Everyone was surprised with the turnout to the rally. 5,000 newsies from Brooklyn to Trenton had showed up. There was barely enough room to move inside. Mush was at the front with the rest of Jack's and Spot's newsies.
Chase was practically sitting on the stage because of the tight space inside the theatre. She watched closely as Jack and Spot argued about how to continue the strike.
"Any scab I see I soak 'em. Period." said Spot. Chase rolled her eyes, frustrated. He was doing it again, being stubborn.
"No, no. That's what they want us to do. If we get violent, it's just playing into their hands." David cut in.
"Hey, look. They're gonna be playing with my hands, alright. "Cuz it ain't what they say, it's what we say. And nobody ain't gonna listen to us unless we make 'em."
The room erupted with noise as all the newsies went at each other's throats over the subject.
"Spot!" Chase yelled but he couldn't hear her. She was about to jump up on the stage and make him listen to her.
"You got no brains. Why we starting to fight each other? It's just what the big shots wanna see. That we're street rats! Street rats with no brains. No respect for nothing, including ourselves! So, here's how it's gonna be. If we don't act together, then we're nothing. If we don't stick together, then we're nothing. And if we can't even trust each other, then we're nothing." Jack said to everyone.
A lot of the newsies shouted in agreement. "So what's it gonna be?"
Spot looked over at Chase's side of the stage. She looked him right in the eye, pleading with him to listen to Jack. His face was unreadable.
"I say that what you say is what I say." Spot finally answered. Chase could have kissed him right there in front of everyone.
Spark laughed and hugged Mush, something she'd wanted to do for days. He decided to make a bold move and he put his arm around her waist. He managed not to blush.
But then Medda came out to sing and the crowd pressed forward. He and Spark were separated. They made eye contact and he shrugged his shoulders apologetically. She was pushed toward his sister and the other girl newsies.
"Hey, Mush!" His friends called his name.
Mush looked back to Spark, who was already making conversation with the girls. She was in good hands, so Mush jumped up on the stage to join his friends.
The three girls' eyes turned to the center of the floor for a minute. Jack Kelly and Sarah Jacobs, David's sister, were sitting at a table together.
"High times, hard times..." Jack sang to her. The two of them were gazing into each other's eyes.
"That's so romantic." Story said.
"They're so lucky." Spark added.
"...Yeah..." was all Chase could say.
"Any a' you ladies wanna dance?"
The girls stared at the boys for a second. The four boys: Racetrack, Blink, Skittery, and Mush (who had made his way through the crowd) looked exceptionally handsome tonight. Story, Spark, and Chase smiled at each other. The boys looked confused because the girls were communicating with just looks, it made them uncomfortable.
Spark was the first one to move. She smiled at Racetrack, pushed his hat down over his eyes and grabbed his hand. But she figured she would thank him for catching her and apologize for Mush's misunderstanding. She realized she could have ruined their friendship over one little thing.
Mush giving Spark a look of false disappointment, offered Story his hand. He figured he should get to know her if he was going to be with her sister.
Chase looked at Blink and then Skittery, she'd met him earlier that day, and smiled. Skittery looked a little nervous, blushing a little, but both boys still looked like gentlemen in every way. She smiled as they led her up to the stage and they got into an open dance position. She'd danced with two boys at the same time before. Some of the Brooklyn boys got into big fights over who would dance with her. She secretly wished she was dancing with Spot, but Spot never danced. He was talking to David and a lot of other newsies at the table next to Jack and Sarah.
"You look beautiful." Racetrack said. "Mush is one lucky guy."
"You don't look too bad yourself." Spark teased. He really did look cute, all dressed up for the rally.
"How'd you get your name? Are you an obsessive gambler or somethin'?"
"Ya caught me." He said. "I sell my papes by the tracks so I can bet whenever I want."
"You and Mush on good terms?"
"Yeah, he was a good sport about that the other day." Race said, a look of relief on his face.
"I wouldn't want to be responsible for breaking up your friendship."
Spot was enjoying himself. The Manhattan boys weren't at all like the pansies he originally thought they were. Every few minutes he glanced over at Chase. She was dancing with Skittery and she looked happy. He kind of wished it was him up there with her.
Just then, he looked up toward the door. A man with white-ish hair wearing somewhat fancy clothes came in. He had cold eyes.
"Is that a friend of yours?" Spot asked David.
"Oh no, that's Snyder. I have to go tell Jack."
"That's Snyder?" Spot's eyes widened. He looked over at Chase, he had to do something.
Spot jumped onto the stage and when Skittery and Blink spun Chase out, he cut in. Chase was giggling and when she opened her eyes she stopped.
"Oh- Spot! I-I wasn't expecting you. Wait, since when do you know how to dance?"
Spot smiled at her. Chase blushed.
"I've been watching you dance for 3 years. You didn't think I would pick it up?" He pulled her in closer. "But this is serious. Don't look, but Snyder is here. In the theatre."
Chase went pale white and her heart raced. "It's ok." Spot said. "Me and Davey made a plan for this kind of thing. Jack's on the run from Snyder too. Yous two are going to go to Medda's dressing room until we can get that-" Spot paused, he wouldn't curse around a girl, especially Chase. "Until we can get him outta here. There's a door that goes outside in the dressing room if you need to escape and Jack will keep you safe."
Chase looked right into Spot's eyes, tears welling up in hers which made her eyes look bright green. But then something changed in her eyes. An intensity that Spot could only associate with defiance.
"No. I can't keep running. I can't let him beat me." she said. Spot pulled her even closer.
"But I can't let him get you. I lo-"
Just then, they heard a police whistle and the room went into chaos. "You have to go now! I'll get the little ones and the other girls. Just go!"
Mush took Story's hand and dragged her over to Spark.
"I need yous to go with the other girls. Please, just do it for me." he told Spark. Mush was really concerned for the girls' safety. He went off to fight. It was war this time, and Mush wasn't really sure that he would make it back. He leaned in to kiss Spark when the crowd was too strong and pulled them away from each other. He nearly fell, almost getting trampled by the mob of people.