Original title because apparently it was too long; Chapter 24: STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE-Hear that? That's the sound of my last brain cell leaving

IM SO SORRY! I HAVENT UPDATED IN ABOUT A MONTH!

"So Jack's on board?" Race grinned.

"Don't get ahead of yourself Racer." Anastasia laughed. "We still have a strike to finish."

"Nah!" Race slung his arm around her shoulder. "We're gonna win!"

"Don't jinx it!" Anastasia warned.

"Our fates are set in stone!" Race grinned widely, adrenaline suddenly pulsing through his veins. "There's just one other thing I'd need in life."

"A real job?" Anastasia elbowed him.

"Nope." Race's face got ten times more red.

"What is it then?" Anastasia pulled away laughing.

"...you." (C r i n g e) Race mumbled briefly, losing his shot of adrenaline just as fast as it came. "I mean-"

"Race, I don't have ultra hearing." Anastasia rolled her eyes fondly.

Race panicked.

The only two words to describe what happened next.

"I'm really hungry! Like, really- really hungry. I'm craving pastrami on rye from Katz Deli? The real expensive one?" (I'M HUNGRY TOO--)

Anastasia shook her head, beaming.

"Of course that's what you'd want."

Anastasia's eyes caught Race's.

Eye contact lingered- just a little more than supposed too.

Race's mind couldn't make up what it wanted to do.

KISS HER-

NO! What are you insane? I can't do that!

Just do it coward!

What? I can't-

He was leaning in.

The scary part?

She was too.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ANASTASIA? Part of her screamed.

He was leaning in too!

This isn't some cliche novel Stupid!

I know but-

Newsies don't get happy endings-

"Anastasia?" Books opened the window.

"Huh!?" Both jumped apart immediately.

And just like that, the moment was over.

Books rubbed the back of his neck.

"Ace isn't feeling well- he's vomiting."

Anastasia stood up.

"Of course." She muttered to herself before turning back to Race, speaking softly. "I'll see you later, Race."

Race watched her climb through the window.

Once it slammed shut, he grabbed his hair, screaming to himself.

"IDIOT, IDIOT, IDIOT-"

"There are children here." Hyper rolled his eyes.

Race looked up, blue eyes meeting brown.

"Who are-"

"Hyper." The dark-skinned boy climbed through the window, taking a seat next to the blond-haired boy. "Race? Right? Slip won't shut up about you."

"I'm not fooling myself here?" Race asked softly. "Chasing- chasing after someone who doesn't-"

"I'm not here for the big brother talk thing." Hyper shook his head. "That is absolutely ridiculous."

Race stayed silent, feeling embarrassed.

Hyper remained quiet as well, both fidgeting quietly.

"She likes you." Hyper answered.

"Yep- right- thanks-" Race stumbled over his words, trying to get an answer out as quickly as it would leave his mouth. "So- so what did you want to talk-"

"Street rat's aren't made to have happy endings." Hyper crossed his arms. "What makes you think you'll get one?"

"I thought you weren't here for a big brother talk?" Race raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not." Hyper shrugged. "Think of it as a friendly talk- as friends."

Race shook his head. "I don't know if I'll get a happy ending. I don't know if I'll get an ending. I don't even know if we'll win the strike! Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, right?"

Hyper smiled slightly, as if Race had just passed his test.

"Smart."

"Why are you asking me this? Of all people." Race tilted his head to the side. "You don't even know me."

"I know of you." Hyper glanced away. "Well, enough to know we're similar."

"How's that?"

Hyper sighed deeply, as if the question pained him to his very core.

"Have you ever felt like nobody was there?"

"What?"

Have you ever felt forgotten, in the middle of nowhere?

"People hide behind things. A smile,"

"You good Hyper?" Books sighed.

Hyper smiled, as bright as he could muster.

"I'm alright! Don't worry about me."

Have you ever felt like you could disappear?

"fake optimism,"

"How's your leg Crutch?" Jack questioned.

"Me? Come one Jack! I don't need help, I'm okay!" Crutchie beamed, his smile wavering for a second.

Like you could fall...

"fake strength,"

"Aren't you scared?" Finch wondered aloud.

"Me? Scared?" Albert flexed his arm. "Never!"

...and no one would hear...

"jokes,"

"Race, sometime you'll have to come to terms with the fact that Stasia's gon-"

"I already came to terms with it!" Race crossed his arms, smiling. "Don't worry about me Blink, I mean, you'll never be as good at betting but you'll do."

"Hey!"

Well... let that lonely feeling wash away.

"but sometimes they hide behind everything and nothing at the same time."

"How are you?" Books smiled lightly.

Terrible.

"I'm okay." Anastasia beamed. "You already knew that'd be my answer!"

"Just double checking!" Books laughed.

"Well you don't have too." Anastasia rolled her eyes fondly.

Liar.

Liar.

Liar.

Maybe there's a reason to believe you'll be okay.

"Everyone hides behind something." Hyper shrugged.

"You got deep quick." Race noted.

"Oh well." Hyper grinned.

Cause when you don't feel strong enough to stand...

"How else do I get my point across?" Hyper raised an eyebrow. "We're just the jokesters, right? People who can't take anything seriously?"

...you can reach...

Race stayed silent, shutting up immediately.

"But what would I know? I just have a bubble of happiness." Hyper hummed. "Well, goodnight." Hyper climbed back through the window, closing it shut.

"What was your point anyway?" Race called out.

No response.

As usual.

...reach out your hand.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"You see that star?" Kate pointed up to the sky. "If you have an imaginary line, you can connect the dots and it forms an image."

"It looks like a bear!" Katherine beamed.

"It does." Kate smiled.

And oh...

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"No, I would not like to buy a paper!" Morris shoved a shorter boy with a crutch down.

"Hey! What's happening?" Katherine dashed over.

Someone will come running...

"I'm- I'm sorry!" The small boy grabbed his crutch and limped out.

"Kath! What's up with you! He's a newsie! A no one!" Morris crossed his arms.

"Well that doesn't make it right!" Katherine frowned.

"It's not right that my dad is always working, but here we are!" Morris rolled his eyes.

"Can't you be grateful for once in your petty life?" Katherine snapped.

"Come on Katherine." Morris slung an arm around the shorter girl's shoulder. "It's just how life works."

Corrupt.

That's how life works.
~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"What type of candy would you like Katherine?" Kate grinned, holding a bag. 

"Well-"

A little girl smacked into her, mumbling a quick sorry and continued to run to the door.

"Ouch!" Katherine glared. "H-"

"Ignore the kid, Katherine." Kate smiled lightly. "What concerns me is where her parents are."

And so the two followed the brown-haired-girl outside the candy store.

A shriek of a laugh exited the green-eyed-girls lips. "You're a newsie?"

"Well yeah-"

"That's pathetic." The brunette girl chipped in. "Look at your clothes, can't afford a dress, can you?"

Katherine snorted lightly, earning a glare from her mother

"I mean-"

"How old are you, kid?" The green-eyed-girl narrowed her eyes.

"I'm seven-"

A snort escaped the brunette girl's mouth. "Guess your parent's really didn't love you. Couldn't wait to toss you out."

Katherine silenced her laughs as her mother's glare fiercened.

The brown haired girl looked as if she had been punched in the gut.

"Take your little bracelets." The brunette tossed them to the short girl.

Katherine's laughs stopped fully when a young blonde-haired-boy ran over.

"What gives you the right to pick on my friend?!" He snapped, pushing the girl behind him.

And I know...

The green-eye-girl opened her mouth but was cut off by the boy.

"You are just a bunch of hoity toity school girls with no life and no personality!" He pointed. "So you pick on the less fortunate, the ones who woik to survive! So you leave my friend alone!" He glared.

The brunette opened her mouth to speak but she too was cut off.

"Didja hear me?" He held up his fists, "Amscray!"

"Wha-" The green-eyed girl began.

"SCRAM!" The boy yelled in her face, making the two girls run off in fear.

Katherine's gaze softened when the small blonde-haired boy checked over his friend, squeezing her tightly in a hug afterwards.

They'll take you home...

"You don't do that." Kate turned to her daughter.

"What-"

"You know 'what' young lady." Kate narrowed her eyes. "No candy for you Katherine."

"Why?" Katherine huffed angirly.

"There are some less fortunate than us, and we don't pick on them." Kate crossed her arms. "You know what you were doing at their age?" Kate pointed to the little kids.

Katherine shook her head.

"You were being loved, and taken care of." Kate kept her voice low, but angry. "I bet you they have no family. I bet that's why the little boy was protective of his friend."

Katherine had never thought of it like that.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"It's those newsboys again." Darcy frowned.

"They can't be that bad, right?" Bill argued.

"What do you think, Kath?" Darcy crossed his arms.

"They don't seem that bad." Katherine shrugged. "They're working to survive, right?"

Darcy stayed silent for a moment.

"I suppose you're right." He said slowly.

Even when the dark comes crashing through...
~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

...when you need a friend to carry you...

"Why are you helping the strike anyway?" Davey crossed his arms.

Katherine watched the newsies surrounding her. All were cheering and hugging.

"For this." Katherine glanced around. "For kids who need their voices heard."

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

When you're broken on the ground...

"Thanks for helping... convincing Jack, writing our story." Anastasia spoke quickly and nervously.

"You will be found." Katherine hugged the younger girl.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"So let the sun come streaming in!" Jack grinned, spit shaking with Spot.

"Cause we'll reach up and you'll rise again!" Spot beamed, looking back at the cheering faces of his newsies.

"Lift your head and look around." Anastasia smiled, spit shaking with Jack.

"You will be found!" The newsies' voices echoed throughout Irving Hall. Thousands gathered outside as well.

"You will be found!" Books grinned, nudging Rowan.

"You will be found!" Rowan gave in.

"You will be found." Race cheered.

"You will be found." Albert mimicked timidly.

"You know." Anastasia handed the front-page story to Jack. "I don't think you ever saw this while you were moping around." She grinned.

"That's...us." Jack smiled.

"There's a place where we don't have to feel alone!" Katherine pulled Davey and Les up onto the stage.

"And everytime that you call out, you're a little less alone." Anastasia rested her hand on Les's shoulder.

"If you only say the word." Davey shrugged.

"From across the silence," Davey and Katherine looked at each other, both beamed brightly. "your voice is heard."

"This is it!" Katherine grinned. "We're gonna win!"

Newsies excitedly chattered.

"Even when the dark comes crashing through." The newsies screamed together. "When you need a friend to carry you. When you're broken on the ground... you will be found."

"So let the sun come streaming in!" The Manhattan newsies roared.

"'Cause you'll reach up and you'll rise again!" The Queens newsies took the hint.

"If you only look around." The Bronx newsies looked back and forth between each other.

"You will be found." The Brooklyn newsies screamed.

"You will be found!"

"You will be found!"

"You will be found!"

"You will be found!"

"Out of the shadows!" Staten newsies cheered.

"Morning is breaking!" Harlem newsies gave in.

"AND ALL IS NEW!" The Manhattan newsies rose above.

"ALL IS NEW!" The Queens newsies repeated.

"It's fillin' up the empty!" The Bronx newsies threw their fists in the air.

"And suddenly I see, THAT ALL IS NEW!" Brooklyn newsies linked arms with the other boroughs.

"ALL IS NEW!!!" Everyone grinned together.

"You are not alone." Katherine smiled softly, hugging Jack's right side.

"You are not alone." Davey took Jack's other side.

"You are not alone." Spot took Davey's side.

"You are not alone!" Anastasia took Spot's side.

"YOU ARE NOT ALONE!"

"YOU ARE NOT ALONE!"

"YOU ARE NOT ALONE!"

"YOU ARE NOT ALONE!"

"YOU ARE NOT ALONE!"

The newsies continued to echo until Anastasia and Jack stepped up.

"Even when the dark comes crashing through." Anastasia grinned.

"When you need someone to carry you." Jack hugged her side.

"When you're broken on the ground!"

"YOU WILL BE FOUND!" The Manhattan newsies cut them off.

"SO LET THE SUN COME STREAMING IN, CAUSE YOU'LL REACH UP AND YOU'LL RISE AGAIN!" The newsies all joined together. "IF YOU ONLY LOOK AROUND!"

"YOU WILL BE FOUND!"

Their message was simultaneous and agreed. (you can just sit and enjoy the music here lol) (If you can tell I got lazy-)

Jack untangled himself from all the hugs, stepping towards the tip of Irving Hall's stage.

"You will be found." He held his hands over his heart, beaming brightly at the family of newsies around him.

That's where things went wrong.

"GET 'IM!"

Bulls came crashing in.

Newsies panicked all around, looking for a way out.

"Jack! Over here!" Katherine gestured, pulling back a curtain.

"C'mon!" Anastasia pushed the older boy to the exit.

That's when a bull came through there.

"This way!" Race yelled, holding back bulls.

"MOVE IT!" Albert yelled, grabbing Jack's arm and pulled him through.

"Let's go Jack!" Davey shouted, holding off an exit.

Kid Blink ran through the doorway, checking to see if it was clear.

Cops surrounded him, grabbing him and pulling him away.

"BLINK!" Mush screamed as cops pulled him away. "BLINK HELP!"

Newsies tried to pry cops off their captured friends but it was no use.

Newsies either fled or tried to help Jack escape.

"THIS WAY!" Anastasia gestured to the empty staircase.

It was too good to be true.

A cop grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms behind her.

"ANASTASIA!" Race called out before a cop took him too.

Jack stopped fighting.

Just to look at all the chaos around him.

His friends- his family all fallen around him.

"JACK NO!"

The room froze as a cop punched Jack.

Square in the face.

Backwards he fell, straight into the mash of everyone. Bulls and newsies alike.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"Case number 414645. The court case of the newsies of New York is now in session." The bailiff stepped back, retreating to his stand dutifully.

"The prosecution, your opening statement?" The judge turned to a middle aged man. The man strutted over to the jury, smirking deviously.

"My name is Mr. Scammerton." The man stated. "Now, I'm known as a fair man- a just man. You see, these children- meer boys and girls."

The jury gasped dramatically- now fully realizing the "criminals".

"And as a fair man," Scammerton continued. "I simply cannot over state this." He pointed dramatically at the newsies. "They are the most foul, devious and malicious children there ever was!"

Books rolled his eyes, whispering into Rowan's ear. "I highly doubt he knows what those words even mean."

"This- this corrupt generation! Believing that they need change- that they need more power! Children!" Scammerton cried. "Children!"

"Oh god." Albert huffed.

"Jury, help me. Help me put all of them behind bars! Help us teach them a lesson- in the refuge." The man glared over at the newsies. He froze, however, when his eyes locked on someone's. His freeze was quickly covered up. "I trust you all know they're guilty." Scammerton smirked, before going to sit down.

"He's annoying." Spot rolled his eyes.

"Defense your opening statement." The judge turned to a younger man, nervously fiddling with his papers.

"Well- well- I um-"

"Objection your honor! We need a new lawyer!" Spot screamed out.

"On what grounds." The judge glared.

"On the grounds of Brooklyn, ya honor." Spot smirked, hearing the fits of laughter behind him.

The judge glared intensely before turning back to business.

This was going to be a long day...

I am so sorry you guys! I am really running out of pre-written chapters and the one's I'm writing are taking forever. Please forgive my absence!

I also watched DEH, and it wasn't as bad as everyone made it sound? I absolutely adored the format they did for You Will Be Found. I watched it in the theaters with my friend, and there was honestly so many shenanigans-

Anyway, again, super sorry for the long wait! I'll attempt to update regularly but I don't know how much work I can get done with the Newsiestober thing I'm doing.
I love you guys!

This is Izzy,
Over and out.