Hey, I have the first chapter up! Yay, if you haven't read Wish Come True...I suggest you do. It's a short opener for this story. This story will make more sense if you read Wish Come True first.
Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies, however... Books, Drop, Catch, and Firefly are all mine. Please R&R!
"So Spot, Coney Islanders? Really? Wow…how'd that happen?" a short, outspoken newsie asked. The rest of them silenced and waited for Spot's angry outburst. It never came; he gave a calm explanation of what had happened.
"Listen, the Queen's boys snuck up on me, you seen the size o' dem guys? Well there was six of 'em…hit me in da head afore I could even turn around. Gave me to Coney Island for a sum. Ain't no Coney Island boy what can hold da great King O' Brooklyn down!" he said.
There were mutters of assent and understanding throughout the room, apparently Queens wasn't to be messed with. What no one noticed though, was a little boy of about seven that took off running when Spot made his announcement.
His name was Cat, the top Queens bird. His leader Thunder had been looking to pick a fight with Spot for a long time. Spot was constantly showing Thunder up at newsie gatherings, and Thunder wanted revenge real bad. Revenge was either a good soaking in public, or taking his girl. Thunder was ready to do both if Spot ever decided to get a girl. Firefly was the perfect opportunity to get Spot right where it hurt most, the heart. Cat rushed into an old waterfront warehouse; long abandoned, it was Thunder's personal stomping ground. Cat regained his breath and informed his leader about Spot's lies. The tall, dark haired boy slammed his fist on the small wooden table, making it rattle. "How dare that little gutter snipe! He has no idea who he's messin' with, I am gonna get Spot!" he ranted.
"Sir?" the redheaded messenger asked.
"Yes Cat?" Thunder tried to calm down.
"Spot's got a goil, her name's Firefly," Cat said.
"Spot has a what?" Thunder was shocked, after years of girls running after him; Spot found one.
"A goil," Cat repeated. The leader's girls were usually kept under strict watch by the leaders themselves. Girls were easy prey for angry foes. At this point, Thunder was ready to do anything to get Spot back, Firefly just happened to appear in the right place at the wrong time.
"Good, she's going to be poifect, now Cat…come here. I need you to find out when Brooklyn and Manhattan are throwin anudda fling at Medda's alright? Den I needs you to repoit it back ta me. Got it?" the plan forming.
"Suah, no problem," with that, Cat disappeared. It was a warm night and Cat sat near the Brooklyn lodging house, his flaming red hair hidden under a black cap. He was a small boy with a lot of talent; he could sneak through any crack, and balance on any roof with little trouble. He currently had his ear pressed up against the wall rough wooden wall, straining to listen to the conversation Spot was having with his girl.
"Listen, Jane-" the girl cut him off.
"I'm Firefly, hon," she said.
"Firefly, you are going to stay with Books in the girl's room. It's safer there, plus there's only you two. Girl newsies ain't common in Brooklyn. Youse gotta be safe," he said. I heard Firefly attempt to protest, but Spot silenced her. He didn't hear anything for several seconds, they were probably kissing, a grimace crossed Cat's face. "Youse gonna come downstairs?" a different voice called. Cat refocused on what they were saying beyond the wall.
"Race, what're you doin heah?" Spot called.
"Jack sent me," the answer came.
"Yeah we're coming. Race, dis is my goil, Firefly," Spot said proudly.
"Spot, you have a goil? Where've I been?" Race said, nearly shouting.
"Calm down, I don't want anyone from Queens or da Island finding out, it's a secret I mean to keep!" Spot said so quietly Cat had to press his ear against the wall to hear. Cat laughed quietly to himself, that had backfired on Spot already. Spot was going to be taken by surprise, which was the worst way to be taken when you're a borough leader. "Anyway, what'd Jacky-boy send ya for?" Spot asked.
"You and your newsies have been invited to a party a Medda's Friday night. Medda needs some publicity, and newsies are da fastest way to get it. So you in?" Cat couldn't believe his ears; everything was falling into place so fast. Nothing ever worked out this well!
"Why not? You want to Firefly?" Spot asked, Firefly squealed.
"I can't wait to meet the amazing Medda, and Jack! Can you Books?" she asked. There were footsteps and Racetrack grunted, Firefly had swallowed him up in a lung-crushing hug.
"Of course, you know Jack's my favorite. Too bad about Sarah though," the girl named Books lamented.
"Sarah? You mean Jack's old goil? She don't come around no more, and how do you know him? I thought you just moved here," Racetrack asked confused.
"Umm, his reputation precedes him," Firefly laughed, Spot and Books joining in.
"Spot, your goil's a smart one. What does 'precedes' mean?" Racetrack whispered.
"It means that I know him, without meeting him," Firefly continued laughing.
SPOT'S POV
I didn't know a girl could get so smart! Firefly gave Race a vocabulary lesson and was able to keep everyone off our track. Books whispered in Firefly's ear and they both looked down at their secondhand dresses. "Spot, do you think Medda could loan us some more fashionable clothing for the party? I don't want to look so pathetic in front of all the newsies, it's my first appearance in this time period," her blue eyes begged and her gold hair shimmered a little in the lamplight.
"Ise'll see what I can do for you," I winked. I put my arm around her shoulder protectively and walked down into the main room of the Brooklyn Lodging House. I wore my mask of stony indifference, Firefly was beaming as usual; and Books was taking everything in like a sponge does water. Racetrack was shamelessly flirting with Books, who was completely ignoring him. She was fussing with the sleeves of her slightly-too-small dress and making small talk with my bird, Drop. Drop was around seven years old and had dark brown hair and green eyes; he was my most trusted assistant. He nodded to Books and approached me; I leaned down to his level, taking my arm from around Firefly's shoulder. She and Books headed immediately towards the exit and out into the night air. I sent my second bird, Catch after them; Firefly had to be perfectly safe. I knew newsies, and if word got out that I had loose watch over my girl, she would be gone in a day.
"So Drop, what's the news?" I asked.
"Cat's da news. He and Thunder have been planning sometin. I saw him sneaking around the wall in the alley, prolly listening to youse conversin' wit your goil. I tried to catch him, but he was too fast," the small boy looked down at his scuffed leather shoes. I patted his shoulder.
"Tanks for da news, what do you tink he hoid (heard)?" I asked.
"He muttered sometin bout gettin' your goil," Drop said, raising his eyes to meet mine. Firefly…I burst outside, the girls were nowhere to be seen, neither was Catch. I walked around a few blocks until a passed a small park; there they were… all three of them. Firefly and Books had caught Catch (no pun intended) and were talking to him about following girls around.
"Now Catch, I don't expect you to follow me around unless I request it, thank you very much," Firefly talked to him like an equal. He looked up into her face adoringly, seeing as many of my newsies ignored him. He nodded and ran in my general direction, he turned to wave at the girls and smacked into my chest, falling to the ground.
"Where are youse goin?" I asked.
"Umm, Miss Firefly said not to follow her, so I was going home," he said.
"Listen, Firefly may be my goil an all, but you take orders from me. Understand?" I asked, firmly.
"Yes Spot," he looked slightly dejected.
"Just go home," I ruffled his hair and helped him stand up. I walked up behind the girls and grabbed Firefly around the shoulders.
"Yikes!" she squeaked and began kicking. Books looked at her and laughed. "Lemme guess, the oh-so-amazing Spot Conlon is standing behind me, smirking," Firefly laughed.
"Got dat right, an you can't go off wit out a boid. I don't trust dem udda guys wit you around. Dat's why I have guys on guard; don't expect to be unprotected doll. It's fair game heah, so if I find youse gone, Ise'll have to get ya back somehow," I smirked again. She quit struggling.
"Spot, you saw what I did you Zach right? I should be fine on my own, anyways. We were only sneaking over the bridge!" she giggled and turned to face me.
"To Manhattan? You know Race is staying over heah, no one should cross a dangerous bridge so late at night," I scolded gently. Her mouth formed a delicate pout and I kissed her on the forehead.
"Fine Spot, let's go home," she turned and started walking home. Before I could do or say anything, she turned back around and took my cane from my suspenders and ran off with it. She was going towards home, but I'm sure that's not where she was planning on going. I caught up with her, catching her around the waist and spinning her in a circle, she gasped and laughed. "Here you go," she handed my cane back to me.
"Don't do dat Firefly; you knows how I can get all protective. Betta watch out," I teased, Books rolled her eyes and took Firefly by the wrist. She whispered urgently in her ear, "What? Why would someone do that?" Firefly said, face falling.
"What happened?" I asked, concerned.
"Someone wants to kidnap me! Drop told Books and she told me," Firefly looked hurt.
"Listen doll, they only kidnap youse goils because it threatens da leadaship us guys. And Books won't be getting kidnapped because she ain't a leada's goil," I explained how things went here.
"So that's why you want a bird to follow me, and why I'm not allowed to go across the bridge at night," she said, cocking her head to the side.
"Yes, that's exactly why I'm keepin an eye on youse two," I smiled. Firefly brightened and I reached for her hand. Our fingers twined and we headed home at last.
FIREFLY'S POV
Spot was only being so protective for my own good. I leaned over, putting my head on his shoulder as we walked. By the time we reached the Lodging House, I was asleep and Spot was carrying me. Some of the guys made kissy faces and Spot just shrugged, my sleeping form moved up and down. He carried me upstairs and laid me down on my bunk. He gently swept my hair out of my face and whispered, "Night Firefly," I was half asleep.
"Night Spot," my voice was barely above a whisper.
"You'll be safe here, I promise," then he left. I heard Books come in and fall asleep, and I listened as the noise downstairs trickled into nothing as the Brooklyn newsies went to bed. Tomorrow was my first day as a newsies, but I wasn't nervous at all. I had Spot, Brooklyn, Books, and all the time in the world. I must be the happiest girl on the planet.
If you read this without reading Wish Come True, here are some character reminders:
Books: Lizzy, 21st century girl-newsie
Firefly: Jane, 21st century girl-newsie-Spot's girl
Zach: Antagonist from Wish Come True, Jane (Firefly) punched him for tying up Spot and hiding him in a coat closet.