Do You Swear You Won't Forget Me?

*Warnings: VERY SAPPY.  Okay so maybe not that sappy, but you get the point. Just watch out for it. That's all… for now anyway.

Disclaimer: I OWN THEM ALL!!! MWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!  v.v;; sorry. Disney owns 'em. But I own Sparkles!!! No stealing!!! Oh, and ToT and Mouse own themselves.

Opening Comments: Well, this chapter took me FOREVER to finish. I tried to finish it over spring break, really, I did! I cut an entire part of this story out. Don't worry, there'll probably end up being  a sequel to it anyway.

Shout Outs~

            Mushtmblr:  Thank you! You're my first reviewer. ^^ Sorry this chapter took so long!

            Fastdncer: Heh heh, sorry about the update…

            DxInsider: ^.~ You'll find out.

            Stage: Yesh, Teddy *was* a good pres.—and there's Teddy Bears now, aren't there? This isn't 1899! (Although I wish it is…)

            gloria: Choices, choices, eh? An' I love Bumlets! Of  course I'd include him! ^__^  Seriously though, people should start including the minor characters more…

            Hush: Yes, yes, the one and only Hush…um…^^;; You reviewed twice. But thanks!!! Don't worry, you'll be in there soon…if I decide you deserve it! Mwahaha! J/k, j/k…

            silversapphire: ::nods:: Conflict is always good.

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Chapter 02- My Old Friend

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"So, Race, still gambling away your money down at the track?"

After I had been told the whole strike story in full detail (although judging by the looks I was given when Spot talked about Brooklyn's part in the story, he was stretching the truth a little), we walked around Manhattan for a while and tried to find the rest of the newsies.

Race raised his eyebrows. "Are youse kiddin' me? Wouldn't miss a race for nuttin'. 'Sept maybe a strike hea an' thea." He joked. "You know, da guys miss youse down thea. Can't tell a horse that'll run from one that won't."

I grinned. I used to spend a lot of time at the track with Race, betting on the horses -  and wishing I was the one riding them. I'd made pretty good friends with a few of the grooms and jockeys down there as well.

Before I knew it we were heading toward Tibby's; Jack and Bumlets following behind. Spot, ToT, and Mouse had returned to Brooklyn shortly earlier.

 Race informed me of the goings-on at Sheepshead the past few weeks, and I listened to only the parts I was interested in. Bumlets turned a few cartwheels in the street, humming something about being the king of New York.

"Ehy, youse listinen' ta me?"

"Huh?", I asked, shifting my gaze from Bumlets back to Racetrack, "What'd you say?"

Jack cut him off before he could speak with his cheerful announcement that we had arrived.

Loud, cheerful discourse confirmed that the rest of the newsies had indeed retreated to Tibby's for supper, and I grinned at Jack nervously before entering. We filed in after Racetrack and Bumlets, and a hush fell over the group as they caught sight of me.

"Sparkles! What're you doin' heah'?!"

I grinned at the shock on their faces and took a seat across from Mush and Kid Blink in  a booth. Jack slid in beside me and Bumlets pulled up a chair at the foot of the table. It wasn't long before Specs, Dutchy, Boots, Skittery, and a few other newsies crowded around the table as well. I didn't see what was quite so interesting about my return, but everybody was bursting with questions: why was I back? How did I get here? Was I going to stay for long?

I gladly answered most of their questions, relieved that I could tell them all at once instead of relaying it over and over. Soon interest died down and most of the boys returned to their own seats.

"So where's Davey tanight?" Jack asked, glancing around. I'd heard of David when the strike story was explained to me earlier, and I was actually hoping to meet him.

"Dunno," said Skittery nonchalantly. "Seen Sarah lately?"

Jack shook his head, staring down at his plate.

"Who's Sarah?" I asked softly.

It was quiet.

"Um, well, she's, er…"

Suddenly, Dutchy's chair gave out from under him and he crashed to the ground.

"Dutchy!"

"Youse alright?" Specs asked, helping him up.

"Yeah," Dutchy answered, grinning sheepishly. He glanced at Jack, who returned a small curt nod, and picked up his chair, sitting in it again and promptly stuffing his face with potatoes.

Shortly thereafter, the waiter showed up at our crowded table with a check. Everyone began emptying their pockets of change and spilling them on to the table. I took my change form the train station out of my pocket and placed it on the table as well to pay for my share.

We sat there long after the waiter had taken our money and our dirty plates. Jack wanted to hear everything about Santa Fe, whilst the others wanted to know what the newsies there were like. Soon the sun began to set, and the boys slowly began to drift out of Tibby's. Finally, Jack, Bumlets, Race, and I left the small restaurant to return to the lodging house.

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            "Hey Klopp, got an extra bunk?"

            Kloppman nodded at Jack, his eyes twinkling at me. He lifted the register book onto the counter and Jack hurriedly scribbled his name under Snoddy's. He dropped his changed on the counter and Kloppman took it. Racetrack signed in next, then handed the pencil to me.

            I hesitated a moment, then signed my name in the empty slot. It was then that I realized I had spent my only money at Tibby's. I turned to Jack.

            "What's da matta'?"

            "I don't have any more money." I mumbled. The rest of the newsies who were crowded around the counter heard me, and everyone started digging in their pockets and counting money. Pennies were being shoved into my hand until I had enough money to pay for the night's rent, plus a shower and breakfast. I gave a lopsided grin, beaming.

 "Thanks, guys." I dropped the coins on the counter and followed Jack up the stairs.

"You can't wear that selling tomorrow," he said on the way, referring to my blouse and skirt. "Here, I'm sure I can find something…"

I glanced at him skeptically as we entered the bunk room. Poker games were still scattered here and there, but most of the newsies were climbing under their bunks and blocking out their noisy companions. Jack went off after some clothes, and I found an empty bunk underneath a newsy I didn't know. One of the new kids, I supposed.

Jack jogged across the room toward me, and armful of clothes in tow.

"Here," he said, dropping them on the small table next to my bunk, "These should  fit you."

"Thanks."

"Alright! Lights out, boys!"

The room grew dark as lanterns were being snuffed out all around. The kid in the bunk across from mine leaned over and blew out the small flame burning in the lantern between the beds.

"G'nite, Sparks." Jack said quietly, before turning and climbing into his bunk.

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            Closing Comments: Well? Whaddya think? Not exactly something worth all this wait, I know. But don't worry! Chapter 3 starts to get way more interesting ^___^.It's already over halfway done, and it should be posted sometime this week. I hope XD. Hehe~ review!