"You never get drunk. The two of you! Me, I have two and I'm gone." Kid
remarked.
"Sorry?" Jo replied.
"How many have you guys had tonight?" Mush asked, stumbling over his
words. He had too much to drink that night too.
"Umm, well, I had two beers, a shot of Rum, and about three shots of
Whiskey with Racey here." Jocelyn answered.
"We couldn't get her any farther." Race explained to Skittery's
questioning look. A few Newsies who had entered the kitchen as soon as
they arrived came back out with a case of beer and what ever was left of
a huge rum bottle.
"Want me to help you carry her up?" Jack offered to Jocelyn.
"Sure." Jocelyn answered smiling.
"How much you bet she drank?" Jack asked laughing softly. Jocelyn just
smiled, never taking her eyes off Jack. Every thing about him enticed
her. The way he asked the dumbest questions, the way he his hair was
always in his face, the way his mouth got really wide when he was
silently laughing, the way he was always in a shirt on, never just his
undershirt, the list went on and on. You could ask anyone in the Lodging
House and they'd tell you that Jack and Jo were destined to be together.
And if you were to ask what would make them think this, they would tell
you it was because they were always making up ridiculous excuses to be
together. And if you asked why else, they would whisper to you that
Racetrack had sworn them to secrecy, but hey, you asked and you wouldn't
say anything, would you! Nah! Well, Racetrack would always say things to
them like "Oh, I know they like each other, or things of that nature, but
remember, not a word to anyone!
"Be careful!" Jocelyn hissed as Jack had, b accident, thumped Isabella's
head on the wall behind her bunk.
"Sorry." Jack whispered, not sounding sorry, but rather amused.
"Rooftop?" Jocelyn suggested so they could have a nice little "chat".
"Sure." Jack answered. The window was already open so they climbed right
through and onto the fire escape. They crept up quietly not wanting to
give away their whereabouts to anyone. Jack slipped on his way up and
whacked his head on the railing. Jocelyn began giggling uncontrollably.
Once Jack was back on his feet he began laughing too. The moon shone on
the two as they laid themselves down on the floor of the rooftop. If you
were to see them for the first time up on that roof you would have
thought that they had been together forever, and perhaps were even
married. They were so comfortable together.
"You're so beautiful." Jack whispered huskily.
"I love you." Jo told him as if confirming his unanswered question.
"I love you too."
"So what now?" Jo asked hopefully.
"I wanna be with you." Jack said firmly.
"Then why were you trying to tell me we shouldn't be together?" Jocelyn
asked gently pushing a stray hair out of his face.
"Josie, cos I was scared. I still am. But, I need this, need you."
"What were you scared of?"
"Scared that you thought-think- of me as just another one of your
infatuations. One of those guys you date and then get rid of a month or
two later. I don't want to be one of them. I want to be the only one you
think about from now until the end of time."
"Jack, you're not like them to me. I love you. I never loved them,
never. I just don't understand why you don't see that!" Jo asked
searching his face for an answer.
"I was just scared Josie! But I'm not anymore. I love you. Please Josie,
gimme a shot?"
"Well, alright." Jo said grinning.
"You're the best damn woman I have ever seen." Jack told her before her
leaned in to kiss her.
" Night Jack." Jo said kissing the top of his head once he had laid it
down on her chest.
"Night." He replied, already half asleep. The moonlight shone on their
sleeping bodies making them seem like the fairy queen and king of the
fairy city that lay below them.
