Chapter One: Manhattan
Jet blinked back tears as he stared straight into the midday sun. It was stupid, he knew that, but after such a dark train ride all he wanted to do was kiss the golden orb above his head. Plus the fact that leaving the train behind meant not having to listen to his sister sigh and feel sorry for herself anymore. That was seriously getting old and it had only been a day and half.
"New York, New York, what a wonderful town! The Bronx is up and the -
Jet rolled his eyes when his sister started singing, sarcastically, a song that she had heard a night club singer sing once. He knew she didn't want to be here, but did she have to ruin it for everyone else?
"Would you shut up?" He asked, a bit rudely.
"Sorry. . . just trying to be positive," Genesis replied, raising her hands in a defeat look and glaring at him. He rolled his eyes again.
"Well you're positive thoughts are positively annoying," He said shooting her a look full of pointy daggers, she simply returned the look, but, thankfully, shut her mouth. Jet sighed with relief.
"Stop you're arguing you two. . . you can fight once we get moved into the house," Their father told them, briskly walking past them to lead them to where they were to go.
The two siblings followed obediently, and fixed their eyes on the busy city unfolding around them. There were people walking around talking hurriedly, while children were screaming in laughter and anguish alike. There anger forgotten, the two looked at each other with raised eyebrows. So this was Manhattan? It wasn't what they had expected, but then again when you had never left Michigan before how would you know what to expect from such a grand city as New York?
Both parties, however, left their thoughts behind upon seeing the house that their father had bought for them to live in. In Detroit they had been in a large house, but this. . . this was a mansion worthy of the president. It's Greek style pillars rising at least two dozen feet into the air and the arched door was found only after traveling across a wide front porch of marble and granite. They were in awe of the place - and shocked that they had enough money to buy a house of this proportion.
Jet threw his suitcases carelessly on the floor of the room he claimed as his own. It had a large oak chest in front of the bed which looked almost to soft. A closet of the walk-in variety was on one side and a balcony was on the opposite, over looking the entire manicured lawn. Jet thought it was a little too rich for his tastes, but he learned long ago not to complain about what his parents gave him.
"Lover-ly huh?" Genesis said startling him out of his thoughts. He turned to see her standing in the door way looking around at his room. She stepped in a little further and looked at the bed.
"Yeah, it's. . . big," He commented lamely. She smirked at his loss of words and nodded in agreement.
"My rooms down the hall, across from yours and two doors down," She said gesturing with her hand. She walked up beside him and cautiously went out onto the balcony, the sun hitting her face. Jet followed her soundlessly.
"Where do you think he got the money for this place?" He asked his sister. She shrugged her shoulders as she watched the already hired help cleaning up what little still needed to be done in the front yard.
"Probably gambling, or lying. You know, he's the respectable sort," She scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Sure, sure," He said. It was true his father wasn't the cleanest man in the world, but Genesis had spent some time in jail so she really didn't have room to talk.
"Besides," She continued, "What does is matter? We're here aren't we? The new version of paradise right? Why do you care?"
Jet frowned and leaned forward onto the ledge of the balcony and slowly let out his next breath before answering Genesis's questioning tone of voice.
"Yeah, we're here. I was just wondering ya know? No big deal. It isn't paradise yet, but it could be," He said confidently.
Genesis snorted and turned to face him an imploring look in her steely brown eyes. "What did you have against Detroit so much?"
"Everything. The crime, the killing, the pain, the rivalries. . . why did you like it so much?" He countered also turning to look at her as her eyes narrowed and darkened.
"It was my home. And you take you home the way it is. Without question or care," She said.
"Sure, take it or leave it. And I chose to leave it. So welcome to New York," Jet motioned angrily. Genesis shook her head and left the balcony.
"Welcome my ass," She growled just loud enough for Jet to hear her as she left his room and him alone, probably going to lock herself inside her new room. He didn't mind, as long as he didn't have to listen to her anymore.
He watched the city just beyond his clear line of vision and decided to go and have a look around. He didn't know the city yet, but if you never got out of the house how would you? So he told his dad he was leaving and without waiting for an answer slammed the front door shut, proceeding to walk to the busy city his family had just left upon arriving.
The air around him was thick, just like Detroit's had been, but it had a different taste to it. The blood and violence wasn't as heavy, a good sign in the eyes of the teenager as he walked briskly by the small shops and vendors that were lining the streets. Kids younger then him were running around with dirty faces as their stressed parents chased after him. One particular funny instance was an old fan waving his cane around in the air and yelling in his horse voice after a swift boy no older then ten. He chuckled to himself as he passed the scene.
His molded together thoughts were only interrupted by a shrill shout coming up a head of him. He grimaced at the loud invasion of his ears then looked to where the sound was coming from. A boy, probably his age, was standing yelling the latest headline and waving the paper above his head. A newsboy. They had them in Detroit, but none were as loud as this single one.
The boy was certainty interesting looking. Not something he expected to see in the middle of the speeding people and places. He was tall, and his brown hair was falling slightly over his face. A bandana wrapped around his neck caused Jet to smile softly to himself. Confidently, he walked towards the boys voice, hoping to meet the unique person.
"Hey!" Jet yelled when he was no more then a foot behind the guy. The guy turned around and smiled brightly at Jet.
"Youse want to buy a pape sir?" He asked. Sir? He mentally shook himself and nodded in response, digging into his pocket for the money to pay for the newspaper. The boy handed in one in exchange for the coins.
"T'ank you sir. . ." He trailed off at looked at Jet strangely. Jet just looked back waiting for the question that was bouncing around behind the boy's dark eyes.
"Problem?" Jet finally asked breaking the silence.
"You from 'round 'ere?" He asked, briefly looking Jet up and down.
"Nah. . . just moved here with my dad and sister, why?" He asked narrowing his eyes slightly. The boy shook his head.
"Well, youse don' look like youse from 'round 'ere. Plus, youse ain't familiar. I'se knows all 'da people 'dat live 'round," He said, shrugging.
"Ah, and you are?"
"Name's Jack Kelly," Jack extended his hand towards Jet who shook it firmly. Jack grinned.
"Jet Glory," Jet reciprocated.
"Youse know yer way around yet?" Jack questioned, eyebrows furrowing. Jet shook his head. Jack nodded.
"Well, I could show ya around if youse like. Could take ya back to my lodging house ta meet da boys. It'll make it easier on ya," He offered. Jet smiled graciously.
"That'd be good. . . I'd appreciate it. Is there a certain time I should come back here or something?" Jet asked.
"Nah. . . just hang 'round. I'se only got a couple more papes to sell 'den wese can go," Jack gestured to the three remaining papers that were stuffed under his arm. Jet backed off some as if to answer him and Jack went back to shouting the headline.
Jet glanced down at the paper in his hands and snickered at the pronounced headline that was being stamped off the page in bold black letters. Only in the big city could something like that happen. If it was even true, who knew with reporters?
"You ready Jet?" Jack asked breaking Jet's thoughts and tucking his paper under his arm. He nodded.
"Good. . . I'll show ya 'round foist, 'den me Newsies should be back an' wese can go back 'dare an' meet dem," Jack said.
"Newsies?"
"Yeah, like me," He glanced at Jet curiously.
"Oh, you mean newsboys?" Jet countered.
"Yeah."
"Okay. . . sorry, I'm not quite down with the words and accent here yet," Jet apologized throwing Jack a look as the two boys walked side by side down the street.
"I'se can tell," Jack smirked. "Where yer from anyways?"
"Detroit, Michigan," At Jack's blank look he continued. "It's the state that looks like your hand. Detroit's a big city like New York."
Jack nodded. "Dat's good. Youse won't 'ave to get use' to da people an' such."
"Nope."
After a while of walking and some pointing out of the local joints like Tibby's and Medda's, Jack turned to his new friend, he should be getting back to the lodge, he figured most of his boys were there already and this was a good a time as any for Jet to meet them.
"So you ready?"
Jet turned at the repeat of the line Jack had used earlier that day. His mind raced trying to figure out what he was suppose to be ready for.
"Sure. . . what am I suppose to me ready for?"
Jack smiled. "Meetin' me boys. Yer might wan' to watch yerself, 'dare a rowdy bunch." And with that Jack set off in the direction of the lodging house while all Jet could do was follow the taller, faster boy.
A/N: All the other guys will be coming soon, next chapter I think. Please R and R, this is my first Newsies fan fic, so I'm trying.
Jet blinked back tears as he stared straight into the midday sun. It was stupid, he knew that, but after such a dark train ride all he wanted to do was kiss the golden orb above his head. Plus the fact that leaving the train behind meant not having to listen to his sister sigh and feel sorry for herself anymore. That was seriously getting old and it had only been a day and half.
"New York, New York, what a wonderful town! The Bronx is up and the -
Jet rolled his eyes when his sister started singing, sarcastically, a song that she had heard a night club singer sing once. He knew she didn't want to be here, but did she have to ruin it for everyone else?
"Would you shut up?" He asked, a bit rudely.
"Sorry. . . just trying to be positive," Genesis replied, raising her hands in a defeat look and glaring at him. He rolled his eyes again.
"Well you're positive thoughts are positively annoying," He said shooting her a look full of pointy daggers, she simply returned the look, but, thankfully, shut her mouth. Jet sighed with relief.
"Stop you're arguing you two. . . you can fight once we get moved into the house," Their father told them, briskly walking past them to lead them to where they were to go.
The two siblings followed obediently, and fixed their eyes on the busy city unfolding around them. There were people walking around talking hurriedly, while children were screaming in laughter and anguish alike. There anger forgotten, the two looked at each other with raised eyebrows. So this was Manhattan? It wasn't what they had expected, but then again when you had never left Michigan before how would you know what to expect from such a grand city as New York?
Both parties, however, left their thoughts behind upon seeing the house that their father had bought for them to live in. In Detroit they had been in a large house, but this. . . this was a mansion worthy of the president. It's Greek style pillars rising at least two dozen feet into the air and the arched door was found only after traveling across a wide front porch of marble and granite. They were in awe of the place - and shocked that they had enough money to buy a house of this proportion.
Jet threw his suitcases carelessly on the floor of the room he claimed as his own. It had a large oak chest in front of the bed which looked almost to soft. A closet of the walk-in variety was on one side and a balcony was on the opposite, over looking the entire manicured lawn. Jet thought it was a little too rich for his tastes, but he learned long ago not to complain about what his parents gave him.
"Lover-ly huh?" Genesis said startling him out of his thoughts. He turned to see her standing in the door way looking around at his room. She stepped in a little further and looked at the bed.
"Yeah, it's. . . big," He commented lamely. She smirked at his loss of words and nodded in agreement.
"My rooms down the hall, across from yours and two doors down," She said gesturing with her hand. She walked up beside him and cautiously went out onto the balcony, the sun hitting her face. Jet followed her soundlessly.
"Where do you think he got the money for this place?" He asked his sister. She shrugged her shoulders as she watched the already hired help cleaning up what little still needed to be done in the front yard.
"Probably gambling, or lying. You know, he's the respectable sort," She scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Sure, sure," He said. It was true his father wasn't the cleanest man in the world, but Genesis had spent some time in jail so she really didn't have room to talk.
"Besides," She continued, "What does is matter? We're here aren't we? The new version of paradise right? Why do you care?"
Jet frowned and leaned forward onto the ledge of the balcony and slowly let out his next breath before answering Genesis's questioning tone of voice.
"Yeah, we're here. I was just wondering ya know? No big deal. It isn't paradise yet, but it could be," He said confidently.
Genesis snorted and turned to face him an imploring look in her steely brown eyes. "What did you have against Detroit so much?"
"Everything. The crime, the killing, the pain, the rivalries. . . why did you like it so much?" He countered also turning to look at her as her eyes narrowed and darkened.
"It was my home. And you take you home the way it is. Without question or care," She said.
"Sure, take it or leave it. And I chose to leave it. So welcome to New York," Jet motioned angrily. Genesis shook her head and left the balcony.
"Welcome my ass," She growled just loud enough for Jet to hear her as she left his room and him alone, probably going to lock herself inside her new room. He didn't mind, as long as he didn't have to listen to her anymore.
He watched the city just beyond his clear line of vision and decided to go and have a look around. He didn't know the city yet, but if you never got out of the house how would you? So he told his dad he was leaving and without waiting for an answer slammed the front door shut, proceeding to walk to the busy city his family had just left upon arriving.
The air around him was thick, just like Detroit's had been, but it had a different taste to it. The blood and violence wasn't as heavy, a good sign in the eyes of the teenager as he walked briskly by the small shops and vendors that were lining the streets. Kids younger then him were running around with dirty faces as their stressed parents chased after him. One particular funny instance was an old fan waving his cane around in the air and yelling in his horse voice after a swift boy no older then ten. He chuckled to himself as he passed the scene.
His molded together thoughts were only interrupted by a shrill shout coming up a head of him. He grimaced at the loud invasion of his ears then looked to where the sound was coming from. A boy, probably his age, was standing yelling the latest headline and waving the paper above his head. A newsboy. They had them in Detroit, but none were as loud as this single one.
The boy was certainty interesting looking. Not something he expected to see in the middle of the speeding people and places. He was tall, and his brown hair was falling slightly over his face. A bandana wrapped around his neck caused Jet to smile softly to himself. Confidently, he walked towards the boys voice, hoping to meet the unique person.
"Hey!" Jet yelled when he was no more then a foot behind the guy. The guy turned around and smiled brightly at Jet.
"Youse want to buy a pape sir?" He asked. Sir? He mentally shook himself and nodded in response, digging into his pocket for the money to pay for the newspaper. The boy handed in one in exchange for the coins.
"T'ank you sir. . ." He trailed off at looked at Jet strangely. Jet just looked back waiting for the question that was bouncing around behind the boy's dark eyes.
"Problem?" Jet finally asked breaking the silence.
"You from 'round 'ere?" He asked, briefly looking Jet up and down.
"Nah. . . just moved here with my dad and sister, why?" He asked narrowing his eyes slightly. The boy shook his head.
"Well, youse don' look like youse from 'round 'ere. Plus, youse ain't familiar. I'se knows all 'da people 'dat live 'round," He said, shrugging.
"Ah, and you are?"
"Name's Jack Kelly," Jack extended his hand towards Jet who shook it firmly. Jack grinned.
"Jet Glory," Jet reciprocated.
"Youse know yer way around yet?" Jack questioned, eyebrows furrowing. Jet shook his head. Jack nodded.
"Well, I could show ya around if youse like. Could take ya back to my lodging house ta meet da boys. It'll make it easier on ya," He offered. Jet smiled graciously.
"That'd be good. . . I'd appreciate it. Is there a certain time I should come back here or something?" Jet asked.
"Nah. . . just hang 'round. I'se only got a couple more papes to sell 'den wese can go," Jack gestured to the three remaining papers that were stuffed under his arm. Jet backed off some as if to answer him and Jack went back to shouting the headline.
Jet glanced down at the paper in his hands and snickered at the pronounced headline that was being stamped off the page in bold black letters. Only in the big city could something like that happen. If it was even true, who knew with reporters?
"You ready Jet?" Jack asked breaking Jet's thoughts and tucking his paper under his arm. He nodded.
"Good. . . I'll show ya 'round foist, 'den me Newsies should be back an' wese can go back 'dare an' meet dem," Jack said.
"Newsies?"
"Yeah, like me," He glanced at Jet curiously.
"Oh, you mean newsboys?" Jet countered.
"Yeah."
"Okay. . . sorry, I'm not quite down with the words and accent here yet," Jet apologized throwing Jack a look as the two boys walked side by side down the street.
"I'se can tell," Jack smirked. "Where yer from anyways?"
"Detroit, Michigan," At Jack's blank look he continued. "It's the state that looks like your hand. Detroit's a big city like New York."
Jack nodded. "Dat's good. Youse won't 'ave to get use' to da people an' such."
"Nope."
After a while of walking and some pointing out of the local joints like Tibby's and Medda's, Jack turned to his new friend, he should be getting back to the lodge, he figured most of his boys were there already and this was a good a time as any for Jet to meet them.
"So you ready?"
Jet turned at the repeat of the line Jack had used earlier that day. His mind raced trying to figure out what he was suppose to be ready for.
"Sure. . . what am I suppose to me ready for?"
Jack smiled. "Meetin' me boys. Yer might wan' to watch yerself, 'dare a rowdy bunch." And with that Jack set off in the direction of the lodging house while all Jet could do was follow the taller, faster boy.
A/N: All the other guys will be coming soon, next chapter I think. Please R and R, this is my first Newsies fan fic, so I'm trying.
