"All This Time" by angel/Carrie
Rose looked up at the sign again. Yup, this had to be the place. The Newsboys Lodging House.
"Okay God, if Matthew's here, please let me at least talk to him." She took a deep breath, then pushed the door to the old building open. She wished she knew what Matthew looked like. But after eight years, she wouldn't recognize him at all. An old man stood behind a counter, writing some bills. He looked up as he heard Rose's footsteps.
"Can I help ya?" The old man set down his pencil.
"Um, yes I think you can. My name is Ro-" Rose trailed off as she heard wild shouts and running coming from outside.
"Hold yer hat. Here comes the stampede!" The old man exclaimed above the noise.
Rose turned sharply as the door burst open. Dozens of boys began pouring in. At first they didnt notice her, but when they did, they filled the lobby, watching and wondering what she was doing here.
Rose turned back to the old man. "My-my name is Rose Borden." Rose trembled as she felt all eyes on her. "I'm looking for Matthew Borden."
"Matthew Borden?" The old man shook his head, "Nevah hoid of him. Heya, any a' you boys evah hoid a' Matthew Borden?"
All of them automatically looked around at one another, answering "No" almost in perfect unison.
"That's an unusual name for these parts" One boy in glasses spoke up.
Rose got the feeling that this was a routine procedure and had been done many times before.
"Oh you mean Matthew Borden." A short boy smoking a cigar stood up, "Yeah he was heah. But he put an egg in his shoe n' beat it." Of course, all the guys found this hysterical. Rose felt her cheeks grow hot and turned back to the man behind the counter.
"Please, I have to find him. I've been looking for so long.-He's my brother."
The boys stopped laughing and were dead silent. The old man gave the one with the cigar a Look (author's note these looks are famous where I come from ~carrie~)and went back to his work.
"Did you say Matthew Borden?" The boy stepped closer.
"Yes, Matthew Borden. He left home when he was seven. Do you know him?" Rose asked pleadingly.
"Yeah...yeah, I think I do." He gazed at her.
"Could you help me find him? I just hafta find him. I love him so much." Rose said softly.
The boy gave her a stiff smile. "I'm Racetrack. Call me Race." Racetrack stuck out his hand.
"Rose Borden. Call me Rose." She shook his outstretched hand and they both laughed.
"Listen, you got a place to stay? It might be a while before you see Matthew."
" I was hoping I could find him and then he'd know what to do."
"Hmm. Well, we got empty bunks, if ya don't mind sleeping in a room full of boys."
"How many?" Rose immidietley tensed up.
"Well, somethin' like thirty but don't worry-" Racetrack added quickly, seeing her scared expression, "They're all nice and if they're not I'll soak em on your behalf."
Rose smiled.
"Okay."
"C'mon I'll show you upstairs." Race took her hand and led her up.
***
"This is Mush, Blink, Skittery, Bumlets & Specs right here. And there's more of 'em playin' cards over there."
Rose carefully inspected each one, trying to see if maybe one was Matthew.
"And you can sleep here." Racetrack dropped her carpet bag on the bunk under his.
"Oh thanks. You know, it's been a long time since someone's been nice to me." Rose sat down on the bunk, and looked up at Racetrack.
He shrugged, "Hard not to be."
"And I'm glad you said you'd help look for Matthew. Do you really think you can find him Race?" Rose asked, her eyes shining.
Racetrack smiled, then gently lay her down, pulling the blankets around her shoulders.
"I'll find him. I promise."
Rose grinned, "I believe you." And with that, she closed her eyes and almost instantly fell asleep.
***
"Get up! Boots! Come on there, time ta sell the papes!"
Rose opened her eyes slowly and brushed the golden brown hair from her face.
"Hey you! Get up now Skittery!"
"I didn't do it."
"Yeah ya did."
Rose blinked hard, just too be sure it was real. She wasn't in the ratty old apartment back in the Bronx ghettos. She was in a soft bed, with sunshine pouring through the windows. Rose sighed contentedly and closed her eyes again.
"Heya Sleeping Beauty. You too." Rose looked up. It was Racetrack.
"Aw Race." Rose smiled, "Me too?" He bent down to be on her level.
"Yep. You'se gonna sell papes with me and meet the guys. Half of 'em ain't even seen ya yet."
"Well, are we gonna meet Matthew?"
Racetrack thought for a moment "If you come with me in the mornings, we'll look for Matthew after I finish with me papes."
"Deal." Rose stood up and blinked. She had been so tired, she hadn't even taken her shoes off last night. She stood up.
"Follow me."
Racetrack showed her to the bathroom, which was already crowded with guys. She smiled nervously as each shirtless guy looked her over in passing. Finally Racetrack was ready and she followed him out the door.
Rose gasped as she stepped onto the cobblestone. Looking up at the sky, she saw beautiful shades of burnt orange and golden yellow. The sun shed its early morning light over the newsies as they walked down the street.
Racetrack smiled "Nevah seen Manhattan this early I take it?"
"Yeah. Aw it's beautiful." Rose let her gaze drift down from the watercolor sky to Racetrack's eyes. They were a muddy brown color and yet, had a sharp hazel green color to them.
"You have beautiful eyes." Rose smiled softly.
"Thanks." Racetrack smiled back and offered her his arm. She took it.
***
"Extry, extry! Read all about it! Hundreds killed in tenement building!" Racetrack yelled.
"Racetrack." Rose said reading the story.
He turned back to her, "Yeah?"
"Apartment building sprayed for pest control?"
Racetrack shrugged, "Yeah, so? Hundreds a' cockroaches perished."
Rose supressed a smile and shook her head. So this is what they called improving the truth.
"Thank ya Lady. Much obliged." Race handed off his last paper. Counting up his coins, he turned back to Rose.
"Want lunch?"
"Nah, it's alright."
"Aw come on. You can't starve."
"Okay."
***
"Welcome to Tibby's New York's finest dinin' establishment. Well, to us newsies anyway."
Rose looked around the small restaurant. "Nice."
"Yeah, we like it." Race led her over to a table right in the middle of everything.
"HEY!!!" Race yelled at the top of his lungs. The commotion atomatically ceased. "This here is Rose, and she's-uh-gonna be around for a while."
The guys looked her over once more, then went back to their own conversations.
"Hi, I'm David." One boy sitting across from Rose gave her a shy smile.
"Rose."
"I know." They watched each other for a second. David flushed when he realized everyone around them was very interested.
"Gettin' a little hot in here." Jack raised his eyebrows.
"Shut up, Cowboy." David replied good-naturedly.
"So..." Mush tried tactfully to bring up the question everyone wanted the answer to, "Who are you, exactly?"
The rest of the guys rolled their eyes.
"Real nice, Mush." Blink muttered sarcastically.
"It's okay. I'm Rose Borden from the Bronx. I'm here to find-"
"-A job. She's here to find a job." Race cut her off quickly. "I said I'd help her."
Rose looked at Race. He was acting weird.
"Oh, well you can sell with me after lunch if you like." David began eagerly.
"Thank you, very much, but I'm not here for a job. I'm looking for Matthew Borden."
That shut them all up.
"Oh......Matthew Borden." Jack said quietly, "Yeah-uhhhh-the name's familiar."
"Do you know him?" Rose's eyes lit up.
"No! Jack has never met him." Race said quickly, "C'mon Rose, we gotta go."
He took her hand and led her out the door.
The newsies watched them go.
"Whoa...what was that all about?" Blink shook his head and turned back to the others.
"Do you know Matthew Borden, Jack?" David asked in a low tone. It seemed to be classified information.
"Yeah. I know Matt." Jack threw a quarter down on the table and headed for the door.
"See ya guys later."
***
"Race, what was that all about?" Rose was beginning to wonder if letting this guy help her was the right decision.
"Nothing Rose-I'll explain when we find Matthew." He pulled her in the direction of the Lodging House.
"Where are we going?" Rose asked cautiously.
"Home- the Lodging House."
"No. I'm not going." Rose planted her feet to the ground.
Race turned around, "Look, this is for your own good." He attempted to pull her.
"Racetrack! NO! Leave me alone!" Rose tried in vain to wrench herself from his death-grip, but to no avail.
Two guys emerged from the nearby alley.
"Es'cuse me miss, is this here lowlife hurtin' you in someway?" The taller one stepped forward
"Yes! Get him off me!" Rose screamed, struggling against Racetrack, but he was much too strong.
"Tsk tsk Higgins, you should know better than to force a lady into doin' somethin' she don't wanna."
"Yeah, you'd know about THAT, wouldn't ya Oscar?" Race shot him a dark look.
"Shut up!" Oscar advanced on Racetrack.
"Easy Oscar. Don't worry Miss. We'll take care of him. By the way, we're the Delancys."
"Thank you gentlemen. Please tell Racetrack to unhand me."
"Oh we'll do more than that. Much more. Won't we Racetrack?"
Race glanced uneasily at Rose, then began to back away from the Delancys. Morris worked fast and, shoving Race up against a wall, soon had him lying in the alley unconcious.
"Oh my Lord, what did you do to him?" Rose started to run to Race, but Morris held her back.
"WHo cares what we done to him? Now all I care about is what we're gonna do to you..."
Rose saw a malicious look in his eyes.
"HELP!!!" Rose screamed...then fainted.
***
"Ahh. Where am I?" Rose asked herself, blinking hard. "Oh great, the Delancys left me in the garbage can."
Rose struggled out of the trash heap, and onto her feet. Her head ached. She stumbled along the alley, holding her head when she remembered Ractrack.
"Race? Oh my Lord, Racetrack where are you?" Rose searched frantically in the shadows in the alley. If anything happened to him, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life. Soon, she found Race, sprawled out on the ground, with more than just a few bruises forming.
"Oh no!" Rose leaned down beside him, "Racetrack, can you hear me?"
-No answer-
"Please be okay, please be okay." Rose whispered to no one in particular as she checked his pulse. He was indeed alive.
Rose knew she needed help. She tried to think of one of the newsies she had met at the restaurant. Cowbob? Mash? Those didn't sound right. Then she remembered...David.
"David!" Rose screamed at the top of her lungs. "David, please help!" Rose continued to scream until David ran into the alley, along with the one Rose called "Cowbob" and "Mash".
"What's wrong, Rose? Are you oka-"
"I'm fine, help Race." Rose said, feeling tears in her eyes.
"Oh wow-" one little kid said, going over to Race.
"Les, move back." David ordered.
Mush and Jack proceded to pick Racetrack up, and they headed for the lodging house.
Rose didn't move. She began sobbing incecently. David knelt beside her, and put his arms around her.
"It's all my fault." Rose whispered.
"No, it's not. The Delancy brothers did this. Am I right?" David stroked her hair.
"Yes. Oh I just hope he'll be okay."
"He will, Rose. He will."
***That Night***
"Race? Race?" Blurry figures began to form in front of Racetrack. Rose's voice echoed in his mind.
"Don't talk so loud Rose, it's hurts my head." He groaned, blinking hard. "In fact Rose, do us all a favor and dont talk at all." He grinned wryly.
Rose looked back at David and Jack, rolling her eyes
"He'll be just fine, I can tell." She turned back to Racetrack, "How are ya?"
"Okay I guess. Dizzy." He ran a hand through his hair, finding a bunch of cuts and bruises.
"You got pretty banged up there." Rose smiled softly, rubbing his shoulder.
"I'll survive."
"How 'bout you don't sell tommorow, huh?" Jack said.
"Don't sell? Jack, I hafta sell. I can't-"
"I'll take care of it. Don't worry." Jack cut him off, "And Davey can take care of Rose." Race, Jack and Mush all found this funny, while David turned a bright crimson, and Rose looked away.
"No really, I'll be fine. I can-" Race started again, but this time Rose cut him off (they obviously didnt want him to speak...)
"Racetrack, you heard the man. You can rest tommorow." Rose said, and that seemed to be final. The rest of the guys left, leaving Rose and Race alone.
"I'm so sorry, Racetrack. I-I shoulda known you were just trying to help me." Rose looked down.
"It's okay. Really Rose, I understand."
Rose still stared down at the blanket. Race lifted her chin, so she was looking directly at him. (ooh a rhyme)
"This isn't the first time I've gotten beat up on account of a girl."
Rose smiled.
"Hey, it's true though....Okay?" He smiled back.
She nodded.
"Good. Now, if you dont mind, I need to get some rest."
"No problem. Night Race." Rose touched his shoulder, then left to join the others.
"Night Rose."
***
"Um-this is, uh....The World Building. And that's Horace Greeley. That's a trash can-" David muttered, walking around the large metal can. "And that's--"
"David, you're so boring." Les stated out loud, sitting down on the platform of the Greeley statue.
Rose smothered a giggle. David glared at his brother. If looks could kill, Les was a goner.
"Don't you have papers to sell Les?"
"So do you." Les raised his eyebrows (oooOOOooh...diss...)
Rose decided to intervene, "Les, if you go on back to the Lodging House, you and I can do something special later, okay?"
Les considered this, "Like what?"
"Like.....a ride on a trolley car?"
"Awww, yeah!" Les bolted in the direction of the Lodging House, "Don't forget Rose!" He called over his shoulder.
"I won't!" She turned back to David, "Now, where did we leave off?"
David shook his head, "Nah, it doesn't matter now. Tell me more about yourself." He sat down, waiting for an answer.
"Uh- I'm from the Bronx, but went to school so I have no accent. Matthew ran away when I was eight and a half. My mom died shortly after. My father--he--" Rose's voice faltered as the horrible memories flashed through her mind.
***
"Rozzzzzzilyn?"
"Yes Father?"
"Where's da-da-whassit called again?"
"Dad--were you drinking again?"
"NO!! I WERENT DRINKIN'! I justa hadda coupla beers--"
"More like 2 dozen...am I right?"
"SHADUP! I DONT GOTTA TAKE DAT KINDA JUNK FROM A LITTLE GIRL! You get ova heah righ' now 'Lil' Miss Boden! And gimme dat money, ya heah? I'se got me some gamblin' debts..."
"No, thats the rent money. I cant give it to you--Please--I need to buy food and I-"
"GET OVA HEAH!! I'SE GONNA BEAT THE LIVIN' HELL OUTTA YOUSE!!"
"No!!"
***
The picture in Rose's mind began fading out on the scene, but showed enough of Rose getting beaten and bruised by her own father. The experience had been so horrible Rose couldnt remember most of it now. Her mind had blocked it out, as if it never happened. But Rose knew it did. The next day, she found her father dead in the apartment and Matthew, gone. Rose packed up and left the house in search of something better. She got a job serving drinks at a saloon, and eventually got an apartment.
"Rose? Rose?"
Rose abruptly snapped out of the trance. David looked concerned.
"Are you okay?"
Rose shook her head. She bit her lip, but the tears came anyways. David moved closer, and put his arm around her.
"I hafta find Matthew. I just have to. He's the only person I have left in the world and I--"
"Hey," David brushed the tears from her eyes gently, "You've got me now. I'll always be there for you. No matter what." He leaned down to kiss her, but Rose pulled away. She ran in the direction of the Lodging House.
David sighed, and slammed his fist against the cement. He got up, and followed her.
"So close," He muttered on the way back "So close."
***
Rose sat in her bunk, staring at the wall.
"He-he tried to kiss me...." She thought, "And I almost let him too..."
All the guys were out selling papers, so Rose was alone. But not for long.
"Rose? Rose, c'mon it's time to go!' Les bounced into the room and grabbed her hand.
"What for?" Rose asked absentmindedly.
"The trolley car will be comin'! You promised we'd go!"
"Trolley car?...Ohhh. Oh yeah." Rose let Les lead her out in the direction of the World Building. A few second later, David ran into the Lodging House looking for Rose and his brother. He then remembered the trolley car thing and headed towards where it made it's stop--near the World Building. Race came out of Kloppman's office, where he had been doing bills as a favor to the old man, narrowly missing David. Jack walked in.
"Hey Cowboy."
"You're supposed to be sleeping."
"Yeah I know...Guess I was just too lazy." He grinned and leaned against the counter. "What brings you back so early?"
"Uhhhhh...about Matthew and Rose--" Jack began uncertainly.
"Yeah, what exactly do you plan to do about it?" Race said quietly.
"We cant let her know now--not yet..... Just gotta wait." Jack replied.
"She wont believe it when she finds out that Matthew's been around here the whole time." Race snickered.
"I bet. I cant wait to see her face when she finds out." Jack thought for a moment. "Good thing you kept it a secret. She woulda killed me. 'All this time and you didnt tell me! Real nice, Cowbob.'" Jack mimicked in falsetto.
The two newsies laughed, then went back to what they were doing.
***
Rose looked up at the sign again. Yup, this had to be the place. The Newsboys Lodging House.
"Okay God, if Matthew's here, please let me at least talk to him." She took a deep breath, then pushed the door to the old building open. She wished she knew what Matthew looked like. But after eight years, she wouldn't recognize him at all. An old man stood behind a counter, writing some bills. He looked up as he heard Rose's footsteps.
"Can I help ya?" The old man set down his pencil.
"Um, yes I think you can. My name is Ro-" Rose trailed off as she heard wild shouts and running coming from outside.
"Hold yer hat. Here comes the stampede!" The old man exclaimed above the noise.
Rose turned sharply as the door burst open. Dozens of boys began pouring in. At first they didnt notice her, but when they did, they filled the lobby, watching and wondering what she was doing here.
Rose turned back to the old man. "My-my name is Rose Borden." Rose trembled as she felt all eyes on her. "I'm looking for Matthew Borden."
"Matthew Borden?" The old man shook his head, "Nevah hoid of him. Heya, any a' you boys evah hoid a' Matthew Borden?"
All of them automatically looked around at one another, answering "No" almost in perfect unison.
"That's an unusual name for these parts" One boy in glasses spoke up.
Rose got the feeling that this was a routine procedure and had been done many times before.
"Oh you mean Matthew Borden." A short boy smoking a cigar stood up, "Yeah he was heah. But he put an egg in his shoe n' beat it." Of course, all the guys found this hysterical. Rose felt her cheeks grow hot and turned back to the man behind the counter.
"Please, I have to find him. I've been looking for so long.-He's my brother."
The boys stopped laughing and were dead silent. The old man gave the one with the cigar a Look (author's note these looks are famous where I come from ~carrie~)and went back to his work.
"Did you say Matthew Borden?" The boy stepped closer.
"Yes, Matthew Borden. He left home when he was seven. Do you know him?" Rose asked pleadingly.
"Yeah...yeah, I think I do." He gazed at her.
"Could you help me find him? I just hafta find him. I love him so much." Rose said softly.
The boy gave her a stiff smile. "I'm Racetrack. Call me Race." Racetrack stuck out his hand.
"Rose Borden. Call me Rose." She shook his outstretched hand and they both laughed.
"Listen, you got a place to stay? It might be a while before you see Matthew."
" I was hoping I could find him and then he'd know what to do."
"Hmm. Well, we got empty bunks, if ya don't mind sleeping in a room full of boys."
"How many?" Rose immidietley tensed up.
"Well, somethin' like thirty but don't worry-" Racetrack added quickly, seeing her scared expression, "They're all nice and if they're not I'll soak em on your behalf."
Rose smiled.
"Okay."
"C'mon I'll show you upstairs." Race took her hand and led her up.
***
"This is Mush, Blink, Skittery, Bumlets & Specs right here. And there's more of 'em playin' cards over there."
Rose carefully inspected each one, trying to see if maybe one was Matthew.
"And you can sleep here." Racetrack dropped her carpet bag on the bunk under his.
"Oh thanks. You know, it's been a long time since someone's been nice to me." Rose sat down on the bunk, and looked up at Racetrack.
He shrugged, "Hard not to be."
"And I'm glad you said you'd help look for Matthew. Do you really think you can find him Race?" Rose asked, her eyes shining.
Racetrack smiled, then gently lay her down, pulling the blankets around her shoulders.
"I'll find him. I promise."
Rose grinned, "I believe you." And with that, she closed her eyes and almost instantly fell asleep.
***
"Get up! Boots! Come on there, time ta sell the papes!"
Rose opened her eyes slowly and brushed the golden brown hair from her face.
"Hey you! Get up now Skittery!"
"I didn't do it."
"Yeah ya did."
Rose blinked hard, just too be sure it was real. She wasn't in the ratty old apartment back in the Bronx ghettos. She was in a soft bed, with sunshine pouring through the windows. Rose sighed contentedly and closed her eyes again.
"Heya Sleeping Beauty. You too." Rose looked up. It was Racetrack.
"Aw Race." Rose smiled, "Me too?" He bent down to be on her level.
"Yep. You'se gonna sell papes with me and meet the guys. Half of 'em ain't even seen ya yet."
"Well, are we gonna meet Matthew?"
Racetrack thought for a moment "If you come with me in the mornings, we'll look for Matthew after I finish with me papes."
"Deal." Rose stood up and blinked. She had been so tired, she hadn't even taken her shoes off last night. She stood up.
"Follow me."
Racetrack showed her to the bathroom, which was already crowded with guys. She smiled nervously as each shirtless guy looked her over in passing. Finally Racetrack was ready and she followed him out the door.
Rose gasped as she stepped onto the cobblestone. Looking up at the sky, she saw beautiful shades of burnt orange and golden yellow. The sun shed its early morning light over the newsies as they walked down the street.
Racetrack smiled "Nevah seen Manhattan this early I take it?"
"Yeah. Aw it's beautiful." Rose let her gaze drift down from the watercolor sky to Racetrack's eyes. They were a muddy brown color and yet, had a sharp hazel green color to them.
"You have beautiful eyes." Rose smiled softly.
"Thanks." Racetrack smiled back and offered her his arm. She took it.
***
"Extry, extry! Read all about it! Hundreds killed in tenement building!" Racetrack yelled.
"Racetrack." Rose said reading the story.
He turned back to her, "Yeah?"
"Apartment building sprayed for pest control?"
Racetrack shrugged, "Yeah, so? Hundreds a' cockroaches perished."
Rose supressed a smile and shook her head. So this is what they called improving the truth.
"Thank ya Lady. Much obliged." Race handed off his last paper. Counting up his coins, he turned back to Rose.
"Want lunch?"
"Nah, it's alright."
"Aw come on. You can't starve."
"Okay."
***
"Welcome to Tibby's New York's finest dinin' establishment. Well, to us newsies anyway."
Rose looked around the small restaurant. "Nice."
"Yeah, we like it." Race led her over to a table right in the middle of everything.
"HEY!!!" Race yelled at the top of his lungs. The commotion atomatically ceased. "This here is Rose, and she's-uh-gonna be around for a while."
The guys looked her over once more, then went back to their own conversations.
"Hi, I'm David." One boy sitting across from Rose gave her a shy smile.
"Rose."
"I know." They watched each other for a second. David flushed when he realized everyone around them was very interested.
"Gettin' a little hot in here." Jack raised his eyebrows.
"Shut up, Cowboy." David replied good-naturedly.
"So..." Mush tried tactfully to bring up the question everyone wanted the answer to, "Who are you, exactly?"
The rest of the guys rolled their eyes.
"Real nice, Mush." Blink muttered sarcastically.
"It's okay. I'm Rose Borden from the Bronx. I'm here to find-"
"-A job. She's here to find a job." Race cut her off quickly. "I said I'd help her."
Rose looked at Race. He was acting weird.
"Oh, well you can sell with me after lunch if you like." David began eagerly.
"Thank you, very much, but I'm not here for a job. I'm looking for Matthew Borden."
That shut them all up.
"Oh......Matthew Borden." Jack said quietly, "Yeah-uhhhh-the name's familiar."
"Do you know him?" Rose's eyes lit up.
"No! Jack has never met him." Race said quickly, "C'mon Rose, we gotta go."
He took her hand and led her out the door.
The newsies watched them go.
"Whoa...what was that all about?" Blink shook his head and turned back to the others.
"Do you know Matthew Borden, Jack?" David asked in a low tone. It seemed to be classified information.
"Yeah. I know Matt." Jack threw a quarter down on the table and headed for the door.
"See ya guys later."
***
"Race, what was that all about?" Rose was beginning to wonder if letting this guy help her was the right decision.
"Nothing Rose-I'll explain when we find Matthew." He pulled her in the direction of the Lodging House.
"Where are we going?" Rose asked cautiously.
"Home- the Lodging House."
"No. I'm not going." Rose planted her feet to the ground.
Race turned around, "Look, this is for your own good." He attempted to pull her.
"Racetrack! NO! Leave me alone!" Rose tried in vain to wrench herself from his death-grip, but to no avail.
Two guys emerged from the nearby alley.
"Es'cuse me miss, is this here lowlife hurtin' you in someway?" The taller one stepped forward
"Yes! Get him off me!" Rose screamed, struggling against Racetrack, but he was much too strong.
"Tsk tsk Higgins, you should know better than to force a lady into doin' somethin' she don't wanna."
"Yeah, you'd know about THAT, wouldn't ya Oscar?" Race shot him a dark look.
"Shut up!" Oscar advanced on Racetrack.
"Easy Oscar. Don't worry Miss. We'll take care of him. By the way, we're the Delancys."
"Thank you gentlemen. Please tell Racetrack to unhand me."
"Oh we'll do more than that. Much more. Won't we Racetrack?"
Race glanced uneasily at Rose, then began to back away from the Delancys. Morris worked fast and, shoving Race up against a wall, soon had him lying in the alley unconcious.
"Oh my Lord, what did you do to him?" Rose started to run to Race, but Morris held her back.
"WHo cares what we done to him? Now all I care about is what we're gonna do to you..."
Rose saw a malicious look in his eyes.
"HELP!!!" Rose screamed...then fainted.
***
"Ahh. Where am I?" Rose asked herself, blinking hard. "Oh great, the Delancys left me in the garbage can."
Rose struggled out of the trash heap, and onto her feet. Her head ached. She stumbled along the alley, holding her head when she remembered Ractrack.
"Race? Oh my Lord, Racetrack where are you?" Rose searched frantically in the shadows in the alley. If anything happened to him, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life. Soon, she found Race, sprawled out on the ground, with more than just a few bruises forming.
"Oh no!" Rose leaned down beside him, "Racetrack, can you hear me?"
-No answer-
"Please be okay, please be okay." Rose whispered to no one in particular as she checked his pulse. He was indeed alive.
Rose knew she needed help. She tried to think of one of the newsies she had met at the restaurant. Cowbob? Mash? Those didn't sound right. Then she remembered...David.
"David!" Rose screamed at the top of her lungs. "David, please help!" Rose continued to scream until David ran into the alley, along with the one Rose called "Cowbob" and "Mash".
"What's wrong, Rose? Are you oka-"
"I'm fine, help Race." Rose said, feeling tears in her eyes.
"Oh wow-" one little kid said, going over to Race.
"Les, move back." David ordered.
Mush and Jack proceded to pick Racetrack up, and they headed for the lodging house.
Rose didn't move. She began sobbing incecently. David knelt beside her, and put his arms around her.
"It's all my fault." Rose whispered.
"No, it's not. The Delancy brothers did this. Am I right?" David stroked her hair.
"Yes. Oh I just hope he'll be okay."
"He will, Rose. He will."
***That Night***
"Race? Race?" Blurry figures began to form in front of Racetrack. Rose's voice echoed in his mind.
"Don't talk so loud Rose, it's hurts my head." He groaned, blinking hard. "In fact Rose, do us all a favor and dont talk at all." He grinned wryly.
Rose looked back at David and Jack, rolling her eyes
"He'll be just fine, I can tell." She turned back to Racetrack, "How are ya?"
"Okay I guess. Dizzy." He ran a hand through his hair, finding a bunch of cuts and bruises.
"You got pretty banged up there." Rose smiled softly, rubbing his shoulder.
"I'll survive."
"How 'bout you don't sell tommorow, huh?" Jack said.
"Don't sell? Jack, I hafta sell. I can't-"
"I'll take care of it. Don't worry." Jack cut him off, "And Davey can take care of Rose." Race, Jack and Mush all found this funny, while David turned a bright crimson, and Rose looked away.
"No really, I'll be fine. I can-" Race started again, but this time Rose cut him off (they obviously didnt want him to speak...)
"Racetrack, you heard the man. You can rest tommorow." Rose said, and that seemed to be final. The rest of the guys left, leaving Rose and Race alone.
"I'm so sorry, Racetrack. I-I shoulda known you were just trying to help me." Rose looked down.
"It's okay. Really Rose, I understand."
Rose still stared down at the blanket. Race lifted her chin, so she was looking directly at him. (ooh a rhyme)
"This isn't the first time I've gotten beat up on account of a girl."
Rose smiled.
"Hey, it's true though....Okay?" He smiled back.
She nodded.
"Good. Now, if you dont mind, I need to get some rest."
"No problem. Night Race." Rose touched his shoulder, then left to join the others.
"Night Rose."
***
"Um-this is, uh....The World Building. And that's Horace Greeley. That's a trash can-" David muttered, walking around the large metal can. "And that's--"
"David, you're so boring." Les stated out loud, sitting down on the platform of the Greeley statue.
Rose smothered a giggle. David glared at his brother. If looks could kill, Les was a goner.
"Don't you have papers to sell Les?"
"So do you." Les raised his eyebrows (oooOOOooh...diss...)
Rose decided to intervene, "Les, if you go on back to the Lodging House, you and I can do something special later, okay?"
Les considered this, "Like what?"
"Like.....a ride on a trolley car?"
"Awww, yeah!" Les bolted in the direction of the Lodging House, "Don't forget Rose!" He called over his shoulder.
"I won't!" She turned back to David, "Now, where did we leave off?"
David shook his head, "Nah, it doesn't matter now. Tell me more about yourself." He sat down, waiting for an answer.
"Uh- I'm from the Bronx, but went to school so I have no accent. Matthew ran away when I was eight and a half. My mom died shortly after. My father--he--" Rose's voice faltered as the horrible memories flashed through her mind.
***
"Rozzzzzzilyn?"
"Yes Father?"
"Where's da-da-whassit called again?"
"Dad--were you drinking again?"
"NO!! I WERENT DRINKIN'! I justa hadda coupla beers--"
"More like 2 dozen...am I right?"
"SHADUP! I DONT GOTTA TAKE DAT KINDA JUNK FROM A LITTLE GIRL! You get ova heah righ' now 'Lil' Miss Boden! And gimme dat money, ya heah? I'se got me some gamblin' debts..."
"No, thats the rent money. I cant give it to you--Please--I need to buy food and I-"
"GET OVA HEAH!! I'SE GONNA BEAT THE LIVIN' HELL OUTTA YOUSE!!"
"No!!"
***
The picture in Rose's mind began fading out on the scene, but showed enough of Rose getting beaten and bruised by her own father. The experience had been so horrible Rose couldnt remember most of it now. Her mind had blocked it out, as if it never happened. But Rose knew it did. The next day, she found her father dead in the apartment and Matthew, gone. Rose packed up and left the house in search of something better. She got a job serving drinks at a saloon, and eventually got an apartment.
"Rose? Rose?"
Rose abruptly snapped out of the trance. David looked concerned.
"Are you okay?"
Rose shook her head. She bit her lip, but the tears came anyways. David moved closer, and put his arm around her.
"I hafta find Matthew. I just have to. He's the only person I have left in the world and I--"
"Hey," David brushed the tears from her eyes gently, "You've got me now. I'll always be there for you. No matter what." He leaned down to kiss her, but Rose pulled away. She ran in the direction of the Lodging House.
David sighed, and slammed his fist against the cement. He got up, and followed her.
"So close," He muttered on the way back "So close."
***
Rose sat in her bunk, staring at the wall.
"He-he tried to kiss me...." She thought, "And I almost let him too..."
All the guys were out selling papers, so Rose was alone. But not for long.
"Rose? Rose, c'mon it's time to go!' Les bounced into the room and grabbed her hand.
"What for?" Rose asked absentmindedly.
"The trolley car will be comin'! You promised we'd go!"
"Trolley car?...Ohhh. Oh yeah." Rose let Les lead her out in the direction of the World Building. A few second later, David ran into the Lodging House looking for Rose and his brother. He then remembered the trolley car thing and headed towards where it made it's stop--near the World Building. Race came out of Kloppman's office, where he had been doing bills as a favor to the old man, narrowly missing David. Jack walked in.
"Hey Cowboy."
"You're supposed to be sleeping."
"Yeah I know...Guess I was just too lazy." He grinned and leaned against the counter. "What brings you back so early?"
"Uhhhhh...about Matthew and Rose--" Jack began uncertainly.
"Yeah, what exactly do you plan to do about it?" Race said quietly.
"We cant let her know now--not yet..... Just gotta wait." Jack replied.
"She wont believe it when she finds out that Matthew's been around here the whole time." Race snickered.
"I bet. I cant wait to see her face when she finds out." Jack thought for a moment. "Good thing you kept it a secret. She woulda killed me. 'All this time and you didnt tell me! Real nice, Cowbob.'" Jack mimicked in falsetto.
The two newsies laughed, then went back to what they were doing.
***