Newsies Oneshots

Kelly for President

So last night was the first time I've posted anything in four months and I'm embarrassed. I've just been busy and lost the motivation. Not Newsies motivation! I've got plenty ideas floating around. But that's kinda where it ends-I haven't had the motivation to sit down and write more than a hundred words. But it is summer and I am back and trying to do better because my junior year will be busy and so will my senior, then comes college, then life and I'll probably have to give this up. So I'll enjoy this for now. This was requested by redwolfpup eight months ago(a modern au of any kind was requested). Yes, I know. Eight months. I am the worst. On to the one shot.

***

None of the boys were ever late to lunch; it was the only period they all thoroughly enjoyed, so after five minutes had passed with no Henry appearing in the cafeteria the boys were worried.

"Do you think he's okay?" Crutchie fidgeted and glanced back at the doors of the cafeteria.

"I'm sure he's fine," Jack replied. "Maybe he's sick."

"No, I saw him in second hour," Finch argued. "He was just fine then."

"Maybe he's cutting class. It's not that big of a deal," Albert shrugged and started eating, ignoring Davey's glare.

"You know, Albert," Davey set down his chemistry textbook, leaving all of his focus on the redhead. "If you skip enough school they'll take you to court for truancy!"

"Let them," Albert rolled his eyes. "See how much I care."

"That's not a good thing! Your parents-"

"Heya! Guys! Look what I found!" Henry had appeared from nowhere and had a crumpled up piece of paper in his hand.

"Whatcha got there, Henry?" Elmer reached out and swiped the paper from Henry's hand as the boy sat down with his lunch.

Race leaned over and read the paper over Elmer's shoulder as the other boys crowded around. "Class President Election: June 1st."

Romeo groaned. "Is it that time of year already?"

"Five minutes late for this lousy paper?" Mush gave the paper a disgusted look.

"This is important, that's why I grabbed it. This morning they started putting nominations up on the school website!"

"Good for them, they know how to work a computer," Albert grumbled as he took a bite of an apple. "Real impressive stuff."

"Why'd you think it was important? I don't see what it's got to do with us," Romeo said.

"It's just that we'll have to vote soon. June first is only a month away."

"I'm not voting," Race announced.

"What?" Davey had again forgotten he was studying. He stared up at Race with a scandalized look. "You have to vote!"

"Why?" Race cocked an eyebrow. "It's not my 'patriotic duty'. It's high school--I never vote. What's the point?"

"What's the point? What do you mean? Don't you want a say in who the class president is going to be?"

Jojo seemed to be picking up on what his friend was saying and he shot Davey a small, sad smile. "Do we ever get a say?"

"Of course-"

"Voting doesn't matter," Race interrupted. "That doesn't count. Kids like us don't get a real say. It doesn't matter who we vote for; the rich kids will win it like they have every other year."