Disclaimer: I do not own newsies (Disney does), or the characters in newsies. I do own MY charactors, and this plot...blahblah you know the drill

A/N: Ok, this chapter might be a tad confusing. I don't know, it makes sense in my head though... O yeah, and no one gets any M&M's after all. You can thank NW for that. Silly girl ran away with the whole bucket... No shout outs this time. Sorry guys. School (CLS) is a booty.

"Awright." Subs started, to the crowd of expectant people "Now, what I'm gonna say may get confusin', I mean, it's pretty involved, I didn't even understand it at first."

"Will you just got on with it?" Spot prompted.

"Yeah, but no questions 'til I'm done." Stubs answered.

What he proceeded to explain went something like this:

Stretch's main goal was to get more newsies for Queens. Why, you may ask? Stretch had a plan that only about five of his most loyal newsies knew about. He has a deal with every newsies that sells in Queens territory; if they give Stretch a percentage of their profits, he will "protect them" from any threatening person, newsie or otherwise.

He uses a group of about five guys (the same ones who know about the plan) as "fighters". They do all of his dirty work also get a small percentage of profits in return.

It all started when he had tried to start something in Brooklyn. His intentions were to make the Brooklyn newsies run. Obviously he had succeeded.

He needed them to run so he could offer them refuge, so they could become an addition to his source of income. The more newsies he had, the more money he made.

The Brooklynites forgot all about the fact the Stretch's "fighters" were the ones who had attacked them in the first place when they heard the option for unconditional protection, and the prosperity of the Queens newsies.

How did they hear about it? Well, after the newsies left Spot, Stretch sent out some of his loyal newsies to spread the word about Queens. Newsies are a talkative bunch. All the "fighters" had to do was vaguely mention the wondrous life of the Queens newsies, and the former Brooklyn newsies came running.

Now, none of the newsies in Queens know about the "fighters", the plan, the rumor spreaders, anything. Stretch and his group of loyals are the only ones.

Stretch's newest mission was to get the Manhattan newsies to scatter just as the Brooklynites had, why he had attacked them earlier this very night.

Stretch was prepared for anything. Whenever anyone of his newsies gets suspicious and inquires about the reason Stretch takes a percentage of their earnings, he simply answers them by explaining that he uses the money to buy weapons, etc. to help supply his fighters. But truly, he's keeping it all for himself. While giving a small bit to his "fighters" of course.

It was an incredibly smooth operation.

"So that's about it." Stubs concluded.

Spot was stunned. "So, basically, he takes their money, gives nothin' in return, and lies to them, all at once?"

Stubs nodded.

The entire lobby was speechless.

Spot patted Stubs on the back and looked at all of his newsies, smiling. "You done good."

Jack stepped forward.

"Yeah, but what do we do now?"

Several suggestions were shouted out.

"Cant we just, ya know, get 'em?"

Abby stood up. "That won't do anything."

"Well what if we just talk to Stretch, maybe he'll listen." Another newsie suggested.

Abby, who had remained standing, spoke again. "That won't do any good either. You guys need to focus on what we're tryin' ta do."

Race's temper was still short. "Oh yeah, miss I-knows-everythin', I don't heah you makin' any suggestions."

"Fine," Abby started. "What we need to do is beat him at his own game."

She began to pace around as she continued.

"If there was some way to get his plan out in the open...we have to expose him...What if we sent out our own rumor men, spread the work that Stretch is crooked. Hmm, that could work, but we may need something more...we have to expose him in public..."

Abby stopped short and looked around smiling.

"..in front of all his newsies! Stubs, quick, there's gonna be a meetin' soon, where stretch is prolly gonna make a speech or somethin' to his newsies right?"

Stubs answered. "Yeah, tonight actually, but how'd you---"

"Guys like Stretch are always makin' speeches... it's supposed to make 'em look better than everyone else."

She laughed. "This is perfect. Alright, here's what we do..."
It wasn't long before about ten of the Manhattan newsies had inconspicuously crossed into Queens territory to hear the speech that Stretch was about to make.

"Remember guys," Abby said, "ask questions that'll put him on the spot. If we can get his newsies mad at him, they'll take care of gettin' rid of him."

The newsies nodded as they walked up to the Queen's Square, where Stretch would address his newsies.

Stretch started to talk. He hardly got three words out when Blink, his head down so as not to be recognized, yelled out.

"What do ya do with all our money?!?"

Stretch sighed, "I've told you all before. You money goes towards your protection. I have to have some means to buy slingshots and also to feed and house our fighters. They can't very well protect you on an empty stomach can they?"

He smiled at the crowd and continued with his speech.

"I knew this wouldn't work," Stubs whispered, "He's got an answer all worked out for any goddam question we could think of."

They all turned to Abby, hoping she would have another plan, except for Lynnette. She had been looking at Stretch through squinted eyes ever since they had gotten there.

Suddenly, she made a connection in her head that she knew had been there all along.

She gasped loudly, and drew the newsies' attention away from Abby.

"What?" Asked Spot.

Lynnette ignored his question and looked around, she saw a wooden crate a few feet away, ran over to it, stood on it, and shouted at the top of her lungs,

"TOM PRICHARD!"

Stretch turned to her from where he was standing. The crate gave her height that made her easy to see. He smiled again, as cool as a cucumber.

"I'm sorry miss, there is no one here by that name." And attempted to continue with his speech, but before he could say anything, Lynnette started again.

"Tom Prichard get down here this instant and talk to me!"

Stretch looked out at his newsies. Mush would have sworn that Stretch looked nervous; if that was the case, Stretch covered it well. "I'm sorry," He turned to his newsies again, "Apparently, I won't be able to speak to you today."

Ever so smoothly, he walked away.

The Manhattan newsies, plus Spot and his newsies all looked at Lynnette.

"I know him," she explained, "His name is Tom Prichard; his father is one of my uncle's friends. I knew I had seen him before. UGH! I can't believe he's the one trying to steal all of their money! I mean, he's already got more than he needs!"

Lynnette looked up and saw, to her surprise, that every newsie on the square had turned to listen to her. I must have been talking louder than I thought.

Lynnette was not one to waste an opportunity, so she let her public speech- making skills do the work.

"That's right, he's been stealing your money! Have you ever seen a slingshot that he's bought? I doubt it. Think about it, why does he talk so well? I can tell you, because he's been educated in one of the finest business schools in New York. How else would he be able to come up with such a plan? Do you ever wonder why sometimes, he's not around? How he just seems to disappear? How he's never here, especially at night?"

Lynnette was guessing now, but she hoped she was right. By the apparent nods from the crowd, she probably was.

"It's because he doesn't live here! He's not a newsie!"

Lynnette continued to speak and hold the attention of the crowd. Most of the crowd at least.

As Lacy was watching Lynnette speak, she felt something brush against her hand.

She ignored it, discounting it to the amount of people pressing around her.

But then she definitely felt someone take her hand.

She looked at her hand, and someone else's. Her eyes followed the hand to a wrist, the wrist to an arm, the arm to a body, and the body to a face.

Skittery was looking down at her and she looked up at him, captivated in eyes she had never really given much thought to.

Normal people might have kissed here. But not Lacy and Skittery. They were different. They were fused together at their hands. That, plus the conversation their eyes were having was all. No kiss needed.

Their eyes broke apart for one second, when they were distracted as Queens newsie, right behind them, shouted at the top of his lungs.

"How do we knows yore tellin' the truth?"

Lynnette faced the newsie who had questioned her.

"Fine, don't believe me," Lynnette answered, "It's not my money he's stealing. But, if it was, I wouldn't just sit around and do nothing about it!"

With that Lynnette hopped off of her crate and stomped off to find Tom.

Spot followed, dragging Race along with him.

Lynnette looked around, and finally turned into an alleyway. Sure enough, there was Tom talking to his "fighters" about what to do with their present situation.

Spot and Race stopped just outside the alley to listen to what was going on inside.

Lynnette was the first to speak.

"Tom, tell your goonies to get out of here. I need to talk to you."

"I don't think so Lynnette. What are you going to do? Huh?"

"Tom, I just told every single one of your newsies the truth. I sure hope that wont put a rift in your scheme."

She smiled innocently.

Tom was frustrated, but had no other choice.

"Fine," he turned to face the "fighters", "Boys, go out there and make sure no one leaves. Keep everything under control."

He turned to Lynnette.

"What do you want?"

"I just want you to stop."

"HA! I really don't think that's possible. I seem to be making fine money through this operation, and no one important has gotten hurt."

Tom smiled.

Lynnette was getting more and more angry. She laughed bitterly.

"You don't know anything do you? Do you know how much these kids need this money? Sometimes they have to go with out meals, and sleep in alleyways. Probably because of you. Because of you who takes what precious money they have after working their asses off all day, and uses it for yourself. When you don't even need it!"

Tom was silent.

"Let me tell you what we're going to do. You leave immediately. Go back to your Mummy and Daddy. They give you enough money as it is. Don't even try to protest. If you don't leave voluntarily, I'm sure some of your newsies would be happy to help you. I have already explained to them what is going on. So just don't even try. Leave now, no questions asked, or I'll be happy to explain to your mom where you've been sneaking off to. I'm sure she'll love to hear you have been hanging out with newsies instead of studying. You know as well as I do what she thinks about them."

Tom stood up, walked straight over to Lynnette, and stood, towering over her.

"I hate you." He said in his most intense voice.

"Don't worry Tom," Lynnette smiled, "The feeling is mutual."

She sidestepped to give him a clear path out of the alley and towards home.

He walked away.

Outside Race smiled to himself. Maybe she didn't know anythin'. But clearly, she could be taught. Which isn't so bad.
Blah (boom). I'm getting really bored of this story, guys. Um, yeah, just thought you oughta know. (oh Lord, I'm quoting Harry Potter again...)