Family Don't Break

CHAPTER 12

ALEX'S POV:

First day as a newsie. Not what I expected to be doing with my life, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I have my bag, still stained with green paint, a dime, and a bottle of water. Lucky for me, the snow took a break this week. It's still cold, but at least it's not snowing.

"Jack!" he turns around, his face breaking into a smile once he sees me. I walk over to him and the crowd of boys, all who say their various versions of 'hello' and 'good morning'. Jack studies my outfit, making sure I'm ready for a long day of work.

I have on a white button down, my brown vest, my leather shoes, and my newsboy cap. "Take your hair down. You'll sell more as a girl I think." Jack says. I untuck my hair from my hat and tie it back in a ponytail. He nods, giving me a thumbs up. "Okay. You and I are taking the East Village today. We just got to pick up our papes. Make sure to count 'em, the Delancey's are cheats." all the boys agree, glaring at the two boys at the stand. "The old one is Wiesel. Pretty sure he hates everyone, including his wife."

A bell rings and I move with the boys, getting into a line. Jack stands behind me and Jojo is in front, flipping his coin. The boys banter as they receive their papers, making fun of the Delancey brothers and Wiesel. Crutchie is the only one who's at least a little respectful.

When it's my turn, I walk up and place my dime on the cash box. Wiesel stares at me for a couple of seconds, barely blinking. "You need to cut your hair, boy. It's not suitable." I raise an eyebrow. "Good thing I'm not a boy then." The boys chuckle and Wiesel glares at me and crosses his arms. "This ain't no job for a girl. Move along." he orders.

"Hey. I paid my money, give me my papes." I argue. "This is how spinsters start." he grumbles. He gestures for me to move on to the Delancey's. They elbow each other, whispering about what I can only assume is me. "You won't last a day," one of them laughs. I roll my eyes, holding out my hand for the papers.

They don't hand me my papers, but instead start to mock me. "Hey, Morris, I'll bet ya a quarter that she doesn't come back tomorrow."

"Your on, Oscar." I feel anger rising in my gut. These idiots think that they can scare me off with cheap talk. "How about this. If I come back tomorrow and prove you wrong, I get to punch you both. Deal?" The boys look at each other. Morris crosses his arms, staring me down. "And what do we get if we win?" he asks. "You get to punch me." fair is fair. Oscar shakes his head no. "I ain't punching no girl."

"I guess even they have standards!" Race shouts. The line erupts in laughter, causing the Delancey's to get even more annoyed. "Look, just give the gal her papes. She paid." The Delancey's look at Jack, and Oscar starts cracking his knuckles. "Don't remember asking you." he spits. "It don't matter if you asked or not, you're harassing my girl. Give her the papes or I'm taking 'em."

The Delancey's smirk, looking between the two of us. "Your dating Jack Kelly? You must be real desperate." The two of them chuckle, amused by their own joke. "Do we have a bet or not?" I shout. The crowd goes silent as they look at us. "We still haven't settled on what we get if we win." Oscar reminds me. "Though I think I have an idea." Morris sneers. "Whatever it takes for you to give me my papes." Morris leans down, his head close to mine. "If we win, one of us gets to take you on a date."

"Nope. No deal. She's already got a boyfriend, she doesn't need another-" I cut Jack off with a 'don't mess with me' glare. "Deal." Morris spits in his hand, holding it out for me to shake. I spit onto my palm and lock hands with him, making sure to squeeze his hand much harder than necessary.

They hand me my papes and I move off to the side, Jack following after me. "Make sure to wear something more ladylike for our date!" Oscar shouts. I flip him off, turning my back to them. "Alex, what the hell did you just do?" Jack quietly yells. "I made a bet." I say simply.

"That was a terrible idea! Those two are the definition of sleazy!" I roll my eyes. "I can make my own decisions Jack. You don't control me. Plus, it's worth the risk if I get to punch the two of them in their smug faces." Jack runs his hand over his face, but he stops arguing. "You're coming back tomorrow even if I have to drag you behind me."

"What, you don't like the idea of me dating someone else?" I joke. "Nope. You're my girl and my girl only, there ain't nothing you can do about it." he puts an arm around my shoulders, smiling down at me. "I wouldn't want to be anyone else's." He leans down and kisses me, pulling away before our lips can freeze together.

"Let's get to work, the sooner we sell all the papes the sooner I can take you out for some coffee." I nod, and we set off hand in hand. Hopefully I don't completely screw up.