Disclaimer: I do not own the Newsies. The people at Disney do- which makes them very lucky people.
When I had first set eyes on New York City I was immediately filled with a sense of wonder. A sense that anything in this city was possible. I could be however I wanted to be or do whatever I wanted to do. The minute I stepped off the train from Colorado I felt like I was at peace. I had begun to walk down the street following the instructions I had be sent by my grandmother. I couldn't help but take my time. I watched as the friendly street vendors tried to out yell each other, how the police monitored everything to make sure no crimes were being committed, and how the citizens of New York strolled down the street with such amazing determination. There were so many things to see and it was only the street my grandmother lived on. New York was everything I thought it would be and more and as a young girl just turned sixteen it was a dream come true. I remember feeling a sharp disappointment as I found myself at the door of my grandmothers apartment. My grandmother, Madam May Decant, was a wealthy women having inherited her late husbands fortune and had spent a small part of the money on very sophisticated housing. My nerves were racing as I knocked on the door and waited. Not a minute later and I was greeted by a sour looking old man with neatly cut and combed gray hair and a thinly growing mustache that didn't seem to fit his face.
"Mss. Stein?" he had asked before I could get a word in.
"Yes. I'm Madeline Stein. Here to see my grandmother." I was a bit perplexed at the complete lack of emotion on his face.
"Madam Decant has been expecting you for the last half hour. Unfortunately she has retired for the evening and will not see you until tomorrow." He sounded … bored. As if I wasn't worth his time.
"Um…well-" I had started.
"I am to show you to your room and lay down a few ground rules." His tone had not changed once.
"Alright." Was all I could think to say. It hadn't been the right thing because he had given a nearly imperceptible sigh as he grabbed the bag in my hand. I followed him in and looked around the foyer. The outside was sophisticated but the inside was even more so and very decadent , I had felt out of place right a way. The butler, who hadn't told me his name at that point, continued to lead me up a grand stair case and down a richly decorated hall to a door.
"This shall be your room for the full period of your stay. Madam Decant has instructed me to tell you that nothing is to be changed or removed. You are to keep it neat and organized and your belongings are not to be 'thrown about'. Do you understand?" Anger and indignation had fired through me at his hinting that he thought I was a pig or a thief but I simply nodded my understanding. The old man seemed pleased well perhaps not pleased but satisfied with my answer and opened the door to the room. I had been expecting a fancy room done up the same way the rest of the house had been but instead I was met with a modest room still elegant but in a more understated way.
"My name is Mr. Jones. You will address me as such. Now for the ground rules. Breakfast is at seven arrive later and you will not eat. Brunch is optional unless Madam Decant says other wise and is served at ten thirty. Lunch is at noon, if you are late you will not eat. Dinner, unless stated differently, is at six, if you are late you will not eat. You must be home no later then five thirty in the afternoon. You will be dressed by breakfast time. You are forbidden to bring guests to this house unless told to invite someone. You will dress in appropriate attire that being a dress or skirt and a hat when going outside. You will behave in a lady like manor and lastly you will listen and abide by everything Madam Decant says. And you will not, under any circumstances, address the madam as 'Granny May'. Now Miss Stein… do you understand everything I have said."
To be honest I had drifted off about half way through his speech but I managed a "Yes Mr. Jones."
"Very good." Mr. Jones stated, "I leave you to unpacking and expect you up and ready in the morning by breakfast." He hadn't even waited for a response, he was gone in two seconds.
That night I had lain in the unfamiliar bed after unpacking. I was thinking of all the amazing things I had seen on the way to Madam Decants house. I couldn't wait to get out there and interact with everyone and everything. At the time it didn't matter that there was a butler that was incapable of changing the tone of his voice or a grandmother that seemed to be stiffer then a stick stuck in the mud or that I was to behave like a lady and wear only the most proper of clothing. In my youth and naive-ness I had thought that New York city was the beginning of my life full of adventure and mystery and romance with tall dark strangers. I had secretly hoped that the city would answer all my wishes. It is strange to look back at my attitude as a young girl now that I am older and a bit wiser. I sometimes catch myself wondering that if given the chance to go back and visit sixteen year old me would I tell her what lay ahead? That I would become, in less than a year, a completely different girl? Or that I would be in one too many life threatening situations in less than a month? Or that in less than a day I would grow to hate the city I thought had all my wished fulfilled?
A/N This is my first time really writing for and audience! It would be great if you could leave a REVIEW please!!! Tell me if you like it or hate it. It might seem kind of wordy, short, or boring but remember its only the first chapter and its more of a prologue. The next chapter wont be Madeline talking about her past instead it'll be present time for her. And I'll try to make Madeline real and keep her from becoming Mary Sue. But at this point she's just young and naïve and still trying to find her place in the world. So pretty please review and tell me your honest opinion! You now the newsies would want you to!!! ;) Oh! That reminds me… I still don't know who to pair Madeline up with yet if anyone. I'm thinking Kid Blink or maybe Skittery… and Mush (he's a sweetheart)I think has a fair chance so let me know. Thank you!