2 updates in a row, pretty good! I really like writing this story, first of all, and second of all, it's a good way to procrastinate. I have a 15 page critical paper due Tuesday and I've finished about 2 paragraphs. So when my parent's ask me what I'm doing, I can say 'I'm writing'! Not exactly lying…

Review, please?

I don't own the newsies.

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"The stars," Race puzzled.

"Ya," I said, falling back into place and slipping my hand back into Mush's. "They're real pretty, you can see 'em at night, and they're mysterious. No one has ever been up close to 'em."

Mush frowned suddenly. "Kin I change mine?"

"Shoah, Mushy," Race answered. "Ta what?"

"Prince o' da Seas."

I brightened. "Ya like da water? I love it! I wish I could go on a big ship and sail around the world or somethin'."

"I love it too. I love swimmin' and just watchin' ships at da docks go by…" He got a wistful look on his face. I smiled at him.

"Jacky won't let me swim. He says it's too dangerous," I said in a sing song voice. "You wanna know da real reason why?" I smiled at Jack and said, "He can't swim hisself!"

Jack tugged at my hair and sent me a mock glare. I giggled. "It's true, Jacky, aint it?"

"Ya, so? And I'se changin' my name too," Jack said.

"Don't change da subject on me! Can Mush teach me ta swim," I said, wrapping my arms around Mush's arm and giving puppy dog eyes up at Jack. "Please?"

Jack sighed and looked at Mush. Finally he said, "If I'se dere."

I whooped and jumped into Jacky's arms. "Thank you Jacky! Thank you!!"

Jack laughed and swung me around. Like I said, he's pretty strong. That, or I'm just real small. I gave Jack one last hug and then turned back to Mush. He was smiling at me. "Will ya teach me," I asked, sort of sheepishly. I had forgotten to ask him before.

He slung his arm around me and said, "Of coise."

The lodging house was soon in view. I ran ahead (I asked Jacky's permission, sort of in spite). I shouted hello to Kloppman and then bounded up the stairs. No, wait, I decided that I would ask Kloppman first if anyone had turned in a key necklace. He said no, but he'd keep his eyes out for it. I ran back up the stairs. I looked all over; in the bunks, on the floor, in the washroom…no necklace. Tears started to form again.

The boys came in and helped look again. Suddenly Mush grabbed my hand and said, "The roof!"

My eyes lit up with hope and we ran hand in hand for the fire escape. Once on the roof we split up and searched. No necklace. I collapsed in a pitiful heap. Mush sad next to me and pulled me onto his lap. He whispered words of comfort, saying that he was sure it would show up.

"My day had been going so lucky," I sniffed. "Whys my key gots ta go and disappear on me?"

"Well, it's a new mystery," Mush said pushing hairs out of my face. I hadn't thought about that before. I guess it was!

"Ya, I guess it is," I voiced my thought. I looked at him. He was eyeing my eyes. I eyed his. They were big and brown. They were pretty nice.

"You gots freckles in your eyes, you know dat," Mush asked, looking intently at me.

"Ya, I know," I said, smiling.

"Do I gots any?"

I looked again. "No, sorry."

"Look closer!" Closer? Our faces were already inches apart. I softly pressed my forehead and nose against his and looked into his eyes again.

"You gots two giant freckles," I concluded. This sort of satisfied him. "How many do I have?" I like to have updates on any new freckles.

"Dere are…2 in dis one…and 4 in dis one," he said.

"Four?!" I was ecstatic! A new freckle! "How big's it?"

"Same size as de others. 'Cept the biggest one right here."

"I'se gotta go tell Jacky," I said, jumping to my feet, breaking our gazes. I tried to help pull Mush to his feet but it mostly just made me stumble forward.

I raced to the fire escape and reentered the bunkroom, Mush right behind me. I ran over to Jack and he looked at me with anxiety in his eyes. "Any luck, Pip?"

"Nah. But I'se sure we'll find it. And guess what, Jacky? Mush found another freckle in my eye! Look! In this one!"

Jack looked and smiled. "Mush was right. You have a new one." He patted me on the head.

Footsteps were suddenly heard on the stairs. We turned to see Spot. My eyes widened as I saw him. "Spot!" I ran towards him and wrapped my arms around his neck.

Spot smirked and said, "Pippa, as much as you love me, really I'se only known ya for 10 minutes." I smirked back at him.

"A little narcissist, eh?" I raised my eyebrows at him and skipped triumphantly back over to Jack. I opened my hand…which had my necklace! Spot had been wearing it!

"Spot, you stole her key," Mush asked pointedly.

"Stole? What? I found dat thing on the street," Spot said, a little embarrassed for mistaking my 'hug'.

"Thank you, Spot! You'se made my day. I thought I lost it," I explained. "My mother gave it to me. An' I don't know where it goes."

"We think it goes to a secret world," Race interjected.

"Ya, where we is da royalty and we tell people what ta do," Blink said. "I'se da Prince o' Camelot. Pip is da Princess o' da Stars. Mush's da Prince o' da Sea, Boots is da Prince o' da Shoeshiners, Manny – dis is Manny, Pip's friend, by da way – is da Prince o' da Streets, and Jack is…what did ya want ta change it to, Jack?"

"Prince o' da West," Jack said. That was predictable. He was obsessed with cowboys and horses and all that.

"Well," Spot said, frowning. "I'se da Prince o' Brooklyn."

I grinned. All my friends were in my world, now. I couldn't have asked for any more luck in the day.

Sorry, it's short…reviews would be real nice!!