Authors Note: This is a simple one-shot about Jack and Sarah. I always hated the lack of personality they gave Sarah in the film, so I tried my best to give her one. Hopefully I succeeded. Thank you so much for reading and please comment so I know if I should continue writing! Thanks again!
Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of the characters. Many lines from this fanfic are taken directly form the original script.
Does It Matter?
Sarah woke to a gentle breeze rustling her face. Warm rays of sunlight streamed into her comfortable bedroom, through the open window. She pushed the covers off her slender body and padded over to the window. She was somewhat startled to see Jack leaning against the railing, face in his arm. He sat there so peacefully. Jack Kelly looked the same as always, faded red bandanna, patched vest, and cowboy hat. "Did you sleep out her all night?" Sarah questioned, a hint of a laugh on her lips. "Yeah," Jacked replied sheepishly.
"Why didn't you wake us?"
"I didn't want to disturb nobody Besides, it's like the Waldorph out here. Great view. Cool air."
Sarah had to admit the truth in his words. The view was spectacular, especially during the sunset. Many a night had she spent sitting staring at the sun as it shed its last rays, and then at the stars shining brightly above like diamonds. "Go up on the roof," she said with a shy smile. Sarah dressed quickly and tiptoed through the kitchen, placing some milk, bread, and butter in a basket. A few moments later she appeared on the roof, where she found Jack boxing a pair of stockings. He looked up at her and gave her a wink and a charming smile. "Are you hungry?" She asked. "Yeah," was the mumbled answer. "Good. I made you breakfast." Sarah handed him plate with buttered bread and a cup of milk. "Papa's so proud of you and David. You should hear him talk about Jack Kelly, strike leader, who occasionally takes his meals with us." Sarah laughed, but Jack was silent. Sarah couldn't understand it. "Well," he began slowly, carefully, "This is one strike leader who's gonna be real happy when its all over and I can git outta here and head to Santa Fe, everything's different there. It's all bigger. The desert, the sky, the sun."
"It's the same sun as here, you know." said Sarah softly.
"Yeah. It just looks different." There was a pause, for now it was Sarah's turn to be silent.
"I should get ready for work."
"Sarah?"
"Yes?"
"I'm just not used to having whether I stay or not matta to anybody. I'm not saying it should matta to you. I'm just saying, well, does it? Matta?" Jack finished his speech staring down into his lap. Sarah stood and gathered the remains of breakfast, her heart beat painfully in her chest. She walked slowly to the staircase which led into her family's apartment, and paused at the door. She turned slightly and brought her head up, allowing her eyes to meet his. "Yeah," she said gently, "Yeah, it does matter. It matters very much," and she turned and fled down the stairs, leaving a smiling Jack to ponder this newly-found fact.