Chapter 2 Headlines

The next morning everyone was surprisingly calm. Jack guessed that most of the boys were just tired from staying up too late. So with that being said they went about their day. Race got, or more like somehow stole his cigar back, the twins made up and everyone else was their usual selves. Except one. Feister had forgotten she slept in the bunk room. So when she rolled out of bed, she tumbled onto the ground and let's just say that Romeo broke her fall. She landed on the ground with a thud, and the two younger Newsies let out an 'ow'

"What?" a sleepy Jojo asked, who popped up at the sudden thud. When he looked down he saw Romeo on the ground laying on his stomach, with Feister on top. He quickly got out of bed and helped them up. "You two ok?" he asked.

"I think so." Romeo rubbed his back and rolled his neck.

"Yeah, thanks Jojo," Feister added while checking herself over for any bruises. "An' sorry bout that Rome." she nudged the younger boy's shoulder.

"Next time give me a warning." Romeo nudged back before walking off to get ready for the day.

"Hey you'es ok?" Mush asked as he hopped down from his bunk. He barely missed hitting the very messy night stand and landed with ease while waiting for an answer.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she reassured.

"Ok what's wrong?" Mush asked. He knew when there was something going on with Feister. Even if she said nothing was wrong, he knew when something was up with her. He would always get this weird feeling that she wasn't telling the whole story. It was the look in her eyes that was the big give away.

"Nothin'!" she replied loudly. "I's just forgot I's was in a bunk, that's all. It ain't like that's never happened before." The look on Feister's face was the one she wore when she was trying to hide something. Now Mush knew for a fact something was up. He then started to scan her over for a clue. "Don't do that." Feister crossed her arms.

"Do what?" He asked playing dumb.

"Look I's told ya everything's fine, alright? So just drop it," she said the last part quietly. Which was a bit of a shock to Mush since she'd always yell. Maybe she was still tired.

"Imma…" Jojo began. It was obvious that they forgot he was still standing there, and Jojo felt a little uncomfortable. He wasn't sure if he should've stopped them or walk away. Luckily Jack saved the day when he told everyone to get a move on. And with that they were all off to the Distribution center. After stopping for some breakfast from the nuns they made their way to the gate, where they waited for the headline to be put up.

"How long does it take ta put up a stinking headline?" Buttons complained.

"I's dunno," Sniper shrugged. "How long does it take ya tah get rid of yer fleas." It was a well known fact that Buttons got fleas faster than you can say 'papes'.

"Hey here it comes!" Finch yelled. All the Newsies scrambled to the gate as they watched the man at the chalk board write it. When he finished he stepped out of the way so the Newsies, and all of Lower Manhattan could see.

"Cory Johnson found dead"

"Who's Cory Johnson?" Romeo asked, looking around for answers.

"It's an old story fore you came," Race explained while taking his cigar out and held it in between his fingers. "Somethin' bout 'im going crazy after his son ran away an' his wife dyin' a year after. He had a daughter who he treated badly after that. I's think he abandoned 'er for his new wife. Some say she's still alive, others say she's dead. Anyways he did somethings an'...let's say they's wasn't good. At least I's think that's the story. I's dunno, it's seven, maybe eight years old."

"Sounds like a good headline ta me," Elmer said with a smile.

"Yeah, but good or bad ya still can't sell a pape ta save yer life," Mike joked, earning a slap upside the head from Elmer. While that was going on Feister was still looking up at the headline. She looked pale, almost as if she'd seen a ghost. The headline written in chalk was screaming at her, if that made any sense. "Feister?" said girl jumped at the sound of her name. When she turned around she saw Race and pretty much all her brothers looking at her with concern.

"Whaddya bums lookin' at?" she snapped, crossing her arms. The boys all glanced at one another. Then all their eyes turned to Mush. If something was bugging Feister, Mush was the one to go to. Mush sighed, seeing the signs from the others to find out what was going on. Just as he was about to ask when-

"Well, well, well lookie what we have here Morris," Oscar taunted as he and Morris walked up to the gate.

"How bout you'es an' yer brother go back ta the sewer you'es crawled out of," Feister snapped.

"Aren't we extra feisty today." Morris leaned closer to the gate, looking her dead in the eyes. Feister was about to say something else, but then she felt two hands on her shoulders, and slightly pulled her back. She glanced up and saw Mush was the one stopping her and gave her a look to be quiet. She huffed and crossed her arms. As soon as the Delanceys unlocked and left the gate, Feister swatted Mush's hands off her shoulders, and glared at him.

"C'mon, let's get the papes while they's still hot," Crutchie said, before walking into the Distribution center. After getting the papers they all headed out for another day. As they walked to their selling spot Feister seemed a little off. While Mush wanted to ask what was up, he wanted to live. He just hoped it would blow over. But, it didn't While they were selling Feister was still acting a little weird, and looked a little on edge.

"Hey."

Feister once again jumped at the sudden sound. "It's just you." she sighed in relief once she saw who it was. Mush raised an eyebrow. "You'es know what I's mean. I's thought you were someone else."

"Someone else?" Mush questioned.

"Anyways," she shouted. Feister wasn't in the mood to talk about this. So, thinking quickly she then said, "I's got one more pape left, you?"

"Got a few more left then we can head ta lunch."

"Well why are you'es standing around for, huh? Hurry up an' finish, I's gettin' hungry." Feister whacked Mush with her last paper, sending him back to his spot, which was a few feet away from her. He smiled and went back to finish up. She then sighed to herself because well...the day's headline was screaming in her face as she looked at her last paper. There was also the little crush problem, but that was the furthest thing from her mind. At the moment her mind was on the headline.

Feister ended up selling her paper after a few minutes before sitting on the curb to wait for Mush to finish up. She didn't have to wait very long because after a few minutes Mush took a seat next to her with his last paper in hand. "Man, this headline is sellin' like hotcakes," he said happily as he opened the paper up. Feister only gave a small nod.

"How much do ya know bout the..." she gestured to the paper. Mush was about to open his mouth when she cut him off, "An' don't say it's a seller, or that ya wished ya bought more papes."

Mush laughed and rolled his eyes. How Feister knows him so well is beyond him. "Well, like Race said, it's bout eight years old, an' fore we's both came along it was a real hot headline, people ate this stuff up. They's said that ole Johnson has a daughter, an' rumor has it she's still alive, others say she's dead an' wants revenge."

"What do you'es think?" she asked quietly.

Mush shrugged. "It can go either way."

"Do ya think she's dead or alive?" Feister didn't know why she was asking Mush a dumb question like that, but something inside her was dying to know what he thought.

"If ya ask me, I think she's dead. It's been eight years an' I's think she was only six," he replied. "Why do you'es care?"

Author's note

Ok, first off, who caught the Easter Egg to A Girl Newsie? Trust me, it's in here. For those who can't find it, I'll tell you at the end of the next chapter in the author's note. Idk what else to tell you without giving away too much, other than that I'm excited for you guys to read this fic. Shout out to Music on the Moon, thanks for the review. What did you think? Anyways thanks for reading. AGN fact #1 The original draft for AGN was for the 1992 movie.