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Chapter 10

"Cassie! Cassie! Wake up! Hurry!" She was being violently shaken awake. She opened her eyes and saw a beaming Jess and Nora standing next to her bed.

"What are you doing?" she asked groggily.

"You've gotta come right now!" Nora demanded.

"Why?"
"Because Mush and Mandy are talking outside. Alone!" Jess explained.

Cassie sat straight up. "Omigod! Go! Door! Now!" She was wide awake. She jumped down from her bed and they ran down the stairs to the door. They opened the mail slot and were spying on the 2.

The guys who were standing around were watching the 3 confused.

"What are you'se guys doin'?" Snipeshooter wondered.

"Shhh!" they shused him and turned back to the pair.

(3 minutes earlier)

"Alright boys and goils. We'se all gotta get ta sleep. Eoily day tomorra'," Jack instructed.

As they were all walking inside, Mush asked Mandy, "Hey, Mandy, c-can I, uh, talk ta ya for a sec?" He seemed nervous.

"Yeah, sure," she replied. She turned to her friends and said, "I'll meet you guys upstairs." They were trying to hide their excitement and they nodded and ran inside. "What's up?"

Looking down, he started, "Well, um, I-I'se just wanted ta tell you'se, uh- Mandy, I-"

"Mush, are you okay?"
"Ye-yeah. It's just…we'se friends right?"
"Of course."
"Great! But I'se was wonderin' if…um, if you'se-"

"Yeah?"

"Dis is really hard, so I'se just gonna say it straight out." He took a deep breath and admitted, "Mandy, I likes ya. I likes ya a lot. And I'se have since you'se foist got 'ere. And I'se felt if I'se didn't tell you'se, I'se was gonna explode. So, I've been tryin' ta woik up da courage ta tell ya for days now. And dis just seemed like da right time, cause you'se just look so beautiful and-"

"Mush," she stopped him, taking his hand. "I like you too. I like you a lot."

Both of them had huge smiles on their faces. They looked down and blushed when they realized they were still holding hands; but neither let go.

"So, does dis mean you'se is me goil now?"

"God, I hope so." They laughed lightly.

"We'se should probably get inside before de ouddas think somethin' happened ta us."

"Yeah, we should." They walked up the stairs and inside, still holding hands.

(Inside)

"Shhh!" the girls shushed Snipeshooter. They turned back to the door.

"What's Mush saying? Can you hear?" Nora asked.

"If you'd shut up I could," Cassie whispered.

They listened. Quietly, Jess commented, "Omigosh, he's stuttering. It's so adorable."

"Just get on with it Mush! You're killing her!" Cassie whisper-yelled.

"Someone's a true romantic," Nora told her sarcastically. Cassie rolled her eyes.

"It looks like he's gonna say it!" Jess announced.

"Say what?" Boots wanted to know. He and the others were still confused.

"SHHH!" They turned back to the door and listened carefully. When they heard Mush say what they had been waiting for, they silently squealed and were jumping and hugging each other. Some of the other guys came downstairs to see what was happening. They gave the other boys questioning looks, and they just shrugged.

"They're coming! Run!" Nora called out. The 3 girls booked it up the stairs, pushing past Race, Iety, Bumlets and Skittery who were on the stairs. They looked to each other.

Mush and Mandy came inside and were surprised to see the large group of newsies. When they noticed the couple holding hands, they all got knowing faces and Race spoke out, "So dat's what dag oils were watchin'." Mush and Mandy blushed even more than they already were.

Mandy turned to her new boyfriend and said, "Well, goodnight."

He smiled back at her and said back, "Night."

She smiled back and walked upstairs, feeling awkward with everyone watching her.

When they heard her door closed, they turned back to Mush who was looking down at his feet uncomfortably.

"Just one thing Mushy," Jack told him, "don't let Kloppman see you'se guys. It's hard enough hidin' Blink and Jess."

"We'se'll be careful."

Second couple down, 2 to go! What'cha think? Tell me!