Disclaimer: I Don't own any Newsies or anything remotely related to newsies
except for the DVD and soundtrack and.....ahem. Anyway, yeah, that's about
it.
At promptly five to six, Angie was ready to hit the road.
She had spent over an hour in the bathroom primping, fending off obnoxious boys and their greasy hair. And I, Angie thought, looking at herself in the mirror, look pretty decent, if I do say so myself.
She was wearing a long, dark green skirt that looked amazing with her eyes, topped by a lacy cream blouse that she had saved from her home. These were her best clothes, and she only wore them on the most special of occasions. Or when she was meeting a boy. Either or would work.
Angie had brushed her short hair over and over until it gleamed gold on the fading sunlight. Rouge high on her cheekbones drew attention away from her scar, and a deep wine on her lips hid her overbite some. He nose, she could do nothing about, except hope that whoever this guy was liked honkers as big as the state of Texas.
Glancing one last time at her reflection, Angie gave herself a wicked wink and tucked her hair behind her ears. Turning, she was met with Race's face an inch from hers.
"Race! What are you doing?" Angie yelled. "You scared me half to death!"
"Sorry, Angie." Race apologized. "But I'se been sent up from Jack...he needs ya downstairs...somethin' bout his little sista? Would ya know anythin' bout that?" Race searched Angie innocent face.
"I haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about." Angie said loftily. "Now if you will excuse me, I have a boy to meet." Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she flounced out of the room, hiding a giggle at Race's astonished face behind her hand.
Angie paused on top of the stairs to scope out the situation. Yes, there was Jack on the arm of some floozy...but she didn't see an unfamiliar male face anywhere. Drumming her fingers on the banister, she searched the room once more. Still nothing. Shrugging her shoulders, she descended the stairs, still looking for her "date."
Angie walked up to Jack and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Hey, big brother, I'm ready to go." She said with a sardonic smile.
Jack unlocked his lips from the blonde's neck and turned to face her. A grin spread over his face.
"Well, ain't we lookin' pretty tonight." Jack remarked. "All ready ta go, little sista?"
"Sure am, Cowboy." Angie replied. Turning to the nameless blonde on Jack's arm, she asked her, "Where's your little brother?"
The blonde waived her arm in the air. "Somewheah. I'se don't know...." She went back to kissing Jack's jaw.
"Geez, would you two get a room?" Angie asked in disgust. Embarrassed, Jack pointed to the corner of the room where a tall figure stood.
"That's him." Jack said. "He says his name's Robert. Go intraduce youself." With that gracious statement, Jack returned to the business at hand.
With a sigh, Angie yanked the back of Jack's hair before walking over to the boy Jack had pointed out. Looks like its up to me.....again, Angie thought angrily. This is the last time I do Jack a favor.
She made her way through the crowded room, pushing through the many newsie couples. On her way, Angie saw David with his arm around Mary. Smiling to herself, she caught David's eye and winked. David gave her a thumbs up and turned back to his date before she noticed anything.
As Angie drew ever closer to her mystery man, she prayed that he wasn't a pervert or a jerk. So many guys had been like that before....and when Race found out about it, Angie reflected, it wasn't fun.
The boy standing in the corner of the room was very tall, very thin, with a shock of black hair. That was all Angie could see from the back. He was also wearing a worn brown jacket and black pants.
Tapping him on the should, Angie said, "Hey. I'm Angie. Are you the guy I'm supposed to be meeting?"
The boy started and whirled around. He had warm brown eyes and an interesting face - a crooked nose, bushy eyebrows and full lips. Altogether, it was a nice, almost handsome face.
Angie sighed with relief. He looked like a nice enough guy. He had eyes that looked just like Jack's...maybe the evening would be bearable after all....she smiled at the boy and stuck out her hand to shake.
"Hi. I'm Jack's little sister. And you are....?"
The boy stared at Angie thoughtfully before taking the outstretched hand and lifting it to his lips. Planting a soft kiss on Angie's hand, the boy looked up at her astonished face and smiled a brilliant smile.
"The name's Adams..Jon Adams." He said. "I must say, Jack never mentioned his little sister was so fetching."
Angie started at Jon in complete amazement. What was he talking about? She blushed at the compliment.
"Well, your sister..I didn't quite catch her name...er, she didn't mention either that he brother was a most accomplished rouge." Angie stuttered, hoping desperately that she wasn't making an utter fool of her self in front of this boy who was becoming cute by the minute.
"Oh, Amanda? She doesn't know the half of it." Jon replied with a wink. "So you think we should be going now? We wouldn't want Brooklyn to miss the presence of such a beautiful lady." Slipping Angie's are through the crook oh his, Jon led a through ally confused, pleased, blushing and wary Angie out the door of the LH and into the cool night, walking with the crowd that was on the way to Brooklyn.
As the two walked along, Jon peppered Angie with questions.
"So, where are you from?" Jon asked first. "I know girl like to talk about themselves..so talk away." He patted Angie's hand.
Angie was shocked. How could a guy like this exist? She knew that she wasn't beautiful, but this young man was going out of his way to make her feel that way. He was nice, funny, handsome....it was almost too good to be true. He also seemed to like her. Something must be wrong here, Angie thought critically. But the next time Jon smiled at her, all her doubts fled her head like they had never been there.
"Well, I'm from New York. I used to live in the Upper East Side." Angie replied to Jon's question.
"When did you leave?" The brown eye boy pressed.
"Well....." Angie stalled. "I don't really like to talk about my other life much." She looked up into Jon's face. Concern was written all over it.
"You don't have to talk about if you don't want to, Angie Ma - Kelly." Jon spluttered.
"Wait a minute..." Angie said, stopping in the middle of the street. "Did you know all along that I wasn't really Jack's little sister?"
"Guilty as charged. "Jon said sheepishly, moving out of the way as people walked past them. "I had heard all about you from the newsies and I just had to meet you. So I asked my sister to get me a date with you through Jack." He looked down at her through long lashes. "I hope you're not mad at me."
Angie was speechless for a long while. Why in the world would someone go through so much trouble to meet me? Why in the world would this guy want to meet me? What are people saying about me? What is going on here? All these through flew through Angie's head. Finally, she made up her mind.
"It's ok." Angie said sweetly, deciding to trust this guy. He looked to nice and sophisticated, and he was so sweet and sensitive! What could be bad? She pulled Jon along once again. "If you wanted to meet me that much, how can I refuse another admirer?"
Jon grinned. "That's great! I was no nervous that you would break my heart." He clutched said organ dramatically. Angie laughed at his antics.
After about twenty minutes of walking in animated conversation, they arrived in Spot's territory. The couple made the rounds in the stuffy Brooklyn Lodging House; Jon greeting his friends that he "knew from the street" and Angie provoking Spot, greeting Sarah Jacobs who was there with Skittery, and teasing David.
Jon and Angie walked to the docks after awhile. Sitting on the edge, both removed their shoes and dangled their feet in the water. They resided in compatible silence for a while. Jon was the first to break the silence.
"You know, Angie, you are so different from the girls I've met before." He threw a stone in the river, hearing the soft splash. "They are usually so shallow, and you are just....not." Jon reached out a large, long fingered hand and grasped Angie's chin, turning her scarred face toward him. "Why is that, may I ask?"
Angie was about to cry from the soft tenderness she heard in Jon's deep voice. The only one who knew her story was Racetrack, and no one else ever asked. No one else seemed to care. Certainly, the boys she went on occasional dates with didn't give a damn.
He mind was in conflict. Could she tell him? Could she trust him? She had only met him a few hours ago. But Jon felt so familiar, so trustworthy. God know she had to talk to someone. Race wasn't always there, wasn't always enough. She needed a fresh ear to pour her troubles into......
"Do you really want to hear it?" Angie asked softly, scratching her scar.
"Yes." Jon replied, equally softly. There was a strange glitter in his yes. "Yes, I do."
Angie looked out at the black water of the East River, flowing beneath their feet. Clearing her throat, She laid back on the hard wooden slats of the deck and began to speak, drowning herself in memories.....
"I was born in the Bronx." Angie began. "I think, the day that I came into this world....that was the day the trouble began....."
"My mother hated me. I'm not sure why. I think it was because I made her fat for those few months she was pregnant with me. For whatever reason, my mother made my life a living hell. I was never good enough for her - too fat, too ugly, too stupid, too proud."
"My father was a businessman, never home. He traveled the world, cheating on my shrew of a mother at every stop. My brother was years older than me....I never knew him. But he was always the perfect child. Smart, handsome, he married into the famed Grant family. He made my parents happy, and that was all they needed. They didn't need me, their second, a girl....a mistake."
"But I had a friend. Several friends. But my best friend was a girl named Catherine. Cat, I liked to call her. She came over to my family's small brownstone all the time, trying to escape the ridgedness of her family's wealthyness. We were best friends since we were six, and she was the only thing that kept me going in the hell hole I called me home."
"When we both turned 15, we started to become interested in the boys at school, her older brothers friends. We dressed up all the time, slathering on the makeup and adding more frills that was smart to our dresses."
"Cat.....she was beautiful. Black hair, deep blue eyes, clear skin. I was....not so beautiful. I didn't have the looks Cat did, but I do have some personality. I have a few admires, but not nearly as much as Cat had."
"One day, Cat came running over to my house, all exited. She was seeing a boy named Brian Cleps, and she fancied herself in love. I fancied Brian was just after her money, but she wouldn't listen to me....anyway, it seemed that Brian had a friend who was coming to town the next week and would happily take me to the school social at the time. 'Happily', she said....if only I had known....."
At this point, Angie stopped to swallow the tears that gathered in her throat. Jon's eyes were as sad as her own, and he pulled her into a hug as he whispered, "Please. Don't stop...it will fell better if you just get it all out......" Angie nodded against his shoulders and began again, letting the tears fall this time.
"The next week, Brian introduced me to his cousin....his name was Kenneth, Ken for short. He was handsome and dashing, and stole my naïve heart the minute I saw him. He seemed to like me, and Cat was thrilled. 'Finally.' She said. 'You've caught yourself a real man. I knew you could do it!' She knew......"
"The night of the social came. My mother had fought with me for hours that night. She wanted me to wear this, curl my hair, lose fifteen pounds at least. 'Angie, you must be the ugliest girl I have ever seen.' She said to me right before I was picked up by Ken. That was the last thing she ever said to me....the last time I ever saw her."
"I still remember the dress I was wearing. It was green satin, very simple. I thought I looked as good I was going to get, and when Ken said I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, all my hurt from my mother disappeared. He flattered me, and I believed him....."
"The night went well at first. Cat and Brian danced, as well as Ken and I. I was happier than I had ever been in a long time. But then, the party started winding down and Ken pulled our group outside."
"He pulled out of his pocket a knife, some paper and white powder. 'This is opium.' He said with a delighted laugh. 'Cost me a pretty penny, but its well worth it.' He offered some to everyone, but only the boys ended up smoking the drug, in paper funnels Ken cut from the paper with his knife."
"After a while, both boys were high as the clouds. Cat was enjoying the extra attention Brian was giving her. She was giggling like crazy, tucked in a corner with her boyfriend. I was with Ken, who started rambling......"
"Angie, he said.....oh god, he said my name over and over...'Angie, who are you? Why do you think you have a chance with me?' he said this with a cruel laugh. Cruel, evil......I was scared. He broke my heart, and I wanted to get away. I tried to run....I tried....but he just held tighter....."
"I screamed for Cat, but she ignored me....even after Ken had already snapped open the knife...... I still remember her cold blue eyes....laughing in the face of my pain, as she went back to kissing Brian......"
"Ken took out his knife and touched my cheek. His touch was horrible, cold......he was at the point of no return and there was no way to stop him. He took the knife.....drew it along my face....slowly....oh god, it was so slowly...I couldn't run......and then he dug it in, slowly, and sliced my face......"
"I must have blacked out from the pain, because the next time I was coherent of anything everyone was gone. I was bleeding, the blood was in my eyes......all over....I was hysterical. I knew I couldn't go home, my mother would cast me out anyway......so I ran....ran.....I ended up at the Jacobs' apartment that night. The rest, you probably know......"
Angie finished her tale, sobbing for real now at the fresh hurt that engulfed her. Jon stroked her hair comfortingly, holding her tight. He breathing was ragged, and his voice was hoarse as he comforted her.
"It's alright, Angie, it's ok....you're here with me now....."
With her head tucked into his chest, Angie sobbed out her pain from all the years, from all the pain. She had never cried like this. When she was finished, she felt lighter, clean......she kept her head on Jon's thin chest, gazing at the stars. Finally, she felt a bit freer from her internal demons.....
Another person watching them would have been touched by the scene. But only they would have, also, been able to see the war raging in Jon's eyes, the confusion and guilt that clouded them as he looked at the girl leaning against him.
At promptly five to six, Angie was ready to hit the road.
She had spent over an hour in the bathroom primping, fending off obnoxious boys and their greasy hair. And I, Angie thought, looking at herself in the mirror, look pretty decent, if I do say so myself.
She was wearing a long, dark green skirt that looked amazing with her eyes, topped by a lacy cream blouse that she had saved from her home. These were her best clothes, and she only wore them on the most special of occasions. Or when she was meeting a boy. Either or would work.
Angie had brushed her short hair over and over until it gleamed gold on the fading sunlight. Rouge high on her cheekbones drew attention away from her scar, and a deep wine on her lips hid her overbite some. He nose, she could do nothing about, except hope that whoever this guy was liked honkers as big as the state of Texas.
Glancing one last time at her reflection, Angie gave herself a wicked wink and tucked her hair behind her ears. Turning, she was met with Race's face an inch from hers.
"Race! What are you doing?" Angie yelled. "You scared me half to death!"
"Sorry, Angie." Race apologized. "But I'se been sent up from Jack...he needs ya downstairs...somethin' bout his little sista? Would ya know anythin' bout that?" Race searched Angie innocent face.
"I haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about." Angie said loftily. "Now if you will excuse me, I have a boy to meet." Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she flounced out of the room, hiding a giggle at Race's astonished face behind her hand.
Angie paused on top of the stairs to scope out the situation. Yes, there was Jack on the arm of some floozy...but she didn't see an unfamiliar male face anywhere. Drumming her fingers on the banister, she searched the room once more. Still nothing. Shrugging her shoulders, she descended the stairs, still looking for her "date."
Angie walked up to Jack and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Hey, big brother, I'm ready to go." She said with a sardonic smile.
Jack unlocked his lips from the blonde's neck and turned to face her. A grin spread over his face.
"Well, ain't we lookin' pretty tonight." Jack remarked. "All ready ta go, little sista?"
"Sure am, Cowboy." Angie replied. Turning to the nameless blonde on Jack's arm, she asked her, "Where's your little brother?"
The blonde waived her arm in the air. "Somewheah. I'se don't know...." She went back to kissing Jack's jaw.
"Geez, would you two get a room?" Angie asked in disgust. Embarrassed, Jack pointed to the corner of the room where a tall figure stood.
"That's him." Jack said. "He says his name's Robert. Go intraduce youself." With that gracious statement, Jack returned to the business at hand.
With a sigh, Angie yanked the back of Jack's hair before walking over to the boy Jack had pointed out. Looks like its up to me.....again, Angie thought angrily. This is the last time I do Jack a favor.
She made her way through the crowded room, pushing through the many newsie couples. On her way, Angie saw David with his arm around Mary. Smiling to herself, she caught David's eye and winked. David gave her a thumbs up and turned back to his date before she noticed anything.
As Angie drew ever closer to her mystery man, she prayed that he wasn't a pervert or a jerk. So many guys had been like that before....and when Race found out about it, Angie reflected, it wasn't fun.
The boy standing in the corner of the room was very tall, very thin, with a shock of black hair. That was all Angie could see from the back. He was also wearing a worn brown jacket and black pants.
Tapping him on the should, Angie said, "Hey. I'm Angie. Are you the guy I'm supposed to be meeting?"
The boy started and whirled around. He had warm brown eyes and an interesting face - a crooked nose, bushy eyebrows and full lips. Altogether, it was a nice, almost handsome face.
Angie sighed with relief. He looked like a nice enough guy. He had eyes that looked just like Jack's...maybe the evening would be bearable after all....she smiled at the boy and stuck out her hand to shake.
"Hi. I'm Jack's little sister. And you are....?"
The boy stared at Angie thoughtfully before taking the outstretched hand and lifting it to his lips. Planting a soft kiss on Angie's hand, the boy looked up at her astonished face and smiled a brilliant smile.
"The name's Adams..Jon Adams." He said. "I must say, Jack never mentioned his little sister was so fetching."
Angie started at Jon in complete amazement. What was he talking about? She blushed at the compliment.
"Well, your sister..I didn't quite catch her name...er, she didn't mention either that he brother was a most accomplished rouge." Angie stuttered, hoping desperately that she wasn't making an utter fool of her self in front of this boy who was becoming cute by the minute.
"Oh, Amanda? She doesn't know the half of it." Jon replied with a wink. "So you think we should be going now? We wouldn't want Brooklyn to miss the presence of such a beautiful lady." Slipping Angie's are through the crook oh his, Jon led a through ally confused, pleased, blushing and wary Angie out the door of the LH and into the cool night, walking with the crowd that was on the way to Brooklyn.
As the two walked along, Jon peppered Angie with questions.
"So, where are you from?" Jon asked first. "I know girl like to talk about themselves..so talk away." He patted Angie's hand.
Angie was shocked. How could a guy like this exist? She knew that she wasn't beautiful, but this young man was going out of his way to make her feel that way. He was nice, funny, handsome....it was almost too good to be true. He also seemed to like her. Something must be wrong here, Angie thought critically. But the next time Jon smiled at her, all her doubts fled her head like they had never been there.
"Well, I'm from New York. I used to live in the Upper East Side." Angie replied to Jon's question.
"When did you leave?" The brown eye boy pressed.
"Well....." Angie stalled. "I don't really like to talk about my other life much." She looked up into Jon's face. Concern was written all over it.
"You don't have to talk about if you don't want to, Angie Ma - Kelly." Jon spluttered.
"Wait a minute..." Angie said, stopping in the middle of the street. "Did you know all along that I wasn't really Jack's little sister?"
"Guilty as charged. "Jon said sheepishly, moving out of the way as people walked past them. "I had heard all about you from the newsies and I just had to meet you. So I asked my sister to get me a date with you through Jack." He looked down at her through long lashes. "I hope you're not mad at me."
Angie was speechless for a long while. Why in the world would someone go through so much trouble to meet me? Why in the world would this guy want to meet me? What are people saying about me? What is going on here? All these through flew through Angie's head. Finally, she made up her mind.
"It's ok." Angie said sweetly, deciding to trust this guy. He looked to nice and sophisticated, and he was so sweet and sensitive! What could be bad? She pulled Jon along once again. "If you wanted to meet me that much, how can I refuse another admirer?"
Jon grinned. "That's great! I was no nervous that you would break my heart." He clutched said organ dramatically. Angie laughed at his antics.
After about twenty minutes of walking in animated conversation, they arrived in Spot's territory. The couple made the rounds in the stuffy Brooklyn Lodging House; Jon greeting his friends that he "knew from the street" and Angie provoking Spot, greeting Sarah Jacobs who was there with Skittery, and teasing David.
Jon and Angie walked to the docks after awhile. Sitting on the edge, both removed their shoes and dangled their feet in the water. They resided in compatible silence for a while. Jon was the first to break the silence.
"You know, Angie, you are so different from the girls I've met before." He threw a stone in the river, hearing the soft splash. "They are usually so shallow, and you are just....not." Jon reached out a large, long fingered hand and grasped Angie's chin, turning her scarred face toward him. "Why is that, may I ask?"
Angie was about to cry from the soft tenderness she heard in Jon's deep voice. The only one who knew her story was Racetrack, and no one else ever asked. No one else seemed to care. Certainly, the boys she went on occasional dates with didn't give a damn.
He mind was in conflict. Could she tell him? Could she trust him? She had only met him a few hours ago. But Jon felt so familiar, so trustworthy. God know she had to talk to someone. Race wasn't always there, wasn't always enough. She needed a fresh ear to pour her troubles into......
"Do you really want to hear it?" Angie asked softly, scratching her scar.
"Yes." Jon replied, equally softly. There was a strange glitter in his yes. "Yes, I do."
Angie looked out at the black water of the East River, flowing beneath their feet. Clearing her throat, She laid back on the hard wooden slats of the deck and began to speak, drowning herself in memories.....
"I was born in the Bronx." Angie began. "I think, the day that I came into this world....that was the day the trouble began....."
"My mother hated me. I'm not sure why. I think it was because I made her fat for those few months she was pregnant with me. For whatever reason, my mother made my life a living hell. I was never good enough for her - too fat, too ugly, too stupid, too proud."
"My father was a businessman, never home. He traveled the world, cheating on my shrew of a mother at every stop. My brother was years older than me....I never knew him. But he was always the perfect child. Smart, handsome, he married into the famed Grant family. He made my parents happy, and that was all they needed. They didn't need me, their second, a girl....a mistake."
"But I had a friend. Several friends. But my best friend was a girl named Catherine. Cat, I liked to call her. She came over to my family's small brownstone all the time, trying to escape the ridgedness of her family's wealthyness. We were best friends since we were six, and she was the only thing that kept me going in the hell hole I called me home."
"When we both turned 15, we started to become interested in the boys at school, her older brothers friends. We dressed up all the time, slathering on the makeup and adding more frills that was smart to our dresses."
"Cat.....she was beautiful. Black hair, deep blue eyes, clear skin. I was....not so beautiful. I didn't have the looks Cat did, but I do have some personality. I have a few admires, but not nearly as much as Cat had."
"One day, Cat came running over to my house, all exited. She was seeing a boy named Brian Cleps, and she fancied herself in love. I fancied Brian was just after her money, but she wouldn't listen to me....anyway, it seemed that Brian had a friend who was coming to town the next week and would happily take me to the school social at the time. 'Happily', she said....if only I had known....."
At this point, Angie stopped to swallow the tears that gathered in her throat. Jon's eyes were as sad as her own, and he pulled her into a hug as he whispered, "Please. Don't stop...it will fell better if you just get it all out......" Angie nodded against his shoulders and began again, letting the tears fall this time.
"The next week, Brian introduced me to his cousin....his name was Kenneth, Ken for short. He was handsome and dashing, and stole my naïve heart the minute I saw him. He seemed to like me, and Cat was thrilled. 'Finally.' She said. 'You've caught yourself a real man. I knew you could do it!' She knew......"
"The night of the social came. My mother had fought with me for hours that night. She wanted me to wear this, curl my hair, lose fifteen pounds at least. 'Angie, you must be the ugliest girl I have ever seen.' She said to me right before I was picked up by Ken. That was the last thing she ever said to me....the last time I ever saw her."
"I still remember the dress I was wearing. It was green satin, very simple. I thought I looked as good I was going to get, and when Ken said I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, all my hurt from my mother disappeared. He flattered me, and I believed him....."
"The night went well at first. Cat and Brian danced, as well as Ken and I. I was happier than I had ever been in a long time. But then, the party started winding down and Ken pulled our group outside."
"He pulled out of his pocket a knife, some paper and white powder. 'This is opium.' He said with a delighted laugh. 'Cost me a pretty penny, but its well worth it.' He offered some to everyone, but only the boys ended up smoking the drug, in paper funnels Ken cut from the paper with his knife."
"After a while, both boys were high as the clouds. Cat was enjoying the extra attention Brian was giving her. She was giggling like crazy, tucked in a corner with her boyfriend. I was with Ken, who started rambling......"
"Angie, he said.....oh god, he said my name over and over...'Angie, who are you? Why do you think you have a chance with me?' he said this with a cruel laugh. Cruel, evil......I was scared. He broke my heart, and I wanted to get away. I tried to run....I tried....but he just held tighter....."
"I screamed for Cat, but she ignored me....even after Ken had already snapped open the knife...... I still remember her cold blue eyes....laughing in the face of my pain, as she went back to kissing Brian......"
"Ken took out his knife and touched my cheek. His touch was horrible, cold......he was at the point of no return and there was no way to stop him. He took the knife.....drew it along my face....slowly....oh god, it was so slowly...I couldn't run......and then he dug it in, slowly, and sliced my face......"
"I must have blacked out from the pain, because the next time I was coherent of anything everyone was gone. I was bleeding, the blood was in my eyes......all over....I was hysterical. I knew I couldn't go home, my mother would cast me out anyway......so I ran....ran.....I ended up at the Jacobs' apartment that night. The rest, you probably know......"
Angie finished her tale, sobbing for real now at the fresh hurt that engulfed her. Jon stroked her hair comfortingly, holding her tight. He breathing was ragged, and his voice was hoarse as he comforted her.
"It's alright, Angie, it's ok....you're here with me now....."
With her head tucked into his chest, Angie sobbed out her pain from all the years, from all the pain. She had never cried like this. When she was finished, she felt lighter, clean......she kept her head on Jon's thin chest, gazing at the stars. Finally, she felt a bit freer from her internal demons.....
Another person watching them would have been touched by the scene. But only they would have, also, been able to see the war raging in Jon's eyes, the confusion and guilt that clouded them as he looked at the girl leaning against him.
