HOLY SHEEP I FORGOT TO UPDATE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CHAPS OF THE BOOK-

"Wakey wakey eggs and bakey-" Race shook his friend awake. "-just kidding we have no food."

"Leave me alone." Anastasia groaned, slapping his face away.

"Hey!" Race whined.

"I go back to bed." Anastasia sighed. "Nighty night."

"Wait don't go back to bed!" Race shook the younger girl roughly.

"A'right, a'right I got it!" she yelled.

"C'mon! If ya hurry we can get to the tracks! Then we can watch the race at three!" The twelve-year-old grinned ecstatically.

"Fine, fine!" She whacked him with a pillow.

"Move your lazy a** off the bed!" Race lazily wacked the eleven-year-old back. [*captain america or ray molina voice* lAnGuAgE!] [*reggie peters voice* sOrRy!] (...) (y E h) [pick a fandom everyone]

"What does a** mean?" Anastasia crooked her head to the side.

Race's eyes widened.

"Nothing!"

"Uh huh." She crossed her arms but got out of bed anyway.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"Morning Jack." Anastasia yawned, still seemingly half-asleep.

"Morning Drew." Jack chuckled.

Even if everyone knew she was a girl now, her fake name still stuck so most of them still called her Drew.

"It's too early for this." Anastasia sighed, resting her head against Race's shoulder.

"I'm sure ya can survive." Race laughed, leaning his head on top of hers.

"They's like a couple already." Albert laughed, grinning cheekily. [albert i love you] (wHo dOesNt)

"Can't wait for their first date." Blink shook his head.

"I call doing Drew's hair." Finch elbowed Crutchie.

"Aw man!" Crutchie whined. "I'm learnin', not new."

"Still new to the business Crutch." Mush grinned, high-fiving Finch.

"Blink is in charge." JoJo crossed his arms. "I love you guys, but there is no way I'm trusting ya with something as big as this."

"Name one time we messed some up." Albert huffed.

"Well-" Before JoJo could start listing Albert cut him off.

"Never mind!"

"As long as I don't have to carry anything heavy." Blink shrugged.

"How about that table downstairs?" Mush slapped his shoulder smiling widely.

"The wooden one?" Kid Blink's eyes widened.

"Oh yeah! That would be perfect." Romeo laughed.

"Ay, shush kid." Blink pushed the back of Romeo's head.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"So Cowboy." Oscar crossed his arms, smiling smugly. "Where's little Drew?"

"I'm-" Stasia began but was cut off when Specs put a hand over her mouth and pushing both Race and her behind him.

"Why ya looking for my newsie?" Jack crossed his arms back. "Unless ya looking for fight." He raised a fist.

"We're not looking for a fight." Morris shrugged, grinning wickedly.

"Sure ya not." Jack bit his lip in worry.

Something was off...

"What's up Spec Spec?" Anastasia put her hands on Spec's shoulders and used him as a boost to jump higher. "It's just the Delanceys being pain in the butts."

"Something's off Drew," Specs muttered.

"Yeah, I'm not getting the best feeling from this," Race murmured nervously before shoving his cigar back into his mouth and chewing hard.

"Aw c'mon worry-heads!" Anastasia patted them both on the back. "This seems like a normal day, where nothing can go wrong!" She grinned.

A loud bang! ran through the square.

"Never mind, spoke too soon." She smiled sheepishly, in which both Specs and Race rolled their eyes.

"What's up Squirt?" Morris was suddenly behind Anastasia pushing her forward.

"Hiya Knuckle-Head." Anastasia waved sweetly.

Morris gritted his teeth, slightly fuming.

"Ay! What's goin' on over here?" Jack got in between the two, only for Oscar to grab him from behind, pinning his arms behind his back.

Another bang! rung through the circulation center.

Newsies were starting to panic seeing their leader held tight and their little sibling cornered by a Delancey.

"So Drew," Morris began, pushing back newsies that were attempting to fight him, "or should I say Anastasia."

Anastasia narrowed her eyes, looking as brave as an eleven-year old could.

"How'd you find that information?"

More newsies ganged up on him, making the young man stumble.

"I want you to watch as your precious little sister gets taken from you." Oscar snarled into Jack's ear, making the thirteen-year-old squirm.

"All I can say is...." Morris smiled wickedly at the preteen. "Daddy Redwood's looking for you."

BANG! BANG!

The circulation gate was swung open, cops charging through the field of newsies.

"ANASTASIA REDWOOD!"

"WHERE'S THE VERMIN?"

"WHERE'S THE BRAT?"

They all screamed, breaking the newsies' eardrums.

Oscar finally let go of Jack, making the older boy rush forward and engulf Anastasia in a tight hug.

"You're okay, okay? R- right kid." Jack's voice cracked at the end no matter how much he tried to hide it.

"I'm scared Jackie, I don't want to go back." Anastasia whimpered, clutching back twice as hard. "I don't wanna go."

"You're not... only if you listen to me..." Jack began.

"Stasia!" Race yelled, running over. "Ya okay." He sighed.

"Anastasia listen to me carefully..."

And so, both of the young newsies listened as Jack told them his plan.

"Now go Stasia!" Jack pushed the young girl slightly but she wouldn't budge.

"But-"

"Go!" Jack yelled, fighting back tears as the cops were getting closer and closer to them in the center of newsies.

"I'll be back, okay Racey?" Anastasia said in a small voice, clinging onto Race. "Right? I'll- I'll come back- back or- or something." Tears welled up in her eyes.

"I- I don't think so Stais." Race sounded like a wounded puppy. "Stay away from here."

"But-"

The cops were getting closer.

"No! They'll keep looking for you! They know ya a newsie in Manhattan and won't stop till they find you! If you go to a different borough you have a chance to be free from the Refuge. I don't wanna ever see ya there again, okay!" Race spoke quickly in a rambling like matter.

Jack panicked, realizing just how close the cops were.

"Go Stasia!" he yelled. "Please...."

Anastasia took one last look at her brothers, her family who sacrificed so much for her. Then, she bolted off.

Right as Anastasia spun on her heel, Race yelled one last thing.

"I LOVE-"

....but she was already gone.

"-you...."

And with those last words, Race broke down sobbing, clutching onto Jack for support.

"I never got to tell her Jack." The younger boy sobbed. "I didn't- I couldn't- non ho mai avuto modo di dirle Jack ... non ho mai avuto modo di dirle che la amo."

Barely even able to form words, Jack somehow knew exactly what the Italian meant... after all, emotion cannot be lost in translation.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~
(rOLL THE CREDITS!)

Anastasia ran, and ran till she felt like her legs were gonna fall off.

"Oi! What's a non-Bronx newsie doing in my territory." A deep voice grunted.

Anastasia snapped her head up, backing away as slowly.

"J- just passing through." She stumbled, whipping tears from her eyes.

"Wait- wait- wait don't cry!" A young man appeared from the shadows, rushing forward. "I'm not mean I swear!"

"If you would've noticed, I was already crying." Anastasia sniffled.

"Well whatcha crying for?" Another voice came up, the voice of a girl around Anastasia's age. "Boys are supposed to be big and strong." The girl lowered her voice, imitating her friend.

"I'm not a boy." Anastasia mumbled softly.

"Whatja say?" The young (and short) girl marched up to Anastasia.

They were roughly around the same height.

"Nothin' that concerns you." Anastasia huffed.

"Uh uh." The short girl grabbed Anastasia's hat.

"Hey!" She yelled as the girl pulled off her hat, dark braids tumbling down.

"Rookie mistake when you're hiding your identity." The short girl smirked, the young man smiled proudly at his newsie.

"I wasn't hiding my identity." Anastasia huffed, crossing her arms.

She really wasn't, the Manhattan newsies already knew she wasn't a boy.

A loud bang! rang through the streets.

The same one that rang before the circulation center filled with bulls.

Anastasia's eyes filled with panic. Snatching her hat from the short girl, she hastily hid her braids and got ready to run.

"Not hiding your identity, huh?" The girl chuckled.

"Not from Manhattan!" Anastasia yelled, before clamping a hand on her mouth.

"Manhattan, huh." The young man smiled warmly. "Why din't ya just say so! You know, I was good friends with Temper and Fox back in the day."

A sinking feeling echoed through Anastasia's empty gut.

"Temp and Foxy left back when I was seven, Jack's the leader now."

"I know." The young man smiled. "Bright young boy."

Anastasia looked at him weirdly. "Sure..."

BANG!

Anastasia's eyes regained its panic.

"C'mere kid, we'll take ya back to the lodge." The young man smiled.

"How do I know you won't just turn me in?" Anastasia backed away slightly.

"Street kids stick together." The short girl stuck out her hand. "C'mon 'Hattan it'll be fun."

BANG! BANG!

"O- okay." Anastasia grasped her hand and was dragged to what she assumed was the Bronx's lodging house.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"Boys!" the short girl yelled.

"What's up Lanky?" A drunk looking newsie swayed. "Finally retiring?"

"No matter how much you want it, nah." The tall young man smirked.

"This is- erm- what's your name again?" The short girl turned back to Anastasia.

"I'm-" Anastasia followed 'Lanky' and the short girl through the door only for her to slip and fall. "Ouch..." She groaned.

"Alright!" The short girl grinned. "Meet Slip?"

"Gee thanks." Anastasia grumbled, standing up on her feet.

"Hi Slip!"

"What up Slipperoo?"

"Hey Slip Slop."

Voices of the newsies rung through the lodging house.

"Hi." Anastasia shyly waved.

"SHE'S CUTE! WE'RE KEEPING HER!" another voice yelled (Anastasia won't confirm or deny that she turned bright red).

"Shut ya trap Tom Cat." Lanky crossed his arms.

"Sure Lanky."

"You can sleep on the top bunk." The short girl excitedly pointed to the top. "Bunk mates!"

Anastasia felt an aching pain in her gut.

"Thanks..." She smiled softly. "When- when I slept in the bunk room instead of the closet my best friend was my bunk mate."

"You too were close, huh." The short girl gave a soft smile.

"The closest." Anastasia stared out the window.

"Well." The girl put a hand on Anastasia's shoulder. "We'll be good friends too! I'm Smalls by the way."

"Anastasia- not Slip thank you very much."

Smalls chuckled softly, "Well Not-Slip, names stick around here, just gonna have to deal with it."

"Well thank you anyway." Anastasia grinned and rolled her eyes.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

BANG!

"They really don't stop looking for you, huh." Smalls rubbed her eyes sleepily.

"Nope." Anastasia shrugged, hopping out of bed. "Thanks for letting me stay guys, but it looks like I need to leave." She put on her hat and laced up her shoes.

Starting to walk away Smalls grabbed her wrist.

"We'll see you again, right?"

"You can count on it..."

BANG! BANG!

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"Where to now?" Anastasia wandered the streets.

"I love you too...." a voice mumbled.

A very, very familiar voice.

"Temper, Foxy?" Anastasia's eyes widened, turning around and seeing the too former newsies close together. "GUYS!" she yelled, running over.

Both of the seventeen-year-olds stepped back, blushing furiously. [i read this so wrong] [I WAS LIKE "teen years old???"] ["AND WHY ARE THERE SEVEN??????"] (oh my gods-)

"I MISSED YOU." She through her arms around them, both returning the hug. "Oh wait- I'm interrupting a very important moment, CARRY ON!" She backed away before Fox pulled her back into a hug.

"Look how much you've grown." He smiled.

"Yeah! I'm like Jack now!" She struck a pose. "On the run and all that nonsense."

"Wha-" Temper opened his mouth but Anastasia cut him off.

"And I was in Bronx! Didja know that? They're really cool and I met this girl names Smalls who was nice, and short, and scary but mostly short!"

She went on rambling, in which the two former newsies smiled fondly.

"Well, it seems like you had fun while we were gone." Temper laughed slightly.

"What happened to your accent?" Anastasia crooked her head to the side in confusion.

Temper turned bright red while Fox just snickered.

"This boy went to school." He patted Temper's back.

"Really?" Anastasia's eyes lit up with wonder. "What's it like? Are girls mean? Are they rich? Are you rich? Are-"

BANG!

Anastasia's eyes widened in fear.

"What was that?" Fox looked around in alarm.

"They're- they're here again," Anastasia muttered.

"Who's here?" Temper asked.

"The bulls..." Anastasia whispered.

BANG! BANG!

Cops came riding through in their carriages, all looking for Anastasia.

"Foxy I'm scared," she whispered. "They made me leave Manhattan."

Fox kneeled down to her level (which wasn't much of a difference anymore).

"Ya the bravest girl ever." Fox put his hands on her shoulders. "Just remember this..."

Anastasia nodded her head slightly, lip quivering.

"Me and Temper, and all them Manhattan newsies love you, okay."

Anastasia nodded her head once more, fighting back tears.

"No matter where you are, we always with you, okay?"

"O-okay."

Fox hugged her tightly.

"Most of all, I'm so, so proud of you." He whispered into her ear. "My brave little sister..."

He pulled out of the embrace.

"Anastasia, I love you, okay." Temper crouched down to her level. "Okay? Don't forget it." He hugged her too.

"I love you guys." Anastasia sniffled, tears finally pouring out. Temper wiped it, a soft smile on his face. "I- I missed you so much when you left and- and-"

"Shhh." Temper quieted her.

The cops were getting closer.

"Now go." Temper released her from his hug.

"Thank you," she whispered. "...for everything."

"Go! Before you make me cry too you little rascal." Temper and Fox smiled at her.

And with that, she took off once more.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"CANNONBALL!" a boy yelled as he jumped from the docks.

Anastasia moved her hat a little further down, backing away slowly.

"Oi! What's a little squirt like you doing here?"

Anastasia spun around to see a tall, muscular teen in front of her.

"I'm just- erm- passing through." She gulped.

The young man towered over the small girl.

"Brooklyn don't accept no passers." He glared menacingly.

"So-sorry I'll just be o-on my way." She stumbled.

"Andrew? That you?" The voice of Spot Conlon popped up, the short boy climbing out of the water.

"Hey Spot." Anastasia chuckled weakly.

"I ain't seen ya since Valentine's Day!" He laughed, slapping her on the back good natured, "You know, when you had to refrain Racer from killing me!"

"I remember." She gave him a weary look. "Why are you so cheerful?"

"Some girl actually fell for his flirting." Hot Shot rolled his eyes. "I keep telling him, he'll be a girl magnet when he gets older."

"I wanna be a girl magnet now." Spot huffed, crossing his arms stubbornly.

"You'll reach my potential one day Spot." The older teen patted Spot's shoulder.

The teen turned back to Anastasia.

"If Spot tolerates you, then I can too." He stuck out his hand. "I am Wares, short for Waring."

"I'm Drew." Anastasia shook his hand.

"You one of little Jack Jack's newsies?" He raised an eyebrow.

"So what if I am?" She crossed her arms.

"This one's got fire." Wares smirked. "I like that in my newsies."

"Uh huh." Anastasia frowned.

"Whatcha think Drew?" Hot Shot grinned. "Wanna join us in Brooklyn?" He flexed his arm.

"Sure." Anastasia crossed her arms. "Why not?"

"You'll be very happy here." Spot put an arm around her shoulders.

"Sure I will." Anastasia gave him a pointed look of annoyance.

DHHDHDHD

I CANT BELIEVE I FORGOT TO POST THIS CHAPTER!!!!

WHAT KINDA AUTHOR AM I?

a pReTty fOrgEtfUl oNe thaT iS

but can please we talk about how the amazing andrew barth feldman is going to be the new season of hsmtmts? HE'LL HAVE A FRENCH ACCENT HOPEFULLY!!! THAT IS WHAT I NEED RIGHT NOW-

aNyWaY!

Hope you guys enjoy thy rest of the week!

And I'll be back Sunday!

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This is Izzy,
Over and out!