"Girrrrls!" I heard someone, probably Kloppman, yell up the stairs. "Geddup!" Little groaned and Slight hid under her pillow. Trip rolled out of bed and onto the floor. (I'm beginning to understand the reason she was called Trip.) I fought the urge to ignore the wake-up call and stay curled up in bed. My mind screamed to wake up but my body clung desperately to sleep.

"Wheah's Kiki?" Little mumbled. I looked over at her bed and sure enough she wasn't there.

"She's probably awake and downstairs." Slight said between yawns. Trip agreed groggily. I remained silent as I threw on a white button-up blouse and navy-colored skirt. (Ironic, no?) Once dressed I stretched my arms upward. Grabbing my hairbrush and heading to the washroom, I met my familiar face in the mirror. My reflection had wavy, shoulder length, brown hair. I had plain brown eyes with the slightest hints of gold and green mixed in. My lips were naturally turned slightly downwards, my nose was too big and I had light freckles barely visible against my olive skin. I wasn't a beauty, but I wasn't an eyesore at least. I splashed water onto my face and brushed my hair but some spirals within my waves stubbornly remained intact. I shrugged it off and headed downstairs.

Male newsies crowded the second floor and I was suddenly thankful that there were so few girls. They were cramped and all had bunk beds, instead of the girls' single beds. I kept walking dow the last flight of stairs. No one had left yet so I sat on one of the couches next to where Kiki sat reading a book.

"Hey. G'mornin'." she said like it wasn't 6:30AM. I nodded instead of saying anything. The boys stared running down the stairs. It was a newsie stampede! They were shoving and yelling. I was happy to be watching them and not be there with them. "Time to go!" Kiki chirped happily.

I followed her into the crowded area in front of the solitary door people were shoving to get out of. I was getting jostled and eventually got shoved right into someone. I was turned away from them but they grabbed my arms reassuringly. "Youse alright?" Skittery asked. I nodded, about to start a conversation with him when Kloppman, who seemed to have made his way through the newsies with expert precision, cut me off. "Where are you going?" He stated more than asked.

I knew exactly what he was talking about – school. God, I really hoped I could sneak out. I look up at Skittery for back-up but he just lifted his eyebrows, clearly confused. I decided playing stupid was going to my best bet here. "To sell with everyone else."

"Nice try, Navy." He said referring to me by my 'new name.' "You fadda says you ain't quittin' school ta sell papes." I just stared with pleading eyes begging him to let me skip. "Go change into your uniform."

"Ple-" I started to beg.

"No." He said defiantly. I gave final, defeated huff and went up stairs. By the time I got back down wearing a white button-up blouse, a dark blue skirt and tying my hair with a black ribbon, everyone was gone except for Skitts.

"I'll walk you to school." He said casually in a 'nothing-better-to-do' voice.

"Thanks." I said.

"When do you get done?" He asked conversationally.

"Well I leave for lunch at 11 and have a tendency of not coming back." We both laughed. "Naw, but really I have a half of an hour for lunch and then I stay until 2."

"Do you wanna meet up with me for lunch?" He asked in the same 'nothing-better-to-do' tone.

"Yeah, that'd be great." I said. "Where at?"

"I like going ta Tibby's personally."

"Where's that?"

"Er ... I don't know what street or anythin'. I'll just come to your school." I nodded and smiled.

"There's my old apartment." I stated pointing up at the grungy brown building.

"I thought you sailed all over the place." He said skeptically.

"I did until I came to New York. The Captain had to go through a few months of training here."

"Oh."

"Ergh," I said. "Skittery look very closely." I pointed to the private Catholic school building. "What you see is the spot where hell connects with Earth."

He laughed and asked, "It's that bad?"

"Worse actually." I said in a happy tone mocking my animosity towards the school.

"Why?"

"It would take some time to explain. I tell you all about it, but the bell rings in a minute here and I really don't want to be screamed at and beat by teachers."

"Alright, I'll see you in a few hours." He waved and left me to face the building and its occupants alone.

I sighed and walked in. A shiver went down me spine as I left the sunny street and entered the dank hall. Nuns and students were bustling around, ready for the day to start. I hurried towards my room. The church bells started to chime before I made it. I slowed down my brisk pace, knowing well enough it wasn't how late I was, just the fact that I was late was going to earn me some punishment. "It's the principle of the matter!" Were Sister Jane's exact words when I had questioned her after being tardy last week. She bluntly displayed her dislike for me, almost as much as my peers. As I neared the classroom, my head hung low, I could hear her beginning her lecture.

"She isn't going to be happy." I murmured to myself as I turned the brass doorknob.