A/N: I know this is posted late, but since it was written as a Valentine's Day gift for my very deserving and regrettably single friend Charmd, I wanted her permission first. It is reproduced here in the same form I got it to her in. The chapters are short, I know, but I hope they're good anyway. Btw- Mush is supposed to be in her position, and I basically gave Blink my personality. Only after she read this, she extracted a promise never to set her up on any blind dates…

"I hate Valentine's Day," Mush grumbled. He sank down on his bunk, the day's last few papers still in his hands. He kicked off his shoes and lay back. This stank. Every other newsie had a girlfriend to spend Valentine's Day with. They'd spend the day at Central Park… Or on Brooklyn Bridge… Or at Tibby's, kissing and whispering sweet nothings in their girl's ears. He didn't even want to think about what it would be like to go to Tibby's on the Fourteenth. It would be packed full of his friends and their girlfriends, spending a happy, disgustingly cute Valentine's Day together. Even Jake had a girlfriend. Heck, even Les was spending an inordinate amount of time holding hands with a little girl from his apartment building.

"Everyone but me," Mush groused again, tossing his papes on the ground and sighing.

"Heya, Mush!" Blink sang out as he came in, a few minutes later. "How's it rollin?"

Mush just made a sour face. "Great," he muttered.

Blink reclined on the bunk next to him. "I can't wait," he said absently, thinking aloud more than actually talking to Mush.

"I bet."

"I mean, I know I've only been going out with Chrissy for a couple weeks, but I want Valentine's Day to be real special for her, you know?"

"Yeah." Blink was famous for having a new girlfriend every few weeks. He had never actually achieved his dream of dating the mayor's daughter, but with his luck, he would kiss every girl in the borough before Mush even had a date.

"She's so pretty, I can't believe how lucky I am. Those blue eyes, that black hair, that figure… wow. How did a guy like me end up with a girl like her? Yup, I'm sure lucky."

"Yeah. I bet."

"Mush?" Blink asked finally. "Is there something wrong?"

"Gee. You noticed."

"Cheer up, okay? It's just one year." Blink got up and walked out again, heading down the stairs.

"Guys?" Blink asked tentatively at the poker game that night. Spot had come from Brooklyn to spend a few days, and a card game was being held in his honor. As usual, he and Race were wiping up the competition, and most of the boys had dropped out. Some had already gone to bed, Mush included. It was nearly 10:30, and the other boys were about ready to turn in as well. They had to be up early to sell the morning edition, after all. "I think Mush feels left out."

His statement was met with somewhat blank looks.

"I mean," Blink went on, "Most of us have girlfriends, right? Well, most of his good buddies anyway. Or he thinks we do. Heck, I've never had a girlfriend who lasted more than a couple weeks. Like there was that one girl, we were doing great until that time Les walked in on us-"

"All right!" Spot exclaimed, shooting Blink a fierce look. "Get on with it."

"Okay, okay. I was getting to that. Now what our buddy Mush needs is a girl."

"Don't we all," laughed Skittery, who was single and liked it that way, even though he pretended he didn't.

"I was wondering if you guys knew of anyone," Blink finished flatly.

Suddenly, they were all talking at once.

"Yeah! I know the greatest-"

"-And so pretty, you'd never even know that she-"

"-Lives right up the street-"

"-Just over in Harlem-"

"-Do you think Mush'll mind if he has to-"

"QUIET!" That was Blink. "Okay, before you all run right out and bring home every single girl you've ever met, let's set some restrictions."

"Blondes are-"

"I know this great girl who's-"

"But what about-"

"Ewwww! Too old!"

"QUIET!" Blink again. "Does anyone have any ideas? One at a time! Please!"

"I know this girl," Jack began, "Who would be great for Mush. She's our age, real pretty, a great person." And Jack described the girl in detail. The boys went around the room, each promising to introduce Mush to the girl of his dreams. Half an hour later, they had come up with three prospects.

"Okay," Blink said. "Jack and Specs, you guys talk to those girls tomorrow and see what they say. First date's tomorrow night, all right?"

The boys nodded, excited about their plan. For the next two nights, Mush would have two consecutive blind dates. Hopefully by Monday, the fourteenth, he would also have a steady girlfriend, courtesy of the other Newsies. Confident that their plan would work, the few boys still remaining awake trudged up to bed, exhausted but elated, and sure of success.

To Be Continued…