Once again, I don't own Newsies but if I did I'd be one happy goil. Instead I'm stuck with my... umm... fun little characters that aren't in the movie. Ain't life great.
A/N : Thanx to everybody who reviewed. You guys are fricken awesome! I'm a sucker for reviews. I always love the feedback. Well anywho on with my little story
The Past Is Exactly That
Chapter 2
Charlotte looked down at the horrifying sight of her closest friend laying on the ground unconscious. This was like something from one of her worst nightmares. People trying to force her to move to a place she didn't want to be, her first fight, and worst of all her best friend was in pain and there was nothing she could do for him. This day couldn't get any worse...could it?
She frantically tried to wake him up but to no avail. 'I can't take 'em ta da lodging house. I don't even know wheah dat is. I'se only hoid 'bout it.' Even if she had known where it was, there would be no way she could take him back all by herself. She wasn't exactly the strongest person she knew, although she had surprised herself after the earlier fight.
It was then that she heard the worried voices of some of the newsies searching for their missing friend. Now she could help them end their search and help her friend get back to the lodging house and get the help he needed.
As she ran towards the voices she could make out to who they belonged. "Blink! Mush, ovah heah! I found Specs, 'e's hoit! Hurry!"
When she heard the two newsies start to follow towards her, she ran back to Specs. She felt a massive amount of guilt form in the pit of her stomach. 'If I'd a' ran inta that guy soonah, dey might not a' had da chance ta hoit 'em.'
As Kid Blink and Mush started to carry Specs back to the L.H. Charlotte walked along and told them her first experience fighting with who she now learned were the "Delancey bruddahs".
Fighting the Delancey's and getting away without a scratch was something all the newsies bragged about when they had the opportunity. Most even "improved da truth a little" to where it was more than ridiculous. In any other circumstance, Charlotte would be the first to push the believability of a story, but the feeling of guilt wouldn't let her alone. All she could think about was ways she could've maybe stopped this from happening.
When they entered to the L.H. Charlotte saw all of the newsies waiting nervously for their friends return. When Blink and Mush had finally carried Specs up to his bunk, a crowd of newsies had gathered around them.
"Is 'e ok?"
"What happened?"
A flood of questions filled the boys' bunkroom. Everyone wanted to know what happened or what they could do to help.
"Alright, Bumlets, an Skittery youse guys find a doctah." Jack Kelly started yelling out commands taking over the leadership role that he knew ever so well. Newsies started scattering everywhere grabbing this and that as Jack shouted out different orders in the hopes of somehow helping their friend.
Finally Skitts and Bumlets brought back the only doctor they could find at that time of night and showed him towards Specs' bunk. With that all of the newsies headed out of the room.
Blink and Mush started to answer the questions from various newsies. They had said everything they knew about how Charlotte fought Oscar, and found Specs. Although the star of the story didn't seem very interested in any discussion at the moment. She mentally separated herself from the conversation around her.
"Charlotte, shouldn't you'se be home at dis time a' night?" Dutchy asked almost seeming somewhat concerned. Dutchy had always been her second closest friend, next to Specs. Once hearing the question she was reminded of why she had been in that alleyway in the first place.
"Well..." she started to explain herself when her eyes started to gush with tears. It had never really sunken in that her mother had just died and she was alone in the city. Dutchy saw her struggling to answer his seemingly harmless question, so he pulled her away from the group of newsies clustered around them.
Charlotte felt better knowing she was only talking to Dutchy and not the whole group, but it was still painfully to retell the tale of her mother falling ill for no apparent reason and being taken from her. She also told him about her mother's greedy servant who was now trying to ship her off to Europe.
After she had explained everything to him, she was openly crying holding on to his arm for some sort of comfort. A few moments later her pulled her off of him. "I'se gonna tell Jack you'se need a place ta stay fa awhile." He walked over to Jack and began to convince him about letting the girl stay.
Moments later they both took her over to Kloppman's desk to sign her in. "Well, you'se can't sign in wid da name Charlotte. We'se gotta t'ink of a newsie name for ya." Jack sat and pondered about it for a moment. "You'se didn't t'ink 'bout fightin' wid da Delancey's you'se jus' did it like it was natural. So maybe we'se can call ya Impulse."
Charlotte gave him a slight grin between her falling tears. "I like it. Impulse it is den."
Dutchy looked back at her. "If dat guy's as greedy as you'se say 'e's probably gonna be lookin' fa ya. You'se should maybe lay low fa awhile. Jus' stay inside da lodging house fa a little." Impulse nodded in agreement.
They walked back towards the crowd waiting for the doctor to come back and give them news on Specs' condition. They didn't even bother to notice the shadowy figure lurking outside the window.
A/N : Hopefully I'm holding you with a little bit a' suspense. If I'm not then I better get crackin' on the poor writing skills. But if I am, then my mission was successful. XD If you guys what more, just push the little purple button below and review.
