I do not own Newsies.

I apologize for being MIA. I'm going to school and that is my priority right now. So, I hope you enjoy this chapter and keep with it. I will try my best to continue to update every now and again.

Feedback is what keeps me going!

Chapter 4

David had forgotten how much he missed selling.

After David and Mattie had sold their last pape they headed to Tibby's to talk about Jack's birthday surprise. Mattie had a lot of ideas and David couldn't wait to hear them. However, when they got to the diner Mattie could see the others in the window. She stopped David in his tracks and turned him down a corner.

"What?" David asked.

"Jack's in there. I can't see him right now." She told him and led him down a nearby alley. David didn't pay it any mind and followed her.

In the diner Jack sat in a chair leaning it back dangerously. He hadn't sold very well today. He was too preoccupied. He didn't see either Mattie or David the rest of the day and it bothered him. He was becoming very suspicious of each other's behavior. First Mattie bails on him. Then David offers to talk to his girl. And then they both disappear. It was really weird and Jack didn't like it one bit.

"Hey Cowboy." Race said. "You got something on ya' mind?"

Jack just shrugged, not feeling up to talking. Race lit his cigar taking a long puff. Race's accusation caused all of Jack's friends to look at him. He tried to put on a good face for them, because God knows he didn't need their advice. None of them had a relationship like Jack had with Mattie. They would only make things worse.

"C'mon Jack. You can tell us." Kid Blink encouraged. Jack still said nothing.

"Yeah Jacky boy. Tell us your deep dark secret." Crutchy said. Jack smiled at their antics. He finally sighed giving in.

"Mattie's been acting weird all day." Jack admitted. It actually felt good to get it off his chest. The boys nodded or mumbled something. Jack just stared at his shoes. It was Crutchy who patted him on the back.

"She didn't get much sleep last night. She's probably just tired." Crutchy said, always the one who looked on the bright side.

"Or maybe she's mad at ya'." Skittery, the one who was always negative, suggested. Racetrack thumped the boy on the back of the head, knocking off the boys hat. "Sorry."

"Did she say anything to you?" Mush asked.

"She told me she was fine. But you know how she is." Jack shrugged. Mush's mouth went into a line as he nodded. "I just… I feel like I did something."

"If you did something wrong Dimples would let you know." Race said taking a puff from his cigar. The other boys agreed. "Just give her some space."

"Yeah. Yeah maybe she needs to be alone." Jack agreed feeling slightly better. Talking with the guys wasn't as bad as he thought. They actually had mature ideals now. Maybe they were all growing up.

"I saw her selling with Davey today." Snipeshooter, who had been listening, told them. All eyes shot to the younger boy then to Jack. Jack looked emotionless, but inside he was exploding. David had said he would talk to her and turns out he was selling with her. He obviously didn't accomplish anything even if he did talk to Mattie about Jack.

Jack stood up, knocking over his chair in the process. He angrily stomped out of the restaurant and out into the street. He didn't turn or acknowledge that his friends were calling him. He wanted to be alone. If she wanted space, he'd give her space. If she would rather be with David, well he wouldn't let that slide. If she was going to go around behind his back, he could play that game.

He would never admit it but as Jack stormed away he angrily wiped away one tear from his eye.

Mattie and David had found themselves at Medda's. After talking about a venue to have the party at, David suggested Medda's. She would do anything for them especially if it was about Jack. David relished it when Mattie called him a genius. David knocked on the back stage door, but Mattie just opened it. She led down the long hallway to backstage. The show was just ending and everyone was taking their bows. Medda, dressed in a dark green ensemble took her bow. She was still just as graceful as Mattie remembered.

When the cast came off the stage after the applause ended Medda came backstage last. She had a large smile on her face and her red curls were in an elegant bun. She told her cast and backstage workers congratulations on a great show and to get lots of rest; they had another show tomorrow. The crowds of people pushed Mattie and David around until they were crammed into a small corner. They were very close for comfort, but David was the only one who seemed to notice. Mattie just pushed her way back through. She then grabbed David's arm pulling him along.

Once the crowd dispersed Medda was in sight. Her back was to them and Mattie made her way closer. Medda was in a deep conversation with one of her stage hands. Mattie and David waited patiently until she was done. Her stagehand pointed behind her and Medda turned around confused. However, she recognized the two youngsters in a second. She squealed throwing her arms around Mattie.

"Hey Medda." Mattie said amused. Medda pulled back looking her over.

"How is it that every time I see you, you get more beautiful?" Medda asked. Mattie blushed rolling her eyes. Medda then placed a kiss on David's cheek. "What do I owe this pleasure?"

"Well, we had a question." David initiated. Medda looked at the two expectantly as she gathered lone costumes. She began walking toward her dressing room urging both newsies to follow her. They followed her into the lavish dressing room.

"Sit. Sit." Medda urged. The two followed her orders sitting in the nicest chairs they had ever sat in. Medda sat in her chair cross-legged with her hand gently rested on the arm rest. She held her chin thoughtfully. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, you know Jack's birthday is coming up." Mattie began. Medda smiled clapping her hands.

"How is Kelly?" She asked. Medda had always had a soft spot for the Manhattan leader. Mattie grinned at Medda's excitement.

"He's fine." Mattie said trying to get back to the matter at hand.

"And he's going to be how old? 18?" She asked. Mattie nodded. "You all are growing up too fast."

Mattie smiled at the eccentric woman. Medda had always been good to the newsies. She was one of the only adults that ever gave them respect up until the time of the strike. And even then she was as sweet as could be. Mattie had never seen Medda mad. She was one of those people that looked on the bright side, kind of like Crutchy. Medda loved her little vaudeville too. Oh man did she love that theater. She wouldn't give that place up for the whole world.

"Medda… We were wondering if… well we wanna' have a surprise birthday celebration for Jack." David said. Medda grinned largely.

"A party! I love parties!" She said. "And if it's for Cowboy I'll give ya' anything you need."

"Can we use the theater for his party?" Mattie came right out and asked. Medda stared at the two or a long while before smiling with her teeth.

"Of course baby." She said. Mattie mimicked her smile and stood up to hug the woman.

"Thank you." Mattie whispered in the red heads ear. Medda pulled back looking at the young woman before her.

"Anything for my favorite girl." Medda said. Mattie and David thanked her once more before they headed out. It was dark when they came out from the theater. There weren't that many people on the street anymore and everything was quiet.

"Do you need me to walk you home?" David offered. Mattie waved him off.

"I'll be fine Dave." Mattie replied. David nodded and was about to head in the opposite direction when Mattie stopped him. She pulled him into a bone crushing hug. "Thank you."

"For what?" David asked, stunned. She pulled back and smiled at him. His blue eyes were sparkling and his mouth was in a confused smile.

"Everything." She said. David's smile grew before he released her. "Goodnight!"

"Night Mattie." He called over his shoulder. Mattie sighed happily before turning on her heel and heading for home.

The dark never bothered Mattie. She wasn't afraid of it or what lurked around. Besides there wasn't anyone around anyway, and if there were she would beat them to a pulp if they tried anything. She just wanted to get home and sleep. She wondered if Jack was already in bed.

Jack.

She hadn't seen him since this morning, and after what David had told her she wondered if escaping from him was a good idea. She had to speak to him some time. It wasn't actually talking to him that made her nervous. It was what she would say that made her want to vomit.

She couldn't yell at him because that would be very childish and selfish of her. He didn't do anything wrong. But then she couldn't baby him either. He had hurt her feelings and he should know. Either way she looked insane. She just couldn't win. She wanted to tell him she loved him and have him say the same. She wanted everything to go back to normal. Then again she and Jack and never been 'normal.' Their relationship, even as friends, had always been different. No one but them could understand it.

"Leave me alone!" A shout from Mattie's right made her stop. It was a female voice, coming from a dead end dark alley. Everything about the situation was screaming at Mattie to move on, but something pulled her to the entrance of the alley.

A young girl no older than 16 was pressed up against the brick wall behind her. Surrounding were three scantily clad women, ones that worked this street. Mattie knew that they were street girls, prostitutes. She could tell by the way they were dressed and the strong perfume they wore. The girl pressed to the wall wasn't a street girl. From what Mattie could see in the dark she looked pretty clean and nicely dressed.

"Are you trying to move in on our clients?" One woman with a raspy voice said to the girl. The girl shook her head, trembling with fear. Mattie took a few steps closer trying to assess what she should do.

"Then why are you on our street at this time of night?" Another woman said to the girl. Mattie could see the girls lip trembling as she found her voice.

"I'm just on my way home. Honest." She replied a slight English accent to her voice. Mattie assumed that this girl was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Well, since you done scared off my dinner how about you give us something of yours." The first woman suggested. The girl stood there in shock not knowing what to say or do. "Did you hear me?"

The first woman grabbed the girl by her dark hair and pulled. The girl shrieked reaching for her hair. The three women started laughing evilly, until their heard a throat clearing. All three prostitutes and the girl looked up, seeing Mattie standing there. She had her arms crossed over her chest in a way to look more intimidating.

"What do you want?" The woman who had a hold on the girl spat. The girl looked at Mattie with large eyes. Something about those eyes were familiar to her, something that made her want to reach out.

"Well you could start by letting her go." Mattie replied, not showing any fear. These women were nothing to Mattie. They were skin and bones, Mattie could take them. The woman let out a laugh so loud Mattie swore she was a banshee.

"This isn't any of your business. So why don't you run on home." The woman suggested, followed by laughter from her two sidekicks. Mattie found herself chuckling too.

"Well, you see. I can't do that." Mattie told her. "Because now that I've gotten involved, it is my business."

"Please help me." The girl whimpered. Mattie looked down to her for a second.

"Quiet you!" The woman yelled at her, yanking on her hair. The girl shrieked again, tears pouring from her eyes. Mattie set a glare to the woman. "Well what are you going to do about it sweetheart?"

Mattie smirked as she began rolling up her sleeves. The women watched her carefully, calculating her next move. Mattie then cracked her neck and knuckles, a tactic Race taught her to make her look tough. The leader started laughing at Mattie's little display followed by the two lackeys. The girl looked at Mattie, silently begging her to help her. Mattie nodded, silently promising to get her out of there.

"You think you can take all three of us?" The second woman spoke up. Mattie let out a taunting laugh. She took two dangerous step towards the three women.

"No." Mattie admitted. "But I move so fast you won't even see me."

"Huh?" The second woman said before Mattie was on top of her. Mattie sent a punch to the woman's jaw, not bothering to notice the pain shooting up her hand. She squirmed under her trying to get her hands on her. The other two women screamed, not knowing what to do. Matte landed another punch to the woman's cheek.

Then the third woman grabbed Mattie pulling her off of the woman holding her face on the ground. Mattie sent her elbow into the woman's stomach and then bounced her knuckle off of the woman's nose, cracking it. The second woman stood up, eyes burning with fury. She tackled Mattie to the ground. She straddled Mattie's chest slapping Mattie on the cheek. Mattie brought her legs up and wrapped them around the woman's neck. The woman gagged as Mattie pulled her down effortlessly.

Mattie stood up looking at what she had done. In the time she had fought the other two off the one holding onto the girl had let her go and ran away. She must have realized it wasn't worth it. She needed whatever looks she had to get her next meal. A broken nose wouldn't get her that. The girl laid on the ground trembling and tears rolling down her face. Mattie sighed leaning down and looking her over. Other than her hair coming from its elegant up do, she looked unharmed.

"Are you alright?" Mattie asked her. The girl met her gaze and something went through Mattie. That same sign of recognition pulsed in Mattie's body. But she had never seen this girl before. Her dark eyes just seemed so familiar though.

"I'm… I'm f-fine." The girl said through her tears. Mattie stood up straight and held her hand out. The girl took her hand gingerly. Mattie pulled her up and nodded. Then she turned on her heel and began to walk away. "Wait!"

Mattie didn't wait though, she had to get home. In the moment that smack to the cheek hadn't hurt, but now it was stinging. She also hit pretty hard on the cobblestone when the woman tackled her. Her hand was throbbing and could use some ice to make it heal faster. She just wanted to be in her own bed where she could forget this whole thing happened.

"Excuse me!" The girl said. Mattie rolled her eyes. Politeness wasn't going to make her stop. Mattie could hear the girl's heels clicking behind her as she followed Mattie. Soon the girl was beside Mattie holding up her dress so she wouldn't trip. "May I speak with you?"

"No." Mattie replied rudely. She wasn't in the mood for this. Normally Mattie wouldn't be this rude, but she had had enough for one night.

"Why not?" She girl asked her. Mattie just shrugged as she continued to walk. The girl was struggling to keep up, her heels clicking up a storm. "Please I just want to properly thank you."

"You're Welcome." Mattie muttered. The girl huffed grabbing Mattie by the arm. Mattie halted in her tracks as she turned dangerously to the girl. She was out of breath from trying to keep up. The girl didn't look afraid of Mattie, well not completely. "Do you want to keep that hand?"

"Sorry." The girl apologized, releasing Mattie's arm. "I just want to thank you. You saved my life."

"They weren't going to kill you." Mattie told her. The girl looked at Mattie incredulously.

"They could have!" The girl said defensive. Mattie laughed rolling her eyes.

"With what? Their ugliness?" Mattie asked. The girl forced a laugh and Mattie just scoffed. She tried to begin walking again but the girl caught her again. "I'm getting really tired of you doing that."

"Then stop trying to walk away." The girl said boldly. Mattie blinked not believing that the girl had the guts. The two had a stare down. Neither was giving up so easily. Where had Mattie seen those eyes before? They were kind of hazel, brown with a little green in them. It seemed so easy to place them, but then she couldn't. It bothered her.

"Fine." Mattie sighed. "What do you want?"

The girl stood there for a second surprised that Mattie had given in. She took in a deep breath before putting on a large smile. She held out her cream colored hand to Mattie. Mattie stared at the hand then back to the girl.

"I'm Eleanor La Valle." She said he hand still extended. When she realized Mattie wasn't going to shake her hand she lowered it.

"Great. Can I go now?" Mattie asked. The girl huffed tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Mattie found herself amused by this girl's frustration. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"May I know the name of my rescuer?" Eleanor asked. Mattie seemed to think about it before she answered.

"No." She replied turning on her heel and marching away. The girl kept up with her this time, a new found confidence in her step.

"Why not?" She asked.

"You ask a lot of questions don't you?" Mattie replied. Eleanor laughed sending a spark of annoyance through Mattie.

"I've been told that more than once. In fact, my mother says I talk too much. And well sometimes I tend to ramble and I don't know I'm doing it until someone says something-" Eleanor explained.

"You're doing it." Mattie told her. Eleanor laughed once again, cause Mattie to roll her eyes. The boarding house wasn't far, but it felt like a lifetime with this girl following her.

"So where do you live?" Eleanor asked.

"Manhattan." Mattie replied. Eleanor giggled once more. Mattie swore if she did it again she was going to tear her tongue out. This was why Mattie didn't get along with girls. You save them once and they won't go away.

"You're so funny." Eleanor said. "I meant where-"

"I know what you meant." Mattie said feeling a headache coming on. With this girls laughter and the clicking of her shoes Mattie thought her head was going to explode. She couldn't wait to slam the door in her face when she got to the boarding house. Mattie would sickly enjoy the idea of this girls face so confused being slammed in a door. This is what Mattie got for helping people.

"Oh… well… let me cut to the chase." Eleanor said.

"Finally." Mattie muttered.

"What?" Eleanor asked.

"Nothing. Just get to it." Mattie replied. Eleanor was pleasantly surprised that Mattie stopped on her own accord. She smiled at the dark girl standing in front of her and reached for her purse. "What are you doing?"

"I want to repay you for saving me." Eleanor said pulling out a thick wad of cash. Bills. Dollar bills. Mattie had never seen that much money in all of her 17 years. Eleanor counted out a sum that she thought suited the deed and handed it to Mattie. Mattie just stood there dumbfounded as she stared at it. Eleanor stood there expectantly. "Well take it."

"All that just because I stopped some whore from pulling your hair?" Mattie asked stupidly. Eleanor nodded wildly. Mattie stared at the bills and sighed. "I don't want it."

Eleanor let out a loud laugh, even throwing her head back. Mattie stood there glaring at her as Eleanor laughed at her. When the laughing stopped she just stared at Mattie, as if she was shocked someone didn't want her money. Mattie just started walking again.

"Of course you want it. Please I insist." Eleanor said waving the bills in Mattie's face. Mattie rolled her eyes but said nothing. "You have to take it."

Mattie turned so quick that Eleanor almost bumped into her. Mattie's eyes were burning in anger and annoyance. She wanted to be home. She wanted this girl to leave her alone. She wanted Jack. She didn't want this girl's money, not for something that any right minded person would do.

"I don't want it." Mattie repeated putting emphasis on every word. Eleanor just stood there dumbfounded and shocked. No one had ever refused her payment. This was very new to the rich girl.

"I must repay you. I would feel ultimate guilt if I did not." Eleanor admitted. Mattie stood there with her arms crossed.

"I didn't do anything a good person wouldn't. I don't want your money." Mattie said. Eleanor just stood there her money in hand as Mattie turned and walked the short distance to the steps of the boarding house. "Go home Eleanor."

Eleanor forgot she had been standing there and blinked. She watched as her savior opened the front door of The Newsboy Lodging House. Before she got inside Eleanor took her last chance.

"May I please know your name?" Eleanor asked. Mattie stopped in her tracks and turned. The young girl was looking at Mattie hopefully. Mattie sighed.

"They call me Dimples." Mattie said. Eleanor opened her mouth to say something but Mattie had shut the door.