"Alright fellas, is everyone here?" Race asked as he looked around the bunk room as he counted off each newsie in his head.

"Only Mush and Feisty are missin'," Crutchie pointed out. "Want me ta go see if they's back yet?"

"Nah it's fine. We's don't need 'em, an' we's definitely don't need Wolf or Jumps findin' out bout this," Race stated in a sure tone. He then stood up in one of the chairs and clapped his hands. "As a lot of ya may of noticed Mush an' Feisty seem...a lot closer nowadays, wouldn't ya say? Maybe a little too close, perhaps?" there was a pause for dramatic effect. "Close enough ta become somethin' more than friends....fall in love some time in the near future...."

Quickly catching on what the blonde boy was saying, Jack quickly pulled Race off of the chair and said, "Are ya outta yer mind!? They's just friends ya idiot!" for good measure Jack smacked Race upside the head to get his brain cells working again. Sadly, Jack knew that no matter what he did, Race's brain cells would stay the way they've always been.

"Or are they?" Race asked with a mischievous smirk. "C'mon Cowboy! Don't deny the fact they's look at each other in some special way! Which is why I's suggest we's start a bettin' pool on when the lovebirds are finally gonna get together! Yeah, they's young now, but it ain't called young love for nothin'!"

Now, there were some good points to that. There always seemed to be something a little more between the two of them. Call it having a strong bond or a deep understanding for one another to the next level, but there always seemed to be a hidden secret that everyone seemed to see. Except for them. Of course, there was the matter of age that came into play. Say they were to find out there were something more, no way they'd jump into that right away. They were both too young to fully understand the concept of love. All the boys were in fact. All they knew was the dating, kissing, eventually getting married and having a baby. The knowledge didn't go any deeper than that.

"Do ya hear yourself Racer?!" Jack exclaimed. "Feisty would soak Mush if he tried makin' a move on 'er. Which he ain't cause it's Mush we's tawkin' bout here." he really couldn't believe Race had let such a thought even cross his mind! Then again, this is Race. so it wouldn't be that big of a surprise. Yet, here we are.

"Everyone in favor of the bettin' pool say I!" Race yelled out.

Almost immediately both Albert and Romeo agreed to the betting pool. With Albert loving a good bet and Romeo being the flirt of the newsies, it was no surprise they were the first to jump onto the bandwagon. Kid Blink was the next to stand up. Mostly because of all the times he's caught Mush blushing something fierce the times Feister would quickly kiss him on the cheek. Crutchie and Henry were all iffy on the idea since it felt like an unlikely thing to happen between the two newsies. Yes, they also tease them about being in love, but it was said in a joking manner rather than something serious. Some of the boys agreed to the idea, while others were more in the middle. After all, it seemed like it would take a couple of years for them to actually make things official, so why do a betting pool now? Or at least wait until they were both in their teen years. Then having a betting pool would make more sense. Right now seemed odd.

"Whenever they's look at each other they's do stare for a long time..." Finch admitted with a shrug as he plucked the band of his slingshot. "An' Mush does jump at the sound of Feisty's name. Whether he's aware of it or not. An' Feisty always has a...hidden smile whenever she's around 'im...."

"See! Finch gets it!" Race exclaimed as he gestured to said newsie. "Those two are so close they's bound ta realize it sooner or later. So whaddya say fellas? Start puttin' our guesses now an' see where it goes?" though, he knew the boys could never resist a good bet. Especially one that involved something that was easy enough to win. It was going to happen at some point, Race had a good gut feeling about it.

Those who were in on it put down a couple of cents and took a date. Most of which were for the following year since it made sense in their minds to start later than sooner. A newsie's logic is odd, but something you probably shouldn't question for a number of reasons. And so, with everything written down and the money stashed away in a can, which Race safely kept among his other possessions. Though Specs did offer he could keep it since Race is a master at losing countless items. Race said it would be fine. This is something that's actually important, he'd be sure to keep a close eye on the winnings at all times. There was nothing to worry about whatsoever.

Just as that finished up Mush and Feister came walking into the bunk room laughing about who knows what. The two of them stopped when all eyes were suddenly on them, took one look at each other and continued on with their business. Which was heading to Mush's bunk to play War for the rest of the day. Though, the little stares and whispers the newsies would do was a bit odd, strange even. But, Mush and Feister brushed it off and talked and or bantered over the card game. Completely unaware of what happened moments before they had returned for the night.

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"Look at those two, so oblivious that they's soulmates in the makin'," Race said as he placed the cigar into his mouth. "Kinda sad, but I's tell ya Albie, the day it finally hits 'em, it'll be the best day of our - their - lives.

Albert looked from Race, to the lovebirds, and then back at Race before saying, "Ya sure bout that? I's know I's already put money down an' everythin', but what if they's don't fall in love an' all that stuff? Then what?"

"Oh, they's well. It was love at first sight for 'em." there was no doubt about it. After all, Race did recalls saying how little Feisty had a good shot at breaking the new boy out of his shell. And look how that turned out! Those two were like peas in a pod.

"Really?" Albert asked with a raised eyebrow. "Cause, if I's remember correctly, Feisty nearly killed Mush that day! An' yeah, there's no questions they's secretly got it bad for each other, but what makes ya say it was love at first sight? They's was, an' still are kids ya know! Love at first sight is for 'em sappy suckers" not to say he wasn't all for the lovebirds getting together, but Albert never understood how so many people could say that they knew they had found their soulmate the moment their eyes met. The whole ordeal seemed too straight forward in his opinion. And that's saying something since he's the bluntest newsie Manhattan has.

"An' lucky for us Feisty is a sucker an' Mush is a sap! See? They's meant ta be." Race exclaimed as he wrapped his arm around the redhead. "Now stop tawkin' like that, I's see ya sweet tawkin' 'em skirts away without battin' an eyelash. You'se can romance any goil ya want when ya really put yer mind ta it." he looked around the room to make sure the coast was clear before leaning in closer to whisper, "You'se more of a sweet tawker than Romeo is. An' you'se has much better luck. The kid will eventually get there, but you'se was the original charmer. Sides me of course, cause, it's me."

Albert only groaned as he hid his face in his hands. Clearly annoyed at Race's logic of romance. Yes, he sweet talked a few girls, but it was mostly to make a sale. Though there were a few he found pretty, but didn't really make any moves of sorts because he's seen the kind of commitment Wolf puts into his relationship with Samantha, and in all honesty it didn't seem like the kind of thing he'd be interested in. Maybe when he's much older, but right now it was one big N-O.

"Racer, the day I's fall in love at first sight hit me, alright? Just hit me over the head with the first thing ya find ta get me thinkin' straight again. Cause there's no way in hell I'm ever gonna fall for a goil the first time I's look at 'er, got it?" Albert stated in a serious tone.

"Ok...but ya better not ask me why I's actin' all crazy or get me ta stop, cause I's will do it Dasliva," Race replied.

"Deal."

With that the two boys spat and shook on it. Albert even put that in writing. Mostly because Race demanded he have proof for the future. Jojo overheard this and asked to be put on that list for reasons. Albert complied in doing this because the more people hit him over the head, the better. That and the redhead wasn't in the mood to deal with this nonsense anymore. He just wanted to get an early night's sleep.

Across the bunk room Feister simply looked over at Mush and asked, "Should we's stop Racer an' Jojo from hittin' Albert over the head the day he falls in love or sit back an' enjoy the show?"

"I dunno. But at least they's ain't teasin' us bout bein' in love for once," Mush chuckled.

"Fair enough," Feister shrugged. "Now it's time for ya ta get beat by a goil Mush for brains."

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Author's note

And that's how the betting pool was created. I know this chapter was less focused on Feister and more on the boys, mostly Race and Albert, but I have my reasons. One being I can never write one of them without the other, and two...there was a little something in here that's kind of hinting at a future event. I'll admit, my favorite thing to happen was Race's definition of "young love". In all seriousness, who wins the pot years later is a mystery, the boys all sort of had different dates for when they'd come clean and have their first kiss. Since that happened at the same time...it's safe to say there was some money splitting going on and who won the bigger pot. Just a random headcanon for ya. Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading.