Note from author: Okay, I'm typing in the usual disclaimers and everything, the newsies belong to Disney... Echo, Brooklyn, Sketch, Aaron, Ben... well, anyone not in Newsies belongs to me.. except Brooklyn, she belongs to Brooklyn. And most likely, they will be under Character Profiles.

An Echo from the Past: Part 1
By: Echo

August 1900

I slowed down to catch my breath and looked behind me. When I saw that I had lost the cop that had been chasing me, I sat down and leaned up against the wall. Luckily, there weren't any newsies selling nearby. If anyone had seen me, Echo, getting chased by the bulls, they would ask a lot of questions. Mainly because I'm not the kind of person that gets chased by the cops. Not that it hasn't happened before, just that it hasn't happened very often.

You're probably wondering why I'm so relieved there aren't any newsies around. Before I tell you why, I should tell you a little about myself. My name is Echo, as you already know. I have long, very straight, brown hair and green eyes. I guess you could say I'm tall, taller than the other girls at least, about 5'9". I was born in Colorado and lived there most of my life. A few years ago I met my best friend, Brooklyn. She was trying to rob our house and got caught. My parents aren't the kind to get mad easily, so instead of getting the cops, they offered her a place to stay. She did stay, but my mother died and Brooklyn couldn't take it, so she left for New York. We kept in touch and wrote letters, but when my father died, I came to New York.

Most of the newsies think I came here because I had no other place to go, and no other family. That's only part of the truth though. I did have somewhere else to go, and other family. My mother, Elizabeth Starling, came from a rich family. So when she married my father, Michael Collin, a poor Irish boy, my grandmother disowned her. My mother wrote her letters about the wedding and my birth, but she never got a reply... until I was seven. That's when my grandmother decided to pay a visit, and that night while my parents were having dinner with her, she told them she wanted to take me back with her to Boston. Of course, they refused, but when she went back, she hired expensive lawyers to try and take me away. She said it was because they couldn't raise me properly, but she only did it to get revenge on my mother for marrying my father.

Things only got worse when my mother died. My father took her death hard, but instead of turning to drinking or abuse, he started spending more time with me. The letters kept coming, and there were even more of them now, but he never gave in. When he died, I knew that if I stayed there, they would come and take me to Boston. I decided that instead of being dragged to a town full of strangers that never really cared for me, I would go to New York, where I had at least one true friend. That is the truth about my past. None of the other newsies know, not even Brooklyn... well, no one but Sketch. He was my childhood friend and was around when it all started. But not even he knows that my grandmother knows I'm in New York and has the cops chasing me. I don't intend to tell him either. It's not that big of deal, not as painful as most of the newsies' pasts... but I still don't like to talk about it. If they asked, I wouldn't even claim my family in Boston. After all, they don't care about me and for so long they pretended I didn't exsist, why shouldn't I do the same?

I sighed as I stood up and started walking to Tibby's. About half way there, someone ripped my hat off my head and started running. I rolled my eyes and started chasing after him. "Jack! Give that back!" He laughed and ran a little further, and then turned a corner. I slowed down and looked through the crowd for him as I rounded the corner but didn't see him. While I was looking he walked up behind me and put him arms around my waist. I spun around and reached for the hat but he jerked it away. I sighed. "Jack, give me my hat!"

He laughed. "Say please."

I rolled my eyes. "Please give me my hat."

He handed it to me. "On yer way ta Tibby's?"

I hit him playfully. "Where else would I be going?"

"I don't know... maybe we could go ta da Lodgin' House?" He said and kissed me.

I laughed and pushed him away. "I don't think so Jack."

He grabbed my hat again and I chased him the rest of the way to Tibby's. We ran in the door out of breath, and I sat at the table beside Jack, took my hat, and stuck my tongue out at him. He laughed and kissed me, ignoring most of the guys. Most anyway. I don't know about him, but I couldn't ignore Sketch yelling, "Race! Watch!" (Sketch and Race bet on how long Jack and I can keep it up.)

"Alright, break it up. If ya wanna do dat, go back to da Lodgin' House." Spot commented from behind us.

Jack laughed. "What'd ya have ta go an' say somethin' like dat for?! Sides, she wouldn't go back ta da Lodgin' House."

Sketch walked up and glared at Spot. "I agree... if you hadn't said anything, I could have won that bet!"

Spot smiled. "Now dat is da funniest thing I've hoid all day... ya'll neva' win a bet if it has anythin' ta do wit dese two an' dere air supply."

I laughed at the insulted look on Sketch's face. "He's right you know. In fact, if it weren't for you, Race would probably never win a bet."

Sketch glared at me. "I'm going to win that bet someday."

Jack smiled. "Sure ya will... when I'm president."

Spot sobered up all of a sudden and looked over at me. "Hey Echo, some a me boys said dat da bulls was chasin' ya. You in some kinda trouble?"

I smiled. "Not that I know of... I don't think they really had a reason to chase me."

He stared at me suspiciously, like he knew I was lying, and he probably did. "Well, don't get caught."

I laughed. "I'm not stupid."

"Just givin' ya some advice." He said, before walking off.

*****************************************************************

Two days later I was being chased by the bulls again. I was really getting sick of this and was about ready to turn around, throw the officer against the wall, and tell him I wasn't going to Boston, he couldn't make me, and he'd be waisting his time to try. But I wasn't stupid and I figured they'd give up eventually, can't chase after me forever. I ran past Blink and Dutchy, who were selling together, and started to run across the street. I heard someone call my name, but didn't turn around in time to see the carriage coming.

*****************************************************************

I was walking down the street talking to Sketch. We had both decided we needed to talk to Echo. According to Spot she was in some kind of trouble because every cop in New York was looking for her. We were passing by Blink's selling spot when I noticed a crowd that had formed and Blink and Dutchy arguing with the bulls. When they saw us, they forgot all about the cops and walked over to me and Sketch. "Jack, we gots a problem."

I frowned. "What's goin' on ova' dere?"

Dutchy brushed his hair back nervously. "Echo was gettin' chased by da bulls, an' she ran out inta da street, an' dere was a carriage comin'."

I grabbed Blink by the shoulders. "Whera' is she? Is she alright?"

Dutchy shifted around nervously. "Dey wouldn't tell us whera' dey took 'er... an' dey don't know how bad she's hoit."

I sighed and looked over at Sketch, who at this point, looked a lot like a sad puppy. "Keep tryin' ta find out whera' she is... I's gonna go talk ta Spot an' see if he knows whera' she is."

It didn't take long before everyone knew what happened, and eventually we found out what hospital she was in. Spot, Blink, Dutchy, Sketch, Race, and Brooklyn were waiting in a little room while I argued with the nurse. "Whatta ya mean we can't see 'er?!"

"I have orders not to let anyone in to see her unless they are authorized." She said coldly.

I glared at her. "We's 'er friends! We just wanna see if she's okay!"

She stared at me for a while and then scowled. "You're a newsie."

I threw my hands up in the air. "So what?! I wanna see my goil! Who cares if I's a newsie!"

"You can't see her. I have specific orders not to let anyone in there... especially no newsies." She said as she tried to push me back into the little room where the others were.

I grabbed her arm. "At least tell me if she's gonna be okay!"

She glared at me. "If you don't leave now I'm going to have to call the police!"

I pushed past the nurse and started walking down the hall. I had no idea where Echo was, but I was determined to find her. "You can't go in there!" She yelled angrily. I ignored her and kept looking, but an officer stopped me and made me go back. "What's goin' on?" Brooklyn asked as I walked into the room.

I kicked a trashcan. "Dey ain't tellin' me nothin'! I ask da lady if we's can see 'er, but she told me no one was supposed to be in dere. Den I asked 'er if Echo's gonna be okay an' she told me ta leave for she called da cops. Den I pushed 'er outta da way an' started walkin' back dere, but dis cop stopped me."

Sketch looked up slowly. "We can't see her?"

"That's what I said!" I snapped.

Blink shook his head. "I dont' get it... why can't we sees 'er? We's 'er friends."

Brooklyn smiled hopefully. "She'll make 'em let us in."

I started to argue with her but Sketch cut me off. "She's right Jack. Dere ain't nothin' we can do an' we might as well get some sleep. She ain't just gonna disappear."

********************************************************

I woke up and looked around. I was lying in a big bed in a blue room. It took me a while to remember what had happened, and even longer to notice the tall but slim, blond haired blue eyes boy sitting in a chair a few feet away. He was too interested in the book he was reading to notice me. I cleared my throat. "Where am I?"

He jumped and threw the book down, and then laughed nervously. "It's just you."

I stared at him. "Um... who are you?"

He smiled nervously. "I'm uh... Aaron."

"Chris." I said as I spit in my hand and held it out. Aaron stared at it for a few seconds but before I realized what I had done he was shaking with me. "Sorry, it's a habit. Can you tell me where I am?" I asked again.

He looked away. "Boston."

I rolled my eyes. "Great, Boston... shoulda known."

"You didn't want to come here... did you?" He asked timidly.

I stared at him for a few seconds. Strange boy. "No I didn't... in fact, I've been trying my hardest not to come here."

He seemed to sink down in the chair a little. "Sorry."

I stared at him skeptically. "What are you sorry about? You weren't the one that brought me here."

He blushed. "Christina?"

"Call me Chris." I said a little more harshly than I intended.

He blushed again. "Sorry, Chris... Where were you?"

I stared at him in complete shock. "New York... don't tell me you didn't know."

He shook his head. "No, they didn't tell me a thing. What did you do there?"

"I was-" I hesitated before going on, "I am a newsie."

He smiled. "Really? What was it like?"

I shrugged. "Not the best job in the world, but it was better than nothing. You earn hardly any money, but the other newsies are like family."

"Where did you live?"

"The Newsboys Lodging House... on Duane Street."

His eyes widened in surprise. "Newsboy?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes newsboy... geez, how old are you?"

He frowned. "Sixteen, same as you... why?"

"No reason."

He seemed a little uncomfortable for a while. "Who are 'the guys'?"

I sighed and started naming of the newsies, when I got to Sketch I stopped. "You know Sketch."

He looked up. "I do?"

I nodded. "Yeah, aren't you that kid that came down to Colorado with that old hag-"

"You mean grandmother?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, like I said, that old hag. Aren't you the kid that came down to Colorado and chased your sister with the snake?"

He blushed. "That was me... but she's my cousin. My parents died when I was little so I live with her."

I shrugged. "Okay, your cousin, it's practically the same thing. Anyway, Sketch is the kid that caught the snake."

He smiled. "I remember you now... you're that girl. You and snake boy were always getting me into trouble. His name is Sketch?"

I smiled and shook my head. "No, his name is Matt. He's called Sketch because he likes to draw. It's his nickname. All the newsie have them... mine's Echo."

He glanced at the door nervously. "I overheard our cousin, Hope, talking about something. She said you and... Sketch chased a skunk in on a dinner grandmother was having with his parents. Is that true?"

I smiled fondly. "I almost forgot about that. His aunt invited the old hag to dinner. Sketch and I were eavesdroppin on them, and we were so mad because they were talking about moving to Boston. So we got the brilliant idea of chasing a skunk into the dining room."

He started laughing so hard he fell off of the chair when I finished the story. Then unexpectadly the door flew open and my grandmother walked in. "Aaron Alexander Starling! What are you doing?"

I rolled my eyes and he jumped to his feet and looked at the floor, I had just stopped him from apologizing. "I'm sorry grandmother."

"Go to your room." She said coldly and then stared at me as he shut the door. "Christina."

"Yes?" I said through clenched teeth.

She lifted her chin. "I am taking you into my home out of charity. I wish for you to respect that. I will be very displeased with any negative influence you have on Aaron. While living in this house you are to obey my rules and act like a lady, not the street trash you have been living with for the past year, or that you grew up with. I hope I have made myself perfectly clear."

Before I could tell her where to shove her so called charity, she walked out the door. I wanted to scream. That old witch had the nerve to tell me she was being charitable, and then insult my family. The only way she couldn't be charitable would be to take me back to New York. I had no friends here... only Aaron even had potential as a friend, and she was being charitable by dragging me here. "If she really believes that, I've got a nice big statue on Ellis Island I'd like to sell her." I thought bittery.

*********************************************************

I glared at Sketch. "She's not gonna disappear, huh?"

He groaned. "Come on Jack! We all miss her, but she's been missing for a month. She's gone! You aren't the only one that cared about her you know! She was like a sister to me! I feel bad enough without you yelling at me."

I shook my head. "She couldn't just disappear, she's gotta be somewhera'!"

Bumlets sighed. "Jack, ya had every newsie in New Yawk lookin' for 'er. We've done everythin' we can."

I sat down on my bunk. "I gotta find 'er... she wouldn't just leave."

"She's not in New York or we would have found her by now. You don't have to chase after her, she'll come back on her own."

*********************************************************

Aaron walked into the library and smiled. "Guess what."

I put down the book I was reading and sighed. "What?"

He sat down in a chair a few feet away and propped his feet on the table. "You have to guess."

I rolled my eyes. "You're going to Europe for the summer."

He laughed. "No, not even close. Keep guessing."

I groaned. "Give me a clue."

He smiled. "Central Park."

I ran over to him, grabbed his shirt collar and forced him to stand up. "Spill! What does New York have to do with anything?!"

He laughed. "We are going to New York for the summer... Hope's parents live there and we're staying with them. She's not going to be there either, she's in Europe for the summer!"

I squealed and hugged him. "I'm going to New York! You are the best cousin ever!"

He pushed me away. "Hey, you'll wrinkle my shirt."

All the sanity I never had left me at that moment and I started skipping around the room chanting. "I'm goin' to New York! I'm goin' to New York!"

He laughed and shook his head. "You sound happy."

I dropped to the level of giggling. "Ecstatic is more like it! When are we leaving?!"

He smiled. "Three days from now at noon. A little anxious?"

I hugged him. "A little? I've never been so anxious in my life! I can't wait to see Jack and the others!" I frown as a thought occured to me. "How am I going to get to the Logding House? I'm surprised they're even letting set foot in New York."

He shrugged. "They'll probably send me with you, and you know I won't tell a soul where you go."

I smiled gratefully. "Really?"

He nodded. "What are friends for?"

I hugged him for the third time and spent the next two days trying to contain my excitement.

*********************************************************

I jumped onto the train and raced Aaron to our seats. I laughed as it jerked forward. "Wow... I'm going to New York. I love New York!!!"

He sighed. "Ever think there is such a thing as being too excited? It gets old eventually. It's not like you haven't been there before."

I stuck my tongue out at him playfully. "You can't be too excited! Do you have any idea how long it's been since I last saw New York?!"

He pulled out a book to read. "Less than a year, not all that long."

I sighed. "Well it seems like an eternity. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when I walk into the Lodging House... We there yet?"

He groaned. "What do you mean, 'Are we there yet?'! The train just left the station one minute ago, of course we aren't there yet!"

I smiled and looked out the window. "This is so great. I can see New York already! I can't wait to see the guys again."

He laughed. "Well I can't wait to meet them... you think we'll get there without getting caught?"

I frowned. "I hope so... if we do get caught, I'll fight them all."

He stared at me skeptically. "Fight them?"

I nodded. "Oh yeah. There's no way I'm gonna get all the way to New York and not to Jack. They can't stop me."

He stared at me doubtfully. "No way?"

I glared at him. "No, only God himself could stop me."

He smiled evily. "Is there something going on between you and this Jack fellow?"

I blushed. "It ain't none of your business."

He gasped in mock surprise. "Do my eyes deceive me? Is Christina Collin actually blushing?! I don't believe it!"

I glared at him. "Oh leave me alone! You aren't one to talk! A few months ago you couldn't even talk to me without blushing!"

He cleared his throat, trying to think of a new subject. "Read any good books lately?"

I shrugged and looked out the window. "Lots... how long till we get to New York?"

He sighed. "I have no idea. How many times do you plan on asking questions concerning when the train arrives in New York?"

I shrugged casually. "Just until we get there."

He laughed. "Great. Do me a favor, kill me now and save me the misery."

"I hate August." I said after a few minutes of silence.

He looked at me like I had lost my mind. "What?"

I glared at him. "I said, I hate August."

He scratched his head. "You hate August? Two minutes ago you couldn't stop talking about Jack and now your perferred conversation topic is how much you hate August? Why?"

I frowned. "It's just not my month, that's all."

He sighed. "Why?"

I leaned my head up against the window. "The day they brought me to Boston, was exactly one year after my father died. Both in August... 23rd to be exact. It seems like so long since I've been to New York. How long has it been?"

"Just ten months."

I frowned. "Ten months without J... the guys seems like forever."

He smiled. "Slipping Chris?"

My brow creased in frustration. "What if he doesn't remember me? What if they all hate me because they think I just walked out on them?"

He shook his head. "They won't forget you, and they'll understand. Sketch was around when all this started, he's probably already figured it all out. They'll be happy to see... are you alright?" He asked in concern.

I shook my head. "I just want to be alone."

He nodded and stood up. "If you need me, I'll be in the dining cart."

I kept thinking of the guys after he left. They had all probably adjusted to me not being there, what right did I have to go back? I couldn't shake the thought of Jack. He probably had a new girl now, would it be fair for either of us if I went back? I wanted to see them again with all my heart, but I just didn't know if they wanted to see me.

"They will be happy to see you no matter how long you've been gone."

I looked up at Aaron. "I thought you were leaving."

He shrugged. "I got bored."

I sighed. "Ten months... it's been too long. By now even the Delancey's would be a welcome sight!"

He smiled. "You haven't been gone that long!"

I frowned. "Don't count on it."

*********************************************************

I stared out the window at the city passing by in a blur as the train pulled into Grand Central Station. Aaron led me out of the train as it came to a stop and over to a carriage. A slim brown haired woman in her late 30's or early 40's was waiting there. "Hello Aunt Victoria." Aaron said politely.

She smiled. "Aaron, it's so nice to see you again." She smiled at me. "You must be Christina. I've heard so much about you." I tried my best to smile... I could only guess what she had heard, but I was pretty sure it wasn't good. She kept talking as we stepped into the carriage. "I'm Hope's mother, I think you know her. She's in Europe for the summer but I'm sure you two will get along splendidly when she comes back." I inwardly winced at the mention of Hope, I hated Hope.

Aaron smiled hopefully. "Aunt Victoria, do you think Chris could go out tonight? I'd go with her."

She stared at me hesitantly. "I don't think that's a good idea. Maybe you two should unpack and get settled in tonight."

We rode the rest of the way in silence. When we finally got to the house, a maid showed me to my room and I started unpacking. After about ten minutes, there was a knock at the door. "Come in." I called from the walk in closet.

Aaron walked in and shifted from foot to foot nervously. "I'm sorry I couldn't get you out of here."

I smiled at him. "It's the thought that counts, and you tried. Besides, I'm not surprised. I wouldn't be surprised if they put a guard outside my door to make sure I don't leave... I bet they already have a watch dog out there."

He smiled. "Of course, his name is Killer... and don't even try filing through the bars on the windows, we're watching you."

I laughed and smacked him playfully. "Be serious. I need to think of a way to go see Jack and the others without anyone knowing."

He sighed. "It's not that hard. I tell them I'll watch you, then you can go anywhere. But about this Jack fellow?"

I glared at him. "What are you thinking?"

He smiled mischeiviously. "You two are... close?"

I rolled my eyes. "Nevermind, I don't want to know what you're thinking."

He stared at me suspiciously. "Avoiding the question?"

I glared at him. "What are you saying?"

"I'm just saying you are very secritive about what you and Jack did and it just makes me wonder..."

I threw a pillow at him. "Get your mind out of the gutter. It's not like that... you're acting like Hope would."

He glared at me. "That was low Chris... no one deserves that."

I smiled. "Is that any way to talk about your cousin?"

He rolled his eyes. "She's your cousin too."

"Not if you ask me."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Why?"

I shrugged. "Because she's a-"

"Okay, okay! I get the point."

We spend the rest of the afternoon talking about Hope, or Despair as we had come to call her, and the guys at the Lodging House.

Two days after my arrival in New York, I finally got a chance to see the guys. Aaron smiled at me as we walked down the street. "Nervous?"

"NO!" I snapped.

He laughed. "Why are you so touchy? You said these guys are like brothers to you, so what's the problem?"

I rolled my eyes. "I don't have a problem. But this stupid dress is about to drive me crazy!" I said as I tugged on the dress and then glared at Aaron, who had started to walk (Not drive! I don't know why I typed drive!) faster. "Slow down."

He laughed. "What's wrong? Can't keep up?"

I started walking faster, and so did he. Everytime I would speed up, he would too, until I started running. Somehow I managed to outrun him, even in a dress. I shrugged when I looked around and couldn't find him. He was starting to annoy me anyway. I walked the rest of the way to the Lodging House with a smile on my face. I looked up at the faded sign swinging over the doorway as I finally got there. All of a sudden I had the urge to start laughing and never stop. I had missed this place so much. I walked in and smiled at the old man who was busy writing in a book. "Hello Kloppman. You miss me?"

He looked up and stared at me for a while until his eyes lit up with recognition. "Echo? Is that you?"

I nodded. "The one and only."

He laughed and hugged me. "It's good to see you again... I hardly knew you in that dress."

I blushed. "Yeah, it's really a pain in the neck."

He looked towards the stairs. "We really missed you... especially Jack."

I smiled. "Is he up there?"

Kloppman nodded. "Yeah, a few of the guys got done selling early today. You want me to tell him you're here?"

I shook my head. "No, I want to surprise him."

"Follow me." He said as he led me up the stairs and told me to wait ourside while he went in to get Jack.

*********************************************************

I stared off into space, oblivious to everything going on around me. "Jack... JACK!!" I looked over at Race. "What?"

He sighed. "Kloppman says dere's someone outside dat wants ta see ya."

I got off of my bunk and walked out of the bunkroom door and into the hall. I stared at the girl standing by the stairs, her long brown hair fell down her deep blue dress in gentle curls. Her green eyes sparkled when she saw me. I stared at her, completely confused. "I know this girl." I kept thinking, and then it hit me. "ECHO!" I practically screamed, not even hearing Race say, "Oh man, he's finally lost it."

I ran forward and spun her around in the air, then leaned down and kissed her passionately. We broke apart and she laughed as we heard Sketch (who had decided to investigate my outburst) say, "Alright, I won! They broke the record!"

That comment brought several newsies out into the hall, and they all ran towards Echo and I. "Chrissy!" Brooklyn yelled and ran towards her long lost friend. Echo laughed and hugged, then pushed her up against a wall and said sternly, "Don't ever call me Chrissy again."

Blink smiled and ruffled her hair. "Hey Echo, where ya been? We missed ya kid."

Sketch patted her on the back. "Yeah, tell us Echo... how was Boston?"

Dutchy scratched his head. "Boston? You were in Boston?"

She nodded and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and I hated every minute of it."

Mush frowned in confusion. "What were ya doin' in Boston?"

She smiled at him and shrugged. "Just some stupid people that can't forget the past, that's all."

I put a hand on her shoulder. "Chris... tell me."

She frowned. "My grandmother has been trying to get back at my mom for running off with my dad, by getting custody of me ever since I was about seven. I was hoping she wouldn't find me here, but she did, and that's why I was in stinking stupid Boston."

Sketch smiled. "Come on you guys, lets get out of the hallway."

*********************************************************

I walked into the bunkroom with Jack and the others where we all talked for about five minutes, until Aaron walked in. "Chris, that was not funny."

I laughed. "Do you have any idea how pathetic it is to be outrun by a girl in a dress?!"

He glared at me indignantly. "I tripped!"

"Yeah, sure, whatever you have to tell youself." I smiled at Jack and the others, who all looked like they wanted to know who Aaron was. "Guys, this is Aaron, my cousin. He's the only interesting person in the whole town of stinking stupid Boston." I said and he beamed, and then glared at me as I finished. "but that's not saying much. Aaron, these are the guys."

He looked around. "Let me guess... Snipeshooter, Pie Eater, Jake, Crutchy, Kid Blink, Mush, Boots, Dutchy, Specs, Skittery, Racetrack, Snoddy, Snitch, Swifty, Itey, Brooklyn, Frack, Psycho, and Bouncy.... oh, and that guy right there must be Jack..." He laughed myscheviously. "Well, if it isn't Lo-"

I kicked him and rolled my eyes. "I am keeping my mouth shut from now on."

He rubbed his shin and glared at me. "You didn't have to kick me."

Sketch started laughing and Aaron glared at him. "What's so funny... Snake boy."

I laughed at the confused expression on Sketch's face. "Snake boy?"

Aaron nodded. "Yeah, Snake boy... you're the one that caught the snake we scared Despair with."

Sketch scratched his head. "Despair?"

I rolled my eyes. "Hope, Despair, same difference. The stupid blond girl." He didn't seem to recognize the description so I said the first thing that popped into my mind."The skunk!"

Sketch stiffled a laugh, but eventually ended up rolling on the floor. We all stared at him in amusement until he calmed down. "I'm okay, I'm okay."

"What the-?" I looked over at Spot who was standing at the door looking like he had just seen a ghost.

"Hello Rover." I said cheerfully.

Aaron looked confused. "Rover? Isn't that-?"

I nodded. "Yep, Spot Conlon, the most egotistical newsie in all of New York... and probably everywhere else. Be careful, it might be contagious."

Spot glared at me. "Watch it Echo, I've got great aim."

I smiled. "See? What'd I tell you? Ego the size of the Milky Way Galaxy."

Spot ruffled my hair playfully and then noticed the dress and stepped back. "Woah. What happened to you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Stinking stupid Boston."

Aaron smiled and shook his head. "Right, and don't forget the stinking stupid. You can't have Boston without the stinking stupid in front."

Spot glared at him. "Who're you?"

"Aaron Starling, and you are the notorious Spot Conlon?"

Spot spit in his hand and so did Aaron. I laughed at the look on Spot's face. "I already tried that one Spot, he won't comment on how disgusting it is."

"Just testing him." Spot said casually and walked over to Brooklyn.

I smiled and sat next to Jack on his bunk. We talked for about an hour until Aaron told me it was time to go. Jack wrapped his arms around me a little tighter and gave Aaron a 'You-take-her-and-I'll-break-your-neck' look.

Aaron sighed. "If she doesn't go back they'll find her, and when they find out where she was, they'll do two things: Send her to a boarding school of some sort, far, far away, France maybe, and they'll marry her to the first guy they can find, and you'll never see her again."

I glared at him. "Boarding school? Marriage? Over my dead body. If they send me to France, I'll file the bars, shoot the guard and the guy I'm supposed to marry, hop a boat, or even swim back, but I will get back to New York."

He smiled. "What about the watchdog?"

I laughed. "I'd just find a juicy steak to keep him busy. I'd never shoot a dog... especially not Killer."

Aaron looked surprised. "Never?"

I glared at him. "You think Spot would still be alive if I did?"

Spot glared at me. "Not funny."

I kissed Jack, said good-bye to all of the guys, and started back to the house with Aaron. So that's how I spent the rest of the summer, meeting the guys at Tibby's or the Lodging House whenever I could, never once getting caught. Winter was a time I was dreading, that's when I had to go back to Boston. At least, that's what I thought. But summer ended and it was decided that Aaron and I would remain in New York. So it was August and Aaron and I were in the Lodging House. I hadn't talked to him since Aunt Victoria had told me Hope was getting back today, on August 23rd of all days.


Part 2
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