Ashleigh Martin looked down at the boy sleeping on the twin sized bed, trying to take a mental picture of his face. She had to remember him as peaceful, because she knew after she left things would be the exact opposite. She sighed, and picked up her bag off the floor, she couldn't stand to stay a minute longer, no matter how much the idea of leaving her brother made her heart hurt. Buttoning up her jacket, she climbed out the window, and skillfully made her way down the fire escape. It must have been a pure coincidence that the night she decided to leave, was the night that her parents decided to go to theater. It was an even bigger coincidence that they decided to hire Mrs. Cutterfield to babysit even though Ashleigh was 17 and was left home alone all the time. Mrs. Cutterfield constantly acted like Ashleigh was only 5, and insisted that she go to bed at 9:30, after she had her milk and cookies of course.
Shaking her head, she pulled her hood up over her mass of curls, and took off down the street, her boots making a slapping noise against the still wet street. When it had started raining that afternoon, she panicked; tonight was the only night that she could possibly leave without causing suspicion. But luckily, the rain had died down a little after dinner, giving Ashleigh enough time to put her plan into action. Feigning a stomach ache, Ashleigh retired to her room after being force fed chocolate chips. From there, she filled up a satchel with clothes, a toothbrush, and other miscellaneous items. Then all she had to do was wait for her brother to come home from his friend's house, and it all was perfect. Her parents had instructed Mrs. Cutterfield to leave as soon as Mark had come home, knowing that the old woman had trouble staying awake after the evening news. Ashleigh knew that Mark would only pop by to relieve Ashleigh of her babysitting hellhole, and then would be gone as soon as Mrs. Cutterfield left.
Ashleigh sighed, and sat down on the cold hard bench as she waited for the sun to break over the buildings. She couldn't stand the life her parents had forced her to live, and for the first time in 17 years, she had decided to do something about it. She couldn't stand being told what to do, what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. She didn't care about money, or pretty little objects that those silly boys brought around to buy her affection. She wanted a guy that would take her out and just walk around for hours, a guy that wasn't afraid to fight for her honor. That's why she had decided that she had to get away; away from her rules, her parents, and her stupid arranged dates. The one thing she didn't want to leave was her brother, but there was no other way. That's why she had to find refuge among other kids her age that had nowhere else to go. Every day she saw them, hawking the news for a penny a pape. Every morning she would run down to the corner and purchase one just to get away. It was like every time she looked at them she was catching a glimpse of reality. She knew that everything couldn't be rainbows and butterflies, as her parents said.
They told her that the newsies slept in beds as warm as hers, and that every morning they got a warm meal just like her. But they would always add that she should never talk to them unless she had to, because they had no manners or etiquette. She knew that it couldn't be like that, because they always looked so dirty, so hungry and tired. One day she asked a boy that was passing if he really had all those things, and he just looked at her in disgust.
"Nah ya dumb scabba. I ain't got nuttin, I'm lucky I got tha clothes on me back. I'se gotta woik everyday just ta get a place ta sleep, but a stupid richie like you wouldn't know nuttin bout that." After a dirty look he spat on the ground and stalked away. She stared after him in disbelief, no one had ever talked to her like that in her entire life, and she wasn't even mad! This newsie had basically called her scum, but it didn't bother her, because for once in her life somebody had finally treated her like she wasn't some porcelain doll. Growing up, whenever she made a mistake, her parents just told her in a sickeningly
sweet voice that it was okay, and that everything would be alright. She shook her head at the memory, and realized with a jolt that that's all she would ever have of her old life… memories. She could never go back; it would be like throwing herself in front of a fruit cart in Midtown. A familiar rumble began to work its way through the streets, and newsies slowly took to their spots. She knew that she had to look for the leader of the boys, and hopefully he could help her. She walked up to the first boy that she saw, and put herself in his line of vision. He saw her, and almost did a double take; she was a real looker. Chocolate brown curls, full pink lips, he would have mistaken her for a stage dancer if it wasn't for how scared she looked. He sighed, and walked over towards her, knowing that he would regret it.
"Sos, what's a goil like you doin standin by yaself?" Most richies had escorts or some greasy scab on their arm. They didn't just walk around Manhattan by themselves, especially not in the morning rush. He had apparently taken her by surprise; she blushed and looked at the ground mumbling.
"Um, I'se can't heah ya when ya talk ta tha ground. Now, is youse gonna tell me what's wrong, or do I'se gots ta force it outta ya?" He had of course been joking, but she looked up and the words just poured out of her mouth.
"Well, I know that this is going to sound a little strange, but I really need to see your leader. It's a matter of life and death." The look in her eyes was enough to send the toughest Brooklyn boy running for the hills. She looked so fierce he wanted to see her cross the Delancey brothers on one of her bad days. It was confusing, she was scared stiff one minute, then the next it was like she was read to challenge the leader of Brooklyn himself.
"Uh, whose gonna be dying? Cos if it's some richie like you, don't expect no tears or nuttin. But he could be anywhere in Manhattan now, come back at lunch time and I'll take ya to him. Oh by tha way, me names Blink." With that he turned around and went back to selling his papers. Great, she thought to herself, now I have to find some way to occupy myself without being seen by anybody that might know me! Muttering angrily to herself, she stalked off down the street, and turned down an alley. She had been walking all day, imagining her new life as a newsie. That is, if they accepted her first. A loud chiming noise made her realize that it was noon, and she had no idea where she was. Trying to find her way by to that Blink boy was a lost cause, she had barely paid attention to her surroundings as she turned down different alleys. With a smirk, she realized that she had wanted to get lost, get away from all the familiarities of home.
She thought to herself, she didn't need to see him right this second. She could always wait until the evening edition was on sale, and then look for him. Even if she didn't locate him, he would have to be at the lodging house. Feeling more optimistic than she had when she embarked on her adventure, she wandered around aimlessly, as if she didn't have a care in the world. She was being so careless, that she turned the corner and rammed into someone's hard chest. She heard a small groan as she dropped to the ground like a paper sack. She was soon covered with papers, and she looked up at the walking piece of steel. He looked back at her with a look of amusement in his eyes. Neither of them moved, not him to pick up his papers, or her to gather herself off the floor. They just sat there, staring; it was like there was nothing else around them. If David hadn't come looking for him, Jack would have stood there all day, because it felt like he didn't have to do anything else; just looking into her eyes made him feel like he knew everything about her.
"Jack? Where'd you go?" She heard the other boy's voice coming closer, but she made no move to get up. Fortunately, Jack knew how to keep a poker face in tight situations, and he knew that if Davey or any of the other boys saw him getting all googely eyed over some girl, they would never let him live it down.
"Uh, right ova heah Dave. I'se uh, gots a little problem." His brain told him to pick up the papers and help her up, but his legs stayed rooted to the ground. He knew that he looked like an ass for not helping her up, but he couldn't help it. He forgot how to move his legs.
"Not the Delancey brothers again…! This is practically the eighth time this week! Why can't they go bother Queens or something." David stopped short when he swathe situation, and a small smile spread across his face. "What's goin on, Jack? She try to steal your papes or somethin?" Ashleigh glared at him, praying that for once, she could have a good comeback. All she could do was roll her eyes and scoff…yeah that hit him hard.
"Nah Davey, we'se bumped inta each otha."
"Um, then why is she on the ground if you only 'bumped'?" Ashleigh felt her face burn with embarrassment. Never had she held a conversation with boys that didn't act like she was the queen of the world, and truth be told, she didn't mind that they weren't falling over themselves to impress her. In fact, they were pretty much ignoring her.
"I'm on the ground because your friend here is made out of steel!" She couldn't take it anymore. She usually wasn't outspoken, but she couldn't stand them talking about her like she wasn't even there, like she couldn't answer for herself. David's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he slowly looked at Jack, who was trying not to laugh.
"What can I'se say, I'se been woikin out." That set David off, hysterically, and broke Jack's façade. The minute that Jack had moved, Ashleigh had started gathering up the papers, trying to get them as neat as possible. " 'Ey it's al'ight, I'se got em. Sorry bout earlier, ya know, bout just standin there an all; youse okay?" He grabbed her hands as they shot out to pick up the papers, and pulled her upright. Again her eyes had him in some sort of trance. He couldn't look away, and he wasn't sure he wanted to.
"Um, yes I'm fine. It was my fault, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. But, I best be on my way, I have to find someone." She made to turn around, but his hands still held on to hers, and as she turned, they tightened. She looked back, surprised, but his eyes were gentle.
"Well, who ya lookin for? I'se knows everybody in New York, sos I'se can help ya." He wasn't ready for her to walk away just yet.
"Actually, you might be able to help; I'm looking for the leader of the Manhattan newsies. I want to…join them." He started laughing, and she felt like an idiot, even though she hadn't said anything of the sort. "Do you know the leader of the newsies?"
"Aha, yeah, youse is lookin at em!" Her eyebrows shot up, and a smile slowly graced her face.
Soo..whatta ya think? This was supposed to be a non newsie related story but I realized it was going in that direction lOl. Review!!