Title - It's A Fine Life
Chapter Title - Lyra Blackwell
Author - OblivionsGarden
Genre - Romance/Crime/Friendship/Hurt/Comfort/Drama
Disclaimer - I do not own Oliver Twist or Oliver! in anyway, shape or form. I entirely own the plot for this fic and my original characters.
Summary - When Dodger spots potential in a girl he offers her a place to stay. So when she refuses he's left a little more than put out. How long will it take to gain her as an accomplice to Fagin's gang of lads? And what will happen between her and if she does decided to join them?

A/n - The characters from used in this fic will be based off those from the 1968 musical, Oliver! I, myself, have yet to read the book so anything mentioned about the original plot that isn't in the book is probably cause it's from the film instead. Yes, some of the songs from the films shall be making an appearence in future chapters.
So, the Dodger I'm using is the one portrayed by Jack Wild, because I love the musical and personally think Jack was the best Dodger there has ever been. May he rest in peace.
Please leave a review if you read, I'd greatly appreciate it. x

C.1

As usual, the streets of London are buzzing with the sounds of the crowds. Milkmen, washer women, butchers, browsers, buyers, toffs and urchins. Look at them through your average eyes and you see a nightmare to walk through. Look at them through the eyes of the sixteen year old girl, half hidden by a postbox, and you see a whole day of opportunity and money making.
Using her right hand to hold onto her dirt covered, patched up skirts, she slowly started to make her way into the crowd. Her left hand, wrapped in a piece of dirty blue fabric, slipped a handkerchief from a rich looking gentleman's pocket and stuffed it into her own. But today was not like any other day for the girl for two reasons. One was that she'd already planned exactly where she was going and what she would be pilfering once there, Something she'd never done before. The second reason, was because there was a young man, leant casually on the wall, unseen by the girl, who had been watching her every move with a thoughtful expression on his face.
Eventually the girl arrived outside her destination. Doolittle's clothes emporium. The shop is deserted except for the owner who watched the girl enter.
"Can I help you?" He asked, an air of suspicion in his tone.
"Oh yes, please." The young girls broad cockney accent shocked the man. He hadn't expected such a small girl to be so loud and so...sure of herself. "I just got my in'eritence." She beamed, lifting a dark brown flat cap from the shelf. "And seein' as though I got some money now, I thought I'd buy me brother somethin' nice for 'is birthday." She replaced the flat cap and moved onto a bowler hat of the same colour. "I'll be needin' trousers, a shirt, a coat and an 'at." She turned to face the bemused shop owner, the bowler hat placed atop her waist length, deep red hair. "Now, cause it's a present, 'e can't be 'ere to try it all on. But, I'm the same size and we look alike, so's I figured I'd try it on and judge it off that. That alright wi'you?"
For a moment, the man simply stared at the girl. She was short but clearly in her mid-teens. Her dress was a dark grey with a few sown on patches here and there and her boots, brown in colour, disappeared under her dress, scuffed in places and looking as though she wore them all day everyday. Her face was think and tired looking but her deep blue eyes held a certain sparkle in them.
"Very well then. Would you like some help choosing?"
"No thanks." The girl proceeded to take her time rifling through the many clothes on offer. Unbeknownst to her, the boy that had been watching her in the street, was now occasionally glancing at her through the shop window, his mouth full of stolen apple.

"Anywhere I can try this lot on then?" She asked after ten minutes of browsing. The owner pulled back a red curtain that led to a small room with a mirror on one wall. The girl walked in, her arms full of clothes, and drew the curtain closed behind her. When the curtain opened again, she twirled infront of the owner, the new coat flying out around her. She was wearing a pair of black trousers that she'd tucked into her own boots, a cream shirt and a deep green coat that stopped mid thigh. In one hand was the brown flat cap and in the other, the bowler hat, "I couldn't decided on an 'at, though." She frowned holding them both up high and scrutinizing them. " 'e's got long 'air, see." She turned to face the mirror. She grabbed her hair and twisted it underneath the bowler hat and stared at her reflection for a while before doing the same with the flat cap. "Do you 'ave any others?" As soon as the owner disappeared into his back room, the girl grabbed both hats and her discarded dress and bolted through the open door. Slowing into a brisk walk to avoid suspicion she made her way down the nearest alley. She removed her coat and pulled her dress on over her clothes. In a minute, her hair was tucked under the bowler, the flat cap folder into the coat and she was walking calmly back the way she came. She could hear the calls of 'thief' already and ensured to stay as hidden as possible, however there was absolutely no need. A boy, taller than she, wearing a royal blue tail coat and top hat was rushing towards the police with the shop owner.
"I saw 'er!" He shouted. "She went that way." He pointed a dirty finger down the street towards the edge of town. As everybody continued with their day to day lives, the girl watched the boy with a feeling of curiosity. That was until he walked straight over to her.
"Er...thanks." She mumbled, shifting the coat under her arm.
"S'alright. What's y'name?"
The girl frowned at the boy. His dark brown hair was just visible beneath his top hat and he had large chocolate brown eyes. He looked to be in his teens but still had a hint of boy-ishness in his features and a cheeky glint in his eye.
"Lyra. Lyra Blackwell. She said still unsure of him.
"My name's Jack Dawkins. Otherwise known among me more intimate friends, as The Artful Dodger." He said with a touch of pride.
Lyra smirked. "Two guesses how you got that name."
Dodger smiled back. "You got any lodgin' then?" Lyra shook her head. "Well, just so 'appens, I know a gentleman who'll give you food an' board for nothin'."
"Thanks but I'm quite content where I belong, see." She turned to walk away as the Dodger stared at her, slightly shocked she'd rejected his offer. Who in their right mind refused free housing?
"Oi." He called. Lyra turned back to him. "Where do you belong then?"
She smiled a little as she answered before disappearing into the crowd. "In the gutter."

A/n - Just a short chapter for now. I apologize for the poor interpretation of a cockney accent but I'm sure you can understand what I mean. For anyone interested, here is a little picture of Lyra, when I first thought her up.
http :/ oblivionsgarden .deviantart .com /art /Lyra -Blackwell -265539955 ?q=gallery %3Aoblivions garden&qo=1
(Just take out the spaces.)

Don't forget to leave a review, xx