Disclaimer- We don't own Newsies. But we do own Kitty, Kiki, and Candy. And Dodger. And Ruby... but we DON'T own newsies. If you don't like it, tough. And if you don't like this story...

:lower lip trembles: You don't like our story!-Ginny

Chapter 5

Jack pushed Charlotte into Kitty's room, which Kloppman gave her when they got back to the lodging house. Kitty opened her mouth to protest.

"Please watch her, me and da bois have ta find out what ta do wit her," Jack asked.

"Ok," Kitty couldn't say no to him. Candy would have helped her but she had to go home and baby-sit. Kitty entered her room and closed the door behind her. Charlotte was sitting in a corner Kitty laid down on her bed and looked around. The room was rather small, but it was better than sleeping in a room with a bunch of horney guys.

"What were you doin' 'round again?" Kitty asked. Charlotte didn't answer. "C'mon if were gonna be stuck her stuck here together at least talk." Charlotte glared at her. "I was tryin'!" Kitty said dropping her hands in defeat.

"After what you did to me today!" Charlotte said outraged.

"Oh, you desioved dat," Kitty said crossing her arms.

"I never did anything to you!" Charlotte said standing up. Kitty sat up and stared at her. The door opened. Kitty and Charlotte turned her attention to the person standing in the door.

"Hiya, David, what's goin' on?" Kitty asked cooling down.

"They kicked me out because I was being too nice," David shrugged.

"You stuck up for me?" Charlotte asked in disbelief. David looked down and nodded.

"Thank you so much," she grinned. David looked away shyly.

"Well, come in, Dave, me and Charlotte…..was just talkin'," Kitty said. David found a chair and sat down.

"How much longah will dey be?" Kitty asked.

"Who knows with the council of elders out there," David responded.

"So, David, where are you from?" Candy asked. David answered and they were on a conversation. Kitty lay back down on her bed.

"Why was dis goil buggin' me so much?" she thought, "Maybe it's because she's rich…" She glanced over to Charlotte and David. "Maybe it's because the only thing David has done since came in her was pay attention to her…Whoa…rewind and freeze! Did I just say I was jealous of her? Because of Dave? Dave's cool and all….but…" She looked over at them again. "Uh-uh, not me bruddah's best friend….not…no...I won't…" She swallowed hard. "But I think I did…" Kitty tried to shake the thoughts out of her head but they didn't seem to go away. Jack walked in looking very upset.

"Charlotte, wese are lettin' youse go today, but if you come back we won't be so nice," he said to her, "David, bring her home."

"Wait, can't you take her home, Jack?" Kitty asked.

"Because I doan wanna, besides why would you care?" he asked her.

"I doan," Kitty said quietly. "But I do…and I'm afraid of the reason why…" David and Charlotte left, talking the whole way there. Jack watched them leave.

"There's something about her," he thought, "If she is anything like I think she is, she'll be back." Jack smiled to himself.

"Wow, your house is really nice," David said in awe of the mansion.

"Thank you, and thank you for taking me home," Charlotte smiled and walked up her walkway. When she entered her house, her mother met her at the door.

"Where have you been today?" she asked tapping her foot, hands on her hips.

"I was around," Charlotte answered trying to get around her mom.

"Not so fast, Charlotte Rose," Her mother grabbed her arm and pulled her back over to her. "You Grandfather saw you in downtown Manhattan with some street kids. You know how your Father and Grandfather feel about them."

"I'm sorry," She mumbled.

"Your father wants to speak to you," she said stepping aside. Charlotte swallowed hard and walked down the hall to the kitchen where her father was sitting, reading a newspaper.

"I head about today, Charlotte," he said not looking up. He put the newspaper down and stood up. "What did I tell you about those boys?" he said anger flaring up.

"I'm sorry….they caught me…and…and," Charlotte stuttered. He grabbed her arm.

"Well, then you shouldn't have been downtown to begin with!" he raised his hand and hit her across her face. Charlotte had learned not to scream but hot tears burned her eyes.

"Do you want to have anything to do with those boys! They could have killed you!" he placed his other hand on her other shoulder. "All the trouble they caused you Grandfather!" he said shaking her. He let go of her. "Go to your room," he turned back to his newspaper.

"Yes, faddah," Charlotte gasped and put her hands over her mouth quickly. "I'm sorry," she said through her hands.

"What did you say?" he said turning back around.

"I didn't mean it, it was an accident," she said backing up.

"I hate that blasted accent those street rats use," he hit her across the face again. "Go!"

"Yes, sir," Charlotte said. She turned and ran up the stairs crying. She ran into her room and grabbed a bag. She began to throw all her precious and needed items in it. "Tomorrow," she said taking a break to wipe her wet eyes, "I'm leaving; I'm getting out of here."

Charlotte woke up before her parents so she could leave. She put on the oldest dress she had. Now was the hard part. She knew her grandfather worked in downtown Manhattan, that's how he saw her yesterday, so she had to do something drastic. Charlotte took scissors to her long blonde hair and took a snipe. She gasped as her hair fell to the ground. She looked in the mirror when she was done. All she could do was rub her now shoulder length hair wishing she didn't have to do that. She heard her parents waking up so she grabbed her things and ran out the front door and down the road. Charlotte just kept running, not once looking back. She hoped Jack Kelly had some heart and would help her find a place to stay. She closed her eyes for a second and ran right into somebody.

"Hey, watch were youse….Charlotte?" the person said. Charlotte looked up and saw Jack Kelly standing right above her. She knew she was in trouble now. Charlotte began to cry. Jack looked around to see if anyone was around.

"Look, I'm not gonna hurt youse. Just go home before anyone sees you," he said soothingly.

"I ran away from home," She sobbed. Jack sat down next to her.

"Why would you do dat? Dave said you had a nice house,"

"Its my father…" she wiped her eyes, "He hits me. I'm sick of it, so I left

"Well, dats not very good,"

"I'm in a good mood. C'mon I'll tell da bois your story; maybe day will let you stay. And if not I'll help ya get outta here." Jack got up and gave her his hand. This time she didn't spit at him, she took his hand and he pulled her up. Jack smiled at her, and then led her back to the Lodging House. All the boys stared at this sight. Jack was bringing Charlotte to the lodging house, but he didn't seem mad. What was going on?

"Hey, guys, I'm feeling very gracious today. Char here just ran away from an abusive home. Can see stay here for a while?" he asked them.

"Whatever you want, Jack," Race said non-enthusiastically.

"Sure, whatevah," Blink shrugged.

"One mistake, goil," Skittery warned.

"Ok, Char, you can bunk wit Kitty," Jack said to her.

"What!" Kitty said outraged.

"C'mon, Kitty, it's only for a little while," Jack reasoned, "Besides it's a great chance to make a new friend, one of the same gendah." The other guys laughed.

"Very funny," Kitty said very sarcastically.

"Oh, Kitts, be nice….for once!" Blink laughed. Kitty rolled her eyes angrily.

"So, you really approve of that rich brat comin' ta stay wit us!" Kitty said getting angrier as she spoke. "Just because Jack wants her to stay!"

"Hey, glum and dumb, what's the mattah wit you?" Racetrack asked her.

"You guys! Yestahday you hated her! Now she can live wit us! What's up wit dat?" Kitty yelled at them.

"People change deir minds, Kitty," Jack said, slightly angered.

"Whatevah," Kitty muttered. "I'm goin'." She set out to the distribution office.

"Your sista sure is in a bad mood," Mush said watching her walk away.

"Me sista is also used to bein' da only goil around all you bois," Jack said. "Hey, Skitts, take Charlotte and find her something ta sleep on." Skittery nodded and took Charlotte inside.

"Are youse sayin' she's jealous?" Crutchy asked.

"Yes, I am. She's been da only goil in groups of newsies since she was little. She's used to da attention, she think Charlotte is a threat to dat," Jack replied.

"But jealous? She knows we ain't just gonna throw her out for Charlotte! We may not even like Charlotte all dat much!" Racetrack brought to his attention.

"I think I know my sista, and yes I say she's jealous," Jack repeated. "What's wrong wit youse guys?"

"Nothin', Jack. What's wrong wit you? What Kitty said is true! Yestahday you hated her, and today you're practically droolin' at her feet!" Blink said.

"Whaddya mean!" Jack asked. "I felt sorry for her! And dats dat."

"Fine," Blink said not in the mood for a fight. Skittery came back.

"Found a mattress!" he said.

"Bettah not be from my bed, like the last time we have a visitah!" Blink yelled at him. Skittery laughed remembering that memory.

"Good bring it down to Kitty's room," Jack said.

"I doan wanna…" Skittery complained.

"Too bad!" Mush laughed.

"Well, Mush, you can help also!" Jack smiled.

"Me!" he asked.

"Yep, now, move along!" Jack said. Mush muttered something underneath his breath and followed Skittery to move the mattress.

"Where's Charlotte?" Jack asked after Skittery.

"Right here," Charlotte said coming out of the Lodging House.

"You're gonna come wit me and Davey, wherevah he is, to sell today to show you da ropes and stuff," Jack said. David came up behind him.

"Sorry, I'm late. Les is sick and….Charlotte? Is that you?" Davis said looking at her. She smiled and nodded. "Are you gonna be staying here?"

"Yah, for a little bit. I'll tell you why while we're out," Jack replied for her.

"Oh," he looked around, "Where's Kitty?"

"She's already sellin'," Jack said shortly.

"Why? She normally sells with me…I mean us," he said pushing the subject.

"Today she was just…well…she needed ta be alone," He replied to satisfy he friend. "C'mon, or we'll be late." All the newsies headed for the distribution gate. They bought theirs papers and went their separate ways.

"Hey, Jack," Mush said getting his attention, "I'm meetin' up wit Candy, do you want me ask her if she will talk to Kitty?"

"Sure, I doan know how much it would do though. She's got me …..and me faddah's tepmah," Jack replied.

"Ok, we'll try. See ya!" Mush waved walking away. Jack saw David open his mouth to ask what was wrong.

"She's fine, Dave," Jack said before David could say anything, "She's just a little mad at me." They started to walk away from the gate.

"Well, where are we selling today?" David asked.

"I was thinkin' 'bout just travelin' around, showin' Char here where us street rats hang out," he answered.

"Please don't me asking this, Charlotte, but Jack, why is she here?"

"Well, Char ran away from an abusive faddah,"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Charlotte," David said sympathetically.

"Thank you," She smiled.

"Ok, let's check out dese headlines," Jack said looking at the paper. "'Dazzlin' Buttahfly Dancah "Dressed in Light" '," he read. Jack grinned and raised a paper above his head. "Dazzlin' Buttahfly Dancah! Dressed in only light!" he yelled. People came by and they bought some papers.

"Jack," Charlotte said when the people had left. "I don't think that's what that meant."

"I know," he replied simply.

"But, that's lying,"

"Nah, its just impovin' da truth a little," David said imitating Jack when he had first told him.

"Atta boi, Dave," Jack sat patting him on the back. They walked around, showing Charlotte Manhattan and selling their papers. Soon, they reached a large building.

"'The Journal'," Charlotte said.

"Yep," Jack grinned remembering his victory with the big boys of the newspapers.

"Do you know people who work there?" David asked.

"Well, yes, but I…" She paused for a moment, "I have family at 'The World'," She responded. Charlotte looked at the ground already regretting what she was about to say to him, but she had to. She told herself that if she ever met him, she would say this. "Here goes nothing," she thought. "Your strike deeply affected them."

"Good," was his only response.

"Did you even think about the people you hurt? They have families too!" Charlotte said. "Why did I have to start this? I know I have to protect the nice part of my family but after he's been so nice…he's gonna hate me forever!"

"Yah, well, so do I, and did you think dat dey thought of us when dey jacked up da price? Do you think dey were up in deir little meetin' sayin' 'Maybe we shouldn't do dis, Jack Kelly's got a little sista or David Jacobs has a faddah who can't go to work'," Jack's anger flared up, "Or Spot Conlon! He has to take care of Jack's little sista cause Jack doan have enough damn money to raise her himself!' No, dey doan care about us, why should we care about dem!"

"Oh, Jack," realizing that there was more severity to what she said, more than she thought, "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"Yah, well, you shouldn't think everything wit us street kids is all honky dory. It's a tough life and you're gonna have ta learn how to live it." Jack walked away from them.

"He's got quite the temper, his sister in the same," David explained.

"Yah, I've noticed," Charlotte said with disgust.

"But don't let that be the judge of her. She's very nice and fun to be with." Davis paused for a second, "Her and Jack are so much alike. Their temper, their sense of humor, their looks, their smile," David couldn't help but smile himself, "And their good side also. Obviously, you've seen Jack's, wait for Kitty's to come, she defiantly has one."

"You could talk about her all day, couldn't you?" Charlotte asked in slightly teasing tone. Davis blushed a little bit and shrugged. "Ok, just because you seem to know what you're talking about, I'll give her another chance, but you gotta convince her not to hate me," Charlotte agreed.

"Easier said then done," David replied. Charlotte looked at Jack who was leaning against a building, lighting a cigarette across the street, "I didn't know that, what I said would hurt him so bad. I feel awful."

"He'll be mad for a while, but if I'm right, He'll get over it," David said.

"David!" Jack yelled to him from his spot across the street. When David looked at him, Jack looked down the road and David followed his gaze. He smiled when he saw Kitty. She was sellin' her papes, perhaps playin' the sympathy card or she could be improvin' the truth, which was most likely. She half scowled when she saw Charlotte, but she somehow managed a smile. "Hi, Guys."

"Why is jack over there?" she asked

"I made him a little...upset." Charlotte said slowly.

"A little upset?" Kitty asked.

"What did you say to my bruddah?" Kitty said harsh tone

"It was nothing really," David intervened not wanting to deal with a cat fight.

"It had to have been something, or he wouldn't be upset,"

"Well you see..." Charlotte began. Just then Jack walked back over. "I think we should keep sellin..." he said, sensing the tension between the girls. "Let's go."

"Hey, kitty," Jack said as they walked down the street, "I'm sorry I got you upset this mornin'. I didn't mean it."

"I know, Jack," she said not looking at him. Jack stuck his cigarette in his mouth.

"You smoke?" Charlotte asked trying not to sound to disapproving, he was already really mad at her.

"Of course, we all do." Jack said casually. "We drink, too. Do you have problem wit dat also?"

"No..." Charlotte said slowly. "Of course not."

Just then a man dressed in a fancy suit ran right through them. He pushed his way trough the group and in the process pushed Kitty down on the ground.

"BASTARD!" she yelled after the man who was now running down the road.

"That's my goil," Jack grinned.

"Kitty, that was William Hearst," David said trying not to laugh.

"Oops..." Kitty laughed. Jack helped his sister up off the ground.

"I guess Spot did teach something of use, eh?"

"Yep, he taught me how ta swear, drink, lie, cheat and steal," she laughed. "That's about it." She paused. "Well, he did teach me one more thing, but I doan think you, as my bruddah, would appreciate it all dat much,"

"I doan wanna know..." David laughed. Charlotte had back up slightly so that she was walking behind the three close friends. "Boy, do I feel outta place."

"Hey, you guys wanna take a break, and got ta 'Tibby's ?" Its right across the street," Jack asked.

"Tibby's?" Charlotte asked. "I think I've heard of it..."

"It's were we used to eat all the time during the strike," David said.

"Oh," Charlotte said. "Well, I guess I am a little hungry."