Title: Cuts Like A Knife

Author: Stress

First written: May 12, 2002

Edited and replaced: January 21, 2005

Summary: Part I of the Soul Mates Series; She thought that life couldn't get any better. She had friends and a family that loved her – she was taken care of and had no complaints. But that was before he came into her life. And, no matter how hard she tries to escape his grasp, he'll never let her go.

At the DistributionCenter

When Jess arrived at the distribution center with Quipster, she looked around, trying to find Spindle, while Quipster wandered off to say hi to her friend Yanchi. When she didn't spot the girls' leader, Jess approached three of her friends: Tunes, the only other girl in the crowd wearing a skirt, with her red hair pulled back in a bun; Moneybags, a tall girl with her dark brown hair hidden under a black newsies hat; and Grace, a short girl with waist length straight blonde hair and bright blue eyes. They were all members of Spindle's elite group of newsgirls and were excited that Spindle had finally decided to let Jess in.

"Hiya girls!" she greeted them. Now that she was out of the O'Connor's apartment, Jess was free to use the New York accent she had picked up when she first arrived in Queens seven years ago. "Nice day to be selling papes, huh?"

"I can't believe you'll finally get to be in our group, Jess," Grace gushed. Jess and Grace had known each other since Jess had come to live with the O'Connor's. They were the closest of all the newsgirls and it wasn't unusual for Grace to spend the night at the O'Connor's instead of the lodging house. The O'Connor's had offered to take her in many times but Grace had lived on the streets too long to be as comfortable in a real home. Besides, she enjoyed her freedom too much and usually made fun of the tight leash they had on Jess.

"Yeah, maybe we can finally give you a real name," cracked Tunes. Everyone knew you couldn't be a newsie without a true newsie nickname and the fact that Jess insisted on using her real name was usually a topic to poke fun at when they were done selling their papers.

"Yeah, I agree with Tunes, here. I mean, what kind of name is Jess, anyways?" added Moneybags, with a smile. She loved being sarcastic, but usually meant no harm.

"Hey, I happen to like me name," Jess replied, pretending to be hurt at Moneybags' remark about her name.

"Yeah, I heard that you were named after a cow. Is that right, Jess?" asked a new voice.

The four girls all turned to greet the newcomer. Right in front of them stood a girl with long, straight red hair and emerald green eyes. She was short in stature but not in confidence; power was written all over her as she strolled up, grinning at how all conversations had stopped when she had approached them.

"Spindle, how are ya doing?" Jess asked, purposely ignoring Spindle's question. She didn't want to act like a baby around the sixteen year old girl and she thought if she went into the whole story about how she actually was named after her father's cow, that she might look childish.

"I'm good, Jess. Are ya almost ready to sell your papes with me today?" she asked calmly, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"Yup, just gotta buy me papes, and I'm on me way," Jess responded, trying to act as cool as Spindle. She mimicked the gesture with her hair and looked ridiculous when all her curls billowed around her instead of resting on her shoulder.

"Wait, Spindle. Aren't ya gonna introduce me to your lovely little friend here?," a tall and handsome boy of around sixteen asked as he shot Jess a charming smile. With his jet black hair and icy blue eyes, he was gorgeous and, as Jess could tell just by the way he smiled at her, he knew it.

"Sure, whatever ya say, Rip. Rip, this is one of me new girls, Jess. Jess, this is me guy, Rip Divenize. He just moved here from Harlem, so he could be closer to me," Spindle explained as she looped her arm through his.

"Hiya Rip," Jess squeaked as she shivered under his intense gaze. No one had ever looked at her that way before and she wasn't sure she liked it

Rip, on the other hand, slipped his arm out from under Spindle's and stepped forward to kiss Jess's hand. "Well, hello Miss Jess. I'm very glad to meet you," he drawled, emphasizing the word "very" before strutting back to Spindle's side.

Jess blushed as she spoke to Spindle. "Well, I'm going to go get me papes now. I'll be right back."

Spindle gave her a curt nod and stopped when she saw Jess scamper over to the line. "Rip, dear. What were you just playing at?," she hissed through her teeth, somewhat steaming over what he had just said to Jess.

Rip shrugged and turned his charming smile towards Spindle, though his eyes never left Jess. "I'm just trying to make some friends. When I came to live here, you said that I should make some friends."

Spindle scowled. "Friends sure, but I don't remember telling you to get yourself a girl, too. I thought that was me."

Rip reached over and gave her a kiss. "Don't worry doll, you is me girl. Now, I got to go. I'll see ya later, OK? Come see me at the boys' lodging house around seven," he added with a sad puppy dog look.

Spindle playfully pushed him away. "I'll see ya later, Rip. Oh, and one more thing, love: don't ever call me doll."