A/N: Changed the summery, like this new one better.

Chapter 4

Dag lay in bed thinking. Her thoughts drifted all over the last few months. From Spot to Brooklyn to Manhattan to home to Howland's. She turned so her back was to the window. She'd never been one to fall asleep easily, especially when she had things on her mind.

Dag's thoughts were quickly interrupted by the smell of smoke. She was up in a second with her hands against the door. It wasn't hot so she opened it and went over to the door of the dorm it wasn't hot either but when she opened it she noticed smoke climbing towards the third floor. Dag bolted back into the dorm and ran over to Why's room. The girl lay peacefully sleeping.

"Why! Get up now!" Dag yelled shaking the girl.

"Why? It's not morning yet," Why replied whining.

"I know it's not morning up you have to get up. Now!" Dag pulled the half awake Why out of bed.

"I'm up," she muttered standing up.

"Good get changed quick, then meet me in de common room." Dag yelled running back to her room. Once there she pulled out the clump of stuff out from under her bed and pulled the set of clothing Spot had given her. She pocketed the slingshot and all the money she had before running back into the common room where Why stood still not quite awake.

"Come on," Dag grabbed Why's hand and began pulling her towards the hall. "Hold your breath, and close your eyes." She ordered as they entered the cloud of smoke and lead them down the stairs the best she could. Once to the bottom she forced Why to the ground where the air was still clean. "'Kay now you can breath."

Why gasped for breath as Dag tried to figure out where the fire was. Realizing it engulfed the entire floor except the dinning room, that's where she wet. There she held her breath as she kicked out a window and instructed to Why to hold her breath again as Dag lifted her through the window.

Out in the fresh air Dag couldn't sit still, she was worried about her other two new friends. Telling Why to stay where she was she reentered the burning building and headed back up stairs. Once at the top floor she saw a group of girls huddled at the end the hallway scared to death.

"Dis way!" she yelled at them and motioning towards the stairs.

They moved slowly towards her unsure. One stepped forward assertively and Dag recognized her as Ariana. The other girls followed her lead and Dag lead them down stairs to the dining room and through the window. Several of them were coughing from the smoke and others were still in there night gowns.

"Dag," Why walked over to her shaking.

"Yeah,"

"Why are you dressed like a boy?" several of the girls turned their heads at this. They were clearly also curious as to why she was.

"'Cause I wanted to," Dag replied simply. The girl seemed satisfied with Dag's response but not Why.

"Why?"

"It's a long story, maybe later." Dag responded and Why seemed to believe that Dag's response was inadequate but didn't push her luck.

Dag finally looked around to see who was out of the building. Including herself Dag counted 10 girls. There was Why, Ariana, Angel, Emily, Allison, and the other four she didn't know their names. 2 girls that were in Why's little group, 1 from Allison's and 1 from Emily's.

"What are we going to do?" one of the girls asked everyone turned to look at her then shifted to look at Dag.

"What are ya looking at me for?" Dag barked. They all adverted their eyes timidly except for Emily who looked at her defiantly.

"I do not know why we all looked at her to make the decision. I think I should be the one in charge."

"Ya think ya should be in charge?" Dag asked Emily laughter in her eyes.

"Yes, my father is the Governor in Vermont. I've got leadership in my blood."

"You want the role, have it," Dag replied sitting down on the curb.

"Thank you. Now that we've decided I'm the leader, any suggestions on what we should do?" Emily looked at the other girls expectantly.

"Dag what do you think we should do?" Why asked sitting down next to her.

"I'd suggest we find some way to contact yeh families."

"Excellent suggestion," Emily said then looked around at the other. "Any more?"

"You said our families what about yours?" Asked Angel sitting not to far from them.

"I'm going to Brooklyn," Dag replied nodding to the south.

"Why?" (just guess who said that)

"I thought we discussed this why thing ya do?" Dag replied looking over at her annoyed.

"Sorry, but why Brooklyn?"

"Ya don't need to know everything about me," Dag replied still annoyed.

"We could go with you," suggested Ariana.

"To Brooklyn?"

"Why not?" asked Angel getting up.

"Ten goils, going to live with the Brooklyn newsies. Oh yes they would love that." Dag replied sarcasticly.

"Newsies? Like boys?" asked the girl who was one of Why's friends.

"Yeah boys, there are like thoity." Dag replied.

"I say we go," Why said assertively.

"Fine. Whatever. Am I the only one who has any money?" Dag asked counting her small amount money. The girls looked at each other and the ground. Dag sighed knowing she was. "Guess we'll have to hop the trains. Here to New Yawk is what about 500 miles(actually it is). On train that going atleast 60 miles an hour is about 8 hours. Fun."

"Well where are we going to sleep tonight?" Emily asked very concerned.

"Ever heard of carrin' de bannah?" Dag replied with question.

"Isn't it something the newsies do?"

"Sleepin' in de streets." Dag answered but looked around. "Maybe we should find somewhere away from de boinin' buildin'."