Chapter 12 Upside Down
It had been a week and a few days Mush went to the Refuge and Feister had been becoming less and less like herself. To make matters worst they haven't seen Will in days, which was good since they didn't have to worry about him, but they did have to worry since they haven't seen him in days. But that wasn't the only thing. Spot had come back and had a leader talk with Jack. since Brooklyn has eyes and ears pretty much everywhere this was definitely something that needed to be known.
It turns out some of the other Newsies in the city were talking about what has been going on with Will coming back, how Mush got put into the Refuge, and it was all Feister's fault. If everything else wasn't bad enough, let's add Manhattan's girl to the talk of the city. Now, Jack knew he couldn't tell Feister this since it would only make things worse. But he did tell the others to keep an eye out for any Newsies who aren't from Lower Manhattan.
In the morning when Feister slowly woke up she was hoping that it was all one bad dream. But when she woke up she saw she wasn't in her bunk and instead was in Mush's, who was no where to be seen. Even though Feister fights and teases Mush and vice versa for who knows what, but no matter how much they fight and tease the living daylights out of the other, they're still friends, best friends by the end of the day. She hopped out of bed, and got ready for the day it just wasn't the same without hearing him say something dumb to her.
Even though she hated hearing whatever dumb thing Mush said to her in the morning, she missed it. She missed hearing his voice everyday, she missed seeing his smile, feeling his arms around her, and the way he would always kiss the top of her head. She missed him, she missed her best friend, her brother. And it was all her fault that he was stuck in that nightmare of a place.
After getting ready and heading to the Distribution Center Feister lagged behind the other boys, and was still quiet as can be. Ike and Mike stood on either side of the smaller girl and tried to get her to smile at least once. But all they got was a half hearted smile to show she was paying attention, a small nod, and or a quick glance. When the twins realized that it didn't seem to be working they still walked next to her so she wouldn't feel lonely.
"Alright girly, lemme see yer money," Weasel snapped. Feister walked up and gently placed two quarters on the black box without bothering to crack a joke, much less look at Weasel, who found this weird. Now while Weasel never cared if one of the Newsies didn't crack a joke. Heck, he loved it when they kept their pie holes shut. But with Feister it just seemed different. And not because she's a girl, but because she didn't know the meaning of "Shut up" and would be talking, or yelling someone's ear off. So her behavior seemed a little off. But he wasn't complaining.
"Fifty papes for Manhattan's goil," Weasel yelled. The old man was expecting some sort of remark from the feisty news girl since he knew she hated being called "Manhattan's girl" but she didn't even say anything. Heck, she didn't even roll her eyes. As for the Newsies they were shocked that Feister didn't even do anything to show her annoyance. The only thing she did do was grab her papes and move along. But before she got too far Oscar opened his big mouth and said, "Whatsa matter Feister? Do ya miss yer little boyfriend?"
Feister started to make a fist, but she kept her cool. Or at least tried to. She was about to walk off when Morris said, "Ya better get used ta not seein' 'im, cause let's just say that he ain't never comin' back. An' it's all because of-" before he could finish Feister went to jump both the Delanceys, but Jack had grabbed her by the waist and carried her off.
"Jack, you'es better let me go so I's can do more then just soak those slime balls for puttin' Mush in that nightmare," Feister yelled while trying to get out of Jack's grip. The boys only looked at each other since that was the first time they heard her talk in who knows how long.
"Us?" Oscar asked innocently. "We's didn't do anything. We were just trying to help you and your brother be a family again."
"If you'es really knew me Oscar, you'es know that the Newsies are my bruddas an' not one that left me when I's was freakin' four years old!" Feister yelled. By this point Jack's arms had given out and Race, and Specs had to help him hold back the much smaller, yet surprisingly strong girl.
"Feisty, I'd love ta soak those slime balls as much as you'es do, but now ain't the time," Jack said, trying to talk some sense into Feister, who was still struggling. "Sides, Mush wouldn't-" before he could finish Feister broke free from his, Race and Specs' grip before storming out of the Distribution Center. Henry and Tommy boy quickly followed since it was their turn to sell with her.
"Wait, so yer tellin' me that she actually punched Will in the face?" Mush asked with a small laugh. That was just about the best thing he heard in who knows how long. Boy, did he wish he saw that happen. But now whenever Feister says that she'll punch him in the face if he doesn't stop doing something dumb, he'll be a little more careful now that he knows she'll actually do it.
"Well, she did say she was gonna do it, but I's didn't think she'd actually go through with it," Jack replied. It was late at night and he was checking up on Mush, who didn't look any better than the first time Jack saw him. In fact, Mush looked worse than before.
"So, how's Feisty holdin' up?" Mush asked. It had been a week and a few days since he last saw his best friend. He still couldn't get the look she had on her face when he last saw her. Tears, and dirt covered her face, her eyes were full of fear and sadness. And the broken whisper as she said his name for the last time till who knows when.
Jack sighed before saying, "She's real quiet, an' only gives half hearted smiles. Heck, she didn't even yell at Weasel for callin' 'er "Manhattan's goil" She barely eats an' 'er nightmares have gotten worse. Every time me or one of the others wakes 'er up, she thinks it's you. It's real hard breakin' the news that it's not you'es. The minute she gets back ta the Lodge she climbs up ta yer bunk and just stays there," he explained sadly.
Mush was shocked that Feister didn't yell for getting called out for being a girl. Bur not only was that bad, but Feister, (the loudest person he's ever met) was quiet. To make matters worse she was barely eating and her nightmares were back. Mush was now wishing he was back at the Lodge since Feister's nightmares are really bad.
"She misses ya," Jack said.
"I miss 'er too," Mush replied sadly. "An' all the others."
"But mostly Feisty," Jack said with a smirk. He then notice the slightest shade of pink on Mush's cheeks, which he'll take as a yes. But it was understandable why. After all she is his best friend. Plus there was the whole crush thing, but Mush hasn't admitted his feelings for Feister. But Jack knew very well that it was only a matter of time before Mush started crushing on a feisty little news girl.
"She almost soaked the Delanceys after they's said you'es wasn't comin' back an' that it was Feisty's fault yer in here," Jack explained.
"It ain't 'er fault, it's that wanna be brudda of 'ers fault an' those slime balls," Mush said. Why wasn't he surprised that the Delenceys were trying to get under Feister's skin. He wished he could hold her in his arms and tell her everything would be ok. "Jack, tell'er that it ain't 'er fault I's in here."
"I's have been, but you'es know how stubborn she can be," Jack replied with a sigh. He still couldn't believe that Mush ended up in the Refuge, and Feister got hurt. He knew he shouldn't have let Feister go selling with Blink and Mush that day. Jack knew something bad was going to happen, and he didn't listen to his gut.
Author's note
Idk what to say about this chapter besides the fact that's it's another sad one. Shout out to Music on the Moon, thanks for the review. Feister punching Will and the betting pool are my favorite parts as well. Sorry this is so short, but the next one is longer. What did you say. Anyways thanks for reading. I'll see you all again on Friday.
AGN Fun Fact #11 the og idea for AGN was that Feister was a girl undercover as a boy and one knew
