Warning: This story contains adult language, graphic violence, attempted rape, attempted suicide, and sexually explicit themes. Reader's discretion is advised. Rating - R.

Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of the Newsies characters. Apollonia, Giselle, Checkers, and other miscellaneous characters are all mine.

Chapter 2: Old Insecurities and New Interests

Several days later, a familiar face entered the bookstore. "David, what a surprise!" Apollonia exclaimed as David hugged her. "Hello, Giselle."

"Bonjour, Monsieur Jacobs." Giselle said while stocking a shelf with books and trying not to loose her balance. David thought of Giselle as attractive, but did not have the courage to ask her out. Every time he saw her, butterflies would start agitating his stomach. He decided to play it cool, even though he was failing miserably. After the pleasantries, David turned his business back to Apollonia.

"Long time no see. What can I do for you today?"

"I came to see if you had any other books on politics. We are working on a story dealing with the mayor and we need to do some research on bribery tactics. Do you have anything that might help?"

"I could put in an order for some periodicals if you wish." David smiled "That would be great. I'll inform Denton that you will have something. Just let us know when they come in, alright?"

"Will do. Do you need anything else?" David quickly looked at Giselle as she was still busy. He decided to stick around a little longer to try to talk to her. "How about a drink? Sarsaparilla. That will do."

"Very good." As Apollonia prepared a drink for David, David slowly made his way to Giselle, hoping to strike up a conversation.

"A beautiful day we are having, aren't we?" He said nervously. "Oui, it is. Not as cold as it usually is." She said politely. Shaking and scared, David tried to retain his composure.

"So, have you gotten a lot of work done today?"

"Oui. After I finish stacking in these books, I have to make available room in the cabinet. We are waiting for a new shipment of coffee to come and we hope that it sells well. It's from Mexico."

"Mexico. That ought to be interesting. I've never been to Mexico. I only read about it. I heard that it's really beautiful and the people are quite nice." David could not stop tapping his fingers on the counter. His jittery conduct went unnoticed. As he walked towards her casually, he accidentally knocked over a stack of magazines that was nearby. Apollonia quietly chuckled as to not draw attention to her and add to David's embarrassment. Giselle looked over at David with a baffled look in her eyes as he squirmed to gather the magazines and place them back on the counter. "Here, let me help you." She said as she bent down to assist him. David got a closer look at her. She was very pretty with her deep brown curls resting on the back of her neck. They matched her eyes wonderfully. David hoped that she did not notice him staring at her, as he had already made himself look like a fool.

Soon enough, Apollonia appeared with David's drink. She immediately detected his jumpy behavior. "Are you okay, David?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Just anxious, that's all. Thank you." Quickly, he gulped down the beverage.

"Is there anything else you will be needing, David?"

"Yeah, a backbone." He uttered to her.

Apollonia just smiled and giggled. Unable to shake his nervous state, David decided to depart. He waved goodbye to both ladies and left fervently. Apollonia turned back to Giselle.

"Giselle, I think you've just made yourself a brand new friend." Both ladies laughed and proceeded to work.

~

David was about to make his way back to his place. He rented an apartment of moderate expense and could not wait to relax. He wanted to start working on the upcoming story that he and Denton were working on and wanted to finish early for the presses. But he also had his best friend on his mind and decided to make a detour.

David was on his way to the Fenway Warehouse. He made his way through the crates and boxes section to meet a specific employee.

"Jack." He said. Jack turned around after stacking a heavy box on top of another. "How's it going?"

"Hey, Davey. Nothing much. I just got finished stacking these crates and then I have move onto the docks and help load up some more boxes." He said breathing heavy from the strenuous work.

"Why don't you finish that stuff tomorrow. You get off around this time, do you?" David inquired. Jack obliged him and left the warehouse to join David for a drink.

Jack had been working at the warehouse for a couple of years now. He managed to acquire enough money to live in a small apartment in Manhattan by himself. He still hung out with his ex-newsie friends from time to time, but he kept mostly in touch with David. They went to a local store to pick up a few bottles of drink and sat on the edge of the pier.

"So, Dave, what's been going on in your neck of the woods?"

"Not that much. Denton and I have been working together on a few projects, but nothing really interesting. Nothing the public doesn't already know."

Jack just smiled. "Have you seen any of the others?"

"Not really. I'm too busy to keep track of every one else." After a moment of silence, David cautiously spoke.

"I saw Apollonia today." Jack just stared into space. "She is still running her bookstore and she seems to be doing fine. She has a pretty assistant working with her. A French brunette named Giselle."

Jack just lightly nodded to himself and took another sip of his drink.

David broke the silence. "From what I can tell, she and Spot are still together." Jack remained silent. "You know, they've been married for a while now."

Jack became agitated. "Why are ya bringing this up, Davey? Do you think that I want to discuss this? Do you think I want to reopen old wounds? Why are ya bringing this up?"

"Because I know how much Apollonia has affected you and I want to be your friend. You were depressed when you left Sarah. You were depressed when you did not take Apollonia from Spot. And you were depressed when everyone told you that Spot would not stand for you taking his woman away from him. What more do you want?"

Jack did not seem to be in a mood to discuss a woman, especially a woman that he has been in love with for the longest. Someone who was so close was still so far away and it was eating away at him. He tried not to think of her, but nothing seemed to work. Even when he would see her walking through the streets of Manhattan, he kept his distance, though it hurt him inside that conversing with her could cause Spot to wreck havoc on him once again. He did not want to start another conflict like the one he started when the opera came to town.

David just stared at him waiting for an answer. "I want her, Dave. Not just my dream. Not just Santa Fe. I want her." David just looked at Jack in disbelief. He knew that Jack was either going insane or truly in love. David did not want to play psychiatrist to his friend, but he did want to offer a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen.

"I can understand that you want her. And I can understand why. And I am even loathe to admit that I am jealous of you. You love someone so much and you can't even do anything about it. I wish I could find someone to love, someone to cherish. I never even came close and you are sitting here feeling sorry for yourself. Remember, some of us are worse off than you." David said.

Jack turned to him and added, "Have you ever loved someone that didn't love you back?"

David did not have an answer for that. Jack just turned away and started drinking. "I have been in love with this woman for five years now and I can't have her. I lie awake sometimes wondering what it would be like to have her in my arms and love her and have her love me back. To look into my eyes and tell me that I am the one that she wants, that I am the one she needs. I know she feels something for me, Dave. When I kissed her, I knew that there was something there. Maybe she didn't even know herself, but she did feel something for me."

David now understood Jack. He could now see why his friend of six years had been in a quiet slump.

"I'm only going to say this just once, Jack. The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." After those words of wisdom, David left the docks and left his friend to himself, in the longing, dusky night of New York.