Wow, this chapter is a lot harder to write than I thought o.O Since newsies is closing August 24, I figured I really needed to pick this story up again, even though it's listed under movies. I'm really upset about this:(

I hope you guys like this chapter. Please leave a review with our opinions on this story, just so I know what my readers think. I never know if my stories are good or not, especially this one:/

Thanks guys!

Review and Read On

- Emily

Medda had done a decent job at making Braid look as boyish as possible. With all the stage make-up and experience she had, Braid never doubted her for a second. She used foundation to make her skin a shade darker and dark eye shadow. She used a pencil to add what looked to be freckles around her face. Braid wrapped layers of cloth around her chest and stomach and threw on a pair of old trousers and a white shirt Medda had in storage. Finally, to top off the look, Medda placed a brown wig on her to hide her long hair. The wig ended right at the top of her eye brows.

"Medda...this is amazing! If I didn't know better I'd fool myself!" Braid exclaimed. Medda chuckled.

"No problem, dearie. You need to work on that voice though. Boys have deep voices." Medda said. Braid cleared her throat.

"Like this?" She asked in the manliest voice she could muster.

"Perfect!"

Braid looked out the small window in the room. The sun was setting.

"Well, I better get going. Thanks Medda." Braid said, standing up and walking toward the door.

"Braid? I don't know what you're up too, but please be careful. Okay?" Medda asked, walking over and engulfing her in a hug.

"I will, don't worry." Braid said, feeling a slight pang in the pit of her stomach. The two broke the hug and Braid opened the door, saying a quick prayer, and sprinted out the back exit of the theatre.

The sky had just enough light for Braid to see where she was going. Not like it mattered, she had no doubt she could find her way to Queens in the dark. It was different traveling the streets of New York of a boy rather than a girl. When she accidentally ran into someone she was greeted with a rough shove and insults harsh enough to make a sailor cry. As a girl, the people usually rolled their eyes and muttered "street rat". Still insulting, but at least people had some decency to not cuss in the presence of a young woman.

The sun dipped lower in the sky and Braid quickened her pace, now full on dashing down the roads and alley ways. When she got the corner of the Queens lodging house she slowed to a stop.

High-Brow you owe me big time. She thought, rolling her eyes at the thought of him. For as clever as he was, she couldn't figure out for the life of her how stupid he could be.

By the time she came up on the corner of Oak and Third, she took a deep breath.

Time to get into character. She told herself, putting on the brightest smile she could and creating a look of cheer on her face. She began to hum a song, skipping o the beat.

hm hm hmhm hm hmmmm hmhm

hm hm hmm hm hmmm hmhm

hmhm hm hmhm hmhm hm hmhm

hmm hm hm hmhmmmm

hm hm hm hm hmhmmm(It's supposed to be Seize the Day)

Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps made her slow her skipping down to a stop and her song fade away. Still wearing a cheerful grin, Braid looked around.

"Lookie at what we have here, boys. Seems little Eyes has lost his way." Braid, (I will refer to her still as Braid even though she is disguised as Eyes. Sorry for possible confusion), snapped around only to come face to face with the allied borough leaders.

"What should we do with him boys, help him back to his lodging house so High-Brow can protect him?" Robber jeered. Braid felt her face blush.

"Nah, I say we take this as a sign from Karma." Jack said. Braid took a step back.

"L-listen, fellah's, I don't want any trouble. I just came to get my dinner." Braid said, praying the boys believed her voice. They did.

"Well, look's like you'll go hungry tonight. Grab him," Spot said, an ice-cold look in his eyes that could make a grown man cower. His face was rock hard, his arms crossed over his chest. Spot Conlon was serious.

Jig and Robber pounced onto Braid before she even had the chance to step away. They each grabbed and arm with an iron hard grip and began dragging her into the isolated alley-way to their right.

"Guys, cut it out! I didn't do anything, I swear! Let's just take a deep breath and-" Braid began, only to be silenced when she was roughly thrown to the floor. Her right shoulder throbbed with pain as it connected first with the concrete.

"I know you didn't do anything, but your stupid as hell leader did. Now I suggest that you close that peace talking mouth of yours and this will go a whole lot better." Spot said, advanced toward Braid until he was leaning over her.

"Wait, what do you-" Braid said, only to be greeted with a stomp on the stomach. All the air she had in her lungs left her and she curled up instinctively. She felt two pair of strong arms hoist her to her feet and slam her up against the wall, holding her there.

"I hear your close to that leader of yours. That your different from the others, that your always smiling. Well, so was Tweet." Spot said, delivering a nasty blow to the left side of her jaw.

"I... I don't know..." She gasped. The boys dropped her and she landed with an hard thud! A foot collided with her side and a fist to her chest. It was like a storm of violent hitting and kicking raining down upon her. Braid put her left hand on the ground and shakily tried to stand up, but a stomp that connected to her elbow made her not only fall, but scream in pain. It felt as if her arm was on fire.

"Come on Spot, we gotta get out of here." Jack said, placing a hand on Brooklyn's shoulder.

"Why should we? High-Brow broke Tweet!" Spot yelled, picking Braid up off the ground and throwing her with one arm across the ally. Her back slammed into the wall.

"I know, but the bulls probably heard the kid scream. We have go!" Jack reasoned. Spot, after a moment of thinking, nodded in agreement.

"Let's drop the kid off at his lodging house. That way we know High-Brow will find him." Jig said, motioning to Robber to help him pick Braid up. As soon as Jig slid his arms under Braids she immediately began thrashing around, trying to get out of his grasp.

"Stop it! We're taking you back to High-Brow, so you better be a good little kid and do as we say." Robber said, grabbing her feet. In one last attempt, she tried to kick him in the gut but to no prevail.

"If you don't start behaving yourself I swear you won't live to see the morning sun, you understand me kid? Now shut up, stay still, and don't tell High-Brow who did this. If you do I swear I will make you feel more pain than you are in right now, got it?" Spot demanded. Braid nodded, faking a look of fear in her eyes.

They began walking out of the alley, Jack and Spot leading the way and Jig and Robber following closely behind. They were silent, and Braid concentrated on the stars above her. It wasn't like there were many to look at, but the few that shown brightly made her feel at peace.

When they arrived at the steps of the lodging house Spot ordered Jig and Robber to lay the kid down gently. They placed her on the second stair and knocked roughly on the door before taking off into the dark roads of Queens. Once they were out of sight, Braid stood up and sprinted as far as her weak legs would carry her before giving out right at the back door of Medda's theatre.

With the few stars still shining above her, Braid smiled as she drifted off into a deep sleep.

How was that? Did you guys see that coming?

ProbablyXD

Thanks guys! Review please:)

- Emily