Disclaimer: OK, wow. What has it been like a YEAR since I last updated?! If I have any readers left I just want to say that IÕm SO sorry. Second semester was complete hell work wise, but itÕs over now!!!! I took my last exams yesterday and now all I have left is one week of doing, well, nothing. So anyway, IÕm gonna try and update as much as I can. One final note: TODAY IS TREY PARKERÕS BIRTHDAY!!!! ItÕs kinda scary because heÕs as old as my english teacher, but whatever. HeÕs still awesome!! Okey, enjoy!!! Oh yeah, I donÕt own any of the original Newsies characters, etc., etc. The song The River belongs to Garth Brooks. Also, sorry about the last update I tried to post. I screwed up the format b/c I haven't done this in so long. Thanks!

~ * ~ * ~

ÒSo, youÕse teachinÕ Ôer how ta fight, huh?Ó Jack laughed, very amused at the report from Specs and Dutchy.

Blink looked slightly uncomfortable, ÒWell, at foist I thought it was a good idea, but now IÕse not so sure, Jack. I mean, do ya really think she can handle it? She ainÕt very assoitive and she donÕ look too strong.Ó

ÒIÕse sure youÕse can handle it Blink. Besides, if she lives wit da newsies, she should at least know somethinÕ. She might surprise you yet.Ó

Blink had to laugh at this, ÒFine, Jack, IÕll do it. But IÕse just got one moah question.....Ó Jack nodded, ÒWadda IÕse teach Ôer foist?Ó

Both newsies broke out laughing.

~ * ~

Patch sat at the piano. After finishing her work early that day she had come up here to think. SheÕd been in 1900 for almost a month now, and she was getting used to her routine: Wake up, do chores, talk with Kloppman, maybe Sarah if she was around, eat, go to the Brooklyn meetings, Church on Sundays.......avoid newsies as much as possible. Patch just couldnÕt seem to force herself to be comfortable with them. The boys had pretty much given up trying as well, except Jack. He was really the only newsie that Patch would/could talk with. He filled her in on all the developments with Miller and Staten Island that werenÕt told in the meetings. Then there was Blink....

Patch was still confused with Blink. He would talk to her occasionally on the was to Brooklyn, but she always felt slightly uneasy with him. She wasnÕt sure if he just disliked her or if there was something else.

Patch sighed. She was tired of not being able to be friends with the newsies. What was so scary about them? TheyÕre just boys, after all, she thought, Maybe I should try and get to know some of them.

Slowly Patch began to plunk out a melody on the piano. She figured it was alright to sing since the boys wouldnÕt be back from selling their papes yet. Patch took a breath and began to sing one of her favorite songs from summer camp:

You know a dream is like a river ever changing as it flows, And a dreamerÕs just a vessel that must follow where it goes, Trying to learn from whatÕs behind us and never knowing whatÕs in store, Makes each day a constant battle just to sail between the shores.

And I will sail my vessel til the river runs dry, Like a bird upon the wind these waters are my sky, IÕll never reach my destination if I never try, So I will sail my vessel til the river runs dry.


ÒNow see, IÕse still donÕ know why you donÕ sing more often,Ó a voice said from the behind her.

PatchÕs turned to see Blink leaning against the door frame, ÒI just donÕt always feel like it,Ó she said quietly. Damn it! she thought, HeÕs not supposed to be back yet. She got up to leave.

Blink stood in front of the door blocking her exit, ÒSo youÕse ready ta learn how ta fight or what?Ó Blink smirked when he saw the look of utter horror in her eyes, ÒWhat? YouÕse donÕ think IÕd have forgotten now did ya?Ó

PatchÕs look was replaced by smirk equal to BlinkÕs, ÒWell, I guess neither one of us is good at forgetting, now are we? IÕll learn how to fight....if you tell me why youÕre so scared of Miller.Ó Blink cringed and Patch smiled, ÒI guess that means neither one of us will be doing anything. See yaÓ

ÒWait a minute!Ó BlinkÕs voice held both a touch of amusement and annoyance, ÒWell, well, well. Look whoÕs beinÕ assoitive all of a sudden. Why the change?Ó

Patch swallowed hard and was about to make up some lame excuse and retreat back to being quite when she thought better of it. You know what? she thought, You have nothing to be scared of. ItÕs now or never. ÒWell maybe thereÕs a side to me that you newsies just donÕt know about, Blink? Now, whatÕs the first step in learning how to fight?Ó

~ * ~ * ~

A/N: OK, that was pathetic. IÕm having a bit of writers block getting to the next part of my story (probably due to the fact that I havenÕt written in several months). Any suggestions are welcome!!!!!

Patch:)