Chapter 2:
Jack had almost finished selling for the morning, and he decided to head back to the lodging house; he could always make a sale around that area. He was a few blocks away when he saw a girl exit a grand carriage. A man tried to help with her luggage but by her body language, Jack could tell she wanted to be independent. He figured he could charm her into his last pape – and what Sarah didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
"'Scuse me miss, would you'se like ta buy me last pape?" He asked with a smile as sweet as butter. She chuckled and nodded, fishing a coin from her purse. "Thanks miss," he said turning away.
"Cowboy," she called. Surprised by this rich young woman knowing his newsie name he spun to face her. "A girl leaves for a couple years and suddenly you don't even care enough to say hello, or worse even remember her? No, you just take her money and leave," she exaggerated a pout and took out her dated fan, holding it near her face. He looked closely at her, deep into her emerald eyes.
"Ana!" he exclaimed sweeping her into a giant hug that brought a smile to her face. Cowboy quickly led her to the Lodging House, where Kloppman was waiting with the biggest smile Jack had ever seen him hold. After the three had caught up a bit, Jack's stomach began to growl.
"Oh!" Ana said, "I'm so sorry I must be keeping you from lunch!"
"It's no problem Ana," Jack chuckled, "but why don't we head over to Tibby's and you can see the other guys" Ana smiled like an idiot and rapidly nodded her head. With that, Jack held out his hand with fake chivalry. Giggling, she took his hand and they sauntered to the restaurant.
As the pair walked through the doors they were greeted by the initial hollering of the boys to their leader, but then confusion set in of who the girl is, especially from Sarah who sat with Les and David, all three watching intently.
"Sarah, Les, Dave," Cowboy began leading the mystery girl with him; "I would like to introduce you ta Ana, Kloppman's niece."
"Oh," Sarah exclaimed with relief, "We've heard so much about you!" Before the conversation could continue, familiar shouts echo at the door, causing Ana to spin around. She met the gaze of the shortest of the boys whose jaw dropped and dumb founded he began to slap his friend's arm, attempting to get his attention. After a moment of rough-housing between the others they finally looked at the girl with emerald eyes.
"Ana!" they yelled in unison, swarming her, and then encasing her in hugs.
She was overjoyed, calling each by name "Racetrack! Blink! Pie Eater!" she paused before locking eyes with a curly haired boy, "Mush," she whispered right before he swept her into his arms.
"I missed you," he breathed, still holding her to his chest her feet not even touching the ground.
"Aw, I missed you too, Mushy," she teased, "but, uh, you can put me down now," Mush blushed but returned her to the ground.
"Look at you," Blink said twirling her around. "you'se is all grown up."
"Too bad you'se can only see half o' her," Racetrack joked.
"'Ey, Ana, come over here," Cowboy called, gesturing to the empty seat between David and himself. As she approached David hastily got up and pulled out that chair for her, obviously enchanted by this high society girl. Mush could only glare at Dave, he had enough competition from the others who knew her before, and he didn't need an educated boy too.
"So, Ana, you lived in London? Wow, how was that?" David practically drooled over her, making Mush want to barf.
"Really it wasn't that wonderful. I found high society life utterly dreary; the only part I really enjoyed was the library my grandmother procured for me. Well, that and the various fighting lessons," This statement earned confused looks.
"You had a private library?" David asked.
"Never mind that what were these fighting lessons? They teach goils to fight in London?" Cowboy said slightly concerned.
"Oh, well, not exactly," Ana said bashfully, "I sort of would sneak into the boys classes." The boys chuckled and Jack slapped her on the back.
"That's my goil. What exactly did you'se learn?"
"Um, well, three subsets of fencing, a bit of boxing, bartitsu, archery, some self-defense, and ballet."
"Ballet? It isn't a fighting style," David said laughing.
"No, not necessarily, but if you've ever stood on point for several hours you would be damn tough," she replied matter-of-factly, taking out her fan and holing it just below her downturned eyes to emphasize the point. David was flummoxed but luckily for him, Crutchy changed the subject.
"So, Miss Ana, are you'se going to be a newsie too?"
She shrugged causing her long brown hair to fall behind her shoulder. Gosh, Mush thought, she's so beautiful. "Because of my Grandmother's allowance in exchange for attending dreary balls and teas, I don't necessarily need the money but I might tag along."
"Just like old times," Jack said, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear while she giggled and scrunched up her freckled face.
"Well you'se can always sell wid me doll face," Mush interjected with a wink. Ana replied by exaggerated and suggestively raising her eyebrows, earning a wolf whistle from Race, who got a good punch in the arm from Mush.
...
Later that day Ana danced around her small room cleaning and humming a tune. She picked up one of her dresses and used it as a partner, attempting to waltz with little success. What she didn't know was Mush stood in the door frame watching her. Soon he decided to slip in, throwing the dress on the bed, placing one arm around her waist and taking her hand with the other making her laugh. For a moment they just sway side to side, enjoying the moment, however they heard someone clear his throat and quickly broke apart.
"So dis is how ya ask her if she wants ta play pockah?" Pie Eater teased.
