Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies (though I wish I did XD). I just own this story and the characters I made up for it.

Note: This story is inspired by the song "Because of One Person" from the Korean drama Beethoven Virus. ^^

My real name is Evangeline Kendall, but I'm called Stubs as a newsie. Stubs, you ask? Well, when I was seven, I was working at a factory in Queens. I got into an accident and it cost me my left arm. All that is left of my left arm is a stub on my shoulder. So that's how the name "Stubs" comes in. The nickname is a bit personal but I don't mind. The guys don't tease me about it so I'm all right.

I yawned as I washed up for the day. I could hear the floorboards behind me creak as the boys started to wake up.

"Mornin', Stubs," Snipe greeted and put his arm around me. "How'd ya sleep?"

I shrugged his arm of my shoulders and sighed softly. Being the only girl newsie in Brooklyn was rough. Sometimes I wonder why I decided to stay in Brooklyn instead of going to Manhattan like I had originally planned.

"I slept fine, Snipe," I replied and put my cap on.

Snipe grinned. "Good to hear dat, sweets."

I rolled my eyes and slipped out the washroom as more boys rushed in. Spot Conlon bumped into me as I slipped out.

"Watch it," he snapped and hurried into the washroom.

Spot's always grumpy in the morning until he gets his coffee. I wonder if my friends in Manhattan would recognize Spot if they saw him when he first wakes up. (Hee-hee, probably not.)He definitely does not look kingly or intimidating in the mornings.

I grabbed my bag off my bunk and swung it over my left shoulder. The boys were going to take awhile as usual. (Funny, you'd think it'd be the girl who'd take awhile.) Fights between Snipe and Bucket would start and Spot would tell them to break it up. I'll just slip out and head to the circulation early. Why should I wait for the boys? They're always getting into trouble anyways and I'd rather avoid that.

"Hey! Stubs, wait up!" Snipe called out as I made it to the bottom of the stairs.

I glanced up at him. "I'm goin' early! I'll meet you there, Snipe."

"No, wait for me!" He hurried down the steps as he fumbled around trying to finish buttoning up his shirt. "Okay... we can go now."

I poked his chest. "You missed a button."

He looked down and sighed in exasperation. "Oh bother the button! Let's just go."

I shrugged. "Why are you in a hurry to go wit' me?"

"You're still kinda new here, Stubs." Snipe rested his elbow on my left shoulder as we headed out. "Spot says you need to have an eye on you at all times."

"Because of that little mishap in Manhattan, right?"

"Well... yeah and well you are the only goil here. Spot's never lost a boy to Queens and he's not about to lose his foist goil."

"... Spot's considering me his goil?"

Snipe laughed. "Not like that, silly. You're one of us, remember? Just... a goil."

"Must we go through dis again? I know what I am... and I know I'm a newsie like you guys. I can handle it now!"

Snipe pursed his lips. "I don't know, Stubs... Maybe you should wait another mont' or so before goin' out on ya own."

I huffed. "You said that last mont'."

Snipe blinked. "Did I?"

"Yeah, and the mont' before that. It's been three month's since I foist came here to be a newsie... can't I go out on my own?"

Snipe sighed through his nose. "Stubs, you're really not ready yet. Just another mont' okay?"

I shrugged his arm off my shoulder. "Fine. But it better be just another mont'."

"I can't really promise ya anythin'... You really should be talkin' ta Spot about dis."

I pursed my lips a little. "I guess I'll try to talk to Spot later then."

Maybe when I ask him, his eyes won't be cold and chilling like they normally are but soft and gentle... like that one time. Oh well, I don't need to get my hopes up. Snipe has already kind of confirmed that I probably won't be on my own for awhile even if I do ask.

"Don't worry about it." Snipe put his elbow back on my shoulder. "You'll be on your own soon enough."

I nodded. "I'll try not to."

Snipe grinned. "That's much betta."

"What is?" I asked.

"Oh nothing." Snipe smirked as we stopped in front of the circulation.

Just a few more minutes and more newsies would be coming along and the circulation would open. I scooted a little closer to Snipe, letting his elbow nudge my neck a little. The bigger boys in Brooklyn made me a little uneasy. I mean I'm just a eleven year old girl... and as for own my own, I'm just talking selling without Snipe right beside me. I don't want him completely away from me... just on the other side of the street. I just want a little independence. Just a little.

Author's Note: A bit of a short chapter. ;P Do me a favor and review it so I can write more! ;)