Author note: Wow, thanks for the great reviews in the last chapter, guys, I really appreciate it. So, to show my gratitude I am updating with another chapter.

Several days past, and Spot's wound began to heal slowly. I was still being haunted by the same dream over and over again, but nothing strange has happened lately. I still had no clue as to what Spot and Jack were hiding, but I was sure, knowing me, I'd find out.

But that was the last thing on my mind at the time, because I was informed, not too long ago, that there was going to be some kind of party.

"A party?" I questioned cluelessly.

"Yeah, ya know, for da strike," Jack answered as he hung his arm over Cadince's shoulder on the other side of the table.

"But the strikes over," I said, directing my voice towards Spot who sat on my left.

His eyes scanned over the newspaper in front of him as he sipped on a cup of coffee. He turned his unreadable gaze to me and smirked. "It's like an anniversary party," he said.

I raised my eyebrows and suppressed a laugh. "You're celebrating an event that occurred like a year ago?" I inquired.

"Dat's da plan," Jack answered with a toothy grin.

I shrugged and leaned back in my chair. "Okay, it's your party," I laughed.

"You are coming aren't you?" Cadince asked me with pleading eyes.

"O'course she is," Spot answered for me. "Who else am I gonna walk in with?"

"Well I'm sure you can find someone else at the last minute," I grinned. "Hell, you'll have a line from Brooklyn to, well, China."

Spot chuckled. "Doesn't sound too bad," he joked. "Maybe I will take one of dem."

Spot rose from his chair and gave me a sly wink. He walked to a table not too faraway where a group of girls had been admiring him secretly.

"Ladies," he said, removing his hat to show his charming face. "Yer lookin nice today."

The girls sent each other eager glances and suddenly went into fits of giggles. Spot looked back at me and half smiled as if he were king of Brooklyn or something. Oh…wait….never mind.

"What brings you here Mr. Conlon?" one of the girls asked, placing a gloved hand on Spot's forearm.

"Please, call me Spot," he said, taking a seat in an empty chair.

"Alright, Spot," she said, blushing shyly.

"You have to be kidding me," I said to the couple over the table. "He really thinks he's going to get me worked up because he's sitting with a bunch of girls?"

"Looks like it," Cadince laughed.

"Well," Spot said to the brunette, "we are kinda havin dis party in Manhattan and my goil don't seem to wanna go with me. So I was wonderin-"

"Oh I'd loved to go with you!" the girl immediately cut him off.

Spot smirked triumphantly and looked back at me. I rose from my seat and approached the table.

"Hi," I greeted the girl. "I'm Anomie…also known as Eve Carter."

The girl gulped and laughed slightly. "Uh, nice to, uh, meet you," she said hoarsely.

"I believe this moron belongs to me," I said, placing a hand on Spot's shoulder. "So, if you don't mind, I'll be taking him now."

Spot's smile widened as I forced him out of the chair and directed him back to the table. "Ha, I knew I'd get to ya," he said.

"Don't flatter yourself," I said, returning to my chair.

Spot tossed his hat on the table and leaned his head back. He placed a hand on his wounded side but didn't say anything. I could tell he was still in quite a bit of pain, even though he had too much pride to admit it. He acted so childish, but thought he was an adult.

I smiled slightly and looked away before he caught me staring. He was good at doing that. Although he assured me he never felt uneasy, he thought it was 'cute' and was definitely a turn on for him…which made me laugh…hard.

I sighed boredly and watched as Cadince rushed around, searching through her closet, and then her dresser and so on.

"Can we go now?" I asked, lazily picking up her music box.

"Is that what you're wearing?" she asked, one eyebrow raised to match her shocked tone.

"Yeah, what's wrong with it?" I tested.

"We're going to a party, not a bar," she said, pulling me to my feet.

I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms. "I'm not dressing up for an event I wasn't apart of!" I hissed.

"Sure you are," Cadince said. "Do it for Erica if not for me; she'd want you to look your best."

"Oh no," I said, stepping back. "Don't use Erica as an excuse. It's just wrong!"

"C'mon, Nomes, do it for Spot."

"I do plenty for that boy," I argued.

"Yes, but don't you think he'd be embarrassed if you showed up lookin like a rag doll," Cadince came back with.

"If he loves me as much as he says then he shouldn't be embarrassed about what I look like," I said proudly.

"Okay, if you won't give in by pleading then I'll just have to use force."

Before I could protest Cadince wrestled a dress on me. I pushed her away and immediately pulled at the thing that clothed me.

"Stop it, it looks good," Cadince said.

I turned to the mirror and studied the torture gown that flowed to the floor. It was a creamy white, but the fabric wasn't of silk but of a loose substance. It felt kind of rough but then again it was soft to my palms. It had no sleeves but thick straps that easily hung over my shoulders.

"And this should complete it," Cadince said, tying a corset over the dress.

"Oh no," I protested. "That is a mere torture device that takes away a woman's breath and pleasures a male from the unbearable tightness," I explained in words that confused my friend.

"Huh?" Cadince inquired.

"Do you even know how to put this on?" I asked, wincing as Cadince pulled tightly from the back.

"Not a clue," she said, grinning.

"Do you not understand the concept of personal space?" I said, as Cadince moved closer to tie the corset tighter.

"Not really," she said.

"Ow," I whined as Cadince finally got the corset tied.

Cadince wiped her forehead and sighed deeply. She studied me closely and grinned widely. "Looks good," she said.

"Good…now take it off…." I breathed.

"No, not until the party is over," she said.

Hours flew by as Cadince fixed my hair, me trying to fight her away, and makeup. I could've easily slipped away, but Cadince seemed happy, and it was the first time in a long time since Erica's death.

"Done!" she said proudly, admiring her work. "Not bad."

I took in a sharp breath, barely, and let it out. I pulled at the corset and groaned in agony. It didn't take Cadince long to finish getting ready and then we had to wait thirty minutes for the party.

"I'm gonna die," I said as we entered my house and walked into the study.

I threw myself on the couch and breathed deeply. Cadince sent me a smile and sat down on the chair.

"Uh, who are you and where's my sister?" a voice asked from the door.

I looked up at Daniel and sent him a warm smile. "This is Cadince's fault," I said clearly. "I was held against my will."

"Well Spot's here, if you want him to see you like this," Daniel grinned. "He's waiting at the door."

"Already?" I nearly screamed. "I'm never gonna be able to rest."

I rose from the couch and Cadince followed me out to the foyer where Spot stood with the Manhattan leader. The two boys turned around once they heard our footsteps and studied us closely.

"Well look who's dressed up," Spot said with a sly smirk.

"Don't get used to it," I said, sending him a glare. "If I could breath then I'd hurt Cadince."

Spot grinned and held out his arm which I took. The walk to Manhattan was dreadful since my body was completely numb from the death grip the corset gave me. The Irving Hall didn't look as inviting as usual since it was crowded with hundreds of newsies outside and in.

Spot, being the proud leader he is, made quite an entrance, dragging me along with him like I was some kind of prize.

"Keep this up and I'll ditch you for a Queens newsie," I whispered threateningly.

Spot smirked as he guided me to a table, Jack and Cadince following behind.

Author note: okay, the new boy will come in the next chapter; I'm too lazy to introduce him here.