"Leave me alone, will ya?" I angrily yelled back to my father, who was chasing me down the street. I ran as fast as I could. I was never going back, he couldn't make me, no one could make me go back to that house.

After about a minute of running I looked back and saw that he stopped chasing me, good, I thought, but I kept running. I ran for what seemed like hours. Until, finally, I reached the train yards. I jumped into the first one I saw. Luckily, the train started to move almost immediately. I wondered where I was going; it didn't matter, as long as I didn't have to go back there. I put my head on my knees, and fell asleep, not realizing how tired I was.

I was awaken by a jolt of the train, it seemed to have stopped. I didn't realize how long I was sleeping. I opened the cart, and looked out, yep we've stopped, but where? I heard a mans voice coming closer, probably the conductor. I didn't want him to catch me, so I jumped out of the cart and hid in the near by bushes. The conductor checked every cart, probably for people tagging along. Then he went back to his booth. Good, no one caught me.

I started walking through the town I ended up in, trying to figure out where I was. It was getting dark out, and I didn't have a place to stay, or any food or money. Maybe I shouldn't have done this, I thought, no, this was the right thing to do. It was the only way out. So I kept on walking, finding myself in an alley. I thought I'd be safe here, when I heard a voice from behind me.

"Hey'a sweetface. Whatcha doin in a alley all by your lonesome? Waitin for some guy to come along?" I turned around to see these two boys standing in front of me, they hovered over me in height and they had these smug looks on their face. I was terrified, I could try to fight, but that wouldn't do any good.

"I...uh...I was just leaving." I tried to walk around them, but the one with the mustache grabbed my arm and pushed me to the ground in front of them.

"No ya ain't, cause ya see this is our alley and since ya decided to trespass, we'se need payment from ya."

"I don't have anything." I tried to say calmly, but it was obvious they could tell I was horrified.

"No money, eh? Well, then we'se just gonna have to find somethin else ya can pay us wit, right Oscar?" With that, Oscar picked me up by my hair and punched me in the face, which knocked me back down to the ground. He was about to do it again when I heard this voice.

"Hey, I'se wouldn't do dat if I'se were you Oscar."

I looked to the front of the alley to see a couple other guys, but they looked different, the were a bit dirtier, I guess you could say. The tall one with the cowboy hat walked over and helped me up.

"You'se gonna leave dis goil alone from now on, or you'se gonna have ta deal wit me, got it?" he said, looking Oscar in the eye.

"You can't protect hoir forever, Cowboy, come on Morris, we'll be back sweetface!" With that they ran outta the alley. The man standing beside me looked at me.

"Are you'se alright?" I looked straight into his eyes, what a mistake. I couldn't look away.

"Uh, yeah I'm fine, thanks. And thanks for helping me with them, I swear I thought they were going to kill me."

"They probably would'ave if we hadn't walked by." One of the others spoke up and started to walk towards me. "So what are ya's doin in an alley all by you'sself? Don'tcha know that it's dangerous." He asked with concern.

"Uh, yeah. I do now. Well thanks for your help, but it's getting late and I still need to find a place to sleep." With that I tried to walk away when the boy in the cowboy hat grabbed my arm, and turned to me.

"You'se don't have a place ta stay? I'se also guessin dat you'se don't have any money edder. Why dontc'ha come to the Newsboy Login House wid us and yous'e can stay der a while, you'se can also become a newsie till yous'e get your feet on da ground."

I couldn't understand why they were being so nice to me. But since they were, no sense to shun them.

"Uh, sure, thanks. Uh, my name is Chelsea."

"I'se Jack Kelly, but yous'e can call me Cowboy. Dis is Mush, and dat over der is Kid Blink, Davey, also known as da Walkin Mouth, Race and dats Specs." With that Jack spat in his hand and extended it out. I did the same thing and shook his hand, the others just cheered.

When we got to the Login House, Jack signed me in and brought me upstairs to meet the rest of the guys. We walked into a room of about 30 guys, they all stopped and looked at us.

"Bring'in strays again, Jack?" the boy that said this was walkin with a crutch.

"Very funny Crutchy. Guys listen up. Dis here is Chelsea and she's gonna be stayin wit us fer a while. Anyone touches 'er or got's a problem wit 'er stayin here, den dey's gonna half ta deals wit me, a'ight?" He looked at me. "Now you won't halves ta worry bout' dem being all over ya's." With that he led me to a bed and told me that this is where I'd be sleeping. Just then the door flew open and in walked a boy with red suspenders.

"Hey'a Spot! Whatcha doin here?" Jack called out.

"I'se was in da nabouirhood and decided to crash here for a few days. Whose dat?" He pointed at me.

"Oh, dis is Chelsea, she's gonna be wit us for a while, Chelsea, dis is Spot Conlon, leader of da Brooklyn Newsies."

"Nice ta meet ya dallface." He tried to kiss my hand but I pulled it away.

"Don't call me dollface." I said with a smug look on my face.

"Whoa, a feisty one Jack."

With that they all had little laugh and started to play poker. I sat on the bed I was assigned and watched them play. Spot kept giving me weird looks. After I while, I stopped watching them and just stared off into space. After awhile, I went up to the roof. The sky looks beautiful with all the stars. I was so content with the sky that I didn't notice that someone had followed me up.

"Beautiful, ain't they?" I looked over to see Jack with a blanket.

"Uh, yeah, they're amazing." He walked over and put the blanket around me, and then sat down beside me. We sat there for what seemed like hours just staring at the sky. Jack finally broke the silence.

"So, where ya from?" A question I didn't want to answer.

"I'm from the east." I was deliberately trying not to say where. By the look on his face I knew he could tell, so he left that alone.

"Whatcha runnin from?" Another question I didn't want to answer.

"Who said I was running from something?"

"I can jist tell by the way you'se look. You'se runnin from somethin. Now you don't have 'ta say what it is. But it would be easier for me ta' protect ya if you'se told me what it was." He was staring me right in the eye.

I couldn't figure out why he wanted to help me so much. Right before I was gonna answer him, Mush came and told us that it was time to come in cause Spot and Race had gotten into another fight about poker. When we climbed back into the room, before Jack went to break Spot and Race up, he quickly pulled me to the side.

"I'se just wanna let you know dat if you'se ever need ta talk I'se always here." With that he walked over just in time to restrain Race from hitting Spot, which everyone knew wouldn't be a good thing. I went to the bed I was assigned and slipped under the covers. I was dead tired. Jack must have seen this cause he told everyone lights out, and with that, I was out.

The next day I was woken up by Kloppmen a couple minutes before he woke the guys up. He wanted to give me a head start in the bathroom. As I walked out of the bathroom, all washed up and ready to leave, I saw that everybody was up. I walked to the window and looked out of it. I didn't know what I was going to do that day, or what job to look for, I was lost, and then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and was face to face with the Brooklyn leader, Spot. Oh great, I thought, I didn't know he spent the night and I hadn't really talked to him except our introduction.

"Hi. I'se was just wonderin if you'se wanted ta sell papes wit me dis mornin. I could teach ya da ropes on how ta be a newsie and probably could teach ya how ta fight or at least defend yourself." His caring attitude shocked me, I thought that the famous Spot Conlon was suppose to be a hard ass. I was too busy thinking that I forgot to answer him.

Then I finally realized I had to say something, rather than just stare at his beautiful eyes all day.

"Uh, sure. If it's alright with Jack." I looked at him, with some hope that he would be against it. He just nodded and said he'd meet us at Tibby's. With that Spot lead me out of the bunkroom and to the distribution office. When it was our turn, Spot got 70 papes, 50 for him and 20 for me. When I reached to get them, a hand grabbed mine and I looked up. Oscar.

"Let go of my hand." I tried to get out of his grasp, but he was strong.

"You didn't let us properly welcome you ta New Yawk, how's about later you and me go back ta my place..."

That ticked Spot off, not only was Oscar being an ass, but he was hurting me, the new girl. Somehow Spot could tell I was in pain, Oscar had quite the grip on me. Spot slammed his hand down and made Oscar jump.

"Let her go. You ain't gonna be messin wit dis goil, ya see, you do and I'se personally soak ya, not ta mention all da newsies in Manhattan and Brooklyn." With that, Spot grabbed my arm and directed me to the gate, then turned around to see if he hurt me badly. It didn't really hurt, just the fact that I couldn't get out of his grip on my own is what scared me. That morning he taught me how to sell properly.

Suprisingly, he was really nice to me. At lunch, we went to Tibby's, where all the Manhattan newsies ate lunch. We sat at a table with Jack, Race, and Snoddy.

"So, how did ya do for your first day?" Jack asked as we sat down, I sat right across from Snoddy.

"Good, I guess. I had a good teacher." I said as I smiled at Spot. He tried not to care, but I saw a small little smirk light up his face. For the duration of the meal, there wasn't much serious talking, just a bunch of chit-chat, here and there. I mostly just sat there and listened. Spot didn't talk much either, he just sat there quietly, staring at his food like he was deep in thought. Every once in a while I would catch him looking up from his food and staring at me. I was gonna ask him about this, then thought that it would be best if I just let it go. It probably didn't mean anything, right?

After lunch, I stood up and made my way outside. I sat on the curb and tried to absorb everything. I thought that running away would be a little harder than that. I mean, I get into town and right before I get hurt badly this group of guys help me out, give me a place to stay and a job. Someone approaching me from behind disturbed my thinking.

"Look who I found. Oscar, come 'ere. I found da goil from da alley." I stood up and turned around to face possibly the ugliest man I have ever seen.

"Oh, it's you guys again." I couldn't believe I kept running into them.

"Ya, it's us again, and dis time you ain't gonna have Cowboy ta help you'se out. See, were gonna soak ya real bad." I slowly started to back up, when I noticed that a couple of the guys were coming out of Tibby's. Oscar and Morris also saw them.

"Saved again, well don't be to relieved, cause da moment we get you'se alone, you'll regret da day you met us." With that they took off. I was so relieved, and then I realized that eventually they would beat me up. I had no idea how to fight. I was pretty good at dogging people coming at me, but I had no idea how to defend myself. I walked up to Jack.

"Hey Jack, can you help me with something?"

"Sure, what do ya need help wit?"

"Well, fighting. I need to learn how and I was hoping you could help me."

"Actually I'se not da one you should be talkin to. But I can get someone ta help you. Hold on, I'll be right back." With that he walked away. When he came back he had Spot with him.

"If you wanna learn how ta fight, Spot here will teach ya." Jack walked away and I just looked at Spot, I didn't know what to say. He was staring back at me, which, by the way, was making me a little uncomfortable.

"So, you're gonna teach me how to fight?" I sat down on a near by bench. He walked over and sat beside me.

"Yeah, something like dat. We'll start tomorrow. Afta you'se finish sellin your papes, head down to da Brooklyn Bridge. I'll be there." With that he stood up and left.

Later that night, I was sitting on my bunk when Blink and Mush came up to me.

"Hey Chelsea, we'se was thinkin. You need a newsie name right? And since you'se don't speak very much around everyone, we'se decided to call ya Whisper. Is dat ok wit you?" I sat up.

"Yeah, I kinda like it. Thanks for the name guys." I lied back down and they walked away telling everyone my new name. It had been a long day. I decided I needed my rest if I was going to learn how to fight tomorrow. After sitting there for a couple more minutes, I passed out.

The next morning I was woken up by Kloppmen a couple minutes early again. I got ready and went and sat on my bed until everyone else was ready. I kept thinking about Spot. His eyes mesmerize me and make me a little nervous, but his smile comforts me. Jack snapped me out of my thinking.

"Hey, ya ready ta go? You've been sittin there starin into space for quite some time. What are ya thinkin about?"

I blushed. "Nothing. Lets go." I stood up and started walkin across the room to the door.

"Wait, wait. Let me guess. You'se was thinkin about Conlon, weren't you? Do ya like him or sumthin?"

"No, I don't like him. Well I mean I like him, he's nice and all, but no, I don't like him." I was rambling. Jack just laughed and we headed out to get our papes.

At the distribution office, Jack bought my papes for me so I wouldn't have to face the Delancy's. The sight of them made me laugh cause I knew that after I learned how to fight, I'd teach them a lesson. I sold my papes in the same spot that I had gone to yesterday with Spot. I kept thinking all morning about going to meet Spot at the bridge.

Finally I was finished selling. I found Race and told him to tell everyone where I was going. I practically ran to the bridge. When I got there I didn't see Spot anywhere so I stopped in the middle and looked around. I must have been there for not even five minutes when Spot walked up to me.

"Glad you could make it. Follow me." I had no choice but to follow him. After about ten minutes of walking in silence, we ended up in an alley.

"This is where I'se gonna teach ya how ta fight. Now we'll start with da basics." He spent two hours teaching me the basics, and not once did we talk about something else. When it was time for me to leave, he said he'd walk me to the bridge because it wasn't safe for someone to be traveling alone. Great, I thought, more silence. But surprisingly he started talking to me.

"You're a fast learner. I'll probably be done teachin you in a couple a days." Then there was more silence. I decided to start some sort of conversation.

"They gave me a nick name yesterday. So you can call me Whisper now."

"Whisper, I like dat." He stopped and turned to me. He spit in his hand and held it out to me. I thought it was gross, but I mimicked him and did the same thing, we shook hands.

"Nice ta meet you Whisper." Then we were on our way again. When we reached the bridge he said bye and took off the other direction. I stopped and watched him for a couple minutes. I guess he felt me starin at him or something, cause when he was about ten feet away he turned around and caught me staring at him.

"What are you lookin at?"

"Uh nothing, see ya later." I took off as fast as possible without actually running. He shook his head and smirked and then continued on his way. I made it back to the lodging house in record time. I walked in and went straight to my bed. I was so tired and sore. I tried to get to sleep without to many questions, but there was no way they were going to let me do that. Finally, after hundreds of questions, they let me sleep. The next couple of days went about the same way. I sold my papes then I'd go to Brooklyn for fighting lessons, come home stiff and soar, and get questioned. On the last day of me getting taught, I was walking home when someone pulled me into an alley.

"Hey sweetface, long time no see." I looked up and saw Oscar, and I figured Morris was the one holding me. Oscar punched me in the stomach, which made Morris let me go. Big mistake. I turned around and punch Morris right in the nose, which made him double over, then I tripped Oscar and climbed on top of him, punching him in the gut. When I realized Morris was getting back up I found a piece of wood and smacked Morris over the head with it. After that I ran out of they alley and to the lodging house where I ran straight into Snoddy.

"Hey, watch where your going Whisper. Whats wrong wit you, why are you outta breath." I sat down for a second, catching my breath. By that time, most everyone was surrounding me.

"Ok, well I was on my way home from Brooklyn when Oscar and Morris came out of no where and pulled me into an alley. Oscar punched me but then I took care of them and then I ran home, which is why I was outta breath." I was so proud of myself for taking them out like that, I had a smile on face the entire time. Then it occurred to me. I didn't have to go to Brooklyn tomorrow cause my lessons were done. Which ment I didn't get to see Spot everyday. My smile slowly faded.

Suddenly the front door of the Lodging House burst open. I looked up and saw him. Spot. His eyes scanned the room until they fell upon me. He slowly approached me.

"Spot, what are you doing here this late?" I asked.

"Some a' me boyz were talkin 'bout how da Delancy's got soaked tonight. Dey also said dey saw a goil flee da seen. So I was just wonderin, was it you?" He looked right into my eyes, his stare was hard, but some what relaxed.

"Yeah, it was me. They tried to hurt me so I used the skills you taught me." Spot's straight face lightened up a bit.

"Good, glad ta see you'se ok and everythin. Well I'se got to be getting back ta Brooklyn." My heart fell once again. Jack must have seen the look on my face, because as Spot was walking towards the door, Jack stopped him.

"Listen, Spot, it's already getting late, so why don'tcha stay da night and sell wit us here tomorra?" My hopes rised a bit. Spot looked around the room.

"Sure." With that he headed up stairs with the rest of them to play poker. Jack pulled me aside as I was about to make my way up.

"Look, I ain't blind. I see da way you look at him. I also see da way he looks at you. I can tell dat youˇ¦se like him, so why don't you go for it."

"Are you crazy? I wouldn't be able to do that. I'm way too shy. I wouldn't know what to say or what to do. No, it's out of the question." With that I walked up stairs. I knew I should have done something, but I was too afraid of rejection. I sat on my bunk and watched them play poker, just as I did my first night there. But something had changed. I had seen Spot in a whole new light. The first day I couldn't stand him, but then he started to grow on me. As I watched him play I noticed the little things about him. Whenever he had a really good hand the corner of his mouth would start to twitch like he was trying not to smile. When he had a bad hand his eyes turned into stones.

Later on, Jack went up to Spot and pulled him aside. From where I was I couldn't see what they were talking about, but it looked important. I was so sidetracked that I didn't notice Blink talking to me.

"Hello?? Whisper are you even listening ta me?"

"Oh, sorry Blink, I guess I didn't see you there. What were you saying?"

"I'se was asking you'se if ya seen dat hand I just won." He looked extremely proud of himself.

"No, sorry, I wasn't paying attention."

"Dat's alright, but I'se gots some advice for ya. If your gonna stare at Conlon, make it a little less obvious k?" With that he walked away. Obvious?? Was he kidding? I couldn't believe it. My face immediately went red. I decided to go up on the roof. The stars were out tonight. When I got up there, no one else was there. Good, I thought to myself. When I was in the midst of my thoughts, I was interupted by Jack sitting beside me. He interrupts me a lot.

"Hey, I thought I saw ya come up here. Whats on yer mind?"

"I was just thinkin 'bout some things. But they ain't that important." I started getting up when Jack pulled me back down.

"If they are important to ya, then they's important. So, what are ya thinking 'bout?" I looked at Jack and sighed. I figured that I could trust him.

"Well, I was thinking about my past. I haven't had such good experiances with guys. I've been hurt emotionally and physically and I'm not saying that Spot will hurt me, but I don't know if I'm ready to try and trust him yet, ya know?" I looked down at my feet, ashamed, in a way, of saying that out loud. I thought Jack would get mad or something. Instead, he put his arm around me and comforted me.

"I'se hear what your sayin, and I understand how ya feel. But I shouldn't be the one you tell this to. You have ta tell him. Now, I know it won't be easy. So, if ya l ike, I'll tell 'im for ya, but then I'm sendin him up here ta talk to you, ok?" I nodded my head and Jack went downstairs. A couple minutes later, I thought I heard a noise. Then I looked up and saw him standing there.

"Jack told me 'bout everythin. I understand about you not knowing if you'se can trust me, and I just wanted to let you'se know that I'd never hoit you ever." He sat beside me.

"Spot, thanks for understanding. I didn't know how to tell you and I could barley tell Jack. I'm just glad that you understood."

Spot smirked.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing, I just wanted to do something."

With that, in one swift movement, he pulled me close to him and then put his lips on mine. It seemed to have last forever. But there was something weird about it. After we parted, both of us sat there for a minute. Then I decided to speak up.

"Was it me, or did that feel like kissing..." I paused. Spot finished my sentence for me.

"...your sister. Ok, I guess we learned one thing. We'se have no chemistry. I guess were just meant to be friends." In a way, it was kind of a relief.

"Good friends." I smiled. Then we stood up and hugged. We went inside and Jack pulled me aside.

"So, what happened. Are you his goil?" I just laughed.

"No, we've decided just to be friends, good friends, but just friends." I smiled and looked around the room. I had a room full of friends that cared for me. I couldn't be happier.