Jack took the steps two at a time to reach the gate that led to a balcony hanging close to the stage. It was one of the best seats in the house which was usually to expensive for the usual patrons so Meda usually sent him there when he decided to drop in. But tonight was different.
He caught sight of those loose brown curls sitting in his seat and he felt a grin pull up at his cheeks.
"Well hello again." He said laying the charm on as thickly as he dared.
The girl started in her seat and turned towards the disturbance. When she saw his face it clicked in her mind why he sounded so familiar. It was that newsboy who tried to charm her into buying a newspaper earlier that day.
"This is a private box." She said indignantly. She didn't have time to fend off his advances. Katherine was reviewing the vaudeville below for The Sun's sunday edition and she didn't need any distractions.
"You want me to lock the door?" Jack smiled suggestively as the door closed softly behind him."Twice in one day, you think that's fate?" He relaxed against the railing as she protested.
"Go away." She said firmly facing away from him. Katherine stared intently down at the show trying to ignore him. "I'm working." She told him trying to hint that he was distracting and unwanted.
"A working girl!" He teased. "Doing what?" Jack propped his foot up on the other chair in the box and leaned against the railing trying to face the girl who tried so desperately to turn away from him.
"I'm reviewing the show for the New York Sun." She informed him shortly. This boy would just not leave her alone.
"Oh!" He exclaimed with genuine interest. He pointed to himself, "I work for The World."
"Oh, somewhere out there someone cares!" She answered sarcastically if not condescendingly. "Go tell them, Go!" She shooed him away as if he were a stray dog.
This seemed to draw Jack in all the more. "Nah, the view is much better here." He smirked.
She sighed with defeat. "Please go, I'm not in the habit of speaking with strangers."
He paused for a beat. "Oh, well you're gonna make a lousy reporter then." He smirked cockily again, pleased with his wit.
"Name's Jack Kelly." He thrust out his hand with that coquettish grin still plastered on his face.
"Is that what it says on your rap sheet?" She asked ignoring his gesture. He scoffed in pleased disbelief at her spunk.
"A smart girl," He said with a crooked smile. He swung lightly against the railing of the private box in the theatre. Down below them they could hear the whispers of the other patrons. "I like smart girls." He said with a cocky chuckle. She turned away from him with an indignant huff, but not before he caught a hint of a blush on her cheeks. "Beautiful, smart, independent…" Jack listed as he stared at the back of her head. Her loose brown curls hung down the middle of her back.
"Do you mind?" She finally screamed standing up.
"Hey! SHH! Be quiet up there!" A chorus of male voices called up at them.
"You got in for free," Medda called up, "So I expect you to pay attention!"
Katherine turned beet red as she stuttered and apology.
"Sorry Meda." He called back down to her with a wink.
Katherine sat back down and wrote furiously into her notebook desperately trying to ignore the handsome cocky newsboy that kept pestering her.
Jack leaned back on the railing as he watched the girl.
"I ain't got use for moonlight or sappy poetry." He paused. And turned away.
"Love at first sight's for suckers," He said harshly, "Or at least it used to be." He amended. "Look girls are nice once or twice till I find someone new." He turned back to look at Katherine. "I never planned on someone like you."
He pulled out the only paper he couldn't sell that day and a pencil he kept in his front pocket. He started sketching lightly in the corner the girl in front of him.
"I've got no use for moonlight," He sketched the soft curves of her lips, round and soft. "Or sappy poetry." He finished rounding out her eyes and began working on the loose curls that framed her face. "Love at first sight's for suckers," He reminded himself. "Or at least it used to be."
"What are you doing?" She asked standing up, trying to peek at his sketch.
"Quiet down." Jack scolded teasingly, holding the newspaper away from her. "There's a show going on."
"You are the most impossible boy-" She started angrily.
"Shhh." Jack hushed with a finger to his lips. "Ever!" She hissed softly. She sat back down and Jack smiled at her turned back. He finished the last lines of her face.
"I never planned on someone like you." He left the newspaper behind on the seat next to her while she was distracted by the last notes of the show and left the room quietly.
Katherine turned in time to see him disappear down the stairs. She jumped up to chase after him but caught sight of the newspaper he'd left behind. She picked it up slowly studying the drawing. It was her! She smiled softly at the sketch. He wasn't bad not at all. She shook herself.
"Stop it Katherine, he's no good." She looked at the sketch one more time before she left the theatre. Daddy would be waiting for her.
