It had been a week and Feister still switched partners in the morning to the afternoon; she had gotten used to it and so far there was no sign of Will. That afternoon she was selling with Kid Blink and Mush, which she was excited to do, she couldn't wait to go back to her selling spot. Not that she didn't like selling with the other boys, she loved getting more time with them.

But with Mush and Blink it was different, they're her two closest friends and she hadn't been able to sell with them since Jack thought it would be the obvious target or whatever. So when she found out that day's partners for the afternoon she couldn't wait till the afternoon, which couldn't come sooner.

That morning she was selling with Jack, and Crutchie, who could all see Feister was anxious. Though she hid it well it was kinda obvious she was antsy.

"I haven't seen 'er this excited since.....ever," Crutchie whispered. It was kind of a shock to Crutchie since Feister doesn't get excited for things. Unless if the headline is good, but even then she stays under the radar.

"Well can ya blame 'er?" Jack asked. "I mean it has been a long time since since she went sellin' with Mush; she misses 'er best friend." he had to admit it was nice seeing Feister excited for once.

Especially with everything that has been happening, it was good to see her happy again."I's just hope 'er brudda don't go nowhere near 'er," Jack said as he watched Feister sell another paper. He had to admit it was good seeing Feister smile again.

But at the same time he was worried that the worst was going to happen. But he also knew that Kid Blink and Mush wouldn't let anything happen to her, not by a long shot. Especially Mush. Jack knew for a fact that Mush probably wouldn't let Will or anyone who's a threat lay a hair on Feister. Plus Blink will be there for backup. So it's not like something would go wrong. But that thought still stayed.

"Stop thinkin' that," Crutchie said a little loudly (but not to loud that Feister would hear) when he noticed Jack's worried look. "I know yer worried, we all are; but ya do know ya can't say anything ta 'er, right? If she sees ya worried she's gonna start panicking an' ya know how that goes well...kinda. All I's know is that I's never seen 'er act the way she has been lately."

"I's know, I's know," Jack replied.

"But?" Crutchie knew that there was way more to the story then what he was getting. Jack may be tough, but he can't do everything on his own.

"I's want 'er ta sell with Henry an' Tommy boy," Jack replied. The whole morning he had been very antsy with Feister going back to her own selling spot. While she was happy and he loves seeing her happy, but he had a bad feeling about all of this. "But I's didn't say anything cause she'd just put up a fight an' ya know how that goes."

"Jack, stop worryin'. you'se knows very well that Blink, an' Mush won't let anything happen ta 'er. Plus, ya know she's been on edge lately an' if she's with Mush than she'll be more relaxed," Crutchie said, trying to talk some sense into Jack, who only nodded. He still had a really bad feeling about this. And while he knew Crutchie was right about Feister being on edge.

When he got reports from the other boys they said she was on edge and would jump when they said something to her. So of course what Crutchie said about Feister being more relaxed around Mush. After all, those two been best friends for eight years.

"Hey," Feister said as she walked over to Jack and Crutchie. "you'se almost done sellin'?" she asked with a smile.

"Why, got somewhere ta be?" Crutchie asked sarcastically.

"I's know what yer thinkin' so stop thinkin' what yer thinkin'," Feister replied. She knew very well what Crutchie was thinking. But he was too nice of a guy to say it out loud like the others.

"Relax kid," Jack said while ruffling Feister's cap, which he knows she hates. "You'll be with yer boyfriend fore ya know it."

"He's not my boyfriend!" Feister exclaimed while whacking Jack with a newspaper.

Jack only laughed before saying, "Yeah...keep tellin' yourself that."

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After a quick lunch at Jacobi's and getting the papers Feister was finally free to go back to selling with Mush, along with Blink. She found the two boys standing by the gate, and she quickly ran passed Ike and Mike. Or more like pushed past them. Which almost made the twins fall over, but she didn't know that.

"In comin'!" Kid Blink yelled before stepping out of the way. When Mush noticed when was happening it was too late; Feister had hoped onto his back.

Luckily he caught the small girl, who wrapped her arms around his neck and legs around his waist. He took a few steps forward before regaining his balance. "Yer a lot heavier than ya look ya know," Mush said with a smirk. He could practically feel the eye roll Feister gave him.

"Quit yer grippin' I ain't that heavy," Feister retorted before hopping down from Mush's back and she then stepped in front of him so now they were standing right in front of each other.

"How bout ya give a guy a warning next time, ya almost killed me," Mush joked, earning another eye roll. He had to hold back a smile since he didn't want her to know he was very excited to sell with her again. Even though it's only been a week it felt like forever. Ever since day one they've been selling partners, so it was a little odd not to be selling with her.

"Now where's the fun in that?" Feister replied sweetly with a playful glint in her eyes as she pulled down Mush's cap over his eyes.

Mush then fixed his cap before pulling down Feister's as a little payback. "Can someone else take babysitting duty?" he asked while pointing a finger at Feister who was fixing her cap.

"Oh please," Feister huffed before swatting Mush's hand away from her. "If anyone needs babysitting, it's you," she finished with a smirk. At the moment she forgot about her so called brother because right in that moment it felt like the old times she had with Mush.

"Is it too late ta switch partners?" Kid Blink asked, earning a "shut up" from Mush and Feister, they both then glanced at each other and laughed before heading out.

"C'mon Blinky boy" Feister said as she walked backwards before turning around.

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"An' that's how ya do that," Feister said with a proud smile as she walked back to the two boys after selling another paper without breaking a sweat.

"An" I's thought you'se were kidding when ya said she could hustle half 'er papes fore a half an hour is even up," Kid Blink said in shock. While he knew Feister was a great newsie, he didn't think she was almost Jack Kelly good.

How did she do it when the fact that she's a girl was hidden? Maybe it was her baby face, or maybe it was her big dark brown eyes that suckered people into buying a pape. After all Feister's eyes are something no one can look at without getting lost. But Blink knew very well that Mush was the one who got lost the most.

"What can I say, my goil has talent," Mush said as he slung an arm around the smaller girl, who rolled her eyes. Probably for the hundred time that day. But he had to admit, he missed seeing her dark eyes roll in annoyance at almost every little thing he said.

"First off, get this through yer thick head," Feister said as she brushed Mush's arm off her shoulder. "I'm no one's goil. Ya got that Mush brains?" Feister asked, feisty as ever, while thinking, "Though, I'd make an exception for you."

Mush sighed and pretended to be sad while saying, "I'm heart broken."

"Awww, you'll get over it. Now no more dilly dallyin', we's got work ta do." with that Feister walked off (but not too far) to start selling again.

"I see why ya like 'er so much," Blink whispered. "She's real somethin'."

"Yeah, a real pain in the butt that is," Mush repiled. He had to admit it was nice to be selling with Feister again. In the morning he couldn't stop smiling.

Blink pointed it out and started teasing him. Which got Mush thinking, does he - no. The only thing he knew was that he didn't want to see her get hurt by anything and anyone. Which includes himself.

"Hey, I'll be right back, I's gotta go use the little newsie room, if ya know what I's mean," Blink said before slapping Mush's arm with a paper and then walked off. Mush nodded before going over to Feister.

Though he wanted to come up from behind and scare her like he did sometimes, but he knew if he went and scared the living daylights out of her wouldn't be the brightest idea. Especially since he might end up with a broken nose.

"So, have ya seen the idiot around lately?" Mush asked as he walked up to Feister.

"Nope, an' let's keep it that way," Feister replied. So far things had been clear for the past week, which got her thinking that Will finally gave up on trying to get her back. But little did she know not too far away Will and the Delanceys were watching from afar, waiting for the right moment to put their plan into action.

Mush and Feister were having a good time when the Delanceys came out of nowhere, with Will right in between them. Mush stood in front of Feister with a look that could kill, while Feister didn't know what to do.

So she just stared blankly at the Delanceys and her so called brother. Her heart was pounding out of her chest as she stared. It was already bad enough that Will was back, now the Delanceys were in the mess and Feister knew that this wasn't going to end good for anyone. But she had hope that this wasn't happening and it was one bad dream.

"Whaddya bums want?!" Mush snapped, while clenching his fists

"What do ya think?" Oscar snapped back.

"Just hand over Claire and no one gets hurt," Will finished firmly.