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December 1898. Apartment in Brooklyn. New York.
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"Well, this is it," Page said pointing to the apartment building.
"Alright Viv," Thorn decided to shorten Page's name to Viv during the short walk to the apartment. "I'se gotta be gettin' back. Maybe I'll see ya round. Hopefully not da way we met today, though," Thorn said with a look of pity. Page pursed her lips; she hated pity. Before Mark talked to her, he always used to stare at her with his pitiful eyes. It drove her crazy.
"You want to stay for dinner?"
Thorn looked uncertain for a moment, "Spot will probably be mad, but shoa."
The two girls entered the apartment to find Mark sitting on the couch, a bottle of whiskey in his hand. "Got a lette-er from... from home today!" he said, his voice slurred. "She killed herself."
Mark started to laugh; it was a short bitter laugh. Thorn was a little unnerved by Mark's actions towards someone's suicide. Page was overcome with the least expected emotion, anger, "Sydney... killed herself?! After all this time of looking for her and she killed herself!?"
Mark gave another bitter laugh, "Mo-om killed her-hic-self."
A rush of relief ran through Page. "Oh."
Thorn stood forgotten near the door, on the verge of running out of the apartment and getting as much space as she could between her and these psychopaths. How could they treat someone's death like it was nothing? Viv seemed to be a very caring person but when her mother's death was mentioned she seemed almost happy. No one could hate their family that much. "Umm..." Page and Mark turned to Thorn for the first time during the conversation.
"Who'se -hic- you?" Mark asked, stumbling over to a chair.
"This is Thorn. I invited her to dinner," Page explained. Thorn started inching to the door. She would be crazy if she even thought of staying for dinner.
Thorn was about to make a dash for it when Mark laughed, "Nope."
"What do you mean 'no'?" Page asked, arms crossed.
"She ain't eating.. dinner here. Neither are you. And... Neither am I!" Mark said spinning in circles.
"What are you talking about?" There was a hint of fear in Page's voice. She didn't know why she asked. It was obvious she knew the answer.
Mark stumbled a bit, but kept spinning, "No food! No money! No -hic- apartment!"
Thorn gasped. She expected Page to be furious, but to Thorn's surprise, Page was very calm. "I see," she said in a whisper, "Mark. Hey, Mark! Over here." Mark stopped spinning and nearly vomited on the ground. "Mark?" Page said very slowly, "How come we don't have any food, money, or an apartment?"
"Cause I gots this instead!" He said holding up the bottle of whiskey.
"A bottle of whiskey? That's all?"
"I had more but -hic- I drank it all." Page stared at Mark for a moment, realizing how much he looked like their father at the moment.
"Hold on a sec, would ya Mark?" Mark nodded and finished off the bottle of whiskey. "Thorn, can I talk to you outside?" Thorn nodded and the two walked outside. "I know this is out of the blue and very rude, but could I stay with you?"
Thorn was very hesitant on letting such a suspicious character into the lodging house but she could see the pain in Page's eyes, and the drunk in her living room, "For how long?"
"Till I can survive on my own."
"You can definitely stay for da night, but you'll have ta ask Spot if ya can stay longer den dat. If ya stay on his good side I'se sure it'll be fine wid him."
"Thank you," Page said, giving Thorn a hug. "Hold on a second."
Page ran into the apartment and left thorn standing in the hall. "You're leavin'?" said a drunken voice from the living room.
"Yes."
"Fine. Be that... way! Bye!" Page walked out with a bundle of her belongings. What Thorn assumed to be Mark, slammed the door shut, "I don't need you Sydney!"
Thorn stopped, "I thought ya said your'se name was Lavivian?"
"What?"
"So you'se name is Sydney?"
"Well, not exactly."
Thorn raised an eyebrow, "Then what is you'se name?"
"Page."
"But he called ya Sydney!" Thorn threw up her hands in a befuddled defeat.
"Why don't I explain from the beginning. Why don't we start walking, this is going to be a long story." Thorn nodded. Page proceeded to explain her life history. Growing up with her drunken father who always called her Sydney, her depressed mother that never talked to anyone, and her brother who wouldn't even look her in the eye, let alone speak to her. She told Thorn about Sydney, and how Mark and herself had come to New York to look for her, about the boys that tried to kill her because they knew Sydney but weren't on good terms with her, basically everything.
Thorn stood speechless for a moment trying to soak in Page's past. After finding her voice, "So what do I call ya? Page, Lavivian, or Sydney?"
"I don't know. Page and Sydney aren't exactly safe on the streets, and Lavivian definitely isn't my favorite person, so I don't want her name for the rest of my life."
Well, if Spot says ya can stay in da lodging house and be a newsie, we can give ya a newsie name."
"A newsie name?"
Thorn laughed, "A nickname. All da newsies have one dese days."
"Why don't you guys just go by your real names?" asked Page, trying to figure why someone would want a different name.
"Some of da newsies are wanted by da bulls, some, like me, don't like der names so dey change 'em, and others just change dem to change dem."
"What's your real name?"
"Elizabeth Rose. Stupid name, eh?"
"I like it. It's a very pretty name."
Thorn grinned, "Den dats you'se name until we give ya a newsie name."
Page smiled as well, "Ok."
After a few more minutes of walking, Page, or Elizabeth Rose, and Thorn arrived at the Brooklyn Lodging house. She carelessly swung open the front door and nonchalantly walked in. "Heya boys!" she called trying to get someone's attention. No one turned away from his or her conversation or poker game. "GUYS!"
Everyone turned, "How's it rollin' Thorn?"
"Where's Spot?"
One of the older boys called from his poker game, "He's in Manhattan."
Thorn turned to Page, "Well, I guess you can stay heah for da night and tomorrow we'll go to Manhattan and talk ta Spot," she turned back to the boys, "Hey guys! Dis is Elizabeth Rose. She's stayin' for da night, and if Spot gives da go ahead, probably for a while longer to."
This time all the boys took time out of their night to look up at Thorn, and then Page that was standing nervously. She had never been around this many people before, let alone this many boys. There were various, "Hey Lizabeth's" and "Nice ta meet cha's" from around the room.
"Hey Thorn," Thorn turned to Page, "I'm real tired, can you show me where I'm gonna sleep?"
"Sure," Thorn led Page up to a room with bunks lining the walls. Thorn led Page to four bunks set off in the corner. "Dis is wheah da goils sleep. I'll introduce ya to da others tomorrow," she pointed to a bunk, "Dis one is you'se."
"Thanks," Page said as she lied down on the bed. It was uncomfortable, but better than being on the streets. Page quickly fell asleep and Thorn headed down to play some poker.
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A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. I've been really busy lately, but I'm working on updating more often now. For this and Unattached. KK, now if you wanna be really cool and do me a favor...REVIEW! If you don't I'll get the Mafia to hunt you down and... well I'm not even going to get into what they may do! But it won't be good. Muahahaha! So review! Late.
Shout Outs:
-------------
Kawaii Julie Sama:
Brooklyn always saves the day! That's why they're so...
Spot: BROOKLYN!!
Yea, that makes sense, Spot. Brooklyn is so Brooklyn.
Spot: Der ain't no woid dat can describe Brooklyn but Brooklyn itself.
Right. Hehe. Thanks for reviewing!
-------------
Sapphy:
I don't like Sarah either...Why I put her in here is beyond me! She's a jerk! I found myself singing RENT too!! Hahaha!
Spot: ::singing:: And now this deadline... Eviction or pay..RENT!
I thought the great Spot Conlon didn't sing?
Spot: Oh I sing, and I sing GREAT! ::singing:: They say that I have the best ass below 14th Street. Is it true?
Right. Thanks for reviewing!
-------------
Sweetgal1:
I'm glad you like!
Spot: She likes it cause I'm in heah! ::beams::
Sure Spot. Keep telling yourself that. Thanks for reviewing!
-------------
AnUNDERCOVERnewsie:
Okay. I FINALLY updated! Are you happy now? You better! I'm so happy you lived through fantastic! I have the number for the... you know.. for your sister. It's 1-800-MAFIA
Spot: Dat ain't 'nough numbas dumbass!
Scary Mafia Man: ::points gun at Spots head:: Why did you say?
Spot: Umm... Nice numba?
Scary Mafia Man: That's what I thought.
Okay...Kinda scared. He wasn't even a hot Italian Mafia man, he was just scary!
Spot: I wasn't scared.
::laughs hysterically:: Sure Spot. Thanks for reviewing!
-------------
TheCrazyUnknown:
I'm glade you like! Please don't get a mob of people to throw eggs at the Walmart near me! EEP!
Spot: Don't worry! I won't let them!
Uh-huh... I'm glade I updated rather than relying on Spot! Thanks for reviewing!
December 1898. Apartment in Brooklyn. New York.
-----------------------------------
"Well, this is it," Page said pointing to the apartment building.
"Alright Viv," Thorn decided to shorten Page's name to Viv during the short walk to the apartment. "I'se gotta be gettin' back. Maybe I'll see ya round. Hopefully not da way we met today, though," Thorn said with a look of pity. Page pursed her lips; she hated pity. Before Mark talked to her, he always used to stare at her with his pitiful eyes. It drove her crazy.
"You want to stay for dinner?"
Thorn looked uncertain for a moment, "Spot will probably be mad, but shoa."
The two girls entered the apartment to find Mark sitting on the couch, a bottle of whiskey in his hand. "Got a lette-er from... from home today!" he said, his voice slurred. "She killed herself."
Mark started to laugh; it was a short bitter laugh. Thorn was a little unnerved by Mark's actions towards someone's suicide. Page was overcome with the least expected emotion, anger, "Sydney... killed herself?! After all this time of looking for her and she killed herself!?"
Mark gave another bitter laugh, "Mo-om killed her-hic-self."
A rush of relief ran through Page. "Oh."
Thorn stood forgotten near the door, on the verge of running out of the apartment and getting as much space as she could between her and these psychopaths. How could they treat someone's death like it was nothing? Viv seemed to be a very caring person but when her mother's death was mentioned she seemed almost happy. No one could hate their family that much. "Umm..." Page and Mark turned to Thorn for the first time during the conversation.
"Who'se -hic- you?" Mark asked, stumbling over to a chair.
"This is Thorn. I invited her to dinner," Page explained. Thorn started inching to the door. She would be crazy if she even thought of staying for dinner.
Thorn was about to make a dash for it when Mark laughed, "Nope."
"What do you mean 'no'?" Page asked, arms crossed.
"She ain't eating.. dinner here. Neither are you. And... Neither am I!" Mark said spinning in circles.
"What are you talking about?" There was a hint of fear in Page's voice. She didn't know why she asked. It was obvious she knew the answer.
Mark stumbled a bit, but kept spinning, "No food! No money! No -hic- apartment!"
Thorn gasped. She expected Page to be furious, but to Thorn's surprise, Page was very calm. "I see," she said in a whisper, "Mark. Hey, Mark! Over here." Mark stopped spinning and nearly vomited on the ground. "Mark?" Page said very slowly, "How come we don't have any food, money, or an apartment?"
"Cause I gots this instead!" He said holding up the bottle of whiskey.
"A bottle of whiskey? That's all?"
"I had more but -hic- I drank it all." Page stared at Mark for a moment, realizing how much he looked like their father at the moment.
"Hold on a sec, would ya Mark?" Mark nodded and finished off the bottle of whiskey. "Thorn, can I talk to you outside?" Thorn nodded and the two walked outside. "I know this is out of the blue and very rude, but could I stay with you?"
Thorn was very hesitant on letting such a suspicious character into the lodging house but she could see the pain in Page's eyes, and the drunk in her living room, "For how long?"
"Till I can survive on my own."
"You can definitely stay for da night, but you'll have ta ask Spot if ya can stay longer den dat. If ya stay on his good side I'se sure it'll be fine wid him."
"Thank you," Page said, giving Thorn a hug. "Hold on a second."
Page ran into the apartment and left thorn standing in the hall. "You're leavin'?" said a drunken voice from the living room.
"Yes."
"Fine. Be that... way! Bye!" Page walked out with a bundle of her belongings. What Thorn assumed to be Mark, slammed the door shut, "I don't need you Sydney!"
Thorn stopped, "I thought ya said your'se name was Lavivian?"
"What?"
"So you'se name is Sydney?"
"Well, not exactly."
Thorn raised an eyebrow, "Then what is you'se name?"
"Page."
"But he called ya Sydney!" Thorn threw up her hands in a befuddled defeat.
"Why don't I explain from the beginning. Why don't we start walking, this is going to be a long story." Thorn nodded. Page proceeded to explain her life history. Growing up with her drunken father who always called her Sydney, her depressed mother that never talked to anyone, and her brother who wouldn't even look her in the eye, let alone speak to her. She told Thorn about Sydney, and how Mark and herself had come to New York to look for her, about the boys that tried to kill her because they knew Sydney but weren't on good terms with her, basically everything.
Thorn stood speechless for a moment trying to soak in Page's past. After finding her voice, "So what do I call ya? Page, Lavivian, or Sydney?"
"I don't know. Page and Sydney aren't exactly safe on the streets, and Lavivian definitely isn't my favorite person, so I don't want her name for the rest of my life."
Well, if Spot says ya can stay in da lodging house and be a newsie, we can give ya a newsie name."
"A newsie name?"
Thorn laughed, "A nickname. All da newsies have one dese days."
"Why don't you guys just go by your real names?" asked Page, trying to figure why someone would want a different name.
"Some of da newsies are wanted by da bulls, some, like me, don't like der names so dey change 'em, and others just change dem to change dem."
"What's your real name?"
"Elizabeth Rose. Stupid name, eh?"
"I like it. It's a very pretty name."
Thorn grinned, "Den dats you'se name until we give ya a newsie name."
Page smiled as well, "Ok."
After a few more minutes of walking, Page, or Elizabeth Rose, and Thorn arrived at the Brooklyn Lodging house. She carelessly swung open the front door and nonchalantly walked in. "Heya boys!" she called trying to get someone's attention. No one turned away from his or her conversation or poker game. "GUYS!"
Everyone turned, "How's it rollin' Thorn?"
"Where's Spot?"
One of the older boys called from his poker game, "He's in Manhattan."
Thorn turned to Page, "Well, I guess you can stay heah for da night and tomorrow we'll go to Manhattan and talk ta Spot," she turned back to the boys, "Hey guys! Dis is Elizabeth Rose. She's stayin' for da night, and if Spot gives da go ahead, probably for a while longer to."
This time all the boys took time out of their night to look up at Thorn, and then Page that was standing nervously. She had never been around this many people before, let alone this many boys. There were various, "Hey Lizabeth's" and "Nice ta meet cha's" from around the room.
"Hey Thorn," Thorn turned to Page, "I'm real tired, can you show me where I'm gonna sleep?"
"Sure," Thorn led Page up to a room with bunks lining the walls. Thorn led Page to four bunks set off in the corner. "Dis is wheah da goils sleep. I'll introduce ya to da others tomorrow," she pointed to a bunk, "Dis one is you'se."
"Thanks," Page said as she lied down on the bed. It was uncomfortable, but better than being on the streets. Page quickly fell asleep and Thorn headed down to play some poker.
----------------------------------
A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. I've been really busy lately, but I'm working on updating more often now. For this and Unattached. KK, now if you wanna be really cool and do me a favor...REVIEW! If you don't I'll get the Mafia to hunt you down and... well I'm not even going to get into what they may do! But it won't be good. Muahahaha! So review! Late.
Shout Outs:
-------------
Kawaii Julie Sama:
Brooklyn always saves the day! That's why they're so...
Spot: BROOKLYN!!
Yea, that makes sense, Spot. Brooklyn is so Brooklyn.
Spot: Der ain't no woid dat can describe Brooklyn but Brooklyn itself.
Right. Hehe. Thanks for reviewing!
-------------
Sapphy:
I don't like Sarah either...Why I put her in here is beyond me! She's a jerk! I found myself singing RENT too!! Hahaha!
Spot: ::singing:: And now this deadline... Eviction or pay..RENT!
I thought the great Spot Conlon didn't sing?
Spot: Oh I sing, and I sing GREAT! ::singing:: They say that I have the best ass below 14th Street. Is it true?
Right. Thanks for reviewing!
-------------
Sweetgal1:
I'm glad you like!
Spot: She likes it cause I'm in heah! ::beams::
Sure Spot. Keep telling yourself that. Thanks for reviewing!
-------------
AnUNDERCOVERnewsie:
Okay. I FINALLY updated! Are you happy now? You better! I'm so happy you lived through fantastic! I have the number for the... you know.. for your sister. It's 1-800-MAFIA
Spot: Dat ain't 'nough numbas dumbass!
Scary Mafia Man: ::points gun at Spots head:: Why did you say?
Spot: Umm... Nice numba?
Scary Mafia Man: That's what I thought.
Okay...Kinda scared. He wasn't even a hot Italian Mafia man, he was just scary!
Spot: I wasn't scared.
::laughs hysterically:: Sure Spot. Thanks for reviewing!
-------------
TheCrazyUnknown:
I'm glade you like! Please don't get a mob of people to throw eggs at the Walmart near me! EEP!
Spot: Don't worry! I won't let them!
Uh-huh... I'm glade I updated rather than relying on Spot! Thanks for reviewing!