DISCLAIMER I don't own Newsies, or any of the characters that are in Newsies that might be mentioned in this story, I don't own Bittah, Air, Jade, Skater, Spunk or Rubix, they all own themselves.(Jade is owned by Marbles) I do own all the other characters, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Ruby/Shady, and all the other miscellaneous characters mentioned.

NOTE This is my first attempt at fan-fiction, please read and review!

"Give me uh…twenty-five newspapers." Shady mumbled not looking up at the person she was buying papes from.

"Give me twenty-five newspapers sir." Oscar's face leered at her through the bars.

"You!" She exclaimed, stepping back. "I didn't think I'd be seeing you anytime soon." She sneered after taking a moment to compose herself. "S'matter of fact, I thought you might be dead of shame from being beaten by, what was it you called me, oh yes, a hussy."

"No such luck." Oscar sniffed haughtily, "Ruby…" he added in a whisper. "So, did your friends kick you out or something?"

"None of your business slime ball!" Shady retorted angrily. "Just give me my stinking newspapers! Wait…how do you know my name." She demanded suspiciously, "the only people who know are..."

"Well, well, well. If it ain't the little princess." Jade sneered, bumping into Shady as she made her way into the booth. "Looks like you and I are in the same stew now. Gave you the chuck did they? Well, I can't say I didn't see it coming." Jade laughed as she shook her head, hitting Shady in the face with her hair. "I always said from the start…"

"Yeah, I know what you said!" Shady spat back angrily. "Isn't that why you got kicked out? And besides," she sniffed, "I didn't 'get the chuck' as you put it. I…I…I just wanted to try a different profession if it's all the same to you! I was getting tired of always having to beat people up for money, thought I'd…"

"That's not what Oscar told me." Jade laughed, "He told me that Air had to drag you back to the Daggers. Isn't that right my little snookims?" She said, kissing Oscar on the cheek as he blushed furiously.

"I…well it's not true!" Shady shouted, glaring at Jade and the blushing Oscar. "He's been telling you a lot eh? Having a lot of intimate conversations? I never thought you would stoop that low Jade…"

"Hey! What is going on here?" Skittery muttered, craning his neck to see the front of the line. "Why isn't that girl just getting her papes and leaving like everyone else? Huh?" He said, turning to Mush. "Why does she have to hold up the line like this?"

"Hey, don't look at me!" Mush said, glancing up at the girl. "Who is that anyway?"

"Beats me…" Jack said, scratching his head. "I thought I knew every news-girl in town, but I don't know her."

"Oh! That's Shady." David said, squinting at the front of the line. "She's one weird girl…"

"You know her?" Crutchy exclaimed turning to David quickly. "How come you've never introduced us?"

"Well, I met her…once…she sort of spilled her life story to me. She's pretty messed up if you ask me." David held up his hands warningly. "Don't ask me for details; you really don't want to know."

"Think she needs some help?" Crutchy wondered aloud, looking worried. "Maybe one of us should go up there and call the Oscar and Jade off of her."

"Nah…" David cautioned shaking his head, "I don't think you want to go up there Crutch. She's pretty scary." But before he had finished his sentence, Crutchy was already making his way to the front of the line.

"Well fine! Who needs your stinkin papes anyway?" Shady roared, glaring at Oscar through the bars. "What are you lookin at ya crip?" She growled, turning to face Crutchy.

"Hi…" he said, smiling warmly despite Shady's insult, "What seems to be the trouble here?"

"Shove off…" Shady grumbled elbowing her way past Crutchy, throwing nasty looks over her shoulder at Oscar and Jade. Her long strides quickly brought her to the street.

"Hey!" Crutchy called hobbling into the street after her, "Were those two not giving you your papes? I can help you if you want….." he stopped, blinking as Shady turned to him glaring fiercely.

"I don't need your help! I don't need any help from anybody you here?" Shady shouted angrily at Crutchy. "I'm not just a poor defenseless girl, I don't need no help from nobody, I can take care of myself just fine!" She turned to face Crutchy, digging in her pocket for something. "And you can give this back to your friend!" she shrieked throwing the quarter hitting Crutchy in the head.

"Woah…Hey, sorry. I didn't mean any offense." Crutchy said, rubbing the spot on his head where the quarter had hit him. "My name's--" he sputtered staring blankly at the spot where the girl had stood just moments before. He looked left and he looked right, but the girl had disappeared.

"My name's Crutchy…and I think you're the most beautiful girl in the world…" He sighed softly as the early morning work crowd engulfed him.