Alright, so before I plunge head on into this story, I figured I should somewhat explain the idea behind it. When looking at a cast list of the OBC, I noticed that Morris/Oscar are played by the same people as Mike/Ike. That was the springboard for this story of how Morris and Oscar become Mike and Ike, at least to some people. Also, I am a firm believer that Morris/Oscar aren't all bad, just put in bad circumstances, or this story wouldn't be happening. The story will follow through the strike, and then I'm not sure where it will go, I haven't planned anything out, but I'm committing myself to this, and will try to update at least once a week. Criticism is welcome. That's enough rambling for now.

I own nothing but my OC. - Isn't that sad?

"The bell ain't rung yet go back to sleep!" Jack's sleepy tones bounced around in my head, stirring me from a much needed sleep and a rather nice dream. "Will ya please shut up, Jack!" I snapped over to my brother. I then looked over to Crutchie who apparently had decided he needed to up and out of the lodging house before everyone else, causing the chain reaction that led to me being woken up.

I groaned and pulled myself up with the rail that made up the side of the fire escape that was Jack's "penthouse."

Telling the two boys I'd see them in a minute, I made my way down ladder of the fire escape and into the bunkroom of the lodging house via window. I heard Crutchie yelling Jack's name for some reason, making some of the boys stir in their sleep. That could be me still sleeping peacefully, but no. Jack had to cause a ruckus, though I will admit, that's kinda his thing.

I walked over to my bunk, in the corner furthest from the door, and started getting my things together. I had basically commandeered the whole corner to myself. Specs and Albert had helped me rig an old sheet to form a wall for my birthday when I had turned twelve. I didn't get the big deal at the time, but they said I'd need my own space as I got older, and I'm glad I decided to roll with the idea. I don't know what I'd do without it.

Grabbing my vest, socks, and boots off the top bunk, I started to get ready for the day, while Jack yelled at everyone to get up and moving. So began the usual morning routine of chaos, discussing selling spots, and harassing each other.

I tied up my hair with the same ribbon I had been using for three years, but as I turned to start heading downstairs, I realized my hat was nowhere to be found. I swear I could never keep that thing where I needed it.

"Hey! That's my cigar!" Race exclaimed as Albert walked into the bunkroom. Albert then responded with, "Go steal another!" I promptly walked over to the only other two newsies who seemed somewhat awake, wondering if they had seen my hat. Before I asked the question though, a very disheveled Romeo appeared in the doorway of the bathroom, shaving cream in hand, an opportunity for a jab I just couldn't pass up. "Hey look boys," I gained their attention as I propped my elbow on Albert's shoulder, despite the fact that he was taller than me, "its bath time at the zoo." Then the banter continued as it usually did until Albert and Race got into a discussion about a new selling spot as we all walked downstairs to the common room. I propped myself up on the rail of the staircase as I waited for the infamous leader of the Manhattan newsies to get his lazy ass downstairs.

After a few moments, Jack was on his way down, Crutchie right behind him walking as he said a few words to the newsies, waking everyone up and getting everyone ready to hit the town, a skill I don't think I'll ever have. As he passed me he grinned and said, "Need this?" as he held my missing hat up, plopping it down on my head.

I adjusted my hat as I followed the excited group of newsies out the door and to the distribution center, for some reason it felt like today was going to be great.

I was horribly wrong. Forget the good day idea. We have the same lousy headline today we've had for three weeks. All of the newsies gave a mix of sounds of frustration and hopelessness. It was hard enough to sell papes already, throw in a stale headline, and selling those few extra papes is almost impossible. It was partly because of the already dismal mood that I wasn't surprised when the Delanceys received even more heckling than usual when they opened up the gates to the distribution center.

I hung in the back as I usually did, but I could tell something was going down, so I pushed my way forward in time to see Morris shove Crutchie to the ground. Jack immediately stepped forward, getting in between Crutchie and Morris, both boys staring the other down. I jumped forward, ducking under Crutchie's arm, replacing the lost crutch that had somehow found its way from Morris into Jack's hands.

"Someday you might have a bum leg of your own," Jack said as he stared down Morris something that always looked odd since Morris was several inches taller than him, "How'd ya like us picking on you? Hey, maybe we should find out!" Then with two quick motions, both the Delancey brothers were on the ground, and Jack was on the run.

Buttons picked up Crutchie, and we all made our way into the distribution center; Jack would show up sooner or later, and the Delanceys would probably have a few new bruises to show for their trouble.

Of course, my life would be much easier if the newsies and the Delanceys could just get along, but, the way things are now, that's something I highly doubt will ever happen.

I fell in line behind Specs and Elmer, the latter of which was disinterestedly listening to Specs ramble on about some book he had gotten his hands on. All of the newsies filed in, forming a haphazard line to the newsstand that currently was solely manned by Weisel. As I looked around for any sign of Jack, two hands covered my eyes, and a familiar voice shouted, "Guess who!"

"Albert!" I knocked his hands away from my eyes as I turned to face him, as Specs wrapped up his conversation with Elmer and did the same. Albert had an absolutely ridiculous grin plastered across his face and he looked ready to burst as he fiddled with his red necktie looking from me to Specs. I looked over to Specs and we both groaned as our eyes met. Over the years, the three of us had become a nearly inseparable trio and had been caught up in plenty of adventures together. It was that former experience that had led Specs and I to both learn that whenever Albert had that grin on his face it normally didn't mean anything good for the rest of us.

I wouldn't trade their friendship for anything though, because while we often found ourselves in trouble, we always worked to pull each other out. The two boys had always been there for me whenever Jack couldn't be, and were the only two newsboys that knew I was on speaking terms with the Delancey brothers. The two of them had even covered for me in the past when I had left the lodging house to meet up with Morris, and occasionally Oscar, for a late night out whenever one, or both of us, needed a break from the people we were usually around.

Turning back to Albert, I looked him square in the eye and asked, "What did you do this time?" while Specs followed up with, "And is it going to get us soaked?" Albert just laughed, which was even more worrying and turned to me as he pulled a small piece of paper out of his pocket. "This is addressed to you my dear Bets!"

"From who?" I asked as I raised my eyebrow. He then said as nonchalantly as possible, "Mike dropped it when he was rolling around on the ground earlier." As soon as he finished talking I made to snatch the slightly crumpled note from his hands, but he jerked it away, skipping a few steps out of reach. Mike was the name Specs, Albert, Morris and I had decided to use instead of Morris's real name if he came up in conversation, or in this case writing, when other newsies may be around. Oscar was, in keeping with newsie nickname fashion, then dubbed Ike. I was thankful that Specs and Albert went along with it; I knew that neither of them were huge fans of the fact that I was friendly with the Delanceys. They never told any of the other newsies though, out of respect for our friendship, because they knew things wouldn't end well if Jack ever found out I spoke to his self-proclaimed enemies on a regular basis.

"Albert! Give me that paper!" I demanded as I held out my hand. "Aw come on!" he retorted, "I gotta have some fun today!" I stepped forward, and he stepped back. Realizing that he had decided to make me getting my hands on that note as difficult as possible, Specs chuckled behind me and said, "Good luck with that, I'll hold you twos' spots in line." With that comment, Albert turned and sprinted away from the line of newsies as I scrambled after him.

He ran towards the front of the distribution center towards a handful of news wagons that had delivered the papers to the Manhattan distribution center only an hour earlier. As he weaved through the wagons I jumped on top of them, hopping from one to the next until I was standing on the last cart, as Albert made his way out of the jumble of wagons. I jumped and landed squarely on his back, holding on tightly, as he gave a surprised yelp, and we both tumbled to the ground.

Sitting on his back, I triumphantly yelled in his ear, "Can't get away now Al!" He looked back at me, propping his head up with his hands on his chin and his elbows on the grimy floor of the distribution center and rolled his eyes as he held up the slip of paper to me. "Thank you!" I grinned at him as I plucked the paper from his fingers, and unfolded it, seeing Morris's chicken scratch that passed as handwriting. Before I could start reading Albert huffed and said, "Can I get up now?"

I smiled down at him and shook my head no, turning back to my note, reading as Albert continued to complain about his current state.

Bets, I hope you're headed to your usual selling spot today. – Mike

He didn't write much, but there wasn't a reason to, it was his way of asking to meet up later, and, if he could, walk with me as I sold my papes. It was the normal extent of our interactions, and the note was nothing out of the usual. Not that I had been hoping for anything else. At least, I thought I hadn't been, but that wouldn't explain the feeling of disappointment settling in my chest.

Albert groaned from the ground, startling me from thoughts. I dug my hand into his back as I pushed myself up and he rolled over onto his back and held up his hand. I pulled him to his feet as gave me a sarcastic, "thanks."

Before he could say anything else, the bottom of a crutch came down on his head, as Jack, smiling wide as ever, waltzed into the distribution center looking at the two of us saying, "you probably deserved whatever it was you got Albert, now let's go sell some papes!" I smiled at Albert as we jogged back to our place beside Specs. "Did you get what you were looking for?" Specs asked as he looked down at me. "Yes, I did!" I answered grinning as I flashed the note in front of him.

Specs then turned to Albert, "Alright, pay up." Albert groaned as he handed Specs a couple of pennies. Confused, I looked between my two best friends, then, as realization dawned on me, I took the bag I carried my papers in off my shoulder and knocked the pair of them in head with it. "You two bet on whether or not I'd be able to catch Albert!"

Specs, looking as sheepish as ever, replied, "Actually, we bet on how long it would take, I bet on under thirty seconds on account of what I suspect is a small crush on Mike."

I could feel my face turning red as I practically shouted, "I DO NOT-" Albert cut me off, "Whoa there keep your voice down lover girl.

Have a crush on Mike," I finished with a whisper. "Your cherry red face says otherwise," Specs said as the two boys started laughing. As they quieted down though, Specs added, "Be careful though. I know you two are close, but he is still a Delancey." We had this conversation before, and I was ready to defend Morris, but Specs threw his hands up as I took in a breath to begin my normal rant on the subject.

"All I'm saying is, despite what either of us may think is his true character, he still works for pigs like Weisel and even Snyder." Albert nodded as he said, "We just don't want to see you get hurt Bets."

"Don't you two worry about the Delanceys, they won't bother me," I said as I shook my head. Albert frowned as he narrowed his eyes at the newsstand where Morris and Oscar had finally shown up, "They sure don't mind messing with Crutchie though do they." Right, I had pleasantly forgotten about the scene this morning. "I'll talk to Morris about it," I sighed as I followed Albert's line of sight to the boy in question.

"I know they tend to pick fights where they shouldn't, but targeting Crutchie is a bit outta character, even for those two idiots. I'll figure out what's going on."