A/N: I don't own Newsies. I own Vinnie and Jaybee. The other characters belong to their respective owners. If there are people that you don't recognize at all, chances are that they are living breathing people that go to my school and that I know.

New Characters:

Carly Thomas aka Red
Band manager

Lela Adame aka Chaos
Trombone, carinet, flute

Nell Berry aka Swindle
Drumline (base)

Anna Carrigy aka Coin
Color guard

Amy Baker aka Chime
Mellophone

Aurora O'Brien aka Shooter
Tuba

Celeste Mulaine aka Tribble, Trib
Oboe, saxophone

Maureen Gretchen Baxter aka MGB
Trombone

Colleen DuPront aka Zodiac
French Horn

Brian Fox aka Jinx
Trumpet

Skylar Salvato aka Sunshine
Trumpet

There are tons more… If you emailed me, you are most likely in it but I am an awful organizer. So if you do not see your name here… Please email me!


Chapter Two
Cruel Punishments

"Okay, let's take this from the top! One more… and begin!" Jaybee called out, for the fifth time. She thought that she could whip us into shape by making us exercise like the football team! Yes, lap-running, push-ups, pull ups, sprints, you name it. She justified it by saying that it improved strength, coordination, and technique. It just improved how tired we were of doing the same things over and over.

"Okay, good," surveyed Jaybee after we finished our fifty old fashioned jumping jacks. "Now, let's try some more splints—"

Knowing that I shouldn't, I interrupted, "Jaybee, c'mon!" I looked around at the other girls that were panting with thirst, "We're all dead tired! Can't we get a break! We've done this like fifty times since eight this mornin'! What time is it now? Like, twelve-thirty?"

She looked at me and sighed. Jaybee glanced down and the ground and kicked at the asphalt, "Yeah, Vinnie's right. Everyone take a break—"

"Thank God!" I muttered, turning to go to the big water kettle that was waiting for us. I grinned at Brandie, who was mouthing me thanks.

"Everyone except Vinnie."

I stopped in my tracks. "What?!" I whirled around. "Jaybee, I'm thirsty! Can't I go get some water and have you lecture me after practice is over?" I stood with my hands on my hips. You may not talk to your captain this way, but me and Jaybee Spencer had grown up with each other since the time of diapers. I knew everything that ticked her off, especially if it was me being disrespectful in front of twenty or so people.

She looked at me with her eyebrows raised, "Not with that attitude, you can't," she said, matching my posture. "Look Vinnie," she began sighing, "I really don't like you disrespecting me in front of all the other members of the corps. It's very rude."

I just stared at her blue eyes. Jaybee tries to act all bad, but deep underneath she just can't be mean. It's not her nature to be mean. We are like opposites; I get mad about the smallest things, while it takes her forever to get mad.

"Okay fine, Jaybee, I'm sorry," I said, trying to rush the apology so that I could go take a break, "I won't disrespect you anymore. I know it's rude, but I can't help it. I'm sorry and I'll try not to do it again." I was sincerely sorry, but I guess she didn't think it sincere enough, so she said,

"Well… I accept your apology. But," she began to speak slowly, biting the inside of her lip, "I still have to punish you."

I stared, surprised, at her. You see, let me explain how this works. Our flag corps or color guard, whatever you want to call it, usually has about twenty to twenty five people. First year girls aren't allowed to try for captain. I was a junior, and had been on the team for three years. Jaybee was a senior and had been on the corps for four years and captain for three. Actually, about two and a half because during my sophomore year, there was a girl named Kaylin, who was elected captain. She wasn't a very good captain because she was very disorganized and she never really liked to be in charge anyways. So one day, she just quit without letting anyone know. There was no captain for about two weeks because no one knew what to do about it. Well, one day, Jaybee just organized everything and began acting as our captain. She became our captain unofficially. Jaybee's done such a good job of it, that she's been captain ever since. This is her last year, though.

But still.

That girl has never given detention to anyone, never wrote them up for being late, or turned us in for having inappropriate dress for practice or camp. Now, she decided to start with me.

I couldn't believe it. "Jaybee…" I began, incredulously, "What are you talkin' about? You're gonna give me detention?"

She smiled. It was a bit smug actually, and I didn't like it at all.

"Not detention. I'm just going to make you do your routine in front of the drumline." I just stared at her, this wasn't a punishment! I was one of the best, not meaning to be vain or anything, but that was only because I had a sister who was a majorette for her college and I liked to practice with her.

"By yourself."

Okay. You probably know by this point that I really don't give a damn what other people think of me. I really don't, I mean, who are they to judge you if they don't know you, right? But this… This was bad.

Jaybee knew that I have problem with doing a routine in front of a group all by myself. She knew it. Especially the drumline! It's full with adolescent little boys with raging hormones. Every time they see us practicing or in our uniforms, they whistle and catcall. It's embarrassing, really.

Jaybee smiled and picked up her flag, "And this time, you can't get out of it." She held it in a cradle and began walking to the water kettle.

I rolled my eyes and began thinking of ways to get out of it. Last time I had to do something for Jaybee, I went over to the band captain and began volunteering help with things. Jaybee was pretty mad when she found out but she got over it fast.

"Oh, yeah," she turned around with a grin, "You can't get out of this one."


"She what?!"

"Yeah. My reaction exactly." I crossed my arms and scowled. It just wasn't fair. Okay, okay… Maybe I deserved it. But still… by myself?

Brandie, or Milkshake as we call her because of her love for the drink, comforted me, "Don't worry, it can't be that bad."

I laughed. Brandie was only a sophomore so she didn't know. "Well, seriously," she continued, defensively, "if you mess up, then you mess up. Just because you made a mistake doesn't mean anything except you made a mistake." She patted my back, "And don't worry, you're too good to mess up—mess up too horribly, anyways."

I gave her a look. Her words helped though. She was right; it was only a stupid routine. If I messed up, who cared?

I smiled at her to show my thanks. My nervousness and anger went away… until Tracy Lynn came up and talked to me.

I sneered at her after her greeting, "Oh, hey there, Vin. (I raised my eyebrows.)
I heard about what Jaybee's making you do and I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. Because you know, how nervous you get with all those eyes just watching you. Oh and by the way… There's this new hot guy on drumline," she rambled, crossing her arms, "I'm not sure what his name is but I've seen him… But whatever you do, make sure not to scare him off with your clumsy flagging skills. Okay? If we ever go out, and I predict that we will, I don't need him thinking that just because you can't flag, it doesn't mean other people can't. Toodles, hun," And with that, she turned around and stalked off.

Brandie looked at me with her eyebrows raised and a curious look on her face.

Now, I'm not much for talking about anyone behind their back, but I really can not stand Tracy Lynn. She thinks she's perfect and lemme tell ya', she ain't. Not at all. Not even close.

But hey, what can I say? She's family.

Second cousin to be exact.

Unfortunately to be exact.


For anyone who has a character names Tracy Lynn, I apologize. This person isn't your character but was designed by me after a neighbor that lives down the road from me. I'll develop her more into the story, so I hope it makes you laugh at her antics. Or at least feel sorry for her family.

Anyways... you know where the magical button is!