Note: Here's Chapter 10! Yay! The Brooklyn girls will show up in the next chapter. This chapter didn't travel far.. I'm not completely happy with the beginning.. Oh well. Anyway, let me know what you think. Also, I have a new poll on my profile that I'd like you to vote on. It will let me know what stories you guys are looking forward to the most. :)
Disclaimer: See earlier chapters.
Place To Belong Chapter 10 - Found Out
Lillith watched Jack interact with the red haired woman with interest.
"Lil," the leader said. "This is Medda. Dis is her place."
Lillith smiled politely at the vaudeville singer. "Good to meet you."
"So good to meet you too, darling." The owner said.
After a few more minutes of talking to Medda, Jack asked Lillith if she'd like to stay for a show.
Lillith, deciding she didn't want to, said, "No thanks. You can stay, though, if you want."
Jack shook his head. "Nah, I don't wanna let ya go home by yourself."
So the boy said goodbye to Medda, and the two walked home.
As Lillith walked she couldn't help think about Crutchy and how she would handle the situation with him. Jack sauntered along with his cowboy hat pulled low over his eyes.
"It's been a long day," he said, yawning a bit.
"But a good one," Lillith added.
"Yeah, a good one," Jack agreed. When they finally reached the lodging house, Lillith was exhausted. She yawned as she entered her room and bedded down beside Zoo on the floor.
"I have to tell them," Lillith said quietly to herself. Shadow stirred in the bed, and Lillith closed her eyes.
The next thing she knew, Jumper was pulling on her arms and yelling, "Time to get up!"
"What?" Lillith mumbled, her mind still foggy.
"Get up," the boy repeated impatiently. "We gotta go sell papes!"
Lillith rubbed the sleep out of her eyes hastily, "Oh, right."
The other girls had begun to stir, and the morning ritual began. They dressed, plaited their hair, and washed up. When this was done, they ran through the main room, and made their way to the distribution center with the boys.
Lillith once again ordered thirty papers. Weasel gave her a type of smile that sent shivers down her back. Morris pushed the papers to her, a smirk on his face. Lillith was one of the last to get her papers, and as she hurried to join Jack, a voice rang out of the crowd.
"Hey Miss Reynolds." Lillith froze at Oscar's voice. Her heart beat quickened but she continued toward Jack. The Manhattan leader was staring angrily at someone behind Lillith, and she guessed it was Oscar.
"Yeah, Lillith Reynolds," the bully continued. "Daughter of Paul Reynolds, the millionaire." Jack's face changed, and shock and disbelief now were displayed. Lillith caught a glimpse of Crutchy, his usual smile missing, he was frowning. Oscar laughed, a cruel, mean laugh.
"That's right Kelly. Her father was a millionaire, but he's dead now." Lillith felt her face burning with pain and anger. "In fact, our girl here will be inheriting all the money.:
"That's not true!" Crutchy yelled from behind Jack. Oscar smirked.
"Really? Well here's yesterdays paper to prove it. There's a picture of her inside with an article." Jack grabbed the newspaper from his hand, and began to read. After a bit he looked up, face terribly pale. "Lil, is this true?"
Lillith felt tears coming to her eyes. She couldn't deny it. "Yes."
Jack's face turned stone cold. "You're a scabbah?"
"I'm sorry Jack," she said, tears blurring her vision. "I wanted to tell you."
"But you didn't," he said coldly.
Crutchy stared at the girl, his dark eyes filled with pain. "You're rich, and ya never told me? Somebody like you could never care for a gimp like meself. I had all dese thoughts 'bout you an me..." the crippled boy turned aside sadly. By this time the other newsies had gathered around. Bekah and Zoo had already left with their selling partners.
Those who were left looked hurt and angry, all but Shadow and Jumper who seemed determined to defend her against all odds.
"She tricked us, practically lied!" Skittery cried, pointing an accusing finger at her.
"No, she didn't!" Shadow shot back, and Jumper kicked the older boy in the leg. Skittery almost dropped his papes, hopping on one foot.
Kid Blink spoke up angrily, "Trickster fits you after all,"
Such comments and worse flowed through the crowd.
"Lets get outta here," Jake said. The others nodded, following him, leaving poor Lillith alone with just Shadow and Jumper.
"So why didn't you tell us?" Shadow asked, leaning against Horace Greeley.
"I was afraid," Lillith confessed, her eyes downcast. "I was worried that something would happen - like it just did."
Shadow put her hand on Lillith's arm. "Maybe if you had told them yourself it wouldn't have happened this way."
Lillith nodded, looking down at her shoes miserably. Suddenly she looked up. "Jumper."
The little boy immediately came to her. "Yeah?"
"Find Bekah and Zoo, tell them I need to talk to them. Then go to Brooklyn and fetch Melody and Runaround. Tell them the same thing."
The little boy nodded, and took off down the street. Shadow looked at her questioningly and Lillith explained, "I figure I've made enough mistakes. I need to tell them before someone else does."
Shadow nodded. "But Jack acted so different. He was always so protective of you. And Crutchy - he almost worshipped you."
Lillith closed her eyes. "I must have hurt them pretty bad."
Shadow patted her back. "Hey, I'm sure this will be straightened out in no time. I'll sell with you today - let me go get my papers." With that the girl left to pick up the newspapers she'd left on the selling dock when Lillith was found out. While her back was turned, Oscar and Morris Delancey came up behind Lillith, and both took one of her arms.
"Hey Lil," Morris said, using Jack's nickname mockingly.
"What do you want?" she asked tiredly. They had already taken a lot from her by making her friends angry. Shadow turned at the sound of voices, and a mixture of emotions crossed her face. Questioning, fear, anger.
"Hey, leave her alone!" she yelled, running towards them. Morris released Lillith's arm, grabbed Shadow, and threw her to the ground. Lillith struggled against Oscar's grip, and bit his hand. He yelled, letting go as Morris kicked Shadow. Lillith banged on him with her fists to take his attention from the other girl.
"Run, Shadow!" she yelled as Morris pulled her arms behind her back, restraining her. The short, stubborn redhead shook her head, charging at Oscar, who punched her in the stomach. She groaned, dropping to her knees as the boy punched her again.
"Leave her alone!" Lillith yelled, still struggling, "It's me you want," in a quieter voice. Oscar gave Shadow one more kick before turning to Lillith, smirking. "This way, your highness," he said, motioning with his hand, and Morris shoved her in the direction indicated. She looked over her shoulder one last time to see Shadow on her hands and knees, breathing hard. Oscar pulled Lillith to a roofed carriage and pushed her inside. Then he and his brother climbed in, and the driver, probably one of their henchmen, started driving.
Back on the ground, Shadow gripped her side as the carriage began to move. Just then, Bekah and Zoo, with their respective partners, rushed up.
"What's goin' on?" Race asked.
"Where's Lillith?" Bekah questioned.
Shadow lifted her hand, pointing. "They've got her." Bekah and Zoo exchanged glances. They could guess who 'they' were. They both ran off after the carriage, shouting and making an overall scene. Lillith stuck her head out of the window and called out.
"I'm sorry! I was going to tell you! Help Shadow, and tell Jack -" Just then the girl disappeared from sight, and Zoo imagined she had been jerked inside.
"We need to find out what's going on," Zoo said worriedly.
Mush nodded, running back towards their hurt friend. "And help Shadow," he added anxiously.