"You didn't get into any trouble in 'Hattan, did ya?" Spot asks me the next morning.

"No," I say with a sigh. "I'm careful. I don't know how many times I gotta tell ya. I met Jack, he gave me the clothes, and then I left."

"You's took longer than normal gettin' home, Annie. What ain't ya tellin' me?" My brother crosses his arms.

"Nothing!" I exclaim, tired of his interrogation. "Now if ya excuse me, I gots to go sell some papes." I adjust my bag on my shoulder, double-checking to make sure my hair was tucked under my cap, and left Spot standing there.

~ * ~ * ~

I storm into the lodging house that evening, Spot tailing me. "It's for the best," he says as he follows me. "At least until all this blows over."

I whip around, stopping. "Makin' me leave is for the best?! I didn't even do nothin'!"

"I know that, but Skipper believes otherwise. Look, let me talk to 'em and get 'em to calm down. He's just mad."

"Oh, so you're just gonna send me away while things are sorted out? That's crazy!"

"Annie," Spot says, trying to control his temper. "You ain't stayin'. You'd just make things worse. He'll calm down. But you bein' there is not gonna help. So that's why you's gonna be spendin' some time over in 'Hattan."

"Oh, so now you trust 'em over there? I seem ta recall you tellin' me they's trouble there."

He sighs. "An, this time you ain't gonna be there just at night. I's spoken to Jack, and he's takin' you in for the next few weeks. It's for ya own good."

I groan. "Fine. I'll stay in 'Hattan for a few weeks. But I ain't gonna be happy 'bout it!"

Spot nods. "Get ya things, then we's can go."

I grab my few belongings and my small amount of money, then follow my brother outside. We walk over to Manhattan, avoiding the main roads when we can. When we arrive, Spot walks me to the lodging house, where he meets Jack. They speak for a moment, then Spot looks at me.

"I'll see ya later, Annie. Stay outta trouble, okay?"

I nod, still a little angry with him. He gives me a small nod and leaves. Jack takes me inside.

"Welcome to Manhattan," Jack says with a grin. "Why don't I introduce ya' to the boys?" They're sitting in small groups, some talking, and some playing with cards. "Newsies!" Jack calls, getting their attention. "Allow me to introduce you to my good friend Annie." He gestures over to me. "She's from Brooklyn." That comment earns mumbles from the boys. I spot the blonde boy I had met on the rooftop.

"Ah, she's a tough girl," he says. He takes the cigar out of his mouth and gives me a wink.

"Hey, Race!" One of the boys calls out, looking at the blonde boy. "Is this the girl you's been talkin' about?"

"Oh, so you've been talkin' about me," I comment, raising an eyebrow. "I'm flattered."

"I see you've met Racetrack, then," Jack says. He goes through each of the boys, telling me their names. "There's an extra bunk with Race, Jojo, Romeo, and Albert."

A boy, Romeo, jumps up. "I'll show 'er. This way." He grins at me and shows me into their room, the other boys in the room trailing behind.

"You can sleep on the bunk under me!" One of them, Albert if I remember correctly, said.

"It's the only open one, nitwit," Race comments, rolling his eyes in a playful manner. "Of course she'd sleep there."

I place my things on the bed. Race walks up to me. "Why are you so quiet, huh? Wait let me guess, ya don't wanna be here, do ya? Then why ain't you in Brooklyn?"

"My brother wants me here," I grumble. "I got in some trouble with one of the boys."

"Ya brother?" Jojo pipes up. "Which newsie is ya brother?"

"Spot Conlon is my brother." I look up to see their reactions: surprise, fear, and curiosity.

"Spot Conlon?" Jojo repeats in shock. "I had no idea he had a sister." The rest of the boys nod, equally surprised. "That would'a been nice to know."

"It would'a been nice to know since his sister's so pretty," Romeo comments, smiling at me. So that's how he earned that name.

"Look, it's been a long day. I'd appreciate it if I could get some sleep around here," I tell them. I take my cap off.

"She's not wrong," Albert says. "I'd like some shut-eye, too." The four boys step back from my bunk, allowing me some space. Race saunters over to his bunk, beginning to unbutton his shirt.

"Hey!" Jojo says. "Go do that somewhere else. There's a lady in here."

Race smirks. "I'm just givin' her tha chance to watch if she wants ta."

"She doesn't," I pipe up, causing the grin on his face to falter slightly. I give Race a grin of my own before turning to face the other way.

"What is wrong with ya, Race?" Albert hisses, smacking Race in the chest, earning a soft "ow" from the blonde boy. I smile more to myself as I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.

~~~~~

Thanks for reading this chapter! Chapter three will be coming very soon.

Stay safe and stay healthy! <3