By: Nightingale
Rating: PG13
Part 1
Gin sat on the windowsill watching the people below walk by. The people that grabbed her attention the most were the newsboys yelling out the most embellished headlines she had ever heard. She watched the older newsies help the younger everyday. The one that had always got her attention the most before was one that had a red bandanna around his neck and a cowboy hat hanging from his neck.
She suddenly spotted him. His face was kind as he leaned down to talk to a young boy dress much like he was. After the boy scampered off with a single newspaper the newsie looked up to her building and she couldn't help the feeling that he was starring right at her.
Gin heard the maid enter but couldn't take her eyes from the newsie.
"Your mother wishes to see you." Stated the maid
"Thank you" answered Gin looking back just long enough to dismiss the maid.
However when Gin turned back the newsie was gone. She got up rather disappointed but left it as it was.
When Gin entered the bedroom her mother had a box on the bed and a smile on her face.
"It came." the older woman smiled
"What did?"
"The dress."
Gin rolled her eyes.
"I know how you feel, but you know as well as I the money is running out and this man may be our only hope."
"Then you marry him. I think he's closer to your age than mine."
Gin's mother turned and grabbed her shoulders "If your father hadn't died and left all gambling debts to us I wouldn't be doing this but damn it Nightingale you are going to marry this man do you understand."
"Yes" Gin whispered
"Now go try this on. I'll send Trudy to help you."
Gin obediently took the box and walked back to her bedroom. Trudy entered a glance at the dress.
"The hem could come up a bit." Commented the maid; "We don't want you tripping down the aisle"
Gin laughed, "Wouldn't be that bad an idea."
Gin sat straight in front of her soon to be husband. She despised him. Everything about him annoyed her. He was a rather large man almost twice her age who always had two bodyguards nearby. He had glasses that were so thick they consumed his face making his eyes seem so tiny.
"It's a beautiful day outside. Is it not Mr. Heptson?" Started her mother
"Beautiful indeed" he replied without taking his eyes off of Gin
Gin sighed and tried desperately to ignore the stares and conversation of the man in front of her.
"Why don't you two take a walk?" offered her mother
Gin's attention snapped up. Her suitor got up to inform his bodyguards. Her mother waited for him to leave earshot before she grabbed Gin's arm.
"Don't mess this up. I will not be a seamstress and neither will you. You will make this work for the sake of us." Warned her mother
"For the sake of us or for the sake of you."
Her mother slapped her.
"What would your father say to hear you talk so?"
"If he were here he could go and suffer instead of me marring the man out there."
"Don't talk about your father that way."
"Why not he's the reason we're in this mess"
"You go change your clothes and get ready for your walk."
"No! I want an answer…a response. You can't keep ignoring this."
"Nightingale Lee you get yourself up those stairs this instant. I know this is hard and I don't want you to suffer."
"Like you would know anything about this kind of suffering you loved father. You stayed by him all those years and he stayed with you. I couldn't do anything like that with Mr. Heptson. I can't stand a single thing about him."
"You'll learn" Gin's mother pushed her to the door.