Slightly nervous, Maggie walked with Mush down the busy Manhattan road. It had been many weeks since their first meeting and Mush and her had become quite good friends, often meeting in Central Park to talk just about anything.

But today Mush had insisted that he bring her to Tibby's where most of the newsies liked to eat for lunch. She was nervous about meeting all of his friends; a bunch of teenage boys being loud and obnoxious didn't sound too appetizing. The wind whipped her long, shiny, slightly wavy red hair around her creamy pale face and she took a deep breath.

"Mush, are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked uncertainly.

"Ah, come on Mags! Dontcha back out on me now! Me boys, dey gonna be just fine!" He said, grinning at the girl's obvious nervousness.

That wasn't the only thing on Maggie's mind. Lately, her family had been suffering and soon she was going to have to give up her studies and find work. Everyday less and less food was put on the Malloy table, and soon there would be none. Soon Bran and Caleb would have to take up another job besides working at the factory, and her mother's decline in health did not help one bit.

"Mush, I dunno," she said again as they turned the corner for the restaurant. "I mean, I really shouldn't even be out!"

This was partly true; she should be home helping her mother. Her best friend Kaylee Saunders would be home also, finally getting off working at her mother's sewing shop for once. Kaylee only lived a few blocks away, but lately Maggie was seeing less and less of the funny girl.

"Maggie! Stop yer worryin! Come on! We'se heah!" He said, taking her hand and pulling her into the loud restaurant. Maggie's heart stopped at the sight before her.

The small diner was infested with teenage boys and a few girls all her age and all newsies. She was seriously frightened. It was very loud in the diner and as her head scanned the crowd, many of the boys whom were playing loud games of poker, many heads turned their way and muttered hello's and heya's to Mush. He grinned and waved and led Maggie over to a table holding several newsies and a couple of girls.

"Heya fellahs!" Mush said happily. "Dis is Maggie. She's gonna eat wid us fer today."

"Lookie, Mush's gots a new goil already!" A blonde boy with a patch on his eye snickered along with another Italian boy with an unlit cigar in his mouth.

"Boys, boys!" A girl with long, dark hair falling over her shoulders said grinning, her large brown eyes glowing with excitement. "That's no way tah treat a lady! I'se Spinnah." The girl smiled at Maggie and Maggie couldn't help but notice how very stunning the girl was. She was sitting in between a boy with a red bandanna on his neck and another boy. Maggie looked at the other boy and couldn't tear her eyes away from his icy blue hues.

"I'se Jack Kelly," the boy with the bandanna said. "Dis is Blink and Race." He pointed to the boy with the eye patch and the Italian. They grinned at her and Blink even winked. Maggie grinned back. "And dis is they's goils, Spinnah-you'se met her, she's Blink's goil, and dat's Baby, Race's goil."

Baby was a petite girl with long, flowing blonde locks that ended in baby curls, and wide, anxious, big blue eyes. She had the look of a princess out of a fairy tale. She grinned at Maggie for a moment, then went back to talking to Race.

"And I'se is Storm, Jack's goil," said another girl, sitting on Jack's lap. She had long, black hair that was shiny and tumbled down her back, clipped to the side and was rather short. She was probably the most beautiful girl ever, and Maggie felt so out of place. Storm was rather arrogant and just smirked at Maggie. Storm's grey eyes were big and skeptical.

"And just forget me, eh boys?!" The boy with the most gorgeous blue eyes said, with a cold hard smirk. "I'se Spot Conlon sweety, and dis is Widow, me goil." Maggie looked at his girl and frowned inwardly. She didn't even look at her and was too busy kissing Spot's neck. She had red hair like Maggie's and had beautiful blonde streaks through it. It was long also and shiny, making Maggie very jealous. Her emerald eyes were hard and cold, but she didn't look at Maggie.

"He's dah leadah of Brooklyn," Mush whispered in Maggie's ear. "Bettah watch out foah him."

Maggie nodded and took a seat between Mush and Race.

"So, Maggie, you'se new 'round heah?" Race asked her while Baby also listened with interest.

"No," Maggie said. "I moved here a while ago from Ireland. But I met Mush a few weeks ago and he wanted to take me here.so here I am." She grinned at Race and he returned the gesture.

"So, you'se is Mushie's goil, eh?" Baby asked.

"Oh no!" Maggie said taking a sip of her water. "We are just friends. I-no. I would never think of him that way. He's been very kind to me though." She blushed as Race just shook his head with a grin and Baby winked at her.

Maggie found herself enjoying the newsies company. After about in hour, they joked around with her and teased her just as they did themselves; they were very loving people to her surprise. She found she liked Baby the best and Race; they made plans to meet her tomorrow in Central Park and hang out for a while. Blink and Spinner also agreed, and pretty soon Maggie was very excited.

"I better be going," Maggie finally announced. "It was nice meeting all of you." She smiled at them, and got up to leave.

"Need me tah walk ya home?" Mush asked, standing up too.

Maggie smiled. "You have done enough Mush. I'm okay from here. Bye!" She kissed him on the cheek in a friendly matter and left Tibby's.

As she walked down the Manhattan street she hadn't realized how late it had gotten. She was a bit nervous walking by herself, and when she heard her name being called her heart stopped and she turned around.

But it was only-Spot Conlon?

"Uhm, can I help you?" Maggie asked, uncertain to why he was following her. The other newsies had informed her to stay away from his charm; he was known as a womanizer. Plus, his current fling, what was her name.? Ah! Widow, she was a tough one and knew if Maggie was with Spot would surely have her head.

"Heya, a goil such as yerself shouldn't be walkin home alls alone," he said, reaching her. He was much taller than her one five feet four inches and as she walked beside him, she couldn't help but get butterflies. He was so handsome!

"That's okay, really," she said, stiffening up.

Spot only shook his head. "Nah, I'se gonna walk yah home goily, whether you'se want me to or not." He smirked.

"You better not! Widow wouldn't be too happy.and besides.I can handle myself!" Maggie said, always the stubborn one.

"Who cares 'bout Widow? She's only good fer a few lays, den I'se letter loose." Spot smirked when Maggie looked obviously violated.

"That's a horrible thing to say!"

"Ah, well, it's dah truth, doll."

Maggie made a face, shook her head, and allowed Spot to walk her home, but she didn't dare talk to him for the rest of the night.

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It'll get better, I promise! Next chapter, more Spot action! Please, please, review!