Prologue
Emily Laurel-Beth Austin. That's my full name. But, my friends call me Glam. "Why?" you ask? Well, my mother was the famous actress, Laura Leigh. But as she was taking a train from here, in New York City out to Hollywood, California for her last film when her train overheated or something and drove off the tracks. Many were injured, and some, like my gorgeous, perfect mother, were killed. I was wearing once beautiful dresses that were now rags, torn and dirty from wandering the lonely streets of Manhattan for nearly a week without food and very little water until a group of guys spotted me. They carried me back to their home. The Manhattan Newsboy Lodging House. They slowly nursed me back to health and they cared for me when I had no one else to go to. In many ways, they are my heroes. If I only knew just how hard it was going to be…
Chapter 1
I only follow one rule. No Selling Papes. I beg that morning for Jack to take me with him.
"I won't say anything! I swear it!" I promised.
Jack laughed and looked down at me. "Ya promise?" He said and raised an eyebrow.
I was stunned. Jack had never let me go with him to sell papers. I stood there and looked at him. That was the hardest thing about Jack. Nothing, not even his eyes would give away what he was thinking. I bit my lip, "Yeah?" It came out as more of a question than a statement.
"You are fifteen, it'd be good for ya."
I grinned. I couldn't hold it in. "So, where are we going, first, Jack?"
"We? We aren't doing anything. You're one of us now. Your sellin' alone."
I stood there. After a short moment I gasped. I realized I had forgot to breathe. "Alone?" I squeaked.
"Yeah, alone. C'mon, let's go."
I sighed. It was too late. I'd been begging for this for two years. To sell papes with the guys was my dream. And now it'd come true. So, why was I unhappy about it?
As I walked down the street I kept my pace from Jack. I hoped he'd forget I was coming and I could make a run back to the lodging house. But he knew that's what I was thinking. He always knew. So he would constantly look back over his shoulder at me.
"Now, Emily. I gotta leave as soon as I get me papes, I gotta meet Sarah." Emily rolled her eyes.
"'Ey, none of that. Besides its not for what you think...I think I'm gonna call it off."
"Call what off? Your relationship? Oh, Jack..."I said sympathetically, but really I'd never been happier in my life,
"Why?" "I just...need more. We'll talk abotu this later." I nodded at him. "So you aren't gonna stay? I gotta learn how ta sell, Jack. I wanna learn from the best!" I smiled at him. It wasn't as if I liked-liked Jack. It wasn't like that at all. After all, we're were "blood-siblings" since the first day I'd met him. You can't like a blood-sibling. It was Sarah that made me so mad. I don't think you could call it jealousy, really. I wasn't jealous of her. It was just, every time I see them together something inside me just wants to ruin her perfect image. She is such an over-achiever and a snob. It wasn't that I had anything wrong with makeup or nice clothes. Infact, before my mother's death I wore quite a bit of both. Even now, the guys had set me up my own little sink with a mirror over top and enough space for all my makeup and hair accessories. But, Sarah was a different kind of snob.
Jack grinned. He opened his mouth to say something, then he stopped to laugh.
I arched my eyebrows. "What?" I asked in a somewhat of a whine.
This made him laugh harder. Then he eventually calmed down and shook his head. "No, Em. Not today." he said as he rustled my hair.
I sighed and used my hands to comb my hair back into place, best I could. Ever since Sarah Jack hadn't had much time for me anymore. Maybe that's why I don't like her…nah…she's just too snobby, that's all. I was so glad he was going to break up with her. "Fine." I said grumpily.
And with that, Jack jumped on the ramp that led to the window to get his papes. He said something to Mr. Weisel (also called Weasel, against his will) and handed him the money. Then he walked down the steps, papers under his arm. He rustled my hair again and grinned. "Bye, kiddo." He said and he left, carrying the banner. Then he stopped and turned back to me. "Oh, yeah, before Is forget. Dere's some new guys heah. Deys from Brooklyn, so watch out." He winked and smiled. I smiled back and watched him walk off.
Oh, grr.
I hated it when he did that to my hair. I tried to fix it back the way i'd styled it that morning again, but it was pointless. I took a deep breath. Then I bounded up the same ramp Jack had just came from. I was trying to avoid some of the looks I was getting from the other newsies I didn't know. Then I felt someone grab my arm. It scared me so, that I know I literally jumped into the air and nearly fell off the platform I was standing on. I felt an arm around my waist. I looked up to be looking into the eye of Kid Blink, or Blink for short. Then he let go of my waist."Careful, Em!" He laughed. I looked down and I felt my face get warm. "Does Cowboy know your heah?"
Cowboy was Jack's nickname. "Yeah…he said I could come."
"Really? That's strange."
"Yeah, I know."
"Well, catcha later." Then he laughed. I stared at him with confusion. "Well, I didn't mean it like that but then again, I might be with the way you've been fallin' down around here!"
I tried to make myself smile, despite my embarrassment. Blink was the same age as Jack, 17, nearly 18. Which soon meant they couldn't stay at the lodging house any longer. One of the rules are you must be under 18 to board there.
They considered being 18 as becoming a man and the responsibility of supporting yourself comes with the age. It just didn't seem fair.
As I walked to the counter, I was so nervous I was shaking. It was amazing I didn't completely drop all the money I was holding. The man behind the counter just stared right through me. When I didn't move she shouted, "Will someone get they're sister outta here?"
Everyone turned to look. Everything – movement, sound – went dead. I quietly placed the $0.50 on the counter.
"Um, 100 papes, please?" I managed to squeak.
There was a gasp from the crowd, silence, then laughter. Roaring laughter. From everyone. I know it wouldn't have happened if Jack had been here. Oh, that stupid Sarah. I can't stand her! This is her fault!
Rage built up inside of me. I found myself speaking louder. "This isn't a game or a joke! I pay, I receive, I sell! That is how it works!"
The man's and the crowd's awful laughter died down to a whisper. "But you're a girl!" Someone jeered.
I spun around. "So your eyesight's ain't as bad as your looks?" I didn't even see this boy, but no one had to know that.
There was a deep "ohh" from the crowd and quite a few chuckles.
"Girls," the same voice said matter-of-factly, "ain't allowed in this job. Go wash me clothes or something!"
"Do ya wanna come up here and say that?" I challenged.
"Hey, girl!" Weasel shouted at me, "Here's ya papes. Now git out!"
"Yeah! Outta New York!" the voice shouted again.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. Jack told me, oh, boy did he warn me. "It's gonna be hard" he said. Did I listen? No! Do I ever? I scolded myself in my head. "C'mere!" I warned the voice, "Just come here and say it, I dare you!"
The crowd parted and there stood a boy, about 15, 5'8" or 5'9", blue eyes and dark, long hair. In one word "gorgeous" came up to most girls my age. To me, that one word was "rotten".