Disclaimer: Hey wait. I don't need a disclaimer! I own Newsies!! (Disney, if you're reading this I'm just joking okay? Giggles nervously)

Author's Note: I'm very sorry that it took me so long to post this. I only hope I haven't lost all of your support. And Fastdancr? Don't give up on our joint story!

I think for a couple of seconds. I've been away from Brooklyn for months. But I left a lot in New York that I've got to learn about. Maybe I'll just forget it all, stay out here, and play poker.

Finally I come to a decision. I'm going into the bunkroom to talk to Annie. I need to see what is happening in my old life.

"Hey Annie?" I don't want to say anymore and hope that she'll be able to understand what I want to get at. No one's ever really been able to do more than hazard a guess at what I want to say, but I'm always hoping.

She looked up from the cards she was shuffling and sighed. "Magic what do you want to say? C'mon just once talk for the heck of it." She looked down again and flipped the deck of cards into her lap. "Spot says you used to talk a lot. Well, not really a lot. But enough. At least before you left for Staten Island."

I finally manage to stutter out, "How's Brooklyn?"

A smile slowly came across her face. "It's, well. You know there's no place in the world like Brooklyn. You remember Pegs?"

I nodded. Pegs was one of the oldest newsies.

"He met a girl, decided to get married and got a job waiting in a restaurant in Manhattan."

I shook my head in disbelief. I couldn't believe it.

"And another thing? Jack Kelly's ex-girl, Sarah? Well, she got herself into a little trouble with Morris Delancey. They're married and they had themselves an early baby. About three months early. And get this! She named it Frances. You know, like Francis Sullivan?"

I smile wickedly, "Is it his?"

"Nah, Sarah broke up with Jack a week after the strike. We figure she finally got what she was missing."

About an hour passed very quickly as we gossiped and laughed. Well, she gossiped and I laughed.

"Hey. Hush. The Traveler." Swede stuck his head in and looked at Annie, "They're calling for you for a warm-up game."

Annie got up and started out the door and I began to follow.

"Wait, Hush," Swede said, grabbing at my arm.

I turn and look at him expectantly. He seems pretty serious about something, which is pretty unusual.

"Look, I just want you to know. Well, I'm angry, okay? We hang out together for a while and I thought we were pretty good friends." He paused and looked at me, as if he wanted me to say something.

I just couldn't think of anything to say. What do people want from me? Why can't they just accept that I don't like to talk?

"And than I find out that you haven't told me anything. You know all sorts of people and your name is Magic. And you know my real name, my favorite color, how my parents died." He turns away and tries to secretly wipe away the tears from his eyes. "Everything. I told you everything. And you told me nothing."

Swede looked at me. I looked down. I don't trust him. And I can't help it.

"I just don't get you." He turned and walked out of the room.

I lay down on a bunk and started thinking. I've only met two people since I was eight that I actually trusted. Spot and The Traveler. Even they don't understand me, but I've trusted them since the first sentence they spoke to me. And I'm sorry that Swede wants more from me, but I can't settle for anything less. We can be friends, but not close.

I try to think about why I don't trust Swede and how I can make myself trust him. After about an hour I finally figure it out. Swede's had it easy. I know that a newsie's life is hard no matter what, but Boston just isn't as tough as New York and Brooklyn. I've seen cops here turn blind eyes to what would mean a year at the Refuge in Brooklyn. They are soft. And none of the Boston newsies are someone I'd want at my back. Not even Whiskey or Swede. I mean, Swede can't even leap a wall.

While I'm still thinking I hear a rap at the door. Then I see a dark haired head poke in the door.

"Hey, Magic. I'm Race, remember? My sister sent me in here because she says I don't need to play the warm-up round. I was wondering if you could show me around. You see, I've never really been around Boston. Usually I go from the railroad to the house and never leave."

I shrug and head out the door. Race could be good company, who knows?

I think it is hours later that I finally surface. I've never laughed so long in my life. I remembered the way to the tracks and Race has made so many jokes about his luck and the people around us that I think he could be on the stage.

"Hey Magic? Do you know how they say people look like their dogs? Do you think that lady looks like her horse?" I look where Race is pointing and see a long faced lady with a pair of opera glasses peering at the track.

Maybe the best thing about today so far is that Race hasn't pressured me to talk. He just talked at me and made up my responses, if necessary. But I talked too. More than I've talked in a long time.

"Damn!" I look up to see Race squinting at his pocket watch in the twilight. "I'm late for the poker game!"

I quickly start to walk towards the lodging house, but it's a ways away and it is actually dark by the time we get there.

Race pauses in the pool of light cast by a street lamp. "Magic, I was wondering what you were going to do now? What do you think about coming back to New York? Spot and Anna-Maria miss you. And…and I think I'd miss you too, after today."

He took a deep breath and leaned. He lightly brushed my lips with his and started towards the lodging house.

I touch my lips with my hand. My very first kiss. Do I trust that boy? Will he take away the nightmares? Do I feel for him like Annie does for Spot? Suddenly I run and slip my hand into Race's.

He had a lighted a cigar and he smiled and threw it on the ground. "C'mon Magic, let's go inside."

I let him walk ahead a bit before I say, "Irish."

"What dearie?" Race looks confused and I don't blame him.

"That's my name. Irish." Then I look down and take a deep breath. "Or Katie Rose."

Spotted One: Well, Alice this is the end of Wonderland right now. Thanks for all your support on my stories so far.

Raeghann: Whew, I think I spelled that right. Thanks for your review and just remember the next time you eat beef that it used to be really cheap.

Fastdancr: Thanks for reviewing. I hope I talk (e-mail whatever) to you soon.