Santa Fe
Disclaimer: I sadly do not own Newsies, I only own Cheer. And this story is also on my Quizilla account so I didn't steal anything.
The sun was blazing; the newsies were wiping sweat off of their foreheads. They had never seen such a hot day. And all newsies knew that a hot day was not a good selling day. Well, all except for Cheer. She was the only girl newsie; and obviously from her nickname, she was always happy. She was the most optimistic person the newsies had ever met, so they welcomed her into their family immediately. Jack was the one that took special interest in her, though. When she was to come of age, she would get the ranch that her parents left her in Santa Fe; the only place that he wanted to be in the world. Well, he also thought that she was beautiful. She had silky, honey colored hair that went down to the middle of her back. Her eyes, a striking violet, which always caught him off guard. Why was she so intriguing to him, he never knew. Because you're in love with her, his conscience always told him. Then, he would roll his eyes at the thought every time. He never thought that he, Cowboy, could fall in love. I'm Jack Kelly. I'm Cowboy! I ain't supposed to fall in love. I'm free like the wind, he would always think. He thought that having a girl would hold him down. He would eventually realize that she wasn't holding him down. He was actually holding himself down.
Cheer was at her usual selling place with Kid Blink. She was selling her usual 30 papers. "Blink?" "Yeah?" "Why has Jack been acting so weird lately?" That's when Blink started to panic. What am I supposed to say? That Jack is head over heels for her? He would kill me if I did, though. Heck, he won't even admit it to himself, he thought. "I don't know," was the only reply Blink could think of. Cheer raised an eyebrow, but ignored it. If Blink didn't want to tell her something, she didn't care. I should talk to Jack, she thought. She shook her head slightly, readjusted her newsie cap and continued to sell.
When she got back to the Lodging House, she took a seat on her bed and sighed. It's been really lonely lately. Jack walked in and took a seat next to her. The bed creaked under his weight. "Hey, Cheer. How'se you been lately?" "Jack, you shouldn't be asking me that. We live together. Where have you been?" "I'se was selling." "That's not what I meant. You've been so distant from me lately, Jack. We were best friends. What happened?" Jack cringed at the word were. It made him feel like he did something wrong; it made him feel ashamed. He had been becoming more distant from her. It made him mad. "I've been thinking lately" "About?" "I don't know. How I just wanna get out of New York." "I know that. That's your dream. And I'm taking you to Santa Fe when I come of age so don't worry. We'll be there in three months." Jack looked at her. He was shocked that someone was so willing to give him his dream. That was when he realized it. I want to spend the rest of my life with this girl. He couldn't just tell her yet though. It had to be perfect because everything Jack Kelly did was perfect.
"C'mon, Cheer. I'll take ya ta dinner." Jack said. He stood, offering his hand. She took it and he helped her up. "Oh, but I'm paying." "There is no way I'm letting a girl pay. That's the man's job." She raised an eyebrow. "Fine, but next time we go to dinner, I'm paying." "Still a no." "Can't I ever pay?" "No," She let out an aggravated sigh but they went anyways.
While they were out to dinner, the newsies slowly collected back into the Lodging House. "Where's Cheer and Jack?" Asked Racetrack, not really concerned but wanted to know anyways. "I don't know, but we're all hungry so we should go to dinner." Blink yelled out. There was a chorus of "Yeah" s so they left and walked to Tibby's.
Once Jack and Cheer got their food, Jack looked up from the table. He grabbed her hand from across the table and rubbed his thumb over it. "Listen, Cheer; I'm sorry if I've been distant lately. But, I'll make it up to ya." What he just said got to Cheer. He is so sweet, she thought. "Thanks, Jack. I won't let you down." "Neither will I." They locked pinkies; their secret hand-shake. "Just to keep that promise, you can sell wit me tomorrow." She fake gasped; he hit her arm playfully. She bowed her head and said, "It would be an honor, Mr. Cowboy sir." "Hey, if you learn from Cowboy, you learn from the best!" He said jokingly, which earned him a good shove to the shoulder. "I already know how to sell papes!" They continued to talk lightly as they ate.
Meanwhile, the newsies were rounding the corner to Tibby's. Once they reached Tibby's, they looked in the window. They all saw it but they couldn't believe it. Sitting in the secluded back booth were Jack and Cheer. "Are they on a date?" "Oh my God, they're dating!" "I knew Jack was hiding something from us!" was all that could be heard. For once in his life, Kid Blink stood in the back, silent. Normally, Kid Blink would be in the front of the crowd, telling the stupidest jokes and laughing the loudest, but not now. He knew how they felt about each other, even if they didn't realize it yet to themselves. He had to say something. "Hey guys, let's eat somewhere else." He yelled out. All of the boys nodded and Blink led them to a different restaurant.
After Jack, after much protest from Cheer, paid for dinner, he offered his pinkie to her. She smiled and locker her pinkie in his and they walked; pinkie in pinkie.
Kid Blink stayed quiet while all of the other newsies were being rowdy as they ate. But Kid Blink couldn't eat; he just sat there, picking at his now cold food. Where they really on a date? That was the only thing Blink could think of. Blink loved Cheer, as in more than a friend. He knew how she felt about Jack, though. He also knew that she needed a friend now. Maybe I'll get over her soon.
Jack held the door open for Cheer as they entered the Lodging House. "So, where have you'se been?" Racetrack asked. "We went to dinner." "So, it was a date?" "No, just good friends having dinner." Jack said. "Two good friends? As in, two really good friends?" Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "Not like that. Just friends." Racetrack rolled his eyes and muttered "They're no fun." Everyone started to do their own thing. Blink, Mush and Racetrack were talking and joking around, Crutchy was sitting on his bed relaxing and some others started poker. Cheer sat on her bed and pulled out her sketchbook. She flipped through her drawings but stopped at one. She brushed her fingers over the intricate details of the drawing she had down. Well, it was actually a portrait. It was her favorite drawing. It was a portrait of Jack; she thought it was her best work. "That looks like a photograph." She heard from behind her. She turned around to see Jack, looking over her shoulder at the sketchbook. "You're really good." She felt the pink dance across her cheeks, but she covered her face by placing her chin in her hands. "Thanks, Jack. That means a lot, you know?" "Yeah, yeah." He sat down next to her. "Do you have any other drawings in there?" She handed him the sketchbook and he flipped through them. "Is that Santa Fe?" He asked, showing her which drawing he was talking about. She looked at the drawing of a ranch on the edge of a lake and nodded. "Is that your ranch?" She nodded again. "It's beautiful." "Three months," she whispered before falling asleep on his shoulder.
Jack looked down at the sleeping angel on his shoulder. He smiled to himself and leaned against the bed post. He closed his eyes and drifted off.
Kid Blink was in the middle of a poker game. He hadn't heard any loud talking from Jack or Cheer so he looked over to Cheer's bed. She was sleeping on Jack's shoulder and his head was rested on her head. Blink smiled to himself. If she's happy than I'm happy.