Author's Note: *Ducks flying fruit and kitchen utensils, everything misses, smirks just as a gigantic cake collides with face* Hey! Dat hoit! Calm down! *more fruit* ok! I'se sorry! It wasn't my fault! Hear me out!

Thanks. Now, foist of all all of my siblings boithdays, includin' mine is in dis month, second, school just started up again since last term, major projects were due. And thoid, we had Eisteddfod, which is like a gigantic talent show that goes for about 3 weeks, and I had to do band and music and dance in it.

I should write more now though because all of my dance/piano/band classes ended for several months for a break, and I've gotten all of my assignments, well except one, in.

Anyways, short chapter, but the other one should be up within the next couple a days.

*debates in mind whether to tell you this, decides to, but holds up a plate as a shield* 197 people have updated since I last did!

CHAPTER 8:

"Ow." Kix put his hand to his jaw and moved it around. He looked at Spot. "What was dat for?"

Spot ignored him and sat back down icily. Kix sank to the ground and pulled his knees up to his chest. Dis is gonna be a long wait.

***

Michaela looked around the Brooklyn Lodging House. Nice, bettah den da streets I live on. She grabbed Spinz as he walked by her. "Um, sorry, I forgot, which bunk is mine?"

Spinz looked at her in concern. "Spot…you have yer own room, remember?"

"Ovah dere," he added as she still looked blank.

"Oh, thanks, um…Spinz."

Spinz shook his head and walked off to his own bunk. Michaela sighed and walked over to the room. She opened the door and saw a very small bedroom. It only had enough space for one bunk bed, a little dresser, and very little floor space. It was closer to the size of a large closet than to the size of a regular bedroom.

Michaela walked in and shut the door behind her. Small, but private. Man, I wonder who dis Spot is, and why he has my last name. Maybe dere is no Spot, and all dese guys are crazy.

***

Fists hit the stick against the palm of his hand. Darn it! We were so close.

He turned around and spoke to the newsies who were bandaging and washing their cuts. "Okay, listen up. Da Bulls interrupted our fight, but we're gonna finish it tanight. As soon as everyone's ready, we'll head down ta da Brooklyn Lodging House and attack 'em in deir own ground. Dey won't know what hit 'em."

The Queens newsies smiled and began to gather their knives and clubs.

***

Spinz stood up and grabbed his rope. "Okay, everyone ready. Once we get Kix, we'll come back heah, rest, and den tomorrow Spot'll talk ta Fists about anudder fight."

Spinz glanced at Spot. He didn't think Spot would mind him taking charge for the time being, since he'd been uneasy when they'd looked to him to be the leader lately. Maybe he's sick, Spinz thought, looking at Spot's nervous face.

The normal Spot Conlon was never nervous.

***

Michaela ran down the street with the rest of the Brooklyn newsies, keeping to the shadows. She kept her cap low over her face, watching out for Bulls. Ya never know how long dey'll hold a grudge, she thought.

Spinz signaled Michaela and she snuck over behind him. "Me, Spot, and Clips will go up, da rest of youse stay down heah as lookouts."

Everyone nodded and the three climbed quickly and quietly onto the roof. Clips was lowered down and Michaela and Spinz held the rope.

Clips called, "Steady!" and whispered urgently to Kix. Kix stood up in relief and walked over to the window followed by an angry Spot.

***

Michaela grunted as she pulled against the rope. "How much does dis guy weigh?"

Spinz shrugged and braced himself against the rope. "Hurry up!" He hissed to Clips.

Several moments of silence passed, broken suddenly by, "Spot?! How'd youse get in heah?!"

Michaela's eyes widened and the rope slipped between her fingers. Spinz pulled against it, but it slithered quickly over the edge of the roof. Luckily Clips managed to grab the window bars.

Michaela peered over the top in surprise and guilt, and Kix, Clips, and Spinz looked back and forth between Spot and Michaela in shock. Spot was mad, Michaela scared. Oh, boy. Heah we go. If dis guy is da real leadah, and his own gang is afraid a him, I'm awfully glad he's in da Refuge right now.

Michaela tilted her head suddenly at Spot. What da- He looked an awful lot like her…but the light was behind him and she couldn't see his facial features clearly.

"Spot?" Spinz said tentively, looking at the 'Spot' inside the Refuge.

Spot stared at Michaela, his mask dropping for a split second, "When last I checked…"

Kix looked through the bars and craned his head up at Michaela, "Den who's dat?"

Michaela licked her lips nervously, "Uh, heh heh…yeah." Okay now would definitely be a good time ta go. "Bye." She slipped into the shadows and leaped across the gap in the rooftops, fading into the night yet again.



AN: See ya tomorra! Review!