Disclaimer: I don't own newsies or any characters from the movie, I only own Autumn and anyone else not from the movie.

A/N: Well hers another new story, although I should finish some I already started this idea just popped into my head. I hope you enjoy it, I already have another chapter or so waiting but unless I get reviews for this I'll most likely trash it…so please tell me what you think. ENJOY

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Daytime- the time for normal work, time for the kids to go to school or play outside, time for the sun to become present, the day was a time of life almost.

Nighttime- the time for sleep, the time for dreamers, the time that let the moon shine over a less busy world, the night was a time that associated itself with fear and crime in the cities.

Most people worked when the sun did; as it rose into the sky they climbed from their beds to start their job, as it set they came home to finish out the day. The sun was like most people in New York City. But some people went against the norm; one could say the same about me. I worked with the moon's shift. When the sun went down my job became real.

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"Autumn," I turned my head slowly meeting the persons gaze that had called my name.

"Autumn, did you hear me? Ya costumer is here" I sighed and took a long gulp from the glass I was holding. I placed the glass down on the bar counter and slowly rose from its stool.

I nodded to the girl who had called my name as I glided past her. I stood in front of the small couch that lined the hallway inside our building. I forced a fake smile to the guy in front of me. His smile however was one that make me want to cringe, at least I had some alcohol in me, because these were the ones I hated.

His face was almost sickening as he stood up to meet me; "Heya Doll" my fake smile grew as I took his hand and led him up the steps.

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About an hour later I found myself lying in my small bed, all alone. But once again I found it hard to sleep as I watched the sunlight light up my room. I moved towards the window and watched the streets, everyone seemed to be alive at this time, but to me I should be asleep, like the rest of the house.

I sometimes wish I could go back in time and change just a minute of my life, just to see if this would all be changed. I sometimes don't understand how I got here but that's something I can't change anymore. I shut the curtains and turned back towards my bed, but the mirror caught my attention.

The image looking back at me seemed so different from what I remembered. I was supposed to be 17 but my eyes looked old and worn out almost. Although the makeup and outfit I still had on tried to add the appearance of innocence, it didn't seem to fool myself as I looked on. My height was short, around 5'2 and as I reached up to undo my hair from a bun I gave a small smile as my curls came bouncing back to life.

I never liked to look into the mirror and today was no exception. I turned away from myself heading back towards my bed to at least try and get some sleep.

As I closed my eyes I frowned to myself as I could hear the noises from the streets growing louder, and to top it off I could hear the newsies in the background. I threw a pillow over my head and drifted off into a restless sleep.

I could see the outline of the docks clearly as I slowly walked past them. I headed down some alleys until I finally found myself outside a small run down house. But it didn't bother me as I ran up the old steps and quickly found my apartment number. As I pushed open the door I saw my brother in his room, packing.

"What'd ya doin'?" I asked curious of why he was packing his few belongings.

He turned around and gave me a small smile, "I'm leaving Nicole. With mom gone I need to get out of here before dad kicks me out."

My face immediately fell, "But where will ya go Sean?"

He stood up placing his hat on his head, "I'm goin' to become a newsie of course." I rolled my eyes, his best friend had left last year to become one and since then I hadn't seen either of them much. My eyes began to tear as I realized I was going to be alone in the world.

My dad cared for us but since my mother had gotten sick he blamed Sean for it, although I wasn't sure why.

Sean turned to me once more, "I'll be around if ya need anythin'. Promise if ya need anythin' you'll come find me or Francis" I nodded slowly and gave him a quick hug before he ran out the door. That was the last time I saw him, the last time my family was ever the same again.

I woke up in the afternoon and shook my head to clear the dream away. Every once and awhile I would have a dream similar to that, from the days when I was happy…when playing with my brother and his friends was the highlight of my day. Now that part of me seemed to die with the day my brother left me with my dad.

I frowned and decided it was time for a shower. I had awhile off before my shift began tonight but I needed to clean off and maybe find some normal clothes, as well as a decent meal.

The shower was longer than I expected but the water was a release from the previous nights work. As I changed into pants and a shirt, I made my way down the stairs, into the bigger lounge below.

I glanced around the now empty room, it was a change from the night version with the bar and couches covered with people. I nodded to a few of the girls that were now seated around the bar. Some had to work the day shift, but they usually got little business.

"I'm goin' ta eat" I said to the guy located behind the bar. He was much taller than me and had a muscular build compared to my smaller stature. He was the boss of this place, the one that took us girls in when we were in need…but he was also the one that kept us here until our "debts" were paid.

Usually he was a nice guy, but if you set him off there was hell to pay. I waited for his reply, which was more like permission to leave during the day.

"Alright Autumn, just be back before tonight" I nodded slowly and slid out the side door.

I stepped outside letting the midday sun shine down on my face. I smiled as I walked away from my "home" and went in search of food. I now lived and worked in Manhattan, although at one time I had found some work in Brooklyn, but I was forced to change locations for the time being. Now that I was here I almost wish I was back in my old neighbor hood within Brooklyn.

I soon turned into a small restaurant near central park. Usually I didn't like to eat within Manhattan, not really wanting to run into the majority of my customers. It's not like I was ashamed of who and what I was, it was my job and I lived with it. But some days it got a bit awkward to see some of them out, especially the Manhattan newsies. Luckily I had adopted the idea to wear boys' clothes out so that less people would see me and make cat calls or any other remark.

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A/N again: Sorry the newsies haven't really made an appearance yet but they will in the chapters to come, pleaseee read and review im begging you :)

-And to clear things up anything in italics is a dream/ a memory from the past…its just some points to help you start to understand her past.-