~ Two ~

Three years ago, Jared was kicked out of the Manhattan Newsies group. Exactly three years ago. I don't know why, but, sales wise, I wasn't doing very well.

We were close.

Really close.

I had no idea why he was kicked out until the night when I went to see Medda. She told me everything. He went to see her sing, and he hadn't been very stable ever since. He was lovestruck and drunk.

All of my time spent as a Newsie has helped me realize something.

I am not an important person. At all.

Jared told me that. He told me that quite a lot. He put me down. He always told me things like that. But he wasn't the only one who taught me that. I was just an orphan from Manhattan, New York, with a huge dream of getting out. Maybe even with Jack.

He always told the other Newsies about Santa Fe. About how he wanted a big life in a small town.

"Dey already got a place for me," Jack said.

"Oh yeah?" Crutchie asks. "Have you gotten your first bill already, Cowboy?"

"Not yet. I haven't been there, dummie."

"When are you leaving, Jack?" I asked. I always asked him that.

"Guess when I have the perfect amount of dough, I'll be outta here! Gone. Forever. Never comin' back."

That was his answer.

Every time.

I used to ask him if he could take one Newsie with him, who would he take. His reply?

"Me of course! I don't got enough money for everyone to come." Then he'd ruffle my hair. It was either that, or elbow me. "Gosh, Cory. Why does you ask?"

"No reason. Just wondering."

Nope.

No reason at all.

There's no reason why you should bring me, Cowboy.

And then there's Davey. Er, David Jacobs. He's wonderful. Amazing. He was a great friend. We met not too long ago. It was quite interesting, actually.

Jack and I were selling papers, you know, just "carrying the banner"! After all of the Newsies sell a couple papers, we split up. Jack and I were together. He sort of took Jared's place after he was gone. But I went a little bit more down the street. Cars crossing and speeding past us. David was with his little brother, Les, as we always called him. Just bringing his mother's laundry out.

"You can stay out here if you'd like," David began to tell his brother. "But I won't be in there for too long."

"Alright, I'll be right out here, Davey." Les replied.

"Stay. Here. Don't move away from this sidewalk, understand?" Les nodded in response. He sat down on the bench just outside the window when he heard the hollers of the Newsies from across the street.

"Extra, extra!"

"Biggest story yet!"

"Get your story for a penny a pape!"

"Come 'n get it!"

Suddenly, without thinking, Les ran on the roads, just to go and try to "help" us. Cars speeding past the kid, he is running. Luckily, before a sports-lookin' car hit him, I ran and grabbed him and rolled to the nearest sidewalk. I ended up on the bottom, my eyes were shut the entire time. He gets up and offers his hand for me to grab. The kid helps me stand up. I have tears in my sleeves and my hat was left on the other side of the street.

"Are you alright, kid?" I ask, brushing myself off.

"Yeah, I'm okay. But the real question is, are you alright?" He laughs a little and points to my arm. It's all scraped up and bleeding like crazy. For crying out loud, my blood was stained on the concrete below me!

I try to touch it, but hiss behind my teeth. It stings. A lot. "I'll be ok,"

"Are you sure, 'cause--"

"I'm sure, kid. I'll be alright," I say trying to not scream because of the stinging. "Hey, you got a name?"

"Les Jacobs," he smiles with pride. "How about you? What's yours?"

"Oh, I'm Cory."

"Cory? That's a boys' name."

"Well, my real name's Corinne, but the Newsies call me Cory."

He stopped and gasped.

"You're a Newsie?!"

"Well, yeah. I was pretty much born into it," I laughed as I told Les.

"Wait... You're a girl. You can't be a Newsie."

"Wait, you're a kid. You shouldn't be running out in the street!" I said mimicking him. "What are ya doin' that for?"

"Well, I want to be a Newsie. Or at least help them sometime." I snickered at that. "What? Is something wrong?"

"Don't worry 'bout us, kid. We have all the help we can get."

Then his older brother, Davey comes running out of the door and across the street.

"Les, what were you thinking?! Are you alright? What did I tell you about--" and then he stopped. He looked up at me and his scared/angry face switched to a different expression. Like realized that the nuns were singing. And then he smirked, as if he liked what he saw when he stopped scolding his brother.

"And, who is this?"

"Oh, this is Cory, er, Corinne. She's a Newsie. And she saved me," Les introduced me to his older brother.

"Well, hello. I'm David. It's nice to meet you," At first I wanted to gag. I felt like he was going to kiss my hand or something. Instead, he made a subtle wink. It was nothing. Just a simple wink.

"Ahaha. You too," I replied.

In the distance, I could hear Jack calling out my name. I turned around and saw him, too.

"Hey! Cory! We gotta go!"

I turned back around to David and Les and said,

"I'm really sorry. I have to go back home. See ya 'round?" Davey let out a hushed little "Yeah. I'll see you around", as I left. While I walked away, he stared at me. I could feel it. It was kinda creepy...

"Davey? Hello?" Les waved his hand in front of his brother's face.

"What? Oh, sorry, Les. We have to be home by ten, mom said."

"Race ya?"

"NO."

"Too bad." Les ran home with his older brother trailing behind him.

Ah, those two. They always crack me up. I miss them a whole lot. I could really use them today. I can't believe it's been three years since Jared left. He was all I had left, and he just walked away. I wonder where he is now...

But that doesn't matter. I have my own life to live... I guess.

Today didn't feel normal at all. I guess it's three years of sibling love and smiles all racing to ruin my day. But it isn't the memories that hurt me. It's Jared. He's gone. Just like Jack will be soon.

No.

Stop, Cory, just stop!

He is not going to leave without you.

You'll think of some sort of scheme to make him stay.

Somehow.

❤️ 📰 🎵 ❤️ 📰 🎵 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 📰 🎵

-Well, there's chapter two. I'm not good at Author's Notes. D:

-Anyway, I really hope you like it. I think I'm going to start doing QOTDs. Mostly about musicals and such. I think I'll start right now...

-QOTD: Your favorite Newsie(s)?

-I honestly love Davey and Spot. And Jack of course. They're really the best.

-Thanks for reading. It means the world!

Stay musical. Love, Hayden Beth. ☺️❤️