I woke up wrapped in Jacks arms. Be held by Jack made me feel safe, warm and protected.
"Good morning." Jack smiled sweetly.
I smiled back up at him.
"I've got to get ready for work." He said. "You can stay here or go home whatever you want."
I thought it over for a while... Maybe I should go home try to speak to my father about these things that he had been doing. But then again how did I know he wasn't drunk again? I knew it was a stupid stupid stupid idea. But I still wanted to go home because there was still that hope... I hoped with all of my being that things would go back to the way they were.
"I think I'll go home." I told him.
He looked at me with worry in his face.
"Are you sure about that? I don't think that it would be the best idea."
"I know what you mean but I want to see my home and family again. By the way didn't you say that it was my choice?"
"Yeah but I was expecting you to stay here... I just want you to be safe." He said.
I felt the heat go to my cheeks. Jack caring about me made me feel wonderful. I couldn't help but smile a bit.
"Thanks Jack. It really means a lot to me. I think that I'm going home though."
"Well... If thats what you want." He sighed.
"I'll come back later will that make you feel better?" I asked.
He laughed a little. "Hows this? You meet me at my spot at about four o'clock later?"
"Sounds like a plan." I spit into my hand like I'd seen some of the boys do last night.
He just stared at me for a second.
"What?" I asked.
"The girls like you I meet don't usually do that sort of thing." He explained.
"Well I'm not the girl you usually meet." I smiled.
He laughed spit into his hand and shook mine.
"Can I walk you home?" Jack asked.
"Won't that make miss your job?"
"Yeah but only a little late. I'd prefer to walk you home anyway."
I blushed again. He was so sweet. I wonder if he ever noticed me blushing.
"Alright, you get dressed. Tell me when you're ready." He said as he walked out of the room closing the door behind him.
I changed my clothes from Jacks to mine. I sighed a little, I wished that I didn't have to go. But the other part of me wanted to go. I knew it would be wrong to just leave my parents. I also knew how dangerous it was. I heard a knock at the door that snapped me out of my thoughts.
"I'm done Jack, come in." I called.
Jack opened the door.
"Are you ready to go?"He asked.
"Yeah I am."
"Alright. He walked me out of the
He walked me out of the boarding house. I said goodbye to all of the newsies as we walked out. Once we were outside of the building I felt his hand take mine. I smiled to myself. Jack squeezed my hand and looked over at me.
"How is your life at home? Not counting your father." He asked.
"Other than my dad it's just my obnoxious mother. But she isn't as bad as my father is..."
"I'm so sorry to hear that." He said softly.
"Don't be. It's okay."
"No Maria it's not." His face was hard and serious now. "It's wrong you don't deserve this you should have... No you need to be treated better."
He stops and looks at me in the eye's. He puts his hands on my shoulders and looked deep into my eyes.
"If I could take this all away I would. Maria I need you to listed to me and what I am going to say right now do you understand me?"
I nodded. "Yes."
He took a deep breath.
"Maria you need to get out! If you don't it will only be harder survive! It isn't safe. Trust me I know! What I'm trying to say is... That I'm... I mean I'm..." He sighed. "I want you to be safe okay? Maria be safe for me. Because you mean so much to me." He stared at me for a while more. My heart pounded. He let go of my shoulders. He took another deep breath.
"Okay let's go..." He said.
We walked to my house in silence. I think that we just weren't sure what to say after that. Once we reached my apartment building we both paused and looked at each other.
"I'll see you later?" He smiled.
"I'll be there."
He wrapped me in his arms for a minute. He let me go after a moment. I blushed.
"Goodbye Jack..."
"Goodbye Maria."
I walked into the apartment building looking back at Jack several times. I walked up the stairs I felt something different for Jack... Something new. I'd felt it before for other people of course, but not this strong. I loved Jack. I loved him with all of my heart. I smiled to myself as I hurried up the stairs and down the hall to my apartment.
I stopped once I reached the door. As I reached for the door nob fear crept in. I stopped my hand before I could turn it. I had no clue what would happen. I missed my old life. Once I had hated it but now I wanted it so badly... Maybe it was that hope I told you about that made me turn the nob and enter the apartment.