A/n: All right! I actually made it to Dutchy’s story without getting murdered by evil flamers! YAY! Well, I must thank Mickeygee again, for being my only reviewer. Tell your friend I just might end up writing that Skitts story. And thus a sextet shall be an octet. Well, at least that means people enjoy it!

I’m really sorry for the wait, but I’ve been swamped with rehearsals and classes and there’s also the little fact that I couldn’t write on my home computer, so I had to wait ‘til I was at the college for the longest time. However, I’m finally done with my classes for the whole summer, so I intend to finish this, no matter how difficult Dutchy tries to be! Now, let’s give our dear Dutchy a little bit of lovin’!

Disclaimer: I don’t own the newsies. That claim belongs only to good old Disney. The song is from the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack, and it’s called “When I Fall In Love”

Dutchy’s Story

“When I give my heart
It will be completely
Or I’ll never give my heart.
And the moment I can feel that
You feel that way too
Is when I’ll fall in love with you.”

Celine Dion and Clive Griffon

It was one of those days. Not exactly the bad sort, just the busy sort. Everyone was scrambling to sell their papes, so they could get back to the lodging house to get ready. This sort of day happened whenever Medda was holding a get-together at Irving Hall for the newsies. The girls seemed especially eager to get back. Their excitement stemmed from the fact that being at Medda’s encouraged the boys to dance, and to act at least a tiny bit romantic.

To Dutchy Pieterson, this was just another day. Well, maybe a fair bit more than that. He would finally get to see two of his best friends be happy together. You see, it was only the night before that he and Royal had put together a plan to get them together. From the look on Specs’ face when he came in, it must’ve worked. However, this was slightly a bittersweet victory to him.

Getting Specs together with Crash was a good thing, but it left Dutchy basically alone. Now Specs, Mush, Race, Crash, and even his sister Squirt would have someone to be with: their sweetheart. Dutchy didn’t have many friends around the lodging house besides those. Technically, most would say that he could hang out with some of the other boys, but he had his reasons for not doing so. Another option people would figure he would have would be to spend time with Royal, since she was, after all, Crash’s best friend, the other half of the reason those two were together, and the last member of their little quartet. But he wasn’t sure if she would want to hang out with him.

You see, to many of the boys, Royal was an odd sort. Yes, she was a girly-girl, but she almost never went out with the same guy twice. Some of the guys tried to claim that she was… well, morally loose. However, Dutchy didn’t believe it. She’d never seemed to be one to act like that.

He’d known Royal for about as long as he’d known Specs and Crash. They all came to the lodging house within days of each other. Dutchy ran there first, with Squirt, after their normally abusive home had become deadly. A couple days later, Specs wandered in after he had lost his parents on a crowded street. The next day, the boys found Royal in the park, abandoned by parents who’d never wanted her. Two days after that, Crash had made her way in from a local orphanage.

The four had found fast companions in each other. Specs and Crash had obviously found something more as well. Dutchy, though, wasn’t sure exactly what he felt when he was around Royal. It was weird. He found himself wanting to like her, but it seemed like there was always a sort of wall around her. It was like she never showed her true emotions about anything. She stayed guarded, shielding herself from… something. What exactly, Dutchy was never sure. Maybe that was the reason she flitted from relationship to relationship.

Well, everyone would be going to Medda’s anyway. He was expected to, even if he wasn’t Spot, or Jack, or David. There were still a few people who knew he was there, and would notice it if he wasn’t. So, at least he had that much to be thankful for.

He and Specs sold out rather quickly that morning. It surprised Dutchy that his best friend hadn’t sold with Crash. Maybe they just needed some time to figure things out. Come to think of it, Dutchy hadn’t heard the story of exactly what happened last night.

“’Ey, man, why ya been so quiet taday?” Dutchy tried to be as general as he could, without leaving too much room to skirt the issue. The pair had started walking to Tibby’s for a quick bite before they would head back to the lodging house.

“Ah, just somet’in’ dat ‘appened last night,” Specs sighed a bit and adjusted his glasses.

“Ya wanna tell me ‘bout it?” Dutchy asked, although he felt like he was prying.

“Okay, but only ‘cause ya my best friend, oddah den Crash,” He took a breath, “Well, ya know ‘ow you an’ Royal sent me out ta check on ‘er?” Dutchy nodded, “Somet’in’ made me ask ‘er ta go ta Medda’s wit me. An’ she said yes! But dat’s not all. Aftah both you an’ Royal went ta bed… I can’t believe I did dis… I kissed ‘er, Dutch,” Specs looked at his best friend. Finding him appropriately surprised, he continued, “I dunno why I did. I just felt like I should. I t’ink I like ‘er. I really do. I know, I nevah noticed ‘er before, but dat’s ‘cause she nevah acted like a goil before. Last night, dough… she was just so… It’s like as soon as I’se seen ‘er, letting’ ‘er hair down an’ wearin’ dat skoit, I realized what I’se been missin’ out on,” Specs was beginning to ramble. He did that sometimes, when he was having trouble communicating something.

“So, basically, you’se an’ Crash got togedda last night?” Dutchy cut him off, summarizing as he always did when Specs wouldn’t cut to the chase. Specs just smiled and nodded.

At that point, they turned the corner near Tibby’s. Speak of the devil; Crash and Royal were heading up from the next block, probably going home to get ready. From the looks of it, the girls were in deep discussion, with Crash doing the most talking. Royal looked away and caught sight of the boys. She let the tomboy finish her sentence, then motioned toward them. Crash followed her motion and smiled, blushing lightly.

Dutchy saw, out of the corner of his eye, Specs give a similar smile in response. Flitting his eyes back to the girls, he saw Royal catch his eye. The look spoke loud and clear: ‘Let’s leave these two loveboids alone’.

Dutchy kept walking, not intending to stop and wait if Specs started to lag. Royal did the same. They met at the doorway, so he held open the door for her.

“T’anks, Dutchy. So, did ya hear ‘bout what happened wit dem two last night?” She asked him when they got inside.

“Yeah, but prob’ly not as much as you did. I’se just happy ‘e realized it ‘fore it was too late,” He continued to play the gentleman and pulled out a chair for her at the table.

“I’se dunno if she evah woulda given up on ‘im. Wit da way she talks ‘bout im, I’se t’inkin dey woulda got togedda sometime, but we just ‘elped it along,” She smiled and sat in the proffered chair. Dutchy sat across from her. Just as they were about to continue talking, the door opened and the new couple themselves walked in. Specs acted as gentlemanly as his best friend had, and pulled out a chair for her… at a different table.

“I’d say we’se should join dem, but I don’ wanna intrude. Do you?” Dutchy asked her.

“I don’t t’ink we should. We’se did enough meddlin’. Time ta let dem do dere own doity work,” Royal chuckled softly, “So, what ya gonna do tanight? Gonna play third wheel ta dem?” Dutchy took off his cap and ran a hand through his blond hair.

“I don’ wanna interfere again. I guess I’se just gonna be by meself tanight,” He sighed slightly and shrugged. A waitress came over and took their usual orders.

“Ya know, ya don’t gotta be by yaself. Ya could always join me,” She suggested casually. She seemed almost as though she was trying to act off-hand, but not fully pulling it off.

“Really? Ya don’t already ‘ave a guy ta take ya?” This surprised him, because she was often one of the first girls with an escort for the evening.

“Nah, not dis time,” Royal shrugged, but didn’t elaborate on this. See what he meant by ‘a sort of wall around her’?

“T’anks. Dat means a lot,” He grinned at her, and she smiled in return. He thought he saw something flicker across her gray eyes, but it was hidden by her normal mask too quickly for him to interpret.

The rest of the time was spent talking about little things, like how they sold that morning. This was actually the most time they had spent together, without Specs or Crash, in quite a while. Dutchy found himself smiling a lot around her. When they’d finished and paid, they looked up to find their best friends gone already.

“Well, I’se guess we’ll find dem back at home,” He shrugged, holding open the door for Royal as they left.

“Ya know, dis was a lotta fun, Dutch. I’se don’t know why we’se stopped hangin’ out like dis,” She smiled at him.

“I dunno eider, Royal. Maybe we just got so used ta hangin’ out wit Specs an’ Crash dat we didn’t t’ink ta spend time wit just da two ‘a us,” Dutchy reflected. He had never intentionally stopped hanging out with just her. Crash and Specs were just always around.

“So, I’se guess we’ll be spendin’ a lot more time togedda, eh?” She laughed a little.

“Well, if we’se don’t wanna intrude an’ we don’t wanna be alone… I guess we will,” He smiled at her. They walked in silence for a while, before she asked something she’d always wondered.

“So, why do ya nevah ‘ave a goil ta bring ta Medda’s? Don’t t’ink I ain’t noticed,” Royal looked up at him, waiting for an answer. Dutchy took his time, trying to figure out what to say and how to say it.

“Well, I’se guess it’s just ‘cause I’d nevah had a goil. I ain’t like some ‘a dah odder boys, da ones who’d ‘ave a goil just fa da sake ‘a havin’ one. I’se gotta really care ‘bout a goil, an’ know she cares ‘bout me, ‘fore I’ll ask ‘er,” This little explanation was given with some halting. He’d never had to explain his reasoning before. To say that he was a gentleman was as much of a fact as saying that Specs, Crash and Royal were his best friends. It was known and never questioned.

If this surprised Royal at all, she didn’t show it. She fiddled a bit with the ends of her light brown ponytail in thought. The wall seemed to be back up. To try and snap her out of it, he did what he’d do to Squirt when she got too serious. He reached over and snatched the black-and-white cap she always wore while selling, then laughed as he ran off with it.

“DUTCHY!” She laughed, hurrying after him. She didn’t stand much of a chance of catching up. He not only had a head start, but also had longer legs. Their laughter echoed through the streets they ran down, amusing many of the older people and some of the adults. Some of the children laughed with them, a few of the girls being brave enough to cheer on Royal.

When she reached the lodging house, Dutchy had already beaten her there. He stood outside the door, twirling her hat on one finger. She paused for a second, catching her breath. The sight made Dutchy pause himself. She looked so naturally beautiful, a ghost of a laugh still painted in her reddened face.

His emotions were rather mixed at the moment. He felt bad for making her chase him, since she didn’t seem to run enough, if her reaction was any indication. However, at the same time, he savored this picture of her beauty. He loved the fact he’d made her laugh, because he got the distinct feeling that she didn’t do enough of that either. To add to the mix, there was also the feeling he almost always got when around her. It was a sort of shyness, tempered with comfort and pure joy, yet mingled with something else that he couldn’t describe.

Then, Royal straightened up and walked over to him, “Can I ‘ave my hat back, now dat ya made me chase ya for it?” She stopped only a few inches away from him. Though she was short, and rather girly, she could get really intimidating when she wanted to. She would just get this look that would make you re-think if you seriously wanted to do what you were doing. That was the look she was giving him right now.

“I dunno, Lydia. I may wanna keep it,” Dutchy gave her a mischievous grin, knowing that he may be pushing it with using her real name. He never really feared her look, but most of the time he would humor her.

“You’se already got a hat, Simon, so I don’t really t’ink ya need anodder,” She shot back. Her face was set, but her eyes let slip a bit of a playful twinkle. They hadn’t joked like this in a long time, but he still knew just how to push her so she didn’t get really angry.

“Alright, alright, I’se give up ya can have ya hat back. I ain’t even gonna make ya tackle me fa it, like I do ta Squirt,” He joked as he tossed the hat in the air, caught it, and placed it back on her head.

“T’ank ya kindly, good sir,” She rolled her eyes at him. They just stood there for a second, looking at each other. To Dutchy, it felt like she was not only looking at him, but through him, with those piercing gray eyes. As though realizing their proximity, she backed away quickly, “I’se gotta go get ready. I still gotta pick what I’se gonna wear!” She hurried in the door. He just stood outside for a minute, organizing his thoughts and trying to ignore the way his heart was racing.

“Aftahnoon, Dutchy. Ya know what just sent Royal runnin’ in ‘ere like she ‘ad da Devil ‘imself on ‘er ‘eels?” Kloppman asked him over the front desk as he walked in.

“Not a clue, Kloppman. All I did was steal ‘er hat, den make ‘er chase me ta get it,” Dutchy acted innocent, while his words betrayed the opposite. The newsies’ ‘foster’ father just chuckled a little and waved him on. Dutchy didn’t know what was going through the older man’s head at that moment, and didn’t think he wanted to for that matter!

He continued upstairs, wondering why Royal was so worried with what she was wearing tonight. After all, it was only him she was going with. There was no real reason to dress up. ‘Unless,’ he thought, ‘there’s someone else she wants ta impress.’ He didn’t know why, but that thought made his spirits sink a little.

When he got into the bunkroom, he saw exactly what he expected. The boys, though not as frantic as the girls must be, were trying to put together the best looking outfits they had. The usual good-natured ribbing was being flung around, as were a few requests.

“’Ey Race! Can I’se borrow ya white shirt?”

“Sorry, Skitts. I’m usin’ it tanight,”

“Crutchy! Wanna trade vests?”

“Shoar t‘ing, Jack!”

Dutchy just chuckled slightly, then moved toward the washroom. He was making sure his hair was lying flat when Specs appeared next to him.

“’Ey Dutch. Sorry ‘bout leavin’ you’se an’ Royal. Didn’t even realize it,” Specs apologized. Dutchy waved it off.

“Dat’s okay. We’se didn’t mind. We spent some time catchin’ up,” The older boy replied, fixing his glasses and giving Specs a grin to show all was forgiven.

“So, what’cha fixin’ yaself up fa? Ya act’ally takin’ a goil tanight?” The dark-haired boy joked. The answer was given half an ear by many of the boys in the room. They knew it was only a joke, so a positive answer wasn’t likely.

“Uh, act’ally… I am,” Most of the activity in the room stopped and attention turned to them. Specs’ jaw practically hit the floor.

“Who?!” He asked, his brown eyes wide as saucers.

“Royal. She didn’t ‘ave anyone ta take ‘er, and neider of us wanted ta play ‘third wheel’ ta you and Crash, so… I agreed ta be ‘er escort,” Dutchy shrugged. His explanation was mostly to Specs, but he knew the other boys were listening. His best friend smiled at him and shrugged. Many of the others (i.e., Race, Mush, Jack, etc.) just congratulated him on finally having a date.

However, a few of the boys started ribbing him, joking about the rumors about Royal’s morals and Dutchy’s inexperience with girls. The blond newsie went over to the knot that was the most vocal and glared until they quieted.

“Nevah,” Dutchy stated slowly and quietly, though with no less fury, “Say t’ings like dat ‘bout a goil ‘round me evah again.” His blue eyes flashed with a quiet, smoldering anger. The previously vocal boys were wary. They’d never seen Dutchy really get mad before. He’d always been rather easy-going. Now, he was actually rather scary.

The rest of the time he spent getting ready was silent, except for the few responses thrown to his friends when they asked about borrowing things. When he found himself presentable (which was sooner than some of the others, but later than he was used to), he went downstairs to await the girls’ arrival, like the few boys who’d beaten him there. The other boys joined them not long after, leaving only the girls to come down. Even David, Sarah, and Les had showed up before the girls. Jack stood with Sarah, not intending to leave without his fellow newsies.

The first few girls trickled out and joined the group of boys. Then, Squirt came downstairs. She hurried over to greet David, then looked at Mush and Race.

“Mel an’ Jokah should be out soon. Tryin’ ta help some ‘a da odder goils get ready,” She told them, before turning to her brother and his best friend, “Royal was helpin’ Crash, last time I’se saw dem. Dey both look real nice. Ya gonna like it.” She gave Dutchy a hug, then went back to talk to David.

Sure enough, then next ones out the door were Joker and Melody. Mel went right over to Mush, who gave a small peck on the lips in way of greeting. Joker went most of the way, then paused. Race held his arms out to her. She ran into his waiting arms and he placed a soft kiss on top of her head.

Dutchy just watched all this with a smile on his face. Then, Specs elbowed him in the side. The older boy turned to look at the door at the top of the stairs.

There, stood a girl he realized to be Crash. She had on a cream-colored dress that made her look very pretty. Her hair was down, and her hat was gone. Slowly, she moved down the stairs, trying desperately to not fall. Specs moved past his best friend to wait at the bottom of the stairs for her, just in case. Dutchy watched them together and broke into a grin. It was just so right, that they should be together. They looked slightly awkward, yet perfectly suited.

Dutchy, the only one of his friends who was still waiting, looked up to find Royal at the top of the stairs, also watching their best friends. She looked wonderful, as always. As simple as her pale purple dress may have been, it still heightened her normal level of beauty. She turned to look for him and met his gaze. She smiled, and began her own descent. Specs and Crash had moved away, so Dutchy took the spot at the foot of the stairs. Her hair fell in soft waves around her face, accentuating her large eyes and full lips.

“Ya look beautiful,” The praise slipped out before Dutchy could catch it as she reached him. They both blushed. He held his arm out for her and Royal took it.

“You don’t look so bad yaself,” She replied. The room was milling with activity, now. In the distraction of Crash and Royal’s entrances, he hadn’t noticed that most of the girls had come downstairs. Everyone was getting ready to leave.

“Well, shall we?” Dutchy made a dramatic sweep of a bow as he gestured towards the door. She giggled.
“Let’s go,” Royal agreed. They exited the lodging house in the same group as Specs, Crash, Race, and Joker. The non-couple spent most of the way there talking. Dutchy noticed that her eyes only revealed just so much emotion, that it seemed like she was holding back.

When they reached Medda’s, people were clustering together, waiting for the music to start. It was a time for the newsies to get together and hang out with friends from different boroughs. Already Jack, Sarah, Spot, Dreamer, David, and Squirt were at a table in the front, laughing and talking. Boots, Les, Snipeshooter, and some of the other younger newsies from Queens and Harlem were gathered together, probably planning a marbles tournament for when the older ones were dancing. Everywhere, you could see a mix of familiar faces and various different ones. This table had Manhattan, Midtown, and Harlem; that one had the Battery, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. It wouldn’t seem like the newsies would have so many cross-borough loyalties, but they sure did.

Dutchy, Royal, Crash, and Specs quickly found an empty table towards the outskirts of the room and made a beeline for it. The boys pulled out chairs for Royal and Crash, then took seats themselves. All around them, their fellow newsies were laughing and talking, so much so that you could barely hear yourself think. The four best friends smiled at each other. The smiles, for no apparent reason, turned into chuckles, and then laughter that added to the din. From a table in the front, Squirt turned towards the sound of her brother’s laughter and smiled. Something told her she’d finally see him be truly happy.

Only a few minutes later, the music started and Medda came on stage. As she started the first rousing number, some of the more light-footed newsies began to dance with Medda and, for some of them, their girls. Many were singing along, as it was the usual “High Times, Hard Times”. Dutchy was singing along softly, watching Race capering about with Joker, who used to rarely dance at these get-togethers. Royal was watching him, a curious look on her face.

She was wondering why he really agreed to bring her. He himself admitted that he wasn’t a casual dater. Did that mean that he really liked her? Or was this really just because he didn’t want to feel like the only third wheel with Crash and Specs? She was confusing herself. She leaned over to him and caught him unawares by whispering to him.

“Ya wanna dance? Or are we’se gonna be sitting ‘ere all night?” Dutchy jumped a little, not used to hearing her so close to him. He turned to her and grinned.

“Well, dat wouldn’t be much fun, now would it?” He stood up and held out a hand to her. She took it and off they danced. Dutchy, though he never really joined in the dancing at Irving Hall much, was still quite good and Royal had to make sure she was keeping up. She noticed a spark in his blue eyes, one of laughter and fun, which wasn’t always there, even when he acted happy. What she didn’t notice was that a similar spark was in her own eyes, which he saw and was happy to think that he might have put there.

Squirt was watching her brother as he danced with his date. Sure enough, he was looking much happier than normal. Being alone with Royal was good for him. They looked good together, too. She relaxed a bit more around him, while he was more of himself around her. She knew Dutchy liked Royal. There were some things he couldn’t hide from his sister, no matter how hard he tried, and that was one of them. The only thing she didn’t know, the thing that would determine this couple, was whether or not Royal liked him. She was almost always guarded, and never allowed anyone too far in. It seemed, though, that this was changing. Slowly, Dutchy appeared to be gaining more and more access, even if he didn’t really know it.

The next song that Medda sang, Dutchy and Royal decided to sit out, while many of their other friends took to the floor, including Crash and Specs. Now left by themselves, they lapsed into a silence. He observed her from the corner of his eye, truly taking in her beauty, and reveling in the fact that, for tonight at least, she was his.

She watched their friends and became lost in thought. She wasn’t a fool. She knew what the common opinion of her was. She’d never really stayed in a relationship for too long. Would she change her ways? Would she actually stay someone’s girl? Was she getting ahead of herself? Did Dutchy even think of her that way? Or did he see her as merely a best friend, almost a sister? Did she want him to think of her that way? Was she actually, for once… shy? Nervous? To a point, scared? She felt like Crash must’ve before heading downstairs last night. This was a brand new feeling to her, this sudden shyness. Why now? Why with Dutchy? Was it just because she’d known him for so long? Or was it because this could be a much more serious attraction than she’d encountered before?

Royal was startled out of her thoughts by the appearance of Crash and Squirt. The latter had come to claim a dance with her brother, while the former was merely taking a rest as Specs danced with Medda, like the boys were known to do occasionally. Dutchy looked at Royal, who merely gestured towards Squirt with a smile and fell back into her ruminations.

Crash, who had caught sight of her best friend’s contemplative expression, decided to find out what was up, “Royal, ya okay? Ya seem a little dazed.”

“Yeah, I’m foine. I’se just thinkin’ a bit,” The elder girl insisted absent-mindedly, her grey eyes clouded in thought.

“Anyt’in’ I can ‘elp ya wit?” Crash asked, determined to break her friend from her reverie. No one should be so lost in thought at a function where they were supposed to be light-hearted for once.

At first, Royal was about to wave off the offer, since this was the type of thing that Crash was least experienced in. Except… Crash seemed to have found this very thing. Maybe accepting her friend’s help wasn’t as farfetched an idea as it seemed.

“I’se just really confused. All dese questions keep chasin’ each odder ‘round my head. Do I like ‘im? Does ‘e like me? If we do get togedda, am I act’ally gonna stick wit ‘im, unlike what I usually do? Am I really good enough fa ‘im? I just… dunno what’s goin’ on wit me right now,” Royal confided, placing her head in her hands. Crash smiled gently at her friend and placed a hand on her back.

“Royal, I t’ink ya know da ansas ta one ‘a dose questions just as well, or better, den I do. Yes, ‘e likes ya. I’se surprised ya ‘aven’t noticed it before,” Crash paused for a second, “As ta da odders, only you can ansa dem.” The younger girl trailed off with a meaningful look as the song ended and both Dutchy and Specs headed back to the table. As a slower song began, Dutchy took Royal’s hand and led her out onto the floor.

Slowly, they, like some of the others, began to sway along to the rhythm of the song. It felt perfect. She had never really felt as safe as she did in his arms. He loved the feeling it gave him to hold her close as they swayed. Gently, as the song progressed, her head made its way onto his shoulder. He pulled her closer, never wanting the song to end.

Holding her in his arms, he realized that he just… knew. From the way she seemed to cling to him right now, from the fact that her eyes were bright and clear and actually expressing the emotions she was feeling, it became clear to him.

At that same moment, Royal became completely conscious of the answers to every question that had been racing through her mind before, all of them revealed in the way he held her, and the way he gazed at her. She did like him, perhaps even more than like. This would be much different from every other relationship she’d had. She wouldn’t leave Dutchy unless some outer force prevented them from being together. As to her being good enough for him… well, she’d never deserve him, but, from the expression he held as they danced, he didn’t care.

Time seemed to move in slow motion from then on. Her head lifted from his shoulder at what must have been a millimeter per minute. At the same speed, his head moved towards her. It felt like an eternity passed before their lips finally met.

Suddenly, Royal felt like she was floating. Sure, she’d been kissed plenty of times, but not like this. Not by the one guy who she knew had to be it. If anything, her reaction must have confirmed that. He was the one she was meant for, and he’d been right in front of her for nine years.

To Dutchy, it was heavenly. He was finally sharing his first kiss with the girl who had been right beside him for nine years. All of the other newsies seemed to disappear and it was just him and Royal, sharing this sweet, gentle, loving kiss. It was new, and confusing and… just… right.

After what seemed to be forever, they broke apart. The song was over, people were heading back to their tables, but Dutchy and Royal didn’t move. They stared into each other’s eyes, grey meeting blue, and everything they had to say was spoken in that gaze. Suddenly, from the seriousness of the moment broke grins of happiness. Royal giggled as Dutchy lifted her light frame off the ground and spun her around, a laugh as clear and bright as a bell bursting forth.

And, in that moment, everyone knew they had found that moment of pure, perfect happiness.

A/n2: Wow… three months to finish this. Sorry, but Dutchy was proving extremely difficult for me to write. As soon as I’d get an idea, he wouldn’t agree, so this is the final compromise.

Dutchy (from over in the corner): Sorry!

Me (glares at him, then turns back to the readers): Not to mention, it is not as easy being a Performing Arts Major as many people would have you believe. First, there’s the shows themselves. Then, there’s the post-show slump. Then, there’s the papers and homework you have to make up if you can because you missed them during show season, and/or the extra credit you have to do to make up for the papers/homework that can’t be made-up. Then, there’s exams to study for in normal classes, lines to memorize for acting finals, songs to memorize for music finals and (if you’re in dance classes, which I wasn’t this semester) choreography to master for dance finals. After all of that, there’s saying goodbye to all your friends that are leaving after graduation. Yikes.

Oh well, I apologize sooooo much for this, guys. I hope you haven’t lost interest in this! If you have, then I will know by the lack of reviews and will move on to other things (Some of the other reasons for my more recent neglect can be blamed on my newfound obsessions with 27 Dresses and National Treasure, specifically Riley Poole from the latter). Otherwise, review and let me know if you still want me to post the promised Kid Blink one shot (I promised that a few stories ago) and the Skittery one-shot that was just suggested by Mickeygee’s friend.

Also, in the time span since Specs’ Story was posted, I’ve also written a future-fic for Joker and Race, just because Race refused to leave me alone unless I did it, and he got very annoying while I was trying to write Dutchy. So, let me know if you want me to post that one, too. Carry the Banner! (Oh, and review, too!)