Uptown Girl
Chapter 3 A Connection and A Party
The next morning, David woke long before the sun rose. His mind was working too hard for him to sleep. Between his father's injury and this strike, he had acquired so much responsibility in the last few days that it was overwhelming. Then there was Rose. True he'd only met her a day ago, but she just seemed so caring, so passionate, so… perfect. An image of her pearly white smile once again appeared in his mind. David shook the image from his view and went to the window. The sun had now begun to peek over the buildings, and he was almost positive that Jack and the others would be in the square already.
"Les," he whispered, shaking his brother from his slumber. "Les, let's go."
The younger boy protested, but obediently dressed and followed David down the fire escape.
Evolyn awoke to the sound of birds singing outside her window. She rolled over happily and looked at the beautiful day that was unfolding before her. Evy crawled out of bed and quickly dressed in the clothes that Kate had given her the previous day. After quickly running a brush through he silky hair, she skipped across the lawn to Katelyn's room.
"Ready?" she asked her friend who was patiently waiting on the step.
Kate flashed a smile, her eyes dancing more than usual. "After you."
The two girls entered the square, expecting to find the boys that they had met the day before. Instead, they heard shouting from inside the distribution center. Curiosity took control of Evy and she made her way to the gates. There she quickly took in the scene before her. The newsboys pushed a group of violent-looking characters, lead by none other than Morris Delancy, back into the offices.
When the fighting had ended, Mush glanced up at the gates. He shook his head, afraid that the firey red hair and bright green eyes he saw were just figments of his imagination. But when he opened his eyes once again, Katelyn was still standing before him. "You came back," he said in a voice just above a whisper.
"Are you alright?" she asked quickly filling with concern.
Mush nodded and took her hand. "I'm better now." Kate didn't say a word in response, just squeezed his hand tightly.
"Rose!" David called over the crowd. "Rose!" Evolyn turned to see him making his way toward her. She smiled broadly. "I'm glad to see that you came back," David comment when he'd gotten closer.
The pair stood there studying each other when Jack's voice interrupted their thoughts. "Rose, Kate, I'd like ya ta meet Spot Conlon, leadah of da Brooklyn newsies." Evy nodded absently to the boy standing between David and Jack.
"Nice to meet you," Kate's thick Irish drawl spoke up. Evy turned to see her friend's fingers intertwined with Mush's. She flashed her a bright congratulatory smile.
"Hey Jackie boy, lets get some food huh," Spot suggested, and all the boys followed him down the street toward Tibby's.
David and Evy however didn't budge from their spots. "Are you two commin?" Jack called back from up the block.
"We'll catch up with you in a few minutes," David yelled back, checking that Rose agreed. She nosed and Jack took off with the others.
"Let's go for a little walk," Evy suggested.
"Ok," he replied, starting up the street in the direction of Central Park. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"What made you come back?"
Evy stopped walking and took a seat on a bench. David joined her, anxiously awaiting her answer. "Because I believe in you… I know that you can beat Hearst and Pulitzer." She kept her eyes on the ground in front of her all through her explanation, and when David didn't respond, she forced herself to look up at him.
He was staring down into her eyes. Slowly, he began to close the distance that separated their faces. Slowly and gently, their lips brushed together. Evy's eyes fluttered shut. After what seemed like and eternity, they heard someone clear their throat behind them.
Reluctantly, the two parted and turned to see Racetrack standing innocently behind the bench.
"Jack told me to find you'se two. He thought the Delancys might be out causin trouble."
David blushed a little. "We'll be at Tibby's in a few minutes."
"Oh no ya don't," Race protested. "That's what you said last time and it's been almost two hours. So let's go!" The couple stood and obediently followed him back to the diner hand in hand.
"Rose!" Kate called across the chaos inside Tibby's a few hours later. "Rose!" When Evy finally looked up from her conversation with Dave in the corner, Katie pointed to the clock on the wall. 5:30. She then turned back to Mush. "I have to go, we're late."
He just sat back and smiled. "Are you two ever on time?"
Kate smiled and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. He turned and caught her lips with his, tenderly moving his hands around her waist. A few seconds later, Katelyn felt a tap on her shoulder. She reluctantly pulled away from Mush to see Evolyn standing next to them.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but we really have to go now." She smiled innocently. Kate flashed Mush a sweet smile and ran out the door behind Evy.
Evy finished pinning up her hair just as the clock struck six. A few moments later, Seitz appeared in the doorway. "Your escort is here Miss Pulitzer." She nodded and followed him down the stairs.
Her eyes were drawn to the figure folded into the chair in front of the fireplace. "You've got to be kidding me," she mumbled under her breath as she recognized the boy. Morris Delancy.
He moved closer to her. "You look-"
She brushed passed him coldly. "Let's just go."
As they made their way out the door, Evy caught a 'be nice' glance from Seitz.
Once at the party, Evolyn made it a point not to be alone with Morris for too long. Unfortunately, that meant suffering the company of Antony Hearst and his followers.
"Well, well," he started as he walked toward her. "Nice to see you again Evolyn." He bent to kiss her hand.
"I wish that I could say the same for you Antony," she snapped, pulling her hand from his.
"My aren't we hostile," he replied, a smirk curling his lips. "What's the matter Evy, the strike hurting Daddy's trust fund?"
Evolyn clenched her fists, willing herself to control her temper. "You seem to be forgetting one thing Antony," she shot back calmly, "I don't care about my father's business or his money."
With that, she stormed away, Morris following her like a sad puppy dog. "You know you really should be nicer to him."
Evy spun around to face him. "And why is that Morris, because he's rich?"
"Well…"
"Well he's also the most conceded person that I've ever met," she spat. "But if you're so fond of him, you go talk to him, I'm going home.
Halfway down the front stairs, Morris caught up to her. Once again and escorted her home. When they were standing on the front steps, Evy turned to go, but he caught her arm and pulled her into a kiss. Unlike the gentle kiss that she and David had shared in the park, Morris's kiss was sloppy and awkward. Evy fought free from his grasp and did the first thing that entered her mind: slapped him across the face.
Quickly Morris descended the steps and ran down the street, a handprint visible on his cheek even under the cover of darkness.
Ta da there you are folks, and i really apologize if there's alot of grammar errors in here. it's even later that it was on the last chapter. More to come i promise, just no tonight cause i'm about to fall asleep on my keyboard!