A/N: Another chapter! I hope you like it and review and follow to let me know how I'm doing. Tell me what you think of Chava's newsie nickname also. I was inspired to write this chapter because I couldn't so I watched a performance I did at camp last summer in Annie where I was Miss Hannigan and the song N.Y.C was stuck in my head so that's the reason I named it that. I even quoted it a little. I do not own Newsies or Annie or N.Y.C. Enjoy!
Chapter 3: N.Y.C
Chava wakes and follows her routine with her mother. She bathes, her mother tightens her corset around her, she picks out her outfit which today is a yellow frock with sleeves that end to her elbows covered in yellow lace that's tight at her torso but flows out once it hits her hips, then her hair is put up into a fancy french twist, and a few pouts of powder and she's done.
Chava adds white gloves that just cover her wrists. Which is good because, as Skittery predicted, a small hand shaped bruise has formed.
Chava heads into the dining room but all that is there is her father's empty plate and his newspaper.
Chava goes to read it, so that she may have something to talk about with Skittery later.
"Chava! Reading a newspaper isn't for young ladies. They should be seen not heard, not worrying about politics." Her mother nags her.
"Yes, mother. I'm going to go for a long walk and practice being seen but not heard." Chava lies, she's completely afraid of what her mother will say but she pushes that thought from her mind and hopes she doesn't get caught.
"That's the spirit. Now go, chin up, shoulders back and try not to get lost this time." Chava's mother says bitterly. Chava nods as she does what she's told.
She heads to the door grabbing her pouch and fills it with some money.
She goes downstairs and finds the doorman sleeping. She doesn't wish to wake him because of the Skittery incident yesterday so she just takes a map leaving the right amount of money before leaving.
She quickly folds up the map and places it in her pouch before retracing her steps yesterday to find Skittery's selling spot.
There he is, hawking papers but Chava examines him for a moment. He is truly attractive, inside and out. Just sometimes the bad flows out too, like Chava is doing right now who is going against her mother's wishes.
She taps his shoulder and when he turns, his walking stick hits her causing her to tumble over, again.
"I gotta stop doin' that." He says and helps her up.
The feeling of their touch still fills their being even though Chava's glove is in the way.
"It's my fault, I should've announced my presence instead of tapping you." Chava says and Skittery draws his hand back seeing the ink blob he left on her white pristine glove.
"I'se also sorry for that." He says.
"Don't be, it's just a glove." Chava says removing it and the other and placing them in her pouch. She takes out another dime while putting her gloves away.
"Youse okay?" Skittery asks unable to look away from her bruise.
"Yes, I'm quite alright, Mother doesn't usually leave a mark. She just got too rough this time."
"No one should be treatin' youse like that." Skittery says before taking her hand and examining it. "It don't look too bad."
Chava is stunned at what he has said. "Doesn't he see my eyes? Is he color blind? One green, one blue. That's why I should be treated like this. I'm a freak!" Chava shouts in her mind.
She decides to change the subject after taking her hand back from Skittery and hiding her hands behind her back, "So can you show me how to sell papers?" She asks.
"Uh, okay." Skittery complies unsure of why she changed the subject so fast but he knows she has her reasons and he doesn't want to question her on them.
"Foist thing youse gotta loirn is that headlines don't sell papes, newsies sell papes. Youse gotta improve the truth a liddle." Skittery explains while looking over the paper for an article that isn't too exciting.
"See, like this." He says showing her the article, the headline reads "Cat Almost Drowned By Owner."
"Dead body Found In The Hudson, Drowned By Fadda!" Skittery shouts as several people stop to buy papers from him. Skittery pockets the money and turns to meet Chava's shocked face.
"How'd you do that? So fast and so believable." Chava says flabbergasted.
"Thanks." Skittery says blushing rose quarts but tries to stop the feeling causing his face to become a shade darker. "Youse can do that or make up something for sympathy. Like a story or somthin'."
"Like that you don't walk well and that's why you have the walking stick?" Chava asks feeling like she's getting the hang of it.
"Technically yes, but I don't do that because I'se friends with anudda newsie an' he has a crutch 'cause he actually needs one so I'se feels ashamed if I do that. Not many people believe him, an' if I did it too, no one would believe him, youse knows? I couldn't do that to him. I carry it 'round 'cause days can get long an' I walks a lot. It helps."
"That's good." Chava smiles at him causing Skittery to smile back.
"Here, watch this." Skittery says before walking to an older couple, possible mid-fifties.
"Please buy a pape, me brudda is only four an' needs a doctah, please. I need ta but his expensive medicine." Skittery says and the old lady's face is filled with pity as she hands him a quarter, takes a paper and says, "Keep the change."
Once they walk away, Skittery goes back to Chava and she says, "You just lied to that lady."
"Kinda, I ain't so keen on lyin' so I didn't tell the whole truth."
Chava looks at him confused so Skittery explains, "There's this liddle kid newsie an' he's like me brudda but he's eight, an' he is sick, when he woke up this mornin' with a sore throat that's all."
"Oh, good for you." Chava says knowing that if the time comes, Skittery would lie just like she did today to her mother. "Is he okay though?"
"Yea, he gets 'em all the time. Nuttin' new 'bout it. He'll be fine, he's still sellin' ta-day even though I advised him against it."
"Oh, okay."
"There's anudda method but I hate it."
"What is it?"
"Youse flirts with the rich goils, I don't do it, down right disrespectful." Skittery says knowing that while wrong, he doesn't he deserve a girl, so he shouldn't lead her on.
"I'm glad to hear that." Chava says and Skittery gets an idea.
"Here, youse tries." Skittery says handing her a paper.
"No, I couldn't. I'm not you. I can't speak to anyone and everyone." Chava says looking away from Skittery.
"Youse tawks ta me jus' fine."
"Exactly, that's you. I just can't, please don't make me." Chava begs.
Skittery is stricken by her manner and nods, "Okay, I won't force youse." He says.
Chava sighs in relief, "Thank you. And one paper please, that article about the drowning seemed quite interesting." She jokes and hands him a dime and Skittery says, "It's a penny a pape, youse knows that right?"
Chava puts a smile on her face before saying, "I've seen what you go through to sell them, you deserve it for thinking so quickly on your feet."
"Okay, if youse insists." Skittery says trading her a paper for the small coin. Their hands don't touch this time.
Chava sits on a nearby bench reading over the articles that Skittery's hawking to see how far he strays from the truth. So far, not so far from the truth.
Skittery finds himself glancing over at Chava repeatedly.
"Chava, glad ta see youse again!" Mush says running up to her with the other four in tow.
"Oh, hello, Mush. Good 'morrow everyone." Chava says curtseying for them.
"Ah, forget all the formal stuff. Youse is hangin' with the newsies, youse can be yer-self 'round us." Jack says slinging an arm around Chava's shoulders.
"Oh, thank god." Chava says allowing herself to slouch a little. She can't too much because of her corset. The other newsies laugh.
"See, that's bettah." Jack says as David notices her bruised wrist.
"Are you okay?" He asks gesturing to her wrist.
"I'm fine, it's fine. I'm just clumsy that's all." Chava says covering he hurt wrist with her hand.
"Youse shoa? 'Cause we'd soak anybody that hoit goils for no reason." Jack says but Chava shakes her head.
"I'm positive." Chava says happy to know that these boys aren't like the ones in Austria.
"A'right then. So, where youse from Chava? Haven't seen youse 'round here before." Racetrack says smoking a cigar as always.
"I'm from Austria. I moved her not long ago." Chava answers.
"Wait, but you don't have an accent." David says.
"Well, neither do you. You've lived in New York long enough right?" Chava says being engulfed into the newsies' welcoming nature. She took Cowboy's saying to heart. The only reason she doesn't have one is because her mother taught her to speak without one because an accent isn't proper.
"Touché." David says with a smile as the newsies laugh.
"I likes her." Jack says laughing.
"Wait! This means youse nevah seen New York." Racetrack asks.
"No, I did a little bit, yesterday. When I got lost." Chava says blushing from embarrassment.
"Well, then we gotta show youse New York an' us newsies are the best guides. We knows this city bettah than anybody." Racetrack says.
The six lead her the way as they begin to explore. The newsies all joke and Chava laughs thinking their fun.
"Ah, youse gotta love N.Y.C. It's loud, an' there's never a dull moment. It's tough and excitin'." Racetrack says.
"Oh, I know. I already love it." Chava says.
"I knows I do. There were once a time when I wanted ta go ta Santa Fe, 'way from here but I'se glad I nevah left. I'se would miss it too much." Jack says so Chava knows him a little better.
"Yea, youse would miss the nasty customers with language ta match. How 'bout the Delancy's or the bad food. The crowds and noises, maybe? Or is it the hot summers? Cold winters, perhaps?" Skittery says stopping everyone in their tracks. He doesn't love New York all that much, not since The Lords.
"Who are the Delancys? Look, that's beside the point, you're looking at New York like a half empty glass instead of the half full glass it is. Sure New York can be bad but doesn't everything have something bad about it? New York can also be good and the good is more powerful than the bad."
"Like what?" Skittery asks.
"The shadows at sundown. The roofs that scrape the sky." Chava says.
"Wow, youse really has a way with woids." Mush states.
"Thank you." Chava says blushing.
"I like the way you think, always positive." David says.
Chava blushes again, never has she ever been accepted so easily. She enjoys it.
"C'mon, lets keep going." David says pulling Les along.
Everyone but Skittery hurry along. Chava sees this and she grabs his wrist pulling him with her causing Skittery to lightly smile, something that didn't go unnoticed by the other newsies.
They walk through a crowded area and Skittery makes sure he keeps Chava close. He doesn't want her to get lost or hurt or both on his watch, he would die from guilt and shame if he let anything happen to her.
"Sorry 'bout the crowded place." David says as Jack hoists Les up on his shoulders.
"It's alright, it's not your fault. Besides, New York is still so brilliant."
"You got that right." Les says from Jack's shoulders.
They explore the city showing her Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, and Ellis Island from a distance, they weren't actually on the island, same thing with The Statue of Liberty.
"An' this is Irving Hall, where the Swedish Meadowlark Medda Larkson performs." Jack says.
"We'se able to sometimes catch a show for free 'cause Medda likes havin' her boys watch her." Racetrack says.
"It's a beautiful building. Is that a painting of her?" Chava asks pointing to the mural of her above the building. They nod.
"She's gorgeous." Chava comments.
"I've seen someone much more beautiful. An' I'm looking at her." Mush says standing and looking right beside Chava. She notices he's looking at her and blushes like crazy.
"You're crazy." Chava says backing up feeling uncomfortable. This bothers Skittery even though he tells himself it shouldn't. It can't.
Then a girl carrying two suitcases comes squealing by knocking Chava into Skittery's arms. Only the lady knows it's because she is jealous that this girl, Chava, with the the strange eyes, one green and one blue, is with these attractive young males. She runs into Irving Hall.
"I guess she's one of Medda's new show goils." Racetrack says. "Youse okay?"
"I'm fine. Is anyone else hungry? Dinner is on me." Chava says as the sky darkens.
She suddenly feels guilty that she didn't see her brother whom she hasn't seen in six years. Instead she is hanging out with her friends she's known for a day but she can't help it, she enjoys their company.
"No we can't let you do that." David says.
"You're showing me New York, the least I can do is buy you some food."
"Can't argue with that." Jack says and he leads them all to Tibby's.
Some newsies are there after a long day of selling.
"C'mon, Chava, let's introduce youse." Mush says pulling her forward.
The look on Chava's face is one of petrification. She's terrified of what they will think of her.
"Hiya boys! This is our friend, Chava Hathaway." Mush introduces.
Chava puts a nervous smile on her face as she waves to them.
"Don't worry, they'll loves youse." Skittery whispers reassuringly to Chava.
She sits down as Jack introduces them, "This is Dutchy, Specs, Kid Blink, Bumlets, Itey an' Snitch."
"Look, I'se can tell youse is noivous. Don't be shy, we don't bite." Specs says noticing her expression.
Chava half-smiles at him.
"Thank you." She says.
"So, youse gots a newsie name or what?" Itey asks.
"Newsie name?" Chava asks.
"Yea, youse didn't think these are ou' real names?" Dutchy asks with a laugh.
"No, but I didn't think I needed one." Chava says.
"Yea, youse is hangin' with the newsies now. Anybody gots some ideas?" Racetrack asks as the other newsies think about it.
"How 'bout Colors?" Skittery suggests. Everyone is shocked that Skittery came up with a nickname for Chava. He isn't the type to just let people in, but he let her in.
"Colors?" Jack questions with a knowing smirk that shouts "Youse likes her."
"Yea, 'cause youse knows, her tuff, colorful eyes." Skittery says looking down as everyone stares at him.
"I like it." Chava says causing Skittery to look up. She smiles at him and he returns the gesture. The newsies murmur about it to one another.
"Bettah than what I was thinkin'." Racetrack offers to strike up another conversation.
"What were you thinking?" Chava asks.
"Dame, Doll Face, Sweetheart, maybe."
"I'm sticking with Colors." Chava jokes.
The newsies laugh and Chava feels accepted.
"So, tell us 'bout yer-self, Colors." Snitch says.
"Oh, I'm not that interesting." Chava says looking away.
"Oh c'mon now, tell us 'bout yer family. Any bruddas or sistahs?"
"Yes, I do. I have an older brother." Chava says hoping they won't dig too deep into it.
"What's he like?"
"How old is he?"
"What does he do?"
Chava is bombarded with questions faster than she can answer them.
"A'right, guys calm down. One at a time." Skittery says saving her.
"Well, he's twenty seven and he's my best friend."
"What does he do?" David asks.
"He's a painter." Chava says not wanting to tell them everything.
"Where does he paint?" Asks Kid Blink.
"He-uh-he works..." Chava tries to get the words out but she can't. Her voice is breaking as the scene where her brother was kicked out is playing in her head.
"Look, youse don't hafta answah that question if youse don't wanna." Mush says.
"We'se undah-stand if youse don't wanna tell us. It's yer life." Specs says.
"Thank you, you'd think after all this time-" Chava takes a shaky breath, "Please, someone else say something."
"Oh I gots it, I was at the Races once-" Racetrack starts telling his story. The rest of the meal is very loud and rowdy but very fun.
There still something picking at Skittery's brain. "Why is it that she were so scared 'fore but now, she ain't."
Many answers are flying through his head: she knows their names and therefore they aren't strangers anymore, she didn't want to sell papers, etc.
Chava looks at the clock and notices how late it has gotten.
"Oh dear, I must be going, it's rather late." Chava says getting up.
"Oh c'mon, stay a little later." Kid Blink says.
"I can't. I'm sorry, but Mother's curfew." Chava says. She knows her Mother won't care what time she gets home. It's her father she's worried about. She knows he will be worried sick if she's not there when he gets home from work.
She drops money on the table for the meals, despite the newsies' arguing trying to stop her, and she still has some to spare.
She hurries off into the streets with her map in her hand as she tries to find her way home.
Skittery can no longer sit still. He has to know his answer. But a small part of him also wants to make sure she gets home okay.
He stands and the newsies look at him knowingly.
"I gotta go. I have stuff ta do." Skittery says. His excuse is thin but that's the least of his worries right now.
"Is that stuff kissin' Colors?" Racetrack asks earning laughs from the newsies but Skittery pretends he didn't hear anything.
He walks outside and sees Chava looking over a map not too far away.
"Chava!" He calls using her real name so she knows he's calling her.
"Oh, Skittery, what are you doing here?" She asks confused but happy that she gets to see him again.
"I jus', I gotta knows why youse didn't wanna sell papes but youse was fine with us right now. I'se so confused."
Chava sighs and looks down. She doesn't want to tell him. She doesn't want to scare him away. But, she feels so safe with him. She can't help it, she's known him for two days but he's already done so much for her. She decides not to tell him the while truth.
"You're just so accepting. None of you looked at me like I had three heads like others do. I finally felt like I fit in somewhere. Like I actually mattered to someone." Chava explains not once looking into Skittery's soft eyes.
"What'd youse means?" He asks.
"You guys knew when I was uncomfortable and didn't push me further. You gave me a nickname and it was so fantastic to feel like I am apart of something. Rather than being on the outside looking in."
Then Skittery does something completely out of character.
He hugs-no-embraces Chava. He feels as if he's burning, and he enjoys the sensation.
Chava is stunned at first but quickly and happily returns the gesture. She feels as if she is whirling and is now floating, she enjoys the sensation.
Once she's released, Chava asks, "What was that for?"
"What youse didn't like it?" Skittery jokes trying to ward off any awkwardness that might be near.
"No, it's not that," Chava says blushing, "But that's not the Skittery I have come to know and enjoy."
"Well, I hope youse likes this one, too. 'Cause he might be 'round ta stay."
"I like any Skittery that's around." Chava says blushing. She trusts him, and she hopes he trusts her.
"Youse would be the foist in a long while."
"I find that hard to believe."
"Believe it. It's the truth an' I wouldn't lie ta youse."
"That's really good to know." Chava says blushing.
"The reason I did it though, was 'cause now youse has been accepted by everyone an' that's me way of showin' youse that." Skittery explains, Chava smiles at him, "Shall we?" He asks offering his arm.
"Thank you." Chava says looping her arm in his.
Skittery lifts his chin too high as if to mock the rich and snobby. Chava laughs at it until two gentlemen give them a strange look.
Chava looks down feeling uncomfortable but Skittery just moves closer to show that he doesn't care.
"Some people are just so rude." Chava says keeping her gaze down.
"Yea, what a sight we mus' be. A beautiful rich goil an' a dirty street rat."
Chava blushes at his beautiful comment but says, "Bite your tongue. You're anything but that."
Skittery sticks his tongue out and pretends to bite it causing Chava to laugh.
"But youse soiously thinks that? Are youse lookin' at the same face I sees in the mirror every mornin'?" Skittery questions, smirking.
"Yes and it's much more than that. It's a gentleman who cares enough for me to take me home twice. To put up with more for two days and take me all over Manhattan and Brooklyn. To accept me thoroughly." Chava says.
"The only thing is, I enjoys puttin' up with youse. I care 'bout youse, youse is innocent an' New York is a thief who wants ta steal that innocence 'way. I'se would hate myself if I didn't try to preserve that."
"I'm not that innocent." Chava mutters remembering what she has tried to do to herself. "Here we are again." Chava says aloud as they approach her building.
"Thank you, again for all of this."
"It's no problem. G'night. Sleep tight, in N.Y.C." Skittery says with a smile wanting nothing more than to swoop in and steal a kiss as he ponders what it'd be like to kiss her. He tries to erase that thought from his mind because he has only known her two days and he believes he doesn't deserve her.
"That's the spirit." Chava says with a smile before heading inside.
She's exhausted from all exertion due to walking around all day.
She has made it home before her father.
She has a maid help her with her corset and clothes and she immediately goes to bed.
She is asleep before her head hits the pillow. The thought that entered her mind right before she fell asleep is the phenomenal feeling she got from hugging Skittery.
She smiles in her sleep because of this.