RAGE

Chapter One - Frustrate

It's August, and it's hot in Manhattan. Hot days make me angry. In fact, most all days make me angry. I am walking down the sizzling sidewalk when I feel a hand poke me in the ribs. I turn around full of fury, ready to soak whatever poor sucker is standing behind me.

But it's Jack, and the only time I've ever gotten truly mad at him was when he told me that him and Sarah were "official." More about her later, but Jack is one of my best friends.

"Damn you, Cowboy," I snarl, smiling.

"Mornin' to you, too, Rage," he says. "Look, there's someone I want you to meet."

I narrow my eyes in suspicion. "Who?"

"David," he says. "He was the one I told you about who helped us with the strike, you know?"

"I guess. Hey, I gotta sell today, man. I ain't got time to go gallivantin' around with all your little buddies."

His smile falters. "Don't be like that."

I stick my hand to my hip and flick my red hair out of my eyes. "Why not?"

"'Cause." Seeing my expression, he continues. "I told him I'd introduce you, okay?"

We walk together six blocks back to the Lodging House. When we get there, I notice immediately the guy standing on the steps leading to the building. He is tall and sort of stocky, with brown hair, honest eyes, and a chiseled face. He has a muscular body and a broad chest.

I hate him already.

Before we could reach the bottom of the steps, Jack pulls me aside and clears his throat nervously.

"Spit it out," I say warily.

"Um," he starts. "Well, there's something about David that I haven't told you."

"What is it?" I growl. "You might as well tell me, and get your beating over with now instead of later, when I'm sure to get really mad at you."

He mutters something incoherently that sounded like "Dfslkjeiorjujfdjklsfjlkj."

"What?"

"He's Sarah's brother," he said quickly.

"Oh, no," I said loudly. "No way in hell, Jack. You know how I feel about that girl. I ain't goin' over there." I crossed my arms across my chest.

He ignores this insult to his—shudder—girlfriend. "Too late."

He grabs my upper arm and drags me over to David. "I hate you," I hiss at him.

"Be polite," he grumbles as he pulled me in front of him.

At first, neither of us says anything. I sized him up. He looks like a pretty strong guy, but I could definitely take him in a fight. He also looks like the type who "didn't pick fights with girls."

Damned bastards.

We looked at each other awkwardly, me glaring, until he stuck out his hand in a perfectly gentlemanly way.

"Hello," he said politely.

"'Ay." I slipped my calloused hand into his and shook briefly.

"Jack tells me you're the best girl newsie there is," he said conversationally.

Jack beamed at me and I shot him daggers with my eyes.

"Yeah, so they say," I said, looking him up and down.

"Yeah…"

I clear my throat. "Well, if you too lovebirds don't mind, I gotta get back to making money."

"You're going so soon?" said David, sounding disappointed. I shoot him a look.

"Yeah, somethin' wrong with that?"

"But we just met."

"I gots bills to pay, boy."

Jack looks at me intensely. "Stay," he commands.

I turn on him. "You know, Jacky-boy, I might have just stayed. But now that you think you're gonna tell me what to do—"I started to head off, but he grabbed me again.

"I'm gonna kick your ass so bad later on," I growl into his ear. He rolls his eyes.

"So, have you met my sister?" David asks expectantly. I guess he was trying to turn the conversation onto happier topics.

"Wrong question, buckaroo." I smirk and Jack sends me a warning look, but I ignore him. I shake my hair over my shoulder as I say, "Yeah, I've met your sister. And let me tell you a little piece of my mind—"

At that moment, several things happen at once. I hear a loud "No!" and I am knocked to the ground and find my face pressed uncomfortably into Jack's shirt. I punch wildly at him, even though I can't really move.

"You bastard, get off me!" I mutter.

"No," he whispers loudly.

"Yes," I whisper back.

"No."

"NOW!"

"If I do, will you promise to be nice?"

I chuckle. "Yeah. Right."

"Shut up, Alice."

"I'll kill you!" I roar, throwing him off of me with strength I didn't know I had. "Don't you ever call me that, ya hear me!?"

He stands up and brushes himself off. "Yeah, whatever. Maybe now you know how I feel when I introduce you to one of my friends, and all you do is act like—"

"Like what, Jack? Go on and say it."

"No."

I sigh exasperatedly. "You have no idea how much I hate you right now."

"Yeah? Well, you have no idea how much you are still my best damn friend, Rage. Just because I should hate you doesn't mean that I do."

"You are so full of it!"

"Am not."

"I'm leaving," I say, and I turn on my heel and storm away, pushing through the thick crowds that are congregated on the streets like any other day in New York City.

I shove and jostle through the throng of people, getting dirty looks all around. Anyone who looks at me bad, I look at them even worse. Anyone who turns up their nose, I "accidentally" crush their toes beneath the sole of my shoe.

It is not until I reach the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge that I realize how far I have walked. It is not until I sit down on the side of the bridge that I realize David has followed me here.

My eyes burn a red path of anger as I silently watch him sit down next to me.

"Look," I say. "I'm not in the mood, alright?"

"Okay," he says, and continues to sit there, staring out at people passing by.

I eye him suspiciously. "Ya need something? Jack ask you to follow me?"

"Nah," he sighs. "Just wanted to make sure you didn't do something rash."

A flame of anger spurs up inside me. "Why do you care?"

He laughs quietly to himself. "You're rude, Miss."

"Ah, shut ya mouth, sucker."

He just smirks and looks out over the streets.

We sit awkwardly for a few minutes. "You don't even know me," I say. "So don't worry about it, hm?"

"You're unbelievable—"

"Why? 'Cause I'm sick of everyone treatin' me like I'm their little sister that they gotta protect? 'Cause they think I can't control myself?" I sniff indignantly. "Well, maybe that part's true, but I'll be damned if I need a babysitter all the time."

"I don't think you do," he says quietly.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

I consider it for a minute. For some reason, the fiery rage that is usually burning inside me is starting to feel smothered. A cool calm is taking its place.

I don't like it.

"Liar," I accuse.

He just stares at me in disbelief. "For the life of me, I cannot figure you out."

"Good," I say and stand up. "Later."

I begin to walk across the bridge, leaving him sitting there. The steamy air clouds my vision. I look back to where we were sitting. He's not there.

I look over my shoulder. When I see what's behind me, I square my shoulders strongly, and proceed to Brooklyn with my chin in the air.

This time, David didn't follow me.

~Author's Note: Hey. This is my first Newsies fic, so please read & review and tell me if you like it or if you have suggestions or whatever. And in case you couldn't tell, I'm not Disney and I don't own Newsies. Sadly.

lovelovelove,

Julianna.~