I woke up the next morning next to Spot. I didn't even remember coming to bed the night before and everything that happened after that is a blur anyway. I rolled over and looked at Spot who was wide awake and smiling at me.

"Hey gorgeous," he said to me. "Ready to go?"

"Not really," I replied truthfully. I was so tired still. Despite that though we got up and Spot went over to a drawer and pulled to outfits out. He tossed one to me and I caught the shirt, pants, suspenders, and hat as they soared across the room to me.

"Thanks," I said. We were silent as we got dressed as if neither one of us waned to say anything stupid that would ruin what happened last night between us.

We finished getting ready and went downstairs barely pausing to say hello to anybody, including Andrew, and we walked out the door. I could feel the eyes burning into us from all directions. No one could believe that Spot was even walking next to me let alone had his arm around me. They stared open mouthed at us even when the door closed behind us.

We walked about halfway to the circulation office, today in Brooklyn, before Spot turned to me and said something that I wasn't expecting.

"Last night when you sang and danced it gave me an idea," This was not what I was expecting at all. An idea? I thought he'd be telling me how it brought back memories of Aqua.

"Oh really," I said.

"Yea, listen, Medda's been lookin for a new headlinah at Irvin Hall. I think you should go audition for her. You'd be great!" He finished.

"What!?" I asked stunned. "Last night, that was just something I threw together off the top of my head! I wasn't trying to be amazing or anything, it was just for fun."

"If you were dat great just havin fun den think about what you'd look like tryin!" I was now pleading with me. He pouted until I feared his face might freeze like that.

"Fine," I said reluctantly. "But what would I have to do?"

"Just do what you did last night. I'll go arrange it wit Medda durin lunch today. Jack wants us to meet him n da oddahs at Tibby's today." He turned to look back at the road in front of us and I could tell the conversation was over.

The rest of the morning flew by and before I knew it we were sitting in a booth at Tibby's. Spot had already left with Jack and David to go talk to Medda. When I had tried getting out of it by talking to Jack and David they sided with Spot and agreed I should audition. Jack really thought it was a good idea and I suspected the only reason David agreed was because he was afraid of Spot. So I sat with the rest of the boys trying to relax. Mush, Race and Les were helping me think of ideas for my audition.

I had just figured out what I was going to do when Spot, Jack and David walked through the door. They bounded over to my table with mile wide smiles. I couldn't help but smile too.

"She says you can audition for her tonight!" Spot said barely able to contain his enthusiasm and pride that he was now dating the future star of the Irving Hall stage, or so he said to me later.

"Yea, she was gonna have ya try out for her tomorrow but I persuaded her to let ya go tonight," said Jack with his eyes twinkling.

"Um alright," was all I managed to get out. I was so nervous now. We went out and wandered the streets for the next few hours, me, Spot, Andrew, and the rest of the Manhattan newsies, trying to sell the afternoon edition of the paper. I tried to have a good time but everytime I started to relax I was ripped back to reality by the twisting feeling in my stomach. Finally, once we had sold the rest of our papes, it was time to head to see Medda.

We got there and went in through the back following Jack. Apparently he was good friends with Medda and had, as he put, connections. I had never even met Medda yet. We walked in and she came down asset of stairs that lead to the wings of the stage.

"How ya doin Kelly?" she said as she came to greet us.

"Long time no see huh Medda," Jack said jokingly. "Oh this is Dusk, the giol I was telling ya about."

"Ah, nice to meet you honey," she said to me extending a hand in greeting. I shook it and said hello back. I had to work to keep my voice from cracking.

"Well are you ready to show me what ya got?" she asked. I nodded slowly and took dep breaths. We went up the stairs and on to the stage. The place was closed for the night so no one was in the audience. All the guys went and jumped off the stage and sat down at tables to watch. Great just what I need. As if I wasn't nervous enough, now everyone is watching me. But wait now, you've done this king of thing hundreds of time before. Just relax. You know from experience that once you start your nerves go away. I told myself this while I set my self up with a chair in the middle of the stage.

"Do you need the band to play music for you?" Medda asked me. I nodded and walked over to the orchestra pit. It was just now that I realized there were other people in this place. I told them the song I was going to perform to and fortunately they knew it. I walked to center stage and took one final deep breath as the orchestra started playing.