Author's Explanation:

Love is like Jazz. You make it up as you go along and you act as if you really know the song. But you don't, and you never will. So you flaunt your mistakes, and you make them until they were you. Love is like jazz. The same song a million times in different ways. "Strange Fruit" with and without wind chimes. It's divine. It's asinine. It's depressing, and it's almost entirely window dressing. But it'll do.

-Love is Like Jazz; The Magnetic Fields

I am a lover of Jazz music. I also love writing with a song in mind. And so, I decided to dedicate a series of fics with Jazz songs as the motivation and backdrop. This is the "Love Is Like Jazz" Series. Hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them!

I Changed the Rules
Peter Cincotti

Don't keep on asking where I've been
I'm not some (girl) you discipline
Stop that crying
No use justifying
Baby, I changed the rules.

Don't keep me waiting at the door
I'm not some cat that you ignore
Keep on whining, and I'll keep on declining
Baby, I changed the rules.

You can't stop me from shooting the breeze
I always say and do as I please
But don't stop trying
You know I'm gratifying
Keep the pace
You're in the race

You feel the heat right by my side
Stay close, I'll take you for a ride
Stimulating
Really intoxicating
Baby, I changed the rules

Author's Notes: This is the second story in the "Love Is Like Jazz" Series. This story was inspired by Peter Cincotti's song, "I Changed the Rules." Sadie and Brown Sugar/Shug are characters that I created.

I Changed The Rules
By: Stubby the Newsgirl

Chapter One: Love Hurts

Swifty was tired to say the least. After a long morning of getting punched in the face by Skittery, and not being able to sell a single paper when he was with Sadie, he was ready for some food in his stomach.

In contrast, Sadie's morning had started out great. She had sold most of her papes, and as soon as she started selling with Swifty, papers were flying out of her hands as if they were airborne. She could tell that Swifty was feeling down and out, but she was also nosey and she wanted to know why Skittery punched him, so naturally, she suggested lunch.

Swifty and Sadie headed over to Pete's Tavern, and sat at a table. Swifty hadn't really ever been inside Pete's Tavern before, but it seemed to him that the independent, red-haired Sadie had frequented the place quite often.

A young woman, around their age came up to the table. She was mulatto; her hair was in tight black curls, and her hazel eyes were friendly. She smiled as soon as Sadie walked in.

"What'll you have today, Miss Sadie?" she asked coming up to their table.

"Oh, the usual. Shug, this is Swifty, he's a newsie. Swifty, this is Brown Sugar. They call her that because she's dark and sweet. She's the best waitress on this side of town," Sadie introduced them.

"Nice to meet you, Swifty is it?" Brown Sugar said with a smile. Swifty nodded.

"That's a pretty bad bruise you got there," she said pointing at his eye.

"Look, just get me a sarsaparilla and a hot dog," Swifty said, wanting people to stop talking about his shiner.

"Excuse me?" Brown Sugar asked with furrowed brows.

"Swifty, this ain't Tibby's," Sadie said rolling her eyes. "He'll have beef stew, throw in a roll as well," she said.

"Gotcha," the waitress said beginning to leave.

"Oh, and Shug, don't mind him. He's just a little sore from his shiner," Sadie called to the waitress.

Shug gave Swifty a wink and said, "My stew will cure that bad temper."

"Hey, I can order for myself, you know. Anyway, how'm I supposed to know they didn't have hot dogs?" Swifty said defensively as soon as Shug was out of sight.

Sadie thought it best to not tease him. It was obvious that he'd never been to Pete's before. "So, why'd Skittery punch you again?"

"I already told you, I don't know why," Swifty said in an annoyed tone.

"Think, what did you do or say right before he did it?" Sadie probed.

Swifty thought about it, and spoke slowly, "I mentioned that Poke wouldn't be selling with us anymore and that she and Blink would be partners, and then he just punched me."

"A sarsaparilla for Swifty, and a beer for Sadie," Brown Sugar said as she put their drinks on the table.

Sadie took a long drink of her beer, and sat thoughtfully for a while. Swifty looked down at his sarsaparilla and felt very lame. Not only had Sadie ordered for him, but she was also out drinking him.

"Hey, Shug, get me a beer as well! The same kind that Sadie's got!" Swifty called out.

Sadie rolled her eyes, took another drink, and thought some more. She finally asked, "Wasn't yesterday the first day that Poke and Blink sold together?"

Pocahontas, or Poke, for short, and Blink were a newly established couple in love. While Sadie didn't believe in love at first sight, she had to admit that they were a cute couple. Poke was a Native American with dark skin, dark hair, and dark eyes, while Blink was the "American Dream" with fair skin, sandy blonde hair, and blue eyes. They were so different, and yet they seemed to fit together.

"Yeah, what does that have to do with me getting punched?" Swifty asked.

"Well, how did Skittery act?" Sadie asked.

"I don't know, I didn't sell with him," Swifty said.

"Why not?" Sadie asked.

"He was in a bad mood- you know, worse than usual. He told me to get lost, so I sold by myself," Swifty answered.

"Hm," was all that Sadie said. She took another long drink, and thought a moment more.

Skittery was usually moody, so it wouldn't surprise her if they hadn't sold together, on account of his moodiness. But Skittery wasn't usually violent, which persuaded her to believe that there was something more to the story.

Shug came by again, "Here's your beer," she said to Swifty with a hint of a laugh in her voice.

Swifty tried to imitate Sadie, but as soon as the sour, sharp taste hit his tongue, he screwed up his face, and forced himself to swallow it down.

"Bleh," he wretched, "how can you drink this stuff?" He grabbed his sarsaparilla and downed it.

Sadie shook her head, but smiled amusedly. "I know why Skittery punched you," she said.

"Yeah? Why?"

"Corned beef sandwich," Shug said, putting the order in front of Sadie. "And beef stew, with a roll," she said to Swifty handing him his bowl.

"He's sweet on Poke, but now that Blink's her guy, Skittery must be miserable. More than usual," Sadie said as the two began eating.

"What?" Swifty asked incredulously with bread in his mouth.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you not to talk when your mouth is full? Anyway, it's a classic case of unrequited love," Sadie said.

"But--what?" Swifty asked still not understanding.

As they ate, Sadie began to explain that Skittery liked Poke, and the reason that he was acting so erratic lately is because Blink and Poke were an item, and that Skittery was probably unhappy and jealous. After understanding the situation, Swifty felt motivated to do something to help his friend.

"Sadie, we gotta do something to help Skittery!" Swifty said.

"We?" asked Sadie skeptically.

Swifty sighed. He didn't want to admit that he needed help, but he knew Sadie was smarter than him when it came to these type of things.

"Have a heart, Sadie, and help me out with Skittery," Swifty finally said, pathetically.

It was Sadie's turn to sigh. She liked to know about all the goings-on concerning the newsies, but she didn't like to be a part of it. Fighting against her fierce independence, she finally gave in, but not without her own agenda in mind.

"I'll do it, but only if you pay for my lunch every day for the next week," she bargained.

Swifty had to think about it. A whole week's worth of lunch! He could barely afford his own lunch! But then he thought about his friend. Was his friendship with Skittery worth a week's worth of lunch? It was.

"Fine, but you better keep it at five cents or under!" Swifty said.

Pleased that Sadie had gotten things her way, she nodded in agreement. As if on cue, Brown Sugar came up to the table to see if they needed anything else.

"We're good, Shug. Just give the check to Swifty," Sadie said getting up.

"Mmm, hmm, I see," Shug said nodding her head.

"It ain't like that," Sadie shook her head and rolled her eyes.

Swifty couldn't really catch what was going on. He was too concentrated on counting out his money and reluctantly paying the bill.

"Come on, let's go," Sadie said, annoyed with Brown Sugar's suggestion. She began heading toward the exit.

"Uh- where are we going?" Swifty asked following her.

"Lodging House. We're going to see if Kloppman will take you delinquents back in," Sadie said opening the door.

"Hey, I'm not a-- OW!!!" Swifty was going to say "delinquent," but Sadie didn't hold the door, and it ended up hitting him in the face before he could finish his sentence.

"Love hurts," Brown Sugar said to him with a wink.

"What?!" Swifty asked wondering what she meant. He figured she might be talking about Skittery and his love for Poke. Swifty shook his head, then headed out to follow Sadie.