I turned around to meet a boy that looked my age, well maybe a year older than me. He had a grey collared shirt on and a striped black and white vest over it and had a red bandana tied around his neck. He also had a dirty white bag slung around his shoulder. "Um, hello," I said. 

"Da names Jack Kelly, I'se pleased to meets ya sweet pea," Jack said, spitting in his hand and holding it out for me to shake. My eyebrows shot up.

****I imagine Jeremy Jordan as Jack Kelly because I'm in love with him so he may be described as having brown hair instead of blonde. Obviously you can picture whichever Jack. I also describe Crutchie as Andrew Keenan-Bolger but I pictured Marty Belafsky while I was writing it?? IDK man just picture whatever Crutchie you want lolol. Also the rest of the newsies should be described like the 1992 newsies, not the broadway ones. I have no idea how relevant this is to anyone but I thought I'd mention it <3****

"You expect me to-?" I started. "Oh sorry, I forgets you see. Mes and my bois do it-it's a habit." He looked down bashfully and held out his other hand and I shook it. "My name is Y/N." He smiled. "Well, what's yous doing here? Yous don't seem like the kinda goirl to be in New York." 

 "Well..." I started. I didn't know the guy well to tell him my whole tragic life story so I quickly changed the subject.

"What's a guy like you living in a place like New York?" I asked. He smirked. "Well I'se a newsie!" He said matter-of-factly.  "A Manhattan newsie." He said, his chest puffing out with pride, I think, what's a newsie anyway? Is it something to be proud of?

 A wave of confusion washed over me. "Newsie? What's a Newsie?" 

He snorted. "What's a newsie? What's a newsie?" He mocked. 

"They didn't exactly teach me about them in school..." I mumbled. 

"Let me teach yous a lesson then." He said, grabbing a newspaper out of his bag. He cleared his throat and stepped back.

"Extra! Extra! One penny for a papes! Baby born with three arms!" Jack yelled holding up the newspaper. "Why hello there sweat pea, would you like a pape?" He said, stepping over to me and holding out the paper. 

"So newsies sell newspapers?" I asked taking the one from his hand, and giving him a penny. I skimmed through it and he replied. "Yup, and yous looking at the leader of da Manhattan newsies." He said beaming. "Impressive, too bad you don't know how to read," I said flatly, glancing back up at him. 

"I'se dos know how to read!" He protested, glaring at me. "Then you would know that it says nothing about a baby born with three arms in here," I said holding up the newspaper and pointing at the headline. "The headline is 'Oil Spill Endangers Segal Population' sounds pretty boring if you ask me," I explained. "The headline doesn't sell da papes. Newsies sell da papes." He said, winking at me. "Yous gotta manipulate da truth." He said.

"Yous never answered my question eida. What's are you doing in New York?"

 I fiddled with my sleeve and pulled down my shirt collar. "Well, Never fear, Brooklyn is here, has been tattooed on my collarbone since I was born. I figured I would come to New York and try to find him. I don't exactly have anyone left." I said vaguely. 

"I'se see, well I'm sure yous could stay at the newsie lodgehouse 'ere in Manhattan for a bit, if you don't have a place to stay. Then you's could go find him." He said, grinning. 

I smiled at Jack and replied. "Thank you Jack, that would be very helpful. But I have another question..."

"Ask me anythin'."

"How do I become a newsie?"

_____

A/N 

I finally am going back to edit the chapters!! Hope you enjoy :) Also ty for reading!

-izaya <3