Chapter 20

*Ace's POV*

A few days pass by and there isn't much discussion about what exactly Race was telling the boys back at Jacobi's. I know it's a secret from the way they all ignore my questions or simply change the subject whenever I bring it up. Race is the worst of the lot though- he simply shrugs and turns away, but not before I always see him smile discreetly.
Fortunately, I find ways of distracting myself. Medda keeps me busy with rehearsals. I haven't had my first show yet, but Medda and the Beauties continue to entertain on the weekends. I sit in the audience and watch, mentally going over my parts. Medda says my "time is coming," so I want to be as prepared as possible.

I walk myself to Irving Hall after my morning shift at Jacobi's, which ended before the newsies had a chance to come in. I'm not complaining though; it's nice to be on my own for at least a few blocks. Because it isn't a show day, I go through the backdoor to get inside the theatre. Already I can hear the crew moving sets, sewing machines buzzing as costumes are stitched up, and of course Medda practicing her set onstage. We used to start off rehearsal with the Bowery Beauties but since I always manage to show up late, Medda starts things now. I enter as quietly as possible and sit next to Anna, one of the other showgirls. She laughs a bit at my late entrance and I dismiss it with a wave of my hand. The other two showgirls, Camille and Nancy, stand in the back of the house, marking choreography.

"Ah, Ace, how nice of you to join us," Medda says when she's finished with her piece. She smiles and winks, so I know she isn't upset that I'm late.
I shrug, "Here I am. You sounded lovely."
Medda smiles again and waves it off, "I need you to stay after when we're done. Just for a little bit." She calls the rest of the showgirls and me up to the stage to practice our number. I can't help but feel a little nervous as to what Medda needs me for, but I push that to the back of my head to focus on the Beauties.

"First things first," Medda says after rehearsal. Nancy, Camille, and Anna are slowly leaving, obviously curious what Medda has to say to me. Medda continues, "I need your name for the program. I kept forgetting to get it from you and now that we're getting close to show time, I need them printed as soon as possible."
I raise an eyebrow, "You already know my name..."
"No, no, dear," Medda laughs, "Your real name. Not something the newsies came up with."
"Oh," I pause, not because I forget my real name but because it's weird coming off my lips after such a long time, "Addie Bunker." Medda nods and writes it down on a pad of paper. The casual chatter from the showgirls stops and the three look at me. "What?" I ask.
"Bunker?" Anna asks.
"Yes..." I drag the word out. There's no way they know my family.
Camille steps up, "Like the Bunker family in Yonkers?" Okay well maybe they do.
I sigh, "That's the one."
The three girls look at each other, clearly impressed. Nancy smiles in disbelief, "I never would have guessed."
I laugh humorlessly, "Neither would I." I turn to Medda, "What else?"
She smiles, glad to get back on track, "One more thing. But just between us two."

Nancy, Camille and Anna get the hint and quickly leave Medda and me alone. I'm relieved for the privacy after the recent subject. "Medda?"
"Yes, dear?"
"What did you mean by 'getting close to show time'? How close is close?"
She smiles, "That's exactly why I wanted to talk to you. There's a little piece of the show missing and I feel as if you're the one who can fix it."
"What do you mean?"
Medda grabs a few papers off the piano and hands them to me, "How long will it take you to learn a song?"
I shrug and examine the music, "Not long, I suppose. The others would help me, too."
Medda shakes her head, "It's not a chorus song. It's a solo."
My head snaps up, "What?"
"I love this song, but I can't do it. It's too young for me. I've asked the other girls individually, but none of them can sing it the way I think it ought to be sung."
I shake my head quickly, "I couldn't."
"Why not?" Medda puts her hands on her hips, "You seem like a smart girl who could do something with it. Just sing it through one time?"
I sigh and run a hand through my hair, "One time."
Medda squeals excitedly and hurries us over to the piano. It's a ragtime piece but still fit for the vaudeville stage, packed with plenty of innuendos. The last few notes are high on the scale but meant to be sung as a belt, to which I do my best. Medda hits the ending chord and turns to me with a smile on her face, "You've got it."

Someone claps behind us and we turn to see Race. He's standing in the wings and grins, "Sounded great."
Medda stands from the piano, "She's a star." She hands me the sheet music, "Two weeks till your debut. We'll work on it more next time." She turns to Race, "Good to see you again, kid. Don't keep her too occupied." Medda winks and heads out.
I stare at the song in front of me, "Did that... just happen?"
"I'm a witness," Race smirks, putting his cigar between his lips.
"I have a solo..." My face breaks into a grin from ear to ear, "I have a solo!"
Race copies my grin, "Youse have a solo!"
I shake my head, "Pinch me. This isn't real."
"I ain't pinchin' youse. I'll kiss youse, but I ain't doin' no pinchin'," he winks.
I roll my eyes, "When'd you get here?"
"Few minutes ago," Race gestures to the back door, "Girls let me inside. Got a gift for youse."
"Really?"
He nods and walks over to the piano, removing the messenger bag from around his shoulders, "Davey came by with some of Sarah's clothes, but youse left Jacobi's before I had a chance to give it to youse."
I snatch the bag out of his hands and excitedly look through the contents, "This just keeps getting better!"
"Well then let's head back to the House to celebrate with everyone?" Race suggests.
I nod, "I'm gonna change, then we can go. You stay here."

I quickly head off to the dressing room with the bag of clothes in tow. There's plenty of blouses, skirts, and dresses to choose from, but I grab a simple white button-up and navy blue skirt and change quickly. Sarah and I are surprisingly the same size so they fit me well. I stare at my reflection in the mirror, smoothing down a few wrinkles and fiddling with my hair. I smile at myself; it's nice to look like a girl."
"Knock knock," Race peeks his head through the dressing room door. One hand covers his eyes, "Youse all dressed?"
"Yeah," I tell him without turning from the mirror.
He uncovered his eyes and looks me up and down, smiling, "Lookin' good."
I sigh, "Thanks."
An eyebrow raises and he walks over to me, "Youse okay?"
"Yeah. It's just... weird."
"What's weird? I think youse look fine."
"Not that. It's weird because these aren't my clothes."
Race purses his lips and rolls the cigar between his index finger and thumb, "Would youse ever want those back?"
I shrug, "I guess it'd be nice. But it's all at the Delancey's and there's no way in hell I'm going back there."
He laughs, "I like when youse swear."
"Then maybe I should do that more often," I say to him, finally deciding on pinning half my hair back with my barrette- my usual style.
Race makes a face, "Nah, doesn't suit a lady like youse."
I laugh, "I hardly call myself a lady."
"Well youse definitely ain't a boy, especially not in those clothes."
"You're quite the charmer today," I tell him. "Shall we go?"
Race nods and puts his arm around my shoulders as we head out, "And maybe this time we won't have to soak those Delancey's."

A/N: Hope you like this one! I just finished my spring break and I fortunately got a lot of writing done, so be prepared for lots of updates after I edit it a bit. :) Just wanted to say that for my spring break I went to New York City with my best friend (who also loooooves Newsies) and we saw the show! Let me just say- it's incredible! I highly recommend it. :) I could go on and on about my time in New York, but I'll save you the trouble. :)

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