Author note: I doubt any of you would care, but if you have a myspace feel free to add me: sorry this chapter is so late; my sister wouldn't get her ass off the computer…no offense Sam…hehe.

I stared at the drawing in my hand, until I heard somebody running up the stairs. I quickly put it back into the mattress and turned around quickly.

"Find it?" Spot asked me, panting in the doorway.

"Nope, no, I didn't find anything," I said, a little too suspicious. Spot gave me an odd look before sighing in frustration.

"I'm gonna kill the idiot who thinks dey can steal from Spot Conlon," Spot said. I rolled my eyes, and shivered at the wet clothes clinging to my skin.

"I'm…going to go change," I said, walking past him. Spot nodded and waited for me to leave before he did the same.

I changed quickly, and sat down on my bed. Why did he have my drawing? If he had it, then he must've been the one who put me back in my bed, I thought, pulling at the sheets on my bed.

I shuddered at the thought of falling back into the river. I was surprised that Spot actually gave me mouth to mouth. I bit my lip at the thought.

"Sage?" came a voice from the other side of the door. I stared at the door for a minute, before replying.

"What?"

"Are youse descent?" I laughed,

"Yes." The door opened and Spot walked in, his wet bangs sticking to his forehead.

"I'm headin over ta Manhattan." I raised my eyebrows,

"Why?"

"Because I can!" Spot snapped.

"So, can I come?" I pleaded. Spot shook his head,

"No. I need youse ta stay here."

"Why?" I whined.

"'Cause I said so!" I crossed my arms over my chest and pouted. Spot rolled his eyes.

"I'll be back soon. Den youse can aggravate me," he chuckled, giving him an innocent look. It didn't look normal, but then again it looked human.

"The great Spot Conlon is human. Ladies and gentlemen please applaud," I said, making Spot laugh even more. His eyes lit up, making him look handsome.

"Like I said, Matthews, youse is very odd." I grinned, causing him to smile.

"Bye, Spot," I said, watching him leave my room. He looked over his shoulder and gave me a wave, and then he shut the door and the sound of his footsteps faded away. I sighed and laughed. He was actually getting to me.

It was around three in the afternoon when I left my room, looking for a way to cure my hunger. Spot wasn't here, so there wasn't a way for me to pay for food at the restaurant. Not that I like him doing so, I just didn't have any money.

"Maybe I should get a job," I said to myself, leaving the kitchen with a piece of bread in my hand. It wasn't much, but it helped.

Something gold caught my eye as I was getting ready to leave the Lodging House. I looked over, and standing in the doorway to the main room was Skip, holding Spot's gold tipped cane. I raised an eyebrow and turned to him.

"That," I nodded towards the cane, "Belongs to Spot." Skip chuckled, making him look scary.

"I know," he said, trying to twirl it in his hand like Spot would.

"So why do you have it?" I growled, clenching my fists.

"Because I like it."

"You stole it!" I snapped, causing to him chuckle again.

"So what if I did? What are youse gonna do 'bout it?"

"What in the hell do you think Spot is going to do to you when he finds out?" I nearly screamed.

"He ain't gonna do anythin, because he ain't gonna find out." I grinded my teeth together.

"Don't be so sure about that."

"What? Youse think I'm afraid of him?" Skip had an amused look in his eyes as he scratched at the gold on the cane.

"Give it back!" I spat.

"Nah, I think I'll sell it. It's real gold youse know," he said. I then reached out to grab it, but he merely pulled it back.

"I'll tell Spot," I said, trying not to sound like a tattletale. Too late.

"Aw, youse is gonna tell Spotty? Please don't, I don't want tha little shrimp ta try and punch me," he joked. He was too busy laughing at his stupid joke that he didn't notice my fist thundering towards his jaw. His teeth clinked together, and his head went back.

I immediately pulled the cane from his grasp and ran upstairs. I slammed my door shut and quickly hid the cane. I heard Skip storming up the stairs, and a loud pounding on my door.

I bit my tongue, drawing blood, and I gagged at the sour taste. The door swung open and Skip walked in, a furious look plastered on his face.

"Youse little wench!" I backed up against the wall, until I found there was nowhere else I could go. Skip was in front of me in no time, holding his fists up. Before his fist could get an inch closer to me, he stopped.

I opened my eyes, and looked up at him. He was glaring down at me. He then turned back around and began to walk away.

"You're not going to hit me?" I asked, a little confused.

"Nope, I don't hit girls," he replied. "As of today."

Was he trying to be like Spot or something? I blinked a few times before sighing in relief. Spot's training did pay off, but I was still a bit shaky during fights.

I then left for the docks. I didn't know why I was going there, since I almost drowned twice. I wasn't in any hurry to get there either.

As soon as I arrived, I wanted to leave. Skip smirked over at me, and I turned around to leave. He then ran up to me, standing in front of me so I couldn't get by.

"Heya, Sage," he said.

"What do you want?" I asked, crossing my arms. Skip smiled and tipped his hat.

"Jus' sayin hey."

"Why?"

"I'm bein a gentlemen, jus' like yer little boyfriend," he said.

"Huh?"

"Youse know, Spot." I shook my head,

"Spot and I are just friends."

"Oh," Skip said, his smile growing wider. "Are youse hungry?" he pulled out a few coins and held them in his palm.

"Why are you being nice to me?" I asked a bit suspicious. Skip shrugged,

"People change."

"No, I'm not hungry," I lied, pushing past him.

"Well, youse don't hafta leave so early," he said, grabbing my arm. I sighed.

"Why don't you go aggravate someone else?"

"Because, I wanna get ta know youse better," he said. I shrugged and walked with him. He sat down on the side of the dock and patted the spot beside him. I sat down, making sure not to sit too close.

"So, Sage, tell me 'bout yerself."

"No," I replied bluntly. I was actually surprised to hear him laugh.

"Fine den. I'll jus' tell youse 'bout myself." He then began to tell me about his childhood. Of how his father had a problem with beating him and his mother. He told me that he escaped after his father killed his mother, and how he had no money to survive on the streets, so he came over to Spot to ask for a job.

It was an interesting story, to my opinion, and he actually told it with emotion.

"I'm sorry to hear," I finally said, glancing over at him.

"Yeah. Hey, listen, I'm sorry if I hurt youse las' night. I jus' couldn't control my anger. I guess some of me fadder rubbed off on me." I shrugged,

"I'm use to it." I was, kind of. My uncle was a maniac too. I then started to tell him my story, and didn't leave much out. I even told him about finding my drawing in Spot's mattress.

I didn't know why I was telling him, of all people, about my life.

"Well, maybe Spot likes ya," he said, skipping a rock over the river. That's where he got his name; he was pro at skipping rocks.

"No, he doesn't!" I said. Skip chuckled.

"Well, we's can get 'em back for bein an ass to his newsies," he said, skipping another rock. A smile spread across my face as the perfect trick came into mind.

Later on that night, Skip and I got along quite well. I was actually growing attached to him. We all sat in the main room as Skip and the others attempted to teach me to play poker.

The door opened, and then slammed shut. Spot stared at us from the doorway, eyes raging with fire. I raised my eyebrows as he turned around to leave. I immediately jumped from my seat and ran into the foyer.

"Spot!" I said, catching his arm and turning him towards me. His eyes seemed to soften when he saw me, but I could still see anger flaring.

"What?" he asked, trying to sound nice.

"I have great news!" I said, grinning from ear to ear. Spot wrinkled his eyebrows in confusion as Skip and the others entered the foyer.

"What?" Spot asked. Skip then spoke.

"Before you tell 'em, Sage, there's something I hafta ask youse." I gave Skip a confused look as he grabbed my left hand and got down on one knee.

"I don't have a ring yet, but, Sage Matthews, will you be my wife?" Spot's eyes grew to the size of apples. All of the boys around us "awed," and patted Skip's back.

"Wow," I said. "I know we are a couple and all, but marriage is a little too…" I trailed off. "Oh, what the hell. Sure!" Spot's eyes grew wider; if that were possible.

"W-what?" he managed to choke out. Skip got to his feet and wrapped one arm around my shoulders.

"We's is gettin married!" he said. The boys, even Art, began to cheer.

"What in tha livin hell is goin on here? I leave for half a day and now youse two are in love?" Skip and I looked at each other, and then back at Spot.

"Yeah," we said in unison. Spot looked as if he were about to pass out, and his face turned red from anger.

"Youse two have lost yer damn minds!" he then turned around to storm upstairs, and Skip and I burst out laughing. I leaned on him to keep my balance as Spot turned around in confusion.

"I…can't…believe…you…fell…for…it!" I said through fits of laughter. Skip wiped the tears from his eyes as he tried to calm down.

"What?" Spot asked.

"It was a joke," Dice said, grinning from ear to ear. Everyone but Spot looked amused. Spot growled and turned back around, storming up the stairs.

I then burst out laughing again, causing him to scream.

"Shut up Matthews!" came his voice from his room. I stood up straight and walked up the stairs, and into my room. I grabbed his cane and then walked over to the boys bunk room. Everybody at the bottom of the stairs resumed the poker game, some still talking about the "proposal."

"Spot?" I knocked on the door. I opened it up to find Spot sitting on his bed, his shirt half unbuttoned. I looked away, but I knew Spot wasn't going to fix it, so I looked back.

"Here," I said, holding out the cane. He took if from my hands and glared up at me.

"I'm sorry, but you deserved it for stressing your newsies," I said, wondering why it made him so mad.

"Youse don't understand, Matthews!" he growled, standing to his feet and glaring down at me. I held back my laughter and just stared.

"Understand what?" I asked. Spot shook his head.

"Me," he finally said.

"So, then why don't you make me understand," I said, sitting on his bed. He was still standing, looking down at me.

"It's not as easy as that," he whispered, pulling his hat off his head and throwing it down beside me. I sighed in frustration and got to my feet. I began to walk to the door until he caught my arm.

"Friends can always be much more," he whispered in my ear. He then let go of my arm and walked into the washroom, not looking back.

Next Chapter: Sage witnesses a murder, putting her life in danger. Spot threatens Skip to stay away from Sage.

Sage is captured in the moment of truth…

Author note: You shall find out what "Sage is captured in the moment of truth…" means in the next chapter. Until next time: LONG LIVE SPOT!