Author's Note: Hey everyone, I'm finally back! Yeah, I know, it's been a long time. Sorry!!!! Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter:

Vix- Well, here's more, finally! We're getting really close with Uptown, I'll let ya know when it's finally posted!

Amber- Thanks! Sorry it's been such a long time.

Rae Kelly- Thanks! Man, I feel guilty that it's been such a long time. *hangs head in shame*

Spark- I added another note about ULH at the bottom.keep adding notes in every chap of your stories!

Chapter 2:

Brooke handed out the bread rolls to the boys as they walked by. Several nuns stood with her, helping to give food and drink to the street kids for their breakfast.

Shouting was heard around the corner and she glanced up. *Hey! Dat's Race! An' dere's Blink.an' Cowboy.an'-*

The group walked respectfully up to the stand, taking off their hats. Brooke stared desperately at Race but he didn't notice her, even when she handed him a warm roll.

The group left and Brooke panicked slightly. She glanced up at the nuns. *Ok, movin' on.*

She quickly grabbed two rolls and, calling a hasty goodbye, ran after the newsies.

^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^

The newsies stopped at the Distribution Center and stood in line to buy their papes. Brooke sank down against the wall and pulled her hat low over her eyes, observing them carefully. Buy your newspapers, discuss the headlines, sell your papes with different 'improved' headlines. Didn't seem too hard.

Brooke waited until the few stragglers finally cleared out of the square and then hurried up the ramp right before Weasel closed.

"30 papes," she ordered, fishing out the coins.

"Ya know, I don't t'ink dat-"

Brooke grabbed her papers from Oscar's hands, cutting off his comment and ran past the gates. Skidding to a stop, she held her papers under her arm with one hand and checked her hat with the other. She quickly scanned the streets and caught sight of a familiar Italian figure heading merrily down the street towards Sheepshead Races.

Brooke walked a few paces in his direction then stopped, realizing. Race was heading towards her home. She couldn't go to Sheepshead Races, it was too risky, especially as a newsie tried to attract attention from the surrounding crowd in order to sell their newspapers. Her father would find her easily.

Brooke glanced around. Well, here would have to do. *I'll hafta wait fer da newsies lunch break ta talk ta Race.* In the meantime, however, there were thirty papers weighing her inexperienced arm down heavily.

^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^

Kid Blink and Calli watched Racetrack head off to Sheepshead. Calli shook her head, following him with her eyes. "That boy seriously needs help. We should take him with us on our beat tomorrow." She paused as Race disappeared around the corner of the street. "It ain't healthy for him to spend all his time at the track."

Kid Blink glanced down at her, amused. "Calli, youse couldn't get him ta give up a da at da tracks for nothin'."

"Why? All he does is bet on horses an' lose his money."

"Dat's not all he does. I gotta take ya down ta Sheepshead someday an' intraduce ya ta da real reason Race goes ta da track."

"What is it? A horse?" Calli snorted, adjusting her papers.

"Nah. A goil named Brooke Linders."





A.N.-yeah, I know, it's incredibly short, but I'm having incredible writer's block an' I figure that a short chapter is better than none at all. Reviews are needed, and perhaps I'd get over it. If any of you have any overall ideas for this story, I'd take them thankfully. I'm not quite sure where I want to go with this yet, though I have a very very vague idea. So if any of you got any ideas, tell me, and I may use them. (I'd give you credit too, don't worry) UPTOWN LH!!!!! Oh, last thing, a reminder about the Uptown lh. For those of you who don't know yet, me and Spark are starting up a website, called the Uptown Lodging House. We can't post it up until we get more lodgers, so if yer interested in joinin', send me a review and ask for the application. Include your email address in the review and I'll send an app. to you. Trust me, you won't regret being in this website. It's gonna be really cool. So far, for lodgers we have Vix, Amber (Kicker), Slick, Spark, and myself. Send a review!