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As Jack left Davey and Les as they watched the show from the wings, she joined the crowd, finding an empty seat near the back to enjoy Miss Medda's performance. However, as she watched, she couldn't stop her gaze from wandering past the star of the show to one of the two faces somewhat visible next to the curtain.
Specifically, to Davey's face.
Man, was she hit hard.
None of the other newsies made her feel like she did with Davey. Main reason: it was probably because he didn't follow her orders like the others did. He had a mind of his own and the brains to back it up. Smart brains not… street brains like she had.
It also helped that he was easy on the eyes.
And he liked her painting.
She readjusted herself in her seat, trying not to stare at Davey or the way the lights of the stage cast really interesting shadows on his face. Her fingers twitched and she inwardly cursed. She was getting the urge to draw, to draw him specifically.
Well, if she was going to, she'd at least find a more secluded area with a better vantage point. She eyed the boxes higher up, noticing how most were filled to capacity until her gaze fell on one with a single young woman in it.
And Jack recognized said young woman: she was the one from that morning that Romeo had been hitting on. The one that didn't need saving.
Jack still felt the sting of the young woman's verbal quips.
When Jack had seen Romeo trying to flirt with the young woman – 'trying' being the key word, he still had a lot to learn – Jack had pushed him aside and had given the young woman a bright smile and an apology for her friend. She had even offered to personally deliver a paper to the girl.
However, Jack had probably – most likely – put too much flirt in that comment and the young woman easily countered her offer, even adding a few smart slights that had the other newsies laughing at Jack's expense.
Oh well, a vantage point was a vantage point.
Once Miss Medda finished her song, Jack made her way to the box, climbing the stairs two at a time and sliding her way onto an unoccupied chair.
"Excuse me, this is a private box!" said the young woman curtly, pressing a set of papers she had with her against her chest and leaning away from Jack.
"Hello again to you too," replied Jack with a smile as she glanced towards the stage. Yes, much better view.
"Go away, I'm working," sighed the young woman, turning her back slightly towards Jack.
Jack raised an eyebrow, impressed. "A working girl, huh? That's neat. What work do you do?"
The young woman seemed to resist the urge to roll her eyes. "Reviewing the show for The New York Sun."
A reporter, interesting. "Must be fate, I work for The World."
"Somewhere out there someone cares. Go tell them." The young woman even motioned towards the audience below them.
Jack smirked, shaking her head. Once more, as the other times in the past, she had put too much in her tone of voice, leading to the idea that she was flirting. It had landed Jack in some interesting situations back then and, apparently, she still hadn't learned her lesson. That night, however, Jack just didn't want to get kicked out of the box because she rubbed this reporter the wrong way. Therefore, she was going to play nice and try to ease up on the not-flirting.
"The view's better here," replied Jack, focusing on the stage but, thinking back on her words, she somewhat regretted them. Even though they were the truth – her view of Davey was much better – her words could easily be badly interpreted by the person she didn't want to piss off.
"Please go," sighed the young woman. "I am not in the habit of speaking to strangers."
Jack scoffed. "Well, then you're gonna make a louse reporter." Immediately, Jack bit her tongue. She needed to learn to shut up sometimes. "Sorry, name's Jack Kelly, by the way." She could try to be polite. Maybe that way the young woman won't put up too much fuss and let Jack stay up there.
"Is that what it says on your rap sheet?" asked the reporter and Jack could see the hint of a smile on her face.
Alright. Jack hadn't completely blown it. "Smart girl. I admire smart girls," said Jack as she pulled out the extra newspaper she had stashed in her back pocket. She searched her other pocket for a piece of charcoal and then got to work.
Because of the change in act, the lighting on stage had changed as well, creating even more elaborate shadows on Davey's face thanks to his hat. It was an artist's dream portrait.
Well, to Jack it was.
She began sketching, humming lightly to herself with the background song from the Bowery beauties.
"What are you doing?" wondered the reporter, leaning towards Jack, trying to catch a glimpse of what was on the newspaper.
Jack was quick to hide it, giving her a practiced smirk to hide how nervous she was that the reporter almost saw her drawing. "Hey, hey quiet down, there's a show going on!" she said quickly, trying to move the subject to something else.
The reporter sighed heavily, frowning in Jack's direction. "You are the most impossible boy –"
Jack was having fun now. "Shush!"
"Ever."
Jack tried to suppress her smile but she couldn't hold it back completely. Instead, she turned to the side, putting her back towards the reporter so that she could finish her drawing in piece and not incur the wrath of the young woman beside her.
Jack managed to finish the drawing by the end of the third act on stage and, when she eyed Davey once more, she noticed how he was searching the audience. Why would he –? Jack's train of thought was interrupted when she realized he might be looking for her of all people.
And she was up in a box, alone, with the female reporter.
Jack needed to go before he got the wrong idea.
She glanced towards the reporter, sending her a smile and a tilt of her head before making a beeline for the door and down the stairs.
Jack climbed the ladder to her penthouse, stifling a yawn as she did. She had made sure Davey and Les had gotten home safely before making her way back to the lodging. It was later than expected and all she wanted to do was go to sleep.
And remember how Davey's face looked in the stage lighting as she drifted off.
"Jack! Where've you been?"
Crutchie hobbled towards her as she reached the top and he gave her a once over, searching for any signs of injuries. When he realized there wasn't any, he visibly relaxed and Jack smiled sadly at him.
"I'm fine, Crutchie, don't you worry about me. That's my job about youse. Here." She handed him a pillow she had found on her way back from dropping off the brothers. It was very flat but, added to the one he already has, it should make the kid more comfortable.
Crutchie glanced at the pillow and then at his friend. "I can't take that, Jack. I already has one! You keep it!"
Jack shook her head, already tossing the pillow in his direction. She was used to sleeping on the floor and she had a few pieces of fabric to soften the concrete. Crutchie caught the pillow with one hand, glancing between it and his friend.
"Jack," he sighed but she just shook her head. "We're sharing then," he insisted.
"Crutchie –"
"Sharing, Jack." They both stared at each other for a moment before Jack consented, nodding towards the younger newsie. Seeing Crutchie's smile was worth it. "Thank you, Jack," he added.
Jack nodded once more as she stretched. It was a compromise they were both fine with and had done in the past. The last time was when Oscar had gotten a rare hit on Jack, specifically on her head, and Crutchie insisted that Jack take his pillow so that Jack wouldn't be in even more pain by sleeping directly on the concrete roof. They compromised on sharing the pillow and, as an added bonus, they had kept each other warm when the temperature had dropped that night.
It wasn't like she had never shared a bed with any of the newsies before anyway: the lodging only had a limited amount of beds and, when it got too cold, more newsies would show up, seeking shelter.
Everyone shared a bed at some point.
Crutchie placed the new pillow on his old one before slowly lowering himself onto the ground and turning towards Jack. "So, how were the new guys?" he wondered.
Jack shrugged, joining her friend on the ground and staring up at the night sky. "The kid's good, sold a good amount of papes today."
"And Davey?"
"Gots some work to do," replied Jack, rubbing her nose and unconsciously going for the newspaper she had drawn on while at… the…
Her eyes widened slightly as she realized the newspaper was no longer in her back pocket. She glanced discreetly around the rooftop but could not spot it. She could just hope that she hadn't dropped it anywhere near the lodging for the other newsies to find…
"Jack?"
She returned her attention to Crutchie, sending him a practiced smile. "Time to go to sleep. Gotta long day tomorrow."
"Like every other day," laughed Crutchie but didn't argue as he set his crutch aside, along with his hat and vest.
Jack just removed her hat. She knew the wrappings she wore around her chest was usually enough but she didn't want to take any chances.
Even if it was Crutchie.
She let her friend get comfortable first before laying down next to him and already shutting her eyes.
"Jack?" She hummed in acknowledgment, letting him continue. "Thanks again and I hopes Davey warms up to you soon."
Jack cracked her eyes open, staring at her friend. "Why do you say that?"
Crutchie just turned on his side, eyeing the other newsie with a smile. "Just gotta feeling is all."
"Shut up," she sighed, closing her eyes once more. "He gots a kid brother, that's all."
She felt Crutchie shift next to her and heard his soft laughter but he didn't add to as he closed his eyes as well.
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