Double Life
Chapter 1

AN: Hello all! For those who are reading this for the first time, it was my first Newsies story ever and it holds a special place in my heart. For those who are re-reading it, it used to be called The Saturday Night He'll Never Forget. Way back when. You might notice that I've made some significant changes since the first draft. The plot is still pretty much the same but I added more scenes, changed character names/created new characters, and generally cleaned it up a bit. I've really been trying to improve my writing and this story is one of my favorites. For instance, Belladonna's name has now been changed to Allie! Anyway, let me know what you all think! Thanks a bunch!

January, 1898

"Allie cat! Hurry up darling or we'll be late!"

"Just a moment, Father!" She called down the stairs. The young girl turned back to her reflection in the hallway mirror. An older woman beside her fussed with her hair, fixed a few bows on her dress, and pulled the corset strings one last time to make sure they were tight enough. The girl winced at this. "It's fine, Edith. Once again you've proven your wonderful talent of managing to make me so thin that I can't breathe."

"It's a big day for your father, miss Allie. Don't be short with me," Edith said as she zipped up the dress for the last time. "Every newspaper will be there, cameramen, journalists. He wants you to look your best."

"I'd like to see him wear a corset for one day," Allie muttered. She hiked up her dress in a very unladylike manner and proceeded to the top of the staircase. "Come along, Edith, I mustn't make Father wait."

"Put your dress down this instant, miss Allie! And don't slouch. And for heaven's sake, child, do not stomp!" Edith cried over Allie's very loud departure.

"Is my daughter giving you a hard time again, Edith?"

"I apologize, ma'am, she seems to be in a mood today."

The lady of the house, Katharine, gave them a kind smile. "Well Mr. Linwood doesn't call her Allie Cat for nothing."

"Mother, why must I go?" Allie whined as Edith attempted to get a long green coat on the sullen girl.

"Your father needs our support today, honey. Our picture will be in the paper, isn't that exciting?"

Allie wrinkled her nose. "I guess so. It doesn't matter to me. I just want to read my-Oh! Mother! I forgot my book!"

"You won't need it where we're going, miss," Edith said, finishing with the last button on the coat.

"That's all right, I have it right here," Katharine said. She plucked a small book off of the front entrance table and handed it to her daughter. "You may read it in the carriage but it must remain there once we reach City Hall. Understood?"

"Yes! Oh thank you, Mother!" Allie gushed. She enveloped Katharine in a huge hug, to which the woman let out a light laugh.

"Ladies, are we ready?" A man walked in from the side room, also pulling on a long coat.

"Ready!" Allie shouted happily.

He smiled widely and chuckled. "That's my girl. Come now, here are your mittens. The coach just pulled up."

Allie, Edith, Katharine, and the older man Arthur, readied themselves to leave the house. A few of their maids, butlers, and cooks all eventually trickled out to wish them off or congratulate Arthur.

It was a big day for the Linwood family. After many years in politics and as many equally hard months, Arthur Linwood had been elected Mayor of New York City. Today was his official day to be sworn into office. From what Allie was told, City Hall was going to be packed with people. She didn't want to admit this to anyone but she was actually very excited about today. Through the months leading up to election day she loved watching her father deliver inspirational speeches and reach out to the public. She truly believed in her heart that he was going to help this wonderful city.

The door opened and a gust of icy wind hit their faces. Allie grabbed her father's hand and looked up at him. He was beaming back at her reassuringly, a familiar light and comfort in his brown eyes told her that everything was going to be just fine.

Together, the four of them stepped out of their luxurious townhouse toward the coach that would carry them all to their bright new future.

May, 1902

Her eyes opened slowly, the sounds of the streets gradually becoming clearer as she came out of her memory. How long had it been since that day? Four years now? All of it seemed like a lifetime ago. Her training, her schooling, all of that was now completely useless. She didn't need any of that where she was about to go. A relatively large building stood before her and she gazed up at it. She scanned it over slowly, taking in its large windows, weather worn bricks. It wasn't that bad looking of a place. At least it was something to provide a roof over their heads and a place for them to call home. She sighed and adjusted her hat so that it covered her hair completely.

This time last year I was at school in London and now look at me. I can't believe I'm reducing myself to this, but Father needs me. No point wallowing in self pity, she thought. She took a deep breath, held her chin up high, and strode in through a door on the side of the building. Once she was inside she found herself looking at what seemed to be a lobby. A hardwood desk was up against the far wall, a rich red carpet was spread on the floor but some threads were coming undone from the years of its use. A giant grandfather clock stood majestically on the right side of the desk; the time read seven forty-five, its pendulum swinging back and forth with the familiar sound of tick-tock. A mirror was held into place on the wall to her left and she went over to it.

As opposed to her memory, this reflection that stared back at her was foreign, unrecognizable. She was dressed in a long-sleeved, white baggy shirt that buttoned up the front. A black vest and red suspenders were on top of the shirt. She wore black pants that cut off just below the kneecap and threads frayed along the edges. Small shoes that were dirtied with earth were on her feet and her gray cap was fixed so that the front of it was pushed to the side. Her hazel eyes looked up and down at her new self and she could do nothing but stare.

Suddenly she heard many thundering footsteps and shouts of laughter coming down the staircase. She turned abruptly and watched as many boys, some dressed like her, leaped in twos or threes down the stairs or slid down the banister and landed on the floor. None of them noticed her as they rushed past her and filed out of the door. A distant bell sounded in the still of the morning. She tried to get their attention but her attempts were futile. They were too busy talking loudly to one another. Only one of the boys noticed a rare female presence and he came up to her.

"Mornin' miss," she turned in time to find him taking off his hat, "Do you need somethin'? You lookin' for anyone?" he asked kindly. The boy was several inches taller than her meager five-foot-five and he had a mop of sandy blonde hair. He wore a brown shirt with black pants and black shoes. His one green eye (with an eyepatch covering his left eye), stared warmly into her own. She smiled and nodded.

"Yes as a matter of fact. I'm looking for Jack Kelly. Is he here by any chance?"

"You just missed him. He's headed to the distribution center. Jack's always the first in line," he said and she grinned. She had, of course, heard about the strike and about Jack Kelly, or Cowboy, which was the name he was most famous for, winning against Pulitzer and Hearst. She still couldn't believe that had happened almost two years ago. "C'mon, miss, I'll show you. This way." He walked to the door, the girl following him.

Side by side they went in silence down the street, watching vendors setting up their stands and the newsies gravitating toward black steel gates where a queue was forming beyond it. Finally, the boy turned to her.

"So what's your name?" he asked.

"Lady. And yours?"

"Kid Blink, or Blink if you prefer," he resisted spitting in his palm and shook her hand cordially. "Interestin' name."

"I could say the same about yours," she grinned. "My parents always tried to make me a proper young lady."

"Instead you're here runnin' with the boys." They smiled at each other. "You live here in 'Hattan?"

"I do, just outside the city." Lady glanced up and pretended to be interested in the clouds so as to avoid looking at Blink. For someone she had just met he was very nice. She hadn't expected this out of any of the newsies. Growing up she'd always heard stories of gang violence, thievery, and the like.

"Got any siblings?"

Lady sighed. "Unfortunately, no."

Blink laughed. "Be glad ya don't. The guys I live with are practically me brothers and they bug the hell outta me sometimes." Lady laughed at this. Like anyone, she had always wanted a brother or a sister, but no such luck. Instead she got stuck with her imaginary friends, who never even showed up for her tea parties.

"How old are you?" she asked.

"Eighteen, but I'll be nineteen in a couple o'months. You?"

"I just turned seventeen a few days ago."

"And? How do ya feel?"

"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.

"Was it life changin'? I mean seventeen. That's a good year," Blink teased, grinning. Lady smiled back and shrugged.

"It was just another day."

"Ah that's no fun. What about a party? Cake, presents, the good stuff?" he insisted.

"I had a small chocolate cake with strawberries on top and only received two presents. One from my mother and one from my father," she said, clasping her hands behind her back as she walked. "We can't afford anything quite as lavish as I dreamed about but it was still quaint and nice."

"Sounds a lot better than any o'my birthdays."

She raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I very much doubt that."

"Wanna bet?" He didn't say it in a rude way, more like a challenge. She thought about it for a second and then shook her head.

"I take it back. I don't want to play the Who Had the Worst Birthday game. Let's just assume you win," If the stories were true and newsies really did have horrible lives, she wasn't going to be the one to bring back those memories for him. She heard Blink chuckle but she ignored him. More and more newsboys passed them by as they all struggled to fit in the line. "Wow! I never knew there were so many newsies in Manhattan!" Her surprised tone came out easily so there was no difficulty convincing her new friend of her naivety.

"Nah, this is nothin'. There's a ton of us all over the place," Blink said nonchalantly. He spotted a familiar face ahead of them and smiled. "Ah, there's Jack now. C'mon, Lady!" He took her hand and they ran the rest of the way up to the black gates and squeezed themselves around other newsies to get inside. Blink still had Lady's hand as he led them up to another boy who looked around the same age as Blink. He was maybe an inch taller than Blink and had messy brown hair. His brown eyes, Lady could tell, were full youth and spirit; she also knew they had seen many challenges, especially if he was the leader. He was dressed in a black, long-sleeved shirt with buttons down the front and a plain white vest. Black pants, black shoes, and of course that famous red cloth hung around his neck. Lady had seen this, as well as a dark brown Western hat, before and knew these were his marks that inspired the nickname Cowboy.

"Heya, Blink, how's it rollin'? Ready to sell?" Jack asked, slapping Blink on the back in a manly greeting.

"Ready as always," Blink said cheerfully. Then he added in an undertone, "Hey, Jack, I brought someone who's lookin' for you. She showed up at the lodging' house." Jack did a double take at Blink and he nodded slowly.

"She?" Jack asked in surprise. Blink rolled his eye, nodded again and jerked his head over to Lady. Some of the other newsies were silent as they watched this scene play out while the rest just ignored them and went on with their business. Lady wished they would stop staring at her. For one thing because she was afraid that one of them might recognize her. She turned her eyes away from them and pulled the brim of her hat down a little further. For another they acted like they had never seen a girl before.

Jack pushed his way through the small crowd to stand in front of Lady, her eyes staring bravely back into his.

"Yeah? Whatcha want?" Jack asked rudely, crossing his arms. Lady narrowed her eyes defiantly and raised her chin.

"My name is Lady and I wanted to ask you…well, I wanted to inquire about obtaining a job."

Jack paused, thinking over those big words that she threw at him. "Yeah, sure, you can have a job, kid. There's plenty of stores out here that'll be happy to-"

"I meant a job with you and the newsies," Jack stared at her a few seconds then burst out laughing. A few of the other newsies followed suit, except for Blink. She glared at Jack. "Why can't I work with you? I can sell papers just as well as you!" She shouted over the laughter. Jack straightened up and covered his mouth to hide the small grin that graced his face; his eyes were still full of laughter, Lady noticed angrily.

"Look, kid you really think it's easy, gettin' out in the street and sellin' your butt off? I mean you gotta be fast and willin' to get out there and sell. Not just sit back while we other guys do all the work."

"For your information I've done it before and it's not as difficult as you claim." She placed her hands on her hips. Why would you say that? You have NOT done this before. Ever, she thought.

Blink made his way over and stood beside her. "She can sell with me and Mush, Jack. She'd be perfect bait to hawk to those old rich guys who'll believe anythin'."

Oh great, wealthy men, Allie thought. They will most definitely recognize me.

"Blink, she's a girl. No one would buy from her and you know it."

Blink shook his head. "That ain't true! There's a ton of newsgirls in Queens. Or have you forgotten?" He gave his leader a meaningful look. Jack frowned, and the expression on his face said, 'I can't believe you just used that on me'. "I'll teach her the ropes. I can show her what's what around here, just give her a chance." Lady looked up at Blink and saw that his face was set with determination. Why does he want to help me so much?

Jack sighed. "All right, but don't say I didn't warn you." He turned and walked off to collect his papers. The other newsies soon trickled to the streets and two different boys walked up to Lady and Blink.

"Hey, what was that all about?" one of them asked, his thumb jerking over his shoulder, gesturing to Jack's retreating back.

"Jack's just bein' an idiot," Blink said, waving a hand like he was swatting away a fly.

"Think it's girl trouble?"

"Knowin' him and his track recod, probably," Blink nodded and turned to Lady. "These are a few of my friends, David and Mush."

"Pleasure to meet you both," Lady shook their hands.

"Mush is my sellin' partner and Dave sometimes tags along. Fellas, this is Lady. She's our newest member."

"Why do I feel like I've just been initiated into a club?" Lady pondered aloud. The boys laughed. "Listen, Blink, thank you for defending me. You didn't have to but-"

Blink smiled down at her. "Hey, it was no problem, really. I remember my first time joinin' the gang." He slung a friendly arm around Mush.

"Yeah, that was an interestin' day," Mush laughed. "Genius over here bought too many papes so he had to eat 'em. Then he got beat up by the Delancey brothers."

"Aw shut up, will ya? You're makin' me look bad!" Blink playfully shoved his friend away and he winked at Lady.

"Alright you knuckleheads that's enough, don't scare her away," David reprimanded his friends. He took Lady gently by the shoulders and steered her to the line. "Don't mind them. They mean well."

Lady responded with a calm smile but her insides were turning over and over. What exactly had she gotten herself into?

Throughout the morning, the three boys took turns introducing Lady to the rest of the newsies. There were so many of them that she had to repeat their names in her mind with a mental checklist. A little while later, Blink demonstrated to Lady how to properly "read" a headline.

"But isn't that lying?" she had asked, confused.

"Nah, I'd call it…stretchin' the truth a little." Blink had replied, stealing one of Jack's famous lines he always used on new newsies…and sometimes girls. Lady still looked puzzled.

"But then you would just be taking people's money for no good reason!"

David laughed. "You haven't really sold any papers before, have you?"

"How ever did you know?" Lady said sarcastically.

David merely shrugged. "That's the way it's always been. No one's ever demanded their money back when they see the fake headline so we don't care."

"Davey said the same thing ta Jack on his first day," Mush said. "And anyway, we need money to survive don't we?"

"Well yes, I suppose so. But that's still-"

"Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it and that guilty feelin' will go away soon enough. Trust me," Blink said. He winked, grabbed a paper from his stack, and walked off, already yelling out a headline at the top of his lungs. Lady stared after him with wide eyes and her nervousness increased tenfold. How was she supposed to lie to the public? Considering the background she came from she wasn't too enthused about that. However as the morning ticked by, the more she continued to sell, thus the jitters vanished to be replaced with excitement and eagerness.

By mid afternoon the tiny group made their way into a nearby diner, finding empty seats near Jack. He had already ordered and was chowing down on steak and eggs, accompanied by a huge glass of water. He must have had a good day to be eating like a king. Lady sighed and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.

I really want to take this hat off, but I can't! Curse my long hair, she thought bitterly.

"Did I sell sufficiently today, Blink?" she asked wearily.

"If I knew what that meant, I would tell you," Blink said, raising an eyebrow. She laughed a little.

"Sorry. I meant did I do okay? I mean, for my first time."

"You did more than okay! You sold all twenty papes by eleven-thirty! You're a natural, Lady," Blink said and smiled.

"Is she though? Or was it just 'cause she's a pretty face?" Jack piped up.

"A little bit of both I'd say," David said.

"And weren't you supposed to have done this before?" Jack pointed the sharp end of the fork at her, his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Well of course I had to say that to you. I was trying to prove myself." Lady sat back in her seat with her shoulders squared.

"And she definitely did that," Mush said hastily before Jack could make another snappy retort.

"Thank you," she smiled graciously at Mush. Jack closed his mouth and watched them from the corner of his eye. He didn't know if he could trust this girl. She was hurling strange words at them left and right, she'd pretended to be a newsie before. Besides that there was something about her that was very familiar but he couldn't place his finger on it. She seemed too clean, too innocent to have been working for very long. She had that same look about her that David did the very first time Jack met him. He dressed the part but he was still lacking that certain quality Jack saw in the other homeless or regular sweatshop kids.

Jack kept quiet while his friends chatted up Lady a bit longer before she glanced at the wall clock on her left. It read twelve forty-five. Lady suddenly jumped up.

"Whoa, kid where's the fire?" Jack said. She was muttering to herself and Jack caught a few words like "Father" and "going to be killed if they find out". She was gathering up her money and dropping it into a small leather pouch. Blink was looking at her with concern.

"My apologies, but I have to get home. My parents-" she hesitated. "My family is expecting me. Thank you so much for helping me today."

"Do you want me to walk you home?" Blink offered. She smiled at him.

"No that's quite all right, but thank you. Where should we meet tomorrow?"

"You're comin' back?" Blink asked hopefully.

"Of course!"

"Okay! Meet us in front of the distribution center."

"Done. Thank you, boys, for helping me today. I owe you," she said, glancing between David, Mush, and Blink.

"It was no problem, Lady." David smiled.

"Newsies gotta stick together," Mush said.

"So where's my thanks? I'm the one that said you could join," Jack said indignantly after he swallowed the last of his steak.

She raised an eyebrow. "Yes but grudgingly- and people like that don't deserve my gratitude," Jack opened his mouth to argue but she turned away from him. This made Jack cross his arms over his chest and slump down in his seat. "Anyway, thank you again. I'll see you tomorrow!" She gathered up the rest of her belongings and sprinted out the door.

"Well that was fun. We haven't made any new friends in a while," David said pleasantly.

"I think she'll fit in real well with us," Mush said. "'Specially since she can hold her own with Jack."

"Speakin' of which, what the hell was your problem?" Blink asked Jack angrily. "All she wanted was a job. Why'd you have to treat her that way?"

Jack, suddenly done pouting, sat up. "Aw c'mon, Blink, it was just a test."

"I don't remember you testin' any of us that way."

"I had to know if she was really right to be workin' with us. I mean, don't tell me I'm the only one who noticed that she was different."

"If you mean her expansive vocabulary then no, that's not strange at all," David said, pulling a menu toward him. "She must have gone to school and now she can't anymore, like me and Les."

"Yeah but it ain't just that. I get a weird feelin' that somethin' ain't right."

"Well you better snap out of it and start bein' nicer to her," Blink grumbled.

Jack grinned and put an arm around his friend's shoulder. "Of course, Blink. You have my word. Now eat somethin' before you fall over."

They were soon joined by several more of their friends. All through lunch, Jack could not shake Lady from his thoughts. He needed to know who she really was because he wasn't crazy. He'd seen her face before. This was going to drive him nuts.

Lady ran as fast as she could down the sidewalk, bumping into people and giving apologies as she went. How could she have been so careless as to let time run away from her like that? She'd been planning this for weeks and she was not going to mess it up now just because of hunger. And what could she have possibly been thinking when she blurted out a name like Lady? If that wasn't a dead giveaway for her true self she didn't know what was. She couldn't stop chiding herself all the way down the street.

She took a sharp turn to her right and ran down a tight alleyway, swerving past boxes, trashcans, and rats. From here she ran to the left where the alley opened to a separate street with grand mansions in their lots. Lady took off down the road, going as fast as her little legs would allow, when she finally turned slightly to the right and made her way toward one of the grandest houses on the block. From there she snuck to the backyard, eventually finding a lattice, which held blooming violets and ivy that snaked its way through the holes. Careful so no one would see her, Lady began to climb. This took her a good five minutes. She wasn't a very coordinated person. At last she swung one leg followed by the other over the balcony, opened the French doors and walked inside the room.

Very quickly she stripped off her dirty clothing and threw on a navy blue cotton day dress, all while trying to slow her breathing. She then grabbed the brush that was lying on the vanity and combed her hair, attempting to get out all the knots and tangles. After throwing the brush carelessly on the large bed she slowly opened the white wooden door and peeked her head out. There was no one roaming the hallway so she took a chance and stepped out. She heard many male voices coming from another room in the house and she knew she needed to head toward them.

As she was going down the stairs, a woman turned the corner to come up. They almost ran into each other.

"There you are, Allie!" she said smiling. "Where have you been?"

"In the library," she lied smoothly. "I was just coming around to see about tea."

"Ah yes, your father and a few of the Deputy Mayor's are in the sitting room. Would you like to join us? I made lunch too." This woman was beautiful with light brown hair and warm blue eyes. She was wearing an elegant baby blue dress that had a white apron tied around her waist.

"I'd love to." Lady smiled. The woman's grin faltered for a minute and she put a dainty hand on the girl's forehead.

"Darling, are you all right? You look flushed."

"It's nothing, Mother. I'm fine, really," Lady said, gently pushing her hand away. Her mother looked as if she knew that her daughter were not telling the truth, but she sighed anyway.

"You know you really must get out of the house more. It's not good for your health to be cooped up inside all the time. Wasn't there a gala you were supposed to attend this week?"

"Oh that? I think it got canceled."

"That's a shame. Well come along then, let's not keep them waiting."

Mother and daughter set off in the direction of their sitting room. As they went Lady, or Allie, clenched some of her dress tightly in one hand. That was close. Too close. I need to watch my time from now on. No more distractions. Do the job, save the money, and this whole mess will turn around, she thought. I hope.

AN: And that's the end of chapter 1! What do you think? Like where it's going? Then don't forget to leave reviews :)