It had been two weeks since Mush had seen her. He missed her, missed her hesitant smile, her small giggle. For the past weeks Mush missed her more than he had ever missed anyone before. And he had tried desperately to read that book she left behind but something about the way they talked, he just didn't understand. But at least he tried; maybe he could ask Klopperman about it. Yeah he'd know about Romeo and Juliet.
Mush dragged his feet as he walked into Central Park. It was a nice day, the sky was beautiful cerulean and the sun was a hot yellow orb, sweeping the city with light and with heat. It was too hot to be selling newspapers but just right to sit under a tree which many people, who could afford it, were doing. Mush began to yell out headlines in hopes of catching someone's attention.
"Orphanage burnt to the ground! Hundreds of children killed! Man eating rabbit roaming this park right now!"
A few people came up but many were reluctant to leave the precious shade. Mush was exhausted; he hadn't gotten much sleep due to dreams about Olivia, his angel, who was probably living in hell. He kept having this reoccurring nightmare that she was there; he could almost touch her, when she was yanked back by a freckled hand into complete darkness, screaming. He was never able to save her. Mush always woke up covered in sweat and couldn't fall back asleep. It was really taking a toll on his endurance to carry the banner.
Mush made his way to the closet tree, ready to take a break, when he noticed a small bent over figure of a girl reading. It was her; his heart crawled up his throat like the last time he had seen her. Mush knew he couldn't just stand there gawking at her forever, no matter how appealing the idea was. No, he had to say something, anything, but Mush's mouth was dry and his stupid heart was in his throat. Then she looked up and Mush had to push down his heart and do something.
"I have your book. And well it's not very good…I can't understand a thing." He blurted out, stupidly. Mush fought the urge to slap himself in the forehead. But then he heard that sound, the one that made his heart race, his palms sweat, and a stupid grin spread across his tan face. It was her laughing and Mush wanted to spend the rest of his life listening to that sound.
"Well, it is difficult to read at first but the story is really good. It took me a half a year to get the money to buy it…so I'm glad you have it."
Mush sat down on the soft grass next to her as he responded "I didn't bring it with me but its back at the lodging house…we'se can go pick it up now?"
"Oh no, Bottle would kill me. Do you think you could meet me here tomorrow and bring it?" Olivia whispered. Mush hated that voice, it sound so weak, so hopeless. Like at any second the world was going to crumple if her voice was too loud. He knew without a doubt that this was that bastard Bottle's fault. Mush's fist immediately clenched at the thought of Bottle hurting her. He noticed then that Olivia had moved away and was staring nervously at his fist.
"Oh no Olivia, I didn't mean to scare yah. No that sounds perfect. I'll sell on my way over here." Now his voice was small with concern for her. He worried that she believed that he would ever hurt her. Mush promised himself at that moment that he would never ever, not in a million years, hurt her.
Mush returned the book and from that point on they met every morning. There was an unspoken promise that she'd be there and he'd show up. They had a routine, Olivia would sit by the tree and read, and he would sell the rest of his papers and then sit next to her. Then she would trade out books for Romeo and Juliet read that out loud and explain the complicated language to him. For the both of them, this was their favorite part of the day… just being together. Afterwards they would simply talk. It surprised Mush how they never ran out of things to talk about. She really was a library, she had read almost everything. And this helped supply some of the conversation but really they talked about everything and anything.
He found himself falling more in love with every detail that she revealed. About how in the afternoons she worked at the book shop not too far from the lodging house, how terrified she was of spiders, and that her favorite color was green because the grass was that color. It angered Mush when he found out that her older brother was second in command of Queens. This meant that Olivia's brother was Cannon, who was just as ruthless as Bottle. And he let Olivia be hurt by that bastard. Mush knew that his angel really did belong to the devil and it hurt him much more than he ever thought possible. He felt sick at the thought of Bottle kissing or hurting her, this new information led way to even more nightmares. The one thing she purposely never mentioned was Bottle and everyday Mush noticed a new bruise and a new scratch. It hurt to look at them.
Mush found that Olivia loved his stories of the relatively laid back life of the Manhattan newsies. She especially loved stories from the strike. He couldn't help but wonder if these stories gave her a sense of hope…a sense of freedom. Her favorite being the one where they had been facing the judge and Race had offered to roll the judge for their freedom and Spot objected on the grounds of Brooklyn. This story made the dark look completely go away and allowed her to just laugh. Mush loved to make her laugh, he would do anything to keep her in that perfect moment were her brokenness was forgotten and the simple story was all she cared about, even if it was just for a moment.
Mush was completely unaware that Olivia would watching him through her glasses while he told these stories, nothing but love shining in her eyes. But Mush missed this, and saw only the brokenness of her soul.
So every late morning and early afternoon was spent like this. The couple sitting under their tree, in their own bubble that protected them from the world they had to face when they left. Olivia protected from the cruelty of Bottle and Cannon, and Mush ignoring the simple reality that in the end they couldn't be together. They both ignored these problems and enjoyed the company of each other. And that's all it took for the beaten girl to fall in love with the boy who had prayed for love. But of course their relationship would only hurt them in the end because what could Mush do when his angel belonged to the devil?
Summer was changing into fall. The air was no longer thick and there was a cool breeze that rustled the changing leaves. The sun had taken on that special glow, the smell of grass and drying leaves was pungent. And with the season change came rising tensions with Queens. Bottle had begun to make aggressive moves towards Brooklyn and Manhattan, while forming a powerful alliance with Harlem. New York was edging on a newsie war and there was tension in the air. Mush knew that the smallest thing was going to set of Queens and he had a growing concern about Olivia and his meetings triggering a war.
Mush walked slowly to the park; today he was going to talk to Olivia about stopping the meetings until the tension was gone. It was going to be difficult but he had to do it because another war would mean more unnecessary death. Anything, even friendly meetings with her, could set Bottle off and Mush couldn't risk it. Also, if she was found seeing Mush, he feared that Bottle would hurt her more than he was already. The thought of her with even more bruises broke his heart.
When he arrived, it was a little past their usual meeting time and Olivia looked up, worried.
"Why are you late?" Worry and fear shining behind her glasses.
"I'se had some trouble selling my papes." It was a lie but he didn't want her to know the truth, it would hurt her too much. Right, like telling her they couldn't meet anymore wasn't going to hurt her, Mush silently scolded himself.
She nodded her head and Mush watched as her glasses slowly slipped down her nose. He couldn't stop himself as is knuckle went to push them up. Olivia looked at him with startled eyes and Mush couldn't stop as his hand moved over her cheek bone until it rested gently on the side of her face. And he leaned forward and his lips were gently pressed against hers.
Mush was falling; he was falling deeper and deeper. He loved her; he had to tell her because she was his angel. His prays had been answered and here he was now kissing her. He slowly moved back; already missing the contact.
Olivia's eyes were still closed, her eyelashes rested on her cheeks. Slowly she blinked her eyes open and stared back into the warm depths of Mush's eyes.
"I-I think I love you." She whispered quietly, she seemed surprised that she had said it.
Mush was falling again. She loved him. The angel loved him. The thought consumed him crashed around in his mind, washing every piece. Those words were a tidal wave that broke every door to Mush's heart. She loved him. And every thought of ever given this up was gone.
"Olivia, I love you so much, you're my angel." He said while moving his arms to hold her. They stayed that way for awhile tangled in each other arms…holding on for dear life because they were starting something they would never be able to stop.
