Disclaimer: Ok, so I don't own any of the original Newsies (tear), Disney does. I hope ya'll enjoy this. Let me know what you think!!

POSTED 5/28/04Ok, so I haven't posted a chapter in about a year which may have made some of you leap for joy. Anyway, I've been reading over this story and I'm not sure I want/can finish it (I'm not really sure what I was thinking when I started it. I was kinda just putting my ideas down as they came to me and not being to clear about certain facts). So, if people want me to finish it I will, or if anyone has a suggestion about a new story topic that'd be cool, too. I would do a Newsies at Camp Fic, but I think that's already well taken care of (How I Spent My Summer Vacation' Rocks my Socks!!!) Alrighty, any input would be great. Merci, mes amis!!!!

Patch


Ok, everyone, five minute break and then we're on to the group numbers. Chris, we'll work I Dreamed A Dream' after, the director called from the rows of seats in the theater not visible to the actors on stage.

Lucky, Chris, you'll like an hour for break. It's gonna take us forever to run Work Song', Alex whispered to Chris.

Oh, yeah, lucky me, thought Chris to herselfas she walked toward the theater door.

Where ya going, hunny? a senior stopped her.

To practice, Chris muttered.

Oh good! Now remember, hun: sing out. You have such a gorgeous voice, but you just need to push a little.

Chris smiled half-heartedly, That's a big help. She pushed open the door to the theater and walked down the long hall to practice rooms. Chris opened to door and plopped down onto the tiny bench by the piano.

It's not like I'm NOT trying. I am! My head voice just isn't that loud. It's not a crime. Actually, Chris thought, it is for you. Remember: you're the little sophomore who beat out upperclassmen for this role. You're supposed to be perfect!

Chris thought back to rehearsal the day before:

She had to sing her solo song for the first time on stage. Chris was shaking so hard. It didn't help that she'd only run through the song once w/ the music director, but she hadn't even blocked it yet.

Chris could still see the looks in the faces of her fellow cast members. They all expected her to be perfect. Sure, she started out fine, but once she got near the high notes her voice began to clam up. The notes came out, but nowhere near loud enough to fill the vast theater. Chris swore she could have heard a sniker as the director gave her his notes on her vocals and blocking. Chris walked off stage and was greeted by her friends w/ good job and that was great. Haha...sure, she had thought. Then came the worst part: the advice. Remember, their just trying to help. They don't think you're bad. They just want you to feel comfortable, thought Chris, Why can't they just leave it to the director?

Chris has just nodded and smiled and then she ran out the door, practically in tears, down the hall to the bathroom. You CAN'T cry! Don't! Why do you always let stuff like this get to you?! Chris wasn't really sure that she knew.

Chris shuddered at the memory, and tried to focus all her attention on working through her song.

Twenty minutes later, she let out an aggravated cry. Why can't I get this?! Ok, calm down. You have to accept that you're not perfect at EVERYTHING! Especially this soon.

Hey, Chris, we're almost done, Alex poked his head through the door, We'll need you in about ten minutes.

Uh, sure. Hey, I'm gonna go get some air. Let me know when you're ready. Chris, brushed past him and hurried down the hall and out the door into the street.

The streets were cold and the dim street lamps cast an eerie light through the dense fog pouring down the street. Fog? That's weird. Chris found herself walking away from the school. That's right: run away, just like you always do.

Chris continued down the streets of New York and mumbling to herself and not paying any attention to where she was going. It wasn't until she noticed a change in the sidewalk texture from brick to cobblestone that she looked up to realize she had no clue where she was. The buildings around her were strange: an older, brick design that she hadn't seen before. Eh, always surprises in New York.

A plaque on one of the buildings caught her attention and she walked up the steps for a better look. The brass was tarnished, and she could only make a few of the letters inscribed: NEBY LING HUSE. What on earth? That makes no sense.

There was something about this building. It almost seemed to echo w/ voices. That's crazy, thought Chris, You're talking crazy. Yet she still let her eyes linger on the building.

Somewhere a clock chimed twelve times. Chris jumped, Twelve o'clock?! But it wasn't even seven when I left school! Chris bounded down the steps and turned the corner to what she hoped would lead her back to school. Wrong. She had walked into an alley.

Hey, boys! Wadda we got ere? Heya, sweetie, ya want me ta show ya a good time?

Chris whirled around at the sound of the harsh voice to face four menacing looking teenage boys a little older than herself. They were dressed oddly (although she was also dressed strangely in her 1815 style costume for the musical), she noticed. Oh great, Chris, of course you think about their clothing! But she was boggled by their apparel: ripped pants of various lengths, dirty button-up shirts, hats of styles that she had never seen before.....

A hand sliding around her waist brought her attention back to the problem at hand. Chris tried to pull back, but the boy's grip was too strong. She let out a scream as the boy inched closer and she was met w/ a blow that left her cheek burning. Chris looked up to see four more boys rounding the corner. Damn, she thought, what have you gotten yourself into?

Get outta here Manhattan this don' concoin ya, the boy holding her spat crudely at the new group of boys.

Let er go, Miller, she ain't don nottin wrong, a boy w/ an eye patch shot back.

Oh, watsa mattah, Blinky? You want er so bad? Then come and get her!

The boy w/ the patch hesitated.
Oh, wait, ya can't. Ya too scared cause Cowboiy ain't here

Just waitin' for the right moment to make me entrance, Miller, a tall boy w/ a cowboy hat stepped around the corner.

Instantly the boys launched themselves into a fight. The first group of boys began to scatter as more of the boys from, Manhattan was it?, poured into the alley. Chris was thrown full-force into the wall. Just as she heard the boy they called Miller yell, We'll get you next time boys!
The last thing Chris saw before she blacked out was the boy w/ beautiful blond hair and the eye patch leaning over her......

Ok, I hope you guys liked this. I have no clue if it makes sense right now, but it will!! Anyway, I would love reviews. I know my grammar, spelling, etc. isn't the best, but just let me know what you thought of the story.

patch:)