TW: Swearing

A/N: there's a lot of crutchie and tiny crutchie being a cinnamon roll in here from what I remember (I didn't read over it yet lol) so be prepared for cuteness!!

(I really like the end of this. You'll know it when ya see it)

Also please comment (vote if ya want idm) because I lOVE reading them it makes me really happy and gives me more motivation/confidence to write more.
Also I'll respond to them if they're something that I feel like I can respond to. Basically I like comments and I respond to them. Yeah. Please just comment I like reading them.

k let's go!

Davey raises his glass of water. "I say, we launched our strike in a most auspicious manner!"

The boys mumble and groan – I'm the only one who agrees with him. I don't think a lot of the boys know what is means. It makes sense, most of them didn't get an education, and for the ones who did it was very limited.

"I dunno about dat," Mush says, "But we sure scared da bejeebuz outta Weasel!"

"Yeah, and didja see da Delanceys? Dey didn't know which way was up!" Crutchie says, laughing. It's still the same laugh,I realise,it's deeper, sure, but it hasn't changed in five years.

Jack stands on the table to get our attention. I'm honestly surprised the man – Mr. Jacobi – lets us be in here when we can't buy anything.

"So, what's next?" he asks Davey, waving his hands around trying to make the answer appear.

"Now, ya have ta spread the word – let the rest a' the cities newsies know about the strike," Davey says.

I elbow Race, scribbling as I do. The newsie accent is rubbing off on him.He smirks, whispering, "We'll make a propah newsie of 'im yet!"

"Alright, you heard da man, let's split up and spread the word," Jack orders.

Newsie after newsie takes a borough or neighbourhood. Race has Midtown, Jojo took The Bronks, Jack gave Tommy Boy the East Side and Specs got Queens – but all the excitement stops when he mentions Brooklyn.

"Oh, come on, Brooklyn! Spot Colon's turf!" He's trying to rile us up, but none of the boys want Brooklyn. I'd be fine with it – I like Brooklyn, and Spot's like an older brother to me.

"Finch! You tellin' me you scared a' Brooklyn?"

Finch stands on his chair, annoyed that Jack would think so little of him. "I ain't scared a' no turf!"

The boys stare at him, shocked, till he adds on, "But that Spot Colon gets me a little... jittery."

"Oh, me an' Davey'll take Brooklyn den," Jack announces.

But I don't think Davey agrees with Jack on this one. They start fighting, just a little, Davey saying that he has to get Les home to his folks.

"Why is everyone so scared of Brooklyn?"

I look over to see a girl holding a notepad and a pen – she's a reporter.

"What're you doin' here?" Jack asks, smiling. They've met before.

She says with a smile, "Asking a question – have you got an answer?"

He scoffs. "Brooklyn is da sixth largest city in de entire woild – you got Brooklyn, you're with da moder lode... Say, for someone who works for da New York Sun... you'se sure spend a lotta time hangin' around at da World. So what's dat about, huh?" Jack's demeanour changes, and the boys near him become mockingly protective with the next words he speaks. "Are you followin' me?"

The reporter chuckles. "No, the only thing I'm following is a story: a ragtag gang of ragamuffins wants to take on the king makersof New York? Well, do you think you have a chance?"

I've barely known these kids for a day, but I know what it's like to be a kid on the streets, struggling to survive. So asking people who need to sell these papes to live if they think they have a chanceis a bad, badmove.

And Jack knows it. "Shouldn' you be at da ballet?"

"Oh, is the question too difficult? I'll rephrase: will the richest and most powerful men in New York give the time of day to a gang of kids who haven't got a nickel to their name?"

Crutchie stands as tall as he can and says, "Hey, you don't gotta be insultin'! ...I got a nickel."

She makes an uncomfortable noise, then struts over to Davey and Jack. "So, I guess you'd say you're a couple of Davids looking to take on Goliath..."

Davey doesn't seem to like that – makes sense, I mean, I wouldn't want my name plastered on a news story.

Jack's still annoying her (though I don't know what he's trying to accomplish).

"What's the last news story you wrote?" He says snidely.

"What's the last strike you organised?" She remarks. Oh, I like this one, she's good. I realise who these two remind me of, too: Beatrice and Benedick in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.

While the boys are teasing Jack, Romeo comes up on the other side of Katherine, saying, "Outta your league, Kelly! Methinks the lady needs ta be handled by a-" he pats his chest and puffs it out "-real man."

"Uh... You thinks wrong, Romeo," Katherine says, pushing him away.

He whispers to Jack with a smile, "How'd she know my name?"

Jack slaps the back of his neck. "Get outta here you'se!"

"I'd say we save any... exclusive... for a realreporter," Davey says.

"Do you see anyone else giving you the time of day?!" The reporter's getting desperate, I can tell. She needs a story – a way to break out. She turns to Jack. "So, I'm just busting out of the social pages... but you give methe exclusive, let merun with the story, and I promise, I'll get you the space."

The boys get excited. Race elbows me and Albert grins.

Our attention shifts to Crutchie. "You really think we could be in da papes?"

The girl smiles. "To shut down a paper like The World? You're gonna make the front page."

Jack gets her attention again. "You wanna story? Be at da circulation gate tomorrow mornin', an' you'll get one. Oh, an' bring a camera... you're gonna wanna snap a pit'cha a' this!"

We cheer – we're finally getting our story told. My grin is as wide as can be – I've known kids who have had nothing because of what their employers took from them, and finally – finally– we're taking it back.

"C'mon, boys, play outside!" Mr. Jacobi motions for us to leave. "I gotta set up for dinner an' I got payin' customers that need the tables!"

Finch steps on the table. "C'mon! We got newsies ta visit!"

Race moves over to Mr. Jacobi, a smile on his face. "Oh, you won't be shooin' us off when we get our mugs in da papes!"

Now we're gonna pretend that they've already come up with a logical reason that they sing randomly because I love The World Will Know so we're gonna ignore everything else and just say it exists, okay? Okay.

And the world will know!

We've been keepin' score.

Either dey gives us our rights or we gives dem a war!

We've been down too long,

And we paid our dues.

And the things we do today will be tomorrow's news!

And the die is cast,

And the torch is passed,

And the roar will rise (from the streets below),

And our ranks will grow and grow and so:

The Worldwill feel the fire and finally know!

Wasn't that fun? Yeah, it was.

Les follows us out the door of the Deli, but Davey has to call him back. The fact that he followed us in the first place is adorable, but I understand his brother wanting to get him home.

"Oi, Cassio, you comin'?"

I realise I've stopped, enthralled by the adorable scene in front of me. I hobble back to Race, and put an arm around his shoulder, smiling.

"So I'm guessing you ain't goin' ta Brooklyn now, is ya?" Crutchie says, stopping to walk with us.

I shake my head. Taking my arm off Race's shoulder, I sign, Jack said we wouldn't have enough time to get back before dark, so we're going tomorrow morning. He's telling the reporter now.

I hoped he was going to do that. It takes a while to walk to Brooklyn anyway, and it takes longer for us to get there – that's why I've only been there once,Crutchie signs back.

"Hey, it's getting' a little quiet for me ovah here guys. Can we'se broaden da conversation?" Race complains.

Crutchie and I laugh.

"What, what's so funny?"

I shake my head, still laughing, signing I don't knowover and over again. When it's a little easier for me to breathe, I reach up and steal his cigar.

"HEY! That's my cigar!"

Crutchie's laughing so hard now I'm afraid he'll fall over. I take a few puffs. I really like this - not just the cigar, though it is very nice. I've missed having a family.

I had a few friends over the past year with the shoe-shiners, but I haven't had this close a family since Brooklyn.

Brooklyn.And I'll be back there tomorrow.

"By da way, Race? We were just talkin' about how Cassio ain't goin' ta Brooklyn now, he's goin' tomorrow," Crutchie explains.

"Huh. You evah been ta Brooklyn, Cassio?" Race asks me.

I nod.

"Didja like it?"

I nod again, smiling.

We continue our small talk, and although I'm just signing – or occasionally writing things down just so Race doesn't get tooannoyed – I feel at home.

"Hey Cassio, can I have my cigar back when we get inside?"

I look up from the pavement. I shouldn't be surprised that we're here already, the Deli's pretty close, but it seems that these boys completely distracted me.

I shake my head. It's mine now,I write.

"Aw, come on! Da only time I'se don't have my cigar is when I sleep!"

Then you should've stolen another,Crutchie signs to me.

I burst out laughing again.

"What'd he say? Cassio, what'd Crutchie say?"

This makes Crutchie laugh too, and eventually I have to give Race back his cigar because we're both laughing too hard.

"Can we'se go inside now?"

Crutchie and I manage to (somewhat) get a hold of ourselves.

"Yeah, yeah, okay, let's go," Crutchie says for the both of us, still catching his breath.

Race runs up the steps to open the door for us. Crutchie goes first like he did this morning, and we repeat the process.

"You'se getting' better wit da crutch, ain't ya?" Race says. If only he knew...

While some of the boys were asleep, most were down in the lobby playing poker. We were greeted with a chorus of "hello" and "where've you been".

Race runs over to play with them, ushering us over too. Crutchie refuses, saying he'd rather go to bed. I just shake my head. I've never played poker, and I don't want to now. Gambling's just too risky for me.

The both of us make our way up the steps, and we unknowingly (at least on his part) get back into our old system: One of us goes up a couple, then passes the crutch back to the other one who goes past us just far enough till we can pass it back. We do this all the way to the top.

I click to get Crutchie's attention once we've caught our breath.That was a lot more efficient.

"Yeah, I know! My friend an' I used ta do it all da time at da–"

He stops, taking in what he nearly said. At the Refuge.

I try to prompt him, but he doesn't budge.

I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that, he signs.

I smile. It's okay. Just...I pause, trying to find the right words. Just tell someone about it when you're ready. It's good to get these things off your chest. I'm sorry I upset you.

"It wasn't your fault! I'se just shouldn'ta said nothin'. Is it okay if we'se pretend dat nevah happened? Only Jack knows, I don't wan' it spreadin' ta da rest a' da boys."

I nod, motioning zipping my lips. He laughs again.

"Come on, I wanna show you'se somethin'," he says, the crutch hitting the ground as he walks over to the window.

I frown, wondering where we're going.

He opens the window and steps out onto the fire escape, climbing the steps. I'm sceptical, but I walk over to him and do the same.

"Follow me," he whispers. Why do we need to whisper? It's not like anyone's gonna hear us.

We keep going up and up, using the same technique as before to get all the way to the roof.

I nearly speak out of pure amazement. The sun's gone down now, and you can see the stars – so, so many stars.

"Beautiful, ain't it?"

I smile. You took the words right outta my mouth,I sign.

K so we're gonna pretend they make small talk for a while then get into the deeper stuff cause I can't make small talk interesting so here's the other plot stuff:

"So, Cassio, what's your story?" he asks me.

It's a long story,I write.

"Well, we got at least till Jack gets back – which could be a while – so why don't you start?"

Where to start, where to start... How about at the start?I write.

"Sounds right to me!" he laughs again.

I decide to sign – it's closer to talking for a storytelling purpose.

Well, when I was five, I ran away from home.

"What, why?!" Crutchie asks, shocked. I hold up a hand. "No interruptions. Got it. Sorry."

My father had just died, and he was my only family. I took some money from the house and caught a train as far away as I had money for. He used to take me to work with him a lot, so I knew how they worked even at that age.

"You were a smart kid!" I give him a look. "Right, sorry."

The train sent me up to a town in New Hampshire. Of course, a five-year-old attracted attention, which I realised a year later when I understood what it meant when people asked questions.

So, I stole some food and ran into the nearby woods. I wandered for a few days till I came across a cabin. There was food and water in there, so I obviously broke in and started eating and drinking a little.

A man and wife came back and got really scared. When they calmed down they said I could live with them if I wanted – so I did. Their sons came home a few months later and then they told me their story.

Fast forward another year and a half–

"Woah, woah, woah, what's da story? Ya can't just skip ovah it now!"

I smile, shaking my head as I sign, Sorry, can't. I've been sworn to secrecy. Anyway­–

"No, no, no, why'dya have ta keep it a secret? Can'tcha tell me anythin'?"

Sorry, I can't betray them. They're... sorta my family.

Continuing on: A year and a half later, I came back down here to try and make some money for them. Sadly, I got caught up in something and couldn't do anything for another three years...

When I got outta that trouble, I went back there and told them what happened. Mae, the wife, she didn't want me leaving again. But Angus said I'd be okay, so I came back here.

I went to school during the week, because Mae insisted. But I got a job on the weekends working as a shoe shiner and sent some money back to them, until I ran out of money.

I couldn't keep up with the payments if I was only working on the weekends, and there weren't enough people to make enough money, so I stopped.

I moved around for a while, but kept going back to Brooklyn – Spot and I have a pretty tight relationship now because of that.

"So why'd you become a 'Hattan newsie when you could be in Brooklyn?"

I shrug. I can't tell him the truth, but I can dance around it. I used to sell in Brooklyn, but I guess I just wanted a change.

"I guess that's fair... Hey Cassio, can I ask you'se a poisonal question? Ya don't have ta answer if you'se don't want, too."

I nod, waiting.

"Why don't ya talk?"

Again, I shrug. I chose not to a while ago. I only do it with people I trust.

He nods in understanding. I'm glad he doesn't ask why. "And who are those people?"

Spot and a few of the Brooklyn boys, a couple of the kids who were at the place wehre I got in trouble, and,I smile, of course, my family in New Hampshire.I glance at him, smirking. And maybe you someday. Jack and Race, too.

I can't help but think, I'd talk to you now, but I'm too scared you'll hate me for what I did.

"Huh.Well, I'se hope ya do decide ta talk someday. I wanna hear what ya sound like!"

I laugh. It won't be what you expect, I can tell you that.

"Aw, c'mon, it can't be dat bad!" he jokes. "Why don't ya tell me about ya folks?"

Alright, but then you gotta tell me something about you, okay?

"Deal."

Angus – the father – his family travelled from the west over to the east, looking for some land. They wanted a farm, but they went with what they got. Then they found a wood near a small town, and camped in a small clearing for the night. The man, the wife, the two kids, and as I was told it, a cat and a horse, slept by a spring near an old ash tree. "And that's where I carved the Teeeeeee!" (Jesse!)In the morning, they all drank form the spring, save the horse. They stayed there for days, then months, then years, living an ordinary life, and my folks are still there today.

"Wow. That's one hell of a story."

I nod. It's not entirely a lie, but I can't tell him the truth either.When Mae tells the story, she adds in an extra part where the horse dies at something like 25, but the cat was still alive long after that.

"What? That's impossible!"

Laughing, I sign,I know, but I think I've seen his grandkids around – apparently he got verybusy in the years before he died. According to Miles, every kitten for fifty miles has his white paws.

"Who's Miles?"

I mentally slap myself. Right, sorry. Angus and Mae's kids are Miles and Jesse. Miles is sorta like Davey, I guess, like the super protective older brother who doesn't want anyone to get hurt – but he's nowhere near as trusting.

Crutchie interrupts yet again, but I don't really mind anymore. "So he's sorta a mix between Davey an' Jack?"

I beam. That's exactly it! It fits him perfectly!

"What about Jesse? What's he like?"

Well, Jesse's basically you, minus the crutch, of course. He's adventurous and funny and kind and actually looks a lot like you.

He laughs. "Wait, really?"

Yeah, you could actually pass as brothers – maybe twins!I write this one. My hand is shaking a little. It is sort of uncanny how similar they look, but Jesse doesn't believe me, no matter how many times I tell him in the letters.

"Really? It's dat close? I wondah why..." I watch his eyes glaze over as he gets lost in thought.

I poke his shoulder. He apologises for zoning out, but then starts on his own story.

"I guess I'se should start at da Refuge since I don't reallys remembah my life before dat..."

You can stop at any point if you need,I tell him. I don't want him to get stressed – that'd be mean. Also Kelly would kill me, so there's that too.

"Thanks, Cassio." He takes a deep breath. "Well... I got sent to the Refuge eight years ago. I don' remembah why, I just know that I was seven years old at da time. I'se was stuck dere for a little undah three years, an' even dough da conditions weren't good, dey was some of da best years a' my loife. Dere... dere was dis goil dere and we was best friends. We both had a bum leg, and only one crutch – her crutch – which we'd share when we got ta go out of our rooms.
"For dat time we was what got de odah through. We had odah friends dere, too: Clyde an' Vic was best friends, an' Tommy an' Becca – dey was oldah – dey was in love... But Cassie an' I, we had somethin' in between dat. We'se was best friends, sure, but I tink if Jack hadn't gotten me out it woulda been more like what Tommy an' Becca had. At least, dat's what I'se woulda wanted."

I wanted to stop him and tell him it's what I wanted too, but I couldn't... I couldn't hurt him again.

"Anyways, 'bout halfway into da third year, Jack joined us. He joined Cass an' I and we became a trio." He pauses, sighing.

I put a hand on his shoulder. You don't have to continue if you don't want – or you can skip a bit like I did.

"No, no, I should talk about this. The only odah one who knows is Jack 'cause 'e was dere... I don't even know why I'se tellin' you'se this much. You'se jus' easy for me ta talk to, I guess. Anyway, one night... one night Cassie got up in the middle of the night. She didn't take da crutch wit her, she said she'se couldn't sleep and just wanted to walk around.
"I don't know where she went or what she 'eard, but when she came back Ise could tell she'd been crying... a-and she woke Jack and me up and told us ta leave. She whispered somethin' ta Jack and he got me outta dere straight away. We'se nearly didn' make it, cause S-snyder came in but Jack was faster an'–"

He started crying. I hated to see him cry, but I quickly scribbled something down on the pape.

You don't have so say anything, but do you want a hug?

He nods, so I shuffle over to him and put an arm round his shoulder. He lays his head on my shoulder, still sniffling a little. We stay like that for a bit while Crutchie calms down.

"Cassio?"

I look at him.

"Is it okay if I'se tell Jackie about dis? He'll be back real soon an' I'se don' like lyin' to 'im..."

I hum in response, quickly signing, It's fine, but is it okay if you don't tell him I've got folks? You're the only one who knows – not even Spot does!

"Sure! But I can still tell him the rest, right?"

I'm not crazy about it, but I know he doesn't want to lie to his best friend. Of course you can... and I'm sorry about what happened with your friend.

He tries to sign, but his hands are still shaking. He sighs, replying, "It's okay. It was a long time ago now. Anyways, aftah dat we'se needed money fah food n' stuff so we'se became newsies! We got money real quick, but dat's jus' 'cause Jack's jus' real good at it an' I'se got da limp, but we'se manage to live off a' dat a lot."

Do you like it?

"Ha! I'se love it! Da 'Hattan newsies are like a family ta me, an' vice versa. It's a little hard sometimes when I'se can't do some a' da tings dey do, but dey always come back fah me if I'se dropped behind or somethin'."

We're interrupted by someone behind us. "What've you two been chattin' about?"

I turn to see Jack coming up the stairs. He looks different, but you wouldn't be able to pick it up is you didn't know him... he looked happy. Reallyhappy. And Crutchie noticed it, too.

"What 'appened ta you?"

"N-nothin'! I'se was jus' talkin' ta Katherine for a little longah than I thought­–"

Oh, and you're on a first-name basis now, are you?I sign, making Crutchie laugh.

"Da famous Jack Kelly was just talkin'to a goil for an 'our or two and nothin' else came a' it?" Crutchie teases.

"Alright, I know you'se both gonna tease me endlessly about dis, but I'se swearta ya nofin' else happened! She'se just sorta did an interview, I guess..."

I burst out laughing, and end up somehow pulling Crutchie into it too.

Jack's face went red with embarrassment, which only made us laugh harder.

I don't think I've ever laughed this hard in my life, I sign.

Me neither,Crutchie replies, now on the floor. I'm glad he's happier now – I did notlike it when he was upset.

"Alright, alright! You'se nevah answered my question, dough, so it's your turn now," Jack insists, still blushing. It takes us a few more minutes to catch our breath, but Jack still waits patiently. Part of me wonders how he even hasthat much patience, the other part of me just says "Race is why," and honestly I understand that. I know this sorta doesn't match up with previous thinking pattern but I do not care and it's here now.

Crutchie glances at me, and we both have to force ourselves not to laugh as he starts talking.

Jack interrupts us a few sentences in, saying I have to sleep because "You'se wanna be well rested ta go to Brooklyn tahmorrow!"

I roll my eyes, faking a smile. Like I'll be getting any sleep. I say goodbye to Crutchie, who sends me a small grin.

Jack helps me down the ladder and then the steep stairs of the fire escape, and walks me downstairs. I hobble towards the door, about to say thanks to Jack when he grabs my arm.

"Where're you'se goin'?"

I stare at him, then point to the door.

"No, no, no, I'se made a deal wit Mr. Kloppman! I'se pay 'im an' extra nickel a month ta let you take da bed in da spare room down 'ere!"

I blanch, stepping back. I grab the pape out of my pocket, finding a space on it to write No, Jack, I can't.

He nods, so I turn towards the door again, about to leave for the second time, when he stops me yet again.

"Wait, Cassio, please, jus' try one night. I'se wouldn' usually ask ya – or anyone – ta do this, but wit us goin' ta Brooklyn tahmorrow it's gonna be a lot easier if you'se here rader dan over at da circulation gate," he reasons. I know why he wants me to stay: we need as much time as possible to get Spot on our side. But I don't know that I can do what he's asking – I'm just not ready.

And Jack knows it. "Look, kid, I know you'se don' like dis, but we'se can't survive on da higher price, and we'se can't strike witout Brooklyn... I'se won't ask why ya don' trust us, but I do wanna know why you'se wanna gota Brooklyn wit us."

I tap my finger on my thigh, a bad habit I picked up when I was first in Brooklyn. I've been to Brooklyn before, I met Spot there once. I think if I come with you, you'll have more of a chance with the strike.

He scans over the page and huffs. "You'se met Spot Colon and you'se wanna see 'im again? Dat's pretty brave of ya, kid."

I shrug, taking the pape back from him. I can't believe I'm about to do this, but I know I can trust Jack. After all, what he did for me all those years ago... well, I've seen the proof that it worked. I'll do it–Jack gets excited, almost jumping up and down –but just for one night,I write quickly.

"Dat's great! It's gonna make it a helluva lot easier ta get ta Brooklyn tahmorrow, too. Alright, uh, follow me!" He takes off towards Mr. Kloppman's desk and I follow as fast as I can. He stops outside a door just passed Kloppman's office and lets me inside, turning on the light. I follow him in. I know I can trust him, but I can feel myself starting to freak out.

"Hey, Cassio, you okay?"

I shake my head.

"D'ya need me ta go?"

I nod, mouthing "sorry" to him.

"I'll come get ya in da mornin' okay?" He closes the door without waiting for a response. I woulda said yes anyway, but I find it sorta rude that he didn't ask first.

Apart from that, I need Spot. I'm having a panic attack. Everything's bad, so I grab my book and turn to my favourite part: Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Scene V.

I take the first coin I ever earned out of my pocket and start twirling it around in my hand, trying to get my breathing under control. I've almost completely calmed down when I near the end of the scene when there's a knock at the door.

I nearly ask who it is, and then realise I can't, cause this isn't Brooklyn. Opening the door slightly, I see Jack and Race standing there with blankets and a little bit of bread.

"Sorry ta interrupt, but we thought you'se might want dis," Race says, shoving the bread at me. I see Jack facepalm and, trying not to laugh, I take the bread from Race and chuck it on my bed. Jack hands me the blankets – gently – and I throw those over too.

I nod my thanks, and Race zooms upstairs. I need a drawing of this oh my gods-

Jack's still standing there, though. I raise an eyebrow.

"Why were ya jumpy earlier?" I shake my head – I'm not doing this. But of course, Jackie's still expecting an answer, so I head back in and grab the pape, scrawling: The same reason I didn't want to sleep here.

"So ya dowanna sleep 'ere now?"

I sigh. Why was this boy so annoying? I don't know yet, okay? Now let me sleep.I close the door on him, ignoring his annoyed "Hey!" and go back to reading, snuggling up in the blankets.

*Time skip, "Cassio"'s now asleep and dreaming*

There's a commotion going on outside. All the kids rush to the door, Clyde and I at the front. We watch through the tiny crack that a new kid's being brought in, and we scramble backwards as one of Snyder's guards throws the door open and chucks him in.

One of the older kids, the one who calls himself Sparks, helps him up.

"You okay, kid?" He asks. The new boy nods, but still clings onto Sparks. Sparks looks down to him, concerned. He points to his leg.

It's all twisted at weird angles and he isn't putting any weight on it. He's got a leg like me,I think.

Clyde looks at me and I nod. He runs back to our bunk, grabbing my crutch. By now the crowd's dispersed a little and it's easier for us to get to the boy.

"Take this! It'll help," Clyde says, handing him the crutch.

"T-thanks."

Clyde runs back to join Victor on our bunk.

"His name's Clyde, the other one with him is Vic, the one who helped you up is Sparks – he's in and out of here a lot – and I'll tell ya the rest of their names in the morning," I explain. He looks bewildered.

"Sorry, I know it's a lot ta take in, but you'll get it eventually. The name's Cassie Tuck!" I hold out my hand.

He shakes it. "Charlie. Charlie Morris."

I lead him over to our bunk – there's some room on my one, the bottom one, so I let him take a half.

"Just put da crutch undah da bed," I tell him, giving him the blanket.

"Don' you need it? Ta keep the monsters away?" he asks.

I shake my head even though ut;s dark"Nah, I like my monsters. They get me away from here." He looks at me like I'm crazy – which, to be fair, I sorta am. You have to be in here, though, it's the only way to survive.

I settle down, making sure the book is tucked safely under my pillow.

I feel the boy near me, trying to take up as little space as possible. "Spread out, ya need it when you got a bum leg," I whisper.

"Are you sure? I mean, I–"

"Spread. Out."

"O-okay." He does as I basically ordered him. "Thanks."

"Don' mention it Charlie." I smile, and I think he is too. I also notice he's given me a little of the blanket too.

"G'night," he whispers.

"Night!" I whisper back.

We try to hold in our giggles and go to sleep.

hey guys! sorry it took so long to post this, school just got back and it's really busy... anyways, I'm currently working on chapter 5 and I'll try to have it out next week! I'm really enjoying this... like a lOT-

also this hasn't been edited so please point out any spelling/grammar mistakes (some are supposed to be there tho lol) and I'll fix 'em.

Love ya!

- Quills