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"Now Blink, what's gonna be our excuse fer bustin' in like dis? Ya know Medda won't like us stirrin' up trouble." Jack said uneasily as he looked up at the theater. Kid Blink smiled and shrugged, looking at his other companions. "We'll be fine Jackie boy. Don't worry." Jack shrugged. "I ain't worried. I jest ain't in da mood fer celabratin' right now. Maybe I'll jest sit out on da festivities. I don't tink I could dance wit' Medda tenite." He said glumly. The other chuckled, but Racetrack pushed up to him, his lips stretched in a broad grin. "Whaddya tawkin' 'bout Cowboy? Ya gotta dance wit' Medda. Or she'll think dat ya don't like her no more." He said with a laugh. "My feet feel like huge stones an' won't move Race." Jack responded solemnly. Racetrack rolled his eyes. "Still tinkin' 'bout Rosie? Dang dat nekid angel! Cupid! Dat's his name! Dang Cupid!" Racetrack said mockingly waving his fist at the darkened skies.
The other boys laughed and Jack smiled, but only faintly. "So why doncha jest borrow dat angel's wings an' fly 'stead of dancin'?" Racetrack continued, a smile still on his face. Jack smiled again, his smile growing more boisterous, but the pain still visible in his eyes. "I cain't! Dat dang Cupid's arrow is so stuck in me dat I cain't move! Plus, even if I could fly, da love is such a burden dat I'd drop like a stone in a riva." Jack said, challenging Racetrack to comment with a grin. "Oh really? I always taught dat love was sweet an' tenda!" Racetrack laughed. Jack grimaced, his brown eyes twinkling. "Whoeva said dat, dey was a lya! It's rough me friend, rough." He countered. Racetrack put his hand on his chin thoughtfully then spoke again. "Well Jackie boy! Ya fight wit' da Delancys every day! Why cain't ya fight wit' love? Dat's simple enough!" Racetrack said, trying to keep back his laughter. Jack laughed with him and placed his arm around his friend's back. "C'mon! We're lookin' like a bunch o'idiots standin' out here tawkin' 'bout beatin' up love! I'll watch, maybe I'll join in, but don't count on it boys!" Jack warned as the laughing group walked into the theater.
As the boys took their places in the theater, Medda took the stage accompanied by shouts and cheers from the boys. Medda's laughing green eyes looked upon the group with pleasure. She saw Jack and her eyes faltered a moment, then she waved to them and smiled. "Welcome all of you!" She shouted across the din. "You all are welcome to do as you like. All I ask is that you don't rip up the furniture and tables!" She said with a laugh. The boys roared and one boy pretended like he was going to upset his table, much to Medda's amusement. "Shall we have some singing?" Medda was answered with an affirmative yell and she began to sing with a smile, inviting the boys and girls alike to come up on stage with her.
Jack grinned and couldn't restrain himself from running up to the stage. "Atta boy Cowboy!" Racetrack yelled before Jack disappeared out of earshot. Jack turned and grinned. "Hey Medda! How ya been?" He whispered in her ear as he approached her. She turned to him and smiled. "Nice to see you Jack." She replied. Jack danced and sang for a few moments more before a sight stopped him cold. It was a girl. She was short, much shorter than himself he guessed. She had taken off her Newsie cap and had let her shoulder-length blonde hair fall out across her shoulders. Her gray eyes were dancing as she danced with a fellow Newsie. Jack's heart that had so formerly belonged totally to the ungainable Rosie, went out to this girl in one heartbeat. "Good Lawd. How can I have thought dat Rosie was da most beautiful thing I'd eva seen when dis goil is roamin' around?" He murmured softly, his brown eyes, now alive and full, taking in every aspect of the girl.
Not two boys away, Spot Conlon's sharp ears picked up the tone of Jack's voice. He didn't hear what was said, but he knew the speaker. He stood up from the table and stormed up to the stage where the Newsies were dancing. But he was stopped by none other than Medda. "What are ya doin' Medda? I gotta get through." Spot said angrily. Medda's green eyes were concerned as she looked the Brooklyn leader over. "What's the matter Spot? You are upset." She said. Spot rolled his eyes. "Real intuitive aren't ya Medda? Of course I'm upset! Dat thievin' rascal Jack Kelly is here!" Spot hissed angrily. "I know. Let him be." Medda replied. "Let him be?!! But Medda," Spot began again.
"You listen here Spot, he won't harm you. He hasn't yet has he? Or any of your boys? No, he hasn't. He has held himself up as a gentleman and hasn't laid a finger on any of you in anger or revenge. Now leave him be." She said firmly. "But Medda, it's a disgrace on me an' my boys ta have him here." Spot replied, his anger still detectable in his voice. "Do you own this theater or do I? I do. Now if you persist to go after Jack Kelly and his boys, you will be thrown out. Are we quite understood?" Spot's gray eyes burned into her green ones, but Medda didn't give an inch. "Fine, this one time. But he's gonna regret doin' dis here." Spot growled, backing off the stage and walking out of the theater. Medda gazed after him in disapproval then asked the piano man to play louder in order to hear over the din.
Unaware of his near scrape with Spot, Jack approached the girl and took her hands in his own, startling her. "Kin I have da hona of dancin' wit' ya?" He asked softly. Jewel gazed at his strong hands holding her own, then gazed into his dancing brown eyes. If one believes in love at first sight, believes in the union of two souls in an instant, this is what occured in one fatal glance, when the sister of the leader of Brooklyn, fell in love with the leader of Manhattan. "Ya can, if ya must." She said, being somewhat short of breath. Jack grinned. "I must." The two held each others hands and twirled slowly as the others twirled and whirled quickly around them like pinwheels gone askew in the wind. "Would it be to much of a sin ta kiss ya?" Jack asked, his face turning somewhat red. Jewel blushed and dropped her head, then lifted it, intercepting the boy's kiss.
Jack was surprised that this mysterious girl had even complied to his outrageous request. He had been kissed before. There had been Sarah and various others, but this kiss was different. It was REAL. "Whadja do? Read da book on kissin'?" Jewel asked with a smile as the kiss ended. Jack laughed. "Well, if I did I tink I need ta make sua I did it right." He said, leaning in towards her face again. This second kiss was even more beautiful than the first, plunging the two in the depths of a feeling so strong that they couldn't comprehend the changes that were occurring.
"Um, hey. Yer brudda wants ta know where ya are." An uncomfortable voice spoke from behind them. They turned and Jewel blushed furiously. One of her friends and her brother's, Tinker, stood behind them, face red, obviously embarrased at having broken the two up. "I'll come right away." Jewel said, but not leaving before she had gazed at Jack's face but one more time before hurrying away. As she left, Jack grasped the boy's arm. The boy jumped and Jack was surprised to see fear in his eyes. "Who's her brudda friend?" Jack said in a friendly tone of voice. Tinker relaxed visibly. "Spot Conlon is Jewel's brudda. I gotta go." As Tinker hurried away, Jack stood alone and still, in a state of shock. So soon had he found love, and so soon had it disappeared. He jumped as Kid Blink touched his arm. "C'mon Cowboy! Let's split! Dis is gettin' kinda borin'!" He yelled over the din. Jack nodded, but stood still, watching Jewel walk away from him.
Jewel looked back behind her and her hand caught Tinker's rough one. "Tinker, who's dat? I ain't neva seen him befoa. I jest hope he ain't got a goil." She muttered under her breath. Tinker looked back at Jack and then turned back to her. "Oh Jewel, dat's Jack Kelly, da leada of Manhattan, yer brudda's enemy." Tinker said, his eyes reflecting his inner turmoil. Jewel reacted much as Jack had. She stood still and cold, a feeling that no fire could ever warm her again. "Why is fate so cruel ta me! My enemy is da only one I kin eva love." She whispered, tears coming up against her gray eyes.
"Now Blink, what's gonna be our excuse fer bustin' in like dis? Ya know Medda won't like us stirrin' up trouble." Jack said uneasily as he looked up at the theater. Kid Blink smiled and shrugged, looking at his other companions. "We'll be fine Jackie boy. Don't worry." Jack shrugged. "I ain't worried. I jest ain't in da mood fer celabratin' right now. Maybe I'll jest sit out on da festivities. I don't tink I could dance wit' Medda tenite." He said glumly. The other chuckled, but Racetrack pushed up to him, his lips stretched in a broad grin. "Whaddya tawkin' 'bout Cowboy? Ya gotta dance wit' Medda. Or she'll think dat ya don't like her no more." He said with a laugh. "My feet feel like huge stones an' won't move Race." Jack responded solemnly. Racetrack rolled his eyes. "Still tinkin' 'bout Rosie? Dang dat nekid angel! Cupid! Dat's his name! Dang Cupid!" Racetrack said mockingly waving his fist at the darkened skies.
The other boys laughed and Jack smiled, but only faintly. "So why doncha jest borrow dat angel's wings an' fly 'stead of dancin'?" Racetrack continued, a smile still on his face. Jack smiled again, his smile growing more boisterous, but the pain still visible in his eyes. "I cain't! Dat dang Cupid's arrow is so stuck in me dat I cain't move! Plus, even if I could fly, da love is such a burden dat I'd drop like a stone in a riva." Jack said, challenging Racetrack to comment with a grin. "Oh really? I always taught dat love was sweet an' tenda!" Racetrack laughed. Jack grimaced, his brown eyes twinkling. "Whoeva said dat, dey was a lya! It's rough me friend, rough." He countered. Racetrack put his hand on his chin thoughtfully then spoke again. "Well Jackie boy! Ya fight wit' da Delancys every day! Why cain't ya fight wit' love? Dat's simple enough!" Racetrack said, trying to keep back his laughter. Jack laughed with him and placed his arm around his friend's back. "C'mon! We're lookin' like a bunch o'idiots standin' out here tawkin' 'bout beatin' up love! I'll watch, maybe I'll join in, but don't count on it boys!" Jack warned as the laughing group walked into the theater.
As the boys took their places in the theater, Medda took the stage accompanied by shouts and cheers from the boys. Medda's laughing green eyes looked upon the group with pleasure. She saw Jack and her eyes faltered a moment, then she waved to them and smiled. "Welcome all of you!" She shouted across the din. "You all are welcome to do as you like. All I ask is that you don't rip up the furniture and tables!" She said with a laugh. The boys roared and one boy pretended like he was going to upset his table, much to Medda's amusement. "Shall we have some singing?" Medda was answered with an affirmative yell and she began to sing with a smile, inviting the boys and girls alike to come up on stage with her.
Jack grinned and couldn't restrain himself from running up to the stage. "Atta boy Cowboy!" Racetrack yelled before Jack disappeared out of earshot. Jack turned and grinned. "Hey Medda! How ya been?" He whispered in her ear as he approached her. She turned to him and smiled. "Nice to see you Jack." She replied. Jack danced and sang for a few moments more before a sight stopped him cold. It was a girl. She was short, much shorter than himself he guessed. She had taken off her Newsie cap and had let her shoulder-length blonde hair fall out across her shoulders. Her gray eyes were dancing as she danced with a fellow Newsie. Jack's heart that had so formerly belonged totally to the ungainable Rosie, went out to this girl in one heartbeat. "Good Lawd. How can I have thought dat Rosie was da most beautiful thing I'd eva seen when dis goil is roamin' around?" He murmured softly, his brown eyes, now alive and full, taking in every aspect of the girl.
Not two boys away, Spot Conlon's sharp ears picked up the tone of Jack's voice. He didn't hear what was said, but he knew the speaker. He stood up from the table and stormed up to the stage where the Newsies were dancing. But he was stopped by none other than Medda. "What are ya doin' Medda? I gotta get through." Spot said angrily. Medda's green eyes were concerned as she looked the Brooklyn leader over. "What's the matter Spot? You are upset." She said. Spot rolled his eyes. "Real intuitive aren't ya Medda? Of course I'm upset! Dat thievin' rascal Jack Kelly is here!" Spot hissed angrily. "I know. Let him be." Medda replied. "Let him be?!! But Medda," Spot began again.
"You listen here Spot, he won't harm you. He hasn't yet has he? Or any of your boys? No, he hasn't. He has held himself up as a gentleman and hasn't laid a finger on any of you in anger or revenge. Now leave him be." She said firmly. "But Medda, it's a disgrace on me an' my boys ta have him here." Spot replied, his anger still detectable in his voice. "Do you own this theater or do I? I do. Now if you persist to go after Jack Kelly and his boys, you will be thrown out. Are we quite understood?" Spot's gray eyes burned into her green ones, but Medda didn't give an inch. "Fine, this one time. But he's gonna regret doin' dis here." Spot growled, backing off the stage and walking out of the theater. Medda gazed after him in disapproval then asked the piano man to play louder in order to hear over the din.
Unaware of his near scrape with Spot, Jack approached the girl and took her hands in his own, startling her. "Kin I have da hona of dancin' wit' ya?" He asked softly. Jewel gazed at his strong hands holding her own, then gazed into his dancing brown eyes. If one believes in love at first sight, believes in the union of two souls in an instant, this is what occured in one fatal glance, when the sister of the leader of Brooklyn, fell in love with the leader of Manhattan. "Ya can, if ya must." She said, being somewhat short of breath. Jack grinned. "I must." The two held each others hands and twirled slowly as the others twirled and whirled quickly around them like pinwheels gone askew in the wind. "Would it be to much of a sin ta kiss ya?" Jack asked, his face turning somewhat red. Jewel blushed and dropped her head, then lifted it, intercepting the boy's kiss.
Jack was surprised that this mysterious girl had even complied to his outrageous request. He had been kissed before. There had been Sarah and various others, but this kiss was different. It was REAL. "Whadja do? Read da book on kissin'?" Jewel asked with a smile as the kiss ended. Jack laughed. "Well, if I did I tink I need ta make sua I did it right." He said, leaning in towards her face again. This second kiss was even more beautiful than the first, plunging the two in the depths of a feeling so strong that they couldn't comprehend the changes that were occurring.
"Um, hey. Yer brudda wants ta know where ya are." An uncomfortable voice spoke from behind them. They turned and Jewel blushed furiously. One of her friends and her brother's, Tinker, stood behind them, face red, obviously embarrased at having broken the two up. "I'll come right away." Jewel said, but not leaving before she had gazed at Jack's face but one more time before hurrying away. As she left, Jack grasped the boy's arm. The boy jumped and Jack was surprised to see fear in his eyes. "Who's her brudda friend?" Jack said in a friendly tone of voice. Tinker relaxed visibly. "Spot Conlon is Jewel's brudda. I gotta go." As Tinker hurried away, Jack stood alone and still, in a state of shock. So soon had he found love, and so soon had it disappeared. He jumped as Kid Blink touched his arm. "C'mon Cowboy! Let's split! Dis is gettin' kinda borin'!" He yelled over the din. Jack nodded, but stood still, watching Jewel walk away from him.
Jewel looked back behind her and her hand caught Tinker's rough one. "Tinker, who's dat? I ain't neva seen him befoa. I jest hope he ain't got a goil." She muttered under her breath. Tinker looked back at Jack and then turned back to her. "Oh Jewel, dat's Jack Kelly, da leada of Manhattan, yer brudda's enemy." Tinker said, his eyes reflecting his inner turmoil. Jewel reacted much as Jack had. She stood still and cold, a feeling that no fire could ever warm her again. "Why is fate so cruel ta me! My enemy is da only one I kin eva love." She whispered, tears coming up against her gray eyes.