(If you reviewed chapters 18-20 you can't review them again so e-mail me if you want to tell me what you think. I really like reviews. Typing and listen to your friend super glue herself to herself over the phone is not easy so I'm not going to type anymore, it's less fun.)

(P.S. I was kinda spaced out when I wrote this so it may not make much sense and the characters will probably do and say some pretty weird stuff.)

"I swear to God I'm going to kill somebody!" The statement was followed by a long string of random profanities, insults and blows to the wall. Marble sighed, Skylar was back.

He wasn't having a very good time with Harper and the girls. Every day since they started they had prevented anyone leaving Midtown with papers. Skylar was starting to suspect someone was spying for them, but Marble continually reassured that all of his boys were loyal to him. Nobody had left him and a few guys had even moved to Midtown in the past week. He oozed charisma that nobody could resist, when he wanted to.

For Gavin and Marble he was more himself, he trusted them but was blind to the fact that they didn't trust each other. Skylar's absolute faith in his brother kept the boy from sharing his suspicions. When Marble was concerned he was too absorbed in masculine superiority to believe her capable of anything and Gavin didn't want to go to Skylar until he had proof of something. Without proof his brother would ignore it and loose some of that faith in his sibling. Marble knew she was being watched and made sure she was never caught.

Skylar finally calmed down enough to speak rationally, "You will never believe what that wench did today Gav, you wouldn't believe it."

Marble gritted her teeth, nothing irritated her so much about this boy as the way he never treated her like an intelligent being in public. He always spoke to his brother first and if he thought it was important for her to know, which he never did, he would tell her in private. It drove her crazy.

"What happened? I thought you told the boys they had to take her down today."

"I did, but she was expecting us to fight back. I don't know how she knew but they were ready for us..." He trailed off and Gavin realized he wasn't going to start again.

"What happened?" Skylar started and looked blankly at his sibling for a second, "They called the cops. They were waiting for us in the alleys. Two boys are in the Refuge, one went to jail and four of them got hurt. I'm not going to let her do this to us, she can't keep us here forever. I just don't understand this girl, if she's so concerned with her newsies why is she willing to hurt them to stop them from spreading out. It makes no sense."

"She's just smart enough not to start anythin' with da other leaders." Both boys looked at Marble but she slipped out of her chair and left the room. She walked down a barren hallway to only other room on the top floor. It had belonged to the owner and his girlfriend but they had gotten married and moved out so now Skylar and Gavin had the small room. There were two beds, a table and a couple of chairs, making the room seem very cozy.

Skylar caught up with Marble as she was opening the door, "I thought you had to work, but I'm glad you're still here."

"I'm glad you didn't get hurt. I wish you would just leave them alone, it's not safe."

"Don't worry, I can take care of myself in a fight. I just wish I could get past Harper, if it weren't for her I'd have half of the city by now."

"I know you could, but I still don't see why that means you should."

He sighed, "You don't understand."

"You're right. I don't understand why you want to control a group of people who don't want to be controlled and honestly don't need to be."

He smiled and wrapped his around her, "Don't worry about it, it'll make sense later."

Now was the part Marble dreaded. He was going to kiss her and instead of enjoying it, which shouldn't have been too hard, she was gong to start comparing him to Spot. It happened every time, but she couldn't help it, they were so different.

Both of them were good looking, charismatic leaders who were famous for fighting skills and history with women, but that was where it ended. Spot was so fun and independent and Skylar relied completely on Gavin and was always concerned with his duty to the rest of the newsies. Skylar had a need for more power and control over others while Spot was content with Brooklyn and the respect that he had earned.

Sky's soft lips met hers and he pulled her close, wanting more. Marble hated it. In public he barely noticed her, except to make sure she was there and everyone knew she was with him, then when they were alone he was charming, but that was only in an effort to get her into bed. She knew he was using her just as much as she was using him, but she just wished it only for public appearance, not private pleasure. He always wanted more and she wasn't willing to give it to him.

At these times she always thought of Spot, how he always treated her like his best friend, talking and joking with her, making fun of her, and even asking her to do things you would never even suggest to your girlfriend. She had always liked him for the unconditional friendship, but she loved him for the times when they were alone.

He was so shy and insecure and there was no sign of his over-whelming ego. She loved the fact that she could actually make him blush in private. There was something so endearing about the way he wouldn't touch her without permission and when he did he treated her like glass. Nothing they did ever seemed inappropriate or vulgar, just loving and occasionally slightly lustful.

Marble couldn't stand it anymore. She pulled away from Skylar and looked up into eyes that, under any other circumstances, would have melted her. She forced a smile, "I have to go to work now. It will probably run late, so I'll see you tomorrow."

She quickly made her escape and ran out of the building. Normally she would head straight to Harper, but right now she just needed to be alone.

* * *

Central Park was beautiful in the winter. There wasn't much snow, and dead grass showed through in foot prints, but it was still beautiful. Marble had been wandering around aimlessly for a while when she found an almost untouched field. She watched it peacefully sparkling for a while then grinned. The sudden childish urge to go make snow angels sent her running into the snow.

After a few minutes of carefree romping she collapsed into one of the angels and stared up at the sky. It was icy blue and wispy clouds scuttled past, keeping her mind blissfully blank. For a while she just lay there, not willing to move, even though her back was wet and starting to freeze. Marble could hear people walking in the park and a hum from their conversations. Someone was coming towards her through the snow. She still didn't want to move and break the peace, but when the person stopped a few feet away she got curious.

She propped herself up on her elbows and looked into Spot's face. He looked horrible. His hair was tousled and his clothes looked slept in. There was a miserable look in his bloodshot eyes and his face looked frozen, like he had been outside for a long time. Marble felt sick with guilt as they watched each other, but she felt so helpless.

It would be so easy to make every thing better between them and she wanted to more than anything, but felt responsible for the others also and she needed to solve the problem with Skylar first. The only way that would work was for her to go on pretending to hate Spot and that would be much easier on both of them in the end if he didn't know the truth.

They stayed like that for a long time, 'Marble I.." His voice was hoarse and strained. He was unsure of what to say to her, nothing he thought of seemed right. Finally he just offered a hand to help her up.

She slowly took it and he gently pulled her to her feet. The stood less than a foot apart, her hand still in his.

Marble frowned, "You're warm." Her icy fingers went to his cheek, then his forehead, "Oh my God, do you have a fever? Are you sick?"

Her hands began feeling frantically around his face and neck in a panic. Suddenly her fingers twined into his hair and she pulled his head down in to a desperate kiss. It hurt for her to be this close to him after so long and she wanted to stay forever, responsibility be damned. She pulled back abruptly with tears in her eyes. The locked gazes for an instant then she turned and ran, for once more confused than Spot.

* * *

Pips was at the lodging house with Dorry when Marble came back. The girl walk listlessly through the door and went up to the bunk room without seeing either of them. Pips stared after her for a minute then picked Dorry up and followed her.

Marble was sitting on the edge of a bed, staring at her clasped hands. She jumped when Pips sat next to her, "Oh! I didn't know you were heah."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing really. I just saw Spot in the park. I don't think he's doing to well."

Dorry squirmed out of Pips' arms and climbed into Marble's lap. He wrapped a chubby arm around her neck and patted her cheek, 'It's ok, don't be sad." she hugged him and didn't say anything for a while.

Pips sighed, "What are you going to do? It was a stupid mistake you know, he's not perfect. I really think you should just forgive him."

"I know I should, I'm not even mad anymore, I just don't know how. If I go to see him and we make up I won't be able to pretend to care about Skylar anymore and a lot of people are counting on me for information. I can't do what I need to if I'm distracted by Spot."

"Marble just forget about Skylar. I hate to break it to you but a lot of people could do what you're doing just as well and you're the only one that can help Spot. He's the one you love and he needs you right now." (God, the corniness is killing me)

Marble looked at her and frowned thoughtfully, "You're roight ya know, I just don't know how to do it. I don't want to accidently hurt him anymore."

Pips didn't know what to say to that, but she suddenly got an idea. She stood up. "I think I'm going to go for a walk."

"What? I thought you were hiding from your husband."

"I'm sick of hiding. I've been stuck in here for a week and if I don't go somewhere soon I'm going to go crazy."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, No. I'll be fine, just stay here with Dorry." Marble was startled by how abrupt Pips was but the other girl quickly abandoned the room.

She hadn't been lying when she said she needed to get out , but she didn't want Marble to know that she planned on going to see Spot for her. Pips wanted to help them, but she didn't think Marble would want her to go if she asked, so she didn't ask.

She got outside and almost ran into Blink on the icy pavement, "What're yous doin' out heah?"

"It's none of your business." She tried passing him but he grabbed her arm.

"C'mon, indulge me, where ya goin'?"

"Bite me."

He pulled her closer, "Tell me."

"Brooklyn, I'm going to Brooklyn."

He let her go and she took a step back, "Why, ta visit ya boyfriend?"

The way he said it made her want to stay and keep fighting, "No, I'm going to see Spot."

The mocking humor dropped for his face, "Are yous insane? Ya gonna go see Spot Conlon when 'es been drinkin'?" He grabbed for her arm again but she pulled away, "Goil, 'es got dat reputation for a reason ya know. A guy ain't labeled da most dangerous man in New Yawk fa nuthin'."

"What are you talking about?"

This time he managed to grab her and pull her so they were only inches apart, "Listen ta me, he ain't safe. Ya don't know Spot like da rest a us. When 'es drunk he can't control what 'es doin'. Ya can git hoit messin' wit 'im undah good conditions, an' roight now 'e ain't exactly stable."

"Bullshit, Marble would have said something by now if that was true."

Blink shook her, hard, and hissed in her ear, "She don't know, she's hoid, but she don't really know. He quit drinkin' when da strike stared, an' aftahwards Marble showed up afore 'e could start again. Trust me when I say seein' 'im ain't a good idea."

"I don't trust you and I don't have to listen to anything you say."

As much as Blink wanted to beat some sense into her he kept his clenched fist down and started to yell instead. Before he could get a full word out his chest constricted and he collapsed to his knees coughing. Pips slowly backed away down the street. His eyes locked angerly with hers as he tried to breathe and she turned and ran.

(Hey hey I'm done with the chapter. I know some of you are suffering from cardiac arrest but it'll pass the story will make it better, all better. I'm sorry it took so long but I wasn't feeling very inspired, you know the feeling, happens to the best of us. I'm not promising anything for the next chapter but I'm willing to say it won't take a whole month this time. Yup well I have nothing else to say and I hope too many people aren't really irritated with me.)