Disclaimer: I do not own the newsies. If only I had enough money to buy them from Disney. I don't own Angelfish. She owns herself. I do not own the song "Turn The Page". I'm just borrowing it from Aaliyah. I also don't own the poem "The New Me". That is owned by my friend Katie. I do own the poems "Love Me" and "Then You Came". I also own Bookworm, Reticent, Arts, and Kate. On to chapter 14.
Chapter 14
The seconds ticked by and no one had come to the lodging house. It had been an hour since the boys and girls had left. Bookworm read a book, Reticent was writing poetry, Lady was pacing, and Kate would doze off every now and then. Everyone had the fight on their minds though they tried to think of other things.
"What are you writing?" Kate asked Reticent who was sitting on her bunk to the right of Kate.
"Poems." Reticent answered.
"What about?"
"Anything. Mostly ones on how I feel at that particular moment. They kinda just pop into my head."
"Would you mind reading one?" Kate asked.
"No, I wouldn't mind." Reticent answered looking through her notebook to find one.
"This one is called "The New Me",
I reinvent myself today
Forget everything I have ever said to you
I was horribly wrong (I often am)
Wrong like a shallow ocean
Wrong like a shadowed sun
Wrong like the sky beneath the sea
Forgive me
I've been a fool for all to see
I want to scream to the cruel heavens "God, why me?"
I almost wish I had never heard your voice
But a weight has been lifted, strange though it may seem
This has changed me, I cannot ever be the same
This much let me say
Tomorrow will be a strange new day
"That was beautiful. Would you mind reading another one?" Kate asked.
"No. I wouldn't mind at all. This one is called "Love Me",
I twist and turn with the feelings inside
I can't seem to let go
The feelings all confuse me
I've never felt this way
Whenever our eyes meet I shiver
Whenever your hand brushes mine my knees go weak
And when you kiss me I feel my love for you grow stronger
In your arms I feel safe
In your eyes I see love
You make me complete
You've given me a reason to live
You've made me feel like I belong in a world so cold and cruel
I'm also scared to get to close
Scared to get hurt
Scared that I'll loose you
Scared that it'll end all to soon
But all that fear melts away
When I'm in your strong arms
When I kiss your sweet candy lips
I'm reassured of your love for me
That you will never leave my side
You will love for the rest of your life
That I'll have you to hold every night and day
That you'll be with me through thick and thin
That you'll love me no matter what happens
You let me know that I can come to you and you will comfort me
You let me know that you respect me and my decisions
My heart is sure now
No more questions to be asked
My love for you will always be true
I love you with every fiber of my being
Please love me forever
Before Kate could comment on how beautiful the poem was the door to the bunkroom flew open. Bookworm jumped off her bunk and ran to the door. A couple of newsies were helping another one into the room. Lady and Reticent rushed over to help. And so the rush began. Newsies badly beaten were constantly coming in. Kate looked around the room. During the mad rush to get all the newsies cleaned up and looked over, something came to Kate's mind.
"Reticent, can I borrow a piece of paper?" Kate asked her above the noise.
"Yeah, go ahead." Answered Reticent.
"Thanks."
Again there was a lull in the chaos. Bookworm, Lady, and Reticent were checking on the boys and trying to make them comfortable. Kate was writing furiously. The thing she was writing seemed to flow from her head to her arm and out through her fingertips and onto the paper. Suddenly the door flew open and in walked Race and Blink carrying a very beat up Mush. Arts and Angelfish walked in behind them with another newsie. Race and Blink laid Mush on the bunk on Kate's left and Bookworm rushed over to get him cleaned up.
"Where are Jack and Spot?" Kate asked Blink.
"Jack is out lookin' for more newsies and I have no clue where Spot is." Blink answered.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
With that Blink was out the door. Bookworm got Mush all cleaned up, talk with Reticent, then went to go check on one of the boys. Reticent went over and sat next to Mush's bunk.
"I'm sure he'll be ok." Kate said trying to comfort Reticent.
"I hope so." Reticent said watching Mush intently like he would wake up at any moment and tell her it was all a joke but he didn't move. He just laid there.
The minutes ticked by and there was still no sign of Jack, Blink, or Spot. The people that were able went out to find anyone who was missing. The room was quiet except for the occasional groans of pain and the rustling of sheets.
"Race. Tracker. Get your asses down here." A voice yelled from downstairs.
The two boys jumped up and ran out of the room. There was a lot of commotion then a few minutes later Jack, Blink, Race, and Tracker came in carrying a badly beaten newsie. Kate couldn't see who the newsie was because Bookworm was standing in her way. Kate did recognize the cane and slingshot Jack had. Kate jumped out of bed and ran over to them. She was almost to them when Bookworm stepped in front of her blocking her path.
"Move Bookworm." Kate commanded but Bookworm wouldn't move.
"Let me get him cleaned up first." Bookworm said. At that Bookworm went behind the sheets the boys had put up to give him more privacy. Jack walked over to Kate and handed her the slingshot and cane. Kate looked into Jack's eyes for some kind of answer but all she saw was sadness and worry.
"What happened?" Kate asked quietly.
"I don't know but I found him in an alley. He didn't stand a chance." Jack answered.
"What do you mean?" asked Kate.
" He didn't have his heart in it. He didn't care whether he lived or died. Life wasn't worth living if he didn't have you in it. He loves ya with all his heart Kate. He could never love another girl as much as he loves you Kate." Jack explained. Kate just walked back to her bunk and laid down and cried.
It seemed like forever for Bookworm to get Spot cleaned up. Kate couldn't look in the direction of the bunk. Kate rolled over when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Bookworm just nodded to her. Kate slowly got up and made her way over to his bunk. She slowly pulled the sheet back and looked at him. Both his eyes were a purplish color and his arms were blotted purple. Kate could hardly stand to look at him but she couldn't look away. Kate knelt by his bunk and took his hand in hers. The tears started to fall all over again.
" You probably can't hear me but as I was laying in bed I thought of a poem. It's called "Then You Came" and this is how it goes."
I had slipped so far
I didn't want to live
My life was nothing special
Then you came around
You helped me to my feet again
You made my life worth living
You made me feel special
I felt I had a purpose again
I felt wanted again
You loved me in ways I've never known
You gave me hope
You encouraged me
You made me whole again
I felt safe in your embrace
You gave me a home away from home
I don't know why you chose me
I was nothing special
You were everything
But you gave me everything
I've never been so loved
I hope it never ends
I hope it never ends
As Kate ended, a song came to her mind and she began to sing.
A special smile, a certain touch
I never had a love that I loved so much
When I look back, you're everywhere
Turn the page, you were there
My very best friend, my summer day
My only someone to depend on
When I lost my way
You came and answered my every prayer
Turn the page, you were there
What would I do if some strange morning
I opened up my eyes to you gone
I can't imagine how I would survive it
I'd find another reason to go on
The sound of her voice drifted through the bunkroom. The younger newsies drifted off to sleep while the older ones sat and listened or held their girlfriends.
My sure faith, my solid ground
All I ever wanted was the love that we found
When I look back, you're everywhere
Turn the page, you were there
What would I do if some strange morning
I opened up my eyes to find you gone
I can't imagine how I would survive it
I can't imagine how I would go on
A special smile, a certain touch
I never had a love that I loved so much
When I look back, you're everywhere
Turn the page, you were there
You came and answered my every prayer
Turn the page, you were there
The next morning, Kate woke up next to Spot's bunk. She could hardly recognize him. She got up from her place and made her way to the washroom to clean up. On her way out she spotted Bookworm.
"Bookworm!" Kate yelled and ran over to her.
"Hey Kate." Bookworm replied.
"Is Spot going to be ok?" Kate asked.
"If he wakes up, he should be fine." Bookworm replied.
"Ok. Thanks." Kate said with a sigh then she walked back to his bunk.
A couple of days passed and Spot hadn't woken up. Everyone found themselves praying he would be ok. Kate refused to leave his side for anything except to use the bathroom. Everyday she was right there next to him praying he would make it.
One night while everyone was out, Kate got desperate. Spot had to be able to hear everything that was going on.
"I don't know if you can hear me or not but I'm going to say this anyways. Please don't die. I need you too much. You can't die. You just can't. You've made my life worth living. You gave me the greatest gift I've ever gotten in my life. You gave me love. You showed me what true love is. So you see. You can't die. Look, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything I've put you through. I'm sorry for not letting you explain about what happened with Lady. I'm sorry for every heartache I've caused. I'm so sorry." Kate said sobbing into the blankets. Suddenly Kate felt a hand on her head.
"You shouldn't be sorry. You have nothing ta be sorry about."
Kate's head shot up and she stared into a pair of bright blue eyes.
"I heard your whole speech. I love you so much." Spot said, "I should the one who's sorry. I should a pushed Lady away as soon as our lips…" Spot didn't get to finish because Kate put her fingers over his mouth to shut him up.
"I understand Spot. Lady explained the whole thing." Kate told him.
Spot suddenly reached into his pocket, pulled something out, and handed it to Kate.
"Will you marry me Kate?" Spot asked with seriousness in his voice.
"Yes, of course I'll marry you." Kate replied with a huge smile on her face thankful that he was alive.
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AN: one more chapter left. I should have chapter 15 up soon. Wow! 2 chapters in one day. That's a new record for me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review.
*~Dreamer Conlon~*