Normal POV

Jack rolled over in his bed, and resisted the urge to fall back asleep. There was so much that had to be done today, and if he stayed in bed any longer he would surely get chewed out by Cherry. Even though he was going to get yelled at anyway, he still didn't want to get on her bad side. Every year Cherry insisted that she was old enough to go to the party with a "real date" and not her older brother. Sure, Jack trusted his newsies; it was just comforting, knowing that she got to the party safely. Once they were at the party he didn't really care what happened, considering she only danced with a 'hattan boy. Brooklyn boys tend to get a little frisky, and no matter how many times Jack told Spot to talk to his boys, he just looked the other way. The Brooklyn boys were also referred to as the fighting Irish, because of their love for drinking and their quick tempers. He guiltily looked over at Kat, and wondered if she knew about Medda's, or if she had a date. A bunch of the guys wanted to go with her, but Jack discouraged them, thinking that she would feel uncomfortable considering her situation. A shiver ran through his body as he thought of what Kat had been through. Had it really been only 2 days since him and Race found her sleeping in an alley? Luckily for her, they found Kat before any other boys did. Not all newsies are as nice as they are.

"So um, what time are you going to Medda's?" Kat's voice came from the other side of the room, and made Jack jump. He took her in as quickly as he could, not wanting to seem rude by staring. Her chocolate brown hair was tousled, and her blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight shining through the window. He had never seen anyone more beautiful, and for the first time he found himself speechless.

"Um, well uh 'round 8 I guess. But Medda don't start singing till round 9, sos that gives us enough time ta mingle wit tha otha boroughs. Don't worry thought, youse can stick wit me an Cherry." She looked down at the ground at the mention of Cherry, and he smirked in spite of himself. Aw she's jealous of me and Cherry. I'm definitely askin her ta dance tonight.

"Actually, I have a date, but I have to tell Spot what time you all are leaving. But I'm going to Medda's today to get ready at around 5, do you think that's enough time?"

"Uh, sure, but when did Spot ask ya? Didn't ya member what I'se told ya? Ya shouldn't be running 'round wit him." Jack became angrier as he continued speaking. The thought of him and Kat together made his head spin, and he knew that when Spot got some liquor in him he got crazy.

"Oh I'm not going with Spot silly, I'm going with Prince. Spot said he was asking if I was going with anybody and since I'm not, I figured that he would be a good date. Do you know of him?" She seemed so desperate to please him it made him feel ashamed for being angry. But Prince was a known player, and he was Spot's second in command, meaning he was just at worse at Spot. Prince would try anything to get Kat alone, and she was so innocent that it pained Jack just thinking about all the things that could happen.

"Oh uh yeah I know him, he's a nice kid. Youse is gonna have a great time, but ya gotta save me a dance, okay?" If he could get Kat alone for one dance, then she could try and get her to leave. He took off his shirt, and started digging around for another one. Kat had gotten used to seeing boys walk around 

without shirts on, and she had told him that he didn't need to get changed in the stairwell anymore. As he was digging, he heard Kat get up and cross the room until she was right behind him. If he straightened, he would be crushed between her and the wall. Her hand ran across his back and sent shivers from his head to his toes.

"Jack, what happened?" He knew she was going to ask about it; a scar running across his lower back from a fight two years ago. He closed his eyes, savoring her touch, the way her fingers gently moved from one side to the other in a smooth rhythm. The gentleness in her voice sent his spine tingling, and he could have stayed like that forever.

"I was in a fight a couple years back, before I became the leader of 'hattan. Coupla guys jumped me afta I'se sold all me papes, and one of 'em threw me inta tha air like I was some doll. When I'se was on my way back down I caught the fire escape. Cut me wide open, but no serious damage was done." He smiled, remembering how after he had healed, him, Racetrack, and Kid Blink had tracked them all down and soaked 'em senseless. When he became leader none of them showed their faces again.

"Who was it? I hope you informed the police- I mean the bulls." Kat had caught on to their slang quickly, but still needed to work on her accent. Jack didn't want to tell her that the bulls didn't care whether he lived or died, as long as he did it without causing a scene.

"Uh let's see, dere was this guy Lucky, this guy Snipa, and…" He knew he couldn't say the last name without frightening her, but if she knew then she could protect herself.

"Who? Who was the last person? Was it Prince? Is that what you're trying to say?" Her blue eyes widened with fear, and her lower lip started to tremble. "Of course it has to be my date, and I was really looking forward to meeting him!"Jack chuckled, and shook his head.

"Nah, it wasn't Prince. Ta tell tha truth, Prince was tha one that told us wheah the scabs was hidin. Yeah he's okay that kid. But uh, tha last poihson was Brick. That's why me an him don't get along to well, and why he cheesed it when I'se came down tha otha night. He had come ova ta apologize, but I'se knew what was up. He's a boid for Queens, Spot told me he was ova in Brooklyn tryin ta sell it ta them. But he's too well known ta be a boid. That wasn't a smart call on their part." At the mention of Brick's name, Kat felt all the blood drain from her face. Ever since that night that he came after her, she had forced herself to forget about him. The room started spinning, and she slowly sank to the ground.

"Jack…Jack I can't breathe. Please tell me Brick isn't going to be at the party tonight." She felt Jack's hands pulling her up, and holding her close to his body.

"Kat, I swear that nothing bad will happen to you eva again. Even if he is there tonight, no one would let him touch ya. Do ya really think that he just walks around gettin away wit attacking defenseless goils? All a tha guys wanted ta kill for attacking me goil." Kat's eyes widened in surprise.

"Your girl? Who else did he attack?"

"Uh, well only you, but I'se meant like cos youse a 'hattan goil, youse one a me goils…not me goil in a romantic sense or nuttin like that. Unless ya wanted ta be me goil, then I wouldn't mind, unless ya didn't want ta.." he rambled on, embarrassed. The guys ragged on him about how he was head over heels for Kat, and that she was as good as his girl. He hadn't said anything to Kat because it was obvious that she would never like him like that, not with guys like Prince chasing after her.

"Um, well I wouldn't mind being your girl, would you mind if I was your girl?" This conversation had gone from her comforting Jack to her confronting him. She didn't like that they had put each other in the spotlight, and decided that she would go get ready for Medda's.

"Nevermind Jack, you don't have to answer that. Anyway I have to go get ready for Medda's. I'll see you later tonight." She didn't wait for his reply, and ran out of the room. She couldn't help but smile as she felt butterflies as she imagined her and Jack dancing later that night, with no other worries. It made her run all the more faster.

Okay, sorry if this is late, but my computer won't get service in our hotel / But yeah this chapter is one of my favorites, because it makes Jack and Kat talk about where they stand. But the next few coming up are my favorite chapters lOl..