YES! I'm back with my sequel to Just Remy! And this will have just as many fabulous Remy moments in it as the first. If you haven't read my first story, then go and come back later. Otherwise, read and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies but I do own Remy! I just saw Ratatouille and found the mouse has the same name. As much as I enjoyed the movie...I came up with Remy first!

(oh, and I have no concept of money in the 1900's so just...go along with it)

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Chapter 1: Making A Deal

If you were to ask anyone to describe me, the last thing they would say is a gambler. Honestly. I've never been one for gambling because I thought it was stupid to throw away hard-earned money on a whim. Actually, I consider myself to be a very practical person and, in a sense, rather perceptive.

Yet here I was, running as if my very life depended on it, all the way to Manhattan. With my throat dry and chest heaving, I tore through the streets, only sparing a curious glance over my shoulder every couple of blocks. I smiled to myself as I reached a short cut and took it. I was going to make it in record time and no one could deny it, even Conlon. A different smile came to my face now.

How we had managed to make our relationship last over the months was beyond me. Granted, I still found him to be egotistical and irritating, but he was as charming as ever. I mentally slapped myself, knowing that this was exactly what he wanted me to do: go all goo-goo over him. For the time being he was the enemy and I was on a mission to prove him wrong. Putting on an extra burst of speed, I passed the statue around which a couple of boys were lounging and found Tibby's in the distance.

Smelling victory, I flew through the door and skidded to a halt in front of Jack Kelly's table.

"Time!" I practically shouted, but since I was so out of breath, it came out as more of a croak.

Jack, who was in middle of lunch, froze with his spoon halfway between his stew and his mouth. "What?" He asked, confused.

I was hunched over and clutching my chest but I was able to sputter a reply. "What…time…is…it?"

"Time foah someone ta get a watch." Racetrack laughed at his own joke, but everyone else ignored it.

Having run out of patience, I grabbed Race by the collar so his watch fell out from his shirt and swung back and forth in front of my face. It was a quarter after eleven. I let go of Race and collapsed on an empty chair, my fists raised in silent victory.

"Eat that, Conlon," I wheezed.

"Anothah stupid bet wit Brooklyn?" Skittery walked up with a smile and patted my back.

"Stupid?" I scoffed. "I made it here in record time! I'd like ta see any 'a you run that fast."

"Oh, so this was ta prove a point?" He asked sarcastically as the boys around the table laughed.

I gave the table a solid glare before greeting Ebony with a small smile. She had returned to her home in Brooklyn after our fiasco last summer but still came and sold papes on the weekends in Manhattan. We weren't exactly enemies anymore but we weren't friends either. It was too weird. If she and Skits was a couple, I didn't know it. But I wouldn't be surprised seeing as I don't come around here as often anymore.

"Where's Spot anyway?" Jack asked as he slurped up some soup.

"Probably taking his sweet time now. He knows I beat his sorry behind," I answered, looking over my shoulder and through the window. He shouldn't have been too far behind me.

Racetrack laughed again. "Wait, you say youse was racin him?"

I nodded and the table erupted in laughter. "What?"

Skittery was the first to compose himself. "Oh common Remy, youse ain't dat gullible."

"Yeah, he's probably havin a good laugh bout dis while relaxin by da rivah." Jack threw in causing more laughter. "No one in dere right mind would race you."

"Well his big head finally got the better of him." I muttered, still trying to ease my breathing.

"Oh, admit it, Remy," Skittery laughed. "Spot was trying ta play ya."

" …And since you ran all da way heah…I'd say he succeeded." Racetrack said as the table began laughing again, all except Ebony who just studied me silently.

"Shut your traps, all of you." I snapped and removed myself from the table.

"Remy, wait!" Skittery called out through the laughter. "We's only jokin!" More laughter.

Walking up to the counter, I asked for water and placed myself next to Zig, completely ignoring the hollering and laughter from across the room. Zig suddenly seemed to be rushing to finish his lunch and I didn't bother asking why.

"Zig-"

He slid a piece of paper across the counter to me. "I'm just da messenger."

I sighed as I picked up the note and read the familiar handwriting.

Bruin-

You win. I'll pay my dues through dinner tonight.

Spot

"Just how long have you been holding onto this?" I asked irritably.

Shrugging, he slid off the stool next to me. "Awhile."

"He enjoys terrorizing me, doesn't he?" I sighed in resignation and tucked the note into my pocket.

"Well," Zig planted his hat on his head. "You do make it easy foah him." He then smiled, "Ya wanna send anythin back wit me?"

I thought for a minute then smirked, "Nah. Just tell him that if he's so keen on getting rid of me, I'll just stick around here for the night."

Jack, having overheard my comment, leaned back in his chair and smiled playfully. "Hey, we's full tonight, Remy. Youse'll have ta share wit one of me boys."

I smiled and looked at Zig. "Ya got that?"

He winked, tipped his hat, and was out the door in a flash. I sauntered back over to Jack's table. "Well, at least I get a free dinner outta the deal."

Racetrack pulled out his watch. "Ten ta one Spot'll be heah by dinnah."

"I say an hour."

"Thirty minutes, tops."

"I bet he's already here."

Skittery looked at me, then back at the group. "No, he knows bettah den ta face an angry girlfriend."

"I'm not angry." I jammed my hands into my pockets and slouched down in my chair. Deciding to quickly change the topic, I asked Skittery, "Can I sell with you this afternoon?"

An awkward moment passed in which Ebony shifted in her chair and Skittery cleared his throat. "Sure."

We finished our lunch and followed the rest of the group to the distribution center, where we'd wait for the bell to signal the afternoon edition.

"Dr. Wright came by the lodging house again yesterday." I suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

Skittery raised his eyebrows then slowed his pace so we naturally fell behind the others. "You talk ta him dis time?"

I bit my lip and nodded my head. Dr. Wright had been trying to track me down for quite a while but hadn't been very successful. Ever since the borough fight last summer he had been interested in seeing what I was capable of. We had talked briefly before where he mentioned a finishing school for nurses and then hiring me. I had told him I wasn't interested before but it obviously wasn't convincing since he never gave up on finding me. Too worried about how Spot would take the news, I never told him and instead had confided in Skits. Though I was sure that Spot had figured something was up, he never pushed the topic and I was relieved.

"Well?" He asked somewhat excitedly. Skittery felt this would be the opportunity of a lifetime and didn't understand why I would even consider turning it down.

"I can't afford it, Skits. Even if I wanted to go, there's no way I could swing that kind of cash." I kicked a pebble and watched it bounce across the street. "Plus, it's all the way in Boston."

"So what? Look," Skittery pulled me to a stop and rested his hands on my shoulders. "Let's say money ain't da issue; would youse go then?"

"It don't matter, cause I can't!"

"That's it? You ain't even gonna try?"

"Okay, fine. Let's do the math shall we?" Skittery crossed his arms and watched as I irately sputtered off numbers. "There's the school, which is around $300, I have to get there which will cost around $50, and I'm sure as hell not gonna go in this outfit." I stepped back and looked down at my dirty button up shirt and skirt. "On top of that there's food, supplies…"

My voice faded out as I counted on my fingers. Then, after figuring it out, my head shot up. "That's gotta be at least 500 dollars, if not more. Do you have any idea how many papes dat is?! 5000! I can hardly sell dat much in a year and I'm barely livin as it is! I'm lucky if I can spare a penny by day's end! To save up dat kinda dough would take me…" I attempted to add up the numbers, but just got confused and threw out my arms. "Forevah!"

Skittery held up his hands and looked around in trepidation at my outburst. "Alright Remy, I get it."

I ran a frustrated hand through my tangled hair and began walking again. "Not ta mention leaving Brooklyn, which is my home. I'd be leaving everyone behind: Blue, Dreads, Switch, Hawk, Flash, you…"

"Spot…" Skittery threw in nonchalantly.

This conversation was headed exactly where I didn't want it to. "Let's just drop it."

"Hey, you were the one who brought it up, which tells me you ain't done thinkin bout it yet."

"Yes, I am. I'm stayin here."

"And doin what exactly?"

"What else? This."

"Remy, youse ain't gonna be able ta sell papes all yoah life. Trust me, some guys have already tried it and failed miserably." Skittery chuckled, but I only shook my head.

We were catching up with the rest of the group now and saw the distribution gates in the distance. Skittery grabbed me before we could get any further. "Alright Remy, I'll drop it. But youse gotta promise me you'll think about it moah. And tell Spot." He added authoritatively.

"But-"

He cut me off with his hand. "You wouldn't want him ta keep somethin like dis from youse and youse sure as hell wouldn't want him ta turn down a great opportunity ta get off da streets just foah you."

"Well…no-"

"Den tell him."

There wasn't a chance for me to respond as he walked off but he turned back around as if deciding he wasn't finished and looked me right in the eyes. "Just cause youse'll leave don't mean you ain't comin back Remy. We'd all be waitin heah foah youse. All of us." He was speaking earnestly now and I had a feeling he was speaking more about one person in particular. The person I most worried about: Spot.

I smiled at his attempt to cheer me up and nodded, "I'll think about it."

Skittery smiled back and gave me a light tap on the cheek as if praising some obedient dog. Irritated, but still in good spirits, I slapped his hand away and brought it painfully behind his back, forcing him to the ground. I sat on his back and smirked. "I'd be careful bout wheah you put your hands Skitts," I said playfully, glad we were moving on from the Boston discussion.

Skittery sputtered from beneath me, "I don't get what Spot sees in you."

"Well," I laughed. "To be perfectly fair, he's usually not seeing me from this angle."

"Normally the positions are switched huh?" Skittery retorted as he chuckled, then immediately stopped to cough because of the dust.

I shoved him lightly, not really meaning any harm but making sure he knew I wouldn't take his smart mouth comments. "Watch it," I warned quietly.

A pair of black boots stood just in front of Skittery and I causing both of us to look up. Jack had his hands on his hips with his eyebrows raised and a humored look on his face. "Remy, I can't have youse commin ta Manhattan if youse gonna be beatin my boys."

It was then that I realized we had an audience so I quickly jumped off my friend and helped him up. After dusting himself off a little, he gently shoved me, to which I lightly bumped him with my hips.

"He started it."

Jack rolled his eyes and went back to the line that was forming up on the platform. The rest of the crowd slowly returned to whatever they were doing before our childish dispute and Skittery and I calmly joined them.

"At least I'd have da guts ta tell da person who's most important to me bout my problems."

"Oh, shut up. You can't even ask Ebony out, you big sissy." I gestured to the girl ahead of us in line.

"Hey, I ain't a sissy. I could ask her out if I wanted to."

"Then do it already!"

"I don't want to…"

I rolled my eyes. "And I thought I was clueless."

"Alright, let's make a bet."

Narrowing my eyes in curiosity, I nodded for him to continue. "I bet I can get a date wit Ebony befoah youse tell Spot bout Boston."

"And what do I get?" I asked.

He smirked somewhat evilly. "Whoever does it first has the option to complete the other's task."

"You mean," I slowly eyed him in understanding. "That if I beat you at confession, I ask Ebony out for you?"

He nodded.

"Skitts…you do realize how lame it would be for me to do that right? I mean, that pretty much lets you off the hook. And Ebony would think you a total pansy."

"Yeah, but it don't mattah cause I plan on winnin so you have ta come clean ta Spot."

"Come clean bout what?" A third voice from behind caused me to jump.

Spinning around, I met the laughing eyes of Switch and felt a temporary ease. "Oh, it's nothing. Just some stupid bet." Now that we were no longer alone, the conversation would be dropped and I was glad of it.

"Dat mean youse acceptin?" Skittery interjected hopefully.

Knowing I really shouldn't, I spit in my hand and held it out. "You got yourself a deal."

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Well? What'd you think? I know, there isn't an appearance from Spot but he'll be in the next chapter so no worries. Hope everyone enjoyed. Let me know what you thought and REVIEW! Thanks!!