Chapter Three: Manhattan

"Would you wake up?" Jet yelled shaking Genesis violently. Or only bad enough to actually get his sister to open her eyes.

"I hope to god that you have a good reason for waking me up at," She glanced at the clock by her bed. "Seven in the morning."

"What does it take to get you in a good mood?" Jet asked frowning down at his sister as she slowly dragged herself out of bed.

"I'm be in a good mood when he move back to Detroit," She countered, gathering up some clothes to change into after she took a shower.

"We're never moving back to Detroit."

"Then I've got a lot of bad days coming my way don't I?"

"Just get dressed!"

Mumbling to herself, Genesis moved out into the hallway and over to the marble and porcelain bathroom just down the hall. She opted for a shower instead of a bath to conserve time and even then it took her almost a half an hour to shower. Her muscles ached from the long train ride and the soothing spray of water did charms to not only wake her up but relieve her back pain.

After she pulled on a shirt a pair of dark pants she headed off to where she thought she remembered the kitchen and dining rooms were. Fortunately for her she guessed right.

"Hungry?" Jet asked scaring her as she turned the corner entering the dining room. She yelped some and cast a shadowy glare in her older brothers direction as he smirked at her. She balled her hands into fists but the moment her nails hit her bruised palm she gasped again and turned her attention to her hand for the first time this morning.

"What's wrong no - holy crap! I think you're bruise got worse over night," Jet said leaning over her seeing her hand as it throbbed in pain.

"You think? What was your first clue? The swelling? The color?" She asked arching an eyebrow before flopping herself down in the nearest chair. The glass of ice water in front of her warmed her heart and he grabbed the glass with her right hand to dull the pain down to a numbness.

"No need for sarcasm. Besides your going to meet the guys today. I was so excited I had to wake you up because I couldn't sleep," Jet said sitting down in the seat next to hers.

"Who are these mysterious guys anyway? Criminals?" She asked him, slightly curious at who her brother could possible have made such fast friends with. He was normally more of the reserved kind. Basically the complete opposite of herself.

"Not criminals. Newsies," He corrected her, taking a drink of his own water.

Genesis continued to stare at him with a blank look. "Newsies? What the hell is a newsie?"

"You know, the newsboys that sell the papers on the streets, yelling and carrying on and such," Jet said waving his hands in a mild gesture.

Genesis burst out laughing. "You've got to be kidding right? Newsboys? So do they not know we have money or something? Or are these ones more forgiving then the ones back home?"

"Gen, give it a rest would ya? They're good guys. Unique too. Their leader's name is Jack Kelly, real outspoken, he led them in a strike against the newspapers and such a few months back. And some of the others guys are cool too. This one guy, Kid Blink, wears a patch over his eye like a pirate and another one, Racetrack, or Race, could give you a run for your money when it comes to poker," He said trying to convince Gen of their goodness.

Gen narrowed her eyes at Jet. "No one can beat me in poker."

Jet smirked when he realized that was probably the only thing she had paid attention too at all in his little rant. Genesis took her card playing to much to serious a level.

"Let's just go alright? Forget breakfast, you never eat anything anyways," Jet said standing up and dragging Genesis behind him.

"Screw you," Genesis muttered, but followed Jet anyway. They more she thought about it, the more she figured she could deal with meeting some people who were at least civil, unlike the Brooklyn people. It would help if she ever found herself in some kind of trouble.

The two siblings slowed their pace when they finally got out into the busy streets of Manhattan. They stopped once to buy Genesis some ice for her hand but other than that were uninterrupted. She eyed the crowds warily where as Jet was friendly enough to dip his hat to any young women who passed by him. Complete opposites.

"Hmm. . . I'm pretty sure I saw Jack around this area or maybe a little further," Jet started talking to himself looking for the tall Newsie.

"Well, you left earlier yesterday, so maybe he's already done or something," Genesis suggested shifting the ice on her hand some. Jet raised his eyebrows and looked at her strangely.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were actually trying to help me out. Seriously too. Maybe you should eat breakfast less," Jet said shrugging his shoulders.

"Yeah that way I can act even more bitter with a side order of total hatred. Or maybe I'll just slowly waste away to nothing and complain all day long," She said shooting Jet a glare. He sighed. Too good to be true.

"Fine, fine. Just keep you're eyes peeled will you?" He said trying to reason with her. Which was near next to impossible.

"Keep my eyes peeled? For what? I don't even know what this guy looks like!" She yelled throwing her arms up in frustration. Jet stopped and turned around to talk to her face to face.

"Would you not fight me on one thing? Please? Make living with you easier on me, just a little. I mean, my god, sixteen years of torture is enough for one person already," He hissed at her.

"At least you had two years to yourself. I had none!" She exploded. The pain in her hand acting up again and making her even more irritated then she was.

"I was two when you were born! I could barely walk, let alone understand the immense freedom and happiness that I had at the time," He said equally growing in angry.

"Oh, quit you're whining."

"Me! You are quite possible the most impossible person to deal with in all of America and you're telling me to quit whining? I don't think so, I'll whine if I damn well please!"

"Well you. . ." Genesis stopped because she had yet again forgotten all about her bruise and made a fist. She hissed through clenched teeth and returned the ignored ice bag to her palm. Jet smirked and turned around and began leading her again, their conversation (or argument) over.

"Hey, that's him!" Jet said as they rounded yet another corner. This time Jack was standing with his few remaining papers yelling the headlines furiously. Genesis cocked her head to the side as if to study the older newsie.

"Well, he's certainly. . . different," Genesis finally concluded, letting her gaze travel slowly down the older boy in front of her. She smiled to herself. 'He sure can pick the good looking ones'.

"Don't gawk at him for cryin out loud," Jet said when he saw the look in her eyes. She turned her eyes to Jet and threw her hands up in defeat.

"I promise not to gawk," She replied, crossing her heart with her fingers.

"Just follow me," He said and the two Glory teenagers approached Jack as he sold his last paper.

"Hey Kelly, how's business?" Jet asked as he creeped up behind the taller boy. Jack jumped slightly then turned to face Jet.

"It's good. . . could be better," He said clapping Jet on the back.

"By the way, Jack this is the younger sister I was telling you about. Genesis, this is Jack Kelly," He introduced the two.

Again, forgetting about her hand she shook his extended hand with her injured one. Wincing from his tight grip, she instantly let go and withdrew her hand back to the melting ice.

Jack scowled at her actions, looking to Jet for some kind of explanation. Jet, however, was shaking his head and looking at Genesis.

"You should get that checked out. Probably have a couple broken bones or something," Jet said nodding to her hand.

"I hate doctors," Genesis growled (mostly in pain) and pressed the now cold water closer on the bruise.

"Is there anything you don't hate Gen?" Jet sighed in frustration at her pessimistic views, closing his eyes briefly.

"Ice cream. Chocolate ice cream," Genesis answered immediately. Jack stifled a laugh at the banter, covering it up as a cough.

"You wanna meet da boys now?" Jack said finally taking the attention away from Gen's hand.

"Don't know. Do I? When was the last time they saw a girl?" Jet elbowed her in the stomach but Jack just raised and eyebrow in questioning amusement.

"Sorry Jack. In Detroit the newsboys were less then of the pleasant sort," Jet explained her comment to their young guide.

"Ha, I'll say. They were like little demons in training or something. In fact I got into a fight with one once and told him to shove his papers up his ass. So what's he do? He takes the papers and -

Jet slammed his hand over her mouth to stop her from ending that particularly disturbing memory. Genesis glared up at him and tried to bite his hand. Luckily, he knew this move and removed his hand in time to hear her teeth crack together loudly.

"Boy you two get along great," Jack observed smirking at the two siblings. Already he could tell they were complete opposites despite their physical similarities.

"I just adore my older brother," Gen replied sarcastically.

"Yeah, I don't mind myself too much either," Jet barely got the words out of his mouth before dodging a punch from her left hand. At that Jack laughed out loud and led the two up to the lodging house where he was sure the boys would be already. Jet followed soundly, while Genesis explored a bit more.

While the other countless introductions were made upon arriving in the place where everyone else was, Genesis watched the many boys mingle around, smile and laugh like the world was at their feet. It brought a small smile to her own face as well. Their little "hole in the wall" and close friendships reminded her of her gang back home. The Dodgers had been something else, and seeing all of Jack Kelly's newsies together made her feel almost at home. Almost.

" 'Ay Jack, one of Spot's boys was over 'ere earlier," The one called Race said coming up to the trio when the commotion and such had died down.

"What fer?" Jack asked, narrowing his eyes slightly. It wasn't that he was scared of Spot but he didn't like knowing that his boys were coming over here at free will.

"Well, 'e said som'thin 'bout Spot wantin to meet da new newsie. And when we told 'em dat 'dare wasn't no new newsie 'e said dat 'e was talkin 'bout Jet," Race explained, glancing over at Jet and Genesis.

"So why don't Spot jist come down 'ere?" Jack asked growing confused as to why Spot would want to meet Jet at all.

"Don' know. Didn' ask. 'E jist said 'is peace an' left. Sayin dat you should bring Jet 'round sometime," Race countered shrugging.

Jack looked over at Jet and Gen. Jet had his eyes raised in wonder while Genesis just looked confused. She didn't even know who this Spot guy was. But what did he want with her brother?

"Alright, alright. . . don't want to keep Spot waitin or anyt'ing," Jack sighed running a hand through his hair. Then he turned to face Jet and his confused sister.

"When Race said 'Spot' did he mean that Conlon guy from Brooklyn you were telling me about yesterday?" Jet asked furrowing his eyebrows at Jack's expression and reluctance to have him meet the other powerful newsie leader.

"Yeah and fer whatever reason 'e wants to meet 'cha. An' we don't want to keep 'im waitin," Jack said. He told Race to tell the others where they were going then motioned for the siblings to follow him back out into the streets of New York.

"Um, who's Spot?" Genesis finally asked as the trio walked from Manhattan into Brooklyn territory. She didn't want to sound stupid but she was actually starting to worry. Something she didn't do a whole lot.

"Spot Conlon. He's da leader of da Brooklyn newsies. Most respected newsie in all of New York. Lot of people are 'fraid of 'im. Intimidating," Jack quickly said as he led them through unfamiliar twists and turns along the curvy Brooklyn streets.

Jet leaned into his sister to whisper in her ear and elaborate. "He's like you were in Detroit. Only he's here."

Genesis nodded and hardened her facial expression into a blank void as Jack stopped suddenly. She glanced around the place slowly, taking in the surroundings all around her. She recognized this place well enough to know she didn't want to be here. This was the place were she was attacked the day before and her eyes darkened as she wildly looked around the crates off to her right as if they were poison. Jet shoot her a concerned look.

"This is the place were I got my hand hurt," She whispered over at him. Jet nodded in understanding and looked up at Jack who was standing tall in front of them.

"Ah Jack, is it safe to be here?" He asked slowly.

"Yeah, 'e's comin. One of 'is boys saw us 'ere," Jack answered glancing over at his new friend. He noticed Genesis's dark brown eyes darting around the place warily as if searching for something. He decided not to question her actions, even when she pulled her right hand closer to her body.

"Well, well, well," A smooth slightly deep voice cut through the air stinging the ears of the three teens. "To wat do I'se own da pleasure Jacky- boy?"

"Heard youse wanted to meet me new boy, so I t'ought I'd drop by," Jack shrugged nonchalantly. Staring straight ahead because he knew exactly where Spot's voice was coming from.

Sure enough a short boy with dark blonde hair and blue eyes stepped out of the shadows and in front of Jack. The two leaders spit-shook and then Jack stepped backward slightly so Spot could get a plain view of Jet. He looked the other boy up and down as if inspecting him. Tactfully, Jet kept his mouth closed. Genesis, who had ignored the voice and person all together was still looking around the area as the place was now crawling with human activity intently watching the scene below and around them.

Not seeing the boy who had shot her with the sling shot she brought her narrowed eyes down to street level once again and looked over at her brother. What she saw made her eyes widen and darken in fury and the same time. Her mouth fell open slightly as she finally saw the face of the boy that was basically sizing Jet up. That was the guy who had shot her! And not hearing the previous conversations or introductions she had no idea who he was, but he intended to give him a piece of her mind.

"You!" She screamed pointing an accusing finger at the short boy in front of Jet. Everyone's eyes fell on her. And she saw the nameless boys eyes widen slightly upon seeing her.

"You're the one who shot that. . . thing at me!" She yelled. Jet and Jack glanced nervously at each other then at Spot and eventually back at Genesis who was far from finished with her triad.

She lifted her hand to the eye level of the boy exposing the black and purple swelling flesh to him. Some people around her looked a little shocked and Jack raised an eyebrow suddenly realizing why she had hastily let go of his hand earlier. "You see this you little punk! Get a good look, because you did this too me! And it hurts like hell!" She continued to rant at him, her eyes fixed on his. Her frowned and she reciprocated the gesture with one of her own. She opened her mouth to say more but Jet grabbed her by the arm and glared at her purposefully.

"What is it Jet?" She hissed, not taking her eyes after the boy to his side.

"Are you insane! This is Spot Conlon," He whispered angrily back at her. This information caught her attention and she tore her eyes from Spot to Jet to see if he was joking.

"You have got to kidding me!" She cried indignantly. Not believing what he told her.

"I'm not."

"You mean the short guy. The one with the cane?" She asked not understanding how the guy in front of her could be this all mighty Spot Conlon.

"Yes!" Jet hissed at her, letting go of her arm.

She looked him over, raking her eyes slowly as if trying to devour his shape and mind. She shook her head and turned to Jet.

"No way. No one in their right mind could find this guy intimidating. I mean, look at him. He's short and I've got more muscle in my left arm then he does in his whole body! Plus, he's got to be barely thirteen," She whispered to him. Feeling the stares and daggers in her back for the first time.

"He's my age."

Again Genesis looked at her brother as if he had lost a few brain cells. But she shut her mouth and faded into the background behind him so as to not cause anymore trouble.

"Let me apologize for my sister. Genesis can be. . . hard to handle," Jet said slowly.

Spot nodded.

"I understand that you wanted to meet me for some reason. And I never even introduced myself. The name's Jet Glory. We just moved here from Detroit," He said extending a hand to the leader trying to make peace for the harm his sister caused.

"Well, Jet, welcome to New York. And you don't 'ave to apologize fer yer sistah. I'se sure she's a big goil," Spot said glaring openly at the girl who had yelled at him just a few moments earlier.

"I'll apologize to you the day hell freezes over," She said from Jet's side. Her comment was so full of venom that the people around her leaned backward a little. How dare she talk like that to Spot Conlon?!

"Gen, watch it," Jet growled to her warningly. She returned the growl with one of her own and then continued to glare at Spot.

"Wese should probably be goin'. 'Day gots a home to be at," Jack cut in before any blood was shed between the two parties. Spot and Jet nodded. And Jet led his sister away from the crowd while Jack spoke quietly with Spot for a moment.

When he approached he looked at Genesis questioningly then told her what Spot had said. " 'E said ta stay off of Brooklyn land unless I'se or anudder newsie is wit you."

"I'll gladly stay the hell away from Brooklyn forever," She answered looking down at her bruised hand.

As the three walked back to Manhattan, Jet turned to his sister to ask her the question he had been wanting to ask her since the run in.

"Were you trying to get yourself killed? Because I think that was a pretty good way of doing it."

Genesis's eyes flashed at him. "No, I wasn't. I didn't know who he was and even when I did I didn't care. He's the one that shot me with the marble or whatever."

"Lord, what is your problem?"

"I'm sorry I can't be intimidated by a guy who's shorter then me and has the name of a dog!" She yelled stopping abruptly. That answer shut Jet up and made Jack look at her with shocked eyes.

"Just forget it, let's get out of here," She mumbled and headed off in the direction of their new house. Jet shook Jack an apologizing look then took off after his sixteen year old sister.

'Well, dat went well.' Jack thought to himself shaking his head and watched the two until they disappeared then he walked back to the lodging house slowly.

A/N: WOOhoo! I finally finished this chapter it's a long one for me. Eleven pages in 14 font. Ha! Anyway, I dedicate this chapter to WeBuiltThisCityOnRockAndRoll who gave me two really, really kind reviews for this story! Thank you 4-ever!

Oh and btw, if you haven't guessed yet, Genesis is 16 and Jet is 18. Just so know in the future.