There is one good thing about pumping a bunch of teenaged boys full of alcohol. Eventually, they get so drunk they have no idea where they are and then just keel over using the most unlikely things as pillows (goodness, I sound morbid. I must fix that…) The morning after the party, I found Race curled up in the shower, Blink was snoozing halfway under the couch downstairs and Specs Skittery, Dutchy and Boots were all piled in a corner of the common room. They were all dead to the world.

But not for long…If I had any say…

With strict orders to Kloppman to wake them up before seven (hey I was being generous! Kloppman usually wakes them up at six if I haven't already at five thirty) I left the lodging house. I was walking along, relishing the fact that I wouldn't have to sell today and would still have a meal that evening. I was lost in my thoughts, not really paying attention to my surroundings, when something came hurtling out of the alley I was passing and rammed into me.

With a yell, I fell sideways into the street, landing hard on my left arm. It didn't help that the thing landed on top of me. I was lying in the street, pain shooting up my left arm, with an unknown object on top of me, and suddenly, I was looking into a pair of startling blue eyes. I recognized them at once.

"Eeek! Conlon, get off o' me!" I screeched. Oh man this is not a good position to be in, especially with him…I tried to push him off, but he was too heavy and my arm killed. Oh, why me?

Spot shook his head slightly as if trying to clear it. Then he realized whom he was on top of.

"Holy shit!" he gasped, then thankfully rolled off of me. But unfortunately, he rolled right over top of my left arm. I yelped. With wide eyes, he surveyed my arm, which was at a very odd, unnatural angle.

"Jeez, Light, c'mon. We need ta get dat fixed."

He pulled me to my feet.

"C'mon!" he urged, trying to push me forward. I went reluctantly. Every step caused more pain. And I had a ton of questions. Why was Spot in such a hurry? What had he been doing before he ran into me? Where is he taking me now?

Wincing, I stumbled along; Spot was steering me around by my good arm.

Where is he taking me?

We weren't heading to any care place I knew of; in fact, we weren't even heading to anyplace in Manhattan. To my great dismay, the Brooklyn Bridge was suddenly looming up in front of us. I stopped dead. There was no way I was going to cross that bridge.

Spot growled low in his throat and gave me a sharp nudge. "Move, Manhattan."

"No."

"Foah once in your life, stop bein' so damn stubborn and move!"

"No, I ain't crossin' dat bridge!"

"Manhattan, it's a bridge. I ain't hoid of nobody dyin' a gruesome death because dey crosst a bridge."

"It ain't the bridge dat's da problem, Conlon, and youse know it."

He ground his teeth in frustration. It took a couple of seconds before he had enough control to speak rationally.

"Manhattan, as da king o' Brooklyn, I promise dat dere ain't nobody on da uddah side dat's gonna attack ya for comin' inta my territory."

"Are ya sure?"

"Yes! I'se the bloody leader of the Brooklyn newsies! Dey wouldn't attack dere own leader!"

I frowned, still wary about the whole situation.

"Manhattan, do ya really think dat dere would be an ambush waiting on da uddah side on da off-chance dat an EastEnder would cross da bridge?"

"Wouldn't put it past ya," I shot back.

"Manhattan, trust me on dis one. If ya don't cross dat bridge right now, youse is going to have to live wid a crippled arm foah da res' o' your life."

"What?" I gasped.

"Your arm!" he gestured at my injured arm. "It's broke! If ya don' fix it, it'll heal like dat and hoit forevah!"

"What about the care place in Manhattan?" I whined. "Can't we just go there?"

"No. Da doctah in Brooklyn's way bettah. Now are youse comin'?"

"Fine," I said sullenly.

"Ha!" he crowed triumphantly. "The mighty Spot Conlon wins again!"

"Shaddup," I muttered, striding towards the bridge at a fast pace to get away from him, the conceited arrogant jerk that he was.

"Hey!" Spot yelled, when he realized what was happening. "Hey, wait foah me!"

Sorry for the long wait! The next chapter will be up sooner and be a bit longer!