-1Disclaimer: The ones you recognize aren't mine, the ones you don't recognize are.

"Shay, Shay… you awake?"

Shay heard a voice she didn't recognize calling her. Why did her head hurt so bad? Where was she?

"Shay com on get up" The voice said again, this time reaching out to shake her shoulders. Shay opened one of her eyes and saw a very handsome young man sitting on the cot next to her.

"Do I know you?" Shay asked

The boy just laughed and said "Wow, you really did get wasted last night didn't you?"

"WHAT!" Shay asked sitting up quickly. When she did an immediate shot of pain went to her head and she felt like she was going to puke. She began gagging , and the boy quickly grabbed a bucket from next to the bed. He was just in time too, because right as he got it under Shays face she starting puking. When she was finished he laid the bucket next to the bed again, and she fell back into the pillow, now sweating. The boy grabbed a wash cloth from the table next to her bed and began wiping her face down.

"Well, since you don't seem to remember maybe I should re introduce myself" The boy said, wiping the cool cloth across her forehead.

"My name is Rhythm, and right now you are in Brooklyn. You came up last night, and lets just say you had a good time." Shay looked a little confused, as Rhythm sat there smirking at her.

"What happened last night?" Shay asked, barely above a whisper, because her head hurt so bad. The boy laughed again and then said

"Well, it's a bit of a long story, you sure your awake this time?" Shay wasn't quiet sure what he meant by "this time" but she nodded anyway, wanting to know why she felt like crap.

"Okay, scoot over first, my back hurts." The boy said. Shay did as she was told and scooted over in her cot, so Rhythm could rest his back against the wall as he spoke. He felt warm next to her, which made Shay feel safe, and she leaned her head over onto his shoulder. Rhythm just smiled and started his story. His deep, beautiful voice, painting a picture in Shays head.

Kleio and Rhythm where about 5 yards ahead of Shay, but she tried her best to keep up. They had been running for what seemed like forever, and they had just made it to the Brooklyn bridge. She looked up and saw Rhythm say something to Kleio, but she could hear what it was. Kleio just smiled and mouthed "Go ahead" Kleio picked up the pace, where as Rhythm, slowed down to walk with Shay.

"Hey" Rhythm said, as Shay finally walked up next to him

"Hi…." Shay said, trying to catch her breath

"You gonna be okay?" Rhythm asked, concerned at the state that Shay was already in, running probably wasn't the best thing to do.

"We….should…go… we might lose…Kleio" Shay said still attempting to catch her breath. Rhythm just smiled

"It'll be okay, I told her to go ahead and go back to the house, I'd walk with ya, I mean she's the only one that would be in trouble if she doesn't make it back on time. I figured you could use a rest, you look like shit."

"Wow, you're a real ladies man aren't you Rhythm?" Shay laughed. She was a little annoyed by people who took pity on her, she had survived 16 years with out their sympathy, what made them think she needed it now?

"Well, I try.. But Conlon is the one who ends up with the goyls." Rhythm laughed, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Shay rolled her eyes "I wonder why" She muttered under her breath, but not quiet enough.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rhythm stopped walking and asked her.

"Look" Shay said, shoving a finger into his chest. She shoved a little to hard, and made her finger throb with pain "Damn this guy is ripped!" she thought to herself. Trying not to show the pain she had caused her self she went on "Don't pity me okay. I am 16 years old. 16 years I went without you pitying me, nows no different. I don't need you, and I don't need your help." She said, poking him, this time a little more gently.

Rhythm just stared down at her, he was a good 4 inches taller. "I'se just makin sure youse okay, no need to get all defensive!" He said putting his hands up in defense

"Ise told you I'm fine, can you just take me to the lodgin house?"

"Yes your majesty" Rhythm answered, with an over exaggerated bow. Shay just rolled her eyes and they walked on

"Wow, I was really that bitchy?" Shay asked rubbing her head.

Rhythm just laughed. "Oh, the story gets better don't worry."

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Rhythm reached out and politely opened the door to the Lodging House for Shay.

"I'm capable of opening a door thank you very much" Shay said ripping it away from his grasp.

"Whatever you say sweetie" Rhythm answered throwing up his hands in defense, and then walking through the door.

When Shay entered the Lodging House, immediately the familiar smell of Whiskey hit her nose. The room was filled with tough looking dirty Brooklynites, that probably wouldn't hesitate to tear any one who looked at them wrong into pieces. Shay closed the door behind her, causing the Newsies to turn and look her way. One of the older of the Newsies stood up clutching his chest

"LADYS AND GENTS, I DO BELIVE THIS IS A SIGN OF THE APOCOLYPSE!" The boy yelled, looking around to the rest of the Newsies. The boy smirked a little and then said

":I never thought I would see the day, Rhythm actually brings a goyls home." The boy finished. The rest of the boys all started laughing as well, while Rhythm chased after the boy who had been talking

"I swear Sprockets, I get my hands on you your toast!" He yelled chasing him around the tables.

Shay spotted Kleio at one of the tables over to the right, and went to sit with her. Kleio introduced the other 2 boys that she was sitting with as Sprigs and Sticks. They both kind of waved and Sprigs pulled out a chair for Shay to sit next to him. As she went to sit down, she winced a little from the pain in her stomach. Sprigs noticing her pain, passed her the glass that was sitting in front of him

"Here" He said "Try some of this, it will make the pain stop." Shay wasn't sure what it was, but anything that could possibly make some of this pain go away, sounded good to her. She grabbed the glass and took a huge gulp. She immediately started coughing, and most of what she had tried to drink ended up on the floor. Sprigs just laughed and said

"Damn goyls, youse gotta swallow it!" Shay smiled a little, and took another smaller drink.

An hour later Shay was on her 5th glass and was felling pretty good. Sprigs and Sticks where laughing there butts off at the stuff she would do when she was drunk. She could barely talk, and more than once she fell out of her chair. Each time they would help her up, and just laugh. Shay just kept knocking the glasses back, and Sprigs brought her more. About the 5th time that she fell out of her chair, Rhythm who was sitting about tables away playing poker finally turned around and yelled over to her

"Hey Shay, youse wanna play poker?" Shay smiled and hiccupped and started to walk towards her table. About halfway there she stopped and yelled "OH NO! I FORGOT MY DRINK!" and turned around to go back and get it. Most of the boys in the lodging house snickered at her, but she really didn't care. She tripped on her way back to get her drink, almost knocking Sprigs out of his chair. He just laughed, and handed her , her drink, and she made her way back to play poker with Rhythm.

She sat down at the table and drank what was left in her glass.

"Well… So much for that one!" She yelled and tossed the glass over her shoulder. Rhythm reached back and caught it before it hit the ground and shattered. Sprigs got up to get Shay another glass, but Rhythm shot him a look, and he knew that she had had enough. Rhythm set the glass under his chair, and told the boy shuffling the deck to hurry up and deal. He dealt the 5 other boys and Shay their 5 cards and told them all to place their bets

Shay just laughed "I don't have any money…..". One of the older boys got a huge smile on his face and said,

"Well how bout, if you win, you get the money, but if you lose, you have to kiss the winner?" Shay, drunker than a dog just said

"Sure, just as long as you don't win" The boy turned bright red as the other boys around the table snickered. Rhythm placed his hand on Shays shoulder and asked,

"Twitch, you sure you want to do this?" Shay just glared at him and said

"I told you earlier I don't need your help, that still applies here.

"Fine" Rhythm answered quickly, "Its just I knows where these boy's mouths have been, I doubt you wanna be in a ten foot radius of them"

"I'll be fine" Shay shoot back.

"So do we have a deal?" The older boy who had originally proposed the idea asked.

Shay just nodded a little and said "Prepare to get your butts kicked boys." Then she looked down at the cards she had been dealt, slammed them back down to the table and yelled

"Hit me!". This time even Rhythm laughed.

"Shay that's Black Jack, we's playin five card stud."

"Oh" Shay laughed with a hiccup, "well then I want three cards"

The rest of the boys looked at their cards, and two of them had to fold. That left the dealer, the boy who had made the deal, Shay and Rhythm. Shay got her three cards and looked down to see what she had. Pair of twos. Oh well, these boys weren't too bad. Its not like she had to get married to them afterwards, she just had to kiss them once!

The rest of the boys got their cards, and the dealer threw his down in anger. "I aint got shit." He said, and got up from the table. Rhythm looked over to the other boy and told him to lay out his cards. He had a pair of nines. He looked pretty confident in his hand, but as he lay his cards down , Rhythm spread into a wide grin.

"What youse got Ryth?" One of the boys watching the game yelled out.

Rhythm fanned out his cards and laid them down on the table

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I aint got shit" He said and started to laugh.

"Really?" The other boy asked, a look of excitement coming over his eyes.

Rhythm started laughing again and then said "Of course I got something you idiot, why you think I'm smiling? I got a flush. Now give me my money!" Rhythm demanded still laughing. "And…. I think I won a little more than money tonight…" He said turning his head towards Shay.

Shay just smiled. "You know Rhythm, it is true what they say." Shay said, leaning close to Rhythm so their faces where only about and inch apart

"And what do they say?" Rhythm asked, grinning from ear to ear.

Shay ran her finger down his chest, giving him chills all over his body, but still he held her gaze. She ran her hand up his chest and onto his face. He was still looking fiercely into her eyes when she said

"Always get it in writing."

The Brooklyn boys all started to laugh as Shay got up from her chair and headed upstairs

"Damn…." Shay said, as Rhythm's story came to an end. Rhythm blushed a little, but still didn't say anything. In fact it was Shay who spoke first.

"Rhythm, what I don't get is, if I was such a bitch to you, why is youse taking care of me now?"

Rhythm just smiled and said "Awh, I got a soft spot for the new kids"

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Okay not so sure about his one either. Review if you want, I really wanna know what you guys think of this one