-Chapter 2: The Bottom Line-

-19 March, 1899-

-Joseph Pulitzer's Office-

-Manhattan, New York-

...

Mr. Pulitzer smiles slightly at the people in front of him. Bunsen, Seitz, and Hannah. Of course, there is also the barber, but technically, he is standing behind Mr. Pulitzer. Not in front.

"Now gentlemen," he pauses. "And lady. We have a financial crises on our hands. Any suggestions? No? Let me give you an example.

"Shaving is tricky,the razor should float. Shave me to close and you may slit my throat. Isn't that right?"

The barber nods in agreement.

"What if we raise the prices for the newsies? Make the papers sixty cents per hundred instead of fifty. They would have to sell ten more papers just to earn the same amount as always."

Mr. Pulitzer's smile widens. "My thoughts exactly."

"It'll be awfully rough on those children," Hannah says doubtfully.

"It's a real life lesson in economics. Now leave me."

The three adults left the building, just before Katniss barreled in through the the window.

"My, my. Mr. Gordon's children never fail to impress."

"You're my client, I presume." Katniss asks expectantly. Mr. Pulitzer smiles.

"I am. I'm also certain you've been briefed on your mission, but I will go over it again anyways. There are two boys, newsies, that are causing trouble-"

"What kind of trouble?" Katniss cuts in.

"They aren't causing any real trouble, but since I recently raised the prices, by tomorrow morning they will be."

"So you want them to assassinate them before they do any serious damage?"

"What? I don't want you to kill them. I want them under control! Can you do that for me?"

Katniss snorted. "Haven't you purchased an assassin before? I can't keep them alive! I assassinate for a living. That's why I'm an assassin. Would you like me to use smaller words so that you can understand better, perhaps?"

"Fine. Kill them. It would actually be very helpful if you killed them. Especially that Kelly boy. He's caused enough trouble. I still can't believe he used Roosevelt to get out of prison. That little son of a- anyway, do what you must."

Katniss smirks at him before turning and leaving out the window once again.

-20 March, 1899

-Manhattan-

I raise an eyebrow at the newbie. He really is clueless.

"Listen, kid," I say, trying to explain things to him.

"I'm sixteen," he says defiantly. "I ain't no kid." I snort.

"Really 'cause I'm seventeen. That means you're younger than me. That means your a kid. Anyhow, Mr. Sixteen, you buy as many papes as you can up front. You have a dime, that will get you twenty papes. Say you only sell eighteen, than oh well, you have to pay for those extra two papers. They ain't giving you four cents back and Mr. Pulitzer ain't buying back those last two papes. Only buy as many papes as you can sell. That's my advice."

I slap down my fifty cents and hear Finnick laugh a little at my speech. I flash him a grin, which he returns. Les pulls on the Davey's arm.

"You heard the man. We gots to go."

"Wait just a minute!" They turn back to me. "I'm willing to make a deal with you. We sell together and split the money seventy-thirty."

Kid squints at me. "Fifty-fifty. I want a fair trade."

"Sixty-forty. That's my final offer."

Les hesitates. "Fine, Jack Kelly."

I snort. If this keeps using my full name, I may die. I motion for them to follow me.

As it turns out, Davey can't sell papes for heck. Les, on the other hand, can pull off the poor orphan act in his sleep, getting sympathy buyers. At the end of the day, we sold all of our papes. One hundred twenty. Davey invites me for dinner, which I politely decline. No way in a hundred years would Gordon let me go to someone's house. It's completely different from my 'penthouse.' That's when Snyder shows up.

I'm surprised all three of us got away without someone else ending up in The Refuge. We hide in Medda Larkin's theater and that's where we stay.

-20 March, 1899-

-The Newsie's residence-

Jack is gone. Les is gone. Davey is gone. And I miss them all.

When Gordon did roll call that night, I think a part of me died every time he read a name and no one answered. The punishment for not showing up affects everyone. Flogging is an issue. The rule is you get the same amount of lashes as your age, so naturally, being seventeen, I get fifty one, because three Newsies are missing. Oh joy. Note the sarcasm.

I can't move when it's done. Now I know how Crutchie feels. Helpless. Weak. They leave me there, bleeding on the ground and the one thought to go through my head is move!

The feeling is so strong that I do just that. I roll out of the way just as a silver arrow lands in the ground, inches away from my side. Someone tried to shoot me. Now the mud is getting into my open back and it stings. A person in all black lands gracefully next to me. They're holding a knife.

"Aren't you Finnick Odair?" It's a girl's voice. That means a girl is about to beat me up. Wow. That's humiliating.

"Yes." I say confidently. Suddenly, a stick snaps. She glances up before standing.

"Later. We'll finish this later." She whispers before running off back into the trees.

"Odair! Get your lazy self back into this wreck of a house and start yet cleaning!" Gordon yells at me. I hate my life. One thought runs through my head as I head back inside.

I can't believe I thought this guy was smiley