"Should we go back?" I asked once we had finished selling. 

"How's 'bout we stop by the theatre?" Elmer suggested, flinching when Honeybelle licked his ear.

"Good idea." I lifted the kitten up from his shoulder, and he rubbed his ear against his shoulder. I grinned. A smile spread across his face as well. Then we walked side by side to the theatre, the sun beginning to set. His eyes became more of an amber color when the sun hit them.

"See somethin' ya like?" Elmer took off his hat a ran his hand through his black hair jokingly. His bruise was still red.

"I's'll neva tell." Honeybelle was nestled in the crook of my elbow.

"C'mon!" He nudged me as we walked. He couldn't really see my face flush with red, since I was in his shadow.

"Ay, look at that!" I exclaimed, holding my hands out. "It's the theatre!"

"Pfft." He smiled happily. "Saved by the bell."

I opened the door for him, but he just stood outside.

"What's wrong?" My smile faltered.

"You's ain't supposed to open da door for me." He said. My grin returned and I backed up from the door. Honeybelle was still asleep in my arm. Elmer strutted to the door and held open the door. "Afta you."

"Thank ya, fine sir." I threw a bad British accent over my New York one.

"My pleasure m'lady." He did the same. When we were both in the building, Miss Medda noticed immediately.

"Bailey!" She came up and gave me a hug. "And who's this?"

"I's Elmer, ma'am." He held out his hand, and they shook.

"Nice to meet you, Elmer." She smiled at him warmly.

"Miss Medda, I'll return the dress, the brush, and t--" I started.

"No, you can keep them." She waved her hand.

"Thank you." I nodded.

"Elmer, can I please speak to you for just a moment?" Miss Medda asked him.

"Of course." He said politely.

"Excuse us, Bailey." She held up a finger to signal for one moment.

~Elmer's POV~

"What do you think of Bailey?" Miss Medda asked.

"I's thinkin' I's want her to stay with us as a Newsie." I told her quietly.

"Do you think she'd want to stay?" She questioned.

"I dunno." I took off my hat and rubbed my neck.

"She seems to really like you, Elmer." The woman smiled.

"I guess." I fiddled with my old hat in my hand.

"Well, would you consider her your friend?" Miss Medda crossed her arms.

I nodded hesitantly.

"How'd you get that?" She motioned to the bruise on my jaw. If I was being honest, I had almost forgotten about it.

"Ya know the Delancey's?" I asked, putting my cap in my pocket. She nodded. "Well, this mornin' they were tryna ta get ta her."

"So what did you do?" 

"Well, first I's tried ta scare them." I confessed. "The boys did the same, and Crutchie tried ta get Bailey away and Morris pushed 'er against the gate."

"He did what?" Miss Medda gasped.

I nodded, studying my shoes. "Then I's punched him."

"Nice!" She said.

"But then Oscar hit me, and I fell. Afta that, one of da boys shoved him, and he stepped on my chest."

"Oh dear." Miss Medda sighed. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." I smiled. "So I's was on da floor coughing, and Bailey got me away."

"Well, it sure sounds like she's a friend of yours." She commented.

"Would it be okay if she's becomes a Newsie?" I asked hopefully.

"Only if you promise to protect her." This time her voice was firm.

"I promise." I told her, putting my hat back on

~Bailey's POV~

Elmer and Miss Medda came back. Honeybelle was lapping at the bowl of cream I gave her.

"Bailey, are you any good at improv?" Miss Medda asked.

"Sure." I shrugged.

"And you, Elmer?" She turned to the  boy, who was walking over to me.

"I's like ta think so." He grinned.

"Well, we're going to have an improv night and a few days." She told us. "Are you both interested?"

"Definitely." I said excitedly. Elmer nodded in agreement.

"Then why don't you both come back tomorrow so you can figure out costumes and such?" Miss Medda said.

"We will." Elmer agreed.

"Have a good night, kids." She told us warmly, then gave Elmer an assertive look. By now, Honeybelle had finished her cream. I put the bowl and jug of cream into my bag, and Elmer put the kitten in his. Then he took his cap off his head, and handed it to me.

"Just in case?" I asked while putting it on, and tucking my hair into it.

"Yep." He nodded, staring across the empty streets.

"What time dya think it is?" I asked, blue eyes sweeping the streets warily. His head turned towards the moon.

"I's thinkin' maybe nine-ish." He said quietly before turning to me. "Whadya think of da Lodging House?"

"It's great. Better than where I's livin' for the past twelve years." I told him, the grin still standing on my face.

"What's 'bout da boys and me?" Elmer asked and swept his hand through his hair.

"You guys is perfect. Like how they's actually cared that da Delancey's were messing with me." I thought aloud. "And ya hit Morris afta he shoved me!"

 "Ay, I's was mad!" He objected, cheeks turning pink.

"You punch really hard." I commented.

"He deserved it!" Elmer laughed. "So you're comfortable there?"

"Definitely." I responded, eyeing every stranger on the street.

"Well, I's was talkin' ta  Miss Medda, and I's wantin' ta ask you somethin'." He put his head down and rubbed his neck. "Would ya want ta become a Newsie?"

"You's said ya talked ta Miss Medda?" I asked, and he nodded in return. "Then yeah, absolutely."

"Really?"He looked excited.

"Yep!" I responded, smiling from ear to ear. Then we were in Newsie Square, and I saw Albert leaning against a wall outside the door. He looked up and headed towards us. I took off Elmer's hat gave it back to him. My dark brown hair flooded around my shoulders.

"Ay, where were you guys?" He shouted. across the space between us and him.

"We's gone ta the theatre." Elmer tried to reason.

"Jack's been worried sick!" The ginger smacked the back of Elmer's head as we passed, then walked with us. Albert opened the door, and Jack was sitting on the arm of the worn out couch biting his nails nervously. His eyes zipped over to us, and relief flooded through them.

"Where da hell was you guys?" He stood up. "We's thought dat ya got hurt or somethin'."

"Bailey, we was worried!" Crutchie said, voice cracking.

"Jack, Crutchie, it's okay." I held my hands up. "We's only gone ta da theatre."

"The theatre?" Jack seemed to calm down.

"The theatre." Elmer nodded. "I's was with her da whole time."

Jack and Crutchie exchanged looks, the corners of their mouths twitching upwards.

"Ay, Jack, guess what?" Elmer looks excited. Jack shifted his gaze to the black haired boy.

"Bailey wants ta become a Newsie." He claimed, grinning despite the bruise on his jaw.

"That's great!" Jack smiled, and Crutchie did the same. The rest of the Newsies were now paying attention.

"Ay, she needs a nickname!" Finch shouted from the table, where he was playing cards with Race. Albert was now standing by them as well.

"What? I ain't got a nickname!" Albert threw his hands into the air.

"Heh, you ain't worthy." Race nudged him, placing the unlit cigar in his mouth.

"What're we thinkin'?" Jack turns to the Newsies.

"Sweetheart!" Race called out.

"Bay!" Mush shouted.

"Robins!" Romeo yelled.

"She got a middle name?" Finch asked.

"Olivia." I responded, loud enough for them to hear.

"How's 'bout Olive?" Buttons suggested.

"Liv?" Crutchie said uncertainly.

"Olive." Jack decided, then looked at me. "Olive?"

"Olive." I nodded.