"I can't believe we're doing this."

"Davey, there's real bad headlines today, and the weather ain't that great either. We need the kid to help sell our papes," Jack argued.

"Yeah but do we really need him this much?" David asked. "I mean, Jack, he's making us take him to the park. THE PARK!"

"You know just 'cause I'm walking a little ahead of you," Les stopped suddenly and turned to Jack and David. "Doesn't mean I can't hear you."

"We can say what we want Les," his brother snapped.

"He's right. Just be glad we're takin' ya to the park," Jack agreed.

Les ignored their comments and kept walking. "The only reason you agreed to take me," he said smugly. "Is because I said I wouldn't help you sell papes if you didn't."

Jack and David had nothing to say to that. They had to admit, Les was pretty smart for his age.

"Well, we did what we had to do," Jack said.

"I guess so."

The two boys were sitting on a bench in a local park. Watching Les play around on a rather small jungle gym wasn't exactly their idea of fun, but they had no choice.

"Hey look, there's some little goil goin' ta play on the jungle gym," Jack pointed out.

"Hmm," Davey thought out loud. "Maybe Les'll finally make a friend his age."

Les reached the top landing of the jungle gym. He stood before the opening of the tunnel slide, and was ready. He was ready to feel multiple electric shocks running through his arms. Ready to see Jessica + Bill 4 Ever scribbled neatly with a red Sharpie. Ready for the possibility of getting stuck inside the slide – but also ready for the sensation of having woodchips in his shoes from falling to the park ground.

But Les put all of these trivial thoughts aside, and sat at the top of the slide. He pushed himself down, and when he landed at the bottom, he was staring at a girl.

She wore a plain lavender sundress, with a white satin ribbon tied around her waist. Her curly brown hair hung just above her shoulders, and she had a mile-wide smile.

Les suddenly snapped back into reality, and realized that the girl was coming toward him. Once she arrived, she said, "Hi!"

"Hi!" Les replied.

"What's your name?"

"Les. You?"

"Holly."

Les thought that was a rather pretty name, but he didn't say it out loud.

"So um…" Les started. "Would you like to play tag?"

"OK!" Holly happily answered.

"Wow, it sure does look like they're having fun," David said.

"Yup. Too bad they'll probably never see each other again," Jack retorted.

"Whad'you mean?"

"Well, New York City's huge, and this is just some girl he met in a park. What're the chances he'll ever see her again?"

"Jack, why do you always have to be so God damn negative?"

"That's just the kinda guy I am. Turn you on?"

"What?"

"Never mind."

"I got you!" Holly said.

"No you didn't!" Les replied as he kept running. "I didn't feel – whoah!"

Les had tripped over a rock and fallen into a pile of leaves. He and Holly began to laugh. Then Holly walked over to Les and plopped down next to him in the leaves.

After they stopped laughing, Holly turned in the leaves to look at Les. "I had a lot of fun today," she said.

"Me too," Les agreed. He liked this girl. A lot. Laying in the leaves, he suddenly realized how pretty she was. Her hazel eyes seemed to laugh as they looked into his. Her brunette locks shone brightly in the sunlight. Then a thought unexpectedly popped into Les's head.

Wait, is this what they call a crush? When you like some girl, like Holly, as more than just a friend? Wow! I have a crush on Holly! I have a crush on Holly!

Les was so proud. He felt like jumping out of the leaves and shouting it from the top of the jungle gym. But there was no time for that now. He had heard from the newsies that when you like a girl, you have to 'make a move'. Les was surprised to find more thoughts trailing into his head.

Well, better go for it. What have I got to lose?

"Holly?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you – would you be my girlfriend?"

"Love to."

AN: So? Whad'ya think? I probably shouldn't be starting another story while I'm still in the middle of my other one, but I had so many ideas for this and I couldn't wait to write them all down! But it doesn't stop here – there will be more to come. I'm pretty sure there'll be three chapters. So I guess it's a… three-shot. R&R!