So the inspiration was there this weekend, but so was the homework thus the late update :( Sorry everyone!
Enjoy
"Jack, I can stay one night by myself without getting killed, you and Kath really don't need to stay."
He shrugs.
"It's been a while since I've stayed the night, and Katherine's never done it before."
She covers her face in frustration.
"Look I'm not going anywhere, and you both here all night is not going to help matters AT ALL. It's going to make me upset, and you jumpy. Don't even try to deny that you won't sleep at all tonight, you'll be jumping up for every little noise."
Jack looks to Katherine for support, but she can laughingly agree with Beth. They both know Jack worries too much.
"I ain't gonna sleep whether I'm at the theatre or in my apartment."
Katherine raises an eyebrow at him and clears her throat loudly.
"Sorry Ace, our apartment."
Beth rolls her eyes those two are hopeless.
"Well then do me a favor and go spend a sleepless night in your own apartment. Just because you're helping me doesn't mean you have to suffocate me with safety."
Katherine half laughs, half snorts, "Actually it does it's in his blood, and compared to spending a night locked in my father's cellar, I'd say one night at the theater is a definite improvement."
Jack shoves her playfully, Katherine doesn't hesitate to push back a little harder.
"Besides this time I'll be here."
Jack chuckles.
"Ace I'd even go back to sleep in yer fadder's cellar if you were there."
Katherine blushes and Beth just rolls her eyes again. Once they get started there is no stopping them.
"I take it then you're not leaving?"
Katherine withdraws her gaze from Jack's to turn towards Beth with a motherly expression.
"Beth we promised to help you stop your uncle…"
"Dat old bastard."
Katherine glares at Jack, he knows she hates being interrupted.
"But we can't help you unless you're safe."
Beth throws her hands up.
"I can spend one night alone, I don't someone guarding me every second. This old theater is about as safe as it is going to get. Anyway what exactly are you going to do to protect me? No offense to either of you, but unless you on staying up all night with weapons at the ready, then I'm not sure how much help you'd be if anything actually happened."
"Jack, she has a point."
"Ise don't care if she's got two million points, we ain't leavin 'till dat snake of an uncle is behind bars."
Those blue eyes beg Katherine to convince to Jack otherwise, but they both know how infuriatingly stubborn Jack Kelly can be. Katherine returns her pleading gaze with helpless shrug. Then those powerful eyes lock with Jack's. They are both glaring stubbornly at each other. He's beyond determined to stay and she is beyond determined to make him leave. Two iron wills are bent on making the other succumb. This battle could have gone on for hours if Race hadn't interrupted.
"If it makes eidah of youse feel any bettah I ain't staying here tonight."
Jack and Beth break off their death glare long enough stare at Race with confused expressions. He just shrugs. The two arguers glance back at each other, and then they burst out laughing at their own ridiculousness. Beth is the first to break the silence.
"Thanks Race for snapping us out of it, I guess we're both being a little silly."
Race laughs with them, "Yeah nothing funnier den a grown man and a goil havin a staring contest. If you looks could kill youse too would be dead."
This sends Beth into new peals of laughter, Race grins in self-satisfaction, he loves hearing Beth laugh.
Jack stops laughing suddenly, "I don't see anything humorous 'bout dis."
In response Katherine punches him in the shoulder.
"OW, hey what was dat for Ace?"
He scowls and rubs the sore spot, Ace can sure pack a punch. He taught her well, but Jack can't help wishing she'd use her skills on somebody else. She glares back at him, rolling her eyes dramatically.
"You know you completely fail at the whole peacemaker thing?"
Jack just grins, "But you love me anyway?"
Katherine shakes her head and appeases him with a kiss.
Beth sighs in an over exaggerated manner.
Race uses the current distraction to make a somewhat hasty exit, but not before kissing Beth goodnight on the cheek. She can feel the heat rising in her face and she has an urge to kiss him back, but she's not ready not yet… Race heads towards the door and his departure is hailed by three heartfelt goodnight wishes. After he leaves Beth turns to continue her discussion with Jack, but instead she finds him still stealing kisses from Katherine.
"Are you two done yet?"
The forever insufferable Jack Kelly simply smiles, "Almost."
Katherine playfully pushes him away as he attempts to score another kiss.
"You have other business right now, focus Kelly."
Jack sighs in disappointment and Beth nods approvingly.
"Right, like the lodging arrangements for the evening."
Jack folds his arms and takes a determined stance, "I ain't leaving."
Katherine's groans are ignored, but Beth hears her mutter, "Complete diplomatic failure".
If Jack heard her then he ignores it. Beth folds her arms mimicking him, and Katherine just covers her face in utter despair. Thanks to their stubbornness she is pretty sure that none of them are going to get any sleep tonight.
Beth smiles cockily, unfolds her arms, and plants her hands on her hips taking her own stance of defiance.
"Fine youse can stay…"
Jack stifles back a laugh, like Beth could stop him from staying.
"…But you both are going to actually go to bed and at least to try to sleep. Also I will sleep wherever I want, and you will not, I repeat WILL NOT check up on me. Got it?"
His cocky smirk makes her want to punch him, she's not sure how Katherine ever resisted at least slapping the overconfident newsboy. He still looks like he's trying not to laugh, and the only thing that is preventing him from breaking out in uproarious laughter is the feeling of Katherine's "no-nonsense" glare boring into his back.
"Alright Bird", he only he uses her newsies name when he think she's being too stubborn or "peckish". "I can agree to those conditions with only one change, you have to check in with us at least once."
Bird half snorts, "No deal Cowboy". She uses his old (and rarely used) newsies name to drive in her point. Katherine can practically see the tension building, and she suspects that Jack and Beth are about to enter another very heated argument.
"Jack sweetie I don't think what she's asking for is so unreasonable."
She places both of her hands comfortingly on his shoulder in an effort to calm him. However neither man nor girl is budging. Suddenly though she is struck by an idea, she goes over whispers something in Beth's ear. Beth just looks at her like she is crazy, but she tries it anyway.
"Come on just say you'll stay already and promise you'll leave me alone." She glances backward at Katherine and then sidles over to Jack. After a careful once over she attempts to mimic his current position; arms folded, slouched against the wall. Then she rumbles in a mocking and over dramatic masculine voice, "It's a compromise we can all live with."
Jack's head snaps up and he looks at her strangely, but realization quickly sets in and he turns ariund to shake his head and grin at Katherine. She knows him too well.
"Alright fine Beth, have it yer way. We'se won't bother you as long as Katherine and I stay the night and you promise not to get yerself killed before morning."
A light chuckle followed by a sarcastic, "Cross my heart" is her only response.
Before more chaos can ensue Katherine tries to get Jack to bed.
"Goodnight Beth." Katherine wraps her sister in a warm hug.
Returning the embrace wholeheartedly she murmurs, "Night Kath."
Jack just sputters, "Ace it's still early we don't have to hit the sack yet."
"Oh yes we do, this old theatre has seen quite enough drama for one night."
"Are youse implying dat Ise am dramatic?"
A sound kiss shuts him up and when she finally withdraws her lips she whispers softly, "Yes, but I love you anyway."
Jack gives her his signature smirk and whispers back, "Youse bettah."
"Goodnight lovebirds." Beth says teasingly.
Katherine takes this as her cue and Beth laughs as she watches Katherine drag Jack off to bed with him protesting every step of the way. She
hears the door shut behind them, Medda had set up a mattress for them in one of the dressing rooms. Without a word to anyone Beth
decides to go steal a breath of fresh air, she has been stuck inside the theatre all day and there's nothing a bird hates more than being
caged. The back door into the alley creaks open and she takes a deep breath of New York air. So much for fresh, but at least its air. Still she
misses the crisp clean New Mexico night air, with breezes that don't carry the scent of garbage or smoke. At least the moon is the same, it
doesn't change no matter where you go. Tonight it is full, yellow, and beautiful. She can remember sitting out on the big front wrapped in her
father's arms while her little brother ran around chasing fireflies and her older sister plucking gently at the strings of an old guitar. If she
closes her eyes she can still hear the sound of her mother's beautiful alto, her father's baritone, and her own soprano blending together in
perfect harmony. However closing your eyes to relive you're favorite memory while standing in a dark alley late at night in the heart of
Manhattan isn't a very bright idea. In that instant when her eyes are closed a cold clammy hand clamps over her mouth to prevent her from
screaming, and a pair strong arms drags her deeper into the shadows kicking and screaming and praying that Jack will break his promise.
Don't you love me? ;P
Give me reviews and I'll give you a speedy update (providing that life does not interfere) and remember keep reading and reviewing and I'll keep writing!
K. Kelly