Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original characters from the Disney movie "Newsies."

Hey guys :) And how is everyone today?

I would usually post chapters later in the night, but I've got a school concert thing later on (yay for band nerds) so I figured I'd just post it now. I tried to make it a little longer than yesterday's chapter. Enjoy :)

.-:-.-:-.

The sound of the guys getting ready had woken me up about 15 minutes before, but I still stayed in my bunk. I didn't feel like leaving the warmth of my bed, especially since it was still dark and chilly out before the sun came up. I covered my head with the blankets and put off getting up as long as I could.

I heard the bunk room door swing open and recognized Spot's voice as he spoke with someone else. I silently counted down the seconds in my head. 3...2...1.

"Chaos!" Spot yelled from across the room. "What're you still doin' in bed?!" Instead of responding, I simply rolled over on my bunk, making the blankets covering me shift around slightly. Then I was still again.

Spot growled in aggravation. "I'm warnin' ya, Chaos..." He said softly. When he used that calm tone of voice, it scared me more than when he yelled. Still, I didn't budge.

There was the sound of an object whizzing through the air, and it struck me right above my shoulder blade. Even through my clothing and the layers of blankets, it stung like hell. "Ow!" I yelped, sitting up and throwing the blankets off.

I glared across the bunk room at Spot, who was holding up his slingshot with a wide smirk on his face. "You gonna git up, or should I use ya for target practice again?" He said. For some stupid reason, I had thought he might actually treat me decently after we had somewhat gotten along on the roof the night before. Man, was I wrong.

I swung my legs over the side of the mattress and stood up, grumbling angrily to myself. As I got to my feet, Spot's smirk grew even wider and he tucked his slingshot into his back pocket. "Pffft... Why stop at da title of King of Brooklyn? Why not jus' go straight to "biggest show off in New Yawk"?!" I yelled.

That was when I noticed that there was a boy standing next to Spot. Although he was dressed like a newsie, I had never seen him in the Brooklyn lodging house before. He was tall and had a sort of lanky posture, the way he stood with his hands in his pockets. He stared at me through the strands of dark hair that hung in his eyes.

"See dat goil over dere? Da one I can't stand?" Spot said, pointing at me. My eyes narrowed even more at him. The boy looked over and nodded slowly. "You get da overwhelmin' pleasure of sleepin' in da bunk above her." Spot said sarcastically. "It's da only bunk we'se got right now."

"A'right... dat's fine." He replied, walking over. The boy took off the bag he was carrying on his back and reached up to put it on the top bunk. I watched him carefully out of the corner of my eye as I dug through the drawer for a clean shirt.

"He always dat bossy?" The boy asked, keeping his voice so that only I could hear it. A slight hint of an Irish accent could be heard in his tone, but years of living in America had withered it down, replacing it with a New York accent. I shrugged, looking up to meet his gaze. "Only when he's awake." I replied.

A smile spread across his face as he looked at me. He suddenly stuck his hand out to shake mine. "Da names Cricket." He told me. I cautiously accepted his handshake. "Chaos." I said in response.

Cricket raised my hand up to his mouth and his lips quickly brushed across it. "So I'se hoid." He said, grinning even wider. I rolled my eyes and pulled my hand back, but I couldn't help the slight smile that crept across my lips.

"You gonna start actin' like a showoff now, too?" I asked, turning away to grab my hairbrush off the nightstand. "Showoff? Who's bein' a showoff? I jus' happen to think dat ladies should be treated wit respect..." Cricket replied, shrugging and shoving his hands into his pockets.

I smirked and nodded slowly. "Ah, I see... So you'se jus' a suck-up." I retorted, walking past him towards the wash room.

.-:-.-:-.

Pulling my cap over my head, I opened the front door to the Brooklyn Lodging House. The fresh sea breeze blew from the river, bringing a salty smell with it.

I was the first to leave the lodging house, in order to narrowly escape the shaving-cream fight that had started in the washroom. While shaving, Nudge accidentally flicked some shaving cream onto Spit-Ball. And, well... it escalated from there.

I shoved my hands deep into my pockets, trying to avoid the early-morning chill in the air. Just as I passed the building neighboring the lodging house, I heard my name being called from behind me.

"Chaos!!" I sighed and stopped in my tracks, but I didn't turn around. I didn't need to. The annoyed tone of voice he always used to say my name was unmistakable. "What!?" I called impatiently over my shoulder. "C'mere!" he yelled.

I groaned and turned around, walking back to the lodging house. Spot was waiting at the bottom of the stairs with his arms crossed. "What'd I do to piss you off now?" I asked. "Jeez, Conlon. It's 6 AM. Would ya gimme a break?"

"Ya didn't do nuttin' to piss me off... Surprisingly." Spot added, scratching his head. "I need ya to show da new kid 'round since he don't know his way in Brooklyn."

"You kiddin'? I barely know my way 'round Brooklyn meself. It's only been three days! 'nd he ain't jus' da new kid. He's got a name, ya know, 'nd it happens to be Cricket."

Spot glared at me, his eyes filling with frustration. "Ya done?" He asked. I raised an eyebrow at him and nodded slowly. "Yes." I said. "Good. Now show da new kid 'round Brooklyn." There was just no winning with Spot. I rolled my eyes and leaned against the lodging house wall, waiting for Cricket to come out.

As Spot passed me on the sidewalk, a thought crossed my mind. "Hey! Wait up a sec." I said. He turned and gave me a look as if I was wasting his time. "Yeah?"

"You'se lettin' me sell witout you." I pointed out. Spot shrugged and shook his head. "So?" He asked. "So, two days ago you wouldn't let me outta yer sight unless I was wit Ghost. Now you'se lettin' me walk 'round Brooklyn by meself? Why da sudden loosenin' of da leash?" I replied. A smirk formed on his lips. "Foist off, you ain't alone. Yer wit da new ki-"

"Cricket." I corrected. Spot rolled his eyes. "Cricket. 'nd second, I'se been thinkin'... Jackie-Boy jus' said I had to keep an eye on ya. Neva said I had to torture meself wit yer presence twenty four-seven."

I narrowed my eyes at him. He returned my glower with an even bigger smirk as he began walking again.

.-:-.-:-.

When I heard the lodging house door creak open, I looked up from the pebble that I had been kicking against the curb. Cricket smiled at me as he jumped the few stairs. "Heya Chaos... What ya still stickin' 'round for? I thought ya left a while ago..." He said.

"I did leave a while ago, but it seems I'se been assigned as ya tour guide for the day." I replied, going over to meet him at the bottom of the steps. "Aw, don't worry 'bout it, Chaos. I don't wanna be a pain or nuttin'. I'll be fine on me own." Cricket told me. "And if Spot asks, I'll cover for ya 'nd tell him I was wit ya all day. He's da one who gave ya dis task, I'm guessin'?"

I smiled and nodded. "It ain't a problem, though. Believe me, ya won't be a pain. Nuttin's a pain compared to da crap Conlon's been givin' me since I got heah." I said. "Hold still a sec..." I added, reaching up to Cricket's face. A smear of shaving cream was left on his lower jaw line. I quickly rubbed it off and wiped my hand on my pants.

Cricket laughed. "Guess I missed some... Jeez, ya should see dat washroom. It looks like a snowstorm broke out inside. Shaving cream everywhere." He told me as we started to walk in the direction of the Brooklyn distribution center.

"We was covered from head to toe. You 'nd Spot were da only ones who were smart enough to get outta dere before da fight got too bad." Cricket said.

I shrugged. "Didn't really matter if Spot got outta dere or not. Dey'se so afraid of him, dey wouldn't even dare splatter him wit a speck of shavin' cream." I pointed out. Cricket nodded in agreement. "Come to think of it, Chaos... You'se da only one 'round heah who don't seem to be afraid of him."

"Hah! Why should I be? He ain't nuttin' but a pipsqueak wit a cane..." I replied matter-of-factly. A grin spread across Cricket's face as he looked over and down at me. "Hate to burst yer bubble, but I'se pretty sure Spot's taller den you."

"So?! Everyone's taller den me... It ain't much of an accomplishment." I sneered. Cricket rolled his eyes and followed me to the end of the distribution line.

.-:-.-:-.

So new there's a new Brooklyn newsie... He seems a little shady to me, guys... What do you think? hmm...

Thanks for reading, everyone. Please review if you can. I love reading your comments and stuff.