Hope was having a great day. First, Snoddy showed her the entire city, then she met Spot and got a new name. Although she and Spot had just met, she knew she was nursing a serious crush. Spot and Jack were involved in a pretty heavy conversation, so Hope hung back and started to walk with Snoddy.

"Snoddy, do you know if Spot has a girlfriend?"

"He and Mary just broke up about two weeks ago. You like him?"

"Yeah." She said dreamily. "He's just so handsome and exciting and…do you think he could like me?"

"I can't see why any guy wouldn't fall in love with you."

As they walked into Tibby's Hope sat in a booth with Jack and Spot, and Snoddy sat by Pie Eater, who'd already been there.

"So, Megan's hooked up wid Spot?"

"Looks that way. And her name's Hope now."

"It fits. What's wrong?"

"Just tired. I showed Hope the whole city today. How's Sam? How'd she get hurt?"

"She was just walkin' to work when a runaway horse started straight for 'er. Someone pushed 'er out of the way, but when she fell she landed on 'er arm and broke it. I missed a whole day of sellin', but it was worth it. I love her."

Snoddy smiled. "Did you tell her?"

Pie grinned. Just then he caught Snoddy stealing a glance at Hope and Spot. "So, what do you think of Hope?"

"She's great."

Pie watched as Snoddy 'casually' glanced at Hope again. "You like 'er."

"She's with Spot."

"But..."

"She's with Spot." Pie Eater recognized the tone in Snoddy's voice and decided to let it go.

When he finished eating, Snoddy walked back to the house alone. Instead of going up to the bunkroom where the others were, he decided to go up to the roof via the fire escape so he could avoid the happy couple. When he reached the roof, he let out a sigh and glanced up at the stars, thinking about Hope. He heard her footsteps as she came up behind him.

"Snoddy, have you been here all this time?" she asked.

"Yeah, sometimes the bunkroom is a little too crowded, you know?"

Hope nodded. "What were you thinking about?"

"My mother. She said that when I least expected it, when I wasn't even lookin' for it, love would sneak up on me and knock me flat on my face. It just reminded me of you and Spot." 'And how much I hate him right now.' He thought. A look of concern came on Hope's face.

"Snoddy, are you alright? You've been so quiet since this afternoon."

"I'm fine, I just need to be alone for a while, ok?"

"Oh, alright. Well, you know if you ever need to talk or anything…"

"Thanks."

"Goodnight."

As Hope walked downstairs to the lobby, she felt a pang in her stomach. 'What's bothering Snoddy and why won't he talk to me?' she wondered. Spot walked up and put his arm around her waist.

"Hey dollface. I'm goin' back to Brooklyn, but I'll come see ya tomorrow night, ok?"

"Alright. Goodnight Spot." They kissed and Hope watched as Spot left for Brooklyn.

By the time Hope got to the bunkroom, everyone was asleep and the lights were out. She quickly and quietly changed into her nightshirt and crawled into bed, trying to sleep. She heard a soft thud as Snoddy came in through the window. She rolled over to say hello, but couldn't find her voice. Snoddy's bed was the closest to the window and the moonlight shone on him as he undressed. The light danced in his hair and eyes, giving off an ethereal glow. He took off his shirt and stretched, exposing his muscular back and arms. 'My God, he's gorgeous…whoa! Where did that come from?' she rolled onto her other side and went to sleep.

For six weeks Spot and Hope continued to see each other. Snoddy hated seeing them together, but had gotten very good at hiding his feelings. All that mattered to him was that Hope was happy, and if that meant being with another guy, that's the way it had to be. Pie Eater knew how Snoddy felt about Hope, but Snoddy never wanted to talk about it, so he was just stuck.

One day, Pie, Race, Jack, Blink, Mush, David and Snoddy were playing a game of poker around Race's bed. Hope ran into the room in tears and Pie rushed to her side.

"What's wrong Hope?" She broke away from him and ran up to the roof, with Pie and Snoddy right behind her. Pie Eater took her in his arms and held her, letting her cry. A few minutes later, Hope composed herself enough to speak.

"Spot and Mary are back together. He said he's really been in love with her all this time and he just wants to be my friend."

Pie Eater held her again, but Snoddy had heard enough and went back to the bunkroom, where Spot was talking to the others. Before he knew what he was doing, the most peace loving newsie in New York punched Spot with a right hook. The other five newsies looked at Snoddy, astonished. When Spot recovered from the punch (and the shock), Jack helped him stand up.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Snoddy!?" Spot yelled.

"I can't believe you!" Snoddy yelled back. "Are you really that blind, or just plain stupid?! Hope's such a great person, can't you see that!? Can't you see how amazing she is!? Why couldn't you just love her Spot? She's so easy to love…I'd do anything to have her. You've got her and you treat her like this!?" Spot just looked at Snoddy, stunned.

"Snoddy?" Hope asked from behind him. He turned and saw Hope standing by the window and Pie Eater had his arm around her. Pie nodded to Snoddy, indicating that they'd heard everything he said. "Hope, I'm sorry… I just…I…I love you."

Snoddy turned and left, leaving everyone numb with shock.

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