~*~

Make sure that you re-read Chapter Three... i deleted my note and added a new chapter, so if you haven't... then go on! read!

~*~

Spot opened his eyes as he looked about him. He could feel a cold breeze blow by past him as he strained to look at what was before him. But the darkness enveloped him and everywhere else he looked. His eyes were open, weren't they? So why couldn't he see anything? He rubbed his eyes and blinked to check his vision once more. But there was nothing there.

Despite the fact that he couldn't see, Spot's other sense became alert. He could feel the cold wind pass by him with every howl. He could hear the grass and the trees sway against the wind as the wind gave off an eerie howl that chilled him to the spine. He could smell the salty seawater about him. But where was he? What was going on?

Suddenly, Spot could hear the crunching of grass not to far away. Footsteps. The sound of shallow breathing and a soft musical voice lingered in the air. Spot strained to look about him, but all he could see was the bright circular moon above him.

He could feel his throat tighten as he sensed it move forward, come closer and closer to him. He suddenly felt long cold slender fingers grasp around his throat, hardly giving him enough air to breathe. His feet slowly rose in the air, as he felt himself being carried by a strong force.

The musical voice stopped singing as Spot continued to fight with all his might to escape from the grasp. The winding of the breeze stopped, the smells faded away, and the moon suddenly disappeared beneath the clouds.

A small harsh whisper approached Spot's ear as he closed his eyes and waited for what was to come next. "We've been looking for you…"

Spot gasped as he opened his eyes and looked about the walls of his room. His body was covered with sweat and he was panting heavily as he looked about him. He shook his head and buried it in his hands.

"It was just a dream…" mumbled Spot.

~*~

Leah shook her head as she smiled to herself and began to shout another headline from the paper. It was another day of selling papers and running from the bulls. But that was her life, and she couldn't really do anything about it. Besides the shouting and talks milling about the streets, Leah could hear Chelsea and Audrey arguing about whether Spot treats a girl like a lady.

"Come on, Chelsea! What do you expect?" retorted Audrey as she rolled her brown eyes and pushed a lock of reddish brown hair behind her ear. "It's… SPOT. He's been with… I dunno, more girls than you could ever count!"

Chelsea let out a frustrated sigh and put her hands up in the air. "Are you blind? Don't you see? He's just so… irresistible! His eyes can get a little freaky, but still… don't tell me you don't like him just a LITTLE BIT?"

"Really, you guys… can't you talk about something important?" said Leah as she raised her eyebrow at the two.

They had been friends forever, the three of them. Chelsea, the youngest of the three, is the loudest and most obsessive of all. It didn't come as a surprise to the three of them that she had earned the nickname Ob, short for obsessive, when she became a newsie. Although she can be a bit childish sometimes, Leah could see the real person within her. Friends mean everything to her. And Leah admired that.

Audrey, however, was the oldest of them all. She was the motherly type. The one who looked out for all of them. Originally a British immigrant, she speaks her mind and the truth when she wants to. A bit of a rebel and troublemaker on the side, though it can get handy at times. That was how you lived in Brooklyn. You needed to be strong. And that was Audrey. She always has one eye on the ones she loves, protecting them as much as she can, and another for trouble.

"I agree with Leah!" replied Audrey.

"Since when is Spot not important? Come on, Leah! Don't tell me you don't find him a bit attractive?"

Leah glanced at her two friends uncertainly and sighed as she thought of what she would say. "He IS attractive, I tell you that… but I'm not saying he's a gentleman… who's to know?"

~*~

Snaps groaned as she turned the silver doorknob to the entrance of the Lodging House. It had been one long day of selling… and her body wasn't cooperating with her. It was just one of those days when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, lost your lucky penny, got dirt on your clothes, stumbled down on the sidewalk, and just couldn't take it anymore.

Her eyes were greeted by the familiar sight of the lobby. The wrought-out couch, filled with newsies, was placed at the side of the stairs leading up to the girls' and boy's bunkroom. A rectangular wooden table was located in the middle of the room, which usually served as the poker table for the boys. Small wooden chairs were placed here and there. Snaps knew it wasn't the best she has seen in her life, but it was her home.

She suddenly felt a swell of relief and content about her until she saw Spot bounding down the stairs, looking about the room uncertainly. She was finally feeling fine, and she didn't want Spot to mess it up. Not her brother again.

"Snaps!" shouted Spot as he walked over to where she was standing and gave her a cocky smile.

"Whaaattt???" whined Snaps as she plopped down on the sofa, not caring whether she was taking anybody else's seat.

"Can you make sure that Leah, Audrey, and Chelsea don't go upstairs before I see 'em?" asked Spot as he took a seat next to Snaps.

Snaps scrunched up her face in confusion and looked at Spot. "You want three girls to yourself?! You know—"

"Snaps!" shouted Spot. "I just need them down here… I ain't doing anything bad to them, don't worry," said Spot as he stood from his seat and walked out the Lodging House.

"Hmm… where have I heard that before?" whispered Snaps as she watched her brother take a step outside.

~*~

The cold night air blew past Leah's cheeks as she wrapped her arms around her to keep herself warm. The moonlight shone above them and the stars glittered with excellence. It was one of those rare, calm nights that hardly happened. Nights at Brooklyn were either filled with fights and arguments, but it was hardly peaceful. This was something new.

The Lodging House suddenly came into view as Leah, Audrey, and Chelsea continued walking, eager to get inside and stay in their beds.

"What's that? Wait, who's that?" asked Chelsea as she squinted through the darkness and looked at the figure before her. It was the outline of a boy, his hands shoved into his pockets and his body leaning against the door of the Lodging House.

"Yeah, well, whoever he is, he's blocking the way in," said Leah impatiently.

She quickened her steps towards the Lodging House, but her breath was caught in her throat as she got nearer and realized who it was. It didn't take her long enough to recognize him with his dazzling blue eyes staring back at her and a smile upon his lips.

"You're blocking our way," exclaimed Audrey, stepping up behind the shocked Leah.

Spot glanced at Audrey, then back at Leah, his eyes shining wide with hidden excitement. Without uttering a word, he took a step back, placed his hand on the doorknob, opened the door, and motioned for the girls to walk in just like a butler would do with his master.

Leah looked at Spot, then at Audrey and Chelsea with curiosity. What was going on? Spot doesn't do this. He pushes girls up against walls and makes them want him.

"What's going on?" asked Audrey as she turned around and placed her hands on her hips, her eyes boring into Spot, not caring whether she was in for a verbal lashing.

But Spot didn't utter one word. A smile played upon his lips as he took a step inside and closed the door behind him. He ignored Audrey's questions and nodded at Snaps, who was watching intently. He walked towards Leah, her copper brown hair flowing past her shoulders and her eyes full of confusion and curiosity. He took his time as he walked towards her, savoring the moment.

Leah suddenly felt her heart leap and her body tingle as she saw Spot walking towards her. He wasn't acting like himself. He wasn't being demanding and overpowering like he usually was with his other newsies. For a moment he looked sincere and genuine. Leah blinked, seeing Spot finally standing in front of her, only inches away from her face. She reluctantly took a step back, hoping to escape, to run up the stairs and stay in her bunk bed. But she felt a force about her that made her stay.

Spot's face softened as his eyes shone with excitement and gave a smile that caused Leah's knees to slightly weaken.

For what seemed like days, Spot finally opened his mouth and said, "Will you dance with me?" Leah's eyes widened as she looked at Spot, his hand extended out as he took a small bow.

"I…" started Leah. She looked about the room and could see a hundred pairs of eyes upon her.

She was suddenly propelled forward as she felt a pair of hands behind her back, causing her to stumble forward and hold Spot's hand in support. Her heart raced as she felt him against her, his arm around her waist and his fingers slowly curling into hers.

"I'll take that as a yes," whispered Spot as he looked at her and smiled.

Leah didn't know what to say. She was unable to talk at the moment, lost in her own thoughts. She suddenly felt him leading her to a dance, his body slowly moving back and forth as he silently hummed a song only she could hear. She could feel his heart beating against hers as she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. The smell of the salty seawater, newspaper ink, and beer swirled about her. She could feel the rumble of his chest as he hummed the notes of a song. Her mind, body, and emotions were lost in a different world. She was lost in him.

She slowly opened her eyes, her body and his still moving back and forth in a dance. She took a step back to look at him. He was different. He wasn't Spot Conlon, the leader of Brooklyn. He was Spot Conlon, the boy that she liked and wanted for forever. She had always planned to fall for him, but here she was, in her arms, dancing with him.

Her eyes locked into his as he looked at her longingly and continued to hum his song. Then silence filled the air as he stopped humming his song. He paused to look at her. Leah could feel her cheeks burn as they continued to dance in a circular motion. He leaned forward and pressed his cheek to the side of her face. She could feel his warm breath on her ear and his body fit with hers.

The trance continued on as she heard his voice whisper in her ear, "Will you be mine?"

~*~

Snaps watched intently as she watched Spot lure the girl into the dance. She had seen her now and then, with the two other girls. They had been here for as long as she could remember, and was surprised to how Spot had just noticed them now. But that wasn't what was surprising. He was showing his feelings… his emotions… to the rest of the Brooklyn newsies. He was showing how he liked her so much just out right. Snaps smiled as she watched her older brother dance with Leah with the unheard music that surrounded them. Maybe this day wasn't so bad after all.

~*~

Shout-outs

Thistle - haha thanks! even though i don't usually read slash, i love your ffs too! ^^ glad to see that you're liking this one!

Chelsea - lmao, i figured that you wanted to be leah's friend! i could probably see your excitement from your writing. lol. but aren't you happy that you are? hahah, can't you share mush for a little while? *wink* lol.

JustDuck - hahah! i wasn't expecting THAT! and quit your bowing!

Raeghann - thanks! ^^ yeah, its getting harder to write especially if you have work and don't really feel like writing anymore. :P doesn't easily come to you when you're tired, huh? but we've all been there. ^^

Aine - hahha, thanks! the next chap will take a little while... maybe i'll have time during break.

Snaps - lmao! hahah, glad to see that ya liked it! it sounds like a movie? which one?