My Ray of Sunshine

Chapter 4

"We ain't done here," Oscar hissed in my ear.

I grinned, "I think we are." With that, I pulled my arm free and went to buy my papers.

"You good?" Albert asked as I stepped in line behind him.

"I'm fine," I lied.

"Sure?"

"Yes," I snapped. He held his hands up in defense before stepping up to the counter.

"You have a very interesting face. Ever thought about getting into moving pictures?" He smiled, holding his hands up like a camera.

"You think I could?" Weasel asked. That man is so gullible.

"Sure. Buy a ticket. They'll let anyone in," Albert laughed, slapping a coin on the desk and collecting his papers. I rolled my eyes.

"Well, if it ain't the street princess. How ya doin' sweets?" Weasel hissed, a somewhat scary smile spreading across his face.

"I would be better if I wasn't lookin' at your face right now," I growled, dropping my cash and collecting my papers.

"Hey! You can't talk to me like that! Get back here!" Weasel yelled after me.

"Leave her alone, Weasel!" Race, Albert and Mush growled, stepping in front of me. Katie grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the Newsies.

"You any good at solving problems?" The blonde girl asked, eyes frantic.

"Maybe? Why?"

"Here." Katie handed me a piece of paper. (A/N: This is a continuation of my previous book, No Freedom and contains some spoilers. I do suggest reading the other book first.)

I scanned over it, becoming increasingly confused and interested. "Where were they last?"

"The theater," she answered.

"We'll check there after selling," I decided.

I met up with Albert and Elmer, trailing behind quite a ways as we headed to their selling spot. I was slightly dragging my feet as I mulled over the events of yesterday and today. "Hey? You good?"

I looked up to see I was about to run straight into Albert. I stopped, "can you stop asking me that?"

"I's just makin' sure. You seem really upset," the ginger stated, pulling off his hat and dropping it on my head.

"I'm fine," I snapped, ripping his hat off and shoving it into his chest. "I'm gonna sell near the bridge." I jogged away, knowing he was still watching.

I sighed, collecting my thoughts and willing myself not to cry. "Hey, Newsie. Gimme a paper," a man hissed, spinning me around to face him.

"Sir, you have to pay," I explained.

"Bullshit!" He hissed, pushing me into the ground. "Worthless brat!"

(A/N: Well, THAT was weird to say. I don't really cuss at all anymore. I'm a clean person....mostly.)

"Sir, you need to calm down," Albert growled, standing over me in a protective way.

"Who are you to tell me what to do, boy?" The man hissed.

Elmer join Albert, both standing over me. Not literally over me, but over me like next to and towering over me, if that makes sense. "She's worth more than your watch there, buddy."

"And you are?" The man hissed.

"Newsies, and we watch out for each other. You should take a page outta our book," Elmer breathed.

"Nah. If I do, I'd be beggin' for scraps on the streets. I'd also look as pathetic and ugly as she does," the man looked straight through the boys at me. I felt myself cringe away, unable to look him in the face anymore. "Oh yeah, I visited the orphanage today. That little boy ain't gonna make it. You can tell your blonde girlfriend." And with that, he left.

Albert and Elmer turned to me simultaneously, crouching down to my eye-level. "I'm fine," I mumbled, though I clearly was not. Pathetic and ugly, is that how people see me? It's always been how everyone sees me anyway. So, why do I care this much? I sighed, collecting my papers that had spilled across the pavement.

"Blonde girlfriend? Boy in the orphanage?....Do ya think he's talking about Katie?" Elmer echoed.

"Maybe? We'll tell Katie after selling," Albert decided before turning to me.

"If you say it, I swear I'll kill you," I growled, turning away from him to sell my papers. I finished around three in the afternoon. The boys had been done for a good thirty minutes.

"Took ya long enough," Elmer joked, gently shoving me.

"Yeah, yeah. It's my first day, gimme a break," I laughed.

"You da boss," the black-haired boy chuckled, messing up my hair.

"Hey!" I grinned, taking off down the sidewalk behind him.

(A/N: Soooo, I'm trying to be more inclusive with the other Newsies and not have mostly OC and Newsie interest scenes. THEY WILL BE INCLUDED THOUGH. Okay bye.)

"Can't catch me!" Elmer laughed as he took off across the street. I went to follow, but ended up pulled back into someone's chest as a carriage went barreling past.

"Watch it, girl!" The driver hissed, cheap cologne drifting on the wind. GROSS.

"Now, can I ask if you're okay?" Albert beamed, amber eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Not a chance," I grinned before pushing him away and continuing to follow Elmer.

Albert's POV:

Raya wasn't paying attention to the carriage heading straight for her. I scrambled to grab her, managing to wrap my arm around her waist and pull her back into me. Out of the way where I knew for a FACT that she would be safe. "Watch it, girl!" The driver yelled; I couldn't help but notice Raya flinch away from the street for a second.

"Now, can I ask if you're okay?" I smiled down at her, trying to lighten the mood.

"Not a chance," she grinned for the first time ever at me before taking off after Elmer. I sighed, quickly following behind. Her smile. Her smile. AHHHHH. IT'S SO PRETTY. C'mon, Albert, she hates you. Snap outta it! I shook my head, tripping and landing on my face in the process.

(A/N: The fact that I do exactly what Albert just did (both the thought process and tripping over absolutely nothing) is kinda sad, but not at the same time. Is it? I dunno.)