The Bunks -- Beds

[jewelkent]

Jewel sighed "Yeah, It's been kinda an odd time for me lately... How much have you heard about me exactly?" she asked the girl.

Jewel shook the girl's hand "It's nice to meet you, Pallet. I haven't met a lot of the girls. I just know Zoo, Emma and Lexi of course." she whispered.

Jewel smiled a little bit, but then let it fade. "It's been great to be here though. I just thought I'd never have to find a reason to ever leave Brooklyn. But it got too rough for me out there. I just don't know what would've happened to me if I had stayed out there any longer." she explained.

Jewel looked down at Pallet and shook her head "I'm glad my prayin' didn't disturb ya. I always found it helped me when I was a child. But, now-a-days, it doesn't seem to be doing me any good. But I figured that God should hear what I've been up ta." she said.

Jewel looked around the room, and cringed, hoping that she hadn't woken up anyone else "Yeah, I kinda know the importance of being quiet here at night. I kinda had this vile encounter with Emma while talking to Zoo one night, and I ended up getting whipped repeatedly with a pillow. So, I know not to really disturb anyone else out of a dead sleep." she whispered.

Jewel chuckled a bit when she heard Pallet use the words 'Brooks girls' and 'Angels' in the same sentence "I don't see how any of the Brooklyn girls can look like angels exactly." she joked.

[Pallet O'Shea]

Pallet frowned thinking about Emma. It was hard to see that little blonde being mean to someone. She was a little sweetheart; at least to her. "Yeah, you're lucky most of the girls didn't react in the same way. They get cranky without their sleep."

Pallet shook her head, "It's a comparison. Just means that as bad as the Brooks girls are, Bronx girls can be worse if you get on their bad side."

[jewelkent]

Jewel chuckled softly. She remembered her 'encounter' with Emma vividly, except for what she was yelling at her about.

"I told her I was sorry for waking her that time. But she just continued to yell at me about something I can't remember...then she ran off to the Boys Lodging House. I haven't seen her since then." she told Pallet.

Jewel nodded when Pallet told her about the comparison thing. She smiled at that.

"Ummmm...I know. I escaped Brooklyn to get away from the mean girls...and just hoped that the Bronx had nicer girls. So far, I've only met 3 of you now including you...as for Emma, I hope she's forgotten what happened that night." Jewel explained.

Jewel then smiled "So, Pallet. Where are ya from exactly? Did you always live in the Bronx?" she asked Pallet in a whisper.

[Pallet O'Shea]

Pallet shook her head, "Well, I don't know if Emma's forgotten but if I were you I would steer clear of her from now on. That would probably be best for everyone so there are no more incidents like last time..." Whenever she could, Pallet liked to give Lexi a hand by trying to help keep the peace between the girls in the house. Since the loss of Perry, everyone could see how hard it was for Lexi so she and several of the older girls stepped up to try to make it easier for Lexi until she was done grieving. It was also in her nature to do it so after Lexi was feeling better she still tried to help out now and then. The last thing that was needed in the house was the girls clashing and everyone being upset constantly.

Pallet crossed her arms over her chest and listened to Jewel talk. "Well, Jewel, most people you meet--doesn't matter what borough they're from--are pretty nice here; even the Brooks girls. They do act tougher then the rest of us but it's necessary when you're a female living in Brooklyn. A lot of the men there are unsavory characters and brutes, so a girl needs to be able to take care of herself. But, when you know how to act around them and what not to say, they aren't so bad. I've met a few that were actually pretty cordial..."

Pallet liked to try to see the good in everyone but could understand how Brooks girls got their reputations. From her experience she knew that they pretty much left you alone or were as friendly to you as they believed you deserved. If you got into the kind of scrape as she heard Jewel had, there was probably a reason for it. She probably offended them in some way or said the wrong thing. And, judging from the way she openly discussed herself and things she had done, she could understand what set the Brooks girls off. If Jewel was gonna survive being a newsie and working the streets, she needed to learn how much is saying too much and that most Newsies believed in keeping things to themselves; they only discussed themselves with those closest to them and even then, not everything was discussed. Saying too much could get someone either hurt, in trouble, or killed.

Pallet shook her head no. Was her Irish accent that much indistinguishable when she was whispering, that Jewel couldn't tell where she came from? She had lived in NYC for a while but she never wanted to loose her Irish accent. Being Irish was a part of her, no matter how much thinking about her life back in Ireland hurt. Being Irish even helped her and Styx to connect more when they first met.

Pallet looked up at Jewel and replied, "No, I came from Galway, Ireland a few years ago. I've been living in the Bronx for a couple years now."

[jewelkent]

Jewel chuckled softly when Pallet suggested that she steer clear of Emma in order to avoid trouble.

"Avoid Emma? Believe me, I fully intend to. I'm not out to cause anyone anymore trouble. So, don't worry about that. I'm just glad I got away with no bruises that night." She told Pallet.

Jewel sighed heavily "I aware that the things I've said to the Brooks girls were pretty bad, but I'm gonna try and be a better person. As for the people here in The Bronx, I can't wait to meet the rest of them soon. It will be good for me to meet who else I'm gonna be staying here with." She said.

Jewel shook her head as she looked out the window briefly before turning back to Pallet "Believe me when I say this... At first, Before I came here to the Bronx, everyone was against me...and now? Now I could only pray that the people in Brooklyn have forgotten what happened. Although... I highly doubt it." She sighed.

Jewel then listened as Pallet told her where she was from "Oh you're from Ireland? I'm Irish too. My family is from Ireland...but I'm not sure where though. But my sister and I were born here in New York. I've never been to Ireland however." She said in a whisper.

[Pallet O'Shea]

Pallet listened as Jewel talked about her expectations, nodding in the appropriate places. The girl sure loved to talk, she thought to herself. She couldn't help the smile that made it's way onto her face as a thought crossed her mind. The last person she knew that talked as much as this girl, just loved to hear himself speak. He would talk even when no one was listening.

Pallet pulled herself out of her thoughts. "A little word of advice, kid? To help you make more friends...?" Before Jewel could answer she continued, "Don't go giving your whole history unless someone asks for it... And, don't be so trusting of every person you meet." A shiver made its way down the back of her neck remembering what easily trusting people almost got her. She had been young and innocent like Jewel and wanted to know everyone she met. Boy, had she been stupid. It almost cost her her life... or her innocence at least. And, because of that it took her a long to get to the point she was at now with men... Luckily she had Byron and Dodger, and Lexi and Rori and all her friends in the Bronx.

Pallet frowned thinking about what she would have been like had she not had her friends to help her get over her fear. "Trusting that all people are good and friendly is nice in theory but in the long run, it'll just get you in all kinds of trouble... Or even killed..." She didn't want to scare the young girl but sometimes kids needed to hear the hard truth. Especially with rumors and whisperings of dangerous people returning to the city... Something that could turn into a repeat of the warehouse happenings if people were stupid.

Pallet would have never guessed the girl was Irish. She held none of the common Irish mannerisms or the accent of one who came from the Island. Listening to her explain how she and her sister never actually lived in Ireland, she understood why the girl didn't seem the typical Irish lass. "It's a beautiful place." She kept her comments about Ireland short. Thinking about her homeland often left her feeling melancholy, and that was the last thing she wanted when things had been going so great as of late.

[jewelkent]

Jewel listened as Pallet told her about how to make more friends. She nodded, listening attentively to her as she spoke.

"Believe me... I'm not telling anyone anything personal about myself unless they ask first. I've learned my lesson completely, and I refuse to make a fool out of myself in front of people any longer." She told Pallet with a smile.

Jewel nodded as she heard Pallet talk about trusting certain people. "I know all that now.. Some of the not-so-great people I've encountered were people I thought I could trust. But it turns out I was wrong. After the bruises I received from one of the Brooks girls, I'm not gonna talk to anyone that I feel that I cannot trust. I trust people here though, cause you all seem so wonderful. "She explained.

Jewel smiled "I'd love to go to Ireland someday, Pallet. I would love to see how it looks. I'm sure it's as beautiful as you say it is though." She said with a soft smile.

[Emma Jackson]

Emma stomped into the lodging house and fought trying to get her shoe off as she entered the bunk room, spotting Pallet she clopped over not even noticing Jewel until her shrill voice made her wince. "Palley.. have you seen Reid he's got my fiddle and I want to get it back." With that she'd dismissed the idea that Jewel had even spoken or that she was there, often times playing the little sister to the girls as well as the boys and leaning against Pallet's back, tossing arms around her neck with a frown.

Her eyes darted to Jewel and her brow raised giving her the kind of look that you gave someone that just didn't make any sense. She'd been staying at the boys house with Reid to AVOID this girl like the walking plague, and that was fine. Dodger didn't mind to much because it was Emma and the lodging house owner didn't exactly know she was there.

[jewelkent]

Jewel watched as Emma stormed into the room, just looking extremely pissed off. Jewel rolled her eyes at the angry girl

*So much for avoiding Emma at any cost.* She thought to herself.

She watched as Emma began asking Pallet about her fiddle, Jewel tried to suppress a chuckle as Emma just walked around the room looking for it. She hears her mentioning something about someone named Reid, how he might have her fiddle.

As she watched Emma throw her arms around Pallet, Jewel wanted to vomit. *Stupid gersha. She just uses any method she can to get people to do what she wants.* she thought again with a smile.

As she saw Emma's eyes look her way, Jewel smiled a bit and then turned back towards the window to look outside again. She then began to hum a random tune in her head. She had no idea what it was. Then she realized, it was something she had heard one night while walking around. She only hummed while she waited for Emma to go.

[Pallet O'Shea]

Pallet nodded her head as Jewel talked, wrapping her shawl tighter around her shoulders. Jewel was saying that she understood but she wasn't so sure the girl actually did. I guess she'll have to find out on her own, she thought to herself. I just hope her gacky ways don't get anyone else in trouble.

The sight of a familiar face coming at her put a huge smile on Pallet's face. "Hey Em." She placed a hand on the arms that were wrapped around her neck. She looked over her shoulder at the younger girl. "I actually haven't seen Reid around for quite a while but I've been... preoccupied lately. I've had other...things on mind." She had been in Central Park working on some paintings--and making new friends--and then she had been hanging around Queens. She actually hadn't spent much time around the Bronx lately.

Pallet looked in Jewel's direction catching the eye-roll she gave Emma. She frowned, the protective part of her coming through. What was her problem?!

Pallet patted Emma's arm, "Why exactly does he have your fiddle in the first place, honey?" She kept an eye on Jewel hoping the two could get along long enough for her to see to Emma's problem. If anything happened it was no contest who's side she'd take. The little blonde ball of energy was like a little sister to her, after all.


_{Irish/Gaelic Dictionary
*Gersha: young girl
*Gacky: foolish}

[Emma Jackson]

Emma completely and utterly ignored Jewel as if she wasn't there, turning her head towards Pallet and she frowned, pouting a little bit as she dropped herself on the bed in front of Pallet and laid her head in her lap. That was how Emma was, like a baby sister and she worked it well. Though sometimes her loyalties were tested, she had known a lot of the boys so long that when they argued it was like tearing her in two.

"Because he was selling and I was playing and I got mouthy with some big burly git that tried to touch me and kicked him in the knee and ran... and Reid had my fiddle and I haven't seen him since.." it was a rambling rush as she sighed, closing her eyes. "I miss my fiddle.."

[jewelkent]

Jewel watched Emma and Pallet talk about some stuff. She swung her legs back and forth over the side of the bed, and just then she turned around, and stared out the window some more.

She listened to Emma argue about how she lost her fiddle, and how somebody named Reid had it. Jewel kept trying to figure out where she'd heard the name 'Reid' before. It sounded familiar to her.

She then heard Emma tell Pallet how she got mouthy with some guy. Jewel kept her attention towards the view outside, but couldn't help but smile and chuckle when she heard the story. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but it was pretty funny listening to Emma go wild.

However, Jewel felt the need to say something. She turned away from the window, and towards Emma "Emma, honey. I'm sorry, I couldn't help overhearing that you lost your fiddle. That's terrible. I wouldn't know what to do if I had lost something I love." she said, smiling.

[Pallet O'Shea]

Pallet sat down on the bed beside her a few seconds before Emma so they could talk louder without disturbing any of the sleeping kids nearby--although if all the snoring coming from one of the bunks at the other end of the room didn't wake anyone, them talking most definitely wouldn't. Who knew such a loud noise could come from such a small girl?

Pallet smiled when Emma plopped right down beside her and rested that blonde mess of hair in her lap. She began combing her fingers through Emma's hair in a soothing way as the younger girl explained why she was missing her fiddle. Hearing about the man grabbing one of the girls,especially one so close to her, made her cringe--bringing back memories from years ago first, and then a few days ago at the track when Sooth had to rescue her from almost being assaulted by two men. The incident at the track could have seriously set all her progress of overcoming her fears way back, if she had let it; But, she hadn't. Since meeting Styx and spending time with the charming Queens newsie, she had been gaining a stronger backbone and been realizing she couldn't let things like that hold her back. He was actually quite good for her.

Pallet quickly pushed the bad memories aside and chuckled thinking about the situation Emma got herself into. Aye, being mouthy and finding trouble definitely sounded like the Emma she knew and loved. She shook her head and smiled at the girl. She was about to comment when she heard a chuckle come from the top bunk next to them.

Pallet looked up at the bunk Jewel had claimed and scowled. Somehow she knew that chuckle was one of insolence rather then the one of amusement and familiarity she had just let out. That set her off. "What is your problem?!" she growled to the redhead. "You say you want to avoid trouble yet you do something like that. You know from your last encounter with Em it will set her off!!" She was in full 'mother bear' mode now. She was not a fighter--by choice, not inability--but when someone threatened, hurt, or just plain old caused problems with someone she cared about, she would do anything to protect them.

When Jewel commented to Emma in a condescending manner with what seemed more of a smirk then a smile, Pallet knew what was to come. Her hands stilled from combing through Emma's hair and she laid a hand on the girl's shoulder in a subtle restraining gesture hoping it would help to quell some of the anger she was sure was to come. She knew a confrontation was unavoidable but maybe her presence would lessen the effects. Emma may be the sweet little sister who gets in trouble, but she could be fierce if someone messed with her. Jewel was actually lucky her confrontation with Emma happened while Pallet was around--just as Lexi saved her the last time. Although, Pallet didn't have the same authority as the Bronx Girl's leader...

[Emma Jackson]

Emma was enjoying the attention she was getting, at least the fingers in her hair as she got comfortable. The dainty blond raised her brows at Jewel, brow twitching at her tone. She nearly jumped up and smacked her when Pallet's hand on her shoulder and words drew the little blond up short. If only for a moment and she turned eyes on Jewel, narrowing them darkly. She was a pretty thing but she could look downright vicious if she was pushed.

"We don't like you," she told Jewel, barely able to contain herself. "Lexi should never have brought you. You've caused more trouble than I ever would because of your ugly attitude. No one likes you, your a brat, your condescending and you think you are better than the rest of us. No wonder the Brooklyn kids hate you so much. You don't belong. You should leave."

[jewelkent]

Jewel sighed heavily as she began to stare down the little blonde in front of her. She didn't like Emma, and she was trying to avoid her. But now that she was back, it was hell for her. This staring contest crap was getting old for her, and for a girl, Emma was no lady.

She had had it completely with this girl. She doesn't even get to know Jewel first before she beats the shit out of her with a pillow. She got down from her bunk, and approached where Pallet and Emma were.

"I never caused any trouble for anyone here. So, I don't know why you hate me so much, Emma I never did anything to you directly. You just don't like people in general. You just don't give people a chance. I came here to the Bronx to get away from girls who hate me. This is the second time you've come in a nice conversation that I was trying to have with someone." She whispered angrily.

"Oh, and why did Lexi bring me here? Maybe because she gave a damn about someone in need. Maybe you should try living with the Brooklyn people...see how you like it." She sneered.

She then walked back to her bunk, and jumped back onto the top. *Damn little bitch.* she thought to herself as she turned over to try and sleep.

She sniffed a little and wiped the tears from her green eyes. She really wished Jacob was around. She needed him to be with her.