"Mom! I'm home!" I said, slamming the door of my apartment behind me.

"Mommy's still at work." my sister Rosie said. I picked her up and said, "Then Tilly's here!"

My name is Matilda Price. I'm 15 years old, and I guess I'd say my life is pretty good. I live with my mom and my two younger half-sisters, Rosie and Sloan. Rosie is 8 and Sloan is 12. I also do roller derby, and I'm good at it.

As for my dad, well, he died when I was really young. Mom says he was an alcoholic. My mom is a preschool teacher, and she does not stop working. So I've basically raised Rosie for the past 7 years.

"Come play a game with us!" Sloan said, calling me over to the couch and thrusting a PlayStation controller in my hands.

"You know I can't play video games." I laughed.

"Well, at least try!" Rosie said, carrying her stuffed bunny to the couch.

My mom opened the door, and Rosie and I looked at each other. "Mommy's home!" we said at the same time.

"Matilda." she said coldly. She almost sounded...drunk.

"Go to your rooms." I whispered harshly to my sisters. Knowing that Dad was an alcoholic, I tried to keep my sisters away from any trace of alcohol or drugs, even in the media. They seemed to notice, and they listened.

"Matilda, I got laid off." my mom said.

"Are you kidding?" I said. "I...I could get a job at the grocery store or something. Don't worry. It's okay. I can babysit Rosie and Sloan. You know I do that all the time anyways."

"You don't need to do a thing, Tilda. Just...get out of the house."

"What?" I said. She was drunk, she had to be joking.

"I've been thinking for a while, you need to get out of here." my mom said, setting down her work bag.

"Mom! I'm 15 years old! You can't kick me out!" I cried.

"The decision is final, Tilda. Now, pack up your things. You're a derby girl in New York City, you'll survive."

I quickly went to my room and packed up a change of clothes, my phone and laptop, chargers for both of them, an extra pair of shoes, a book, and my roller skates in my backpack. I was almost about to leave when I spotted something on my desk.

My calculator.

It was the one good memory I had of my dad. My dad was a AP Calculus teacher, and I loved playing with his calculator and making random graphs. I tucked it away in my bag, and went to my sisters' room to say goodbye to them.

"Hey, Rosie, Sloan." I said, and my sisters looked up at me.

"I have to leave, and I don't know if I'm coming back. I'll try my best, okay? Sloan, you're in charge now. Take care of the house and take care of Rosie." I said. I gave my sisters a hug and walked out to the kitchen.

"Take care." my mom said, ushering me out the apartment door.

_______________

I was aimlessly walking around Times Square, looking at all the Broadway marquees. I wasn't a big theater nerd, I was a techie, but my friends had told me about musicals like Hamilton, Heathers, Dear Evan Hansen, Be More Chill, and Mean Girls. I had listened to some of them, Hamilton being my favorite. I had loved all of them, and followed the cast of all of them on social media.

I found a bench to sit down on, and put my backpack next to me. I pulled out my phone and listened to Mean Girls.

I got an idea. I pulled up Instagram and took a selfie.

"Mean Girls is getting me through this." I quickly typed, tagging the Mean Girls Instagram account and all my favorite cast members. I shut off my phone and started reading my tattered Harry Potter book. I had that book for years.

My phone vibrated and I almost dropped it in shock when I read the notification.

Grey Henson had messaged me.

I saw ur story. u ok?

I can't believe it. Should I respond? How should I respond?

100%. Totally. I messaged back. I shouldn't have said that.

u sure? because if ur not, I want to help.

That's it. Grey Henson wants to help me. If I told the truth, I could meet him.

Did that sound selfish?

fine. I'm on the streets. I got kicked out. I said, hoping for the best.

do u have a place to sleep? Grey messaged back.

Oh my God. This was really happening.

meet me by the stage in bryant park at 7. he said.

I shut off my phone and started to read my book, waiting for 7:00 to come.

Don't be an idiot, Matilda.

____________

I pulled on my ponytail and felt the weight of my backpack on me, my phone in my pocket. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Grey Henson.

"Hey, are you TPrice18?" Grey said. I nodded and said, "Hi. I'm Matilda."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Grey, though I'm sure you already know." Grey said, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"You don't have to do this." I said.

Darn it, Matilda, you ruined it.

"I know, but I want to. Why don't you come with me? We'll get you warmed up and some food." I nodded, and followed Grey to the August Wilson Theater.

"So, what do you like to do?" Grey asked.

"I'm a derby girl. I've lived my life on wheels for the past 5 years. I'm a pretty competitive person, and I love sports." I said.

"What other sports besides roller derby?" Grey asked.

"I played softball as a kid. I'm clumsy though." I giggled. "My sister plays softball, though."

"You have a sister?" Grey asked. "What's her name?"

"I have two. Rosalie and Sloan." I said, pulling on my blonde hair.

"How old are they?" Grey asked.

"Rosalie, we call her Rosie, is 7. Sloan is 12." I said. "I practically raised Rosie after my dad died."

"Wow. That sucks, but you seem really strong." Grey said, and I nodded. "Tell me more about roller derby, I don't know anything about it."

"Well, I'm a jammer. Those are the girls who are allowed to pass people. You can tell by the star on my helmet. It helps that I'm pretty fast on skates." I laughed.

"Do you want to have a race?" Grey asked.

"Do you own skates?" I giggled, getting ready to put mine on.

"Nope."

"Aww, darn it!" I said.

"No time for racing now, Tilda, because we're here." Grey said.

__________

Grey and I walked into the theater, and I suddenly felt socially awkward.

"Listen, Grey, you don't have to do this." I said.

"I know, Matilda. I want to. No kid should have to worry about sleeping on the streets, especially in New York."

He didn't think I was tough. Which hurt my feelings. But I couldn't tell him that.

"I'm a derby girl. I can knock over a grown adult in a minute. Grey, I'm fine, I swear." I said. I started to leave but Grey grabbed my arm.

"Look me in the eye and tell me, honestly, that you have a place to sleep and a meal tonight." Grey said. I sighed and said, "No..."

"Good. Then you're staying here." Grey said.

"But!" I said, about to go into a rant.

"No. No buts, Tilda."

I sighed and got comfortable. I was going to be here a while...

AN: AYEEEE NEW ADOPTED BY BROADWAY BOOK! This isn't going to be updated as much as Adopted by Heathers is, but still, I hope you enjoy this. Catch ya later!