Chapter 2
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Over the next few weeks Nicole became friends with all the newsies, but was closest to Jack, Racetrack, Mush, and Kid Blink. She usually worked until the diner closed at nine and there was always an escort to walk her to either Medda's, where she sang on Fridays, or home to her mother. She also learned the 'fine art' of selling papes and received a new nickname, Siren, because of her singing talent.
As Siren made friends she also made enemies, such as the Delanceys. In fact they were pretty much her only enemy.
Now let's fast forward a little to about three and a half weeks after Siren met Jack and the others to a Friday night as she started to close up at Tibby's.
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"I'm sorry we're getting ready to close," Siren told a small group of boys as they walked into Tibby's.
"We ain't here ta eat," the biggest one said. "We'se lookin' for a goil named Siren."
"Never heard of her," Siren lied calmly.
The speaker reached out and grabbed her wrist pulling her against his body.
"Well, we'll take youse instead," he whispered huskily leaning closer to her face.
Suddenly four pairs of hands grabbed him from behind forcing him to release Siren who started falling back, but someone wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her.
"How did you find me, Crip?" she asked freeing herself from the arm and walking over the leader.
"Ain't hard to find a whore," he said staring her in the face.
Siren, loosing control over herself, punched him in the jaw. Crip, not expecting the blow, fell backwards to the ground.
Siren kneeled beside him and pulled him partially off the floor.
"How did you find me?" she whispered deadly calm.
"Oscar 'n' Morris told me," he replied shakily.
Siren punched him again, finally knocking him out cold.
"Dukes," she called getting up. A small boy stepped forward shaking terribly with fear. "Get him out of here."
The boy nodded and the others picked up their leader and quickly left.
That's when Siren looked behind her and saw the person who had caught her. He had sandy blonde hair that fell into in handsome face and piercing blue eyes. He wore a bark blue shirt and brown pants with red suspenders. He also carried a slingshot and a gold tipped cane.
"Siren," a voice behind her called. She turned to see Jack, Mush, Blink, and Race.
"Huh?" she replied walking to the back of the diner to grab her things.
"Who was dat?" Race asked.
"Crip from Queens," she answered shortly.
Mush started to speak but Siren interrupted him saying, "I'm fine Mush."
Mush simply nodded.
"Look, we need to stop by my apartment first," Siren said coming back out to the front of the diner.
"Den let's go," the boy behind her said.
Siren simply raised an eyebrow at Jack.
"Siren meet Spot Conlon, leadah o' Brooklyn, Spot meet Siren," Jack introduced.
"Nice ta meet cha," Spot said smirking.
"Great, Brooklyn," Siren mumbled sarcastically.
"Nicole," Jack said warningly.
"Yes," she replied cockily.
Jack just sighed and started forward with Mush and Race behind him.
"Hey, Blink," Siren said as the tall blonde boy walked over to her and draped his arm over her shoulders.
"Getting' in ta trouble afore 9? What are we gonna do wid ya?" Blink asked smiling at her.
"Well, first you're going to take me to my mother's so I can get my stuff, then you're going to take me to Medda's so I can sing for the whole newsie population, then you're going to take me to the Lodging House where I'll be staying until my mother gets back from New Jersey, then you'll sell papes with me," Siren answered smiling back at him. "Any thing I missed?"
"Yeah, how 'bout I'se t'row youse off da Brooklyn bridge?" Blink asked sarcastically.
"Well then who'd sing for you?" she asked innocently.
"Good point," he said.
"We'se here," Jack announced as they stopped in front o the apartment building that Siren lived in.
"You don't say, Jack? I had NO idea," Siren said dramatically.
"Siren, youse gonna get it," Jack said as he ran after her smiling all the time.
Siren however was not crazy so she ran into the apartment building and up the stair to her apartment.
"Ma, I'm home," Siren called as she and Jack stopped their game of chase upon walking into the room with the other boys.
"Nicole no need to shout I'm right here," her mother said from behind Siren.
"Oh, sorry Ma," the girl apologized. "You remember Jack, Mush, Blink and Race?"
"Of course," her mother said politely. "And this is?"
"Mother meet Spot, Spot my mother," Siren introduced.
"Why so rushed my dear?" Mrs. Debriel asked.
"I'm going to Medda's then to the Lodging House," she reminded her mother.
"Oh right. Go on then, I'll be gone until next week," Mrs. Debriel said. "Be careful."
"Bye, Ma," Siren said as she ushered the boys out the door and down to the Jacobs's apartment.
"Why Nicole, what's wrong?" Mrs. Jacobs asked as the six teens made their way into her small apartment.
"I swear to the high heavens if I have to sit through one more of her speeches on how I can't trust the boys I'll scream," Siren almost screamed.
"She's just worried. You're the only girl in a group of almost twenty young men," Mrs. Jacobs said. "She's just worried for you."
"God forbid I date before I'm married," Siren mumbled under her breath.
"You getting' married?" Les said as he and David walked over to Siren.
"No, Les," she said smiling. "But if I do you'll be the first to know."
"Why not me?" Race asked pouting.
"Because my mother will wake him up screaming 'bloody murder'," Siren said seriously.
At hearing this statement the whole company started laughing.
"Mama, I'm home," Sarah called walking in.
"Jack, let's go," Siren said standing up.
Ever since Sarah had told Jack he wasn't "reliable" and had left him, he tried to avoid her at all costs and Siren, siding with Jack, did the same.
Jack nodded and got up with the others and they all walked out the door including David and Les. They walked in silence to Irving Hall.
"There you are!" Medda exclaimed as they walked in through the back entrance. "I've got a house full of newsies waiting for you. Jack, boys get in your seats."
As the boys went to the crowd Siren went to get ready for her show.
"Shhh," she heard Medda tell the newsies. "Very soon you will have your Siren."
After she finished dressing Siren went out and waited for the curtain to go up as the music started playing.
" What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever makes me happy and sets you free... What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever keeps me in your arms,"
Here the curtains opened to reveal Siren wearing a form fitting blue dress and 2 other girls in gold and green.
"I wanna thank you for giving me time to breathe Like a rock, you waited so patiently, while I got it together While I figured it out I only looked, but I never touched 'Cause in my heart was a picture of us Holding hands, making plans And lucky for me, you understand,"
Siren jumped down from the stage and started walking through the crowd receiving cat calls from every where.
"What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever makes me happy and sets you free... And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever keeps me in your arms And I'm thanking you for being there for me,
Spot couldn't tear his eyes from this wonderful girl singing in front of these hundreds of boys.
"A weaker man might have walked away But you had faith strong enough to move Over and understand while I got it together While I figured it out They say, "If you love something, let it go If it comes back, it's yours; that's how you know It's for keeps, yeah, it's for sure," And you're ready and willing to give me more
What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever makes me happy and sets you free And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever keeps me in your arms And I'm thanking you for being there for me
Somebody sensitive and tough Somebody there when the going gets rough Every night he'll be giving his love To just one girl, one girl, one Somebody cool but real tender too Somebody, baby, just like you Can keep me hanging around with The one who always knew And I'm thanking you For being there for me,"
It was here when Siren locked eyes with Spot and never looked form his.
"What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever makes me happy and sets you free... And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever keeps me in your arms And I'm thanking you for being there for me
What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever makes me happy and sets you free And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever keeps me in your arms And I'm thanking you for being there for me
And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly... And I'm thanking you for being there for me..."
Siren finished the song and bowed with Artemis and Athens on either side of her.
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Over the next few weeks Nicole became friends with all the newsies, but was closest to Jack, Racetrack, Mush, and Kid Blink. She usually worked until the diner closed at nine and there was always an escort to walk her to either Medda's, where she sang on Fridays, or home to her mother. She also learned the 'fine art' of selling papes and received a new nickname, Siren, because of her singing talent.
As Siren made friends she also made enemies, such as the Delanceys. In fact they were pretty much her only enemy.
Now let's fast forward a little to about three and a half weeks after Siren met Jack and the others to a Friday night as she started to close up at Tibby's.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I'm sorry we're getting ready to close," Siren told a small group of boys as they walked into Tibby's.
"We ain't here ta eat," the biggest one said. "We'se lookin' for a goil named Siren."
"Never heard of her," Siren lied calmly.
The speaker reached out and grabbed her wrist pulling her against his body.
"Well, we'll take youse instead," he whispered huskily leaning closer to her face.
Suddenly four pairs of hands grabbed him from behind forcing him to release Siren who started falling back, but someone wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her.
"How did you find me, Crip?" she asked freeing herself from the arm and walking over the leader.
"Ain't hard to find a whore," he said staring her in the face.
Siren, loosing control over herself, punched him in the jaw. Crip, not expecting the blow, fell backwards to the ground.
Siren kneeled beside him and pulled him partially off the floor.
"How did you find me?" she whispered deadly calm.
"Oscar 'n' Morris told me," he replied shakily.
Siren punched him again, finally knocking him out cold.
"Dukes," she called getting up. A small boy stepped forward shaking terribly with fear. "Get him out of here."
The boy nodded and the others picked up their leader and quickly left.
That's when Siren looked behind her and saw the person who had caught her. He had sandy blonde hair that fell into in handsome face and piercing blue eyes. He wore a bark blue shirt and brown pants with red suspenders. He also carried a slingshot and a gold tipped cane.
"Siren," a voice behind her called. She turned to see Jack, Mush, Blink, and Race.
"Huh?" she replied walking to the back of the diner to grab her things.
"Who was dat?" Race asked.
"Crip from Queens," she answered shortly.
Mush started to speak but Siren interrupted him saying, "I'm fine Mush."
Mush simply nodded.
"Look, we need to stop by my apartment first," Siren said coming back out to the front of the diner.
"Den let's go," the boy behind her said.
Siren simply raised an eyebrow at Jack.
"Siren meet Spot Conlon, leadah o' Brooklyn, Spot meet Siren," Jack introduced.
"Nice ta meet cha," Spot said smirking.
"Great, Brooklyn," Siren mumbled sarcastically.
"Nicole," Jack said warningly.
"Yes," she replied cockily.
Jack just sighed and started forward with Mush and Race behind him.
"Hey, Blink," Siren said as the tall blonde boy walked over to her and draped his arm over her shoulders.
"Getting' in ta trouble afore 9? What are we gonna do wid ya?" Blink asked smiling at her.
"Well, first you're going to take me to my mother's so I can get my stuff, then you're going to take me to Medda's so I can sing for the whole newsie population, then you're going to take me to the Lodging House where I'll be staying until my mother gets back from New Jersey, then you'll sell papes with me," Siren answered smiling back at him. "Any thing I missed?"
"Yeah, how 'bout I'se t'row youse off da Brooklyn bridge?" Blink asked sarcastically.
"Well then who'd sing for you?" she asked innocently.
"Good point," he said.
"We'se here," Jack announced as they stopped in front o the apartment building that Siren lived in.
"You don't say, Jack? I had NO idea," Siren said dramatically.
"Siren, youse gonna get it," Jack said as he ran after her smiling all the time.
Siren however was not crazy so she ran into the apartment building and up the stair to her apartment.
"Ma, I'm home," Siren called as she and Jack stopped their game of chase upon walking into the room with the other boys.
"Nicole no need to shout I'm right here," her mother said from behind Siren.
"Oh, sorry Ma," the girl apologized. "You remember Jack, Mush, Blink and Race?"
"Of course," her mother said politely. "And this is?"
"Mother meet Spot, Spot my mother," Siren introduced.
"Why so rushed my dear?" Mrs. Debriel asked.
"I'm going to Medda's then to the Lodging House," she reminded her mother.
"Oh right. Go on then, I'll be gone until next week," Mrs. Debriel said. "Be careful."
"Bye, Ma," Siren said as she ushered the boys out the door and down to the Jacobs's apartment.
"Why Nicole, what's wrong?" Mrs. Jacobs asked as the six teens made their way into her small apartment.
"I swear to the high heavens if I have to sit through one more of her speeches on how I can't trust the boys I'll scream," Siren almost screamed.
"She's just worried. You're the only girl in a group of almost twenty young men," Mrs. Jacobs said. "She's just worried for you."
"God forbid I date before I'm married," Siren mumbled under her breath.
"You getting' married?" Les said as he and David walked over to Siren.
"No, Les," she said smiling. "But if I do you'll be the first to know."
"Why not me?" Race asked pouting.
"Because my mother will wake him up screaming 'bloody murder'," Siren said seriously.
At hearing this statement the whole company started laughing.
"Mama, I'm home," Sarah called walking in.
"Jack, let's go," Siren said standing up.
Ever since Sarah had told Jack he wasn't "reliable" and had left him, he tried to avoid her at all costs and Siren, siding with Jack, did the same.
Jack nodded and got up with the others and they all walked out the door including David and Les. They walked in silence to Irving Hall.
"There you are!" Medda exclaimed as they walked in through the back entrance. "I've got a house full of newsies waiting for you. Jack, boys get in your seats."
As the boys went to the crowd Siren went to get ready for her show.
"Shhh," she heard Medda tell the newsies. "Very soon you will have your Siren."
After she finished dressing Siren went out and waited for the curtain to go up as the music started playing.
" What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever makes me happy and sets you free... What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever keeps me in your arms,"
Here the curtains opened to reveal Siren wearing a form fitting blue dress and 2 other girls in gold and green.
"I wanna thank you for giving me time to breathe Like a rock, you waited so patiently, while I got it together While I figured it out I only looked, but I never touched 'Cause in my heart was a picture of us Holding hands, making plans And lucky for me, you understand,"
Siren jumped down from the stage and started walking through the crowd receiving cat calls from every where.
"What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever makes me happy and sets you free... And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever keeps me in your arms And I'm thanking you for being there for me,
Spot couldn't tear his eyes from this wonderful girl singing in front of these hundreds of boys.
"A weaker man might have walked away But you had faith strong enough to move Over and understand while I got it together While I figured it out They say, "If you love something, let it go If it comes back, it's yours; that's how you know It's for keeps, yeah, it's for sure," And you're ready and willing to give me more
What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever makes me happy and sets you free And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever keeps me in your arms And I'm thanking you for being there for me
Somebody sensitive and tough Somebody there when the going gets rough Every night he'll be giving his love To just one girl, one girl, one Somebody cool but real tender too Somebody, baby, just like you Can keep me hanging around with The one who always knew And I'm thanking you For being there for me,"
It was here when Siren locked eyes with Spot and never looked form his.
"What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever makes me happy and sets you free... And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever keeps me in your arms And I'm thanking you for being there for me
What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever makes me happy and sets you free And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly What a girl wants, what a girl needs Whatever keeps me in your arms And I'm thanking you for being there for me
And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly... And I'm thanking you for being there for me..."
Siren finished the song and bowed with Artemis and Athens on either side of her.