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.

Manhattan

"What...what...what happened?" Jess stammered out as she regained consciousness an hour or so later. Jack, the only occupant still in the bunkroom, was still sitting on the floor next to her bunk, reading one of the newspapers that he had neglected to sell that morning.

"Hi dear, Jess. Up 'gain so soon?" he asked with a smile as he got up to sit on the bunk with her.

Jess shook her head as she attempted to sit up, using her left hand to push herself into a sitting position. "Don't be so smart, mister Cowboy." she said as a smile lit up her face.

Jack laughed out loud, relieved to see that the girl could smile. And she must be feeling better if she could already zing him within seconds of waking up. "I'm so sorry, Miss Jess--"

He stopped suddenly when he noticed that Jess had lost all color in her cheeks and had refrained from smiling, instead looking horrified at his words.

"What's the matter, Jess. Did I say something wrong? Do you need anything?" he asked as he jumped off the bunk and backed away slowly, prepared to run for help if she needed it.

"No." she said softly and faintly. "Just please, please, please don't ever call me that. Please..." she pleaded as her eyes clouded over and, with a gentle shake of her head, covered her face with her mane of long curls.

Though Jack didn't know what it was that he had said, or why she was acting all stressed out, he nodded as he leaned over and brushed her hair out of her face. "Is there something wrong with your name, Jess?"

She backed away from his touch; He could feel her body trembling and was surprised to see her tense up even further at their close contact. Jack took a step back but left his eyes on her. "Well, I think we're going to have to give you a new name then."

"Really?" she finally answered, not necessarily meeting his eyes, but relaxing visibly now that he had backed off.

"Really. How about--" Jack's suggestion went unheard when King re-entered the bunkroom, on his way too see if the stray Cowboy had found had awoken yet.

"Say Cowboy, do we still got a 'Sleeping Beauty' on our hands?" he joked as he walked through the door.

"It's you!" Jess cried again as she backed away as far as she could, before hitting the head of her bunk.

"Oh, not this again. Let me ask you a question, Cupcake, why did you run away from me this afternoon?" King said before Jess could faint again.

Jess looked towards Jack for help and was discouraged when he shrugged. "I thought he was going to be me pal..." she thought to herself before facing the blonde-haired newsie. "Me name ain't Cupcake and I think the better question would be: Why did you try to attack me?"

King looked puzzled as he started to walk towards her bunk, but stopped when she tried to back away again, resulting in her hitting her head against the wall. "What are you talking about? I was just trying to get you off the ground and you ran." He stooped down and picked something up off the ground before handing it to Jack. "Here, Cowboy, I think you should give this to her. It's your suitcase, Cup- Jess. You left it behind. I was going to see if dear was anything that was worth loot in there, but I didn't get the chance. Good thing since Cowboy found you and brought you back to the lodging house."

Though she didn't entirely trust Jack yet, King was correct in assuming that she would be more comfortable with Jack approaching her bed than him.

Just as Jess was accepting her suitcase from Jack, two more newsies entered the bunkroom: the short, dark-haired one that Jess recognized as Race and a blonde-haired newsie wearing an eye patch.

"Damn you Race, you've won," the blonde-haired newsie said as he slapped his buddy playfully on the cheek.

King turned to face the two younger newsies, momentarily forgetting his problem that lay in the third bunk from the left. "Race, Blink, what are you two going on about?"

Blink stepped forward as he removed his brown newsies hat and ran his hand through his hair and shot a charming grin in Jess's direction. "You see, King. Race bet me two bits that Jack had found a perdy li'l thing in an alley and brought her back to the lodging house with him. I didn't think that Jack would do that, so I bet him, and I guess I lost." He walked over to Jess's bunk and bowed. "Hi there, my name is Kid Blink and you are?"

Before Jess could answer, Race walked over and pushed Blink to the side. "What would your li'l friend, Martini say if she saw you flirting with this girl?" he asked as he turned to face Jess. "Don't mind him, dear. Me name is Race, pleasure to meet you."

Blink laughed as he gave Race a playful shove back. "'About the same thing Bookie would see if she saw you."

King rolled his eyes as he turned to leave the bunkroom. The insanity was too much for him sometimes.

Jack just sighed at the playful antics at two of his closest friends. He was relieved to see that their gags had at least gotten another smile out of Jess, who had relaxed again once King had left the room. "Hey, Blink, Race, you two are just in time to help find a name for our li'l friend here."

Blink looked puzzled. "Doesn't she have a name?"

"Sure, I got a name, but I think that it's better if I don't use it. No questions." she added so firmly that the three boys nodded.

"How about Cupcake?" Jack said with a smile. "Just kidding!" he added as he saw the looks that Jess was giving him.

"How about Bruises?" Blink stated thoughtfully as he took in her battered appearance.

"How about Crazy? That's how she's been acting ever since you found her, eh Cowboy?" Race offered.

"Naw, she ain't been acting crazy, just stressed out. Hey, that's it - Stress." Jack proclaimed as he snapped his fingers.

"Stress? You know what, I like it. It rhymes with me real name too." she acknowledged, smiling once more.

"In that case, Stress, welcome to Manhattan." Jack said, as he extended his hand for a handshake.

And for once she didn't flinch, move away or look frightened. With a confident smile firmly in place, Stress clasped Jack's hand and gave it a shake. "Tis nice to be here, Jack."