This is my first newsies fanfiction! i'm sure this idea has been done dozens of times but this idea wouldnt leave me alone after i saw that they had a Newsies section of fanfiction! i hope you all like it!
Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Safe House

The city was sleeping. Or it was sleeping as much as a place like New York could. I brown haired girl snuck through the alleys, her dark brown hair hidden under a ratty news boy cap. Her jacket, shirt, and pants hung loosely on her thin body and dirt smeared her face. She crept along the edges of building, keeping to the shadows and glancing behind her every few blocks. Her bare feet were freezing on the side walk and her hands were clenched oddly at her sides.

The sun was starting to creep over the tallest buildings when she finally reached it. 'The Newsboys' Lodging House'. She heaved a sigh of relief and glanced quickly back over her shoulder. No one there. Skittering around to the side of the building scoped out the alley way and crept through the garbage until she was just below the fire escape. It was too high up for her to jump and grab on. Glancing around she spotted a wooden crate and quickly jogged over to push it below the escape. It scraped loudly against the concrete and she froze momentarily.

When the crate was in place, she hopped onto and leapt up. She grasped the bottom of the fire escape and grunted as she hoisted herself up onto the edge. When she was safely against the building wall she looked up to the windows the fire escape reached. Looking back down at the alley once, she hurried up the stairs and glanced through all the windows. She finally found the one that looked into a room full of bunk beds and pressed her face to the glass.

It was hard to see in the dim light and she had to strain her eyes to notice a pair of crutches leaning against a bed towards the back of them room. Reaching down she checked that the window wasn't locked and started pushing it up and open. It squeaked and groaned in protest but she didn't stop this time. She was running out of time.

When the window was open wide enough for her to slip in. she stuck one leg in and hauled herself inside. It was chilly in the room but a lot warmer then the alley. The bottom of her feet stung as the touched the wooden floor but she ignored them. Sneaking past all the other beds, she hurried over to the bed with the crutches next to it. A large nosed boy with messy brown hair snored loudly within it. She rolled her eyes and nudged. He stirred but didn't wake up. Frowning she yanked his pillow from underneath his head and started hitting him with it.

"Wake up, Crutch!" she hissed as loudly as she dared. The boy yelped in surprise and sat up in bed. Turning to face the girl his eyes got wide.

"Who the hell-?!" She covered his mouth roughly with her hand and used the other to yank her hat from her head. Her messy hair flopped down onto her shoulders and the boy's eyes got even wider.

"It's me," she whispered, moving her hand away. Crutchy sat up and pushed her away slightly. Grabbing his crutch he stood and faced her. His face confused and shocked the entire time.

"Skip?" he said incredulously, "What're you doin hea? I thought you was turnin tricks in da Bronx." Skip rolled her eyes and crossed her arms angrily.

"I ran inta some trouble," she muttered. Crutchy smacked his forehead and groaned a bit too loudly for Skip's liking.

"Do not tell me ya lost!" he hissed. Skip liked to gamble. A lot. She would set up the game so she was guaranteed to win and hustle dozens out of their money. But every now and again she'd play a fair game to get a thrill. And when that happened and she lost, she'd skip town, taking as much money as she could get her hands on.

"Well, I wouldn't be down hea talkin ta ya if I'd won now would I?" Skip spat, stepping closer. Crutchy rolled his eyes and started hobbling towards the door.

"I don't got no money for ya," he grumbled as they passed the other sleeping newsies.

"You aint gotta tell me that, stupid," Skip snapped, walking behind him as they reached the door, "I came hea for a place ta stay."

Crutchy had been out the door and about to go down the stairs when she said this. He spun around, his crutch tripping him up and nearly sending him toppling down the stairs. "WHAT?!"

Skip reached out and grabbed his shoulder before he could fall. "Jeezus! Be caful or you'll break da otha one."

"Skip, you can't stay hea!" Crutchy said, smacking her hands away and turning back to the stairs. Skip's mouth fell open but she quickly snapped it shut and hurried down the stairs.

"But, Crutch-"

"No!"

"I'm ya sista!"

"Don't matta," Crutchy huffed, reaching the ground floor finally. "Everyone knows ya my sista and when ya skip town without payin up it causes trouble for us newsies."

Skip grinded her teeth and waved her brother off. She knew that everyone came looking here when she owed them money but she'd never actually held up at the lodging house. And unlike every other incident where she'd skipped out on paying someone, this time she hadn't rolled some rich snob or some old ladies. She'd tried to scam newsies from the Bronx and they'd called her out. Of course she'd booked it out of there and went on like nothing had happened. Three days later though the two boys had shown up on her street and tried to rough her up. She'd escaped, shoeless and in need of a place to stay.

"Look, Crutch, I haven't asked ya for nothin since mom died and it's not like ya eva asked me ta stay hea in Manhattan, but I'm askin you now! Please!"

Crutchy frowned as he glanced at his sister. She was dirty and maybe even bruised. Her feet were bare and when he looked behind her he saw she was trailing bloody foot prints. She never came to him for anything unless it was serious or if she would be gone for a long time. He couldn't stare at his sister now, looking so much like their mom, and turn her out onto the streets. He sighed, doing his best to make it sounds angry.

"I'll toik ta Jack, but I'm not makin any promises," he said, holding his hand up as best he could without dropping his Crutch. Skip nodded, a smile not gracing her face. She was in serious trouble and if she wanted to hide in Manhattan, she'd have to appeal to Jack Kelly first.

Hope you liked the first chapter! I'll try to post again soon!

Thanks for reading!
~monie