*Chapter 15*

"Yeah?" Dibs approached beside Blink. Bottle Cap couldn't hide her glowing smile as she stared at Dibs involuntarily, thinking to herself, That's my creation! Out of my own head!

"Walk Bottle Cap back ovah ta Manhattan." He instructed simply.

"Me?" Dibs asked curiously, looking at Blink's confused _expression.

"Yeah, so if she don't wanna stay Blink won't have to walk her back." Spot laughed as he walked away. Bottle Cap scowled at his retreating back, wondering what was so horrible about talking to Spin. And besides, she could get there without an escort. But she liked having Dibs around, so she didn't protest outloud. She wanted to know what he was going to say! Up until now, she had always determined what would come out of his mouth.

Without anymore questions, the trio headed toward Manhattan with Bottle Cap musing over Dibs the whole way and Blink feeling left out. Blink began to wonder why Bottle Cap didn't have an accent, but didn't ask since he didn't even know where she had come from.

"Where do you think Spin will be?" She asked Blink when they were almost to the Lodging House.

"Tibby's, most likely." He shrugged, "Dat's wheah all da newsies go aftah sellin'."

"Okay, let's go." She said, determined to straigten things out. They entered the small restaurant where Bottle Cap easily spotted Spin amongst a table full of newsies. Her "escorts" followed her toward the table, unsure of her plans.

"...but da horse is a sure thing..." Race was exclaiming to Dragonfly when the conversation was sweetly interrupted.

"Excuse me." Bottle Cap began smoothly.

"Look who it is, our friend Bottle Cap." Spin looked up with an arched eyebrow, her voice drenched in sarcasm.

"Spin, can I talk to you?" Bottle Cap asked, ignoring the girl's tone.

"What's deah ta tawk about?" Spin quipped rudely. Bottle Cap had had it with this girl. There was no reason to treat someone like this, especially for no good reason.

"You and your issues." She threw back with a cocked head. Spin looked at her, then put her hand to her heart.

"Me? Issues?" She exclaimed as if shocked, "Who would ever think such a thing?" She laughed cynically and looked at the people who were at her table. They were obviously out of town. The newsies were silent as they watched the two girls glare at each other.

"Okay, I'm done playing 'who wants to be a smart-ass?' with you. Do you want to talk or not?" Bottle Cap threw her hand up, exasperated.

"Play nice, ladies." Jake stiffled a laugh, trying to calm his girl and avoid a scene. Spin looked at Jake, then Bottle Cap.

"Okay, fine. We can tawk, I don't know what else theah is to say." Spin gave in slightly.

"Yay." Bottle Cap smirked, yanking Spin up by the arm and pulling her to a separate table. Blink and Dibs sat with the other newsies, all shocked at what had just happened and waiting to hear more.

Spin quickly pulled away and sat down, "I'm a big girl."

"Prove it." Her irritated sister snapped back, "Ever since I got here, you've been acting as though I was your worst enemy. Why?"

"I don't HAVE to prove anything. I can act how I want. I don't need my so-called sister to tell me what to do." she said, starting to get up.

"So that's what its all about?" Bottle Cap asked, glaring at the back of Spin's head. She was infuriated beyond all measure. She had come here to escape her sisters, now she had another one to fight with. Spin whipped around,

"Yeah, anyone dat's related to Spot can stay da hell away from me. Did you seriously think I was gunna be ok with this!?"

"Like I planned it." Katie rolled her eyes, "It isn't like I'm writing this story. We all get dealt an unfair hand sometimes." She shrugged, thinking of Racetrack. Of course, she had thought she was writing it, but all that had changed now.

"Your a smart-ass. Just like Spot." she growled back.

"And so are you." Bottle Cap informed her solemnly. Had she forgotten that she was a Conlon, too? Bottle Cap couldn't figure her out. Spin slammed her hands down on the table and looked Bottle Cap square in the eyes,

"Listen here Missy. You can talk to me without the wisecracks. I am NOTHING like Spot. As far as I am concerned, you are just another face in the crowd." she snapped.

"Oh, but your wisecracks are allowed?" Bottle Cap didn't budge. "Stop acting like I care. I just thought we could work things out." She shrugged and then stood, pushing Spin out of the way slightly. Spin glared at her before marching back over and grabbing Jake's hand. Bottle Cap walked slowly back toward the others, her eyes on the disappearing girl.

"That went well." She murmured before turning to face the hushed newsies. It didn't even seem as though she had ever existed in 2002 anymore. Her memories of reality were melting into the Newsie verse, making her feel dazed and awkward.