Manhattan, New York

1900

"Holy cow! Look at 'da front page taday!" Blink exclaimed, excited to be the first to get his morning papers.

"Wait, I din't get mine yet," David warned him. He didn't want anyone to spoil his daily dose of news – not when the headline was so juicy. He wanted to see it for himself.

"Hurry up 'den, I can't keep it ta myself for much longa." Jack could have sworn he saw a trail of drool leave Blink's mouth. Yup. Must be a girl.

Slowly, Jack and David made their way over to Blink, David's mouth hanging open the whole way.

"Pinup Parnwell loses skirt at last night's show!" Jack exclaimed, seeming pleased.

"It was probably some doity old geezer 'dat did it," Swifty said, shaking his head and taking a puff of his cigarette.

The four boys looked at Skittery, who stared at the front page and quickly stuck it under his arm.

"Not so dumb n' glum today, huh?" Blink teased him, punching his arm. Skittery kept walking.

"Ey, what'sa mattah, cat got ya tongue?" Jack asked.

"Think Pinup's got it," Blink joked, jabbing Jack in the ribs, laughing. The boys never really understood Skittery's mood swings, but they couldn't even joke with him without him getting defensive.

"'Least it's a good story I guess," Swifty shrugged, throwing down his cigarette, throwing his stack of papers over his shoulder and heading towards Irving Hall.

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"Ey, Skitts, wait up!" Jack called after him. Skittery only slowed down to throw his cigarette butt down on the ground and stomped on it despite the rain puddle he was stepping in.

"Whatsa mattah?" Jack asked him again.

"Nothin'." Skittery retorted, walking faster. Jack was nearly sweating just trying to keep up with him.

"Why d'ya care so much 'bout 'dat dame? She's jist some dancer."

"Well she woiks at Irving Hall, ain'tcha worried 'bout Medda?"

"'Dat's different," Jack shrugged. "I know Medda, an' Medda could handle any situation put in front of 'er. That goil probably ain't so smart."

"'Least not smart enough ta stay outta 'da business."

"What, y'think she's a hooker?" Jack asked contemplatively, running a hand through his hair.

Skittery didn't want to know. Something about it really bothered him. Something about her bothered him. It wasn't as much a bother as it was a sick feeling in his stomach. Whenever he saw her, he felt like he had gotten hit right in the gut.

Well, he had never actually seen her. He had been to Irving Hall to see Medda's performances, but never to see the Coquettes. He hadn't seen the other four girls in the Coquettes either, but for some reason, they were insignificant to him. The only experience he had ever had with Pinup Parnwell was in the newspapers and magazines the boys would sit around and drool over. It wasn't that he wasn't the type to drool over a girl. But Skittery was the type that was so grounded he couldn't fantasize until he had felt the actual thing. For that matter, he'd also have to see her in person.

Despite all that was running through his mind, such as Pinup Parnwell in her black corset and whatever little underthings women wore. Maybe women didn't own black underthings. They could be white.

"Maybe."

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Irving Hall

JoJo, Charade, Fedora and Luna stood outside the dressing room door, which was locked, and stared at the door that was closed in their faces.

"C'mon sweetie," JoJo encouraged, putting a hand up to the door as though Pinup would have known it was there.

"Yeah. It isn't that bad," Luna said. "There's a lot more men in this city who have seen my panties."

Fedora rolled her eyes and spoke up. "Pin, you know Medda will make sure that guy never comes here again."

"That doesn't matter!" The girls heard her scream from inside. They had only seen her like this once, and that had been when her boyfriend at the time said she had too many "curves", even though she had never heard any other complaints about it, thank you very much.

The door suddenly swung open, and a tear-stained, mascara-dripping Pinup was clenching a soggy handkerchief in her hand.

"I can't believe that fucking bastard!"

As JoJo pulled her into a hug, Medda came up the stairs holding a tray with a pot of tea.

"How are my girls?"

"Medda," JoJo lunged toward Medda like she was a piece of chocolate cake.

"Has the newspaper come?" She asked, seeing as Medda was holding something in the same form under her arm.

All eyes turned toward her, but she didn't say anything. Medda turned her apologetic gaze toward Pinup, who in turn brushed by them and sprinted out the door to the nearest newsie selling spot.

She hustled along, street by street, until suddenly coming upon three boys who appeared to be selling the newspapers. Angry and out of breath, Pinup decide to keep the conversation short and just say what was necessary.

"Hello boys," she coaxed, twirling a piece of hair around her finger.

Blink seemed to like to be flirted with early in the morning, as did Swifty. They seemed to busy staring at her to notice that she was talking to them.

"Any good headlines this morning?" She was surprised how calm she was acting giving the situation. After all, throwing them off the Brooklyn Bridge, as Fedora had suggested, was not the way to solve the problem. When she spoke, they looked at each other with a mixed expression on their faces.

"Uh – " Swifty began, not knowing what to say, so Blink covered for him.

"So ya saw it, huh?" He asked sympathetically.

"Yes," she admitted, "yes I saw it."

Swifty bit his lip. "I'm real sorry. I didn't know – I mean, I wouldn't 'a – "

"Oh, don't be silly, boys," she giggled, batting her eyelashes. "It's not your fault."

"Still," Blink spoke up quickly. "I wish there was somedin' we'se could do ta make it up to ya. I mean, it was real insensitive."

Pinup thought for a moment, encircling her dainty, gloved hand to her chin.

"Well, I suppose there is something."

"Yeah?" Blink asked, his eyes widening. Alright, so he was sort of a kiss-ass. Still, he was sweet.

"It's been difficult for us to get a decent crowd when Medda is doing other shows around the city. This Friday she'll be in Brooklyn for the night. Why don't you fellas come see us? I've got four other girls with me, so bring some of your boys. Some nice boys."