"Get up Angel!" Scott yelled shaking me awake. "No ones up so ye might wanna get ready."

"Really den whudd er ye doin up?" I asked sleepily.

"Nuttin" Jack replied.

I got ready right away. The wash room was huge, but I guess its to be expected since there were a lot of boys. By the time all of the boys were up I was ready to leave. Kevin and Scott were some of the first to be ready to leave. We left the Lodging House with other newsies.

"So how was yer foist nite?" Race asked.

"Fine...why?"

"Just makin surre." he winked at Mush.

"Whudds wit ye guys?" I asked clueless.

"Whudd ye mean?" Mush asked giving me an innocent look.

"Neva mind."

When we reached the Distribution Center a couple of guys were talking t Oscar and Morris. When Oscar saw us he said something to them and they turned around to look at us. I recognized Knives and Crane right away, but I know the other three. Crane said something to the three and they started towards us.

"Anythin wrong fellas?" Jack asked walking on front of me trying to shielding me from their view.

"No not a thing." Knives said then leading the rest out of the Distribution Center after giving me a hard look.

"Wonder whudd dat was bout." Race said aloud

"No idea." Blink remarked.

Kevin, Scott, and I got in line for our papes. We didn't get any crap from Oscar or Morris which was unusual. Then went to our spot to sell our papes. Kevin nudged me in the side ten minutes after being there.

"Whudd is it?"

"Look!" he said pointing to a few guys across the street.

"Scott." I shouted quickly pulling him. "Look!"

"Who are dey?" he asked upon seeing them.

"It's Knives an Crane. Derre do ones who helped Oscar get me de odda nite." They noticed we were looking at them.

"C'mon, Jack'll know whudd te do." Scott said half dragging me to Jack's selling spot. "Jack we've gotta really big problem." Scott said once we found him.

"Whudd is it?" he sounded curious.

"Rememba de guys dis morning? From de Crypts?" I asked shakily.

"Yea, whudd bout em?" he handed a paper to a lady who then handed him a penny.

"Dey seemed te be followin us. Kev noticed em a minute ago." Scott informed him.

"Well it looks like yer gonna need someone te protect ye. I know just de poison!" Jack said energetically. "Follow me." We followed him down an alley and saw some kid sitting on a crate. "Hey I gots a message fer ye!" Jack said instantly. "Tell Spot te come immediately." The kid nodded and then ran off.

"Yer getting Spot te watch her?" Scott sounded upset.

"Look I know ye don't like im but he's poifect fer de job. He won't let nuttin happen te her. Promise." Jack said lighting a cigarette.
"Try an be nice te im please." I begged.

"It looks like our lil Angel has a crush on Spot Conlon!" Jack joked.

"No I don't!" I said blushing.

"Ha! Ye do, I can tell cuz yer blushin!" he laughed. "But don't worry I won't tell Spot, promise. It's obvious ye don't want anyone te know."

"Whudd er ye looking at?!" I yelled at Scott who was sitting on some stepped smiling.

"Oh nuttin really." He smiled.

We sold with Jack the rest of the time then went to Tibby's. when we walked in Jack looked around and saw a kid sitting at a booth by himself with his head down. Jack led us over to him and sat across from him. Scott looked at him then sat next to Jack. I was left to sit by this kid. Kevin like always went to sit with David and Les. When I sat down next to him he looked up and smiled. When I saw it was Spot I looked away and felt my face blush..

"It seems ye got mah message." Jack smiled at me.

"Yea. It betta be an emoigency." he now turned his attention to Jack.

"Yea it is. Rememba de nite ye broke Oscar's nose?"

"Yea so?"

"It seems Oscar's got a thing against Angel hea an gots goons stalkin her when she's sellin." Jack made a gesture.

"Ye ok? Dey ain't hoit ye have dey?" Spot asked concerned.

"So ye had someone come get me te watch her right?"

"Yea yer de only one I think might be able te do it." Jack now looking at Scott. "Any objections?"

"Not if he's willin te do it." Scott said.

"Yea I can do it." Spot was full of confidence.

"Good den it's settled." Jack said winking at me.

I had trouble sleeping that nite. I could hear Jack and Spot talking. I heard my name, but couldn't make anything out after that. I didn't trust Jack with my secret, but prayed he wouldn't tell Spot mostly. Race and Blink were out at a poker game. Then almost instantly as I was falling asleep someone knocked on the door.

"Come in." I said sleepily.

"Did I wake ye?" Spot asked putting his head through the now cracked doorway.

"No." I said sitting up. I noticed he way just standing there. "You can come in ye know."

"Thanks." he shut the door behind him and climbed on the top bunk.

"Whudd er ye doin up derre?"

"Its too noisy out derre. Mind if I sleep in hea?" he asked laying down.

"It probably won't do any good if I say no, will it?"

"Nope."

"Well den I guess not."

"So Jack says ye got a crush on a newsie."

When I heard that I thought to myself. 'I'm gonna kill him!' "Did he tell ye who?"

"No.. So who is it? Blink? Er mebe ye like Race. Er mebe...ME?"

"Why dye wanna know?"

"Ah no reason."

"Hmm, I ain't telling. An ye betta not try te find out by askin Jack."

"Aw Why not? Yer so cute almost anyone would want ye te be derre goil."

"Alright. If I give ye a clue can we please sleep?"

"Alight deal!"

"De clue is...I've talked te im before."

"Aw c'mon it could be almost anyone. Mebe ye like Mush."

I looked up at him. "Who eva it is ye ain't findin out." I layed back down.

"C'mon its killin me. I gotta know."

I peeked up over the side of the top bunk and was looking into his beautiful blue eyes. I started to blush hoping he couldn't tell.

"Look we had a deal." I said still looking at him. "G'nite."

"Aw oh well. G'nite." he smiled.

I couldn't sleep with him in the room. I layed awake for what seemed like hours until finally I drifted off to sleep.