DIS IS ME FOIST NEWSIE FIC! bows deeply to scattered applause Please don't be so hard on me. (Anyone who flames is FINGERS U.P.C!!!!!!!! uh...yeah don't ask) My fic is a sort of parody (or whatever you call something that goes by the same storyline of something else...) of the AWESOME Jessica Darling series, by Megan McCafferty. The books are called Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings if you're interested. GO READ IT. Anyways, here goes...

March 1900

Faith left me yesterday. She was moving to California to live with her aunt Minnie. On her last day in New York, we had our last "Goils Night Out," then cried for about an hour at the train station. "God, I'll miss ya," she gulped; dapping at her big blue eyes and brushed back her long blond hair. I couldn't find any words to say and remained in my usual silent state. I handed her a rather tattered book, the one I had read many times over- my favorite. In return she smiled gave me a beautiful painting of us sitting by the river, throwing rocks at the boys swimming in it. It was the best present I ever received. Why did she have to go? Of course, Aunt Minnie wanted to send her to a good school for girls and " help her leave the sham of a life as a newsgirl." Pfft.

"You'll find some other girl friends," mother said as I came home that night with my eyes swollen and a soaked handkerchief. No one could ever replace my Faith. I could never have a Faith-like conversation with anyone else.

I arose early so I wouldn't have to deal with the looks of pity from the others at the distribution center. Throw on some clothes, tie my hair, rush breakfast... I was off. And was too late.

"OH ROXIE!" Jinx yelled throwing her gangly arms around me. "WE'SE ALL SORRY 'BOUT FAITH LEAVIN' AND ALL."

Did she yell everything she said? Or was it just me? I know I met Faith through Jinx, but, wow, was that voice so irritating! "If you're depressed or something, you don't have to sell... ROXIE DARLING"

I cringed at the way Fang said my last name. I know for a fact that she hates my guts because I can sell five times as many papes as she could because she's oh-so busy being the town whore. Sad, but true: these were the people I was fated to be friends with for the rest of my life as a newsie. Am I being too negative? As I flipped through today's issue, HE walked by. Yes, Checks, Spot Conlon's best friend. Checks, the second in ranking. Checks, the most gorgeous person to ever walk the planet!

"Hey, Rox."

I gulped, feeling my vocal chords disappear.

How'd ya like it? Did it suck so badly? Sorry it's so short, but I'll have a longer one if you REVIEW!!! PLEEEEAAASE??? Btw: I don't own Newsies. Don't sure, for I am just a broke teenager.

Author's Note from Chapter 8, May 14, 2007: I leave this story alone for THREE years and now I choose to start it up again? What are the odds? In any case, I am not ripping off the entirety of Megan McCafferty's series, but I am still inspired by her works. Because I'm older and (hopefully) more mature, I think I can carry on a whole Newsies fic by myself, don't you think? I hope you all still sort of remember me! (I apologize for the horrendousness of the fic previously written, originally known as simply 'Life Sucks.')