"You here!" Kid Blink yelled to Jocelyn as she dressed for the night's banquet. What does he want now? "What Blinky-Boy?" Jo asked exasperated, clasping her gold chain around her neck. Kid stared for a brief moment on the shining golden Shamrock hanging around his best friend's neck. "Oh God! Jack, he broke up wid Sarah!" "No way!" Jo asked her mood taking a drastic turn. "Yes yes yes!" "Who told you?" "Spot. Told me to pass the word on to you." Kid winked with his only visible eye. Or so Jo guessed. She could never be sure if he was winking or just shutting his eye for a very short time. "Oh, that smug girl. Just yesterday she told me they were gonna get married! That backfired huh!?" "Sure did. You needa hurry up. You know Jack is making an important speech tonight. Him an Spot. You're late, you're dead." "I know. And of course he picked me, of all people, to help him run the whole event. Medda, God she was no help. Woman can't add. 'Suppose I can only cause of sellin' you know? But you would think she would do better than she does." "You would think." "You don't think I'm exceptionally happy about Sarah do you?" "What do you mean? Do you mean do I think you're happy because secretly you have dreaming of this for all of your life?" "Yes that's what I mean, but I haven't! I don't them to break up. Well, I 'suppose that's a lie 'cause I did 'cause I hate Sarah. And that's only cause she called told me I was a disgrace to the female race." "Naw, you're gorgeous Jo. You're more of a lady then she is. Plus you can add. She's the disgrace." "Who?" Mush asked as he came into the room with Isabella, his half Italian half Irish girlfriend and Racetrack. "Hey Issy!" Jo said brightly. "She heard fellas." Isabella announced. "I DON'T LIKE HIM!" Jocelyn shouted. "No one said you did." Mush pointed out. "Well I did, but that was outside. She couldn't possibly know that though." Race admitted, mostly to himself. "You said what!" Jo snapped. "Nothing." Race smiled. Jocelyn rolled her eyes and checked her image in the mirror one last time. "You look absolutely wonderful. I bet you get the best guys to dance with tonight." Isabella assured her best friend. "Thanks. You look great too." Jo said observing Issy's whole attire. She was wearing a dress very similar to Jocelyn's. Actually it was exactly the same, save the color. The dresses were floor length, long, bell-flared sleeves, low scoop neck. Jo's was emerald green, Isabella's was red. Each girl wore black high-heels and their "signature" necklace. Jo's long black hair cascaded down to mid-back; her green eye's sparkling from some where on her sun kissed skin. "You're normally so light skinned. It's amazing how the sun darkens you up in the summers." Isabella commented. She herself had that dark, Italian skin matched perfectly by her hazel eyes. "I heard Davey's been watching you lately. I'd watch out tonight. Both of you watch out. I don't wanna be fighting anyone, saying I'm your 'secret' boyfriend like last time." Kid scolded. "You mean the last time that Mouse was here?" Race asked remembering the short, rat-like girl who had split Issy and Jo up about a year ago. Thankfully they mended their friendship, and scared Mouse out of Manhattan. "She has a boyfriend dummy." Jo pointed out, nodding her head in Isabella's direction. "You don't." Mush countered. "Don't worry 'bout her. She won't be looking at anyone 'sides Jack, and we'd be crazy to fight him." Race joked. "SHUT YOUR TRAP!" Jo yelled, her temper heating up. "Jack said he's ready when you are and everyone's here Jo. And may I say you are looking lovely tonight." Dave announced suddenly making everyone jump out of their skins. "No you may not and tell him I will be there soon." Jo answered shortly. "You two go we'll catch up wid ya." Kid told Mush and Trouble who left to find two seats together. "The night is yours, Jocelyn. Seize it." Race told her. "Yeah, this could be your only shot at true love. Go get 'em, kid." Kid said playfully slapping her with his hat. "Thanks guys. BUT I DO NOT LIKE HIM, NEVER MIND LOVE HIM!" Jo yelled appreciatively. Good friends sure were hard to come by these days! Thank God for Racey and Kid. " Yeah, sure. You need us, you'll know where to find us." Race assured Jo as they walked out towards the stage. "Good luck!" Kid whispered and they left Jocelyn alone. Well, not alone for long. No sooner had they left, had Jack strolled up. "Jocelyn!" Jack said startled. He had been so lost in thought he hadn't even saw her standing there. "Jack!" Jocelyn stumbled backwards in shock. Why is this happening? Its just Jack. Why am I so- so out of sorts? I don't love him. He and Sarah are gonna get back together, I know it. Don't get your hopes up, you don't love him! "Did you hear?" Jack asked unsure of how to continue on. "Yeah. Everyone knew within milliseconds. As usual." Jo answered biting her lip. "It was for the best you know?" "Why. Why'd you do it?" Jocelyn asked knowing that he would tell her, but no one else would probably know. She always got 'inside' information. "I love someone else." Jack shrugged showing no emotion to the subject, leaving Jocelyn clueless as to who. "Anyone I know?" Jo asked slyly. "You might. I'll tell you who she is later. We need to get started! We have dancing to attend to later!" Jack smiled dismissing the subject, for the moment anyway. Jocelyn sighed. Why can't it be me. Oh Jo listen to yourself! You're hopeless! No sooner had she thought this, Spot was by her side and pushing her to her spot in between Jack and himself on stage. "Carryin' The Banna!" Jack yelled enthusiastically and went right into some cock-and-bull story about how together they, the Newsies, could do anything. Blah Blah Blah! Obviously this is where I learned how to schmooze. Jeez! What on earth is the point of this whole stupid meeting tonight? Is it really necessary? I could be out with Mush and Issy picking up guys. Well, I would be, not Issy or Mush. "Jocelyn, you wanna say something?" Jack asked Jocelyn. She gave him a deer- in-the-headlights look. Why do I never pay attention!? "Oh, um.. well. I think it's great. All of us together. Defiantly." Jo smiled. "You were really paying attention. Thinkin' of ole Jacky boy were ya?" Spot muttered under his breath. Jo elbowed him hard in the stomach, smiling the whole time. "As I was saying, we really need to stand united, always, not just in time of crisis." Jack's voice droned on. Jocelyn craned her neck to see where Issy and Mush were. Probably having a better time than I am standing up here. Why am I here anyways? "Hrmm. Jocelyn." Spot muttered. "What?" Jo hissed back as Jack went on about how strong it made them seem when everyone jumped on to the Strike. "Stop craning your neck like you're looking for someone." He told her. "I am though." "I don't care. Stop!" "And we are particularly happy with Coney Island. We hadn't expected so much support!" Jack rambled on. Was he going to thank every one! I wanna dance! "Long winded ain't he?" Spot whispered obviously bored too. "Yeah, you think?" Jo answered. ("Harlem! Well done!") "Bet he's a great kisser because of -" "Shut your trap right now buddy boy!" Jo mutter under her breath at her ever-teasing cousin. "Just saying." "Well don't, I don't like him." "Uh huh." "Well, I think we've been patient enough, on with the dancing then?" Jack asked receiving thousands of hoots and cheers. If there was one thing Newsies loved above all else it was dancing. One voice could be distinguished from the crowd. Racetrack. He was yelling "Jo dance with me first!" "Sure thing Racey!" Jo yelled back happily. He was her permanent dancing partner. They had been in a few of Medda's dance contests and won mostly every time. "I would like to say one more thing before you all go and dance. I just want to make it official I broke up with Sarah. And I am sure you all are wondering why I did this. Well let me share with you. During the past week I have been thinking. And I realized that as soon as I had Sarah I realized she isn't what I have wanted this whole time. It's been someone else. Jocelyn, I'm not saying that you need to say anything back to me, but, I love you Josie." Jocelyn's brain went blank. Way up in the balcony Isabella played anxiously with her moon charm on her necklace. Oh "I should have told her!" Isabella whispered to Mush who shushed her. Jack pulled Jocelyn in close, and before all of New York City, kissed her. "Can I at least have a dance?" Jack asked releasing her. "Um. yeah." Jo answered still in shock. "Hey after me buddy!" Race yelled from somewhere in the crowd. Jocelyn's breath came short. All my life. All of it I have wanted this. I have it and what do I do? I stand there speechless!\ "And me!" Kid Blink cried and was followed by a large amount of other's. Jocelyn made her way off stage to find her long-time best friend Racetrack. "Did you know!" She demanded upon finding him. "No I swear I didn't. Not until me and Kid left you. Then he told me. Issy and Mush know too. Spot didn't though. You shoulda seen his face. Although, you woulda died had you seen Sarah's!" Race began relating the story "Her mouth dropped and she started cursing like I ain't never heard anyone curse. I mean not even Jack! Or even at the Races! I mean come on! Get over it kid right? Well she was fit to be tied. She left immediately and she's waiting outside for when you leave." "Why was she here?" Jocelyn asked as the music started and Race took her into his arms. "To try and win Jack back." "I don't know what to do! I mean you know everyone I have ever dated was never for love. I mean, it has always been about the chase and capture for me. What know?" "I know, I know. Plus, you know a ton of people think you and me have a thing going on." "No!" Jo asked shocked. "Shh." Jocelyn quickly shushed him before he answered so she could here what the people next to the were chatting about. "Well you know what I think? I think that he's doing this to shock us." The girl told her partner and the couple next to her. "Either that or just to sleep with her." Her partener said knowingly. "Who said that?" "David Jacobs." "Oh my! She does sleep around you know. I have heard stories. And everyone knows of her and Racetrack's affair!" "They talk about it like it's some big scandal. Not real people." Jo said quietly and she and Race moved away from the gossiping couples. "I know. And if they only knew that you still had your virginity. Wouldn't they just die! But I told you they think there's something between us. They don't get it that we're just friends." "I know." "You know I think Jack's catching on to us being bookies." "How!?" Jo asked both shocked and worried. We'll be in so much trouble! Of all the illegal things Jack loves to do, being a bookie has to be the one he hates. "He was wondering how come me and you have so much cash to toss around like we do." Race said looking around as if Jack was right behind him listening to their whole conversation. But he quickly spotted him near the ropes that opened or closed the curtains. "He's behind me. You should go talk to him." Race told her. "He alone?" Jocelyn asked not wanting to look. "Yeah. And he's looking kind of upset. Go, I'll wait for you to leave. I don't want Sarah smothering you with doilies without me there!" Race winked and Jocelyn made her way, slowly, through the crowd to where Jack stood. As she went several people called out to her, either whistling or asking her for a dance, a drink, or other things Jo just ignored. She walked up to where he was hanging on the ropes, however his eyes were downcast, burning a hole in the floor beneath his hair.