Hey everyone! Thanks so much for reviewing!! I'm glad you all like it so far.  Hope my story lives up to any expectations you may have.  Disclaimer: I wanted to add (just in case) that none of these characters in this chapter are mine except Bitsy.  The only place that is mine is "Joe's."  And the song in this chapter also belongs to Disney. 

Keep reviewing!!! Hope you all like the second chapter (and I hope you can forgive me for keeping Jack with Sarah, I know some people aren't too fond of her- myself included, but I didn't have anyone else for Jack so I figured why not). Also, a friend of mine is writing a parallel story about one of the smaller characters I am going to introduce later named Kit, so if you want more, you can read hers when she puts it up. Her pen name is Patch530. And on a final note: sorry if the first few chapters lack a lot of exciting plot- I'm getting there, but these chapters are important! So please read and review!

Chapter 2:

 "Well, I better get onstage. I hope you'll be watching," Bitsy said to the newsies, but she was looking at Race while she said it.  Race could feel her green eyes, the same shade as her dress, on him until she disappeared from sight. 

"Well, boys, I hope you will come watch Bitsy with me.  I think you may recognize the song she's about to sing," Medda said as she started toward the door to the balcony.  As the boys quietly shuffled in, they could hear a clear, melodic voice starting to sing, "My lovey-dovey baby, I boo-hoo-hoo for you."

After the performance, the guys said their goodbyes as they left out the side door.  Jack noticed that a change had come over Race- he had been unusually quiet since meeting Bitsy- but Jack didn't say anything.  Then the four of them headed to Tibby's for dinner.

At Tibby's, the conversation was devoted to Medda's hot new apprentice.  "She's gorgeous," Blink said when other newsies started to inquire about this new girl in town.  "I wouldn't minds invitin' her to me room t'night, if ya knows what I means."  Even though Race knew Blink was just joking, he couldn't make himself stay there, listening to them talk about Bitsy like that.  He had to get out of there.  So he got up and walked out, as the eyes of the other newsies followed him out the door.  "Whaddya thinks wrong wit 'im?" Blink questioned as he watched Race leave.  A murmur of responses came from the newsies, but none were distinguishable.

As Race left Tibby's, he didn't even pause to think about where he was headed.  In fact, he didn't really think at all.  All he could think (if you can call it thinking, but it was more like dreaming) about was her.  Her petite, slender figure with that long light brown hair that had glimmered earlier that day under the stage lights.  And that voice.  Race wasn't even aware that as he walked- lost in his day dream- he was slowly approaching Medda's theatre.  Next thing he knew, he was at the side door.  He thought to himself, 'Well, as long as I'se here, I mights as well say hello'. So in he went. 

            "Race! Hey kid, it's been a long time since I saw you!" said Medda jokingly as she saw Race enter.  "I, uh, I'se, well," was all Race could get to come out of his usually oh-so-slick mouth when he saw that Medda wasn't alone, but Bitsy was with her.  Medda caught on quickly, and she saved him by interjecting, "Race, how about you take Bitsy out for dinner? She was just telling me how hungry she is, but I can't leave now and she doesn't know her way around New York yet."

Next thing he knew, Race was walking down the street with Bitsy.  As they chatted, Race gradually felt more at ease.  She started talking about how wonderful Medda is and how lucky she was to be taken in by her.  Race just listened.  Her voice was like a nightingale to him, and he could have listened to her for hours.  Then, she paused for a minute, and it was then that Race realized that he had no idea where to take her for dinner. 

Tibby's was out of the question, because Race knew all the newsies would still be there.  So, not knowing any other restaurants, Race glanced around to see if there were any places he could take her to.  He was getting worried when he suddenly remembered Davey talking about some nice place around here.  He seemed to remember Davey saying it was almost hidden by a seamstress' shop.  A seamstress shop!  That had to be Miss Molloy's shop a block away!  That's right, it's the shop that Sarah works at, he thought to himself as the conversation with Davey slowly came back to him. 

So he subtly headed off in that direction and Bitsy followed, unaware of the momentary distraction.  As they approached it, Race saw a sign barely sticking out next to the window that read, "Joe's."  So Race led Bitsy in, having no idea what it was like or what he could be getting himself into.  Those thoughts didn't even pass through his head though, because he was so absorbed in everything she said, that he barely noticed the world around him.

They found themselves in a quaint Italian restaurant, and sat down at a table in the corner.  As Bitsy was talking, Race noticed it was all about her life performing with Medda and her dreams for the future, but she had yet to even mention her past at all.

So, he decided to try his luck and asked, "So, where dids you'se come from before you'se comes to Medda's?" At this, she paused.  Then slowly, she replied, "I came from St. Margaret's School for Girls."  When Race didn't show any sign of recognition at the name that was all to familiar to her, Bitsy continued, "It's a boarding school where they teach girls everything they need to know in order to become 'proper young ladies'." 

She paused after this, as if she couldn't decide whether to continue confiding in this boy she had just met, but was pushed on by the fact that she felt as though she could talk to for hours and he'd just listen.  That was something she'd never had in any guy before: one who would (not only would, but wanted to!) listen to her story.  There was only one other person she had ever had that in, but it seemed as though their paths had gone two separate ways and she wasn't sure if they would cross again.

So she took a deep breath and plunged in, "My parents died when I was six.  My uncle was given custody of me, but he didn't want me, so he sent me off to boarding school. I've been there since, until recently, and the rest is history.  We graduated, but most girls go back there after graduation in order to have the school find them employment.  Since I didn't have any reason to go back, I didn't.  I know Medda because she was a friend of my mother's.  Since I had no where else to go, I came here and Medda welcomed me with open arms, as long as I would perform to help pay for my food and board, which is not a problem, because I've wanted to be an actress since I can remember."

"Well, youse certainly gots da talent ta be one," said Race, who had come out of his trance as he listened to Bitsy's story.  He was now somewhat back to the clever smart-mouth everyone knew so well.  After thinking for a minute, he continued, "So, youse all alone? No friends ta go backs for?" 

"I had one friend. My best friend I've ever had actually. She'd be the only reason to go back, but she got a job in Brooklyn last I heard," then Bitsy decided it was time to change the subject, "So, enough about me. Where do you come from?"

As they chatted about Race's life as an orphan newsie, they completely forgot the point of their outing was to get dinner. They hadn't even noticed the waiter when he came to get their orders. So half an hour later, with their stomachs growling just as much as before (if not more), Race realized their mistake.  He was telling some stories of life as a Manhattan newsie, "Then, theres dis time Mush says to Jack, 'how'd ya sleep, Jack?' and Jack goes 'on me back. Mush'!! Ha, ya knows what we's gone and done? We forgots to order us some food. Well, Medda's gunna want youse back soon, so whys don't we'se just get two sandwiches ta go? We can eats dem on our way back."

A couple of blocks later, Race said goodbye after escorting Bitsy to Medda's.  Once she was inside, he casually started to walk to the boarding house.  When he got there, he was immediately interrogated.  Specs started it, innocently asking, "Race, where ya beens?" But instead of Race answering, Blink took the liberty of responding for him, "He hads ta be wit dat goil, ya know, Medda's new goil." A series of comments on that were made, most referring to how that nights events must have been anything but innocent.  All of the comments, however, went right by Race.  He didn't notice at all. He was lost in thought about her as he headed up to his room and went to bed, anticipating what tomorrow would bring.

Note to readers: Thanks so much for reading my story! Hope you like it so far. I promise the next chapter will start to reveal some interesting plot twists and turns, but I need to get all my ideas on paper first, so I'll have it up as soon as possible. If you liked what you've read so far, review it! I need some inspiration from the support of my readers! And if you didn't like it, well… REVIEW IT ANYWAY! Criticism is always welcome. Give me your thoughts on it. Thanks, Maudie. -- P.S. Race and Bitsy have just told me they are going on strike until their story gets more reviews, so if you want more, PLEASE REVIEW!!! I want to write it, but they wont let me till they feel more loved by you all, so REVIEW!