Chapter 3: I'm not asking for any

I said good-night to the boys, walked up to my room, closed the door, yawned, and threw myself on my bed. I know it sounds boring. But, I was so tired. I fell asleep quickly.

"She's already asleep," I heard someone whisper.

"Go," someone else said. "Get out of here."

"Why are you bothering her," another asked.

"She's gonna wake up!" another added.

"She's already awake," I said, sitting up to see the four boys. It was Boots, Snipeshooter, Blink, and Specs.

"Hey, Alley," Specs said, taking a seat on my bed.

"Hi, Specs," I said with a smile as I ran my hands through my hair. "What are you guys doing," I asked with a yawn.

"Kid had something to tell you," Boots said. Suddenly he, Snipeshooter, and Specs left the room, closing the door right in Blink's face.

Blink slapped the door with frustration. "Feel free to leave," I said. "You owe me no time. And I'm not asking for any."

He turned around to face me. I waited for him to say something. He didn't. "Do I owe you anytime?" I asked him finally.

He shook his head. "You owe me no time. And I am asking for no time."

Blink's view

I walked out of her room in a haze. Had I really just told her that I owed her no time? And was asking for no time? When, really, all I wanted was her time.

I dragged myself into my bunk. "Night, Blink," I heard one of the young boys say.

"Shut up!" I snapped.

Everyone was silent for a moment. Before they started to yell at me. "Get over it, Blink!" "Gosh!" "Ya bum!"

"Stop bothering me!" I yelled as I turned over to fall asleep.

I didn't fall asleep that night. At all.

Alley's point of view

I hate Blink. For the way he treats. He brushes me off. Cold shoulder, silent treatment. He's just a jackass.

Snoddy woke me up that morning. Just like the day before. "Alley," he whispered. "Al."

"Snoddy," I muttered, sitting up. I rubbed my face. I blinked hard.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

I thought for a moment. "I hate Blink," I said, finally voicing my feelings.

Snoddy gave me a sad smile. "Why?" He asked.

"He's a bum," I said. I sounded like a whiney child, but Snoddy didn't comment.

"All right," Snoddy said. "But that's no reason to leave. Right?"

I nodded. "Right.

* * *

I had been a newsie for two weeks now. I was close to a number of newsies. Jack, Mush, and David were all really nice to me. So was Bumlets and Crutchy (well, he's nice to everyone). Racetrack was kinda a smart ass, but he taught me how to gamble. Boots, Snipeshooter, and Les tried to 'protect' me on a daily basis. It usually ended up with them coming to me to fix their skinned knees or bloody elbows.

But, the relationships I had with those 9 newsies were nothing compared to my relationship with Snoddy. He was my best friend. We were practically attached at the hip. He was the last one I saw at night, and the first one I saw in the morning. By this time I was already buying my own papes, but Snoddy loved to buy me lunch whenever I would let him.

At times I felt like Snoddy's best friend. And I knew I was his best friend all the time. But other times, I felt like his older sister, or younger sister. One or twice I felt like his mother. But, that was fine for me. It made me feel like he needed me even more. I kept him line.

There was only one newsboy that I couldn't stand. You guessed it. Blink. What a bum! He still treated me horribly, even if I hadn't talked to him in two weeks.

Blink's view

Alley had been a newsie for about two weeks now. I counted the days. I counted the times I hurt her.

There were so many times I tried to talk to her. But, she was always with Snoddy! Always! He was like her secret lover or something.

I hated both of them. I hated Snoddy for taking her away from my reach. And Alley for letting him take her out of my reach.

Getting back to present times, it was still summer and hotter than hell. She was the only one who didn't complain about it.

I had less sleep last night than the night before. I rubbed my eyes. I pulled myself out of bed, threw on some clothes and made my way over to the circulation office.

Alley's view

Snoddy woke me up that morning with a cigarette in his mouth.

"You stressed out or something?" I asked him. I grabbed the cigarette from his mouth.

"Hey," Snoddy said, trying to grab it back.

"No!" I said. "I can't have you smoking!"

"Why not?" Snoddy asked, giving up on getting the cigarette back.

"It's disgusting!" I exclaimed.

"Fine," Snoddy said. "I won't smoke."

"Good," I commented.

I didn't notice this when I was writing this story, but chapter three turned out kinda short. Obviously, no one is reading this, but I'll keep posting. Please review. Thank you!