Hi! I hope you guys all had an amazing holiday!

Again, I'm so sorry about the delay in posting chapters. I've been super busy, but I still am really excited about this story so I will definitely be TRYING to post more regularly. I know it's taking forever for the story to kind of start moving quickly, but it's really important for everything to be developed and set up in the beginning.

Anyway, thank you all infinitely much for the reviews. They are all so motivating and I get excited every time someone leaves one. Thank you especially to Marcelle for your wonderful words- you are one of my favorite fanfiction writers and seeing you comment on my stories makes me so happy! I've been planning out some Race and Romeo brotherly moments for future chapters just for you. ;)

So I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thanks for all the support. :)

The distribution center was loud as usual as Davey and Les walked towards the newsies who were waiting in line for their papers. Davey noticed that Les's mood had improved greatly since the previous night and he seemed to be acting more himself. Davey knew Les loved greeting all the newsies in the morning: teasing the Delancey brothers with Buttons and having Jack read him the headlines and making secret bets with JoJo- all rituals the Les didn't want Davey to know about for various reasons but that Davey observed with amusement despite slight disapproval. Davey smiled at Les's excitement but almost immediately stopped himself as he remembered his own situation. Everything inside Davey wanted to go home and stay there, but that was in no way an option.

Davey was waiting in line alone, vaguely aware of Les talking to Specs behind him. The tension from last night seemed to have dissipated; none of the newsies looked worried at all in fact. Davey noted with some satisfaction that he had indeed been right: Mush was clearly fine.

All of a sudden Davey felt a weight land on his back, and groaning with a small smile he turned around to see Jack.

"Mornin' Dave," Jack said with a grin, slapping a stack of papers into Davey's hands. "Bought you your papes."

"Why?" Davey asked suspiciously. "You've never done that before"

"Well, if I'm bein' honest, I felt kinda bad about last night and everything. The boys was all grumpy and tired and they was giving you a hard time and you didn't deserve it. Mush is fine- I left Henry back at the lodging house with him just to be safe but he was awake and laughing this morning. Everyone's calmed down now, and Race has got something to say- Race, get over here."

Jack turned around and called him Race over, who reluctantly approached, aggressively chewing on his cigar. Jack slung his arm around Race and elbowed him in the side. "Go ahead," he prompted.

Race glared at Jack, who knocked Race's hat down and grinned. "Okay, Davey, I'm sorry. I was a real pain last night, and you's a pretty great newsie. And Les too. So yeah, sorry about all that. Okay?" He spit in his hand, and Davey did the same, and the two shook. Race shoved Jack one last time and then headed off.

"See?" Jack said. "His stupid head is clear now, everything's okay." Davey smiled. Sometimes Jack's sensitivity surprised him- no one else besides Jack would have known Davey well enough to figure out that what Race said had really hurt him.

Davey suddenly became aware of Jack studying him with a concerned expression. "Actually Dave, is everything okay? Crutchie and I were- talking- the other night and we sorta realized that you's been acting kinda upset. You know, you're my best pal- if anything's the matter you can tell me."

Davey felt a wave of emotion rising up inside him that he thought might just make itself known through tears. He wanted to tell Jack everything. Jack was his best friend- he would trust him with his life, with Les's life, with absolutely anything in the world. But he just couldn't do it. Davey refused to believe that he was the type of person who couldn't cope with his own problems and as much as he would love to spill everything to Jack, Davey was too strong for that. He forced the tears back down into his throat and took a shaky breath.

One more day, Davey. You just have to think about it that way. You can do this for one more day.

"I'm fine Jack," Davey said, well aware that he didn't look fine at all. "You don't have to worry about me, I can take care of myself. Now come on, we've got papes to sell." Davey punched Jack in the shoulder and the two joined the crowd of newsies, who were gathered together one last time before splitting up to sell.

The newsies were excessively welcoming to Davey, all making sure to come up to him and make a joke or play around or give him some of their secret selling tips- Romeo even gave him a hug. It only made Davey want to cry even more. Their support and friendship was beyond anything Davey had ever experienced and he felt like an idiot for overreacting the night before. Davey cursed himself for being so ridiculously emotional, and slung his bag over his shoulder.

Les ran up to Davey and looked up at him. "Ready to go Davey?" he asked. Davey felt a pang of overwhelming panic. "Uh, actually Les, I think it's better if you go with Jack today, does that sound okay?" Les looked at his brother in confusion but quickly nodded happily and began to run off. "Hey- HEY!" Davey yelled. "Stay with Jack!" As Les rolled his eyes and murmured his compliance, Davey mumbled to himself under his breath. " I don't need worry about you today too."

And so, with Les safely in Jack's care and his fifty papers safely tucked in his bag, Davey took one last encouraging breath and steeled himself for a day of selling alone in the crazy city of New York. He didn't know what was going to happen to him today, but Davey promised himself that he would get through it.