Princess of Brooklyn

Chapter 10

After I told Dutchy, he nodded.
"Cricket's comin' too?" He nervously scratched the back of his neck.

"Yeah.... Oh my gosh." I had just realized how he felt.

"What's the matter?" He wiped his sweaty palms on his pants.

"You like Cricket!" I exclaimed.

He put his hand over my mouth and shushed me.
"Don't make a big deal about it."

"Oh. Sure." I winked.

The next day, I woke up ready to go to Massachusetts. I had said goodbye to my parents and Cricket, Dutchy and I went to the train yards.

We got on the train headin' for Massachussets. Dutchy was sittin' on the right, towards the aisle. Cricket and I were on the inside.

Finally, we got to Massachusetts. It was cloudy and dark.

"Looks like it's gonna rain. We better go to a hotel." Cricket said.

"Yeah." Dutchy and I agreed.

We grabbed our bags and made our way to the hotel.

"Brookside Plaza." I said, looking at the joint.

"Sweet. Let's check in." I Dutchy grabbed our bags and we entered the building.

It was beautiful. There were chandeliers hanging from the mirror ceilings and the floors were pure marble. I rang the bell and a man appeared from behind the counter.

"Yes?" He said in an British accent.

"We'd like a room please." I said in a proper tone.

"Okay and what kind would you like?"

"Just a regular one, a suite won't be nessessary." I said, again, in a proper tone.

"Okay, here is the key." He handed me a silver colored key.

"And here is your money." I gave him the cash and he nodded.

We made our way to room 213 and I put the shiny key in the lock.

We opened the door to find that the room had one bed.

"Um, well I call the bed!" I said quickly.

"Me too!" Cricket said.

"Me too?" Dutchy asked with a smirk.

"Haha. Very funny." I said, punching him in the shoulder.

We all giggled and jumped on the bed. I grabbed a pillow and began hittin' my friends with the pillow. We all started screamin' and yellin' until we heard a knock on the door.

"Yes?" I answered.

"Miss. We've had many complaints about this room and I am going to have to ask you to leave." The man said.

"What?" Dutchy sneered.

We begged and pleaded but it was no use. The man gave our money back and we left.

"Where are we gonna stay now?" Cricket said, kickin' a rock.

A clap of thunder burst into the sky and we all ran towards the sidewalk.

"The newsboys lodge!" I yelled.

"We'll stay there." Cricket smiled.

Once we found the lodgin' house, Dutchy opened the door for us.

Boys that were once playin', smokin', and gamblin' went silent. They all stared at us like we were scabbers.

"Can we help ya?" A boy with brown hair and blue eyes asked us.

"Yeah, uh, I was lookin' for somebody and we need a joint to stay in." I said, trying to look tough like the boys there.

"And, what, ya think ya can stay here?" He asked with a laugh.

"Yeah, I do." I said.

He stopped laughin' and looked at me with shock.

"What's ya name?" He asked.

"Nikki, and this is Cricket and Dutchy." I said.

"Wait, where are ya from Nikki?" He asked suddenly.

"Brooklyn. Why?" I asked.

"Nikki Conlon, is it?" He grinned.

"Yeah, what's it to ya?" I said.

"I think I know who ya lookin' for. Ace?" He said.

"Yeah, is he here?" I asked.

"No, he doesn't live here. He lives with some scabber. I can't remember her name, but I call her Red." He said.

I laughed, "Me too." By then, the other newsies were back to what they were doin' before and Cricket and Dutchy were gettin' settled in.

"Wanna talk on the roof?" He asked with a charming smile.

"Sure."