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

That night was one of the happier ones Stress had had in a long time. After getting to know Jack, Race and Blink a little better, they set up a card table and taught her the basics of poker, introducing her to all of the newsies as they came into the bunkroom for the night.

When it approached midnight, Stress had learned the name of almost all of the newsies in the lodging house, lost all of her money to Race and had pretty much become glued to Jack's side. Though she no longer acted afraid around any new male she met that night, save King who she was still wary of though she believed he had tried to help instead of hurt her when they met outside Tibby's, she only felt safe when she was with Jack. Maybe it was because it was he who had found her, it was he who had named her or because it was he who went out of his way to make sure she was comfortable, but Stress obviously was most at ease when he was by her side. Though she had only known him for that one day, it was evident that there was a close friendship blossoming between the two thirteen year old newsies.

"Alright fellas. It's time to turn in. Don't forget you still got to sell your papes tomorrow," Kloppman's voice called as he attempted to break up the little poker party that had started.

"Hey, what about me?" Stress called back, beginning to act like her old self now that she felt safe. "I ain't a fella!"

"You sure ain't," cracked another young newsie, one nicknamed Mush, as he looked her over.

Stress laughed along with the rest as Jack reached over and slapped Mush playfully on the cheek. "Hey, watch it Mush. Treat the lady with some respect, eh?"

Kloppman shook his head as he entered the bunkroom. "Sorry, li'l lady, I didn't forget about you. Actually, I was just coming up here to give you a bit of bad news. You see, we never have girls stay over, but we still have a sick room in case of an emergency. Unfortunately one of the boys came down with something so it's in use and we ain't got no free bunks this time of year."

Stress nodded as she listened to Kloppman's apologies. "Umm-- where do I sleep then?"

Kloppman looked around nervously as he removed his hat and scratched his head. "As much as I hate to say it, I guess your best bet would be to share one of the bunks with a boy."

Stress stopped nodding and looked down at the ground. She wasn't sure she was prepared to be so close to another boy so soon. After all, it was only that morning that she had left Queens to escape Rip. "What if one of these boys turns out to be just like him?" she muttered as she purposely did not make eye contact with anyone.

As cries of "she can share me bunk" and "no, mine" were head ringing throughout the bunkroom, Jack took a second to sneak a look at Stress's face. "Oh, boy, she looks so scared and young," he said to himself before he walked to her side and put his hand on her left shoulder. "It's OK, Kloppy. Stress can have me bunk. I'll sleep on the floor."

Kloppman raised his eyebrow at the Cowboy's sudden move towards selflessness. "If you say so, Cowboy. Boys, and lady", he added with a smile as he replaced his hat and tipped it in Stress's direction, "I think it's time to go to sleep. I'll be waking you up bright and early tomorrow morning. Good night."

All the boys mumbled and grumbled as they folded the poker table and slowly got ready to go to bed. Jack got up and gently led Stress to his lower bunk. "This is me bunk. Sorry that it's a lower bunk, but you don't get a top bunk until you're sixteen or seventeen. King's rule."

Without even changing from her blouse and skirt, Stress climbed into the bunk as she averted her eyes when Jack stripped down to his long-john underwear. When the lights were turned off for the night, Jack took his place on one of the spare blankets on the floor.

Ten or so minutes later, Jack was still lying awake, staring at the ceiling. "It's so peaceful here when I'm the only one awake," he murmured to himself as he turned to look up at Stress, hoping to see her sleeping peacefully. She seemed to be so two-sided. One second she could be so strong and confident, joking and laughing along with the rest of them all. But the next minute, she would look so afraid and so young; It was almost as if there was something she was hiding from. "But what?' he thought to himself as he propped himself on his elbows to see her face more clearly.

"Geez-- don't do that to me!" he whispered fiercely when he saw her staring down at him. He slipped of his elbows and fell down onto his back.

"Sorry, Jack. I just wanted to tell you how glad I am that you was the one that found me," she said shyly, fighting back a giggle, as she brushed her hair out of her face.

"No problem, Stress. It was me pleasure," Jack replied, sitting straight up so that they were facing each other, eye to eye.

"Well, um, ya see, I don't know how I know I can trust you, but I really think I can, so if you want--" Stress started, rambling on in that manner until Jack's chuckles interrupted her. Blushing slightly, she paused and tried again. "That floor don't look so comfortable, so I was thinking, if you're OK with out, you could share your bunk with me."

Jack was delighted at the suggestion but did not want to appear too eager for fear of upsetting her. "If you're sure that you won't be too scared of me, I'd love too."

"Oh, is there a reason why I should be scared?" she said coyly, not sounding like the shy, little girl he had rescued that afternoon.

As Jack got up and shimmied under the blanket, making sure that he wasn't too close to her, he laughed. "Nope, not at all, Stressie."

"Stressie?" she said, turning on her side to look at Jack.

It was Jack's turn to blush furiously as he lay flat on his back and looked up at the bottom of King's bunk. "Well, it just sounds a bit softer than Stress. You don't mind, do you?"

"Naw, it's a cute nickname for me new name. Thanks again."

"Is it OK if I ask you a question?"

"What's on your mind, Jack?"

"It's just that, you see, it kinda seems like you're hiding something. I mean, you're covered in bruises and cuts and all and I was wondering why. What are you running from, Stressie?"

Stress flopped onto her back and answered in a cold voice. "No questions, Cowboy. I'm here in Manhattan now and that's it."

Jack mentally smacked himself for bringing up an obviously touchy subject. "And I, for one, am very glad that you're here," he said as he put his hand on hers in a gesture of support.

"Thanks, Jack. Now let's get some shut eye." she said as she clamped her eyes shut and pretended to fall asleep, making sure that she didn't move her hand out from under Jack's. It was a cozy position she didn't want to break. It made her feel far safer than she had in a long time.

It was hours after Jack had began to snore gently that Stress was finally able to fall asleep. She was kept up by the multitude of thoughts that swarmed through her mind. "I wonder how Grace and the O'Connor's and all of me pals are doing with out me... I wonder how Rip took the news of me untimely demise... I can't believe that I lucked out and found me a new friend my first day in Manhattan... He's a cutie ain't he?" Stress laughed to herself at the last thought she had before falling asleep. "Yeah, a cutie indeed."