King of the City (Bellarke Edition)

Chapter 3

Murphy gave her a tour of the neighborhood, showed her where to pick up her papers to sell in the morning, where to stand to sell her papers quickly, showed her a few individuals to avoid. Jaha sold the papers, Cage & Emerson also worked for the paper company, just on the production side. They had a strong dislike for newsies and didn't hide it. Although you rarely saw Jaha out on the streets, the other two were frequent visitors.

She took in everything, afraid of losing track of where she was, the city was big and unfamiliar. It scared her to think she would be out here alone.

"I'll sell with you" Murphy stated shaking her from her thoughts. Like he could read her mind. They grabbed food and headed back to the boarding house. The majority of newsies were done for the day and sitting out front on the steps and sidewalk.

A few of them nodded in Murphy's direction, others glared at the pair.

"So what do you think Clarke?" A voice came from behind her. She turned to face Bellamy.

"About?"

"Everything? Where did you say you were from?"

"Jersey" she replied meeting his gaze. He could tell she was nervous.

"Not much different here then, just another city, huh?"

"Yeah, just another city"

"I was gonna bring you two down to Brooklyn, Meet Lincoln and Octavia, let them know I allowed Murphy to return, before Octavia see's him"

"Octavia? A girl Newsie?" Clarke asked intrigued.

"Yeah, she's my little sister and Lincoln's girlfriend, she can hold her own and we make sure she's protected"

"She's a ...a...nice girl" Murphy said, Clarke could pick up on the sarcasm, they were both aware of Bellamy watching him.

"Alright so let's go" Clarke spoke before there was a problem.

"Let's" Bellamy stated walking ahead of them with Nyko.

"Stick close" Murphy spoke quietly to Clarke.

"Stick close? what's wrong Murphy? Don't you trust us?"

"If I didn't trust you I wouldn't be here"

"Then what is it, let me guess, he can't fight? Seeing as he seems well educated, I'd assume he's never even seen a fight, am I right?"

"Yeah, that about covers it."

"Great, so tomorrow after you all go to sell, I'll teach him to fight" Clarke looked to Murphy in a panic.

"I can do it"

"I'm sure you can, but he's in my territory, I'll do it" Bellamy raised his voice to Murphy waiting for a challenge.

"Yeah, alright. Just go easy on him the first few times, that wasn't far from the truth, I don't think he's ever seen a fight, with the exception of the shiner he's got" Murphy shot her an apologetic look. She sighed, she knew she needed to learn things like this, but why couldn't it be Murphy teaching her. She didn't mind Bellamy, he was a little overpowering, but it was obvious he had experience.

They walked across the bridge into Brooklyn. Making there way down along the docks, fellow news boys were swimming and shooting bottles off a beam with sling shots. You could hear the incoming boats signalling there arrival at the docks. Bellamy and Nyko took a left off the pier onto a walk way Murphy and Clarke following.

"Well well, big brother, what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you" a girl smiled walking up to him and giving him a hug. She was thinner than Clarke had dark eyes that matched his and long brown hair she kept in braids. Clarke ached to wear her hair like that. Just as she pulled away from her brother she noticed Murphy.