Chapter 1
Switched
Disclaimer: We own our characters. Disney owns the Newsies.
Aqua's POV
I stormed into my room, slamming the door behind me. I was only lucky that my mom had just left the house and hadn't heard that. Turning to my c.d. player, I pushed play and listened as Clay Aiken's voice blasted out of the speakers. I started to sing along, but quickly gave up. I was too angry to sing right now. I sat on my bed and began to pound on the pillow. It helped me release anger.
"Grow up," I said to myself sarcastically, "In case you haven't noticed, I'm 16. I'm practically grown up already." No you aren't, a voice in the back of my head said, but I ignored it.
"I wish you were more like your brother," I mocked, "Sorry, that's not possible. I'm not 'perfect' like him. Why would I would want to be like him?" I resisted the urge to cry. If it was one thing I hated doing, it was crying. I had to work on controlling that emotion, "He doesn't have it that hard."
My brother was smarter than any normal nineteen-year-old. He excelled in math, science, history, almost everything he did. He was on a lot of sports teams this year, just like last year. He always acted so mature around everyone. It drove me crazy.
Sure, I did well in some subjects, especially English and theatre. In fact, theatre was the only thing my brother couldn't do. I was always good in school and made 'A's and 'B's. Sometimes it just didn't seem to be good enough though. What was wrong with me? I wasn't always the nicest person, but it was only when I got frustrated that this happened…and every time, I got the same speech. Well, I was getting tired of it.
I turned my computer on and brought up my writing program. Writing usually helped to calm my nerves, especially when I wrote about my favorite subject, Newsies. I wrote a little more of my story and then turned the program off. I looked at the picture of the Newsies on my screen. The one where they're standing in front of the sign that said 'Freeman & Ryer, Fancy Good, 421.'
"I bet they didn't have it this bad," I whispered to myself, "I wish I could have had the life they had. Maybe then, I'd stand a chance at being appreciated. That would be perfect." I stayed up and watched 'Newsies', wanting just to have what they had, even if just for a little while. I imagined myself with them, proudly carrying the banner with people I could truly call friends. That was exactly what I wanted.
Afterward, I went to bed, since it was so late. I would have called Comedy up, but didn't feel like bothering him with my problems. I would call him up later, maybe tomorrow, which was Friday. I might see him at school however.
That night I had a hard time falling asleep. When I did, I dreamed of the easy life, or what I thought was the easy life. I never even noticed that these dreams slowly drifted away from me and were beginning to feel more realistic…or that my surroundings had suddenly changed.
Emi's POV
"Very funny," I groaned, trying to walk past the group of girls taking up the entire hallway at school. "I'm going to be late for history."
"Shut up Emilia," one of the girls snapped. "We're talking here."
"And I'm walking here," I shouted back. I pushed around them and continued on my way. I knew they hated me but why did they have to prove it day after day?
Flopping down on my bed that day after school I cried. I hadn't cried in a while, it's too girly, but I was so frustrated. "Why does everyone hate me?" I rolled over onto my stomach and sighed. My light blonde hair fell into my eyes and I giggled, this week it was streaked a deep green. "Jealousy, that's why they hate me." I laughed again, knowing this wasn't the case.
"Emi!" Came a shout from downstairs. My mother. "What's wrong with you. I just got a call from your school and you're failing math, again. Why can't you be more like the other girls at school?" I sighed loudly but chose not to reply. I didn't want to be like those girls. I would die if I were like those girls. Rolling back over I grabbed the television remote and turned on a movie, Newsies. My feel good movie. I smiled as Race's voice filled my room. What I wished was to be like these boys. Their life was so much easier. Maybe a fight or two but they didn't have to deal with school or parents. And Blink was so cute.
I must have fallen asleep with the movie on, I don't remember getting as far as King of New York. Too bad, I love that song. I dreamed that night, about selling papes and living with the boys. About the Delancy's and even about the newsies, but I didn't see Blink.