Look, ma! Two updates in two days! I love three-day weekends.

Annie turned away in confusion, willing him not to look at her, to see her once more in weakness, but, of course, not being blind, Jack couldn't help but see what was right in front of him.

"Hey!" he said in surprise, frantically trying to remember her name. Then, as he noticed her wide, staring eyes, "Are you OK?"

She grinned despite herself, "D'ya think all of our talks hafta start dat way...Jack Kelly?"

He shrugged, not trusting himself with an answer until he could remember her name. Then he cursed Race's stupidity as the boy asked, with mock elegance, "Dear me, Jacky-boy, where have yer manners gone? Ain't ya gonna interduce us to da lovely lady?"

"I dunno," Jack glared down at him, "she's a nice enough goil, she don't really deserve dat."

Annie laughed as the other three paused momentarily, then threw themselves at their insulter, tackling and punching him. After a few moments, she interrupted. "Never mind, I can introduce myself," she cleared her throat, "Da name's Annabelle Johnson, but –"

"But you can call 'er Annie," Jack finished triumphantly. Ha! He thought, I knew I remembered her name.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Annie," Mush said, taking off his hat. The others followed suit, and Annie found herself blushing at the attention, although, since it was a customary one, she couldn't figure out why. She supposed it was because they were so adorably poor and yet cheerful, their tattered coats and dirty faces lending a gallantry to their actions. Then she gasped as she realized that Mush was looking at her with an expectant look on his face, waiting for an answer to...something. "I'm sorry," she said ruefully, "I didn't hear any of dat. What did you say?"

Race and Blink laughed as a smiling Jack answered, "Basically, 'e asked if you'd wanna come wit us? We're goin' to a show...or somethin'."

Annie wondered why he looked so suspiciously at his friends as he said that, but she just shrugged it off, replying, "Dat's alright, but t'anks fer da invite. I gotta be getting' back home."

"Why?" Mush asked curiously, then, "Ow!" as Race hit him in the back of the head.

"Sorry 'bout dat," Blink offered, "'e don't seem to realize dat dere's jus' some questions you don't ask on da streets."

Annie waved an acceptance as she thought. Why was she refusing them? For her father was the automatic answer, but, really, he didn't need her. He would sleep straight through the night and probably much of the next day. Mind made up, she turned to address herself to Mush. "There really is no reason," she answered firmly, "I'd love to go wit you'se guys to a show...or somethin'," she imitated Jack's tone and look, receiving appreciative laughs.

"So, where are we goin'?" Annie asked a few minutes later, after a pause in the teasing and roughhousing that automatically took place. Annie was quickly included in the fun; it was easy to fall into a friendly matter on the streets, where there were no questions asked and no permanence expected. It was true friendship that was hard to come by.

Blink and Mush glanced at each other, "Well, dere's dat vaudeville theatre just off Broadway," Blink offered.

"Yea, I hear da shows're pretty good down dere," Mush continued.

Jack stopped short. "Wait," he said menacingly, "ain't dere a 'no-drinkin' rule down dere?"

"Well..." Mush said evasively.

"An' ain't dere a 'no-gamblin' rule down dere?" it was amazing that a scrawny, smart-aleck Italian could look that dangerous.

"Mush an' I were talkin', an' we don't think dat da two o' you'se need to be doin' all dat tonight," Blink answered. "Jus' fer tonight, you can watch a vaudeville an' bum around wit friends wit'out doin' nuttin' else."

An open-mouthed Race turned to Annie in a wordless appeal, but she laughingly threw her hands up, saying, "Don't bring me into dis. I ain't takin' no sides."

"Fine," Jack muttered, "but dis show better be real good." Race grumbled something that couldn't properly be called assent, but served as such, and a considerably more cheerful Blink and Mush took up their previous conversation with Annie.

Much to the surprise of Jack and Race, the night passed pleasantly enough, helped along by the close, easy camaraderie that the group felt, and the complementary personalities that each contributed. Race's constant sarcasm and cynical wit, though much softened by his baby-face and natural kindness (which, as evidenced, had to be dragged out by brute force) kept them laughing, but were tempered by Mush's sweet innocence. Blink's constant grin and happy-go-lucky attitude lifted Jack's occasional gloomy moods, and Jack's dreams and charisma in his good moods added sparkle. Annie offered an affinity for helping others by sharing their burdens, although she, too, fell into gloom. Overall, the group was well-suited to each other, and they were loathe to split up at the night's end, resulting in them staying up much later than was wise.

Cries of "G'night," and, "See ya 'round, Annie," filled the air as Annie, with a wave and a smile, turned to enter her apartment building. But, before she was completely in the door, Jack detached himself from the group of boys in the street and hurried to her, telling her quietly, "Really, Annie, come an' visit us again. Or else we'll have to find you," he threatened. "Oh, an' Annie?" she looked at him expectantly, "keep yer chin up, OK? I don't wanna find you upset anytime soon."

She smiled at him gratefully, then slipped through the door.

The late night had its ill effects. Annie awakened late the next morning, rushing out of the house without even checking on her father. She stopped at the door to grab her coat, then halted in surprise as she saw another coat on top. "Oh no..." she muttered, as she realized whose it was. As they had walked out of the vaudeville, one of the boys had noticed her lack of warm clothing, and, as Race was the closest to her size, he had offered her his coat, answering her protests with a hearty, "No, I'm actually getting' hot. An' I have dis hat, anyway. I'll let you know if I get cold." Although she had seen him visibly shivering throughout the night, she knew better than to insult him by offering his coat back.

"An' now he's probably freezin' outside wit' nuttin' to keep 'im warm," she said aloud, and had started on her way to the Lodgin House, coat in hand, before remembering that the days had been warm, if the nights weren't, Race would be running around, working up a sweat, and she had absolutely no idea where he sold. Vowing to herself that she would bring it to him that very night, she threw the coat over her arm and started the walk to work – a walk that soon turned into a run as she caught sight of a nearby clock and was reminded of her lateness.

Annie made it to work with absolutely no time to spare and was forced to sit down and begin sewing without even catching her breath so that she would look busy and punctual when the shop owner, a wiry, grey-haired woman known only as 'Miz' Harney came over for inspection.

She congratulated herself again, as she did every day, on finding this job. It hadn't been easy, she reminded herself. She had seen her share of factory smoke and dangerous drunks in bars before she had put her mother's lessons to use in this fine sewing shop. She bent her head industriously over her work as she felt Ms. Harney's eyes on her.

As she left work that evening, Annie was reminded of her morning's promise by the sight of Race's coat over her own in the coatroom. She sighed; bringing the coat to the Lodging House didn't seem as appealing now that she remembered her father and the fact that the boys would either want her to visit or wish that she would leave. At the moment, she couldn't decide which she would rather.

Still, a promise is a promise, so, after checking to make certain that her father would be alright without her that night – he could usually take care of himself for a while after really bad nights – she headed out to the Lodging House, this time properly attired and with a more peaceful mind. At least, until she reached the doorstep. Then, every imaginable scenario occurred to her: what if the boys didn't really like her? What if they had only been nice to her out of pity? What if they made fun of her and threw her out? For a moment she debated simply leaving the coat on the doorstep, but Jack had told her to visit. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

She was greeted by the sight of a dizzying number of boys of different ages, sizes, and nationalities. A quick look around didn't reveal to her any of her four friends, and she was struck with another sickening what if: were her friends even there?

Much to her relief, Mush stood up from a small crowd of boys, calling, "Race, Blink, Jack! We gots ourselves a visitor!" Then he paused, "Oh yeah, Blink's out wit Samantha tonight."

Annie managed a small smile of greeting as the three extricated themselves from their respective activities, weaving their ways through bodies and card games to reach Annie at the door.

"I – I came to give you back yer coat," Annie gestured at Race, uncomfortably aware that Mush's loud announcement, while serving its purpose of getting Jack's and Race's attention, had also drawn to her the attention about half the room. Boys everywhere were nudging each other and muttering, some with grins and others with looks of curiosity.

While the other two boys chattered away at Annie of their excitement that she had come, the alert Racetrack watched her carefully, then whispered, "Dey don't bite, ya know. It's jus' dat we don't get too many goils in 'ere, an' you'se particularly pretty."

Annie flushed, not certain whether Race's comment had reassured her or not, but, before she could decide or reply, one of the boys on the floor shouted, "Don't jus' leave 'er standin' out dere all night! Bring 'er in an' interduce 'er 'round!" This idea was seconded by most of the others, and Mush turned to oblige, but Race and Jack cut them off.

"Wait, guys –"

"Hold it, ya bummers –"

The two looked at each other in surprise, then Race gestured at Jack, who said, grinning, "Annie don't look all dat comfortable wit dat idea."

Annie blushed again, but stood her ground. "Who said I wasn't," she retorted, "an' I would, only...I'se got stuff to do."

"Da same stuff as last night, right, Annie," Race chortled.

Annie rolled her eyes, and, with some trepidation, allowed herself to be led into the room full of boys. Loud boys. Loud boys who were all staring at her. She practically jumped out of her skin when Mush announced from her side, "Dis is Annie, everyone," he looked around, then, "she's real nice," he ended lamely.

Annie did what came naturally in such a situation: she laughed. "T'anks, Mush, fer dat lovely interduction." The rest of the boys laughed, too, and she found herself more at ease. At least, a little more. She was still ready to bolt the instant an opening presented itself, but, as it didn't look as though the boys were going to clear a path anytime soon, she resigned herself to trying to memorize the long list of nicknames that sent her head spinning.

The boys laughed again at her dazed expression, and Annie settled herself safely between Mush and Jack, watching the poker game to her right and occasionally joining in the conversation. This time, though, she had no trouble leaving at a decent hour, and she breathed a sigh of relief as Jack and Mush – Race had refused to leave the poker game: "I'm winning," he had said in disbelief as they suggested he quit playing – again shouted their goodbyes at her doorstep.

"The newsies are nice enough," she mused, "but I don't like 'em in big doses like dat. Gimme those four every time over da whole bunch."

Oh no! I'm losing reviewers! They're dropping like flies! I can only hope that this is due to the super-quick updates catching everyone by surprise. Thanks to those who did review, and to those who didn't, shame on you! OK, actually, I'll admit it: I don't always review either. There, I said it. And...I'm sorry wails.

koodles: I want to see the ABCs of newsies. Sounds quite interesting to me. And backwards-cursive-newsie names is an impressive feat, although one could argue its purpose. And I'm determined to spread the newsie love. Maybe, if enough people are insane fans, Disney will put it back in theatres! And I can go see it! Every night!

AngryPrincess: Look how fast I updated this time! Are you proud of me? Because you should be.