As soon as I had gotten control of my tears I stopped washing my face and finished washing my shirt. Well lemme tell you my nose had stopped bleeding but it still hurt. I searched the washroom and found a cigar that Cards must have taken out of his pocket at one point. I walked over to the window to go out on the fire escape to light up when I heard voices. It was Cards and Eric. I sat down on the floor and decided to listen a bit, they were talking about me.
"You know Cards, I just don't get Kelly," Eric said. I made a mentally note to kill him later for using my real name.
"Yeah, what did you'se do ta get her all ticked anyhow?" Cards asked. I heard Eric let out a sigh.
"I donno, one minute we were talking on the bridge and the next minute she's shoved me down and told me to go to hell."
"Well what were you'se guys talkin' about?" Cards asked and I heard him let out a long breath. He had probably just taken a drag from his cigarette.
"Uh….us, if we were ever gonna turn into anything, oh yeah then I almost kissed her."
"HOLY SHIT!" Cards exclaimed shocked. I knew he never had expected Eric to make the first move, he'd always thought it'd be me. "Good job Rusty!"
"I said almost, then I told her I was thinking about taking your sister to the party tonight," Eric said. I imaged him running his hand through his hair like he always did when something big and bad happened.
"Well then there you go!" Cards shouted. "You'se don't just go and almost kiss a girl den go and talk about another one."
"Yeah, I know but I donno what to do. I mean I like your sister a lot, but now…" Eric trailed off.
"Now you'se startin' ta see dat I was right, you'se are head-over-heels for 'Fingers," Cards said.
"Yeah, and I donno what to do. I mean Kelly…she my best friend and I don't want to ruin that. But then…ARG! I donno what to do!"
"Sounds like to me that 'Fingers likes you'se too."
"How do you'se get dat?" Eric asked surprised.
"Well she would have soaked ya when you almost kissed her for one thing and for another if she didn't like you'se she wouldn't have told you off and den gone inta Brooklyn, trust me."
"Your right," Eric said.
"'Course I'se am," Cards interrupted.
"I'll talk with her when she's clamed down some, thanks Daniel." I heard Eric go back inside.
"Hey wait a minute! How'd you'se know my real name? Why'd you'se used it you scabber!" Cards shouted in a joking manner. I heard him climb back through the window and shut it behind him.
I stayed where I was on the floor and began to think things through for the first time that day. Ok so yeah I had made some bad choices. Why did I hit on Jed when Rover was so much better looking? But that wasn't the point. The point was now I had almost ruined my friendship with Eric. I rolled the cigar around in my fingers and finally decided to go and talk to Eric. I was standing up and getting ready to head out and find Eric when he came into the washroom. I could tell he was a bit uncomfortable being around me and personally I don't blame him.
"Eric, uhhh I'se was just commin' ta look for you'se…" I started to say when he cut me off.
"Fingers."
"I'se sorry about all I've done taday, it wasn't very smart…"
"Light Fingers!" I continued to ignore him and kept going with what I needed to say.
"I'se really sorry about that whole fight with Jed. I'se mean dat black must really hurt and I mean Jed? Rover is so much better lookin'! I donno what I'se was thinkin'…"
Eric had crossed his arms over his chest and a smile was playing across his face. I could tell, just by the way he was standing there, that he understood that I was sorry.
"KELLY!"
"WHAT?"
"Your Dad's gonna be at the train station soon, and I'm thinking you should go, cause I mean he is you Dad," Eric said grinning. He was leaning against the doorframe and laughed when my jaw dropped.
"Dad! I'se completely forgot!" I ran out of the washroom but backtracked and stood in front of Eric. "Thanks," I said and gave him a hug. "See you'se later!" I shouted as I ran out of the washroom.
Shortly I was out of the Lodging House and was running down the street. If I ran to the corner on the next block I could probably hop on the back of a trolley or carriage. They were always stopping at the corner to pick something up from the store, and the trolleys stopped there cause well….it was a trolley stop. I hopped in the back of the trolley and rode it all the way to Grand Central. When I arrived people were already filing out of a train. I pushed my way through the people to a bench and stood up on it. Yeah so it could have been the wrong train and I was looking around for no reason right? Well lucky for me it wasn't the wrong train. But then a thought hit me…what if I didn't recognize my Dad?
I had started to panic a bit when I heard someone calling my name. I jumped off the bench and made my way towards the voice. Then standing there in front of my was my Dad. We stood there for a few minutes before I smiled and tackled him in a hug bear hug.
"I'se so glad your home," I said, my voice muffled by his coat.
"Me too," My dad said as he returned the hug. I let him go grinning and took his hand in mine. I was so happy he was back. I felt like I was ten years old and there wasn't a worry in the world; my dad was here.
"So what are you'se hungry or anythin'?" I asked as we walked out of the train station. "Is dat all you'se brought?" I looked down and saw Dad only held one suitcase in his hand.
"No, I need Davy to help me get the rest of my things later, they're coming on a different train," Dad explained.
"Alright, so oh hey! I'll take you ta met all me friends!" I exclaimed. I wore a huge smile across my face that hadn't left since I had seen my father.
"Sure thing kiddo."
For the rest of the day I took Dad all around Manhattan to show him where I hung out and where my friends selling spots were and so he could meet the rest of the newsies. It was a bout an hour before the party was supposed to start when I sent Dad off to Uncle Dave. Everything was working out fine. Dad needed to get his stuff and I needed to help set up for the party. I sprinted off to Irving Hall as soon as Dad was outta sight. When I arrived I found the place overrun with the old newsies. All of the one's Dad used to hang out with where there, fixing the place up. I found Spot right in the middle of it all telling people where to put things and all. Yes Spot's name was Luke but to me he was Uncle Spot. I actually didn't know any of the old newsies real names. I knew Racetrack was Mr. Higgins and Spot was Luke but that was about it.
"Hey Spot!" I shouted over all the noise as I made my way towards him.
"Hey Fingers! How's your Dad?" Spot asked as he did a spit shake with me. Spot was now oddly enough running for mayor. Which actually suited him if you ask me. Brooklyn, especially the leader, always knew what was going on before anyone else did, so it made since that Spot should be mayor.
"Dad's fine, sent him off wid Dave a few minutes ago," I answered. "Looks like you'se got everthin' under control."
"And would I not?" Spot asked smirking. "You go and find Rover, Eric and Cards, they're around here somewhere."
I made my way around the theater looking for the others and groaned when I found them. There was Cards and Rover like Spot had said and with them was Annie who had made herself quite comfortable next to Eric…practically in his lap…and Jed who grinned when he saw me.
"Hey Fingers," Jed greeted as he walked up to me and slid his arm around my waist. I inwardly winced. What had I gotten myself into?
"Hey Jed," I said plastering a fake smile on my face. Eric watched us carefully and was ignoring, or maybe he didn't even hear, Annie who was trying to get him to go off into some dark corner. Ok she wasn't saying it out right like that but you could tell it's what she wanted.
"Hey Fingers," Rover said as more and more newsies and ex-newsies began to arrive for the party. "Why didn't you'se bring your Pop by Brooklyn?"
"Gee Rover I'se donno," I said rolling my eyes, "It's kind-a a far walk and I'se already been dere once taday…two times is way too much if you'se ask me." I said grinning. Of course I was lying. I love Brooklyn like I've said before but I knew Eric hated it so for his sake once a day was enough.
We all began to talk and a lot of our friends joined us as we waited for my father to arrive. Cards watched Eric and me closely. I knew he was keeping that afternoon in mind and I knew he wanted to see what would happen. Jed kept trying to pull me onto the dance floor to dance since the music had already started or he kept trying to get me to go 'somewhere where we'se could have fun'. I ignored him and eventually he gave up and went off to find some other girl. I was starting to have a good time when my Dad come in and stood up on the stage. Uncle Dave came and stood beside me, he had a worried look on his face.
"This isn't going to be good," He whispered down to me. I looked up at him confused and was about to ask what wasn't when Dad started speaking. He said his hellos and all that stuff then he began to add more.
"As you all know I've been out West for the past couple of years, and while I was out there I met someone who's now very special to me…" I stood there in shock. What was he talking about? Someone special? I didn't hear to much of the rest of the speech but a few words popped out at me, especially when a young woman holding a baby and a kid my age came and stood next to my Dad. "This is my new wife, Mary her son Matt and our son Jack."
(( ok yes I know I'm so evil a cliff hanger…and Jack has a new kid? And a new wife? Huh if I was fingers I'd hate him for sure…well maybe not HATE but be REALLY mad. Anyway finally I'm on the internet the same time I'm writing this so I can finally thank everyone who's reviewed.
And here they are…
THANK YOU!!!
Drama-Queen
Autmn
Kora
Jo
Rede
LuckyYou
Undecided
Hica Lynn
i3Lu3xDi2AgOn
Dust of Snow
Emerald Tears
Martini
Amanda
Sarah
Agent Hotpants
T.H
completeopposites
Anne K. Letoile
And that's it… so thanks everyone!