Disclaimer: Everything, except for the characters we all know and obsess about (aka da newsies) has come from my own mind.

AN: This is just a peak of one of my new stories entitled, Tuesday Morning. I suggest listening to Michelle Branch's song of the same titleit helps to set the mood for what the story will become.

Tuesday Morning

Prologue:

Ah, hea he comes. The four looked outside of Tibby's front window into the cold city blocked only by a single pane of glass. Huddling around the warm liquid in front of them they tried to warm their fingers and toes. January in New York City meant bitter wind and freezing temperatures and the promise of two more months of weather much the same.

But Jack, walking with his arm around the waist of a perky brunette seemed untouched by the snow. And wit Bernadette Simpson, of all people! Eavesdropping as friends do, they watched as the couple parted, some heaving kissing involved before the girl continued to saunter down the street.

Jack walked into the room and settled at the table with his friends, grinning proudly at their congratulating comments. He crossed his arms on the table and leaned forward to look at the man across from him. Sorry about Bernie, Spot. But you know how it worksone man's trash is another man's

Spot interjected with a quick nod of his head. Don't worry bout it Kelly. I know I ain't missin much. The others around him snickered at the comment as Jack reclined back in his seat. And I'd be glad to take out da pretty goil waitin at da counta fo ya, especially afta she smacks ya fo kissing dat Simpson goil.

The three other heads turned with Jack's as he cringed at the annoyed blonde at the front counter, trying to act indifferent to the scene she'd witnessed. Ooo, me seven o'clock

Dat's Patti, from Ms. Lipman's School fo Goils, ain't it. Hissed Blink, drawing the attention of the other two. Spot was thoroughly enjoying a smoke, leaning back to prop his feet up on another chair; it seemed as the situation were playing for his viewing pleasure.

As Jack strolled up to the counter, playing the suave womanizer he'd easily evolved into, the other boys watched the expression on Ms. Patti. She'd faced Jack with eyebrows knotted in obvious anger, slowly releasing her wrinkled brow and brightening into a welcoming smile only after Jack's hand had slowly worked it's way up and down her sweater covered arm, resting only to link his hand with hers. After a couple more moments of conversation Ms. Pattie left, placing a kiss on Jack's cheek and aware of the eyes of his friends, following her out the front door.

Cocky bastard. Skittery mumbled, pushing back in his seat as Jack returned and held his hand open, as if waiting another round of congrats. One of dese days Kelly, a goil's gonna step all ova you just like you do to dem.

Yea, and you'se gonna be da next owna of da World. His smile grew wider and the sliver of tooth missing from his upper row was easily viewed.

I dunno Jack, he's got a point. Commented Mush, pointing at Skittery with the food in his hand before devoring another large moutful.

Ah, eat ya sandwich, woud ya Blink pushed his friend roughly before turning back to Jack's expected reaction.

He had ordered the usual, watching the retreating figure of the waitress and licking his lips.
He turned back to his friends, feeding off of the attention. dis city's full of goils, all waitin ta kneel befo me. Really, it's quite simple. He motioned towards the others at the table.
When you tree have time, I'll show ya some tricks.

Leave em dere innocence Kelly, will ya. Spot removed his feet now that the waitress had returned and smiled knowingly, tipping his hat as she refilled his drink.

Jack noticed the exchange, licking his finger after stirring his coffee and figured that girl would be his new target. What, you don't tink it's true, Spot?

A smoke ring exited his open mouth, The other three snickered again.
Jack straightened at the challenge, ignoring the welcoming looks of the waitress now that she had returned with his meal. Den prove it, pick any goil. She'll be mine in He pondered the amount of time.

in time fo Bizzy's party.

He snapped in Skittery's direction, a sign of agreement and nodded approval. In time for Bizzy's party.

Spot smiled mischievously, calculating that that gave Jack almost three weeks. A little lenient but he figured he'd be generous. He looked at the other three, their heads leaning in closer as they scanned the restaurant. Mush was the first to offer, picking the waitress. Spot shook his head and claimed it was too easy, besides, she's going out wit me tanight.

Again, the search continued and two more girls were picked, both too mousy for the job. Spot had seen them come in every morning, eye him and the others at his table, and giggle behind their hands. They worked over at the Southgate mill and had the reputation of easy pickings. As Jack continued to lazily eat his food, obviously amused by the whole situation Spot knew he had to pick the right girl.

But the situation seemed less than desirable and he was about to settle on a beast of a girl (just to make the situation that much more unpleasant for Jack) when the front door opened and a new customer appeared. Her face was hidden behind the open cover of a book and she seemed to move towards a back table without even looking up. He hadn't noticed her during any of his other visits but it was obvious she new the place, chatting amicably with the waitress, ordering without viewing the menu and resuming her book as if it were everyday routine. From where she was sitting, almost across the restaurant from his table, Jack's back was facing her and she wasn't stealing glances like many of the others in the room.

But Spot recognized the purple and white uniform of the local St. Mary's Catholic School for girls and he hesitated. It was a boarding school, run by a hoard of strict nuns whose purpose was to educate and advise the women of the future. Many of the girls were from families with money, certainly families who did not approve of socializing with newsies. But what a family miles away didn't see, didn't harm none and Spot had had quite a few rounds of drinks with some of St. Mary's girls. They were flirty, risqué and driven with the idea of pissing off Daddy.

So it seemed odd that a girl from such a high profile school would risk a visit to Tibby's, alone no doubt. And to have her head stuck in a book while newsies filled the room was definitely out of character. This girl, plainly speaking, was a stiff and a breed of female Kelly hadn't dealt with yet.

Dat one, He pointed discreetly with a nod of his head and Jack twisted in his seat.

Which one? He squirmed to see whom Spot was referring to as Skittery, Blink, and then Mush, caught on and chuckled with agreement. I can't see her.

Jesus, you're pathetic. Spot grabbed Jack's shoulder and pointed outright towards the back booth. By this time another girl, dressed in the same uniform as the first, had arrived. She was looking around the place with a little bit more hesitation than the first and clutched her books to her chest. Spot caught her eye and flashed a twinkle of blue, delighted to see her smile spread across her lips. This was the St. Mary reaction he'd expected.

Jack knocked him away from the sightline of the brunette, cracking his knuckles in one full sweep. Okay, dat one it tis.




Oh, Eppie, look at that boy over there. Anna fell into the seat next to her friend, pushing the book away from her nose. There, the one with the newsie cap on.

Trying to continue her read, Eppie laughed lightly and did not look up. Every boy in here has a newsie' cap on, as you so ingeniously call them. Eppie had already noticed the boy, discreetly letting her eyes wander to his features when she'd heard his laugh. He went by Spot nowadays, Spot Conlon, and Eppie wondered how many other people within Tibby's knew of his real name like she did.

Anna scoffed, accustomed to Eppie's reserved behavior. Not true, the boy sitting across from blue eyes is wearing a cowboy hat. There.

That seemed to catch Eppie's attention and she looked up quickly to see who Anna was referring to. Her staring was so obvious and if she were of the right mind she would have cursed herself for the act. It risked exposing her crush, because the cowboy wearing newsie was named Jack and had been her obsession since entering St. Mary's. Every morning she walked by him, his stack of papers under one arm and his eyes wandering to every skirt that past. Quickly she learned that he frequented Tibby's and on Monday's, returning from her weekend at home, she'd stop by and hope to catch his attention.

But this had been continuing for almost three years and he still hadn't said much more than a thank you ma'm' after buying one of his papers. At some point through the years she had settled with those few words and the occasional sighting until the Monday mornings at Tibby's had just become routine. She'd given up on Jack, dreaming of him as the heroes in the books she read.

Well, well, well, maybe I'm looking at the wrong guy. Anna smiled knowingly and snuck the prized bacon as Eppie blushed and returned to the comfortable pages of her book.

They're newsies Anna. Your mother would send you away for just being here.
Her friend shrugged and dropped her books on the table. But she doesn't know I'm here. And besides, getting caught would be worth it after seeing what a crush you have on Cowboy over there.

I do not have a crush on him!

The lady doth protest too muchdontcha think?

Eppie returned to her pages once again, mumbling under her breath. Leave it to you to throw around a quote from the only part of Hamlet you read.

Low blow Richards, you know I'm a fan of Shakespeare. She chewed on her nail. He reinvented love. Anna continued to gawk in the direction of Blue Eyes while Eppie struggled not to look up again.

She loved Anna and knew that their teasing was evident of how close they were but at that moment she regretted telling her about the Monday morning breakfast. Anna was from the upper part of town, attending St. Mary's like her mother had, like Anna's mother's mother had. She made up the majority of the population while Eppie, skimming through because of her own brilliance, was considered the one charity case per year.

It was required that all girls board during the week, but students were allowed to return to their homes from Friday afternoon til Monday morning before mass. So while Anna returned from the weekend spent at lavish parties, Eppie caught a trolley from Brooklyn and the class she'd been born into. As much as she loved her school, within the walls of her parent's struggling bookstore, Eppie felt content. She knew Brooklyn, her neighbors, the sounds and smells. Being in Manhattan for those five out of seven days a week made returning that much more fresh. But she didn't share this with an of the girls. It was those stories of what one girl did on the weekends that set the scholarship students apart. As much as the nuns preached about the usefulness of uniformity, the little things separated Eppie from her classmates and the girls were sure to notice.

Anna had befriended Eppie when most of the other girls had turned up their noses. It's because I'm a rebel. Anna had explained, looping her arm through Eppie's on that first day at St. Mary's. And they completed each other nicely: Eppie steadfastly focused on her studies, Anna enjoying the effect of pushing Sister Simone's buttons.

It was the same with boys, which was the main reason why Eppie had kept her Jack a secret. She was sure that Anna wouldn't understand. Other girls had dated newsies, Jack a favorite among the popular group, but Eppie had never had the courage, or opportunity, to socialize like Anna did. Anna and her fellow classmates approached the world of being a newsie from a totally different angle: they looked down, while Eppie watched from eye level.

And the whole situation just pushed Eppie further and further into the world she found within books. It was there, lost within the story of Mr. Darcy and Lizzie Bennet, that Anna shook her from. Eppie mumbled, waving Anna's frantic grasp away.

Ep, you—look

Take the damn piece of bacon already, I don't want it. She sighed in annoyance but Anna persisted until Eppie finally laid the book open in front of her. What in God's name, is so urgent that you need to pull me away from the charming Mr. Darcy?

Anna blinked but did not speak so that the new voice Eppie heard, the voice she'd overheard speaking for the past three years, made her twitch to attention.

I'm sorry miss. I noticed you reading but I just couldn't wait a minute longer. I just had to speak with you.


AN: Okay, that's the option number one. Read, review, let me know what you think. Then, when I post option number two you can do all that over again and compare. Which one has the most room to evolve? Which character do you like better? What situation do you enjoy watching Jack (cause I love dat Jack) face. All these and more are up for debate!