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 Boys' Lodging House

Rip awoke suddenly, a throbbing pain in the right side of his head. As he brought his hand up to massage his temple, he looked around at all of the slumbering newsboys in the lodging house. Since there was at least another hour before they had to wake up to meet at the distribution center, Rip was the only one awake in the bunkroom. Though he felt like he had just fell asleep - it was late into the night before Spindle finally gave him a kiss goodbye and left - he was wide awake.

Still rubbing his right temple, Rip wondered why his head hurt so much. All at once it came flooding back - the anger, the betrayal, the plan. After hearing from Spindle that Jess had spilled the beans, Rip had became furious and hurt that she had betrayed his wishes of keeping her silence about their relationship. He, once more, needed to teach his "li'l Miss" a lesson. Though he spent the night with Spindle trying to reassure her that their relationship was still intact, he came up with a plan of how he was going to make Jess pay for opening her mouth to his girlfriend.

Once his headache passed, Rip got out of his bunk and grabbed his light blue shirt and threw it on over his white undershirt. After he buttoned it up, he pulled on his black pants but left his suspenders hanging at the side. He was in too much of a rush to worry about minor details.

He walked quietly over to the water pump and splashed some water on his face before walking out of the bunkroom. He had to make sure he got to the distribution center before Spindle did.

On normal days he strolled over to the distribution center at his own pace and then went and sold on his own. That way he was able to take off and find Jess when it was time.

But today was different. He had to get there early because, for the first time, he was going to take someone to sell with him -- and it wouldn't be Spindle.

He whistled to himself as he strutted down the street to the distribution center. As he turned the corner, he stopped abruptly when he saw a bunch of girls on line to buy their papers. But it wasn't the fact that there was a bunch of girls talking together; it was the fact that Jess was in the middle of the gossip circle.

Before he could control his temper and calm down, Rip stormed over to her, his blue eyes flashing black. If she was foolish enough to tell Spindle, she may just be blabbing about him to all of her little newsie friends.

He chuckled inwardly when he saw the terrified look on Jess's once-angelic-but-now-hardened face upon spotting him walk towards her. "At least she still understands that I'm the boss."

Rip slowed his frenzied walk to a pleasurable stroll as he suppressed his anger in front of her friends. After nodding his salutations to the three other girls surrounding her, he set his eyes on Jess. "Hi there, Jess, is it?" he said, feigning ignorance, as he extended his hand.

"Yeah, that's me," she whispered as she shakingly extended her own hand and flinched when she felt the pressure of Rip's grip when they shook.

"Since Spindle ain't here yet, how about me and you sell together until she shows up, eh?" he said, sounding friendly. At least Dice, Grace and Iris thought he sounded friendly; Jess knew from his tone of voice that it wasn't a request.

Trying as hard as she could not to let her fear show, Jess nodded. He had never approached her in a public place in front of people they knew before and Jess was quite nervous to find out what was so important that he had to see her now. She was wagering that it wasn't anything good.

Checking once more that Spindle hadn't arrived at the distribution center, Rip gave the girls a winning smile. "That's great. Let's go," he smirked as he grabbed hold of her arm and brought her to the front of the line, ignoring the dirty looks the other newsies were giving him.

After buying two small stacks of papers as a front, Rip continued to lead Jess far from the crowd of newsies. She let out a small squeak and ducked Rip's evil smile when she realized that he was leading her towards the dark alley where he knew no one would find them. After all, he had brought her there everyday for the past three weeks and no one had noticed what they had done there yet.

Once they turned into the alley, Rip turned to face Jess. He bent over her and gave a quick kiss on her lips. "It's lesson time Miss Jess, and I get to be the teacher," he whispered in her ear and let out a short laugh when he saw her face lose the little color it had.

Jess, a fearful look in her eye, looked up at Rip, questioning what his words meant.

"'Remember, I'm only doing this cause I love you" he said as he drew back his hand and...