Got some new favorites! Thank you all of you who have reviewed and followed my story! I don't own anyone but Rose… I wish I owned Newsies, but all I own is a cat, a cat who almost owns me half the time.

"Sometimes lying is necessary, it just depends on why you're lying." –Unknown

"Are you selling with David and I today Jewel?" Jack asked.

"Yep, I wanna see how Curls does." I said, lifting the papes onto my shoulder. They were extremely heavy, and hard for me to carry.

"It's David. So what's your name uh, Jewel?"

"Oh, sorry Curls, the name's Rose Kelly. Call me Jewel or Rose but don't call me Princess."

"Yeah, dat name is Morris' nickname for her."

"He's not supposed to, but da tightwad still does!" she snapped angrily.

"What do you have against being called princess?"

"Well, an old friend of mine from the Lodging House would always call me that. When he left I kinda felt sad about the whole thing. That, and Morris uses it as an insult." She said, walking with him and trying to look through her papes without being too obvious.

"So how does all of this work?" he asked, seeing that I was done with the topic. I looked through the paper and finally found what I was looking for. It was just a simple scrap of paper with big, slanted handwriting holding Oscar's answer. I shoved it in my pocket, thankfully unnoticed by any of the boys.

"The name of the game is volume, Dave. You only took twenty papes. Why?" Jack asked.

"Bad headline." David replied matter-of-factly.

"That's the first thing you gotta learn. Headlines don't sell papes, newsies sell papes. You know, we're what holds this town together. Without newsies, nobody knows nothing." Jack said as I mouthed along beside him. It was Jack's speech, he told it to everybody.

"Ooh, goil one o' clock!" Someone muttered and all of the boys took their hats off to her. She hurried past barely giving a single glance to any of the boys.

"Baby born with three heads!" Specs yelled, breaking the silence brought by the girl. I laughed as David looked at him in confusion.

"C'mon, we'll go to where the fights are. I'm sure there'll be people willing to buy these headlines." Jack said, and I motioned for David to follow.

"It's not that far of a walk Curls and it has lots of people willing to buy a pape." I told David as we walked. Les was chatting with Jack happily has we walked.

"Would you not call me that?"

"Why, every newsie has a nickname. Whether it be an old job, a hobby, or a dream we build ourselves on it."

"Where'd you get the name Jewel from? I mean, you'd think Rose would be the nickname because of your necklace."

"What necklace?" Jack asked, jumping into our conversation. He looked at the chain around my neck in surprise. "Where'd ya get this Jewel?"

"I found it in an alley last night, I thought I'd start wearing it."

"Yeah 'found it', that's what happened." David snorted.

"Yeah, I found it, you got anything to say Curls." I snapped. It wasn't a complete lie, I did get it in an alley last night. He just chuckled and shook his head. "Dat's what I thought."

"Ah, cool it Jewel, Davey didn't mean anything by it." Jack said quickly. It makes me so mad when people jump to conclusions about me, and Jack knows about it.

"'Why is your name Jewel?" Les asked.

"It's a secret." I said, putting a finger to my lips.

"Why?" he asked.

"Cause kid, all of the cops are after me, and that's my codename to keep me safe." I said, and the kid looked at me in wonder.

"Its cause when she came here her eyes were greener than hazel, making 'em look like emerald jewels." Jack said, stealing my hat off of my head.

"Hey!" I said, taking my hat back, "I don't go around telling your secrets."

"Rose, it's not really a secret." David said, motioning to Jack, wearing his cowboy hat and red bandana.

"Eh, he's had it for so long I don't even see it most of the time." I said.

"How long have you been newsies? You act like it's been a long time."

"I've been a newsie since I was almost five years old and Jack was seven, so a little over ten years."

"Young sells papers, especially a little girl like Rose." Jack said, putting an arm around my shoulders.

"Yeah, but at least I can count my own papers now. The only thing that stayed the same was the fact that the Delancey are still a couple of tightwads."

"Ten years? You've been newsies for that long?"

"Yeah, here we are." I said as we walked up to the big ring. The men were beating each other, making Jack and the Delancy's fights look pitiful. I'm pretty sure the rules were the winner was the first one that knocks the other out, but I was never sure. People cheered and yelled, and Jack told Les how to get the most papes sold.

"Just yell out the headline Curls, I gotta go sell some if I want to keep off of the streets." I said, walking to the edge of the crowd. I slipped the note out of my pocket and opened it.

My Irish Rose,

I can meet tonight, same place every night. The necklace looks wonderful on you. Don't dress too fancy tonight.

Love,

Oscar

I smiled as I read it, wondering what he had in mind. He always did things like this, we weren't bound to our little dirty alleyway. Oscar sometimes would take me on a roof or sit on the Brooklyn Bridge. We would laugh and talk, trying to forget about what was happening between our families. I stood up and shoved the paper deep into my pocket. I stood up and walked over to a woman with fancy clothing on.

"M-miss, I don't want to be a bother, but do you want to buy a pape." I asked, waiting for her speech.

"Young Lady, what are you wearing? It's shameful how girls these days think that they can wear whatever they want. Why, my father would whip me for going out in pants, let alone a boy's shirt. Haven't you ever heard of being a lady?" she yelled angrily.

"I'm sorry ma'am," I said, bringing up some tears, something that Medda taught me, "It's just that my father died and I only have my brother's clothing to keep me warm. I want a dress, but mine are all too small for me to wear. I need to sell these papes to get a dress to wear. I'm sorry to disturb you, I'll just go." I said, turning around. My face was wet with the tears, I was so close.

"No, I'll buy a paper, you just keep the change." She said, giving me a dime. She was rich, probably a lawyer or judge's wife.

"Thank you ma'am, thank you so much!" I said, bringing up a fresh set of tears.

"You're welcome child." She said, walking away to wherever she was going before. I giggled and wiped my tears away, easy money. Put on a pretty face for a rich woman, cry a little and tell a sob story, and you'll have your money. I waited for a second before smiling.

"Extra! Extra! Woman Found Dead in Apartment!" I yelled, and a few men came over. I handed them their papes and took the three cents."

"Hey! This story ain't in here!" a man yelled, and the other two agreed.

"Oh, sorry sirs, it must have been a printing error, very rare! It a collector's item, might be worth more years from now." I said, shaking my head.

"Well, I'll just keep it then. Thank you miss." He said, and they all left. Two papers and I already have fourteen cents.

"Extra! Extra! Trolley strike drags on!" David yelled. I rolled my eyes, he wasn't very good.

"Extra! Extra! Ellis Island in flames!" Jack yelled, catching the ears of a few people. He gave them the papes the walked off, hoping to get new people to buy.

"Wait, where's that story?" David asked a confused expression on his face.

"Thank you sir, page nine. Thousands flee in panic. Thank you. Much obliged to you ladies." Jack said, giving them a charming smile.

"'Trash Fire Next To Immigration Building Terrifies Seagulls'?" he asked, an annoyed expression on his face.

"Terrified flight of inferno! Thousands of lives at stake! Extra! Extra! Thank you sir. Extra! Extra!" Jack yelled, getting more and more customers. Les came back from the back, a little too excited.

"Jewel, I saw you back there, that was great, that lady actually believed you." Les said, smiling as big as he could.

"Thanks Les, you'll learn how to sell more papes soon." I said.

"Wait what? Why are your eyes red?"

"I j-just needed to sell a pape or two." I said, tears filling my eyes. Curls looked like he had no idea what to do, so he just stuttered out an apology. Jack was practically doubled over laughing at David.

"Jewel, stop you're scaring him. Jewel can turn the tears on and off, she uses it to her advantage." I wiped the tears away, blinking to clear the red away.

"Hey Les, you staying in the back like I told you? Show me how you do it."

"Buy me last pape, mistah?" Les said, faking a cough.

"It's heartbreaking kid. Go get 'em."

"My father taught us not to lie." Curls said, trying to act all noble.

"Well, mine told me not to starve, so we both got an education." Jack said, rolling his eyes.

"That ain't gonna help you Curls, ya gotta do things dat aren't nice." I said.

"You're just making up things, all these headlines." David said, looking unsure.

"I don't do nothing the guys who write it don't do. Anyway, it's not lying, it's just improving the truth little." Jack said, and I nodded in agreement.

"David, you gotta lie sometimes, but it's worth it when you have food and a home." I said as Les walked up to us.

"The guy gave me a quarter. Quick, give me some more last papers."

Damn the kid must have been a good actor I thought until I smelled him.

"Wait, wait. You smell like beer." David said, checking on his little brother.

"Well, that's how I made the quarter. The guy bet me I wouldn't drink some." He said, and I glared at Jack. This is why you never send ten year old's on their own. Curls looked like he was thinking about the best way to kill Jack.

"Hey, no drinking on the job, it's bad for business. And what if somebody called the cop on you?" Jack said, trying to play it off as a joke. I noticed David looking at someone and followed his gaze. My blood ran cold as I saw an older man looking at us.

"Jack? We'se gotta go!" I said, elbowing him in the stomache.

"Is he a friend of your's?" David asked.

"Beat it! It's the bulls!" Jack yelled, grabbing my wrist and running. I pulled David a little and helped him start running.

"All this over one sip of beer?" poor Les cried as David pulled him along.

Jack led us through an alleyway, mine and Oscar's alleyway, and into a building. We ran up the stairs and almost tripped on a man sleeping on the steps. Warden Snyder was following after us, tripping and falling as Jack threw the door open. He led me to a ledge, and we jumped off, yelling as we hit the ground. I pressed myself against the wall, praying that Curls would hurry. He ran to me, trying to ask questions as Jack shushed him.

"Sullivan! Wait till I get you back to the Refuge!" he yelled, and a door slammed nearby. Jack pulled me to my feet and we ran a little more. We reached Irving Hall right as David stopped, panting. As David started to bombard us with questions Jack opened the door and we walked inside.

"I want some answers. Who was he and why was he chasing you? And what is this Refuge?" he said, gasping for breath.

"The Refuge is a jail for kids. That guy chasing me was Snyder, the warden."

"You were in jail?" Les asked.

"Yeah." Jack answered, and I put my arm around his shoulders. I knew Jack had some bad memories from there, and I hoped he wouldn't think too hard about them.

"Why?"

"Well, I was starving, so I stole some food." Jack said, and I remembered that day. We didn't have much, we had only been newsies for about four years. He grabbed some bread and was caught. He took the hits and told me to run. I ran all the way to Brooklyn at eight years old and was led back by a scrawny little blue eyed boy. I didn't know his name, just that his name was Spot.

"Food?" David asked.

"Yeah, food." Jack answered.

"He called you Sullivan."

"Well, my name's Kelly. Jack Kelly. You think I'm lying?" Jack said, and I looked away.

"Well, you have a way of improving the truth. Why was he chasing you?"

"'Cause I escaped." Jack said.

"Oh boy! How?" Les said, almost bouncing with excitement. The kid was excitable, almost bouncing off of the walls.

"Well, this big shot gave me a ride out in his carriage." Jack said, and I had to fight to keep from laughing. It wasn't a complete lie, he did ride a carriage out.

"I bet it was the mayor."

"Nope, not him." I said, looking at the changes in backstage. I hadn't been here in a while, and I can't say I didn't miss it.

"No, Teddy Roosevelt. You ever heard of him?"

"What's going on there? Out! Out! Out!" A female voice yelled, swiping her feathered fan at us.

"You wouldn't kick me out without a kiss goodbye, wouldja Medda?" Jack asked.

"I guess we'll just be off then." I said, faking a tear.

"Oh Kelly. Where ya been, kids? Oh, I miss seeing you two up in the balcony."

"Hanging on your every word." Jack said, as he kissed her hand.

"I've missed coming here." I said as I hugged her.

"So Medda, this is David and Les." Jack introduced the boys.

"Hello David, are you Rose's-"she started to say to David, but I cut her off.

"I'm still single Medda, we just met today." I said.

"And this is the greatest star of the vaudeville stage today, Miss Medda Larkson, the Swedish Meadowlark." Jack said before we could continue. Medda had been trying to set me up with a boy, too bad I already had one, and had been dating him since five months before my thirteenth birthday.

"Welcome, gentlemen." She said, bowing to the boys.

"Medda also owns the joint." Jack informed the boys.

"Oh, what do we have here? Oh, aren't you the cutest little thing that ever was? Yes you are." She said when she saw Les. Les looked up at her and started coughing.

"Oh, are you alright?"

"Buy me last pape, lady?" Les said, putting on his most innocent face.

"Oh, you are good. Oh yes, this kid is really good. Speaking as one professional to another, I'd say you have a great future." She said, laughing at the little boy.

"So, is it alright if we stay here for a little while, Medda? Just until a little problem outside goes away." Jack asked.

"Please Medda?" I said.

"Sure, stay as long as you like. Toby, just give my guests whatever they want." She said, and Les went on to ransack the candy bin. I grabbed some licorice for Oscar, it was his favorite.

"And now gents, the moment you've all been waiting for: The sensational songbird, The Swedish Meadowlark, Miss Medda Larkson." The announcer said, and the house cheered.

"My lovey dovey baby I boo-hoo-hoo for you

I used to be your tootsie-wootsie

Then you said 'tooldle-dedoo'

I miss the hanky-panky

Each nighty-night til three

Come back my lovey dovey baby

And coochie-coo with me!" Medda sang, and David looked shell-shocked.Jack hung onto one of the ropes from backstage and I smiled. I really had missed hearing her sing. We had to leave though, David had a home to get back to, and I had Oscar.

"So, you like that?" Jack asked.

"Oh, I loved that. I loved it. It was great. She is beautiful. How do you know her?" David asked, looking like he had just been in heaven.

"She was a friend of me fadder's," Jack said, sitting on one of the chairs, "Come on, Les, you wanna shine me shoes for me?"

"Oh, it's getting late. My parents are going to be worried. What about your's?" David said after checking his watch.

"Nah, they're out west looking for a place to live, like this." Jack said as he pulled a storybook out of his pocket. "See, that's Santa Fe, New Mexico. As soon as they find the right ranch, they're gonna send for me and Rose."

"Then you'll be a real cowboy."

"It'll be happening soon." I said.

"Yup."

Before I could keep talking a crash exploded from a nearby street. We ran over and saw men beating each other up in the street. The police yelled and tried to break the riot up, but to no avail.

"Jack! Why don't we go to my place and divi up? You can meet my folks." David said over the noise of the riot.

"It's the trolley strike, Dave. These couple of dumb-asses must not have joined or something." Jack said, looking really excited. I was getting nervous though, too much violence for me.

"Jack, this looks like it's only going ta get worse!" I yelled, pulling on his arm.

"Jack, Rose is right, let's get out of here."

"So, maybe we'll get a good headline tomorrow." He said, noticing Les sleeping on a bench, "Look at this, he slept the whole way through it."

Jack picked les up and followed David to his house. I followed and reflected on our close call with Snyder. If only I knew it wouldn't be our last.