Misunderstood

By: StormyOne

Chapter 1: To Manhattan

I got off the train as the sun was setting and stepped onto the streets of Manhattan. I knew he was here somewhere; I just had to find him. I heard he had become a newsie. He had never written, or called, or communicated at all and I was furious for it. I was 16 now and had nothing to loose so I left Santa Fe.

I had been walking for at least an hour when I saw an old wooden building with a sign in the front reading 'Newsboys Lodging House'. I had found him. I was ready to tear his head off and beat him up I was so mad.

I busted through the door in my shorts and a tank top, revealing my lean arm muscles. I didn't have a suitcase so I had nothing to throw.

"Where's Jack Kelly?" I asked in a rage. I walked up to the closest newsie, who happened to have a cigar in his mouth and look him dead in the eye. I had piercing blue eyes that would tempt anyone. He stared at me.

"Can you tell me where he is or not?" I yelled, breaking our gaze. The boy stood up. "Hang on one sec. I'll get him for ya." I grew impatient but after a minute or so the boy came back with a taller guy in a cowboy hat. I knew it was him. As soon as he was off the stairs I tackled him to the ground.

"You JERK!" I scolded. "Why the hell did you leave?" I had him pinned to the ground and some of the boys were looking over in curiosity and amusement.

"Emily?" He asked. I glared at him but got of him and stood up crossing my arms over my chest.

"Who else do ya think it would be?" I asked sarcastically. He slowly got up and looked at me. "What?" I questioned angrily.

"Where is everyone else?" He asked me quietly.

"They died." I said harshly. He gaped at me. "Yea, that's right, and no thanks to you! What the hell did you think you were doing, leaving me there with all of them after mom died? Didn't you care? I was only 10 and had to take care of everyone!" I said angrily.

"I didn't know…" His voice dropped. This got me mad; I was like a bomb, waiting to blow. "WHAT?" I asked in rage. "How could you not know, did I mention I was TEN? That's 5 other kids I had to take care of by myself!" I sat down next to the boy with the cigar and buried my face in my hands.

"How'd they die?" He asked me, touching my shoulder. I jerked away from him but answered.

 "House fire. I was out working to get food and there was a fire, nothin I could do, but maybe if YOU were there one of us could have been home." I confessed, wanting him to know all of the pain I had been through, and how much I had suffered. He frowned at me.

"That's no reason to come here and treat me like shit, I mean, just because I wasn't home." He mumbled.

"Just because you weren't home? Ok, if that's not good enough, try this, because you left me to take care of 5 other kids, because you left me to get my own job, because you left me without warning, you didn't even say goodbye!" I ranted on again.

"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't know my leaving would hurt anyone, it's been 5 years-"

"Six…" I interrupted him. "Your sixteen now?" He asked me. "Yea…" I said, tears flowing from my eyes.

I ran up to him and hugged him. "I'm so sorry…" I told him. I wanted to make him feel bad but I didn't think it would actually happen. "I missed you." I mumbled to him.

"I missed you too." He pulled away and looked at me. He smiled.

"Lets get you a bunk." He slung his arm around my shoulder and led me upstairs as the boys followed.

"Wait!" A boy with the cigar yelled upstairs. "How are you two…like…related?"

"I smiled at him, and he smiled back. Jack looked from me to the boy and shook his head. "We're brother and sister." He answered. "Why Race, ya interested?" He teased. He tugged my shoulder to lead me back up the stairs and I followed.

*~*HAHAH! lol. I've always wanted to be related to a newsie. lol. I just didn't think It'd be jack. I half wanted it to be Race but then I couldn't go out with him, and if it was Spot Jack wouldn't yell at me about sumthin…lolol.*~* 

I'm not gonna write the next chapter until I get at least 2 reviews ok? So r/r.