Always and Forever... Maybe *Spot Conlon*

After the drama at the gates, everyone goes back to their lodging houses. I say bye to Davey and Les, who are heading home.

I grab Race's arm before he can leave with the rest of the 'Hattan newsies. "Hey, Race."

He turns. "What?"

"I need ya to cova for me."

"Goin' to Brooklyn?" Race asks with a smirk.

I make a face at him. "Nah. I's goin' on an adventure. Jumpin' on a train and seein' where it takes me. Just for a little. I'll be back hopefully in an hour."

"Danny, we's both know that's dangerous."

"Race, please. I need to do something to get my mind off Jack. I'll be careful. I just need ya to stop Mush from findin' out."

Race sighs. "Fine. One hour. If ya ain't back by then, I's sendin' a search party and your brudda will be the leada."

I smile. "Thanks! You's awesome."

Race nods. "Yeah, I know. Now go. Your one hour starts now."

I take off towards the train yards and hop on the back of the train that's taking off.

I return to 'Hattan in an hour, just like I told Race. I run to the lodging house, where the boys are talking in a circle.

"Hey, Danny," Mush says. "How was the beach?"

I grin. Of course, Race told him I was at the beach. Really though, I was in the Bowery, catching up with some Mush and I's old friends. "Awesome. Whatcha guys talkin' 'bout?"

"Jack's joining the strike again!" Les, who I didn't see until now, says.

"What?" I ask, looking up at Race and Mush.

Mush shrugs. "Les said that Davey, Sarah, Denton, and Jack are printin' a pape that tells the truth 'bout the city. So, we can spread the strike to all the kids workin' in New York."

"And you believe it?"

"It's true!" Les says. "I saw them!"

"Ay, Jack's neva let us down before, right?" Crutchy says.

Race pats his shoulder. "Ya right, Crutchy. We can trust Jack. Think 'bout the powa we'll hold if we win this strike."

Mush turns to me. "What da ya think Danny?"

I shrug. "I don't know. I wanna trust Jack and I think whateva pape they's makin' is probably a good one. We can at least go talk to him."

"Yeah, let's go talk to him," Skittery echoes.

"I's sorry 'bout what I did," Jack says. "You gotta know that, Danny."

"I know. But, Jack, you realize that this might not work. Plus, what about Brooklyn and the other boroughs? There's no way they trustin' you again."

Jack hits the stack of papes next to him. "I's don't have to convince nobody. This pape will do that for us. They don't have to listen; they just have to read. C'mon, Danny, let the boys take the papes out. At least see how it does."

I grab the top paper and read through it quickly. When I finish, I sigh. "It's a good pape, Jack. I guess we'll see how it does. But this don't mean I fully trust you again."

Jack grins and hugs me. "Thanks Danny."

I push him off me, suppressing a smile. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, whateva. Let's hand out some papes!"

After all of us 'Hattan newsies, along with Sarah and Les, hand out all the papers, I make my way to Jack and Race.

"Hey guys, I goin' to Brooklyn," I say.

"Why?" Race asks.

"To tell Spot that the strike's back on! I have an extra pape. Look, I'll be back soon."

Jack nods. "We'll cova."

"Thanks." I run off through the streets towards the Brooklyn Bridge. It's early morning now, and I've had little sleep since my train adventure to the Bowery.

The guards step aside as soon as I arrive at the docks.

I tip my hat at them. "Thanks boys."

I find Spot on his pile of crates.

"Spot!" I exclaim. He looks up at me. "You'll neva believe it! The strike is on again! Jack printed a paper with Denton and now he's not a scabba anymore!"

I hand Spot the paper which he takes slowly. It takes him a while to get through it, and I stand there impatiently, bouncing on my toes. Why do I still have so much energy?

Spot finally finishes the paper and folds it. "That's great. But Brooklyn's done with the strike."

"What?" I ask, the energy draining from my body.

"I's don't trust Jack anymore. He's a liar."

"But you said it yaself, everybody lies!"

"Yeah, but Jack's lies are too big to ignore, darlin'. I ain't trustin' him with my boys. So, Brooklyn's done."

"Jack had to lie to protect himself, Spot! Can't you see that? He's changed!"

"Nobody eva really changes, darlin'. They's just lie and say they did. There's no way Jack's not gonna do somethin' to hurt someone again. He hasn't changed.

"Right, nobody changes," I say, crossing my arms. "You're sayin' you's still the same heartless boy with a big ego and trust issues that you were before the strike?"

"Yes, I am. That's my reputation and I's ain't lettin' it change," Spot says, standing up and stepping closer to me. He stops a few inches away, and I can feel his breath when he talks. "'Cause nobody changes."

I can't take it anymore. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull his face to mine, connecting our lips. He backs me up until I hit a wall, placing his hands on my hips. I'm not even worried about any of his newsies seeing us, just about the boy in front of me.

Spot pulls away first, leaning against the wall with his hands on either side of my head. His blue eyes drill into me. "Ya liked that, darlin'?" His breath is hot on my neck.

I nod slowly. "Yeah, and I think you did too."

Spot smirks. "You keep tellin' yaself that." He steps back and I'm freezing now without his warmth. "You should get back to ya little Jacky boy. But don't be surprised when his real colors show again."

"So, you really ain't comin'?" I ask, stepping away from the wall.

Spot turns to me again. "I don't befriend traitors, darlin'."