(Another genderbend? Yeah, I'm a sucker for those :P)

An idea came to mind rewatching Newsies Live, mainly the fact that there were no female newsies in the ensemble. I'm really happy that they're thinking of changing that soon with a junior production of Newsies by adding females newsies!

For this story, however, I'm keeping to that production's version with the main reason that it's not as safe being a female newsie living on the streets.

Jack had been hiding her gender since she was very young after her parents passed away and she needed to fend for herself. She knew even back then that being seen as a boy had it's advantages and she's rolled with it ever since. One reason she wants to head off to Santa Fe is to start anew, to be able to be a girl in a new town where no one knows her as Jack Kelly.

This novelization will have multiple scenes from the show (dialogue included) but I won't be putting in the songs... You can listen to them when they're supposed to show up though, I won't stop you!
Not all scenes will be in this since I want to focus on the ones with Jack in them and they won't always be complete scenes.

I think that's enough for now!

Enjoy!

Jack grabbed her newspapers and bag, slinging it over her shoulder before stuffing the papers into it. She headed towards the wagon, sitting on one of the stacks of newspapers as she waited for the others to finish getting ready for the day. She eyed the line of newsies, spotting Crutchie as he was focused on the boys in front of him and she felt safe enough to yawn and stretch without her closest friend noticing.

She would never blame him for waking her up earlier than expected and she didn't want him to feel guilty if ever he did spot her looking tired. No, she'd be the one feeling guilty at the end of all that…

Thankfully she had finished stretching by the tim Crutchie joined her at the wagon and she ruffled his hat once he took a seat next to her.

"Hey, Jack, looks like we's gots some new newsies," remarked Crutchie, motioning towards the line with a tilt of his head.

New newsies? Wondered Jack, scanning the line. It had been a couple of weeks since they had gotten new blood. They –

She stopped suddenly upon seeing the two new comers. The little boy was easy to spot being the youngest newsie in the square. The other one though had Jack awestruck.

She had grown up around boys and young men, had seen all shapes, sizes, statures but none of them had made her react like she was now.

And she had no idea of what to do with that knowledge.

How could she do anything?

"Hey, you only gave me 19," stated the older of the two newcomers, snapping Jack out of her confusing thoughts.

She was on her feet in an instant, nearly racing towards the boy and, to avoid staring too long at his face and those eyes, she snatched the papers from his hands. She counted the newspapers as her mind began working out a plan to…

If she couldn't act on these new feelings, she was at least going to spend time with the new boy. She understood that much from her body's reaction.

That, and she also really did want to spend time with him.

"Weasel, the new kid's right," stated Jack turning around to face Wiesel and the Delancey brothers. "Well, it's probably just an honest mistake seeing as Oscar can't cunt to twenty with his shoes on."

She knew that last part was an easy shot towards Oscar but, after all the crap her newsies had to take from the brothers, she was always generous with her insults. It did provide some entertainment to her newsies as a bonus.

She handed the 19 papers to the new boy before heading back to Wiesel's coffer, ready to put her plan into action.

"And get 50 more papes for the new guy," she stated, putting down 25 cents.

"I don't want any more papes," he cut in quickly and Jack could clearly picture her plan crumbling to pieces before her eyes.

This could have gone better.

Plan B then.

"What type of newsie don't want more papes?" she wondered out loud.

"We're no charity case," he stated quickly, on the defense. "We don't even know you." He motioned to the younger boy behind him to follow but the kid didn't.

Instead, the boy pointed towards Jack and said, "That's Jack Kelly! I heard he rode a carriage with the Governor!"

"Yeah!" agreed Crutchie. "He escaped the Refuge in the backseat with him!"

Thanks Crutchie and kid, thought Jack, hiding her small smile behind her hand as she rubbed her nose. Maybe hearing about her exploits will help her chances with the new guy. Heck, she knew she'd be impressed.

The only downside to her entire plan on spending more time with the new guy was that every newsie in New York knew her as Jack Kelly.

Not one knew her as Jacqueline Kelly, the 17 year old girl masquerading as a boy. She really only had herself to blame considering she never contradicted any newsie, promoted the idea of Jack being a guy, had her hair short since she was 6 and quite honestly feared ever being a homeless girl in the streets of New York.

She'd have to figure out what to do about that tiny detail of her gender once she at least got the new guy to like her.

"And what was the governor doing at a juvenile jail anyway?" wondered said guy.

"He wanted to show that he cared," replied Jack. "And while he was snapping picture, I got my butt into the backseat and off we rode together."

The younger boy climbed up the back of the wagon, standing next to Crutchie. "That's so cool! My name's Les and that's my brother, David."

Plan C just formed in Jack's head.

"Pleasure, Davey." Jack even gave him a smile and a wink before returning her attention to Les. "How old are you, kid?"

"I'm 10, almost."

Jack could work with that. "Well, if anyone asks, you're 7. Younger sells more papes." And Les could very well pass for 7 years old. "And if we're going to be partners –"

"Who said we wanted to be partners?" cut in Davey and Jack resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She just wanted to spend time with a good-looking guy but said guy was making it VERY hard for unknown reasons!

"'Cause youse got a younger brother and I don't," replied Jack, trying to stay civil.

"Selling with Jack is a chance in a lifetime," explained Crutchie and Jack was very tempted to hug her friend. "You're selling with him, you're selling with the best."

She'd really need to get him an extra slice of bread or something to thank him.

"So," continued Jack, "my two bits come off the top and we split the rest 70-30."

"50-50, you're not trying to pull a fast one on a little kid, are you?" asked Les with a frown.

Jack paused. She had expected a comment from Davey but not from Les. She learned her lesson: both brothers are smarter than they look.

Jack gave Les a look before offering, "60-40 and that's my final offer."

Les glanced back towards his brother who motioned with a small gesture to accept. Les smiled before turning back towards Jack.

"You've got a deal!" he exclaimed happily.

Jack smile back as she spit in her hand and extended it towards Les.

"That's disgusting," remarked Davey.

"That's business," replied Jack as Les had no problem spitting into his own hand and shaking Jack's.

Now that that had been taken care of, the lead newsie stepped onto the wagon and addressed the boys in the square. "Alright newsies, hit the streets! The sun is up, the headline stinks and this kid ain't getting any younger! Let's go sell some papes!"

And let Plan C take effect! Thought Jack as she jumped down, swinging an arm around Les and Davey's shoulders.

She took the small success that neither of them shrugged her off.

"Hey, Les, head down that street 'ver there. Bank's just 'bout to close. You'll sell a bunch of papes there!" Jack pointed to the right and the kid didn't even hesitate as he dashed down the street, managing to sell a paper before he even reached the corner.

Jack couldn't stop her smile from forming.

"Why are you being so helpful to us?"

Jack glanced towards Davey. "It's as I said, youse got a kid brother and I don't. And I knows youse ain't no charity case so don't think that either." She even winked, knowing full well she used his line right back at him.

Davey sighed, recognizing his own words easily enough but didn't ask again. Jack was content with that and just watched as Davey attempted to sell a paper. She had finished her pile several minutes ago and had been waiting for the brothers.

Namely Davey.

Les had no problems selling papers, even taking a bunch from his brother every so often.

Davey just didn't have the skills. Yet.

However, Jack was getting tired and hungry so she made her way towards him, resisting the urge to sigh as she said, "Hand it over." Davey somewhat protested as Jack took the paper right out of his hands but she ignored him as she headed further down the sidewalk. "Escape from burning inferno! You heard it here!"

A man that had been passing easily exchanged a penny for the paper and Jack gave Davey a triumphant look as she held it out for him to see.

"You lied to that man," stated Davey, unimpressed.

"I did not," argued Jack, even putting on an indignant look. "I said he heard it here and he did."

"My father taught us not to lie."

Jack didn't even bother looking over at Davey as she leaned against the nearby street corner. "Well, mine taught me not to starve," she muttered, stuffing her hands into her pockets.

Suddenly, Les came running back to the duo, yelling out happily, "I just sold my last pape!"

"I have one more," said Davey, fishing it out of his bag.

"Sell it or pay for it," said Jack.

"Give it here!" Les grabbed the paper from his brother and ran over to an incoming woman. Jack quickly pulled Davey around the corner, out of sight, before peering at Les, watching the kid's magnificent display of acting.

Unlike his brother, Les took whatever Jack taught him seriously and learned very quickly, making Jack overly proud.

She figured from the look of Les' face, he had even gotten more than a penny for that last paper and the smile didn't fade as Davey joined his brother, reprimanding him for who knows what once more.

Jack had stopped listening to be honest.

"Hey, what do you say we divvy up our earnings, grab something to eat and then find a place to crash for the night," suggested Jack, joining the brothers.

"We've got to get going actually," explained Davey as he pulled out his meager earnings from his pocket, adding them up with Les'. "Our folks are expecting us for dinner."

Jack froze in surprise. Folks. She had not been expecting that.

She did not do "folks", not since her father passed away.

However, actually taking a look at the brothers, Jack cursed herself for not noticing how clean they were, them and their clothes… Of course, they had a family, had a mother to wash for them.

Jack felt herself back away out of habit.

"You should join us," continued Davey, still counting the money. "Our folks would be happy to have you."

"Mom's a great cook," added Les with a large smile.

Davey finally looked up at the unusually quiet Jack and he quickly realized they had wandered onto a touchy subject. Davey's features softened but Jack was quicker.

She did not want to discuss family with them.

"It's alright. I forgot I already had plans with a fella." She handed over the brothers' share of the money, knowing full well she probably over gave but she didn't want to have a heart to heart with them. Not with Davey. Not yet anyway. She backed away hesitantly even as Davey seemed ready to explain something but she didn't want to hear it at the moment. Instead, she said, "I'm running late now that I think about it. So, see ya –"

"Is that the fella?" cut in Les, pointing to the other side of the street.

Jack frowned in confusion. She made that story up. There shouldn't be anyone –

She let out a gasped upon seeing Snyder and two of his goons heading in the trio's direction, Snyder's dark gaze fixed on Jack. The moment their eyes met, Snyder's frown deepened and he started running.

"KELLY!" he yelled out in anger.

"Run for it! Come on!" cried Jack, reaching out towards Les first and pulling him down the street.

I hope you like it so far! Let me know what you think!