Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in awhile, guys! Well, it's awhile for me. This chapter takes place on the 14th of April. It's getting intense, but it'll take a few chapters to see who lives and who doesn't. Promise, things won't be too much like the film. It's creepy writing this nearing the 100 year anniversary... something ominous about it, I suppose. I jumped almost right into the sinking, I couldn't wait to get things going there... Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing, or has reviewed in general! It's nice to know my work is appreciated. If you're reading and not reviewing, please do! As ever, I own no newsie, no ship, and no Titanic passenger.

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Skittery

She had me crazy for her. I would have done anything for her, I know that. She was a beautiful angel, and I knew all this would change in three days when we landed. I knew I was making a huge mistake. When the ship docked, she would go off and marry some amazing man that I could never match in wealth. I knew all this getting into it, but somehow I felt I could enjoy those three more days with her without having hurt feelings. Maybe I thought this wasn't like mama – there was no warning with her, but with Helen, there was plenty of warning! I could handle this. Looking back now, I knew I never could have. I would have continued my life as plain and simply as I had before, living in loneliness and trying to make a living for nobody but me. Europe hadn't really changed me. Being the silent type, I noticed it changed the rest a bit. Blink was finally happy. He had been so depressed what with his divorce and all. He was like a kid again, the kid that I knew who sang and danced. The kid who would go on a date with the mayor's daughter. Though, he seemed to know his place these days. Race was speaking a little more Italian than he had ever before, and starting to act like what one would imagine an Italian to act like ever since we'd been to Italy. When Spot said something he insisted it was simply his roots. Spot was a bit softer than he'd ever been – not so ready to just kill someone. See, in overseas territory the American government don't got nothing to do with you, and Spot was told as much after spending one night, a light sentence, in a British jail, after punching a citizen in the face.

No, what changed me, because we all change when taking long journeys, was her. I had never been able to fall in love before. Well, that was a lie, I had been able to fall in love before it just so happened that I kept myself from doing so. Maybe I hadn't found the right person. Well, I certainly had now. She made me laugh, she made the knot that constantly seemed to be in my stomach go away, and I was sure one day she would make me cry. She found me on the third class decks, sitting in one of the chairs provided. I looked up at her nervously – we hadn't spoken since I ran away from her. I wondered if she was angry, or something. It was hard for me to find her, though, so I was happy she'd come to me. "I'm sorry about last night." I said, all the while looking out at the calm ocean rather than her. The ocean was eerily calm, I remember thinking that afternoon. The water appeared like glass at some points, especially when it got later and there was only moon light to shine upon it.

She simply looked down at me and shook her head. "I don't understand you, Skittery," her mouth was pressed into a firm line. Judging by the purplish tint under her eyes, she hadn't gotten much sleep last night. I couldn't believe a first class lady would be so distraught over me. "I tell you something very personal... and you say you feel the same way. Then you just run away. Who do you even think you are, toying with someone's emotions like that?" she asked, clearly steaming. "You've not let me get close for all these days – I know it hasn't been long, but try and trust a little, Skittery! Have some faith in people." she went on.

I didn't say anything; I couldn't say anything. I couldn't say that I would ever have faith in people. "Come on." she said, taking my hand. "My parents are off to lunch, I suspect everyone else is, too. I want to take you to a more private place." I raised my eyebrow and she scowled at me. Soon we reached her bedroom, as majestic as ever, and we sat down on two chairs that were placed opposite of each other. I don't know how things went the way they did, but after some whiskey stolen from her daddy's cabin – not enough to impair me, mind you – I told her about my father beating my mother, my sister, and myself. I told her how one day mama ran away but she forgot two things; my sister and I. I told her about how I found my sister work and then I slept on the streets for a week, eventually deciding on being a newsboy.

She had sympathy. She kissed me lightly, though we both knew she would never experience what I did. "You're afraid I'll leave you." she said wisely. I nodded at her, and again, I don't know how things went the way they did but we eventually made it to the bed. Judging by the blood, this was her first time. I was gentle with her, and somehow I felt better as I laid next to her, sweat dripping off my forehead. We stayed like that all afternoon. We took a bath together, and eventually, around dinner time, we separated, planning on meeting around midnight. "You don't have to worry." she whispered as her parting words, kissing me before we went our own directions; she to the fancy first class dining hall and me to the third class one.

Blink

I hadn't done much that day except perhaps marvel at the beauty of the ship. I wondered how quickly we would get home. I wondered if I would have a job once I got to New York. I wondered if we four would be able to get an apartment together. I couldn't believe Race had won eight hundred bucks! That was the highlight of my day. Well, no, actually, I was wrong. The most important event was around 11:40pm. This was the moment that caused the nation to be rocked, everyone to be shocked, and people all across Europe and all across America to weep. Women with children would be found floating amongst ice. A ship would be investigated for being so very close to the Titanic but not helping.

I remember standing on the ship, for once in my existence enjoying a cigar. I only allowed myself about one a year – I swear there was something wrong with them. Maybe Race was lucky, but people in West Virginia died of them. Everyone called me crazy when I claimed that. Anyway, back to the story. I was standing with Race, both of us laughing. I couldn't believe he'd won this money! Beyond us, we could hear shouts, but we figured it was some third class passengers having had too much to drink. Later, I found out it was the call of most people's death sentences on that ship. We were getting close to something big and grey and I put a hand up to make Race shut up. It seemed the ship was trying to avoid it, because she was tilted away, but none the less she hit it. Race almost fell due to the impact, but I steadied him. My heart felt no good at that moment, I felt as if it was breaking. I knew what this spelled; I had heard first class passengers commenting on how there were very few life boats, but it still obstructed their view of the beautiful ocean. Some times they called it a waste of space. I knew some people would die tonight – no ship survived hitting an ice berg. I didn't believe in this unsinkable nonsense. Nothing was certain. I didn't realize how grave the life boat situation was, though, and I wouldn't for hours. Race and I looked at each other and ran downstairs to find the boys. I got the impression he didn't like what happened either, and I knew, for some reason, we needed to get the boys up on decks before anything happened.

Spot

I refused to believe them. "You all don't understand hydrodynamics." I'd learned that word upstairs with the first class passengers my night there. "Dis ship is unsinkable. If an ice berg hit it, I would bet all the money I've got in me pockets that we'll still make it back to New York safely. Everyone on this ship." I finished my statement and refused to move, even at their prodding. They all started dressing up warmly; anything they had that would keep the chill off them. I just smirked, knowing I'd be in a warm bedroom while they waited up on deck, freezing their balls off, before realizing there was no danger.

They all began to pile out after Skittery said Helen would be meeting him around midnight to let him up in the first class area. He stopped and turned to me, though, after the other boys left. "Come with us just to see what's happened. I agree with you – it's probably nothing. But let's just take a look see, why don't we?" he asked, but my answer was interrupted by a steward shoving his way into our room, calling for us to put lifebelts on and come up on deck. He shoved two white life belts at us and left, proceeding to the next room. That was when my stomach tightened, and I grabbed all my warm clothes and anything important to me; like that old key I still wore around my neck, even after all this time. We shuffled out and immediately took notice to the fact that Race and Blink had their life belts on. Skittery was fastening his, but I refused to do anything at that point. The ship wasn't sinking. Right?

Helen let us up towards the first class area, seeming quite nervous. She said the stewards told her parents and she that they would be boarding a lifeboat as a routine procedure and return by breakfast time. Her father and mother had refused to believe such nonsense and went back to bed, but Helen had overheard some things. She whispered that she thought the ship was really sinking, her eyes wide with fear. Race and Blink looked at one another and went up to a priest who happened to be aboard decks, taking confessions for those who knew what was going on. The band was playing in the background, and I didn't much feel like poking fun of Race and Blink praying to their invisible man in the sky. Not now. Helen went off to try and convince her parents to leave their cabins while Skittery and I looked at the water.

"We're gonna be hittin' dat in a few hours, ain't we?" I asked him calmly. He said nothing, but I could almost feel him nod. We both swallowed, knowing this wasn't going to be any good. I could see my breath. "At least you know your pretty little dame will make it. See dem boats?" I asked as he nodded. "Well, I heard dem callin' for women and children first. That means women and children only." I spelled out our doom to him, having absolutely no hope that we would somehow make it. He didn't say anything, nor did I, and we just continued to stare into the water numbly. I finally believed them; we were sinking slowly but surely.