A/N: this story was started before the Tyler is a chameleon episode, I may make a reference to it here or there, like the Lucas abandoning the group thing, but I don't think it will affect my story much, so I probably won't incorporate it into my story. By the way, I have some stuff in this chapter for Sparks and kaitins. BROOKLYN!

Disclaimer: all I own are Nikki and the crazy plot bunnies hopping around in my head. Please don't sue.

Ch. 3: Not Your Average School

"So, is Nikki short for something?" Corrine asked.

"Yeah. It's short for Nicola," Nikki replied.

"That's pretty. How did your parents decide on that?" Josie asked.

"Funny you should ask. It's kind of a family tradition. My great grandmother was Nicola, and her great grandmother before that, and so on. My first born great granddaughter will be Nicola. And since I was the first girl of this generation, I was named Nicola. Its funny, because my father always brags to his brother that if my cousin had been born a month earlier, she could have been Nicola. It is a big deal in my family. And if you have the gall to name someone other than the first born great granddaughter of the last Nicola Nicola, you are disowned. My parents even refuse to call me Nikki, because they see it as a great honor to be named Nicola. You should hear them. 'We didn't name you Nicola so you could spit on heritage by calling yourself something as vulgar as Nikki,'" she said in a perfect Italian accent.

"Hey, that was pretty good," Marshall commented.

"Thanks," Nikki replied.

"So, how was it living in New York? I mean, the shopping, the theater, the people. How did your parents ever convince you to leave?" Josie asked.

"Let's just say, I needed a change," Nikki said evasively.

"Well, then you might be disappointed, you just missed the only big changes that are likely to happen for a while," Lucas replied.

"Really, what were those?" Nikki asked.

"Well, Marshall and Corrine finally moved from playing it by ear, to actually dating, and Josie and Vaughn just last night realized they were being stupid and are finally... well, not dating, because you have to have gone on a date to say you're dating, but let's just say Vaughn's off limits too," Lucas replied.

"I'll keep that in mind. Not that I was planning on dating much, but no need to worry about foolish crushes from you two. That's good to know, not that I would be daft enough to try and steal my roommates boyfriends, but it eliminates the chance for potential faux pas. Sorry if that didn't make any sense, I tend to ramble," Nikki said.

"It's ok, I ramble too. Since you don't plan on stealing our boyfriends, we shouldn't have many problems living together," Josie replied.

"Glad to hear it," Nikki said.

"So, Nikki, what is your favorite musical?" Marshall asked. When everybody looked at him questioningly, he answered, "What, my mom is a musical freak, I grew up having to listen to them all."

"Probably Jekyll and Hyde. What about you?" she asked.

"Producers. All the way," he replied.

"What is it with guys and the Producers? Just about every guy I know loves that musical. Not that I mind it, and Cady is nice and all, but it is not the greatest thing, like all guys seem to think," Nikki said.

"What are you talking about? It is the greatest. And who is Cady?" Marshall asked.

"Have you seen Jekyll and Hyde? Or even Phantom? And Cady is Cady Huffman, she plays Ulla in Producers. She has from the beginning," Nikki answered.

"Yes, I've seen both Jekyll and Hyde and the Phantom of the Opera, and I guess you like the whole macabre thing, but- wait, did you just say you know Ulla? As in personally?" Marshall asked.

"Yeah, she taught a workshop at my last school, she was really nice. And I'm not talking about the of the Opera Phantom. I'm talking about the just plain Phantom. It is one of the best musicals there is. A lot better than Producers," Nikki said.

"You're whacked. Granted, I've never seen Phantom, I can guarantee you Producers is better," Marshall retorted.

"You can guarantee all you wish, but I'm telling you, not only does Phantom have a better plot, it is structured better, written better, has better actors, and better songs, it is fundamentally a better play. Just stop arguing with me, I have been studying musicals since I was two," Nikki said.

"Pack it in, Marshall, she has you worked, and if she doesn't, I'm not sure I want a boyfriend who is more of a woman than I am," Corrine teased, sitting down on her bed.

"Oh, yeah, you're going to break up with me over that? Not if I have anything to say about it," Marshall replied, walking over and leaning over her.

"Oh, yeah, what are you going to do," Corrine fired back.

"No, stop, my eyes can't handle it. Too mushy," Lucas joked, pretending to be blind.

"Haha, shouldn't we be showing Nikki around anyway?" Corrine asked.

"Woah, I object," Nikki spoke suddenly.

"You object to what?" Corrine asked.

"On the grounds of Brooklyn, I object to you talking about me as though I were not in the room," she replied.

"Sorry, Spot, won't happen again. Would you like to take the tour now, or just shoot some marbles, I think we have some root beer bottles in the trash," Marshall replied sarcastically.

"Well, since my good shooters and sling are packed, I think I'll let yous all take mes on that tour, Jacky-boy," she replied.

"Whatever you say, Conlon, but if you ask me to dance, or sing, or talk about Santa Fe, I'm gonna lose it," Marshall said.

"Ok, but will you at least do the spit shake?" Nikki asked.

"Can I wash my hand after?" Marshall returned.

"That spoils it," Nikki whined. When Marshall gave her a look, she relented, "Fine, you can wash your hand after. And no hawking, that's just gross," she added, spitting into her palm and offering to Marshall, who did the same.

"Eww, gross, what did you guys do that for? And what on earth did what you all just said mean, because I don't think the rest of the room is in on it," Corrine asked as soon as she realized what was going on.

"Sorry, when I get on a Newsies tangent it is kind of hard to get me off of it, especially if you are going along with me. Oh, by the way, your boyfriend can wash his hand now," Nikki said.

"I'll be right back," Marshall said, ducking out of the room.

"So what was all that?" Vaughn asked.

"Ok, slowly, in small words I guess, Newsies is a musical, made into a movie staring Christian Bale, Dave Moscow, and Bill Pulman, about the news boys strike of the turn of the last century. I was Spot Conlon, leader of the Brooklyn Newsies, and Marshall was Jack Kelley, aka Francis Sullivan, leader of the strike, and news boy extra ordinaire. It started when I said I object, and ended with the spit shake. Sorry about the gross out factor, but they were a bunch of orphaned and/or runaway boys. And the spit shake was a sort of pact for them. Done only with friends, or people you wanted on your side. It is a big deal in the Newsie world," Nikki replied.

"She's right, it is," Marshall replied, coming back into the room.

"Great, now that we've established the importance of the gross custom, can we get on with the tour?" Josie asked impatiently.

"On second thought, can I wash my hand first?" Nikki asked.

"Please. The bathroom is the second door on the right if you head toward the end of the hall," Josie replied.

"Great, back in a flash," Nikki said.

As soon as she was sure Nikki was out of the room, Josie turned to every one and asked, "I like her, and the fact that she is not going to try to steal my boyfriend, but does anyone actually trust her?"

"Hey, any one who can turn any conversation into a Newsies related one is ok in my book," Marshall said.

"Great, the boy who just spit into his palm, and shook an almost strangers hand trusts her because she likes a movie," Josie said.

"It is not just a movie, it is one of the best movies ever made, and I'm older than you, Jose, so if I'm a boy what are you," Marshall fired back.

"Ok, you guys, granted, what just happened was a little juvenile, but now is not the time to divide. We need to stick together. Now more than ever, especially if she is a spy. Whether we want to be or not, she is in our midst now, and we can't do any thing about it, so stop fighting," Corrine said.

"I'm ready," Nikki said breezing back into the room.

"Let's go then," Corrine sighed.

"So, this is the hall, it is pretty easy to find your way, classes are this way, the bathroom is that way, and the girls across the hall would just as soon spit on us as talk to us," Josie said.

"No asking them for cups of sugar, got it," Nikki replied as they moved down the hall.

"The boys rooms are on this side of the stair case, this is Marshall and Lucas' room, and Vaughns' room is the last room down the hall. If you need one of us we will be either in one of the rooms, the lab, or the common room. Moving down the stairs, we have the theater, the green room, the cafeteria, class rooms, we can show you the ones you need to know tomorrow, no need to destroy the day, then we have the common room, the patio access, and principal Dursts' office. Here on our left is the lab, and through this door is Professor Z's office. He is on your schedule as Professor Zachary, but we all call him Z. He is away this weekend, but he will be back tomorrow for class. The fountain is out back, the garage is next to the driveway, and town is about ten minutes walk that way," Josie finished, pointing.

"Great, that sounds like everything. Are there any room rules, besides the no sharing boyfriends one?" Nikki asked.

"Not really, just don't spy on us, and don't leave your stuff all over the room, and we should have no problems," Corrine said.

"Great, sounds like a plan, so, now what do we do, now that the tour is over?" Nikki asked.

"Well, actually, count me and Marshall out, we have plans," Corrine said.

"Um, us too, we have a date," Josie said, grabbing Vaughn's hand.

"Great, now you are all ditching me," Lucas commented.

"Sorry, Luke, we can hang out next weekend," Marshall called, being led away by Corrine. "It was nice to meet you Nikki."

"Yeah, I'll see you later at the room, Nikki," Corrine said.

"Same for us, later Luke, bye Nick, have fun," Josie called.

"Oh, and if you see a strange purple light- ow, what was that for?" Vaughn complained as Josie smacked him upside his head, to silence him, pulling him along faster.

"And then there were two," Lucas said. "So, you're new, what do you want to do?"

"Well, have you ever seen the Newsies, because if not you're overdue for an all out orphan news boy musical extravaganza," Nikki replied.

"Sure, why not, there is a DVD player in my room, we can watch it in there," Lucas said, leading the way back to his room. When they were outside the lab they heard the sound of papers blowing around and saw the familiar purple light.

"What on earth is that?" Nikki asked.

"Really hard to explain," Lucas mumbled.

A/N: There you go, another chapter. I hope you like it. And if you have never seen the Newsies, get your butt out there and pick up a copy, you are missing out. It is one of the best movies ever made. Read and review. Luv, Kat.