Ch. 4

May1899

Emily's POV

Blink walked into the lodging house with a beautiful redhead in tow. Everyone turned their heads and stared at them. Blink stopped and the girls smiled at all of us.

"Hey everybody… I didn't expect all of ya ta be here." Blink said suddenly looking a little uncomfortable. "Oh, this is Jennifer." He said showing the redhead off. A few people mumbled hello's but Jack looked furious.

"Blink," Jack called. Jack was leaning on Kloppman's desk and was glaring at Blink. "I need a word wid ya." He said as he started walking toward Blink. Blink didn't have time to agree before Jack grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out the door. Jennifer stood there awkwardly with a smile.

"Blink, you owe me an explanation." Jack said once they were outside. Blink shoved his hands into his pockets and looked down at the street.

"Well, I wasn't plannin' on doin' nothing, Jack." Blink said.

"Well dat's good ta hear cause guess what? I don't want no one havin' sex in me lodging house. I don't wanna hear it, see it or nothin'. And I don't want no one else thinkin' they can bring just anyone home wide em." Jack explained with more ferocity than he usually used. Blink scuffed his shoe on the ground.

"Jack, I really like dis one. I ain't ganna do nothin'. I swear." Blink promised. Jack thought for a moment.

"Fine, but one issue and she's ganna be gone!" Jack said before storming back inside. Jack stormed back in and immediately came over to Mush and whispered something in his ear. Mush nodded and Jack went over to Racetrack and they played poker with a few others.

"Emi, I'm feeling a little tired, ya wanna put them ta bed now?" Mush asked me.

"Sure, I'm feelin' a little tired me self." I said as I stood up. "Bunker, Storm, bed time." I called. They were sitting with Bumlets who was playing marbles with them.

"Do we have to?" Bunker asked.

"Yes, come on." I said as I picked up Storm. Bunker grabbed Mush's hand and we all headed up the stairs.

"We'll be back in a little bit," Mush said as we climbed the stairs.

"Hey Jacky boy…" Race said as he looked at his card.

"Yeah Race," Jack answered.

"How much you wanna bet they makin' out up der?" Race asked him.

"Race, I don't wanna think bout anyone doin' anythin' in me lodging house." Jack said.

"I don't wanna take a bath!" Bunker protested.

"Bunker, listen to her." Mush said. I wrapped Storm in a towel and sent him to Mush.

"Bunker, come on." I said.

"No!" He protested.

"Bunker if ya don't take a bath Jack's ganna make ya sleep in da gutter." Mush warned. After weighing his options like a smart alike he decided he'd rather take a bath than sleep outside in February. In ten minutes both boys were tucked into bed.

"Night you two," I said as I kissed both their heads.

"Night boys," Mush said. They settled down in bed and Mush turned off the lights for them before we went back downstairs.

"So who is the girl?" I asked Mush once we were downstairs.

"I don't know. I'se never seen her before!" Mush said. "Blink's nevah liked a girl so much he would bring her here." Mush told me.

"Where is he, Mush?" I asked. Mush stood up and looked for his best friend.

"I don't see him." Mush said. "Hey Jacky boy," Mush called. Jack looked over. "Where'd Blink go?"

"He took off wid his goil. They said de be back later." Jack said. Around ten, everyone headed upstairs for bed. The boys started dressing for bed and I went into the bathroom to change. I may be a Newsie but I still had modesty issues. I took off my shirt and revealed my scared body. I had scars on my back, stomach, arms, and shoulders; as I ran my hand over my skin I remembered Oscar and Morris. I hated remembering my brothers; they left me scars that would never go away. I hated them! But how could I move on if I continued to hate them. I put on one of Jack's old shirt that I wore as a nightgown and walked out of the bathroom. I had long underwear on for pants otherwise it would be both cold and I'd never live it down. I crawled under the covers of my bed and was happy to finally be going to sleep.

June 1899

Once Jack joined forces with David, Jack started taking interest in Sarah, David's sister. He had joined the Jacobs for dinner a few times but tonight was going to be a very different night. After dinner Sarah and Jack sat on the fire escape.

"So Sarah, there's somethin' I got ta talk ta ya about." Jack said as he looked at his hands.

"Alright," She said smiling.

"I like ya, I really like ya. I nevah felt dis way bout someone before." Jack explained.

"Jack," Sarah said putting a hand on his shoulder. Jack looked at her. "Jack, you don't have to say any more. I feel the same way." She said giving him a reassuring smile. Jack looked away.

"Sarah," Jack started. Sarah took his face in her hands and made him look at her.

"Jack, I don't care that you don't come from money or that you're a Newsies. I love you because you make me smile every time we're even in the same room with each other! I don't know what's going to come of this but I can't afford not to try. I'm seventeen years old. My father would marry me off to anyone who would treat me right and love me. And you're both of those." Jack's heart twisted. Damn it Sarah! Jack thought to himself. He loved her but he couldn't focus on the strike and her. She deserved someone better than him. He couldn't get it out of his head.

I AM SO TERRIBLE! I know! I suck right?

I promise to update and what happens? AP World History swallows my life whole! I am sorry to those of you who are reading... although I don't know how many are actually reading this!

This is the link to the trailer for this story! If any of you wanna watch it! :)

.com/watch?v=8EV4PRT5GJ4