Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own any of the original Newsies characters (*tear*). I do own Chris, etc, etc.
Hmmm...Not as many reviews for this one as I hoped, but maybe ya'll will like this chapter better (I hope, I hope, I hope....). Ok, enjoy!
Daveydearest: Ah! The person who reviewed! Merci beaucoup. I'm glad you liked the Davey parts. I don't know how often I'm going to put him in, but I'm sure you'll have enough Davey Time with your story. Thanks again!
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Outside it was a freezing January night. Freshly fallen snow lay on the ground making the walk to Brooklyn harder than it needed to be in the cold. Chris shivered as the biting wind cut through her thin coat. She glanced sidelong at the boy beside her. He was taller than her though not by more than five inches. His hair, from what she could see underneath his hat, was a sandy blond. The same tattered hat was pulled down as far as it would go almost covering his eye and patch. He had the strong, muscular build that many of the newsies had. Chris guessed that he was about seventeen, but then again she wasn't always the best judge of things like that.....
Blink could tell she was looking at him despite her efforts to hide it. He glanced at her and she instantly turned her attention to the cobblestones in front of her. Blink laughed to himself as he lit a cigarette. Goils, he thought, I'se never gonna understand dem. He looked at her again, not trying to hide it. She's bout dah height I was durin' dah strike, Blink thought. Blink had grown after the strike making him several inches taller than the girl. The girl had long, chestnut hanging down her back in a loose braid. She had fair skin and her eyes.....For some reason that he couldn't explain, Blink lingered on her eyes. Though downcast, he could still see that they had a distinct color. They were blue...no green...gray maybe? Blink couldn't decide, but it wasn't just the color that captured him it was something else in her eyes, something he couldn't place....Stop it. You'se just being stupid. Despite his efforts to not care this girl still puzzled and intrigued him. What makes er so quite an' shy. She only talks ta Jack. Ha, pro'ly has a crush on him. Don't dey all? Why is she so uncomfortable? Ugh, I should pro'ly try ta sociable. Blink cleared his throat, So, Chris, you'se from Virginia? Chris nodded. Great, Blink, they've already asked er dat. What else could......He thought back to when he picked her up at the Lodging House, Uh...you'se like ta read? Again she nodded. Blink went on, What book were ya readin' back at the Lodging House?
Chris spoke quietly.
Macbeth? She's read Macbeth? D'ya like it? Blink questioned still trying to get more out of this strange girl.
Chris nodded and her eyes lit up, I was in it once in a Church production. It was incredible!
Finally a response! A Choich production. Isn't der too much evil and moidah for a Choich ta do it? he asked amused.
Yeah, well we did it there anyway. I think the theme that good always-
Good! You guys ah heah, Jack called from the door of the Brooklyn Lodging House, We was just bout ta start.
Blink hadn't even realized they were getting close to Brooklyn. Odd. Ya t'ink I'd see dah Bridge! He and Chris followed Jack inside and sat down with the other Manhattan newsies.
Spot was saying, Ya all know why we'se called ya heah. Now we'se need ta decide what ta do wit Miller an' dah boroughs dat he's been associatin' wit.
He sure gets right to the point, Chris thought.
I say we soak came a call from somewhere across the room. Similar suggestions followed and soon the room was full of the cries.
Cheese it! Jack miraculously managed to get the attention of all the newsies, We'se can' just march ovah ta Staten an' soak em. We'se need a plan-
Hey, Cowboiy, a tall newsie stepped forward, who's da broad?
Chris' cheeks flamed as she felt every pair of eyes in the room turn to her. She wished she could just climb into a whole.
Dis is Chris, Jack said, She's dah one Miller tried ta git ovah in Manhattan a few nights ago. She's stayin' wit us at dah Lodgin' House.
Question rippled through the group of onlooking newsies. What's she got ta say? the tall newsie asked again.
Again all eyes fell on Chris. She looked at Jack with panic in her eyes.
She don' got ta say nothin', everyone turned to see who the voice belonged to. Chris looked over to see Blink standing next to her. His eye held a protective air. Why am I doin' dis? he thought, It's like.....Blink couldn't figure it out, but he knew that he needed to stand up for her. He looked down at Chris. She seemed just as confused as he was.
the tall newsie said, I was just askin'. Now whatta we gonna do bout Miller?
The newsies launched themselves into forming a plan on how to deel with Miller. Chris just watched and listened. Her mind was still on the newsie sitting next to her........
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Chris was still puzzled the next day as she went about her chores. Blink hadn't said another word to her all night and Jack said he had left early this morning. Probably just some random act of kindness, she thought. Chris was just finishing her chores when she noticed another set of stairs leading up from the bunkroom. Hesitantly, she walked over and began to climb. She came to an old-looking door. The handle squeaked as she turned it and she jumped back looking nervously behind her. Ugh, stop being silly. Kloppman never said you weren't allowed up here.
Again she turned the knob. This time it didn't make a sound. Chris opened the door and peered in to the room. It was an attic, she assumed, filled with dust and cobwebs. Various boxes were scattered about. A single window on the slanted ceiling was pouring light onto a big, dusty, cloth-covered object. Chris walked over, the door shutting behind her, and pulled away the cloth, coughing at the amount of dust she unleashed in doing so. She looked at the object before her. The piano was old like everything else in the room. It's black paint was chipped and the key covering was missing. Chris looked down at the piano, intrigued. She took the cloth and gently wiped the dust from the keys careful not to make a sound. She pulled up one of the many boxes and sat down in front of the piano. Chris placed her hands hesitantly on the keys and struck a chord. Remarkably, the piano was mostly in tune.
Slowly, she began to play the first tune that popped into her head: I Dreamed A Dream'. She sang along as she played. Her voice started out strong as usual but when the high notes came she, again, clammed up. Damn! she thought, Even here my voice is weak. She took a breath and then started a new song. The Rose' was one of Chris' favorites. It was also one of the few she was able to sing well, in her mind. Chris was so caught up that she didn't hear the door open. She finished the song and took a breath.
Dat was good, Chris jumped at the voice. She turned around sharply and lost her balance on the box. Blink caught her before she could fall.
she smiled sheepishly.
Wheah'd ya learn ta play an' sing like dat? Blink asked.
Back home, Chris responded.
You'se got an amazin' voice.
Ha, right, Chris said rather defensively. She got up to leave, but Blink caught her arm.
Will ya play somethin' else?
Chris looked up at him. His face held such an appealing look. She wanted to say no, to run downstairs and lock herself in her room, but she couldn't. She turned back to the piano and sat down. Chris scanned her mind til she found a song she deemed acceptable. This time she didn't sing, she just played.
Blink was disappointed that she wasn't singing. Her voice is so pretty. Why won't she sing? Must be shy bout it. Eh, I'll ask er bout it latah. Blink pulled another box over and sat down. He looked at Chris. He though he could the traces of a smile on her face. Finally, he thought.
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A/N: YAY! Another chapter. I hope you guys liked this one. I'm not sure when I'm be able to get the next chapter up. My school's musical production (No, not Les Miserables, despite what some of you may think) opens this Friday and we're going to be having long rehearsals all week. I hope I can at least get a short chapter up soon, though. Ok, please review and let me know what ya'll think!!!!
patch:)
