Chapter 1 A fine life

Late July 1897

"Jack! Crutchie! Race! Albert! Elmer! Specs! Henry! Jojo!, Finch! Mush! Sniper! Romeo! Buttons! Blink! Ike! Mike! Tommy! Wake up ya bums! We's gotta carry the banner. C'mon, up an at 'em," a nineteen year old boy named Wolf, aka leader of Manhattan yelled, while either pulling off their blankets, or whacking them with a pillow.

Early mornings at The Lodging House wasn't something to look forward to. Every morning was the same, wake up, get ready, and sell the papers. After making his rounds in the bunk room he went up to a door of an old storage closet and banged at the door while yelling, "C'mon Feister, get a move on!"

The girl- Feister- grumbled. When she opened her eyes the sun was shining bright through the window. She grumbled more as Wolf banged at the door for her to get up. "I'm comin', keep ya shirt on," Feister yelled. All she wanted was a few more minutes of sleep. In peace, with no one banging at her door like a mad person, but by the sounds of the bangs that wasn't going to happen.

Feister has been with the Newsies since she was six. One night while she was walking down the street someone jumped her. Luckily Jack and a few of the other boys were still out and saved her before any damage was done. So after that they brought her back to the Lodge, and now at the age thirteen she was doing just fine. But living in a Lodge full of boys had its ups and downs. One of the downsides is that she was the only girl Newsie. Sure there was Smalls, but she lived up in Bronx. But on the up side Feister had a bunch of brothers that she loved and they loved her.

After a few moments the thirteen year old rolled out of bed (literally) and onto the floor where she grabbed her worn out work boots and laced them up. Then she stood up and pulled her suspenders over her shoulders and then grabbed her grey plaid shirt and buttoned it up before grabbing her vest then braided her dark hair; putting her cap on and then tucked the braid under it.

After that she walked up to the door and took a deep breath before turning the knob, which clicked. Throughout the years she'd learned to lock her door at night so the boys wouldn't play pranks on her at night or barge in while she was getting dressed. She opened the door and stepped out of her room and leaned against the door frame she saw the usual mayhem.

"Al, get back here, that's my cigar!" A fifteen yr. old boy named Racetrack (Race for short) yelled, chasing a fifteen year old boy named Albert up and around the room.

"If you can steal this one you can steal anudda!" the red head yelled back, pushing passed a sleepy Specs, (also fifteen) who almost fell onto a unaware and sleepy Jojo, who was fourteen. Feister smiled, and shook her head. It was the usual morning routine alright, and it always started with the game of 'steel Race's cigar'. Why Albert would attempt to get himself soaked every morning was beyond her, but it sure was funny watching them chase the other around.

"Heya Feisty." a familiar voice said while walking up to her. "You'es sellin' with me today, right?" Feister rolled her eyes at the dumb question. But then something popped into her head, so she said, "Wow, looks like ya really do have mush for brains seeing as I'm yer sellin' partner."

"Feisty goil one, Mush brains zero. Better luck next time, kid," a fourteen year old boy named Kid Blink said as he walked past his two (hopelessly in love with each other) friends. Mush and Feister glared at the older boy as he smirked and walked away. But, at least there wasn't anything said about them being in love. Yet.

"Hey love birds, when's the wedding?" little, innocent eleven year old Romeo asked as he walked by; who wasn't there when both Mush or Feister came to the Lodge, but knew about the whole story.

"Shut up!" they both yelled at the younger boy, who shrugged and walked away.

"So, that's a 'yes', on sellin'?" Mush asked hopefully.

"I've been yer sellin' partner since we's was little," Feister exclaimed.

"Relax; I'm just playin'," Mush teased while nudging her arm. Feister rolled her eyes, with Mush, she never knew what was a joke or not when she was still sleepy. Mush and Feister have been best friends since the day Feister came into the Lodge. Ok so, before that happened they had a little fight, which earned them their nicknames, and the next day they were like two peas in a pod.

Though they were a year apart, with Feister being the second youngest at thirteen, and Mush being the third youngest in the fourteen age group; they pretty much did everything together. They sold and did a bunch of other stuff. They're close as can be, but the other boys thought differently.

They were all sure that Mush and Feister had a crush on each other. It was they way they looked at each other that was the big give away. Though they're personalities are different, with Feister being more aggressive and well...feisty (hence the nickname) and Mush being on the softer side and...mushy (hence the nickname). But you know what they say, 'opposites attract' and those two couldn't be more different.

And it wasn't only that, but it was the way they appeared too. Feister has black hair, big brown eyes, lightly tanned skin and was pretty much a head or two shorter than everyone else; while Mush has light brown hair, bluish eyes and fair skin; though Mush was also shorter than everyone else he was still a head taller than Feister. They were both alike and yet so different.

It also didn't help that they were pretty much made for each other! But no, they always said they were 'just friends', 'good friends', 'best friends'. But that didn't stop the way the looked at each other. It was like their eyes were drawn into the others' and they couldn't look away.

But it kinda made sense too. With Feister's big brown, fiery eyes just made you want to stare in them forever. Though she's a very tough girl her eyes have a hint of softness to it. While Mush has soft blueish eyes. They weren't really blue, but they weren't grey either, it was some sort of mix. Either way there was just something about that color that drew you in.

Anyways, the boys knew not to make any move on Feister because 1, it was painfully obvious that she has a crush on Mush (as Race would always say), 2, she wasn't the type of girl to be going out on dates or be a flirt, and 3, they wanted to live. They didn't call her 'Feister' for nothing. And well...they're aren't many girls in the Newsie life. Again besides Feister there was Smalls, who lives up in Bronx, so there aren't very many girls who would want to date Mush. And that was just a few reasons why all the boys thought that Mush and Feister should date.

After awhile the Newsies finished getting ready, they headed out stopped by the nuns for some coffee and slightly stale bread before going to the Distribution center. After getting their papers Mush and Feister went off to their selling spot. They stayed there all day until it was time to go to Jacobi's Deli; run by a nice man named well...Jacobi. It was pretty much the only place the Newsies of Lower Manhattan could afford on the pay they get. It was a decent sized place with long wooden tables and chairs.

At lunch time it was always packed with the Newsies since it was considered their hang out. It wasn't too far from the Distribution Center, and since they had to go back there and pay for any unsold papers it just worked out. At the moment they were all there having a good time just as Mush and Feister came tumbling through the door.

Apparently they were play fighting because they didn't watch where they were going and bumped into Jumps, who's Wolf's second in command. The two little Newsies stumbled and fell onto the hard floor with a thud; with Feister on her stomach and Mush right on top.

"Hey Mush brains, just so ya know there's this thing called air that I kinda need ta breathe ta live. In other words, can ya get off of me, yer heavier than ya look," Feister yelled.

"Sorry," Mush said as he got up then he and Jumps both pulled Feister off the ground.

"You'es ok?" Jumps asked.

"Yeah, an' sorry for bumping into you'es," Feister said as she picked up her cap and tucked her hair back in. Jumps smiled and said, "It's ok; just watch where you'es goin' next time." he patted her on the back and then she and Mush headed over to one of the tables and sat right on it. As per usual. Since there wasn't enough chairs at the tables some of the Newsies had to sit on top of the tables.

By the end of the day Feister was sitting on the curb as she watched Mush sell the last of his papers. The sky went from bright blue to soft pink and orange, people hurried up and down the streets to get back home to their families. Feister sighed, and remembered that she used to have a family. Before she came to the Newsies she had parents and a older brother. One day her brother ran away when she was four, her mother died, and her father blamed her for everything, before abandoning her in the small apartment.

"Hello?" a hand waved in front of her face. "Feisty." Feister snapped out of it. She shook her head when she saw blueish eyes looking back at her, and a half worried smile.

"Ready ta get goin'." Feister said, as she stood up.

"You were thinkin' about it again, weren't ya." it was more of a statement than a question. Feister shrugged her shoulders before saying, "C'mon if we don't get back ta the Lodge Wolf's gonna kill us." then walked off. Mush shook his head before catching up to the small girl. "You wanna tawk about it?" he asked, as he ran up to her.

"There's nothin ta tawk about," she replied, before quicking her pace, hoping that Mush would drop the subject. She wish she hadn't told Mush about her past, and didn't know why she did. Heck, she couldn't even remember how it came up.

"Ya know Feisty." Mush slung an arm around her. "You can talk ta me anytime ya want." he looked down at her, and noticed a small smile on her face. "And that's why yer my best friend, dummy." she nudged him to the side. "Hey Mush."

"Yeah?"

"Race ya ta the Lodge." Before Mush could say anything Feister was already off. "Hey!" he shouted while running after her. By the time Mush got back to the Lodge Feister was sitting on the front steps. As he approached The Lodge he slowed down his pace. Feister walked up to him and she let out a small laugh, a little pleased with herself. "Took ya long enough," she teased.

"Yeah, well you." Mush pushed her head to the side. "Got a head start." She rolled her eyes. "Not my fault that yer old bones can't keet up." Mush put both hands on his heart and fell to the ground. Feister laughed and gently nudged him with her foot. "Get up ya lazy bum."

"Why'd ya shoot me so hard," he said, pretending that he was dying. Feister rolled her eyes again and said, "If ya don't get up I'm locking that door on ya." Mush rolled over to one side, and clenched his chest tighter. "It's like ya don't love me," he teased, still laying on the ground. "Mush I'm serious, get up it's gettin' dark."

"Race ya ta the bunk room." Mush popped up and bolted to The Lodge.

"Hey!" Feister yelled running after him. Feister ran into the Lodge, up the stairs, and into the bunk room. All the other boys had returned, and were now either playing cards or chasing each other around. She spotted Mush near by one of the bunks, thinking fast she ran over and tackled him. After that she pulled him up and held him by the collar, "You'es got a head start."

"Not my fault yer old bones can't keep up," Mush smirked as her face turned red with anger. And before she could do anything Jumps grabbed her waist and pulled her off, and held her back.

"Jumps! Put me down." Feister struggled to get out of the nineteen yr. old's grip, but he held her tighter. After a few minutes she finally gave up and Jumps put her down. He made sure that Mush and Feister were on good terms before leaving to take care of other things. Just then Wolf came into the bunk room and saw the usual mayhem, Race chasing Albert, Romeo talking about a girl, Jack was drawing while Crutchie watched, some boys were playing cards, and others were rough housing.

Yup, it was the same old nightly routine. How the Newsies still had energy left after a long day's work was beyond both leaders. But with the times quickly changing and life on the streets getting harder, they should have as much fun while they can. Because sooner or later it would be time for one of them to take charge.

Author's note

Hello everybody, this is my very first fic and I hope you all enjoyed this, so please review and tell me what you thought. As you may know this takes place three years before the strike, Feister is an oc, as well as Wolf and Jumps. The Newsies are all based off the live broadway movie. All rights go to Disney for all characters, except for ocs which are mine. Chapters are pre written and I update every Mon, Wed, and Friday. Anyways once again I hope you all enjoyed this and thanks for reading.