New Kid, New Century • A Newsies Fanfic

chapter two.

chapter two.

It wasn't like she wanted to be a newsie.

She would've much rather stayed with Olivia, making sure she was safe. She would've much rather made the two of them breakfast, or gone to the park. But instead, she was stuck being a newsie when she wasn't even a boy.

Let me explain Gracie's situation - her childhood was not exactly a picture perfect one. In fact, it was the opposite of picture perfect. When she was seven, her mother died giving birth to Olivia. Two years later, her father's heart gave out. It was completely unexpected and shocking to the two girls. If their father was hurting, or his heart was doing badly before it abruptly gave out, he had done a great job of hiding it.

Gracie was sent into a state of shock after losing both her mother and her father, but no matter what, she refused to go to an orphanage. She knew how awful and cruel they were, and how they slowly destroyed you over time. She didn't want to see this happen to Olivia.

None of the things she did were about herself. Honestly, Gracie wouldn't have given a damn if she had died. She wouldn't have given a damn if she had to go to the orphanage. Everything she did was for her sister. Her little Liv. Liv was everything to her, and she never wanted to see a day where Liv didn't smile. True, it was hard sometimes, doing things such as giving up her meals so Olivia could have enough to eat, but Gracie did it without hesitation. If there wasn't a smile on her younger sister's face, then Gracie wouldn't smile. It was the way her life worked. If Olivia didn't smile, then Gracie was completely useless.

All she wanted to do was make her sister happy.

And to do that, she had to make hard choices.

Really hard choices.

Working as a newsie was one of them.

Gracie sighed and continued along the streets of Manhattan, the smoke in the air causing her lungs to burn.

Time to face the glorious fucking day.

• • •

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty!"

Davey opened his eyes and rolled over, his face stinging. He was now face to face with Les.

It took him a second to remember where he was. Bunk beds surrounded him, sinks, toilets, and bathtubs in the corner of the room. Newsboys filled up the room, some sleeping, and others rushing around. He remembered now. He was in the Newsboys Lodging House.

"Ow," he muttered. "Did you slap me? Again?"

"How else am I supposed to wake you up? You sleep like there's no tomorrow," Les shrugged, turning away and throwing on his suspenders, shirt, and cap.

"Let me go back to sleep," Davey groaned, covering his eyes with his hands.

"Can't. It's 7:00 and I've been trying to wake ya-"

Davey's eyes shot open. "It's 7:00?"

"Did ya even hear anything I just flippin' said?" Les questioned, slapping Davey across the face again. "Yes, it's 7:00."

Davey let out a high-pitched yelp. "For crying out loud, stop that!" He uttered, using his sleeve to cover up his exposed cheek.

"Then wake the f-"

"Language, Les! Man, them newsies have really been getting to you."

"Sorry. Then wake the heck up because we got papes to sell!" Les snapped, sharpness and authority in his voice. "Unless you want me to slap you again?"