Author's Note: Well, there should be only about two chapters left after
this one. I've already basically finished the one directly after this, and
if you review a lot, I might even post it up before I'm completely finished
with the last one. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed..
Valeria: Here's more, and fairly fast too!
Amber: I wrote more!
Slick: Thanx for the advice, I kept that in mind while writing this chap.
Mist: I hate cliffhangers too. But, well, I love writing them! (it gets great reviews)
Irish Fury: yep, hehe
Drama Queen: Yeah, I know, it was a relief to finally be able to have them know the truth, it was getting kinda old having her be a guy.
Spark: I reviewed yours, madear, now it's your turn! (Oh, I got past that huge writer's block I had on this story, finally!)
Chapter 8:
The room was absolutely silent as she left. Kid Blink stood looking stunned at the door. I knew somet'in' wasn't right 'bout him, but.ya idiot, Blink! It was so obvious.an' he-she's one a me best friends.He slowly turned around and looked at the other newsies.
Half of them looked furious, a fourth just still looked stunned, and another fourth were getting slick looks on their faces that meant that whatever they were thinking, it couldn't be good. A handful gave a low whistle, but were cut off by Jack.
He turned on Race and Blink angrily.
"Did youse know 'bout her?"
Race shook his head adamantly, and Kid Blink just stared at the door.
"Blink?"
Kid Blink slowly shook his head. The rest of the newsies began to come back to life, raising eyebrows and saying that they had known it all along.
Jack raised his face to the sky, throwing up his hands and groaning. "Oh, why me? A goil newsie!"
Kid Blink automatically came to her defense. "Hey, she was a good newsie!"
"But she was a goil! Dere aren't any goil newsies! Well, besides Michaela."
Kid Blink rocked back on his heels and whispered, "DAT'S why she was so interested in Michaela!"
Race lit a cigar and walked out of the room, muttering to himself. Jack sighed in annoyance and anger and turned to Kid Blink.
"Oh, boy."
~*~*~*~*~
Calli ran down the street blindly, bumping in to people as she went.
"Hey, watch it!"
"Watch where you're going!"
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Streetrat!"
Calli tripped off the curb and fell into the street. She sobbed uncontrollably, curled up in an unrecognizable heap. Suddenly, a carriage came into view and she looked up at it carelessly, tears streaming down her cheeks. *I've lost the only friends I've ever had, who I never really had, because they didn't know who I was,* she was beginning to think illogically, and came to the only possible conclusion. *Oh, I just want to die. Run me over and get rid of all my troubles, God, please!
The carriage got closer and the driver didn't see her. Those nearest who could see her cried out in alarm at the miserable girl in the middle of the street who sat completely still, waiting for the impact.
~*~*~*~*~
Jack jumped up. "Callicia!"
"Huh?" The newsies' heads swiveled around to him and Kid Blink grabbed his arm.
"What?"
Jack grinned excitedly, his voice raising. "When we were running, the police and Hearst were shouting, Callicia! I didn't pay much attention, but that's her name! Curt is Callicia!"
Kid Blink sank back onto the pillow, rubbing his eyes, a curious satisfied feeling combining with the frustration. *Geez, that definitely sound high-class and stuck-up.*
He gave a small grin and thought, *It fits.*
~*~*~*~*~
Calli closed her eyes and sadly smiled. The carriage was inches away from her, when a hand showed up out of nowhere and pushed her out of the street. The carriage rumbled past and Calli rolled away.
She sat up in disappointment and her rescuer held his hand out angrily. "GEEZ, GOIL, YOUSE TRYIN' TA GET KILLED?" He asked as she took his hand and pulled herself up. "What were youse t'inkin'?"
She looked up and jumped back. Spot Conlon dropped his cane in surprise and stared at her. "Curt?!"
Calli spun around and ran away. Spot could of caught her in a second, but merely stared at her back and rubbed his eyes. "Geez, Spot, yer seein' t'ings."
But when he looked back, he could still see the last of her hair disappear around the corner. "Okay, Spot." He said, picking up his cane and dusting it off. "Youse gotta go talk to Jack."
~*~*~*~*~
"Jack!" A voice yelled, running up the stairs. Jack jumped up and knocked into Spot as he burst into the room. The other newsies laughed nervously as they picked themselves up off the floor in embarrassment.
Jack turned to Spot. "What?!"
Spot caught his breath and took his time, regaining his composure. He scanned the room and his eyes rested on Kid Blink. "Where's yer friend?"
Kid Blink glanced at Jack, who shook his head at Spot. "Nah-ah. I asked you first."
Spot glared at him and shrugged. "Is dere somet'in' I need to know 'bout Curt?"
The newsies stirred hesitatingly, and Jack shifted to his other foot. "Um.no. Why?"
Spot rolled his eyes and threw his hands up in the air. "Because I jist saw a goil dat looked exactly like him, dat's why!"
Kid Blink asked hurriedly, "Where?"
"Oh, well, it don't mattah." Spot began to slowly walk out of the room, calling back over his shoulder. "It obviously wasn't Curt, if you guys don't t'ink not'in's wrong wit' him."
Jack grabbed his friend's shoulder and dragged him back in the room. "Okay, okay. We jist found out Curt's really a goil. Her name's Callicia. Now, where did you see her?"
Spot smirked and rubbed the top of his cane, enjoying himself. "Well, I came ovah ta talk ta youse, an' I see dis goil cryin' in a heap in da middle of da street. A carriage was comin' right at her an' she was jist watchin' it get closah." He glanced at Jack and his eyes widened dramatically.obviously he was fully enjoying himself. "What was weird, dough, is dat she was smilin'."
Kid Blink, eyes wide, choked out, "What happened?"
"Oh, she was hit."
The newsies looked horrified and Kid Blink gasped. Jack rolled his eyes and raised an eyebrow at Spot.
Spot laughed at the looks on their faces. "Geez, guys, I was jist kiddin'. Youse have absolut'ly no sense a humor."
Various shades of red came into their faces and pillows flew across the room at him.
"I shoved her out of da street jist in time, an' she seemed sorta disappointed. Den she looked up, an' we recognized each udder. She took off."
Kid Blink stood up determinedly. "I have ta find her."
Jack looked him in the eye and then looked around at the other newsies faces. He nodded, "I t'ink we all do."
~*~*~*~*~
Calli ran as far and as fast as she could. When she finally stopped for air, she looked around and gasped, backing away. Why did I run here?!
The white swing swayed back and forth in the breeze, and the red roses growing around the posts began to lose their petals as the wind carried them away.
Calli spun around, taking in all the flowers in the garden. Her garden. The garden that she had always ran to whenever she had a problem. The last time I was here was right after Father died. Why'd I come heah???
Calli froze. A bluebird chirped merrily and Calli heard the soft sound of leaves crunching beneath someone's foot. She spun around and caught a glimpse of Thomas before she blacked out.
~*~*~*~*~
"Okay, Spot, you search around the Refuge. Skittery, Snoddy, you two go to the Central Park. Specs, Dutchy, Tibby's." Race walked into the room, pushed along by Mush.
Jack jumped down from the stool and clapped Race on the back. "Good ta see ya. We're gonna go find Curt. Uh, Callicia."
Race's face lit up and he put out his cigar. "Wheah do I look?"
"You and Mush search da racetrack. Boots, Snaps, near heah, an' Swifty, Pie Eater, an' Itey, City Hall. Me an' Blink will look in deir sellin' place."
Everyone looked at Jack, waiting for any other directions. He threw his hands up, "Whadda ya all waitin' fer? Go, go, go!"
"Okay!"
"See ya!"
Jack stuck his head out the door and called to them, "Ev'rybody meet up at Tibby's in two hours!"
"Awright!"
~*~*~*~*~
Calli opened her eyes and sat up. Blinding pain shot through her head and she groaned, cradling her head in her hands. "Owww."
Several minutes later, once the pain had receded a small bit, she glanced up, and immediately laid her head back down on her knees, rubbing her eyes. Please let this be a dream. This can't be happening.
She braced her shoulders, drew in her breath, and raised her head again. She stared around the office dully, taking in the cigar smoke, the fire, the red sofa, everything. Calli looked down at herself, half expecting to find herself in one of her rich dresses, as if the past several months had only been a bad dream, and she had finally woken up.
A.N. - REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!! The more reviews I get, the quicker it will be posted!
Valeria: Here's more, and fairly fast too!
Amber: I wrote more!
Slick: Thanx for the advice, I kept that in mind while writing this chap.
Mist: I hate cliffhangers too. But, well, I love writing them! (it gets great reviews)
Irish Fury: yep, hehe
Drama Queen: Yeah, I know, it was a relief to finally be able to have them know the truth, it was getting kinda old having her be a guy.
Spark: I reviewed yours, madear, now it's your turn! (Oh, I got past that huge writer's block I had on this story, finally!)
Chapter 8:
The room was absolutely silent as she left. Kid Blink stood looking stunned at the door. I knew somet'in' wasn't right 'bout him, but.ya idiot, Blink! It was so obvious.an' he-she's one a me best friends.He slowly turned around and looked at the other newsies.
Half of them looked furious, a fourth just still looked stunned, and another fourth were getting slick looks on their faces that meant that whatever they were thinking, it couldn't be good. A handful gave a low whistle, but were cut off by Jack.
He turned on Race and Blink angrily.
"Did youse know 'bout her?"
Race shook his head adamantly, and Kid Blink just stared at the door.
"Blink?"
Kid Blink slowly shook his head. The rest of the newsies began to come back to life, raising eyebrows and saying that they had known it all along.
Jack raised his face to the sky, throwing up his hands and groaning. "Oh, why me? A goil newsie!"
Kid Blink automatically came to her defense. "Hey, she was a good newsie!"
"But she was a goil! Dere aren't any goil newsies! Well, besides Michaela."
Kid Blink rocked back on his heels and whispered, "DAT'S why she was so interested in Michaela!"
Race lit a cigar and walked out of the room, muttering to himself. Jack sighed in annoyance and anger and turned to Kid Blink.
"Oh, boy."
~*~*~*~*~
Calli ran down the street blindly, bumping in to people as she went.
"Hey, watch it!"
"Watch where you're going!"
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Streetrat!"
Calli tripped off the curb and fell into the street. She sobbed uncontrollably, curled up in an unrecognizable heap. Suddenly, a carriage came into view and she looked up at it carelessly, tears streaming down her cheeks. *I've lost the only friends I've ever had, who I never really had, because they didn't know who I was,* she was beginning to think illogically, and came to the only possible conclusion. *Oh, I just want to die. Run me over and get rid of all my troubles, God, please!
The carriage got closer and the driver didn't see her. Those nearest who could see her cried out in alarm at the miserable girl in the middle of the street who sat completely still, waiting for the impact.
~*~*~*~*~
Jack jumped up. "Callicia!"
"Huh?" The newsies' heads swiveled around to him and Kid Blink grabbed his arm.
"What?"
Jack grinned excitedly, his voice raising. "When we were running, the police and Hearst were shouting, Callicia! I didn't pay much attention, but that's her name! Curt is Callicia!"
Kid Blink sank back onto the pillow, rubbing his eyes, a curious satisfied feeling combining with the frustration. *Geez, that definitely sound high-class and stuck-up.*
He gave a small grin and thought, *It fits.*
~*~*~*~*~
Calli closed her eyes and sadly smiled. The carriage was inches away from her, when a hand showed up out of nowhere and pushed her out of the street. The carriage rumbled past and Calli rolled away.
She sat up in disappointment and her rescuer held his hand out angrily. "GEEZ, GOIL, YOUSE TRYIN' TA GET KILLED?" He asked as she took his hand and pulled herself up. "What were youse t'inkin'?"
She looked up and jumped back. Spot Conlon dropped his cane in surprise and stared at her. "Curt?!"
Calli spun around and ran away. Spot could of caught her in a second, but merely stared at her back and rubbed his eyes. "Geez, Spot, yer seein' t'ings."
But when he looked back, he could still see the last of her hair disappear around the corner. "Okay, Spot." He said, picking up his cane and dusting it off. "Youse gotta go talk to Jack."
~*~*~*~*~
"Jack!" A voice yelled, running up the stairs. Jack jumped up and knocked into Spot as he burst into the room. The other newsies laughed nervously as they picked themselves up off the floor in embarrassment.
Jack turned to Spot. "What?!"
Spot caught his breath and took his time, regaining his composure. He scanned the room and his eyes rested on Kid Blink. "Where's yer friend?"
Kid Blink glanced at Jack, who shook his head at Spot. "Nah-ah. I asked you first."
Spot glared at him and shrugged. "Is dere somet'in' I need to know 'bout Curt?"
The newsies stirred hesitatingly, and Jack shifted to his other foot. "Um.no. Why?"
Spot rolled his eyes and threw his hands up in the air. "Because I jist saw a goil dat looked exactly like him, dat's why!"
Kid Blink asked hurriedly, "Where?"
"Oh, well, it don't mattah." Spot began to slowly walk out of the room, calling back over his shoulder. "It obviously wasn't Curt, if you guys don't t'ink not'in's wrong wit' him."
Jack grabbed his friend's shoulder and dragged him back in the room. "Okay, okay. We jist found out Curt's really a goil. Her name's Callicia. Now, where did you see her?"
Spot smirked and rubbed the top of his cane, enjoying himself. "Well, I came ovah ta talk ta youse, an' I see dis goil cryin' in a heap in da middle of da street. A carriage was comin' right at her an' she was jist watchin' it get closah." He glanced at Jack and his eyes widened dramatically.obviously he was fully enjoying himself. "What was weird, dough, is dat she was smilin'."
Kid Blink, eyes wide, choked out, "What happened?"
"Oh, she was hit."
The newsies looked horrified and Kid Blink gasped. Jack rolled his eyes and raised an eyebrow at Spot.
Spot laughed at the looks on their faces. "Geez, guys, I was jist kiddin'. Youse have absolut'ly no sense a humor."
Various shades of red came into their faces and pillows flew across the room at him.
"I shoved her out of da street jist in time, an' she seemed sorta disappointed. Den she looked up, an' we recognized each udder. She took off."
Kid Blink stood up determinedly. "I have ta find her."
Jack looked him in the eye and then looked around at the other newsies faces. He nodded, "I t'ink we all do."
~*~*~*~*~
Calli ran as far and as fast as she could. When she finally stopped for air, she looked around and gasped, backing away. Why did I run here?!
The white swing swayed back and forth in the breeze, and the red roses growing around the posts began to lose their petals as the wind carried them away.
Calli spun around, taking in all the flowers in the garden. Her garden. The garden that she had always ran to whenever she had a problem. The last time I was here was right after Father died. Why'd I come heah???
Calli froze. A bluebird chirped merrily and Calli heard the soft sound of leaves crunching beneath someone's foot. She spun around and caught a glimpse of Thomas before she blacked out.
~*~*~*~*~
"Okay, Spot, you search around the Refuge. Skittery, Snoddy, you two go to the Central Park. Specs, Dutchy, Tibby's." Race walked into the room, pushed along by Mush.
Jack jumped down from the stool and clapped Race on the back. "Good ta see ya. We're gonna go find Curt. Uh, Callicia."
Race's face lit up and he put out his cigar. "Wheah do I look?"
"You and Mush search da racetrack. Boots, Snaps, near heah, an' Swifty, Pie Eater, an' Itey, City Hall. Me an' Blink will look in deir sellin' place."
Everyone looked at Jack, waiting for any other directions. He threw his hands up, "Whadda ya all waitin' fer? Go, go, go!"
"Okay!"
"See ya!"
Jack stuck his head out the door and called to them, "Ev'rybody meet up at Tibby's in two hours!"
"Awright!"
~*~*~*~*~
Calli opened her eyes and sat up. Blinding pain shot through her head and she groaned, cradling her head in her hands. "Owww."
Several minutes later, once the pain had receded a small bit, she glanced up, and immediately laid her head back down on her knees, rubbing her eyes. Please let this be a dream. This can't be happening.
She braced her shoulders, drew in her breath, and raised her head again. She stared around the office dully, taking in the cigar smoke, the fire, the red sofa, everything. Calli looked down at herself, half expecting to find herself in one of her rich dresses, as if the past several months had only been a bad dream, and she had finally woken up.
A.N. - REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!! The more reviews I get, the quicker it will be posted!