"Great job boys! Keep at it! We're almost done here," Kloppoman commended as the boys continued to move boxes from the bunkroom down to the basement. He would do it himself, but the joints aren't what they used to be. Plus, it was a part of spring cleaning, and it earned them a free night at the Lodge with the rotten headlines. Though, he did get some work done in moving boxes while the newsies were out selling, but it was mostly the lighter stuff that was practically weightless.

What was going on, you may ask? Well, seeing as Feister is now an eleven year old girl surrounded by a bunch of boys 24/7, Kloppman figured it was time she got her own space, separated from the boys. Need I say anymore? In all seriousness she's a growing girl that really did need privacy from everyone else. A little place she could call her own to get away from the chaos, or just to be alone if she wished. The reason Kloppman didn't do this sooner was to get her used to being around the boys. There wasn't much harm in doing this, as long as the public didn't find out, it would be alright. But, seeing as she's getting to that age, he figured it was the right time to set her apart from the rest of the boys. Though, the transition in doing so was a tough one seeing as she's stubborn.

"Still don't get why I's hafta move," Feister said as she held a little box in her arms. "What's wrong with where I's bunkin' now?"

"You're not moving Feisty, the boys will still be close by if you need somethin'," Kloppman reassured as he patted her head with a warm smile. "You'll understand why when you're older. Trust me on this, alright?" the old man sighed, knowing he couldn't fully explain what was happening. Smart as she is, she's a little too young to understand what was happening. But in time she'd realize this would all be for the best.

"It's cause I's a goil, ain't it," she mumbled before heading down the staircase.

"Least ya don't hafta listen ta Mush an' his snorin'' anymore," Kid Blink chuckled as he followed the little news girl down the steps.

"It ain't that loud!" Mush defended trailing behind the two.

"It's loud!" Blink and Feister replied.

Mush went on to say how his snoring isn't loud at all, when in fact he's actually one of the quieter boys when it comes to that. But of course, Feister shot that statement down and went ahead to explain all the times she's lost sleep because of his snoring. The two of them began to go at it once again, making Kid Blink feel like a third wheel of sorts. But, he was used to that at this point. The three of them continued to make their way down to the basement with boxes in hand, Mush and Feister going at it as they always did, while Blink was nonexistent to the two of them by now

"I's still don't get why yer complain'," Mush added. "Havin' yer own room an' all." for, he never really had his own room before coming to the newsies. As far as he could recall he's always shared a room with his sister...he began to wonder what she was up too right about now. If she was doing better ever since he left all those years ago. It's a thought that always seemed to come and go at the most random times since his mind was now occupied with other things. Like Feister for instance. The girl was always getting into some sort of trouble, and he was the one to get her out of it.

"Cause, it's weird, an' I's don't like it when things start ta change for no reason," Feister huffed as she placed the box down somewhere.

"Ta put it in simple terms, you'se gettin' older an' you'se gonna want space from these bummers," Jumps explained as he passed by the trio and headed back up the steps without another word.

For the rest of the afternoon, the boys continued to bring boxes down to the basement until all that was left in the soon to be room was an old nightstand and a chair. Next was to put together the bed frame that happened to be sitting in the basement for who knows how many years. It had broken a long time ago and needed some work, but with so many helping hands everything should be all set for that night. Though, getting the job done wouldn't be that easy with all the eager helpers. Kloppman instructed the boys what to do and reminded them to be careful when handling the nails. Wolf was put in charge of the project to make sure nothing got out of hand. He also saw this as an opportunity for the boys to work more on their handy skills if it was ever needed in the future. He wanted them to have enough skill sets to make it in life once they all out grew their time as a newsie.

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"How the hell did ya bummers manage ta put it like that?" Feister asked with eyes glued to the wooden bed frame that was at an odd angle. She couldn't tell if it was upside down, backwards, or both. Which wouldn't be much of a surprise. But the point still stood. She really should've been there supervising or something. Instead, she was busy finding the extra sheets and blankets with Kloppman to put on the bed once it was finished. And by the looks of it, the project in question might take at least another day's work.

"You'se try readin' these instructions an' get back ta us," Sniper exclaimed.

"There are no instructions ya nitwit! Ever heard of eyeballin' it?!" not that she really cared if this took another day or so, but someone had to call these boys out on their stupidity. Sadly, that somehow became her job. How that happened? The world may never know, but at least there was someone making sure these boys knew when they had messed up.

"Ya know, I's knew we's was doin' somethin' wrong soon as this piece turned upwards," one of the twins replied.

"Nah, it's more at an angle from where I's standin'," twin two added with a head scratch.

"It don't matter which way it is cause we's gonna hafta tear it down an' start from the beginnin'," Jack stated.

At the sound of this Feister groaned and let her head fall into the bundle of sheets she was currently holding in her arms. Not because the bed frame rebuild was going to take a bit longer than planned, but because of how clueless these boys can be sometimes. She loves her brothers, though they don't make it easy to do. Right now would be one of those many times.

"How the hell did ya manage ta get it like that?" Wolf asked as he walked up to the doorway. "I's leave ya alone for two minutes an' ya somehow made a simple bed frame into a safety hazard."

"That's what I'm sayin'!" Feister exclaimed. Again, she didn't cared at all if this got finished by the end of the day. She didn't want to be separated from the boys. As crazy as that sounded it was true. It was odd how Kloppman out of nowhere said to try and get back early today because he needed some help in changing the storage closet into a room for her. What was wrong with bunking with the boys? She's done it for nearly five years. Why the sudden change now? She wanted more answers besides understanding when she's older. That and how she'll want space from the boys. Yes, they're annoying, but it's also where all the fun happens. She's going to miss out on a lot now with this whole new room mess.

Two hours had passed by the time the final nail was put in place. There, sat in the upper corner of the room was a bare bed frame made of light wood. All there was left to do was to sand it down, put the mattress in place, and make the bed. Simple enough, right? Wrong. For, while the boys and Feister were sanding down the frame, the question of how they were going to carry the mattress up from the basement. Obviously, Wolf and Jumps would be the ones to do it, but they needed at least three more people on the job. Two to help carry and one to guide the way up. It took some time to figure out, but in the end, Albert and Finch were picked out to carry the object in question, and Romeo would be the one to guide them. Mostly because he was small enough to squeeze past them while going up the staircase.

"Think they's can do it in one go?" Feister asked as she wiped the sweat off of her forehead. She took off her cap and stuffed it into her pocket. Her braids came tumbling down and landed just above the middle of her back.

"Here's hopin'," Mush replied, trying to hide his smile upon seeing Feister let her hair down in a way. If you were to ask the young newsie why he liked it so much he wouldn't be able to come up with an answer. He just liked it for some odd reason.

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Night had fallen upon New York just as she placed a pillow down, finally completing her new room She sat down and looked around the little room, taking it all in and letting everything sink into her mind. The bed was pushed in the upper corner by the window while a nightstand stood beside it, and of course a random chair. There were some boxes to the far side that held all the extra clothing and blankets since it was easier keeping those items closer to the bunk room in case they were needed right away. Feister still didn't like the idea of having her own room, but she said she'd at least try it out for a little bit. And if she wished, she could spend the night in the bunkroom when she wanted too. So at least she had that going. Still, it was all so strange how this happened so fast. No one talked to her about it beforehand. No one asked how she felt about it. Looks like it was something she had to accept...

She liked being close to the boys...liked being close to Mush...not to say she didn't find him annoying anymore, because he definitely still is. What if she had a nightmare? Would she have to go through one until she either woke up or daylight came? Would he somehow hear her in the middle of the night and come wake her up? Why she felt like that didn't make any sense. Was it because that's how she lost her brother? The only comfort she had during a long night filled with terror? Or, maybe she was overthinking things again. Yes, she's close with Mush...as well as the other boys, but there were times Feister would wonder if one day they'd all leave her out of no where. Then she'd remember that never have any of them shown they were the kind of people to do that. A band of brothers that'll be by your side for life. Something they've always said when her mind would fill up with doubts.

"See yer all set in here, huh? Looks nice," a familiar voice said as he walked over to the bed and plopped beside her.

"It's alright, I's guess," Feister shrugged in reply.

"Don't tell me you'se actually gonna miss my snorin'," Mush joked with a smirk across his face.

"Nah, that's the only good thing bout gettin' a room all ta myself." she rolled her eyes and shoved his head to the side.

"Rememba, if ya ever need anythin' I's just one room over."

Feister nodded in reply as she pulled her knees up to her chest as she began to look around the room once more. It was still so odd to think that what once was a storage closet she would hide out in was now her bedroom. Deep down inside, she had a small feeling things were beginning to change. Maybe things have been changing all along and she never noticed until now. Maybe she was a little worried how much everything would be changing. It was something Feister never enjoyed because of how much chaos she would go through. Or maybe, just maybe, change would be a good thing. Because one day in the far off future, the biggest change of her life will happen. And it would be with the person who happened to be sitting next to her. She just didn't realize it yet. For life is filled with many twists and turns.

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Author's note

I know, this was all over the place from moving boxes to a deep(unplanned) ending. But this was one of the few ideas I actually planned to write out at some point, but when the time came to do so I was in a extremely weird awkward slump. That's why this and the last chapter are the way they are....Other than that, I think I enjoyed the last paragraph the most, since that plays off of my first story the most. And kind of a little hint hint to Strike in a way...I've always found foreshowing fun to write, especially when you already know what happens in the future. But I'm sure you've all figured that out by now. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading, and I'll see you soon.