Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies in any way. Or the song "The Colour of Blue" by SClub7. So don't sue me. Fortunately I do own Charlotte Michaels.
Charlotte Michaels sat down heavily in an old, worn chair that was nestled snuggly beside a roaring fire. An open book lay face up in her lap, but her eyes were not on it.
They were gazing deeply into the hearth, as they watched the blazing flames flicker and dance.
Her old and calloused played with a slightly tarnished silver ring that adorned her left hand. She remained in this position for minutes, or was it hours?
Time seemed like an uncontrollable blur ever since that fateful day.
Charlotte drew in a sharp, rattling breath that echoed throughout the lonely one room apartment. It was hard to believe that this very same room had once been filled with joy so many years ago.
Charlotte knew she was getting old- she had the wrinkles to prove it. In her early years, she hadn't thought herself to be much of a looker, but she had been happy.
Charlotte smiled to herself, fingering her white-gray hair.
"I'll always remember that day when I caught the attention of a certain young newsie…"
********
"Charlotte?" asked an anxious voice. "Are you ready?"
Charlotte quickly put down her brush and ran over to the door.
"You know me Medda. Am I ever ready?" she asked, pulling open the heavy, wooden door.
The red-haired woman on the other side of the door gave a laugh.
"You'll be fine. You always are."
Charlotte hastily glanced back into the mirror. Staring back at her was a young woman who had an air of confidence that surrounded her. With raven black hair and sparkling blue eyes, she often caught the eyes of many.
"Ready?"
Charlotte averted her eyes from the mirror, and back to Medda. "Ready."
They walked briskly out of the room and into the wings of a stage.
"Remember what I told you earlier. It doesn't matter if you make a mistake, as long as you have fun."
Charlotte nodded her head.
Medda smiled. "You'll be great. I know it."
She then turned and walked out onto the stage. Cheers erupted like fire spreading through a field of dead grass. Medda smiled and shushed the screaming fans.
"Once again, I'm please to introduce to you Charlotte Stevens. This is her only her second time performing here, so lets all give a big hand in welcoming her."
Cheers erupted again.
Medda slipped through the curtains. "Strike 'em dead," she whispered, and gave Charlotte a small push from behind.
The curtains parted for a second time, revealing Charlotte all alone in the middle of the stage.
Silence overcame the hall as Charlotte stood there for a moment before her confidence kicked in.
The music from the piano began, and Charlotte opened her mouth to sing.
*************
"I have always wondered how it can be done, to pick the one
Whose gonna be my lover for life, my baby
Be there to hold me through the night."
Skittery was mesmerized. Never in his life had he ever seen someone so intoxicating, so beautiful, and so perfect.
"Would you get a look at her?" Blink asked, interrupting the boy's thoughts. "And I told you she could sing!"
Skittery turned towards the blond haired boy and tried to shush him as well as all the other guys who had begun to talk loudly.
"Guys! Could you please shut up! I'm trying to listen!"
The boys laughed. "Does someone have a crush?" taunted Jack.
Skittery could feel his face turn a shade of red. "Maybe I do. What's it to you?" he replied, his grumpiness kicking in.
"No reason," Jack replied.
The boys left Skittery alone- they all knew how he could get when he was in his mood. Skittery returned his attention to the girl.
*************
"I say, if you ever felt the way I do, then lucky you
So never go for less than a perfect thing
Seek and then hopefully you'll find
There's a rhythm and a rhyme, you've gotta find it, then you'll see
'Cause baby, we can go all night, just dancing
Doin' it till the break of dawn," the girl sang.
"I've got to meet her," Skittery thought to himself. "But how? I'm not outgoing like Jack, or even know exactly what to say like Spot."
He sat in contemplation for a moment, listening to the rest of the song.
He sighed. "I guess whatever happens, happens. It's all up to Lady Luck now."
***************
Charlotte walked back through the curtains to where Medda was waiting for her.
"You were marvelous!" she exclaimed.
Charlotte blushed, her face simply glowing.
"Can you work tomorrow?"
"Sure! I'd be happy to."
"Great!" Medda replied. "Now go on home and take a nice relaxing bath. You deserve it."
Charlotte smiled. "Thank Medda. See you tomorrow!"
Charlotte hurried to her dressing room and shut the door, leaning her back against it. She sank down until she was sitting on the floor.
"If only mama and papa could see me now," she whispered to herself. "They always knew I had it in me."
She blinked back tears that were beginning to form in her sea blue blue eyes.
Abruptly, she stood up and began to collect her things from the room.
Loud voices from the other side of the door floated into her room, indicating that the show was over.
Charlotte quickly changed into her street clothes, hung her dress back up in the closet, and picked up her bag. Her eyes began a sweep of the room, making sure she had everything and that everything was in its place. It was, so Charlotte opened the door, slung her bag further up her shoulder, and steeped out of the room right into someone.
Her bag fell, spewing its contents all over the dirty hallway.
"I'm so sorry!" a deep, male voice said.
Charlotte looked up only to find herself lost in a pair of chocolate brown eyes.
"No," she began. "It was all my fault. I wasn't watching where I was going."
She gave him a small smile and started to gather her fallen belongings. The boy with the chocolate brown eyes bent down, and began to help her.
"Here," he said, holding out her hairbrush.
Charlotte reached over to get it, but by accident, their hands met.
The boy glanced up into Charlotte's eyes. Charlotte tucked a piece of her dark raven hair behind her ear, her hands trembling.
The boy's eyes were dark and looked like they held many secrets.
Suddenly, Charlotte broke eye contact, and stood up.
"Thank you very much for helping me."
She turned to leave, but the boy caught her arm.
"Would you like to go out for a bite to eat?" he said, searching her eyes for an answer. "Just to say how sorry I am."
"Sure, but only on one condition."
"What's that?" he asked.
"If you tell me your name."
The boy smiled. "Skittery, but you can call me Skitts."
"Nice to meet you Skitts. I'm Charlotte," she said, holding out her hand. He shook it.
Charlotte continued, "Well Skitts, what do you say we get this show on the road."
Skittery grinned and the two walked out of Irving Hall side by side.
*********************
"I'm late!" cried Charlotte as she rushed around her apartment, her blue-green dress swishing around her ankles. "I was supposed to meet Skitts fifteen minutes ago!"
She began throwing clothes off a chair and onto the floor. Finally she discovered her purse. Charlotte turned off all the lights, locked the door, and tore over to Tibby's.
She pulled open the door, breathless from her run. She slumped down in the nearest chair, and began taking deep breaths, steadying her heartbeat.
A throat cleared from behind her. Charlotte turned and saw Skitts.
She jumped from her chair, rushed into his arms, and gave him a kiss.
"Happy Anniversary!" she said, after breaking away from the kiss.
"Happy Anniversary!" he said back to her. "I can't believe we've been together for a year!"
"It doesn't seem that long, does it?"
"No," he agreed. "It feels like we just met."
Music began floating softly through the air, mixing with the allure of the room.
Charlotte glanced up into Skittery's eyes. "You didn't have to do this," she murmured.
He took her small hand in his. "But I wanted to."
He led her over to a small table that was beautifully lavished and set for two. He pulled back the first chair.
"Madam, care to have a sat?" he inquired with an air of elegance.
"Why certainly monsieur," she replied.
She sat down and glanced around the room. She noticed that the music was coming from a few people in the corner of the room.
"Is that…? No, it can't be!" she thought to herself. Charlotte craned her neck for a better look. "But it looks so much like…" she trailed off.
The lights dimmed and Skittery returned to the table.
"Skitts," Charlotte began. "Is that who I think it is?"
Skitts looked over to where she was pointing and nodded. "Yup. Blink, Race, Bookie, and Martini all agreed to help me out tonight."
Charlotte laughed. The image of the band: Race on harmonica, Martini on piano, Bookie on vocals, and Blink on guitar was too much for her.
"This is a night I'll never forget."
The two were then served diner by another person Charlotte found all too familiar.
"Jack," she said, giving him a look. "Seriously tell me what Skitts did to get you to do this."
"Nothing! We all wanted to help make this night extra special."
He started to laugh at something and then leaned in close to the too of them so no one else could hear. "Spot's even in the back, helping make the food."
Skittery and Charlotte laughed once again.
"There's a picture I will not likely be getting out of my head for a while!"
Jack quickly left the happy couple alone to enjoy their meals.
After the two had finished a fantastic dinner, the band took a break. Skittery and Charlotte seized this chance to go for an evening stroll.
They ran laughing all the way to the Brooklyn Bridge like two little school kids, eager to take in the sunset.
Charlotte grabbed the railing and leaned over the edge, panting. Skittery joined her.
"Whew!" he exclaimed, wiping the sweat fro his brow.
Charlotte quickly caught her breath and took a step back form the railing.
Her eyes rested on the magnificent sunset that unfurled before them. Blues merged into purples; purples in turn, into pinks; until finally a golden red ball of fire lay teetering on the edge of the horizon.
"It's beautiful" she whispered, mesmerized.
"It sure it," Skittery replied, taking Charlotte's hands in his. "But not as beautiful as the girl standing in front of me."
Charlotte blushed, her cheeks turning a crimson red.
"Skitts…" she murmured, her eyes downtrodden.
Skittery reached over and gently pulled her chin up so she could see eye to eye with him. "Charlotte," he began." There's something I've been meaning to say to you."
Charlotte looked at him expectantly.
"The other day I tried picturing my life in a few years, hell, even five years. I kept on getting the same image. All I could see was you."
Charlotte could feel her face turning an even deeper shade of red.
"You're my life, my world, my universe." He paused for a moment, as if uncertain of what he had just said, or about what he was about to do.
He slowly lowered himself down on one knee.
Charlotte gasped.
"Charlotte…would you do me the honour and become my wife?"
Charlotte dropped to her knees and threw her arms around him.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! A thousand times over!" she cried, and then kissed him passionately.
After a few moments, Skittery broke the kiss and took out a plain white box from his coat pocket. He slowly opened it, and turned it to face Charlotte.
Inside laid a gorgeous silver ring.
"I know it's not much, and that it's not gold…"
Charlotte cut him off. "It's the most wonderful thing I have ever seen. Thank you Skitts."
She pulled the ring out of the box and placed it gingerly on her ring finger.
She admired it for a moment longer before throwing herself into Skittery's arms once again.
"I love you Skitts," Charlotte whispered in his ear.
"I love you too," he whispered back.
***********************
The door to Tibby's slammed open, startling Blink, Race, Jack and Spot who were all sitting down for a poker game.
Charlotte and Skittery came hurtling in and stumbled over to the group.
"Don't you two look happy," commented Spot.
Race smacked him. "Why wouldn't they? It's their anniversary!"
"I knew that, ya bum!" he replied, agitated. "But it's something else. Am I right?"
Skittery nodded. "I can't tell you though. I promised Charlotte."
Charlotte smiled, giddily. "Hang on a second, and I'll tell you."
She called over to Bookie and Martini to join the group.
"Now I can tell you."
She looked at Skittery, and then back at the large group. "We're getting married!" she squealed, jumping up and down.
It took a second before the news sank in, and everyone was on their feet.
"Really?"
"When?"
"Did he just ask you?"
"Can I see the ring?"
Charlotte nodded her head yes to the last two questions.
She pulled her hand out of Skittery's grasp and showed the group her ring.
"It's gorgeous! We're so happy for you!" cried Bookie and Martini in unison, before giving Charlotte a joint hug.
After awhile, the hubbub died down and Skittery and Charlotte returned to the dance floor.
As Skittery held her close, he pushed her silky locks away from her ear.
"Do you remember the day we met?" he asked.
She nodded. "It's my favorite."
"Then you'll remember this part:
There's a rhythm and a rhyme
you gotta find it,
'Cause baby we can go all night dancing,
Doin' it till the break of dawn," he sang with a slightly husky voice.
Charlotte giggled.
"Tonight I'm prepared to do just that."
"Seriously? You wanna dance till dawn with me?"
"It would be a pleasure."
The two pulled each other closer, and continued swaying to the gentle beat of the music. Both were lost in thought of what would come of their lives and how happy they'd be.
***************************
A month later, they were married outside in Central Park. Luck was on their side, because it was a beautiful sunny day and the birds chirped from their nests high up in the old trees.
All the newsies from Manhattan had showed up, as well as some from Brooklyn, Queens, Harlem, and all over. No one wanted to miss the happy day when Skittery and Charlotte would be pronounced husband and wife.
The ceremony was touching, and some said that even the mighty Spot Conlon looked somber.
Afterwards, a party not soon to be forgotten was held back at the lodging house.
Kloppman had gone all out, and had decorated the roof with baskets of daisies, Charlotte's favorite flower.
The newsies welcomed the sunset with open arms, but afterwards the party started to die down. Everyone returned home with memories that would not dull or fade from their minds for ages to come.
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