I was led to a group of girls as boys were playing a couple of stick games, marbles or even practice fighting. I was a bit nervous about the fighting aspect, but i knew i had to learn. "hey goils..dis here is Kel..no nickname yet" Ash said smiling as a rainbow of girls sat there. They all looked tough in some aspect, others are conniving.

"hey dere..im Irish" A goil with dark brown hair, very thin yet with muscles looked at me grinning. her blue eyes sparkled with complete mischief making me wonder.

"nice to meet you" I said softly feeling a bit uncomfortable right now. One with black hair rolled her eyes at my words.

"jesus Ash..shes going to get run over by everyone heah, shes green, innocent, and too polite" she grumbled as another glared.

"shut up pirate!" she yelled annoyed at her words. "i was too now look at me" She hissed as pirate did look like one, one gold hoop earring, pirate type clothes and a knife in her boot from what i could see.

"please melody..youse still 'ave alot ta learn" Pirate said flipping back her black locks with a smirk.

"stupid wench" melody whispered pushign her dirty blonde hair from her face.

"lets go before dey get even more wound up" whispered Ash into my ear leading me away by the elbow.

"ok.." I said softly as we went down the docks to the city part of brooklyn. I looked at all the horses as well as trolleys with slight wonder.

"where are youse from?" Ash asked before i looked at her thinking fast.

"Cincinatti" I whispered looking away. "i left my mom alone, and went to search for my aunt..still cant find her" I said smiling sadly at her.

"oh.. ya like it heah...dont worry about Maple..she hates all da otha goils" Ash said gently looking at me. "shes jealous because she is wit spot.." she giggled as we went into this sort of diner. Ol' Fitzpatricks is what it was called making me wonder as we went to a certain table.

She ordered two sausage sandwhiches with the works. I looked out the window at the woman looking at us in distaste. I couldnt blame them, in this day and age we look like whores or otherwise unseemly in mens clothes. "ignore dem.." A voice said behind me as our food was set down with the works.

I turned my head seeing jack standing there with a tiny smirk on his face. "hi.." I mumbled before eating my food with a glass of water in front of me as well.

"hi..im Jack kelly..also known as cowboy" He said spitting into his hand, i quickly did the same and we shook hands, it was squishy and gross. I pulled my hand back seeing he had my crate. "wese goin ta hatten fer a bit...youse have alot of trainin ahead of ya" He said smirking at me with a tiny glimmer of mischief in his eyes too.

"ok.." i whispered looking at ash who had a sympathetic smile on her face. "ill see you later" I whispered after getting up and put my money down for our food. "my treat" I whispered as jack led me out taking me to Manhatten.

"so..once were dere..listen carefully" He said sternly to me as the sun started setting. It was sight to be seen, i loved it. "no funny business.." he said finally after a moment of silence. "things arent as dangerous-" he started before i heard yelling from a cop.

I looked over seeing him in a kids face. "YOU STOLE AN APPLE!" he yelled and i gulped my hand itching before i went over ignoring jacks words.

"how much?" I asked smirking at him as i held up a quarter looking at the sign. "i think i have enough" I said handing it to the shop keep taking another apple.

"y-you!" the cop flustered angrily i looked at him and my stomach instantly turned to knots. it was grotesque man. Oh shit.

"i paid for his wrongdoing" I said simply looking at him gently with a calm pulse. I gave him icy eyes as he pulled his hand back before smacking my in the face. I felt the stinging before my head snapped to the side.

"stupid wench" he mumbled before stomping off leaving me to hold back my tears. I noticed the boy run away terrified while jack was yelling at me for 'being so stupid' 'could have gotten put in a cell'

"i dont care" I grumbled annoyed at him as we were walking to manhatten. I was grumpy enough from the bruise on my face throbbing incessantly. I sighed softly looking around, it took a half hour to walk to manhatten and when we got there i got strange looks.

Women were either giving me pitying looks or disgusted looks, some were even horrified from the handprint bruise on my cheek im guessing. I sighed softly as some men smirked in a hoity toity way.

"youse ok?" Jack asked gently as we made it to the lodging house after another ten minute walk of glares/snorts/ and whispers.

"i guess" I mumbled softly putting my hands in my pockets wondering if my whole life will be dealing with this. 'wait..what am i thinking? im only here until spot is saved, then i am going home and getting into an art academy' i thought before sighing softly.

"so..heah we are...every mornin..wese are goin to train then after lunch sell until dinneh" He said before i nodded shivering a bit in the cold. It seemed near september. I peaked seeing a newsboy who ran over to jack.

"ay! jackyboy..whose da goil?" a boy asked with a cabby cap and a cigar hanging from his mouth. I looked at it with longing before jack smacked his forehead.

"Dis hear is Keladry..ise trainin her fer spot.." Jack said as he handed me an already made cigarette that must have cost him a pretty penny.

"heh..Im racetrack higgins" the boy said smiling at me, i spit into my hand and shook his while he grinned. "shes not as green as spot tinks" Race said grinning at me. I lit my smoke smiling to myself before jack said softly.

"she needs to be as tough as brooklyn race..." He whispered sighing softly rubbing his arms nervously like the thought of me not getting that good was such a bad thing. I made my face blank deep in thought as i smoke. 'i need to work my damn hardest to get this done.'

"i think she can do it.." Race said thoughtfully as i looked at him with a tiny amount of shock. I wasnt expecting talk back to jack. Then again...jacks different in a good way.

I watched them argue before i decided to say loudly. "lets start training now..i need to start as soon as possible jack" I said looking at him firmly putting out my cigarette.

"i like your style kel girl..come on.." he said walking in setting my crate down behind a desk. "no on will touch it.." he assured me at my frowning face.

After that jack started small working up my strength first for atleast an hour before starting simple hand to hand. I worked my ass off for three hours before jack said i needed a break. I drank a cup of water handed to me before looking at jack.

"your our third goil here kel..please dont make me regret this" He whispered almost begging and i smiled at him.

"i promise" I said really promising not to fuck it up. I will definitely not fuck it up. Well atleast i will try my hardest not to.

I saw a paper boy next to me and quickly scanned the date. 9/13/1987. I was right..september. I sighed softly wishing i hadnt of done such a quick leave without more information. Damn my stupid instincts. I dont even have a date to work on.

I sighed as i went to bed that night aching, tired, and just plain sore. The beds are rough, but not too uncomfortable. I woke up to a cool breeze, i looked out the window seeing a hole and sighed softly before getting up to practice.

I pulled my new clothes on from my crate before going downstairs and outside in the back to practice everything jack taught me. I looked around before practicing some moves from dance to stretch.

I sighed softly before getting back to practice my eyes determined for this.

-jacks pov-

I woke up exhausted which is normal for all of us newsies. I was just up earlier to help Kel with her training. I sighed pulling my clothes of and went to go get her, i was surprised yet again by her as i noticed she wasnt in bed. I looked around before seeing a form in the back of the lodging house. I looked closer to see kel already training her hardest.

I smiled to myself watching her twist, turn, jump, punch and duck. She was beautiful cant deny it, slim body, nice chest, and determined hazel eyes. Her hair was tucked under her cap, but just the memory of her brown locks with blonde highlights.

I shook my head clear knowing it was a bad idea, and i have the beautiful sarah jacobs. "hey jack" David said from behind me, he looke dexhausted too.

"hey davey..." I said softly looking out the window as she took a smoke break. I smiled agains to myself as david gasped.

"who is she?" David wondered breathless, it made me chuckle quietly in response. Her pants are brown with patches on them with black suspenders, boots, and her cap.

"that my dear david is keladry..our newest recruit..dont get yer head in da clouds she isnt stayin" I said patting his shoulder as she fixed her brown plaid button up.

"shes beautiful" He whispered with his head already in the clouds.

"and not stayin..shes spots newsie needin my help ta train her" I said smiling at him as keladry smoked looking off in the distance working on her stance. "get yer papes and go sell davey boy, the way she is workin right now i can tell ya she isnt lookin fer romance" I said laughing as i walked out passing mush, skittery, snipeshooter and kid blink.

They worked in the morning while the other did the lunch shift. I sighed grabbing coffee from songbird one of me newsies who is a blonde girl with green eyes. She helps cook and clean as well as work wid the kids before taking the morning shift.

"anudder cup please song" I said and she poured another cup of bitter coffee and handed me two rolls for me and kel.

"here ya go kelly" She said smiling at me as she hummed softly handing food to everyone else. It made me smile, she has been here as long as I have.

"danks" i said shooting her a wink making her roll her eyes turning away in her skirt and blouse. She always reminded everyone that she was still a girl, but the knife in her skirt as well as her boot reminded everyone she was dangerous too.

I went out back and cleared my throat making Kel jump ten feet in the air spinning around. She had a fighting stance and relaxed a bit seeing it was only me.

"hey dere wild cat..now eat and drink." I said handing her the rolls and coffee.

"you make this?" she asked looking at me curiously about what other talents i could have.

"nah..song boid did" I said chuckling as i ate and drank my breakfast.

"its delicious..ill have to thank her" she said smiling softly pushing a random piece of hair that fell loose from the cap.

-keladry-

I ate the warm roll that has honey in it and drank the bitter coffee that still warmed my cold body. I looked around before jack stood up. I knew it was time to train again. My body was still protesting at my actions, but i had to do this. I shook my head as i started one on one with him in hand to hand.

I kicked out and he grabbed my foot, i thought quickly jumping up twisting my body kicking him in the face so he let go before falling smacking my hand on thr ground rolling away from him.

Jack laughed hysterically holding his face in pure amusement. "dat was great kel! good job! quick tihnking!" he said grinning at me happily.

"th-thank you" i whispered shivering from the cold wet ground trying to hide it from him. His probing eyes knew i was trying to be tough as well as let the cold issue go, he was trying to treat me like one of the boys which i was grateful for.

We kept it up till near lunch, i went upstiars as pumped water into the tub before i started washing in the tub. My arms ached like crazy but it was all i could do. I sighed shivering from the cold water as i scrubbed with a scented soap that was put into my room. I got out as quickly as possible shivering as i dried off before putting on new warm clothes that were on the heater carefully so they wouldnt catch on fire.

I needed to thank songbird at some point. I smiled as i ran a comb through my hair wincing at the tangles before pulling it back into a french braid. I sighed softly going downstairs and smiled at jack with a bit of money in my pocket for food, then for my papers.

"here goes nuttin" jack said grinning as we walked out of the lodging house to the diner that was close to being empty, except for the cop that smacked me in the face who was getting drunk.

'this isnt going to end well..' were my last thoughts before i sat down.