Chapter 5
When Kate got to the Manhattan lodging house, she went up the fire escape to the window of the bunkroom and knocked lightly on the window. When no one came, she knocked again. Jack had been having a good dream when he was brought out of it by the knocking. Jack just laid there hoping the knocking would go away, but when the knocking continued Jack finally got up and went to the window. When he opened it he was surprised to see Kate standing there shivering.
"Do you have an empty bunk I can use?" Kate asked.
"Yeah, but why do you need a bunk? I thought you were staying in Brooklyn." Jack replied moving away from the window so Kate could climb in.
"I can't stay there anymore. Please don't let Spot know I'm here." Kate pleaded. Jack looked into her pleading eyes.
"Alright, but you have to tell me why you can't stay in Brooklyn." Jack finally said.
"Spot said he loved me." Kate said sitting down on a bunk.
"What's wrong with that? Isn't that a good thing?" Jack asked confused.
"It is a good thing. In fact it's a great thing, but the last guy I loved was killed right in front of my eyes. I'm just scared that if I get to close to Spot, he'll get hurt really bad or worse killed. I love Spot to much to have him go through that." Kate explained crying. Jack sat down next to her and put his arm around her.
"I'm just warning you that this is the first place Spot will look."
When Spot woke up in the morning, he noticed a folded piece of paper with his name on it on the floor next to his bed. He read it silently to himself.
"Fuck!" he yelled as he crumbled up the piece of paper. He tried to think of where she could have gone. Where would she go where she would be well taken care of? All of a sudden a smile came to his lips. He knew exactly where she had gone, but he would go there in a couple of weeks. He knew if he went now, he would do something he might regret later. He knew she was in could hands. He trusted the boys.
When Kate woke up she noticed she wasn't in the Brooklyn lodging house, then she remember the events of the night before. She knew Spot would come looking for her. Kate knew she was good enough at selling papes that she could sell alone. Spot had said so himself, but she knew she couldn't be a newsies because it would be easy for Spot to find her and she didn't want to talk to him alone. She wanted Jack there for support. Spot scared her a little. She had seen his what his temper could do and she didn't want to be alone if his temper did flare up. She decided that she would talk to Jack and see what he thought about the situation. Maybe he would know what to do. Kate looked around the crowded bunkroom for Jack, but she couldn't see him. Maybe he left already. Kate thought. Just then Jack walked out of the washroom.
"Jack!" called Kate. Jack stopped in his tracks and looked at her. "I wanted to talk to you about what I'm suppose to do about work. See here's what I think. I think that if I sell papes it'll be easier for Spot to find me. I took singing lessons since I was 6 so I thought if you knew where I could get a job singing maybe it would be harder for Spot to find me." Kate explained. The plan had just popped into her head. Jack just stood there and stared at her for a moment. Then he walked over to her and sat down on her bunk. Kate looked at him intensely wondering what he was going to do or say, but Jack just sat there.
"Do you know where I can get a job singing?" Kate asked. Jack didn't say anything.
"If you do know where I can get one, it would be easier for me if you would tell me where I have to go." Kate said. Jack finally looked up at her. Kate saw that Jack's eyes held a look of understanding and concern.
"I know where you can get a job." Jack said. He stood up and started to walk towards the door. When he was half way to the door, he turned stopped and turned around.
"I'll wait for ya downstairs." He said and walked out the door. Kate got out of bed and quickly made her way to the washroom. When Kate was ready, she walked down to the living room area and saw Jack sitting in a chair staring at the wall. Kate coughed and Jack looked at her. He stood up and walked towards the door.
"I know a place a couple of blocks away from here. Medda's real nice. You'll like her." Jack said and Kate followed him out the door.
"What do you want me ta do if Spot comes lookin' for ya?" Jack asked.
"Just tell him I'm not here." Kate answered. Jack and Kate walked the rest of the way in silence. When they got there, Kate followed Jack backstage. Finally Jack stopped in front of a door and knocked lightly.
"Just a minute." came a female voice from behind the door. There was silence between Jack and Kate until the door opened and a beautiful red haired woman wearing a beautiful midnight blue dress came out.
"Where ya been Kelly? I haven't seen you here for awhile." said the lady.
"I've been busy lately. I got a girl here that needs a job. I thought you might need another singer." Jack said.
"I do need another singer. One just quite on me." answered the lady.
"Great! Medda this is Kate. Kate this is Medda." Jack said introducing them.
"Nice to meet you Kate. I'm so glad you came." Medda said.
"Nice to meet you too." Kate replied.
"Well, I got papes to sell. See ya tonight Kate. Thanks Medda." Jacked said and walked back to the front.
"Well, do you have a song in mind that you would like to sing?" Medda asked.
"Yeah, I do. It's one my mother use to sing sometimes. I think you might know it." replied Kate.
"Great! Lets get you practicing. We have to get you ready for Friday night." Medda said, then turned and started walking towards the stage. Kate followed her silently.
When Jack got to the Distribution Center, he bought his papers and was on his way to his selling spot when Kid Blink stopped right in front of him.
"So what's Spot's girl doin' here?" Blink asked.
"First off, she's not Spot's girl yet. Second, she's worried that Spot will get hurt because the last guy she loved got killed." Jack explained.
"So what are we suppose to say if Spot asks us if she's here?" Blink asked.
"Just tell him you haven't seen her." Jack replied.
"Well if she's workin' at Medda's, Spot's gonna see her and know that we lied to him." Blink said stating the obvious.
"We'll just tell him that we didn't know she was here. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got papes to sell." Jack said and walked off.
"I wonder what's eaten him?" Blink asked to no one in particular and walked off to his selling spot.
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AN: Sorry it took me so long to update. I reposted this chapter because I noticed it had a lot of mistakes in it. I'm in the process of writing the 6th chapter. I was thinking of writing a sequel to this one. Let me know if you think I should. I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!