** It felt appropriate to change the ending, so if you didn't like the old ending, this is for you.
"Come on Ella," Jasper coaxes, pulling me inside the Lodging house, Elsie in a tow.
"No," I whine as he drags me nearer.
"It'll be okay, Race isn't here, and he's at the tracks anyways." He smiles.
"What are we even doing here?" I mutter.
"We're telling the newsies we got married right?"
"Wrong, I don't want to tell them."
"Why, it's great news."
"We got married."
"So you don't think it's good?"
"No, it's just that, I don't know I'm just scarred."
"Well don't be okay? Whatever happens, happens." I nod at Jasper's reassurance and take his hand as we walk into the Lodging house. The building was bigger than I expected, but it houses a lot of street kids.
"So, usually, when someone has a big announcement, they stand on a table and call everyone to attention; they make their announcement and they go home. Just as Jasper finishes his sentence, Race goes through the lodging house doors throwing something back at Jack.
"Hey Jasper, today's lurch is actually sandwiches, good ones too. Henry made them." Jack say excitedly as Race shout about it. Weirdo, I think as we step inside, but then again this is a gift from beyond. Right as we step inside it gets really uncomfortably quiet. Jasper waves to them holding my hand as Elsie waltzes right over to Les and he hugs her. It nears lunch when we make the decision to tell them as we move to a tiny table and wait, but the lodging house only gets louder and it smells of sweat and blood. Makes me miss Maryland already, but this is home and I'm ok with it. Jasper excuse himself for a minute to put his stuff under his bed. Word must have gotten around already as Sketch and Hype sit next to us, telling their significant other will be with them soon.
"So did you enjoy your wedding?" Hype whispers excitedly.
"Hype!" Sketch exclaims, "You're not supposed to tell."
"It's okay I guess, we're telling everyone in a few minutes anyways," I mutter.
"So, what does it look like?" Sketch asks, just about as excited about Hype and that can almost be unattainable, unless that is your drunk or high. We know Sketch is smart enough to not do but we all have our moments.
"Huh?" I ask dumbly, looking for Jasper he hasn't come down from the boy's side yet and it makes me wonder.
"Ring," Hype breaths as I put my left hand on the table, "It's so shiny and pretty and…"
"Hype, I'd like to point out you have almost the same one," I laugh as she looks at her hand.
"I was about to conquer the world once," She smiles.
"Until she got distracted by something shiny," her husband finishes for her as he kisses her and stands behind her.
"Right," he mutters, anyways, it almost lunch time do you want to…" he trails off.
"Sure," Jasper chimes behind me, scarring me. Then Davey comes and Sketch gives him a slight nod as he gets on a nearby table, projecting his voice to the lodging house.
"Hey guys, so you all know my half-brother Jasper right, because he's been here for a year right? Ok, anyways, today he's making his first announcement to us so here we go!" he chimes as Jasper nervously climbs on the table and motions for me to come too. I shake my head as Hype gives me a friendly shove and as I know it, I'm next to him. Jasper begins to speak but the door swings open and Race and Jack come in seeing us on the table and they snicker.
"Well would you look at that, our friend Jasper's making an announcement with his girlfriend," Race sasses coming over to the table.
"Race quit being obnoxious," Hype sasses, Ike's hands on her shoulders to keep her down.
"Well hey doll face, did it hurt when you fell from Heaven?" Race sasses back. Utter silence, you could hear a glass break in the kitchen, Jasper says these types of silences are rare. I look at Ike's soon to be flushed out face as I slightly shrug my shoulders as Race leans his body on the table waiting for her answer. She looks at me then smirks.
"Just as bad as it was when you fell from Hell," she laughs. She's drunk, defiantly as Race gives her a smug kiss, and mutters something in her ear. She slaps him silly then directs the attention back to us.
"Well, to just get this over with," Jasper starts.
"We got married," I gleam as Jasper holds me and we smile at everyone who run up to the table and congratulate us. Looking over at Hype and Ike, I see Race snap something sarcastic at her and she narrows her eyes.
"Ike, if you were as mad as I am now, will you let me kill him?" Hype whispers sweetly as he nods hastily. She stands immediately as the landlady calls to take it out side, obviously she was watching to, but something in Hype's mind changes and she sits back down.
"Taking the high road, good for you Hype." Race smiles as he kisses her again.
"Sleep with one eye open tonight ok Race?" she yells. "Oh, hey Race do you exercise, besides walking when selling papes?" Sketch asks.
"Sketch, we walk everywhere, there is nothing else I could do." He comments.
"Well, I can name another, "she sasses, "bitching; running your mouth, jumping to conclusions and pushing your luck." He goes pale and scampers upstairs in shame as Hype and Sketch gloat about their newfound victory. A round of Oohs and Ahhs around as Jasper quickly whisks me off the table by surprise and we make a mad dash out of the lodging house without leaving a trace.