HEYA!! I'm tooooo lazy to do shoutouts on this chapter but thank you everyone who reviewed, MsJonyReb,Morning Dew, NicNac,Demon and Skid Mark. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
More weeks dragged on, the time moving slowly allowing broken hearts to heal and mend a fraction if not entirely through.
Raven jumped out of her bunk quickly, got dressed in a frenzy and scrambled into the washroom meeting Tabloid on the way in.
"Hey Tabloid!" Raven cried cheerfully as she stopped in front one of the many vanities. Tabloid stopped at the one next to her and eyed her suspiciously as he watched her comb her hair with a bright smile on her face. Raven quickly tied her hair in a tight ponytail securing Jack's old bandana around it tightly. Raven waved at the boys as she skipped out of the room.
"Was she just.......smiling?" Tabloid leaned over and asked Grip.
"Yea....and skipping." Grip said in utter shock holding a shaving brush full of fluffy white shaving foam limp in his hand. Tabloid grabbed the brush from him and flung shaving cream into Grip's face with a laugh. Grip grabbed Tabloid by his shirt and pulled his face close to him growling madly. Shiner stormed over and pushed the two apart.
"Don't blow ya lid Grip, he's just havin some fun."
"Yea yea..." Grip shrugged himself from Shiner's grip and walked out of the washroom.
Jackal stepped slowly out of Spot's room and nearly got run over by Raven as she tore past the room. Jackal did a small double take and let out a breath of frustration at Ravy's fickle mood swings. Spot snuck up behind Jackal and smoothly slid his arms about her waist causing Jackal to release a knowing smile.
"Ya know Spot that's the first time I'se seen her smile since he left...."
"uh huh." Spot whispered as he moved his head closer to her neck. "One t'ing dat ain't changed yet.....she never let's his bandana leave her sight, it's always on her....in her hair or in her pocket, but it's always there." Spot kissed his girls neck and began to whisper into her ear, Jackal's face lit up in anticipation as Spot began pulling her back into the room. They both began to laugh as the door slammed behind them.
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Jack sat in his dark cell, alone, huddled in a corner shielding himself from the nothing that consumed him. He heard clinking footsteps outside the door and looked up, seeing a face he never wanted to see again. The sheriff slid open the bars and let Jesse in.
"Thanks Sheriff." Jesse said with a false smile, he then turned to Jack. Jack glared at him, hate and menace shining in his brown eyes.
"You set me up." He spoke the words short and stern, but with an eerie calm learned by Spot Conlon.
"That's right kid, I set you up, what of it?" Jesse said with a defiant nod of the head.
"Why?" Jack uttered the simple question eager for the answer.
"This is why!?" Jesse shoved Jack's wanted poster into his face.
"A wanted postah! Ya set me up ovah a wanted postah!" Jack yelled standing up.
"It's not just the wanted poster it's everything else that comes along with it! The fame, the fear that you strike into people's hearts, the women who swoon over you! You took it all away from me! That was my fame and you took it all!"
Jack charged at Jesse unexpectantly and slammed him into the hard brick wall, shoving his arm into his neck. Jesse shoved Jack off of him sending Jack flying to the floor. Jesse leaped on top of him and locked his strong hands around Jack's neck. Jack began to choke and scratched at Jesse's fingers, frantically trying to make Jesse release him from his death hold. With all of his force Jack flung Jesse off him and flung him onto his back, Jack scratched his finger nails down Jesse's face causing him to release his hands from Jack's neck. Cowboy began pounding Jesse mercilessly in the face, one murderous punch after another until one of the opponent's cheeks split open and blood oozed from the wound. Jesse lifted his knee sharply and rammed Jack hard in most precious of areas, Jack collapsed holding his crotch in pain. Jesse shoved Jack off of him and stood, he kicked Jack over onto his back and began kicking him in every part of his body with the hard tip of his cowboy boot. When he was satisfied he walked over to the bars and called for the sheriff, the sheriff opened them up and Jesse stepped outside them, waiting for the cling of the metal before announcing.
"For givin you up, they let me off free everything against Jesse James has been, as you could say, stricken from the record." Jesse let a smirk creep upon his face before marching out of the small jail. Jesse words rang in his head over and over, repeating like a monotonous drone.
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The crowd filling Irving Hall tonight could be heard from three blocks away, their rowdiness and overall good mood shouting out to the street corners of New York, mocking them for they couldn't join in on the joy in the theatre.
Spot pulled Raven down the street, dragging her, never releasing his grip.
"Spot I told ya I didn't want ta go out!"
"Spot she don't wanna be heah! Now let her run back ta Brooklyn all right?" Jackal interjected.
"SHADDUP! Ravy listen ya need a night out! Ya haven't been out in weeks, just enjoy da night while ya can." Spot pleaded with her, making a puppy dog face at her. Raven rolled her eyes and tapped his chin.
"Fine Conlon...FINE." She caved. Spot released her grip and she froze, spun around and charged for Brooklyn, but instead smashed into Shiner, Grip and Tabloid.
"Ravy if ya wanted ta run ta Irvin Hall ya shoulda axed fa directions!" Tabloid said while the three boys pushed her in the proper direction.
"Yea Raves, come on it'll be fun." Shiner said to her as he helped Tab along.
"I can heah da noise and smell da booze already." Grip smiled as he sniffed the air around him. "And a rottin slice of Pizza." The boys all laughed and hurried Raven down the street as Jackal yelled at them. Spot ripped open the doors to Irving Hall and was greeted with a wave of "Heya Brooklyn" throughout the room, Jackal slapped Spot on the back of the head as the headed over to the Race's table. Tab shoved Raven inside and immediately every eye in the room was on her. She smiled nervously and waved, thought about it for a second and bolted for the door, Grip and Shiner were already onto her as they blocked her exit and forced her to enter the lively atmosphere. Finally she gave up and plopped into a chair next to Jackal, and two minutes later Oracle joined them. The girls quickly struck up a conversation while Spot headed over to Race's table that included Blink and Mush, Tabloid trotted over after Spot and the boys situated themselves comfortably into a game of poker, and already began the many rounds of beers that would pass that evening. Raven searched the room for someone who she knew would be here, but was at the present time missing. Oracle looked over at Jackal with a worried expression on her face.
"Ravy, ya know he ain't gonna be heah doncha?" Oracle said into her ear.
"A COURSE I DO DUMBASS!" Raven slapped Oracle upside the head. "I'se lookin fa Miracle..."
"Why ya lookin fa dat twit!?" Jackal eyes filled with anger at the mention of the nuisance.
"Oh can it Jackal, she's what? thoiteen yeahs old, it's a fuckin crush she ain't gonna steal Spottie from ya."
"Yea but she damn well can kiss him all right, dat dumb bitch kissed me boyfriend."
"She ain't gonna steal him from ya so give it a rest would ya?" Raven sighed as she said the words.
"Ravy's right, she's still a voigin...what would Spot do with dat?" Jackal went to answer the question asked of her, but Raven clasped her hand firmly over the girl's mouth.
"Don't even answah dat, I know it would be somet'in doity like, pop her, so just don't."
"OR..." Oracle went to but in as well.
"ORACLE!"
"What!? Oracle put on a mock innocence.
"She's a baby, what would he want with a baby?" Raven asked.
"Well, he'd probably feed her, change her diapah and den bring her ta bed with him." Jackal said sarcastically. The group of girls all laughed, before Jackal stood and walked over to Spot's table, which by now had filled up with all the top ranked newsies. Oracle stood up shortly after that and went to find Swifty, and as always they would later be found in an unlocked dressing room looking rather disheveled and guilty.
Medda Larkson stepped onto the stage and the room erupted in thunderous applause and whoops and hollers filled each crevice of the theatre.
"Hello newsies, what's new!?" Medda proclaimed excitedly which made the room explode even louder. After a few moments she hushed the room.
"Tonight we have a special treat, one of your very own has decided to play a song for you...on one condition." Medda paused.
"WHAT'S DAT!?" Blink yelled from his seat next to Spot, who now had Jackal firmly planted on his lap. Spot kissed her cheek.
"That one former Manhattan member sing the lyrics." Medda announced.
"NAW MAKE DA KID FROM BROOKLYN!" Spot shouted out and the room laughed. Jackal slapped him playfully, Spot pulled her lips down onto his causing the room to erupt into whistles, when they broke apart Spot jutted his head upward, seeming to ask "you got a problem?". Medda laughed at his antics before quieting the room down again.
"You see Spot, that won't be a problem, the person that is requested to sing is Miss Raven."
"ME!" Raven squeaked from alone from her table. All eyes in the room turned to her. "SORRY MEDDA BUT IT AIN'T HAPPENIN!" Raven yelled to the stage.
"COME ON RAVE!" Spot shouted and others filled in with similar statements.
"Just one night Raven..." Tabloid whispered into her ear. She rolled her eyes and smiled.
"FINE!" She reluctantly agreed and stood up as Tabloid escorted her to the stage. Miracle quietly stepped out from backstage carrying her flute and sat in the chair all the way on the west corner. Her deep green dress fit her perfectly and was accented with a shining gold trim. Jackal went to jump the stage but Spot pulled her back as she growled at him.
"Deah, deah......" He slowly kissed her neck as she settled down and leaned against him.
Raven slowly stepped to the center of the stage with the air of a natural born performer, when in reality she was, her mother had been a singer in Paris, before her brother was born. She tugged her cap a little farther over her eyes, and kept to her tomboyish demeanor and strong pressance using it to draw attention to her on the stage. She patted her back pocket reassuring herself that his bandana was firmly in place. The room fell silent as the spotlight hit Raven's lone form, shining on her like a light stardust. Miracle lifted her flute to her lips and began the melody, Raven slowly lifted her head and stared out to the balcony, she opened her mouth and from it the notes flew in a beautiful, haunting, serenade that grabbed deep within your heart.
There is something that I see
In the way you look at me
There's a smile, there's a truth
In your eyes
She reached her hand out slowly to the audience as one face appeared to her vision, his brown eyes came into view, glistening in the light, then his bright, shining smile, those eyes shone at her clearly as though she had been watching them all along. Jack. She traced his face in the air with her fingers, outlining every curve.
What an unexpected way
On this unexpected day
Could it be this is where I belong
It is you I have loved all along
*...Jack...*
There's no more mystery, it is finally clear to me
You're the home my heart searched for so long
And it is you I have loved all along
A lone tear fell from her eyes and slowly glided down her face.
There were times I ran to hide
Afraid to show the other side
Alone in the night without you
Raven ran quickly down the alleyway, letting the rush of the rain wash over her completely. Her eyes darted about in fear. Suddenly a hand wrapped around her waist, She turned around and smiled. Jack bent his head right next to her ear and whispered "I told ya I'd nevah leave ya..." She threw her arms around his neck and they kissed, longingly, lovingly sharing each others taste as the fireworks exploded and tingles rushed their bodies. The rain poured down in torrents on the kissing couple but neither one cared as it washed away the dirt and grime leaving them only with their hearts and love.
But now I know just who you are
And I know you hold my heart
Finally this is where I belong
And it is you I have loved all along
Two more tears escaped her eyes cascading down her face as lone forces of melancholy.
There's no more mystery, it is finally clear to me
You're the home my heart searched for so long
It is you I have loved all along
The silent streams continued as she belted her heart out the crowd, each set of eyes reaching into her heart and feeling her pain now as their own.
Over and over I'm filled with emotion
Your love, it rushes through my veins
And I am filled with the sweetest devotion
As I look into your perfect face
She laid down on his bunk slowly as he showered her with kisses, from her neck down to her collarbone, he slowly unbuttoned her shirt and tossed it off of her to the floor, covering her body with his. He traced her lips with his finger and she kissed it, before he kissed her again but full with passion. Raven wrapped her legs around him, as he slid his hand down her side and across her thigh. She let his hands roam all over her body traveling it like and explorer wandering lost on a tropical island in search of its hidden pleasures. The bodies moved slowly like the waves, bounding higher and higher surfacing on the beach and washing back out into the ocean. Joining two souls into one......
There's no more a mystery, it is finally clear to me
You're the home my heart searched for so long
And it is you I have loved
It is you I have loved
It is you I have loved all along
As she finished the last note letting it flow from her vocal cords sounding like music radiating from an angels lips she collapsed to the floor heaving in desperate sobs. Miracle stood up from her chair clutching her flute to her chest as she backed away from the scene. Spot immediately shoved Jackal off of him and the two of them rushed to the stage. Jackal ran to the side and zoomed up the stairs, while Spot hopped over the ledge onto the stage right away. After Spot's reaction was confirmed, Tabloid and the others jumped out of their seats as well and hurried over to Raven who was hysterical on the floor. Spot kneeled beside her and scooped her into his lap, she laid her head on his chest and cried, her tears soaking through his shirt as he rocked her back and forth stroking her hair. Jackal stood by and watched as Spot carefully cradled her in his arms and carried her off the stage.
"I t'ink dat's enough fun fa one evenin..." Tabloid said as they began to exit the hall followed by stares from all the newsies crowded around.
"Race! Ravy's gonna stay in Manhattan fa da night." Spot called to Race as the sea of newsies parted for the Brooklyn group who was leading Raven and Spot out of the hall.
"Shoa t'ing Spot." Race replied. Slowly the gap filled and they all looked towards where the group had just departed.
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Jack sat alone in the corner of his dreary cell beaten and lonely, he stared out of his tiny slit for a window and the bright full moon that frowned down at him , radiating a glow on his sullen face. He stood up and approached it slowly, hypnotized by its mystical light. He couldn't help but think so himself 'Is she starin at da same moon?'
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Raven crept out of the bunk slowly as not to wake any of the sleeping newsies around her, she glided over to the window and opened it. Climbing out she settled herself on the fire escape. Raven pulled a cigarette from her pocket and lit it, watching the smoke curl upwards in a stringy pattern before disappearing into the air, her eyes darted towards the moon, she found she couldn't tare them away and sat there gazing at its regal beauty, letting its haunting light intoxicate her.
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Jack watched Raven from across the bunkroom as she struggled to braid her unruly tresses. The sight of her sitting there made his stomach flutter and his mind mix in a tangle of jumbled thoughts. He heard her let out an aggravated sigh as she gave up and slammed her hands on the bed. He brought his cigarette to his lips and slowly walked over to her, dropping it to the floor and crushing it with his boot. She looked up at him and he could sense her frustration with herself.
"Want some help Ravy?"
"I can't braid my hair, what kinda goil can't braid deah own hair?" Jack laughed and took a seat next to her and she turned her back to him, all he wanted to do at that moment was run the waves through his fingers and bring them to his lips, take in her scent of newspaper ink and cigarettes mixed with a lovely hue of roses.
"Well Ravy we couldn't exactly call yous a goil now could we?"
"Shaddup Kelly" He could sense the action of her rolling her eyes as he said the words and he immediately regretted them. The awkward yet comfortable tension rested between then as both their nervousness could easily be sensed. Jack picked up her three separate pieces of her hair and began to twist them easily into a braid, when he was through Raven handed him the rubber band and he secured it around the end. She slid her hand over the newly made braid and turned to face him mere inches from his face.
"Where'd ya loin ta braid?"
"Me muddah used ta braid Miracle's hair all da time, I watched her, guess I picked it up."
"Yea..." Raven began to turn away from him again but he rested his hand atop hers, she stopped turning her head and brought her eyes back to meet his own.
"uh....Ravy....um...." Jack stuttered trying to let the words come, but instead his mind got all jumbled together and reeled out of control.
"What?" Seeing her there so close to him and feeling the sensation of her hand under his did not ease his awkwardness. "What Jack?" She smiled, her smile that one thing that brightened his day when his eyes rested upon it. At that moment he lost all control of reason and gently tapped his lips to hers, pulling away quickly as Raven stared at him in shock.
"Shit! I'se sorry, I didn't mean ta...." He looked away from her as a small blush rushed to his cheeks.
"Yea ya did Jack." She was still smiling at him, when he turned back to her, her own face was flushed bright red.
"Ravy...would ya be me goil?" He looked down at the floor as he expected the rejection to come any second, ripping him to shreds, but instead Raven flung her arms around his neck in a tight embrace.
"Yea Jack....I t;ink I will."
"Ya t'ink or ya know."
"I know....."
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Raven ripped her eyes from the moon and looked to the brick wall beside her, Jack rested his head against the wall of his cell the moon still highlighting his silhouette. Both torn lover's then wiped a lone tear from their eyes.
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"Psst." Jack looked back out the window, and shook his head, he had to be hearing things. "Psst....Jack."
"Colin?" Jack questioned.
"No shit."
"What are ya doin heah?"
"Came ta visit ya."
"Well dat's nice." Jack inched over and looked out the window at Colin's form, he was shrouded in complete darkness, hiding him from anyone who might be able to notice him in the night.
"How you holdin up?"
"Yea I'se all right, considerin bein arrested and gettin shot, and havin Jesse beat da shit outta me, everyt'in's fine." Jack said sarcastically.
"Good to see your doin ok." Colin replied.
"So when ya bustin me out."
"Your kiddin right?"
"No....seriously when ya gettin me outta heah?" Colin laughed.
"There gonna hang you tomorrow."
"WHAT!?"
"Yep kid your a gonner."
"HANG ME!"
"Hang you."
"HANG ME!!!"
"Yep hang you...in front of the whole town."
"HANG ME!"
"JESUS KELLY GET IT THROUGHT YOUR HEAD THEY ARE GONNA HANG YOU TOMORROW!" Jack stood there in complete shock as realization finally hit, he was going to die tomorrow and there was no way out of it.
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"How ya holdin up deah Ravy?" Race asked her early the next morning appearing at her bunk.
"Ya know what Race...I feel great...I'se actually ok." Raven smiled broadly at him before hopping off her bed and heading towards the washroom. She stopped at the very last minute and turned towards the window, she climbed outside and stood on the fire escape. From her pocket she withdrew Jack's bandana, and held it in her hands. She studied it for a moment before holding it out to the wind.
"Goodbye Jack." She smiled and let go of the fabric watching it float away on the breeze, the red leaving a streak in her memory.
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Jack was lead through the mass of the town and shoved up the stairs to the makeshift hanging station, he stood in front of the noose, looking through the loop. He closed his eyes and gulped.
"Jack Kelly, Outlaw in the state of New Mexico...." The words trailed off as his mind raced in a mad whirlwind, finally latching onto the only stable memory he had left, and that was of the one thing he had left behind, Raven. Slowly he felt the noose being tugged tightly around his neck, creating rope burn.
"Is sentenced to hang until suffocated to death on this day..."
Then suddenly the boxes were kicked out from beneath him and the rope snapped, Jack fell to the floor and looked at the wood post behind the rope and saw a knife lodged into it deeply. As if in a mad frenzy horses hooves could be heard barreling down through the crowd and next to Jack, Jack tugged the knife out of the wood and pocketed it as he ran for the horse jumping onto its back at the very last moment. As if from nowhere Colin and Jesse appeared by his side.
"No matter what Jack I couldn't let 'em kill ya." Jesse stated.
"Fuck off Jesse James." Jack said with a smile. Gun shots were being fired at them as the rode off quickly.
"JACK GO GET OUT OF HERE!!!" Colin yelled as him and Jesse turned back to the crowd.
"I can't leave yous heah!"
"Yes you can, now GO!" Colin boomed from ahead of him. Jack looked back at them as they began shooting at the Sheriff's officers. He turned his head back around and urged his horse forward, in a mad sprint for the train tracks. The last sound he heard was one single gun shot and yelling of women, then one voice call to the crowd.
"THEY SHOT JESSE JAMES!"
More weeks dragged on, the time moving slowly allowing broken hearts to heal and mend a fraction if not entirely through.
Raven jumped out of her bunk quickly, got dressed in a frenzy and scrambled into the washroom meeting Tabloid on the way in.
"Hey Tabloid!" Raven cried cheerfully as she stopped in front one of the many vanities. Tabloid stopped at the one next to her and eyed her suspiciously as he watched her comb her hair with a bright smile on her face. Raven quickly tied her hair in a tight ponytail securing Jack's old bandana around it tightly. Raven waved at the boys as she skipped out of the room.
"Was she just.......smiling?" Tabloid leaned over and asked Grip.
"Yea....and skipping." Grip said in utter shock holding a shaving brush full of fluffy white shaving foam limp in his hand. Tabloid grabbed the brush from him and flung shaving cream into Grip's face with a laugh. Grip grabbed Tabloid by his shirt and pulled his face close to him growling madly. Shiner stormed over and pushed the two apart.
"Don't blow ya lid Grip, he's just havin some fun."
"Yea yea..." Grip shrugged himself from Shiner's grip and walked out of the washroom.
Jackal stepped slowly out of Spot's room and nearly got run over by Raven as she tore past the room. Jackal did a small double take and let out a breath of frustration at Ravy's fickle mood swings. Spot snuck up behind Jackal and smoothly slid his arms about her waist causing Jackal to release a knowing smile.
"Ya know Spot that's the first time I'se seen her smile since he left...."
"uh huh." Spot whispered as he moved his head closer to her neck. "One t'ing dat ain't changed yet.....she never let's his bandana leave her sight, it's always on her....in her hair or in her pocket, but it's always there." Spot kissed his girls neck and began to whisper into her ear, Jackal's face lit up in anticipation as Spot began pulling her back into the room. They both began to laugh as the door slammed behind them.
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Jack sat in his dark cell, alone, huddled in a corner shielding himself from the nothing that consumed him. He heard clinking footsteps outside the door and looked up, seeing a face he never wanted to see again. The sheriff slid open the bars and let Jesse in.
"Thanks Sheriff." Jesse said with a false smile, he then turned to Jack. Jack glared at him, hate and menace shining in his brown eyes.
"You set me up." He spoke the words short and stern, but with an eerie calm learned by Spot Conlon.
"That's right kid, I set you up, what of it?" Jesse said with a defiant nod of the head.
"Why?" Jack uttered the simple question eager for the answer.
"This is why!?" Jesse shoved Jack's wanted poster into his face.
"A wanted postah! Ya set me up ovah a wanted postah!" Jack yelled standing up.
"It's not just the wanted poster it's everything else that comes along with it! The fame, the fear that you strike into people's hearts, the women who swoon over you! You took it all away from me! That was my fame and you took it all!"
Jack charged at Jesse unexpectantly and slammed him into the hard brick wall, shoving his arm into his neck. Jesse shoved Jack off of him sending Jack flying to the floor. Jesse leaped on top of him and locked his strong hands around Jack's neck. Jack began to choke and scratched at Jesse's fingers, frantically trying to make Jesse release him from his death hold. With all of his force Jack flung Jesse off him and flung him onto his back, Jack scratched his finger nails down Jesse's face causing him to release his hands from Jack's neck. Cowboy began pounding Jesse mercilessly in the face, one murderous punch after another until one of the opponent's cheeks split open and blood oozed from the wound. Jesse lifted his knee sharply and rammed Jack hard in most precious of areas, Jack collapsed holding his crotch in pain. Jesse shoved Jack off of him and stood, he kicked Jack over onto his back and began kicking him in every part of his body with the hard tip of his cowboy boot. When he was satisfied he walked over to the bars and called for the sheriff, the sheriff opened them up and Jesse stepped outside them, waiting for the cling of the metal before announcing.
"For givin you up, they let me off free everything against Jesse James has been, as you could say, stricken from the record." Jesse let a smirk creep upon his face before marching out of the small jail. Jesse words rang in his head over and over, repeating like a monotonous drone.
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The crowd filling Irving Hall tonight could be heard from three blocks away, their rowdiness and overall good mood shouting out to the street corners of New York, mocking them for they couldn't join in on the joy in the theatre.
Spot pulled Raven down the street, dragging her, never releasing his grip.
"Spot I told ya I didn't want ta go out!"
"Spot she don't wanna be heah! Now let her run back ta Brooklyn all right?" Jackal interjected.
"SHADDUP! Ravy listen ya need a night out! Ya haven't been out in weeks, just enjoy da night while ya can." Spot pleaded with her, making a puppy dog face at her. Raven rolled her eyes and tapped his chin.
"Fine Conlon...FINE." She caved. Spot released her grip and she froze, spun around and charged for Brooklyn, but instead smashed into Shiner, Grip and Tabloid.
"Ravy if ya wanted ta run ta Irvin Hall ya shoulda axed fa directions!" Tabloid said while the three boys pushed her in the proper direction.
"Yea Raves, come on it'll be fun." Shiner said to her as he helped Tab along.
"I can heah da noise and smell da booze already." Grip smiled as he sniffed the air around him. "And a rottin slice of Pizza." The boys all laughed and hurried Raven down the street as Jackal yelled at them. Spot ripped open the doors to Irving Hall and was greeted with a wave of "Heya Brooklyn" throughout the room, Jackal slapped Spot on the back of the head as the headed over to the Race's table. Tab shoved Raven inside and immediately every eye in the room was on her. She smiled nervously and waved, thought about it for a second and bolted for the door, Grip and Shiner were already onto her as they blocked her exit and forced her to enter the lively atmosphere. Finally she gave up and plopped into a chair next to Jackal, and two minutes later Oracle joined them. The girls quickly struck up a conversation while Spot headed over to Race's table that included Blink and Mush, Tabloid trotted over after Spot and the boys situated themselves comfortably into a game of poker, and already began the many rounds of beers that would pass that evening. Raven searched the room for someone who she knew would be here, but was at the present time missing. Oracle looked over at Jackal with a worried expression on her face.
"Ravy, ya know he ain't gonna be heah doncha?" Oracle said into her ear.
"A COURSE I DO DUMBASS!" Raven slapped Oracle upside the head. "I'se lookin fa Miracle..."
"Why ya lookin fa dat twit!?" Jackal eyes filled with anger at the mention of the nuisance.
"Oh can it Jackal, she's what? thoiteen yeahs old, it's a fuckin crush she ain't gonna steal Spottie from ya."
"Yea but she damn well can kiss him all right, dat dumb bitch kissed me boyfriend."
"She ain't gonna steal him from ya so give it a rest would ya?" Raven sighed as she said the words.
"Ravy's right, she's still a voigin...what would Spot do with dat?" Jackal went to answer the question asked of her, but Raven clasped her hand firmly over the girl's mouth.
"Don't even answah dat, I know it would be somet'in doity like, pop her, so just don't."
"OR..." Oracle went to but in as well.
"ORACLE!"
"What!? Oracle put on a mock innocence.
"She's a baby, what would he want with a baby?" Raven asked.
"Well, he'd probably feed her, change her diapah and den bring her ta bed with him." Jackal said sarcastically. The group of girls all laughed, before Jackal stood and walked over to Spot's table, which by now had filled up with all the top ranked newsies. Oracle stood up shortly after that and went to find Swifty, and as always they would later be found in an unlocked dressing room looking rather disheveled and guilty.
Medda Larkson stepped onto the stage and the room erupted in thunderous applause and whoops and hollers filled each crevice of the theatre.
"Hello newsies, what's new!?" Medda proclaimed excitedly which made the room explode even louder. After a few moments she hushed the room.
"Tonight we have a special treat, one of your very own has decided to play a song for you...on one condition." Medda paused.
"WHAT'S DAT!?" Blink yelled from his seat next to Spot, who now had Jackal firmly planted on his lap. Spot kissed her cheek.
"That one former Manhattan member sing the lyrics." Medda announced.
"NAW MAKE DA KID FROM BROOKLYN!" Spot shouted out and the room laughed. Jackal slapped him playfully, Spot pulled her lips down onto his causing the room to erupt into whistles, when they broke apart Spot jutted his head upward, seeming to ask "you got a problem?". Medda laughed at his antics before quieting the room down again.
"You see Spot, that won't be a problem, the person that is requested to sing is Miss Raven."
"ME!" Raven squeaked from alone from her table. All eyes in the room turned to her. "SORRY MEDDA BUT IT AIN'T HAPPENIN!" Raven yelled to the stage.
"COME ON RAVE!" Spot shouted and others filled in with similar statements.
"Just one night Raven..." Tabloid whispered into her ear. She rolled her eyes and smiled.
"FINE!" She reluctantly agreed and stood up as Tabloid escorted her to the stage. Miracle quietly stepped out from backstage carrying her flute and sat in the chair all the way on the west corner. Her deep green dress fit her perfectly and was accented with a shining gold trim. Jackal went to jump the stage but Spot pulled her back as she growled at him.
"Deah, deah......" He slowly kissed her neck as she settled down and leaned against him.
Raven slowly stepped to the center of the stage with the air of a natural born performer, when in reality she was, her mother had been a singer in Paris, before her brother was born. She tugged her cap a little farther over her eyes, and kept to her tomboyish demeanor and strong pressance using it to draw attention to her on the stage. She patted her back pocket reassuring herself that his bandana was firmly in place. The room fell silent as the spotlight hit Raven's lone form, shining on her like a light stardust. Miracle lifted her flute to her lips and began the melody, Raven slowly lifted her head and stared out to the balcony, she opened her mouth and from it the notes flew in a beautiful, haunting, serenade that grabbed deep within your heart.
There is something that I see
In the way you look at me
There's a smile, there's a truth
In your eyes
She reached her hand out slowly to the audience as one face appeared to her vision, his brown eyes came into view, glistening in the light, then his bright, shining smile, those eyes shone at her clearly as though she had been watching them all along. Jack. She traced his face in the air with her fingers, outlining every curve.
What an unexpected way
On this unexpected day
Could it be this is where I belong
It is you I have loved all along
*...Jack...*
There's no more mystery, it is finally clear to me
You're the home my heart searched for so long
And it is you I have loved all along
A lone tear fell from her eyes and slowly glided down her face.
There were times I ran to hide
Afraid to show the other side
Alone in the night without you
Raven ran quickly down the alleyway, letting the rush of the rain wash over her completely. Her eyes darted about in fear. Suddenly a hand wrapped around her waist, She turned around and smiled. Jack bent his head right next to her ear and whispered "I told ya I'd nevah leave ya..." She threw her arms around his neck and they kissed, longingly, lovingly sharing each others taste as the fireworks exploded and tingles rushed their bodies. The rain poured down in torrents on the kissing couple but neither one cared as it washed away the dirt and grime leaving them only with their hearts and love.
But now I know just who you are
And I know you hold my heart
Finally this is where I belong
And it is you I have loved all along
Two more tears escaped her eyes cascading down her face as lone forces of melancholy.
There's no more mystery, it is finally clear to me
You're the home my heart searched for so long
It is you I have loved all along
The silent streams continued as she belted her heart out the crowd, each set of eyes reaching into her heart and feeling her pain now as their own.
Over and over I'm filled with emotion
Your love, it rushes through my veins
And I am filled with the sweetest devotion
As I look into your perfect face
She laid down on his bunk slowly as he showered her with kisses, from her neck down to her collarbone, he slowly unbuttoned her shirt and tossed it off of her to the floor, covering her body with his. He traced her lips with his finger and she kissed it, before he kissed her again but full with passion. Raven wrapped her legs around him, as he slid his hand down her side and across her thigh. She let his hands roam all over her body traveling it like and explorer wandering lost on a tropical island in search of its hidden pleasures. The bodies moved slowly like the waves, bounding higher and higher surfacing on the beach and washing back out into the ocean. Joining two souls into one......
There's no more a mystery, it is finally clear to me
You're the home my heart searched for so long
And it is you I have loved
It is you I have loved
It is you I have loved all along
As she finished the last note letting it flow from her vocal cords sounding like music radiating from an angels lips she collapsed to the floor heaving in desperate sobs. Miracle stood up from her chair clutching her flute to her chest as she backed away from the scene. Spot immediately shoved Jackal off of him and the two of them rushed to the stage. Jackal ran to the side and zoomed up the stairs, while Spot hopped over the ledge onto the stage right away. After Spot's reaction was confirmed, Tabloid and the others jumped out of their seats as well and hurried over to Raven who was hysterical on the floor. Spot kneeled beside her and scooped her into his lap, she laid her head on his chest and cried, her tears soaking through his shirt as he rocked her back and forth stroking her hair. Jackal stood by and watched as Spot carefully cradled her in his arms and carried her off the stage.
"I t'ink dat's enough fun fa one evenin..." Tabloid said as they began to exit the hall followed by stares from all the newsies crowded around.
"Race! Ravy's gonna stay in Manhattan fa da night." Spot called to Race as the sea of newsies parted for the Brooklyn group who was leading Raven and Spot out of the hall.
"Shoa t'ing Spot." Race replied. Slowly the gap filled and they all looked towards where the group had just departed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jack sat alone in the corner of his dreary cell beaten and lonely, he stared out of his tiny slit for a window and the bright full moon that frowned down at him , radiating a glow on his sullen face. He stood up and approached it slowly, hypnotized by its mystical light. He couldn't help but think so himself 'Is she starin at da same moon?'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raven crept out of the bunk slowly as not to wake any of the sleeping newsies around her, she glided over to the window and opened it. Climbing out she settled herself on the fire escape. Raven pulled a cigarette from her pocket and lit it, watching the smoke curl upwards in a stringy pattern before disappearing into the air, her eyes darted towards the moon, she found she couldn't tare them away and sat there gazing at its regal beauty, letting its haunting light intoxicate her.
*********************************************************************************************
Jack watched Raven from across the bunkroom as she struggled to braid her unruly tresses. The sight of her sitting there made his stomach flutter and his mind mix in a tangle of jumbled thoughts. He heard her let out an aggravated sigh as she gave up and slammed her hands on the bed. He brought his cigarette to his lips and slowly walked over to her, dropping it to the floor and crushing it with his boot. She looked up at him and he could sense her frustration with herself.
"Want some help Ravy?"
"I can't braid my hair, what kinda goil can't braid deah own hair?" Jack laughed and took a seat next to her and she turned her back to him, all he wanted to do at that moment was run the waves through his fingers and bring them to his lips, take in her scent of newspaper ink and cigarettes mixed with a lovely hue of roses.
"Well Ravy we couldn't exactly call yous a goil now could we?"
"Shaddup Kelly" He could sense the action of her rolling her eyes as he said the words and he immediately regretted them. The awkward yet comfortable tension rested between then as both their nervousness could easily be sensed. Jack picked up her three separate pieces of her hair and began to twist them easily into a braid, when he was through Raven handed him the rubber band and he secured it around the end. She slid her hand over the newly made braid and turned to face him mere inches from his face.
"Where'd ya loin ta braid?"
"Me muddah used ta braid Miracle's hair all da time, I watched her, guess I picked it up."
"Yea..." Raven began to turn away from him again but he rested his hand atop hers, she stopped turning her head and brought her eyes back to meet his own.
"uh....Ravy....um...." Jack stuttered trying to let the words come, but instead his mind got all jumbled together and reeled out of control.
"What?" Seeing her there so close to him and feeling the sensation of her hand under his did not ease his awkwardness. "What Jack?" She smiled, her smile that one thing that brightened his day when his eyes rested upon it. At that moment he lost all control of reason and gently tapped his lips to hers, pulling away quickly as Raven stared at him in shock.
"Shit! I'se sorry, I didn't mean ta...." He looked away from her as a small blush rushed to his cheeks.
"Yea ya did Jack." She was still smiling at him, when he turned back to her, her own face was flushed bright red.
"Ravy...would ya be me goil?" He looked down at the floor as he expected the rejection to come any second, ripping him to shreds, but instead Raven flung her arms around his neck in a tight embrace.
"Yea Jack....I t;ink I will."
"Ya t'ink or ya know."
"I know....."
*********************************************************************************************
Raven ripped her eyes from the moon and looked to the brick wall beside her, Jack rested his head against the wall of his cell the moon still highlighting his silhouette. Both torn lover's then wiped a lone tear from their eyes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Psst." Jack looked back out the window, and shook his head, he had to be hearing things. "Psst....Jack."
"Colin?" Jack questioned.
"No shit."
"What are ya doin heah?"
"Came ta visit ya."
"Well dat's nice." Jack inched over and looked out the window at Colin's form, he was shrouded in complete darkness, hiding him from anyone who might be able to notice him in the night.
"How you holdin up?"
"Yea I'se all right, considerin bein arrested and gettin shot, and havin Jesse beat da shit outta me, everyt'in's fine." Jack said sarcastically.
"Good to see your doin ok." Colin replied.
"So when ya bustin me out."
"Your kiddin right?"
"No....seriously when ya gettin me outta heah?" Colin laughed.
"There gonna hang you tomorrow."
"WHAT!?"
"Yep kid your a gonner."
"HANG ME!"
"Hang you."
"HANG ME!!!"
"Yep hang you...in front of the whole town."
"HANG ME!"
"JESUS KELLY GET IT THROUGHT YOUR HEAD THEY ARE GONNA HANG YOU TOMORROW!" Jack stood there in complete shock as realization finally hit, he was going to die tomorrow and there was no way out of it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How ya holdin up deah Ravy?" Race asked her early the next morning appearing at her bunk.
"Ya know what Race...I feel great...I'se actually ok." Raven smiled broadly at him before hopping off her bed and heading towards the washroom. She stopped at the very last minute and turned towards the window, she climbed outside and stood on the fire escape. From her pocket she withdrew Jack's bandana, and held it in her hands. She studied it for a moment before holding it out to the wind.
"Goodbye Jack." She smiled and let go of the fabric watching it float away on the breeze, the red leaving a streak in her memory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jack was lead through the mass of the town and shoved up the stairs to the makeshift hanging station, he stood in front of the noose, looking through the loop. He closed his eyes and gulped.
"Jack Kelly, Outlaw in the state of New Mexico...." The words trailed off as his mind raced in a mad whirlwind, finally latching onto the only stable memory he had left, and that was of the one thing he had left behind, Raven. Slowly he felt the noose being tugged tightly around his neck, creating rope burn.
"Is sentenced to hang until suffocated to death on this day..."
Then suddenly the boxes were kicked out from beneath him and the rope snapped, Jack fell to the floor and looked at the wood post behind the rope and saw a knife lodged into it deeply. As if in a mad frenzy horses hooves could be heard barreling down through the crowd and next to Jack, Jack tugged the knife out of the wood and pocketed it as he ran for the horse jumping onto its back at the very last moment. As if from nowhere Colin and Jesse appeared by his side.
"No matter what Jack I couldn't let 'em kill ya." Jesse stated.
"Fuck off Jesse James." Jack said with a smile. Gun shots were being fired at them as the rode off quickly.
"JACK GO GET OUT OF HERE!!!" Colin yelled as him and Jesse turned back to the crowd.
"I can't leave yous heah!"
"Yes you can, now GO!" Colin boomed from ahead of him. Jack looked back at them as they began shooting at the Sheriff's officers. He turned his head back around and urged his horse forward, in a mad sprint for the train tracks. The last sound he heard was one single gun shot and yelling of women, then one voice call to the crowd.
"THEY SHOT JESSE JAMES!"