Kid Blink's Dreamer: I'm not stopping ANYWHERE!

Slightly: Except the end.

Shut up, Slightly. Quit being stupid.

Slightly: I thought that was your job?

Nosilla: I know. I'm so bad.

Scamley Elliot: The beginning HAS to be kind of rushed, because I didn't want to go through eleven years in excrutiating detail. But don't worry. I'll slow down once she's settled in.

Outsider Wolf: Bravo! This part takes place about two or three summers before the strike. So they're around fifteen.

Unknown-Dreams: Yeah, he's only just been made King of Brooklyn. He hasn't really gone into "cool" mode.


Spot gave Two-Bits a funny look, but she ignored him. Bookie was sitting on the couch. He had been chatting with another newsie, a tall Asian boy in a pink undershirt. He looked surprised at being called Bookie. He stared at Two-Bits and scrutinized her, trying to recall where he had seen her before.

"Bookie, it's me! Two-Bits!" she exclaimed, taking a few steps forward.

"Dat ain't Book—" Spot began, but Bookie cut him off.

"Two-Bits!" he exclaimed, standing up. She nodded, then rushed forward, hugging him, tightly. He handed his crutch to the Asian boy and hugged her back.

"Have you been here this whole time?" she asked, looking him over. He looked healthy, and he seemed to be getting around well on his crutch. He nodded.

"Dice took it should be brought, not took me here to stay with Skipper. He figured it was best. They call me Crutchy around here. How is Dice? Still leader?" he asked, sitting back down. The Asian boy moved, and Two-Bits sat down next to him.

"Bookie…Dice isn't…He's…" She wiped at her eyes, furiously, frustrated at how to explain it. Crutchy tilted her chin up, his brown eyes full of concern.

"Bits, what happened?" he muttered. She shook her head.

"Striker happened. Showed up this morning."

"Crutchy growled at the mention of Striker's name. Striker had been the one who had damaged his leg.

"He challenged Dice to a fight and…won. Gutted him. He's in charge now. I left." Crutchy gasped, slightly, and ran his fingers through his curly hair, looking shocked.

"Dead?" he whispered. Two-Bits nodded. "Joik!" Two-Bits smiled at that. All these years, Crutchy still had the mouth of a ten-year-old.

"How do youse two know each other?" asked a familiar voice. Two-Bits stood up and faced Jack Kelly, who had just walked in. She smirked at him.

"I'se Two-Bits. 'Member me? I'se the ten-year-old dat looked five." Jack's eyes widened in recollection.

"I remember you. Youse was the smart mouth!" Two-Bits laughed.

"Yeah, I was dah smart mouth."

"She needs a new borough. She can't come to mine 'cause I'se don't got any goils. I figured she could come hea," Spot said by way of explanation.

"Sides, I can't stand him," she laughed. Jack looked her over, then shrugged.

"I suppose you could. Come on and meet everybody."