Dang this keyboard is loud. WHY YOU NOT QUIET! Sorry...I am a strange childXD

So, anyway, thanks for sticking with this story!It will get better! Trust me, this is just the beginning. Also, should I do a pairing with Whisk/Emma? I'm not sure, since she is 14 and most of the newsies are 16 or up. You guys chose! Leave a review and let me know! Also! I will be calling her Emma at the beginning then once she gets her new newsie name I'll call her by that. Sorry if that's confusing!

Thanks! Review and Read On!

- Emily

They arrived at the lodging house in no time. Emma put her hand tenderly to her throbbing and stinging cheek.

"Does that hurt?" Race asked. She nodded. Race turned her head so that he could study it. He moved her hand and sighed.

"Ow, we'll put some ice on that. It's gonna leave a nasty bruise." She sighed.

"Come on, the boys will all be in here by now." Race said. He opened the door and grabbed her hand, pulling her in.

"Hey, Kloppman! I found a new newsie on the street! Can we keep her?" He asked. The older man at the desk chuckled.

"Goodness, Racetrack! She is a girl, not a dog! And of course, you just have to sign in here." She nodded, signing Emma on the line. Kloppman smiled at her and Race dragged her away.

"That's Kloppman. He owns the joint. Here, the boys should be in here. This is the bunk room." Race flung the door open.

"Hiya, boys!" He called cheerfully.

"Race! Where were you! You know you have to be- Race who is this?" Jack said. Race smiled a big, goofy grin.

"This is Emma. I found her being soaked by the Queens leaders. Used to sell with them, but talked back to High-Brow and they kicked her out of soaked her over here." Race explained. Jack smiled,

"So, you stood up against those guys, huh? Good, it's about time someone did. Oh, looks like they did a number on your cheek. we'll fix that up. Now, let's get you settled in Miss...sorry, what's your name?" Jack asked. Emma bit her bottom lip and looked at Race.

"Emma. Her name is Emma." Race said. Jack nodded and went to get her a cold wash cloth. A boy was a crutch walked up to her.

"Hello, Miss. Emma! My name is Crutchie, and I bet you know why!" He said smiling.

Well, he is optimistic. Emma thought. She gave a shy smile, turning back into her Whisk self.

"Quiet one, is she?" Said another boy. He has glasses.

"They call me Specs. Nice to meet you." He said. She smiled and nodded to him. Just then, Jack returned with the wash cloth.

"Here, just keep this pressed to that cheek." He said. She took it and did what he said to.

"So, she need's a nickname." Crutchy said. The boys all thought.

"How about Braid?" Said one of the younger boys. Everyone looked at him.

"You know, because of the braid she has in her hair!" The room smiled.

"Braid it is," Jack said. "Here, you can have this bed. Mine is right over top of it if you need anything. Now, get to bed you guys! We have to sell in the morning!" Jack ordered. Race gave her a pat on the shoulder and walked of to his bed. Braid crawled into hers and pulled the covers up. (I will now call her Braid.)

"G'night, Braid!" Crutchy said, who was in the bed next to her.

"Night." She said softly. By the small chuckle he let out, she knew he heard her. Within a few minutes, the bunk room was asleep.

"Get up! Carry the Banner! Time to get up!" Braid woke with a start. Kloppman was shaking the boys out of bed. When he got to her he smiled.

"Good, I don't have to coax you! I knew I liked you." He said, winking. She smiled. The rest of the boys got up and started to get ready.

"Here, Braid. You can borrow a pair of clothes from me." Specs said.

"Thanks." She said. She spotted a closet and went inside of it to change. Specs clothes seemed to fit perfectly. She stepped out and thanked him again, then pulled her hair into the regular braid and let it hang over her shoulder. She set her cap of her head and followed Race out the door.

"Jack, who is she selling with today?" Race asked.

"I'll take her today, you take her tomorrow?" Jack answered.

"Sounds good. Good luck, sweetheart." Race said, walking up to stand in line.

"Now, I know you already know how to sell, but I'll show you the best spots around here. Come on, your with the leader so we are at the front of the line." Jack said, motioning her to follow. She knew that the leader always got to cut in front. High-Brow did it all the time. She didn't know how it was fair, but hey everyone else seemed perfectly fine with it.

Jack got 50 papers. Braid dig around in her pocket and pulled out enough money to buy 20.

"Now, I usually sell near the boxing ring. Another good place is the harbor or by Brooklyn Bridge. Come on, we'll go to the harbor first." Jack said. Braid nodded. They walked down the street to the harbor. Jack started calling out crazy, made up headlines. She decided to stick to what High-Brow told her to do while selling in Queens. She spotted a fine dressed lady standing next to a dock and she quietly walked over. Tapping on the lady's shoulder, she stepped back a step. The lady turned around.

"Yes, little Miss? How can I help you?" said the lady. Braid bit her bottom lip and pulled out a paper.

"Please, miss? I gotta sell enough papers or the orphanage will kick me out." She cast her eyes down to the paper and rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet.

"The orphanage?" The lady asked. Braid nodded,

"Yes, ma'am. You see, the orphanage is getting mighty tight this time of year. I gotta work to help buy food for the younger ones." Right on cue, her stomach growled.

"Oh my! What about you? Don't you eat?" The lady asked. Braid sighed.

"I gotta look after the small kids, ma'am. I will be old enough to leave soon, but they have to get adopted soon. I won't let what happen to me happen to them. You see, not getting adopted is no fun, so I might as well make sure they are healthy and picture perfect for parents, right?" The lady gave me a pitiful look and handed me a nickel.

"Good heavens! Here, I'll take a paper. You keep the change. Take care of yourself, you hear?" Braid nodded.

"Thank you, ma'am." Braid said. The lady turned and walked away and Braid walked back to Jack, who was nearly dying of laughter.

"You Fake!" He teased. She smiled a little.

"High-Brow always gave us little acts to keep up when we were selling." She said quietly. Her heart dropped in her chest a little.

"Wow, but doesn't that take a long time to sell?" Jack asked. Braid held up the nickel.

"Point taken. Go on, keep selling." He laughed. Braid turned and scanned the crowd.

There is chapter 3! How is this story going so far?

Please leave a review telling me what you think:) The next chapter will be up sooner, but possibly sooner if I know someone is actually reading this. You know, just to give me more motivation to write. Thanks!

Thanks(again, haha)! Review, please!