Chapter 9

On the way back to Manhattan, the group was trying to figure out what to tell their fellow newsies. But it looked like the boys were the ones with explaining to do. The other newsies were all just hanging around the Horace Greely statue in the square. But they all snapped up when they saw Jack and the others approaching.

"So where's Spot?" Race asked.

"He was concoined 'bout us bein' serious. You imagine dat?" Jack responded. Race and some of the other boys just exchanged nervous looks.

"He was wrong to be concerned, right?" Daisy said, furrowing her brow.

"Well," Race went on, "maybe we oughta ease off a little. Widout Spot and de ouddas, dere ain't enough of us Jack."

"Maybe we're movin' too soon," Mush spoke up.

"I definitely think we should forget 'bout it for a little while," Skittery added.

"Oh do ya?" Jack confirmed, his face easily showing that he was getting angry.

"Yeah, I mean, widout Brooklyn...ya know?" Race said.

"Spot was right, is dis just a game ta you guys?"

Daisy could see his fists balling up and, scared of what he might do, turned his face to hers. "Jack, calm down."

"But dey're-!"

"I know. But they're just nervous. Do you blame them?" She could see her words were calming Jack down and getting him to think.

Knowing they needed inspiration bad time, Heather pulled David away from the crowd to talk with him.

"David, you need to talk to them," she said.

"Me? Why me? What about Jack? He's the one leading this," he replied.

"But you're the one telling him what to say. Besides, he's too frustrated right now to talk."

"I-I don't know what to say."

"Yes you do. I have faith in you."

He looked back at the crowd. "There's so many people."

"Just act like you're just talking to me. You can do this. They need you." She gave him a smile.

Looking at her, David took a breath and stated, "They need to seize the day."

Her smile grew and she hugged him, quickly but tightly. "Save the rest for the newsies." She grabbed his hand and pulled him back to the newsies. She was in such a rush that she didn't notice the grin on his face when she hugged him. But that smile disappeared when they stood in front of the crowd of newsboys and Heather quieted them down. "Listen up! I know a lot of you, well really all of you, are nervous about moving forward with this strike. But what we need to do is focus on what we're fighting for. And Dave is here to tell you exactly how to do that. You're on." She patted David's shoulder then walked to Race, putting her elbow on his shoulder.

David's mind was blank. He had never had this many pairs of eyes on him before. He always hated public speaking. Even giving oral presentations in front of his class made him nervous. He scanned over the crowd and his eyes landed back on Heather, who gave him an encouraging smile. He smiled back and then turned back to the crowd and started speaking. His speech was all about seizing the day and how they couldn't be broken down. They were all in this together to slay the giant that was Pulitzer. They couldn't be afraid or delay in their actions.

Every time he took a breath or said something new, he was met with cheers or applause. When he was finished, it was clear that their focus was back and it was game on.

Race looked over at Heather who had a goofy grin on her face looking at David. Feeling his gaze on her, Heather looked at her friend. "What?" she asked.

"Oh yeah, you ain't sweet on him or anythin'," was all he said.

Blushing a little and rolling her eyes, she just pushed him away. But she had to compose herself because David came up to her at that moment.

"Well?" he asked.

"It was perfect. Just what they needed to hear." The two smiled at each other.

"Kiss already," Race said through coughing. "Dear me, I think I got a cold comin' on or somethin'." Heather just glared at him while David just turned beet red.

They weren't able to react further because then a bell went off.

"Anybody 'ear dat?" Jack called out.

"No!" the newsies yelled back.

"So what are we gonna do 'bout it?"
"Soak 'em!"

All the newsies in the square then charged for the DC, crowding around where some newsies were daring to buy papers. Their intimidation worked on three of the newsies. They dropped their papes and joined the strikers. But the last one put up a fight. He just stared Jack down, then turned to walk the other way, but was blocked by Mush. He tried all the other ways out, but was blocked every way. He faced Jack again.

"Jack, just don't-" David started to say, seeing the anger in his eyes. But he didn't get to finish because Jack knocked the papers out of the scab's hands.

Daisy say the 'I dare you' look in her boyfriend's eyes, and she wished she could do something to stop what was about to happen. She knew it was inevitable, but it didn't stop her from trying. "Jack, listen to David. We don't need to settle this with a fight."

"Yeah Cowboy," the scab spoke up. "Why don'cha listen ta dat little whore ya call your goil 'ere."

That did it. Jack saw red and shoved the boy as hard as he could, making him fall backwards. But the scab just sprung back up and punched Jack in the stomach. After a bit more of fists flying, the scab ran off, leaving his papers behind. Jack picked them up and ripped them to shreds. The rest of the newsies started rioting. Armfuls of papes were grabbed by each newsie and were destroyed. Weasel, Oscar and Morris were just watching from inside the DC, unsure of what to do. Jack climbed to the top and pressed his face against the glass, making faces at the three.

Heather caught up to Daisy and said, "You see your guy?" and pointed to where Jack was. Daisy just laughed and shook her head.

"You see yours?" Daisy gestured behind Heather. She turned and saw David just standing around. Heather left her friend and went over to the new newsie.

"You okay?" she asked him.

"Just...I can't believe this is all happening."

"Believe it. And your words did this." At that second, some of the smaller newsies came running through, and pushed against Heather, causing her to fall forward into David. "I am so sorry."

"Are you okay?" he asked at the same time, catching her. She looked up and saw him looking at her with those bright blue eyes, and she lost all coherent thought. He was still holding her and their faces were so close.

"Maybe Racetrack was right," he said softly, starting to lean in.

"About what?" She was leaning as well.

"Maybe we should just..."

Their eyes were closed and their lips were centimeters apart when they heard Jack call out, "Cheese it! Cheese it! It's da bulls!"

They opened their eyes and pulled away, neither sure of what to say. But they didn't have time to say anything because Jack came up and grabbed Heather's arm, dragging her away.

Once they were all in the Square, Daisy and Delilah came up to Jack and Heather.

"Are you two alright? Did they see you?" Delilah questioned.

"I think we're okay," Jack answered. "You a'ight dere Lace?" She seemed a little zoned out.

"What? Yeah-yeah, I was just...scared for a second. Hey, did you guys see if David got out?"

"I'm right here," he said, running up to them up to them, Les right beside him.

"Ya know, we should take a 'eadcount. Make sure we got everyone," Jack suggested.

"We'll come with you and help," Daisy said, referring to her and Delilah.

"Les you wanna come?" Delilah asked.

"Yeah!" he excitedly responded and followed after them.

David and Heather stood awkwardly for a moment before David spoke up, "So-so, about what almost happened-"

"I know, and I think we should just move past it and forget it happened," Heather said. She didn't want to do this, but she knew it was for the best, David didn't really want to kiss her. He was just caught up in the excitement of what was happening and the fact that she had fallen into him. He didn't want her. She wasn't good enough for him.

And this was confirmed when he said with a very straight face, "Right, that's...that's what I was going to say. It's better, you know, for the strike."

"Exactly." She couldn't help but feel sad that he didn't fight against it, but she knew that they would never happen.

Then, Jack and the others came running up with very concerned looks on their faces.

"What's wrong?" Heather asked.

Jack swallowed hard and just said, "Crutchy ain't 'ere."

Dun Dun Duuuuuuuuuuuun! What will happen next? Keep reading to find out! And, oh yeah, reviews are good too!