Chapter 6:

The next day, in an effort to avoid complications, Jack left the lodging house early to be alone. His mind was racing. Between his growing confusion about Baby and the strike looming, Jack felt like he needed to catch a break. He spent all morning casually wandering about Central Park trying to sort out his feelings and figure out the best way to get Spot on board with the strike.

By lunch time, he had no new answers to his problems and his stomach was beginning to ache. He walked over to Tibby's but something stopped him from going inside. Part of him wanted to argue that it wasn't practical to spend what little money he had left on a full lunch. But the real reason was Baby. As if he wasn't confused enough, one look inside the window to see her sitting next to Skittery and he knew he needed to walk away.

Jack bought an apple off a street vendor and headed over towards David's house. He may not be able to figure out his feelings towards Baby, but perhaps he could figure out some plans for the strike.

Baby woke up to an empty bed. She looked around the bunkroom for Jack but he was nowhere to be found. One thing Jack was always good at was hiding when he didn't want to be found.

"So Babes, what are our plans for today?" Skittery asked, leaning against the bed next to Baby's.

Baby looked at him, confused that she had forgotten something.

"What, were ya planning on just sitting here all day?" he asked.

"Skitts, we're broke kids with no job. There isn't really much we can do," Baby replied, finally choosing to sit up and face the world.

"Come on, get up. I got a plan, meet me downstairs in 5."

Baby watched him head off and a nagging feeling started to come over her. What did Jack mean about Skittery? Baby decided to put it out of her mind and just chalked it up to Jack being stressed about Crutchy or something.

As she headed outside to meet up with Skittery, it didn't take long to figure out what Jack had meant. Baby spent the entire morning having Skittery make awkward passes at her. During lunch, he even tried paying for her food like it was a date.

It wasn't that she didn't like Skittery, she did. But she knew in her heart, she could never like him as more than a friend.

By the time night came, Baby was at her wits end. She didn't know how to deal with confrontation. She tried hiding in the bathroom but people began to think she was sick. All she kept thinking was "Where is Jack!?" but for some reason, he still wasn't home.

When Jack arrived at David's house, the two boys head up to the roof to try and strategize for the strike. Les was hanging on to their every word, looking at the two boys as if they were heroes. Jack couldn't help but feel guilty, he worried that he would let Les down, that he would let all of his newsies down.

Around late afternoon, Sarah came home from work and joined the boys. Jack couldn't deny the fact that Sarah was very beautiful. She had a great smile, a wonderful sense of humor, and yet there was something missing. Something small that he couldn't figure out.

"Hey Jack, why don't ya stay for dinner? My dad might have some ideas," David suggested.

Jack briefly thought about Baby, how she would probably be worried about him. Then images of her and Skittery came back into his mind, "You know what, dinner sounds great."

Throughout dinner David's father helped the boys come up with some plans, based off of his experience with unions. While the boys talked, Sarah and her mother cleaned up. Jack kept glancing at Sarah, trying to figure out what he was missing. Occasionally, she would look up and flash him a small smile. David was watching the interaction between the two.

"Hey Jack, wanna go grab some air?" David got up and head for the fire escape.

"What' on your mind Dave?" Jack asked as he joined him.

"Nothing, you seem a bit lost in there, figured I'd save you."

"Lost? What are ya talking about Dave?" Jack looked over at his friend in confusion.

"You keep staring at Sarah like your waiting for something to happen."

Jack looked down, not really sure how to proceed with this conversation. David was his friend, but Sarah was David's sister. "Sarah is great David. But I am not sure where I stand right now. I'm not even sure I'm ready for a relationship," Jack answered honestly.

"Look Jack, some friendly advice. My sister, sure she can be a bit crazy and intense, but she always means well. It is obvious she likes you, but I think something is holding you back." David paused for a moment, trying to gather his words before he continued. Meanwhile Jack was trying to understand what David was saying. Sarah had always been so calm and collected around him, nothing like what David was describing.

"Crazy and intense? Are we talking about the same Sarah, Dave?" Jack questioned.

"You try living with her…" David mumbled. Jack just shook his head and laughed. He had never had a sibling before, but he saw enough sets of them to understand that some times, siblings just see things differently.

"Yeah, well, until I can figure out what is holding me back. I don't know if a relationship is such a good idea for me," Jack concluded.

"It isn't too hard to figure out Jack. The only thing stopping you is Baby. You two have some weird bond. You two act like your best friends, treat each other like boyfriend and girlfriend, and care about each other like family. You probably need to figure out what you guys really are to one another first."

As Jack walked home that night, he realized David was right. Baby had just always been there, he never really put any thought into how much they affected one another. Jack tried to think of how life was before she joined the newsies, and it was like those years didn't ever really exist.

When he got back to the lodging house, the first thing he did was look around for Baby. Even that action was simply drilled into him. After searching for five minutes, Jack gave up and asked Race.

"She came in not too long ago with Skittery, but then she vanished, Skitts has been looking for her for the past twenty minutes. That girl sure can hide," Race walked back over to his bunk leaving Jack smirking.

Up on the roof there was a small square which held the door to the stairs. Long ago, Baby and Jack had built a makeshift ladder out of crates and barrels to climb up onto of the top landing. It was private and hidden, no one ever thought to look up there. It use to be their secret hide out as kids.

Sure enough, when Jack peaked his head up, Baby was curled up, looking at the stars.

"Jack! You're home! I'm so so glad!"

Jack took a seat next to her and quietly looked out across the city. "So what brings you up here?" he asked.

"Oh. Just needed a bit of fresh air. Where have you been all night?"

"Had dinner over at David and Sarah's place. The family is real nice." He looked over at her, watching her face for emotion.

Hot rage and jealousy flooded Baby, but she hide it well, shrugging her shoulders and pretending to be interested in what they had eaten for dinner.

Jack had been waiting, hoping that she would get mad. Maybe that would mean she cared about him. David's words were still playing in his mind. Suddenly, as anger and hurt were building inside over her lack of emotion, Jack blurted out something he wished he could instantly take back. Something he only said because he wanted to force Baby to show some kind of emotion.

"I don't think we should sleep in the same bed anymore," he announced.

Baby looked over at him in shock. "What?!"

"It's just. I mean. Things with Sarah. And. I don't. It was stupid. Neve-" Jack struggled though trying to apologize, but Baby stopped listening at 'Sarah'.

"I understand. Maybe you're right Jack. This could be for the best. Things with Skittery being as they are and all." Baby gave him a small curt smile and got up. She walked away without a look behind her. If she did, Jack would have been able to see the tears falling down her face.

Jack remained on the roof, stunned from what had just happened. Also still partly confused over what had just happened. She looked upset. But she agreed? She didn't argue with me? What does she mean things with Skittery? Are they dating now?!

Author's Notes::

I'm back in town! Hard chapter, I know. Don't start sending hate mail just yet though.