It's about time I end up publishing this. This is the third time I've done it, but I'm finally happy with it, and I've got everything sorted out.

Disclaimer: Disney/Kenny Ortega owns Newsies and everything with it. I own Charlie, Rabbit and the Queens gang, thought Mr Ortega owns the idea of the Queens gang, since he hasn't ever named anyone from it.


"Hiya Charlie!"

I shrieked, throwing the plate I'd been washing up in the air. I froze and watched as it spun around in the air, flipping over, before time sped up and it smashed to pieces on the floor.

"Charlie, what's all that…Oh for pete's sake." I looked up as James stormed towards me, his hands curling into fists. "That's the fourth time this week Charlie! If ya ain't so much good, I'd have chucked ya out months ago. Now clean dis up and git outta here for the afternoon!" I nodded mutely and started hunting for the broom before sweeping the shards into a pile near the back door.

"When are ya gonna stop snoopin' round and come out and greet me like a polite boy?" I asked, blowing a piece of hair out of my face before hunting around for a cloth or something to wrap the broken plate up in. I looked up and glared as my best friend came into view, rubbing his neck sheepishly.

"I'm sorry ya got scolded Charlie, really." He said. "I didn't mean ta get ya in trouble, I'se just wanted ta say hi." He looked so sad, with his one good eye pleading for forgiveness, that I sighed and leaned against my broom.

"S'all right. Things happen." I muttered, looking down at my boots. "Sides, you heard him, it ain't the first time." I managed a small smile but Blink didn't buy it for a minute.

"Youse nearly finished so come out when ya done and have sommit ta eat." He said, resting his hand over the broom. "It'll be here when ya get back." I sagged and untied my apron before reluctantly following Blink out of the kitchen.

"You know, I just realised something." I said as he sat down and pulled out another chair.

"What's that? Now don't think too hard on it." He teased, his eye twinkling merrily. I stuck my tongue out and he chuckled.

"You ain't trying to get me ta leave Tibby's. That's what." I stole a couple of his chips and shoved them in my mouth before he could steal them back. He scowled and I finally looked around the room before rolling my eyes.

"Are all of your friends prone ta staring competitions?" I asked, leaning back and jamming my cap over my eyes. "Coz I'm getting a roomful of eyeballs right now. An' I don't like it." Blink looked up and grinned.

"Heya Jack! C'mere, I want ya ta meet someone." He called, waving his arm. A tall boy unfolded himself from a table and ambled over, his black cowboy hat swinging gently from his back.

"Watcha got dere?" He asked and Blink gestured to me.

"Jack dis is my friend Charlie, Charlie, dis is Jack Kelly. 'Member dat newsie I was tellin' ya about, the Cowboy?" He introduced us and I nodded in recognition.

"Yeah, he snogged that Jacobs girl in front of all of youse." I said before holding out a hand. Jack shook it before sitting down opposite me.

"Youse a goil?" He asked, staring at me. "So why cut ya hair?" Blink choked on his food and I sniggered as the boys both behind and in front of us swivelled to stare at me even more.

"Yosue a goil?" One asked, leaning over. "Tank God fo' dat." His friends laughed and I scowled before standing up.

"I'm gonna head back Blinky." I said, dropping a penny on the table. "I'll see ya when ya mates ain't so rude." I glared at the one who had made that remark before stomping off, nearly flinging the door off as I stepped into the crowded Manhattan road. I shoved my hands in my pockets and started wandering around, looking at all the places. Being cooped up in Tibby's kitchen all day and most nights, I didn't get a lot of time to see Manhattan, but I knew most of it thanks to Blink. After a while, the sun started to set, and I ended up at the Horace Greeley statue.


"Hey, youse Charlie right?" I looked down and groaned, letting my head fall back against Mister Greeley's metal arm.

"Yeah I am. Whattaya want?" I asked, sitting up. The boy, small and dark skinned, shifted form foot to foot.

"Blink said ya don't got anywhere ta sleep. So Jack said ya can sleep wit' us at da Lodge." He said, rubbing his neck. I rolled my eyes and jumped down, tugging my cap over my face, before shoving my hands deep into my pockets.

"Alright. Just fo' tonight then I'm gone." I said, following the boy. "I ain't gonna spend no more time than possible in the company of hormonal boys." The kid screwed up his face and snorted.

"We ain't that bad." He said. "I'm Boots, by the way. An' Jack or Mister Kloppman'll set ya up with a differen' room." I nodded and we quickened our pace as it started to rain gently. "C'mon, it's just down here." He said, pulling me down Duane Street, as the rain started to get heavier. We veered sideways suddenly and pelted into the doorway of the Newsboys Lodge House. Boots double over, panting heavily, while I took my cap off and shook my hair out. Droplets of water sprayed everywhere and Boots yelped before bursting into laughter.

"Ya hair!" He wheezed out. "Ya hair gone all fluffy an' everything." I snorted and cuffed him over the head before unbuttoning my shirt and letting it hang freely.

"C'mon, Jack'll be up in da bunkroom." He said, still chuckling at me. I scowled at him and jammed my hat, still dripping, back onto my head before storming behind him.

"Hey Jack, I gots Charlie!" Boots announced before making his way to what I presumed to be his bunk. "Youse oughtta see her hair without that cap." He sniggered and I debated throwing my boot at him but settled for a glare instead.

"Shut ya trap Boots." I growled before leaning against the door frame. The kid stuck his tongue out at me and I retaliated with an interesting hand gesture before looking up as Jack moved towards me.

"Heya Charlie." He said. "Ise know we got off ta a bad start so hows about we make it up ta ya?" He offered. I shrugged and he took it as an invitation to continue. "Take a sleep here tonight and I got some clean clothes for ya, well Rabbit does." He turned his head and called out to the poker game going on over at Blink's bed, and a small boy detached himself from it, a cigarette dangling lazily from his lips.

"Rabbits, dis is Charlie. Charlie dis is Rabbit." I blinked as Rabbit got closer and he smirked. He wasn't all that small really, only coming up to Jack's shoulder.

"I'se Rabbit." He said, sticking out a hand. "Dis lug's unfortunate sister." Jack elbowed her in the head and she punched him in the ribs before turning back to me, eyebrows raised.

"Youse a girl?" I asked. She nodded and took her cap off, and I watched in jealousy as beautiful blonde hair tumbled down, falling around her shoulders.

"Yeah, but I don't advertise it, ya know." She said. "You don't get da respect ya deserve if youse a girl sellin' papes." I nodded, understanding what she meant.

"An' you gotta have da respect she got if ya in Queens." Blink called out, waving. "C'mere Charlie, youse gotta be me lucky charm." I snorted and Rabbit scoffed.

"Coz ya need all da help ya can git aye Blinker?" She shot back before grabbing my wrist. "Not a chance mate, us girls are stickin' tagether." She stuck her tongue out at him and drew me over to the game, sitting me down beside her. "Ain't nobody gonna steal me money now she's here." She declared before lighting up another cigarette.

"I'll roll ya for her." Another boy offered. "Double or nothin' aye?" He touched his cigar to her cigarette and sat back, dodging the swipe she sent at him. "Calm down woman. Bloody cow." I choked at the name and she scowled, standing up.

"You got sommit ta say Race, I'se suggist youse say it." She said. "Udderwise I'll soak it outta ya."

"Hey, Rabbit. Cool it." Jack pushed her back into her seat before taking up some cards.

"Fine. Charlie, dat idiot is my best friend Racetrack." Rabbit said, shuffling the deck. "Youse know Blink already, the kid on eider side o' him is Mush and Snipeshooter, an' da glum an' dumb one is Skittery." Skittery glared at her and she winked at him before turning back to the cards. "Right, whose…" And that's how I ended up as a Manhattan newsie.