So here is the thing. I leave for vacation Friday so I won't be on for a week. Also, from now on some words may look misspelled in the dialogues, but it is meant to be like that. That is how the Newsies would talk so I'm going to write it like that. So, until then, Review and Read On!

Oh! And thanks to laxgrl21 for being the first reviewer!

- Emily

"Ok, so the thing with selling papes is that ya' gotta play to ya' weaknesses. Like Crutchy, he plays the gimp leg, fallin', stutterin', it makes for good sellin'." Jack said.

"So, what are my weaknesses?" Maia asked.

"Well, no offense Flame, but ya' gotcha self a baby face. Play that, like your vulnerable and innocent. Gosh I hope you have acting skills." She laughed.

"Watch and learn." She took a paper from her bag and walked toward a lady in her twenties. Maia pushed her shoulders up and tilted her head down.

"E-excuse me, M-miss?" She rolled her eyes up so that she saw the lady.

"Yes, young man? What do you need?"

"P-please, ma'am. Buy me papes?" She fake sneezed into her elbow. "S-sorry, ma'am. I'se got me self a little c-cold."

"Oh! Of course I'll but a paper! You poor thing! I'll take one, keep the change. If you don't mind my asking, how old are you?" The lady asked, pulling a nickle out of her purse.

"I- I am twelve, ma'am."

"Aw, you poor thing! Take care, you hear?"

"T-thank you, ma'am." Maia said. She watched the lady trot off then walked back to Jack, smiling.

"I got a nickle." Jack's eyes widened.

"Wow. Not bad. How did ya' know to lowah ya' age?" He asked. Maia shrugged.

"Like I said, I know my way around." He laughed.

"Ya' sure do, kid! But yur still sticking with me for today. We don't need another Flame attach on them Delaneys."

"Ok, ok." She said. They walked down the street. Jack's way of selling was way different from the way he told Maia. He shouted lies into the air and people eagerly ran up to him wanting to buy one.

"Jack, what was dat? Those headlines woiren't even in the pape!" She said.

"Hey, I didn't say dey were in da papes, did I? No, I said dey heard'em right heah!" Maia just shook her head.

"Dat's lying, cowboy."

"No, dat's business!" He exclaimed. "Now come on! we got papes ta sell!" Maia shrugged and walked up to more strangers. In the end, all of her papers were sold and she had forty-three cents.

"Good work, Flame. Now, do ya have a place ta' stay?" Jack asked.

"Yeah. I live wit my muddah and fatha." She replied.

"Woah, woah, you got parents? What what are ya' doin' sellin' papes, boy?" Jack asked. Just then, her stomach growled.

"Dat's why. I havn't eaten in four days! Gotta feed me family." Jack nodded solemnly.

"Dat's rough, man. Hey, dere is a restaurant just down dis road. De boys and I hang dere after we sell our papes. Why don't ya' go down dere and get a bite to eat? Ya' gotta keep yer self alive to feed ya' family." Maia considered this.

"Fine. Sounds cool." She said. Just then, Crutchy limped on by.

"Yo! Crutchy! Come 'ere!" Jack called. Crutchy looked over and smiled, seeing his friend.

"What ya' need, Jack?"

"Take Flame here to Tibby's. Guy hasn't eaten in four days! Can ya' believe dat?"

"Four days! Yer stomachs gonna eat itself! Come on!" Crutchy said.

"I'll be dere as soon as I finish off these papes!" Jack called after them.

"Take yer time, cowboy!" She called back. Crutchy laughed.

"I wish I had your confidence." He said.

"What do ya' mean?" She asked.

"You seem so sure of everything ya' do! Ya' seem so unafraid of everything, always know what ta say." He said. She felt her heart drop.

"You is jealous of my personality? Man, I'm jealous of yers! You is so optimistic! Ya' nevah seem to be down or upset! Ya' just seem always so calm! Lookin' on the bright side!" Crutchy smiled.

"Thanks, Flamey." She smiled back.

"No problem, Cructhy." The entered Tibby's. The bell above the door rung and the stepped in. A few of the boys were already there. She recognized Race, Mush, and Albert.

"Hey fellas! Flame is gonna join us!" Crutchy said. He led her to a free table and they sat down. Race joined them.

"So, how'da do?" He asked.

"Got a nickle on my first pape. Jack said ta play it vulnerable and innocent. Da lady was practically melting before me!" She said. Race laughed.

"Nice! But you? Vulnerable? Innocent? Ya beat up ta Delancey's dis mornin' and Jack wants ya' to play it innocent?"

"Ha! He say's it's because of my 'baby face'."

"Well, it is babyish." Crutchy said.

"A lay off!" She said, pushing him lightly on the shoulder. Crutchy fell off of his chair with a thud. Maia instantly jumped up and helped im up.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I didn't-" She stopped, however, when Crutchy began laughing like a maniac.

"Calm down! I'se just playin' with ya'! I meant to fall! gotcha!" He said. Maia froze.

"You know how freaked I was just now?" She asked. Crutchy looked guilty.

"Well, played, my friend. Well played." They spit shake and the waiter came up to take their order. Maia ordered a hot dog and a loaf of bread.

"Bread?" Race asked.

"Gotta take somthin' back to da family." She said. He nodded, understanding. The food came fast, and the first bite felt heavenly. It no time the food was gone and her stomach was a little better. At least it stopped growling.

"Well, I betta get goin'. See ya' guys tomorrow." She said. They said goodbye and she stepped back outside. She practically ran to the apartment. Her first stop was Ms. Smith, though.

Knock, knock! The old woman opened the door.

"Maia! How was it?" She asked, welcoming her in.

"Great! The boys are so cool! They even gave me a nickname!" She said, excited.

"Now what would that be?"

"Flame." She said. Ms. Smith looked confused.

"well, I had a run in with the muttonheads who beat up my brother, and things got ugly." She said slowly.

"You punched them didn't you?" Ms. Smith asked.

"Well...yeah. A lot." Ms. Smith grinned.

"Then the name fits you perfectly! Your lucky Snyder isn't after you! Is he?"

"If he was then I would be out of breath and nervous." She said. Ms. SMith smiled and Maia said goodbye. She ran to the roof and slipped into her room through the window. Quickly changing into her dress-she was upset about that- she used a puddle outside to wipe the dirt from her face. Brushing her hair out with her fingers, she came into the kitchen.

"Look what I brought!" She said happily, tossing the bread onto the table. Her mother grabbed it.

"Where did you get this!" Abigail asked.

"Well, Ms. Smith had me run an errand to the bakery and he gave me this loaf. For free to!" She lied. Her father, however, wasn't smiling.

"It's not your job to feed this family, Maia." He said.

"Really? Fine, then don't eat! See if I care!" She said. She wasn't mad though. Nothing could break her good mood.

That night they each had a fourth of the bread. Yes, maybe they should have conserved it, but Maia insisted that they eat the whole thing. She could bring more home, anyway. Tired from her day at work, she excused herself and went to bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was asleep.

Thanks for reading guys! Please review and let me know what you think! You may not think it but I do take your opinions into consideration! Give feedback! Thanks!

- Emily