Shout ins:



CiCi: I get the tingles, too. lol. I'm trying to keep this story from going completely angst or totally comic.

I'm so glad you kept reading this! Writing Race's character is so much fun. Thank you!



Spot: It was yummy in huh tummy? But...yous can't taste anyt'ing in yoah stomach...it's ya taste buds dat do da tasting.



Jack: It's what deys call an EXPRESSION, Spot.



Spot: Oh, yeah...YEAH? Bettah watch out, Jackie-boy, oah I might be expressin' meself through dis fist! (holds fist in Jack's face threateningly)



Bella: I wish I could say I was sorry for the emotional roller coaster but...you have to admit it was kinda fun...maybe? Just a teensy little bit? (hugs Bella)

I think it's impossible to be sick of brownies but I LOVE CAKE, TOO! TOTAL YUMNESS. Okay...I'm going to eat it right now. Thank you!

Yeah, I think it was sad that people in that time period didn't really realize what smoking did to their bodies. Both my grandparents died from smoking. It's so awful...makes me sad. Hopefully, they'll all drop the habit, soon. But I can't make any guarantees. They're macho guys, after all. They don't like being told what to do.



Mush: What's a rollercoastah?



Racetrack: Okay, ya really dumb, ya know dat?



Jack: A rollercoastah is one a dose t'ings ya coast on.



Racetrack: (nodding) Yeah...get it now, Mush?



Mush: (thinking for a moment, shakes head) No?



Jack: Ignoah him, Bella. He's just a tad slowah den usual.





Racetrack: Wow, dat's pretty slow.



Jack: Legs, tell Bella, I'se sends me affection once again.



Legs: Okey-doke.





Lil Rain Angel:

Skittery: Class (looks at Rain and Legs) we 'ave a new student. Dis is Shoahshot. I'm shoa we'll all make huh feel very welcome.

Rain: Yeah, okay.

Sureshot: Hi.

Legs: Hello.

Skittery: Today's phrase is, "Skittery e molto buon osservare."

Sureshot, Rain, and Legs: Skittery e molto buon osservare.

Rain: Yay, we did it!

Sureshot: Great! What does it mean?

Skittery: Skittery is very good looking.

Rain: I wasted an entire five minutes learning THAT? What kind of a teacher are you?

Legs: YEAH!



Okay, then. I'll start a new story to begin the sequel.

You know...I might be on the NML...I don't remember. Lol. That's how pathetic I am. But then again, it might not be me.



Spot: Yous is all washed up, Legs.



Legs: I know, I know.



Spot: You sorry excuse foah a poicon!



Legs: Now, wait just a minute, buster...



Spot: (raps her over the head with cane) Hey! None a dat name callin', yous lily livahed good-foah-nuttin, doity, rotten, idiot scabbah!



Legs: (rubs head) Ow.



Racetrack: Whatcha t'ink yas doin'? (shoves Spot)



Spot: What's wrong wit you, Racey-boy?



Racetrack: (darkly) Yous touch da autha...yous die.





Raven: I'm so glad you liked this chapter! Yeah, poor Race and Tanya...stuck between time and decisions...



Spot: Stupid goil...

Raven: (hits Spot)

Spot: A'right, a'right, I didn't mean it.

Raven: (throws arms around Spot) Yous so adoahable.

Spot: Yeah, yeah. (looks around to make sure none of the other newsies are watching, spots (get it, SPOT?) Race and Jack) Gaaaaaaaah! (lets go of Raven)

Raven: (turns around and rolls eyes) Spot Conlon, yous ah da biggest fraidy-cat I'se evah seen!

Spot: (posturing, and strutting with cane) Whatevah, you say, baby.

Raven: (kicks him)

Spot: OW! (Grabs leg) Whaddya do DAT foah?

Raven: Take a guess.



snipah higgins: Yes, Tanya and Racetrack are in the sequel. Cross my heart and hope to die. You can die happy now...lol. ACK! No! I didn't mean...Sniper, wake up. (Sniper sits up) Sheesh, don't scare me like that!

Thank you again for sending the picture of Max. Except for the glasses, I don't think he looks old. (True hotness never dies)

(hugs snipah) And you need to hurry up and update one of your stories! :)



Sureshot Higgins: I'm so glad you liked that chapter! YAY! The test went good! Yes, you know my real name. (sigh) I'll make Bumlets and Kristen come back, JUST DON'T TELL ANYONE MY NAME!!!!!! pleeeeeeeeaaaaaase! Heheh. Thank you.

Skittery says he can teach you, too. If you look at Lil Rain Angel's shout in, you'll see today's lesson. :)



Moonlight: Will Tanya go back? Or will she stay? What about Racetrack? What about the sequel? UNFORTUNATELY, I am not at liberty to answer any of those questions. :: sigh:: I'm sorry.

Too late! I already wish I lived in New York! I suppose it doesn't matter where you live-there are always going to be moments you wish you lived somewhere else. But SOMEDAY...:) Thank you...Here's some more.



Angelic One: I'm not sure I want Tanya to go home, either. Wonder what she's gonna do. Thank you...

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE JOB! Wait, hold on, the boys want to say something to you...

Jack: Hey, congrats, Angel!

Spot: Angel? What kind of a name is dat?

Racetrack: (hits him) What kind of name is SPOT? At least HOIS is NICE.

Spot: Yeah...yeah...yeah.

Racetrack: (kisses Angelic One's hand) I knew you'd get da job.

Spot: Yoah sick.

Racetrack: Yoah dumb.

Spot: Yoah creepy.

Racetrack: Yoah a LOSAH!

Spot: (shouting) Yoah a CHEAT!

Racetrack: (shouting back) YA BUM!

Spot: SCAB!

Racetrack: MANIAC!

Spot: BONEHEAD!



Kate Lawrence: I am so sorry you weren't in the shout ins! That was completely my fault! Please forgive me...please?

I'm guessing the 'poor, poor, pitful me' thing in your review means YOU want a boyfriend, too? (sigh) The things I do for you! Now, now...don't cry. (muttering) These temperamental actresses...(another sigh) Just read the chapter. I hope it makes you happy. Sheesh. Lol. You know I love you, punkin. Have a brownie. :)



Shorty Carter: Thank you as always for the magnificent brownies!

Jake: (blushes) Shucks. I'se nevah been kissed befoah.

Legs:(does her own happy dance)

Racetrack: Yoah happy dance ain't as nifty as Shoahty's.

Legs: (begins to cry)

Racetrack: (tries to be comforting) But it's a'right, yous have a great poiconality...(long pause)...soaht of...

Legs: (cries harder)



NicNac: I keep doing that, don't I? I know...but cliffies are so fun!

Thank you for the kitkat...between the brownies and the chocolate covered newsies and the candy bars...I'm gonna weigh a billion pounds before this story is over. OH WELL. The price of inspiration!

Thank you, darling! Have another chapter! :)



RacetracksGambler: I love romance...unless it's incurably sappy. Then it's just annoying. I like it to have a little bit of an edge to it. So...yes...sorry. I'm a rambler, gambler...heheh. I'm also idiotically corny.

I SO want to go back in time! You can come with me! We'll go to 1899 and fight over Racetrack! How's that sound? ;)

I think Tanya realizes that there isn't truly room for her in 1900. There's no place for a girl who isn't supposed to be born for another eighty years or so. It's more than just fitting in. If she was truly from 1900, she would have a family and a place to go in life. I don't know. That's my guess, anyway. She's also still kind of sick and that causes girls to do irrational things like wish they could leave perfectly adorable guys and go home because all they really want at that particular moment is a bowl of chicken soup and their mother.

Thanks...here's more.



Dreamer: Yeah, it was kind of sad, I guess. The song made me sort of depressed but it's okay...I think. Thank you. Have another brownie (Shorty just pulled 'em out of the oven) and another chapter. :)



Phoenix: Thank you for telling me who Dutchy is! Guess what two newsies appear in THIS chapter? Hmm...I WONDER.

Spot, you are an abused man. I'm sorry about that but you're just too much fun to pick on!

K, here's some more. :)



Delphie: YAY! I'm so happy you like this story! Yes, you are more than welcome to join Cookie Lovers Anonymous! (hugs Delphie)

THANK YOU SHORTATNTIONSPAZ FOR SHOWING DELPHIE MY STORY! I LOVE YOU!

K, here have another chapter! And a brownie! You can have a brownie, too! :)



Artemis-chan: Let's say she' in limbo. The poor thing's confused and for the moment, anyway, stuck in 1900...she ain't go anywhere...at least, we can hope she isn't. :D

Blink: Hey, I'll teach ya ta play pokah!

Racetrack: (snorts) Oh, dat'll be da day...

Blink: What? I'se know how ta play!

Racetrack: Yeah, but apparently ya missed da paht about WINNING!

Blink: (mutters) Aw, shut up, Racetrack.

A suitable muse? My muse isn't a newsie. His name is Nigel, he's six foot something, in his twenties, British guy who loves the Rolling Stones and enjoys keeping me up all night playing that retarded "HEY! (hey) YOU! (you) GET OFF MY CLOUD!"

Anyways, let me know if you need one. Nigel has access to this muse data website that you can only get on with a password. (At least, that's what HE says). My ex-boyfriend's muse is named Rory and my best friend has a muse named Roland. Anyways...

Newsie muses are easier to get, I think. Oh, well. :)

Sequel...Keep reading. You will find out VERY, VERY soon. :D



imaginelet: Don't worry. Tanya can't get married. Her mother would freak. Yes, David's actually a talented seamstress...(cough) I mean, tailor.

Mush: (hugs let back)

Thank you, here's more.



Chicago: (hugs Chicago) Oh, don't cry! It gets happier, soon! Don't worry.

I know how you feel. If I don't get time to myself, I get cranky and mean. :( Hope you get some time very, very soon. (If worst comes to worst, you can always hide in the bathroom. That's what I do.)

Thank you...here. Have a brownie. It'll cheer you up.



Lady Elwen: Thank you. Flattery will get you almost anywhere. (Except to 1899-I tried that, already) I WILL NOT TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS. And that makes you HAPPY? Heheh, I would hate me if I were you. Legs: (to self) TELL ME YOU MORON BEFORE I RUN YOU INTO A WALL! :) Love you! Ne chapter, here we come!



Okay. Thought you all might want to know what the boys are up to now...Sadly, it isn't good. They've discovered a certain bleach blond hipster huggin' whiner...(sigh) It's not my fault. Really. I don't even own one of her albums...



Mush: Legs, are ya watchin'? We's gonna sing now!

Legs: Uh...okay...

Mush: (disappears behind make-shift curtain, reappears a second later) Yoah watchin', right?

Legs: (impatiently) Yes, YES!

Mush: Good. (leaves again)

Spot: Lady and...no one's else, now presentin' da NEWSIES!

Legs: (clapping)

(curtains part revealing grinning newsies dressed like...N'SYNC? Oh no...)

Legs: Guys? What did you do?

Spot: (sternly) Hush up and listen, ya scab! Oah I'll soak ya!

Legs: (looks scared)

(eerily familiar pop music starts)

Blink: (can't stop grinning, he's so proud of himself) Oh baby, baby how was I s'posed ta know dat somethin' wasn't right dere...

Dutchy: (haha...PHOENIX...bet you thought he'd NEVER show up!) Oh baby, baby I shouldn't have let you go and now ya out a sight, yeah...

Mush: Show me how ya want it ta be, tell me baby cuz I need ta know now, oh because...

ALL NEWSIES: Me loneliness is killin' me, I must confess I'se still believe, When I'm not witch you I lose me mind...

Snipeshooter: (DANCING?) Give me a sign!

NEWSIES: (spinning) HIT ME BABY, ONE MOAH TIME!

Legs: WHOA WHOA WHOA...okay STOP! Please. You're behaving in a very frightening way.

Spot: (roaring) Shut up and sit down!

Legs: (sits down)

Spot And now LADY AND NO ONE'S ELSE, da next song!

Legs: (muttering) Thank goodness.

Mush and Blink: (walking back and forth across "stage" snapping fingers) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...

Legs: Wow, that's original. (receives death glare from Spot)

Jack: I'se think I'se did it again

Boots: I'se made yous believe weah more den jus' friends, oh baby,

Legs: (horrified) NO...

Skittery: It might seem like a crush.

Jack: But it doesn't mean dat I'se serious.

Boots: Cause ta lose all me senses...(tries to look suave)

Skittery: Dat is jus' so typically me...oh baby, baby...

NEWSIES: OOPS!...I'SE DID IT AGAIN! I PLAYED WID YOAH HAWT, GOT LOST IN DA GAME...

Blink: ooh, baby, baby...

NEWSIES: OOPS!...YOU'SE T'INK I'M IN LOVE! DAT I'M SENT FROM ABOVE!

Racetrack: I'm NOT. DAT. INNOCENT! ooh, baby, baby...

Legs: (screaming and covering face) NOOOOOOOOO! MAKE IT STOP!

Spot: And NOW...da grand finale!

Legs: (shaking nervously)

Spot: hey yeah hush jus' stop, dere's nuttin' yous can do oah say baby

Racetrack: I'se had enough, I'se not yoah propahty as from taday, baby,

Spot: You might t'ink dat I'se won't make it on me own

Racetrack: But now I'm...

Spot and Race: (with gusto) STRONGAH DEN YESTAHDAY! NOW IT'S NUTTIN' BUT MY WAY!

Spot: Me loneliness ain't killin' me no moah...

Racetrack: I'm strongah than I'se evah t'ought I could be, baby...

Spot: I'se used ta go wid da flow, didn't really ca'ah 'bout me

Racetrack: You might t'ink dat I can't take it, but you'se wrong...

Spot: Cause now I'm...

Spot and Race: STRONGAH DEN YESTAHDAY! NOW IT'S NUTTIN' BUT MY WAY!

Legs: (turns off power and goes back to story, permanently scarred)



HERE WE ARE...

****

Racetrack raked in the money he had won from the other guys and chuckling, stuffed into his vest pockets.

Blink moaned, "I hate you."

Racetrack grinned, "Aw, no worries, gentlemen. I'se is done foah da night."

There were more groans and a few hands of scattered applause.

"What'sa mattah, Race?" Jack looked at him, eyes wide. "Yous t'ink ya gonna lose dis round?" He didn't bother to look at the cards as he dealt them out.

"Jackie-boy, I'se just feelin' remahkably moiciful tanight. 'Sides, Tanya and me is goin' foah a walk."

Some general smirking and a whistle from Jack made Tanya's ears and neck grow red.

David smiled teasingly, "He's probably going to propose."

"I wouldn't say dat so loudly, Dave. Yous might lose somethin' impoantant tawkin' like dat," Racetrack warned him, good-naturedly, as he bent to let Mush light his cigar. "See you boys latah." He took Tanya's arm and steered her towards the door.

"Yous be ca'ahful, Tanya," Jack laughed, "He cheats!"

Race tipped his hat to them before he closed the door.

****

Ruin collapsed against the pile of crates her brother normally slept on. Spot turned from the window to stare at her.

"Wheah's Kate?"

Ruin shrugged.

"I want a ansah, Ruin," he said sternly. "NOW!"

"I don't know wheah she went, Mistah-King-a-New-Yawk! I ain't huh keepah!"

"She knows I don't like havin' me goils runnin' 'round aftah dawk. Ain't safe."

His sister gave a snort, "I'se 'fraid she don't t'ink of hoiself as one a 'yoah goils.'"

"Whea would she go dis time a night, anyhow?"

"She didn't exactly give me huh schedule."

****

Kate grunted as she pushed past another persistent drunk. When would the man get a clue? Probably when he woke up in a ditch somewhere ten or so hours from now.

She should have left Brooklyn sooner. It was going to be long walk through Manhattan.

****

Racetrack pulled Tanya down the empty street. Before she knew it, they were both running, his hand still tightly gripping hers.

"Where are we going?" she asked, laughing and panting.

"Nowhere in particular!" he gasped, running faster.

****

"Dis isn't da foist time she's run off widout tellin' me," Spot was fuming.

"Grow up, will ya? Da whole woild ain't about you!" Ruin looked disgusted.

"Yeah, but I'se STILL da leadah a Brooklyn!"

Raven poked her head in the door, "Whaddya know, whaddya say."

Spot turned to look at her, the girl's dark hair falling gently around her face, her cheeks burning from the wind.

He grinned and pulled her close to him, "I say we kiss now, tawk latah."

Raven rolled dusky eyes at him, "Yous need ta woik on bein' subtle, Spot. How's yous evah gonna get a goil?"

"I a'ready gots one," he told her confidently.

"Oh, really?" she crossed her arms over her chest. "And what makes you t'ink I'se wanna be yoah goil?"

Spot leaned forward and growled, "Kiss now. Tawk LATAH."

Raven started to giggle but was cut off by Spot's lips on hers.

"I'se leavin', I'se leavin'," Ruin muttered.

****

"Racetrack, I can't...run...any..." Tanya stopped and the newsie stopped, too.

****

Three raps on the iron and the entrance gave way. Kate kept to the darkness as she followed the swinging gates' shadow into the front courtyard.

Someone tall and muscular, stepped quickly into the lamp light, "Kate...you there?"

"No," she retorted.

The rich voice smiled in the darkness, "Missed you."

"Missed me...you saw me yesterday, you bum."

"Bum?" he chuckled, "That newspaper ink is rubbing off on you."

Kate moved from the shadows and the pale light fell across her face at angles, making her dark hair shine, "Don't get mushy."

He stepped closer, closing the distance between them, "You call that mushy?"

She stood her ground.

One more step and his arms were around her, dipping her backwards in the moonlight, "Mon amour, vous etes beau!"

Kate stifled a squeal.

He buried his nose in her hair, "THAT was mushy."

****

Ruin considered walking to Manhattan. She hadn't seen Dutchy in awhile. Spot would kill her. Better not. She sighed.

****

"Okay, WHY were we running?"

He took a long drag from his cigar, "Cause we could, Tanya. Just cause we could."

She stared at him, "Oh. I guess I understand that." Her attention was suddenly drawn towards a building to her left. A building she thought she recognized.

The boy suddenly dropped his cigar and pushed her up against a wall, "Tanya, don't leave me," he begged, "Please don't leave me."

His bright brown eyes glittered at her and made Tanya's heart ache.

Her gaze turned back to the building she had been staring at. It couldn't be.

****

"Kate?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you marry me?"

"HUH?"

"You heard me."

"Say it again."

"Will you marry me?"

"No! I barely KNOW you!"

"And?"

"And I don't go around accepting marriage proposals from men I barely know!"

Tom laughed, "You're so funny, Kate."

"You must think I'm pretty desperate to think I'd say yes to such a ridiculous question!"

He shrugged, "Eventually you will."

"Will not."

"Will."

"Will NOT."

"You will."

"Why on earth would I?"

"Because you're falling in love with me."

It wasn't true, Kate announced to herself. She didn't go around falling in love just like that. She didn't go around falling in love PERIOD. She just knew she'd DIE before she married the son of...what good was it even to think about it?

"I am not," she told him.

"If you're not falling in love with me than why do you keep coming back?"

"I get bored."

"Oh..." the man struggled for words, "HOGWASH!"

She smirked, "You're so sheltered you can't even think of a bad word!"

He colored significantly, "I don't speak in that manner in the presence of ladies!"

"Well, I'm not your average lady, Thomas Pulitzer!"

****

A/N: heheh...guess I'll leave it right there for tonight. (villainous laugh)

The next chapter is the last before I start THE SEQUEL! :)

Love you all...



Legs comments on: shaving your legs

WHAT. A. ROYAL. PAIN. That's all I'm gonna say.