Disclaimer: I dont own the newseis, or anyone from the movie. Dont sue, Im to in debt from college as it is

A/N: Heres a new story and Ive been working on it for awhile, so I hope its better than my others. This is a long chapter just cause the first half wasnt too exciting, and I promise the newsies from manhattan and brooklyn will be appearing more and more as it goes. R&R.

When people think of spring time, they think of warmth, new beginnings, a flurry of life both humans and animals alike. People would start to come out of their homes, basking in the sun and fresh air after a long winter. But right now…right now I felt the opposite of all of those things.

Spring had brought New York to life, but I felt like it had drowned me. It was now the middle of April and I had been in Queens since December. Four lousy months in this place and I had nothing to show for it. My brother had sent me here on a 'mission'; I guess you could call it that. I grunted as I thought about that word; mission. If he wanted to spy on Queens this bad why didn't he do it himself.

But I'm getting ahead of myself and placing blame where it shouldn't be. I understood the reasons I was here but I just wish I was back home, back in Brooklyn. Brooklyn was different from Queens, even though they were neighbors, but that's not what made me nervous. No it was the leader himself.

Now here I was in Queens. The morning sun had risen to the highest point in the sky, signaling it was noon. All I could do was stare at it, hoping it would melt my emotions off of me. Emotions get you in to trouble, and I wanted to desperately stay away from that. Only a few people inside of Brooklyn knew my last name and for that I was thankful. If Queens found out I was a Conlon, I would be as good as dead, if that was even good. Suddenly I found myself hating that statement.

I sighed and took a seat on a nearby bench. My selling was done but I wasn't in the mood to head towards the lodging house, or even to get some food. I was stuck here, and I longed to get some good food in Brooklyn, but that was out of the question.

Even though I was Spot's sister, he didn't see me as one, I was his runner and that was it. But I didn't mind, I didn't want everyone to give me respect because of my last name, I wanted to earn it on my own.

So like I said I was a runner for Brooklyn, not a bird, a runner. Usually there wasn't much of a difference except I didn't spy on other territories. I laughed at my own thoughts; I guess I took up the spy part now. But before I was just a messenger sent out to deliver news fast, now the tables had turned.

But here was a small problem both Spot and I had come across before I was sent here. I had been to Queens to deliver news, and Rusty the leader might still recognize me. We soon came up with a plan, and four months ago I walked slowly into the heart of Queens hoping I could pull it off.

Four months ago I had arrived bruised and bloody, clearly coming from a fight, a staged fight, but one none the less. I told Rusty that was I set up by Conlon; he sent me on an errand only it was a one way errand. Rusty seemed to believe the bruises and the story enough, and let me stay in Queens. Since then I had spent these last months working hard to fit in. Not only did I work into being a Queen's newsie, but I worked my way into the trust of the leader.

Rusty was like myself, he didn't trust others easily. But that was the only thing I could find us having in common. He wasn't rusty in any means, he was a great leader from what I've seen, and he was a top notch seller like most other leaders. But he got his name not by being out of practice in any form, no he got it from using old knifes and chains when he fought. I don't know why he did this but it even made me shudder when I saw him in action. He spoke when he needed to, but the rest of the time I couldn't figure out what was going on in his head.

But I was here to figure him out. Spot had heard news that Rusty might look into taking some of Brooklyn's territory. But since December I haven't heard anything about that, even as I was gaining more of Rusty's trust.

I took a quick look around the park I was seated at. Apparently I was lost in my thoughts since it was now time to sell the afternoon edition.

Selling the afternoon edition went by fast and I soon realized it was time to head back. As I walked through the back streets and alleys I saw the old worn out lodging house come into view. Somehow looking at the building made my heart fall; this wasn't my home. I sent a quick glance towards the east silently hoping my brother would want me back soon.

But I think that thought alone jinxed me. When I walked up the rickety stairs towards the bunk room I heard the muffled word I had been waiting for. Brooklyn.

I froze mid step hoping to hear the rest of the conversation. I waited holding my breath to hear more, but all I got was the increasing noise level from downstairs. The rest of the boys were back from selling. I frowned, I needed to hear more. I knew it was coming from Rusty's room, but I couldn't tell who he was talking to. And the 'who' made a big difference. If it was Buzz, the second in command than it was serious and could be the threat I was looking for. If it was one of his birds, then it could be anything. Either way I still needed to find out what context my home was mentioned in.

"Heya Spirit, wanna play some poker?" I turned to see Lock running up the steps next to me.

He raised his eyebrows in hope of a yes. I shrugged as we finished climbing the few steps left to the bunk room. I followed as Lock ran to get the cards from his bunk. I caught sight of Buzz leaving Rusty's room as I walked by and quickly looked away. At least I now know who he was talking to, but this didn't make things better. If Rusty was talking to his second in command then it could be important business.

I joined the small poker game and it seemed to keep my mind occupied for the time being. I needed to pretend uninterested in the affairs that were happening around me, but that was easier said than done.

The sun flickered through the small cracks in the window nearby. I let out an audible groan as I rolled over, away from it. It was hard waking up in a different lodging house that I was so used to. I longed for my own bunk back in Brooklyn. The only good thing here was that there was a different bathroom for girls and boys. Although I didn't make myself too friendly with these girl; they were all play and I was in business mode.

"Come on Spirit time to get up" I heard the only girl I was close with yell to me. Cricket was a lot quieter than the other handful of girls, hence her name. I found it hard to ignore her here, and we became close in the last months.

I rolled out of bed and hurried to get ready. I was once again getting a later start than the others. I quickly found what clothes I could and threw my unruly hair back in a braid. Without a second thought on my looks I followed the group of girls and guys down the stairs as we headed towards the distribution center. I fell into suit with Cricket and continued walking in silence.

Around me I heard the other girls gossiping about their latest crushes, or who they were with last night. I rolled my eyes at them that was all they seemed to care about. Cricket and I would be pulled into their gossip once and awhile, when they thought it was important to know who we liked. I never even acknowledged them, and Cricket would just blush something awful.

It didn't take long for the whole group of newsies to line up for our morning editions. Rusty led the way…and I was all the way near the back. So much for trying to listen in on his conversations this morning. I sighed and waited for the line to start moving.

"You'll nevah guess who I was with last night" I heard Lips talking to anyone that would listen.

She was tall and I guess she was pretty with her long black hair, but she could be a bitch. I mean all girls get nasty once in a while, but she topped them all. I tried not to listen to the pointless gossip but there wasn't much else to do while waiting in line, and Cricket was talking to another newsie somewhere behind me.

"Spot Conlon" I heard Lips answer, even though I hadn't heard anyone actually ask her who.

I rolled my eyes at the name. Funny how he sent me here to spy and the only information I had gotten so far was who he had seen from Queens. And Lips wasn't the first time I've heard his name around here in that context. When I got back to Brooklyn I would be having a small talk with him.

I tuned out the rest of the details from Lips date last night. I did not want to hear anything else about it. After what seemed like an hour in the slow moving line I had gotten my own papers.

I hurried out into the streets ahead of me, there was no reason to try and find Rusty; he had already gone to his own spot.

As I pushed my way through the crowded streets I tried to think of what to do next. I needed to get closer to Rusty. I mean I was trying that for months now, but this was the first time I had heard him say anything about Brooklyn. Unless he was somehow mad at Lips going out with Spot, I figured there was a reason he was speaking about my home.

I knew his more frequent selling spot was over near the business district and mine was usually the opposite side. I frowned, that wouldn't work. I yelled a few 'improved' headlines into the streets as I wandered around my small location. Then it hit me, his selling spot was near a popular place to eat. I smiled as I thought I could head over that way to eat this afternoon.

It didn't take long for my papers to be gone, not that I even knew what the headlines were about, but what I said seemed to be selling.

I turned towards Rusty's side, and towards Rascal's…which I hoped would be full of at least some newsies so this wouldn't look strange.

I passed through what I thought was Rusty's selling spot without a glimpse of him. I continued on and to my luck I saw Rusty sitting inside Rascals.

I pushed the door open and found Lock and a few newsies spread out at the tables.

"Hey Spirit" Lock called me over to his table.

I slid in the booth making sure I was facing Rusty and his table. I jumped into the conversation with Lock and the other boys, but at the same time I kept an eye on Rusty. Now that I found him, I still had no idea how to get closer…and somehow get him to trust me with information. I frowned slightly at the thought.

"So Spirit there's a huge poker game over in Brooklyn tonight, you in?" I turned my head towards Jumper. I was taken aback by the question that I paused for awhile.

I shook my head slowly, "Nah think I'll save up some of my money"

Lock gave me a confused look but it soon passed and he nodded at my answer.

As much as I wanted to go to Brooklyn and see my friends and brother, I knew it was too risky. I would technically be unwanted, by both Spot and Rusty. Rusty believed I wasn't welcome in Brooklyn and going to the game could put everything at risk. Lying was hard, it took a well thought plan to keep it going. In the back of my mind I knew this one would come back and bite me in the ass. I just hoped I was back in Brooklyn by then.

I felt someone sit down next to me, pushing me into Jumper more. I turned and smiled at Cricket, glad she came here today.

"You coming to the game tonight Cricket?" Lock asked as he threw her a hopeful smile. I smiled at his antics; he only asked so he could see how much money he could win. He was a big gambler and with his cheating he usually walked away with a lot. The more newsies tonight the more he thought he could win.

"Yeah I think I might" Cricket answered. I turned to her casting a raised eyebrow in her direction. She noticed but turned away ignoring it. I was about to question her but Lock and Jumper threw some money on the table and nudged me to move. I stood up and let them leave before I turned my attention back as Cricket.

"You're gonna go to Brooklyn?" she shrugged and started eating some of my left over sandwich.

"Thought it be a change in scene, sides I haven't played a good game of poker in awhile"

"Yeah I haven't seen you play poker at all" I smiled, "Who you plannin' on seein' there"

Cricket seemed to look anywhere around the restaurant but at me. "No one, just want to play some cards"

I shook my head at her, "Come on lets finishing selling, you need all the money you can get for tonight"

We headed back onto the streets to finish our jobs, and I sadly was looking for a boring night at the lodging house alone. I was hoping Cricket would be around to hang out with but now it seemed everyone was going to Brooklyn.

My heart sank as I thought of my home, but I pushed a smile to my face and finished my day off.

Please Review...anything good or bad will help me write more. I have some other chapters already waiting but I need to see if its worth keeping this story up or not