There was somewhere near a hundred newsies in the Manhattan Lodging House that night. Some people couldn't make it, so everyone fit, barely. The only person from Manhattan who still wasn't there was Jack.

"Heya Marble do ya t'ink he's gonna be upset?"

"Why'd he be upset Race? He loves poker."

"Yea but 'e ain't too fond a us doin' stuff dis big witout tellin' 'im."

"What are you talking about Mush, we've never done anything this big before."

"Dat's what we're afraid of."

"Don' worry 'bout it Blink, he's out with Sarah and she always keeps him busy for hours, you know that. Oh by the way, where's Ashes?"

Blink shrugged, "Haven't seen 'im since I's left Brooklyn."

Marble was about to walk away when she remembered something and smacked him in the shoulder, "And leave Pips alone."

"I's didn't do nuthin'!" Marble gave him a flat look and held out her hand until he sulkily handed over the spitwad. She laughed disgustedly, brushed it off of her hand and squished it into the floor. She walked away after smacking him upside the head.

"Hey Twitch, how's it hangin'?"

"Alroight I guess. I's been runnin' all ovah New Yawk taday an' I's need a break but oddah den dat I's good."

"Ah quit whining, I know all you 'runners' take the trolleys. So what's this I hear about you and a girl up in Midtown?"

"Doity lies alla it. Any ways deres sumthin' weird goin' down in Midtown nowa days."

"Really? 'Ave ya told Spot about it?"

'Naw I's ain't had a chance yet but I'll do it soonah or latah."

"Right, see ya." Marble pushed on through the crowd again and didn't hear if he said anything else. She was heading for the stairs when someone grabbed her from behind and yanked her back. She landed in Spot's lap.

"Spot!" Marble smacked him in the chest, hard!

"Ow!"

"What's your problem you inconsiderate bastard?"

"Dat hoit!"

"You don't just grab people you neanderthal. You are the most thoughtless jerk on the planet."

"It's gonna leave a mark."

"I don't know why I put up with you, you insensitive prick!"

"A big mark."

"You are really the most inconsiderate bastard I've ever met!"

"Yous alroidy said dat."

She opened her mouth to say something else then closed it and pouted, "You're such an ass."

"You're beautiful."

Marble laughed, "Well at least I know why I keep you now. Did you need something?"

"Naw, I jist wanted ta make ya stop walkin' 'round da room, it's drivin' me nuts."

"Well I was 'bout ta go upstairs when some jerk grabbed me." She stuck out her tongue at him before going on, "You're gonna wanna talk to Twitch soon, he says there's something' goin on in Midtown."

"Yea, sure." She squirmed out of his arms and stood up. The boys at the table all glared at her for interrupting their game. Marble blew them a collective kiss and ruffled Spots hair. She had to jump back before he could hit her.

"Good luck with that flush Spot."

The guys at the table stared for a second the chorused "I fold." Spot stared after her for a second then looked back to his pair of fours and laughed.

* * *

All of the girls had managed to sneak away so subtly that the boys still didn't realize that they were gone. The bunkroom was packed with them. They were just waiting around talking when Marble burst in with Pips right behind her.

"Heya kids!"

"Shuddup Marble." She grinned and lead Pips over to the girl who had spoken. She was lounging on a bed looking over the room like she owned it.

"Pips, this is Ace. She's the biggest loud mouth in all of New York, she's also in charge of the Coney Island House."

"Hiya."

"And this is Hazel." She gestured to the other girl on the bunk. She was laying across Ace's legs and talking to someone else. Her eyes were, obviously, hazel and her hair was light brown. Her skin was tan and all of her clothes were shades of brown. Her mellow appearance had fooled a lot of people.

"She's in charge of the girls in Harlem, the poor thing is crammed into a four story building with no supervision. I cry for them, I really do."

Her mock sympathy made Hazel smile and say, "You'se jist jealous."

"No sweetheart I's jealous," Ace joined in, "Owning an' runnin' me own house wit only me best friends in da whole woild ta keep me company. It's jist awful."

"Shuddup and quit bragging." Another girl had joined them. She was average height with short black hair and chocolate brown eyes. She seemed incredibly good-natured, "I swear, if I didn't have the wonderful company of Danny-boy to keep me happy I'd be just as depressed as you two." Everyone laughed because they knew that Daniel McMallian, a.k.a. Copper, wasn't exactly companionable. He was the leader in the Bronx and refused to date any of the girls there, or even talk to them more than he absolutely had to. He was one of those strong silent types. Which didn't really matter to any of the girls because he was unbelievably good looking. He was tall with dark copper hair, amazing smokey blue-green eyes and a body to die for.

For the first month he lived in the Bronx none of the boys knew about him because he was so quiet. Of course they eventually realized it when all of the girls ignored them for him. That was about the time they decided to beat the crap out of him. Of course that was before they know that red-heads had bad tempers and quiet people were dangerous. Needless to say everyone of them had the holy living shit beaten out of them. The old leader had skipped town that night and Copper was sort of voted into the position. He still didn't talk much but everyone knew that he was much stronger and smarter than he looked so everyone was happy with him being in charge, with the exception of, maybe, himself.

Pips had fazed out but she snapped back to reality when Marble introduced her to the new girl, "Pips this is Jess, one of the party crashers from the Bronx."

"Pips huh? I heard you was a guy."

"Oh, he is, we just think he'd look better as a girl."

"Shut up Marble."

"Yessir."

Pips stared at her friend for a second they ignored her, "So Jess, are you the boss in the Bronx?"

"Naw, nobody would listen to a leader down there anyway so it's just a waste of time. That's why Danny is the best for the job, he doesn't talk, and none of the others care anyway there's only one thing they want from him."

"Yes it's sad ta say dat da Bronx goils is well accustomed ta da agricultural pursuits a sowin' wild oats."

As Ace was pretending to be disapproving Hazel whispered behind her hand to clarify, "Dey sleep around, A LOT."

Ace grinned and went on, "All of 'im 'cept Jess heah, dats why she's da only one wit a chance at Copper, he don't like loose goils."

"He doesn't like any girls."

"Sure he does Jess, we just haven't found any yet." Marble suddenly changed the subject, "So what're we gonna do ta them dis time?"

"Huh?."

Jess explained as the others crowded around, "Every time more 'an two housed get together we do something to the guys, like T.P. the bunkroom"

"Or jam all da doors shut."

"Or flood da bathroom."

"Or call the bulls on them."

Pips grinned, "So what're we gonna do to them this time?"

The girls laughed and everyone started shouting out ideas.

* * *

Spot was wandering around the room. He had dropped out of his last game a few minutes earlier because some of the boys were starting to suspect that he was cheating. Normally he would have been angry, but he had been cheating so it wasn't a big deal. He spotted Twitch and remembered what Marble had told him so he made his way over to his friend

"Heya Twitch, Marble said dat yous got sumpthin' ta tell me 'bout Midtown."

"Yea it's real weird, it's like a ghost town. I's didn't see no newsies sellin' papes till I's got ta da house den da whole place was locked up tight. When I knocked dey tol' me ta beat it an' stay away. I went ovah to da goil's place an it was jist da opposite. Dere was nobody dere an' da whole place as empty, only da bunks was still dere. I don't know what's happenin' but da whole t'ing give me da creeps. "

"Dat don't sound too good, I's gonna talk ta some a da oddahs 'bout dis den we'll take care a it. Don' worry 'bout it."

The boys separated, Twitch looking relieved, Spot concerned. He was looking for Hawkeye and Copper when something came rumbling down the stairs. All of the girls under thirteen came running down laughing. They filled the room like a tidal wave. They all suddenly stopped and got quiet when Dublin's sister, Angel, stopped short right in front of Tumbler. She stared at him and slowly leaned forward until she could reach him them she put out her hand and hit him in the chest with her open palm.

"You're it!"

The room erupted again as the girls ran out the door laughing, followed by all of the younger boys. Boots and a few other who were close to his age stopped uncertainly by the door, not knowing if it was still alright for them to play or if they had to be mature now.

The problem was solved when Specs threw his hat at them and shouted, "Aw git da hell outta heah!"

The boys smiled gratefully and ran out the door. With all of the younger ones gone they finally realized that something important was missing and Racetrack, being one to state the obvious, asked, "Hey, where's da goils?"

"Who, you mean us?" Ace was in the lead as all of the girls walked down the steps.

There was a very subtle air of seduction coming off of them. A little make-up here, a few open buttons there and a very noticeable 'bounce' to their steps. The guys were outnumbered now that the younger ones were gone and they had no idea what to do with all of these girls. That was exactly what they had intended and they spread across the room to make it worse. In groups of two or three they crowded around certain boys, flirting with them for all they were worth. Every single boy with a girlfriend was ignored, along with anyone one of the girls was angry with. A few others were ignored for no particular reason.

Actually, there was a reason, the girls were trying to make them jealous. Whenever someone looked like he was just about to explode and start a fight the girls would shift around and it would calm down for a few minutes. As everyone knows guys are smarter than they seem, but when they are bombarded with multiple girls who are practically worshiping them they tend to ignore everything else around them, which is the case here. The room quickly became a seething mass of testosterone. It seemed like they were about to erupt and the girls were preparing to make their getaway when the door slammed open.

Jack stormed in looking royally pissed off, "What da hell is goin' on heah!?"

A guilty silence fell over the room and no one would meet his eyes, "I leave fa two hours an' come back ta dis!" He glared at everyone.

"Yous all let a pack a wild liddle kids loose in da street, trashed da house, started da neighbors bitchin' at me on da way in, stunk da whole place up wit smoke, got all da goils actin' slutty, yous gamblin' illegally, drinkin' illegally," he paused to take a breath and everyone winced, waiting for the grand finale, "and ta top it all off, nona yous invited me!"

For a second there was dead silence that turned into snickering then exploded into laughter. Some of the girls swamped Jack to find out why he was back so soon and everyone else went back to what they had been doing before things got weird. Jack welcomed the attention with open arms as they tried to find out why he was back so soon. He flirted outrageously with them then finally admitted that he had broken up with Sarah. The single girls fawned over him even more as the others left, satisfied with the knowledge.

It became less of a poker night and more of a party when Pips and the other girls who hadn't felt comfortable messing with the boys came downstairs with instruments they had found in the attic. As the noise picked up Kloppman came out of a back room and left, so he couldn't be held responsible when someone called the police. Marble handed Race his harmonica and insisted that Jack play the guitar.

"Come on Cowboy, everyone knows you can play the stupid thing, just do it."

"Oh Marble I can't, I's still too broked up ovah losin' Sarah. I can't play."

"Bullshit! You were gonna dump her anyway, you're just pissy because she beat you to it. Now quit whining and play."

"Foine, but only if ya play da fiddle."

"What makes you think I know how?"

"I's seen ya do it afore, we all know ya can play da stupid thing."

"Have it your way. You don't have to play the dumb guitar, Snoddy's better anyway and I know he'll do it."

"I t'ought yous liked to play."

"Not that out of tune piece of crap, and anyways the strings are made out of catgut. Oh by the way have you seen Ashes?"

"Naw, but now dat I t'ink of it da strings on da fiddle look kinda new."

"JACK!!" She punched him in the stomach and stalked off.

Race and Pips paused in their argument to watch Jack gasp for breath and try to laugh at the same time.

"Is he going to be alright?"

"Just peachy, don't try changin' da subject on me goil. I want ya ta at least try poker. I know you don't like gamblin', which is stupid 'cause we practically live at da track, but yous gotta at least give da game a chance afore you say it's bad an' we's all evil fa playin' it."

"I never said you were evil."

"Then play da game, ya jist said dere was nothin' wrong wit it." As Pips tried to figure out his giant leap in logic he sat her down at a table and stared dealing the cards.

Dutchy, Frack and Blink joined them. Pips glared as the last one sat down, "What are YOU doing here?"

"What? You expect me to miss a chance ta take ya money? Ha!"

Pips started to get up but Race grabbed her arm to stop her, "Jist ignore him, everyone else does."

Blink laughed and rocked back on his chair. Frick come up behind him and yanked it farther back so he lost his balance and hit the floor with a loud thud. She pulled a new chair into the empty place and sat down, "Who do who do we ignore?"

Blink picked up his chair and smacked it down next to her, "Haha. Very funny Frick!"

"Oh hello, uh, Patch? Yes can you, um, move over?"

She carefully ignored him as he moved his chair over, not to please her but so he could put his feet up on the table. Now that the seats were all full Race finally managed to finished dealing. He started explaining he game to Pips but she just brushed him aside, "Yeah yeah I know the rules, straight, flush, full house all of that stuff." She arranged the cards in her hand for minute then asked, "Are we putting a limit on the bets?"

Frack snorted, "With Race playing? Yea right."

Blink smirked at her , "don't worry I's might leave ya with some money, maybe."

She just smirked back as they anted up. Half an hour later a great deal of money had changed hands, all to Pips, "Full house."

Blink slammed his fist into the table and swore as she pulled in another pile of cash, "Where da hell did ya loin ta play like dat?"

"Beginners luck?" She asked with an innocent face as she casually preformed a few card tricks and started dealing.

Marble came up to the table and leaned over the back of Race's chair so she could talk to the twins, "Have either of you seen Ashes? HOLY CRAP! Who did you rob?"

Marble interrupted herself when she saw all of Pips' money. Pips smirked, "Everyone who's holding cards."

"Well it' about time you picked up some cards and started robbing people blind again. You're no fun when you're not gambling. Hey guys ask Pips where she got her nickname, and don't feel bad that you just got suckered in."

Pips blushed and shook her head, but started explaining anyway, "It was my uncle Max. He was a huge gambler, anything you could bet on, he was in." Everyone was glancing at Racetrack and Pips smiled, "Race is nothing compared to him, he was addicted, literally. He couldn't go a day without betting on something. The first time I ever saw him I was watching in on a dice game and he was losing miserably, but he wouldn't quit until he won (he was a little drunk at the time). Well anyway he saw me standing in the door and called me over. He kept muttering about the pips on the dice and when he won the next roll he said I could get him the pips every time, which I did, because he kept winning that night. He never bothered with my name, he just called me Pips all of the time. He used me as a lucky charm and taught me how to play everything so we could play everyday."

"Well if he was such a big gambler and drinker why do ya have a problem with stuff like that?"

"Because when he died he was out on the streets sick with no money. I could have helped him but my father wouldn't let me." She stared off into space for a while, "I don't feel like playing anymore." Pips stood up and disappeared into the crowd and Race followed her a minute later. The others slowly wandered off and eventually got sucked into other games.

Across the room Spot, Copper, Jack, Hawkeye, Hazel, Ace and Dublin were talking about Midtown.

Copper was giving out jobs that needed to be done to the people who could do them. Everyone listened to him because whenever he spoke he knew what he was talking about and he would get the job done with no problems, "Ace you find out where the girls went, some of them are going to still be in the city and they will probably help us. Pick some girls who they'll trust, we don't know what's going on and they're a touchy group, don't scare them off. Hawkeye, Hazel, I want you two to talk to the other boroughs, they trust you guys and we any need help we can get. Don't make any deals, just let them know what's happening. Dublin I want you to go up to Midtown and try to talk to the guys. Jack, send some of your boys with him, everyone likes them and we don't want it to look like we're asking for a fight. I'll have some people follow everyone you send, to watch there backs just in case. I want you guys to get whoever's in charge up there to meet up with Spot some time soon. He's the most intimidating one here and we need this guy to know that we're not taking any crap from him."

"Jist hope da guy don't step on Spot."

"Wha' was dat Hazel?"

"I didn't say nuthin'." Hazel almost pulled a muscle in her face trying not to laugh. None of the others had a problem, they all just burst out laughing.

Marble appeared suddenly when it looked like Spot was about to kill someone, "Oh! My poor little Spot. Are they making fun of you? Don't worry dear, I'll protect you."

"Marble?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up, ya ain't helpin'." She ruffled his hair and smiled when he glared at her.

"I don't suppose anyone has seen my cat?" Everyone shook their heads and she turned back to Spot with pouty eyes, "No!"

Her bottom lip began to tremble, "I ain't goin'."

Tears welled up in her eyes, "Not a chance!"

"Pweese??"

He completely crumbled, "I hate it when yous do dat. Foine, I'll take ya tommora."

Marble threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, "Thank you so much. I's gonna go see if Pips wants to come." She skipped off happily while Spot kicked himself for giving in.

Pips was sitting out on the doorstep with Race when Marble found them, "Well hello kids, having a little 'alone time' are we?"

"NO!" Pips shot to her feet and Race buried his head in his hands, "Crap."

Marble just laughed, "Don't worry I won't tell anybody."

"But we weren't....."

"I said I wouldn't tell. But anyway I didn't come out here to catch you two in a 'special moment' I just came to ask Pips if she wants to come when we go get Ashes. It's a good chance to see Brooklyn and Queens and walking around will do you more good than sitting for another day fighting with Blink and feeling sorry for yourself. You can even bring Race if you two haven't had enough time together today."

She winked and went back inside. Pips stared after her for a minute then turned to Race, "Huh?"

He lifted his head up and explained distractedly, "Ashes was born on da oddah side a Queens an' whenevah 'e gits lost he goes back dere an' Marble goes ta pick 'em up. It takes all day ta git dere an' back but it's fun, I wanna go if you do, but now lets git inside an' stop all a da rumors Marble's startin'."

"She said she wasn't going to say anything."

Race stared at her until she remembered who they were talking about then she swore and they rushed back inside.