Disclaimer: Someday, when I am supreme Empress of The Universe, I will own the rights. But I currently don't.

Chapter 4

Flora's POV

"I resent having to do this," Elle muttered.

We were perched on the edge of the large cart that held all the food for the newsies. It was only us, and Sister Mary Martha, the youngest of the nuns. She had been a student at St. Jerome's before she took her vows. As such, she had plenty of sympathy for our plight. Not that I really thought it was a plight. I'd thought it over, and realized that I'd actually enjoy the so-called "punishment"

"Give it up, Elle," I laughed, bringing myself up to a standing position. "You know as well as I do that you are positively dying for those charming newsies to come back and sweep you off your feet!"

"Eleanor! Flora!" Sister Mary Martha called before Elle had a chance to respond. "They'll be coming soon and I want to make sure that we've gone over some ground rules." Elle scrambled up and we made our way to her. Sister Mary Martha was in her late twenties, with a round pleasant face and large blue eyes. She was a beauty, and I'd no doubt the day she took her vows she broke the hearts of half the boys in the city. "Alright, so today we'll be feeding the newsboys who work for The World." We exchanged an agonized glance. And then burst into hysterical giggles. "Girls, what has provoked this ridiculous behavior, but I will not tolerate this!" she looked befuddled. That made us laugh even more. Before long, we were doubled over with tears coursing down our faces. This was beyond perfect. The Mother Superior was so angry about us associating with the newsies, so as punishment she had us spend more time with them! "Girls, I really don't think this is appropriate behavior for young ladies like yourselves" she tried again, but we were too far gone. "Fine!" she snapped. "Be ridiculous! Make fools of yourselves! See if I care!" She marched to the other end of the cart, and stood there, sulking.

"Flora!" Elle squeaked. "I can hear them coming!" We could hear their voices, even though they must have been a block away. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, this is so nerve wracking!" Their voices got closer and closer, until finally, they came into view. They were running at full tilt, towards the cart. I scanned the throng, searching for the newsies that we'd met the other day. Finally, I caught sight of one of them. David. He hadn't seen me though. They were all singularly focused on the food and the mugs of coffee.

"Blessed children," Sister Mary Martha began, launching into a long speech. Elle grabbed my arm and pulled me back towards the food.

"What the hell?" I exclaimed, annoyed. This was no time for her unreasonable fears! And besides, I'd thought she'd gotten over the newsie-phobia.

"I'm going to do something that you may not like," she began. "But you'll thank me for this soon, I promise."

"What? This is absurd, I'm going back up…" I never got to finish. I took a step back, and she darted forward, placed her hands on my shoulders, and shoved me backwards. Suddenly, I was freefalling. I could hear shouts around me, but all I focus on was the smug look on Elle face. What the hell did she think she was doing? I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable impact. And then I hit something hard. Not the ground, I was too comfortable for that. What then? I opened my eyes and realized that someone had caught me. Someone I knew, actually. David.

David's POV

All the Manhattan newsies were rushing around the corner, trying to get to the food first. Even Les, who'd actually eaten this morning before we left home, was running like crazy.

We rounded the corner, and the cart came into view. A tall nun was standing at the front, facing the newsies. Two smaller figures were standing a distance behind her on the cart, their heads bent together.

"Blessed children," the nun started speaking, but not about anything new or interesting. We listened, mainly because once she was done, she'd hand out coffee, apples and bread.

Suddenly, one girl took a step backward. Her friend moved with her and briefly touched her shoulders, and she lost her balance, and tumbling off the cart. In a split second, I lunged forward, my arms held out in front of me, desperately hoping she'd hit me before she hit the ground. She slammed down into my arms, her eyes firmly closed. I felt a flicker of recognition. I knew who she was, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Her eyes fluttered open, and I immediately knew who she was. It was the eyes that did it. She was Medda's niece Flora.

"Hello, David," she smiled brightly. "It's lovely to see you."

"Um…" I said, searching for the words I'd been about to say before she smiled and scattered my thoughts. "It's nice to see you too."

"Hate to be a bother, but could you maybe put me down?" I hadn't realized I was still holding her. I let her down with a sheepish smile.

"Ey, Flora," Kid Blink said. "That was some fall ya had!"

"It was, wasn't it?" she said. "It would've been much worse if David hadn't caught me." She smiled again, softer this time. I felt oddly dizzy. "I guess I just lost my balance!" Her smile switched to a death glare at her friend, who was still on the cart. Eleanor wore an expression of utmost sympathy.

"I'm so sorry!" she squealed, quickly hopping off the cart and walking over to her friend. "I can't believe that you fell off! I should have made sure you kept your balance."

"Yes, yes you should have," Flora's words were curt. Did she blame her friend for her fall? I'd seen Eleanor put her hands on her shoulders, but it didn't look like a push.

"Flora Collins, you gave me an absolute fright!" the nun had bustled down from the cart too. "Are you quite alright?"

"Yes, Sister Mary Martha, I am perfectly fine," she sighed.

"Excellent!" Sister Mary Martha clapped her hands. "We ought to feed the nice boys who saved you from a nasty fall."

They returned to the platform, and began to hand out bread and apples. I kept my eyes on Flora. She was like a stained glass window; she seemed to glow with life from the inside out.

"So, Flora," Race called to her. "Are yous a nun or somethin'?"

She laughed. "No, we're students at St. Jerome's School for Orphan Girls."

"And when you saw us yesterday? That's 'cause we escaped!" Eleanor added.

"Escaped, huh?" Jack laughed. "I can't believe it."

"Well, believe it." Flora said. "This is our punishment. Feeding the likes of you!" she laughed, and tossed him an apple.

"How come dats a punishment?" Mush asked.

"Because, according to the Mother Superior, proper young ladies like us are not to associate with street rats like you," Eleanor smiled winningly.

"Ey!" Mush put his hand on his heart, like her words had wounded him. "Yous is breakin' me heart, Eleanor."

"That's all for today, boys!" Sister Mary Martha broke in. "I hope to see you all this Sunday inside the church!"

"Long as dese two are dere, Sister!" Race called back, as all the newsies dispersed. I privately agreed with him. As long as Flora was there, I would be.

A/N: Sorry for being MIA for a few days, but with exams and whatnot I have been ultra-busy!

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