"Happy Birthday, Spot!" Malamute yelled when he and the others reached the dock. Spot smirked and went over to spit-shake, but jammed his hand in his pocket when he saw how many people showed up.

"Whatsamatta, can't even celebrate your own birthday, Conlon?" Jack joked.

"He's just upset because he's leaving behind the good ole' days of single digit numbers! How old are ya? Ten?" Specs taunted.

"Real funny, Specs. I wouldn't mind bein' ten, ya know why?"

"Why?"

"Cuz then I could sleep with your girl!"

The newsies and steelers erupted into a shout of "oooooohs!". Specs frowned and protectively placed his arm around Song Boid, his girlfriend.

"Ya know, she's more mature than ya anyways…"

"Emotionally and physically!" interrupted Mush. Dutchy, Boid's brother, and Specs glared at him. His wide smile faded. Jack rolled his eyes.

"Come on, guys! Remember why we're here: to celebrate Spot's birthday so he don't kill us!"

Within a few minutes the tension was gone from the crowd and everyone was laughing…Except for Spot. He simply stood and stared at his friends from a distance.

"Ya alright?"

Spot turned to face Whistler.

"I'm okay…"

"Ya like her, don't ya?"

"Who, Boid? She's nice and all…but…"

"Got your eyes on another?"

Spot nodded.

"Her…" he said, shifting his gaze towards Aqua.

"Talk to her…"

"She's with Skittery…Although…"

Whistler cocked his head in curiosity.

"I've been hearin' things, Whistler. He's with two other girls…"

Whistler expressed his amazement with a long whistle.

"I ain't kiddin…Some dame named Echo…"

"Aw, Spot, don't tell her!"

"I won't, I won't…Not yet…"

Spot raised his eyebrows and Whistler mimicked him.

"Good luck…"

Spot sighed and approached Aqua. He sat next to her on the dock, placing his hand on hers. To his surprise, she ripped her hand away.

"Don't touch me…" she snarled. There was something fierce in her voice that even Spot feared.

"So uh…Ya like the docks?"

"Hate 'em…"

"Huh?"

"I hate water…"

"Oh…Wanna take a swim?"

Aqua smiled and shook her head at him, pitifully, and yet radiating in a caustic glow.

"Sure…In a moment…I gotta do something first…"

"What's that?"

She stood up and placed her hands on Spot's shoulders. The simple touch sent a sensual buzz through Spot's body.

"This!"

Spot found himself falling over the edge of the dock and hitting the water headfirst. His leg thumped against something, a body: Hull-Shore. Spot surfaced and sputtered, then felt a huge amount of pressure from beneath him as Hull rose. As the water drained from his ears, he could hear laughing, as well as an angry "WHAT THE HELL!" from Hull.

"Happy Birthday, Spot Conlon!" Aqua shouted dryly.

"Oh yeah…She likes me al-" Spot bit his tongue as Skittery appeared at Aqua's side. She stopped laughing and leaned over to kiss him. Spot shut his eyes.

"Aw shit."

"At least ya didn't get sat on," muttered Hull-Shore irritably.

"Shut up!"

"Make me!"

"I will!"

Spot lunged at Hull, attempting to dunk him, but he dipped under water just in time, managing to yank Spot down with him. The two kicked and pulled at each other until their lungs burned.

"Told ya I'd make ya shut up!" Spot panted. Hull only panted back at him in return.

"Come're Spot!" Jack called abruptly.

"Just like a dog…" Hull insulted under his breath.

"Getta outta the water, Hull!" Malamute ordered.

Spot grinned.

"Just like a kid…"

"At least I'm taller than a kid…"

"Stop fighting and come're!" shouted Marbles.

"I'll soak ya…"Spot threatened.

"I'm already wet," Hull said, confused at the warning.

"Massachusetts boy...They didn't teach ya how to talk in Hull?"

"Nah, but they taught me how to fight!"

"GET OUT OF THE WATER!"