The next morning was no different from the others. The only thing that was different was that just as Jack was about to knock on Feister's door she ran out and bolted down the stairs before he could yell for her to get up. The boys found this very weird since that never happened. Usually they'd hear grumbles, then a small thud come from behind the door in the morning. But now? Now Feister ran down the stairs and most likely out the door.

Mush (just like the others) had seen this go down, but he knew why that happened. Feister did it so she wouldn't have to see him that morning. Which made him think that he might never see her face to face again.

The rest of the morning wasn't any better. Feister had gotten to the gate before any of them, and spent most of the time talking with Kid Blink, who kept shaking his head slightly to Mush. When the gate was opened Feister stood in line behind Race, and Albert was right behind her. When she got her papers she bolted right out to who knows where.

Though Mush would've gone after her he needed to get his papers first. After he did get his papers he bolted out and tried looking for her at the park under their tree. But she wasn't there. He then tried Bottle Alley and then the Harbor since he knew that was an easy place to hide.

But then Mush realized that Feister hated going to Bottle Alley and the Harbor for two reasons. 1, she could literally get trampled, and 2, she could get soaked. Mush then looked around Medda's and the park near Jacobi's. But sadly there was no sign of the small girl.

After that he checked with a few of the boys, but they said they hadn't seen her since they got to the gate. He then decided to go to their selling spot to sell the rest of his papers. Though chances were slim he hoped that Feister was there selling, or sitting on the curb with that look that said, "took you long enough to get here."

When Mush got to their selling spot there was no sign of her anywhere. Knowing he couldn't be running around the city he stayed there for the rest of the day to sell the last of his papers. By the time Mush finished it was lunch time.

He hoped that Feister would be at Jacobi's. But, just like under their tree, Bottle Alley, the Harbor, Medda's, the park near Jacobi's, and their selling spot she wasn't anywhere to be seen. He walked up to one of the tables and plopped into a chair next to Kid Blink, who said, "She'll come round, just let 'er cool off."

Mush looked sadly at Blink, who had tried (key word tried) to make him feel better. But the only thing that could make Mush feel better was Feister. He knew he messed things up, and big time, but he wanted to make it right, he just needed to find her. But it was kinda hard to find a small girl in a big city. By the time afternoon came it turned out Feister had gotten her papers early and was long gone by then.

For the rest of the day Mush tried looking for Feister pretty much everywhere. Heck, he even tried going to Sheepshead which is all the way in Brooklyn to see if she was with Race, but just like everywhere else she wasn't there. He knew he messed things up, and big time, but he wanted to make things right, all he had to do was find a small girl in a big city.

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While Feister was selling her papers she knew very well that Mush was looking for her. Heck, she tried going to their tree, but that was the first place he looked for her. luckily she spotted him before he did her and she made a run for it.

She then tried Bottle Alley, but Mush had found her. She then tried the Harbor, again, he somehow found her. Feister was counting on the fact that Mush wouldn't even have tried looking for her there since he knew she hates it there. But no, it was the second and third place he went.

Feister then tried selling with some of the boys; when that didn't work she then went to sell in front of Medda's, then the park near Jacobi's and even their selling spot! But, it seemed like Mush knew her way too well because he was right on her tail the whole morning. Heck, she was lucky he didn't spot her. When afternoon came she went selling with Race for a little bit before well...you know.

So now, here she was in Central Park selling her papers. So far she hadn't seen him so she thought he gave up. It was about time too since she was running out of spots to hide. Then, it made her sad to think that they were so close and were barely ever seen apart, but now? Now she was trying to avoid him at all costs. Was this how it was going to be from now on?

Feister knew very well that she had six, maybe seven years left to be a newsie. But, that also meant she had to see him for six or seven more years. But, it's not a total loss, after all they are a year apart, so...yeah, she wasn't going to make it.

Anyways, a few minutes later Specs had somehow found her, but hey, at least it wasn't Mush, right? "Hey Feisty," Specs said as he approached the smaller girl, who only had a few papers left.

"Hey Specs," she replied quietly.

"You'se holdin' up ok?" he asked.

"Why wouldn't I be?" she asked while glancing at the ground for a quick moment.

Specs shrugged. "I's dunno. A lot has been goin' on for the past few months an' I just wanted ta make sure you'se was ok, that's all." Feister smiled weakly, but she was dead inside. "Ya know Mush-"

"Is doin' just fine without me," Feister cut off. But, as soon as she said this she felt like breaking down. But, there was nothing left to be broken about. She'd been broken into a million pieces before she came to the Lodge. She wasn't really surprised that yet another person she cared about left. But, she was used to people leaving her.

Her brother ran away when she was only four, her mother died when she was five, and her dad went down the wrong path, and by age six her dad abandoned her. So, in other words she was used to being by herself.

When Feister first came to the Lodge she promised herself she wasn't going to get attached to the boys, especially Mush. But, that didn't happen. If she didn't get attached would she be this hurt now? Probably not.

Specs just sighed, he knew very well that it was no use talking some sense into Feister. So he ended up selling for the rest of the afternoon with her. By the time they finished it was already starting to get dark. It had been a really slow day, but they managed. Specs said that everyone was going to Medda's, but Feister said she was a little tired so she was going to head back to the Lodge.

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It had been a long day, and Feister was really tired by the time she got to the Lodge. After signing her name in the ledger and paying the fee for the night she then went up the stairs. As she was walking up the stairs she heard the sound of darts being thrown onto a board.

Taking a quick peek into the bunk room she saw Mush going at it. Which was weird because usually he'd be out with Lacey. Anyways, Feister was about to go into her room when she noticed a dart resting by her feet. She picked it up and saw that the target was an easy bullseye. At least for her.

Carefully holding the dart with her fingers she then took a stance and then threw it, making it land in the middle. it wasn't a bullseye, but it was still in the middle. Which grabbed Mush's attention. His eyes widen when he turned around and saw that she was there. "Lucky shot," he managed to say after what seemed like forever. "I's bet you'se couldn't do that again."

"How bout I's do it again only with my eyes closed," she replied while crossing her arms. Feister then started kicking herself for opening her mouth. She should've just gone to her room while she still had the chance.

But no, she had to open her big mouth. But there was no going back now. She would just have to take what's coming and get it over with so she could go to bed.

Mush walked up to her and said, "You'se been spending way too much time with Race."

"Maybe." she shrugged "So, you'se gonna give me a dart or what Mush brains," she said while holding out her hand. Ok so, Feister may be mad at Mush right now, but even if she's mad she still would never back down from a challenge.

If there was one thing Feister learned in the seven years she's been living in a Lodge full of boys is that to never back down, she was one girl in a million boys and she needed to take her stand and show them that she's not just some weak little girl who doesn't belong.

She always made sure the boys knew that she did in fact belong, and boy, did she never let them forget it. He smirked, handed her a dart and then stood next to her. "There's no way yer gonna do that again." Mush knew very well to never challenge Feister to anything because she can and will show him how it's done.

But, she was actually talking to him and, maybe, just maybe he saw a glimpse of the girl he's known for seven years. "Watch an' learn Mush brains," she said with a smirk, and maybe, just maybe she felt like they were friends again. But, she shook it off and would do what she had to do before going to bed. Besides, he was better off without her, all she does is cause trouble, and as hard as she tried not too, she still got herself into tight messes.

Like that time with the Brooklyn boy back when she was six. Anyways, with that being said Feister got one last good look at the target before closing her eyes, taking a deep breath and throwing the dart, which was a bullseye this time. "Not bad for a goil," she teased with a smirk as he looked him dead in the eyes.

"Again, ya got lucky," he said as she turned to face him again.

Feister, not being in the mood for anything grabbed Mush by the shoulders and pulled herself up so they were eye and eye as she said, "Maybe you'se need ta borrow Specs' glasses cause apparently you'se goin' blind from old age too." why couldn't she just keep her mouth shut?! But, ever since they were little Mush was always the one who got under her skin the most.

Ever since day one he had gotten under her skin, and well...let's just say they had a little fight. Heck, out of all the boys Mush was the one she yelled at the most, and the one she got annoyed with the most; she didn't know why it would happen, it just did.

"Woah, slow down there Feisty, cause I'm pretty sure ya practiced that shot." Now, it seemed like old habits die hard because well...Mush wasn't sure what came over him, and he knew very well he should keep his mouth shut when Feister got like this, but that never happened. Which means they fight, a lot.

And, he had to admit she was cute when she got like this. to Mush Feister has two types of anger, the one you don't want to mess with, and the cute one. He never knew why he thought she was cute when she got mad, she just was. And, maybe that's the reason he can't keep his mouth shut.

"How could I's practice that shot if I's just walked in and threw a stupid needle?!" she yelled in his face. Literally. Now what Mush just said really got to her, and she didn't know why. Sometimes Feister wondered if Mush knew he got under her skin, and was the one who annoyed her the most of the time.

Still, she didn't know why this happened, it just did. "You'se really do have mush for brains, cause apparently yer not only, slow, an' blind but yer also growing more stupid every single freaking day!"

"Seven years later an' they's still yelling at each other," a voice said from behind making Mush and Feister turn around to see all the boys standing there. Then they looked back at each other, both trying hard not to smile.

But it didn't last long because two big smiles broke out onto their face as they laughed. The way they just fought was similar to the way they first met, and got their nicknames. This result in both of them laughing at the fond memory.

"Hey Feisty," Mush said after he calmed down.

"Yeah," Feister asked while taking a deep breath. "Whaddya want Mush brains?" she asked as she pulled his cap over his eyes.

"Sorry, for everything that happened in the past two months," he said while fixing his cap. For a few minutes he'd forgotten about what had happened between them.

It was like things went back to what they used to be, and maybe, just maybe he saw the fire start to flare up in her eyes again.

"I's dunno why I's didn't tell ya an' I's didn't mean anything I's said that mornin'. But now I's know why you'se said that an'-"

"Mush," Feister said cutting him off. "I's the one who started gettin' mad over nothin'. I's shoulda just tawk ta ya, instead I's got mad an' yelled ya you'se, it's my fault for not tawkin' it out with ya sooner." now, she wasn't one to talk things out very much, but she wished she had, and now she felt really bad about everything that happened. This wasn't his fault, it was hers.

"But I'm-"

"An' I's-"

"How bout you'se just spit, shake an' pretend nothin' happened," Jack suggested. They both looked at each other, smiled and then did as Jack said.

Then Mush pulled her into a hug. Feister smiled and wrapped her arms around him. For the first time in who knows how long they were hugging, which meant things had gone back to normal.

"The Lovebirds are back!" Jojo and Elmer yelled happily while high fiving each other. This also meant that the betting pool was back on.

"Shut up!" Mush and Feister both yelled while facing the older boys. It seemed like old habits die hard because they laughed even more. Oddly enough just as fast as everything went downhill, it went back to normal just as fast.

After awhile they both calmed down before hugging again. "Wanna go on the fire escape?" Mush whispered in Feister's ear. She nodded and then they headed to the window. They crawled out and then shut it so no one would follow them.

"So, I's hafta know," Feister said once they sat down with their legs dangling over the edge. "Why aren't ya out with-"

"She broke up with me," Mush replied before she could finish.

"Sorry ta hear that. Though I's didn't like Lacey I's knows you'se cared bout 'er," she said. This was true. Even though Feister never liked Lacey. Heck, she hated the girl, but she knew Mush liked Lacey. It was the look in his eyes that gave it away

"Not as much as I's care bout you'se," he replied before wrapping his arm around her. She smiled and laid her head down in the nook of his arm.

"Ya know, if you'se ever wanna tawk about it, I's all ears." Feister closed her eyes, sighed and snuggled her head into his chest more.

"Thanks Feisty," Mush whispered. Then he kissed the top of her head before leaning his head against hers. And, it was in that moment that maybe, just maybe Mush thought that he had a soft spot for Feister.

But then again he's always had a soft spot for her, and no one would be able to take that away. Mush knew for a fact that he didn't want to hurt her again. She's been hurt too many times in her past and in that moment, he made a promise to himself to always make sure that Feister would never get hurt by anyone, including himself ever again.

She may give him a hard time about well....everything, but that was just who she is. A feisty little news girl who isn't afraid to speak her mind. He wanted the moment of them on the fire escape to last forever. It kinda did because they ended up sleeping out there. It was mid-September and it was a tad colder than usual. But they didn't care, they had each other for warmth.

As she fell asleep in his arms Feister realized that she did in fact have feelings for Mush. Everything that happened in the past few months just proved it. But she was sure he didn't like her that way. She was just his little sister/best friend.

But she knew for a fact that she'd rather lose him to another girl than lose him completely. She's already had so many people leave in her life; Mush and the other newsies are the best thing that ever happened to her, they're her brothers and she's their sister.

At the moment it didn't matter what happened in the past, or what was going to happen in the future, she didn't care if things were changing, and changing fast, because in that moment she felt like she was his. His girl.

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Well that's the end of A Girl Newsie. Big thanks to everyone who read, voted and commented. Some one shots and the second story will be coming out, so keep a look out for those. I'll see you all soon. Thanks again for reading this, and I definitely do not regret posting my very first fanfic story on Wattpad.

Crystal