Disclaimer: I own none of the newsies from the movie (duhh). I made up a few, but if you want to use any of my original characters, more power to you!
The Queen on New York
Chapter 1: Out of the Rain
Riona
The rain beat steadily against the lodging hours window as mercilessly as it had for the last three days. Bored with the outside window, I turned to scan the bunkroom. Boredom had long since ensued, and the boys were trying in vain to stay busy.
Jack and David's sister Sarah were sitting on a bunk in the corner having a hushed conversation, something that (according to the other boys) had become commonplace since they had gotten together over a year ago. They were inseparable. Across the room the younger newsies and Les were practicing their fencing skills with paper hats, wooden swords, and enough imagination to completely forget about the rain. A few feet away, a poker game that had been lasted for two whole days was still in full swing. Much to everyone else's disappointment, Race was on a role. If the rain kept up much longer, every newsie in Manhattan was going to be broke.
I chuckled a little to myself as I turned back to the bleak scene outside the window, watching drops splash in the puddles that had formed in the street. "I hate the rain," I mumbled to myself.
"Why's that?" a soft voice spoke up affectionately. I jumped so high, I nearly fell off the chair that I had been sitting in. "Jeez Race, don't do that to me," I replied, trying to restore a regular rhythm to my heartbeat. "What happened to poker?"
"Figured I'd let somebody else win for a change."
"Oh." I turned once again to the window. I hated being stuck inside.
Race fell into the bunk beside me. "Cheer up Queeny, the rain's bound to stop soon."
I was about to respond when someone walked into the room, catching everyone's attention. "Heya boys," a drenched Spot Conlon called. I raised my eyebrows at him. "And goils. Hey Riona."
I couldn't help but smile. "Hey Spot, how's the weather?"
He came up behind me, looking out the window over my shoulder. "You tell me." Before I knew what was happening, a stream of cold water came crashing sown on my head. I looked up to see Spot smirking as he wringed out his shirt above me.
"Why you!" I leapt up and hit him hard in the chest.
"Ow," he exclaimed, the smirk never leaving his face. "That hurt," he continued with a chuckle, rubbing the spot where I'd hit him.
"It was supposed to."
"Aww Riona, don't be mad," he said, throwing his arm around my shoulder. I smiled up into his bright blue eyes; it was hard to stay mad at that boy.
Spot
Her eyes seemed to dance when she laughed. I couldn't help but notice them from the moment that I met her. They were an amazingly bright green with small flecks of hazel scattered around like broken glass. True it was mean to drench her, but the look in her eyes was worth it.
"How ya been kid?" I asked in a low voice, not daring to have the boys hear me being soft. They all thought of me as the "great Brooklyn leader" and that's the way that I wanted it to stay. But with Riona it was different. Ever since that first day, I knew that I didn't have to maintain my rough exterior with her.
"I'm going crazy cooped up in here." She dropped onto the bunk that Race had just evacuated in favor of the poker game. She stared at her bare feet for a long time, the sad look on her face making my stomach fall.
I took a seat on the bunk directly across from her. "Didn't anyone ever tell you that frowning is bad for the face beautiful?"
Her face perked up instantly. "You're right. So how's life in Brooklyn? You staying out of trouble?"
"Do I ever?" I shot her a quick smirk. Hey eyes dance happily as she shook her head at me.
"Spot." Jack's voice called, making me jump a little. "Not that we mind or nothin, but what are ya doin here?"
"Just thought that I'd grace you boys with m presence," I replied, my tough exterior returning. "Make shoah you boys didn't wash away or nothin." There was more reason to it than that, but I wasn't about to tell them that I found Riona's company more enjoyable than that of any other newsie in the whole city. No I'd never hear the end of that one.
"You wanna join in?" Race called from the opposite side of the room, collecting the cards.
"Nah, I wouldn't want to take all yoah hard earned money," I lied. I had other plans in mind. I turned around to start a conversation with her, but she was nowhere in the room. "Whe—" I started, but stopped abruptly when my eyes scanned over the window. The rain had stopped. She must have slipped out the door while I wasn't looking.
I found her in the damp street, a content gaze pasted on her face. She hadn't noticed me yet, so I took it as an opportunity to study her. It was amazing how much she had changed in the few months since her arrival. The brown curly locks that had barely grazed her shoulders now flowed down to nearly the middle of her back, and slight curves had appeared in places that she had been lacking in the past. Riona had become arguably one of the most beautiful girls in all of New York City. Not that I'd ever tell her that.
Riona
True, I do hate the rain, but I love how it feels just after the drops stop falling. There's a smell that can't be found any other time. The moisture seems to hang in the air and wrap itself around you like a heavy blanket on a cold night.
I had been out in the street for a long time before I got the feeling that someone was watching me. I glanced up to see Spot silently studying me. Growing slightly uncomfortable under his gaze. My eyes darted up to the sky. Above the building, a faint rainbow had started to form. Instantly my inner child wanted to take off, searching for the leprechaun and gold at the end, so without hesitation, I ran up to Spot and taking his hand, started dragging him down the street.
"Riona, where ya taking me?" He began to protest.
"Haven't you ever wanted to follow a rainbow?"
We made our way quickly through the streets that were once again coming alive. That is until we reached the battery where the harbor kept us from going any farther. When I realized where I had directed us to, I dropped his hand and walked toward the water. My eyes focused on the Statue. I could stare at it all day. Lady Liberty was my symbol of freedom; my proof that everything hurtful from my life in Ireland had been washed away by the open sea.
But then my gaze shifted to the island beside the statue. Tears began to blur my vision, but it didn't matter, I knew the scene all too well. I remembered walking through those crowded rooms, desperately clinging to my family. The tears began to flow over my cheeks as recalled somehow losing them in the flood of immigrants. In that one moment, I had lost my family forever.
I sunk onto the bank, tears flowing silently over my cheeks as if a dam had broken loose. Suddenly I felt arms around my shoulder, pulling me into a firm hug. I looked up to see Spot once again studying me. This time concern was all too evident in his normally clear blue eyes. I opened my mouth to explain, but he pulled a finger to his lips. "Shh, it's ok."
Spot
Riona was such and eternal optimist, or at least I thought so. I'd never seen her break down, not like this. Something about the Battery had triggered a flood of emotions in her. This realization only made he hold her tighter, instinctively trying to protect her.
About ten minutes passed before her tears subsided and she looked up at me, her normally dancing eyes bloodshot. "I'm sorry," she said weakly.
"It's ok kid, you don't have to explain," I told her as softly as humanly possible.
She sat up slowly. "But I want to. You see I haven't been here in months and it brings back some bad memories."
A million thoughts raced through my mind. I wanted to know what had happened so badly, but it wasn't my place to ask.
Fortunately, Riona continued without prompting. "When we arrived here from Ireland, they took us there." She pointed to a large brick building on one of the islands. Ellis Island. I'd heard about that place before. "I got separated from my family and I haven't the slightest idea what happened to them."
A fresh tear slid down her cheek and I tried to fight the urge to brush it away. I was unsuccessful to say the least. As my hand brushed over her cheek, a small smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. "It's alright Riona. You've got us," I said trying to comport her. "We're your family now."
Her smile brightened and she quickly stood up. "You're right, lets go have some fun."
Boy, talk about your mood swings. But who was I to deny the girl a little enjoyment. "Alright." I stood to join her.
Well there you have it people. I have another chapter, but once again I am typing this at about midnight and I need sleep. I'll try to get more up tomorrow. Please try your best to review. All criticism is welcome and encouraged. I want to know what I can improve on.