Let the Games Begin by StormyOne
Chapter 1: Let the Games Begin
I walked into the nearest restaurant not knowing what I was going to get into. I had 50 cents in my pocket (I had blown the rest at SheepsHead) and I needed food and a place to stay.
I walked into Tibby's and tried to ignore that stares I got from the boys at the table I was walking over too. I sat across from a boy with long lean muscles and tanned skin. He had blonde hair that fell in front of his electric blue eyes. I glanced at them and noticed how hard it was to pull away. I vowed never to look into them again.
"Ey, who are you'se?" he asked me. I looked up. *Screw that vow* I thought to myself, laughing. The boys stopped eating and continued to stare, that made me laugh harder. *I haven't been in here for 30 seconds and they must already think I'm crazy*
"I'se Emily Costella, I'se 16 and I'se a runaway, I have 50 cent in my pocket and no place to sleep. I got hungry so I came here, ya got a problem wit dat?" I said, challenging him.
"Yea, I got a problem wit you'se talking ta me like dat, ain't nobody talk ta Spot Conlon, da Leada of da Brooklyn Newsies like dat." He stated.
"Really?" I said, speaking so calm it startled me "Now, ask me if I care..."
He growled, but before he could say anything a cute little boy spoke first. "Do you care?" he asked, taking the last bite of his food.
"No," I said as I leaned back, "who are you?" I said softly, looking down on him.
"Oh, I'se Les, and dis is me broddah Davey, hes older, I'm near 10." He added proudly.
"Aww," I said, "you're so cute! How bout this, how bout i give ya 5 cents and ya but yaself some pie?" His smile spread as I handed him the 5 cents "Thanks!" he said genuinely.
I looked up at the one they called 'Davey' and didnt see anything special. He looked strong, and had curly brown hair. there was also a girl sitting on his lap, who he introduced as Sara.
"Hi Davey, good ta meet ya, you'se can call me..." I paused, realizing I didnt have a nick name yet.
"Flare" Spot said.
"Really? Is dat what he can call me? And who says dat you can decide?" I said, glaring daggers at Spot.
He sighed in anger but answered as he stood up "Hasn't anyone told ya that ya need ta respect those higher den you?"
"Are you hintin dat your a uh...in a higher rank den I'se is?" I asked, smiling, but also standing.
"Yea, so what if I am?"
"Well, I thought you had a big ego, but I didnt know it was huge, see, where I come from Spotty...we'se dont have ranks-" I got stopped as he interrupted me.
"And where did you'se say ya came from again?"
"If ya where listening I didnt say so Spotty, so....where was I? Oh, yea, ya should treat everyone da same...." I was about to continue but his glare told me that he wanted to say something, it also hinted he was pissed.
"Dont call me Spotty..." He said threateningly. I guess it was supposed to be a threat, but it didnt scare me at all, but the other boys were dead silent and looked back and forth to each other.
"Dont call me Flare..." I answered back to him. He let out a slow growl but seemed to get where I was comin at. *ok, lets change the topic!* I thought to myself. *I guess I'll do it since nobody else will talk*
"So, I need a place ta stay." I said, lookin around at da boys.
"Ya ain't staying in Brooklyn, and if I can help it, ya wont have anywhere ta go!" Spot said as he left Tibby's. Without turning around he added "And if Jacky boy'll letcha stay in Manhattan, god help him, but ya wont have nowhere else ta go if its da last thing I do."
I turned to look at the boys staring at me, there were only two smiling, one with an eye patch, and the other was a cute Italian with a cigar. They were looking right at me.
"Spot Conlon" I said, just loud enough for those two to hear "Let the Games Begin."