Disclaimer:  I don't own Newsies, I wish but hey, I don't tears! 

Shout-Outs

Lucky-  Thanks so mush!  Yes I am a LOTR fan.  I love Frodo and Legolas and Aragorn (drool)  I don't need any characters yet, but I might in the furture.

Sadie-  You are so wrong!  They are not going to make out!  Man I don't work like that!  Yea, anyways, I like my serious side for now.  Race needs to die more often.  OUCH!  He hit me!

Jessie-  Glad you like my serious stuff!  Yay!  Wait, I hated right field in softball!  I hit it in center field, right?  I hope so!  HEHEHE! 

Olivia closed the door behind her and gasped at her own daring. 

            "Olivia, who was that boy out there?" her mother asked coming in from the dining room.

            "Just a boy I met," Olivia replied looking downward.

            "Do you like him?"

            "Yes, of course.  He's my friend."  That was half true, for now he was her friend.

            "You know I mean, do you have feelings for him?" her mother pressed.  Olivia just smiled.  Her mother smiled and hugged her.  "Well? Does he like you?"

            "I don't know!  I'm not him!"

            "What's his name? And how old is he?" Mrs. Wenton added a bit suspiciously.

            "His name's Jack, and I think he's 17."  Olivia was 15.

            "Well, take care of yourself."  Mrs. Wenton went back into the dining room and sat at the mahogany table surround by 6 chairs.  Olivia made her way into the kitchen to prepare dinner for her mother, who looked extremely pale. 

            Jack entered the lodging house to find Race, Blink, Mush, and Bumlets in the lobby.

            "Hey boys, how was sellin'?" Jack asked, very chipper.

            "Pretty goods, Race here says ya found yaself a goil.  What's dat about?" Blink said.

            "Oh, she's jus a friend o' mine," Jack answered, avoiding direct eye contact.

            "Come Jack, you wos all ova huh," Race laughed.

            "Nah Race, me and huh's jus friends," Jack took a seat on the couch by the check in desk.  The boys looked at him skeptically.  "What?  Wes jus friends."

            "Uh-huh shoah ya are," Mush said before going upstairs.  Race and Bumlets followed him.

            "Ya shoah ya ok?  Dis isn't bout Sara right?" Blink asked.

            "Nah, it ain't bout Sara."  To tell the truth Jack had forgotten about Sara until that moment.  Him and Sara had broken up four months before this day, and he hadn't really been himself since.  "I'se fine."  Blink nodded and left.  Jack stood at the foot of the stairs for a minute to think.  'Maybe I am just going after this girl because I miss Sara,' he thought shakily.  Jack went up the stairs and to bed. 

            Olivia didn't sleep much that night she kept waking from nightmares.

            "Just think girlie, after your mom goes, you go," he would say, his face so close she could smell the roast beef he had had for dinner.
            "Momma's never going to die!" the 5-year-old her would scream.  Then Olivia awoke and checked on her mom, about 7 times that night. 

            Morning dawned far too early for her to handle.  She could hear Manhattan out of her open window.  It was Sunday so she was surprised Mrs. Wenton hadn't tried to wake her for mass.  Then she heard the incessant knocking that told her that she was wrong.

            "Olivia!  Get up now!" Mrs. Wenton yelled trough the door.  Olivia hauled herself up and threw the sheets off her.  Her Sunday best drawer was full of dresses that made her cringe, frills and flowers.  She chose the least flowery and the most un-frilly; it was purple with some frill around the neckline, but only about an inch.  The length was nothing to worry about, down to her ankles and not showing the awful heels she hated wearing. 

            "OLIVIA!  WE MUST LEAVE NOW!" her mother shouted up the stairs.  Olivia gave one look in her wall mirror before running down the stairs and into the entrance hall where her mother was waiting.  Mrs. Wenton was wearing a simple yellow dress that Olivia would have adored to wear.  Her mother wrapped an arm around her daughter and led her out towards a carriage waiting for them on the street.  That's when Olivia heard a familiar voice. 

            "CONVICT IN BROOKLYN!  RUNNIN' WILD!" the boys voice cried.  She turned and saw Jack walking up the road towards them.   He didn't seem to notice Olivia until she was in the carriage and driving away.

 "Damn, I missed huh," he muttered seeing the carriage's wheels rolling in the other direction.  He was about to turn in the other direction when he saw Olivia's head pop out of the window and look back at him.  She smiled and waved, and he did in return.  Her face disappeared and Jack went back to selling.

            Olivia fidgeted all through mass.  Her mother was going to smack her when they got home; this was unapproved by Mrs. Wenton.  Mrs. Wenton was a devote Christian and would not have her daughter fidget, look around, and keep looking at her watch through mass, and on All Saints' Day of all days. 

            "Olivia, pray to Saint Theresa that she helps you get your head out of the clouds before mass is done," her mother whispered severely.  Olivia tried her best to behave, but she wanted so much to be out with Jack, just out would be all right with her.  She loved God and Christ, but she couldn't handle church.  They finally said the final prayer and Mrs. Wenton grabbed Olivia's arm, cutting off all circulation of blood, and pulled her to the carriage.  Her mother's grasp weakened when they were safely sitting in the black box. 

            "Olivia Theresa Wenton, I'm disappointed in your actions, I brought you up better then that," Mrs. Wenton lectured as the carriage clattered down the cobblestone street. 

            "Maybe it's my father shining through," Olivia answered sarcastically.  She immediately regretted her words.  Her mother looked at her, her green eyes filled with sadness.  "I'm sorry."  Olivia looked away and out the window of the carriage. 

            "Honey, you don't have to apologize for thinking about your father, he should be in your life.  You know what kind of man to despise and not marry a man like him," her mother put her arm around her.  "Just know if you act like that in mass again you'd better take a good look at this Jack boy.  You won't be seeing him for a long time."  Olivia smiled and sat back in her seat.

            Jack sat on the curb outside the house across the street from Olivia's.  Before long a tall sandy red haired man stood outside of Olivia's house and stared up at it.  Jack wondered about him.  The man seemed curious about the gate and how tall the hedges were.  The carriage pulled into sight and the man disappeared down the street. 

R&R hope you enjoyed.

Current tune- Stacy's Mom (does anyone know who sings this?)

Kristan