The next morning Harmony was woken in a way she was unaccustomed to. One minute she was sound asleep in her nice, warm, dry bed – the next moment she was sputtering and drenched in freezing cold water. She sat up quickly coming face to face with a smirking Spot, who was sitting on her bed with the bucket still his hand.

"Ya sleep well, Bittah?" he questioned still smirking.

"Drop dead," she replied pushing him off the bed.

Spot pretended to be hurt as he picked himself off the floor. "Is dat anyway ta talk ta yer fearless leadah?" he asked attempting to look innocent.

"Nope, good thing yer not Jack."
"Thankfully, but I'se is yer fearless leadah, fer da time bein' at least an' boy are you's gunna see some changes 'round heah!"

"What da hell are ya talkin' 'bout?" she asked looking shocked and worried.

"Jest what I'se said…I'se in charge 'round heah an' I'se sick of you'se sittin' roun' all day an' not pullin' yer weight." He stared straight at her before finishing his speech. "It ends now. If you'se wants ta stay heah, dat is." He looked down at her drenched night gown. "Hurry up an' get ready, Bittah. All da rest a da boys are long gone an' so's you got no one heah ta babysit you'se. It's jest you an' me."

He walked out of the room saying "You'se gots two minutes ta get dressed or Ill come in heah an' do it meself". With that he slammed the door.

Harmony was a little frightened and knowing that Spot was one to carry through with his threats she hurried to get dressed. She had just finished when Spot swung the door open.

"Good yer ready now hurry up, let's go."

Harmony started to ask, "Go where?" but before she could get her first syllable out Spot leveled her with his piecing glare and said, "When I'se wants ya ta talk Ise'll let ya know. 'Till den be a good goil, keep yer mouth shut an' wese'll get 'long jest fine."

She glared back angrily but didn't say anything. He took her to the front desk and yelled "Kloppy I'se brung her down!"

Kloppmann emerged from his office saying, "Good, good. All right girl, don't just stand around all day! There's bunks to be made and washrooms to clean!"

Harmony couldn't contain herself any longer. "What are ya talkin' 'bout?! I thought I was goin' ta sell papes, ya know be a newsie!"

Spot smirked. "Yeah, well, we'se gots 'nough newsies, but no one ta clean up aftah them. Dat's wheah you'se comes in. Ya clean hard, stay nice, an' keep ya mouth shut an' maybe ise'll let ya be a newsie some day! 'Til dat day youse'll clean. Got dat?

Harmony looked angrier than she ever had before and started to tell Spot exactly what she thought of him but he cut her off saying, "Well Bittah, if you'se don't like it you'se could always leave…"

He smirked.

"You'd like dat wouldn't ya? Well ya can't get rid a me dat easily Mr. Brooklyn! I hate ta break yer heart but I'm stayin'! Washin' a couple a rooms won't kill me!" She looked at him straight in the eye.

Spot laughed, making her more angry, and threw a rag at her. "Good, den der's sum bathrooms 'n der wid yer name on dem."

Harmony took the rag and stomped off. Spot watched her stomp up the stairs then turned and went to sell papers, leaving an amused Kloppmann smiling to himself.

'I wonder how long they will keep this fighting up before they realize their true feelings. They keep going like this and they are gunna kill themselves before they have time to realize it.' With that he went back to sitting behind his desk doing important business, such as playing cards.

A few days went by fairly uneventfully. Harmony proved herself to be a skilled, hardworking cleaner, impressing Kloppmann. She spent her nights hanging out with the boys. She played cards, talked, and above all, avoided Blink. She couldn't bear to see that wounded puppy dog look in his smiling face any more, but she didn't know what to do about it. After the night when she had flirted with him, for Spot's benefit, she had more or less stayed away from him since she knew it really was mean to lead him on. Although, she had managed to convince herself that this had been her own idea and not one of Spot commands.

Spot and Harmony continued to have their fights, which were almost always the same. Harmony would make and offhand comment about Spot, and he would figuratively jump on her. It always ended with Spot threatening to soak her and throw her out on the streets. She would always assert that he would never do that and eventually would stomp out to the fire escape until she had cooled off and then go straight to bed without talking to anyone.

Jack was still absent from the Newsboy Lodging House. Spot had told everyone that Jack had to go to Brooklyn and he would be back soon. Even though everyone was very confused about this no one dared to ask questions, especially since Spot seemed to be in a bad mood constantly.

"Are you'se guys as sick a dis whole thing as I'se am?" Blink asked. The boys all nodded to show their agreement. A couple of the newsies were sitting in Central Park holding a secret meeting.

"Yeah, alls dat happens anymoah is Harmony an' Spot fightin'! I shoah miss Jack 'roun heah," Mush complained.

"I'se certoinly has moah respect fer da Brooklyn newsies…havin' to put up wid da high an' mighty puppy dog's moodiness all da time." The newsies had pemanantly adopted Harmony's nickname for Spot, when he wasn't around of course. "I'se thinkin dey'se brain dead 'cause its easier dan listenin' ta Spot all da time!" Racetrack put in. The boys all laughed but didn't eliminate the possibility.

"But what can we'se do 'bout it? Obviously we'se can't jest ask Spot to be nice ta her an' I'se doubt Harmony's gunna wake up sum day an' decide she's madly 'n love wid Spot," Skittery pointed out.

"Who says she'se gotta love Spot?" Blink said hurriedly. "All we wants is fer dem two ta be civil."

"Kay, so what's we gunna do 'bout it?" Skittery asked.
"Well, I'se gots an idea but it'll prolly end in all a us gettin' soaked by Spot," Blink said looking around for reaction…which he got.

"What? Why'se we gotta get soaked fer it?!"

"I'se ain't gettin' Spot mad fer sum stupid goil!"

"Are ya crazy!?"

"What? Last boy dat crossed Spot still ain' walkin' an' thinkin' right!"

"Would you'se cowards all SHUT UP!" Blink yelled. He wasn't smiling now.

"Look I'se ain't askin' you'se all ta do da dangerous parts…Ise'll take care of it. I jes' need ta make sure yas ain't gunna interfere. All right so I'se was thinkin' what if we'se…I'se means what if I'se 'accidentally' locked 'em in a room togethah 'til they promised to be good?"

Everyone looked shocked at Blink. Only a completely crazy person would try that with Spot Conlon!

"Well, I'se fer one loves yer plan…a course dat doesn't mean Ise'll help you'se but ya got me word that I'se definitely wont get involved," Race commented smiling.

Blink's smile returned to his face and he nodded to Race in thanks. The rest of the boys made comments similar to Racetracks.

Blink gave a brave smile and commented wryly, "Now I'se jest gotta get dem 'n a room togethah an' not get killed 'n da process."

The boys all gave sympathetic smiles.

"I gotta give you'se credit Blink," Mush said nicely. "You'se a brave boy. I mean even if ya do make dis all work out you'se ain't gunna be 'round long 'nough ta get yer praise seein' that Spot will prolly kill ya."

"Thanks Mush. You'se a big help…" Blink said glaring at Mush.

All the boys went back to the Lodging House acting as if nothing had happened. They were greeted at the door by the familiar screams of Spot and Harmony as they fought over who was the better fighter. They had been through this fight many times, but they were starting to run out of things to fight over so they returned to old favorites frequently.

"Looks like now's as gooda time as any," Blink said, grimacing when he heard a loud thump from upstairs and hoped it wasn't Harmony being thrown out the window.

The boys entered the bunk room finding Spot and Harmony wrestling on the floor. Harmony, although not as skilled of a fighter as Spot, was holding up her side of the fight using various girl techniques (i.e. nails, hair pulling, biting when necessary) to her advantage. Spot was trying to pin her to the floor when he saw the boys come in. Harmony looked up to see them and Spot took the opportunity to finally pin her down. She squirmed around yelling, "GET OFF A ME".

Spot smirked at her. "Good fighta, eh? Ya wouldn't last two seconds 'n Brooklyn let alone be able ta soak all me boys, Bittah. Nice try, doh. Maybe ya should go play wid some dolls an' leave fightin' ta da boys." He got off of her still smirking and walked towards the door.

"Heya boys. How's it goin'?" Spot asked as he passed.

"Hey Spot, can I talk ta ya in private for a second?" Blink asked, trying to feign confidence.

Spot glanced at him oddly. "Shoah Cyclops, I'se gotta couple seconds…no longer doh I'se got things ta do.

Blink nodded and walked toward to washroom, ignoring Spot's use of his nickname.

'Wow,' Spot thought. 'Somethin' must really be up. He didn't even whine about his nickname. I wondah what's buggin' him'.

"So whaddya want?" Spot asked when they were in the bathroom.

"Well, I'se wants ya ta be nicer ta Harmony dat's what I want. I'se and' da oddah boys are sick a you'se two's constant fightin'! How 'bout you'se both jest grow up?" Blink said in one quick breath.

"I'se hope you got dat outta yer system Cyclops 'cause I would hate ta hafta soak ya fer it more dan once," Spot commented raising his fists.

"Wait a minute. I'se realizes yer gunna kill me and I'se accept it but foist I wanna finish since I ain't too keen on two beatin's in one day," Blink said sounding more confident than he was.

"All right what else has ya gots ta say?" Spot questioned.

"Hey Harmony come're fer a minute!" Blink yelled into the other room.

Spot looked at him oddly but made no move to stop him. Harmony's popped her head in saying, "Whaddya want Blink I don't really want ta be near him anymore."

"Jest come're for a second" Blink said trying to get her farther into the room.

Harmony walked a little closer. "Okay, what is it dat ya couldn't say when I was three steps away?"

"Uhh…nuttin" Blink said running out of the room. He quickly locked the only unlocked door. He didn't have to worry about them trying to jump out the window since it was a fairly long fall and pavement under it.

"All right you'se guys when you'se starts bein' civil-like Ise'll let ya out…'til den you'se ain't comin' out fer nothin'," Blink yelled through the door.

All the newsies that hadn't been at the secret meeting were in shock. None more shocked than Spot, however.

"Let me out now! You'se a dead man! I ain't gunna be friends wid dis slut! Let me out! I'll soak ya!!" Spot yelled through the door, banging on it with his cane.

"Oh yeah! Tell him yer goin' ta kill him. Dat will make him want ta let ya free. 'Cause Blink is so gunna sit an' think, 'I really want ta let an angry killah outta locked doors so he can come an' get me!" Harmony commented sarcastically.

"Yeah, well, I'se don' see you'se doin' nothin', Bittah. Maybe you'se likes bein' 'n heah, but I certoinly don't," Spot said glaring at her.

"Get over yourself, you jerk. You think I want to be in the same state as you, let alone the same room?" Harmony asked.

"Well, den, hows 'bout helpin' me out den an' try to find a way outta heah? Isn't Blink supposed ta be yer boy? Isn't that how it woiks princess? You'se says jump an' he says how high? Maybe you'se ain't as great as you'se though ya were!" Spot commented.

"Yer makin' fun a me? I thought you were supposed ta be feared by everyone. Why haven't da rest a da newsies ran ta help der 'fearless leadah'? Harmony asked pointedly.

Little did Harmony know that the Brooklyn newsies were trying to help Spot. They had ran to the washroom to release him right away. Blink was standing watch by the door and refused to give them the key. They were about to give him the worst beating of his life when the rest of the Manhattan newsies rushed to the aid of their fellow Manhattanian. The three Brooklyners were sadly outnumbered and ran off to Brooklyn to get Jack or recruits. They refused to leave their beloved leader locked up in a washroom.

The fight inside raged on. They yelled until their voices were too hoarse to continue and then resorted to throwing objects and water. After a couple of hours, they were both soaking wet, their throats hurt and they were out of breath.

Spot finally said, "Look I'se ain't 'specting us ta be best friends or nuthin' but hows 'bout we's calls a truce. I'se sick an' tired a dis an' unless we'se acts likes friends der ain't no way dey's gunna let us outda heah."

Harmony looked at him warily and answered, "I guess we could be friends, well ya know, pretend ta be friends. Anythin' ta get out a dis room an' away from you!"

Spot walked up and shook her. "It's dose comments dat is keepin' us 'n heah! Why caint you even try?"

Harmony brought her face up to look in Spot's eyes. 'He shoah does have pretty eyes. I guess I could be nice ta him…It wouldn't be dat hard…'

"All right, I can be nice…dat is I can be nice if you can," she said smiling.

"I'se can be plenty nice," Spot said forcing a smile. He let go of her and walked to the other side of the room. He felt her curious green eyes on his back as he walked away.

"Oh yeah, jest how nice can ya be?" she joked.

"You'se wants ta see?" he asked with a smirk. With that he walked over and gave her the best kiss of her life. When he pulled away he saw her smiling.

"Yeah dat is pretty damn nice," she said before pulling Spot in for another kiss.

During all of this time, the Brooklyn newsies had reached Jack. Once they explained it all to Jack he jumped up and started running towards Manhattan. 'Damnit! What was Blink thinkin'? Spot's gunna kill da poor goil an' den when he's finished wid her he's gunna go aftah Blink. He quickened his pace. I'se jest hopes I ain't too late.'

He burst into the Newsboys House and ran up the stairs ignoring Kloppmann's unenthusiastic greeting. He slammed Blink into the wall and said, "Give me the key, NOW."

Although the other newsies were more than happy to band with Blink against the Brooklyn boys, Jack was another story. No one moved to do anything. Half of them were even afraid to breath. Although Jack looks nice and easy going he can be quite frightening when he gets in one of his "moods".

Blink, knowing it was over, gave Jack the key. When Jack released him, he moved across the room to be the farthest away from the washroom. He thought he would prolong his life a few more seconds.

Jack hurried over and unlocked the washroom and flung the door open saying, "Look Spot, I'se sorry. Dis is all jest a mis…" He stopped short when he saw something so shocking he almost fell over.

All the other boys who were cowering in the corners began to emerge, curiosity overwhelming their fear. They were all just as shocked as Jack was to see Spot and Harmony in the corner kissing.

Once the lovebirds realized they had a audience they pulled away from each other immediately and stood up. Unfortunately, they tried to stand up at the same time and bumped heads, hard. Although the bewildered newsies didn't know what to expect next, they certainly didn't expect to hear the apologies that both Spot and Harmony gave to each other quickly.

"Jeeze Blink, its kinda scary how well yer plan worked. We'se all jest better stay on Blink's good side, he's a master-mind disguised behind a goofy smile." Racetrack commented, always having to be the first to break uncomfortable silence.

Everyone gave a strained laugh. Everyone except Spot that is. "Oh yeah, I'se forgot 'bout you'se Cyclops. Wheah is ya? Come an' take it likes a man"

Blink courageously stepped out the crowd of newsies. "All right lets get dis ovah wid," he said, looking like he would rather do anything than 'get it over with.'

Spot walked up to him, glaring all the way. "You'se knows what you'se dersoives, dontcha Cyclops? Ya locked me in a bathroom wid a goil I'se caint stand, you'se left me in dere for hours, you'se didn't listen ta me…"

"Yeah, yeah Spot. Are you'se gunna talk me to death or get to it?" Blink asked, feeling a little cocky since he was already going to get a beating.

"I'll get to it alright," Spot countered. He brought his fist up to his face, flattened it out and spit on it. He held it out for Blink to shake.

Blink had a look of utter shock and amazement on his face. "What are you'se up to Spot?"

"Look as mad as I'se am at ya, you'se was doin' me a favor an I'se is happy ya did it. Aldoh in day future I hope you'se is more careful when you'se does me favors, dat girl coulda killed me in dere."

Everyone laughed at this. Blink, although still confused, spit on his hand and shook Spots.
Spot then walked over and put his arm around Harmony's waist and whispered, "Can I'se talk ta ya outside fer a minute?" into her ear. She nodded shyly and let him lead her outside.

"So's I'se was thinkin', Bittah, we caint go back to how we'se used ta be…well I'se means that I don't want to…I'se kinda likes ya kid…" Spot said, more gently than Harmony thought was possible for him. Then he added, "But don't expect me ta say so infronta me boys, I'se gots a reputation to protect". He smiled so Harmony knew he was joking.

"But Spot, whatever will everyone do 'round here if we don't provide dem wid entertainment?" she asked pretending to be shocked.

"Dose boys needs ta get deir own lives anyways…so whaddya say?"

"What do I say 'bout what?"

"Well does ya wanna be me goil or somethin…" he asked.

"Yeah I guess dat would be okay wid me," she answered smiling shyly.

"Dat's good, Bittah," Spot said, not one to celebrate, even though his blue eyes looked even brighter. "So how 'bout comin' wid me ta Brooklyn fer a while?"

Harmony rolled her eyes. "How 'bout ya stop callin' me Bittah? I ain't bittah! Me name is Harmony."

Spot smirked at her. "Ya know as well as I do dat da name Harmony don't suit ya at all. Yer Bittah short fer Bittahsweet. Ya can be real nice and friendly sometimes an' oddah times ya can be completely…"

"Completely what?" Harmony asked narrowing her eyes.

"Completely…wonderful…" Spot covered none to skillfully.

"Nice try Conlon. I know what ya mean, actually. I nevah really liked da name Harmony fer me, but Blink came up wid it so I jest figured I'd go along wid it," Harmony admitted.

"Well, I'se jest gunna keep on callin' ya Bittah. It's poifect fer ya," Spot decided.

Harmony smiled at him. "I don't really mind anymore. I kinda like it now…"

Inside the boys were all talking about the day's events. Everyone was patting Blink on the back and congratulating him on his excellent plan and avoiding being murdered. Surprisingly, Blink wasn't smiling. In fact, he looked almost miserable. He looked as if his puppy had died. Mush noticed and pulled him aside.

"Hey what's wrong wid you'se? Yer plan worked an' all! Look not only did dey stop fightin' but deys actin' like they's in love 'r somethin'!" Mush exclaimed, wondering why his friend was so downcast.

"Yeah, dey's da poifect couple all right. Look I'se gotta go out fer awhile…ya know enjoy the life that I amazinly managed ta hold on fer, fer a'odda day. Ise'll see you'se later." With that Blink walked out of the bunkroom. Although no one stopped him, he didn't escape unnoticed. Soon everyone was guessing what was wrong with him and making up far fetched stories about him.

When Spot and Bitter came in everyone stopped talking and looked at them. Soon shouts of, "Come on Spot you'se gotta tell us" and "Spill it Conlon!" were heard around the room.

Spot rolled his eyes and said, "See, what did I'se tell ya about dese boys needin' lives a dere own?" to Bitter. Bitter laughed and said, "What will dey evah do widout us?"

All the boys stopped their yelling and joking when Bitter said this. They all stared at Bitter, who began to feel very self-conscious. Spot took a step forward and said, "You boys don't need me 'round heah anymoah an' even if ya does I'se ain't willin' ta stay. Bittah an' me is gunna go visit Brooklyn fer awhile. Ise'll take nice care a her fer you'se boys and return her in as gooda condition as I'se borrowed her. We'se figured she could stay in Brooklyn for da week an' Ise'll bring her back wid me."

Spot then turned around and started packing up his meager belonging. Bitter stood there a couple more seconds and started doing the same.

Jack walked up behind Spot to figure out what was going on. "Hey Spot, you'se serious 'bout this?"

Spot turned around. "Don't I'se sound serious?"

"Well ya shoah did up dere but I'se means, it ain't been like you'se and her have been friends fer a long time. Hell, da boys an' me always figured dat you'se two would kill each oddah eventually or sumthin' like that."

"Yeah Jacky-boy well we didn' and I'se sorta likes her now. So, since she likes me too I'se don' see why she wouldn' come to Brooklyn fer awhile. It ain't like I'se askin' her ta marry me."

"Shoah Spot, I know, still I don' like the idea a her down der with dose rough boys wheah I cain't watch her."

"Yeah well Ise'll watch her twice as much if it'll make you'se feel bettah" Spot joked.

"You beddah take care a her Conlon or we'se are gunna have some real problems," Jack stated.

"Well you'se ain't gotta worry 'cause I'se ain't plannin' on hurtin' her," Spot assured him while finishing up his packing.

"All right Bittah ya ready? We'se should get goin'. I ain't to keen on ya walking through Brooklyn in da dark. I would hate for you to get hurt," Spot shouted across the room, emphasizing particular words for Jack's benefit.

"Yeah, I'm all packed and everythin' let me jest say goodbye ta everyone," Bitter replied.

She then went around the room saying goodbye to all the boys. Afterwards she hugged Jack and started to walk out. "Wait a minute," she said. "Where is Blink? I can't leave widout sayin' g'bye ta him!"

It turned out that no one knew where Blink was. Bitter eventually had to leave though because it was getting late. Jack promised to tell Blink she said goodbye and to give him a hug for her. He had no intention of following through with his latter promise but didn't want Spot to get angry and would have promised Bitter almost anything.

Blink walked in an hour later, resolved to tell Harmony his feelings about her. He looked all over for her and finally gave up and asked Jack where she was.

"Oh you'se finally got back!" Jack said. "Harmony went to Brooklyn wid Spot fer a week 'r so.. She was all upset 'bout not getting' ta say 'bye ta ya but it was getting' late so she had to go. I'se is supposed ta say 'bye fer her."

"Yer supposed ta do something else fer her too Cowboy," Racetrack commented, from where he had been listening to the conversation.

"Yer funny Race. That was almost as funny as what you'se likes ta call a poker face," Jack commented.

"Aw low blow Cowboy! Anythin' but me gambling!" Racetrack said pretending to be hurt.

"So what was you'se supposed ta do fer her?" Blink asked looking confused.

"Nothin' jest ferget 'bout it Blink!" Jack exclaimed, and started to walk away.
"Cowboy stop being such a wussy. Don' make me go tell Spot Conlon dat you'se lied ta his goilfriend!" Racetrack yelled.

"Look it ain't dat big of a deal! All she wanted me ta do wa---" before he had finished Racetrack 'accidentally' bumped into him from behind sending Jack flying into Blink's arms.

"Dat's what he was supposed ta do. Jacky-boy is jest a little shy dat's all," Racetrack said grinning.

Blink laughed and put his arms down, sending Jack sprawling on the floor. "Racetrack you'se bettah start runnin' now" Jack yelled running after Racetrack.

Blink watched the too run off, then sat down looking very melancholy. 'I caint believe she's gone…gone with Spot Conlons! Dat's even woirse! God knows what deys already doin'! Why was I'se so stupid! 'I can puts them tagether' 'I'se Blink an' I'se full of good ideas'. Damnit! If it weren't fer me they'd still be fightin' and I'se would still have a chance!'