a long time."

Mary rolled her eyes. "Now all she's going to want to do is sleep." She nudged Blink playfully. "You should have made her sleep on the floor."

Laughing, Blink rubbed the spot where Mary hit him. "You better wake yourself up quick. We got a busy day of selling papers ahead of us." He laughed again when Nichole groaned and fell on her back.

"Them damn Dalanceys. If I ever get them alone I'll soak them."

Nichole sat up and observed an empty handed Race. He didn't look happy at all. " I thought you were getting papers?"

"Well, I was, but thanks to you they don't got any left."

"Me! How is this my fault?" Nichole jumped to her feet at the accusion.

"If you woke up when you were suppose too, I would have been here in plenty of time. But No!…you gotta be a pain in the ass and not get up, now I ain't gonna be eating tonight!" Race ignored the growing anger in her eyes and turned to walk away. No one tried to stop him.

Mary watched the scene with fascination. Maybe it was just her, or the fact that she was still dead tired, but she witnessed a change in Nichole's adittude. Her eyes burned with anger, but Mary saw over that to the little spark of compassion Nichole felt for Race. This is something that barely happened. Anyone Nichole didn't trust, she didn't care what they felt. Mary smiled smugly. Some interesting changes were going to happen in the near future.

Mary gave her a friendly hug. She turned away from Blink's watchful stare and whispered into Nichole's ear. "You may not want to get too friendly with him Nick, you know boys can't be trusted."

Nichole snorted at Mary's arrogation. "What are you talking about friendly? I wasn't being friendly."

"Yea, and I don't want to jump Blink right now."

Mary smirked and walked over to Blink who waited patiently with his papers. Nichole growled and ran after her. "I was not being friendly!"

---

Chapter 5

Nichole shifted uncomfortably on the wood benches of the stadium. Her eyes observed her packed surroundings for what seemed like the hundredth time since she arrived an hour ago. She thought it was an hour, maybe it only been twenty minutes she lost all track of time…

"Move those legs you damn excuse for a horse! Go, Go, Go!"

She winced; the demanding yells of the beters causing the small pain in her head to grow. "Great time to grow a conscious, Nick." She mumbled as she slide to a safer distance from the cheering men.

She rested her head in her hands in a sorry attempt to ease the pounding. It only increased. A yell bubbled inside her that was itching to be released. All this pain and frustration was due to the Newsies, who happened to be boys. This fact caused her to despise them more.

But then there was Mary, she had to think of Mary first. Not herself. She seemed quiet satisfied with the situation, and with Blink. A smile tugged at her lips for once that night. She only knew Blink for only a day, but he seemed like a decent enough guy. The moment she got a minute with him alone, though she would set down some rules.

Nichole sighed boredly and watched as another race ended. The crowd, which consist of mostly men, erupted into a roar. She usually jump at any chance to gamble, but not with horses, she preferred poker or craps. That is where the real money was.

The sound of flesh hitting flesh rattled in Nichole's ear as she was knocked to the ground; a fist slamming into the left side of her face. She ignored the pain and wave of fear that washed through her and jumped to her feet. Had they found her?

Relaxing she dropped her raised fist to her sides. She scaled the bleachers to avoid anymore contact with the brawling men. There was no point in fighting back and getting more ruffled up then she already was. Only when she sat down did you notice the blood slowly dripping down her chin. Her hands slowly explored her face and lip. The man that hit her must have been wearing something on his hand. Her lip was split and she was positive the left side of her face was swelling.

Tilting her head to the sky she blocked the yells of the crowd, and watched the sun set, cascading the sky with oranges and reds. Anything was more interesting to watch then two men fighting over a paper ticket.

"You okay?"

"Why do you care?" Nichole replied flatly, not bothering to move. She already knew who stood in front of her.

Race moved cautiously towards her, unaware of what she might do. Occupying the space next to her he copied her position. They sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity, both oblivious to the continuing fight below them.

"What are you doing here?" Race bluntly asked. She didn't look at him, she continued to stare upward.

"Looking for you to apologize"

Nichole dropped her head, finally glancing at him. His face was set, in a serious yet relaxed state. She studied it, for some time, trying to pull some emotion from it, anything. Nothing. Their eyes locked, and both froze. Race cleared his throat and broke eye contact his gaze shifting to watch the two fighting men finally be pulled apart.

"Is that word even part of your vocabulary?"

"It is now."

Their eyes met again. Race reached out with a shaking hesitant hand; brushing his thumb over Nichole's bloody split lip. She leaned into the caress, feeling for once, in the fifteen years she on this earth, safe and protected. Realizing what she was doing, she jerked away startled by her own movements.

He grinned to himself, seeing the change in her eyes as his thumb grazed over her lip. Maybe she wasn't as cold as he thought. "You sure you're all right?"

"A little bloody lip ain't hurt nobody before." She shrugged. Raising her arm to her mouth, Nichole wiped the remaining blood from her lip; then stood. "Damn I'm hungry. You want to get something to eat?"

"I ain't got no money."

"I'll buy." She jiggled her pants pocket. "I ain't got no use for this money anyway."

Race didn't protest. He stood and followed closely behind her as she strolled slowly to the exit. It was dark now, and one by one stars began to dot the sky.

---

The twosome arrived at Tibby's thirty minutes later. To Nichole, though it seemed a lot longer. Race insisted she walk incredibly close to him stating "It wasn't safe for girls to be out at night." She had to roll her eyes at that statement, she had heard it many times before.

With a heavy sigh, Nichole sat down in the unoccupied chair next to Jack. She leaned her head in the right hand avoiding the left side. Unfortunately this provided Jack a clear view of her swelling face.

"What you do to your face, Nick? You get in a fight?"

Nichole groaned and tightly closed her eyes. Why don't you just let the whole damn restaurant know…

"No, Jack. I didn't get in a fight."

Jack immediately dropped the subject, hearing the edge in her voice. However, Mary didn't give up so easily. She knew if she pushed enough Nichole would break.

"If you didn't get in a fight then what happened?" Mary asked, her eyebrows raising questionably.

Nichole began to deny anything happened, but Mary wouldn't allow her. "Don't tell me nothing happened, Nick. You wouldn't be sitting here with a split lip and swelled face if it was nothing."

"Fine, it was just two guys got into a fist fight over a winning ticket. I just happened to be in their way."

Mary shrugged, not fully believing it. Small conversations continued until the waiter came to take their orders. Race glanced at the menu hesitantly unsure of what to order. He didn't want Nichole to become broke due to him. Leaning forward, Nichole covered his hand with hers.

"Just order whatever you want. I owe you."

Race glanced up surprised at the soft tone of her voice. His liking for her increased every minute he spent with her. Nichole dug out the money deep in her pocket, that her and Mary had pickpocket the first day they were here. Jack's eyes widened at the amount she placed on the table.

"Where the hell did you get all that money from?"

Mary and Nichole glanced at each other, both thinking the same thing. They couldn't tell them, they knew what they thought of pickpockets. Nichole shot out the first thing that came to her head. "There was a huge poker game that we won, a lot of money was up for bet…"

"They are street walking whores, that is where they got all the money from!" a gruff voice replied interrupting Nichole. She turned and became face to face with one of the boy who got Mary drunk.

"I wouldn't go around calling girls whores Morris, unless, of course, you are talking about your mother." Jack stated smartly.

Morris grimaced, but ignored the comment. His eyes were fixated on Nichole. "Yous the girl that broke my brothers nose, ain't ya?"

"Not to mention beat the shit out of you." Nichole mumbled. She braced herself as her body was slammed against a wall, Morris' face inches from hers. "Don't fuck with me little girl, or you will get what's coming to you." She flinched; his finger trailing down the side of her face.

She attempted to remain calm, but her anger was spreading through her body like an out of control fire. She brought her knee up to his groin, causing him to fall to the ground. She pounced on him like a wild cat throwing punches. Only a few made contact with his body before she was lifted off his body by Race. Jack and Blink stood beside Morris waiting for him to making any move towards Nichole.

Morris wiped the blood that now drip down his face. He faced Nichole and growled his last words before leaving. "You better watch yourself sweetface. I ain't done with you yet."

Nichole struggled against Race's grip until Morris face was out of sight. She ripped her arms from Race's hands and sat down. She would kill him if it was the last thing she did. She glanced up into Race's caring brown eyes as he placed a hand around her shoulder.

"Come on, lets head back to the lodging house, play alittle poker. That always calms me down."

Nichole hugged Race's body to hers, finding comfort in the warmth of his embrace. Silently the five slowly walked back to the lodging house.

---

Nichole groaned and threw her cards down on the wood table. In the last hour she had played five hands of poker and lost them all. Her concentration was not what it could be; her thoughts were too busy mulling over the words said at Tibby's.

"You better watch yourself sweetface. I ain't done with you yet."

The statement wouldn't leave her mind; it was eating her from the inside out. Sure, she was threatened in the past, countless times in fact, but considering the situation her and Mary were in, and the possibilities, those few words terrified her.

Nichole's eyes traveled around the bunkroom, soaking in the cheerful activities of the Newsies. She didn't want to acknowledge it, but she envied them, and their way of life. It may not be the most glamorous, but compared to the life she knew, it was living like a king.

Leaning back in the chair she rested her head in her hand, and blew a stray curl from her face. She changed her position several times, trying to rid herself of the piercing headache that didn't seem to want to go away. She growled under her breath, ignoring the stares of the others around the table. When the pain didn't subside, she stood and went to her room.

She lay on the bed staring into space for a good half-hour before Mary floated into the room and jumped into the bed beside her. She sighed contently.

"Blink…he…he is amazing."

It was difficult to ignore the happiness radiating from her friend. "So, Blink finally asked you to be his girl?" Her longing sigh was all the answer Nichole needed. "mmm I'll have to have alittle talk with him…"

"Nick, don't…"

She shrugged at Mary's whine. "What? Blinkie needs to know that if he hurts you in anyway. Physically or emotionally, he is gonna have to deal with me."

"Blinkie?" Mary's face scrunched in distaste of the name. "Don't call him that!"

"Why not? It ain't hurting nobody."

Mary rolled over on her stomach, and changed the subject. "So….how was your day?"

"How do you think it was?" Nichole replied with a blank expression. "I got dragged out of bed this morning and got punched in the face. I just had a FINE day."

"Race dragged you out of bed, huh?"

"No, actually he got on top of me and threw me out of bed, then he dragged me to the washroom."

Mary's lips curled in an evil smile. "He got on top of you? Damn, I thought Blink and I were moving fast-"

A pillow muffled her words. Nichole chuckled loudly and nudged the stun girl sending her to the floor. Leaning on her elbows, Nichole peaked over the edge of the bed.

"How can you act so innocent yet, have such a dirty mind?"

Mary huffed and sprawled her body over the floor. "Because I'm friends with you,… and all those books I read in the orphanage."

Nichole threw the one shoe she untied, to the floor. "You mean that was you who raided Sister Helen's stash of romance novels?" She doubled over in laughter when Mary nodded. "Oh God, that is priceless!"

Mary ducked dodging Nichole's other shoe. "Yea, well they were good books, and come to think of it you should read one. They give you a good insight of what love should be like."

"That is not what love is like. It ain't all sunshine and roses, it's tears and heartbreak."

"You know, Nick. You should try to look on the positive side of things, you might be happier that way." Mary pulled the cotton button up shirt Nick threw at her, off her head. "What the hell are you doing?"

Nichole laid down, fluffing her pillow. "Going to bed. My head is killing me."

"Half naked?"

She glanced down at the white undershirt and pants she wore. What was the big deal? Sure, a bit of her cleavage was showing, but she was sure the guys had their share of encounters with girls. "I'm not naked, everything's covered…sorta."

Climbing into her bed, Mary untied her shoes and threw them to the floor with Nichole's. "Jeez, Nick. We are newsies now, we sell papers. Not our chests."

"Yea, but I bet that's easier, and it probably pays more."

"Great, my friend the whore…" Mary grinned.

"I'll be a whore, but I'll be a rich whore."

"Shut up and go to sleep, Nick."

---

Nichole cracked an eye and stared into the darkness around her. Rolling to a move comfortable position, she lay still and listened. Nothing yet…It must be early. She eyed the ruffled bed beside her that now stood unoccupied. Mary must be up already.

Throwing the warmth of the covers away from her body, she stood and stretched. Her muscles still ached from the activities of the last few days. Her body would take awhile to adjust to all this rest.

A knock on the door broke the silence of the room. It must not be as early as I thought…

"What?"

The door opened and Race's head appeared. "Oh…good you're up."

Nichole stared at him oddly as he looked her over and turned away, blushing. She looked down at her clothes and back to him. "What?"

"You…you are wearing…your undershirt."

Nichole looked herself over again, and rolled her eyes, now knowing what he was blushing about. "They're only breasts Race. Ain't you ever seen them before?"

If it was possible, his face turned a darker shade of red. "Y-yes, I just didn't expect to walk in here and see yours."

Nichole smirked, rather enjoying watching Race squirm. His hat covered his face, but you could tell by his body language he was uncomfortable. He finally took in a shaky breath and looked at her, his eyes never leaving her face. If they did, he would become very fascinated with his shoes. "I just came in here to tell you that I'm leaving soon, so..get ready."

He turned away again as Nichole bent over to tie her shoe. "I'm selling with you again?"

"Yea, unless you want to sell with Blink and Mary…"

"No!…no."

Her yell startled both of them to silence. Had she just said that? Did she want to sell with Race? She grabbed her button up shirt off the floor suddenly becoming uncomfortable. She closed her eyes and counted to ten to gain her composer

"No, I think I'll just sell with you today. You need to teach me anyway."

Race, his back still towards Nichole, only nodded. With everything said he waved a good-bye to her and left.

Nichole watched the light disappear back into the hallway as the door closed. Her relaxed face turned to one of bewilderment, her mind mulling over her encounter with Race. The hatred and anger she surrounded herself with had been broken, and Race was the warrior who had done so.

---

Chapter 6

(Four months later)

Nichole sighed and rolled over on her stomach. She glanced over at Mary’s silhouette that lay next her. It was too dark to tell if she was sleeping or not; the stars only provided so much light.

For the last hour her and Mary lay on the roof talking, mostly to catch up with their lives, but also to gain a quiet moment to themselves. The roof provided them a silent haven with a view of the entire city, to escape the chaos of forty rambunctious boys. She couldn’t complain though, the closed up walls of the lodging house taught her to trust again.

She fingered the hat on her head and grinned. Race bought it for her after she began to steal his hat to relieve herself of her long brown hair. Of all the newsies she became closest to Race in the last few months. However, Nichole couldn’t help to think of their friendship as something more, eventhough she would never admit it to herself. She ignore the tightening of her insides everytime Race smiled, or brushed against her; those feeling were pushed where she held all her others.

Nichole’s eyes adverted from the floor to the stirring body next to her. Mary sat up, smiled at Nichole, and ran a hand through her hair. Nichole giggled softly, Mary’s attempt to straighten her hair only caused it to become more unruly. A yawn escaped her lips before she could conceal it.

“How long was I asleep?”

Nichole rolled to her back and yawned herself. “I don’t know. The moment we finished talking, you were out like a light. You and Blink must be keeping yourselves busy at night, huh?”

Mary yawned again and shook her head. She was becoming accustomed to Nichole’s wisecracks. “No, we haven't gotten that serious yet.”

“Then what are you doing sleeping in his bed?” For the past few weeks she watched Mary sneak into the boys bunkroom and into bed with Blink.

Mary sat up her head snapping towards Nichole, alarmed by the allegation. “How did you know that? You were usually dead asleep when I snuck out.”

“Yea, well I just happened to be awake one night.” She paused ad smugly smiled at the blushing girl beside her. “So…you still going to tell me nothing happened?”

Mary lay back down and covered her hot face with her hands. She thought for a moment before answering. “Nothing happened. Blink would just hold me and we would talk until we fell asleep. Besides, do you think we would do that sort of thing in a room full of boys?” Nichole smacked her forehead mocking her friend. Mary rolled her eyes and continued. “If we wanted to do that we would have just kicked you out of the room.”

Nichole snorted with laughter. “I don’t think so. You and Blink better work some schedule around my sleep if you want to be alone.”

Their laughter died down and the silence of the night took over. Mary took this time to look her friend over. All signs of her laughter faded from her face as her eyes searched the sky. She changed somehow. Her eyes held a look of trust and compassion; this was something Mary had not witnessed since the two were little girls. She had Race to thank for that. He worked his way into her circle of trust and into her heart. Nichole was head over heelsfor Race, but she was too stubborn to admit it. She needed a push, someone to help her.

“So, Nick, you going to the party the newsies are holding at Irving Hall? I heard newsies from all over are going to be there.”

“What? Oh, yea I guess so. I ain’t got anything better to do.”

Mary’s lips curled, and she could almost feel the horns growing from her head. A plan was already forming in her head. She shrugged nonchalantly not to give herself away. “Good, wouldn’t be a party without you.”

She stood and brushed the debree from her pants. Nichole finally ripped her eyes from the stars to stare at her friend curiously. “Where are you going?”

Mary’s button down shirt had become damp from the warm July air. She removed it, revealing a white undershirt before she pointed to the fire escape latter. “Going back inside, I need to talk with Blink about something.”

Nichole only nodded her attention back towards the sky. Mary hated to leave the open space of the roof; she was positive it was hotter inside then out here. She guessed right, she could feel the heat sting her face as she stood outside the open window. God she hated summer…

The bunkroom seemed to be in the same condition it was in when she and Nichole left an hour ago. The newsies didn’t seem to notice the heat, they still produced the same amount of noise and energy. She walked forward spotting Blink across the room, but her feet became tangled in a shirt discarded on the floor. Most of the boys walked around shirtless due to the heat, so it wasn’t unusual to see shirts thrown all around the room.

She kicked the shirt out of her path and continued her way over to the poker game. She slide into Blink’s lap and was welcomed with a kiss. “Heya, Mar, where have you been?”

She returned the kiss and glanced at his cards. “Nowhere, just on the roof talking with Nick.”

“About what? You aren’t talking about us are ya?” Blink asked in mock horror, pulling his cards from her wondering eyes. She shook her head and pouted when he folded his cards.

“Maybe. If we were it was nothing bad.”

“Oh, really?”

He covered her lips with his in a simple kiss. An echo of groans filled the room. “Would you guys stop the kissing, we are trying to play!”

Mary licked her lips and grinned at the grumbling Italian boy, with his less then believable poker face. “Race, don’t be mad because you ain’t getting no loving.”

“Where is Nick anyway?” Spot slyly asked throwing another coin into the growing pile. His crystal blue eyes silently laughing with Mary’s, both sharing the same thought. She broke the gaze and laid her head on Blink’s bare chest. “She’s still up on the roof, looking at the stars.”

Race threw his cards down in defeat. He removed the half-smoked cigar from his mouth and joined in the conversation. “Does she have a thing for the stars or something? She is up there an awful lot.” Mary nodded against Blink’s chest dazily.

The air in the room was unbearable. A girl roll side to side trying to rest her petite body in a comfortable position. She sighed and pushed a stray foot off her stomach; she had another sleepless night ahead of her.

“Mary…Mary!”

The desperate whisper penetrated the silent room, and Mary almost jumped out of her skin. She rolled to her side, her lengthy blonde hair blocking her view. Growling quietly, she brushed a hand over her hair. The anger in her eyes faded seeing her friend kneeling beside her cot.

“Nick, what’s the matter?” Her eyes searched Nichole’s frightened ones. “Did something happen?”

Nichole glanced over her shoulder as if someone was following her then crawled closer to the bed. “I need to talk to you.” She pushed Mary back on the bed. “NOT HERE! Meet me on the roof.”

Mary hesitated a moment. Throwing off her tattered covers, she reached under the cot for her shoes. Nichole was already gone, up on the roof waiting. Something was definitely wrong.

Mary exhaled the breath she held and stared down the fire escape she just climbed. The moon was dim and didn’t produce much light so she climbed the medal steps blindly, praying she wouldn’t fall. Her eyes found a small space lit by a candle, where Nichole sat. The room was too dark to see any features except her face, but now in the light Mary was appalled by Nichole’s appearance.

Her throat tightened as she fingered her friends ripped shirt. A few moments passed before Mary could find her voice again. “What happened to you?”

Nichole tucked her legs closer to her body and laughed bitterly. “Remember today when Mr. Daniels asked to see me in his office?” Mary nodded and Nichole continued with a shaky breath. “Well let’s just say he didn’t want to talk to me…he wanted to rape me.” She allowed her body to be pulled in a hug, her emotionless eyes towards the sky.

“Did he…rape you?”

She shook her head. “I got out of there before he could.” Nichole grasped the ring around her neck for strength. “I can’t stay here anymore, Mary. I’m afraid to close my eyes, I need to get out.”

Mary released Nichole and leaned back to study her discouraged face, the words still not fully absorbed in her mind. “Are you saying you want to run, runaway and live on the streets?”

The disbelieve in her voice almost caused the tears brimming Nichole’s eyes to fall. “Yes, I can’t take this anymore. The bad conditions, the food, the beatings; Mary we have to get out while we can, grab the opportunity while it’s there.”

Mary turned away from Nichole’s pleading eyes. They ran before, a year ago when they were twelve, but they quickly succumbed to the cruelty of street living. Atleast she had. “What makes this different from last time? And remember the little problem we have? What if Mario comes after us looking for the money we cheated out of him. WAKE UP NICK! WE ARE POOR ORPHANS!” Mary stood, and paced to release her aggravation. “He probably won’t even ask for the money, he’ll just kill us right there.”

“Its been a year, Mar.”

The calmness in her voice made Mary pace faster. “It doesn’t matter! They are out there and if they find us they’ll kill us.”

Nichole stood and grabbed Mary by the shoulders. “Don’t you think I know that? Besides, they aren’t after you they are after me.” She inhaled sharply and closed her eyes. “I cannot stay here anymore.” Anger flared in her eyes as Mary began to protest. She turned her back to Mary and lifted her shirt, revealing years of scars. “Look…LOOK! This is what thirteen years of staying here has given me. These scars are never going to go away, I am always going to be reminded of my past.” Nichole stared into Mary’s tear filled eyes. “I need to get out of here while I can, leave everything behind. I don’t care if you come with me or not, but I’m not leaving knowing you are going to worry about me.”

She wiped the tears that now flowed freely along Mary’s face, and pulled her into an embrace, shedding tears of her own.

“So, where are we going?” Mary’s words were only a horse whisper. A few minutes passed before Nichole pulled back and smiled through her tears. “I don’t know, I guess wherever we end up, we end up.”

Her fingers once again wrapped around the ring hanging from her neck. She wasn’t completely sure where or who gave it too her. The only information she knew was what the nuns told her. They didn’t tell her much, only it was found around her neck when she was found. Maybe there was still hope her parents cared for her. Her fingers brushed over the inscription inside the ring.

The stars will guide you…

“Come on, Mary. Let’s get our things, If we leave now we’ll get a good head start before the sun rises.”

Mary climbed back to the bunkroom, leaving Nichole to have a moment to herself. The youthful sparkle of a thirteen-year-old girl that was once there was gone.

“Hey, Mary, you okay?” Blink turned his head to be eyelevel with her. Mary nodded quickly wiping the tears that slide down her cheeks. Standing she grabbed his hand.

“Uhh…Blink, can I talk to you for a moment alone?”

Blink followed behind her immediately, catching the look of urgency in her eyes. Sitting next to her on the bed, he grabbed her hand. “What’s the matter?” When she didn’t answer, he knelt beside her. “You know you can tell me anything.”

Mary closed her eyes and cleared her throat. “It’s nothing, really. Just some stupid memories.”

“About?” He didn’t want to push her, but he yearned to learn about her past. For four months she avoided the subject.

“It’s something I don’t want to talk about.” Blink dropped her hand and Mary sighed exasperated; sitting next him on the floor. “I know it’s been a few months, but it still hurts. It’s not ever going to stop hurting, it’s always going to be a part of me.”

Blink enveloped her shaking body in his arms and stroked her hair tenderly. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” He whispered in her ear.

She sat up straight and fixed her clothes. “I came in here to ask you to help me with something and I’m sitting here crying.” She laughed silently to herself.

“We came in here so you could ask me something? I thought you just wanted to get me alone.” Blink joked winking suggestively. His smile widened as she released a small giggle.

“No, actually I wanted you to help me with a little project that I’ve been thinking about .”

He hesitated for a moment almost afraid to ask what she was planning. “What kind of project?”

Mary stood and smiled down at him innocently. “Well, while I was up on the roof I had a lot of time to think, and I thought we could play matchmaker with two of are friends.”

Standing Blink shook his head confused. “Whoa, what two friends are we talking about here?” He paused catching the growing smile on her face. “Race and Nick! No, there is no way that is going to work. I couldn’t even imagine Nick going out with somebody…”

“Why not! The two are crazy about each other. Am I and Spot the only two who see that?” Mary replied cutting him off.

He sat down on the bed and Mary followed. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help Mary, he would do anything for her. It was just the fact that Race and Nick were already friends, like brother and sister in fact. He didn’t want to ruin that. He removed his hat and shoved it in his pocket. “What were you planning on doing?”

Mary squealed happily and hugged him. “I really don’t know, but I was thinking about doing something at the party.”

“The one at Irving Hall?” Blink hesitated when she nodded. Mary almost thought he wasn’t going to answer. “So, we have two days to think of a way to get the two together. If the two are crazy about each other then this should be pretty easy.”

Mary quickly shook her head from side to side. “Nick is to damn stubborn to admit anything. I will have to drag it out of her it I have too. ”

Blink sighed. There was no backing out now, he just had to go with the flow, and hope nothing back fired. This was going to be on hell of a party. Rubbing his hands together, he stood.

“Well, let the games begin.”

---

Chapter 7

"Are you going to just sit there or are you going to sell?"

Mary glanced up at Blink as he sold his last paper then back to the stack of papers that sit next to her, untouched. She shrugged. "I'll sell them, eventually."

Blink pocketed the money he just received, and sat down on the curb next to her. He watched her thoughtful stare a few moments before speaking. "You need to stop thinking about this Race and Nichole thing so much. If they are so crazy about each other then they will get together themselves."

Mary broke out of her thoughts and focused it on Blink. "You really don't know anything about Nick. She rather throw herself off the Brooklyn bridge then admit she was in love with Race."

He paused and thought for a minute realizing she was right. He only knew Nichole for a few months and knew little about her, but if there was one person he did know it was Race, and when he cared for someone he told then straight out. Why would Nichole be any different.

"You think she's in love with him?"

Mary's eyes lit up as she watched a couple walk past her hand in hand. "If you just watch the two of them together, you'll see. I have never seen her more happy then when she is with Race."

The determine look that spread across Mary's face caused Blink to fidget where he sat. She was not someone to give up on something she set her mind on. He shook his head slowly side to side and grasped her small hand with his much larger one.

"Maybe you should let nature take its course, let them get together on their own. Their relationship will be better that way."

"No, Blink. You lived with her the last few months you see how she is. She is too stubborn to admit anything to herself or anybody else. I'm not going let her pass up a good thing. She needs someone there to care for her and tell her they love her…"

Blink slide closer to her and placed his free hand around her shoulder. "That's where you come in. Even if she and Race don't get together Nick will always have you to there for her."

"It's not the same thing, she needs a guy to tell her those things, she needs to learn to trust again…"

Blink sat confused for a second. She seemed to trust Race fairly well… " What do you mean "trust again"? She seems to trust us all to an extent."

"Yea, to an extent. Before she was…before the accident she was so free and carefree. She talk with anyone in the orphanage." Mary paused to gather her thoughts while Blink pulled her closer. "After she became distant, she wouldn't trust anyone except me, especially guys. In fact, you could say she hated guys. She just turned…cold towards everything and everyone."

Blink nodded listening intently. "If you don't mind me asking, what kind of "accident" happened?" The question was somewhat a stupid one. The way Nichole acted around men was an answer in its own, but he wanted to be positive before inquiring anything.

Mary laughed bitterly, in the exact same way Nichole had the night she told her. "The one thing no girl should have to go through at any age. Especially at thirteen."

It wasn't an exact answer, but it was good enough. "She was only thirteen when it happened?" When she simply nodded he gathered her in a hug. "Was it someone from the orphanage?"

She nodded snuggling closer to his chest, suppressing the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. Blink pulled back to look at her strangely as she laughed lightly into her chest. Tilting her head up she shook it back and forth.

"Nothing…nothing, I just realized that everytime we are together alone I always end up crying and you always end up comforting me. I need to stop being so damn dramatic…"

Chuckling, Blink released her from his grasp. "I like you dramaticness. It makes you, you."

"Yes, but we never get to spend anytime together without bring up Nick and Race, or my past…" Her voice was silenced by a hand being placed over her hand. She raised her eyebrows at Blink questionably.

"I was thinking, maybe we could leave the party at Irving hall tomorrow early and come back to the lodging house to spend alittle alone time together." Blink asked leisurely, removing his hand. "What do you think about that?"

Mary blushed brightly and turned her head to hide the wide grin that was spreading across her face. Was he inquiring what she thought he was? She turned to look at his hopeful face, and nodded without hesitation. Blink released a shaky breath and returned the smile.

"We are going to hang out at the party for a little while right? I still see what I can do with Race and Nick in the time I have." Blink groaned, but continued to grin. "You never give up do you?"

Mary punched him in the arm lightly, stood and stretched. "Nope, I ain't giving in until Nick and Race are a couple."

"Well, I don't know how you plan on doing that, but it's your life you can spend it on an endless cause if you want…Oww!" Blink stood towering over Mary rubbing his arm where she hit him. He backed away as she advanced towards him, hitting him repeatedly in the chest.

"It…is…not…a…endless…cause. I'm going to get those two together if it's the last thing I do…wait! Is Medda at Irving Hall today?"

Blink stumbled back, surprised by her mood change. It must be a girl thing. "Uhhh, yea I think." He replied scratching the back of his neck unsure of his own answer. He began to ask why, but stopped seeing she was now just a speck in the throng of people. Sighing, he turned his head to look between the fifty or so papes that lay on the ground and the spot Mary stood just moments ago. Hoisting the stack on his shoulder he headed to Central Park, the quickest place to sell, while racking his brain for somekind of explanation to Mary's sudden urge to see Medda. He couldn't come up with anything, but the thought became more intriguing the more he thought of it.

---

Mary eyes wandered around the elegant backstage area of Irving Hall before quickly knocking on a faded wooden door marked "Medda". She only met Medda once before, when Blink and the others needed a night out of the lodging house, but they immediately hit it off. Mary looked at her like a mother, and was positive she would help her in anyway she could.

Mary smiled as the door swung open and Medda, in one of her many fancy dresses, appeared. "Mary, it's nice to see you again! Everything fine with you and Kid Blink?"

Mary's smile grew to a grin. Medda was one of the first people, other then Nichole to predict her and Blink getting together. "Me and Blink are fine, I actually wanted to ask a favor of you."

"Of course, of course! You know I do anything for a friend of a newsie." Medda exclaimed ushering the younger girl into the dressing room. Pushing her down in a chair she nodded for her to continue. Mary inhaled deeply, excited to tell someone her idea.

"I just wanted to ask if me and Nick could borrow dresses for the party tomorrow. You know in some hope the change would get Race to notice Nick in a different light."

"Of course you can, but are we talking about the same Nichole I met the last time the newsies were here. Not that I'm saying she wasn't a sweet girl, but she just doesn't seem like the type to want to wear something like this." Medda said fingering a dress on one of the many racks strewed around the small room.

Mary nodded, agreeing with her. "I know, but I thought I could somehow talk her into wearing it, or… maybe you could." She glanced up at Medda with hope in her eyes.

"You know I do anything for you, but I don't see how me asking is going to make a difference in her answer."

Standing, she began to pace the small area. "It probably won't, but I feel like I need to do something. If she passes up her chance with Race I would never forgive myself."

Medda placed a comforting hand on the rambling girl's shoulder. "You don't have to do anything, if they are meant to be together then they will get together, it's as simple as that. "

Mary laughed and shook her head at the familiar advice. "You sound exactly like Blink."

"Yes, well I suggest you listen to that boyfriend of yours, cause he is right."

"Yea, yea." Mary mumbled upset nobody saw her side of things. "I just feel like if I don't do something the whole thing is going to drive me insane." She stopped pacing, Medda's hands holding her shoulders.

"Mary, calm down! Everything will turn out fine. You just pick out a dress and take it home with you; show it to Nichole. If she still disagrees then bring her backstage before my show tomorrow and I will talk to her."

Mary smiled gratefully and pulled her into a hug. "Thanks, Medda."

Returning the hug, she patted her back. "No problem, kid." Pulling back Medda pushed her gently towards the racks of dresses. "Mary, could you do me a favor?"

"Yea, sure." Mary looked up from the dress she held against her body.

"If she does agree to wear a dress get someone to take a picture, because that is one thing you are going to want to remember. It's not everyday you'll see her in a frilly dress."

Mary laughed openly at the truth of Medda's words. "Ohh trust me I will…I will."

---

With one of Medda's dresses stored safely in a bag in her hand, Mary headed down the darkening streets of Manhattan. Making a short stop at Tibby's to check if Blink was there (he wasn't) she headed back to the lodging house.

Giving a short hello to Kloppman she jumped up the stairs two by two, and placed the bag safely in her room. Retracing her steps down the hallway she joined the others in the boy's bunkroom, who were engaged in a game of poker. Noticing Blink on the other side of the table, she walked around the boys and pulled up a stray chair beside him. Resting her head on his shoulder, she glanced at his cards before tilting her mouth close to his ear.

"You didn't have to sell my papers, you know."

Blink jumped at the soft breath on his ear, and turned to acknowledge her presence. "Yes, I did. Besides what was I supposed to do with fifty extra papes? Eat them?" Kissing her quickly he turned back to her cards and threw a coin into the pile. "I have your money in my vest, I'll give it to you later."

Mary reached around him and threw another coin in the pile. "Naw, you keep it. You sold them not me."

"And just how are you going to feed yourself without any money?"

"I'll just let you buy for me." Mary suggested poking him playfully in the stomach.

Folding his cards and placing them on the table he turned and began to tickle her stomach, catching the attention of the others in the room. The laughter that burst out of the two knocked them both to the floor, gasping for breath.

"You two need to get a room."

Untangling herself from Blink, Mary sat up and regarded Nichole's comment with raised eyebrows. "Fine, we will." Grabbing Blink's hand she dragged him to the unoccupied room, leaving a room full of shocked faces.

"If you guys plan on doing anything don't use my bed!" Nichole yelled watching the happy couple leave the room.

Closing the door softly, Blink turned and jumped on the bed beside Mary. Wrapping his arms around her, he fell back on the bed pulling her with him. The soft kisses that he placed on her neck sent shivers over her body. Turning she wrapped her arms fully around his body, feeling comfort from the warmth. Both lay there in the silence of the room, listening to the sounds of the poker game continuing on the other side of the door.

Nichole could be clearly heard over the rest of the male voices, arguing with Racetrack over a hand he just won. Mary's lips tugged into a smile as she listened to her friend playfully argue with Racetrack. They were meant to be together and didn't even know it.

"So, we still on for tomorrow night?"

Blink's meek voice caused Mary to jolt out of her thoughts. She looked up at him confused. "Huh? Did you say something?"

"I asked you if you were still on for tomorrow night."

Mary buried her red face into his chest and nodded, smiling. Blink laughed at the shy act and lifted her chin, his gaze meeting hers. "There is nothing to blush about, we love each other." This comment only caused Mary to blush again, and attempt to bury her face deeper in his chest.

"You are going to suffocate if you stay like that." Blink commented trying to lighten the mood. He smiled when he felt a muffled laugh against his chest, and then met her eyes. He laughed and stretched his long body out when she smacked his chest lightly. Lifting his body up and resting on his elbows, he glanced at the end of the bed at the bag that his foot hit.

"What's that?" Blink asked curiously sitting up the rest of the way. Glancing at the bag Mary shrugged nonchalantly. "Just a dress I picked up for the party from Medda."

"Is that why you were in such a hurry to see her earlier?"

Mary nodded and welcomed his arms as they embraced her in a hug. Yawning loudly she gave Blink on last squeeze and jumped off the bed. "I need to go talk to Nick before I fall dead asleep."

Blink pulled her back to his body and nuzzled her neck. "I don't think sleep would be such a bad thing if we do it together." He pouted; Mary patting his cheek and standing again.

"Mmm the offer sounds tempting but I really need to talk with Nick." She turned avoiding his puppy dog eyes.

"Can't you talk to her tomorrow?"

Mary's mouth tugged into a smile at his childlike whine. "No, I have tonight and tomorrow to persuade Nick to wear a dress to the party, and that is not as simple as it sounds."

Blink sat up, intrigued. "Wait, is this part of your plan?" She nodded and he continued. "How is getting Nick all dolled going to get her and Race together?"

Mary paused her movement towards the door, and thought for a moment. Come to think of it, she hadn't thought of any reason or explanation of how her plan would help her two friends. The idea just popped into her head and she went with it. Shrugging she turned back towards Blink.

"I don't know, but it's something, and I can't think of anything else. It's not like anything I think of in the next twenty-four hours is going to be useful anyway." With her hand on the doorknob she gave Blink a smirk. "See ya tomorrow night…"

"Damit, Race, would you stop cheating. You are starting to piss me off!" Mary walked into the bunkroom and had to laugh at the two who sat at the table playfully arguing. She stood back a few more moments, before plopping herself down in the chair Blink once occupied.

Nichole glanced away from her shoving match with Race to smile quickly at her friend. "Hey Mar, where have you been? I haven't seen you all day."

Mary chuckled as Nichole placed Race in a headlock. "I was over at Medda's picking up a dress for the party." Mary paused a moment before continuing. "And I thought that maybe you might want to pick one out too."

Nick halted her actions with Race and stared at Mary perplexed. "Me? In a dress?!" She smacked a laughing Race. "I don't think so, Mar. I haven't worn a dress since I was like six!"

"Nick! In a dress! Oh God, that is the funniest thing I heard in a long time!" Nichole rolled her eyes and released Race letting him fall to the floor in a fit of laughter.

Mary briskly walked around the table, jumped over Race who lay crumpled on the floor, and sat in the chair he sat in moments ago. "Would you just think it over before you give me an answer?"

She sighed in aggravation. Leaning forward she eyed Race and whispered. "You know exactly what my answer is, and I'm not going to change it, and you know why." Nichole replied harshly slamming her cards down and leaving the room.

Race, who stopped laughing at the sound of Nichole's raised voice, stared up at Mary concerned. Sighing, she gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder and left to return to her room and lay in Blink's comforting arms.

---

(The Next afternoon)

Mary flinched as the laces of her corsage tightened and the fabric attached itself to her skin. Lifting her eyes she stared at Nichole's reflection in the mirror. She could almost feel the anger Nichole felt as she pulled and tugged the laces, restricting Mary's breathing room. Grunting as the fabric, once again bit into her skin, she turned ripping Nichole's hands from the laces.

"Are you angry with me or something?"

Nichole didn't reply, she grabbed Mary's slimed-down waist and turned her around. "I'm not angry with anyone." She replied dryly, tying the laces in a bow. "There you're done go put your dress on over it, and do your hair or whatever you plan on doing."

Nichole turned and hurried to leave the room, something she wanted to do the moment she entered about an hour ago. The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife, and it was driving Nichole up the wall. With her hand on the door, she turned feeling a hand grab her wrist.

"What?!"

The edge in her voice caused Mary to flinch back. "If you are upset at me for something I did I suggest you tell me now and we apologize to each other, because we are going to be seeing each other all night." She stated wisely.

Nichole rolled her eyes and leaned against the door waiting for a lecture. When Mary's eyes just stared through her, she banged her fist against the wood behind her. "I just told you I wasn't mad with you. You…I'm just frustrated."

Turning to avoid Mary's prying eyes, she opened the door to the chaos of forty different boys running around getting themselves ready. "Just go get yourself ready, I'll see you there."

"You're still going?" Mary was surprised, she thought that maybe Nichole might want to be alone. Nichole only nodded. "Of course I'm going, I need alittle excitement in my life."

Leaning out the door Nichole raised her eyebrows in amusement as Bumlets ran down the hallway, with Skittery close behind him in only his long underwear and no shirt. Shaking her head, she glanced at Mary.

"Anyway, I'll see you there. Ohh and I want all the details on how shocked Blink looks when he sees you. Some things are always amusing no matter what kind of mood you are in."

Mary bit back a giggle and shut the door behind her grumbling friend. She may not be absolutely miserable, but she knew that there was something bothering Nick. She just prayed it didn't interfere with her plan.

---

Part 2 of Bond Worth Breaking