*Chapter 23*

"What was dat about?" Spot asked as the two collapsed on the pier after selling.

"What was what about?" Bottle Cap replied, seriously not remembering.

"Jake?" Spot asked, "It ain't ev'ry day da kid goes behind Spin's back..."

"He wasn't going behind anyone's back." She clarified, "He was just wondering why I left." She looked out across the river, then noticed Dibs climbing out, dripping with dirty water.

"Hey Spot, how was da sellin'?" Dibs asked as he ran his hand through his brown, almost blonde, hair.

"It was diff'rent." He replied with a directed glance toward Bottle Cap.

"Hey, it wasn't my idea to be attached to you all day." She reminded him.

"I'll take 'er off ya hands tamorrah if ya want." Dibs offered, winking at Bottle Cap. She still couldn't get over the fact that he was born, not on the streets of New York, but in her own imagination.

"I guess," Spot gave in with a sigh, "But keep an eye on 'er. Anything happens to 'er an' I'll moidah ya."

"Spot!" Bottle Cap laughed, "Nothing's going to happen to me. Jeez!"

* * *

Jake sauntered up to the Manhattan lodging house the second he selling was done. What had he gotten himself into? The girls' bunkroom was swarming with newsies when he entered and it was almost impossible to see Spin through the others. Dragonfly was trying to teach Racetrack how to dance while Tipsy was trying to explain that the reason for her name was her bad equilibrium...and not her old habit. Chipper was plastered to Jack, and Jack didn't hate it. It was all the normal stuff, except for Spin.

Jake finally spotted his girlfriend, sleeping peacefully on her bunk as though she was deaf to the room's activities. A warm smile caressed his lips as he approached sleeping beauty. He leaned over, almost sorry to disturb her, and kissed her gently.

Spin blinked her eyes open and smiled , "Whaddya wakin me up foah?"

"Sorry...I jist wanted ta tawk to ya." He explained.

"I don't mind." she said, sitting up and lacing her fingers in his, "Whaddya need?" "Just wonderin' if ya wanted ta tawk ta me 'bout ya sistah...since ya ain't tawkin' ta anybody else bout it." He shrugged as he sat down beside her. He knew he was doing this for a reason, but he had forgotten what it was. He only hoped Spin wouldn't blow up at him, too.

Spin sighed as she ran her fingers through her thick hair, "Why do ya wanna tawk of 'er awl of tha sudden?"

"I tawked ta her taday..." He admitted, almost ashamed.

"Oh? And what did me sistah have to say?"

"Jist dat Spot awready told her 'bout why she nevah knew 'bout you." He looked into her eyes, trying to decide what she was thinking, "an' dat she ain't Spot."

Spin's eyes narrowed, "Why does that mattah? Spot has probably awlready turned her against me."

Jake sighed, "No, dat's what I'm tryin' ta tell ya. Jist listen ta me for a second, would ya?" "I'm listenin." she snapped, sitting back and crossing her arms. She turned her gaze away from him, not letting him see the pain in her eyes. Jake knew he was in too deep to back off now.

"Bottle Cap don't hate you, Spin. Hell, she might even like ya if ya'd let 'er." He smiled at her, even though he could sense her anger.

Spin lowered her eyes, "How can you be so shoah?" "She tol' me so." He replied simply, "She left because she didn't want you to hate her." "Have I really been that much of a bitch?" she asked, cocking her head to the side and squeezing his hand.

Jake laughed, moving a strand of hair from her face, "Looks like it."

Spin leaned over and kissed his cheek, "Thanks. I guess I need tah have at least one family membah that I can get along wit huh?"

"It's woith a try." He agreed, "It's bettah den not havin' any family at all."

"Hey, you got family, Jake!" A blonde let herself into the conversation, "Newsies are family."

"Yeah, I know Tip." He laughed, "Jus' like bruddahs an' sistahs."