I met Emme Menet just a week after the strike ended. She was a newsie too, and lived at the girls' lodging house just two blocks from the boys'. We met while standing in line at the distribution center.

"I'm Emme," she said as she held out her hand to shake.

I replied, "I'm Mush." I shook Emme's hand, and she giggled.

"Mush?" she asked. "What kind of a name is that?"

"It's a good name!" I protested. "Better than Emme. That short for Emily?"

"No it ain't." We moved forward a step or two in line. "Emme's the name my mother gave me. Spelled 'E-M-M-E' too, but it ain't 'em.' It's 'emmy.'"

I liked her just from that first conversation. From then on we sold together in the mornings and sometimes in the afternoons, too. After a month or so of knowing each other I finally worked up the nerve to kiss her, so I did.

It was short but nice. After I pulled away, the corner of Emme's mouth curled upwards into a slight smile. "What was that for?" she asked quietly.

I shrugged with embarrassment. "For you," I said. My eyes were glued to the floor.

There was silence, but only for a moment. "That was sweet," Emme said. More silence. I was mortified, but Emme took my hand in her's and forced me to look at her. "I didn't mind it, Mush."

God, she was pretty. I think she really loved me. I knew she'd be sad when she heard about what happened to me, and so did my friends. They drew sticks to decide who would have to go tell her.

Blink picked the shortest stick. "But I don't know what to say!" he protested firmly. "Race, at least come with me!"

But Racetrack wouldn't leave the lodging house. "It's all yours', Kid."

Emme was all alone in the bunkroom of the girls' lodge, except for me. She was lying face down on her bed reading that morning's newspaper.

In all the commotion of my death, I'd forgotten how much I cared about Emme. When I saw Blink enter the room, I suddenly began to dread this as much as he did.

"Hey Amelia?"

She was now with me. "Yeah Mush?"

My eyes were focused on Emme--her eyes, her smile. "Will you stay here for a little while?"

Amelia came over to me and rested her hand on my shoulder. "Sure, Mush."

"Hey Blink," Emme greeted him. "What are you doing around here?" She giggled. "You finally got a girlfriend? Who is she?"

Kid Blink couldn't help but smile. "No, Em, no girlfriend." He sat down on her bed. "I actually came to talk to you."

"To me?" Emme asked. "Well, what is it?"

Blink hesitated. "Well...y'see...something happened last night."

Amelia squeezed my shoulder. "Yeah?" asked Emme.

"It's Mush...he..." Blink bit his lip and avoided any eye contact at all with Emme. "I donno how to say this."

"What's wrong? Is Mush all right?" Blink didn't answer her. Emme put her hand on Blink's. "What happened?"

I tightly shut my eyes. Amelia was looking up at me. "She'll be all right, Mush," she told me quietly. "They always are. They never understand, but they always pull through."

I opened my eyes just as Blink found the courage to quietly tell the one who loved me, "Mush died last night, Emme."

At that moment, I watched as the poor girl's heart began to break. She said nothing, but kept her eyes on Blink to make sure he was telling the truth. Slowly she brought her hand up to her mouth as tears began to fill her eyes. "How?" she asked almost inaudibly.

"We don't know," Blink replied. "He just...it just happened. I'm sorry, Em."

"I want to go back, Amelia," I said. Emme's tears were freely running down her cheeks and onto the bed. I hated seeing her cry.

"I know, but you can't."

Just as Blink was getting up to leave, I went over to Emme and sat down. Blink spoke. "I'm gonna go, Em. I'll come back later..." Emme dismissed him with a small wave of her hand and curled up, pulling her covers over her and situating her pillow. I lied down and wrapped my arms around her.

"I love you, Emme." She couldn't hear me, but it had to be said.

Tears fell onto the pillow. "I loved you, Mush."

It's sad, I know. I don't know why I have this obsession with killing off newsies of my choice, but it just happens! Hmm...more later, I suppose.

Adri--Thanks! Updates will probably be few and far between, coz school and work are super-busy. Whateva!

Elyse--You're too kind! Keep up the reviews!

Chelsea--Hey, look! You read more than one of my stories! You might just be the coolest!