Chapter One

Alone

Author's Note: So here we go, I'm starting a new fanfiction story that I put up on a vote and got a tie so I'm doing this one first. I know that some of you will recognize Micky, the main character, and maybe a few other characters too from previous stories. Okay, I'll stop and got back to Newsies because you probably don't want an entire lecture on something. So here we go…

I crawled down the side walk, trying to stand up and failed every time. I could only think about what had just happened. The store had just fallen down. I had been in it. I was lucky to have gotten out alive. I was lucky to have gotten out at all, because my leg was useless. It was my left leg, and everyone really does need both legs. I knew that I could get to the newsies here in the Bronx if I tried, but I wasn't sure how. It was hard because I was dragging myself along the ground and I knew the way yet it was dangerous. Extremely so, actually, and I wasn't sure I would make it without getting hit by a carriage.

Finally, I saw the sign for the lodging house. I dragged myself to the doorstep, and collapsed, hoping someone would find me. It was later than normal and everyone would be in the lodging house by now, getting ready. I had lived with them before, until I went to work at the store. They hadn't been happy when I left. No one had. Checkers had almost flung the woman who was my aunt out the door but he had to respect her, even being the leader.

Now I was here. I was so tired and my body felt like lead. I knocked weakly at the base of the door and lay there, hoping someone would be near the door to hear me. It felt like ages passed while I lay there. Finally, someone opened the door. I saw the astonished face of a newsie who I didn't know. He called for Checkers though, and boy, was I glad to see the leader of the Bronx newsies come to the door. When he saw me, his stunned expression was more than just relief.

"Micky! Wha'... Oh nevah mind." said he and he picked me up somehow and carried me into the lodging house. I was put in a bunk and he sat down next to me. "Micky, how did ya… wha's wrong wid youse leg?"

I looked at it and knew not how to answer because I couldn't through the pain for a moment. It was twisted and horrible looking. And I knew how it had gotten that way.

"Da store… it fell an' Ise came heah." I coughed out. Checkers looked at me. I could see his astonishment still on his face.

"Whose dat?" asked a boy who was younger than me by a few years, and I was 10.

"Dis is Micky." said a familiar voice. Out of the small crowd came a boy with brown hair and freckles, his blue eyes looking at me, and a smile spread across his face.

"Patch…" I said, feeling a small smile spread across my face as well. He was my closest friend here. We'd been friends for the longest time.

We had met in an alleyway one day when I had run away from home for a moment because I wanted fresh air. I wanted the outside world. When he had approached me I had nearly gone back in. I was 7, and so was he. After introducing myself to him, he told me his name and I said it was a strange name to be born with. He said it was a nickname, a newsie one. I asked him what a newsie was. He said that it was a news boy, a street trader, a kid who sells papes. I asked him why he talked like I did. He said he figured that I had grown up with parents who had that same way of talking. I said I had. He said that he had to go and wondered if I could meet him at the same place the next day. I said I could.

And that had started our friendship. When I had become a newsie, he had been so enthralled that he let me sleep in the bunk underneath him while the others wouldn't let me because they were either full or didn't want me snoring beneath them. Then my aunt had come and Patch had nearly kicked her out of the house, along with Checkers. Now I was back again.

He came closer and sat down next to Checkers. I knew he was happy to see me, it was showing brightly on his face. I looked at him as Checkers explained to him what had happened quietly. I saw the smile disappear and he became serious. I wondered if Checkers had told him something else.

Then everything went black.

When I awoke, my leg was hurting pretty badly and only Checkers and Patch were there. Both looked worried.

"Wha' happened?" I asked weakly.

"Ya blacked out 'cause of ya leg." said Patch, looking at me with a small grim smile.

"Me leg don' feel good or nothin'." I said.

"It ain't normal. Ise don't know if youse are gonna be able ta use it aftah dis. I hope ya can." said Checkers, looking at it nervously. "Ise shore hope so."

I didn't ask. Checkers was 13 years old and not one to deal with, but his face was totally serious. I didn't want to be a cripple. I knew a few, and although the newsie cripples didn't have bad luck, in fact, people gave them more than what they sold papes for. But I didn't want to be one. I had to have both legs to use. I looked at Patch, wondering if he would still be my friend. I couldn't have stood it if he didn't want to be. But it was then that I knew he would be and would remain my friend because he gave me a small smile that was a simple smile but it meant more than what it appeared to be. It was hope.

Author's Note: Well, I hope you have enjoyed this and that was chapter one! I will not be updating until Wednesday or possibly Tuesday because I will be in New York City, which I am extremely excited about, so that's what is going to happen. I hope you have enjoyed as I said, thank you, and please review, review, review!