Marina's POV

Marina trudged through the streets, scuffing her already worn out boots, her hair tucked into her brother's old cap. She was starting to regret going to the strike. She had gotten fired from her job at the factory, losing the only way to making the few pennies that she had to her name. And yet, she had a new air to herself. When she had gotten sacked earlier that day, she didn't cry or hang her head like the other fired worker do. She smiled and nodded, holding her head high. It shocked the other workers how she was dealing with it. She was one of the youngest workers, only being fourteen.

She caught herself thinking about Jacob, again. She missed her old friend. When he had seen her three days prior, he looked like he didn't remember her. That didn't surprise Marina. She hadn't seen him in nearly two years, it didn't bother her that he didn't recognize her. She barely recognized herself. Marina's hand crept to her pocket, feeling the paper that Jacob had given her three day ago, the day they had the strike. "Here," he had said "Educate yourself". She laughed quietly. She was the one who had educated him when they were younger. Marina was hoping to see him again. After the strike, he had kind of disappeared.

Marina ventured on. She passed the newsy lodging house, with it's peeling green paint on the door. She had always found newsies interesting. They were always able to grasp the attention of people passing by, no matter how bad the headline was. She also found the idea of being a newsy absolutely horrifying. Having to stand outside for hours on end, shouting headline while shivering in threadbare shirts. But hey, welcome to New York.

She eventually found Jacob near the Hudson River. He had his bag full of newspapers, and he looked like he was having trouble selling them.

"Extra! Extra! Newsies win the strike!" He yelled to no one in particular. None of the people seemed interested in today's headline. Marina wanted to get Jacob's attention, in a way that he couldn't ignore. Quiet as a mouse, she snuck up behind him. She could see a small pouch in his back pocket. In a fluid motion, he got her hand in his pocket, and grabbed the pouch. Jacob's head whipped around as she ran away. "Hey!"

In hindsight, it wasn't one of Marina's best ideas ever. She had forgotten how fast Jacob could run. Twisting and turning around the streets, hearing surprised cries as she ran in between people. In no time flat, Jacob had caught up to her. He slammed her against an alley wall, and the impact made Marina's head start to spin. Her cap had fallen off her head, and she felt her shoulder length brown curls fall into place. Jacob loosed his grip on her, scanning her head to toe. Slowly, Marina pulled out something from under her shirt. It was a piece of blue sea glass tied to a leather cord. Jacob's eyes widened in recognition. For he was the one who had given that very necklace to her.

"Marina?" Jacob choked out. The girl smiled slightly.

"Hey, Snyder." She replied softly, tossing him the bag of coins. Jacob wrapped her in a tight hug.

"I… I thought you was…"

"Dead?" She finished. Jacob nodded, tears in his eyes. "You know that was me you had given the banner to three days ago, right?"

"Honestly, Harbor." Jacob said, using her old nickname. "I didn't recognize ya." Marina cringed when he called her Harbor, which made Jacob laugh. He had always found it funny that her parents had named her Marina Hudson, and he used to call her Harbor at any given moment. "Where have ya been for two years?"

"It's a long touching story that you do not want to hear."

"Hey, stupid! When a guy finds out his old best friend didn't die like everyone had thought, I think he can spare a few minutes to find out where she has been for two stinkin years, don't ya agree?" Marina laughed.

"Well, you're gonna have to tell me about yourself, Snyder. When did you become a newsy?"

"It's a long touching story that you don't wanna hear." Jacob smirked. "Where do ya live anyways? Your apartment burned down."

"I live wherever there's comfortable ground." Marina replied. Jacob gave a low bow, extending a hand to her.

"Well, milady." He said in a hoity-toity voice. "Why don't ya come back to the house with me. I'm sure we can find ya a place to sleep."

"Why, thank you kind sir," She replied in an equally funny voice. "I would be delighted to come with you." Hand in hand, the two walked back to the lodging house.

Jacob opened the door leading his old friend inside.

"C'mon, they'll be dying to meet ya." He said. The other newsies barreled down the stairs, not paying any attention to the one girl in the house.

"We heard ya talkin to someone!" One of the newsies said.

"Did ya find Romeo?" Another asked.

"Who's Romeo?" Marina asked. The boys head turned to look at her. Jacob's face clouded over. "I'm sorry if I said anything."

"Nah, you're good." Jacob put a hand on Marina's shoulder. "Boys, this is Marina. Marina, meet the newsies of lower Manhattan." The boys waved at her.

"Who's Romeo?" Marina repeated. The boys looked away.

"He's my little brother." Jacob stated.

"You don't have a little brother." Marina said, confused.

"He ain't really my brother, but we're all brothers here. He went missing three days ago. No one's gotta clue where he mighta gone." He said. "Hey, Race." A boy with a red cap stepped forward. "Tell Jack that we gotta new one. She'll be stayin with me till we can get her a new bed." The boy, Race, nodded, and went up the stairs.

"Who's Jack?" Marina was getting tired of asking so many questions.

"Jack is our leader." A boy with a crutch said, extending his arm for her to shake. "I'm Crutchie." Marine took his outstretched hand.

"Nice to meet you." She said warmly. The other newsies started shaking hands with her too. Race came back down the stairs.

"Jack gave the okay, welcome to the Manhattan newsies!"

There you go people. Chapter one of the new story. In case it was confusing, Marina Hudson (in case you're really stupid and didn't already know, Hudson is her last name) and Jacob Snyder were friends when they were younger, but when Marina's apartment burned down, people said that she, along with the rest of her family, had died. But she didn't. Anyways, please review. If this made no sense to you, read Running before coming back to this. If after reading Running it still makes no sense, then thats your problem. New chapter will be up soon. Thanks! Newsies forever, second to none!