"When you're way up high, you look below
at the world you left
and the things you know,
little more than a glance
is enough to show
you just how small you are."

"No," He said plainly "why Evy?"

"I need to see Sam, please Jack." I said giving him a pleading look. He sighed and stood up straight.

"I can take you to the bridge but then I have to go to see Sarah." Jack looked annoyed.

"Why do you need to see her?" I didn't like Sarah, she is so mean and she has mood swings worse then Brooklyn Boy.

"David told me it was something about Les but I'm not sure. Come let's go." He put his arm around me and led me out the door.

"Cowboy," I looked up at Jack, he was considerably taller then me, "do you think that Spot really likes Sam?"

"I don' no, Spots not the easiest guy to figure out." There was moment of silence then I spoke again.

"How old is he?"

"16"

"Why does he have a cane?"

"Well. I …a…I don't know…"

"Why is he leader of Brooklyn?"

"I guess because people are scared of him."

"Why?"

"Well he's tough and…why do you want to know?" Jack stopped and tilted his head.

"I just wanted to know more about him…"

"I know why…you LIKE him!" He smiled at me.

"No I don't, he's so frustrating and annoying and…" I counted all the qualities of that cretin on my fingers. I reached the second round on my left hand when Jack stopped me.

"Ok, I get it. He is a cool person, just try to get to know him. He'd leave you alone if he knew who you were"

"And who am I? The dictionary on legs? Sam's little sister. You herd Spot the other night. I'm nothing compared to Sam." By now, we had reached the bridge.

"Don't think that, because I don't, no one else does." He smiled "Spot will be by the docks, you can't miss it!" and with that he walked away. I walked along the bridge. Maybe I do like him…but I hardly know him…and Sam likes him…so I cannot LIKE him. Moreover, he is so insufferable! He did apologize to me though, but Mush and Blink made him do that.

"So, no, I don't like him. I defiantly do not like…" I looked up and saw Sam walking towered me. Well this is very convenient.

"Evelyn, fancy seeing you here." She said stopping in front of me. "They let you get out early, that's nice of Akil. You know, I haven't seen him in six years." She looked in the direction of the museum.

"Well you see father sent me this at the mu…" She cut me off with a sigh. She seemed anxious. We started walking back to Manhattan.

"Evy that's a very nice necklace but I don't care what's happening at the museum! I have a bigger problem! Spots coming over again tonight and how am I going to act around him?" I cannot believe it. What's happened to her? Is Spot all she cares about now?

"It's more important then Spot Sam, you see this…" She cut me off again.

"What happens if he likes me? What if he doesn't! Do you think he does?" Now this was getting annoying! We had made it to the end of the bridge.

"Why is it always about Spot?" She stopped and put her hands on her hips and gave me a motherly look.

"It's ok if you're jealous Evy. Someday you'll find someone to." JEALOUS? HELL NO! MAD? YES!

"I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS! YOU THINK YOUR SO MUCH BETTER THEN ME, BUT YOUR NOT! YOU'VE CHANGED SAM; YOU NEVER USED TO BE LIKE THIS!" It felt so good to yell at her. In the past weeks, she hasn't been the sister I knew, and I was sick of it.

"IM NOT JEALOUS SAM, NOT OF YOU, NOT ANYMORE! I HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TOO, SAM!" I started walking away but stopped and looked back at her. She looked awestruck. I started walking again, back to the lodging house.

I got there and went up to my bunk. I laid there thinking about Sam and Spot. They were a good couple. So were Jack and Sam. I guess I feel asleep because Jack woke me up.

"Evy, wake up." He said in a quite voice, "were all down stairs and I want you to come down, I'm lonely." I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

"Can't do anything without me Jack, now can you." I smiled and laughed "Is Spot down there?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Why? You want to see him?" Jack smiled at me. I knew what he was thinking.

"I don't like him Jack. I just wanted to know so I can….avoid him." I'm a bad liar. I did want to see Spot. Maybe he wasn't as bad as I had said before.

"Yes he's down there." He smiled at me and wait at the door while I quickly fixed my hair. I followed Jack down stairs and into a room that the boys called "The lounge". It was filled with old chairs, benches and, tables. Most of which looked like they were from Tibby's. There were Old maps on the walls and ,In a frame, A photo of the newsies strike.

"I'll be over here Jack." I said as I walked to a booth in the corner of the room. I looked at the table where the newsies were sitting. There where all the Manhattan boys, Spot and…who was that? There was a new girl at the table. She was very pale with light brown hair that reached her mid-back. I took a closer look at her and saw she had light green eyes. She was seated with Boots and spot. I'd ask about her later, now I'd like to read my book.

Jacks POV

I watched Evy start to read. She needs to come out more. Every one loves her here. All the boys always say how nice and sweet she is. I can't keep thinking about Evy's social issues. I tuned out those thoughts and sat next to Boots, Books, and Spot. Books used to be the only girl at the lodging house. About last month, she hopped a train to Canada because she was fed up with "All you disgusting filthy perverted curb-sucking nincompoops. Thank you, and goodnight." She missed us so she came home. We are all extremely touched.

Boots looked over at Evelyn, "Jack does she not like us or sumtin?" I looked at Boots and shook my head.

"She's just shy that's all. And I think sumtin happened today. She didn't seem quite right when I saw her earlier." I leaned back in my chair and played with my hat in my hands. Books looked around, concern and curiosity on her face.

"Sam mentioned something about that to me." Spot said looking at Evelyn. Now that I think of it, He had been looking at Evelyn ever since we came in. He had told me he didn't like Sam, which was a huge relief. However, he said he wanted to get to know Evy more.

"Spot, remember what you said about Evy last night? Well this is the perfect time to go and get to know her."

"Aaaaw, Spotty, you wanted to get to know her more? How cute! It's definitely a first, anyway" she finished in a stage whisper. He glared at her , looked at me and then back at Evy. He nodded and stood up, then sat back down taking a drink from his glass.

"What do I say to her? I don't normally say, I do." Well this was a twist. Spot Conlon didn't know what to say to a girl.

"And I don't think that will work with Evy somehow." I combed back my hair with my fingers.

"But why not? I am Spot Conlon, after all." Behind him, Books gave a cough and stuck out her tongue, then stole Spot's hat and brushed off her shoulder in a pompous (Spottish) way.

With that, Spot took another drink, grabbed his hat off Book's head, stood up and walked over to Evelyn.

"Jack?" Boot looked at over at me.

"Yeah Boots?"

"Does he like her?" Boots looked back at them with a smile.

"Don' no, but he's sure act'in noivis for Spot Conlon."

Evy's POV

I really wasn't concentrating at all. It was to loud and the book was boring.

"Um…hi" I looked up and saw Spot in front of me. He had his normal cocky smirk on.

"Hey Spot." He sat down next to me and said nothing. Well isn't this nice and awkward. I looked back at Spot, who was still looking at the ground.

"What book are you reading?" He pointed at my book.

"The History of The Pyramids Vol. 5" He was just standing there, just looking over my shoulder. He smelt like he had been drinking. "I'm sorry to be rude, but I don't like to have people hover over me when I read, it's distracting."

He grabbed the book out of my hands and put it down on the seat next to him. "Then, put down your book, I am a huge distraction. Girls look at me and can't stop. I mean, hell, you're staring at me now." I quickly looked away, he was right. I was staring into those blue eyes. Those blue eyes that belonged to a self-absorbed bastard. I mean really what did I ever do to him? I had made up my mind on what I was going to do next…glare at him. Well its not much but HE STOLE MY BOOK!

"It wasn't that good anyway…" I mumbled to myself.

"What was that?" Spot said looking at me.

"No. nothing. I just was wondering if I could have my book back." he looked at me nodded his head. I thought that he was going to give it back. I mean, he nodded his head.

"That sounds right, yeah. You want your book back. Nope, your not getting it back. Well, not tonight. You have to come to Brooklyn if you ever want it back." OK now this boy was really pissing me off.

"What makes you think I would want to come to Brooklyn?" He leaned back and put his arm around me.

"Oh I don't know, maybe someone by the name of Spot Conlon, but that's just a guess." This whole 'I'm the King of Brooklyn' thing has gone to his head.

"No, I thought of a better reason." I pushed his arm from around my shoulders and stood up. "To get my book" I took my book from beside Spot and walked out to the door. I was almost out of the room when someone pulled on my arm. I spun around only to be faced with Spot. He quickly leaned down and kissed me. Now WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS THIS! Actually it wasn't that bad…WHAT THE…I MEAN… "Spot STOP!" I pushed away from him. I looked at Jack, he half way toward me and Spot. I turned and ran up the stairs. I reached my bunk. What happened, Spot kissed me that's what happened. Why did he kiss me. Well he was drunk that's why. "I HATE HIM!" I growled throwing myself down on my bed and picking up my book. I read for the longest time till I feel into an uneasy sleep.

The next morning I woke up with a blanket covering me. I sat up noticing that most of the boys had left. Race and Jack were still there getting ready.

"Well hello there!" Race said as he combed back his hair. I smiled at Race. He was nice, unlike Mr. Brooklyn. I stood up and looked for my book, it wasn't on the floor or under my pillow were I useualy kept it.

"Race…have you seen my book?" I looked under the bunk and on the bunk above me, I pulled back the cover of my bed and saw a note. It was incredibly messy :

You want your book? Come to Brooklyn

-Spot Conlon