DISCLAIMER: These characters do NOT belong to me unfortunately. I tried to kidnap
them from Disney and was unsuccessful. Go figure. However, Runner and Mallory are
MINE, and so is Josephine, Aunt Patricia, and Daisy! Muahahaha! So take that, Mickey!!
OoOogles! I almost forgot Becca and Snap. They's mine too!! BleH! : ) Ah, the list just
goes on, there's Mr. Carter too of course. And Vixen...


A.N.
HOLY DUCK!!! So many reviews!!! I wish I could have a big party with chocolate
covered newsies and invite ya'll over!!! w00t w00t!!! THANKS SO MUCH!!!! ~*MUAH*~ I
appreciate the support so MUCH!!! WE'VE REACHED 100 REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! *dances around with Runner* THANK YOU!!!




~Skittles: Awww, sorry to hear you were sick in bed. Sickness sucks nickels, I'll tell
ya that! I had a swore throat a few days ago and I was not a happy camper! And guess
what?! You were my 100th reviewer!! w00t w00t! Go Skits!! We love youse!


~SportyChik425: Hey, hey, hey! A fan of Cowboys, ay? Well then, you'll like this
chapter! : ) w00t w00t! Thanks for the reviews!


~Bottles: Hahaha, a talented little juvenile delinquent. "Did ya hear that one, Runner?"
*Runner smirks* He and Mallory are in this chapter, by the way, and so are Race and
Becca. : ) You go build that time machine and I'll work on the chapter after this
one to explain Snap's intentions.


~Deanie: Yea, poor Jacky. Maybe he'll wake up and smell the berries one day. Runner
will be feeling bad for himself when his dad comes back too. Hahaha. Demanding parents,
ugh, tell me about it! LoL!


~racesgurl52787: Hahaha, Charles...if you're worried about him taking away Becca, I
think you'll LOVE this chapter! *whistles innocently* : )


~Angel: Whoa there girly. I feel a smackdown coming on. LoL! No violence, or I'll have
to escort you out the building. : ) Don't worry, Spot and Jack will realize what's
going on...hopefully. Haha. No, the poem in the story's from "The Dream Within" by
Lara Fabian. It's a song, mind you, a really good one too!


~geometrygal: Tell me, darlin', d'ya really like Geometry? Anywho, I love new reviewers!
Thanks so much for reviewing! w00t w00t! I'm glad the story caught your attention. : )
Hope ya enjoy this chapter!


~Snuggles: Naming an egg after the guy you like. *shakes head* What has gotten into you,
Amy? LoL! So I've stopped liking Andres and now I'm onto a guy I nicknamed Runner, so
don't feel bad about that name thing, lol. w00t w00t!


~Trek: Race IS adorable!! *chases a scared Race all over the room* Muahaha. Oh, about
Runner running away again...remember how in the last chapter he told Mallory that
whenever he wanted to get away from his strict life, he'd run away to Brooklyn to be a
newsie with Spot? Well, he's just thinking that with his father returning and all, his
life will go back to being miserable and he feels like running away again. : )
Snap=female dog, that's all I gots to say.


~Drama-Queen: Yea, I figured you weren't like what Snap has become. LoL! : ) OoOgles,
a Race and Becca fan? Then read on, my friend!


~Lanen: I'll explain what Snap is up to in the next chapter. Everything's so confusing,
feel free to ask me to elaborate more on certain things. : ) If ya really like Race
and Becca, you'll love this chapter. Heehee. Mmm, don't worry, Runner's use to his
parents being out there, lol. Actually, his father coming back was a surprise but the
teacher kinda let the cat outta the bag so to speak. Heehee.


~Rhapsody: Here's another chapter comin' atchya, goily! Thanks so much for the review!
w00t w00t! There's a whoel section devoted to our dear Runner in this addition, so you
can fall even mor ein love with him. Hahaha. Enjoy!






Just A Little Bet




~*~*~*~*~ Jack couldn't bring himself to look into her solemn eyes, for it would only

put him to shame for not having upheld his promise. "I'se really sorry, Mallory. I tried

tah convince the boys tah be charitable and all, but they's were concerned 'bout payin'

fer lunch today and so...yea." He handed her eight folded dollar bills with a frown. The

money had come from his own pocket; he couldn't bear the weight of visiting her empty

handed.




"Thank you," she said in return. The way Jack had talked, she had begun to expect a grand

amount of cash to be raised for her father's benefit and seeing less than ten dollars as

the end result didn't particularly brighten her moods, but she was grateful nonetheless.

It was, as she had been taught, the thought that counted.




"I know that probably aint enough. I'se could sell papes and give ya me profits, starvin'

fer a few days aint nothin' new in me life."




Mallory shook her head. "Don't be ridicolous, Jack. I'd never put you through such dire

conditions. You did what you could and I'm thankful for that much. I still have some money

left in my college account that my father can use for now. We'll figure out something

later." She tried to smile, but he knew that she was only trying to find the optimistic

aspects of her situation.




"Didn't ya tell me once that youse didn't like him doin' that, though? How's ya gunna go

to school if he keeps takin' ya money?"




"Well I've reached the conclusion that it was his money to begin with, since he's the one

that deposited it into the account in the first place. So if it's his, and he needs it,

he should be able to do with it what he pleases."




Jack squinted his eyes against the blinding rays of the rising sun, lifting his hand to

his forehead to use as a visor. The distribution office would be opening for business soon

and as Manhattan's leader, he made it a duty to be first in line to buy papers every

morning. "So how's ya dad doin' anyways? Gettin' bettah by any chance?"




"Sometimes he feels well," she answered, her attention drifting off. "But the doctors

told him his lungs were starting to develop a mucus lining, and that in time his breathing

would get raspy." Mallory was disappointed by the fact that her father had not been the

one to tell her the news, but rather a nurse whom she had interrogated on a visit to the

doctor's clinic when her father's claims to be resuming his health aroused suspicion in

her. She couldn't understand why he would hide the truth from her. Why wouldn't he want

her to know?




"We'se use tah have this one kid who had breathin' problems," said Jack. "I forgot what

he was sick from, but Kloppmann always had tah watch after 'im and he wouldn't let the kid

go out fer anything. He had a good sense of humor though, this kid, and he could always

cheer us up when we'se were in the downs."




Mallory smiled. "Is he still one of your newsies?"




Jack suddenly realized his mistake in having brought up the boy's story. "Uhm...well, he

had been really sick fer a long while and it just got too cold one December night...and he,

uhm, well...he passed away." He looked away from her and cursed himself for mentioning the

account. He could have at least lied by saying the boy was alive and well in some Upstate

home, but no, he had only succeeded in dampening Mallory's spirits. "But I'se shoah that

death aint always the outcome in those cases. Ya father sounds like a strong guy from the

way you've talked about 'im. 'Sides, he's got youse tah keep 'im fightin' fer his life."




"Sometimes I wonder whether he thinks my existence is enough reason for him to Want to

die."




"Whaddya talkin about!?"




"My father was on the verge of retiring from his job at the factory," she sighed. "If he

were to pass away, the monthly paychecks they would have mailed him would be forwarded to

my account, though I wouldn't have access to the money since I'm underage. But in three

years, once I can open the account there'll be quite an accumulation there to provide for

my needs until I can at least obtain a job of my own. At home he looks at me sometimes as

if he's calculating my future and it scares me."




Jack caressed her cheek with his hand. "Aww, sweety, ya aint gotta be scared. Don't worry

'bout anything, alls gunna woik out just fine." He knew he shouldn't have done so since

Snap was presently his girl, but he had twenty bucks riding on his actions with Mallory

and this was the perfect chance to kiss her; so he did. It wasn't anything as promiscous

as he would have liked, but he knew he had to take baby steps with the girl and gradually

build his way to making bigger moves on her.




"You shouldn't do that," was all she could say afterwards. She had enjoyed the kiss, no

doubt about that, but she wasn't willing to give her heart away so freely, especially

after her episodes with Spot.




"Why not? Youse a great goil, Mallory. Ya have a sweet personality and ya fun tah be

around. I don't know why all that crap's happenin' tah ya father, cause ya shoah don't

desoive it. Ya desoive tah be happy alls the time, and I thought I could do that for

youse. So why shouldn't I kiss ya?"




She didn't have an answer, so she didn't give him one. Instead, she allowed him to kiss

her again, and then a third time, until he parted with her to go sell his papers for the

World.




* * * * *




Runner sauntered down the hallways of St. JOhn's, slapping hands with his passing friends

and stopping every so often to kiss a girl on the cheek and smirk when they blushed or

erupted into giggles. After stuffing his Calculus book into his locker, he continued on

down the hallway about to pass the open doorway to his Philosophy class until the teacher

from inside grabbed his attention and stopped him for a moment's time.




"Lucas, I had to give your Analysis Paper a 76! There was absolutely no supporting

evidence for the issues you brought up and you cited no sources from your bibliography!

I expected much more from you, young man. This is possibly the worse you've ever done in

this class!"




"Mother Smith, has anyone ever told you how beautiful your eyes are? Exactly what shade of

color are they, I can't stop staring! Is that blue...or maybe grey? Honestly, you should

show them off more often."




The nun blushed at the compliment and playfully smacked Runner with the stapled pages of

his report. "Oh, you silly goose, you!"




"I was only being honest, Mother." He gave her a gallant smile. "Now about my analysis,

certainly a 76 is a bit drastic, don't you think? You must understand, Mother, I was

writing this during an emotionally distressing time."




"Oh?"




"Well...I, uh, I had recently recieved the news of a deceased member of the church. Yes,

that's it! Uh, someone I'd known dearly, and it broke my heart to learn of their passing."




Mother Smith brought a hand to her heart in sympathy. "Lucas, that is terrible! You poor

thing!" She pulled him into a hug. "You listen to me. Take as much time as you need to

rewrite this paper, all right? I'll excuse you for turning it in late. Just take it easy,

dear."




Runner nodded sadly, thanked her, and then proceeded his walk to the double doors ahead,

grinning at his accomplishment once there was no one in view. How he had the entire

teaching staff wrapped around his finger! He could ask for an extension to write an essay

and it would be given to him, he could suggest to be excused from taking a test because

of 'spiritual burdens' and a later examination date would be scheduled for him. He

laughed once outside the school and jogged the rest of the way to his destination;

Mallory's house.




When he reached her address he knocked on the door three times but no one seemed to be

home. He was contemplating knocking again when he espied her a block away just then,

standing in front of a bakery with a puppy at her side. "Mallory," he called out to her

and waved. Closing the distance between them in half a minute, he greeted her with a hug

and would have kissed her cheek as he did the other girls at his school but for some

reason, he grew shy when their eyes met and instead diverted his gaze to the cake she was

holding.




"Ooo, pound cake! I can't remember the last time I had a slice of that!"




"You can have some with coffee if you'd like." She laughed when his face brightened.

"That's a nice suit you're wearing. Is it for church?"




Runner looked down at his clothes. "Oh this? Nah, it's my uniform for school. They use to

make us wear berets too, but I was able to convince the headmaster that the things were

a distraction to class sessions."




"Ha, I'm surprised he let you have your way, I always thought teachers were strict. But

how is it that you're not in school right now?"




"I managed to have my guidance counselor assign me Study Hall for my sixth period class,

the last class of the day. As soon as I get out of Calculus, I head straight for the

streets while everyone else has to take a sixth class. When my father nagged me about it,

I told him it was only so that I could get a head start on my homework and he believed

me."




Mallory shook her head. "Well aren't you a devious one?" she teased, not able to stifle

her laughter. "You don't realize how lucky you are to be attending school, Lucas. If I

were in your position, I'd be taking as many classes as possible."




As she fished inside a small purse for the key to her door, she handed him Daisy's leash

and he gladly took the rope. "You should enroll into a school then."




"If only I could." She unlocked the door and pushed her way in, nodding to Runner to

follow after. "Unfortunately, I haven't the funds to pay for tuition and I haven't the

heart to study nowadays anyhow. I'm sure your cousin has told you of my father's

condition?"




"Yea, I'm sorry about that." He unlatched Dasiy from her leash to hang the rope on a

rack nailed to the wall. "If you ever need someone to talk to, feel free to stop by my

place anytime. I know it can be difficult sometimes."




Now in the kitchen, she grabbed him a small plate upon which she lay him a piece of the

pound cake. "Thank you, that's very sweet. You sound just like Jack."




"Jack?"




"Yes," she replied with a dreamy smile. "He spoke those exact words to me this morning,

though his were accompanied with a kiss or two...or three..." She giggled and was

embarrased at having spoken so outwardly.




Runner's face flushed with jealousy. It was enough to keep a constant vigilance over

Spot to make sure the Brooklynite wouldn't try anything on the girl, but now he had to

worry about Jack too? Since when was Mallory ever so friendly with him?! "Excuse me,

Mallory, I should be leaving now." He hadn't even taken a bite out of his cake but he

had a feeling the girl would only go on about Jack's charm if he stayed longer.




"So soon?" She pouted. If Lucas left now, she didn't know what she'd do until Jack

passed by to pick her up for lunch. "Must you?"




"I'll come over tomorrow if it's okay with you." She told him it would be and then wrapped

her arms around him in a hug. As he held her there, something ocurred to him. Mallory

wanted to attend school, but did not have the money or will to. Would a certain

scholarship change her mind? He remembered how Father Romanik talked to the students

about a special grant the school was offering for young people who were elgible. What if

Mallory received the money and became a student at St. John's? If that happened, Runner

could have her all to himself and wouldn't have to worry about Jack, Spot, or Race

intruding on his affairs.




"Heya Mallory," he said, pulling her back at arm's length with a smile. "You wouldn't

happen to be interested in applying for a scholarship for schooling, would you?"




* * * * *




"Please, I need to speak to a girl in there named Becca!" Race struggled against the

security guards at Sheepshead with a determination to not leave the tracks until he

had apologized to the girl for the misunderstanding that had broken their friendship.




"Young man, you'd do well to go your way before we're forced to fetch the police."




Race pushed the man back. "I'm here to see Becca!" he exclaimed. "The girl that works

for Mr. Webster?! In the stables!!" They stared at him blankly. "Do any of you speak

English!?"




"Mr. Webster isn't in today. As for a Becca, we don't recall one being employed here."

One of the guards was beginning to handcuff the newsie when a well-dressed man from

behind interrupted the commotion.




"What is all this about?"




"Mr. Webster," replied one of the head guards, "this boy claims to know you."




Race rolled his eyes at the misconstrued information. "I didn't say I'se knew him, I said

I knew the goil who woiks fer him!" He was about to go on ranting again when she finally

appeared, stepping up to her boss's side with a confused look.




Mr. Webster turned to her. "Becca, dear, do you know this young man?"




"Yes."




The head guard shrugged at his comrades. "Well I'll be damned, there is a Becca in this

place!" They all laughed and walked on as if nothing had happened.




Becca glared at their backs. Typical, as far as the other workers at Sheepshead were

concerned, she was nothing more than a shadow they overlooked all the time. "Race, what

are you doing here?"




"Becca, we need to talk. Right now, it can't wait. Please, give me a chance."




"I'll be waiting outside," Mr. Webster told her, casting a wary glance at the newsie as

he turned to walk out the building.




The girl watched him leave and then started off ahead of her. "Follow me," she said

simply. Race did as he was told and tagged behind as Becca entered into the stables and

closed the door behind them. The horses in their stalls neighed in greeting at the sight

of their keeper, she returned their hello's with pats on the necks and kind words.




"I thought youse woiked today."




"No, me and Webster's going to a farm to buy another horse. We only stopped here to pick

up extra harnesses in case the owner didn't have any." She pulled leather reins from

under other equipment and made sure the material wasn't tarnished in any way. "So what

did you want to talk to me about?"




He wanted her full attention for this so he stepped closer and waited for her to look

up at him. When she did, he began. "Becca, the other day when youse saw me and Mallory

together like that, it wasn't what ya thought..."




"It's alright, I'm fine with it. You're not the only player I've known, Race. It's

nothing new, guys do it all the time."




"No, wait. See that's where youse is wrong. I wasn't playin' ya at all! The goil is only

me friend. She invited me tah the tracks 'cause she knew I'se love the place, but it

weren't no date, and we'se aint goin' out. I'se tried tah tell ya that same day but

youse wouldn't heah me out. Becca, I'd never do somethin' like that tah hoit youse! I

thought ya knew me bettah than that! Ya mean alot tah me, goil."




Becca started crying before he had even finished his last sentence. "Race, I'm so sorry

for being an idiot! I should've known you weren't that type of person!" She threw her

arms around his neck and buried her face onto his shoulder. "I'm so stupid, I knew you

wouldn't do something like that, but I acted on impulse and, and..." the rest was lost

in her cries.




"Don't call yaself that. Youse had every right tah be mad." His arms slid around her waist

protectively, his hands massaging her lower back to comfort her. "Becca, listen tah me.

We'se gunna have tah trust eachother from heah on out, okay?" She nodded, her head still

resting on his shoulder. "Look at me fer a minute, I'se wanna ask ya somethin'"




"Yea?" She pulled back a few inches and looked into his eyes.




He paused, suddenly nervous to pose the question, but he knew he would have to get his

feelings out his mouth sooner or later so he chose now. "Will youse be me goil?"




The smile on Becca's face warmed his heart and he felt the temperature rising even more

when she pressed her lips against his and hugged him tight. "Of course I'll be your

girl, Race! I couldn't dream of being with anyone else!"




* * * * *



AHHHHH, this chapter was meant to be LONGER but my BiOlOgY homework calls!!! WOWZERZ!
You goils SUBMITTED FOURTEEN REVIEWS last time!!!! w00t w00t!!!!! WE REACHED 100!!!!
*the newsies all dance to random music* And yes, me dears, they're repeatedly performing
their pelvic thrust routine. Muahaha!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send in MORE REVIEWS!!!
I LOVE 'EM!!!!!! C'mon, be the first handful of kiddos to break 100!!! REVIEW!!!!!!!!
REVIEEEEEEEEEEEW!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE YA ALL!!!!!!!!!!