A.N.- Thanks go to:

Spark- I did though. Like the pic I sent you? hehe I thought it was pretty good if I do say so myself. We always did have a thing against Medda, huh?

Kicker- I suppose I was asking for that review.thanx!

Falco- I got the application. Muchas gracias! We have another lodger! Yay! I'll email you as soon as we get it up and running, which shouldn't be too long. Oh, I almost forgot. Me and Spark aren't putting any swearing in the site, so we're not gonna be able to use your favorite words/quotes thing. Sorry! If you want to send me some other quotes, that's fine though. (

Vix- *gasps* You'd leave all by herself cause you want Blink! *thoughtful pause* Come to think of it, if it was Spot, I would too. Oh well.

Chapter 6:

***

"Do you know the reason we named you Brooke?"

Seven year-old Brooke Linders climbed into her Daddy's lap and shook her head fiercely. Her mother looked up from her book by the fireplace with a smile and listened to the story.

"Well, when your mother and me used to live in Rinnowtown, there was this brook across the meadow behind her house. Lora would spend hours down there, singing and making flower necklaces. Whenever I couldn't find her, that's where I'd go. And sure enough, she'd be sitting there with her skirts spread wide full of flowers and her black hair falling down about her shoulders, softly singing a lullaby. That's where I proposed to her, you know. Gave her a ring made of forget-me-nots."

He laughed merrily, remembering. "It wilted the day after, but she said it was the best engagement ring she could want."

Lora Linders laughed in reply, "It was the prettiest little ring, Brooke. If you ever get married, I hope you get as good a ring. Anyways, of course I answered yes right away. And that's why we named-"

"Oh, but I haven't finished my story yet Lora. There was one more reason. Brooke, have you ever heard the sound of a brook?"

Brooke looked confused. All this talk about different types of brooks was mixing her up. "No, Daddy, I don't think so."

"Well, when they go over the rocks and trickle their way into the stream at the bottom, they make this noise-sorta like wind blowing through tall grass, only lighter with occasional drip-drop water noises. It's so peaceful when you hear it, you just want to fall asleep right there. Well, that's the same effect you're mom's voice had and still has on me when she sings. It's sometimes light and tinkling, and other times deep and thick."

Lora snorted in amusement.

Joel scowled at her, then turned to look at his daughter. "Well, that's why we named you Brooke.".

But dat was all befoah da fevah. I wonder what it would've been like if-*

"Brooke!" Racetrack shook her shoulder in concern. "You awright?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just t'inkin'." Brooke looked around and stood up.

"We're gonna go see Medda. C'mon." Blink and Race headed down the stairs with Brooke between them. Kid Blink stopped a second before being pulled along by Race,

"Ya comin', Charm?"



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

Calli sat still, staring straight ahead. *Yes, I'll go, I'd love to. Why thankyou Kid Blink, for waiting. I knew you wouldn't leave me all by myself.*

She stood up slowly, making her way down the stairs by herself. *I hate this. I wish it would go back to the way it was. I mean, I just want them to care whether or not I'm with them. Is that so much to ask? They should at least try to make me feel wanted, and not just like an afterthought. I hate feeling like a tag-along.*

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

Kid Blink looked around wondering vaguely where Calli as. When she didn't join them on their way to visit Medda he had assumed she didn't want to go see her.

He watched Race for awhile and finally caught his eyes, asking a question with his own. Race nodded in response and Blink turned to Brooke, "I'm gonna go try ta find Charm. I'll see ya latah."

"Bye Blink!"

Race took a deep breath and blew out slowly. This was it.

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

Kid Blink walked slowly back up the stairs, half of him hoping Calli was still up there and the other half hoping she wasn't so he didn't have to follow through on his promise. "Charm?"

No one answered; the section was empty.

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

Race led Brooke through the maze of Irving Hall to a spare dressing room. She looked around curiously, "So what'd ya want ta show me?"

"Actu'lly Brooke, I- I wanted ta talk to youse." He said nervously, twisting his hat with his hands, "we haven't been able ta have a good convoisation since you joined da newsies."

"I know," She said, sitting on a red chest and pulling her knees up. "It's jist been so crazy." She bit her lip, pleading to him silently. *Oh, please don't ask why I came heah, please Race."

"So...why did youse wanna become a newsie anyway?"

*Darn it.* "Oh, I don't know. I jist.needed a change of pace, I guess."

"Yeah, but I never t'ought of you as a newsie. I always t'ought you'd become a bookie like your Dad."

This time Race caught her wince and look of pain. Suddenly it hit him, like a bucket of ice water had suddenly been dumped over his head. He raised his eyes to meet hers abruptly, staring at her in disbelief. "Is dat why youse became a newsie?"

Brooke was startled by the change in his tone. She started to regret not telling him. He was sure going to be mad now. "Well sorta." She said nervously, "I mean-"

"Brooke!" Race exclaimed angrily, his eyes snapping and all hint of shyness in his body posture gone. "You told me in Decembah dat he had stopped! You said everyt'in' was fine wit' youse; dat it was back ta normal. You lied!"

Brooke stood up angrily, beginning to feel defensive. "So what if I did? I didn't have ta tell you what was goin' on. It's not like it's any of your business!"

"Yeah it is! I've known you far too long to just stand by an' watch dis happen to you!"

"I don't care how long you've known me, Race! I'm not yours or anyt'in'. I can tell whoever I want about my life. You have no claim to me!"

Race stopped shouting and his eyes slowly lost their fire. He sank back down, putting his head in his hands.

Brooke looked at him guiltily. *Maybe I went a bit too far.* She sighed and sat down on the floor in front of the crate he was sitting on. She pulled his hands apart and peeked up at him tentatively, "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I know you've always been dere for me. I jist didn't want ta worry you."

Race nodded, holding his arms out. She got up on her knees and let him envelope her in a warm embrace. "I'm sorry, too." He said softly, his lips moving against her hair. "Listen, dough- about what youse said."

Brooke was still suddenly, her mind jumping ahead of his words. Was he talking about...If he was she hoped he was going to say what she wanted him to. *Oh please be talking about dat!*

"Yeah well, uh, about dat. I-um."

"Anyone home?" A stagehand poked her head inside the door then looked mildly embarrassed for having caught them hugging. "Oh, sorry for interrupting. Your friends are waiting for you out front."

Brooke and Race pulled away in embarrassment and nodded. She left and they glanced at each other uncomfortably once again. "Well, I guess we bettah go."

"Yeah."

"Aftah you."



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

Blink and Race trailed behind the rest of the newsies, lost in their own thoughts. Brooke was talking with Jack at the front and Calli was nowhere to be found.

Kid Blink stopped Race just before they reached the Lodging House. "So did ya tell her?"

Race shook his head and pulled a cigar out of his shirt pocket. "No. I was gonna, but we go interrupted. How 'bout youse?"

Kid Blink threw his hands in the air, "I couldn't find her! I spent da last half hour searchin' but she wasn't anywhere."

"I guess neither of us had any luck."

"We'll have ta try again. Where is Calli??"

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

Calli pounded on the door, taking her anger out on the Brooklyn Lodging House. She could hear footsteps stumble down the stairs and fingers fumbling with the lock. Annoyed muttering and then finally the door swung open. Spot stood there wearing only pants. His hair was falling into his eyes and he blinked groggily at her. "Calli? What are you doin' heah?"

"Can I stay heah 'til mornin'?"

"It is mornin'," he grumbled, staring at her. After a moment he opened the door wider and gestured with his hand to come in. "Yeah, sure. Dere's an empty bunk undah Sleeve."

"T'anks."



Author's Note- Hey everyone! So how did you like this chapter? Was it good? Let me know! I need input!

UPTOWN LH!!!!! For those of you who don't know, 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 please! So far, the lodgers are: Vix, Kicker, Slick, Moods, Reffy, Falco, Spark, and myself. Send a review!