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."

"They're elected, they're your voice!"

Even Specs seemed amused. "I wouldn't say any of them speak for us," he laughed.

"Hey, other kids can win too!" Henry tried to rejoin the conversation, only to be met with more laughs from his friends.

"Oh yeah?" Race scoffed. "Who's been nominated?"

Henry hesitated.

"Well, go on!" Albert said mockingly. "Who's in the running?"

"So far just Corey Vanderbilt, but I'm sure there'll be more!"

"Who are you kidding? It's always the same kids. No one like us ever gets nominated and they never will. Nobody in this school listens to us; they don't care what we want. We're just the charity cases! People like us aren't heard!"

The table went silent. Then, slowly, a grin crept across Jack's face. "Then we'll just have to talk a little louder."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Elmer asked.

"It means that Race is right," Jack continued, ignoring the triumphant smirk on his friend's face. "We won't be heard as long as those kids keep winning. We can't make a change unless we get that spot!"

Albert scoffed. "And how do you plan on doing that? In case you've forgotten you need to be nominated."

Jack thought for a second, then his face lit up. "I'll nominate myself!"

"It doesn't work that way," Specs laughed.

"Well maybe Jack can't do it, but we can!" Crutchie exclaimed eagerly. "I'll do it!"

"That won't work either. In order to be class president, you need to be a member of student council," Davey said matter-of-factly.

Jack shrugged. "Then I'll join student council. It can't be that hard."

"It's too late for you to join. We had elections last May."

Buttons groaned. "There goes that idea. Looks like another year at the bottom."

"Yeah, things will never change. We'll always be the kids who only got in on the sympathy scholarships," Finch frowned.

Jack watched as his friends, practically feeling the disappointment in the air. They all acted like they didn't care, but Jack see how much it hurt them every time someone reminded them that they'd only gotten in because of the scholarships for the underprivileged that the school gave out each year to make themselves feel good.

But he knew his friends were funny, talented, smart, and they all deserved to be there. He wasn't going to give up so easily.

"C'mon Jacobs!" He begged. "Think! Is there any way to get around this? Any way at all?"

"We could blackmail somebody!" Elmer suggested.

"Hey! I like that! You wouldn't believe the stuff I hear in the office during free period! Our teachers know how to throw a party," Romeo smirked.

The others seemed excited by this idea, but Jack held up a hand, stopping them all in their tracks. "We're not blackmailing anyone! Do you want to get thrown out? Please, Davey. There's gotta be something!"

"There is one way," David reluctantly admitted, fidgeting with the pages of his textbook.

"What?"

"If you're nominated by a member of student council it would count, but I don't see how that's going to happen."

"See? I told you," Race shrugged. "None of them would ever nominate one of us."

"Race is right," Mush agreed. "We might as well give up and get over it."

"Hey, only one year left, right?" Jojo said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Eh, I'd say Romeo's got at least two more. Have you seen his grades?" Race added.

But Jack still wasn't giving up. The others finished lunch as he sat lost in thought, and then it came to him. It was so obvious, he couldn't believe they'd all forgotten.

"Davey! You're a member of student council!"

"I am?" Davey asked, looking flustered.

"That's right!" Jojo exclaimed.

"I guess I forgot," Davey said.

"Well?" Jack prompted.

"Well what?"

"Are you gonna nominate me or not?"

"I don't know..." he trailed off.

"Oh, come on!" Elmer exclaimed. "You're turning on us too?"

"It's just that I'd have to do it during our meeting after school today and the other members wouldn't like it."

"Don't worry about them," Albert rolled his eyes. "Just tell them where they can shove it-"

"It's within school rules," Specs reminded. "What can they do to you?"

"Lots of them have parents on the school board! They could take away my scholarship! My parents can't afford to send me here without that scholarship."

"Please! It's for the greater good, Davey. Don't you want to contribute to a fair government?" Jack tried.

Davey sighed. "Fine."

***

"Before our meeting is adjourned, does anyone have anything else to add?" Mrs. Blake, the class advisor, asked.

Davey's arms shook as he raised his hand, but Will Hearst beat him to it.

"Yes, Will?"

"I'd like to nominate someone for class president," he said confidently.

"Oh," Mrs. Blake tried not to show her surprise. "Of course. Who is it?"

"I'd like to nominate Katherine Pulitzer for class president."

"That's great! Our first female candidate!" Mrs. Blake smiled. "And thank you for reminding me; I completely forgot that today is the last day for nominations! Is there anyone else here who'd like to make one?"

Davey knew this was his last chance and he held his hand a bit higher. "Mrs. Blake? I'd like to make one as well."

The woman looked at him and gave him a small smile. "You'd like to run as well? That's great David, I'll put your name down too."

"Actually, I'm not nominating myself," he said slowly.

"Then who?"

Davey took a deep breath and stood up. "I'm nominating Jack Kelly for class president."

Immediately whispers broke out and a few of his fellow council members shot him dirty looks. Mrs. Blake just looked shocked.

"Are you sure about that, David? Class president is a very important role, not just anyone can be elected. You must uphold certain..." She hesitated. "You must uphold certain standards. And those who receive charity scholarships may not be cut out for it."

A few kids snickered, but Davey thought he was going to be sick. He hadn't been sure about nominating Jack, but after hearing that he knew it was the right thing to do.

"I'm here on a charity scholarship," he said quietly.

"But yours is academic!" Mrs. Blake protested. "There's nothing wrong with receiving a bit of help, but some of those kids don't belong here. It would just be a difficult job for Mr. Kelly to carry out. I just want to make sure that all candidates are capable."

"Believe me; Jack is more than capable of this."

"Well, I suppose I'll put his name down. Council meeting is dismissed."

Most of the kids ignored Davey as they left. Jack Rockefeller shoved him as he passed. Davey refused to make eye contact with anyone as he packed up as quickly as he could.

"Nice going, Jacobs," Corey scoffed. "Kids like Kelly don't belong in the council. They're trash; only here because the school feels bad for them. They aren't cut out to be students here and they're definitely not good enough to make class president. They don't belong here. And neither do you."

Davey watched as they left and was about to leave himself when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I'd hate to be you right now," Will Hearst laughed uneasily. "But it was pretty brave."

"Thanks," Davey replied.

"Good luck; and tell Kelly the same thing. He's going to need it."

Davey was the last to leave the meeting room and when he did he was met with the grinning faces of all the boys.

"Don't worry. I did it," Davey sighed.

"We know!" Romeo laughed. "Man, you should've seen Vanderbilt's face when he came out of there!"

"That mad, huh?" Davey rubbed the back of his neck.

"I thought he was going to call his father!" Race smirked.

"Thanks, Dave! You're a real pal, you know that?" Jack grinned. "Now we just have to figure out a way for me to win!"

"Easier said than done," Davey groaned.

"You are going to help, aren't you? You're the smartest!"

Davey ignored the compliment. "I don't really have a choice, do I?"

Jack grinned. "Nope."

***

The boys had spent the entire weekend brainstorming and making posters for the election. Then on Monday, they showed up to school and hour and a half earlier than normal to hang up posters. Of course they complained and Race and Romeo did little more than observe as they downed some coffee, but Jack still appreciated the support.

Now he was greeting the other students and handing them flyers as they entered the school. That had been Davey's idea, and Jack was pleased by how well it was working. The others seemed surprised and appreciative of the act and Jack smugly imagined the look on Corey's face when he lost the election to Jack, the 'charity case'.

Suddenly Romeo perked up and took a flyer from Jack.

"What're you doing?"

"Just give me a minute to work my magic. I'll get you a vote," Romeo replied before heading over to a redheaded girl. "Hello, hello, there! Can I interest you in one of these political pamphlets? Very interesting stuff here!" He said, giving her a wink.

"No thank you." She walked right past without giving him a second look, and Romeo's mouth dropped open.

Jack smirked, deciding to give it a try himself. "Hey, I'm Jack Kelly," he said as he held out his hand.

She cautiously shook his hand with a polite smile. "I'm Katherine."

"I've seen you around before. You work for the school newspaper, don't you?"

Katherine nodded proudly. "I do, I'm a reporter."

"Well, I've taken it on myself to help you guys out with a article."

"Oh really?" Katherine cocked an eyebrow, unamused.

Jack nodded. "I'm running for class president so in a couple of weeks you'll have to write about the election results. I've already got a headline for you and everything!"

Katherine put her hands on her hips. "Oh really? Let's hear it."

"Kelly Wins Presidency in Landslide Victory! It'll be great material for an article. So, what does the professional think?"

"I think it's a good idea-"

"Obviously," Jack began.

"But I think your headline needs some work."

"Oh yeah?" Jack crossed his arms. "And what do you suggest?"

"Arrogant Boy Loses Presidency to Plummer," she stated.

"Plummer? Who's that?" Jack asked.

"Me."

"What?"

"It's me. I'm running for president too and I intend to win."

"But... but you're a girl."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean? Women can do anything men can!"

She was getting angry and that was the last thing he wanted. To be called a sexist on the first day of his campaign would ruin him. "I know that! Of course they can! It's just that we've never had a girl for class president before."

"Then it's about time someone changes, that, don't you think Kelly?"

"I wouldn't say that-"

"I'm going to win this election."

Jack shot her a cocky grin. "Prepare for disappointment."

***

And that's it. Normally I talk about being disappointed with my writing, but I actually really kinda love this one.

Like I'm actually proud of it.

I really actually want to turn it into its own separate story, but I'm already (still) working on my sequel and now a Bandstand fic. Plus, I don't know if there'd much interest.

But if there is, I'd be totally happy to make this a story, because I truly loved writing it!!!

(Also, I know it's BILL Hearst, but I'm pretty sure the Bill is short for William, and Will is a more common nickname for William nowadays than Bill. Sorry for any confusion. I do know the characters names. Do not worry.)