Mistake
Chapter 2
Elizabeth breathed out heavily. She knew she was being stupid, after all, it was just a boy! Just an ordinary boy. Just an ordinary, handsome, perfect boy…
She decided she would get attention by tapping him on the shoulder. It wasn't as loud as calling to him, and she'd didn't have the nerve to "accidentally" bump into him. Tapping would be nice, soft, and affectionate.
As she got closer, she got more confident. She knew she looked good. If her body did what her brain told it to do, she would catch his eye. Hopefully.
She was just feet behind him. She raised up her arm, but without warning a boy came running past her out of nowhere, smashing into her arm. He hit the ground hard, falling from the impact of the hit. Elizabeth pulled her arm close to her breast in searing pain. The boy had struck at full speed, and Elizabeth felt like her arm had just broken into a thousand pieces.
I'm definitely going to have a bruise there tomorrow, she thought to herself. She looked down on the boy, who stood up and brushed off his trousers.
"Good Lord," Elizabeth uttered. "Watch where you're going next time!"
"Excuse me, ma'am," the boy said, tipping his hat. "I'm kind of in a hurry."
Elizabeth looked the boy up and down. He was about her age, with dark brunette hair under his hat. Elizabeth thought he would look handsome without all the dirt on his face. His pants were old; they obviously hadn't been washed in a couple of weeks. Or months. His shirt was ripped and shriveled, there were stains everywhere.
"What happened to your clothing?" Elizabeth asked, almost in disgust.
The boy looked embarrassed as he started at the ground. "Well, miss, most of us newsies don't got money like you. We have to wear what we're given," he covered up. "And I get in a couple of fights here and there."
Elizabeth felt guilty for making him reply to that. "I'm sorry, boy. Are you alright?"
He looked up and a grin appeared on his face. "Yes, miss, I'm fine. Thanks." He tipped his hat, then turned and started to walk away.
"Wait, boy!" Elizabeth called. "What is your name?"
The boy turned and smiled. "Mush, ma'am. Just call me Mush."