AN: Well I haven't gotten any reviews so far….so I am assuming no one likes it. I should just trash the story now….I have an idea for another one that I like much better….however I have always had a hard time not finishing stories I write - so I am going to keep on. If you have critiques, suggestions, etc. let me know!
NEW AN: Well that is an old note but I am feeling the same way still…haha I should be taking that as a sign right.
.:Jack Kelly:.
"It's good to have you back around dese parts Conlon." I smiled at my old friend.
"It was doz' damn boirds always sqwaking in my ear." Conlon replied.
I laughed at his joke. In all honesty it was good to have him back around. Although I doubted he would ever go back to being the same Spot Conlon he was four years ago before he had left Manhattan. It had been a surprise to all of us when Spot decided that it was time to leave Manhattan. We had all know that he had idolized Shooter we just never thought that he would actually leave to go to Brooklyn. Race hated it. He was always telling everybody how Brooklyn had taken the heart out of Spot Conlon. I always agreed it had looked that way but deep down I knew that it had been Novalee that had taken his heart. It seemed though looking at him now four years later that he had finally moved on. He had made it a point after leaving Manhattan to make himself scarce around these parts. It was nice to see him happy again- even if it was over just getting to see his face in the papes.
"Hey Jacky boy - you in there?!" my thoughts were interrupted by Spot waving his hand in front of my face.
"Yeah …We have a party to go to. It ain't every day that mere mortals such as ourselves beat the giants of the world." Race said hitting me on the back. I smiled. This was the time to celebrate. We all got up and made our way to Medda's for a celebration to beat all others we had had before.
.:Race:.
My head was pounding. It had been a night to remember…it was just too bad I couldn't actually remember any of it; somehow though all of us Newsies had managed to make it back to the lodging house. I noticed that even Spot had made himself comfortable in his old bed. I reached for a cigar only to find it missing.
"Snipeshooter that's my cigar!" I screamed at the curly headed boy.
"Ah Race, you'll still unnudder." He said pushing me away.
I could tell already this was going to be a lousy morning. I had a hangover like no other and some little bum of a kid had stolen my property. Well not exactly mine - but he didn't risk his ass stealing those cigars. I took myself to the wash room and cleaned up and then headed out to the distribution center with the rest of the newsies, who were still celebrating our victory over the newspaper tycoons who had thought they could run the world.
After getting my papes I headed towards the tracks. I always planned my day around the races. I sold until they started. Today was no exception. Today was the Grand Marshall's Tournament, the most popular and attended race in New York. Low life's like me didn't typically make it into the tracks on days with such prestigious races but I had become such a regular that the trainers and groomers always saw to it that I had a way in.
I hadn't sold all my papes but I knew that I wouldn't miss the race for anything. I went around to the back where the horses were brought in. I was let in and made my way to my usual section. It was loaded with hoity toity rich folks. The men all in what I assumed were their best suits and the women in extravagant gowns with the most elaborate not to mention ridiculous looking hats I had ever seen. I turned around knowing I would be thrown out in an instant if I showed my face there. I placed my bet and searched for a spot out of sight that I could observe the race from.
After searching awhile I came to a spot in between the grandstands. "Perfect" I thought to myself. I began to back my way in only to here an "Oh!" I whipped around to see the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Her blues eyes stared at me in shock. She wore the usual rich girl garb. Her pale blue dress was fitted to her every curve. Dark blue ribbing marked the edges. Her hands were wrapped by delicate white gloves. Her hat matched her dress and sat atop an intricate bun of blonde curls. I studied her features for a moment noticing her slightly upturned nose, petite rose colored lips, and fair complexion. She stood about two inches shorter then me.
She finally spoke up. "It is a good hiding spot isn't it?" She smiled at me. I smiled back knowing that I had been lucky enough to stumble upon that rare diamond in the ruff - a nice rich person.
"It shore is." I replied. "So ugh, what is a pretty goil like yourself doin' down hear hidin'?" I asked casually.
"Well I'm trying to stay away from two people I guess. Richard Echolls," she said pointing to a scrawny looking teenage boy "is going to be a multi-millionaire soon. Don't worry though; he will let you know after about two seconds of conversation. He just happens to favor blondes lucky for me." She said sarcastically. "And of course then there is David Ryan." She pointed to another teenage boy I guessed to be around my age. "He is handsome but don't expect him to actually stay faithful. He doesn't actually favor blondes - just anything with female anatomy." I was shocked at her bluntness but also found it quite attractive.
"Well if ya don't mind I would love to join ya down here to watch the race." I said. She smiled again
"Good, maybe you could explain to me what is going on."
We turned our attention to the tracks. I asked her who she had bet on.
"Paul Revere, huh? He's okay. Who told ya to bet on him." I asked.
She rolled her eyes. "Richard actually took the liberty of deciding for me. You know he has the money to throw around. Why should he care if he doesn't actually pick a winner?" She had put her emphasis on her last sentence. I found myself more and more attracted to her. She was beautiful but her wit and outspokenness seemed to separate her from the usual rich girls.
"Well I chose Epitaph. He'll win it by a half. I got it in a hot tip. Plus I saw him dump his load before the race." I said to her.
"Excuse me?!." She said obviously surprised by my bluntness this time.
I smiled, "It will make him run faster. You always choose a horse that has lost his load because he is lighter. "I explained.
"Oh" she said showing her understanding. We watched the horses take the last lap in silence.
"See I told ya." I beamed as Epitaph crossed the finish line first.
"Well Paul Revere came in second so I didn't do all that bad." The girl added. "Well I should be going. I already hid down here for the first two races. I wouldn't want my potential fiancées worrying about me now would I?" she said rolling her eyes again.
"If you don't like em' why would you wanna marry em?" I asked realizing that the question was out of line.
"Well," she said looking at me in seriousness, "life is complicated. Sometimes we all have to do things we don't want to." She looked at the ground. I could tell she was trying to hide the breakdown of the witty girl image she had been so proudly portraying with me earlier.
"Well life is complicated. But dat don' mean you gotta do things like marry someone you don' love." I looked at her again admiring her beauty.
"Well I guess we just see things differently." She said making her way out of the hiding spot.
"Thank you so much for your tips. I will be watching for the horses to um, lighten their load." She said blushing. "Thanks again um, I'm sorry I never caught you're name." She said extending her hand.
"Uh that ain't important. I wouldn't want you going around givin' out me name to all the other people round' here. They'd be coming round here asking where I get all me hot tips." I lied knowing full well that it was never a good idea to give your name to a rich dame. It was a sure way to end up accused of rape or worse after their night of passion with a rich boyfriend left a bun in the oven. It happened all the time.
"Well, I would never give a way your hot tips but if you insist. It was very nice to meet you. I'm Novalee O'Conner by the way. No need to worry about you giving away my hot tips.
"Ugh no guess not." I faked a smile as she turned and walked away.
I sat looking at the hand she had shaken. I didn't know how I hadn't seen it before. The curly blonde hair, the upturned nose, the crystal blue eyes - they were pure Novalee. Questions raced through my mind. Had she recognized me? No I answered my self - surely she would have said something. Of course then I reasoned I had known who she was and didn't say anything. How did she go from poor little rich girl to just rich girl- I wondered. As I started to wander towards the collections gate one questioned lingered above all else - how do I tell Jack and Spot that Novalee was back in town and how do I explain my new found attraction to her? I felt knots form in my stomach and for the first time exited the tracks before the races were over.
AN: Well I know this was short but I felt this was a good place to leave off. If anyone is enjoying this I would like to know. Even if you think this is the worst Newsie fan fiction you have ever read I would like to know. By the way - If you find errors I am sorry. I wrote this late at night and didn't find much willpower to edit. One final note - I didn't know if anyone would pick this up but kudos if you did. The horses' names came from the song "I got the horse right here" from Guys and Dolls. Thanks!
NEW AN:While you are here I also have another favor to ask. I have a poll on my profile page regarding my next fanfic and which newsie you all want to read about so please stop by and take it. Thanks again -Emily