~*~Shout-Outs~*~
Marge: I'm glad my story intrigues u…at least, I think I'm glad…
Heather: y haven't u viewed? I am giving u a julian newsie and u didn't even review my story…psh!
Bittney: sadness for u and ur lack of a computer…*hehehe…points and laughs at brittney's lack of a computer*
Chapter 3: Not in Kansas Anymore
~There are lots of ups and downs in life, so just ride the wave." –Jesse McCartney~
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"Ouch," Brianna said as she hit the cobblestone sidewalk.
She stood up next to her friends and looked around. There were people everywhere dressed in 19th century clothing, and there were carriages being pulled by horses.
"Guys," Cate said, slowly, "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
"No shit, Sherlock," Hallie replied.
"Shut up."
"No, you shut up."
"No, you."
"No, you."
"N—"
"Both of you shut up!" Brianna cut in.
"Who asked for your opinion," Cate said, snippily.
"Really," Hallie responded.
"Gosh. You're like a couple of two years olds," Melissa said, shaking her head.
"Damn straight," Hallie replied.
"Where are we?" Brianna asked.
"Wherever we are, it's your fault we're here," Cate said to Brianna.
"My fault? How is this my fault?"
"You're the one that had to open that stupid book," Cate said, "everything was fine until you opened the book."
"Well, I blame Hallie," Brianna said, pointing at Hallie.
"What'd I do?" Hallie said, shocked.
"Nothing. You're just the 'scapegoat,'" Brianna replied, making air quotes with her fingers when she said the word "scapegoat."
"Ooh. Scapegoat. Big word for such a small brain," Melissa laughed.
"Oh you know it…wait! Hey!" Brianna exclaimed.
"Okay, guys, we need to figure out where we are," Cate said.
"No shit, Sherlock," Hallie remarked again.
"Shut up," Cate said.
"No, you sh—"
Melissa held up her hand, "Please, don't start that again."
"Fine," Cate and Hallie said in unison.
"Jinx," Hallie cried.
"Knock on wood," Cate said.
They both rushed to a newspaper wagon sitting nearby, but Cate got there first.
"Ha! You can't talk, you can't talk," Cate teased, "You can't talk until your name is said three times!"
"Hallie," Brianna said.
"Hallie," Melissa said.
"Not gonna' happen," Cate said, "Ha…Hal…Hall," she teased.
"Hallie," Melissa said, "There. It's done. It's over with. Now will you please behave?"
"Aw. You ruin all my fun," Cate whined.
"I know. I know," Melissa replied, putting her arm around Cate's shoulder, "but you love me anyways."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm not like that Melissa," Cate said, brushing Melissa's arm off of her shoulder.
"Oh, you're sooo funny," Melissa replied sarcastically.
"Damn straight," Cate said, making a 'gangstah' hand sign.
"Buy me last pape, miss?" A young boy said, tapping Cate on the shoulder.
She spun around "Uh, sure kid," she said, fishing a penny out of her bag, "Here ya' go."
"Thank you," the boy said.
"No problem," Cate said, quickly scanning the headlines.
The boy walked off and Cate turned to her friends.
"Guys," she said cautiously.
"What?" Brianna asked.
"Guess what year it is," Cate said.
"1986?" Hallie asked.
"Yes, yes, it's 1986. It's so obvious, what with all the people wearing leisure suits and spandex shorts," Cate replied sarcastically.
"Really?" Hallie asked, "I was right? Where are all these people? I don't see them."
"You dumb-ass," Cate said, shaking her head, "It's not 1986. It's 1900."
"What?" Melissa asked, her jaw practically hitting the cobblestone sidewalk.
"Read it and weep," Cate said, handing her the newspaper and pointing to the date.
"We're in New York," Melissa said, pointing at the title of the newspaper—The World.
"Wow," Hallie said, petting Rags.
"Hey, guys," Cate began, "it's been almost a year since the newsies' strike."
"Wow, we should throw them a party," Brianna said sarcastically.
"We should!" Cate exclaimed, laughing.
"People are looking at us funny," Hallie said.
"People always look at you funny," Cate replied.
"Shut up," Hallie said.
"No, you shut up."
"No, you shut up."
"No, you."
"Please, don't start that again," Melissa begged.
"Oh. My. God." Cate said suddenly.
"What? What?" Brianna asked.
"It's…it's…it's…"
"What? What?" Bri asked again.
"It's Kid Blink," Cate said, her eyes growing wide.
"Who?" Brianna asked.
"Kid Blink--one of the guys from Newsies. You know, the dude with the eye-patch."
"Oh," Brianna said, "the pirate?"
"He's not a pirate," Cate replied.
"No. He's a newsie!" Melissa exclaimed sarcastically.
"Damn straight," Cate said.
"Stop saying that," Melissa said.
"Make me, short stuff," Cate said in reference to Melissa's small stature of 5'1".
"Oh, don't even," Melissa said, crossing her arms.
"Ok, Cate, where is this Blink kid?" Brianna asked.
"Over there," Cate answered, pointing to a blonde boy with an eye-patch standing across the street.
"Yo, Blink!" Hallie shouted suddenly. Cate's hand shot up and she covered Hallie's mouth.
Blink turned around to see who had called his name, and Hallie waved.
"You idiot!" Cate whispered loudly, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Making a friend," Hallie said, pushing Cate's hand away.
"How'd you'se know me name?" Blink asked, walking up to the girls and eyeing them suspiciously.
There were four of them. The one who had waved had chin-length straight, black hair, dark brown eyes, and was about 5'3".
The one beside her who had covered her mouth when she had called him over had layered dark brown hair that was a little longer than her friend's. Her eyes were light brown with flecks of green and gold, and she was the same height as her friend. The two other girl's had layered blonde hair, although one's was more of a honey blonde and her hair fell past her shoulders, whereas, the other's hair fell to her shoulders and she had bangs. Also, the one with bangs was about 7 inches taller than her friend. All of the girls had suitcases.
"That's a good question. How did we know your name?" Melissa replied, "Cate, would you like to handle this one?"
"Why, thank you, Melissa," Cate said, then she turned to Blink, "It's a long story, so why don't you take us to the lodging house and we'll tell you all about it."