AN : Hey, cool! I actually took the first chapter down because I thought it was bad, then I got a bunch of e-mails from people that reviewed it and (gasp!) liked it, so here's… Chapter two? ErP.

Two: Manhattan Will Solve All Problems

Racetrack coughed quietly.

"That's my cigar-" Snipeshooter, sensing trouble, rolled off his bunk and sprinted out of the bunkroom. Kid Blink jumped down a slung an arm around Race's shoulders.

"Hey bummers, we got w- What the hell?" Snipe cackled evilly, hidden away in a corner. Bumlets dropped down from a random fan in the middle of the room.

"Aw, Snipe, ya always ruins everything!" he whined. Race narrowed his eyes and snatched his cigar back. Blink adjusted his eye patch and made his way to the sink, sighing. Other newsies grumbled and began preparing for the day. Meanwhile, a slight form slipped into the room, coming to a stop behind Jack Kelly. Jack, hearing a small noise behind him, turned and whipped shaving cream, chuckling triumphantly. The laugh dissolved into a frown, however, as the form took off his hat, loosing a cascade of sunny blonde hair on strong shoulders.

"Man, perfect shot too," Jack grumbled, looking around to see where Mush was hiding. The routine was all out of order that morning. The girl sighed softly and searched the room for gaping mouths and awed looks. None. No, wait! She smiled hideously to herself and wandered over to Blink, flipping her hair (washed with coconut shampoo!) over her shoulder as she did so. Blink continued to stare at her. Mary was quite satisfied. Maybe Manhattan wouldn't be a disappointment after all - if one newsie fell for her, others would come too! Mary slided up to Blink and leaned on his chest, looking up at his face. Blink continued to stare in the direction from whence she had come, seemingly oblivious to her presence. This continued for a few seconds, until Blink finally snapped out of it and sprinted to the other end of the room, almost knocking Mary to the floor as he did so.

"CAUGHT CHA!" Blink shouted, tackling Swifty to the floor. Swifty struggled valiantly to free himself, but was held fast by Blink's weight.

"I swear I was gonna return it Blink, I swear!"

"Well, then ya won't mind returnin it now, eh?"

"Gerrof of me!" Blink stepped away and waited patiently. Swifty stood up, carefully brushing little bits of dust and dirt off of his vest. Blink glowered. "Ok, ok! Hold yer pants. Jheez." Swifty dug into his vest and came out with twenty cents, which he handed to Blink. "Happy?" Blink snatched the coins greedily.

"Much," he smiled broadly and marched away. Swifty shook his head and continued down the stairs.

Meanwhile, Mary was becoming quite annoyed. After failing to entice any of the newsies, she finally jumped agilely onto one of the top bunks and let out a scream of frustration. Silence reigned. Awkwardness wandered along and decided to become queen.

"Can't you see?" Mary yelled, almost losing her British accent in the process. "I'm a girl! A girl! You're all teenage boys! I'm alone, in your bunkhouse! WHY AREN'T YOU CLIMBING ALL OVER ME! I'M A F-"

"Ahem," Racetrack coughed loudly.

"GIRL!" Silence and Awkwardness had a few children. They ruled the kingdom well. Slow steps were heard coming up the stairs.

"Erhm, what's this? What did I hear?" Kloppman's dusty voice was heard. "A girl in the Lodging House? Oh, no, that can't be allowed. I don't believe that's in my records," he paused, a thoughtful look on his features. "No, no, certainly not. Come along young lady. Not allowed in the boys room," he chuckled, then took Mary by the arm and led her slowly out.

+

This time Mary smothered her scream until she was outside.

"Who cares about Spot Conlon and Jack Kelly anyway?" she asked herself, accent falling easily back into place. "Well, if they won't accept me as a girl… Maybe they'll accept me as a boy! Yes, yes, that's it!" she smiled defiantly and stuck her cap back on her head, somehow piling up her hair so it was almost completely concealed in the small hat. "Now," she murmured. "I'll just find some nice pants, a vest - maybe just a pillowcase, like Swifty. Yes, a pillowcase will work fine." Mary straightened up and strode out into the main street, an elaborate plan quickly forming in her mind.

"They WILL love me, they will!"

+

Eeeeehehehehe. Review, because if you don't then I won't win my bet with Race, so I won't have enough money to keep the fan in Tibby's working, so Bumlet's will fall next time he tries to spin on in, then the Newsies will be short of one character, and basically ALL LIFE WILL FALL INTO CHAOS!