Disclaimer:  We don't own Newsies or the song featured in this chapter.  The song, This Bitter Pill belongs to Dashboard Confessional, you should go download it, it's really good.

Author's Note:  Here you go kiddos.  Chapter 3, it took us long enough, but we finally got it out.  Sorry about it being so long a wait, ff.net locked my account and such, I was very distraught all week.  Boo hoo.  Anyway, hope you all enjoy it and don't forget to leave us a review. (The next chapter is done but we're gonna wait to post it until we get at least five reviews, so review).

* * * * * * * * *

            KP woke up to cold water dipping on her foot.  'Hmm,' she thought to herself 'the bathtub's not really all that uncomfortable.'  She climbed out and checked herself in the mirror.  She dug around in her purse for her toothbrush.  Luckily for her, she was one of those people who carried all the essentials, and a few non-essentials in her bag.

            When KP was done with the regular grooming routine, she walked back into the room.  Glaring at Spot, she moseyed over to his dresser.

            "Asshole," she muttered under her breath.  She glanced around the room.  "This room is very well-kept, Spotty," she whispered as an evil smile crept across her lips.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Fifi yawned and stretched as she opened her eyes.  The sun shone brightly in the window next to her bed, making it impossible for her to fall back asleep.  She reluctantly rolled out of bed and headed toward the bathroom.  She continued on in much the same fashion as KP had.  When she was finished grooming she walked back in to the room.  Blink was still sleeping so she changed backing to her clothes from yesterday and threw the pajamas onto her bed.  She started toward the door, giving one last glance in Blink's direction.  She noticed that with the way his arm was positioned across his forehead he looked like he had fainted dramatically.  She laughed to herself as she quietly backed out the door, closing it gently behind her.

Fifi glanced down the hall.  Now that she was out of the room, she really didn't know where to go.  She didn't know which room KP was in so she decided to go left and see where she ended up.  After only a few steps she noticed another person at the end of the hall.  It took her only a moment to realize it was KP, her unmistakable porn hair flouncing along behind her as she raced down the hall toward her friend.

"Hey!"  Fifi greeted, smiling through her grogginess.  "This floor is freezing, KP, where are your socks?!" she questioned as her gaze dropped to KP's feet.

"Drying," she muttered in response as she thought about last night's argument bitterly, but her _expression changed from a grimace to a smirk as she recalled her act of vandalism this morning.  KP regaled Fifi with an explanation of the events of the previous night.

"Speaking of socks," Fifi said lifting a sock from her friends shoulder and holding it in front of her face, "How's this get here?" she questioned.  KP snatched the sock from Fifi's grasp. 

"Oops!" she said sweetly, trying to look innocent, but Fifi saw right through her.  KP opened the door to the nearest room and threw the sock in, slamming the door afterward.

"KP," Fifi began, boring down on her friend with prying eyes, "what did you do?"

"Well, Spot wouldn't let me have the top bunk, so we got in a fight—"

"—so you slept in the bathtub—"

"—do you want me to tell you the story or not?"

"Sorry."

"Anyway, I was pissed, so to get back at him I emptied his drawers and threw his clothes all over the room."  Fifi's jaw dropped.

"I can't believe you did that."  KP just stared at her.  "He's going to kick your ass, you know that right?"

"He's not going to do anything," KP said confidently, "He's all talk."

"KP, sometimes, you're just a total dumbass."

"Hey, I'm hungry," KP announced as she simultaneously shrugged her friend off.  "Let's find the cafeteria and get some grub."

"Okay," Fifi agreed as her stomach growled.  She led the way to the cafeteria, remembering roughly where it was.  It had been a while since she had been in the school; she hoped she was going the right way.  In a matter of minutes the two girls were completely turned around.  It was only by accident that they stumbled upon the cafeteria.

"Well that was lucky," Fifi muttered as she entered the large cafeteria and headed for the kitchen.  "Let's go see what we have to work with."  KP nodded and followed.  The two girls spent the next twenty minutes doing a rough inventory of the large freezers and pantries. 

"Looks like we're pretty set in the food area."

"Yeah," Fifi agreed.  They had found everything from canned fruit and beans to frozen vegetables and egg beaters, and numerous other non-perishables.

"What do you think we should make?"  KP questioned as she looked everything over.  Fifi only shrugged.  "Okay, then.  Let's make eggs, toast and bacon."  Fifi nodded and the two girls got to work.  KP started in on the eggs, and was about to throw the bacon in the frying pan when . . .

"NO! KP, DON'T!" shouted Fifi as she ran over flailing her arms over her head.  KP stopped short, the bacon dangling inches from the surface of the hot frying pan.

"What?"

"I should have known better than to trust a vegetarian to cook the bacon," Fifi said thoughtfully."  You should really cook it in the oven on a rack, not fry it.  If you do it in the oven it's not only less fatty and greasy, but it tastes better too," Fifi finished matter-of-factly as she began laying the bacon on a baking sheet.  The two girls continued making their breakfast spread in silence.  After a few minutes of foot tapping, Fifi turned to KP.

"Look, I've been waiting for you to bring it up, but I guess I'll have to get it out of you."  KP's attention snapped to her friend, a confused and questioning look on her face.  "You want Spot, and you want him bad, admit it."

"Fifi!  I can't stand him, he's a total asshole, just because he's," KP stopped before the next word came out of her mouth and her cheeks flushed. "Because he's," and evil smile crossed Fifi's lips, she knew she had her.

"Cute?  Hot?  Gorgeous?  Sexy?  Smoldering?  Does the intense magnetism of his sexy, rough, and rugged manliness draw you to him like—"

"—Okay, okay.  I want him," KP shouted in frustration, clamping her hand over her mouth when she realized what she had said.  She coughed loudly and didn't say anything else.  Fifi smiled to herself and didn't say anything either.  She waited a few moments until she was sure KP had started to feel comfortably before opening her mouth again.

"So," she began, adding a light-hearted teasing tone to her voice, "Did you see him with his shirt off?"  KP glared for a moment and Fifi expected and outburst of some sort. Instead a sheepish smile came over her face.

"Yeah, yeah I did, and yes, he is hot."  KP sighed, "but he's still and asshole."

"An asshole that you want."

"Yeah, but how could you not want him?"

"I don't want him, it's not that difficult not to you know."

"Oh, yeah, that's right.  You've got someone else to distract you."  KP continued to say Blink but tried to cover it up using the wholly unoriginal loser-cough technique.  Fifi rolled her eyes.  She knew if she fought KP on this one it would just be a similar conversation to the one they'd just had.  She decided it would be better to just fess up from the get-go.

"Yeah, he's cute and funny and such, but I don't really know him at all."

"Yet."

"What?"

"You don't really now him yet.  But don't worry, I can take care of that."  Fifi's eyes clouded over with worry.

"KP if you do or say anything I'll be so mad I'll be on you like the Frog brothers on Laddie."**

"Okay, okay, I won't tell him you like him."  Fifi breathed a sigh of relief, but she was wrong to. 

"You know who I absolutely adore?"  KP asked trying to change he subject so Fifi couldn't put any stipulations on what she could and could not say to Blink.

"Yeah I do because it's so totally RACETRACK!"  Fifi yelled knowing exactly who her friend had been talking about.

"Yes!"  KP yelled, "He is so adorable!" she exclaimed as they put the finishing touches on the breakfast.

"Yes that would be why you adore him, because he is, in fact, adorable," came a sinister voice from the doorway.  Both girls jumped and turned to the origin of the intrusion to find Itey standing there.  KP reached for a knife to protect herself if need be.  It wasn't that she didn't feel safe with Itey ever, she just felt safer when some of the other guys were around.  She was never sure if Itey would really snap or not.  Fifi glanced at the knife then glared at KP telling her with a look to put it down.  She did. 

Itey seemed to have missed the whole exchange and was busy looking up at the ceiling.  There seemed to be something very interesting going on up there.  KP followed his gaze to see what was so amazing but saw nothing.

"Hey Itey, what are you—"

"—Forget that," Fifi interrupted.  "What's in your hand?" she asked sweetly and quietly so as not to disrupt his trance too harshly.  The girls weren't quite sure where they stood with Itey, he kind of reminded them of their friend Quimby, but that didn't mean he wasn't completely off his rocker.

"A cow bell," Itey said nonchalantly.  Both girls looked at him and then noticed all of the food they had made sitting on one of the tables.

"Oh great, we made all this food and now no one is awake to eat it," Fifi said cheerlessly.

"I'll wake them up" Itey said forgetting whatever it was that he had been looking at on the ceiling.  He took off before either of the girls could answer.

"That kid is so weird," said Fifi a little overwhelmed, "but for some reason I really enjoy him."

"Me too," said KP a little louder than Fifi had been so that she could be heard over the loud ringing of a cowbell somewhere in the distance.  The girls figured this was the way Itey had chosen to wake up the others.  They could almost see him running up and down the hall and for a very brief moment they actually felt bad for the boys . . . that is until they realized how humorous they found it.

"Anyway," KP yelled as the cow bell got louder, "Racetrack is so lovable and awesome!" She had screamed it out over the now non-existent ringing of the cowbell not realizing that it had stopped.

"Aww," came a new voice from the door belonging to Racetrack.  "I didn't know dat youse goils cared."  He smiled, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye as he stretched tiredly.  He sat down at the table.  "Geeze, goils, what a spread.  Da grub looks great."  Race grabbed a lunch tray and began filling it up.  "I knew youse two wouldn't be bad to have around."  He smiled at Fifi and winked at KP.  The two girls giggled and then turned their attention to the door, where Mush, Blink, and Skittery were standing.

"Hey guys!"  Fifi smiled enthusiastically.  "Grab a tray and eat some food."  She motioned for the boys to do so.  The boys did as they were told.  They all began engaging in friendly conversation as they sat down to eat.  Skittery picked the chair that was closes to him due to the fact that he was too tired to move any farther than he had to.  Blink and Mush sat beside each other in the middle of the opposite side of the table.

"Wow," Mush stated.  "Dis looks great."

"Yeah."  Blink nodded in agreement.  "Thanks a lot guys."  He directed the comment to both girls but was staring at Fifi when he said it.

"Don't worry about it," Fifi muttered from the door, her cheeks flushed."  KP just looked at the two from where she stood shaking her head.

"What do you mean, 'who cares'?  He had his feet on my desk."  David's shrill voice broke the calmness of the room.  "You don't think that's rude?"  Jack rolled his eyes in annoyance.  He had listened to David rant about Itey since he had left his room and he didn't feel like making any responses so he decided to change the subject.

"Hey, who made all the food?" he queried as he took his seat at the head of the table beside Skittery.

"Well actually, Jacky-boy, da goils mad breakfast for all of us, because dey're so sweet."  Race glared directly at Jack, rubbing into his face that he had been right about the girls all along. Jack glared right back at Race as he began to eat and David seated himself to Jack's right, beside Mush. Everyone had noticed the tension fly between Jack and Race and an awkward silence fell over the room.  KP went and sat down to Race's right, across from Blink and Fifi went to sit next to her, but KP slammed her foot onto the chair and crossed her arms.

"Sorry sweetheart," she said raising her voice so she had everyone's attention, "but there's a seat right over there next to Blink."  Fifi's face flushed a bright red due to embarrassment, but the look was replaced with anger and a warning glance which she shot with daggers toward KP.  KP just smiled, arms still crossed, laughter in her eyes, and she winked.  Fifi stood there for a moment and glared, then, shrugging, she accepted defeat.  Mush, seeing that Fifi had decided to go sit next to Blink, rose from his chair.  Feigning a desire to converse with Race, he quickly made his way to the end of the table, and engaged Race in conversation, all the while watching Fifi as she came around the corner.  When she got to where Mush wanted her, he stuck his foot out, causing her to trip and fall right into Blink's unsuspecting arms.  Her face turned bright red and she struggled to stand.  She sat down quickly and started to munch on some toast, staring at the floor and refusing to lift her gaze.  After trying to help Fifi back up Blink shot glances in her direction in an attempt to gauge her reaction.  KP noticed him repeatedly shifting his gaze from his food to Fifi and back again.  She smiled before she turned to Mush.

"Mush, that was beautiful, I couldn't have planned it better myself."  Mush beamed and Fifi shot daggers with her eyes.

"Why thank you, thank you very much.  I try."  Mush and KP then engaged each other in a quick conversation.  They came to the conclusion that the two of them would work with each other to ensure that Fifi and Blink would get together.

Spot chose that moment to burst through the doors and saunter over to the table.  Everyone noticed him enter the room.  He had a scowl on his face as he walked to the head of the table and sat down.  As Spot reached for a piece of toast, Race's voice came out over the quiet hum.

"Ya know, Spot, ya lookin kinda glum."  Spot shot him a warning glance but it went unheeded.  "Ya got more sleep den da rest of us and breakfast was waitin for ya when ya came down.  I suggest ya cheer up and try to make da best of da situation."

"Oh yeah, yeah?  Well I suggest ya shut ya mouth or I'll shut it for ya."  Race put his hands up in acquiescence as Spot turned to KP. "And as for you," he began, leaning forward until they were face to face.  KP looked him straight in the eyes, refusing to back down.  "If you ever pull anuddah bull-shit stunt like dat, I will teach you a lesson.  It's time you loined who's top dog around heah, 'cuz it coitenly ain't you.  I'm goin' easy on ya and givin ya a warnin dis time, seein as how we just met yesterday and ya obviously have no idea who ya dealin with , but don't mess wit me again."  Spot sat back down in his chair as he watched KP's defiant gaze take on a hint of nervousness as her eyes fell to her plate.  A smirk crossed his face as he reached for the eggs.

Everyone had frozen in place as they had witnessed the altercation and remained silent and still, not really knowing how to react.  Nobody understood what had just happened, and they all were wondering what KP had done.  All except for Fifi, that is, who gave KP a reprimanding look that screamed 'I told you so!'  KP glared at her, pissed that she had to 'hear' I told you so, and pissed because knew she had messed up and caused some major damage.  Slowly, everyone went back to eating their food, but remained quiet.  The only sound was of the plastic-ware hitting the trays.

At that moment Itey walked in ringing the cowbell.  Everyone either rolled their eyes or groaned or had a similar response.  He sashayed over to the only open chair, between Skittery and KP.  He gave Fifi a wink as he sat down primly.  A look of pure mortification crossed her face as she tried desperately not to cry.  KP, still mad about receiving the 'I told you so' look, smirked at her friend's obvious distress.  KP turned to Itey and offered a friendly smile.

"So, Itey, do you want some breakfast?"

"No tanks."

"Why don't you eat, child?"

"I never really cared much for the taste of child," Itey answered in a very phony English accent.  Now it was KP's turn to look mortified.  She inched away in her seat a bit.

"Um, okay then, don't eat."  KP looked back to her tray and began pushing the eggs around with her fork.  Itey looked around the table for a bit before leaning over to KP and snatching the crust from a piece of toast off of her tray.  She glanced at him, but decided to let it go.  Itey then turned to his right and took some eggs from Skittery's tray.  Lacking the energy to deal, Skittery also let it go.  Fifi smiled, amused, as she noticed what was going on.

"Hey, Itey, are you sure you don't want your own plate of food?"

"No thanks, I'm not really hungry."  He rose from his chair and circled the table, picking off people's trays, but wisely skipping over Spot's food.  He was searching for a piece of bacon, but there was no bacon left to be had, except for one piece, on Fifi's plate.  He walked over to her and snatched it up, but instead of eating it he jumped up onto the table causing the trays and plastic-ware to clatter.  He struck a dramatic pose.

"Ode to Bacon," he pronounced in a loud, clear voice.  "A haiku, by Itey."  He cleared his throat before continuing.  "When you're craving meat, BAKE yourself a special treat, bacon is good eats."

"Wow, Fifi, that was a haiku," KP exclaimed excitedly.  "Hey, wait a minute, how did you know we baked it?"

"Well," he began matter-of-factly, "anyone who knows anything about bacon can tell the difference between fried and baked."  KP, impressed at Itey's ability to tell the difference and write haikus turned to Fifi to gauge how she was reacting to the whole situation.  KP was surprised to see an upset and confused look on her friend's face.

"I can't believe it. That was my only piece of bacon and you took it, you dickhole!"  Fifi stood and glared at Itey.  Itey's only response was to stick out his butt in a very mango-like fashion.  This amused Fifi a bit and she softened her gaze considerably.  KP turned to her friend.

"Come on Fif, you can't be too mad.  He may have stolen your only bacon, but he made up a really good haiku about it."

"True."  Fifi sat back down.  All the while, an increasingly aggravated David had observed this exchange and could no longer contain his discontent.

"What is it with you and putting your feet where they don't belong?!" he shouted in question, scowling at Itey who just stuck his butt out more.

"Shut up, Davey."  Jack turned to David.  "I'm sick of listening to you bitch about it."  Jack turned back to his food.  David looked more than a little offended but kept his mouth shut.

"So, Fif," KP said, trying to change the subject.  "What do you want to do today?"

"I don't really know.  It's not like we've got a lot of options."

"Yeah.  I'd kind of like to see the rest of the school."

"Yeah, I'm down with that, let's bust it out tour style."

"Well, goils," came Race's voice, "I'm sure da boys and I wouldn't mind showin' ya around."  He and the girls glanced around the table to see Mush, Blink, and David nodding enthusiastically in response.  The other boys didn't have much of a reaction at all, except for Itey who jumped off the table and ran for the exit, slamming the doors behind him.

"Okay," started KP, "can you guys show us the music department first?"

"No, KP.  Let's go to the auditorium first.  I've heard about it from my uncle and it sounds really cool and such."

"I don't give a crap about what your uncle has to say about the auditorium.  We're going to the music department first.  We're going to do what I want to do first this time."

"This time?  What the hell do you meant this time?  We always do what you want to do first!"  The girls' words grew more and more heated as the boys watched on.

"Okay, Fif, you just go on believing what ever boings your curl."

"Well I'm sorry, but it's the truth, and maybe it does boing my curl!"  Fifi shouted slamming her hand down on the table a bit too hard.  "OW! Bugdamnit!"

"That's karma," KP stated nonchalantly as a smirk found its way to her face.  She knew that purposely misusing the word karma would only piss Fifi off further.

"That's not karma!"  Fifi shouted as she rose from her chair heading for KP and fully intending to kick KP's ass.  As she started around the table, though, KP immediately threw herself on the floor at lightening speed.

"I'm already down, I'm already down!"  She put her hands over her head to protect herself.

The boys were all so taken aback at the display that nobody knew how to react.  Spot, though, was enjoying the show and was hoping that KP would get put in her place with a good beating from Fifi.  Luckily for KP, Race snapped into action, stepping between the two girls.

"Ladies, ladies, calm down.  This whole mattah can be solve easily.  We'se can split up into two groups.  How's dat sound?"

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Great.  So, who's goin' where with who?"  Spot got up from his chair and headed for the door.  He left without a word.  Mush then stood up from his seat, seizing the opportunity that had presented itself.

"Blink and I'll take Fifi to da auditorium, seein as we'se da ones in drama and all.  Dat okay wit you'se two?" he asked turning to Fifi and Blink.

"Yeah, dat sounds good," answered Blink as he turned to Fifi, who nodded in response.

"Great," she said shooting a final glare at KP, "Let's go."

"Hey, Jack," Mush called as the threesome headed for the door.  "Why don't you come with us, you're da major thespian in da school."  Jack sat for a moment, thinking.  He didn't really wand to go with Fifi, but he found it hard to resist Mush's pleading eyes.  He agreed and rose from his chair.  The four left the room, leaving KP, Race, David and Skittery behind them.  David got up and walked over to KP and Race.

"If you want a tour of the school," began David, puffing out his chest, "I'm your guy.  I know everything there is to know about the school."

"Okay, Davey, sure," KP answered halfheartedly.

"Actually, this cafeteria was just remodeled last year . . . "  As Davey began droning on KP turned to Race, grabbing his arm.

"Race you can't leave me alone with him," she pleaded softly.

"A'course I won't, besoides, damsels in distress are my specialty."  KP giggled.

"Are you paying attention to me?"  David shouted angrily at the pair.

"Yeah, Davey."

"Hey Skitts."  Race tapped Skittery's shoulder to grab his attention.  "Ya comin with us?"  Skittery shrugged, but got up anyway and followed them out of the door.  It was better than sitting at the table by himself.  They stepped out into the hall, David in front, the others trailing behind.

"The lockers you see here were replaced ten years ago, adding an inch in height and two inches in width.  The tiles on the floor are . . ."

"Dude, Race.  I don't think I can handle this."  KP turned her attention from a smirking Race and back to David.  "Yo, Davey!"  David turned to her, stopping his speech.  "Were you not at breakfast?  I don't give a crap about the lockers or the floors, I just want to go see the music department."

"Well," Davey replied in a huffy voice.  "You'll just have to wait until we get there.  I'm not going to break up the tour like that."  With her frustration growing, KP lashed out at David, only to have Race hold her back.

"Woah dere.  Calm down."  Race kept holding her until she stopped struggling.

"All I want is to see the music department."  Skittery stepped forward to face KP.

"Come on, I'll show ya," he offered as he began down the hall.  KP shrugged and followed after him.

"So," she started, "are you into music?"

"Yeah, I guess you could say that."  Skittery shrugged along with his response.  The group continued on, Skittery quietly leading the way, KP and Race joking around behind him, and David following in the back, more than a little pissed off at being replaced.

* * * * * * * * * * *

            Blink and Mush led the way walking a little bit ahead of Jack and Fifi who were following silently.

"I hope KP's not burning anymore bridges wherever she is."  Fifi turned to Jack, trying to break the silence.  "She'll be nice to Race because she absolutely adores him, but I'm a little worried for Skittery and Davey, especially Davey.  She can be very mean when she's annoyed."  Jack gave a loud grunt in response.  "What was that about?" she asked.  Jack just glared for a moment before answering.

"You say that she's really mean when she's annoyed, but so are you.  You're such a hypocrite.  You've been doing nothing but making snide comments and yelling since you got here."  He finished snapping out the words bitterly.  They stung Fifi like one hundred bees at once.  She didn't like the fact that she had offended anyone and it upset her, but at the moment she was more upset about being called a hypocrite.

"Look, Jack," she started harshly, "the difference between KP and I is that I apologize when I step out of line.  She never apologizes, even when she knows she's wrong.  I always am willing to admit when I've messed up.  I'm no hypocrite."  She softened her tone a bit before continuing.  "I'm sorry if I've said anything or done anything to offend you, I didn't mean to."  Jack looked appalled.  He hadn't expected this reaction from her.  He had expected yelling, not an apology and especially not an apology offered so earnestly.

"It's okay," he said, letting a small smile cross his lips.

"I hope we can get along now and at least try to be friends."

"Yeah, we're gonna be stuck in here for awhile.  We might as well give it a go."  The two laughed as they continued down the hall after Blink and Mush, who were having a much different conversation of their own.

"So Blink," Mush began as a small smirk came across his face.  "What's the deal with you and Fifi?"

"There's not really much of a deal Mush, that's the problem."  Mush nodded knowingly.  "I think I kinda like her."

"ThinkKinda?"  Mush shot Blink a disbelieving look.  "Ya got it bad Kid."  Blink's face reddened as he nodded and dropped his gaze to the floor.

"It's not like you're helping much either."  Blink's face rose to meet Mush's.  "Here, let me stick my leg out so she falls on you.  That wasn't obvious or anything."  Mush giggled as he clapped his hand on his friend's back.

"Hey, here we are Fifi!"  Mush hollered back as they came up to the auditorium.  The four came back together and the tour commenced.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Here we are," Skittery announced as they came to a stop at the end of a hallway.  "This is the chorus room, that over there is the band room, and these other rooms are all just for people who want to work on music and stuff."

"So what do you do?"  KP queried, trying to figure out how into music Skittery was, but not wanting to actually ask that question.

"Well, I play a little guitar and piano, and I sing in the chorus," Skittery answered in a no-big-deal tone.

"Are ya kiddin me?" Race piped in.  "Da boys a musical genius practically.  A little guitar and piano, my ass, he plays awesome.  And he's got one a da best damn voices I'se evah hoid."  Skittery blushed at Race's praises and KP turned to him excitedly.

"Oh my gosh!  That's so great.  I love meeting other people who are really into music.  Music is a major obsession of mine, and Fif's.  She'll be so excited about all this."  Skittery blushed some more.  "Do you want to go mess around on the piano with me?" she asked him.  He nodded.  Race laughed loudly grabbing their attention.

"KP, I'll mess around wid you on da piano any day."

"Shut up, Race!"  retorted KP, grinning as she headed for the piano, Skittery and the others hot on her heals.  After about fifteen minutes the door opened and in walked Fifi, Blink, Mush and Jack.  KP turned to her friend excitedly, the morning's argument completely forgotten by both.

"Fifi, Skittery is so talented.  He plays the piano and the guitar, and he sings.  He's a tenor!"

"Oh my god!  That's so HOT!"  Fifi squealed as she bounced over to the piano.  "Do you know any Tattletale?  You should play for us and we can sing it.  It'll be really fun and hot!"

"Yeah, sure," Skittery agreed enthusiastically.  When he was working with music was the only time he was truly happy.  Sure his friends liked music, but nobody was passionate about it like he was.  Fifi and KP seemed to be, though, and it made him happy to be able to share that with them.  Maybe they weren't so bad after all.

Skittery exited the room and returned a moment later with an acoustic guitar slung over his shoulder.  For the next half hour or so, the boys listened to KP, Fifi, and Skittery improvise some versions of well known and not so well known pieces that they all loved.

"So," KP queried, turning to Skittery. "Do you write any of your own music?"

"Yeah, I write a little," he answered, trying to play it down, but the passion showed on his face.

"Would you play something for us?" Fifi requested.

"I don't know," Skittery replied apprehensively.

"Oh, come one, please, please," the girls begged.  Skittery smiled and with a nod began playing.  Everybody sat back and listened as Skittery began to sing.

Walking away.
It's not the same as running.
Is it to you know that you've run in this ground.
And you say take this.
This medicine is just what you deserve.
Swallow, choke, and die.

And this bitter pill is leaving you
with such an angry mouth.
One that's void of all discretion
such an awful tearing sound.
With it's measure only equal by the power of my stare
glaring over you and over you this feeling of despair
is never wearing out.

It's wearing off
and it's leaving you with such a heavy heart
and a head to match.
The bottle is waiting
the cap is twisted begging to be used
and so are you.

And this bitter pill is leaving you
with such an angry mouth.
One that's void of all discretion
such an awful tearing sound.
With it's measure only equal by the power of my stare
glaring over you and over you this feeling of despair
is never wearing out.

As Skittery stroked the strings finishing the song in a final chord he raised his head in search of a reaction from the girls.  KP was awestruck and at a complete loss for words.  Fifi had silent tears streaming down her face.  She rose from her chair and crossed to Skittery, wrapping her arms around him in a hug.  He tentatively returned the hug.  As she pulled away from the embrace she looked him right in the eyes.

"That was the most beautiful song I've ever heard, it was so passionate."

"Thank you."  Skittery didn't really know what to do with the reaction.  He had only ever written music for himself and never played it for anyone.  Now that he had he didn't really know how he felt about it.  Obviously the girls had enjoyed it, but he had never thought that he was capable of moving anyone as the girls, especially Fifi, had been moved.  It made him feel very good, and fulfilled that his music could reach people like that.

Everyone else in the room nodded their approval and gave Skittery praise.  He was truly talented.  Race, who had been itching to do some gambling all day, raised his voice above the din in the room.

"Hey, anybody wanna play some pokah?"  Jack, David, and Fifi all made their way over to Race who pulled out a deck of cards.  Fifi wiped her eyes as the four of them sat down to a game of five card stud.  KP and Skittery went back to the piano and Mush and Blink settled into a corner of the room and began to chat.  Blink kept shooting Fifi fleeting glances which KP began to notice.  After about fifteen minutes of that nonsense, KP stopped what she was doing and turned to Blink.

"Ya know, Blink, it is a free country, you can look at her if you want to."  Blink's face reddened as he turned away.  Fifi's head shot up and as her eyes found KP's they took on a burning appearance.  'You bitch' she mouthed to her friend, spitting daggers with her nonexistent words.

Spot walked in at that moment, crossing the room to where Race and the others sat playing poker.

"Hey, Spot.  Where ya been all day?" asked Race looking up from the deck he was shuffling.  Spot just sat down next to Jack and smirked.

"None of ya business, now shut up and deal me in."  Race did so and the game continued on.  After some time Blink and Mush joined in.  Fifi traveled between the game and the piano.  That's pretty much how things went on for the rest of the day.  Everyone just hung out and it was all rather uneventful.

It began to get late and the laughs became yawns.  KP rose from her seat next to Skittery at the piano.

"Well, I'm pretty tired so I'm going to head off to bed," she announced.  Turning to Spot she added, "and don't worry, Spot, I'll just sleep on the bottom bunk.  No arguments tonight." She turned for the door and reached for the handle.

"You don't actually think you're sleeping in my room do ya?"  Spot said rising to his feet.  KP stared blankly at him for a moment before something in her head clicked.  She put her hands on her hips.

"Well, shit Spot, if this is because I threw your clothes on the floor you might wanna really think about trying to get over that," she laughed.

"I warned you about disrespecting me," he breathed out in a calm but menacing tone as he advanced toward her, pulling back his hand with the intent of teaching her the long overdue lesson he thought she deserved.

* * * * * * * * * * *

** Lost Boys reference, if you want to understand it go rent the movie!

Shout-outs:

D.D. -  You got your singing, dear.  Thanks for reviewing, we really appreciate it, especially if you don't usually leave reviews, we were honored.  We hope you enjoyed the chapter and thanks again.

Liams Kitten -  Haha, we love Skitts too.  Yes Itey is creepy, but how can you hate him?  We love Itey!  And please, tell your spot muse to tone down the language, haha.  We're so glad you like the fic and we hope you enjoyed this last chapter!

P.S. – update the karaoke fic, NOT the spot one.

Charbs – Wow! Thanks hon, I'm so glad you like the fic.  Hope you keep on reading it doll!

That Crazy Kid – Thank you so much for reading, it means so much more because you're not really even into newsies, but you read anyway.  Also, we're determined to have you see all of Newsies, and in the proper setting this time! Haha.  Hope you liked the chappie and see ya at districts!

Goldy/Dollar Bill – Haha Frances, we'se got ya!  We'se so glad ya liked da dialogue and da accents and such.  We'se also glad youse enjoyin da fic.  Hope ya liked dat last chapta, doll!  Yeah, accents are hot ain't dey? An its okay ta use da woid comprimisin.  We'se love ya!

Fanficreadah – Haha, glad you're enjoying the story. Our families do that to us too.  One time we got kicked out of the computer lab at school because we were laughing so loud reading fanfiction.  Anyway, thanks so much for reading and reviewing.  We hope you enjoyed this last chapter.

Brownie-03 – Yes, we love them too!  Hope you enjoyed the chappie and thanks for reading and reviewing.

Oberon O'Neil – Well we added more, hope you liked it!  And, speaking of adding more, I think Not Another Hole is feeling neglected. Haha.

Quimby – We're glad you have faith in us dear and we hope you liked this chapter as much as you liked the last one.  We love Itey too, he totally rocks the sock drawer and its so fun to write him, too. Race is fun to write as well, and how could one NOT fangurl over his accent. Haha.  As for Skittery, we hope you liked all the Skitts action in this chapter.  As for Mush giving him a chance, you'll have to just read on and find out.  We took what you said about Spot and tried to fix it, if it's still not Spot enough, let us know and we'll work at it some more.  Thanx, we like the Blink/Fifi stuff too, awkwardness is SO much fun to write.  Anyway, we're glad you're liking it and your review rocked.  We actually just cloned Skittery and he will arrive at your doorstep in three to twelve business days to give you a good ass-ass-i-na-tion on the kitchen floor.  He will have with him the hugs, cookies, and the pie.  We love you and talk to ya later!