Newsies Oneshots

Jojo

Okay, I promise that I'm working on the requests. I've just been in a bit of a slump lately and I thought that by getting rid of some of my other ideas in the form of writing them, that I'd clear my brain and get some inspiration. Sorry.

***

Jorgelino crawled slowly across the grass on his hands and knees. His right knee stung terribly but he ignored it in favor of sticking with his escape plan. He only had a few minutes before one of the sisters noticed he wasn't in lessons and came to find him.

The gate was coming up soon. Jorgelino glanced over his shoulder and, seeing no one, shot to his feet and sprinted the last few yards to the big iron gate. Jorgelino sucked in his breath and wiggled through the bars. It was a tight fit but Jorgelino had done it before and he knew he could get through. As soon as he did he began checking the damage on his knee.

Sure enough it was completely scraped up and his trousers were torn, stockings muddied. He'd be getting lots of lashes when he returned. His hands began aching just at the thought, but it would be worth it. He'd rather be out here in the sun than shut away in the stuffy school room memorizing his tables.

"That don''t look good."

Jorgelino jumped and looked at the person who'd spoken. The stranger was pointing at his bloody knee and Jorgelino shrugged.

"I suppose it isn't. I'll have to get it bandaged later."

The other boy let out a low whistle and leaned against the gate. "You talk real proper. I bet youse one of them school boys, ain't ya?"

Jorgelino tried to hide his surprise at the boy's use of 'ain't'. He and the other boys at St. Mary's Orphanage and School for Boys weren't allowed to say that. "Yes. I go to school."

"Then what are you doin' here? Ain't it school time?"

"I snuck out," Jorgelino admitted.

The new boy smirked. "Did ya? Why?"

"I hate it there! They have all these rules we have to follow and you can't even do anything fun!"

"How'd your leg get messed up if you wasn't doin' something fun?" The boy asked, brow quirked skeptically.

"I was running and I fell."

"You ain't even allowed to play around in there? No wonder youse tryin' so hard to get out," the boy shook his head sympathetically.

"You saw me sneak out?" Jorgelino asked, surprised.

"It'd be hard not to. You ain't too good at it. I could teach you if you want me to!"

"Really? Thanks!" Jorgelino exclaimed. "I plan on getting out more often, so I could use any help I can get."

The boy's eyes lit up and his smile grew as he got an idea. "If you hate this place all that much, why don't you just leave for good?"

"I don't have anywhere to go."

"You can stay with me!"

"Would your parents let me?"

"I ain't livin' with me parents!" The kid laughed, pulling a cigar out of his pocket and waving it in front of Jorgelino's face. "You think I'd have one of these if my mother was around? Nah," he scoffed. "Ise a newsie. I got a bed in a lodge in Lower Manhattan. So, what d'ya say? Want to come with me?"

Jorgelino looked at the boy as he thought it over. He really wanted to go, but this was a stranger. The boy was his age though, maybe a bit older, and only an inch taller. His hat was perched precariously on top of his curls and he had dirt on his nose and under her finger nails, but despite his unkempt appearance, Jorgelino could tell by his grin that he was a nice kid. He quickly decided that he could trust the blond.