Hey!!!!! Well, yeah, I don't own Newsies but I do own Jess so I guess that's good enough!

The lyrics are from Back Home by Yellowcard. I know it's a lot of Yellowcard but I was listening to the cd when I wrote the story and the lyrics just went so well with the story. Sorry if you don't like Yellowcard.


Don't know what I was looking for when I went back home. I found me alone. Sometimes I need someone to say, "You'll be alright", "What's on your mind?" But the water's shallow here and I am full of fear. And empty-handed after two long years.

Back, the word was strange and unfamiliar. Why was I back anyway? I had no clue. I needed to find Medda. She would have a job for me. I know she would. I mean, I worked for her before, and she's a close friend. I ran to Irving Hall, making sure to avoid major streets where Newsies would sell.

"Medda, Medda!" I yelled bursting through the front doors.

"What, what's wrong?" Medda came out from backstage alarmed.

"'Member me?" I asked smiling and walking towards the stage.

"Jess?" She asked shocked. I nodded and hopped on stage.

"Aw come here sweetie. I thought you would never come back. I missed ya." She hugged me and held me at arms length. "You've grown."

"Yeah, um, Medda I was wondering if you could possibly give me my old job back?" I asked biting my lip unsure.

"Oh sweetie of course! I'm always looking for new girls, and you were one of my best!" She smiled warmly. "Come on, your old room is still open." We walked backstage and upstairs. We entered the fourth room on the right.

"I didn't let anyone have your room because I knew you would be coming back. It just took a while. No one has touched any of the stuff you left behind, I wouldn't let them." Medda explained as I looked at all of my old things. My makeup was strewn all over the top of the vanity. The mirror still had the smear of lipstick where I had kissed it. I laughed softly, Spot and I always had a joke about it, how it was our first kiss. He appeared in my mirror and I kissed his face. In the top drawer my ribbons for my hair laid untouched. Looking at my closet I found all of my old dresses still there. They were all a little dusty but it has been a while since I had been here.

"Come on honey, lets go get you something to eat, you look hungry." Medda turned for the door.

"I'm going to change first ok?" I asked. She smiled and left, closing the door behind her. I pulled out a plain pale red/pink dress. It was what I wore around when I wasn't working. It was cut short and low cut neck but that was about it. I slipped on some stockings and my old boots. I left my room and went down to the kitchen where Medda had already fixed me a sandwich. I walked over to the table where she was sitting and sat down and began to eat.

"So, how have you been, Jess?" Medda asked watching me eat.

"Um, can we call me Rose please?" She nodded. "I've been good for the past couple a years. I went to Santa Fe, ya know how Jack was always talking about it." I smiled and she beamed back, slightly laughing.

"Well anyway, I worked in a salon. It was kinda like here only I had to actually like dance on the bar tops. But it was just like kicking my legs and stuff. It was a good job too. I have no clue why I came back, but I did!" I smiled weakly and took another bite of my sandwich.

"Why did you leave?" Medda asked in a hushed, sad voice. "You broke a lot of hearts, especially Sp-"

"Can we not talk about that right now?" I asked holding up a hand with a stern voice. She looked away sadly but said nothing else.

"Well, I have to go rehearse. After you're done, put the plate in the sink and come watch me ok?" She got up and walked towards the door. She smiled and walked out.

'You broke a lot of hearts, especially Spot's.' I thought. I wasn't hungry anymore. I got up and threw away my sandwich. Placing my plate in the sink, I began to cry. I broke Spot's heart but I never meant to. I never meant it to happen. I fell to the floor sobbing. I hugged my knees and sat there bawling.

'Stop, you are not this little weak thing that cries all the time. Just stop it! You told yourself a long time ago you would never cry in front of anyone. What would have happened if Medda came back in?' I sniffled and wiped my face. I knew it was true, I shouldn't cry. People take advantage of the weak, and I was not weak. I got up and walked out to the floor to watch Medda rehearse.