Author note: I'll make this quick: Hi, how are you? Thanks for reviewing, yadda, yadda, yadda. Here's this chapter.

"What in the hell do youse mean she's here?" I heard Spot yell from downstairs as I walked out of the washroom, cleaned.

"Well, right after youse left she came back and said she went for a walk," I heard Skip explain. I bit my lip; it was going to be easy to explain the walking thing, but what about the cut on my face? I caressed the cut and felt a small tingling pain. I pulled my hand away and heard Spot storming up the stairs.

I opened my bedroom door and shut it behind me, and saw Spot standing in front of the staircase.

"Where have youse been?" he hissed, walking over to me and staring down at me.

"I went for a walk," I told him, pushing him aside and heading for the stairs.

"Why did youse go out the window?" Spot asked, stepping in front of me.

"Because I didn't want to deal with you or your newsies!" I snapped, glaring up at him. His eyes may have been fire, but mine were ice, and everyone knows that fire and ice do not get along. Whatever kind of smartass thing he came up with, I'll come up with something better.

"Well youse coulda told someone!" Spot yelled. I raised my eyebrows in amusement.

"The whole point of sneaking out was so I wouldn't have to talk to anybody!" Spot's eyes then landed on my cheek.

"Who hurt youse?" he asked. I shrugged,

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"As a matter of fact I would!"

"Well it doesn't concern you!" I yelled. "Maybe I have an abusive boyfriend, or maybe I got into an intense fight with someone and won!" Spot wrinkled his eyebrows, something he always did when he was confused.

"What?" he said. I came closer to his face.

"I'm saying that what happened to me has nothing to do with you, so butt out!" I then pushed him out of my way and walked calmly downstairs.

"Hey, if youse is livin in my Lodging House den youse is gonna tell me!" Spot screamed, running down the stairs after me.

"Well maybe I don't want to live in your stinking Lodging House!" I screamed back.

"Gees they act like an old married couple," I heard someone say. I couldn't snap at them, because all of my anger and hatred was focused on Spot, who seemed to be fuming with anger. He growled and pulled my arm, causing me to literally fall backwards into him. He was still standing, so I turned around and shoved him. He stumbled a bit but stayed on his feet.

"What was that for?" he screamed.

"For touching me! How come all of you men think you can just throw us women around like that?" I screamed. Spot rolled his eyes.

"Oh please, there hasn't been a woman in dis Lodging House since Wades brought his wife here!" My eyes grew wide.

"What?" I said. Spot narrowed his eyes. Before he could say anything I brought my fist back and it flew into Spot's jaw. He stumbled back and clutched his face.

"What the hell?" he yelled, glaring at me with his "eyes of fire."

"You're nothing but an arrogant bastard!" Spot flinched.

"Yeah, well, I should've never saved you from that damn cell!" I flinched and felt my heart sink. I blinked in surprise as Spot had just realized what he said.

"Well at least you aren't the only one who thinks that," I said in almost a whisper, tears threatening to fall any second now.

"Sage, I-" I held my hand up.

"Save it," I said, turning away, "for someone who cares." I walked for the front door.

"Sage, please don't leave," Spot said. "I'm sorry, okay. It's my-"

"Your anger, yeah, I know. But that wasn't your anger talking." Spot shook his head.

"Youse jus' don't understand." I shot him a serious look.

"That's not my fault!"

"Are youse leaving?" I bit my lip, wondering it was a good thing to leave with that murderer out looking for me. I glanced down at the ground, and stepped away from the front door.

"Not until its safe," I simply said, brushing past him. Our shoulders slightly touched, and I felt butterflies flutter in my stomach. I stopped right there and looked at him oddly. Why was I getting butterflies over him? He gave me the same look, but probably not for the same reason. I felt the butterflies again once he looked at me. My mind told me to look away, but my heart told me to do something different. But what was it? I sighed and shook my head, and continued walking.

I felt Spot's eyes on me the whole time as I walked up the stairs, and gently shut my bedroom door.

Spot's P.O.V

I shrugged as I watched Sage shut her door. Why did she look at me like that? I sighed and felt a tugging pain at my jaw. That girl had a good punch.

I walked into the main room and all eyes were on me.

"What?" I snapped, causing everyone to instantly look away. I grunted to myself as I sat down in one of the chairs, telling one of my boys to deal me in. Somebody passed me a cup of whiskey, and I instantly chugged it. The taste was dull, but it didn't really matter to me. I wasn't much of a drinker, and I didn't smoke cigars, but whiskey became a good friend of mine after Madison left.

Madison's face haunted my dreams and thoughts. Every time I thought about her, I felt my heart swell up. The only way I could heal it was to drink. Mainly whiskey. I never found out why she left, and I was still eager to see her face.

I guess you could say that she was my girl once. She was rich, beautiful, and funny. Everyday after she got out of school, I would wait for her to walk out the door. She would hand me a penny and take a pape, and then I'd walk her home. Her black locks of hair always hung in her face, but I was always there to fix that. Her soft brown eyes were always cheerful, and I always loved that.

Her laugh was peaceful, yet exiting. She may have been rich, but she wasn't a spoiled brat. Her maids knew me well, and she seemed to have a great friendship with them. I could still remember the day she left. She didn't even say bye. Her carriage just pulled away, leaving me behind.

I grabbed the bottle of whiskey and took large sips, feeling it settling in my stomach.

Normal P.O.V

I heard the boys laughing downstairs, and covered my head with my pillow. Haven't they ever heard of peace and quiet? I groaned and felt Chance jump on the bed. It was still daylight outside, so the minute I pulled the pillow away from my head, I was blinded by the sun.

"Damn it!" I cursed. I ran a hand through Chance's fur. There were three knocks on the door, and then two taps, and I instantly knew it was Scout.

"Who is it?" I asked, laughing slightly.

"Da tooth fairy, who da youse think it is?" came her voice. I laughed again and rose from my bed, unlocking the door and opening it.

"Hey, Scout!" I said, giving her a quick hug. Scout's eyes instantly landed on Chance.

"Puppy!" she shouted, running over to my bed and scooping Chance up into her arms. "He's so cute! What's his name?"

"Chance," I said, walking over and sitting on my bed.

"Aw, Chance youse is so cute!" I laughed as she set him down on the bed, and petted him gently.

"Where did youse get 'em?"

"I found him in the alley beside the building," I said.

"And Spot let youse keep 'em?"

"Yup!" I said, smiling widely. "So Scout, what's up with you and Jack?" I questioned.

"Well, he asked me ta be his goil…"

"And you said?"

"Maybe."

"What?" I nearly screamed. Scout laughed,

"Relax, relax. I'm jus' kiddin. I said yes." I grinned,

"Good, I'm happy for you!" I said. Scout blushed and sat on the windowsill.

"So, who's da new kid?" she asked.

"His name is Skip," I told her. "He's all high and mighty like Spot, but he doesn't live up to his standards." Scout laughed,

"Have dey fought yet?" Yeah, over my safety…

"A couple of times," I said truthfully. "Where's Jack?"

"Oh, he's downstairs watchin Spot get wasted," Scout shrugged. I sent her a confused look.

"What? Spot's drinking?"

"Yeah, only when he's depressed."

"Depressed about what?" I asked, biting my lip. Did I hurt his feelings?

"'Bout his stupid goil dat left a long time ago," Scout said, biting into an apple that came out of nowhere.

"Okay…"

"Don't worry 'bout it, she's history," Scout said, throwing the apple into the air and then catching it.

"Why would I worry about it?" I asked. Scout smiled,

"Oh, never mind…" I sighed and shook my head.

"Hey Scout? Christmas is on its way, and I was just wondering…what exactly do you guys do to celebrate holidays?" Scout laughed and glanced over at me.

"We Manhattaners would usually come over ta Brooklyn and celebrate. We's hang mistletoe, we exchange presents, and Wades usually cooks a meal." I smiled. It sounded nice. I laid back on the bed, and shared a nice conversation with Scout.

Spot's P.O.V

I felt a bit dizzy as I added something to the pile of money in front of me. Jack and Scout had arrived just a few hours ago, and I felt drunk to my stomach. I laughed as one of the boys left the game, and I couldn't stop laughing; which caused everyone else to laugh.

I felt someone tap my shoulder.

"Can I talk ta youse?" Skip asked, glaring down at me. I pushed my chair back, and it made a loud noise against the wood floor. I wobbly followed Skip into the foyer.

"What…da youse want?" I asked. I was then pushed against the wall, and was too drunk to defend myself, unlike Skip who was one hundred percent sober.

"Listen, jackass," he started. "Lay off Sage, youse hear? Quit puttin stuff on 'er dat she don't need! Youse don't know what she's been through today, so I'm warnin youse, tough guy. Quit givin 'er a hard time!" He then let go of me and walked away, leaving me dumbfounded.

Next Chapter: Spot has a hangover, and doesn't want to sell papes. Sage won't take this, so she drags his ass out of bed and makes him sell, or she'll leave.

Author note: Well, hope you liked it. LONG LIVE SPOT!