Joining Forces
Chapter One
Disclaimer: We don't own the newsies, Disney does. We do own Shackles, Kelli, Bridget, and Kelli's dog,
Short note: This is tiggerbaby2430 and Padfootismyhero writing together! Ok onto the story!
Kelli Callaghan walked slowly in the unfamiliar territory. She was here to find her cousin, and best friend, Bridget Flaherty. Kelli's and Bridget's mothers had been sisters. The two girls had known each other since they were infants, but when Kelli was 13, and Bridget was 11, Bridget's family moved away to New York. Kelli had remained in Maine. They had lived by the ocean, and went swimming almost everyday, despite the freezing water. But that was life then. Kelli's parents had just been killed in a tragic warehouse fire, and she had come to New York in search of Bridget.
"Well hello dere pretty lady." Kelli heard a voice behind her. She spun around to meet it. It was a scruffy looking boy. He looked a little overweight, but not fat. He held a club in one hand, and wore a white shirt with brown suspenders.
"May I help you?" She asked, annoyed.
"Da question is, may I help you?" He asked, stepping closer.
"Yeah. Bridget Flaherty. Know her?" Kelli asked, stepping away from him.
"I'se has heard of 'er before." He told her, mockingly. She noticed right away.
"Where can I find her?" She asked again, stepping even further away as he stepped closer.
"Wha' brings ya ta Brooklyn dollface?" He asked her, ignoring her question.
"It's really none of your business is it? Now, where can I find her?" She asked once more, this time stepping closer, clenching her fist.
"I'll tell ya once ya answer me question." He laughed, stepping even closer.
"I don't have time for this." She replied, turning around and walking away. He pursued.
"I do gots time, an' so do you. Now why are ya heah?" He asked again, slipping his arm around her waist. That was the last straw.
"What the hell are you doing?" She yelled at him, slugging him across the face. He lunged at her, but then stopped himself. "I'se got a better plan." He grabbed her by her wrist and dragged her through the streets.
"What are you doin'? Let go of me!" She demanded, but to no avail.
"You'se gots yourself in deep shit now." He told her, a smile found its way on his face. "You is goin' ta see Spot Conlon, he'll put you'se wheah ya belong." He said, the smile widened.
"Well, well, well. What do we 'ave heah?" She heard a piercing voice ask. The owner of the voice wore red suspenders and a grayish, blackish hat, and carried a gold-tipped cane in his right hand. A slingshot was in one of his pockets. His pants were just too short for him, but no one seemed to care.
"She started a fight wit me." The boy complained. Kelli guessed that the boy with the cane and red suspenders was Spot Conlon.
"A fight eh? Well dat jus' won't do. Ya see dollface, no one starts a fight in Brooklyn without my approval, especially wit me best man Shackles." He told her.
"Who died and made you God?" She demanded to know. "Why do you get ta decide who fights and who doesn't?" She would have attacked him then, but the oversized boy was still holding onto her wrist.
"I decide wha' goes on in Brooklyn, an' dat's jus' da way it is." He said threateningly. She hated his attitude right from the start.
"You? You're just a scrawny little street rat wit an oversized ego an reputation. At least dat's what I can see, and I have only known you for 3 minutes!" She spat in his face. He would not tolerate that.
"No one talks ta me dat way." He yelled.
"I just did. What are you gonna do about it?" She asked, almost laughing at him. He thought a moment. He couldn't soak a girl. He could, but not in public. But if she told anyone he would be looked down upon. Sure, he knew people who had soaked girls, and they weren't looked down upon, but that was rare. And most of the times the girl had deserved it.
"I can't do nuttin now." He paused. "Except throw ya outta Brooklyn!" He shouted at her, trying to make a point.
"You can't keep me out of Brooklyn. How would you do that?" She challenged.
"I can, an' I will!" He promised her. At that moment, a girl with strawberry blonde hair came around the corner. Spot looked over at her and smiled, but quickly turned back to Kelli.
"Bridget get dis piece of trash outta me sight. Keep 'er outta Brooklyn." he ordered.
"I though you were gonna keep me out of Brooklyn. Now you've got someone else tao do your dirty work?" She asked, struggling as Shackles turned her over to Bridget. Kelli gave her a weak smiled as Bridget recognized her.
"Whatcha doin' heah?" She asked Kelli, startled.
"Looking for you." Kelli smiled at her. Spot intervened.
"S'cuse me ladies." He said sarcastically. "Bridget, would ya kindly take 'er outta heah. Don't let 'er back either."
Bridget took Kelli back to Manhattan. The whole way she had to listen to Kelli go on and on about how much she hated Spot.
"He thinks he is so high and mighty, getting any girl he wants. It really bugs me!" Kelli exclaimed.
"Well, he does get any goil he wants. And you'se can't blame em." Bridget said, grinning at Kelli.
"What? Bree, I can't believe you are defending that jerk! Do you like him or something?" Kelli asked, glaring.
"No. He's not. I'm not keeping track of his dating either." Bridget stated, looking at the ground.
"I still can't believe you are standing up for him. You are so different now, Bee. You have an accent, you hang out with boys. I remember when you still thought they had cooties." Kelli said, laughing.
"Don't remind me. I had to grow up. You know that my mom died and my dad went off to California for gold. He forgot about me. And you really have to give Spot a chance. He's a great guy. Like a big brother that can soak everyone. Seriously. He's a fantastic friend." Bridget explained, looking at Kelli.
"So, what brings you here to NYC? What's wrong wit Maine?"
"My... My parents. They were killed in a warehouse fire." Kelli answered, looking down at the ground to hide her tears.
"Oh, dear God. Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Gabe? What happened? Are you alright?" Bridget stopped walking, and looked at Kelli. Both of the girls had tears in their eyes.
"Well, we weren't in the warehouse. It was next door to our house. There was a lightning storm and the depot caught fire. A spark got onto our roofs. It was the middle of the night so we were asleep. Mom and Dad... never got out."
"Oh my God. You're okay, right? Do you have anywhere to stay?" Bridget asked.
"I'm alright. I woke up and ran out. I thought that they woke up too, but I guess they didn't. I came here, looking for you. I was hoping to stay with you. Is that alright?" Kelli asked, looking up.
"Of course it is. You'll have to get up extra early each day though. And you need to sleep in my room." Bridget said as they continued walking.
"Alright. Where do you live?" "Right here." Bridget said as they stopped in front of a large building.
"'News Boys Lodging House'? We're living with a bunch of teenage guys? You've been doing this since you were 14?" Kelli asked, looking at Bridget.
"Well, yea. I's gotten used to it. Ya just have ta get up real early to get showered and dressed before da boys get up. So, are you coming?" Bridget asked, going up to the door.
"Yes. So, why do you live here, if it's for boys?" Kelli asked as they climbed up the steps.
"Well, when I decided ta become a newsie, there weren't many goil newsies. They didn't have a lodging house for dem. The goils dat sold usually sold cause dey needed money for their families. I moved in wit da Manhattan newsies. A goil lodging house was just built, but I was fine here and Kloppman, da owner, let me stay here. Nice guy. He even gave me my own room." Bridget explained. By the time she was done, they had arrived in the main room.
"Bumble Bee. How's Brooklyn?" a boy said.
"What's Bumble Bee?" Kelli asked Bridget.
"I'm Bumble Bee, or Bee." Bridget answered.
"Oh."
"Great. Look who I's found. Me cousin from Maine. Her name's Kelli." Bridget said.
"Nice ta meet ya." The boy said, taking off his hat.
"Okay. Dis is Mush, Racetrack or Race, Jack, Crutchy, Specs, Dutchy, Snitch, Kid Blink, Snipeshooter, and well, da rest o da guys." She laughed. Kelli looked at them, bewildered.
"Nice to meet you too." She said uneasily. She looked down at the first time at her dog, Snow White, a westie. It was a small white dog with a short stubby tail. It growled impatiently, making some boys snicker. Kelli shot them a dangerous glance. "Problems?" They immediately shut up.
"Cute pup." Mush observed aloud. Kelli managed a small smile.
"Know how ta play poker?" Racetrack stepped up to her. She stared at him skeptically.
"I've played it before. Why do you ask?" He smirked.
"Perfect. Wanna play in our nightly game?" He asked her again. She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Why should I? How do I know that you aren't just going to take advantage of me and steal any money I have left?" She asked. He looked taken aback by this.
"Lighten up Kel." Bee laughed. "She'll play, jus' let me take 'er upstairs." Bee pushed her up the stairs. Jack stopped Bumble Bee before she could go up.
"We need to talk." He told her solemnly. She looked down at her feet, understanding what he was talking about.
"Be right up. Try an' guess which one is ours!" Bee encouraged. Kelli looked at her, one eyebrow raised, but she obeyed. Bee turned her back to the steps and faced the boys, whose smiling faces were replaced by sad looks.
"Wha's da status?" She asked Jack.
"Worse. Did Spot seem a bit edgy?" He asked, concerned.
"No. But den again he was yellin' like crazy at Kelli. He told me neva ta let 'er in Brooklyn again." She produced a weak smile. Jack rolled his eyes, but continued.
"Harlem is gettin worse by da minute. Dey want ta declare war on Brooklyn, but dey seem a bit hesitant. I wouldn't be surprised if by mornin' dere was a full-fledged war out dere." He looked at her expression, which revealed nothing. He turned to the guys in the room. "Let's stay neutral through all o' dis. I don't wanna risk nuttin if we don't gotta." He told them. They nodded their understanding. "Be happy fer Kelli's sake tonigh'. We wanna make a good impression." He winked at them.
a/n
Well how did you like it? This is the first story written by us together. Please tell us if we should continue or not. I'm pretty we are going to anyway, but we LOVE reviews!
Hey, this is Padfootismyhero. I can take credit for the beginning part where Shackles confronts Kelli, and the conversation between Spot and Kelli. I can also take credit for the last part when Kelli's dog is introduced, and anything after that.
Tiggerbaby2430 can take credit for the part when Kelli and Bridget are walking back to Manhattan all the way up to the part when Bridget introduces her to the boys.
So did you like it? Hope so. Please review! Next chapter coming soon!
