The names Nike, been that since I came to this run down area. I'm a Newsies been that since my parents died in the trolley strike. I live over there in that run down lodging house. But it still allows me to sleep and its no staying on the streets at night so I can't complain only cause it's home. Just down the street from here passed all the chaos in a small location is Tibby's. A home away from home. Being a Newsies is usually fun. I have a boyfriend named Droz my two best Whisper and Death aka D.

Bet your wondering about the names by now. We gave each other nicknames basing on the stuff we like or we remind people of. My real name is Nicole though. Nicole haven't heard that name in awhile. Nike means victory; this is why I was given the name, and really only cause in most cases I wind up on top. In most cases.

The snow just started to melt, and everyone was turning in for the night. The bunkroom was full of laughter and smiles all around. Whisper and Jack were talking in the corner about the tomorrow's plans; myself though was on my bunk reading the last love letter I received from Droz. The last newsie that I thought I loved. But it was a lie; he said he cared which he did not. Wrote me a love letter that he didn't even write. I sat there on my bunk and started to read the lie out loud.

"In life there is always emotions. Some are pure some are not. Some are painful some are wonderful. And some are both, unknown and unusual. I feel we have something special. Something usually not felt in the time that we have been together. But when I'm around you I feel something more something that won’t leave my mind and my heart. I wish I could express my feelings as easily as I can write them, something I only can explain in 3 words." What a lie I thought to myself, he never really cared about me. Droz what a stupid name, it doesn't even sound scary, like oh no here comes Droz. But I knew I still loved him, I didn't care what happened, I wasn't good for anyone. I sat there for a couple of minutes and listened to the buzz of the room. I sunk lower into my bunk and starting crying into my pillow, softly sulking. Death (also known as D) was one of my closest friends; so it didn't take him long to see how upset I was. I think Whisper and him were the only people that ever noticed me.

Kit and D have been going out for almost a year now, I totally envy them. They're such a cute couple and they're almost always together. But this time he left her side to come see how I was doing. What a great friend.

"Kit, I'll be right back, Something's up wit Nike."

"Yea, just you better be back soon enough for our next hand," she replied. They were playing poker again, one of their favorite things to do.

"Nike, you okay?" I just turned over and ignored him.

"Nike look at me!" Once again I didn't pay any attention. D started to become mad, and almost pushed me off my bunk. He pushed me far enough just to scare me.

"D, what do you want?" I said in a panicked voice. I turned over and gave him an evil glance. The tears were still running down my face, so it didn't have much of an effect.

"What's wrong Nike, you've been miserable all week."

"Nothing, leave me alone," I snapped back.

"Don't you lie, you've been annoying to be around, you're crying all the time, and you won't put down that damn poem. Like give it up already he's not coming back." D realized what he said and tried to back track but it didn't really help. I was feeling bad enough that I seemed not to care anymore. I knew Droz wasn't coming back, but just if I could see him one more time.

By this time Jack and Whisper finished talking and noticed there was something wrong. Whisper walked over and started to give me a hard time about how terrible I looked, which didn't help.

"Hey, coming to sell your papes again wit me tomorrow." Whisper tried to make my life more enjoyable ever chance she got.

D decided to go back to playing poker wit Kit, and I finally decided to get up from my state to go to the roof and talk with Whisper. We finally got to the roof, it seemed like ages.

"Nike, I have something to tell you. I know you don't overly want to here this, but Droz and Kelt are back in town. Jack saw them this morning as he was sellin papes." She turned to me and gave a short sigh, "Please don't go doing anything stupid, we all love you, but you don't need him, you could get anyone you want."

"I know, and anyways he's probably not staying for long, just passing right?"

"Yea, that's what he's doing." She knew his real plan but she didn't want to say anything. We decided to go back into the bunkroom for lights out. I slowly climbed up onto my bunk, looking around almost everyone was sleeping although Blizzard and Gambler were arguing as usually. This time I believe it was about there last hand in poker. Gambler believed she won, and Blizzard as usually had something to say about that.

"It's not right, I never lose, you cheated." Blizzard yelled. I just turned over in the bunk. Trying to make the day go away, not paying attention to anything. Wasn’t to long that I passed out.

Waking up the next morning was unusually hard, it seemed that everyone had already started there day. Being half awake I almost ran into the wall instead of walking into the bathroom. Washing my face, and trying to get the sleep out of my eyes. My head was throbbing form the night before, and I could barley see. Walking down the stairs became a challenge. I knew I just had to find Whisper. Finally after about 5 minutes of searching I found her, just sitting on a step, with the papes for the day.

"Hey sleepy head, finally decided to wake up? We got to start sellin if we want any money," She jokingly said.

"Were we going today?"

"The moon?" She replied.

"Ha, ha, very funny, but no really, where we going?"

"How bouts, near the lodging house?"

"Sounds good!" I seemed very anxious to get finished today; something more important was on my mind. I knew there was something that was going to happen today but I couldn't figure out what.

Couple hours later we finally finished the bunch of papes that we had. Being as tired as we were tibbys sounded on like the smart thing to do. Walking in, the door made a loud creak, looking around at all the smiling faces and looking for someone I knew besides D. Whisper and I sat down at the table with Bookie, Goosey, Hawk and Mix. Sometimes just sitting and listening to their conversations were the best part of the day.

On some days it was about how Bookies temper was getting in the way of her relationship with Racetrack, on other days it was about how Mix told Spot off to many times and one day he was going to smack her upside the head, or fall in love with her but know one could understand how that would happen but I believed it.

"Nike, heard Jack been talking bout you again." Mix blurted out.

"Nahh, he was only talking about Droz and her break up," Goosey informed everyone.

"Well either way he's talking bout you. He never usually cares as much as he does for you," Mix replied in a tempered voice. I got a girlish look in my face. Smiled at everyone and then started to think what it would be like to date Jack. First time in weeks Droz wasn't on my mind.

"I loved our chat, but I got to go lay down, I have a killer headache and it hasn't seemed to go away," I faintly said. Everyone waved goodbye and went on to their conversations.

Walking back to the lodging house seemed forever, and I kept imaging things. I thought I saw Kelt follow me back to the LH. Finally I walked in the door, and up the stairs I went until I reached the girls dorm, barely even making it into the room and stumbling to my bed. I finally laid down, and passed out very quickly.

Couple hours later I woke up to someone leaving the room, not paying attention to what happened I looked at the foot of the bunk. A Pretty rose sat there with a note attached to it.

Meet me at 9 tonight right behind the docks

Love,
your secret admirer

"Does Nike know yet that Droz has joined a new gang?" Blizzard walked up to Whisper as everyone was talking. Blink followed close behind her.

"Not a soul has told her, I think the worse part that might even crush her is that he's got a new goilfriend," Whisper replied.

"I heard the names Flicker," Blink piped up.

"She hates her you know!" Mix yelled across the room.

"Words out that she wants to fight Nike, seems though that it wont just be her, its going to be the whole gang." Hawk responded to Mix.

"What did Nike do now? She's the sweetest out of all of us." Whisper added.

"Excuse me, that's not true. She's nice and all, but Whisper you cant tell me that she hasn't told the wrong people off, once and awhile." Hawk was also directing this at Mix.

"Well then let my rephrase, who did she mouth off now that's pissed about it?" Whisper said in a bitchy tone.

"I know why," Jack came to the table after over hearing their whole conversation.

"When Droz and her were dating, Droz always found her with Kelt or myself more then spending time with him. Basically she wasn't giving him what he wanted, when Kelt started to disappear and spend more time with Droz he started to tell him things, things about him and Nike doing shit, thus is why they broke up and thus is why there all mad." Jack felt ashamed to say anything, it wasn't true and he didn't want anyone to think badly about me.

"Why is Droz and Kelt still friends then?" Mix asked.

"Don't you know, Droz was making Kelt do shit for him, make him gain his trust back. But I don't think he's fully got it back yet. This is why there in town." Jack calmly answered Mix question.

"Whoa slow down, Where you going in such a hurry?" She asked.

"Can't talk now, I'll be back later on and tell you all about it," I responded as I was running down the street.

"Strange girl," Hawk muttered.

Running as fast as I can down the long street, the smell of the brisk air, and the aroma from the docks was getting closer with every step I took. The lights were brightly shinning and a few figures were standing in the distance. Not paying any attention I slowed down to a slower pace, allowing me to think of what to say, what to do. Finally when I reached the figures I realized who it was. To late to run, even to late to move. Kelt was standing there with a smirk on his face. Flicker and Breeze stood behind him, I only could tell because I saw them a couple times in the LH before me and Droz broke up.

"So you're ten minutes late!" Kelt snarled. Trying to back away, I ended up running into another one of their friends he was about 5’8 with blond hair and blue eyes. I never met him before in my life.

"Where do you think your going?" the stranger picked me up and placed me back in front of Kelt.

"I didn't say you could leave, did I?" I could tell Kelt was getting mad.

"Ummm...No where..." I couldn’t say very much.

"Now, when was the last time I saw little old Nike? Any one remembers?"

"Today?" Breeze piped up.

"No stupid, we're trying to tell her why she's here. Now stop interrupting, Or I'll soak you too!" While they were bickering I tried to slip away. Suddenly I hit the ground with a quick punch from Flicker to the gut.

"Tisk, tisk, I don't think so Nike. Think your going to get a way when everything's just starting to get good. I really don't think so." Flicker was trying to act all tough.

Slowly starting to cough blood up I got to my feet. I looked at her for a quick moment before everything all clicked. Not coughing up blood anymore I took a shot at her face, punching her right below her left eye. I knew it would leave a mark tomorrow. Kelt finally realized what was going on, and he started to charge at me. Getting the guy they call Ripper to grab me, Kelt then started to punch me. My face was bruised and my gut was bruised. Finally Kelt slashed my stomach before they decided to let me go. Leaving me there in my own pile of blood they left.

The last words I remember before I passed out were: "Will be back to finish you off!"

Someone must have scared them off because they were running pretty fast when they said it. Lying on the docks, hours from death. A stranger swept me into his arms, and carried me back to the LH.

Awaking up to the sudden ripping pain in my stomach wasn't the greatest feeling. I could barely move, and I was bandage up everywhere. The blood was everywhere, but since it had been at least 6 hrs since the fight, the blood was all dried up. Looking around I didn't see anyone; only on the next bunk was a bloody shirt. It looked like Jacks shirt. There also was blood all over my sheets. Mix and Whisper stood at the foot of my bunk. Whisper poked Mix, and slowly motioned over towards me.

"Look who's finally waking up," Mix said to Whisper.

Jack entered the room with a glass of water. "She up yet?"

"I think she's just trying to get an understanding of what's happening!" Mix explained to Jack. I felt like an object, they didn't care to talk to me but they all knew I could hear them. I felt like a delicate flower. Basically no one wanted to bring memories back just yet. Still cut open, and barely able to move.

"Can someone help me up?" I barely even could spit the words out. But Jack rushed to my side and helped me sit up. Trying to slowly help me up, he touched my bruise.

"Ahhh!" I screamed as loud as I could. Everyone then LH came running in. I could understand that were everywhere he touched I would scream, my whole body was a giant bruise. Everyone crowed around wondering what had happened to me.

"What happened Nike?" Whisper was the only one that would pipe up, even though everyone was thinking the same thing. I thought about what to say. What could I say, I was still somewhat unconscious and I was in much pain.

"What is there to say? I was stab, would you like me to tell you I was happy about it." I was trying to get humor out of it, which I did poorly. But it was barley working, everyone looked at me with blank stares.

"Well, Kelt and a few friends met me at the docks, and decided it would be fun to kick my ass." I didn't want to relive what happened the night before, but I had too.

Jack didn't want to hear everything that was being said.

"Everyone out, she needs her rest." Jack knew I did not want everyone around and he sent all the newsies out. Everyone started out the door and Jack and myself were the only ones left in the room. He looked at me with his puppy dog eyes. He knew I was slowly slipping away from him, they cut my deep, and not a soul had the money for a hospital. He then slowly reached for my hand, took it lightly and almost started to cry.

"You scared me," Jack said in a whimpered voice.

"Me scare the all famous Jack Kelly, it's not possible." I gave a little laugh and cringed in pain. I slowly closed my eyes, thinking of what was next to come for me. A couple minutes later I heard Jack say.

"Nike, wake up! You can't leave me. I...I...I love you." He finally spit the words out after a couple seconds of stuttering. I opened my eyes and gave him a smile. I never heard him say anything like that. He wasn’t trying to act all tough he truly seemed to care.

"How did you find me?" He seemed hurt that I didn't repeat those words, but he knew that there were more important things on hand.

"That luckily was because of you." I looked at him with a confused look on my face and he continued.

"I found the rose on your bed, I knew I shouldn't have read it but I came upstairs to tell you how I felt about you. To ask you out, I had flower for you and everything," he motioned to the floor. It was such a pretty flower a Lily in fact, my favorite. I noticed the flowers leaves were demented from the couple events.

"Anyways, when I read the note I became jealous and upset. I decided to go for a little walk and clear my thoughts. Realizing an hour later that you weren't back my lights out I set off to look for you. Found you at the docks, and running away was Kelt and his groupies. I freaked out so I picked you up and this is how you ended up here." He slowly looked down at the floor and gave a short sigh, "I'm scared Nike, I love you way to much to lose you."

I loved hearing those words coming from his mouth he cared for me, I thought no one ever cared for me.

"I love you too." I told Jack how I felt about him finally.

I closed my eyes and started to drift off, not caring what would happen next. Not realizing that those would be that last words of my life.

"Nike," Jack tried to poke me but I lay there lifeless, not a breath in me. Not a heartbeat. Nothing, I was dead and I lay in front of Jack.

"I love you." He was still holding my hand and he started crying. The tears ran down his face, and dripping on to my face. His kissed my hand and then gently kissed my lips before he walked out of the room.

Everyone stood there looking at him, trying to understand what had happened in the half an hour that he was with me.

"She's dead. I couldn't do anything to save her," Jack said as a tear ran down his face. Whisper walked over and slowly tried to comfort him. She was the only one that new about Jacks love for me.

"I need to do something, I need to leave somewhere but I can't be here." Jack was very anxious and Whisper noticed this.

"Hey, why don't we go sell our papes," Whisper motioned to the door. Jack and her went more or less just to talk.

"I need to do something for her, the death was wrong." There was a short pause in the conversation as he thought.

"She never did anything to deserve all of this. You were her best- what do you think she would have wanted done?"

"Get Kelt back, find out why this happened." Whisper only could think of things she believed I wanted done. There wasn't much conversation going on after that between the two of them, Jack was thinking and trying to sell papes.

A couple days later at Tibby's Jack made an announcement, which almost came to a shock for some people because this was the first thing he said to anybody. Before he was sitting at the table, just listening to Hawks and Mix's conversation about the days events.

"We need to get him back, he had no right," Jack blurted out.

"What are you talking about?" Blink asked Jack in a puzzled voice. Jack just seemed to start talking which made everyone feel uncomfortable. But they new what he was talking about the feeling was mutual. After a couple hours of discussion they finally decided what they were going to do.

"We need to get them back for Nike!" Jack yelled.

"One problem!" Whisper added.

"What's that?" Blink looked at her, and replied to her in a confused tone.

"They might be long gone by now if they heard the news." Whisper didn't want anyone to fight. But her rebuttal was making it seem that she was making excuses.

"We're Newsies! The only news they would have heard was from us!" Jack jumped up and was ready almost out the door, when he stopped to look at the many staring eyes.

"Wait for us Jack. You know you can't do this alone." Mix was very tough and she understood what jack was up against. She once did know Flicker; they were learning to fight together when they were younger.

"I loved her like a sister, I'll help you Jack," Death added to Mix's remark. As everyone was talking and Jack was still standing in the doorway he was hit hard by the side of a swinging door.

"Hey sorry Jack didn't see you there." Hawk ran in Tibby's.

"Guess who I just ran into." She had to take a couple of minutes to catch her breath.

"Flicker and Droz are down near the docks, and then Kelt and Breeze were walking towards them. I had to hide, didn't want anything to happen, but sounds like there going to get comfortable here for a bit." Hawk finished her sentence and looked at the room with a confused look on her face not realizing what happened before she came in the door. Whisper explained what was going on to Hawk before Jack went out the door. Everyone followed him out the door.

Jack led the group on to the docks. Droz's group was standing near the end of the dock. Once he saw Jack, his group started walking towards him. Jack and Droz met in the middle, with there groups not to far behind.

"What do you want Cowboy?" Droz asked in a cold voice.

"How about revenge? Or Nikes life back? I'm not picky," Jack snarled the words. Droz gave a half smile.

"Yeah I heard about that. So sorry for your loss." Droz chuckled. Jack grabbed Droz by the collar of his shirt and pulled him close.

"Listen you self conceded bastard, it's your fault she died. It's because of you and you know it. Now I'm here to kick your ass and get revenge for her. I swear you wont survive this night unless it's a miracle." Jack threw Droz to the ground.

"Now get your ass up and fight me." Ripper started towards Jack when Droz stopped him. Droz then walked back up to Jack.

"She got what she deserved. She was no good anyway." Droz laughed in Jack face and turned back to Kelt. Giving him a proud look.

"Umm Droz she wasn't suppose to die, I was only trying to scare her," Kelt piped up. Droz gave a disapproving look, and went for Kelt instead. A quick punch to his face and Kelt went down. Blood was coming from his nose when Droz turned back to Jack.

"Well either way, she's still dead, no matter how it was done." Droz snickered. Everyone was whispering behind Jack, trying to figure out what to do next, and trying to understand what happened with Kelt.

Others that were stronger then he have always manipulated Kelt, sometimes people just thought he was trying to be cool. This is why he went with Droz. Sometimes everyone wondered why Droz hated me so much. But it was Kelt that brought him this way; Kelt was the reason why we broke up. Maybe it was a good thing; Droz being chemically unbalanced would have hurt me in the end anyways. But wait maybe this wouldn’t have happened if we were dating.

"You never deserved her," Jack hissed at Droz. Flicker started moving towards Jack. The only one that seemed to notice was Mix, and she also started moving towards them. Flicker then took at leap at Jack but was stop by Mix. Mix punched her in the stomach.

"I don't think you should do that," Mix laughed. This was the key to the fight. Everyone seemed to leap at each other. Mix and Flicker went at it. A couple quick punches to the face and stomach. Blood was everywhere. Whisper and Breeze were on going at it the hardest, you would have never thought Whisper had it in her, but she was quick and Breeze barley saw it coming. Death and Ripper were near the edge of the dock and ending up falling over the side when Jack and Droz hit them during there fight. Jack and Droz fight seemed to be most intense. Knives were pulled on Jack, but nothing happened. Jack reversed Droz's grip on the knife and slashed him.

Blood was everywhere, everyone bleeding from different places on the body. Put after a couple of minutes of fighting Droz was on the ground. The Newsies surround Jack, and watched as he went close to Droz.

"Found your miracle, your lucky that she cares. Cause I don't you would be dead by now. But that's not what she would have wanted." Jack hissed. "You never did deserve her. She had a pure soul unlike you." Kelt got up off the ground. Still bleeding pretty hard, he got himself upright. Kelt then walked over to Jack.

"I'm sorry, I never wanted to hurt her, but I needed to do something to make it seem that I could handle being their friends. I only wanted to scare her to stay away from him." Kelt broke down crying.

Everyone walked away from that night with bruises and scars but nothing was to bad.

So maybe I did end up on top in this situation. Even though I might be dead my life has been celebrated and also I'm with my parents.