"Wake up! We'se gotta get ya ready for da party in Brooklyn tanight!" a random blonde woke her the next morning. She looked past his face - with an eyepatch over one eye - to see Mush's smiling face leaning over her bed.

"How'd you get in here?" she asked the two as she self-consciously pulled the sheet higher.

Mush held up a key. "Race heah bribed da goil at da front desk," he explained.

"So essentially you're saying that you broke into my room with a key that you bribed out of some lady and brought two random boys in with you?" she questioned, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Yeah, pretty much." He grinned. "'Cept dere's three boys ya don' know."

Shannyn's eyes scanned the room and she noticed two other boys she didn't recognize. A short Italian boy with dark curly hair and a taller boy with dark black hair and a sort of exotic look to him. "And you are?"

The boy with the curly hair replied, "Racetrack. An' dat's Bumlets." He pointed to the taller boy who nodded his head in greeting before staring at the window again.

"Remind me to have a nice little talk with the woman at the front desk," Shannyn said joking. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to change."

Mush smiled but made no effort to move. The other's didn't take any steps towards the door either. Finally, Mush answered, "We really don't mind, go right ahead."

"Mush!" Shannyn said. The boy still made no move towards the exit and finally she gave up. "Fine," she stated before dragging herself out of the bed. She already had pants on, and a tight undershirt on top, so she wasn't completely naked. However, standing there with four boys in her room made her feel so. Hastily she shoved on her button shirt and fumbled until it was successfully buttoned enough. "Enjoy that enough?" she asked. From the looks on the boys faces it was clear they did. She leaned and whispered in Mush's ear, "I swear, Chris, I'll get you."

"I never knew you felt that way," he said back with a cocky air. "Trust me, we'll find a nice secluded spot down in Brooklyn tonight."

"Screw you," she said back.

"I know you want me, but you don't have to talk about it in front of other people," Mush said, continuing to make jokes.

"Go to hell," she spat back before turning away. "And I can't go to Brooklyn anyhow."

"And why is that?" Racetrack asked from the corner of the room.

"I'm not saying. I know you'll laugh," she answered.

Bumlets spoke. "Ahh, c'mon. What if we promise we won't laugh?" he suggested.

"Fine. Its just.. I don't have anything to wear," she managed to get out in one breath.

The boys were all holding in their laughter when Mush next spoke. "What if I get ya somethin' ta weah?"

"And I suppose you have a large collection of women's clothing that you wear in your spare time," Shannyn commented.

"No- but I know just the place," Mush answered, ignoring the snickers around him. He looked to the others. "Medda's," he said. All around him boys gave approving looks and nods, so he grabbed Shannyn's arm and started to drag her out of the room.

"So who's this Medda woman?" she asked on the way to the showhouse.

"She's just a singer. Owns a Vaudeville theater we hang out at. She'll have some costumes in ya size though," Blink explained. "Some of da goils woik dere." Talking to Bumlets he added, "Ya t'ink she's neah Mouth's size? You'd be da one ta know."

"Well," Bumlets said, looking her up and down. The boys laughed amongst themselves as Shannyn stepped further to the side of them. "I'd say she'd fit 'em," he said seriously.

"She's got dat cute little red one," Racetrack stated, staring off into space.

"Hey! Dat's me goil you'se talkin' 'bout! An' you'se got Spark. An' da babies," Bumlets reminded him.

"I know, I'se jus' playin' wit' ya. I love Spark moah den you can imagine," he answered, sighing dreamily.

"Boys, boys,, lets stop talkin' 'bout oah lovah's an' get Shannyn eah somethin' ta weah down ta Spot's. Den she'll meet ya goils. Sound good?" Mush interrupted. "In fact, heah we are."

Shannyn looked up and was facing a large building with a sign that read 'Irving Hall' with a picture of an older redheaded lady in a cheap purple dress and the name 'Medda Larkson: The Swedish Meadowlark' underneath her.

"Medda?" Blink called when they reached the inside of the building. They'd gone through a side entrance, which led to backstage. "You in heah?"

"Kid Blink? What do you need?" said the older lady as she walked into the room. She saw the other boys and grinned. "Bumlets, Racetrack," she said, waving in greeting. "And Mush.. Who's your little friend?"

"Shannyn," she answered, stepping forward and offering Medda her hand. "I work with Mush."

"Why hello Shannyn. So how can I help you all?" she asked after shaking Shannyn's hand.

"Well, ya see, Spot's havin' dis big party down in Brooklyn, an' Shannyn heah ain't got nothin' ta wheah. We was thinkin' ya might have somethin' dat would fit 'er."

Medda looked her up and down before saying, "Come with me, doll. I'll find you something near your size."

Shannyn followed her down the backstage hallway and through a doorway. Inside the room were the most intricate and ornate dresses she had ever seen in her life. On one side were several brightly colored dresses of oranges and reds with beaded patterns and on her left she was surrounded by black dresses of varying shapes, with pastels lying ahead. No two dresses were alike and each had a tag with a name on it saying which girl it belonged to.

"Now I'm thinking you're closest to Mouth's size out of my performers. Try this one on for size," she said, handing Shannyn a very simple royal blue dress without any ornaments. "I know it's not very adorned, and that's why I think it'll work for this situation. Mouth never got around to finishing it up, I'm sure you can have it."

Shannyn slid into the dress, which had a noticeably low neckline. There was no mirror in the room, and she knew she'd have to make her way to the vanity in Medda's dressing room to see herself. And that meant she would have to pass the group of boys standing outside the door without even knowing what she looked like in the first place.

"Woo-hoo!" began the first catcall from Mush as she walked out into the hallway. The other boys followed his lead, but Shannyn knew better than to attempt to cover up. Instead she walked towards Medda's dressing room with feigned pride.

"You sure this is a good idea?" she asked Medda while she was brushing her hair at the vanity.

"The dress? Or me brushing your hair?" Medda asked with a hint of amusement.

Shannyn looked into the mirror in front of her. "The dress," she answered.

"It's gorgeous onyou. Ignore those boys, they'd drool over anyone," Medda attempted to explain.

She spun around on the chair to face Medda. "So essentially you're telling me that it's not about me but that they catcall at everyone?"

"Pretty much," Medda answered. "I'm finished," shetold her, laying the brush down on the counter.

Shannyn looked in the mirror and grinned. Despite the embarrassment she knew she'd face, she also looked pretty good. With newfound confidence she approached the group of guy.

"Hey there, sexy lady," Mush joked. Shannyn swatted him on the head playfully and he defended against it.

"Look how cute dey are tagethah," Blink volunteered and the others chuckled.

Mush blushed (a/n- whoa, that sounds cool. heh) and turned to flick off the other boys. "Let's get goin' ta da party, 's'already gettin' neah six-thoity."

"Okay," Shannyn agreed and followed trustingly behind Mush. Soon the two dropped back from the rest of the group talking amongst themselves.

"So, Shann," Mush said.

Shannyn cut him off. "I told you, don't call my Shann ever again," she state angrily.

"Why can't Ijus' call ya by a simple nickname?" Mush asked.

"'Cause no one's call me Shann since.."" she faded out again.

Mush answered angrily, "Why can' ya just tell me da story. Iain'tn gonna think any less of ya."

"Ya wanna know? I'll tell ya," Shannyn shouted. Emotion griped her voice as she began the chilling tale.

**Flashback**

"Stand back ya dirty wench. This is my score ta settle!" the angry man shouted as he burst through the door, knife in hand. His uncombed hair and unwashed body added to the already terrifying look he possessed. "Get out here ya lazy ass coward!" he shouted towards the doors of the house.

"Shann? Who's talking to you like that?" a young man said as he came out from inside a room. He couldn't have been a day over twenty-one. He had a kind face and handsome dark eyes. When he saw the man his jaw clenched, and it was obvious he was afraid. "What the hell are ya doing here, Tony?"

"I told you, I'd get your family back if it was the last thing I did," the man barked. He shoved the younger man down onto the ground and stood over him so that he was helpless. Without another word he slid the knife directly into the young man's heart.

"André! No!" Shannyn shouted, running towards her husband. She hugged him, not caring that the blood was soaking her best white shirt.

"Watch out, bitch, you'll be next," the man growled before staggering out the door like a drunk man.

"Shannyn! Shann, please, keep going."

"You can't die!" she interjected.

André shook his head. "I can't stop fate, I'm going to die. That's the all of it. But you have to promise - promise me right now - that you'll go on living your life. Remember me, but don't devote your life to me. Please, Shann, please," he begged. "Promise me."

"I promise," she whispered, so soft that he probably didn't even really hear her speaking.

"J'aime tu," he said, showing his French roots. And with those last words his eyes closed for the last time, never to open again.

**End Flashback**

"So now you know. Happy?" she asked.

Mush would have been angered by her tone but he could see tears streaming down her eyes. He grabbed her and pulled her close to him. Shannyn buried her head in his chest and cried while he whispered soothing words into her ears.

A/N: So I'm too lazy to write about the party today. Expect it before I leave for my school field trip for a week (I leave May 5). Yerp.

SOs:

Ashley: She was in NYC the whole time. Like she was there the first night too. Sorry if that was confusing. Glad you like it!

KellyAnne: Glad you think its amazing. Makes me feel special. *grin*

Meg: Yes, Spottie is a manslut. XD

Ember: thanks a ton! Keep reading!

Bunny C: Yeah. Being suicidal isn't good though. Don't die. If you wanna be in the story email me some of the basics (personality, looks, etc.) and I'll try to work you in. (No promises but I'll see what I can do)

Firecracker: Yerp. Twists are good. Hehe. Thanks for reviewing. My alter- ego also thanks you. xD