Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies, plain and simple

Chapter 6

All too soon, rehearsals were over and everyone went back to their respective cabins, but the guys had to wait outside. Again, the girls had to explain who the visitors were as they all got ready for waterfront.

"You guys still aren't swimming?" one of their friends, Alyssa Needhelm, asked Casey and Amanda.

"I'm not even going to waterfront," Casey responded. "I have to go to the Lounge and finish my play." Tonight's evening activity was the presentation of the first round of electives and Casey's was playwriting. But she still was not done typing it.

"So you're gonna leave your boyfriend all alone?" Bella Grunna questioned teasingly, still not over the fact that she and Amanda had boyfriends; boys were also her favorite thing to talk about.

Casey rolled her eyes. "Not with you around. He's coming up with me."

"And Jean, Fiona and I are gonna keep our eyes on the rest of them," Amanda added.

"But right now, we gotta go or we're gonna be late."

They grabbed their towels and walked outside. They saw the boys gathered in the dirt path outside the cabins.

As the group approached, they overheard Race saying, "Yeah, and it toins out dat de nun is dere muddah aftah all and-"

"Hey, hey, don't give the whole story away!" Amanda stopped him explaining Bomb-itty to the others.

"Hey all," Fiona greeted her friends as she and Jean joined with everyone.

"So, what now is 'appenin'?" Jack asked.

"Now is waterfront," Jean explained. "We all go down to the pool to relax after rehearsals."

"Unless you have a play to finish," Casey put in. "So, I'm going up to the Lounge after I check in."

"You're leaving?" David responded, sounding a little nervous about her not being around.

"And I'm bringing you with me." She took his hand. "The rest of you will be in safe hands."

"Guys, we literally have one minute or we'll be late," Amanda stated, checking her watch.

They quickened their pace and got down to the pool and to their respective counselors.

"Liz, I'm going up to the Lounge. Tim told me it was okay," Casey said to their bunk counselor.

"No problem. Is your friend coming?" she pointed to David.

"Yes."

"Alright, you're all set."

"We'll save a seat for you two!" Jean called to them as they walked away.

"So, what did ya think of rehearsal?" Casey asked her "boyfriend" as they made their way to the Lounge in the Main Building.

"You're amazing," he told her. "You're fantastic. And everyone is really good. Especially at that fighting. I mean, jeez."

"And de story?"

"Um…you-you know, Dust is very…um, very…"

"I know it's bad Davey. We all knows dat. You can come out and say it."

"It's not that it's bad. It's just, it's…"

"Bad." He laughed in response. "Oh, Dave, careful. It looks like your wallet's 'bout ta fall out."

He went to his pocket and caught it just in time. "Thanks. Don't wanna lose that." He took it out and held onto it.

"'Ey, dats da one I got ya for your birthday."

"I wouldn't use any other."

Casey noticed a piece of paper sticking out. "What's this?" She pulled it out and looked at it. It was a picture of a 12 year old boy and a 5 year old girl. The boy had thick, brown, curly hair while the girl had medium, wavy, blonde hair. They both had bright blue eyes; but the girl's also had some green. Casey paused in her tracks. She knew immediately who these two were. "Omegod," she whispered.

"Case?" David spoke softly, wondering if she was okay.

"Dey'se so big," her voice breaking a little. "God, what are they?"

"Jamie's 12 and Lucy's 5."

"12 and 5?" I've been gone dat long?" A tear slid down her face.

"Hey, hey," he comforted her, kissing her head. "It's not your fault. And you have been there, in spirit. I can feel you every day. And I'm sure they can too. They know you're always with them."

She sniffed and wiped her eyes. "I ain't gonna be sad 'bout dis," she said more to herself, and then to David as she continued walking, "What are dey like?"

"They're perfect. They're well-behaved, kind, smart. Jamie is a wonderful young man and Lucy is becoming more like you every day." She laughed a little at that. "They go to school Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and sell papers every other day."

"How do dey get along wid de ouddas?"

"They're all best friends. And Jamie watches over Lucy like a hawk, or so he tells me."

"Dose boys don't already 'ave dere eyes on 'er, right?"

"Not yet. But once they do, they're gonna have me and her brother and everyone else to deal with." By this time, they were upstairs in the Lounge.

Casey kissed the picture of her children, then gave it back to David. She sat down at the computer her play was on and started typing what she had written. David stood watching over her shoulder. There were a few others there as well so they couldn't talk too loudly.

"So, what's this play of your about?"

"It's called Mirror, Mirror. It's about a girl in the hospital recovering from anorexia."

He paused. "Case, it's-it's not about-" He touched her arm.

"No," she stopped him. "It's not. I just made it up."

He dropped it, knowing she didn't like to talk about it.

10 minutes later, she was done typing what she already had written; and now she just had to finish it.

"Ugh!" she grunted, putting her head in her hands. "This is impossible!"

"Don't freak out over it," he calmed her, putting his arms around her. "You're smart, you'll think of something."

"I just-but I-I can't-it's just-UGH!"

He chuckled. "Look, just start typing on…whatever this typewriter-ish-thing is, and you'll finish it no problem. Just type whatever comes to your head."

She sighed. "I guess." She thought for a minute and started to type. And it worked, within 25 minutes, her play was done. "Omigod, it's done. I finished!" She stood up and hugged David. "Thank you. That really helped. How did you know to do that?"

"You think I never get writer's block at The Sun?" She smiled and went back to her computer to print out a copy then brought it downstairs to photocopy it.

When she was done, she and David got to head back to the pool to enjoy some of waterfront with their friends.

As they approached their group, they heard Amanda say, "Hey they're back!"

"You finished?" Fiona confirmed as they sat down.

"Yep," Casey smiled. "Thanks to my guy here." She leaned her head on David's shoulder.

"Hey, I just gave you a tip. You did the typing," he gave the credit back. She beamed at him and kissed him sweetly.

"Hey! We don't have ice boxes at camp!" Jean scolded, it meant it as a joke. Those who understood the Tim-reference laughed.

"So, how exactly did you all meet again?" Alyssa asked.

"Well," Fiona started, thinking fast, "the four of us traveled to New York over April Vacation and we…got to…tour the New York Times headquarters. And Alex, Jack, David, Joey and Chris were all interning there."

"Why would you wanna tour the New York Times?"

"Because we were fascinated with newspapers, since, you know, they're diminishing," Casey went on, hoping that what she was pulling out of the air made any sense.

"And what? You and David had love at first sight or something?"

"Yes, yes we did." She rested her head on his shoulder.

"Same with me and Joey," Amanda put in, putting her arm around him.

"And me and Fiona," Spot commented and kissed her head. He didn't notice her tense up.

"Wait, wait. Alex is your boyfriend? What about-?" Alyssa was about to ask about Ethan when Jean stopped her in time.

"I hate all this couple talk. It's any wonder a guy and girl can just be friends with couples getting together left and right."

Alyssa still wasn't distracted. "But I'm still confused about-"

Luckily at that time, the whistle blew, signaling the end of waterfront. Fiona wasted no time grabbing Spot's hand and rushing out of there.

Again, the boys waited outside while the girls got ready for dinner.

"'Ey fellas, is it just me or is AP actin' real weird?" Spot asked his friends.

"She's probably still just recoverin' from da shock of seein' ya. Or she just don't wanna explain da same story ovah and ovah, so dats why she rushed," Race thought.

"Maybe." He turned towards the cabin Wilder and saw someone staring at him. "Who's dat?"

The rest turned and saw the boy who looked away at being noticed.

"Dat's Ethan," Crutchy explained. "He's in Jean's show."

"He got beef wid me or somethin'?"

"I don't see 'ow he could. We ain't even been 'ere a day," Jack said.

"Maybe he likes Fiona or somethin' and he's jealous," Crutchy suggested, knowing he couldn't tell the truth.

Spot couldn't help but think that there was more to the story. He made a mental note to watch him.

I ain't losin' 'er again, was all he could think.

Sorry for the long wait! Writer's block is trying to become my best friend:P

So, just an update for the OCs, thank you so much for everyone who has been submitting! I've gotten way more than I ever thought I would ever get. I'm still not definatly sure about the ones I will be using yet; but as soon as I do I will be sure to let you all know

I'm gonna try to get chaps up faster, but I can promise you that more are coming. Keep reviewing! Love you all!