Chapter 8

An Irish Party in Third Class

A/N Hey guys! So here is the next chapter, the title is taken from Titanic's "An Irish party in third class" which is the music that I thought the party would have in the chapter. Thank you everyone for your kind reviews, I love then so keep them coming! Now on with the chapter!

About a week had gone by since Queens made their threats. Nothing had happened even though Spot was prepared for the worst. He thought something was going to happen, but nothing ever did resulting Spot calling Queens "cowards that are all talk and no action."

Aoife got into the habit of waking up early to sell papers with Nuala and the boys, and found paper selling was a lot harder than it had looked at first. But thanks' to Spots lessons and his advice of "improving the truth" she eventually got the hang of it. She loved being able to go outside and enjoy the warm weather. She had just gotten to the point in her selling learning that she could go and sell on her own.

She had just sold her sixth to last paper (she always bought twenty) so she was almost done, when a hand landed on her shoulder. Expecting the worst, Aoife tightened a fist and spun around ready to pounce but let her fist drop when she saw it was Ryder.

"Jeeze Songbird, you'se tryin' ta kill me?" He said to her with a joking grin.

Songbird was the "newsie name" the boys had given to her after her concert. Her voice had proved to be a useful tool to get the boys to respect her. She would sometimes sing to the boys at night old Irish folk songs she knew, and would often sing lullabies for the little ones if they were having nightmares. To the boys she was Songbird, but to Spot she was Éan Ceoil.

"Sorry Ryder." Aoife said putting her fist down. "I just didn't know who you were, what with Queens threats still in the air-"

''Aoife, you'se can forget bout dat. Like Spot said, they'se is all talk no walk. An besides, they'se would be stupid ta try anything. Remeba' we'se still have Manhattan and dey still owe's us from da strike, so we'll be fine alright?"

Aoife nodded yes.

"Good, now what I was going ta ask. Dis month Brooklyn is havin poka night and we'se wanted ta know if ya would wanna come along?"

"Sure, I would love to!"

"Great! Make shouar dat use is ready ta go at 7:00 tonight. Dad's when Spot usually likes ta leave for the tavern. "

"I'll be ready."

~*~ 5 hours later; Brooklyn girls room~*~

"Nuala I'm nowhere near ready!" Aoife complained as she fell back onto her bead.

"Aoife, you ain't going to a ball. You're just goin to a smelly old tavern with a bunch of boys."

"Well you look nice." And it was true. Nuala was dressed in an old light blue button up shirt (that was previously owned by Spot) and a grey high wasted skirt that whooshes around her ankles. Black stockings and her black lace up boots adjoined her legs and feet. Her normal brown hair bad pulled back behind her hears on both sides and cascaded down her back in her elegant natural curls.

"Well, what do you have picked out?"

Aoife showed Nuala the cloths she had picked out for the night, a ratty brown shirt that used to be white, and a black skirt with some patches in the hem.

"Here, let me get you something that you don't wear to work." Nuala said as she once again walked to the closet. There she pulled out a cleaner maroon colored shirt with a few ruffle details in the front, and a high wasted grey skirt. As Aoife was getting dressed, Nuala found an old pair of black stockings to go under Aoife's own brown lace up boots. Once Aoife was all dressed, Nuala instructed her to undo her hair from the usual braid it was in, and she preceded it to style it in a half up half down do, allowing her red tresses to fall down her back.

"Now that wasn't so hard was it? Now let's go, Spot hate's it when were late."

The two girls walked out of their bunkroom and down the stairs to be met with the stares of most of the boys. Some of them removed their hats from their heads in respect to be in the presence of a lady…well a well-dressed lady. The boys thought it was a treat when the girls who usually wore pants and who kept their hair up in a cap all day dressed in skirts and washed their face.

The group of newsies walked down the street and arrived at Riley's Bar for poker night. When they got inside Spot took off his hat and announced that "Brooklyn was here." Causing Nuala to roll her eyes and brush past him, the other newsie following her. Aoife stood at the door and took in the scene. Around the room was tables scattered newsies at every one either playing poker, arm wrestling, or drinking alcohol. Against the wall on the right side was a small bar and in the opposite corner, a small make shift Irish band played jolly songs that reminded Aoife of home.

"Hey Aoif," Spot said "I'se want ya ta meet some people's."

And that is how the first hour of Aoife's first newsie party went. She had met some newsie leaders of the other boroughs; Harlem, the Bronx, and even the girl leader named Kisses from Staten Island. Manhattan was the last borough to arrive and Aoife was glad she got to see her friends from Medda's again. Jack Kelly once again took her hand and kissed it as he did when they first met, and Racetrack made Aoife promise for a dance later.

Aoife, Spot, the leader from Harlem Flame a couple of his newsies, and the leader of the Bronx Mouse and one of his newsies were all sitting at a table chatting about the headlines and the weather when Aoife felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Ryder standing there.

"Aoife can I's talk wid youse?" he asked. She nodded and excused herself from the table allowing Ryder to pull her along.

"What's up." She asked

"I need your help."

"With what?"

But Ryder didn't say anything. Instead he gazed over her shoulder and looked at the girl sitting across the room.

Nuala sat down on a stool against the wall, alone and empty glass of alcohol in her hands. She sighed and gazed across the room at Ryder, only now he was talking to Aoife as she hoped he would. On the walk from the warehouse to the tavern, Nuala had once again asked Aoife for her help with Ryder. Maybe tonight we can actually talk and get somewhere. She thought to herself.

"Aoife I's needs your help. I'se really wanna talk ta Nuala, but I's don't know how, I's can never talk ta her da way I's want ta. I's always end up soundin' like an idiot."

"She said the same thing about herself." Aoife responded. Noticing the confused look on Ryder's face Aoife continued.

"You tow both feel the same way about each other, but you're both too nervous. One of you has to step up and talk to the other. And I suggest that person is you."

And with a small push Aoife sent Ryder on his way to the other side of the room where Nuala was sitting. As he approached her, he could feel the perspiration start and his heart started to flutter faster.

"Heya Starlight." He said to her once he reached her.

"Heya Ride." She answered back.

"You wa- wanna get- a-uh- a um- er refill or- a- something?" he stuttered out.

She smiled at his stutters and blushed under his gaze.

"Sure." She answered. Ryder offered his arm out and Nuala looped her elbow around his as he led her to the bar to get anther drink.

From across the room, Aoife smiled and leaned up against the wall behind her hoping for the best between her two friends.

"So how's about dat dance?" a voice said behind her. She looked and saw Racetrack who held out a hand to her. Gracefully she put her hand in his and was led to the dance floor where they started jumping around to the rhythm of the high paced music. Soon Aoife found herself being asked to dance from more newsies who had wished to have a turn with the Irish girl. But soon Spot came to the end of the dance floor as he saw Aoife being twirled around again and again until she became too dizzy and stopped. She began t owalk away when she was stopped once again by a new hand.

"Don't think you'se can get away dat easy." Spot said a smirk placed on his face. "No one is done until dey dance with da King. "

With a smile Aoife accepted Spots hand and was once again wisped on the dance floor followed by other boys dancing and other newsies and their dates.

Spot and Aoife jumped across the floor twirling and stepping careful not to bump into other couples. Spot carefully looped his arm around her waist to pull her closer to him and she in return put her arms tighter around his neck.

~*~ in the far corner of the room

"Boss I've tried ta get ta her, but she's not letting go of Conon. Her arms are locked on em' and e' ain't givin er up anytime soon. Maybe we should just forget about dis and head back ta Queens."

"No!" Blade snapped at his newsie. "We'se came here for a purpous, and hell, we'se is gonna do it." He said his eyes scanning the room until they stopped at particular person. Then a twisted grin appeared on his face. "We'll if we can't take his goil…we'll get da next best thing."

Meanwhile at the bar Ryder and Nuala were getting alone quite well, thanks to the alcohol that consumed both of them. Ryder was a bit more steady on his feet seeing as he was older and hand more experience with the concept of "holding his liquor", but Nuala on the other hand was starting to feel the influence that alcohol had o people. She was beginning to feel very light and strangely happier than she was just moments ago. But now, talking to Ryder was no problem.

"You know." Her words slurred together. "You'se is kinda cute Ryder. No wonder's I have a crush on you'se!" she yelled as she reached for another glass of the amber substance. But Ryder was quick to get it away from her reach.

"You'se know what? I'se is gonna find you'ar brodda' he'll find someone ta take ya somewhear bedda dan here." Ryder said as he got up from the bar. "I 'should ave cut ya off afta you're second." He said mostly to himself. "Stay right hear" he told her before going off to find Spot.

Nuala looked around regretting that she drank so much. She started to feel woozy inside and her head started spinning. She reached over the bar and grabbed a slice of rye bread and started to nibble on it before she noticed someone sit down at the bar next to her. He had a young looking face even though Nuala guessed he was 2 or 3 years her senior. He smiled at her his dark blond hair falling in his eyes causing Nuala to blush and tilt her chin down.

"Hey beautiful." He said. "Da names Owl cause I's like ta stay out all night. Can I's get you a drink?"

"No thank you." Nuala answered. "Ive got my limit already."

"Well den maybe I can intrest you in something else?" the newsie said with a sly grin.

"Again no thank you, I'm actually waitin for someone. So if you'll excuse me." Nuala said getting up and starting to walk away but a hand tightly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"I'se don't think so." Owl said. "Now I suggest you'se come wid me, an dere won't be no trouble. I'd hate foar your lova boy or you'ar big brodda ta get hoit." He said in a mocking manner. Nuala glared at the boy as she was being dragged out of the side door hoping that Ryder or Spot or anyone had seen anything. One the two were outside, Owl pushed Nuala roughly to the ground where she fell in a heap at someones feet. She glanced up and saw none other than Blade.

"I knew I smelled a rat." She said as she started to sit up. "I should ave known you'se would try something soona or lata. But you won't get very far, my brother and all of his newsies are inside an will be ready ta fight youse."

"Oh you'se mean Spotty-Boy n his pathetic excuse foar an army? Ha! I would like to see him try to stop me."

"All I have ta do is scream an he'll come out."

"Then we'll take care of dat problem."

And Nuala felt a thick handkerchief go over her mouth and was tied in the back of her head muffling any wounds that came from her mouth. Strong arms wrapped around her waist trapping her arms as well and the last thing she saw was Blade's evil grin before something hard hit the back of her head and blacking out.

Back inside the tavern Ryder had interrupted Spot and Aoife's dancing to tell then that Nuala wasn't feeling well and that she needed to go home. But when they returned to the bar Nuala was nowhere in sight. They had asked the bartender if he saw anything, and he pointed to the side door. The three of them quickly rushed out of the building to find no trace of Nuala, but instead a note. It was on a damp piece of paper and the words were written I a chicken scratch type of handwriting. But spot cold make it out and what he read made his heart boil.

I's told you somethin' was gunna happen. Shoulda' kept a bedda eye out.

Spot crumpled the note jaw clenched and breaths short before finally snapping. He screamed so loudly and suddenly that it made Aoife and Ryder both jump and punched the outside of the tavern wall shouting Nuala's name.

"I'll find you deirfiúr. Geallaim."

A/N well sorry to leave you guys on a cliff hanger, but I really need to think about how I want the next chapter to go. I have a few ideas, but I don't know if they are too "dark". If I want to go with my original plan, then I really need to take my tme with the next chapter to get it perfect. And it will probably consist of some sensitive themes, so it will take some time. So please don't be angry if the chapter comes out later than when you were expecting. I'm trying my best. But anyway Éan Ceoil means songbird in Irish. Deirfiúr means sister and geallaim means I promise. So I hoped you enjoyed! Keep the reviews coming, you hve all been so nice and I really appreciate it!