Author's Note: Ok, peoples, dis is da last chaptah!!!! Yay!! The next story
in this story is Raising the Stakes. Oh, and everyone please please please
read the bottom thing about the Uptown LH. Thanks to Slick, Amber and Vix
for replying already!
Shoutouts:
Tiger-thanks!
Slick- It's hard to make it realistic, but I'm glad it seems so to you. Thanks! An', heah, I hope this is soon enough.. (
Irish Fury- Don't worry, her life gets bettah!
Amber- Thanks!
Spark- Why didn't you stay on? We could have gotten finally to the point where everything is practically done! Oh, I worked on the Newsie Woild one a bit, as well as Uptown. Check! Oh, gracias!
Vix- Cliffhangers are evil..I updated fairly quick, don'tcha think?
Drama-Queen - I know, it's sad, but I had to get everyone's hopes up and then make 'em come crashing down, it's fun! Bettah let ya read it befoah I give away anything!
Sweets-Keep reading the stories, an' you'll find out what happens aftah Paving the Way.
Chapter 10:
Kid Blink sat on Calli's old bunk with his head in his hands. "We were so close," he groaned.
The rest of the newsies were similarly depressed. Brooklyn had gone back to, well, Brooklyn, declaring that they had done their part and Manhattan needed to figure this one out on their one. Spot had, however, sent Ropes to stay with them until they managed to free Calli, if they ever did.
Jack slipped his cowboy hat off, letting it hang from his neck. He leaned his forehead against the wall and sighed, wondering inwardly, *Is it woith it?*
~*~*~*~*~
Calli walked slowly up the Lodging House stairs, taking pleasure in the soil that was quickly staining the hem of her expensive dress.
She reached the top of the stairs and turned to her right, entering the bunkroom for what would, sadly, be her last time. *Heah goes.*
"Hey, everyone." Heads popped up and astonishment and disbelief was written on their faces. Several jumped up to run to her, but she held her hand out, stopping them.
"Now, before you start off, I want to say that I thankyou very much for trying to 'rescue me' from Hearst, but really, it wasn't necessary. I'm quite happy with him. In fact,"
Calli swallowed, forcing herself to say the lie realistically. She avoided Racetrack and Kid Blink's eyes, focusing on the wall across the room.
"In fact, tomorrow I'm heading to Maryland. I'm going to marry a man named Robert Ogden. He's a businessman, and I'm sure we'll be very happy together. But it doesn't really matter. As long as he's rich, I'll be fine."
Several newsies sucked in their breath at this, looking distastefully at her beautiful garments now.
"Now that's about all I have to say. It's been nice to stay here, to see how you live, but I must honestly say I'm glad I was born in a higher class.
"Thankyou all for everything over the past few months. Goodbye!" Calli smiled coldly and left the room quickly, not wanting to see her friend's reactions to her cold behavior.
~*~*~*~*~
Calli crossed her arms in front of her chest and sunk lower into the cushions. She was about to begin the worst ride of her life. She rubbed a circle in the dusty train window and watched the station workers loading baggage aboard. Back and forth, back and forth, their life was one big monotonous circle, but they still could do what they want. She wasn't even allowed to be a nobody streetrat.
Calli darted a quick glance at Hearst, sitting calmly across from her reading the morning newspaper. He had probably bought it off of a newsie she knew..Calli still had the first newspaper edition she had ever sold. She had kept it for memories sake, and now she was taking it to Maryland with her.
Calli thought she could read it on the train, to pass the time away.
"Where's my handbag?" She asked abruptly, breaking the cold silence.
Hearst blinked and kept reading, answering her vaguely, "I don't know. It was your responsibility."
Calli sat up and looked out the window. Green, red, black, black, brown, white, brown, leather, blue.blue! There it was.
A man walked over to the pile her bag was on and started to load them up to put them in the room.
Calli jumped up, "I'll be right back. I'm gonna go get it." She hurried out of the room, hearing Hearst call after her,
"Don't be long!"
*As if he cares.*
~*~*~*~*~
Calli ran up to the station worker. "Wait! That's my bag!"
The man looked up, "I know, miss, we're going to put it on the train and it'll go with you."
Calli stomped her foot impatiently, "No, I know that, but I wanna take it on the train with me, okay?"
"Alright, miss, that was all you had to say." He said, handing her the bag and leaving with the rest of the luggage.
Calli bit her lip, feeling slightly guilty she had been so short. She walked over to the train platform, hesitatingly. *I suppose I should apologize..I don't know why, but I really feel I have to.*
Calli sighed and walked back over to the man, "Um, sir? I'm."
"Extry, extry! House destroyed by army a ants! Ownahs say house was dere one second an' gone da next!"
Calli stopped, closing her eyes. *Not now, please.*
The station worker glanced at his watch and moved away, getting back to work.
"Moiderah on da loose! Dozen killed already, an' govanment officials are makin' no move ta stop him!"
Calli opened her eyes, stunned when she caught a glimpse of Kid Blink in the crowd. *Calm down. Of course he's heah, this is where you used to sell, isn't it?*, her rational side told her.
*But I can't let him see me, he hates me now!* she responded, panicked.
*And why is that?*
*Because I told them I was too good for them and I deserted them.*
*Why?*
Calli was silent. Why had she done it? The lodging houses and the newsies going to jail, of course. But why hadn't she merely told them the truth, instead of a lie she knew would hurt them?
Calli saw Blink again and set her jaw. Well, she would simply go up to him and tell him the truth. He would understand, and if he didn't, well, she was leaving forever, and at least she had tried.
~*~*~*~*~
Kid Blink yelled out another headline, letting out all his anger. He hated Calli. He hated her using them, using HIM, and leaving to marry some dumb rich guy. Especially for leaving, though he hated to think that she was that important to him.
Kid Blink thanked a woman and all of a sudden came face to face with the object of his hatred as he turned around. He gritted his teeth and looked her over. Rich blue dress, white gloves, hair twisted up with a few pieces hanging down.it was hard to believe she had ever worn his dirty, ragged shirts, pants and suspenders. She looked too good for that now.
"Whaddya want?" he snapped, shifting his newspapers from hand to hand.
Calli was nervous. He could see that in the way she pulled at her gloves and avoided his eyes. Suddenly she stopped and looked straight up into his eyes, "Blink.I didn't mean it."
Kid Blink ignored the hope he felt, and asked harshly, "What?"
"I didn't mean it. I lied. I don't care about riches or wealth, or dresses, or balls, or mansions. I care about people, Blink. I care about the newsies. I hate Hearst. Oh, I hate him so much," she clenched her fist defiantly.
"Why did ya say it den?" Blink said, swallowing. She was using him again, toying with his emotions.
"Cause.well, he."
Kid Blink stared at her, "Why, Calli?"
She looked up and half-smiled at hearing him say her name. "He said he'd burn down all the Lodging Houses and send all the newsies to jail if there was any more rescue attempts," she said at last.
He laughed, shaking his head, "You believed him? Calli, t'ink about it. He sends us ta da refuge, who's gonna sell da papes? It'll cost him tons a money ta find laborers willin' ta do it, an' rebuildin' Lodgin' Houses will take a lot a time an' money, which I don't t'ink he's willin' ta give. He wouldn't boin dem down."
Calli stared at him, "You serious?"
He nodded, smiling. She frowned, then grinned in relief, "Well, why am I wearing this then?"
He started laughing again, "I dunno, especially considerin' yer train jist left wit'out youse."
"What?!" She asked panicked, whirling around. Sure enough, the train bound to Maryland was already becoming a distant speck. "What am I gonna do now?"
Blink raised his eyebrows, "Do? Yer gonna come live wit' us again."
She bit her lip, "Blink? I'm a girl. Besides, I doubt Jack would allow it."
"He already has. Membah when he was talkin' ta you but was interrupted by da bulls? He was gonna ask if youse wanted ta come back."
She started to smile, opening her mouth, but he cut her off. "'Sides, Kloppman is movin' all his boxes an' stuff out of da spare room, ya know da one at da end a da hallway? Yep, well, we're gonna make dat inta yer room, an' who knows? We may get uddah goil newsies, an' it's big enough fer a goil bunkroom."
Calli winced inwardly. She somehow doubted she was ready for other girls to move in with 'her' boys, but as Blink said, who knows what the future holds?
She darted a look up at him. He looked so cute, his blonde hair in complete disarray and his one good eye looking at her, curious. A mischievous smile formed on her lips.yes, anything could happen.
THE END
..for now
A.N.- Next story is Raising the Stakes, and yes, it does have Calli in it (man, I have a whole other story to write before I can post up my pet story, darn it! hehehehe. Keeping Up the Act is my pet story, and I already posted the first chapter in it cause I love it so much, then I restrained myself, and now I've decided to do them in order) REVIEW!!!!!!! Pretty please, just think, this is your last opportunity to review Paving The Way..
OH! Wait! If you didn't already see it, I'll tell you again. The Uptown Lodging House. It's me and Spark's second newsie website, an' we just started it. Unfortunately we can't really post it up until we get some lodgers, cause there's an entire page about them, an' me and her will be writing our joint series on the lodgers in the Uptown LH an' they'll be really important. So if you've read her stuff, and mine, and you like it, just think, you could be one of our characters. So if you're interested in being a lodger, ask us in a review (include your email) and we'll send you the application. And if you don't like the website once it's posted and you see it, we can just take you off. But I think you will.. (of course I would, but just check!) Thanks, and remembah ta review!!!!!!
Farewell, faithful Paving The Way readers and reviewers!!!!
From, yours faithfully,
Ciara Lewis a.k.a Queen
Shoutouts:
Tiger-thanks!
Slick- It's hard to make it realistic, but I'm glad it seems so to you. Thanks! An', heah, I hope this is soon enough.. (
Irish Fury- Don't worry, her life gets bettah!
Amber- Thanks!
Spark- Why didn't you stay on? We could have gotten finally to the point where everything is practically done! Oh, I worked on the Newsie Woild one a bit, as well as Uptown. Check! Oh, gracias!
Vix- Cliffhangers are evil..I updated fairly quick, don'tcha think?
Drama-Queen - I know, it's sad, but I had to get everyone's hopes up and then make 'em come crashing down, it's fun! Bettah let ya read it befoah I give away anything!
Sweets-Keep reading the stories, an' you'll find out what happens aftah Paving the Way.
Chapter 10:
Kid Blink sat on Calli's old bunk with his head in his hands. "We were so close," he groaned.
The rest of the newsies were similarly depressed. Brooklyn had gone back to, well, Brooklyn, declaring that they had done their part and Manhattan needed to figure this one out on their one. Spot had, however, sent Ropes to stay with them until they managed to free Calli, if they ever did.
Jack slipped his cowboy hat off, letting it hang from his neck. He leaned his forehead against the wall and sighed, wondering inwardly, *Is it woith it?*
~*~*~*~*~
Calli walked slowly up the Lodging House stairs, taking pleasure in the soil that was quickly staining the hem of her expensive dress.
She reached the top of the stairs and turned to her right, entering the bunkroom for what would, sadly, be her last time. *Heah goes.*
"Hey, everyone." Heads popped up and astonishment and disbelief was written on their faces. Several jumped up to run to her, but she held her hand out, stopping them.
"Now, before you start off, I want to say that I thankyou very much for trying to 'rescue me' from Hearst, but really, it wasn't necessary. I'm quite happy with him. In fact,"
Calli swallowed, forcing herself to say the lie realistically. She avoided Racetrack and Kid Blink's eyes, focusing on the wall across the room.
"In fact, tomorrow I'm heading to Maryland. I'm going to marry a man named Robert Ogden. He's a businessman, and I'm sure we'll be very happy together. But it doesn't really matter. As long as he's rich, I'll be fine."
Several newsies sucked in their breath at this, looking distastefully at her beautiful garments now.
"Now that's about all I have to say. It's been nice to stay here, to see how you live, but I must honestly say I'm glad I was born in a higher class.
"Thankyou all for everything over the past few months. Goodbye!" Calli smiled coldly and left the room quickly, not wanting to see her friend's reactions to her cold behavior.
~*~*~*~*~
Calli crossed her arms in front of her chest and sunk lower into the cushions. She was about to begin the worst ride of her life. She rubbed a circle in the dusty train window and watched the station workers loading baggage aboard. Back and forth, back and forth, their life was one big monotonous circle, but they still could do what they want. She wasn't even allowed to be a nobody streetrat.
Calli darted a quick glance at Hearst, sitting calmly across from her reading the morning newspaper. He had probably bought it off of a newsie she knew..Calli still had the first newspaper edition she had ever sold. She had kept it for memories sake, and now she was taking it to Maryland with her.
Calli thought she could read it on the train, to pass the time away.
"Where's my handbag?" She asked abruptly, breaking the cold silence.
Hearst blinked and kept reading, answering her vaguely, "I don't know. It was your responsibility."
Calli sat up and looked out the window. Green, red, black, black, brown, white, brown, leather, blue.blue! There it was.
A man walked over to the pile her bag was on and started to load them up to put them in the room.
Calli jumped up, "I'll be right back. I'm gonna go get it." She hurried out of the room, hearing Hearst call after her,
"Don't be long!"
*As if he cares.*
~*~*~*~*~
Calli ran up to the station worker. "Wait! That's my bag!"
The man looked up, "I know, miss, we're going to put it on the train and it'll go with you."
Calli stomped her foot impatiently, "No, I know that, but I wanna take it on the train with me, okay?"
"Alright, miss, that was all you had to say." He said, handing her the bag and leaving with the rest of the luggage.
Calli bit her lip, feeling slightly guilty she had been so short. She walked over to the train platform, hesitatingly. *I suppose I should apologize..I don't know why, but I really feel I have to.*
Calli sighed and walked back over to the man, "Um, sir? I'm."
"Extry, extry! House destroyed by army a ants! Ownahs say house was dere one second an' gone da next!"
Calli stopped, closing her eyes. *Not now, please.*
The station worker glanced at his watch and moved away, getting back to work.
"Moiderah on da loose! Dozen killed already, an' govanment officials are makin' no move ta stop him!"
Calli opened her eyes, stunned when she caught a glimpse of Kid Blink in the crowd. *Calm down. Of course he's heah, this is where you used to sell, isn't it?*, her rational side told her.
*But I can't let him see me, he hates me now!* she responded, panicked.
*And why is that?*
*Because I told them I was too good for them and I deserted them.*
*Why?*
Calli was silent. Why had she done it? The lodging houses and the newsies going to jail, of course. But why hadn't she merely told them the truth, instead of a lie she knew would hurt them?
Calli saw Blink again and set her jaw. Well, she would simply go up to him and tell him the truth. He would understand, and if he didn't, well, she was leaving forever, and at least she had tried.
~*~*~*~*~
Kid Blink yelled out another headline, letting out all his anger. He hated Calli. He hated her using them, using HIM, and leaving to marry some dumb rich guy. Especially for leaving, though he hated to think that she was that important to him.
Kid Blink thanked a woman and all of a sudden came face to face with the object of his hatred as he turned around. He gritted his teeth and looked her over. Rich blue dress, white gloves, hair twisted up with a few pieces hanging down.it was hard to believe she had ever worn his dirty, ragged shirts, pants and suspenders. She looked too good for that now.
"Whaddya want?" he snapped, shifting his newspapers from hand to hand.
Calli was nervous. He could see that in the way she pulled at her gloves and avoided his eyes. Suddenly she stopped and looked straight up into his eyes, "Blink.I didn't mean it."
Kid Blink ignored the hope he felt, and asked harshly, "What?"
"I didn't mean it. I lied. I don't care about riches or wealth, or dresses, or balls, or mansions. I care about people, Blink. I care about the newsies. I hate Hearst. Oh, I hate him so much," she clenched her fist defiantly.
"Why did ya say it den?" Blink said, swallowing. She was using him again, toying with his emotions.
"Cause.well, he."
Kid Blink stared at her, "Why, Calli?"
She looked up and half-smiled at hearing him say her name. "He said he'd burn down all the Lodging Houses and send all the newsies to jail if there was any more rescue attempts," she said at last.
He laughed, shaking his head, "You believed him? Calli, t'ink about it. He sends us ta da refuge, who's gonna sell da papes? It'll cost him tons a money ta find laborers willin' ta do it, an' rebuildin' Lodgin' Houses will take a lot a time an' money, which I don't t'ink he's willin' ta give. He wouldn't boin dem down."
Calli stared at him, "You serious?"
He nodded, smiling. She frowned, then grinned in relief, "Well, why am I wearing this then?"
He started laughing again, "I dunno, especially considerin' yer train jist left wit'out youse."
"What?!" She asked panicked, whirling around. Sure enough, the train bound to Maryland was already becoming a distant speck. "What am I gonna do now?"
Blink raised his eyebrows, "Do? Yer gonna come live wit' us again."
She bit her lip, "Blink? I'm a girl. Besides, I doubt Jack would allow it."
"He already has. Membah when he was talkin' ta you but was interrupted by da bulls? He was gonna ask if youse wanted ta come back."
She started to smile, opening her mouth, but he cut her off. "'Sides, Kloppman is movin' all his boxes an' stuff out of da spare room, ya know da one at da end a da hallway? Yep, well, we're gonna make dat inta yer room, an' who knows? We may get uddah goil newsies, an' it's big enough fer a goil bunkroom."
Calli winced inwardly. She somehow doubted she was ready for other girls to move in with 'her' boys, but as Blink said, who knows what the future holds?
She darted a look up at him. He looked so cute, his blonde hair in complete disarray and his one good eye looking at her, curious. A mischievous smile formed on her lips.yes, anything could happen.
THE END
..for now
A.N.- Next story is Raising the Stakes, and yes, it does have Calli in it (man, I have a whole other story to write before I can post up my pet story, darn it! hehehehe. Keeping Up the Act is my pet story, and I already posted the first chapter in it cause I love it so much, then I restrained myself, and now I've decided to do them in order) REVIEW!!!!!!! Pretty please, just think, this is your last opportunity to review Paving The Way..
OH! Wait! If you didn't already see it, I'll tell you again. The Uptown Lodging House. It's me and Spark's second newsie website, an' we just started it. Unfortunately we can't really post it up until we get some lodgers, cause there's an entire page about them, an' me and her will be writing our joint series on the lodgers in the Uptown LH an' they'll be really important. So if you've read her stuff, and mine, and you like it, just think, you could be one of our characters. So if you're interested in being a lodger, ask us in a review (include your email) and we'll send you the application. And if you don't like the website once it's posted and you see it, we can just take you off. But I think you will.. (of course I would, but just check!) Thanks, and remembah ta review!!!!!!
Farewell, faithful Paving The Way readers and reviewers!!!!
From, yours faithfully,
Ciara Lewis a.k.a Queen