Disclaimer: Unfortunatly, I don't own Newsies, I only own Rose and her old man.

A/N: my second fanfic!! I really love getting reviews (it make my day) so read and review a lot! Hope ya like it.

::::::::Chapter 1::::::::

I hurried through the crowded streets of Buffalo, New York toward the tiny (I mean really tiny) apartment my father and I shared. I trembled a bit as I reached for the handle and opened it. The second I stepped in, my father caught sight of me and screamed,

"Where the money, stinkin' whore?" his words were slurred. Drunk as usual, I speculated.

"I-I don't have it," I quietly admitted to him. He growled and stood up.
"Where is it?"

"In the...the bank," I shook. He screamed again and brought his hand back. Cringing, I tried to escape the inevitable but the strike came just the same. Strike after strike, my daily routine.

The next morning, I woke with pain screaming from every part of my body. Last night had been particularly hard. This could not continue. I had to get away…today. Tonight. Now.

I packed my very few belongings in a small carpet bag. Putting my ear to the door, I listened for a moment or two then breathed a sigh of relief when I heard my father snore. He would still be knocked out from being drunk. I said a rushed prayer to any listening deity to not let him wake up before I was safely away. Apparently, the deities decided to listen to me today (why not one of the many days I laid nearly beaten to death?) and I got out with a knot making itself known in my stomach.

First, I went to the factory at which I worked and quite literally begged-down on my knees- for my last paycheck, though it wasn't due for a week. The minute I had it in my hand, I quit and ran out before he could check me. My next stop was the bank.

"Why hello to ya, Rosie-cheeks!" flirted the middle aged Irish man behind the counter. "Is there some money I can give to ya? Money in return for…somethin' else if ya know what I mean."

Repulsed, I grimaced and answered, "My name is Rose Trabell and I would like to take all the money out of the Trabell account, please."

The man raised an eyebrow at me but nodded and went into a room in the back. He came back and handed me the money, counting the dollars into my hand. This was all the money I had obtained-or what was left of it after my father had his share- from my factory girls' salary. "Thank you," I nodded stiffly to the banker.

"Sure, sure. If you'll be needin' any more money, you be sure to let me know and we can work somethin' out, hear?"

"Quite," I nodded again before hurrying out of the building toward the train station.

"'Scuse me, sir," I said, trying to attract the attention of the man at the ticket window. "Sir?"

"Oh! Good morning, miss. How may I be of service?" politely inquired the elderly man.

"I'd like a ticket, a train ticket."

"Well now, lot of people do. That's why this Iron Horse got popular! Where to, little lady?" he laughed good- naturedly.

"New York City, please. The Manhattan station," I smiled politely instead of laughing along with him.

"Here you are, my dear. A one way ticket to the most populated city this side of the Great Lake!" he grinned. I think he may have been a wee bit drunk.

"Thank you, sir," I said, handing him the required amount of money. Not two minutes later, I heard a gruff voice calling, "All 'board! New York City bound! All 'board!"

This is it! I'm leaving, for good! No more beatings, no more scrounging in the streets for food between paychecks, no more of my father's money making methods. I boaded the train with my head held high, not looking back on the horrible past, only looking ahead to the bright but unclear future I had waiting my arrival in New York City!

A/N: Reviews!!!! Hope you liked the first chapter, I promise to post another very soon!!!