DISCALIMER: Yada, yada, yada. Newsies belong to Disney. Phoenix, Salsa, and
Clue belong to me, though! Muah ha! Oh, and so does Crow! And Doctor
Reynald too! And Blackjack too! And Runner! And Bricks! And Lightning
Silver Victor!
A.N. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-HaW!!! WE DID IT!!! We broke 100, everybody!!! WOOOOOHOOOO! I'm so happy! Thank you all soooooo MUCH! I LoVeD every single one of your reviews! They made fanfic writing a million times more fun! It's GREAT writing for a WoNdErFuL audience such as youse! AHHHHH, WE BROKE 100!!! I feel like inviting you all to a Newsie strip show. :sinister grin: Muahaahhahaha! I LOVE YOU ALL!!! 100 REVIEWS! And yea, Kirkin, youse were the 100th reviewer! I can't believe it!!! THANKS SO MUCH, GOILS!
Sugar and Spice and A Little Bit of Vice
Clue woke up with a sweet hum buzzing within her head. She felt like she was having a hangover, but as opposed to the drunken weariness common to such things, she instead could only draw pleasure from the experience. She smiled and stretched her arms as far as they could go, still lying on her back. Her insides vibrated with tingling sensations that caused her to wonder what had happened last night. It only took a moment for her to remember, and upon doing so, she blushed fiercely and cast a sideways glance at the broad figure sleeping soundly on her right. Jack Kelly had given her a night to remember. A memory she would always hold dear to her heart. A gift she knew he had been saving for the right girl.
As she reflected on these things, Jack stirred, yawned, and moaned at the thought of another day as a newsie. But then his eyes popped open and he fully awoke with a start, as if another thought had occurred to him suddenly. Needless to say, he had just remembered last night as well. He grinned when he saw Clue still beside him and he pulled her close to him in a great hug. "Morning, love," he whispered into her hair.
Clue giggled and blushed an even darker shade of red. "Morning." She combed his hair so that she could see his grey eyes more clearly. "I love youse." He smiled even wider, making her heart leap.
"I love ya too, hun." He kissed the back of her hand lightly, and then brought his lips to her cheek. "I love ya very, very much."
"It should be like this alls the time," Clue said softly as she leaned her head onto Jack's shoulder. "I want tah be wid youse fer the rest of me life." Silence passed between them and she grew worried. Didn't he feel the same way? She lifted her head to look at him. "Jack? What's the mattah? I thought youse loved me."
"Of coise I love ya! But we'se can't exactly afford tah be together." Her sad expression broke his heart and he had to turn his head to focus on a distant object. He did not want to do this to her now! Why couldn't they just enjoy things for the next few days?
"What are ya talking about?!"
"Clue, ya mean everything tah me, but we'se gotta face the facts. We'se only newsies, barely making a livin each day. How are we'se gunna afford a weddin? I can't even buy youse a wedding ring!"
The girl cupped Jack's face in her hands and kissed him, breaking into a smile halfway through. "Aww, Jack! I'se don't need a ring! Marriage aint about a weddin band, it's about a strong relationship between two people! And since we both love each other, we shouldn't let the fact that we'se broke get in the way." She looked down at the heavy blanket that was covering her and Jack, and ripped off a single thread that dangled from its end. She wrapped the string around the ring finger of her right hand and smiled warmly at him. "This can be me ring if youse care that much about it."
"But it wouldn't be the same," Jack whined. "I want ya tah have sumthin that youse can show people wid pride."
"I'se can show youse off! Yer putting way too much emphasis on this ring." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down on top of her. "Nuthin would make me happier than tah be yer wife. So, we don't gots money, so what? As long as yer heah wid me, I'se gots all I'se needs."
Jack laughed and leaned down to kiss her. The perfect girl. All she cared about were the things that truly mattered. He remembered having gone out with girls who would not even go to dinner with him were he not dressed in a sharp tuxedo, hair combed back like a proper gentleman. But here was Clue, who probably did not care whether she was married in slacks!
"In that case," he said, while planting kisses up and down her neck, "would youse marry me, Clue?"
"YES!!!" Jack could not even laugh at her eagerness, because as soon as the word came out, Clue pressed her lips against his.
* * * * *
"SHIT!!!"
Spot spun around to see if he had carelessly waken up Phoenix and upon seeing that she was still asleep, he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. He searched the pockets of his pants for the fourth time that morning, but could only feel their inner fabric. He threw the pants to the floor and frantically looked about his room for his shirt. Catching sight of it moments later, he snatched it from its resting place and plunged his hand into its front pocket. Nothing.
"Damnit, Damnit, DAMNIT!"
It was official. He had lost Phoenix's wedding ring. He couldn't see how that was possible, though. The ring had always been in the same place for the past days. Why would it be gone now? A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts and he groaned at the intrusion.
"Come in," he said with an exasperated sigh.
The door slipped open and in strolled Runner, his arm in a sling and a wide smile brightening his face. He greatly resembled the Brooklyn leader and the two had often been confused as brothers. "Heya Spot!"
"Heya Run. Listen, I'se kinda busy right now. So if youse could make this quick..."
"Oh, no worries! I'se just came tah ask youse a question that's been on me mind lately." Runner but his lip to hold back the snicker that threatened to burst from his mouth. He was well aware of the fact that Spot might not find the prank at all amusing, but rather annoying. Nevertheless, it was still worth a try. The young newsie dropped to one knee suddenly and opened his good hand to reveal a small ring box. "Spot, would youse marry me?" He could barely finish the question when he lost control of himself and fell onto his back to laugh hysterically.
Spot's eyes widened when he saw the familiar ring and he instantly seized it with a glare. "Ha ha ha. Very funny. What the hell were youse doing wid me ring? I'se was about tah go postal on somebody!"
"Sorry, Conlon. I couldn't resist the temptation! Youse has been staring at the damn thing fer too long now! If you'se don't propose tah the goil, I'se gunna do it meself!"
"Shoah ya will," Spot replied with a roll of his eyes. "Listen, I'll do it when I'se good and ready, alright?"
Runner held up his hand as if under arrest. "Okay, okay, don't go and soak me just cause I'se concerned." He laughed and walked out of the room humming to himself, and closed the door behind him.
Spot looked at Phoenix, still in her own little dream world, and his heart sank. He knew that she loved him, but did she love him enough to marry him? He wasn't sure about that. Sure, she had said that her home was with him, but could he assume that she wanted it to be like that forever? His uncertainty made him shove the ring box back into his pants pocket, for a later date.
* * * * *
"Who'd ya bet on?" Crow leaned forward in her chair as she strained to see the horses that flew down the oblong racing course below.
Race looked down at his ticket and read the name of the horse he had chosen today. He and Crow had taken the day off from selling papers to just relax and maybe win a small amount of money, though in Race's experience, the latter was unlikely. "Lightning Silver Victor."
"What's wid all these weird names? Why can't they's just name the damn horse 'Bob' or 'Pete'? Why's it gots tah be all crazy?"
"I haven't the slightest, love." He laced his fingers with hers and smiled. "But look, 'Ol Silver is in the top five. If he finishes wid that same status, we'se can win a dollar at the least."
Crow laughed and kissed him on the cheek. "Brace yourself, sugah. Wid a dollar, we'se can eat fer a week and treat our friends fer a few meals too!"
They cuddled together closer as the horses neared their last lap. Lightning Silver Victor began to gather speed, and soon, he passed two horses in front of him, kicking up soft dirt into their riders' faces. He was rather scrawny, with a coat that was of the ugliest shade of grey, and that particular day, Race had been the only person to place a bet on him. It wasn't a surprise though. The horse had been on a losing streak for two months now, and eventually, all of its original fans had betrayed it for the younger horses that placed first through third.
"Oh my god! Our horse is in second place now! Race, stand up! Look!!!" The both of them rose to their feet, despite the yells from behind for them to sit back down.
"Holy shit!" Race could not keep his eyes off the track for the next handful of seconds. This could not be happening to him. Things this good never happened to him. In all his years of selling at the tracks, he had never won a bid! This was too good to be true. He grabbed a piece of skin from his arm and pinched as hard as he could, letting out a small yelp in pain. This was not a dream; that was for sure.
"Race!! He's gunna win! He's gunna WIN!!"
"No, don't say that," he said, covering her mouth with his hand. "Youse is gunna jinx it!"
Lightning Silver Victor seemed to have been saving his full potential until now, for just as the finish line was mere yards away, the grey horse broke into the fastest dash anyone present had ever seen an animal partake. His bony legs stretched out to take large leaps and his rough mane glided in the wind like a kite's ribbon. And when everyone was positive that he would only be a runner up that day, Silver showed he had other intentions. In one final prance, he was ahead of the former first-place horse by half a foot, and in a breathtaking moment, he had become the new champion.
Race's jaw dropped open and he almost fell over when Crow jumped on him with a shriek of joy.
"Congratulations, Lightning Silver Victor," a man with a microphone said from the winner's booth below, as he placed a large wreath around the horse's neck. "You have reclaimed the crown for your own finally. We commend you." Turning away from the horse and its jockey, the man faced the bleachers of spectators and made a few announcements. "Remember folks, if you placed a bet on our champion horse today, you better claim your money from the ticket master! The estimated prize money for today's event is....250 dollars!"
Race's eyes rolled back into his head and he passed out cold into Crow's arms.
More To Come!!! THANKS for all the REVIEWS so far! Don't start slacking on me now, okay? SUBMIT some REVIEWS! Tell me what ya thought about this chapter! I'll try to update sooner if I get alotta REVIEWS! Hee hee hee! Just click my favorite button down there on the left and SUBMIT like ya never submitted before. w00t w00t!
A.N. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-HaW!!! WE DID IT!!! We broke 100, everybody!!! WOOOOOHOOOO! I'm so happy! Thank you all soooooo MUCH! I LoVeD every single one of your reviews! They made fanfic writing a million times more fun! It's GREAT writing for a WoNdErFuL audience such as youse! AHHHHH, WE BROKE 100!!! I feel like inviting you all to a Newsie strip show. :sinister grin: Muahaahhahaha! I LOVE YOU ALL!!! 100 REVIEWS! And yea, Kirkin, youse were the 100th reviewer! I can't believe it!!! THANKS SO MUCH, GOILS!
Sugar and Spice and A Little Bit of Vice
Clue woke up with a sweet hum buzzing within her head. She felt like she was having a hangover, but as opposed to the drunken weariness common to such things, she instead could only draw pleasure from the experience. She smiled and stretched her arms as far as they could go, still lying on her back. Her insides vibrated with tingling sensations that caused her to wonder what had happened last night. It only took a moment for her to remember, and upon doing so, she blushed fiercely and cast a sideways glance at the broad figure sleeping soundly on her right. Jack Kelly had given her a night to remember. A memory she would always hold dear to her heart. A gift she knew he had been saving for the right girl.
As she reflected on these things, Jack stirred, yawned, and moaned at the thought of another day as a newsie. But then his eyes popped open and he fully awoke with a start, as if another thought had occurred to him suddenly. Needless to say, he had just remembered last night as well. He grinned when he saw Clue still beside him and he pulled her close to him in a great hug. "Morning, love," he whispered into her hair.
Clue giggled and blushed an even darker shade of red. "Morning." She combed his hair so that she could see his grey eyes more clearly. "I love youse." He smiled even wider, making her heart leap.
"I love ya too, hun." He kissed the back of her hand lightly, and then brought his lips to her cheek. "I love ya very, very much."
"It should be like this alls the time," Clue said softly as she leaned her head onto Jack's shoulder. "I want tah be wid youse fer the rest of me life." Silence passed between them and she grew worried. Didn't he feel the same way? She lifted her head to look at him. "Jack? What's the mattah? I thought youse loved me."
"Of coise I love ya! But we'se can't exactly afford tah be together." Her sad expression broke his heart and he had to turn his head to focus on a distant object. He did not want to do this to her now! Why couldn't they just enjoy things for the next few days?
"What are ya talking about?!"
"Clue, ya mean everything tah me, but we'se gotta face the facts. We'se only newsies, barely making a livin each day. How are we'se gunna afford a weddin? I can't even buy youse a wedding ring!"
The girl cupped Jack's face in her hands and kissed him, breaking into a smile halfway through. "Aww, Jack! I'se don't need a ring! Marriage aint about a weddin band, it's about a strong relationship between two people! And since we both love each other, we shouldn't let the fact that we'se broke get in the way." She looked down at the heavy blanket that was covering her and Jack, and ripped off a single thread that dangled from its end. She wrapped the string around the ring finger of her right hand and smiled warmly at him. "This can be me ring if youse care that much about it."
"But it wouldn't be the same," Jack whined. "I want ya tah have sumthin that youse can show people wid pride."
"I'se can show youse off! Yer putting way too much emphasis on this ring." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down on top of her. "Nuthin would make me happier than tah be yer wife. So, we don't gots money, so what? As long as yer heah wid me, I'se gots all I'se needs."
Jack laughed and leaned down to kiss her. The perfect girl. All she cared about were the things that truly mattered. He remembered having gone out with girls who would not even go to dinner with him were he not dressed in a sharp tuxedo, hair combed back like a proper gentleman. But here was Clue, who probably did not care whether she was married in slacks!
"In that case," he said, while planting kisses up and down her neck, "would youse marry me, Clue?"
"YES!!!" Jack could not even laugh at her eagerness, because as soon as the word came out, Clue pressed her lips against his.
* * * * *
"SHIT!!!"
Spot spun around to see if he had carelessly waken up Phoenix and upon seeing that she was still asleep, he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. He searched the pockets of his pants for the fourth time that morning, but could only feel their inner fabric. He threw the pants to the floor and frantically looked about his room for his shirt. Catching sight of it moments later, he snatched it from its resting place and plunged his hand into its front pocket. Nothing.
"Damnit, Damnit, DAMNIT!"
It was official. He had lost Phoenix's wedding ring. He couldn't see how that was possible, though. The ring had always been in the same place for the past days. Why would it be gone now? A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts and he groaned at the intrusion.
"Come in," he said with an exasperated sigh.
The door slipped open and in strolled Runner, his arm in a sling and a wide smile brightening his face. He greatly resembled the Brooklyn leader and the two had often been confused as brothers. "Heya Spot!"
"Heya Run. Listen, I'se kinda busy right now. So if youse could make this quick..."
"Oh, no worries! I'se just came tah ask youse a question that's been on me mind lately." Runner but his lip to hold back the snicker that threatened to burst from his mouth. He was well aware of the fact that Spot might not find the prank at all amusing, but rather annoying. Nevertheless, it was still worth a try. The young newsie dropped to one knee suddenly and opened his good hand to reveal a small ring box. "Spot, would youse marry me?" He could barely finish the question when he lost control of himself and fell onto his back to laugh hysterically.
Spot's eyes widened when he saw the familiar ring and he instantly seized it with a glare. "Ha ha ha. Very funny. What the hell were youse doing wid me ring? I'se was about tah go postal on somebody!"
"Sorry, Conlon. I couldn't resist the temptation! Youse has been staring at the damn thing fer too long now! If you'se don't propose tah the goil, I'se gunna do it meself!"
"Shoah ya will," Spot replied with a roll of his eyes. "Listen, I'll do it when I'se good and ready, alright?"
Runner held up his hand as if under arrest. "Okay, okay, don't go and soak me just cause I'se concerned." He laughed and walked out of the room humming to himself, and closed the door behind him.
Spot looked at Phoenix, still in her own little dream world, and his heart sank. He knew that she loved him, but did she love him enough to marry him? He wasn't sure about that. Sure, she had said that her home was with him, but could he assume that she wanted it to be like that forever? His uncertainty made him shove the ring box back into his pants pocket, for a later date.
* * * * *
"Who'd ya bet on?" Crow leaned forward in her chair as she strained to see the horses that flew down the oblong racing course below.
Race looked down at his ticket and read the name of the horse he had chosen today. He and Crow had taken the day off from selling papers to just relax and maybe win a small amount of money, though in Race's experience, the latter was unlikely. "Lightning Silver Victor."
"What's wid all these weird names? Why can't they's just name the damn horse 'Bob' or 'Pete'? Why's it gots tah be all crazy?"
"I haven't the slightest, love." He laced his fingers with hers and smiled. "But look, 'Ol Silver is in the top five. If he finishes wid that same status, we'se can win a dollar at the least."
Crow laughed and kissed him on the cheek. "Brace yourself, sugah. Wid a dollar, we'se can eat fer a week and treat our friends fer a few meals too!"
They cuddled together closer as the horses neared their last lap. Lightning Silver Victor began to gather speed, and soon, he passed two horses in front of him, kicking up soft dirt into their riders' faces. He was rather scrawny, with a coat that was of the ugliest shade of grey, and that particular day, Race had been the only person to place a bet on him. It wasn't a surprise though. The horse had been on a losing streak for two months now, and eventually, all of its original fans had betrayed it for the younger horses that placed first through third.
"Oh my god! Our horse is in second place now! Race, stand up! Look!!!" The both of them rose to their feet, despite the yells from behind for them to sit back down.
"Holy shit!" Race could not keep his eyes off the track for the next handful of seconds. This could not be happening to him. Things this good never happened to him. In all his years of selling at the tracks, he had never won a bid! This was too good to be true. He grabbed a piece of skin from his arm and pinched as hard as he could, letting out a small yelp in pain. This was not a dream; that was for sure.
"Race!! He's gunna win! He's gunna WIN!!"
"No, don't say that," he said, covering her mouth with his hand. "Youse is gunna jinx it!"
Lightning Silver Victor seemed to have been saving his full potential until now, for just as the finish line was mere yards away, the grey horse broke into the fastest dash anyone present had ever seen an animal partake. His bony legs stretched out to take large leaps and his rough mane glided in the wind like a kite's ribbon. And when everyone was positive that he would only be a runner up that day, Silver showed he had other intentions. In one final prance, he was ahead of the former first-place horse by half a foot, and in a breathtaking moment, he had become the new champion.
Race's jaw dropped open and he almost fell over when Crow jumped on him with a shriek of joy.
"Congratulations, Lightning Silver Victor," a man with a microphone said from the winner's booth below, as he placed a large wreath around the horse's neck. "You have reclaimed the crown for your own finally. We commend you." Turning away from the horse and its jockey, the man faced the bleachers of spectators and made a few announcements. "Remember folks, if you placed a bet on our champion horse today, you better claim your money from the ticket master! The estimated prize money for today's event is....250 dollars!"
Race's eyes rolled back into his head and he passed out cold into Crow's arms.
More To Come!!! THANKS for all the REVIEWS so far! Don't start slacking on me now, okay? SUBMIT some REVIEWS! Tell me what ya thought about this chapter! I'll try to update sooner if I get alotta REVIEWS! Hee hee hee! Just click my favorite button down there on the left and SUBMIT like ya never submitted before. w00t w00t!