Disclaimer: Anything that looks familiar belongs to Disney.

I woke up to a loud yelling the next morning. I cracked open a bleary eye and raised an eyebrow before I heard a sarcastic chuckling. I groaned and rubbed my bright, but tired eyes before cracking both of them open and sitting up. I looked across the room, and leaning against the end of Tumblr's bed was Billy, his arms crossed and a crooked smile on his face, a cigarette between his teeth.

"Billy? What are you doing?" I questioned, rubbing my eye and yawning.

"Just screwing around with the cripple," He replied, rubbing his chin and chuckling some more.

I furrowed my eyebrows and looked down at the floor. I saw Crutchie's crutch lying a few feet away from him as he just lay there, trying to push himself up.

"Billy!" I cried, jumping out of bed and going to help Crutchie.

I grabbed him under his arms and helped pull him to his feet before grabbing his crutch off to the side and handing it to him.

He smiled as he got adjusted and looked at me, "Thanks Leah."

"No problem, Crutchie," I then glared at Billy and pushed my hands to my hips, "What the hell is wrong with you, Billy? Do you do this to every newsie here or just the disabled and children?"

"I was messin' with the blind kid earlier," Billy smirked, chewing on his lip.

"You're an ass," I rolled my eyes.

"Oh c'mon, we were just havin' a little fun. Weren't we, gimp leg?" Billy smiled, pulling the cigarette away from his mouth and looking over to Crutchie.

I looked back at my friend who looked between me and Billy wide eyed and then nodded, "Oh yeah, just havin' a little fun. That's all."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head, "Yeah, looks like a lot of damn fun. I'd sure like to play that game."

"Really? Come here, then, we'll play," Billy said.

"Billy, are you drunk?" I asked, hands on my hips once more.

"I've not been up long enough to be drunk," Billy said.

"I don't know. I've seen you slam a few back in just under an hour before," I said, smirking in mild-annoyance.

"I'm a little tipsy," Billy said, "I've only had a few."

"Billy, don't start this," I begged.

"Start what?" He questioned, glaring at me.

"Don't turn into your father," I spat, "You get violent when you drink, and that's how your father gets."

Billy shook his head, but he knew it was true, "Shut up."

I shook my head and put a hand on Crutchie's arm, "C'mon Crutchie, let's go get somethin' to eat."

"So… This is what the boys do all day? Just sell papers?" Billy questioned as the last newsboy left the distribution center.

I nodded and turned to my step-brother, "Yeah. They enjoy it, and they get decent income with it. Don't look down upon them, they're the ones your old man bought the papers from. You know, the papers you read?"

"Yeah, yeah, okay, I got it," Billy rolled his eyes and swatted his hand at me as we started towards the world.

"I want to introduce you to somebody," I said, "And please… Don't tell anybody about this, okay?"

"Alright, I promise," Billy smirked, rolling his eyes.

"I mean it, Billy!" I cried, gripping his arm tightly.

"Alright! I got it!" Billy cried, "Jeez, lighten up!"

I led Billy into the World, praying silently that he didn't tell a single newsie about this, except for maybe Les. Les would never tell anyone about this.

I walked into the distribution center, Billy following closely behind me. I led him to the ramp and we walked up to the front desk where Oscar was working. Morris must of already gone back inside, lazy son of a bitch. He couldn't even help his brother organize the remaining papes.

"Morning Oscar," I smiled, leaning across the desk to look at him.

"Good morning, Leah," Oscar smiled, "How're you?"

"Good," I smiled, "I have to introduce you to somebody," I smiled as Oscar leaned his elbows on the desk and leaned forward a little, looking over Billy with a look of… Disgust?

"Yeah?" He said, not taking his eyes off of Billy.

"Yeah, Billy come here," I said, waving my hand for Billy to step closer, "Oscar this is Billy, my step-brother," I introduced, "Billy, this is Oscar, my… Boyfriend."

Oscar smiled at that and shook Billy's hand, "Nice ta' meet ye'."

"Yeah," Billy nodded, looking disgusted with my choice in men, "This is yer boyfriend? Could of chosen better myself, Leah."

"Shut your trap, Billy, I've seen some of the skanks you've brought home before," I snapped.

"Thanks for comparing me to a skank, Leah, much appreciated," Oscar snapped as he tried to turn away, but I grabbed his hand from between the bars.

"I'm not," I smirked, "You're very nice, as much as you try to deny it. And very handsome."

Oscar smiled, "Why thank you. And you, my lady, are very beautiful."

"Ugh," Billy groaned from next to me, "This is disgusting, I'm out of here."

"Where are you goin'?" I called after Billy as he stepped away.

"To buy a paper," And with that, he left the distribution center.

I returned to the lodging house later that night, before all the newsies returned. I went up to the bunk room, smiling in happiness. I had just spent the whole day with Oscar and had a wonderful time. He was so nice, yet sarcastic at the same time. Like, really sarcastic.

I went over to my bunk and saw down, untying my shoestrings on my boots.

"Hey Leah," I heard a familiar voice.

I looked up and saw Crutchie standing across the room, looking over at me, looking kind of sad. I smiled, "Hey Crutchie. How many papes ye' sell today?"

"Thirty," Crutchie shrugged "Had a bit of an off day."

I nodded, "Happens to the best of us."

Crutchie nodded, "What'd you do taday?"

I shrugged, "Ate lunch with Billy, caught up on a few things we've missed. Y'know…"

"No, I don't know," Crutchie suddenly snapped, causing me to look at him.

"What's the problem, Crutchie?" I asked, worried about him a little. He rarely loses his temper.

"I know you weren't with Billy today," He said.

I sighed, "Did he tell you where I was?"

"No, I saw you," Crutchie said, "With Oscar."

I sighed once more sadly and stood, "Look Crutchie, it's not what you think…"

"Really? Than what is it?" He asked, "You kissed him, Leah."

"Crutchie…"

"Why him? Out of all people! Why him?" He cried, "He really hurt me one time, Leah. Him and Morris, they beat me. I could barely walk."

"He's changed, Crutchie," I said, "He's told me he regrets some of the decisions he's made."

"Really? He's a liar, Leah! A liar and a cheater! He's a scab!" Crutchie cried.

"No he ain't," I snapped, clenching my fists, "He's a really nice guy, ye' just got to get to know him a little better."

"I know him, alright," Crutchie snapped, turning away.

"No, you knew him," I replied, causing Crutchie to stop.

He stood there for a moment before saying, "I won't tell anyone about this, for your sake."

I nodded as he walked off, angry with me.