Disclaimer: Nah...*checks pockets and pulls them out empty* Don't own the newsies. Swing by Disney, ride Splash Mountain and you might get a peak of em. But wait...oh! *finds something deep within the cargo pants* Evie and Charlie...yeah, I own them. Thanks for letting me keep them. Plagiarism isn't cool.

Chapter 5

I don't get it Jacky-boy. You say dat you'se interested and then you say nothin's gonna happen. What's da problem? Jack tried to explain, shifting the lumber that he carried on his shoulder but Spot interrupted before it was possible. And don't try dat shit about da Central Park goyl. I'm sorry. You knows dat out of all da guys I'se been supportin' you da most, but it's almost been two months. You'se got dis great goyl right in front of ya so forget da otha one and move on. You might be surprised.
Listen Spot The boys narrowly missed the carriage that was heading carelessly down the street.
I am listenin and really you ain't makin much sense. I mean, Evie, she's
Woud ya just let me talk fo one second! Jack stopped walking and dropped the pile of wood. He restacked the beams before lifting them again. Evie's great and if da situation was different, I'd cointainly give her a shot. But just trust me when I say dat it wouldn't be fair to her if I stated seein' her. I'd just been leadin her on. He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket with his free hand, the wood resting on his opposite shoulder. Lighting it with Spot's assistance, he took a long drag. What's the big deal anyway? You'se neva been dis concoined with who I date in da past.
Spot shrugged, hands buried deep in his pockets. I just want da old Jack back. You'se been actin strange lately, you know dat.
They walked in silence towards the Manhattan Lodging House, Jack still struggling under the weight he carried. He'd been volunteered by the other newsies to pick up the lumber Kloppman had ordered for the replacement of some of the floorboards in the lodging house. The two had met up somewhere in Midtown as Jack returned from the lumberyard and Spot had jumped at the opportunity to drill him about Evie.
As they reached the front entrance, Jack dropped off the change to Kloppman and headed right up the stairs to where the rotting boards were, Spot right at his heels. I just don't know what dis goyls gonna have ta do befo you realize what you'se missin'. Spot mumbled. In frustration at Spot's harassing, Jack dropped the heavy load to the floor. The sound echoed louder than both boys had expected, startling them enough for Spot to look strangely at Jack. But when the sound resonated throughout the lodging house for a second time, obviously coming from above their heads, the two both wore surprised expressions. Following the loud bang were shouting voices and the sound of shuffling feet. Without any need for a confirmation, Jack and Spot headed towards the staircase, taking the stairs two at a time until they stopped in front of the closed door that led to the girls bunkroom.
Behind the closed door, Evie was seething, hands clenched into fists as she watched Diamond wipe at her newly acquired bloody nose. The two stood opposite each other in the middle of the circle of newsgirls, Charlie the only one separating them. She had returned only a few minutes earlier than the two boys outside, walking in on Evie and Diamond rolling around among the bunks.
Only when she was confident that Jazz and MJ had successfully restrained Evie did Charlie turn to fully face Diamond. What da fuck are you trying ta pull Diamond? Walking quickly into the washroom, Charlie fetched a washcloth. Wipe ya face. She shook her head in disgust. You knew da rules. I told ya when you'se came here dat if dere was any trouble you'd been gone in a flash. And sure, Evie was da foist to swing but you can't deny dat you'se been askin for dat shinna for some time. Diamond just glared, making no attempt to defend herself. The other girls were witnesses to her teasing and she knew Charlie would side with Evie. Evie and I are gonna go for a little walk and when I come back, I'se expect you to be gone. Dat goes fo any of you goyls too, who feel dat I'se bein unfair. Whispers flew around the room as Charlie turned back to Evie. Diamond looked ready to burst but she didn't try to fight Charlie's word.
Charlie stopped at the exit. I'll stop by Harlem and let Pinkie know dat some new goyls will be stoppin' by. With that Evie threw the door open, not stopping to converse with Jack and Spot who were waiting directly outside. Spot rushed down the stairs after Evie while Jack looked to Charlie for some sort of explanation. The door to the bunkroom remained open and he glanced inside, surprised to find Diamond bleeding and surrounded by a group of girls. He still didn't recognize her but figured that she must have been the reason for Evie's stormy exit.
Charlie pushed the door closed with her foot and was about to explain before Spot's voice echoed from down below. You did what! He began to laugh then, causing Charlie and Jack to run down the stairs, neither saying a word.

It seemed like that punch had done it. As far as Spot was concerned, Evie's fight with Diamond had finally made Jack realize what he was passing over. The four spent the next couple days together, selling and wandering around the city until Friday rolled around and preparation for the dance in Queens called them each to their own homes. Word had spread and Diamond was now rumored to be living at the Harlem lodging house, nursing her wounds in isolation. All of her girls except for one had left, which Charlie would have noticed as suspicious if she hadn't been so starry eyed over Spot.
Evie found it adorable, the new budding relationship that her two friends were discovering. According to stories from the other newsies, Spot had never been a one-woman guy, which worried Evie. She didn't want Charlie to get hurt and as much as she owed to Spot she wouldn't have hesitated in turning her back on him if anything happen to Charlie. But after watching the two together, she couldn't imagine Spot betraying her friend. And Jack confirmed the change in Spot also, a reassuring gesture that only made Evie adore Jack more in return.
The night of the dance meant chaos in the lodging house while everyone washed and dressed for the event. Any amount of entertainment as extravagant as a dance was rare in newsie lifestyle and caused for much celebration. Even Evie's dress from home seemed simple compared to some of the costumes the other girls had made for the night. And as they ascended the stairs to where the boys waited outside she was pleasantly surprised to see that they all cleaned up nicely.
Giggling at Race's silly bow, Evie curtsied quickly, before discreetly fixing the bow tie he wore. Just in case. She whispered, before moving over to where the others stood. Jack hadn't asked her outright to accompany him to the dance but she'd been reassured by all that she would be his partner for the night. As the tradition went, everyone met outside before the dance began, those traveling single for the night heading off towards the dance so that the couple stayed behind.
Evie was really clueless to the whole scheme, and as she saw Jazz, MJ, and Teeni head towards Harlem she started to follow. Ah, ah, ah. Wait hea goily. Mush advised, tugging on her arm as Jack and the last group of newsies exited the lodging house. He caught her eye and smiled boyishly before finishing the bandanna around his neck. Small chatter was shared until Blink looped his arm with Basil's, a signal to all that it was now the couples turn to be fashionably late to the dance. Skittery stepped towards Evie as if about to reach for her hand, something he'd planned last minute in case Jack chicken out. But to his delight, Jack beat him to her, sliding an arm around her waist and looking down on her face fondly. Satisfied that his plan had worked, Skittery turned back to Charlie, expecting to find he waiting for him like she usually did. He knew that she liked Spot but attending the dances with him had been their tradition and it never factored into his head that she would suddenly change it.
Unfortunately for Skittery, she had already been claimed by Spot, the two a few yards down the street. Her laugh could be heard from where he stood with Jack, Evie and some other fellow newsies. Looks like you missed your boat. Race joked, his arm around a plump brunette. Skittery sneered at his friend, pulling his cap over his ears and storming to the front of the pack. He passed Charlie and Spot without a word, hands deep within the pockets of his tweed pants and back hunched.
What's wrong with Skittery? Evie asked, turning to Jack for an answer.
Usually he and Charlie win da dance competition every yea but cause she's goin wid Spot, he's mad dat you and Jack might take da title. Mush smiled at the couple, his own hand clasped tightly around the waist of a pretty blonde. She had gorgeous long hair and a happy smile, much like the one that Mush often wore.
Evie jumped at the mention of dancing. Oh Jack, she cried. I don't know what dances they do here. Really, I'm not very good.
Jack laughed, reassuring her with a quick squeeze. Don't worry yourself. You'se loin quick and I'll teach ya da steps. Sides, every newsies needs ta know how to dance. Relieved that Jack didn't have the wrong idea as far as her dancing skills were concerned, Evie rested her own arm around his waist and the two walked to the dance, quite comfortable leaning against each other. Easy conversation flowed amongst the groups they walked with and when they finally reached their destination, Evie's cheeks were flushed with anticipation and exercise.
They entered the room to find a large group in attendance and although Evie had been to many a ball since becoming a young lady, she looked on in august at the room. The decorations were nothing compared to the fancy china and elegant chandeliers but there was an contagious energy in the room that made one forget all the formality of proper balls. Each borough had a section of the hall, banners announcing the newsies from Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the rest. Laughter echoed from every corner, each boy looking more handsome and each girl more beautiful because of their excited smiles. Moving further into the room, Evie caught sight of the dance floor, where couples moved easily to the big band that was playing on the center stage, arms flailing and feet moving at speeds she'd only seen locomotives reach.
Charlie had mentioned something earlier that night about Spot and Jack needing to mingle with the different leaders of each borough but Evie hadn't thought much of it until right then. With his arm still around her waist, Jack led her to one group after the other, much like the business her father always attended to at his own balls. Evie knew then how to stand silently and smile appropriately at the guests, silent unless spoken to and always ready to disappear.
But different from the introductions with her father was that Jack made sure she knew he appreciated her being with him. Every once in awhile he'd run his fingers up and down the side of her back, creating goose bumps all over her body, their little secret to each other that no one else noticed. In return she'd lean in closer to him, feeling the warmth from him calm her goose bumps easily. During one of these times, she'd turned to look at him, her chin reaching just above his shoulder. Exhaling too quickly, her breath floated along his bare neck and into his ear. To her surprise, Jack flushed noticeably and fumbled with his conversation. She'd hid her giggle behind her hand and received a flirty pinch from him moments after before the group moved along to another table.
When they finally reached the Manhattan newsie section, Evie welcomed the offering Jack made to fetch them both drinks. While he and Spot barred the crowd, Charlie found Skittery sulking in the corner. She left to comfort her friend and Evie waited at the table with the other newsies. She soon started a pleasant conversation with Race's date Maria, Maria's friend, and Mush's blonde. They were all very nice girls and very much interested in how she had managed to Jack. But before Race could tell an exaggerated version of her fight with Diamond, Jack and Spot returned, as did Charlie and a slightly more enthused Skittery. The boy found himself seated next to Maria's friend, a pretty brunette who seemed to lighten his spirits even more.
More drinks were requested and laughter shared among all before Mush pulled his date to the dance floor, the other couples following. Evie held tightly onto Jack's hand as they weaved through the crowd towards the dance floor. They stopped abruptly, making up the side crowd, and watched the dancers for sometime, Jack pointing out the steps to her. Finally after the band returned from a brief break, they ventured out onto the dance floor, easily falling into rhythm with the rest of the crowd. Spinning around with Jack's hands firmly placed on her waist, Evie laughed when she fumbled over her feet and cheered at the end of every number. Eventually, the couples switched partners throughout the different songs, allowing Evie to experience dancing with almost every member of the Manhattan newsies.
It was while dancing with Skittery that the band slowly flowed into a new song Evie had never heard before. He stopped abruptly, looking wildly around the dance floor. With Evie forgotten he soon found Charlie and pulled her out into the middle of the crowd. Evie found Jack moments later and followed him to the edge of the large circle that was forming around the few couples in the middle. This is the dance contest! Jack explained, yelling through the noise and clapping along to the beat. Evie followed his lead, wedged in between him and Blink. Out on the floor Charlie and Skittery along with Mush and his date were the only newsies she recognized.
The contest seemed to be a battle of sorts, with the band playing different tempos of music and the couples matching them. All the couples danced during a song but one was centered in the middle of the circle. That couple was then judged at the end of the song by the applause of the audience. The pair with the loudest applause won the contest. Evie clapped for each pair, amazed at the footwork, but when Charlie and Skittery finished, she cheered louder than anyone else in the room. Like they had in the past, her friends won the contest and the other dancers returned to the floor.
With only a brief break of ten minutes, Jack and Evie danced most of the night together. And it didn't seemed like they were interested in stopping when a fight broke out between two guys from different boroughs. After making sure that Evie was okay, Jack and some of the other newsies tried to break up the fight. But the two were too drunk and too angry to be restrained. Returning to where Evie was waiting with Charlie and the other dates, Jack motioned towards the back exit. The group slipped out the back door, everyone's attention on the two wrestling around the dance floor. Once outside, the cool air helped calm everyone's red cheeks. Da bulls will be comin' soon by da way those two were goin at it. Jack explained, grasping Evie's hand. Not how I want to end my night.
Everyone else seemed to agree and as they walked back to the lodging house, the crowd from inside followed. Those few who hadn't had enough excitement inside danced at the front of the pack, singing out loud different tunes still stuck in their heads.
The Manhattan newsies stayed together, the girls breaking off into their own group to gossip about who had gone with who. Jazz and MJ pulled Evie aside, each girl linking one of Evie's arms and skipped her away from where she'd been walking with Jack, Charlie, Spot Skittery and Race. Maria and her friend had separated from the group only moments before, leaving Skittery and Race to focus on other things for the rest of the night.
Everyone was asking us who Jack's new goyl was. Jazz giggled. We'se was like. Oh, dat's Evie, she a newbie.
Been hea a month and already selling more than a hundred papes a day. MJ explained. Evie twisted her head from side to side as the two girls spoke, one right after the other. She'd noticed people watching her throughout the night, obviously curios about who she was. She'd met some whose smiles had been laced with envy and other who had pried too much. Charlie had warned her of these responses and after hearing of Jazz and MJ's rumors she searched for her friend—worried that Jack might hear and get the wrong idea.
But before Evie could explain the delicate situation between her and Jack, thus squelching the hazardous rumor, Teeni skipped by, her arm attached to the waist of a Brooklyn newsie. She caught the girls' attention and pointed quickly at her boy, a silly smile on her face. Ah, she's been crushin on him foreva. Jazz gushed, suddenly more curious about Teeni's situation that Evie's.
Well den, good fo her. Evie cried. Charlie joined the group and it seemed it was her turn to be tortured. Only after she was drilled about Spot's every move that night did the two gossips flit away, with the claim of a double date on the East Side.
Evie shook her head at the antics of the two girls', laughing with Charlie at how much energy they could have after such an exhausting night. They returned to their dates shortly after catching the end of a whispered conversation between the four boys.
Woid is, Jack's got himself a new goyl.

It was hard for Evie to sleep that night as she replayed every moment in her head. But she knew that she'd regret her tried eyes in the morning. So after one last replay of Jack twirling her around the dance floor she cleared her mind and tried to sleep, hoping to dream about the dance for the rest of the night. And in fact she did dream about the dance, a queer dream that involved a twisted storyline from the bedtime fairy tales her mother used to tell her about. It was so strange that it kept replaying in her head, so that when Charlie burst into the bunkroom a couple days later, she wasn't quick to react.
But when she did notice her friend, breathing heavy from all those steps and the weight of the enormous package in her hands, she faltered. There was no point in attempting to hide the bundle behind her back, the other girls in the room had already perked with curiosity, but Charlie tried anyways, smiling sheepishly at her friend and motioning towards the washroom. Evie glanced at Jazz, MJ and Teeni, the only other girls in the room. Annie was at the park with a new girl Roz and would be stopping at Tibby's on the way home. That gave her plenty of time.
Motioning towards her bunk, Evie waved the four other girls towards her. Charlie, place that thing ova hea. It must weigh a ton!
Dat tin fo Evie? Teeni asked, her eyes wide and voice slowly raising an octave.
Charlie was the last to join. Evie, why don't we'se just go in da otha room and open dis.
Evie reached for the package and began to tug at the strings protecting it. Can ya grab some scissors Charlie, to cut des things.
Charlie sighed, leaving Evie to her own funeral. Sure, Kloppman's got some downstais. She jogged towards the door and exited the room just as Evie began to explain her story to the other girls. In the time it took her to descend the stairs, avoid any hazardous newsboy, grab the scissors and then return to the third floor, Charlie had decided that telling the other girls wasn't exactly a horrible idea. She trusted them and they deserved to know the truth. They were Evie's friends now too.
When she pushed open the bunkroom door, Charlie jumped back as the three girls launched towards her. Da scissors, get those tings ova hea! Teeni squeaked. She pulled the instrument out of Charlie's hands just in time for Jazz and MJ to grab.
I can't believe you'se known all dis time!
Evie, bein rich an allI mean, she's Jack's goyl. Da one he's been lookin fo!
It's all woiked out.
Dey'll be happy, and rich, wit liddle babies and
Charlie laughed and twisted herself away from the two girls teetering on the edge of hysteria. Woah! Dere better not be any babies!
Evie, finished struggling with the twine and scissors, started the open the package. She laughed. No babies. Definitely no babies.
The three other girls positioned themselves around the bunk. Teeni, impatient to see what was inside, began to assist Evie in opening the package. Ripping at the covering she stopped when the cushy fabric beneath shone through. She cried. Dere even more perty dan dat foist dress you'se have. I mean, She touched the material to her cheek. Have ya ever—wait what size is dis? Oh, can I try it on? Please. Evie nodded her head, happy that her friends could enjoy a small fraction of the privilege she'd enjoyed throughout her life. She watched silently as the other girls picked at the dresses inside. Even Charlie began to try on a dress, the glint in her eye revealing that she wished to wear in for Spot one evening.
Hidden amongst the lace and lavish fabric, Evie noticed a small card with her name written on it in delicate penmanship. She opened it slowly and read the lines inside, practically hearing Maggie say the words to her. Teeni, with one of the dresses now over her clothes, shuffled towards her. What's it say?
Maggie hopes that these dresses bring me as much joy as she felt when picking them out. She sends kisses to all my new friends—that's you—and hopes that we are all well. That green dress will make you shine' she says wear it when you meet this boy of yours.' Evie folded the note carefully and slipped it into the folds of her journal.
Turning back to her friends, she laughed at their playfulness. All four had dresses pulled over their heads, some too large, others fastened in the wrong places. A hat had been found in the package and was now perched atop Jazz's golden head. All dese dresses. You'se need all of dem to convince Jack?
I don't tink so. Cooed MJ as she skipped around the bunks.
Charlie held the aforementioned green dress up in front of Evie, tilting her head to the side and smirking. Well, she was right. Dis is da one. Now, we'se just gotta figure out when.


AN: Ah, I'm exhausted and its only 7:45. I still have Calc homework. Bad newsie story...back to the point. I've pushed out some chapters that I'm proud of but school's started again and I'm a little pressed for time. Cross country...appications...yearbook...so much to do! Hopefully this can hold you over (my one reviewer, yea!) until I can steal some more time. Thanks.