I took in the advice I was given to add more description and less dailogue, and this is what I cranked out. It gets a little confusing with all the different POV's. But I hope you can keep up. Thanks for reviewing/reading!

*Sorry it's been a few days. I was swamped with end of the year STUFF. I'm back now and ready to finish this sucker up! :)*

Chapter 8: Blue Lips

Blink's view

Spot always got straight to the point. He never beat around the bush. So what if I did want Alleyway? Which I do! But, what does it matter?

I walked over to a shivering Alleyway. "Everything okay?" She asked.

I smiled with a nod and pulled her up. I led her to the edge of the dock wordlessly. We stood at the edge. "Your lips are blue," I told her with a wide grin.

Her hand flew to her lips self-cautiously. I laughed and moved her hand from her lips.

I had the reoccurring urge to kiss her. The same one I had last night and this afternoon. I could have fought it, like I had done before, but this one was stronger. I placed one hand on her back and the other on her shoulder. I pulled her close and pressed our lips together.

"Blue lips are kissable," I concluded when we pulled apart moments later.

She placed her hands on my shoulders and laughed.

Alley's view

"Everything okay?" I asked Blink as I shivered. That dock water was cold.

He nodded and led me to the edge of the dock in silence. "Your lips are blue," he informed me. My hand flew to my mouth in self-consciousness. Was he trying to embarrass me? He moved my hand.

He looked at me with a half-smile on his face for a moment. Then he suddenly put on hand on my back and the other on my shoulder. Before I knew it, we were kissing.

We pulled apart a moment later. "Blue lips are kissable," he announced.

I placed my hands on his shoulders and laughed.

Rust's view

I saw my brother lead Alley towards the edge of the dock. She followed. I was swimming a couple of yards away, but I couldn't hear what they were saying over the sound of the other newsies. Tape swam over to me and asked me a question I didn't really care about. I nodded to get rid of him. He left and I turned back towards my brother, Blink, and Alley.

They were kissing. My eyes widened. I resisted the urge to yell something like ''Bout time, Blink!' Or something else that would embarrass him.

'Cause I wanted that moment to be special for my little baby brother. And, I figured Spot would want to embarrass Blink.

Spot's view

Blink led her to the edge of the dock. I was too far away to hear but I had a perfect view. He said something that seemed to embarrass her.

She began to shy away, but he pulled her close and kissed her. She kissed back. I rolled my eyes. And he had said he didn't want her.

When they pulled apart Blink said something that must have been clever because Alley-Girl laughed. I rolled my eyes again.

Alley's view

That evening I stayed outside with Blink until the sunset. "When can we go back to Manhattan?" I asked.

Blink pursed his lips together; twisting them towards the right side of his face and then flattened his face. "Them boys will send words when they's ready for us."

"How long will that be?" I asked.

"I ain't got all the answers, girly," he said playfully. I leaned against him. He pulled an arm around my shoulder.

"I miss Snoddy," I said dully. He sighed. "But, I'm glad I'm here with you," I added.

He smiled and kissed my forehead.

Blink's view

I smiled and kissed her forehead for the 9th time that day. Yes, I was counting.

She didn't say anything for a few minutes and I was surprised to find that she had fallen asleep with no warning again. She really was good at that. I somehow managed to carry her into the bunk room.

"Snoddy?" She asked tiredly as I tried to open the door with my foot.

"No." I said. Second time she's done that to me. "It's Blink."

"Blink," she echoed. "What happened?"

"You fell asleep," I told her.

She groaned. "Sorry."

"It's fine," I told her, finally managing to open the warehouse door with my foot.

She threw her arms around me and I grinned. Moments later, I placed her in the empty bunk and sat down next to her for a moment.

I was tired, not from carrying her in; she was a feather. I wanted to lay down next to her and fall asleep with her breathing next to me, but I figured that was pushing it.

I gently brushed a single strand of hair out of Alleyways face and kissed her cheek lightly. I moved to lay on the floor but she grabbed my bicep. "Blink," she muttered. She pulled on my arm and I followed her pull. I laid down next to her and she curved into my body happily. I smiled.

Snoddy's view

Alley had been gone for over twenty-four hours now. It's hard to be separated from you best friend.

"When you think they coming back, Race?" I asked Higgins as I played cards with him on the roof. He knew I was talking about Al and Blink.

He shrugged. "Royal Flush," he announced. "What have you got?"

I sighed and place my hand on the table. "Just a couple of three's and a two."

He laughed and collected his money.

I stood up and walked to edge of the rooftop. I placed my hands on the edge and gazed in the direction of Brooklyn.

"Stop worrying, Snod," Race told me. "She's with Blink."

"But, she hates Blink," I argued. "I should never have let him take her. I should have taken her."

"Listen, Snoddy," Race said. "It's nice and all that you got yourself twisted in a knot because you're all worried about your best friend. But, I am more than sure she is fine."

I shook my head. "I'm going out to Brooklyn."

"Are you crazy!?" Racetrack exploded. "It's too late." I sighed. Of course I knew it was too late to go out to Brooklyn. "She'll be fine," Race insisted again.

"I'm trusting you, Higgins," I said, taking off my cap and running my hands through my hair. "Against my better judgment, I'm trusting you, Higgins."

Alley's view

I had been in Brooklyn for a week.

I had figured a few things out:

Spot really is a big softy

Snoddy is an extremely miss-able guy

It's super hard to be separated from your best friend

Blink's a good kisser (we only kissed a few times, though)

Rust is nosy

And I missed the Manhattan newsies

I had just gotten out of the dock (Blink had taught me how to swim really well) when I first spotted David Jacobs and Boots.

"Boots!" I exclaimed. "Davey! How's it going boys?!"

"Hey, Alley," David said.

"Long time no see," Boots exclaimed. I crouched down in front of him.

"You growin', Boots?" I asked.

He scrunched up his face. "Naw. My clothes just shrinkin'."

I laughed and he gave me a one-armed hug. And stood up and gave me attention to David. "Dave?" I asked.

"Alley?" He asked mischievously. I laughed and he gave me a hug. He kissed me on the cheek.

"So, how's everything in 'Hattan, kids?" I asked.

"Okay," Boots said as Kid-Blink came into view. He was climbing up the rope ladder. "Kid-Blink!" Boots exclaimed. "You have to come back to the lodging house. Kloppman's doin' our annual physicals."

Blink sighed. "Do I get to go back to Manhattan?" I asked hopefully with a wide smile.

David shook his head slowly. And Boots exclaimed, "Them Bulls are still after you."

"Really?" I asked. Boots nodded. "I have to go back," I exclaimed. "I miss Snoddy."

"Hey, Spot!" Boots called up to the boy in the tower. "I got a couple of real good shooters here!" Boots ran up to prove his worth to the Brooklyn leader.

"I'll go get my stuff," Blink said to David before he ran into the warehouse.

David turned towards me. "Snoddy misses you," he said. I shook my head, not really caring, just wanting to see Snoddy. "He really does. He has the hardest time selling papes without his partner."

"Take me back to him!" I exclaimed. David shook his head. "PLEASE!"

"I can't!" David said. "Jack said-"

"I don't care what Jack said!" I snapped. "Snoddy's my best friend!"
David put his foot down. (Not literally) "I'm doing what's best for you!"

"What's best for me is to go back to Snoddy!" I argued.

"Jack said he would soak me if I put you in danger by bringing you back to Manhattan!" David exclaimed.

I sighed. I was defeated. I knew I was. Blink exited the warehouse and stood next to me. Boots came over a moment later. "Blink," I said, turning towards him. "Don't ya think I should go back to see Snoddy?"

Blink processed for a few short moments. "If the Bulls are still lookin' for you, you need to stay in Brooklyn."

My jaw dropped open. "Blink…" I whispered. I had gotten really close to Blink through the past week. I wasn't quite his girl yet.

He shrugged. "Sorry." I rolled my eyes. It didn't take a genius to know that Blink didn't give a damn.

Blink's view

"Alleyway," I tried assure her. "I don't want to leave you here. You have to understand."

She shook her head and took my hand. "When do I get to go back?"

"I'll come and get you," I told her. "Soon."

"Promise?" She asked.

"I promise," I said shaking my head in disbelief that she didn't trust me.

"Soon?" She asked. "Like you said, soon?"

"Yes." I shortly.

"Fine," she said.

I kissed her cheek and then her mouth. "Bye."

She shook her head and turned away. But, I heard a faint, "Bye."

I turned towards Davey. "Let's go."