Chapter One
Author's Note: (Okay, so first, I am sorry, so sorry, I messed up on the last update of this story Chapter One, TeamJacob1998: yes, you are right, that was not meant to be, but here is Chapter One, the real one!) Look, here I am with yet another story! This is fun. I might not update this one quite as fast as the others, but anyway, this is yet another Newsies fanfic. I am making this one dedicated, yes, I am dedicating it, to the crew and cast of Newsies on Broadway, for being so amazing all of these few years and for keeping the energy level high and being inspiring to me and others everywhere, you guys are awesome! I am doing chapter one of this today because of that and because it is Newsies' last day on Broadway, which is really sad, as the date is Aug. 24, 2014. So I guess this is sort of also dedicated to Jack's and Crutchie's relationship as friends, and how things might have gone after the strike. But don't worry, they will pull through, even as harsh and mean as this seems. So here is chapter one!
It was early in the morning. I rolled over in my bed, and opened my eyes. Jack had gotten up already, and was standing at the railing. I dragged myself up and grabbed my crutch, and hobbled over to him. He looked at me and smiled.
"How youse doin' dis mornin', Crutchie?" he asked me, ruffling my midnight black hair in a friendly manner.
"Da usual." I replied. He smiled, then looked out and lost it. The smile.
"Ya know, Is don't nose if Is should jus' forget 'bout Santa Fe. It ain't gonna happen." he said slowly.
"Dat ain't the sprit, Jack. Someday youse'll be riding out dere an' bein' happy an' all dat. It'll happen."
It was a week after the strike, and I knew that Jack was still thinking about it. And about Katherine Plumber. She and him were going strong and I knew he wouldn't leave her. But he had always wanted to go to Santa Fe. And I had... I had believed him. I thought he and I could start new lives there. But it wouldn't happen. Not for a long time. Maybe never.
"So will youse." he said, but I shook my head.
"I don't tink so. I ain't gonna leave the City." I replied, feeling downcast.
"Ya don't... Crutchie, youse'll make it. An' I will get ya dere."
"Youse ain't cause youse got Katherine. I'll get me own life, bu' I ain't gonna get ta Santa Fe." I said. He put a hand on my shoulder.
"Look, Katherine ain't da cause of..."
"Is thought jus' as much. Youse are gonna marry her someday, ain't ya?"
"Crutchie..."
"Don't ya worry. Is'll be fine. Jus'... I'm going down early."
"Crutch, Katherine ain't gonna break up our friendship. Don't ya be mad at me 'cause of her." Jack said. I looked at him.
"Is ain't. Is happy for ya, Jack, an' yosue know it. I'm also jus' relieved to be home." I answered, and hobbled to the ladder.
I managed, somehow, to get down and then I could hear the silence from above. Jack was obviously worried. I cared, but tried not to. I knew he was still recovering from the strike, and I myself was as well. So I made my way down in time so that I could get papes and sell as quick as possible.
But throughout the day, I felt that I had hurt Jack too deeply, and began to regret what I had said earlier. As the day came to a close, I made my way back to the lodging house. Jack was already up on the railing. I clambered up and then he got my crutch, but he went back to standing on the railing. He was still made looking. I approached him as he stood, staring off into space, holding onto the rail. I touched his shoulder.
"Jack..." I said.
"What youse want?!" he snapped back. I stepped back slightly. "Eh? What is it? Complainin' 'bout youse leg again?"
Then, he pushed me. I stared at him, terrified and thinking of something else from my past, a man as angry and mean as this one in front of me. What had happened to Jack? This wasn't the Jack that I knew. He was staring back at me, looking shocked all of a sudden. I noticed that his face was bright red and he looked extremely mad and worried.
"I'll go if ya want me to." I said, and stood up slowly, getting ready to go back down again. "Is can sleep down dere if ya want me ta."
"Crutchie...Is, Is don't know what happened dere. Somethin'... I'm sorry, Crutchie. Forgive me." he said, looking sad.
"Dere's nothin' dat ya need me for righ' now."
"Don't say dat, wait, Crutchie!" Jack said, but I was already making my way down the ladder. He didn't want me, he didn't need me.
I sat at the bottom of the ladder, miserable and not smiling. I was always being happy, but now I couldn't be. I couldn't find anything to smile at. Jack was right, I had to stop coming to him and annoying him like that. There was nothing for me here now. I had to leave, or I wouldn't be able to cope with this.
When I made my way out the door, Racetrack and Mush spotted me and came over, looking worried and concerned.
"Crutchie, what's goin' on?" asked Mush.
"Nothin', just nothin'. Don't ask." I replied. "I'm goin' out for a bit dis evenin'."
Race eyed me, but I just nodded at the two of them and then kept walking. I had to get away. They wouldn't understand. At all. I really couldn't find a way to tell anyone what had happened and where I was going. I didn't have a clue about where I was going, either.
Author's Note: Wow, can't believe I did that. Well, just wait and see what happens next. Did any of you people other than me see the Newsies cast do the ice bucket challenge? It was hilarious and awesome, and one thing was that they didn't have their shirts on, which, being a cast of guys who do a musical eight times a week... well, think about it. It was fun to watch, and you should look it up. Honestly, do it! Because I want to hear what you think about it. I think it was adorable, some of them look like they haven't seen sunlight in ages, including, to my surprise, Andy R., because he's from Texas, but, okay, they don't see that much sunlight I guess because they are singing and dancing or in the shade or in buildings, and this is the City we are talking about (NYC, I just refer to it as the City in my family). Just watch it, I implore you. I also implore you to review, review, review!
