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I've always known I wasn't the heroine of stories. Growing up, we all wish we can be the star of the show and save the world, but in reality, I know I wasn't. I probably would have been sorted into Slytherin because I'm more cunning than I am brave. I would definitely not have been Dauntless, but probably Erudite. There's no way I could have won the Hunger Games. I would have been killed off right away.

But on a Tuesday afternoon, sparring with Bumlets on the roof, I felt more like Katniss and Tris and Hermione than I ever had before. My body felt good and my muscles felt hard. I dodged Bumlets with newly formed skill, and I learned to strike at the precise moment. After Bumlets put up his hands to signify the end of the fight, I wasn't breathing like a linebacker like I used to. It was only my second week in this weird time lapse, and I was owning it. I glowed.

"You're getting good, Enzo," said Bumlets, his hand on his knees. "You're quick. That's what's gonna save your life."

I nodded, trying to keep my smile under control. If Bumlets knew I was a girl, would he have been as supportive? I brushed off the thought.

"Let's get some sleep," suggested Bumlets. I nodded.

"I'll be right in," I said, craving some time alone. He went inside as I leaned against the fire escape, one of my legs hanging over the side. It was quiet as I looked over New York City. It was beautiful. Really beautiful.

I was surprised I hadn't started to miss home yet. Maybe it was because I wasn't really sure how I got here, or maybe it was because my last moments in the modern world were spent being attacked by my ex boyfriend.

I let myself think about Mack for a moment. I had convinced myself to like him, I realized. He was a low life who wasn't worth any of the trouble he caused. The tears and anger and fear he gave me wasn't worth it. None of it was. He didn't know what he wanted from life, and the only thing we had in common was that we were both Yale students. I nearly let out a bark of laughter.

If I was ever going back to Yale… From what I remembered from textbooks, women didn't even go to high school in this time period. But, I couldn't worry about that. I couldn't worry about tomorrow. All I needed to focus on was today, right now, this moment. I headed inside to go to bed, and I fell asleep quickly.

Unbeknownst to me, I should have been very, very worried about tomorrow.

The first thing I heard when I walked sleepily up to the distribution center was noise. Loud noise and loud voices- not something I was excited to experience this early. And then, I looked to the group of boys and saw Race and Jack yelling. I panicked. Was something wrong with Race?

I ran up to them, pushing my way through the newsies. I found myself next to Blink.

"What's happening?" I yelled. He shook his head and his fists.

"They jacked up the price! They jacked up the price and I can barely eat as it is!" Blink yelled. I looked at him in disbelief.

And then all I heard was "STRIKE" yelled by everyone. I was pushed along in the crowd, struggling to get out. I looked around me and saw that one of the youngest newsies had began to cry with confusion. In that moment I became a vicious mother bear.

I pushed back boys- older and younger, and then I scooped up the youngest newsie into my arms and ran towards the sidewalk. He held on to me tight, burying his little face into my shoulder. I didn't stop running until we were far enough away from the action to breathe, but close enough to hear what was going on.

There was yelling and conflict and then the singing of what sounded like a battle hymn to me. Then, Jack was writing on the chalkboard where they put the headlines, and then a group meeting.

When things had quieted down for the meeting, I walked towards the front, holding my little newsie in my arms. He had told me his name was Owl, and I told him my name was Enzo. He didn't seem like he wanted to leave my arms, ever.

"Alright, Brooklyn? Who wants Brooklyn?" Jack said. "Come on, Spot Conlon?"

I had no idea what was in Brooklyn, or who Spot Conlon was, but by the way they were acting, he wasn't a stand up guy.

Maybe this was my chance to prove myself. Maybe this is what I needed.

"I'll do it," I felt myself saying. Everyone looked at me in shock, including Owl. Jack nodded his somewhat surprised approval. He pointed at David and Boots to go with me, and he decided to come along. Boots and David and I stood out to the side, and Bumlets came up to me.

"You have no idea what you're doing, Enzo," growled Bumlets.

"It's fine," I brushed him off. I handed him Owl. "Take care of Owl. Take him to the lodging house. He can stay with Kloppman."

"Okay," agreed Bumlets, who was a bit startled by my commanding voice. "I'll take him to the lodging house, but you gotta keep your head down. You don't want Spot to remember you. Even if he is on our side, he can and will destroy you."

Owl looked like he was about to cry again, so I kissed his forehead.

'It's okay, Owl. I'll be back in a little while. Stay with Kloppman, okay?" I asked, he nodded his obedience. "Good boy, Owl. Bye, Bumlets," I said, being dragged away by Boots.

"Be safe," Bumlets said. I nodded, and then looked away from him. If Bumlets was this worried, I should have been, too. But, I wasn't. I was excited to see Brooklyn. I was good at keeping my head down. I wasn't worried.

And, yet again, for the second time in two days, I should have been worried. Very worried.