Spice's first day selling newspapers wasn't nearly as hard as she expected, all she really had to do was make up a more creative title for the article already written. Racetrack had told her that if the headlines were bad then all they would do was "improve the truth" a little in order to compensate, that sounded a lot like lying to Spice and she didn't want to tell a lie, so instead she would come up with a different title for one of the articles. At first she sold with Cowboy because he was supposedly the best but after two weeks she switched to selling with Racetrack. They enjoyed each other's company and always had fun when they were together.

However after about a month Spice decided that she wanted to sell on her own. The boys had been hesitant at first to let her but she convinced them she knew her way around Manhattan, she was wrong. She started out fine, selling in places she had visited with Jack but eventually she found herself walking streets that she didn't recognize. She shrugged it off thinking that she would eventually run into someone she knew, again wrong. After two hours she came to a huge suspended bridge and before she knew it curiosity had gotten the better of her and she was crossing it. Once on the other side she became aware that she had made a big mistake. There were boys dressed as newsies but they could hardly be considered boys, most were teaming with muscle and wore scowls that could knock someone off their feet, and the worst part; their attention was all focused on her.

"Hey girly what're ya do'n here? we's never seen ya 'round before, you's new or somthin?"

"No, I'm Spice, I got lost and ended up here, I'm one of the Manhattan newsies. Who are you guys?"

"Who are we?" the boys started to laugh, "Sugar, we're the Brooklyn newsies and you's is way out 'o yar league."

Clara knew that she should be intimidated but at unfortunately for her the irrational side that had earned her her nickname kicked in before she could make a logical decision.

"My names not Sugar, its Spice!"

She realized about two seconds two late that she should have kept her mouth shut, the boy who she had been talking to looked about ready to knock her head off and she knew she would be no match for him if he tried. Just as he made to soak her a different voice cut in.

"Hey you bozo's what's ya do'in standing around for, you's should be selling papes."

"Sorry Spot, we just had to teach this brat her place then we's was gonna get straight back to work, honest!"

"I have a better plan how about you's get back to work and I'll deal with te goil, sound good?"

It was obvious that the boys still wanted to teach her a lesson for back sassing them but their fear of this, Spot person, seemed to trump any anger they might have been harboring. Spice let out a sigh of relief; she was glad that they were going away even if it meant she had to deal with the person who was in charge of them. When the last boy had finally walked away she was finally able to see the person who saved her. He had brown hair that was slightly shaggy in an attractive way, light blue eyes, and tan skin that he had obviously gotten from working out in the sun selling papes. He was smaller in size but the way he carried himself made up for it, he walked as if he owned the entire world.

"So goily what's ya do'in in Brooklyn? Doesn't seem like you's know where ya are."

His voice snapped her out of her pondering. She blushed realizing that he had probably caught her staring, he smirked and she knew he had noticed.

"I'm Spice, I'm a Manhattan newsie. I's just started and this was supposed to be my first day selling papes alone, I thought I knew my way around but I guess I was wrong. I'm sorry if I wasn't supposed to come here, honest I didn't realize!"

The panicked look on her face proved to Spot that she wasn't lying to him, there was no way that someone could fake that sort of innocence. In fact the child like way she acted sort of endeared her to him, she was so small and weak that he felt obligated to protect her from Brooklyn's harshness.

"Well's since you's didn't know better I's guess I's can let you's off this time. And don' worry you's is welcome here any time ya want, just make sure ta tell the boy's Spot said it was okay."

Spice nodded eagerly, she liked Spot he was nice and obviously he didn't mind that she had accidently encroached on his territory. She looked up at the sky and realized that they day had flown by without her knowledge and that there was no way she would be able to make it back to the lodging house before dark. Spot seemed to have the same idea because he turned to her right as she was about to start heading back.

"Hey, why's don't ya stay with us ta'night. It's not safe ta be alone afta dark specially for a goil."

She nodded relieved that she wouldn't have to risk the walk home and started to follow him back to his lodging when her stomach growled, she turned bright red. In all the excitement she had forgotten to eat and her stomach had finally decided to remind her of its existence, Spot laughed.

"Tell's ya what, why don't we stop and get you's some food and then we can turn in for the night, yeah?"

Spice again nodded too mortified to actually voice her agreement. And so that night she slept in the Brooklyn lodging house and the next morning Spot took her back to Manhattan, he even made sure that she had been returned to the frantic Racetrack and Cowboy before leaving. She had made sure to thank him and say goodbye, even giving him a hug for everything he had done for her.

Racetrack and Cowboy spent the entire day fussing over her and asking if the Brooklyn boys had done anything to her but she constantly reassured them that she was fine and they treated her well even stating that she and Spot were friends now and that he had said she could come sell with him anytime she wanted. The two didn't believe her but after a while finally let it be, they then scolded her for getting lost and made her promise not to try selling on her own until she was positive she knew her way around. She grudgingly agreed, embarrassed that she couldn't find her own way around but seeing the logic in their request.

It took another three months for her to learn all the ins and outs of Manhattan and another two after that to figure out Brooklyn's streets, as it turned out Spot was serious when he said she could sell with him anytime she wanted and they would usually meet up once or twice every few weeks to sell together. All in all life was good, she loved selling pape's with her friends and even though life was hard at times she had everything she could ever want. And so the years flew by and before she knew it she was a young adult of fifteen living life to its fullest and making the most of every day.

However she's about to take the ride of her life when she, Cowboy, and Racetrack meet a young man named Davey and his younger brother Les.

And so the second chapters up, I just wanted her to meet Spot before the strike so there it is. I don't know if the stories gonna be a Spot/OC or a Racetrack/OC yet I'm kind of waiting to see where the plot takes me. I would LOVE to know what you guys think of the character, even if its bad, please I welcome constructive criticism just no flames.

PLEASE REVIEW I NEED FEEDBACK!

Thanks for reading my story, you rock.

-Ambercat999