A/N: sorry it took so long, I had to get supplies for school. I'm a sophomore! Not like I was a freshman, I was the only freshman who wasn't a freshman. Anyway, if you like Max Casella and the Lion King, then listen to the broadway version bc Max plays Timon on it. It's adorable bc you can still hear his New York accent. To jesterlover, i'm glad you were able to sing along. And Wapomeo Huntress, i love writing this story, and my others. So all my readers check out my Kid Blink and Skittery fanfictions which will be updated soon. So now on with the story. I hope you like it. Review and follow. Tell me how I'm doing. I do not own Newsies, The Little Mermaid, or the song that this chapter is named for.
Chapter 3: Beyond My Wildest Dreams
Kloppman's voice rings throughout the bunk room to wake everyone.
Ariel can't help but wake up with a smile on her face. "Oh, no. Youse a mornin' person isn't ya?" Asks Snitch. Ariel shrugs her shoulders. She isn't sure what she is, she knows she's in love. That's why she's so happy, she's so close to him.
She gets up and gets into a bathroom stall to change into the clothes Ursula gave her. She folds the long johns and places them under her pillow of her now made bed for safe keeping.
"Youse is tidy, huh? Good we needs that." Jack jokes to her as to which Ariel smiles.
She quickly washes up at a free sink between Mush and Boots. Through the mirror, she steals glances at Racetrack, no one notices. She's positively eager to see the city and be with Racetrack during said time.
"Youse ready ta go?" Racetrack asks and Ariel violently nods her head. "An' excited. Good, Medda'll love that attitude."
The newsies all depart from the Lodging House joking around and being rowdy. Ariel, who is not used to the crazy patterns of newsboys, is accidentally shoved to the ground. "Youse okay?" Racetrack asks as he helps her up. Ariel nods and smiles embarrassed. "Don't worry, I'se soaks 'em latah." Ariel shoots him a confused look as he lets go of her hand and they continue walking. Much to Ariel's dismay.
"Youse knows, beat 'em up." Racetrack explains swinging his fist for emphasis. Ariel smiles at the kind gesture but shakes her head to indicate that it's not necessary. "Not violent, huh? I like that, a carin' hand." Racetrack says with a smile causing Ariel to blush.
They stop at the nun's cart to get their free food. Ariel's heart begins to beat faster as she thinks they are the nuns from her church but once he gets closer she doesn't recognize them. Relief fills her and Bumlets looks at her suspiciously. He shrugs it off and takes his bread.
Racetrack grabs a tin can of coffee for him and Ariel along with a tiny loaf of bread. Ariel bows her head in thanks towards Racetrack and takes a gulp of the burned coffee.
Racetrack makes a disgusted noise as he tries to keep it down. Ariel tries not too smile as she takes another sip. "Wow, youse got a strong stomach." He says as Ariel takes a bite of her stale bread. She shrugs because to her, this better than the food in her old life. Why? Because she's enjoying it with her love.
Soon, the newsies are on the road again and are at the Distribution Center soon. Ariel and Racetrack wait in line for their papes.
No conversation occurs between them. The silence isn't awkward because Ariel can't speak and Racetrack knows that so they just enjoy each others' ambiance. Something Racetrack is finding himself not minding. Actually kind of enjoying. He doesn't find himself anxiously searching for a conversation starter, it's a nice change.
After actually paying for his papers, the two begin down the streets, now alive and full, in pursuit of a nice selling spot. They finally arrive and Racetrack looks over a paper.
"Now the key ta sellin' is ta improve the headline 'cause headlines don't sell papes, newsies sell papes." Racetrack explains as Ariel listens. But soon she sees a flower cart and goes to smell the flowers. Something she hasn't been able to do since she was a little girl in Italy.
"Do youse get it?" Racetrack asks as he notices Ariel is gone. He searches frantically for her but finds her smelling a lily at a nearby cart. Racetrack goes to her so he can gently pull her away. Yet, she moves to quickly for him and she goes to see a horse. She's never seen one up so close in her life. She always begged her parents to take her horseback riding but they always complained it was too dirty.
She goes to pet it but the owner comes back and Ariel moves away to a fountain, The Bethesda Terrance.
She sits on the edge completely content. She's utterly amazed; she only wishes she could scream and let it all out. Then she sees Racetrack coming towards her. She smiles at him; she sees a handsome, refined, slim, sweet, sincere, magnificent man from head to toe. Many others just see a newsie, a filthy guttersnipe.
"Youse can't jus' run 'way like that. New York is big an' I don't wanna lose youse." He says and Ariel bites her lip and looks down embarrassed. "It's a'right. Foist time seein' the city, right?" Racetrack asks and Ariel nods her head. "Well, youse gots a good eye. This place right here is beautiful." The two take in the scene while Ariel's head is spinning. She hoped and prayed for this but she never would've thought it'd actually happen!
Many onlookers look at her strangely and gossip about how she gawks at all the sights. About how strange she is acting and hasn't spoken once in all the time that the two have been sitting there. Racetrack hears it and says, "Don't pay 'em no mind. They jus' don't get it. I hate gossip. I'se actually kinda glad youse can't speak." Ariel looks at him questionably, "I'se sorry, was that rude? I didn't mean it- I was jus' nevah mind, I'se gonna shut up now."
Ariel shakes her head and grins. Now she knows what Ursula said is true about girls and gossip.
"Good. Now c'mon. I gotta sell papes an' then take youse ta yer job interview. I promise I will show youse 'round New York newsie style anudda time." Racetrack promises as the two return to the selling spot.
Racetrack looks over the paper quickly and makes up a headline. He hawks it and Ariel snatches a paper away from him and skims through it for the headline.
Racetrack laughs and whispers, "That's not an actual headline. I improved the truth a liddle ta make it sound more interestin'." Ariel looks down blushing furiously because she completely and utterly embarrassed. "It's okay though. I will take it as a compliment. That me stories are believable." She smiles graciously and waits patiently for him to sell his fifty papers.
"C'mon. Let's get youse ta Medda's!" Racetrack says.
After a short while, Ariel gestures to Racetrack. "Wha'? Wha' is it?" He asks confused. She points to him and pretends to speak. "Youse wants me ta tell youse 'bout meself?" He asks clarifying it and she nods. "Youse would be amazin' at charades by the way." He jokes causing her blush again.
"Well, I'se been a newsie since I was nine an' I'se sixteen now. I'se a harmonica playa. Guess that means we got somethin' in common. We both play music." He says showing his harmonica from his pocket. "I got me nickname 'cause of the fact I love goin' ta Sheepshead an' bettin'. I had ta become a newsie 'cause me parents died from an illness back in Italy." Ariel touches his shoulder comforting him; he smiles appreciating the gesture. Ariel points to herself and Racetrack asks, "Youse from Italy, too?" She nods and he smiles.
"That's great. Anyway, me uncle an' I taked the money we was savin' an' came here ta New York 'cause that was me parents' dream. I wanted ta honor that. Soon afta, he died of a broken heart. I was on me own from that point." He says as Ariel squeezes his shoulder in an attempt to silently console him. Racetrack debates whether or not he should tell Ariel about her but decides against it. He doesn't want to scare her away.
Ariel shakes her head, she points to him and to her. Racetrack shoots her a confused look. She mouths, "Not alone" and she points to herself and him again. Racetrack smiles at her and whispers, "Thanks." He tears away from her sweet gaze and asks, "Do you have any parents?" Racetrack asks and Ariel shakes her head solemnly. She never considered them blood. She has seen the birth certificate but doesn't think too much of it, she feels like she's too different from them. She isn't lying to Racetrack, she's just improving the truth a little.
"Died?" Ariel shrugs.
"Don't know? Youse was abandoned?" Ariel nods her head. At least she feels that way. Even in crowded party halls. She usually ends up sitting alone, scaring off any suitors or unwanted visitors by speaking her mind.
"Don't worry. Us newsies, we stick togedda. We'se a family of our own. Youse can stay as long as youse wants. Youse knows, as long as youse pays yer way. No freeloadin'. But trust me, it's woith it. Goin' on adventures in Brooklyn or the Bowery. Evah been?" Ariel shakes her head. "No?" Racetrack gasps over dramatically causing Ariel to silently laugh.
"Dear me! How horrible! That's added ta the list of places I'se gonna take youse when I show youse New York." He says and she smiled widely and nods her head. "Youse would like that wouldn't youse?" Ariel once again nods. Racetrack actually likes this girl. But he can't get the girl who saved him out of his head. He loves that girl, he will find her and he will never let her go. Her voice keeps playing in his head.
They reach Irving Hall and Racetrack freely walks in the unlocked back door. Ariel grabs his arm but Racetrack whispers, "It's okay. We'se allowed ta do this."
They head up the stairs and Medda is there warming up her amazing vocals.
"Hey, Medda!" Racetrack greets causing Medda to smile and go hug him and kiss his cheek. "Who's your girly friend?" Asks Medda.
"She's jus' a friend. An' maybe yer new pianist. Youse's jus' quit right?" Racetrack asks.
"Yep and outta the blue too. I need a replacement fast. The show must go on. I'm Medda Larkson, by the way. And you are?"
Ariel sinks behind Racetrack and he simply states, "This is Ariel or Tunes as many call her 'cause she plays piana. Her last job didn't go so well, lost her voice; in a factory accident."
"You poor thing. I'm so sorry. That's horrible, I can't even imagine what that's like." Medda exclaims and Ariel simply shrugs. "Well, c'mon. Let's hear you play." Medda says leading her over to the grand piano much like the one she has at "home".
"Play anything you like." Medda says and they wait.
Most people would be scared out of their wits of asked to perform on the spot. Ariel, however, doesn't care who's listening or watching. She always has something prepared. She only hopes Racetrack likes it.
She plays Carol of the Bells, the song she plays best. She plays it even though it's a Christmas song. She needs to get the job so she can stay in the Lodging House.
Racetrack listens in awe. His watches her thin long fingers fly across the keys. He even sees her close her eyes and smile, getting into it. She doesn't even need to see the instrument to play a song. He smiles. It's kind of adorable how she plays with her whole body.
Ariel hits the last note and opens her eyes. Medda smiles and nods her head indicating she has liked it. "That was phenomenal. Now do you read music?" She asks and Ariel nods.
"Great. Are you a fast learner?" Ariel nods once more. "Then you got the job. Congratulations, I'll go get the sheet music for tonight's show." Medda says as she disappears.
"I'se been comin' ta Medda's evah since I foist became a newsie. I'se hoid lots of piana playahs but none as good as that." Racetrack comments. Ariel blushes and tries to hide it. "How long have youse been playin'?"
Ariel lifts up three fingers, "Three years?" Racetrack guesses. She shakes her head, points to herself and holds up three fingers again. "Since youse was three?" Ariel nods. "Wow, how old are youse now?" She points to him and holds up one finger and then six.
"Youse is sixteen like me?" He asks and she nods.
"That's a long time. Tell youse what, since youse was fantastic an' been practicin' so long, I will bring the newsies tomorrow an' they could all hear youse play. Would youse like that?" She nods her head excited. "Then it's settled." He says triumph-fully. Ariel silently laughs. He looks at her and they both just smile at each other.
Medda comes in and Racetrack looks away causing dismay to Ariel. "Here, are the sheet music." She says handing the huge stack of papers to Ariel, "There's seven songs per set and there's six sets per night. The songs are in order already. You can stay here and practice. The show's in four hours. Can you handle it?"
Ariel nods and Medda says, "Good luck." Before she leaves.
Ariel begins to play the first song as Racetrack listens. He likes hearing her play. She messes up but only once and by the second time she has mastered it.
Ariel plays through the show two times and Racetrack never leaves.
"Wow, youse mastered all those songs so fast. It took me weeks to loirn how ta hawk papes right." He compliments. Ariel smiles and blushes, she has never been this happy in her life.
"C'mon, youse hungry? On me 'cause youse ain't got no money yet." He says and Ariel nods before the two depart for Tibby's.
The two hurry over so Ariel will have plenty of time to eat and make it back before the show.
"Hey, Race, so how'd it go?" Bumlets asks as he sees his two friends enter the restaurant.
"She got the job!" Racetrack says causing all the other newsies to cheer for her. Ariel bows, her smile never leaving her face. "Youse guys should hear her play, she's amazin'. Come ta the show ta-night." Some say they will; others say they can't but Ariel understands.
They sit and the newsies continue their conversations. Ariel sits there silently because she can't speak. She feels a little uncomfortable sitting there. She's out of place not talking while the others are speaking over each other. Bumlets notices this and tries to figure out a way to make Ariel apart of their fun. He sees a waitress putting on her coat to leave and he abruptly goes to her, disrupting all the other newsies.
"Can I help you?" She asks confused. Not only is her shift over, she didn't wait on his table.
"This may be a strange question, but could I borrow yer note pad an' pen?" He asks as the waitress stares at him.
"What for?"
"Me friend ovah there has lost her ability ta speak an' I wants her ta be apart o' the fun, youse knows?"
"Oh, god really what happened?" The waitress asks before retrieving the items.
"Factory accident. Feel bad for her."
"Give her my condolences." The waitress says while handing him the pen and paper. "Keep it." With that she leaves.
"Hey, Bumlets. Youse get her numba youse sly dog?" Mush questions.
"No, but I shoulda. I got pen an' papa so we can get ta know more 'bout Ariel here." Bumlets says causing Ariel to panic, she masks it very well. She won't be able to tell them the truth, at least the whole truth. She doesn't want to lie. Wait, she isn't lying, she improving the truth a little. She's still her and her life, she just won't mention her family in full.
"So, Tunes, where youse from? Don'tcha have a family that's prol'ly worried sick 'bout youse?" Jack asks wanting to know more about this strange but fun girl loving with his newsies. If she turns out to be evil, he wants to protect his newsies, although, to Jack, the chances of that are slim to none.
Ariel writes down what she believes is true. She only hopes they can understand her writing; English is still new to her. "I'm from Italy. Moveed here not long ago, my English is verry bad."
"I can tell youse is from Italy by the way youse writes." Pie Eater teases but get slapped on the back of the head by Racetrack.
"And I can tell youse is from New York by the way youse tawks. An' youse knows, there ain't nuttin' wrong wit' that." Racetrack says.
Ariel blushes and writes down, "Thank you."
"Ah, no problem. I knows what it's like ta be singled out 'cause youse don't knows the language." He responds.
"Yea, he's lucky we don't care as long as youse is respectable." Crutchy inputs.
"Since when is Race respectable? I thought the reason we kept him here so long is 'cause he cracks jokes all the time an' some ain't so kind ta oddas." Swifty teases.
Racetrack smirks and says, "A'right, c'ere ya bumma!" The two begin to play fight until Jack stops them.
"C'mon, there's a lady present." He says causing the fight to break up.
Ariel wasn't paying attention, she was quickly writing out a response. She hands it to Jack and he reads it out loud to the best of his ability.
"Sometimes makeing jokes is the best way to be respectaful. That you can keep a level head and make others hapy."
"Thanks, Ariel. See, I'mma deep poison." Racetrack says his smirk only leaving his face to thank the girl who defended her.
"So, do youse has any parents? Anyone lookin' for youse?" Jack questions not wanting to get in trouble with the law again. Especially with aiding and abiding a kidnapping.
"No, no one mises me. Their probbly glad I'm gone." She writes and Jack reads out loud.
"Don't say that. Or write it." Bumlets says.
"Yea, if youse went missin' I'd be worried sick. I like youse, yer fun an' nice an' tidy an' Lord knows we needs that." Racetrack says earning murmurs of approvals throughout the tables of newsies. The tables are pushed together for one giant makeshift table sitting at least twenty newsies. And the little richgoil trying and succeeding to blend in. Something she didn't think would happen.
Soon, after much talking a joking, it was time for the show. Ariel, Racetrack, Bumlets, Swifty, Specs, Jack, and Kid Blink all made their way down to Irving Hall with ten minutes to spare. Ariel hurries inside to her spot while the others take their seats on the balcony.
Soon the curtains rise and the band begins to play the overture, a part Ariel has a solo in. The newsies all applaud her as they hear her magical playing. Ariel can't help but smile, she's never been this happy.
They watch the show as other show girls and Medda come on to perform, all except Racetrack who is purely focused on Ariel's playing.
He decides it should only be fair to play his harmonica for her, maybe he might tell the tale of his savior or something else, a deeper secret. He likes this girl, that much he knows, and he wants her to trust him.
"Hey, Race youse okay? Youse is usually the loudest here." Bumlets whispers to his right where Racetrack is located next to him.
"Yea, I'se fine. Jus' long day youse knows." Racetrack says focusing on the show as a whole before drifting off again looking at Ariel. Bumlets follows his gaze and notices his state is on Ariel. He smirks now knowing that both are infatuated with each other and he does reason they will make a cute couple. But no games, unlike last time with Racetrack. That one didn't end so well.
Once the show is over, all the newsies and Ariel return to the Lodging House while the newsies praise Ariel's playing and how well it mashed with Medda's singing. After getting ready for bed like the others, Racetrack tiptoes to Ariel's bunk.
"Hey, wanna sell wit' me tomorrow? I had fun ta-day an' we should. Whaddaya say?" He whispers to her. Ariel smiles and nods her head before lying down and falling asleep like the others. Only difference is, her smile is still plastered on her face.