Mush wasn't too happy with Braids' new black eye, but after ranting about how he was going to 'kill that girl-hitting-jerk' the whole walk back to the lodging house he seemed to cool off a bit. It was getting dark, and Braid was glad for that. She didn't really want the other newsies to start bombarding her with questions. As soon as she set foot in the lodging house she walked straight up to her room and closed the door. She could still hear the mummers of the newsies below, and Jack telling everyone about the nights events. Sighing, she walked over to the window and sat down on the ledge.

What was she going to do? She promised Scrunch she would meet with them every night, but she didn't want them to see her with her eye like it was. She new Scrunch and Fly would have a fit and possibly do something stupid.

I'll just wait until it's not noticeable. I'll tell them nothing new has happened. She thought to herself. That idea seemed to satisfy her, so she relaxed a bit.

"Hey, Braid?" Said a voice at the door. It was Mush.

"Uh, yeah?"

"Can I come in?" He asked. She mentally slapped herself.

"Um, okay." She opened the door and he and Race entered the room.

"So, Conlon really knows how to make a first impression...and second." Race joked, sitting down on the bed.

"Shut up, Race," Mush said, then turning to Braid he asked, "Are you okay?" She nodded.

"I guess. It's amazing Spot is single, you know?" This rose a small laugh from the boys.

"Anyway, we wanted to know if you wanted to sell with us tomorrow?" Mush asked. Braid agreed, and the boys left.


Braid woke up the next morning and looked in the mirror. The swelling in her eye had gone down, but the black was still noticeable. She threw on her clothes for selling and pulled her hair, which was laid in a mess over her shoulders, into a braid. She stepped into the hall and met up with Race and Mush.

"You ready?" Mush asked. Braid nodded.

"Then let's go cheat people out of their money!" Race said, practically bouncing out the door.

"Well, that's one way to describe our job." Braid said, quiet enough so only Mush heard. He let out a deep laugh.

"You know, you're pretty funny. You should talk more often." He said. The image of flames burned in her mind and her face fell. She looked down and shrugged.

"Are you okay?" Mush asked, noticing her change in attitude. She nodded.

"Y-yeah. Fine." She said, stepping to get in line. Mush fell in line behind her, not saying a word. Luckily, the line moved quickly. She bought twenty papers and the trio started walking toward the crowd of people getting ready to start the day. Braid noticed an older couple and smiled. Oh yes, this would be perfect. She let her face fall and walked over with her head down.

"E-excuse me?" She asked, not raising her head.

"Yes?" The man said. His voice seemed harsh, and it was no doubt they were part of the richer area of New York.

"I-I was wondering if you would buy me pape?" She asked.

"Look at your elders when you are speaking to them!" The woman scoffed.

"Sorry, miss." Braid said, then raised her head up so that her black eye was noticeable. The couple gasped.

"Good heavens, child! You dare ask us to buy your paper when you get into fights in your spare time!" The man exclaimed. Braid flinched back slightly, adding to the drama.

"N-no, sir! I-I don't fight, sir!"

"Then how did you get your eye, my dear?"

Why are rich people so nosy? Braid thought.

"People aren't very kind to poor girls who don't have a nickel to their name." She whispered. The woman's face became soft as she reached for her purse. She pulled out a nickel.

"Here. Now you have a nickel and one less paper to sell. You take care, dear." Braid handed them a paper and thanked them. The couple walked off and she let out a laugh. She walked over to Mush and Race who were frozen in place with shocked faces.

"Braid! You just sold to some of the richest people in the city!" Mush exclaimed.

"I've been trying to sell them papers for weeks now! They never buy them!" Race said. Braid smiled.

"Remind me to thank Spot for the eye job. It works wonders on hoity-toity old people." She said, turning around to sell more papers.

They finished selling their papers around noon. Due to the black eye, selling was fairly easy for Braid. She even finished before Race!

"So, Braid, have you ever been to Tibby's before?" Mush asked. She shook her head no.

"What! Come on, your life begins now!" Race said, grabbing her hand and dragging her to a small diner. A bell dinged when Race opened the door and Braid saw that most of the newsies were already there. A few people said hello or waved to them, but most kept there focus on their food.

Classic newsboys.

"This is where most of us hang out after selling the morning edition." Mush explained. Jack saw them and motioned them over to sit. He slid over so that Braid sat next to him, and Mush, Race, and Spot were on the other side.

"So, how was selling?" Jack asked.

"You should have seen her! You know the hoity-toity couple I told you about? The ones who refuse to buy papers? They gave her a nickel in exchange for a pape!" Race said, talking with his hands.

"Really?" Jack asked, looking down at her. Braid blushed and looked down, a smile creeping on her face.

"Anyway, the girl has a way with words," Mush started.

"Braid? The girl who I never hear speak more than a few words at a time?" Spot asked out of the blue. The diner seemed to grow quieter.

"Hey, you should have seen it. She may not say much-"

"Mush," Jack said, cutting him off. He glanced over at Spot, trying to read his emotions. His face was relaxed, but his eyes were studying with curiosity. Suddenly, he stood up.

"Braid, can I talk to you outside." Spot asked, sliding past Race and Mush. Braid stood up and followed him out of the diner. He turned down the road stopped by the corner. Braid stood beside him.

"So,' Spot asked, turning to look at her. "Braid, I'm just going to come out and say this. You are beginning to seem very familiar to me."

Dang it, She thought. She shrugged her shoulders.

"I've heard your name, of course, but I don't believe we have met." She said. Spot took off his cap and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I don't know. I can see an image in my mind. I'm standing on the road with a girl. It's blurry, but I swear it's you. You honestly don't remember meeting me?" He asked. She shook her head.

"This is going to drive me crazy." He muttered to himself. Braid looked up at him and he shook his head.

"I'm heading back inside. Are you coming?" He asked. Braid thought for a moment.

"Um, no. I think I need some time to think." She said. Spot nodded and turned on his heals to head back inside.

Spot Conlon... She thought. Now that he mentioned it, he seemed familiar as well.

Eh, I hope that wasn't to bad. Tell me what you think!

Thanks! Review please!

- Emily