Chapter I
Myst laid down on top of the roof of the newsies girls lodging house. It was a quiet night in Queens. The summer heat wasn't cooling down even after the sun had set, but the faint breeze was making being outside bearable. As the wind gently blew her long blonde hair, she turned to hear a pair for footsteps climbing the fire escape behind her.
She listened closely to the sound of the footsteps, hearing a small clank every so often. Myst smiled and turned her head back to the stars, "Hey Spot," she called out lazily.
Spot crossed the roof to lie down next to her. "So how was the party?"
"It was good, Lex and Race finally hooked up," Myst announced victoriously.
"Seriously? I never thought they would," he mused.
"Yep," Myst went silent, starring out at the stars.
"So why do you look like someone told ya Santa isn't real?" Spot reached over and poked the girl in her side to try and force a smile.
Myst giggled then responded, "Now that they are together, Lex is probably going to move to 'hattan."
"And that's bad because…?"
"Because what am I going to do?! You and Lex are my two best friends and you're all the way over in Brooklyn. If she moves to Manhattan I'll be all alone."
"Way to be selfish Emma,"
"Don't call me that."
"Why not, it is your name," Spot sat up and propped himself up with his arms. "Em, the world doesn't revolve around you ya know. If your friend moves, she moves, it doesn't change anything."
"I know that." Myst sat up and turned to face Spot. "I'm just going to miss her."
Spot nudged her in the shoulder, "I know you will."
"You should have seen Jack tonight, he was acting strange."
"How so?" he asked.
"I don't know he just seemed strange. He kept talking about Lex and Race. Do you think he had a thing for Lex?"
"No, absolutely not! He was all for her and Race getting together," Spot responded.
"Hm. Maybe he just wants a girlfriend for himself," Myst wondered aloud.
Spot snickered before adding, "I'm sure he does."
"Oh! I should try and find someone for him!" Myst announced excitedly.
"What? Why? Why you?"
"Because, if I hadn't known that Lex and Race would have been a great couple, they might never have gotten together!"
"Oh please, you made a lucky guess."
"Have you never known the triumph of a lucky guess?"
"Em, just leave it alone. Jack is a big boy. If he wants to find a girlfriend, he can do it on his own. He doesn't need you meddling." Spot stood up and offered Myst a hand. "Come on, we need sleep if we are planning on selling tomorrow."
"Are you sleeping here tonight?"
"Of course, I'm not walking all the way back to Brooklyn this late!"
"Fine, but if you start snoring I am going to hit you with a pillow." The two friends climbed through the window to her bedroom. Inside were two small cots. Spot often travelled between Brooklyn and Queens so Myst had the second bed brought into her room for him. He was just as picky about privacy as she was.
The next morning, Spot headed back to Brooklyn and left Myst to debate all of the possible ways to find a match for Jack. She only wished she had some new girls at her lodging house. Jack knew all of the girls at the Queens lodging house, and he didn't seem interested in any of them. Even last night, the only girl he seemed to want to talk to was Myst.
As Myst returned home that evening, she was gifted with the perfect situation. A new girl was at the counter, checking in with the lodging house owner, Ms. Bates.
Myst stood back and examined the new girl. She seemed pretty enough, with pale red hair and fair skin. She seemed quiet natured and polite based on how she was interacting with Ms. Bates. She could be perfect for Jack. He seemed like the type of guy to be interested in a soft spoken woman.
"Oh! Myst! Good, you're here. I'm so happy. As you see, we have a new girl checking in. I was hoping that you could, if you're not too busy, I don't think I saw Spot here tonight, in less, of course, he could be upstairs and I missed him. But oh yes, this is Harriet, I was wondering, if you could, by chance-"
"I'll take it from here Ms. Bates, thank you." Myst interrupted, steering Harriet away from the rambling woman.
As the two girls headed upstairs, Myst directed her into her private room. "I'm Myst. Nice to meet you." She shook hands with the confused girl. "Don't mind Ms. Bates. She is the nicest woman I've ever known, but once she starts talking…. There is no stopping her."
Harriet giggled and placed her small bag on the floor near Spot's bunk.
"Oh. No, sorry, that bunk is taken. I'll find you one outside. Just wanted to introduce myself and hear a little bit about you."
"Oh," Harriet looked down and lifted a pair of suspenders up off the corner post. "Boyfriend?"
"Oh god no! Spot is like a brother to me!"
"Spot, as in Spot Conlon? The King of Brooklyn!?"Harriet asked in awe.
Myst laughed, "Yeah but don't call him that. If his head grows any bigger he may tip over."
"He is friends with my friend Magger!"
"You know Magger?" Magger was a Brooklyn newsies. He was nice enough, but Myst had other plans for this girl.
"So, Harriet, first off, you need a newsie name," Myst thought for a bit before settling on, "Chariot, we'll call you Cherry for short. It rhymes, and matches your hair." She winked over at her. "As I said, I'm Myst, the leader here. If you ever need anything, let me know."
"A bunk would be great," The two girls laughed.
"Come with me, I think we have a few empty ones you can choose from. And get some good sleep; there is someone I want you to meet tomorrow."
After Myst found a bed for the new girl, she discretely went over to Sparrow's bed. Sparrow was Myst's runner and bird. She kept Myst informed on all the news out of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Sparrow was quiet and kept to herself, but she never questioned Myst.
"Spar, I need you to deliver a message for me. Tell Jack to come by tomorrow," Myst whispered.
Without saying a word, Sparrow began to crawl out of bed when Myst stopped her again, "No, wait until morning."
And with that, Myst headed back into her room, tomorrow was going to be a very busy day.
Author's Note::
Ok, in case you didn't notice the disclaimer, or if you just choose to ignore it, this is a semi crossover. I am taking the story line of Jane Austen's Emma and readapting it to be set around Newsies. There is be no wonky time travel or alternate universes, I promise. Also, if you ever read Dirty Little Secrets, this is NOT a prequel or sequel or anyquel, this is a totally different story, I just like to reuse favorite OC characters of mine, deal with it.
Anywho, let me know what you think!