"Heya, goil. What's yer name? I 'aven't seen ya in dese parts before," said a slightly high male voice.

"Shuddup and let me go, bastard," growled Storm, starting to lose her temper.

"Yer outnumbered, goil. I t'ink you should shuddup," said another deeper male voice. "Oscar, tie 'er 'ands before she gets away."

"Great, now she knows me name. I'se Oscar and dis is Morris, since 'e t'inks ya should know," said Oscar angrily.

"Ya didn't 'ave ta tell 'er my name," said Morris.

"She didn't need ta know youse existed, neither. But it's too late now," said a familiar voice.

Storm looked and saw none other than Spot Conlon standing not 5 feet away. ~Oh s***~, she thought, ~now 'e knows I'se a goil and 'e won't be 'appy.~ The Delancys ran off practically tripping over each other. Storm gathered the papes she had dropped and tried to walk away from Spot before he recognized her. She made it back out on the street and walked back to the corner where she'd last seen Race, hoping Spot had left, uninterested.

"Heya, don't I even get a 'thank you'? I did save yer life," said Spot from behind her. Storm found him standing only a couple inches away from her, making her uncomfortable. She took a step back.

"Heya, Spot. How's it rollin'?," she asked, seeing the recognition in his gaze.

"Storm?! What da h***!? I'se t'ought... Jack said... I'se gonna kill 'im. And I guess Diggea's a goil, too," stammered Spot, saying 'goil' as if it was some kind of poison.

"Yea, I'se Storm. Don't kill Jack, 'e jist didn't want ya ta get mad. And yes, Diggea's a goil too. But whats wrong wid goil newsies?," asked Storm as her temper started to rise.

" GOIL NEWSIES?!?! Ya gotta be crazy! I t'ought Jack knew better. I'se gotta talk ta 'im anyways. Dat's why I'se in Manhattan, ta talk ta wid 'im..." Spot rambled on and on as he stomped off to find Jack.

"Dis ain't good," mumbled Storm as she resumed selling.

~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

Spot barged into Tibby's.

Jack was sitting with Digger, Blink, and Mush in a corner booth. Jack looked up and realized that Digger once again looked like a girl and that Spot looked really pissed.

"Jack, I'se need ta talk ta ya. NOW!," said Spot as he turned and walked out the door.

"Oh, s***," mumbled Jack as he got up and headed outside.

The door shut and Spot exploded. "Why da h*** didn't ya tell me?! D*** ya, Jack. I t'ought I could trust ya but ya lied ta me. Why?"

"Cuz, I t'ought, believe it or not, dat youse would overreact," said Jack also losing his temper.

"Ya could've told me. I would've understood. I wouldn't 'ave approved but still I would've understood," sais Spot, starting to calm down.

"Look I didn't wanna make ya mad. Fergive me?," said Jack spitting in his hand and holding it out as an offer of truce. Spot nodded and did the same. They went back inside and talked about their plans.

~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

Storm and Race had finished selling so they decided to get some lunch at Tibby's. Race was telling her about the chances of the horses that were running today as they stepped into Tibby's. Storm immediately saw Spot talking with Jack and some other newsies in a corner booth. Digger was sitting there, too. Digger looked nervous but relaxed when Blink started whispering in her ear. Storm and Race joined them all and immediately started adding to the conversation. Storm could feel Spot's gaze on her.

Spot looked at Storm. He noticed her auburn hair that fell a little past her shoulders. It was like nothing he'd ever seen and her blue-grey eyes were like a storm, one minute peaceful and inviting and the next minute flaring and deadly. She was beautiful, he'd give her that, but her temper and wild spirit needed taming. He shook his head. He didn't need a new girl in his life. Not after Cat had left him broken-hearted without even so much as a goodbye. He still missed her and her cat-like green eyes and black hair. She had been beautiful too but unable to love a newsie. Spot decided it was time to go back.

"Goodbye, boys and goils. I'se 'eadin' back."

"Heya Spot. Would ya do me a favor?," asked Jack, noticing his friend's constant staring at Storm. "Storm needs ta learn ta fight and I'se t'inkin' Brooklyn would be da best place fer 'er ta learn. Will ya take 'er wid ya?"

"Shoah. Only if she's ready ta go now." He looked to Storm, waiting for her to object. But she didn't. She just nodded her head and got up to go.

Mush was crushed by this because he knew Jack had done it on purpose. He watched as Spot and Storm left and looked back at his food, having a loss of appetite, he got up and left.

~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

Awww...poor Mush......he'll be fine though. So what do you think?....please review and tell me...I'm starting to wonder whether I should continue.....

Cerridwen~ I'm glad you're liking the story so far.....Storm and Race????....No I don't think so...lol......Thanks for reviewing.....

~Molly