Alrighty. I meant to have this up sooner, but with some major issues this week, I've been pretty darn busy. Boys make me crazy. Anyway.

Ershey: *eats the cookies* Thank you so much! Lol, you were apologizing for not reviewing...just like me with my lazy late reviews. :) Speaking of which... You haven't posted anything in a lonnnng time! Get to it! Haha, thanks for the reviews!

Keza: Again, I love your reviews. I save them all on the document for later. They're great! Thanks!

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Saturday was fast approaching and Callie was still no closer to finding a dress "appropriate" for the newsies' party. According to Race, the party was by invite only, but because Callie had to be there, her newsies were allowed also. Callie's boys had their dates all lined up and constantly teased her about needing to dress up and not having a date.

Each passing day brought new worries about failing to fulfill her lost bet's obligation. So one day, Callie pulled Jack aside, on her way to see Race. "Heya, Kelly. I need a favor."

Jack rolled his eyes expecting it to be something to help get her out of the bet. "Whaddya want, Cards?"

"Geez, ya sound so excited ta help me."

"Well, fine." He made his tone sickeningly pleasant. "What can I do for you, Cards?"

Cards smirked, but then, remembering her task, dropped it. "Are you still with Davey's sister?" Jack nodded, wondering where the conversation was going. "You think that I could borrow a dress or something…" Callie trailed off, embarrassed by the word.

Jack threw his head back and laughed. Callie socked him in the stomach. Jack stopped quickly and threw her a glance. "I thought you were kidding."

"Do I look kidding to you, Kelly?" She glared at him.

Jack held his hands up in submission. "Fine, fine. I'll take ya to her house. You can talk to her yourself." The two walked in silence until they reached the Jacobs' apartment.

"Thanks, Jack." He nodded and headed off. Callie knocked timidly.

A girl around Callie's height, if not a bit taller, answered the door. "Yes?" She asked, curious.

"Sarah?" The girl nodded. "Well I'm Callie, but the newsies know me as Cards," Callie started, but Sarah broke in with a wide smile.

"I've heard so much about you. Come in!" she said cheerfully. Sarah grabbed Callie's arm and pulled her into the apartment. Callie sighed. This is going to be a long afternoon, she thought.

Hours later, after much painstaking enthusiasm on Sarah's part, Callie drug herself out of the Jacobs' house with a dress in tow. It was plain, which was just fine with Callie. Its color was a dark brown. The dress had been a bit big on Callie, but Sarah had insisted on fixing it. Callie had spent the afternoon with a dress on with doily-sewing Sarah poking at her. By the time she left, the dress fit Callie perfectly. The neck was scooped, but not low. The bodice was tighter than Callie would have like, because if she ever wanted to move faster than a walk, the seam would split. Sarah, however, thought it looked better; Callie could care less.

Callie sighed again and headed home.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Saturday evening had arrived and Callie was having more regrets about placing the bet than she ever thought possible. One wager had determined her humiliation. Sure, it was just one night, but it was a night that the newsies would remember and torment her about later. Callie smoked a cigarette up in her balcony watching her newsies mess around below. A few were getting ready for their dates, and others were just horsing around. She stubbed out her cigarette and hopped down to go to her room. She had about an hour before she needed to be at Medda's. Callie paced restlessly. She stopped every minute to glare at the dress. She sighed heavily and gave in to her punishment.

Callie stripped herself of her clothes and pulled the dress over her head. The bottom of it was loose enough for her to run if she ever felt the urge but the top portion would rip if she did so.

She turned in a slow circle allowing the gracefulness of the brown dress to settle upon her. Annoyed for falling prey to such foolish ideas, Callie turned to her makeshift mirror and examined her hair. She pulled out the pins and bands letting the knot settle out. Her thick dark hair tumbled down to the small of her back. Little snarls and tangles held it captive. She sighed again and reached for her brush. After a while, the braids were gone, leaving long wavy brown strands hanging around her face. Once again, Callie looked at her reflection and sighed.

Defeated, she stepped out of her room. A few of her newsies stopped and stared. Callie stopped them with a glare. "Let's go, guys. Don't want to be late, do we," she muttered unhappily. The crowd walked together. Callie smoked another cigarette on the way there, hoping it would calm her down. Unfortunately, it didn't. The cigarette only made her more edgy. Upon arriving, Callie found all the Manhattan newsies and a few Brooklyn ones to already be there. Immediately Callie's newsies dispersed to find others or their dates, leaving Callie alone with her thoughts.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Someone behind her snickered.

Callie whirled around with her fists drawn. "Say it again."

Spot just laughed at her. There was a blonde girl at his side. She was hanging all over him, however, Spot ignored her and focused on Callie. "Glad to see you decided to show, Cards." He smirked and walked off with the blonde.

"Up yours, Spot," Callie murmured. She walked off to the bar. "Give me something, anything." She gladly took whatever the bartender had given her. She downed it in a second. Wiping her mouth with her sleeve, she looked around the crowded place. Racetrack was in the corner leading some sort of card game. Callie grinned for the first time that day. Slowly she ambled over to play some cards.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

After a while, Callie was tired of the low caliber of the card players. Many of them were drunk, some were just plain bad. Callie, herself, headed off to the bar to get another drink. Once there, she met up with Spot again, only this time, he was with a brunette. Callie smirked.

"I see you keep busy." She laughed at him as he glared at her. She sat down next to the pair at the bar. Spot looked her over once.

"You don't look that bad you know. If you'd just stop being such an ass all the time." None of Spot's words were slurred so Callie knew he was serious. His words were strange to her ears though.

"Me? An ass? Never!" Callie rolled her eyes. "Can't afford to trust people, you know. You never know how they'll turn out." She thought back a ways. Callie bit her lip at the painful memories.

Spot's voice brought Callie back to Irving Hall. "Yeah, you are an ass, always causing some sort of trouble." He shook his head. Callie glared at him.

"Watch what you say, I can take you."

"I doubt ya could wearin' that thing." Spot lifted his eyebrows at the challenge.

"I could find a way."

"Spot. You're ignoring me again," the brunette whimpered. The sight of her was pitiful. Spot just rolled his eyes.

"Spot," Callie mocked her. Spot glared. "Oh come on. Are you going to just sit there?" The look Spot was giving Callie should have melted rock, but Callie was having too much fun annoying the pair to let it go.

"What do you think you're doing, girl?" The brunette was looking angrily at Callie now.

This is too much fun, she thought. "Spot, you promised me a dance!"

Spot saw the opportunity and grabbed at it. It was his turn to embarrass Callie. "Yeah I did, didn't I." He grinned wickedly, then grabbed at Callie's hand pulling her out to where the others were dancing. The brunette stayed behind, pouting. Callie glowered at Spot. She started to pull away, but Spot stopped her. "So you're actually going to let me win a round? I thought that was against your policy." He smirked at her sinister gaze.

The two danced wildly, banging into several other couples. Both were fighting for the lead, wanting the other to give in first. Soon, because of numerous clashes with other dancers, Spot and Callie were drawn even closer, their bodies pressed together. Callie still sported a cold look. She wasn't happy about their position, but she wasn't about to pull away and let him win. Spot was faced with the same dilemma. Race happened to notice the two almost sworn enemies dancing and his jaw dropped. Quickly, he nudged a few others, gathering Spot and Callie quite an audience.

When the music stopped, neither let go of the other, daring the other to let go first. Their faces were inches apart. Their eyes were locked in a power struggle that neither would ever win. Many of the newsies had stopped what they were doing, just to watch Callie and Spot. There was a sudden silence in the rowdy party. The two realized what a spectacle they must be: Spot's arm around Callie's waist holding her very close to him while she had her arm slung around his neck, their other hands clasped together. The embarrassment was overwhelming, but still neither let go. Someone had to give up eventually.

A crash was heard near the door causing all the attention to be drawn away from Spot and Callie. They too turned to look at the door, moving only their heads. Two very disgustingly dirty boys had stumbled through the door. One's eyes were bloodshot and evil looking while the other's eyes were dull and emotionless. The bigger one, with the bloodshot eyes, had a snarl on his ugly face.

"No!" Callie whispered harshly. The word was sharp in Spot's ear. Immediately, Callie dropped from Spot's grasp and was down on her knees, trying to hide. Spot bent down with her. "How the hell…?" She whispered.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he whispered back at her, trying not to be heard over the mutters of the other newsies inspecting the two boys.

"You gotta get me out of here, Spot. I mean it really." She looked into his eyes and for the first time ever Callie showed someone her fear. Spot was taken aback by the lack of security over her emotions. There was honest fright in her eyes. "I can't explain now, but I've got to get out of here. Is there a back door or something?"

Spot nodded quickly, reacting to the intensity in her voice. "Go back by the stage, and there's a door there. I'll make sure the guys don't find ya." Callie nodded her thanks at him and left quickly, close to the floor. Spot stood up and made his way toward Jack.

"Where's Cards?" Jack asked tightly. "She should be here."

"She's safe, just get these guys out of here."

The biggest guy spoke finally. "Where's Callie? Where is that girl?" He sneered. He spoke with a thick German accent, behind the slurs.

"We ain't got no Callie around here," Race spoke up.

"That's an unusual name for dese parts," Specs added. Both were oblivious to the fact that Cards' name was really Callie.

Spot silenced the two with a glance and looked the guy up and down. They were strong, mostly likely drugged too. The mob of newsies could take them if need-be, but Spot wasn't worried. "What would you want with that girl anyway?" Some of the newsies cast curious glances at him, but Spot ignored them.

"We got business ta settle with her, not with you, shrimp, so back off," the smaller one threatened.

Spot raised his hands and smirked. "Fine, fine. Go then." He crossed his arms and glared. The two shrugged and left with a final word.

"You see a girl named Callie, tell her, her friends want ta see 'er." The big blonde laughed and slammed the front door.

The interruption gone, the party began again in full swing. Spot sighed. Now he wanted information and he knew that getting it was going to be difficult because it was from the one person who frustrated him most: Callie. Spot slipped through the throngs of people and off towards the back entrance.

Upon walking outside, he found Callie sitting on the step smoking a cigarette. He snorted and shook his head, then sat down beside her. She continued to ignore him and look off into the distance.

"So you make a big deal about gettin' them out only to stick around for them to find you? I don't get you, Callie." Spot ran a hand through his hair and replaced his cap. He too looked off in space.

Callie stubbed out her cigarette. "That's the point. You aren't supposed to get me, but if you want an answer, I have one." She looked to Spot for confirmation. He nodded, so Callie continued. "I knew you'd want an explanation. You deserve one, so I figured…" She shrugged.

Spot nodded, understanding that some things were expected and given, no questions asked. Spot understood Callie better now than ever before, but he knew that knowing her left himself open for her to understand him. It was a risk that Callie had taken, so he would trust her, and do the same.

He seemed to change discussion topics then, but they both knew that everything centered on the one question. "You always talk about the power. So tell me. Who has the authority now?" Spot looked at her now.

Callie drew in a breath before answering. She hadn't wanted him to ask that question. "You do," she said, her voice void of emotion. She looked him in the eyes. "You saved my ass in there, I owe you now." Callie answered as if it explained everything. Spot was silent for a few minutes trying to decipher what was written in her eyes. He got nowhere, but accepted her answer. The new trust was formed, an alliance that neither had expected.

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And, that's the end folks. Thanks for reading it. Now, leave me reviews! :)

Oh yes, and the sequel and the third in the trilogy probably won't be up for a while. I have yet to edit those. However, if you are REALLY anxious to read it... www.geocities.com/darkcloud04/newsies/fanfiction/authority.html. Go there. :)