Mush woke up happier than he'd been in a while. Things were moving along fine with Spark. And he could visit Brooklyn easily, whenever he wanted, as long as Spot was ok with it. Mush didn't like the idea of Spark being a gypsy, it sounded a little dangerous. He was relieved it wasn't true. He didn't want anything to happen to her.

"Good morning." he said when he arrived at the end of the bridge. The sight of her this morning took his breath away and for a minute he could only stare at her and smile. He didn't really notice the other newsies, including Roselia and Spot watching nearby. "Um... So, should we go then?" he offered her his arm and they headed toward Irving Hall, were Jack told them to meet up to get ready for the rally.

Spark took Mush's arm, she could hear the other newsies and Story talking about them already. She hoped Mush couldn't hear.

"This rally seems like it's gonna be a big deal." She said.

"Yeah, I'm excited. Maybe those big shots'll finally listen to us." said Mush, and then they kept walking in silence, the good kind.

Spot was really distracted, Chase wondered if he was ok. She saw a look on his face that she hadn't seen on him before.

"Spot?"

He was still looking distant. He'd had a dream about his parents' and Brooks's deaths last night. It had been a while since Spot had a nightmare that affected him as much as this since he was very young. "Hmm? Uh, what?"

"Nothing, I guess." She didn't know how to talk to him.

Spot looked at her suspiciously. "You never have nothin' to say."

"I just- What are you thinking about?" The two of them cocked their heads at each other, making themselves laugh.

"Hey, watch it." Spot pushed Chase toward the sidewalk.

A carriage was coming way too close to them on the street. The others stood and watched the scene happen. Chase went down because of Spot's forceful push, tripping over the curb. Just as Spot jumped out of the street, the carriage drove over a deep puddle, entirely soaking him with dirty rainwater.

Mush, Spark, and the others had to suppress a laugh. The murderous look in Spot's eye as he helped Chase up was enough to scare all of them. Spot was not having a good day.

"Hi'ya Chase, Spot." said Jack as the Brooklyn newsies came through the door to Irving Hall.

"Good morning," Chase answered, giving him a sunny smile. Spot tensed up a little at this, which just made Chase smile more.

"Hi, Chase." said David smiling at her too. He stopped when he saw Spot's hostile expression. "Oh, um... Hello, Spot." Chase bit her lip. Spot really didn't like Davey, or maybe, he didn't like the way that Davey was looking at her. That just made her heart beat fast.

"Hey, Dave, why don't you take Story up to the roof with you." Jack smiled knowingly.

"Um…" Story blushed, "I'm not very good with heights."

"That's ok," Jack smacked David hard on the back. Story winced, it looked painful. "Davey'll keep you safe." He winked at her. "Spot, Mush, and Spark, yous can help Race and Blink paint chairs. And Chase, you can come with me. Any of yous others can help clean up the lobby."

Jack took Chase's hand and led her up to the stage, talking about all the things that had to be done before the rally that night. But she wasn't listening. It had been a long time since she'd been in a theatre, the last time was right after she became a newsie. Spot took her to see a vaudeville show because the missed the theatre so much.

Chase stood on the stage and stared out into where the audience would be. The house lights were up and no one was watching, but she still got that feeling she always got before a performance. That rush, it was the best feeling in the world. She couldn't help but smile.

"Um, Chase...?"

"Oh um..." she blushed, looking at Jack. He smiled a little. "I'm sorry, it's just, I love the theatre so much. I get this feeling- I can't explain it."

"Like you're free like the wind and you're gonna live forever?"

"Yes."

"So that's why they call you Chase." Jack laughed a little. Chase opened her mouth to speak again but someone spoke first.

"Well, if it isn't my two favorite newsies."

Jack and Chase turned at the same time.

"Good morning, Medda." said Chase.

"You know her?" Jack asked both of them.

"Yes," said Medda. "She came to one of my shows when I was still in Brooklyn."

"And you've moved up since then." Chase gestured to the theatre.

"I know. I'm the leading lady and I own this place. AND I got married too, can you believe that? In three years!" Medda hugged Chase, "You've got a great future ahead of you. I think you'll do the same."

"Wow, that Roselia is a knockout." Said Blink.

"Tell me, Spot," Racetrack said. "Are you and Rosie over there an item? 'Cause I'd gladly take her off your hands for ya."

Spot glared at Racetrack and Kid Blink. He hated being bossed around. That was his job. And, he hated them teasing him about Chase. Plus he wasn't in a good mood at all.

"Yous two better shut up or I'm gonna have to bust your heads." he said. Some of his newsies straightened to listen if he would call on them. This was a common event in Brooklyn, Spot and his boys would soak kids all the time.

"Touchy subject." Race mused, "Maybe a dame would soften you up a little."

Spot got an amused smirk on has face. "So you're experts on girls? I don't see either of yous gettin' any dames."

Blink was ready to let that comment slide. But he was more laid back and passive than Racetrack.

"I got plenty a' dames." Race was offended. "You're the one with a perfectly good girl who practically worships the ground you walk on and you won't even talk to her!"

"That's it!" Spot pounced on Racetrack, and began pummeling him. Most of the newsies circled them to watch the commotion. Chanting either "Spot!" or "Race!" or alternately, "Soak 'im!". Race fought back just as fierce.

Chase turned to see Spot and Racetrack attacking each other. She ran forward, almost running off the stage. But Jack caught her arm before she could fall.

Mush and Spark dropped what they were doing to see what was going on. They ran to Spot to pull him off of Racetrack.

"Stop it!" Spark yelled, but it was no use. Spot wasn't going to quit now.

They couldn't be fighting during the strike. They would never win if they were killing each other. Another boy, Kid Blink, was also trying to stop the fight.

Mush turned to see that Spark was next to him again.

"This is a disaster. What's gotten into them two?"

He answered her comment,

"I think the boys is nervous about this whole strike thing. You know Brooklyn's havin' a hard time with food and everything. It's not as nice as Manhattan, or so I hear. Spot's probably just at his breaking point." Mush looked at Jack who was talking to Spot and Racetrack now. "I'd hate to be the leader. You know, responsible for everyone. We is a union so we have to stick together." He hugged her back. It was nice for Mush and Spark to be open about their feelings now. Although they hadn't officially said they were going to be a couple, it was understood. They still hadn't gotten a real first kiss though.

Chase stood next to Jack with her arms crossed, glaring at Spot and Racetrack. Leave it to the two of them to tear things apart. She knew Spot's personality, attacking Racetrack was something she knew he would do. And even though she had just met Race the night before, she could tell he was a hot-head too.

"I feel like I'm yous guys' mother," said Jack, "And now I gotta separate yous two. Spot, why don't you go up on the roof and help Dave and Story replace light bulbs on the sign. Racetrack, you can stay here, ya bum." Jack punched Race and Spot's arms.

Spot really was sorry he tried to punk Racetrack after he saw Chase's disappointed expression. He could handle the other girls' frustration with him. Because it was Chase that he really cared about. And he hated taking orders but he obeyed Jack. Hopefully Chase would forgive him.

"So what do you think about Charles Dickens?" David asked Story. They were bonding over something they both liked to do. Read.

"He's too wordy. It's annoying." Story said as she screwed in a light bulb. David had to books, figuring she got her name from liking books. It was partially true.

"Ok, so how about this: which book do you like better, The Count of Monte Cristo or Les Miserables?"

"Oooh, tough question." Story winced a little, she couldn't decide. "I'm gonna have to say both."

"I completely agree." David smiled, their eyes locked for a minute.

"Hey, Story, will ya hand me some light bulbs?" Spot asked, annoyed.

"Oh, um, yeah." Story giggled. "Now I have a question for you, Mister Jacobs."

"Ok," David smiled bigger, Story was adorable.

"Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn?"

"Tom Sawyer, definitely Tom Sawyer. It's my favorite book. "Romeo and Juliet" or "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?"

"They're completely different!" Story hit David's shoulder playfully.

Spot rolled his eyes. He couldn't think of anything more boring than reading. He spent his whole day reading newspapers, why would he ever want to do for fun? He supposed he was happy for Story though, finding someone who shared her weird interests..

"Just pick." Said David.

"I guess "A Midsummer Night's Dream" because it ends happy. But I always thought Helena and Lysander should have been together. Hermia was annoying and Demetrius was abusive, they deserved each other." Story said.

"I thought that too." David stared at Story with a little smile on his face. Where had she been all his life? "Ok, so how about fairytales?"

"Oh," Story gushed. "They're my favorites!"

"Do you prefer the Grimm versions or the Perrault versions?"

"If I had to choose, I would pick Perrault."

"The Grimm versions are really dark." David remarked. "What's your favorite fairytale then?"

"It's not a Perrault."

"Oh?"

All this sappy intellectual conversation was sickening to Spot. He'd definitely learned his lesson. This was punishment enough.

"Can you guess?"

"Is it a princess story?" David had an uncharacteristically smug smile on his face. He knew he was right.

"Yes. I guess you could call it that."

"Who wrote it?"

"Anderson."

"Hans Christian Anderson." David thought hard. "'The Princess and the Pea'?"

"How boring!" Story laughed.

"The Snow Queen?"

"That's not even a princess story!"

"I give up then," David put his hands up.

"It's 'The Little Mermaid'."

"I thought you liked happy endings. She dies at the end."

"It is happy, she gets a second chance and the opportunity to gain a spirit and get to heaven. I can't think of anything happier." Story smiled.

"I guess I never thought of it that way."

Chase and Spot and the other newsies walked back to Brooklyn to get ready for the rally. No one said anything, which made it really uncomfortable. But Chase wasn't going to be the first one to say anything. She wasn't on speaking terms with Spot since that afternoon. It broke her heart to do that to him since he clearly looked distraught, but he had to learn that he couldn't just blow up like that and attack his allies. During the strike they had to take all of the help they could get, and destroying relations with the other boroughs would ruin their chances of winning against Pulitzer.

Story and Spark weren't talking either, but that wasn't because of Spot. They were both too busy thinking about Mush and David.

The sisters spent a lot more time getting ready for the rally then they spent getting ready on a normal day.

"How is this blouse?" asked Spark.

"It looks good." said Chase, trying to decide what to do with her hair. Finally choosing to leave it down. Her curls had turned out nicely that day.

"Can I borrow your gray skirt?" said Story.

"Sure."

"But I wanted to wear that one!" Spark protested.

"Don't you guys have your own clothes?" Chase asked.

"Yes." they said at the same time.

"Well then-"

"But they're not as nice as yours." Story said.

Chase sighed and let them rummage through her drawer. She pulled on a dress Ms. Casella helped her find. It was dark blue, like the night sky. And it made her eyes look even more green. It was probably the nicest dress she'd had in years. Ms. Casella also helped her shine her gold heart-shaped locket, her only possession from her upper-class life. After the tarnish was gone, it looked just like it did when she was little. Then, all the newsgirls went downstairs to meet the boys who were waiting. They were off to the rally.

Mush readied himself for the rally, occasionally his thoughts turned to Spark. He wanted to look nice for her tonight.

Mush turned when he heard a disturbance behind him. Racetrack, Kid Blink, and Jack Kelly were covered in shaving cream. Race and Blink were yelling at each other, blaming the other for causing the accident.

"Will yous two just shut up and keep it movin'?" Jack said, grabbing a towel.