CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: FALLING

Katie walked into the lodging house, the rooms dark and depressing. It was very late; the trial had lasted all day. She walked into the washroom and slumped down on the counter, defeated. Race slowly followed her, turning the corner to see her sitting with her face in her hands. The other newsies were all sleeping in the bunkroom. He walked over to her, standing in front of her and taking her hands in his.

She looked up at him, all the color drained from her face. Her eyes didn't sparkle back at him. She whispered, "Ise didn't want youse ta see dose pictures. Ise didn't want youse ta see me like dat…" She started to cry, rubbing her forehead and looking him in the eyes.

"Ise should have told youse I had more scars than were on my face. Dere not as bad as in de pictures, Race...look…" In tearful desperation, she unbuttoned the top few buttons of her shirt and pulled it down, showing him the remainder of her scar above her chest. It was small and white against her tan skin.

"Katie…."

"See…" She continued. She lifted up her shirt this time, revealing her tan and small stomach with about five other marks similar to the others. As she was doing this, tears were falling down her face.

"Babe, stop."

He grabbed her hands in his and looked at her.

"Youse don't need ta prove ta me dat you're beautiful. Katie,"

He took a step closer to her, brushing her dark hair behind her ear. She looked at him.

"Dis is killing me, Racetrack. Ise had no idea id would be dis hard. Ise can't look at him. Ise can barley breath in de court room. Ise can't do dis, Ise can't…"

"Yes, youse can. Youse have made it dis far, and you're gonna finish it. Ise love you."

He leaned closer to her, pulling her towards him and letting her bury her face in his shoulder.

"Ise love you"

He could feel her damp tears on his neck. His heart absolutely ached for her. He turned and kissed her hair. She pulled away and sat back up, still slightly leaning towards him. Her shirt was still unbuttoned, revealing the small tank top she always wore underneath. She stared at him with her large and dark eyes. She shook her head.

"Youse don't understand. Ise can't do dis. He's my faddah, youse know?"

She slid off the counter and walked further into the wash room, running her hands through her hair.

"He's my faddah! He's supposed ta be dere for me, ta raise me, ta yell at me when Ise wear too much makeup and bring home a boy he doesn't like…He's not supposed ta rape youse!" She broke down. Race quickly made his way over to her, trying to hold her, but she pulled away.

"Ise can't! Ise can't!"

She leaned against the crude wooden wall and cried, trying to muffle her sobs from the sleeping newsies in the other room. He walked over to her and rubbed her back. "Youse need ta get some sleep. It'll be worse if youse don't sleep." She shook her head again and looked at him.

"If Ise sleep I'll have nightmares."

He understood. "Alright. Den, sit wid me."

He took her hand and led her over to the washroom window cill and sat down with her next to him. She leaned on his shoulder, with his arm protectively around her. He held her until he fell asleep, watching her breath.

The next day, court was still as awful as Katie had thought it was. After the day was over, and was continued until the next day, Katie somberly walked to the prep room. Race followed her, and closed the door behind them. When he reached to hug her, she pulled away.

"Katie, whads wrong?"

She turned and looked at him.

"We need ta talk, Race."

:O What's gonna happen everyone? ;)