Oops! I keep forgetting to put this...

disclaimer: i own nothing, its a shame but its true

Jack looked nervously around. He had brought the "six pack", as the boys had dub Blondie and her gang, back to the lodging house. Shortie and Melody sat on a top bunk with their feet dangling below them, Gabs sat on Blondie's lap who sat on the bottom bunk, and Bookworm and Slowpoke were seated on the floor, leaning back on the bed. They looked expectantly at Jack.

"Ok, youse cin afford ta stay 'ere ah the lodgin house til da Thursday afta next. Tha means you'll have ta be sellin by da Wednesday afta next."

"Two weeks? That's all our money bought? I thought we had more than that." Blondie was worried; she hadn't expected the money to disappear so quickly.

"Ya well there's 6 of ya, ain't there? Back ta business, Ise only knows one person whose can whip ya's into shape in a week and a half. Theyse tough though, don't take no messin around. Theyse the only person Ise know whose cin soak Spot. He's a big shot, real tough, leadah of Brooklyn." Jack stressed the last part, as if to show being leader of Brooklyn was a big deal.

Gabs looked to Jack with big doe eyes. "I don't know if I wanna go meet this person. They sound kinda scary."

Jack laughed, "She's terrifying."

Shortie's head shot up, "She?"

"Diva."

Diva was infamous in New York. She stood at 5 foot 5 not exceptionally tall for 17, her platinum blonde hair was usually done in beautiful ringlets, and her green eyes had a naturally evil glint to them. She had many different dresses but all were knee length, had two inch straps with a squared neck, and were dark reds, greens, blue, or black. Her past was a mystery, most guessed from her clothing she had been a performer, not an innocent one though, or a prostitute. None of that made her famous; no what made her famous was the fact that she was not only the only girl newsie but also the toughest newsie in all of New York. No one dared mess with her, Kid Blink had tried once and look what that got him, blind in one eye!

Diva dragged her blood red nails across the wall as she walked, judging by the red streaks on the wall she did this often, "But wha does dat get me, Cowboy?" She put her feet on her desk in a seductive manner, her skirt sliding up her thighs. "Ise already got all Ise wanted."

Jack gritted he's teeth, "Wha do ya want?"

"Well, Ise haven't seen Race in awhile."

"Youse broke tha off, remembah?"

Realization appeared on her face, "Oh ya." Jack rolled his eyes. Diva never was very bright.

"Look, whyse don't cha do it out a da goodness of ya heart? Theyse broke and need help; can't cha do sumting good for once? At least pretend youse got a heart." Diva's hand smacked his face so fast he didn't even see it. He sure did feel it though.

"Ise do have a heart but Ise don't like wasting my time if Ise aint gettin nothin in return."

Jack sat quietly trying to think of something that would change her mind. Suddenly it hit him. Of course why didn't he think of it before? "Ise be right back." He left Diva's office in a hurry, shutting the door behind him. Diva could here him calling someone by the name of "Gabs" outside. Now what is he up to? She thought. Jack re-entered pushing a small blonde girl ahead of him. "Diva Ise like ya ta meet Gabs. Gabs this 'ere is Diva."

Gabs did a small curtsy, "Pleased to meet you." Diva just nodded to absorbed in taking the girl in. Her skin was pulled taunt across her bones, not an ounce of fat or muscle on her. She was obviously not feed enough. The girl's clothing was torn and almost as dirty as her face. Something tugged at Diva's heart. Tears swelled up in her eyes.

Jack noticed this, "Thanks Gabs." Gabs nodded and left the room.

"Don't think Ise goin soft," Diva growled at Jack, "'cause Ise aint. Anybody wid a heart would help 'er."

"So you'll do it?"

Diva nodded, "But on one condition."

"Anything."

"Theyse have ta stay 'ere wid me."

"I-in Brooklyn," Jack stuttered.

"Sumting wrong wid Brooklyn," She raised her eyebrows.

"N-no. Its just don't cha think Brooklyn is a," He searched for a good way to say it, "a little…advanced?"

"Advanced? Ise don't know wha cha mean."

"Um-uh well it's just uh how is theyse s'posed ta defend themselves?"

"Well tha's why Ise here, aint it."

"I guess." Jack still had a bad feeling about leaving 6 defenseless girls in Brooklyn, but he decided to leave it. He went into the other room and explained the situation to the girls. After promising to come check on them frequently, he left. The girls sat huddled together holding their breath.

Diva stepped out of her office, "Get up." They all jumped up to their feet, Blondie rather reluctantly, she was the only one to order them around. Diva looked them over, prodding them to check for weaknesses. It was hard to tell what was a bruise and what was just dirt. Finally satisfied with what she saw Diva hollered, "Bella! Anna!" Two girls about 13 ran into the room. Gabs was utterly confused, wasn't Diva the only girl newsie. As if reading her mind Diva replied, "Theyse aint newsies. Its just cheapah ta live 'ere then trying ta find an apartment or some utter place ta sleep. Theyse seamstresses." Turning her attention back to Bella and Anna she asked, "Theyse gonna need new dresses do ya think youse cin make um free of charge?"

Bella looked uneasy, afraid to upset Diva, "Well we might be able ta do the three little one. But da three older goils…it'll be 'ard."

"Well how much will it cost ta make the three older goil's dresses?"

Anna looked to Bella and then back to Diva, "Uh about two dollars each. Maybe a dolor fifty but not much less."

Blondie was outraged, "How the hell are we supposed to afford something like that! That's six dollars!"

"Did Ise tell youse ta talk? No! Oh well den DON'T!" Diva screeched.

"You can't tell me what to do!"

"Do youse wanna live out 'ere in da real world? If youse do then you'll listen ta me."

"I won't listen to you, if all you do is boss me around."

"Ise helpin youse and gettin nothin in return, I'll tell youse ta do wha evah da hell ISE WANT!"

"And if I don't listen?" Blondie tested.

"YOU CIN LEAVE!"

"FINE!" Blondie turned on heel and left six very surprised girls behind her.

Where will Blondie go? REVIEW please!