"Mazeltov!" cheered Racetrack as he sprayed champagne over Jack Kelly and the rest of the Newsies' head.

It was the night before Jack's wedding to Sarah and they were at Medda's whorehouse

for a huge Bachelor party blowout! Every Newsie was there from Harlem to Delancey. As Jack wiped the champagne from his face Les walked up and shyly yet surely gave Jack his red handkerchief.

 "Uhhh…thanks Les." Jack said sarcastically.

 "Tee hee. No problem, baby."

"Uh, Les, I am getting married tomorrow...to your sister."

"So big boy?" Les cooed.

"Um, now is not the time to hit on me."

"What? Who said I was gay? Did I say I was gay?!"

"Umm, are you gay Les........?"

Winking, Les went off to find Mush, who was by the hot wings......and the pigs in the blankets. Jack turned around. This was going to be the best night in his life (besides Les) His one and only Sarah, who he truly loved, was getting married to him the next day. He really loved her, but this was the last free night he would have out with the boys without her blabbering about plates.

 "I'll get the plates. Plates are my life. I LOVE PLATES!" Jack shivered. He'd have to get her into something else. Maybe measuring cups.

He was looking around the room taking in the joyous moment. Newsies were falling from the balcony drunk with joy, the girls were giving free shows and backrubs, Spot was having a fistfight with Kid Blink, and a gorgeous girl was-WHAT?

 Suddenly Jack saw something that grabbed his attention. Chocolate brown hair and matching mysterious chocolate brown eyes (not the milk chocolate, but the dark chocolate, that sometimes has a hidden raspberry surprise in the middle with the tangy aftertaste. Oh yes, those were good. His favorite. He could eat her up. HA HA HA HA!..................ok, shut up.)  No really, who was this mysterious seductress, with her creamy skin (not from Safeway, but cool whip.) and a scattering of freckles like sprinkles across her nose (not like the ones on a cake, but like those cool jimmies you get on frozen yogurt.) She also had ginormous juicy melons, the ones she was carrying to place on the table (ACK! No! Sickos!)

Jack couldn't move, he couldn't breath, he couldn't think of anything but "Wow, those are some huge melons."

He waltzed over to the table and caught her hand as she was walking away. Trying to be as smooth as possible, he blurted out, "WAZZZZZZZZZUP?!"

"……………excuse me?" Her eyes, now hooded and confused (but still chocolate!) looked at him, at what Jack hoped was desire.

"What a dork." the girl thought to herself, yet, his eyes (intensely blue, like the open sea) intrigued her.

"Your eyes are so blue."

"They're brown.....like chocolate."

"I'm colorblind, you insensitive bastard!" She paused. "Say, aren't you the groom-to-be?"

Jack hesitated. What? He was getting married. Since when? WAIT! It was all coming back. SARAH?! NO! Not the plate fiend! He had momentarily forgotten her, and it was the happiest time of his life. He decided not the answer.

"Erm, what's your name?"

"Penny."

"Ha ha! Two for a Penny!"

"What." Penny asked, confused and slightly disturbed.

"Oh, you must be a Newsie." She said then, realizing.

"Yeah, you bet!." Jack grinned.

Penny looked him over. Why didn't she see before? The hat, the grin, the fact that this was a Newsie party, yes, he was definitely  a Newsies. And damn hot too!

"Are you a friend of my mom's?"

"Your mom? Who's your mo-....."

"PENNY!" Medda's shrill cry broke their love stare. They both looked up at the balcony. "Go back to your room! You know you're not allowed to be in here while the boys at the house. Go back to your tower!" (because there SO was a tower attached to Medda's in New York.)

"I have to go." Penny murmured sadly. She had grown fondly accustomed to his face. (Damn, damn, damn, damn.)

"Wait, you can't leave! I-I-I love you!" Jack truthfully blurted out.

 Penny's hand lashed across his face (in a, he'd like to think, loving way.)

"What was that for?" Jack cried, clutching his cheek. "I just told you I loved you!"

"Oh I wish it were so, but you just love my looks! You don't know anything about me!" Penny cried. The slap had hurt her heart more than it had hurt his cheek.

"Well, I can feel it," He said, pulling her close and staring into her wet chocolate eyes. "And besides, am I right to presume that you don't like plates?"

Penny's heart stopped. It was true. She felt it. And yes, she hated plates. Demon plates, demon plates…

"Uh, yes, I mean…..you rouge! You beast!" She said, feebly hitting him in his rock hard chest.

"You love monster. Let me go! This isn't right!"

"Shut up and kiss me." Jack commanded.

Penny ceased her pathetic attempts at "getting away" and leaned in slowly.

"Why are you going so slow?" Jack asked.

But it didn't matter, because as he kissed her tender, rose bud lips, an electric surge rushed through them both. They were one. Well, not really. They were two. But in fan fic terms, they were one.

"You bitch!" Les screamed, coming up from behind. He grabbed Jack and beat his chest.

"Beast! Beast! Beast! Rouge! Love demon!" Les hurled himself into a tantrum.

"Uh, Les, those have been used." He said, grabbing Les' tiny fists and pushing him away.

"Uh, who's your little friend?" Penny questioned, a little unnerved. 

"Er, don't let him ruin the moment." Jack pleaded.

"I LOVE YOU!"

"SHUT UP LES! David, get your brother away from here!"

"You'll always come back to me, Jack! I'll never let go, Jack! I'll never let go."  Fortunately, Les had to, as David was pulling on his legs.

"PENNY! This is the last time! Get in your tower now!" Medda screeched.

"I can't stay." Penny said.

"Then run away with me! You can become a Newsie!" Jack implored, taking her hands in his own.

"Oh, I wish I could, but my mother wants me to become a hoe like her! Also, you're getting married tomorrow!"

"To a plate obsessed freak!" Jack hollered.  

Some of the Newsies turned their heads. Jack lowered his voice.

"Besides, true love will find a way." Penny melted in his arms. She wanted to go with him, but she couldn't.

"Here." Penny whispered, taking a feather boa from her ivory shoulders. "Take my purple boa to remember me by!"

"Um....it's hot pink"

"Ok, you know what.... eye surgery hasn't been invented yet. Besides, my love, it's the thought that counts"

"Well in that case, No, not your boa, which accents your figure so nicely!"

 But Jack took it anyways. He couldn't stop himself.

"What do you know about my boa? I have many more! There's nothing special about this one."

She kissed him softly and turned to go. pJack's heart now belonged to her, as hers did him.

He stood there, in the midst of the party, watching her quietly disappear into the crowd of drunken men and prostitutes.