Author note: Well, I see everyone isn't too fond of Madison…Poor Madison, she hasn't even been in the story yet and she's already hated, tsk tsk. Anyways, here's this chapter.

Dear father,

It is nice to hear that you are out of jail.

I've now declared myself to be the best liar around.

I am perfectly fine living here with the boys; they wouldn't hurt me even if they were paid to. They go by nicknames here for personal reasons. Well, newsies do anyway. I haven't gotten a nickname yet, I think everyone is used to calling me Sage. I love walking the busy streets of Brooklyn, it makes me feel…free.

I read over my words. Yup, he'll be pissed when he reads that. Score!

There is no need to come get me; I am one hundred percent happy living here. The boys take good care of me, and I'm making a lot of money.

"Enough to keep me alive," I said out loud.

I just wrote you to say hey, is all. Maybe you'd like to visit? Anyways, I'm sorry I can't make this any longer, but I have to go sell papes.

Sage.

I slipped the note into an envelope and quickly wrote down the addresses. I stood from the desk, slipped on Spot's coat, and made my way downstairs. I may have been New Years, but most of the newsies sold on New Years. Well, the sober ones did anyways.

"Hey, Wades," I greeted the sweet, elderly man. He gave me a friendly smile as I handed him the letter. He nodded and put it with the other letter.

"C'mon Matthews, we's gotta sell!" Spot called from the foyer. I rolled my eyes and turned on my heel, walking into the foyer. I shyly smiled at him, and he returned one…less shy. We walked out into the freezing weather and I noticed the snow was melting. Just a little, though. I prepared myself for the gusts of wind as they swam by, causing me to shiver.

Spot and I walked in silence to the Distribution center. Spot walked up to the window fist and asked for a hundred papes. The man behind the counter, who I knew to be Mr. Owens, gave Spot his papes as I came up next. I quickly glanced behind me to see how many people were out on the streets, and then asked for fifty.

I collected my papes and walked with Spot out of the gates of the Distribution Center.

"I'm…selling alone," I said, watching the wealthy people head down town. Spot shrugged and walked away, heading to his normal selling spot. I quickly chased down the wealthy people, and practically begged them to buy a pape. This always worked, because everyone pities the homeless girl.

Spot's P.O.V

I slowly made my way to my usual selling spot, and quickly began to yell out false headlines. I smiled to myself as I remembered kissing Sage for the second time. Spark told me to do it to see if I could feel something, but when I kissed her, I had an image of Madison.

The reason I didn't drink last night was because I didn't want to kiss Sage with liquor on my breath. I still didn't know what I felt about her, it felt like I had to kiss her. Like something was making me. Like I didn't do it on freewill. I cursed a man who refused a pape, and watched him walk away. I sighed and shook my head as I yelled out another headline.

My mind kept flashing from Sage to Madison, and then back to Sage and so on. Madison's picture then stayed in my head, and it became so real that it…began to move? I focused my eyes onto what I was seeing. I wasn't imagining it! It was Madison. She was walking through the crowd of people beside a man who I recognized to be her father.

I was so surprised that I couldn't find my voice to call out to her. Her long, curly black hair was almost the same when I last saw her. She was wearing a soft blue dress with flowers on it, and had her hair half pulled back. And then, as if by magic, her soft brown eyes locked with my electric grey eyes. I could see surprise in her eyes as she stopped in her tracks and stared at me.

Her mouth hung open slightly as she stared. Her father then tugged on her arm, and she immediately was pulled out of the trance. She gave me one last glance as she began to walk away.

"Madison, wait!" I called, pushing people out of my way. She turned back around and gave me an odd look. I soon caught up with her and she just stood there like she didn't know me. She was beautiful; even more beautiful than last time. She tilted her head and smiled slightly.

"Can I help you?" she asked politely. I couldn't keep from smiling.

"Madison, don't youse remember me?" I asked, stepping closer to her. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled once more.

"Of course I remember you!" she said, throwing her arms around my neck and pulling me into a loving hug. I dropped my papes on the ground and wrapped my arms around her waist, hugging her back with just as much love. Her father glanced behind when he noticed that his daughter was no longer following him. He scowled at me as I released her and kept hold of her arms.

"I can't believe dat yer back!" I said, searching her eyes. "What're youse doin here?"

"Well, my father has business to do, so I came along!" she said, showing off her pearly white teeth. There were just a bit of freckles on her face, which opened up her beauty. Her long, black locks of hair hung by her face, and her perfect brown eyes were full of excitement.

"I've missed youse so much!" I said, hugging her once more. Madison laughed, and then everything got silent as I got closer to her face. Without hesitation I kissed her lips. I had forgotten what it was like to kiss her. It was…real. Nobody was making me do it, or some stupid rule like mistletoe. I pulled away and seen her smile.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"For what?" I asked.

"For leaving, I should have told you." I shook my head.

"All dat matters is dat youse is back…even if youse don't stay for long." Madison glanced back at her father, and then returned her gaze to me.

"I…I have to go," she said, sadness echoing in her voice. I sighed and released her arms.

"Come by da Lodging House?" I pleaded, giving her puppy-dog eyes. She laughed and nodded.

"How can I say no to that face," she said, kissing my cheek. I grinned as she slowly began to walk back to her father, blowing me a kiss as she left. My heart was pounding against my chest, and I must've looked stupid just standing there grinning at nothing. I then remembered my papes and quickly retrieved them, and continued selling, thinking about Madison.

Normal P.O.V

It didn't take long for me to finish selling, so I quickly headed over to the restaurant for a quick bite to eat. I didn't eat much, because I wasn't really hungry.

After I was finished at the restaurant I quickly scurried back over to the Lodging House. Skip has been doing wonders on helping take care of Chance.

I entered the Lodging House to find that I was one of the first ones done.

"I'm exhausted," I said, throwing myself down onto a chair beside the boy who I knew to be Lucky. He laughed and took a sip from the drink in front of him.

"Well, dats what bein a newsy does to ya," he said.

"Yeah, I know," I said, taking a deep breath and letting it out. The front door quickly opened and in walked a chipper Spot.

"Hey everyone!" he said, waving his hand. I raised my eyebrows as he took a seat beside me and pulled the change out of his pocket. He placed the coins onto the table and began to count them.

"Twenty two, twenty three-"

"Spot?" I interrupted. Spot raised his head and gave me an odd look.

"What?" he asked, trying to count the change over.

"I…have to ask you something," I said, propping my elbows up on the table. He nodded, which meant for me to continue.

"About that kiss…" I started.

"It was a friendly kiss, right?" he asked, more like said. I wrinkled my eyebrows as he sighed and put the change back into his pocket. "Listen, Sage, youse is a great friend, but-"

"I understand," I said, getting up from my chair and storming out of the room. That bastard! That stupid, ignorant, cocky ass bastard! He did it again! How come he always plays with my head like that?

I stormed in the kitchen and muttered a few "colorful" words under my breath.

"Whoa; intense language there Sage," Skip said. I didn't even notice him leaning against the counter.

"Hey Skip," I muttered, grabbing an apple from the basket of fruit.

"Why are youse so down?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I don't want to talk about it," I said. I grabbed a knife and began to cut the apple up. I gave a loud whistle, and Chance came running into the kitchen. I placed the cut up apple pieces onto the ground and Chance began to eat. Skip watched Chance in amusement as somebody knocked on the front door. I gave him an odd look and he followed me out into the foyer. Who knocks on the Lodging House door? Don't people just barge in nowadays?

I watched on of the boys open it, and stare confusedly at the black haired girl.

"Can I help youse?" he asked, tilting his head in confusion.

"She's here for me," came a voice from the main room doorway. Everybody switched their gaze to Spot as he walked over to the door and asked the girl to come in. She was very pretty, and looked like she was made of money. Skip chuckled as he watched Spot escort her to the main room.

"Maybe Spot hired 'er," Skip said, looking amused at my surprised look.

"Spot isn't like that!" I snapped, following Spot and the mysterious girl into the room. Most of the other newsies did the same and watched the girl in confusion. Spark's eyes went wide with surprise, and he was immediately at Spot's side, whispering something in his ear. Spot just gave him a grin and escorted the girl to a chair.

"Spark!" the girl said, her eyes lighting up. Spark smiled and kissed her hand.

"Madison," he said, nodding towards her. My eyes went wide and my mouth hung open. Madison? The Madison? The Madison who put Spot through so much pain? I crossed my arms over my chest and glared intensely at her. She smiled and laughed as the boys crowded around her and began to ask her questions. Spot kept close to her, glaring at some of the boys.

"Wow…she…looks odd," Skip said from beside me.

"What?" I asked. "She's beautiful! And not to mention she has money growing out of her ears!" I said, sending her more death glares.

"Yeah, well, she looks prissy to me," Skip said, pulling an apple out of his pocket and biting into it. Spot said something to his boys and then gently kissed Madison's cheek. I felt heat rise into my cheeks as anger flooded my body.

"That son of a-" a hand clasped over my mouth as the last word came out as: "Bifhgch." Skip then released his hand and I muttered a quick thanks. For some reason I felt like yanking that girl's hair out of her head, and then poking her eyes out with sticks. I know, a very violent thought, but I can't help it!

So, Spot was only using me to forget about little miss money-maker here, huh? I then turned my glare to Spot, who laughed at something funny Madison said. Oh, so she thought she was funny too? I twirled around and stormed upstairs, planning my revenge on the one and only: Mr. Brooklyn.

Next Chapter: What in the living hell does Spot see in a prissy-ass goody two shoe? Madison gets on Sage's bad side when she says something she shouldn't say. And what's this? The little bitch is reading the letters Sage's dad sent her?

Spot's feelings for Madison increase when he sees Sage kiss…Splinter? Does Mr. Brooklyn feel…jealous?

Author note: Well, you guys hate Madison, Sage hates Madison, I hate Madison…wow, that's a lot of hate. DOWN WITH MADISON, DOWN WITH MADISON! LONG LIVE SPOT!