[Disclaimer] I don't own the movie Newsies...Disney does... (looks timidly at the gun barrel that currently resides shoved into her back) I-I said what you told me to...now point that thing elsewhere PLEASE. Haha, just kiddin'. I also don't own Squid, who is owned by et-spiritus-sancti, and I don't own Trinket Box, who is owned by Smiley Cad. Oh, and not that anybody would truly notice...but I stole a little line from the movie "My Girl 2", so yeah, I don't own it either. (sighs unhappily)

[A/N] Another chapter, another new record for me. (cheers happily) Anywho, I hope you guys all like this chapter. It shall be the last filler chapter before I finally take that treacherous plunge into the actual plot, hehe. Oh, and yes...there is actually a plot that is still coming...I just haven't gotten there yet 'cause my lazy butt is too...well...lazy! Also, special thanks to Dakki for beta-reading for me yet again. (weeps) You put up with so much...thank you!! Anyways, on with the chapter!

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Just as the mid-day sun was settling upon the bustling city, a blonde sprite of a girl approached the lodging house timidly. The girl, who could barely be considered a woman as of yet, stood on the front stoop staring at the door. Looking cautiously at her surroundings, she now realized how utterly out of place she looked in her pink hoop-skirted dress and ornately braided bun. Though she was far more commonly dressed than normal, she could now see that this attire would not do for long. She could also see that simply staring at the door would not do her much good either. She knocked on the door, and when no one responded, she decided that she might as well go inside.

As the girl walked in she saw a kindly looking old man sitting behind a desk, reading what appeared to be a novel of some kind. The man looked up, rather startled at the new face that seemed fairly familiar to him.

"Is there anything I can do for ya, miss?" the man asked as he came from behind his roost to greet the girl.

The girl nervously looked at him, and then pulling a slip of paper from her pocket she said, "I'm looking for a...Miltiades Kloppman?"

"Looks like ya just found him." Kloppman replied smiling.

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As the exceedingly rowdy group of newsboys, and newsgirl, crowded back into the lodging house for the evening, Kloppman motioned for them to be quiet. "We've got a new one...and the poor kid's had a hard day...so shut your traps!"

"Aw c'mon Kloppman. If he's gonna be stayin' here with us, he's gonna hafta get used to the noise." Jack said, his brown eyes filled with mischief.

"First off, Kelly, he is a she. Second, she'll get used to all the racket tomorrow after I drag your sorry rears outta the bunks. For now, give her a break, okay?"

"O' course." Jack, as well as several of the other newsies, responded.

After this brief exchange, the tired old man was suddenly bombarded with a game of twenty questions.

"What's her name?"

"Where'd she come from?"

"Whose bunk is she stayin' in?"

At hearing this last question, the thoroughly disgusted Squid backhanded the person who had asked, Kid Blink, and proceeded upstairs to get a look at the new girl.

When she caught sight of the sleeping figure, she suddenly grasped the fact that this girl had taken over Mockery's old bunk. She soon figured out that the group's new addition must be a light sleeper, because almost immediately after Squid walked into the room, the girl shot up out of the bed.

"Hello kid. What's your name?"

"My name is Esme."

"Esme?" Squid asked, scrunching her face up. "Isn't that some sort of noise that your nose makes?"

"No, it's not." Esme replied angrily. "It is my mother's middle name."

"Oh...well I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult your mother." Squid said softly. At seeing Esme's features soften as well, the dainty Italian moved toward their now shared bunk. Upon seeing a small ornate box sitting on the top bunk, which now belonged to the new girl, she decided to ask her about it. "What's that...box?"

"Oh, it's a trinket box my mother gave me."

"Trinket?"

"Yes, like some sort of small pretty thing."

The two girls were surprised to notice that Mush had come into the bunkroom, and had heard their conversation.

"Sounds like da perfect description of you, doll." Mush said as he approached the two girls. "Say, why don't we call ya that?"

Blushing slightly, Esme innocently twirled her finger through her bouncy, golden curls as she asked, "Call me what?"

"Trinket. Ya know, instead of whatever your real name is." Mush replied, grinning happily at seeing the blush forming on Esme's face.

"Aww, it's so sweet...I think I'll go dispose of the contents of my stomach now." Squid said and she walked back down the stairs, now even more disgusted than when she came up them.

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As Kloppman made his nightly rounds making sure that all of his boisterous charges were indeed sleeping, he heard a muffled sound coming from the direction of the two girls. Assuming that it was his new girl, Esme, or Trinket as the boys were now calling her, he popped his head up near the top bunk. Seeing that she was fast asleep, he looked down at Squid. Sure enough, the sound of crying was coming from her.

Stooping down so he could talk to her without disturbing the others he asked, "What's the matter, Gemma?"

The girl was more than slightly surprised at the man who had not only noticed her pitiful state, but also called her by her given name. "Nothing's the matter, Mr. Kloppman."

"Stop calling me that!" He pointedly whispered, as he poked the small teen. "And I know that whereas ya do cry a lot...ya don't cry for no reason. Especially not in the middle of the night with no audience ta see ya." He winked as he said his last sentence.

She smiled slightly, and then said tentatively, "I-I just really miss Mockery!" As she said this, a whole new rush of tears came.

At seeing her so upset, the old man reached out and embraced the girl that he thought of as his daughter. "I know ya do sweetheart. We all do." After waiting a few moments for Squid to calm down, Kloppman looked at the girl and said, "Now if I might ask, what brought this up all o' a sudden?"

"Well, it's just with the new girl and such..." she managed to hiccup out. "I've been thinking about Mockery more. I suppose in truth, I just wasn't ready for her place to be filled up yet."

The man nodded then said quietly, "I understand. Just please try not to take it out on her. And try ta make friends...she'll need a girl to be with sooner or later."

With that the old man walked away, and Squid lay back down, shortly falling asleep. From the top bunk, however, Trinket lay wide-awake trying to sort out what she had just heard. After thinking about it for a time, she resolved to ask one of the boys about it the next day.

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[Review Responses]

Dakki – Haha! Well, thank ya dearly! Good luck havin' kids with my fic though...(grins). I swear it took me a full minute to figure out that last sentence o' yours. Then I read it aloud and was like ohh!! Aww... Anyways, thanks!!

RiotAct – Hehe, it would appear that Squid has turned out to be a real winner. But hey, who couldn't love her? She's like...a younger female Racetrack...well, sort of. Anyways, yes, HORRIBLE boys. (joins Misery's raised fist) Hmm...do ya think that maybe if we can get 998 more fists raised, we can get a separate washroom for our gals?? Thanks for readin', I hope ya like this chapter too. (nervously bites fingernails)

Et-spiritus-sancti – Wow...somebody was on an Aragorn HIGH when they updated...hehe. Yeah, I know whatcha mean about the Jack talkin' ta Squid thing. I always get that way when I read a story I sent a CC in to. Aww, can ya really tell that with the dialogue?? Aww! I hope this chapter is as good... And thanks for fiddlin' around...it gave me another review (cheers). Ya know this is the first chapter I'm gonna post without reading it to ya first? I feel so...self-conscious...

BlackWiltedRose – Yes that is awesome about our b-days. By the by, I think I read in your profile that you live in Ohio...creepiness...so do I. Haha, anyways...thank you!! I tried to make that chapter funny...I guess it worked. I hope ya like this chapter as well.

Smiley Cad – You have a truly awesome name...Cadriana...I love it! I hope ya get to read this chapter before you leave for camp. That would be stinkiness if you didn't!! Please tell me what ya thought...did I get Trinket right? I hope so...

[A/N] Whew! I guess I'm done with this chapter...what'd ya'll think? I know it's kinda short and it might seem kinda outta place, but believe me...it has a point!

Knox: Now now...you and I both know that it really doesn't...

Shut up, obKNOXious! It does too. Besides, you wouldn't know anyways... You haven't quite figured out how to get into my mind yet.

Knox: (grins) That's what you think.

(shudders) Hehe, for those of you that have NO idea who the heck my Knoxy- poo is (pinches cheek)...he's one of the oh-so fabulous preps from "Dead Poets Society"...great movie by the way... Dakki helped me kidnap him, and she took Dalton long ago...but there are still a few others up for grabs if ya act fast. They make great muses as well as typists. Don'tcha Overstreet?

Knox: (grumbles)

Anyways, please review! I'll simply keel over and die if you don't! (pouts)

Knox: (whispers) Please don't...if you don't I won't have to write any more...

(clamps hand over Knox's mouth) Don't listen to him... Anyways, hope ya all liked the chapter!!