Well, here's another one!! It's very important that you let me know what you think of it. I'm worried about it.

Anyways, I don't own the newsies.

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MUSH'S POV

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At first I swam frantically, not sure what to think.

Pip was going back. Was she going to tell us? Was she going to say good bye?

I knew she'd go. Her bastard father made sure of that by threatening her with Roller. But it was probably a trick. Some sort of trick. He wouldn't send Roller back to us. Because then what would he have to use as leverage? Us, I guess.

And now Pip would feel really bad for putting us in danger. So she probably wouldn't tell us, afraid that we'd be in more danger.

I knew she had to be around here somewhere.

I treaded water slowly, just looking around. And suddenly I was transported back to a moment sort of like this one.

I was twelve and Pip was ten. We were swimming in the harbor. She was still learning. Still not great. But she loved it. Loved being in the water. Loved floating, swimming deep, or going under and opening her eyes, looking at me. A lot of times, when I picture her, I picture her underwater. Her bright eyes shining, even through the water, her brown hair rippling around her face, her smile and wave directed towards me.

Anyways, it was early in the morning. She'd dragged me out of bed to go. Well, I'd been willing to go, but I didn't want to look eager to. I loved the water too, and Pip was a good excuse to always go in and always have fun. I mean, I wouldn't look so tough splashing around all by myself. But I would have fun if I did that, I'm sure.

"Mush! Mush, watch! Watch how long I can stay underwater for," Pip said, smiling in anticipation. She took a deep breath and I watched her sink below the surface.

I didn't like it when I couldn't see her. I didn't know where she was. But I waited, counted. She'd want to know how long it was when she came back up.

She was taking forever. Each second was torture; I had absolutely no idea whether she was still holding her breath or whether she'd drowned. I hated that feeling. So I dove beneath the surface and searched for her. There was nothing. An occasional piece of seaweed happened by my face. There wasn't anything, but fortunately no bubbles came from the bottom indicating the worst.

I burst to the surface and shouted her name over and over, at the same time trying to catch my breath, before diving under again, swimming here and there.

Soon my lungs felt like they were going to burst. So I swam upwards. A huge pit was forming in my stomach. Jack rarely let me take her alone. He always seems to think he's the only one who can take care of her. I've wanted to prove him wrong. I wasn't doing so well, now.

My head broke the surface and I spat water that was currently running into my mouth out.

"Mush!" Pip called. I'd never been happier to hear her voice. "There you are! How long was I under?"

I whirled around in the water. There she was, smiling, the sun shining behind her, completely unaware of the worry she'd just put me through. I swam towards her fast. Upon reaching her, I grabbed her shoulders and made her look me in the face.

"Never do that again. Ya hear? Ya scared me so bad…"

Then I just pulled her in for a hug.

I smiled at the memory. I had so many memories of the two of us. Enough to write a book.

And I just waited. I knew she'd pop up any minute. I had no doubt. I wanted to find her, find her fast, so that I could tell her my mistake. Tell her that I like her too. That I'm sorry. And then hold her again, and never let go.

I smiled once I heard someone break through the surface, not far away. I swam through the darkness towards the sound. I heard her taking short, deep breaths. I could almost hear her smile. She still loved the water.

"Pip," I called quietly, still swimming towards her.

I heard some splashing, probably her turning towards my voice. "M…Mush?"

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PIPPA'S POV

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Mush was here? In the water? My stomach fluttered as I heard his breathing, felt him coming closer. I swam towards him as well.

Maybe…he was here to finish our conversation from before, and then reject me again. But even he wouldn't sink that low, I think.

Suddenly he was there, at me, his arms around me. He kept murmuring, "Pip…oh God, Pip…I'm so sorry…"

What? He was sorry? What for?

Oh well. I just savored the minutes he was holding me. His warm breath on my ear and neck.

It was only then that I noticed how cold the water was and how warm Mush was. I never wanted him to let go, I never wanted to be cold again.

But in the back of my mind, I knew a few things. Knew that Mush didn't like me. That he'd been mean to me. That he had a girl. That I had a prospective boy. So I pulled away. And immediately regretted pulling out of my source of warmth.

I was planning to say 'what, Mush' in a sort of cold way, but the look in his eyes just melted all that ice away. It came out in a soft way. "What, Mush?"

He just looked at me. His eyes were unreadable, but they did look desperate, almost longing.

I didn't break the gaze. Water was dripping from his hair and down his face. Behind and around him was all darkness.

"There's a lot I need ta tell you," he began. "But first let's get outta this water. It's freezing when I'm not holding ya."

His eyes told me that what he said was true. I blushed and didn't trust myself to answer.

But why was he so confusing?

He took my hand as we swam for where we thought were the docks. I quickly pulled mine away. I wasn't going to let him do anything like that. He had a girlfriend. I looked at him, and he was looking at me almost in understanding…but how could he understand what I was feeling?

I needed to know what was going on with him. So I stopped swimming and gave him the steeliest gaze I could muster. "Why are you confusing me so much?"

He stopped and looked at me. "You were the one confusin' me befoah. We were confusin' each othah."

We treaded water. I was more confused than ever.

He continued. "Remembah that night? That I said I heard you?"

I nodded.

"This is what I heard. I heard Spot ask what you thought about me. And then I heard you say somethin' like 'how could someone like anyone so mess, dirty, someone who doesn't even act like their own gender'."

He paused. I started to understand.

"And that's all I heard. Then I left. I thought you were talkin' 'bout me."

Another pause.

"But ya weren't, were ya? You were talkin' 'bout yourself."

I nodded.

"So then I was mad. I had really liked ya, and then I thought you said all those things about me. So I decided to become the opposite of them. I got a goil and didn't hang around you. I hurt ya real bad. I'm sorry. I hope you know I'd nevah have done that, if I'd heard you say that you liked me. If I'd heard that, things would've been different these past days. Much different."

I noticed the distance between us reducing. Was it me? Or was it him? Or both of us?

"I still like you," he kept going. His voice was kind of choked. I was glad, mine would be too.

"So you broke my heart, and I broke yours," I said, with a little smile. "Er, we thought that. You…you really did like me? Do like me?"

He moved and put his hand on my cheek. "Pip, I l-like you. Yes, I really do like you."

I smiled. "All this time, I still liked you. Even though I thought you said those awful things to me. I still liked you."

"It was the same with me. God, I hate watchin' you and Banks."

"Well, I'm not his girl. And you have an actual girl. That was torture."

He grinned at me and we started swimming towards the dock again. "I'm glad it bothered you."

I mock scowled at him. "Bothers me. She's still your girl, is she not?"

He looked away. "I guess."

"Do you like her?"

He turned back to me. "Ya." I sagged. "As a friend or something. Well, I sort of like her. She's just too…likeable. She never does anything wrong or weird. But I've actually talked ta her, and she doesn't have much ta say. And sometimes she's stuck up."

"What are you going to do? About her?"

He smiled at me, and suddenly I found that I could stand in the water. "I don't care about her. Don't care how she'll take me breakin' things with her."

"Will you do it slowly, though? Not suddenly? She's too nice," I said quickly. I felt kind of bad for her. But she'd understand, right?

"Not too slowly. I don't want to have to wait long to be with you…I can't wait long."

Meeting his gaze, I answered with full sincerity. "Me neither."

After that, we went back to our…our trademark position, I'll call it. Our feet brushed at the bottom, bodies lightly pressed against each other, my arms around his back and shoulders, one of his hands on my face and the other on my back, and our foreheads pressed together. The same position we'd been in the night we'd gotten 'married' and when Mush found out that I was back. Now when we realized that we'd deceived each other.

I knew that he knew that I wouldn't let it get farther than that. Not while Hannah was still 'his'.

I wanted to shout, to swim around in joy. Mush liked me! He doesn't hate me! He likes, likes me!

Suddenly a thought occurred to me.

"Mush," I whispered.

"Ya?" His breath was hot on my face.

I was so happy to have the courage to ask this. "Did we kiss a few weeks ago?"

I felt his smile. "I thought so. Hoped so."

"I think so too. I was so scared to ask, or do something like that, in case we didn't…"

He laughed. "I was too."

"Mush? Mush!" A faraway voice came. Mush and I's eyes widened and we looked at each other. It was Hannah.

Suddenly, Mush grinned mischievously and pulled me underwater.

Once under, I opened my eyes. Mush was pointing to under the dock and indicating that he'd be one minute.

I shook my head at him, but obliged. He laced his hand with mine for a moment before heading up to the surface.

I swam for the dock and surfaced in the shadows, trying not to think about all the bugs that must be under there.

Mush was saying, "I'm here, Hannah."

"Mush? Mush, I was worried! You just ran off…"

"Sorry."

"Mush? Are you alright? What are you doing in the water?"

"Swimming."

"Can I come in?"

"No."

I could imagine the shocked look on her face. I prayed that Mush'd be nicer. "Why not?"

"I'm doing some power swimming. You know, real fast, out far, then back in…it's kind of somethin' I need ta do alone. I'll be back soon."

"Well, alright then. But do hurry. I don't like sitting around with all of your, uh, friends. They're a bit rowdy."

Mush didn't answer. I heard her footsteps fade away.

Suddenly something tugged on my leg and I went under. I'd been waiting for it, too.

Underwater, I saw Mush's smiling face. I scowled at him and he grabbed my face with his hands. We rose to the surface, him still smiling. He leaned down and kissed my temple. My scowl softened as he moved his lips to my ear.

"There's one othah thing I gotta talk to ya about latah," he whispered.

I nodded. I didn't want to think about what it could be.

Right now I just wanted to have fun with my friend. Start to make up for lost time.

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Well, let me know what you thought of it.

As always, thanks to my readers and reviewers! Especially to: Swindler, Megz2009, Spinner, dusk writer, Curly, jammer587, Eruptingfender9, TheRedBandit, burnt-mufn, and NarniaRulz.

And also – thanks for the definition of 'Mary Sue'. I always wondered what it was :)