A/N: Ok, so I like this chapter. It gives a bit more insight to the Brooklyn side of the strike and of course or favorite blond haired punk of a newsies, Flinch (including the flashback which is her POV)

Disclaimer: I do not one Newsies but I do one Gossip, Flinch, Mayor, Jump, Kick, Speed, Bridge, Reaper, Slush and Ice.

I woke up the next morning and noticed I was the first awake, besides Spot but he doesn't count.

"You're up early." Spot said

I shrugged "I woke up and couldn't fall back asleep."

"Oh, ok. Well anyways do ya' won't to sell with me today?"

"Ok." I said I felt like talking to him anyways. He has been really nice lately and even getting along, if you can call it that, with Flinch.

"So how about we go to my spot?"

"Ok, seems good to me. I've never seen your spot before."

"Well I guess you will today."

"I guess I will." Then I herd a THUMP! I turned around to see Flinch on the floor rubbing her head.

"Ow."

"Are you ok?" I asked

"Ya' I'm used to it." Spot and I laughed.

"So what's the plan for today?" She asked

"I'm going to sell with Spot how about you have your first day alone?" I said

"Ok. Sounds good." Then she went into the bathroom. Every one was starting to wake up, so we where off to work.

I walked with Spot to the distribution center and then he said "So do yah think these prices are fair?"

"No, but you already know that."

"Yeah but I mean are they bad enough to fight?"

"You're asking the wrong person if you want to hear a no. Me and Flinch are always looking for a good fight."

"True but I mean if you were in my position."

"Yeah I would join Jack, eventually I mean. I think you're smart to wait and see if he really means what he is saying or not."

He nodded "Ok."

"Why would you listen to me anyway?" I asked as we walked up the ramp and both bought our papes.

"Well I respect your ides and you're semi-logical." He smiled at me.

"Semi?"

"Well you and your sister are kind of crazy at times."

"Kind of, at times? Do ya' have eyes we are always complete idiots."

"Well I wasn't tryin' to offend ya'. Oh and we are here." He smiled we were on the edge of the beach off the East River. It was really pretty. But we had to get to work so we started to sell our papes.

"That won't offend me."

"What I mean by that is when you act like your offended to piss me off. You're a really good actress ya' know."

"'Aint all Newsies?"

"Well I guess but your especially good."

"I will take that as a compliment." I smiled

"You should." He smiled back. It was good head line today. There was a fire and a fight last night so I didn't have to lie. But I spiced it up a little.

We finished quickly because of the good head line so we went to the dock. "Gossip." He said on the way there.

"Yeah?"

"I think I'll take you're advice."

"About what?"

"About the strike. I will wait and see if he is for real of not."

"Good." Then I did a canon-ball in the water.

"You didn't get me!" Spot said in a teasing voice.

Then Flinch splashed him and said "Yes but I did!" Everyone started to laugh.. Then Spot growled at her and climbed up on his crates as always. He took off his shirt, it was drenched. He spread it on a crate to dry. You wouldn't know it by looking at him, but he had abs. Then I splashed Flinch.

"What was that for?!" she asked

"Your little one." and splashed her again, she splashed back. Then all the boys joined in and before I knew it we were in full on splash combat. I splashed Jump who splashed Mayor. Speed and Bridge ganged up on Jump then Flinch and I came to his 'rescue' and kicked up the water into their faces.

Then Reaper came to their rescue. Reaper was a tall black haired guy, he was the second best fighter in Brooklyn, only Spot could best him. Though he never really let anyone he fought live, thus the name. We didn't let him fight much, which pissed him off, making for a very dented bed post. But he never got in a fight with anyone in Brooklyn. He was one of those people who you where happy to have on your side. But I guess this wouldn't count as a fight because if it was I probably would not still be breathing.

After a while Spot called "Ok that's enough!" he said killing the fun again. I made a sad face and he laughed. "You look like a lost puppy."

"That's what I was shooting for, that or a kid who got his candy stolen." I grinned and everyone chuckled.

"Its gettin' late." Mayor said

"Ok." I turn to Flinch "Ready?"

"No" she said, but climbed out of the water none the less.

I walked over to Spot and said "See ya'."

He looked down "So yah have a bed time?"

I shrugged "But some how you still get up before me."

He laughed "Yeah well bye." and I walked to the Brooklyn lodging house. When I got there I went straight to bed I was tired and had a long day ahead of me tomorrow. I could just tell that Spot was going to join the strike. Soon.

"Gossip." I opened my eyes it was Spot.

"Good morning." I said rubbing my eyes.

"You don't have to get up but if you won't to get up early again I would get up now."

"Oh ok thanks." I stretched and smiled.

"No problem." He said and walked off. I got up and got ready. I wanted to sell with Spot today but I was not sure he would. But there's no harm in trying.

So when I was done I walked up to him and said "Hey Spot."

He turned, we were the only ones up. I looked at the clock before continuing, it was 5:00! Oh well.

"Ya' don't have to since you did yesterday but would ya' like to sell
with me today?"

"Um..."

"You don't have to." I said

"No, No I want to. It's just, I can trust you right?"

"Of course." I said a little hurt that he would have to ask me that.

"Speed is supposed to meet me at my spot today and update me on the strike. If you wouldn't tell anyone, not even Flinch what he tells us then I'll sell with you."

I thought for a second. Keeping something from Flinch was hard but I didn't have a choice "ok" I agreed.

"Ok good. Nice to know I can let you hear what Speed or anyone else says"

"Its nice to know you trust me." we both smiled than I turned and walked to my bunk. I decided to make it. Then I jumped up on it and looked out the window. I loved where my bunk was, I could looked out my window and see the East River and the bridge. And I started to think. About Flinch, not many people really know her. She's a jerk because she doesn't trust anyone, and earning her trust isn't the easiest thing. She's tough because she feels like she has to be, and in a way I suppose she did at one point, but not anymore. The whole 'hate everyone' thing is more of an act than anything else and her name is proof of that. She was never the one to show fear, but she's still scared of our father. She's afraid the next person she meets will be like him, even though she knows they probably won't be. In a way she has let it go, but it's still in the back of her mind, and she absolutely hates it. I wish she'd let Spot or Jump or Mayor see that, why she acts like she does. Sadly, she's hopeless when it comes to talking to people, another side affect.. THUMP! Speaking of Flinch.

"Gossip." she said

"Yeah?"

"Can you help me up?" I jumped down and offered her a hand. She took it and got up. "So are you sellin' with Spot again?"

"Yeah." I smiled.

"Well I'm going to sell with Mayor. Shocking huh?"

"totally." We both laughed. We're amused by the most stupid things.

"GOSSIP!" I heard Spot from down the stair well.

"Yeah?"

"Lets go we have to leave early today!"

"Ok." I turned to Flinch "See ya'." I started walking off and waved.

"Bye." She waved and I walked down the stairs. Spot was holding the handle of the door ready to open. I ran down the stairs and almost rammed into Spot. He put his hand to catch me and I just barely hit it.

"Ready?" he asked

"Yeah. So we are leaving early because..."

"Because of what I told you. I am going to meet Speed at my spot before he goes."

"Oh ok. Am I supposed to be hearing what I am going to."

"You won't we will probably walk a little bit away and talk quietly."

"Am I supposed to be hearing what I'm going to hear?" I repeated, apparently he'd forgotten my namesake.

"No but I trust you to not tell."

"Ok. Lets go." We walked through the door. We got to the distribution center and then his spot. Speed was waiting for us, well Spot. He appeared surprised when he saw me, I guess Spot didn't tell him I would be here.

"It's ok." Spot Speed relaxed a bit. I haven't talked to him since my first day selling.

"Should I go straight to Cowboy or..."

"Yeah."

"Ok. Bye." And he ran off. I sold my papes slow but so did Spot. The head lines were bad and so we had to make something up from scratch.

"Gossip." Spot said, breaking the silence. Well, as much silence as you can get in Brooklyn.

"Yeah?"

"Do you know where your sister has been?"

"What do you mean?"

"Mayor was worried because she has been coming back to the lodging house late recently. Whenever he asked she said it was none of his business. It is mine though because she's one of my newsies." He said not able to meat my eyes, probably afraid of how I'd react.

"I didn't even know she's been coming home late." I said, worried

"Don't worry just sell with her tomorrow and ask."

"Ok" I said, as we sold the last of our papes. As we did Speed ran over to us.

"What's up?" Spot asked

"They..." Than he looked at me.

"She is going to hear us if we talk in Manhattan, just say it"

"Ok well they didn't sell today and yesterday they pretty much destroyed the distribution center, it was chaos according to them. The bulls had to break it apart."

Spot was quiet for a minute then he said "Ok, good job. If you need me I will be at Redsons"

"Alright." Speed said and ran off. Again.

"So do you wont to go to dinner with me?"

"Dinner?"

"Yah we sold are papes slow." Then he pointed to a building behind us.

There was a grandfather clock in the window that said 5:00.

"Oh ok." He smiled ok "Lets go then." And we started walking to Redsons.

The rest of the day flew by and before I knew it, it was time for bed.

I got up by myself today with a help of the THUMP! THUMP! of Flinch and Mayor. As soon as I helped Flinch up I said "Hey Flinch will you sell with me?"

"Ok." She said as we walked into the bathroom.

We got ready quickly and as soon as we got to my spot I said "Why have you been coming home late?"

"What?" she said, she'd probably been thinking about something.

"Why have you been coming home late?" I repeated.

"Well, uh, actually I've sort of been wanting to talk to you about that"

"Well than talk."

"Do you like Skittery?"

"He seems nice enough..."

"Well, that's good because I've been going out with him."

"And..." I knew there was more, telling me that wouldn't make Flinch so nervous.

"Well we hung out the day before yesterday and …"

"Yes..." I don't think I'd ever seen so nervous.

"Promise you won't over react?"

"I swear now go on."

"Ok, well … he kissed me."

"HE WHAT! Do you like him that way?"

"Yeah." She said quietly, staring at her feet.

"Then that's great!" I said happily and gave her a hug "You're first real boyfriend, wow. I'm so happy for you!"

We stopped hugging "Really?" she said surprised

"Of course. I'm not Mayor ya' know it's him you have to watch out for. What happened anyway, with the kiss"

"well…"

(Flinch's Flash Back)

We walked down the path through Central Park, it was empty at this time of night aside from the squirrels. Skittery was staring at the sky, he loved looking at the stars for one reason or another. I walked over to a nearby tree and climbed up quickly, he barely noticed as I knew he would, I grinned. I broke a small branch off and threw it at him. It caught his shoulder with an audible thump before hitting the ground.

He jumped slightly, jolting out of stargazing mode. He looked down at the stick then back at me "that hurt you know" he said, smiling. I hopped down.

"You know as well as I do that didn't hurt at all."

He laughed "that's besides the point" he offered his hand, which I took and we walked out of the park.

We walked along the Manhattan streets, passing a few people on the way, including a couple newsies. They knew, like the rest of the Manhattan newsies, that me a Skittery where together. I hadn't told anyone in Brooklyn yet though, my excuse was Mayor. I glanced up at the clock hanging on a building a ways away, it was getting late. Apparently Skittery noticed too "you should probably be getting home soon" I frowned, he was right of course, but I didn't want to.

He smiled "come on, I'll walk you" he said, turning in the direction of Brooklyn.

We reached the Brooklyn bridge and I expected him to stop, say goodnight, and turn back to Manhattan while I'd make my way across the bridge and back to the lodging house. That was usually how it worked, I figured Skittery was better off staying in Manhattan until Mayor knew, he'd already proven overprotective of Gossip and I. But he didn't stop tonight, which surprised me, but I wasn't about to complain.

We continued across the bridge in silence, also odd. Usually we talked constantly. About weather, headlines, dumb jokes we'd heard, the strike, and pretty much everything else. But as soon as we'd reached the bridge he went silent, like he was deep in thought. He did that sometimes, one of Skittery's traits, but it usually only lasted a couple minutes, not long enough to cross the Brooklyn bridge. Which we'd just about done.

At the Brooklyn end of the bridge he did stop. I was partly glad, partly disappointed. Glad because I wasn't ready to explain to the others, well Mayor anyway, disappointed because, well isn't that obvious?

I said good night quietly and turned to continue on my way

"Flinch?" I stopped and looked back at him, noticing for the first time he hadn't let go of my hand yet.

"Yeah?"

He didn't answer. Instead his tightened his grip on my hand slightly and stepped towards me, wrapping his arm around my waist. Before I had time to think he had leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. I don't know how long we stayed like that, but it didn't seem like long enough when we broke off.

"Goodnight Flinch" he said quietly, smiling softly. Then he turned and began walking back down the bridge towards Manhattan. I stayed where I was for minute, looking after him. Then turned and started off towards the lodging house with a small smile still lingering.

(Flinch's Flash back over)

"We where at central park, then we walked home. He stopped at the Brooklyn end of the bridge and then we kissed" she finished, leaving out most of the details I'm sure.

"Flinch?" I said

"Yeah?"

"Don't worry Spot, Jump and I will be on your side." I smiled

"Thanks" she smiled and we finished selling our papaes. I went straight back to the lodging house and went to bed without super.

"No!" Spot said in a quiet yell, shocked. It woke me up. The sun wasn't even up yet. "We have no choice we have to go to Manhattan."

"Spot?" He turned around "What time is it?"

"Gossip get everyone up we are going to Manhattan." Thanks for answering the question

"Why?"

"I will tell you when you get everyone up."

"Fine." I grumbled. Then I went over to Flinches bed said "Flinch." she didn't move "Flinch." I said a little louder "Flinch!" I practically screamed. Then I did scream "FLINCH!" still she didn't move. I sighed, moving on to the last resort I shoved her off the bunk

"Ow." she said simply

"Well that worked. Now Flinch help me get everyone up." I said and walked over to Jump's bunk. "Jump." he didn't move, I wasn't going to go through that again so I tried something else. "JUMP, GET UP IT'S REAL WINDY OUT AND ALL THE GIRLS DRESSES ARE FLYING UP!"

"What where!" He jumped up and ran to the window. His face fell and he turned around. I had my head in my hands

"Pervert" I said simply

"Tormentor!" everyone was up now.

"Ok, everyone over here"

We all walked over to where Spot was standing, gathering around.

"There's a problem." He started off "Weasel has arranged for Manhattan to be attacked by thugs, and we need to help them"

A/N: OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH cliff hanger! What's going to happen next! You will have to what and see! P Oh and don't you love Flinches secret I do! Remember to R&R.