Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies or any other media references I may make throughout the duration of this fic.

Living in Suburbia

Starring: Patrick 'Spot' Conlon, Sue-Ellen Conlon, Christophe 'Itey' Tadesco, James 'Racetrack' Higgins, Jonathan Glass

Chapter 5: Hated Luxuries

—General PoV—

Rarely do people use phones in Lindale, seeing as they are a luxury of sorts. There will usually be one to share amongst several houses. Should someone pick up the phone and not be the person desired to the caller, they run and fetch whomever it is for.

After arriving from Wincrest County the Conlons tried their best to ease back into daily routine. Sue-Ellen fixed dinner, Jeremy smoked his pipe and listened to a baseball game on the radio, Snipeshooter sprawled on the living room rug, crashing toy cars together and such, and Spot ran over to the Higgins' house to ask Racetrack about homework.

Jeremy Conlon doesn't ask about the family's meeting with his eldest son, nor do any of them speak of it. Some things are best not discussed.

Sue-Ellen rushes to the door at the sound of the bell. Standing behind the mesh screen is Christophe Tadesco, Racetrack's cousin and best friend, so, by association, Spot's best friend as well.

"Hello ma'am. There's a call for you on the telephone."

Sue-Ellen, very surprised about a call being for her, picks up the phone.

"Hello, Conlon residence. Very sorry for keeping you waiting."

"Yes. Mrs Conlon, I presume? This is Jonathan Glass, Virginia State University executive."

Sue-Ellen drew in her breath sharply and Mr Glass continued.

"I am calling to inform you of our awareness of your son's recent…appearance in the newspaper. I also must tell you that his full scholarship is now on suspension. Here at Virginia State we will be keeping an eye out for further public information about your son. This is your first and final warning." Mr Glass cleared his throat, as if prompting Sue-Ellen to speak.

"We will be very careful sir. I apologize for any difficulties this may have caused your offices."

Sue-Ellen has always been the original courteous housewife.

"I'll be in contact. Good day ma'am." He hung up.

"Thank you," whispered Sue-Ellen scornfully into the dead receiver.

==

Across the street Christophe Tadesco had yet to hang up the phone. He, his cousin and their best friend gathered around the receiver, listening to the conversation. Christophe kept his hand firmly pressed against the mouthpiece, as not to be heard. Still, the three dared not breathe too loudly.

When Mrs Conlon hung up the boys collapsed into a pile on the floor, staring at each other.

"So…uh…" Racetrack sighed loudly. "What do you think is going to happen with your brother?"

Spot shrugged and didn't answer.

"Itey, doesn't Mitch go to Virginia State?" Racetrack asked Christophe next, speaking of his other cousin, Mitchell Tadesco.

Itey nodded.

"How strict are they there? Do you really think they'd kick Specs out?"

Itey didn't answer for a few seconds. "I'm not sure, but why would they bother calling if they weren't serious? Seems like a waste of time for such a high executive."

Spot shrugged again. He'd just been coming to get his homework. He knew Racetrack would be at Itey's house and went there instead, even though he knew his parents didn't approve of Itey's, who had made their fortune in the oddest way: by winning it.

"If a man hasn't worked for his pay then he is a lazy pig who is no better then those who live in poverty." Discrimination between living classes was present everywhere in Lindale. The rich only socialized with the rich and the same went for the poor. Never should the line be crossed.

However, Spot found the entire situation hypocritical, seeing as his family would only live in this part of town so long as his father was employed as one of the three deputies with the city. It also explained the availability of money for Specs' treatment. In exchange for information of the drugs' whereabouts the city paid for sessions at the best rehabilitation in the country: Wincrest.

Spot left the Tadesco's lottery-bought estate and walked back to his own red brick, white-shuttered home.

There was only one way to keep his brother's name out of the paper: stop investigation on the case. How? Catch the perpetrator as fast as possible.

End Chapter

Ah, see the plot building up? Good, 'cause I know where it's going! For once my fiction doesn't lack a storyline! Anyways, I just hope Spot doesn't get in trouble or anything. Y'know, I hope he doesn't do anything rash. (I never say 'rash'!)

Shoutouts:

Erin Go Bragh—(sigh) Queen! And no, sorry, there's nothing going on between Specs and Dutchy. Unfortunately this is a slash-free story.

C.M. Higgins—once again, sorry, no. Specs and Dutchy are just roommates. There is to be no slash in this story, though I love it…

Dreamer110—thanks very much! I don't know anyone coming off drugs so I didn't know exactly how to make them act.

Cady Galty—I have never seen Joe vs. the Volcano. And I'm sorry that the chapter ending was sad, but it had to set a mood of sorts.