Uptown Girl
Chapter 4 Runaway
The next morning, Kate awoke to the sound of knocking on her window. "What?!"
"Get dressed, we're going to visit the newsboys," Evy said cheerfully as the window opened.
"You seem to have forgotten that I do have to do my work eventually. Don't you?"
"I didn't forget, I told Seitz that I wanted you to accompany me into town today." Evy smiled quickly. "So lets go."
Kate returned her smile. "The advantage of working for your best friend.
Tibby's was abuzz with plans of a rally shooting out from all corners of the room. David's mind was beginning to cloud over and he needed a release. So he made himself comfortable in a far corner, numbly flipping through the paper that Denton had brought to them. Suddenly, his eyes fell upon a small article in the top corner of the page. Reading it, he began to laugh for lack of a better reaction.
"What's so funny Dave?" Jack called across the diner.
"Did you know that old man Pulitzer has a daughter?" The question earned David a dumbfounded look from every newsie in the room. "Ok I'll take that as a no. Listen to this. 'Among the guests of Antony Hearst's gathering last night was Evolyn Pulitzer, daughter of New York World owner Joseph Pulitzer, escorted by Morris Delancy.' Can you believe that?"
"Believe what?" a feminine voice called playfully from the doorway.
David looked up from the paper to see Rose walking toward him. "Pulitzer's got a daughter," he replied, handing her the paper to read. She took it from him and shot Kate a glance that he couldn't interpret.
At a loss for anything else to do, Evy nervously closed the paper. As she did, she found the boys' picture staring up at her. "Well looks like you've been busy."
"We're having a rally tomorrow!" Les spoke up anxiously. "Will you come Rose? Please."
Every set of eyes in the room turned to her, anticipating her answer. "I don't know kiddo," she answered simply, causing a frown to form on Les's face. "But I'll try," she added, earning a smile.
But by the time the next afternoon rolled around, Seitz and her father had been informed of the events the night of Antony's party. And so, Evolyn was forced to stay home and 'consider the consequences of her actions'.
She heard nothing of the newsies until the following night when an unexpected visitor arrived at her house. As Evy started down the stairs, she heard her father having a heated discussion with someone in the parlor. She stopped dead in her tracks when Jack's voice filled the air. Curious, she sat on the steps and strained to hear what they were saying.
"Now your partner, David. I understand that he has a family. What do you think the refuge would do to him?"
Evy felt herself tense at the mention of David going to jail. What was her father up to now? Unfortunately, the rest of their conversation was too muffled for her to hear. When Jack turned to leave, she quickly dashed into her room and moved to the window. She looked out just in time to see Jack and David running down the street into the darkness. Confused, Evy laid down in bed, trying in vain to get some rest.
The next morning, Evy was determined to find out why Jack was having late night conversations with her father. She quickly dressed and bounded down the stairs. She brushed passed Seitz and was just a few steps from the door when his voice stopped her. "And just where do you think that you're going?"
"Out."
"Out where Evolyn?"
"Just out Seitz, I'll be back for diner I promise."
"Alright," he said, defeated. "Just be careful."
"I will." With that she closed the distance to the door.
"David! David!"
He scanned the crowd, desperately searching for the source of the voice that was calling him. Suddenly, he jumped as a hand came to rest on his shoulder.
"Whoa, hey Dave it's just me," he heard Rose say gently. "Why are you so jumpy?"
Without saying a word, he shrugged her hand off and walked away.
Evolyn was growing more and more confused as she watched him leave. Quickly, she ran after him, grabbing his arm to stop him. David spun around, anger flaring in his eyes. What?!"
Evy stood her ground, trying to remain calm. "David what is going on here?" He tried once again to walk away, but she stood in his path. "I'm not letting you leave until you answer my question."
The anger slowly seemed to melt off David's face as he began. "Rose I… oh I don't know. Everything is falling apart." He sank onto the alley, leaning his back against one of the buildings. Evolyn lowered herself beside him and took his hand, causing a weak smile to cross his face. "Jack got arrested at the rally and I tried to help him escape, but now he's selling papes for Pulitzer and… I just don't know what to do." As David continued, his voice began to shake. "I can't do this alone."
"Yes you can," Evy said gently. "I believe in you, and more importantly all those boys out there believe in you. They need you to take charge, especially now without Jack. All you have to do is believe in yourself."
"Thank you Rose." He leaned over and gently kissed her.
"Any time," she replied when they parted.
Evy stayed with the boys all day, not heading home until long after dark. As she walked through the door, she was surprised to see her father waiting for her. "I would like to discuss something with you," he began.
Before he could continue, Evolyn noticed that they weren't alone in the room. Sitting in the chair next to her father was Morris Delancy, sporting a fairly good-sized bruise on his cheek. "What's going on here?"
"I have asked your father for your hand in marriage," Morris jumped in. "And he has accepted."
Evy's jaw dropped to the floor. "You must be joking! I'm only 16! And I don't even like you! Don't I get a say in this?!"
"It's time you start thinking about your future Evolyn Rose."
"Don't you get it, this is my future! Not yours!" Before anything else could be said, she ran out into the night. As the cool air hit her face, tears of anger and confusion began streaming down her cheeks. Blindly, she made her way through the streets, heading for the square. She felt herself bump into someone.
"Hey watch it," an all too familiar voice snapped. "Oh hey there sweet face, do I know you?"
Evy looked up to see Oscar Delancy circling her like a hawk. "You've got to be kidding me! What is it with you people? Leave me alone!"
Spot was on his way home to Brooklyn when he heard yelling coming from a nearby alley. Instinctively, he followed the voices and found Oscar hustling some girl. Typical, he thought. It took him a few seconds to discover that it wasn't just 'some girl'. "Leave her alone Oscar." When the attacked realized who was addressing him, he took off into the shadows of the alleyways. "Rose are ya alright?" Spot asked in a concerned tone. As he got closer, he noticed her tearstained cheeks. "Come on lets get ya inside."
They arrived at the lodging house just as the boys were heading up to bed. Kid Blink was the first to notice the pair enter the room. "Spot what happened?" He sat Rose on the couch and pulled Blink, Mush and Race aside. I found her getting' into it wit Oscar Delancy, but I think somthin else is goin on." They looked over to see fresh tears falling over Rose's cheeks. "Do any of ya know where Dave lives?"
Mush nodded. "I've been there once."
"Go tell him what's going on and bring him back here," Spot commanded. "Hurry."
Mush took off and returned ten minutes later, David at his side.
Without saying a word, David wrapped his arms tightly around her, letting her cry freely into his chest.
"Why don't you boys head on up to bed now," Spot suggested and they consented without argument. When the room had cleared, he joined Dave and Evy in the couch. "Rose what were ya doin out alone this late? Don ya know bettah?"
"I… I…" Evy tried desperately to think of an explanation.
David shot Spot a glare, then turned to her, "It's ok Rose. Why don't you try to get some sleep?"
Evy nodded warily and rested her head back on David's chest. Once her breathing steadied, he gently laid her on the couch and pulled Spot into the corner of the room. "What do you think happened to her Spot?"
"I don't know."
Footsteps on the stairs stopped their conversation short, and Mush soon appeared carrying a blanket. Silently, he draped it over the girl's sleeping form, then joined the two boys. "Is she gonna be ok?"
"We don't know," Spot answered. "Do you boys have a few extra bunks up there for us?" Mush nodded.
"I think that I'll stay sown here," David said quietly, walking over to where Rose was sleeping.
Let me know what you think. More to come asap!