Disclaimer: Same ol, same ol...the newsies will be forever out of my grasp because of Disney. Oh, I wouldn warn about stealing but who cares, no one's reading so I'm all set. Hehe...eh, bitterness, does a body good.

Chapter 3

A week later and Evie couldn't list all the new things she'd seen in the city. Finally she was experiencing what she'd wanted her whole life: independence and friendship. Learning how to sell papes had been a challenge she'd tackled full force, surprising the other newsies at her enthusiasm. She'd started out shaky, but her mind was quick in coming up with interestingly improved headlines and she knew how much charm played in the role of dealing with the public. She'd watched people for most of her life so she could read people easily, a skill that helped her when dealing with potential customers.
She'd started out selling with Charlie, watching as the girl showed her different techniques but by the end of the week she'd ventured off with some of the other newsies. She'd even gone to the track with Race and lost miserably at the meager bet she'd placed. But when Race won his bet and called her his Lucky Charm' the lost pocket change was soon forgotten. She'd been accepted by the newsies easier than she'd expected. Charlie was a help and Evie was grateful for her companionship throughout the past seven days. The two girls had become fast friends and for the first time in her life Evie knew what it felt like to rely on someone else and be relied on in return.
The only damper on her week was the fact that she hadn't seen much of Jack. He mostly sold in Central Park and late into the night. When he returned to the Lodging House he'd bury under his bed sheets, ignoring the questioning glances from the other newsies. She hadn't spoken to him since her first day and thinking about the failure of her plan was a stressful part of her week. When Spot and Frankie stopped by earlier that day she'd pulled Spot off to the side and told him about how distant Jack had been to everyone. Spot had taken note of it and seeing the anxiety in Evie's eyes had promised to talk to the fellow leader.
Thoughts of Jack consumed Evie's mind as she sat atop the Manhattan Lodging House. Over the past week, she'd sat up there with Charlie and shared stories of their pasts, Evie always having to slightly change certain details. Slowly her thoughts wandered to her family, to Brody and Mama. She looked down at her scarred hands. Calluses we beginning to form and her skin was no longer a pasty white. Her father would have cursed at the sight of her hands. But running her palms along the sides of her face, Evie breathed in their warmth. They represented success, fulfillment.
In her lap was one of the few possessions she'd taken from home, a journal that had been given to her for her sixteenth birthday, a year before. Already most of it was full of her neat handwriting. She'd started writing smaller and in the edges of the pages, making sure to capture each emotion she felt while in New York. Somewhere in the back of her mind she forced herself to put the experience down on paper, the fear of everything being ripped away from her fueling this force.
Finished with her entry for the day she closed the small book and ran her fingers over the edges before turning towards the ladder. But there, blocking her exit was Jack. His climbing was awkward as he held the ladder with one hand and covered his eye with the other. He didn't see her until he slid over the ledge.
Jack, what happened? Evie moved his hand slightly, examining the cut underneath. Oh, you're bleeding. She looked at her own hand and noticed the blood. And on your hands too. Stay here, let me get something to clean this up. She slid down the ladder quickly, a new skill Skittery had taught her a couple nights ago.
Unable to protest, Jack sat on a couple empty crates, his head in his hand as he tried to control the throbbing headache that was attacking his temples. When Evie reappeared with some bandages and a bowl of water his mind got a little sidetracked. How'sd you climb up here wid that?
Setting up her supplies on a crate opposite Jack, Evie brushed away his question. More importantly, how'd you get that cut? She kneeled in front of him and moved his hand to the side so that she could examine his cut. It wasn't that bad and most of the bleeding had stopped. Working gently with a moist towel she began to clean away all the dirt and dried blood that had formed on his forehead.
Ah, dese rich kids jumped me in Central Park. Dey's been given me trouble all week. I shouda known betta. Jack winced slightly at the pressure that was applied to his head and avoided Evie's questioning glance.
Well, by the looks a these knuckles, I'd say that you got them pretty good too.
Jack smiled weakly and turned his wrist around twice. Yeah, youse could say that.
The two remained in silence while Evie wrung out the towel and wetted it with clean water. Jack was focusing on the city skyline, too distracted with his thoughts to notice Evie watching him. She forced herself to make conversation. You always sell in Central Park? she asked, her voice sounding too loud as it interrupted the silence.
Lately I have been. His voice was quieter and as he pulled himself away from the sky to focus now on the bandage Evie was unrolling he caught her gaze. The odda guys probably told you why though, huh?
She shrugged and tried to sound nonchalant as she slowly wrapped the bandage around his head. Said you lookin for someone.

She paused and tied the bandage securely. She wasn't really sure how many questions she should ask. While in reality she knew more about Jack's situation than he did she needed to play innocent and unaware. A friend?
Jack watched her back as she reached for the towel and soaked it again. Obediently he gave up his damaged hand. Ya mean, none of da odda guys told ya?
Bending her head so that he couldn't see her face, Evie picked her words carefully. Chalie said you'd been actin strange. And dey mentioned sometin about youse getting into a fight couple weeks ago. But dey don't wanna pry and I didn't ask any questions. She blew some fallen strands of hair out of her face and repositioned his hand.
Against his tan and rugged skin, her hands seemed dainty and fragile. He realized, watching as she batted at the reappearing hair, that his headache wasn't as strong as it had been earlier. I'm looking fo a goil I'se met. He spoke slowly, and Evie knew he was watching her movements. She was at dat fight I was in. I-I didn't get ta tell her evertin dat I wantid to say.
And you think you'll find her in Central Pak?
Evie cursed herself for speaking before thinking. She was sure that she'd overstepped her boundaries with that last remark. Quickly, she turned around to where she had a dry towel waiting. Her back was facing him when he finally spoke. Yea, I hope so. See, she ain't like you and me. Her family's got money and I—really I have no idea what I'm gonna say when I find her slowly his voice trailed off, But I'se gonna find her.
He sighed and with his free hand rubbed his face. He needed to shave. Does that sound crazy? I mean, I don even know what she looks like! Alls I got is dis image in my head, of dese big brown eyes. Race said dat she was the one to grab me when I fainted and dat she was da one to get help. I—well I—I don't know but His rambling stopped when he slammed his hand on the side of his crate.
She fiddled with his fingers, cleaning in between and over every cut twice just to make the feeling of him last. she whispered. She risked a quick glance and found him with his eyes closed. She's one lucky gal. What you'a doin is wicked romantic and she'd have ta be crazy ta not wanna be which you. They sat in silence for a moment longer as Jack thought about her comment. The information that Evie was getting would be helpful when she and Spot considered phase two of their plan. She was surprised that Jack was telling her so much. He'd spoken to her more in ten minutes than he had in the last week. But a few more questions lingered in her mind and she wondered whether or not she should ask them. Finally she got up enough nerve and while wrapping Jack's hand slowly in gauze she asked, How is it Jack, that if you don't know what she looks like that you're gonna find her?
He shrugged, chin resting in his hand. I dunno. I figure I'da ask around da odda rich folks. See if dey know her. I mean, dere are some obvious criteria—fancy clothes dat sota stuff. I figuya dat I'se been watchin people fo so long dat I can tell whedtha someones propa or not.
Evie's mind moved quickly as she processed this information. She needed to speak to Spot and as she finished tying the bandage around Jack's hand her excitement caused her to rip the end too short. she mumbled, looking around quickly for something she could use to hold the gauze. She missed Jack's smirk at her innocent exclamation—he would have used a much fowler word in its place.
Reaching behind her to the back of her neck, Evie quickly untied her ribbon that had been hopelessly holding back her curls. She secured it around Jack's palm but stopped when she realized what she'd done. Oh, I hope you don't mind, the red ribbon matched his bandanna but Evie didn't mention it.
Jack noticed the ribbon and if any other person had even considered keeping it there he would have ripped the shinny thing off his hand as fast as possible. But for some reason, as he watched her tiny fingers tuck in the loose ends, he kept it there. It's fine, really. He ran his own fingers over the shiny material and realized that her little gift meant a lot. I mean, I'se da one dat should be apologizin. I don't see ya for days and den all of a sudden I just dump all dis stuff on ya. Not ta mention youse beenin a newbie.
Evie smiled at how embarrassed he seemed. Don't worry youself. Charlie's been real nice ta me. So have the otha boys. You taught em well I'd say.
Jack laughed for the first time in days and nodded his head. Yeah, dere good. Dey keep me on my toes, dat's fo suoah. Fixing the ribbon one last time, Evie smoothed her fingers over the gauze, a movement that caught Jack's attention as being surprisingly delicate. For the first time since they'd first met he looked into her eyes, shielded under the weight of long lashes and stopped. A strange kind of de ja vue flooded his senses in that brief moment that they held eyes. But before his mind could process the image further and connect it to what he'd been seeing in his dreams for the past four weeks, Annie came running towards them.
The little girl's giggle was contagious and the two separated just in time for Jack to catch her in his arms and swing her around. He situated her on his hip, the bandaged hand hanging at his side. Evie smiled and turned to gather all the supplies she'd used to fix his scrapes. She noticed Charlie then, leaning against the ladder with a smirk on her face. Blushing a new shade of red, Evie tried to casually walk towards her friend.
Did you just have a moment Charlie loved to tease; Evie had learned A moment wid Jack Kelly!? Evie tried to roll her eyes but only succeeded in turning a deeper shade of red. Do you know how many goils woud a kill ta be in youa shoes? Seriously, you gotta ting fo him?
Chalie I Evie knew she couldn't lie anymore to her friend. She glanced over at Annie and Jack, the little girl now tracing her fingers over the bandages that Evie had recently tied. Can we talk somewhere?
Any amount of joking Charlie had been ready to pour over Evie vanished when she saw her friend's nervous nail biting. she called. Can you watch Annie fo me? Evie and I got some goil stuff ta do.
He nodded, not taking his concentration off of Annie as she teetered towards a pile of crates. Have fun, I'll see youse two tomorroah, okay? The two called back quick good byes. Oh and Evie, I'll get you anodda ribbon, to replace dis one.
Evie stopped from where she had been climbing down the ladder. She could still see him, standing so that his profile was in view and she would have stayed there watching in a girlish state of awe if Charlie hadn't tugged on the hem of her skirt.
When the two returned to the girls' bunkroom, Charlie pulled Evie to her bunk. Stay here. Without waiting for a reply she quickly checked the rest of the room to make sure it was vacant of any ears. Now, what's da matta wid you?
Evie nervously twisted the extra bandage around her own wrist, distracting herself as she tried to find the right words and avoiding Charlie's gaze. She didn't know how her new friend would react to the news but it was a risk Evie was willing to take if it meant that she'd gain an ally in the end. I haven't been totally honest which ya
Charlie somewhat used to her girls changing their stories to hide their past and wasn't very phased. What'ca mean? She asked, Are ya in trouble? Cause if you'se a runnin den we can hide ya here as long as ya need.
No, no, no Evie interrupted. I'm not hiding from no one. My family, she slipped back into her normal accent. They're in Boston like I said but they don't know where I am. I ran awaynot because we were poor or in trouble. We actually have all the money we need Evie began to ramble as her mind bounced from one idea to the next. My father is the owner of this new electrical company and I have a maid, well had a maid and stables, a big house, clothesmore clothes than you could imagine. But I left causewell I— Charlie had sat down on the other bunk across from Evie, her eyes focused on the girl as she took a deep breath. I'm that girl. The one that Jack's looking for.
Yea and I'se da president's daughta. Charlie fell back on the mattress and laughed. God Evie, I thought dat you'se were dyin or sometin. Now you'se lyin
No, I'm not! Ask Spot! He knows Charlie sat up quickly at the mention of Spot and watched as Evie paced back in forth of her. I don't know how else I can convince you, but I knew all about the fight before I came here. Because I was there! My brother was the boy Jack saved and Race and Skittery, they were there playing baseball. My father and his business partner were there too, and that's whom I ran to for help. I saw Jack in the woods, I saw him fall and I was therehe smiled, he looked right at me a smiled before Evie ran her hands through her hair, tugging at the curls as she fell back onto the bunk. Believe me, please. Cause I need your help. I'm here because of Jack and now that I know he's looking for me tooShe sighed one last time, her cheeks flushed as Charlie sat stunned. I need your help because you're the first friend I've ever had that can help.
The two friends sat in silence, eyes on each other, each waiting for the person opposite to make a move. Charlie ended up being the first to speak and as she moved next to Evie she wrapped her distressed friend in a hug. I believe you. Evie released the breath she had been holding. Now come on, we'se got ta find Spot and have a little chat. Cause I'm gonna soak him so hard for trying ta play this on me. The two girls left the room in a hurry hoping to catch Spot at Tibby's before he returned to Brooklyn.
But as the door to the bunkroom swung shut the door to the washroom swung open.