Amy Parkers grumbled to herself as she trudged down the streets of Manhattan. Turning yet another corner, she began to look for anyone she could sell her last paper to. She'd worked all day and now she was ready to head back "home" and sleep. Somehow she managed to convince an old guy buy her paper and she started on her way back home. Pulling her cap down tighter, she got the strange feeling someone was watching her. Turning around, she didn't see anyone, but when she turned back around to keep going, a familiar face jumped into view.
"Well well, if I aint little Amelia. I thought you'd be home now, aint it a little late to be out for tha likes of you.?"
"Not for tha likes a me Spot."
The King of Brooklyn smirked as he moved out of her way.
"Really though, why ya out so late?"
"Sellin papes. What else is new?"
"It took ya all day?"
"Yeah, it was the worst headline I had in who knows how long."
Spot only nodded as they continued to walk down the streets of New York.
"Well. I guess I should head home myself. See ya later Parkers!"
Spot said as he pulled her hat down over her eyes and ran off.
Amy couldn't help but smile as she pulled her hat back up to fix it again. Spot was always one person she knew in New York, and annoying as he was, he was there if she needed anything.
Continuing down her way to the old building where she slept, she got the feeling someone was watching her again. When she looked over her shoulder, she felt like she was just missing a pair of eyes. Trying to ignore it, she weaved her way through the alleyways when a voice came behind her.
"Ya know it's dangerous for young ladies to be out by themselves.
Amy recognized that voice all too well. "I can handle myself, Delancy."
"Oh really?"
Slowly he came towards her, and the poor idiot didn't know what he was getting into.
All it took was a few punches and she had him on the ground
"Maybe you'll listen next time when I say I can handle myself."
Amy had to walk only a bit longer until she was at the building, and she slipped inside and took her hat off, pulling her hair down out of her messy bun as well.
Golden brown hair tumbled around her face, falling well below her shoulders. Looking in the tiny window she used as a mirror when it was dark, she stared back at the short, small girl in the reflection. Amy had always been so little, but it didn't mean she couldn't fight. Taking a step closer, she looked at her face, which had dirt in several spots. Her eyes fell on the dark blue ones staring back at her. They were the one thing she truly loved about her appearance. They matched her mothers', and the one thing to remind her of home. But home was gone now, and it wasn't coming back. Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she wiped off all the dirt she could.
Finally deciding it was really late, Amy laid down and eventually drifted off.
Amy woke just as the sun was rising, as usual. She got ready half asleep, changing clothes and shoving her hair into her usual messy bun and tucking most of it into her hat. Most people would question buying their papers from a girl, but if she pulled her shoulders up, most people never really noticed or cared as long as they got their news. Trudging along, she managed to get herself fully awake on her way to the main part of town. As she passed the lodging house, she finally pushed through the doors she saw every day and made her way over to a corner.
_POV Switchy thingy, sortof_
As Jack and the other Newsies walked into the distribution center to get their papes. Waiting in line, Jack took more attention to the boy standing in the corner, his hat tipped down low casting a shadow over his face. The kid was always there, eyes hidden in the shadows, probably looking at the Newsies.
"Heya Jackie, why ya so quiet today?" Racetrack asked, mush and Crutchy both looking at him with a curious look.
"Check out that kid in tha corner." Jack said nodding his head to the figure, who lowered their head even more when four pair of eyes fell on them.
"Yeah, so what? He's always over there, he aint caused us trouble."
"Just... Don't leave once ya got ya papes."
The trio nodded and continued to wait.
After all the boys had their stacks, the kid in the corner finally walked up to the counter and slapped down some coins. The group of four couldn't hear how much he'd asked for, but when the kid walked out, he were carrying a stack of fifty.
"Who can sell all that in one day?" Crutchy mumbled as the boy passed quickly them and slipped out the door.
"Thas what I mean, this kid's gotta be good. C'mon"
The group quickly followed the boy outside and followed him for a while, and his selling went pretty well. After a while, Jack sent Crutchy to go sell somewhere where he didn't have to walk around so much leaving Jack, Racetrack and Mush to follow the kid. For the rest of the day, the kid's selling went really well, although Jack couldn't figure out why. The headlines were ridiculous and even he couldn't come up with any way to stretch them.
"Alright, no more waitin and watchin, time to do sumthin." Jack said as he pulled his boys in to talk.
Right from the start of her day, Amy could tell that things would be weird. While she waited for the rest of the Newsies to get their papes, Jack Kelly and some of the others wouldn't stop looking at her. Jack had sent her a few glances before, but today was different. They were talking about her, she knew it, and even after she left, she never lost the feeling of eyes staring at the back of her head. She'd gotten lucky though, and managed to sell all but two of her papers.
She figured she could probably find someone on her way back home so she started that way. She turned a corner and continued to walk when she saw a figure with a cowboy hat leaned up against the wall of the alley.
"So. If it aint the lucky little seller himself."
Amy couldn't figure out who this wise guy was, but he was going to pay. Her thoughts quickly shifted, however, when he stepped out into the light and she saw his face.
Jack Kelly. Shit.
Anyone knew you didn't want to get caught up in a fight with this guy.
Turning on her heel to leave, she stopped seeing two more people blocking her way out.
"Listen, I don't wana hurt ya, I aint like that. But I do wana know how you can sell fifty papes in one day."
"But I ain't sold fifty papes, now have I? I still got two right here." Amy tried to deepen her voice, praying she wouldn't get caught.
"Maybe. But just about every other day you manage to sell it all."
"So what?" Amy shot back, her voice wavering.
"So," another voice cut in "we wanna know how you do that."
Now she was nervous, Jack Kelly and two of his little helpers, she was screwed.
"And- we might even…"
Amy didn't even wait to hear the rest; she darted between the other two and started sprinting down he streets. As she did, she heard a rumbling of feet behind her. There were definitely more than jus three pairs of shoes behind her. Tossing a look behind her, she saw there were now five Newsies chasing her, and they were gaining.
Suddenly a hand grabbed her wrist forcing her to stop and turn and just her luck, Her hat fell off, and her hair came tumbling down her face. For a moment Jack only stood there, shocked.
"What?"
Not waiting for a larger reaction, Amy started off again, leaving her cap in Jack's hand. She only made it a little further until she ran into a dead end alleyway.
"Dammit!"
She turned as the newsies caught up with her, Jack walking to stand just in front of her. A smirk spread across his face, as he held out her hat to her.
"I believe ya dropped this missus." He said somewhat sarcastically.
Amy eyed him as she took the hat back.
"Alright Kelly, You got me cornered. Whadya want?"
"Same thing I wanted back there."
"And that would be…?"
"Ta know how you manage to sell all those papes in one day."
"I dunno, guess I'm just lucky."
Jack gave a short chuckle as he looked at the ground, and it was silent for a few moments
"Well if that's it cowboy," Amy started as Jack looked up again "I think I'll be on my way."
With that once again parted between the Newsies, this time with them moving willfully, but reluctantly.
"Hold up there, hot shot." One of the other Newsies said, slowing Amy, but not stopping her.
"That ain't all we wanted." Jack started again.
"Then what is it?"
Jack looked back at his boys again before asking.
"Howd'ya like bein a Newsie?"
This stopped the girl in her tracks, and she turned.
"What? "
"I want you to be a Newsie."
"Why?"
"I seen you round heah befoah, ya live in that building ove theah." Jack correctly pointed at her 'home'
"Yeah, why do you care?"
"Ya know, despite my reputation, I ain't heartless. I don like seeing a kid on their own. Especially when I can help."
Jack stared after her, but saying nothing, she walked away.
"Hang on, I got this" Mush said holding up his hands as he turned to follow her.
After a while, he'd just walked around aimlessly, looking for her, but eventually he found her, on one of the docks. She was sitting on the edge, her feet hanging over the edge. He walked to the edge slowly and sat next to her.
For a while, they said nothing, they just sat there. Finally Mush looked over at her. Her head was down, looking at the water, her hat clenched in her hand.
"So." Amy looked up at him, his face showing some amount of… concern?
"So what?"
"So what's ya name?"
Amy looked at him with disbelief and laughed.
"Really? All that just happened, and you want to just come over and start some little tea party?"
"Well, why not? I like tea parties." Amy laughed again and smiled.
"Amy. Well, Amelia. My mom named me Amelia but that was always to girly for me."
Mush only nodded.
"You?"
"Mush."
"I mean ya real name."
"Ah, see that's a secret."
"Oh really?
"Yeah" Mush said, his voice higher as he laughed. "How old are ya, Amy?"
"Fifteen."
Mush nodded.
"I'm sixteen maself, if you was curious."
"I wasn't, but thanks." Amy said, laughing again.
It was so much easier to talk to Mush than it was to Jack, some friendly personality he had that just broke down the barrier of shyness or nervousness.
"So are ya gonna do it? Ya know, join us?"
Amy looked back at the water again.
"Well, I dunno. I guess it is pretty borin bein on my own for so long…"'
"Ha, I gotcha don't I?"
"Don't let it go to yah head, ya nitwit."
Mush laughed and stood up
Amy laughed again, standing herself.
"Well, c'mon then, ya got anything in that buildin ya need?"
"Yeah, some Clothes and shoes, but that's about it."
"Then lets go."
Mush said extending his arm.
"Shall we?" He said, smirking.
"Nah... More like this…"
Amy suddenly ran a few steps forward.
"Race ya!"
With that, she was gone, leaving behind a very confused mush.
"I've never seen a goil so laid back…" He mumbled chasing after her.
Eventually he reached the house, Amy already had her stuff together, considering she truly had only a few things.
"You, you're fast goily."
"Ah- ah, I gave ya ma name, use it." Amy retorted with a smile.
"Hm… So, Are we ready, missus?"
"Lead the way kind sur."
Both laughed and the started their way to the lodging house.
"So how do you manage to sell all those papes, huh?"
"I honestly don't know, I just get lucky and find the right customers I guess.""
"Well I'd be rich if I had your luck little miss Vegas." A voice came behind the two, causing them to turn. Behind them, was the group from earlier; three Newsies and Jack.
"Damn how are y'all so quiet?"
Mush laughed "Well Jacky boy, are ya gonna introduce her to em or is she just gonna have to guess who everyone is?"
Jack nodded with a smile and stepped forward and motioned to the boys one by one.
"This is racetrack, Skittery, and Boots. I can see ya already met Mush."
Amy nodded and the group began to walk again to the lodging house together. On the way, the group got to know Amy fairly well, and soon they were very close to the lodging house.
"So… Are ya in?" Jack asked sounding somewhat desperate.
"Yeah, I'm in." Amy laughed at the leaders sudden lack in confidence.
All the boys gave a cheer, and they either high fived Amy or lightly punched her shoulder.
Once they got to the doors of the lodging house, Jack stopped, taking his hat off. Clearing his throat, he boomed his voice like a game show host.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the Newsies lodging house of Manhattan. "
With that, he opened the doors, and light poured out of the building, something Amy wasn't used to. Swinging his arm around Amy, Mush lead her inside as Jack walked in front, the others trailing behind. The house was noisy, boys chasing around, faking fights, playing poker. As they walked by, no one really noticed Amy, which she was fairly grateful for at the moment.
"Alright boys," Jack said as he turned "I'm gonna introduce the newest to Kloppman, y'all go do whatevah." Jack motioned, shooing them away.
Jack led Amy to Kloppman and introduced the pair quickly. After a fairly long talk, Kloppman smiled.
"Well young lady, I'm happy to have a New Kid anytime, make yourself at home. Jack, find a bunk wherever you can."
Jack nodded and led Amy through the Lodging House. For the first time, he was able to get a good look at her. She was a small girl, but very pretty. She was skinny, and her skin was very slightly tanned. Her face was long and had somewhat sharp angles, and her eyes were a dark blue. Her hair was the thing that caught Jack's eye. It wasn't brown, but not exactly blonde either. Like a mix of the two. Amy was… well… Pretty. How had he not noticed before?
"So, ya exited bout bein a Newsie?"
"Yeah, it'll be nice not hiding from ya at the start of tha day. "
Jack chuckled and they walked around until jack led her to a bunk that was empty on top.
"So uh, yeah. Top bunk is yours, Mush is on the bottom. This was the only bunk we had open." Jack started awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
"Oh and uh, this table, that's for you ta put ya stuff in."
"Thanks."
"Anytime." Jack said as he left.
As Amy shoved the few things she had into the drawer of her table, she looked around the large room. There wasn't a real separation between the main room and the bunks. Basically you could see all the 'rooms' as soon as you walked into the Lodging House. Sighing, she climbed up onto her bunk and looked out the window for a while, and began to think.
As soon as jack came downstairs, he walked to the center of the Lodging house to get everyone's attention.
"Alright boys LISTEN UP!"
The action came to a stand still as all the newsboys looked at their leader.
"We got another Newsie, boys!"
At this, all the boys began to cheer and shout.
"Who is it Jack?"
"What's he like?"
"He aint no whimp, now is he?"
"HEY!" Jack quieted them again.
"Well, it's uh… It's a goil."
"A goil?"
"Wes never sold with a goil before."
"Trust me, she's good." Skittery stepped in. "Ya know that kid who stays in that corner every morning, and then they sell fifty papes? That's her."
"Dang."
"Yep"
Amy continued to stare outside when the lights in her room flicked on. Looking down, she saw Mush standing there, and to her surprise, without a shirt on.
"Daydreamin Amelia?"
"Maybe. Why no shirt all the sudden?"
"Eh. I typically don't wear em around the Lodging house."
"Oh and whys that?" Amy questioned with a smirk on her face.
"I dunno. Just do… Ya oughta come downstairs. Jacky's introducing ya to the boys."
"Hm. Fine, "
Amy hopped down and walked with Mush to the main room.
"So… What's she look like?"
Jack fumbled for a second.
"She looks uh… Well like that."
Jack said with a smile as he nodded his head to Mush and Amy who were just walking in.
Amy felt weird when all the boys turned to her.
"What's the matter? Ya all look like ya never seen a girl before." Amy asked
"Not one who can sell papes like you."
Jack smiled and motioned for Amy to come to him. She followed, and Jack threw his arm around her and shouted.
"Boys, this is Amy. And she's a Newsie now."
Again, the boys cheered and Jack waved them off, sending them to do whatever they wanted now. Jack himself stuck with Amy for a while, showing her around, making her laugh.
"Hey Jack, ya wana bring the gal over here?" Race shouted.
Jack nodded and led Amy to the table covered in cards and pennies.
"Amy, ya wana play some poker?" Race questioned, mischief in his eyes.
"Don't you dare go stealin her money her first night here, Race.
"Oh no, I'd love to." Amy stopped Jack with a gleam in her eyes.
Race smiled and started to deal her in.
The game was going well for him, but in the end, Amy ended up with all the money right in front of her.
"Well well well. How did I get beat by the new kid huh? How are ya so good at this?"
"Just like everything else, I'm just lucky."
Race laughed and stood
"Well, I think that Boot's name for ya is perfect. Hey Jack! Lets call her Vegas."
