Author's Note:
Chapter 8, everyone! Brooklyn's Here! Enjoy!
Chapter 8: Brooklyn's Here
Jack and Katherine arrived at the borough by dinner time. They dropped their bags at their hotel, then set off to eat a nice dinner together.
Katherine grabbed her husband's arm and held on to it as they strolled through the streets of Brooklyn. Eventually, they had to pass through the Navy Yard Pier to get to their destination. But to do that, they had to cross the infamous Brooklyn Bridge first.
As the two stepped up to the gigantic structure, they fell speechless. The bridge was so delicately crafted, the suspenders neatly lined up in a row, holding everything together. Jack was still amazed, even though he had already seen it before; but he knew Katherine hadn't. Her eyes were filled with wonder as they stepped onto the bridge.
The couple walked slowly and silently for several minutes, taking in the view of the sparkling water beneath the bridge, and all the nearby sailboats moored to their docks. The setting sun threw pink, orange and lavender color on everything.
Halfway across the bridge, Jack and Katherine stopped walking. Neither one of them said to. They just did. It's like they knew that they both wanted to stop here and drink in the view.
Jack wrapped his arms around Katherine from behind. She leaned back into him as she watched the setting sun. "It's beautiful."
"Yeah, it is. But you're prettier."
"Oh, Jack. Please." Katherine laughed.
They remained silent for a few more minutes. Then Katherine said, "Jack. I-I know I tell you this a lot, but, I love you. And I'll never get tired of talking with you, or holding your hand, or kissing you goodnight, or staring into your mischievous brown eyes."
Jack smiled from behind her. She was so cute, he almost couldn't take it. He opened his mouth to respond.
"I love you too, Katherine!" a voice said.
"Wait, what?" Jack and Katherine whipped around.
"I knew it was only a matter of time 'fore you needed my help again, Jackie." Spot Colon smiled smugly.
"Hey, Spot." Jack sighed. But he couldn't help from laughing a little bit too. He didn't always need the Brooklyn Newsie's help. "Sorry, Spot. I ain't need your help this time. I'm here on my honeymoon." Jack smiled and held up Katherine's hand with the wedding ring on it.
"What? You two's already married? How come I didn't receive no invite?" Spot raised an eyebrow, a half-frown on his face. Sometimes you couldn't tell if the guy was actually angry or not.
"I's really sorry. I meant to invite you, I did, but I forgots. I was busy. Real busy." Jack answered honestly.
"Eh, whatever. Weddings are too lovey-dovey anyway." Spot shrugged, quickly over the issue. "So, why'd you choose to come to Brooklyn for ya honeymoon?"
"Well, it was the closet city to us. And also, I've always wanted to see the Brooklyn Bridge." Katherine smiled up at the tall suspensions hanging above.
Spot nodded. "Yeah, it's neat. Well, maybe I's see you around!" he smiled, then sauntered off casually. "Enjoy the best city in New York while you can!" he called, without looking back.
"Oh, man. That guy is quite something." Katherine laughed.
"Tell me 'bout it." Jack shook his head. "Ruinin' what was going to be a great moment!"
"It still can be!" Katherine smiled as she threw her arms around Jack's neck and kissed him. He hugged her as he kissed her back.
Jack pulled away. "I love you too, Katherine." he laughed, finishing his thought from a minute ago. "Now, c'mon!" He grasped her hand. "We's got a dinner to get to!"
The restaurant was very classy. It was painted blue inside, with paintings and pictures of boats lining the walls. It was a seafood restaurant, so basically the menu consisted of fish and shrimp. Jack had never really eaten seafood before. He wasn't exactly sure of what it tasted like.
"Katherine, I ain't never had seafood before. What's it like?"
"It's... usually soft. And it doesn't taste like much unless you add salt and pepper. You might like the tilapia. Tuna fish tastes odd to some people, but, I like it. I'm going to get that, I think." Katherine concluded.
"Okay. Thanks, Plumber. I's try the tilapia." Jack smiled. He trusted Katherine's judgement; and, plus, she knew him really well, better than anyone else, so, she probably knew what he might like.
When the waiter arrived, the couple ordered two Coca-Colas and their fish.
"That will be right out." The waiter nodded and bustled off to the kitchen.
"I'm really excited, Jack! I can't wait to spend more time with you and see Brooklyn!" Katherine squealed.
"Yeah, I's excited too!" Jack smiled. "Brooklyn's real pretty." But then he kind of frowned. "I just hope Spot won't interrupt us the whole time."
"I'm sure he won't. Also, he's a nice kid. It would be fun to see him again before we return to Manhattan. But, of course, I want to spend time with just you, too." Katherine held his hand.
Jack smiled. "He's nice enough, I guess. A little cocky."
Katherine raised an eyebrow at her husband. She smiled.
"All right, all right. Point taken," Jack laughed.
The waiter appeared just then, holding two sodas. "Your Coca-Colas," he placed them on the table. "Your fish will be here in a minute."
"Thank you." Katherine and Jack nodded.
Jack sipped the drink. "Woah, it's spicy!" he blinked, his eyes wide.
"Yeah, it's really bubbly." Katherine agreed. She had only tried the soda once before, because most of the time she drank water or coffee.
"I like it. A lot." Jack drank more of the Coca-Cola.
"Don't spoil your dinner!" Katherine scolded with a laugh.
As soon as she finished saying that, their waiter came up, holding two plates with steaming hot fish on them.
"Thank you!" The couple said again.
The waiter nodded and left once more.
A tilapia fillet sat with a pile of broccoli on Jack's plate. It smelled really good.
"This is it, Jackie! C'mon! Try it!" Katherine urged.
"Okay, okay! I'm tryin' it!" Jack stabbed the tilapia with his fork. It split tenderly into sheets. He scooped up a piece and brought it to his mouth. Jack chewed it slowly. Katherine was right- it was really soft, and not too flavorful- but it was good. Like, really good.
Katherine hadn't even touched her food yet. She had been watching Jack, trying to read his expression. "Do you like it?"
Jack swallowed, then nodded enthusiastically. "I love it!"
"Really? I'm so glad!" Katherine smiled, then finally began to eat her own fish.
It was very dark outside by the time Jack and Katherine left the restaurant and returned to their hotel. The stars gleamed overhead, and a crescent moon hung in the sky next to them.
Katherine and Jack unanimously decided to stand on the deck outside of their room, which overlooked a good chunk of Brooklyn. They stood the same way they'd stood earlier, Jack holding Katherine, and she leaning into him. They just watched the streets of Brooklyn for a while, seeing how they were faintly lit by street lights and moonlight. A short distance away, the waves in the Navy Yard Pier were splashing back and forth rhythmically. A few seagulls flew across the peaceful sky.
"Wow. It's so-" Katherine was about to compliment the view, but then she stopped herself.
"It's so..." Jack repeated, implying that he wanted his wife to finish her thought.
"Um, well..." Katherine laughed, "I-I was going to say that the view is so beautiful, but... Every time I say something like that, you always turn it back around on me."
Jack laughingly scoffed. "Well, excuse me if I's think you're beautiful and sweet and smart and adorable and kind and thoughtful and inspirin' and-"
"All right, all right! I get it! I love you too!" Katherine broke out of Jack's arms and turned around to face him.
"I knew you'd come around." Jack joked and grabbed Katherine back again to kiss her. She laughed and didn't object. They stood out there for a little bit, just the two of them, not really caring if anyone saw them kissing. Like Katherine had said, she didn't care about what others thought; she only cared about Jack.
At last, they mutually pulled away. Jack yawned. "I ain't got good sleep for a few days now..."
"Yeah, me either." Katherine grabbed his hand as she caught his yawn. "Let's go."
The next six days were incredible. Jack and Katherine toured the city of Brooklyn aka the 6th largest city in the entire world), ate delicious cuisine, sailed in the harbor on a schooner, visited shops, and fished at the pier, all the while talking, laughing, and learning more about the other person along the way.
But, eventually, the week ended and it was time to go back home to Manhattan. Early on Monday morning, Jack and Katherine gathered all of their belongings and exited the hotel. They stood on the sidewalk in front of the building, hoping to hail a carriage.
"What? You thought I'd let ya leave without sayin' goodbye?"
Katherine and Jack whirled around, and smiled. Spot Colon was standing there behind them, grinning. "You ain't gonna get rid o' me that easy."
"'Bye, Spot. See you sometime." Jack spit into his hand, and extended it to the Brooklyn Newsie leader.
In response, Spot spit into his hand and shook Jack's. "See ya, Jackie."
Smiling, Katherine spit into her hand and shook Spot's. "Goodbye, Spot."
"See ya 'round, Katherine." he smiled once more, then ran away, shouting, "Brooklyn's number one!"
Jack laughed, shaking his head. "Some things never change. For as long as I known him, Spot's had pretty high, uh, self-esteem. But he's loyal, too."
"Yeah. He seems very devoted to Brooklyn." Katherine took Jack's hand and smiled up at him. "But you might be even more loyal and devoted a person."
"What?" Jack questioned. I mean, it was true, of course, that he was devoted to Katherine and his Newsies, but kind of out of the blue.
"Oh, you know... I just wanted you to see what it feels like when someone turns a conversation around on you... You know, like you do to me." Katherine grinned.
"Well, I ain't thinks that's a bad thing, if somebody's givin' you a compliment." Jack smiled. "Which, you better get used to. 'Cause I be complimetin' you a lot, Ace."
"Aw. Thanks, Jack. Also, you're right. I-I do love when you make those compliments. They make me feel special, and-and closer to you, somehow." Katherine leaned on his shoulder.
"Then I'll just have to keep sayin' 'em." Jack said as a carriage rolled up right then. The driver opened the door for them.
"Thank you!" They smiled and settled in the carriage.
"Where to?" the driver asked before he shut the door.
"Manhattan, please!"
Hope you liked this chapter! (Also I love Spot Colon!)