A/N: Okay, once again, I do not own Newsies, or any of their characters, however, I do own all others unless otherwise stated. Also, a big thanks to Bittah for pushing me to write! lol That's two chapters in one night now! Anyway, this next chapter's another memory. So…Happy reading! And please review!

Chapter Fourteen: Kattie

Win ushered Katherine into the Brooklyn Lodging House, and up a flight of stairs to the bunkroom, where a couple other Brooklyn newsies sat around, most getting ready for their day of selling papers. Alibi had disappeared down the hallway, and soon arrived in the room following two slightly older boys, one of whom was only 4 inches taller than her.

The two new boys sat on the bunch across from her, regarding her intently. The shorter of the two carried a gold-tipped cane, and had a dark-colored cabby hat pulled down slightly over his face so that his features were hidden, though, Katherine could see that he had dark-blonde hair of a color almost exactly the same as her own. Then she noticed a peculiar key hanging around his neck, and a slightly puzzled expression came over his small face.

"What's yer name kid?" he asked her, clearly regarding her from under his cap. Being the difficult girl that she was, she lowered her head slightly so that her face was completel hidden by the hood she still wore on her head.

"Tell me yer's foist, an' den maybe I'se'll tell yas mine," she replied defiantly. Frisk had taught her never to yield to someone who appeared to be of higher power than her. Because even though they acted like they were, they probably weren't.

"Kid, maybe no one's clued yas in heah yet, but I'se da leadah 'round dese pawts, an' you'se bettah stawt talkin' befoah I'se soak yas," he snapped, cluing her in on his short temper.

"An' if I'se refuse ta listen ta yas?" she asked defiantly, lifting her face and shoving back her hood as the boy grabbed the front of her dress and hauled her face an inch away from his own, clearly ready to snap at her, but he stopped mid his first word as they both took in a sharp gasp. As her eyes widened, Katherine saw them mirrored in the boy's identical face. Had they're size and age difference not given it away, someone could have easily mistaken them for twins.

Releasing the front of her dress, he pushed pulled his hat off and sat back down as everyone in the room fell silent, staring at the two. After a few minutes of deathly quiet in which everyone hardly breathed because of the tension in the air, Katherine and the boy both began to chuckle.

Spitting into his palm, the boy held out his hand to Katherine, a small grin on his face. "I'm Spot. Spot Conlon, an', well, I'se da leadah 'round heah."

Katherine spat into her own dirty palm and shook his hand, introducing herself, "I'se Kat'rine Conlon. But most peoples jus' calls me's Kat if dey's friend's wit' me."

"Wells Kattie, looks like ouah paths jus' criss-crossed. You'se must be da sistah I'se heard rumors dat I'se got. Well den, welcome ta Brooklyn!"

With that he lead her off, showing her around the lodging house, and giving her a pair of pants and suspenders that actually fit. A week after she arrived, he also gave her a key like the one he wore on a black leather strap. But instead of putting it around her neck, he tied it in an "X" over her left hand, with the key hanging under her wrist, saying that it respresented her nickname. It was a criss-cross. From there on out Katherine Conlon became known as Criss-Cross Kat, a name she happily accepted in adoration of her older brother, who gave her his own nickname for her that was private, and it turned out to be the first name he ever called her by...and the last...Kattie.

A/N: Okay, this is just a side-note, but "Kattie" is not pronounced like "Katie" it's actually pronounced like Cat-Tea. Mmkay! I think that's it. Oh! Wait! I'm still in need of some more characters, so, if you still wanna reply to my CC, the form's at the end of chapter 12, and just email it to me a Anyway, please review! Criss-Cross

Shout Outs:

Bittah: Hey. Yeah. It does go a little fast, but I'm mainly just trying to really set down the plot right now, I plan to go back and add in details, etc. But I hope you like it! And thank ya! I'm glad that people actually like it. I was worried that it'd be a flop. Anyway, I'm anxious to see what you thought of your character's debut in the last chapter!

Angelfish: Glad you like it! lol If you wanna be in the story then send in your CC info! The CC's still open, at least through Friday. I'm still in need of some more Queens characters. lol And you've read the story, so that'll give you an advantage over some others. Anyway, glad you like it! And you'll have to read to find out if she does! wicked laugh

Alleyway: Hey goil. Yup, I have. lol And now even more than you've read before. Glad you love it! Hope you'll read on!

Spot: Read! Read! Read! A I'll soak yas!

Now Spot! What did I say about being nice to the readers?

Spot: Fine…Fine…But dey won't read den!

They'll read if they want to. whispers to you Please excuse my brother, he's a tad on the rude side sometimes…Please review! Criss-Cross