DISCLAIMER: I do not own Newsies.

Away From the Hunter

Ch. 10

-I See the Hunter-

-ANNABELLE'S POV-

The boys trudged down the stairs, one by one, slowly awaiting their assignments for the day.

Once everyone was in the room, except Race and Jack, who were cleaning the mess they made upstairs, I started giving orders.

"Okay, first up. Little ones. Mouse, Snipeshooter, Tumbler, and Boots, and the rest of you. All of you, you are free for the day. No helping for you." A round of cheers came from the little newsies and they ran out the door, leaving about half the newsies left.

"Hey! Ann! That's not fair! Why'd they get to go?" Blink whined.

"Because Blink. They act their age, unlike some newsies I know."

That shut them up, and I quickly assigned them their tasks.

"Okay, now, cleaning. I want Specs, Dutchy, and Snitch to help clean. Jack and Race will be helping too, once they are done with the bunkroom."

As if in reply, I heard a thump upstairs, followed by someone -probably Jack- yelling, "Ya dirty rotten scabbah! Why'd you hit me?"

I looked at the three, and then at the stairs, silently motioning for them to go up there and check on the two trouble makers.

A round of groans came from them as they march upstairs.

"Next, laundry. Jake, Snoddy, Pie Eater, Crutchy, and Mush. I want you all to go wash the clothes and hang them up on the roof."

"Oh alright." They sighed and got up to start.

"That means that the rest of you, Blink, Skittery, Bumlets, Swifty, and Itey. I need your help with cooking."

"What? I don't know how tah cook!" Skittery tells me.

I smirk. "Then you'll just have to learn, won't you?"

The kitchen was a complete and utter mess. I don't know what I was thinking when I let them help with cooking.

First off, they couldn't crack an egg to save their lives. Blink can't pour flour properly. Skittery, though he won't admit it, can't mix anything. And Bumlets, oh, Bumlets. He was covered in everything from flour to eggs.

The door opened and I turned around, expecting to see Snoddy again, asking how to hand the clothes again, but instead, I see Kloppman standing there looking surprised.

"Kloppy!"

"Hello Annabelle." He says, looking in astonishment at the boys behind me trying to make rolls for dinner. "Are the boys actually helping? Or are my eyes acting up again? I walking in the common room to see Specs and Snitch mopping up the floor, and I go up on the roof to see Mush doing the laundry, and now I see Skittery helping you make food! Am I dreaming? Are they helping?" I nodded slowly. "Oh goodness! I need to sit down! Too many surprises today!" He walks back out, muttering something about flying pigs.

I chuckle and turn back around to my eggs, which I'm cooking for lunch.

"What's cookin' good lookin'?" I turn around, startled, and almost whack a surprised Blink in the face.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hit you! Sorry!"

"God! I was just askin' what you were cookin', is it really necessary to hit me with your spatula?" He grinned.

"Ha-Ha. Very funny. Anyway, I was just cooking some eggs for lunch."

"Oh yum! Do we get some?" He licks his lips.

"No. I'm going to feed the little newsies and then feed the leftovers to dogs." I say sarcastically. Blink looks a little upset. I smack him playfully. "I was just kidding! Of course all you get some. I wouldn't just not give you food!" He looks happy now. Boys, all you gotta do is give them food.

I hear a bunch of footsteps enter the house and I look up at the clock.

"Oh dear! It's lunch time already? Skittery, grab the rolls from the oven, they should be done by now. Be careful! They're h-"

Before I could finish my sentence, I hear Skittery let out a string of curses. I roll my eyes.

"I told you they were hot! Now let me see. Are you okay?"

"Jeez woman. I'm fine. Just a little burn. Nothin' to worry 'bout." He pulls his hand away and walks towards the sink, putting his hand under running cold water.

I shake my head and put the eggs on a plate for each newsie.

"Okay, let's go to the table, go get the others and tell them to stop working and eat lunch." I said to Swifty. "And be quick!" I shouldn't have anything to worry about, he wasn't called Swifty for nothing.

We all sat down and started to eat our lunches.

It was a pretty normal lunch, all the newsies being loud, Race still trying to gamble, Crutchy telling a story, Jack dreaming about Santa Fe, and me and Blink casually flirting every once in a while, the usual.

I was in the middle of my conversation with Snoddy when Mouse interrupted me.

"Hey, Ann!" Mouse yelled, trying to get louder than the others to get my attention. "Are we still goin' to the park?"

Oh! I forgot about my previous engagement with Mouse. I was going to have the boys help some more around the house, but I think it's their lucky day, because I'll just go to the park with Mouse. I do need a break from all this housework anyway.

"Okay, Mouse, after we finish lunch, I'll take you to Central Park." He grinned and went back to talking to Tumbler.

I looked at the older boys, who we all, like always, being loud and obnoxious. I rolled my eyes and spoke up. "Hey boys, since I'm taking Mouse out this afternoon, you can go off and enjoy your Sunday. You've done enough work, thank you." They cheered and I rolled my eyes again.

Boys never like to work, I should know that by now, since I live with 20 of them.

Mouse and I were walking, hand in hand, through the park, just talking, like we did that first day we met.

Mouse was telling me in vivid detail about him and Les' sword fight earlier.

Ahh, Les, Mouse's best friend. From what I've seen and heard about him, he seems like a nice kid, and he seems he's very fond of Jack. David and Les I don't see very much, except at Tibby's every now and then. So we don't really know each other, but he seems like an okay kid. From what I heard about David, apparently he was the brains behind the whole strike thing, and Jack was the one who had the courage to get things rolling. They don't come around the lodging house much either, seeing as they have a house and family of their own.

"-And that's when a marble comes flying by our heads! A Brooklyn newsie shot us with it! Can you believe it? Spot sure got mad when he found out! And-" Mouse was still telling me his story, and I was vaguely listening. Now don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like listening to the kid. I love him with all my heart, I love all of them, but right now I'd really rather think about my life than listen to a silly story I've probably heard five times already.

Who was Mouse just mentioning? Oh yeah. Spot. I heard he played a big part in the strike and that he was the 'key' to winning. Hmm. Spot. He was…interesting yesterday. That look, what was that look he had yesterday when I mentioned my name. What was so important about ma name? Oh well, must have been an old girlfriend or something, I did hear he was quite the ladies' man. Not that I have any feelings, romantically speaking, for him. Oh no, those feelings are towards Blink.

Yeah, that's right, I've finally admitted it to myself. I do like Blink. It's just that every time I'm around him, I get all these butterflies in my stomach, and he can always bring a smile to my face, no matter what mood I'm in. He's also so caring, especially towards the younger ones, though he won't admit it, I've seen him telling stories to Tumbler once when he couldn't sleep. Also, I've seen him let Mouse sleep in his bed when he has nightmares. Mouse looks up to him like a brother, and I know Blink considers Mouse his own little brother.

Ever since I've been here, the guys have accepted me and they treat me like their own sister. Sure, they can forget I'm a girl and make inappropriate comments when I'm around, but they're guys, they can't help it, it's in their blood. I've stopped blushing and just pretend I didn't hear it or just laugh it off, most of the time anyway.

Kloppman's so nice. He's taught me everything I should know about these boys. Even though he makes himself scarce a lot, so I have to deal with the guys on my own, I truly don't mind. It is my job after all. And he is getting older, I can't expect him to do everything for me.

"Hey Ann?" Mouse speaks up again.

I look down. "Hmm?" I mumble, still thinking about my new life.

"I was just wondering-" He didn't get to finish his sentence because I yanked him off the path we were on and into the bushes.

Why?

Oh, because I saw Hunter.

A/N: Ooh, more cliffhangers. Hehe. You'll just have to wait until tomorrow to find out what happens to Ann and Mouse.

Anywhoo. Thanks for everything!

Umm. Well, I gotta go type more chapters for this wonderful story you all love so much, so bye!

Enjoy and review!