Disclaimer: I don't claim ownership over any of the original characters from "Newsies." Chaos, Cricket, and the Brooklyn newsies (Minus Spot Conlon) are the only ones that belong to me. Everyone else is property of Disney and some other random people.

Hi guys. Before we start, I've got something I wanna share with all of you: Okay. So I write on Microsoft word, right? And the little squiggly red lines underneath misspelled words just annoys me sometimes. I guess it's just distracting. Anyway, when I write I usually add the misspelled words to the computer dictionary so they don't come up as wrong anymore. I was going through the dictionary, and it turns out that I have 138 added "newsie" words, such as "woik" and "aks" and "anythin'" and "conlon". Haha. What a loser.

And with that, here we go.

.-:-.-:-.

It didn't take long to get Cricket settled. He was previously a newsie, so he knew the ins and outs of selling. According to what he told me, he had sold papes in Midtown before he came to Brooklyn.

As it got closer to late afternoon, the crowds on the streets seemed to thin out and it was harder to find customers. When Cricket and I both got down to our last twenty papers, we decided it was best if we split up. The two of us agreed on meeting at the docks once we were done.

The docks were Brooklyn's territory and everyone knew it, although I didn't understand how someone could have ownership over a bunch of water. Still, that's where the Brooklynites spent their free time. If they finished selling early, they would head there for a swim before it got dark.

I could hear the splashing and voices of the newsies before I could see them. Hands in my pockets, I walked the length of the pier as I searched the water for Cricket. I couldn't seem to find him in the mass of boys that were swimming.

I turned around when I heard the sound of feet hitting the wooden planks. Spot had jumped off his throne at the top of the crates and landed behind me. "What are ya doin' heah." He asked coldly. "I thought I told ya to stick around da new kid."

"What, no greetin'? I would appreciate a 'Hello Chaos, how are you" from time to time." I replied, ignoring his statement and grinning at the way his eyes started to blaze with annoyance. Spot tightened his jaw. Then he closed the distance between us, lightly but threateningly clasping his fist around my collar.

"How many times do I gotta tell ya... You betta start watchin' da way you talk to me, Chaos. Dis is my territory, member?" He growled, lowering his voice barely to a whisper. His face was only a few inches away from mine once again and my heart got caught in my throat as my smirk faded away.

I gulped it down and quickly regained my confidence. "Whats a'matter? Afraid to let yer newsies see a goil standin' up to da fearless leader of Brooklyn?" I retorted. Neither of us muttered another word, but both of us refused to back down from the glare.

After a few seconds, Spot released his grip on my collar and took a step back, but he continued to burn into my eyes with his. "You got a death wish?" He hissed.

As I opened my mouth to reply, I heard quick footsteps pounding on the wooden dock. I looked to the side and saw Cricket running at me full speed with a gleam in his eye and a slight grin on his face. Before I could move out of the way, his arm hooked around my waist and he hurdled into the water, pulling me with him.

The murky water surrounded me and made a rushing noise when it filled my ears. I kicked to the surface again and spit out a mouthful of salty water. Cricket had already resurfaced and was treading water next to me, still beaming.

"What do ya think yer doin'!?" I yelled, frantically wiping the loose strands of wet hair out of my face. "Savin' ya." He said calmly. "Ya said it yourself dat ya can't stand Conlon, so I figured I'd jus' shorten da conversation a bit." Cricket stated.

I glanced up at the dock to see Spot looking at us with a puzzled expression on his face. He leaned most of his weight on the top of his cane and raised his eyebrow. Spot couldn't hear mine and Cricket's conversation because of the splashing and yelling of the other oblivious boys around us.

I looked back at Cricket as a smile spread across my face. "As helpful as it was, you'se still gonna pay for dat." I muttered, lunging at him and pushing his head under the water. As Cricket thrashed around and laughed like a lunatic, I stole one more glance at Spot. He rolled his eyes and went back to his throne overlooking the river.

.-:-.-:-.

The next few days passed steadily until I had been staying in Brooklyn an entire week. Cricket and I had been selling together and were quickly becoming good friends. He had something to his personality that the other Brooklyn newsies didn't have. He had a carefree spirit that made it easy to spend time with him.

While we sold together, we would wander around the streets and talk about everything and anything.

The only thing Cricket wouldn't talk about, though, was his previous life in Midtown. Every time I brought it up, Cricket would shrug it off and tell me it was 'exactly like here.' He never once mentioned any of his friends or where he lived before he came to Brooklyn.

.-:-.-:-.

I closed the door behind me and walked briskly down the sidewalk, smiling triumphantly to myself. I had managed to get up 20 minutes before the rest of the boys and had left before any of them even woke up. That way, I could save myself from yet another rude awakening from Spot Conlon and also from some stress.

Or so I thought, anyway. I heard the door swing open and someone ran after me, shouting my name. I sighed and turned around to see Spot, just pulling his suspenders over his shoulders. "Jeez... Where's da fire?" he asked sarcastically, catching up to me.

I rolled my eyes and turned my back to him, continuing to walk. "Forgive me if I wanna get outta dere so I don't have to deal wit yer crap so early in da mornin'." I replied.

"Oh, believe me. I don't mind if ya leave early, Chaos... Actually, I'd radder it." He said coldly, hurrying to fall in step with me. "But yer goin' da wrong way." Spot added.

I raised my eyebrow and glanced sideways at him, but continued walking. "What're ya talkin' about? Dis is how ya get to da distribution desk." I replied. Spot shrugged. "Yeah, dat's right. But we ain't goin' to da distribution desk."

"Oh yeah? And where might we be goin'?" I asked mockingly. "Out to breakfast." Spot answered casually. I slowed to a stop and stared at him. "Woah...what?"

Spot sighed. "We. Are. Goin'. Out. To. Breakfast." He said, impatiently stressing every word. "M-me and you?" I stuttered.

"Yeah." He smirked. "Don't get yer hopes up, Chaos. It ain't jus' me 'nd you. It's da rest of me boys 'nd Jack. Dat's why we'se goin' in da foist place. He wants to talk to me 'bout you goin' back to Manhattan."

"Fine. And I wasn't gettin' me hopes up, Conlon. I think I'd rather stick my face into a cup of scoldin' hot coffee den have to sit dere and drink it in your company." I shot back at him.

.-:-.-:-.

Thanks for reading, and huge thanks to the people who have been reviewing.

Sorry this one was sorta short. I'll have another out way soon.