PeliculaJane: Thanks for the review. I know that there are some historical and fashion facts that aren't right-the dress for instance, which is why I had Loretta make it instead of her buying it in a store. Sorry if the facts are wrong, I really am. But please just keep reading, even though they're will probably be some facts about history that are wrong. I appreciate the review though, really I do.

Nosilla: I swear! The plot will appear, seriously!! The story is gonna make a turn in this chapter!!

Kid Blink's Dreamer: Why do I always have a stupid tendency to write Mary-Sue stories? Damn me. I'm really sorry it's a lot like a Mary-Sue; the plot is beginning to grow in this chapter though, seriously.

Alex: I can't wait for Race to meet his mom either! Unfortunately, I have no clue when it'll happen, but it will!

spotnmushlover46: Romance is coming up, honestly and truthfully. I love Mush too!! (Off topic, but had to include that in there)

-Thanks for the reviews everyone and keep 'em coming! Here's Chapter 5-

R&R! Lotsa love, degrassichick92

- - - - -

Chapter 5

- - - - -

"So, what'd ya think of all me friends?" Kid Blink asked as the two continued to stroll around Manhattan.

"They were really, um, interesting," Emily said with a smile, "Especially that Racetrack kid,"

Kid Blink nodded, "Yeah, he's somethin special, always betting, tryin ta get us newsies to play pokah wid him. Plus he's always at da racetracks and in search of his ma constantly."

Emily gulped, "Has he found her?"

"Nah," Kid Blink said, shaking his head, "He hasn't seen her since he was six. His dad is dead and his mom is missing, that's why us newsies try ta take him undah our wing as much as we'se can, we'se always worried 'bout him,"

Emily nodded, knowing that she knew his mom.
She hadn't noticed, but the sun had been beginning to set, casting pink all across the sky, "Oh my god," she said.

"What?" Kid Blink asked, as he got done selling his last paper.

"What time is it?" she asked worriedly.

"Uh," Kid Blink said, glancing around until he noticed a clock on top of city hall, "4:53, why?"

"I have to go," Emily said hurriedly.

"Why?"

"I have to be home by five, it's kind of a curfew,"

Kid Blink nodded, "I'se understand,"

Emily nodded at him, "Thank you," she said with a smile, "I had a great time today," she said, and leaned in, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek.

Kid Blink grinned, "Thanks,"

Emily returned the grin, "I really have to go, I'm sorry! I'll see you around though," she said with a smile and then turned around and ran around the corner past city hall.

Kid Blink sighed happily as he felt his cheek and then walked off down the street whistling the tune to King of New York.

- - - - -

Emily raced up the stairs and kicked off her Mary Jane's, tossing them to the side and then climbing into bed.

Loretta smiled as she stepped inside, "That was very close, it's just now five o'clock,"

"I had a great time today Etta, thank you so much for letting me go!" Emily said with a grin.

Loretta smiled, "I'm glad you had fun," she said, giving her a small kiss on the forehead and walking out of her room, closing the door behind her.

"Hello Mr. Vanderbilt," Emily heard Loretta say from the hallway, "Yes, Miss Emily is just about to take a nap,"

Emily's eyes quickly snapped shut and she wrapped her bedspread around her, snuggling into the pillows.

Her door creaked open, "Emily?" her father's voice asked.

Emily glanced up, pretending to have just woken up, "Hi daddy," she said with a small smile.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked, taking a seat on the bed.

Emily nodded, "A lot better, how was the banquet?"

Her father smiled, "It went well, Charles asked about you,"

Go figure…Emily thought to herself, looking at her comforter.

"Are you going to change anything about the newsies?" Emily asked, changing the subject.

"The newsboys? I wouldn't give a penny to any of those boys; I wouldn't even waste my spit on their shoes,"

"But daddy," Emily said, in a near whine, "As mayor, it's your duty to worry about everyone,"

Her father shrugged, "I don't care about the newsies, I don't know why you're so worked up on them,"

"Loretta's son is a newsie, that's why I care,"

Half of why I care.

"How does that affect me?" her father sneered.

Emily rolled her eyes.

"Now, you're mother and I wanted to talk to you about something," her father said with a gesturing smile.

Emily stared at him blankly, this was never good.

Emily's mother walked inside and turned to the two, "Let's discuss this in the parlor."

- - - - -

Emily twirled a loose string on a chair around her finger as her parents shot glances at each other.

"As you know Emily," her mother finally spoke up, "you are sixteen, a debutante,"

And…?

"And as you also know, it's about time you found a husband,"

Emily practically spit out the water she had just taken a sip of from the glass Loretta had sat down for her.

Loretta, who was still in the room, began to grow wide eyed, "She's only sixteen, Mrs. Vanderbilt,"

Emily's mom shot her a "go away" glare and Loretta left the room.

"Married?" Emily squeaked out the word.

Emily's parents nodded.

"But I'm only sixteen!" she exclaimed, standing up.

Her father finally got a look at her dress, "What on earth are you wearing?"

Emily ignored the comment, "I'm not getting married, is that even legal at my age?"

"Yes it is, and your mother and I already agreed."

"But that's not fair!" she exclaimed, near crying.

"Neither is you dressing like a harlot, flaunting your legs around, what if someone could have seen you today?"

"But daddy!" Emily cried out, tears beginning to fall from her blue eyes.

"It's best for you," her father said.

"Who am I marrying anyway?" Emily asked, with a sulky pout.

"Well, Jonathon said that Andrew was-"

"The governors son? No!" Emily cried out, "I don't even know him! But I don't want to marry him, I refuse to marry someone who is probably loser and that I don't even know!"

"Emily," her mother warned.

"Jonathon and Mary think it is a delightful idea," her father said, trying to sound cheerful.

"What about what I have to say about it? Don't I matter at all?" Emily asked.

"Emily, calm down,"

"What's in it for you, huh?" Emily asked. "Huh?!"

"Emily Marie! You do not yell at your father that way!" her mother said sternly.

"Like I care what I do right now." Emily snapped and then turned to her father, "I'm not getting married, not at sixteen and not to Andrew or anyone else you set me up with for that matter!" she exclaimed and raced out of the living room, her feet padding across the floor.

She hurried to the foyer and stepped out the front door, slamming it behind her.

- - - - -

Kid Blink glanced around Central Park, Mush and Racetrack at his side. They were just goofing around and receiving dirty glares from men and women who considered them, "less" than everyone else.

"Hey, isn't dat Emily?" Mush asked, pointing.

Kid Blink turned around. Emily was racing through Central Park with bare feet, her dress swishing around her knees and tears flying down her face. Her hair was a wreck and she had rings around her eyes.

"Emily?" he asked.

Emily glanced up and hurried towards him, practically crashing into his arms.

"Are you'se okay?" he asked.

"Does she look okay?" Mush noted sarcastically.

"Whas wrong?" Racetrack questioned.

"My father wants to put me in an arranged marriage." Emily said between gasps and sobs.

That almost made Kid Blink's heart stop beating, "Wid who?"

"The governors son,"

"Dats awful," Mush said sympathetically.

"Why don't deys just get da mayor's daughta to marry him? Idn't dat the types a stuff de is supposed ta do?"

I am the mayor's daughter.

Emily shrugged and wiped her eyes, "I feel awful," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Kid Blink put a comforting arm around her shoulder as she rested her head on his.

"We'll let ya two tawk, c'mon Race," Mush said, grabbing his friend's arm.

Racetrack shrugged and followed Mush.

"It'll be okay, Emily," Kid Blink said.

"I don't want to get married," she sobbed, "I'm only sixteen!"

"It'll be okay," he said, stroking her hair.

She sat up and stared into his gray eye with her blue ones, she leaned in close and kissed him softly on the lips and then broke apart a second later, biting her lip.

"Whas wrong?" he asked.

Emily smiled, "Nothing, that was just sort of awkward,"

"Yeah, I guess it kinda was," he said and ran a hand through his hair, "But I'se liked it," he said with a grin.

Emily grinned back, "I liked it too." She said and wiped her eyes, "I actually should probably be going. I need to cool off a bit,"

Kid Blink nodded and then an idea came to his head, "Why dontcha come back to da lodging house wid me? Da udda newsies wouldn't mind,"

"Are you sure?" Emily asked.

Kid Blink nodded, "Shoa, if you wanna,"

Emily gave him a small smile, "I would, but it would just get my father angry. And that's the last thing I need tonight with all the anger that is already building up in me,"

"Is your fadda selling ya to da governor for cash or somethin?"

"Probably a higher stake," Emily muttered.

"Wha?" Kid Blink asked.

"Yeah, probably for cash," Emily covered up.

"I'se sorry about dat," Kid Blink said.

Emily nodded and stood up, "I'm a wreck; I should be heading home,"

"I'se could walk ya," Kid Blink suggested.

Emily shook her head, "No, that's okay. But thank you, I just need some time to think, a walk home would do that,"

Kid Blink nodded, "I'se understand. I'll see ya lata Emily,"

Emily nodded, "Okay. See you Kid Blink, and thanks for cheering me up a little bit," she said with a small smile.

Kid grinned, "No problem. See ya," he said and walked out of the park.

Emily followed him and then the two parted directions and headed towards home.

- - - - -

On her way home, Emily wondered why she was near afraid to tell Kid Blink that she was the mayor's daughter.

Maybe it was just that she was afraid of getting hurt, guys always hurt her, and thanks to being the daughter of the mayor, she was usually forced to go out with men, mostly just ones that she didn't like. She didn't think Kid Blink would actually hurt her, but she couldn't take the risk. She was already terrified of being paired with Andrew Patton as her new husband. She had never met him but she had never heard any extraordinary things about him. The newsgirls she would see roaming the streets were usually gushing about him, but that didn't make him much more of a catch in Emily's eyes. He still wasn't the one for her. She didn't know when she would meet the actual "one" for her, but she knew it wouldn't be Andrew.

She especially didn't like the fact that her father was more than likely just using her as the reason to get into a higher rank of government. Just hook up the mayor's daughter with the governors son and voila!
Emily cringed when she thought about that. She may love her father, but she hated him right now. What about when Elizabeth grew up? Was he going to do this to her too?

She seriously doubted that Kid Blink would hurt her, but what she needed right now was just to be treated like a normal teenage girl. Not like Emily Vanderbilt, daughter of Richard Vanderbilt, the mayor of New York City.

And if lying was what could get her to finally having a friend that was a guy, then that's what she would do.

She would lye.

- - - - -

I'm really sorry if it was a little bit confusing.

Anyway, review please! (no flamers)

Lotsa love, degrassichick92