Here's chapter three!  I want to thank all of you who reviewed….

~Robyn

~Smudge a.k.a Lotus Kitten

~Tuffy-Mush is kinda involved, as you will see in this chapter…can I interest you in another one of our fine newsies?

~Cassidelia

~Maniac Conlon

~Racetrack 1899

~Dreamcoat

~Mondie-You'll be in the next chapter, I think.  If I completely mess up your character, just tell me.

~SweetSixteen

~Drama-Queen

~Gypsy

~Moon*Star

Thank you so much for reviewing!  I hope you all continue to enjoy my story!

Oh, by the way.  Madeline abandoned me.  She did write parts of this chapter, and I'm gonna try to get her to write bits when I get stuck, but other than that…she's gone.  Email her to try to get her to come back!  She adds so much to the story…

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Alex was walking back to Manhattan with Spot, quietly reviewing the day's events in her head.  Although spending time with Spot was incredibly enjoyable, she wondered why he was staying in Manhattan if Brooklyn was, in fact, his home.  Was Spot simply prone to long visits with friends?  Or was he, perhaps, staying in Manhattan to be with her?

It was beginning to grow dark and a few young boys scurried around the streets, lighting the streetlamps and creating a dim glow.  The creatures of the night were beginning to come out, and Spot stepped closer to her and took her hand.  When she glanced at him, her repeated what he told her on the pier in Brooklyn.  "No one will touch you when you're with me."

His actions caused Alex to think about the whole situation.  Could he maybe be interested in her?  Or was he protective of all girls he knew?  And if something did happen, would she want to leave him and go back to her rightful time?  This caused another whole chain of thoughts about getting back to her time and whether or not she even wanted to.  Sighing, she figured she would wait until she saw Madeline to discuss the entire time travel situation.  Where had Madeline been all day anyway? 

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"Jack?"  Madeline questioned, squinting in the dim light as if to assure yourself that Jack was, in fact, her rescuer. 

"Yeah," he answered as he closed the distance between them.  He grabbed her wrists and inspected her arms, looking for any signs of harm.  "Are you alright?  Did they hurt you?"

"Nothing more than maybe a few bruises.  I'll be alright," she looked into his mesmerizing hazel eyes. 

"Good."  He dropped her hands, leaving a feeling of coldness that hadn't been there before he touched her.  "I couldn't help but overhear you scream that you were a horrible newsie and that you had no money…"

"Yes, well, about that.  I haven't sold a single paper…" she trailed off. 

He glanced at her empty hands.  "Then where are your papes?"

"Oh.  I dropped them.  Yep.  I'm the best newsie in New York!" she stated sarcastically, throwing up her hands.

"Didn't you go sell with Alex and Spot?" Jack asked, confused.  He had been sure that Madeline would want to go sell with Alex. 

Madeline chuckled, thinking of what her friend would say if she asked to go along with her and Spot.  "Nope."

"Oh.  Sorry.  Look, I'll teach you how to sell tomorrow.  How's that sound?"

"Sounds great."

"It's getting pretty late.  We should be heading back to the lodge."  He offered his arm and she shook her head. 

"You probably don't want to get that close to me.  I'm still kind of wet and I smell pretty bad," Kati said, wrinkling her nose.

"And why's that?" he asked, laughing at her expression. 

On the way back to the Lodging House, she explained her morning, omitting the cause of the entire incident. 

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After showering, Madeline changed into the clothes Jack had lent to her and laughed at how loose they fit her.  Looking in the mirror, she cinched the belt he had also lent her to its tightest hole, hoping that they would not fall off over the course of the night.  She found what looked like a washtub and washed her old clothes.  Hanging them up, she prayed that they would be dry in time to wear the next morning.  As she exited the washroom, she spotted Alex sitting on her bunk, watching the poker game that was taking place in the center of the room.  From the looks of it, Race had just won. 

Alex looked up as Madeline walked over, "Hey Mads!" she said cheerfully.  "Did you have a good day?  I was wondering where you were."

"Did I have a good day?!  If you call not selling a single paper, getting dirty water thrown on you right in front of Dave, and getting mugged a good day, then yes.  I had a spectacular day." 

"You got mugged?" Alex asked, her eyes widening in shock. 

"Yes.  Not that I had any money to give them in the first place.  I'm horrible at selling.  If Jack hadn't came when he did…"

"Jack rescued you?  That's so romantic!  And are those his clothes?  Ow ow, Mads, what have you been doing!" Alex grinned.

Madeline rolled her eyes, sitting on the bunk next to Alex.  "I'm wearing them because my other ones were covered in greasy dish water!"  Soon, the entire story of Madeline's day was poured out.  Alex felt horrible, leaving Mads all by herself all day. 

"I'm so sorry, Mads.  I'll sell with you tomorrow, if you want," she offered. 

At this Madeline had to grin.  "Not necessary.  Jack's going to sell with me."

Alex glanced over at Jack, who was chatting with Spot and Kid Blink across the room.  He saw her looking and nodded at her, causing her to turn back around and blush.  "Ack.  He saw me," she told Madeline, her face flaming. 

"Oh no.  He saw you.  Now what will he think of you?" Madeline said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.  "So, tell me about your day with Spot, Ms. Alexia."

A dreamy look came over Alex's face.  She started by telling Madeline about how selling went in the morning, and finished with the walk back from Brooklyn.  All the while, she kept her voice very low, not wanting any prying ears to overhear. 

"…And he kept holding my hand until we got here," she finished.  "I think its because he's protective of everybody.  Nothing special." 

"Shush, Alex.  He's so in love with you."

"He is not.  He's just friendly." Alex sighed.

"Whatever you say Alex, whatever you say."

By now, most of the newsies had gone to bed, save a few who were still playing poker, including Jack, Spot, Mush, Swifty and of course Race.  Madeline left Alex and went to her own bed, exhausted from the day's excursions. 

Alex lay down, too excited about everything to sleep.  A few seconds later, she could hear Jack's quiet call of, "Royal flush.  Looks like I win again boys."  Several groans were voiced before Jack collected his winnings and the newsies dispersed.  A moment later the lights went out.  Alex closed her eyes, welcoming the darkness.  She heard some scuffling as the final newsies made their way to their bunks.  Spot paused by her bed for a moment, and she thought he was just putting something in the drawer, but a second later she felt a slight pressure on her cheek.  Waiting a few seconds, she opened her eyes to see him climbing up onto the bunk above her.  "Did he just kiss me?" she wondered. 

Madeline, who had witnessed the entire thing from her bunk, grinned to herself. 

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Alex awoke the next morning, still chipper from her unexpected kiss, to find an envelope and a modest bouquet of flowers greeting her.  Sitting up in her bed, she realized that someone had placed them next to her while she was sleeping.  Immediately, her heart melted.  Spot is too sweet, she though, sighing the dreamy sigh of love.  First pausing to smell her daises, appropriately wrapped in a newspaper, she proceeded to opening her letter.  Inside was a short poem, scrawled in untidy print.

"Daises are pretty,

Newspaper is, too.

I know you like Spot,

But I like you.

-Mush"

Ignoring the fact that the poem was a nothing much, Alex couldn't help giggling.  Mush, she thought to herself.  Mush, Mush, Mush.  He's kind of cute…  She suddenly looked around the room, but Mush was nowhere to be seen.  Not wanting to cause a scene, she put the note under her pillow and went downstairs to borrow a jar from Kloppman.  Filling it with water, she placed the daisies in the jar after removing their newspaper covering.  She smiled as she walked to the washroom, hoping to get in a quick shower before she went selling.

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Madeline grinned once again when she awoke and noticed the flowers on the table beside Alex's bed.  She too mistook them as being from Spot, and sent him a roguish wink when she caught his eye across the room.  In return, Spot raised a single eyebrow in her direction.  Madeline jerked her head towards the daisies and smiled at him.  From the look on his face, she deciphered that he had not been the giver. 

At that moment, Alex emerged from the washroom, wet headed and humming to herself.  Grabbing the two hair ties she always stored on her wrist, she thrust them at Madeline.  "Mads, will you braid my hair?" she asked, smiling sweetly. 

"Not until you tell me who the flowers are from."

"Mush," Alex gushed, grabbing the folded not from under her pillow.  "He wrote me a poem too!"

Madeline took the paper and unfolded it, trying not to gag as she read it.  That had to be the worst, but at the same time most sweet, poem she had ever read in her entire life.  Accepting the hair ties, she ordered Alex to sit on her bunk.  "What about Spot," she whispered as she parted Alex's hair.

"I don't know."  Alex bit her lip, sending a glance in the aforementioned newsie's direction.  "It's all so confusing.  I thought I was in love with Spot, but then Mush…" she trailed off. 

"You can't have both of them you know," Madeline scolded as she finished the second braid and moved on to the second.

"Of course, Ms. I-Can't-Decide-Between-Jack-and-David."

"That's different.  Neither of them likes me."

"Whatever, Mads.  You haven't given them a chance.  And you've hardly met Davey!"

Madeline snorted in remembrance of yesterday's events.  As if he would even glance at her now that she completely humiliated herself in front of him.

Mads was just finishing the second braid when Mush walked over, blushing slightly, his eyes downcast and his hands wringing out his newsie cap. 

"Um, Alex?" he asked, removing his glance from the floorboards.

"Yeah," she replied, looking up, only to have Madeline push her head back down so she could finish the braid. 

"Do you wanna…I mean, if you aren't already selling with anyone…" he trailed off, blushing a deeper shade of red.

Alex looked suddenly unsure.  She could not deny selling with Mush was extremely tempting, but she did not want to jeopardize her budding relationship with Spot simply because of a poem and flowers.  But, then again, she thought to herself, Spot hasn't made his feelings for me apparent.  She struggled not to remember how he kissed her on the cheek the night before as she gave the newsie in front of her a winning smile.  "Of curse I'd love to sell with you Mush.  I just have to talk to Mads for a second, so can I meet you at the Distribution Office?"  She smiled at him.  He nodded and walked off, pleased at the turn of events. 

Madeline, who had finished braiding Alex's hair into two French braids, eyed her handiwork while asking, "Why aren't you shy around Mush like you are with all the other guys?"

"'Cause I know for a fact that he likes me," Alex replied matter of factly, reaching around to feel the wet braids.  "Thanks.  Oh, and I took the necklace off this morning.  I don't want to go back just yet."

"That's fine." Madeline replied.  Most of the newsies had already left to go get their papers.  The only remaining newsies were Jack and Spot, who seemed to be waiting for the girls.  Alex nudged Madeline towards Jack as she walked over to Spot. 

"You wanna sell with me again today?" he asked as they walked out the door and down the stairs. 

"I can't.  I already promised Mush that I'd sell with him.  Sorry."

Spot's face fell.  "Okay."  He paused.  "Will you sell with me tomorrow then?" 

"Don't you have to be getting back to Brooklyn?"  She winced the moment she said this, realizing that it sounded like she wanted him to leave.  "I mean, not that I want you to go back…" she trailed off, wincing again at how desperate she sounded. 

"Why don't you come sell in Brooklyn?  I can introduce you to some of my friends."

She nodded. "Of course."

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Mush stared dreamily into Alex's eyes as she explained the art and finer points of crew, supposedly a sport in which she excelled. "And it's so fun. There are car washes- I guess you don't really get that idea, but, you know… and there's always a lot of spandex. Of course, crew is a lot more than car washing and spandex…"

"How long do you plan to stay?" Mush suddenly questioned, a look of sadness briefly darkening his face.

Alex shrugged, busying herself with sipping her milk shake. "I guess… as long as I have a reason to stay." She quickly caught his eyes, and then returned her gaze to her milk shake.

Flashing her an absolutely charming and heart-melting smile, Mush leaned closer to her from across the table. "I really had fun today."

Alex laughed, knowing she had enjoyed her time with Mush thoroughly. "Who wouldn't appreciate the joys of selling papes?"

 
Mush laughed, too, catching her hand. "I didn't even notice the papes.  All I saw was you."

Alex sighed. He was incredibly romantic, and seemed to say the right thing at the exactly right time. Spot, a subject of her attention throughout the day despite her company, was briefly forgotten. "There aren't too many boys like you where I come from."

Mush winked at her. "Well, I try my best to impress girls as pretty as you."

She blushed, grabbing his hand as she got up from the table. "You are quite the flirt." As Alex and Mush exited the building hand in hand, however, Alex could not help but feel as though someone was watching her. Turning to see if she was simply imagining the thoughts of a paranoid girl, she turned. Unfortunately, her paranoia was not left unexplained; Spot was studying her every move, a look of hurt lingering in his eyes and clearly reflected in his facial expressions.  Alex nervously tried to hurry Mush along, but to no avail. Mush seemed to want to take his time. I didn't even notice him coming in, Alex thought, biting her lip. Was this a bad idea, to be so open with her affection for Mush? Nonsense, she logically thought. He has no claim on me. I'm a free lady.

Mush wrapped an arm around her waist, causing her to smile slightly. "Where do you want to go?" he asked. They had plenty of time to spend
together; it was only four. Alex shrugged.

"I could really do anything."

Mush nodded, casually walking down the street.

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Once Alex and Mush had disappeared from sight, Spot turned back to Jack, Madeline, Dave, Blink and Skittery, who were sitting at the same table as him. All were staring at him, some laughing others confused, not knowing about the situation between Spot and Alex. "What?" At this, the entire table burst into laughter, including those who were previously in the dark about Spot's feelings. His temper flared. No one laughed at Brooklyn. "What is your problem?" He glared.

"You've got it bad." Jack remarked, his arm around Madeline.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He crossed his arms over his
chest and pouted, making him look like stubborn child.

"Come on, Spot. Everyone knows. Well, except for her," Madeline added.

A look of relief washed over Spot. "Has she said anything to you?" he asked casually, trying to come off as not really caring about the answer.

"Not much. She did say that she just thinks you're being friendly. She's clueless like that." As soon as the words left Madeline's mouth, she regretted them. Alex for sure didn't want her talking to Spot about their conversation the night before. "Don't tell her I said anything. I don't think I was supposed to."

The subject was dropped for the rest of their time in Tibby's. But, as they were leaving, Spot caught Madeline's elbow and whispered, "Has she said anything else?" He glanced around, once again not wanting the other guys to notice that he cared.

"She likes you. Trust me. You just have to do something about it before Mush does, 'cause she'd probably take him up on any offer he gives." Spot nodded, released her, and walked out the door.

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Please review!  Reviews are what keep me going.  I love you guys! 

Anyway, if you like Tamora Pierce, it would be cool if you checked out my stories under the name Keladry of Mindelan, and gave me some feedback!

Oh, and I've been meaning to ask…What are these lodging houses everyone has been talking about?  And how do I join one?