On the weekends the newsies only sold papers in the morning. Saturday the newsies went to Tibby's for lunch, as usual but this time Sarah was there. When Blaze arrived she was disgusted to find Sarah, with Jack, of course, acting like a helpless flower. Personally, Blaze thought lovebirds were disgusting, and you couldn't get more lovey-dovey than Jack and Sarah.
When Sarah saw Blaze she motioned for Blaze to sit next to her, so Blaze did, she didn't want to be too rude.
"Hello, Blaze. Isn't it a beautiful day?" Sarah greeted her pleasantly.
"Gorgeous." Blaze couldn't help being sarcastic.
"Jack said you didn't like the dress I chose for you," Sarah remarked after Blaze had ordered her food, and Blaze realized why Sarah had wanted Blaze to sit next to her.
"Yeah, well, I don't like dresses, especially ones with lots of frill and lace. I ain't no girly-girl who likes to hook cute guys, no offense."
Sarah stiffened in her chair, "No offense? Are you implying that that's why I were these clothes?" Sarah pointed to her dress, which had lots of frill.
"Not at all, well, that may have been the intention at first, but hey, you got Jack. Now you just have a reputation to up hold. After all, you're Jack's girl, you have to play the part." Blaze said calmly.
"Jack," Sarah whined, "Blaze just insulted me." Blaze rolled her eyes and Jack turned to look at her.
"What did you say about me girl, Blaze?"
"Nothing, nothing at all."
"You said I am a hoity-toity girl who hooks guys," Sarah turned to Jack, "She thinks I'm using you."
"No, I didn't, no I don't."
"Well, you meant it, you didn't say it straight out, but you gave that impression."
"So what if I did? I can say what I want. And I think you're a stuck up snob, who thinks she's too high for us street rats, except Jack of course. You need him to keep you above us all." Blaze was losing her temper.
"Blaze." Jack said warningly.
"What? Now you're going to control what I say too? No!" Blaze stood up.
"Blaze, I'm warning you. Sarah is the nicest, prettiest girl I know."
"Oh thanks," whispered Pixy to her twin, "I feel real important now." All the newsies were listening to the argument.
"I love her, she is not stuck up and she is not controlling me. You should be nicer to her, just because she is more refined and isn't a tomboy like you doesn't mean she is a snob."
"That's it! I'm leaving! I'm going back to LA! I should've realized a long time ago that this wouldn't work. Goodbye!" And with that she left, slamming the door behind her. All the newsies turned to look at Jack, who shrugged and turned back to his food. They took that as a sign to forget about it and they too turned back to their food, except for Trick and Race, who got up and followed her. Sarah, on the other hand, had a look of satisfaction and delight on her face.
When Blaze reached the empty Lodging House she put everything into her bag. She was glad she had been saving her money, she originally was going to use it to buy presents for the Holidays, but it didn't look like she'd be in New York for the Holidays. After packing (it didn't take long) she grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and started writing her goodbye letter to Spot.
Spot-
I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye, but it's probably for the best, you'd just try to make me stay. I've finally realized that LA is my home and I want to go back, I miss it. Don't kill Jack for making me goo, he didn't make me go, I want to go. However, you're welcome to soak Sarah, she definitely needs and deserves it. I love you and I'll never forget you. I'll send you a letter once I reach home. Thanks for everything!
Love,
Blaze
P.S. Jack ain't nimble, Jack ain't quick, Jack fell over the candlestick.
Just as Blaze finished the letter, Trick and Race walked in.
"You ain't really leaving, are you?" Trick asked hopefully.
"Don't go because of Jack, it's all Sarah's fault, and he just got angry! We'll really miss you!" Race tried to convince her.
"Thanks guys, but its time for me to go home. I miss LA. I'll never forget y'all, and maybe next time you need a break you can come and visit me. But I really must go." Blaze picked up the letter, folded it, wrote Spot on the front and handed it to Trick. "Give this to Spot for me, okay?"
"Sure," Trick said, tears coming to her eyes, "but he's going to be mad we didn't stop you."
Blaze hugged her friends and left for the train yards.
"She's what!" Spot yelled.
"She's gone, Spot." Trick said softly as the boys all around the Brooklyn Lodging House looked up at them, wondering what had made their leader so upset. "Here, she told me to give this to you." Trick handed Spot the letter.
"He's dead! Jacky-boy is dead meat!" Spot growled and sat down on a bunk to read the letter as Trick fled. She didn't like to be around Spot when he was mad or upset.
Spot read the letter, then stormed to his room so his boys wouldn't see him cry. Why? He asked himself, why did the one girl he liked have to leave him? He was ready to soak Jack, but he knew he better not, Blaze wouldn't like it and it wouldn't bring her back. Sarah on the other had no, he told himself, Jack would be furious and it would be just like soaking Jack in the first place. He knew he should stay away from Manhattan until he cooled down though, if he went there now he would just lose his temper. He sighed, the only thing he could do now was wait, wait for her letter. Then he could try to convince her to return by mail. Or even go and visit her no, he thought, I can't leave my boys, what if something happened while I was gone all he could do was wait.
Blaze smiled as the train came to a stop in the LA train yards. Home sweet home, she thought. New York was a nice place for a vacation, but LA was where she belonged.
The End
