I love writing these things, and this story is coming along so well, I don't want to have to write and ending! But it will come soon, and then there shall be feasting and games... (Not really, Newsies can't afford feasting! Maybe I'll type one up for them) I want to write a story with a partner...like I'll be a character and they can be another character! We can write chapters (even-odd, I write 1, they write 2, etc.) from our character's POV! Sound cool? Do I have any takers? Send me a message.

I looked towards the door; Spot turned my face back to his with his thumb and forefinger. "Youse is gonna stay right heah, Ise'll be right back," then Spot disappeared into the crowd of dancing newsies. I stood alone, staring at his retreating back. I walked off of the dance floor, and sat in a chair nearby, feeling rather dejected. What's up with Spot? I'm his date; he can't just abandon me on the dance floor like that. I know he's not on the best terms with Queens, but to leave me all alone? A tall, dark haired newsie I didn't recognize approached me, interrupting my thoughts.

"Wanna dance?" he offered me his hand. Spot said nothing about dancing while he was gone…

"I'd love to," I smiled. He looked kind, despite the fact that many boys nearby were glaring at him. "What's your name?" I asked, twirling in a small circle.

"Thunder," was his one word answer, "You?" he had a slightly different accent, but not by much.

"Firefly, I'm from Brooklyn," I said, still focusing on my feet.

"Such a beautiful name for such a beautiful newsie goil," he smiled charmingly. I thought of Spot's smirk, and wondered where my boyfriend/protector had wandered off to.

"Thank you, I keep hearing that, but I'll never be used to it," I laughed. Thunder laughed as well, and spun me again as the song ended.

"Won't you accompany me once more?" he smiled.

"Of course," I returned to his arms, they weren't as nice as Spot's.

"What's Spot doing with a delicate thing like you in Brooklyn? Is he holding you hostage?" Thunder asked, cocking his head slightly to the side; kind of like a curious dog.

"No, I'm his girl. Spot and I met on Coney Island, where my friend and I busted him out of their borough. It was quite an adventure," I said. Thunder was respectful, and light on his feet…but my mind wandered to the Brooklyn leader as Thunder and I bantered about the weather and poor selling down near the docks….the docks! There are two territories with docks, Brooklyn and Queens, which meant that Thunder was from…

"Step away from my goil Thundah," Spot's ice cold voice said from behind me.

"You left her unattended Conlon; I have all the right in the world to dance with her. Thunder's grip tightened on my waist and hand, holding me in place. I tried to pull away, but he was too strong.

"I said back off," Spot's voice was still enraged.

"Spot," my voice was scared. I wasn't tough, and I wasn't about to pretend to be for Brooklyn's reputation's sake.

"Let. Firefly. Go," Spot said again, Thunder only tightened his grip more. It began to hurt and I whimpered a little, I heard several newsies gasp and saw Thunder grimace. I couldn't budge in his arms.

"Help me," I whimpered again, this time not acting.

"Yeah Spotty, help her," Thunder teased Spot in a high mocking voice. Spot jumped into action, bringing his cane across the back of Thunder's legs. Thunder toppled over, pulling me down on top of him and ripping a short bit of hem on my dress. I pulled away while I could and stood, running to Spot's side.

"Youse okay?" he asked me.

"Yeah, now. Don't ever leave me again," I clung to his arm. He whistled the four notes I knew meant that he was summoning a bird.

"Drop, take Firefly and get her a rootbeah," Spot said, frowning.

"Suah boss," Drop grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from the dance floor. I didn't turn around, I was still getting over the fact that those boys just fought over a stupid girl like me…This is what Spot was talking about. Leaders protect their girls so this kind of thing doesn't happen, and Thunder knew that Spot got demerits for leaving me alone. Thunder just took the opportunity to use the fact against Spot. I heard the muffled sounds of laughter and several punches being thrown, the grunts of effort or pain making their way faintly to me through the thick crowd.

"What's going on Jack?" I asked the newsie sitting next to Books.

"Spot's puttin Thundah back in his place," Jack shrugged. Books and I shot glances at each other.

"Doesn't Medda care about you fighting in Irving Hall?" I asked.

"She don't like it, but if it happens, it happens," Race said around his unlit cigar.

"I can't believe it, all this because of a stupid dance," I said.

"A what?" Race leaned towards me.

"Well, er, I didn't know who Thunder was, and Spot just left me on the dance floor, so when he asked me to dance...I accepted. I didn't know they were such terrible adversaries," I said, Race crinkled his brow at the word 'adversaries' Books leaned over to whisper the definition in his ear.

"Wait, wait, wait, you tink dis fight is about a dance" Jack laughed.

"Well, why else would they fight, Spot left me alone and Thunder was being so nice, and I screwed up," I shrugged, confused.

"Listen, Thunder was once a Brooklyn newsie, but he tried to top Spot's mentor. It's a long story, Spot can tell you later," Racetrack said, removing his cigar from his mouth.

"Yay, a bedtime story," I said sarcastically. Just then, Spot burst through the crowd and sat in the empty chair next to me. His face had several small, barely even noticeable bruises on it. But my well-trained eyes saw them immediately. "Spot, what happened to you?" I was instantly sending Racetrack off for some cold water and a washcloth; Race grumbling all the way about 'lousy paranoid goils'.

"Thundah shoulda known not to get near my goil, den he went and messed up his face. I didn't do nuttin but help him is all, by da way…he hits like a goil from 'Hattan!" Spot teased Jack at the end.

"Books can hit pretty hahd," Blink said. I turned to him, shocked.

"And you would know because?" I asked.

"I was getting a little too comfoitable in her Royal Majesties presence," Blink smirked. I laughed out loud; Spot seemed to ease back into his stony-faced 'leader' personality.

"Sometin is goin' on in Queens, and I don't like it," Spot said, scowling.

"What do you mean?" Mush asked, leaning forward.

"Well, wese seen some Queens' boys in our parts, and I knows Cat's been spyin around. I ain't gonna fake I don't see him sneaking around da Lodgin' House. I don't know what he's planning, but Ise gonna keep a real close eye on my borough, and I suggest you do too!" Spot said firmly, glancing at a few of the large Queens boys that were milling around.

Race returned with the water and washcloths, I cleaned up Spot's face and stopped some of the swelling with a cold compress. Spot shot every boy at the table a look that read 'Don't even start.'

"Thanks foah da warnin Spot," Jack said. Spot looked at me and cocked an eyebrow, giving me the, 'wanna dance?' look.

"Why not," I sighed, Spot stood and took my hand, leading me onto the dance floor. Several hours, and rootbeers, later; I was sitting half asleep next to Spot at the table, Books head was resting on Jack's shoulder and Blink was off flirting with one of Medda's dancers. I sighed, laying my head sleepily on Spot's clean blue shoulder.

SPOT'S POV

Firefly sat down with a 'thump' and a sigh. She laid her head on my shoulder, I'm glad I washed my shirt today. "Spot," she said, fatigue filled her slightly slurred voice.

"Yeah?" I asked, looking down at her face. Her eyes were closed, and her hair was falling in her face.

"What time is it?" she asked, yawning.

"About midnight, you tired?" I smiled, as she stifled a second yawn.

"Very," she said.

"She got like this at Prom too," Books interjected. "She's probably gonna pass out on the ride back to Brooklyn, I'd take her home."

"Alright Firefly, let's head out, Drop…go get Brooklyn. They can stay until two, but dat's it," I said sternly. My young second in command nodded and gave a few sharp whistles, alerting Brooklyn that I was leaving. Firefly stood and swayed a little on her feet.

"Night guys," she smiled at her friends.

"Night," Jack said, Books stood and gave her a quick hug, Blink and Race just laughed and waved.

"Heah, lemme help," I picked her up, one arm under her knees; the other holding up her back. She just put her arms half-heartedly around my neck her face resting on my chest, I heard Books go 'Awwwww' from behind me, making everyone nearby laugh.

"Thanks Spot, you're so sweet," she was half asleep already, I saw Catch open the door. I carried her out sideways, and placed her carefully into the carriage. She lay down sideways on the seat with her head in my lap. I ran my fingers through her hair, which she had let down a half hour ago. She sighed in her contented sleep. I smiled, she was so beautiful, I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I love youse," I said.

"I love you too," she breathed. I smiled a little wider and leaned my head back. Soon enough we were back in front of the Lodging House, I thanked the driver sincerely and carried Firefly inside. No one was there but us; I carried her sleeping form up the creaky stairs and into the girl's bunkroom. I laid her down and covered her up; she'd just have to sleep in her dress.

I walked back into my room, humming a song we had danced to. I pulled off my blue shirt and white undershirt, it was warm outside. I took off my shoes and brown pants; I ran my hand through my hair and slipped into my bed, thinking of Firefly. I had that terrible nightmare again, the one where Firefly was kissing the stranger in the alley. I sat up; listening hard…there was a 'thump' was someone home? I stood, and crept into the hallway, I heard nothing more. I listened intently at Firefly's door, nothing on the other side, not even the sound of her heavy breathing. I burst in, the door banging against the wall with a loud 'crash'. No Firefly, not here, not in her bunk, not…I looked over to the window. There, in the sill, was a piece of green cloth and a bit of torn lace. She'd been kidnapped! I ran back into my room, throwing on my undershirt, shirt, suspenders, pants, and shoes, I dove out into the dark streets. I had my cane in my hand and look of pure determination on my face. I ran, without a second thought, towards Queens.

THUNDER'S POV

Spot soaked me, right there in front of everyone. All the newsies I knew, right there in one room, watching me get soaked by a boy that was shorter than me. No. This would not stand, it's time to act. I summoned Dart, Flicker, and Cat and snuck to the Brooklyn Lodging House. I sent Cat up to fire escape, waiting for him to give a signal. I peeked out of the alley; Spot's carriage was pulling up. I heard him say something to the driver and Spot carried Firefly inside. Then Cat gave his signal from above, Firefly was alone. I whispered, "Wait a few minutes foah Spotty-boy to fall asleep, den we can take da goil." My two toughest (and densest) cronies nodded and waited, leaning against the brick wall and smoking. After about ten minutes of pure quiet later, I nodded and we ascended the fire escape, opening the rather silent window. It was dumb luck that Firefly had fixed this window to air out her room, it opened like it was greased with butter.

"Get her, make suah dat she's quiet, we don't wanna alert Spot," I whispered. As soon as a floorboard creaked, her eyes opened slightly and her mouth formed a shocked 'O'. I leapt forward and put my hand over her mouth, glad of the darkness. Dart took his slingshot out of his pocket and hit her in the head with the dull handle, her eyes rolled back in her head, then closed. I tied her hands and ankles, handing her to Flicker to carry, this was gonna be a long walk. Luckily, instead of taking the usual route, I took the shortcut Cat had found for us. In less than fifteen minutes, Firefly was untied, still unconscious, in the room she would be staying in.

FIREFLY'S POV

I was slightly awake, drifting in and out really, when I heard the floor creak. I opened my eyes, my window was open, and there were four silhouettes in the room. I opened my mouth to scream, but no sound came out. One of the taller forms leapt forward, putting a warm, ink-stained hand over my mouth. I didn't have time to recognize my attackers before something hit me in the back of the head, hard. I didn't think of anything else as the world flashed white, and then went into endless black.

I woke up and looked around, as I suspected, I wasn't in the Brooklyn lodging house. I heard the voice from the shadows; its tone sent a chill down my spine, "Welcome to Queens, Firefly."

CLIFFY! NEENER NEENER NEENER! :)