its tomorrow, i can update! just be warned, this is going to have a terrible cliff hanger!(maybe...havent decided yet)

Cakes-oh come on, you cant figure it out? before reading this chapter, your assignment is to read the last chapter again and figure it out

elleestJenn-maybe ill name i newsie mustard...just for you

Garen Ruy Maxwell-its tomorrow!

ok, this is going to be my greatest chapter ever. i think. the next one might rival it, not sure yet. there are two types of scenes i like writing: romantic ones and uber dramatic ones. there are both here. enough previews, read on!

Mustang slid off of Cowgirl's back and knelt beside the newsie that lay on the ground. His hair was matted with mud and a bit of blood and his face smeared with it, so she couldn't recognize him. His eyes were closed tight and his breathing quick and shallow. She pulled a clean rag from her pocket that she would normally use if Cowgirl got a cut.

"Hey, can you hear me? Are you alright?" She cradeled his head gently and covered a cut on his temple with the rag.

"Mustang?" he muttered. His eyes were still closed. Something told her that they would both be black and blue and swollen by that evening.

"Yeah. Can you tell me what happened?" That one was a bit obvious, they soaked him, but she was nervous and wanted to keep him talking.

"They did what they said they would. I was messin' with 'em this mornin', I guess they didn't think it was as funny as I did." He gave a weak laugh. He was breathing more normally now.

"Blink? Is that you?" His eyes opened and peered up at her.

"Yeah. They must've messed me up bad if yeh can't even recognize me." As he sat up, his aching head realized something. She was looking into his eyes like she wanted to read something written behind them in very small letters. His eyes. Both of them. A bit embarassed, he began searching for his missing eye patch. "Do you see where my eye patch went?" She placed a hand gently over his. He slowly looked back up at her. He met her eyes and again she seemed to look inside of him.

"He lied to me," she whispered, her eyes filling with silent tears. "He's my best friend, and he lied to me. I couldn't remember what it was about you, and he told me I hated you. But that's not it. It isn't, because I don't. I know what it is now, it's just..." She pulled off her hat and her hair fell over her shoulders. The hat made her feel like a newsie, and newsies don't cry. "I trusted him, with everything, and he lied to me." She hung her head and tears dripped down her face. He took her in his arms and hugged her close. She buried her face in his chest and sobbed quietly.

"Shhhh," he soothed, rocking her back and forth. He stroked her hair, which had fallen out of the hastily tied shoe lace. She seemed so small, so helpless, so fragile, so very different from the laughing, sarcastic girl he remembered from two long years ago, and from just that morning. Her arms wound around his waist and she held him like he was the only thing she had left. It seemed to her, at least in that moment, that he was.
They stayed like this for over ten minutes. Finally, with a sniff, she sat up and replaced her hat. Blink took the now slightly blood-stained rag and wiped tears from her eyes with a clean corner. She laughed a little, took the rag from him, and began to gently rub away the dirt on his face.
Suddenly, Cowgirl's ears shot forward. At the same time, like she was somehow connected to her horse's thoughts, Mustang's head snapped up. Standing across the entrance to the alley were the Delanceys. Not just the Delancey brothers, but a good deal of their family as well. "My God, what did you say to them?"

"I think you helped with this bit. They don't take well to being told off, especially by girls." She rolled her eyes. Blink grabbed his eye patch as she carefully pulled him to his feet, but as soon as he went to take a step, he stumbled. Mustang gave a lowwhistle and Cowgirl moved in front of them. With a tap behind the knee she was on her knees and Mustang helped Kid Blink onto her back and got on behind him.

"Simple way to ride a horse: hold on." He grabbed Cowgirl's long mane as Mustang reached around him to the reins and kicked her to her feet. Without a second thought, they charged through the line of men bearing clubs, chains, and what not. Kid Blink could feel himself slipping as they wheeled around a corner in attempt to lose the mob following them. Mustang grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back up. "I know you're sore, just hold on. where's the best place to go to lose these guys?"

"Brooklyn. Spot's there," he yelled back to her, "Get to the river, then over the bridge." They flew through the city. As theBrooklyn Bridge came looming into view, they passed Jack, Mush, and Dutchy, all of which immediatly began to follow them. The only problem was the bridge itself. At it, Cowgirl stopped, nearly throwing Kid Blink over her head. She was not about to step onto a flimsy strip of metal a good hundred feet above a rather large rvier. She might have been a horse, but she knew an obvious death wishwhen she saw it.

"Go, go! You've got to go love!" Mustang screamed, thumping at the horse's sides with her heels as the Delanceys gathered around them. Finally she let go of one rein and smacked Cowgirl's rump. Blink gave a yelp as he came very close to falling off, but Mustang grabbed him as Cowgirl sprang onto the bridge. She was croosing it, but was no longer at the flat out gallop they needed. She was prancing, terrifyed. They were doign alright until they were stopped half way across by another large group of Delanceys. "How many of these goons are there?"

"Not enough to charge through this time," Blink muttered as Cowgirl wheeled around to find themselves surrounded.

"Whatever happens, stay on, even if I fall. Don't let the reins fall under her feet, just hold on. She'll take care of you, trust me." The fear in her voice scared him more than anything else. She placed a hand on his as Cowgirl backed up to avoid the cirlce of Delanceys that were closing in. She hit the rail. They were out of space. Panicking, he turned around to face her. She looked terrifyed. Looking into his eyes, which she realized were two different colors, she kissed him. Just a quick peck. He turned back around at the rattle of a chain. As it snapped out at them, Cowgirl reared up on her hind legs. Normally, this wouldn't have been too much of an issue for Kid Blink. He'd have at least been able to keep his seat to an extent, but today he'd just had the crap beaten out of him. (a/n: I LOVE THAT SCENTENCE!) He began to slip. Mustang shoved him back up, but in doing so, sacrificed the grip she had with her knees. She fell, hit the railing, and tumbled into the river far below.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! best cliffhanger ever!