Hey Fanfictionites!
This is just a test run, I've been wanting to do a Newsies story for a while now so I thought that as my Narnia story 'Lets Swim in the Blue Water' is comming to a close soon (like about 6 chapters) I should start this. This is only the first chapter. I am only going to continue this story if I get reviews. If I dont get any then im not going on with the story. So If you like it Review! :D
Also, The Main Charactrs Name is Jeannica and I know most of you won't know how to pronounce it so; go to goolge translate. Put Translate from French to Eglish, then type in Jeannica and click the listen button. That is how you say her name :D And yes, that is actually my Greatgrand mothers name...well nickname.
Disclaimer: I dont own Newsies...or Racetrack...sadly. But I do own Jannica, and Doc :D
Read + Review
I was hopeless, as I sat here looking down at my loaf of bread. It was a lot harder for me to find a job then I expected. I was not going to work in a factory, and I was never going back to a whore house again.
"You better be ready in five minutes" Edgar stood in the door way of the dressing room. I looked at his reflection in my vanity mirror and sent him an angry scowl. As much as I loathed him, I had to respect him if I wanted a job. He was my boss and his word was final.
"Ne pas le pousser Jeannica, sauf si vous souhaitez matter fin a la rue" Larissa spoke from behind, me as she tightened my corset; I gave her a displeased look. She knew I didn't understand French when she talked fast; I was still grasping the language.
"She said not to push him unless you want to end up on the street" My mother said from the other side of the room. I looked over at her in disgust. She was finishing up putting on another layer of bright red lipstick. Today was Edgars birthday which meant a longer sexier show. Larissa finished with my corset and handed me my bright blue sequined dress. I glared down at it but pulled it on anyways. It was longer than the rest, because if it was any shorter I would refuse to wear it just like I refused to be a whore. My mom however felt nothing for her self and was deemed Edgars top Girl. They called her Sailor, and she wore a signature sailor cap and suit. It was short and revealing, but she didn't care as long as men threw money at her for sex she was happy. I looked at my dress for the night it stopped mid thigh, with thick straps and a square neckline. It was covered in deep blue and white sequins. I pinned up my curly blond hair. My mother loathed my hair, said it reminded her of my father, which made me love it that much more growing it out almost to my waist. I hardly looked like my mother, she had dark eyes and dark hair. It was pin straight. She was short with a curvy body. My mom was beautiful, I wasn't going to lie. But what she did made her ugly. I looked a lot more like my dad, I had his hair and his bright forest green eyes. I was tall like him and thin. Everyone said I looked like an Angel that I was stunning breath taking. And that's why Edgar was so interested in me.
"Let's go ladies!" Edgar was back in the door way again, this time in his costume; A black top hat and red suit. We filed out of the room, the adults leaving towards the stage as I went the opposite way over to the bar. I worked the bar not only because I couldn't dance and refused to dance, but because I was 17 and to young for Edgar to force me into being a slut.
"Fille" I was shaken out of my angry state putting on a huge smile, facing the man that just addressed me with a heavy French accent. He called me girl, didn't even have the decency to call me Miss.
"Yes sir?"
"Brandy" I nodded grabbing a glass and pouring him a brandy. He took it from my hand and looked me over. His eyes gleamed evilly. "Why are you not out there?" He tilted his head towards the stage where my mom was currently singing and dancing.
"Because I'm not a whore"
"Why not" The man cooed I rolled my eyes at him. "We can change that" He winked.
"Please leave me alone" I walked away. I hated this I hated the men that constantly undressed me with their eyes, even Edgar was guilty. And I couldn't say anything, if I did I was on the streets, again.
"That's no way to treat a customer!" The man yelled. I turned to him preparing to flip him off but Edgar caught my fist in his and towed me back towards the man.
"I'm sorry about Wings here" Edgar's grip on my hand tightened as he spat my nick name. I hated that name 'Wings' My real name was Jeannica Annalise Hayes. Jeannica was French for little Jean. It was my grandmother's name so it was given to me.
"She's a little new to the…business" I forcefully pulled my fist from Edgars. Watching as my mom stood on stage her number over money and flowers fluttering around her, followed by rude and disrespectful shouts from the men.
"Understandable" The man leered. "Why don't I break her in?"
"Never" I hissed stepping back. I was done this man hit my last nerve. I hated it here, if I stayed here I would end up just like my mom and I didn't want that. I would kill my self before I became a whore. Edgar dragged me from out behind the bar and the man followed. I knew where he was taking me he had done it before but was unsuccessful. I tried wrestling my way out of his grip. Letting out a few screams but no one could help; you never went against to boss.
"Take it off" Edgar ordered as soon as he had me in the forest room. It was a room decorated like a forest. With a large bed in the middle. I glared defiantly at Edgar crossing my arms over my chest.
"I quit! Edgar I'm done! I will never be one of your whores ever!" Edgar grabbed me up tightly holding my wrist.
"If you leave you will never be aloud back in. No second chances, not like last time"
"Good" And then I was gone. I only stopped long enough at the small apartment my mom and I rented, to grab a bag of clothes my brush, money and my jewelry. Changing into a simple grey dress. I took one last look at the dump, remembering all the nights I had been kept awake with the sounds of my mother and what ever man was with her that night. I wasn't sad that I was leaving I was happy it was about time. I reached Manhattan a week later. And now I sat in central park almost thinking of regretting my choice of coming back to New York.
"Miss would ya' like to buy a paper?" I smiled up at the young boy who had addressed me. I was pleased to hear the familiar accent of New York. He was young maybe nine years old with Big blue eyes and long blond hair covered by a newsboy cap.
"I'm sorry I cant, I have to save all the money I have for an apartment"
"Are you from France?" The boy was suddenly sitting at my side. I wasn't used to this kindness the raw innocence of people. Being in a whore house for three years can flip your judgment on the world. I was used to the constant crude jeers and looks of men.
"Yes, how did you know?"
"You have an accent" I wasn't even aware that I had one.
"Oh, I'm originally from New York"
"I'm from New York too" The boy flashed me a smile, showing off a mouth full of crooked teeth. "Doc, but my real names Emmet" He held out his hand to me.
"Well it's nice to meet you Doc" I giggled shaking his hand. "The names Jeannica"
"That different"
"I'm different"
"You're pretty" Doc said shyly. I chucked at the nine year old.
"Thank you" I looked down at the boy. "So Doc how long have you been a Newsie?"
"Since I was" He paused counting out on his fingers. "7"
"That's along time"
"Not as long at Race!"
"Who's Race?"
"He's like my big brother! He's been a newsie since he was 5 now he's 17"
"Oh, that is a long time"
"Yes, do you want to meet him?"
"Oh Doc, sweetheart I don't know, I really should get back to finding a place to stay for the night"
"WHY DON'T YOU STAY WITH THE NEWSIES!" I jumped back on the bench as Doc jumped out of his seat and screamed. A few adults looked over at us shooting us disapproving glares. I contemplated, it would be a warm place to stay for the night and early in the morning I could leave and continue job hunting and apartment searching.
"Ok, but just for the night"
"Let's go!" Doc took off down the street and I followed quickly behind. After a few turns we stood in front of the Newsboys lodging house.
"Home sweet home" Doc smiled waving his hand in front of the building.
"It's…." I searched for a word that wouldn't hurt Docs feelings. The place was shabby with pealing paint chipped bricks and foul smoke smell. "Homely" I smiled. He gave me a look that I knew meant he didn't understand the word. I smiled triumphantly. The sound of boys was emitting though the door. Yelling, laughing, and banging. I followed Doc into the building and up to a desk where we met a sweet elderly man named Kloppman who was more than happy to let me stay. It was only three cents which wasn't too bad. I followed doc up a set of stairs and into a large room stuffed to the brim with people. I was glad to see a few girls scattered around the room.
"Who ya got there Doc?" A voice shouted over all the other making our presence in the doorway known.
"This Is Jeannica" He said motioning to me. Everyone smiled at me and I lifted my hand in a small wave.
"Bonjour" I greeted. A boy in a cowboy hat stood and introduced me naming all the boys in the house.
"Race, Mush, Skittery, Blink, Boots, Pie eater, Snooty, Crutchy, Blumlets and David" I nodded to each of them. "That's Red" Jack pointed to a girl with bright red hair freckles and soft brown eyes. "That's Feathers, shes blumlets girl" He pointed at a short girl with feathery brown hair, and green eyes. She looked down at the floor shyly. "That's Raven" Her name was nothing like her appearance. She had bright blond hair, almost white with bright blue eyes and pale skin. She smiled brightly at me. "And that's bullet" He pointed at one last girl who looked a lot like Feathers but her eyes were brown and she had a sprinkling of freckles on her nose, they could be sisters. "She's Feathers twin sister" It was a lot to take in. So I just nodded respectfully and thanked jack for taking me in. Jack smiled before heading back over to the poker game he had been in. I stood awkwardly in the door way for a moment. Before setting my bag down on the floor.
"I want you to meet Race" Doc looked up at me holding my hand and towing me over to the window. Racetrack sat on the ledge puffing on a cigar.
"Race!"
"How's it going Doc?"
"I want you to meet Jeannica" Racetrack looked at me our eyes locking for moment before he looked down and his cigar. He was cute, I'll give him that he was with messy brown hair and a lopsided grin. He had deep compassionate playful brown eyes.
"Is that French?"
"Yeah" I smiled.
"You going to become a newsie?"
"I'm not really sure" I said rubbing my arm shyly.
"It's not the best but it's a job, and I'm sure you would get along with the girls"
"Yeah" I just nodded, my head started spinning and I was immediatly slipping past race and out the window.
"Where are you going?" Doc asked worried.
"Just to get some air Doc that's all" I climbed up the fire escape and sat on the edge of the lodging house. This was all happing to fast, all the people and all the caring. My head was a whirlwind. I moved farther back on the roof leaning up against a low wall stretching my body slowing my ragged breathing. I counted in my head something my father had taught me to do along time ago, when I would have asthma attacks. I could feel my chest getting tighter, my breathing ragged.
"One… Two…Three" I counted slowly expanding my chest. It took a few moments but my breathing got better. And I relaxed.
"You ok?" I looked up at Raven who was emerging from fire escape.
"Yeah just a little overwhelmed"
"Must be crazy for you"
"Yeah, I just got off the boat today" I rubbed my eyes in exhaustion. "And all this happened" I motioned down at the Lodging house
"Wow"
"Exactly" I huffed, looking up at the night sky.
"So, why did you leave France?"
"How di-"
"Accent"
"Do I really have an accent? I don't even speak French!"
"Just when you say some words"
"Oh" I giggled shrugging.
"So…"
"Oh right, My mom was a whore and worked at what was basically a brothel, she wanted me to work there too. So did her boss. But I refused and left. When my dad was alive we lived here in New York. I love it here."
"You're not a closed off person huh"
"NO" I smiled. "I'm a lot like my father was, open and happy and stubborn." Raven dropped her head and played with the locket that hung around her neck. I could tell whatever was in there gave her comfort.
"My Fathers dead too"
"Oh, what happened?"
"Nothing"
"Ok" I wasn't going to push her into telling me. If she wanted to talk she would.
"Girls its time to come in" Racetrack poked his head up smiling at us.
"All right race"
Raven stood up and dusted off her tan pants and light blue shirt. She looked at me expectantly.
"I'll be down in a second"
"All right, good night"
"Bonne Nuit" Raven turned to me confused. "Good Night" I smiled slyly, she laughed waving at me over her shoulder before disappearing down the fire escape.
"Hey Jeannica ya' coming?" Race called.
"No, It's beautiful out tonight I want to enjoy the New York sky I haven't been under it in forever"
"Do you mind if I sit with you?"
"Nope" I shook my head as Race sat down next to me lighting up a cigar. I looked at it wide eyed but didn't tell him to put it out. When I worked in the hell house –Edgars— if someone was smoking I just had to put up with it. If it got to be to much I just left, but I was never aloud to complain.
"Hey you ok?"
"Uh, yeah…It just that…my uh, Asthma acts up when people smoke around me. But its ok I'll be fine" Race's eyes widened and he put out his cigar.
"Sorry"
"It's fine"
"Do you want to try selling tomorrow?" I looked at Race confused. "Selling papers" He corrected after he figured out why I looked so confused.
"I don't know I really want to look for a place"
"Give us a try" Why was he pleading with me? Why did he want me to stay so badly?
"Race I"
"Please"
"I don't"
"Pretty please?"
"Are you begging?"
"Yes" He smiled coyly at me.
"Fine, but just for tomorrow"
"What if you like it? Then you have to stay"
"If I like it I'll stay" I shook my head in defeat.
"Good"
"We should really be getting to bed, got an early morning tomorrow"
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