December 1898. Manhattan Lodging House. New York.
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Spot finally got Sydney back into bed and was stroking her hair as she tried to fall asleep. Color was slowly coming back to her cheeks but her eyes remained void and dull. She opened her eyes and turned to Spot, "What's it like?"
Spot jumped, not noticing she was awake, "Bein' a newsie? Oh it's great. Go where ya want, do as ya please…"
Sydney shook her head, "Not being a newsie. Having a family."
Spot raised an eyebrow, "I ain't got a family. Dat's why I'm a newsie."
Sydney smiled, "The newsies are your family, are they not?"
Spot thought for a moment, returning the smile, "Yea, I guess your right."
"So what's it like?"
Spot grinned, "It's the best. You've always got someone to back you up, someone to trust, someone to talk to, and joke around with. You're rarely ever alone."
Sydney frowned, "But everyone needs to be alone sometimes."
Spot laughed, "If you want to, you can. All you have to do is go to the roof and usually everyone leaves you alone."
Sydney thought for a moment, "Oh. It must be nice."
Spot looked her in the eye, "You could join us, ya know. Become part of our family."
Sydney smiled, but Christy interjected her pleasant thought, 'Don't forget Syd. We can't trust anybody.'
Sydney frowned, "I don't think so. I have to find my brother and his friend."
Spot grinned, "Well chances are they're newsies!"
"You got girl newsies?" Sydney asked suspiciously.
Spot's smile faded, "Well not really. But ya know… We got a new goil this mornin! She looks an awful lot like ya! You got a sistah?"
Sydney considered the possibility. Could Mark's friend possibly be her sister? "I don't know. I might."
"When her and Jack get back from selling papes, you can met her. She seems pretty nice."
'Sure she is,' said Christy, 'Meet her now so we can leave already. We're in enough danger as it is.'
Sydney shook her head, "Can I meet her now?"
Spot shrugged, "I suppose you're well enough. Everyone's probably at Tibby's right now too."
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December 1898. Streets of Manhattan. New York.
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Sydney leaned on Spot as they made their way to Tibby's. "So who do I introduce you as?" Spot asked, still not knowing her name.
Sydney shrugged, "I don't know."
Spot slowed down and turned to Sydney, "You can't even give me a fake name till we get ya a nickname?"
"Lavivian," Sydney said. She shuddered, 'Why did I give him my mother's name?'
'Because you're stupid,' Christy said bluntly.
"Shut up."
Spot looked at Sydney funny, "I didn't say nothing."
'Good going,' Christy said laughing.
Sydney mumbled, "Sorry," and the two continued on their way.
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December 1898. Tibby's. New York.
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Jack stood on a chair and quieted the newsies, "Guys! Shuddup! Ok, dis is Solitaire! She's a great kid so be nice to her or I'll break your neck!" He pulled Page up on the chair next to him. She wave nervously, never being around this many people before.
The two got down and found seats across from Kid Blink and Mush. "Heya Solitaire, Jack," they said taking a moment from their food.
"Heya fellas," Jack answered smirking at Page.
She smiled and blushed. Over the day she had come to like Jack a lot and was sure a crush was developing. Race walked in, dusting the snow off his jacket, and waking over, "Heya Blink, Mush, Jack!" His eyes fell on Page and he scowled, "Goil."
Page stood up and stared him down, even though she was a bit shorter then him, "The name's solitaire."
The three sitting laughed and Race's face reddened with anger, "Who you think you are? You lucky I'se don't hit little goils!" He turned around and stormed out of the building.
Page just stood there watching him leave, "I didn't mean to make him mad," she said retaking her seat.
Jack patted her on the back, "Don't worry, he desoives it."
Blink and Mush started laughing again. "That… was… classic," Blink said between his gasps for air.
Spot and Sydney entered and made their way around till they found Jack, "Hey Jacky boy." Page looked at the girl standing behind him, and noticed something familiar about her. Perhaps it was the fact that they looked so much alike it was scary.
"Sydney?" she whispered quietly, hoping the others would notice.
Sydney's ears perked up and she turned her attention to whoever Spot was talking to. That's when she saw her. The resemblance was inconceivable. The two just stared at each other neither saying a word.
"Do you two know each other?" Jack asked, the four boys just staring at Sydney, then Page, then back at Sydney again.
"Not personally," Page said quietly, then returning her gaze to Sydney, "You're why I'm here."
Sydney laughed, "You're why I'm here."
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A/N: Hey!! Do you believe this? I'm updating!! I am sooo sorry it's taken this long! I've been really, really busy with school and the play. Last week I thought I was going crazy cuz I didn't' get to sleep at all! It was bad. But it's spring break now so I have a week to try and update everything at least once. I dunno if that will happen, but I'm hoping!!
THANK YOU SAMI, SAPPHY, AND HEARTS FOR REVIEWING!!!
Now please review so I know you're all still reading this and know if I should keep going with this. It is coming to an end though. Probably only a couple more chapters!!
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!