I know. I know. This is long overdue and you all probably hate me. I'm so so very sorry. But, I'm back and hopefully I will be updating more than I've been the past weeks!

This one is for theartergirlmgm! I hope you like it! Please vote and comment what ya think! Thank you all! Love you all!

3rd Person

She moved a piece of her blonde hair behind her ear while she kept her head down, not wanting to call any attention to herself. School has just ended and the second worst part of her day has just began- the walk home.

For months now, she's been bullied by the kids at her school. She wonders what she ever did to them, but at the same time, she knows they don't need a reason. People can just be so cruel.

A couple months ago, she tried to do what they've all been telling her to do. She tried killing herself, and it was unsuccessful. The only thing that came out of that horrid experience is more bullying and being on a close leash by her family.

She was knocked out of her thoughts when she accidentally bumped into someone causing that person to drop their papers.

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going," she apologized grabbing some of the papers from off the ground. She looked up seeing a newsie with brown eyes and matching hair covered by a newsie cap. A cigar was between his lips before he took it out to reply to her.

"No worries. I'm Racetrack. Race foah shoit," he handed out his hand for her to shake.

"Makena," she shakes his hand with a small smile.

"I'se should get back ta my sellin'. But maybe I'll see ya 'gain?"

"Maybe," she gave him a small smile which he returned before they parted ways. She turns back seeing him walking away knowing one of the worst part of her day became her favorite.

....

The bullying did not hurt as much the next day. Maybe they were going easy on her or maybe she was just in a good mood. Whatever it was, it was making her life a lot happier.

She held her head up high the walk home hoping to see a certain someone on the way. She did not know why she was hung up on this boy since she had only just met him, but he was affecting her.

Her courage ran low as the popular girls in her grade hit the books she was holding making them fall to the ground. Just as she stood up, more girls passed, pushing pass with force.

"I'm surprised she even shows her face anymore," she hears them whisper.

"I know. She should just finish the job she failed at months ago," one girl says making the others chuckle. Her eyesight becomes blurring, but she quickly takes a deep breath and continues walking hoping to get home soon.

"Ah you'se okay?" she hears the familiar, thick New York accent ask.

"Y- yeah. I'm fine," she answers trying to sound sincere.

"Were dey botherin' ya?" he questions motioning to the group of girls laughing, pointing, and whispering her way. She gave him a small nod, looking away. "I'll walk ya home," he told her holding out his hands to show he'll hold her books.

"You don't have to-"

"I wanna," he looks at her with a small smile. She returns that smile while handing him some books.

*1 Week Later*

"Hey, Race," she greets beginning to walk home from school. Ever since that day a week ago, he has showed up after school to walk her home so the bullies don't hurt her. And ever since then, each day was becoming easier and easier for her to handle.

"Hey, Makena," he greets back grabbing some books from her grasp as usual. They make small talk about headlines, events- anything really before she saw Lillian Myer, the most popular and meanest girl in school.

"Well, look who it is. A freak and her street rat of a so called 'boyfriend'," her and her 'possy' laughed.

"Shut up. She doesn't desoive any of dis crap ya give 'er. Ya jus' jealous and too bored of ya own pathetic life dat ya pick on someone else's. Leave 'er alone and grow up," Race tells her raising his voice a tiny bit. Lillian, not having anything to say, just lowered her head and walk away from the both followed by her pathetic group of 'friends'.

"Thank you," Makena gave Race a hug he couldn't deny once they were gone.

"It was nothin'-"

"No, it meant everything to me," she smiled making him smile back.

"Makena-" he stopped trying to muster as much courage as he could. "I know we only met a week ago, but I'se really like ya," he tells her looking from the ground and then up to her blue eyes.

"I like you, too," she replies taking a small step closer.

"Will ya be my goil?" he asks scratching the back of his neck becoming nervous.

"Yes," she answers giving him a small peck on the lips before he wrapped an arm around her waist finishing their walk back to her house.