He showed her up to the bunkroom in silence, finding an empty bunk for her.
"You don't gotta pay tanight, Kloppman's pretty easy wid dat stuff. Jis'
git ta sleep." He said, putting her suitcases next to the bed.
"Is there anywhere I can change into my pajamas?"
Jack pointed to the washroom. "I'll be right out'eah if ya need anyt'in'." He whispered as Piper walked into the washroom, suitcase in hand. She smiled at him and closed the door. Jack climbed up into his bunk, one over from the one Piper was sleeping in. "Theah's somethin' weird about dat goil," He thought. He just couldn't understand what it was.
Jack watched as she walked back out of the washroom. She was wearing the same type of shirt she had been before, but it was a light blue one. Her grey, terrycloth pants had wide, somewhat flared legs that covered her heels and fell low on her thin waist, inevitably showing a little of her midriff. Jack found himself unable to take his eyes off of her as she walked over to her designated bunk and lay down, pulling the blanket over her. She smiled a thankful "goodnight" to Jack and quickly fell asleep.
Jack didn't have such an easy time falling asleep. He couldn't get that girl out of his mind. Her voice still lingered in the back of his mind; her strange mannerism, the strange way she dressed. Yet it seemed that the very same things he didn't understand were the things that he couldn't seem to resist.
"Cowboy!"
The next morning came too quickly once Jack had finally drifted off. "Whassamatta wit you?" He mumbled at the voice. "It ain't time ta get up yet, is it?"
"The hell if it isn't." Kloppman said, backhanding Jack's shoulder lightly. "Get up, boy, sell your papes!"
"Alright, alright, I'm comin. Gimme a sec, will ya?" Jack muttered, opening his eyes. He looked towards the usually vacant bunk to his left, watching the girl slowly wake up. He jumped out of his bed, forgetting that he was only wearing his longjohns, and went up to Pip's bunk as she sat up.
"Do ya need any money?" He asked her, not really needing an answer. He knew she probably had plenty of money and wouldn't need to sell.
"No, I should be fine for awhile." She replied, her head heavily nodding and her eyes rolling shut as she was still only half awake.
"You need ta stay an' rest den, I'll be back for ya at noon ta take ya to lunch wid all of us. You can meet everybody den, sound good?" Jack suggested, gently pushing her shoulder, laying her back down on the pillow.
"Okay," she agreed, rolling over and instantly falling back asleep. Jack stayed and stared at her for awhile, admiring the natural beauty that shone through even as she slept. She was just as pretty in daylight as she had been under the moonlight. He was surprised to see that she had a tough build for a girl; her slim, tan arms actually very muscular. Impulsively, he reached out to run his fingers along the smooth surface of her exposed skin. He quickly pulled his hand back when he realized what he was about to do. Shaking his head confusedly, he turned and walked into the washroom to clean up.
As he left he stopped in one more time to check on her. She was still asleep in the same position she had been in before, but she was smiling a little, mumbling something that sounded like "bowling after prom," whatever that was. "She's probably jis' talkin' jibberish or somethin." Jack thought. He quickly turned and started out the door to sell his papes.
Piper woke up a few hours later. She looked at her watch, which she had accidentally left on the night before, and saw that it was about ten. After lying in bed for a few more minutes, she decided that this wasn't nearly comfortable enough to keep her in bed any longer. She sat up and stretched, taking a look around.
When noon rolled around, Jack found himself walking up the staircase to the bunkroom to get Pip. He stopped though, when he heard her singing again.
"There are times I swear I know you're here / When I forget about my fears feeling you, my dear / Watching over me, my hope sees what the future will bring / When you wrap me in your wings and take me /
Where you are / Where you and I will breathe together once again / We'll be dancing in the moonlight just like we used to do / And you'll be smiling back at me / Only then I will be free / When I can be where you are /
And I can see your face / Your kiss I still can taste / Not a memory of age / I see your star shining down on me / And I'd do anything if I could just be right there /
Where you are / Where you and I will breathe together once again / We'll be dancing in the moonlight just like we used to do / And you'll be smiling back at me / Only then will I be free / Then I will be free / So take me where you are /
Baby there are times when selfishly / I'm wishin you were here with me / So I could wipe the tears from your eyes and make you see / That every night while you are dreaming / I'm here to guard you from afar / And any time I feel alone / I close my eyes and dream of where you are /
And we will breathe together once again, baby / We'll be dancing in the moonlight like we used to do / And you'll be smiling back at me / Only then I will be free, then I will be free /
I still believe, / I've got to believe / I will touch you that sweet day / That you take me there, / Where you are."
She gasped as she heard Jack step into the room. She didn't turn around as she greeted him.
"How long have you been standing out there?"
"Honestly?" He answered. "The whole song. It was beautiful. Wheah'd ya loin ta sing like dat?"
"I always have." She whispered, turning around, her face red. This was the first time that Jack had seen her even remotely embarrassed.
"I's sorry. I jis' couldn't interrupt it, I ain't neva hoid dat song befoah."
"It's okay.it's my favorite song." She stood up. "Let's go to lunch. My treat."
Jack smiled. "I couldn't let ya."
"Why?" She asked.
"Cuz.cuz goils ain't supposed to pay fer stuff like dat."
"Oh, really? Let's change the rules, then. Where I'm from, the girl can pay if she wants." She smiled slyly, gleefully brushing past him, walking down the stairs. Jack followed close behind her.
Jack tried to hold in a smile as he studied her from behind. She was wearing strange clothing like she had the last night, but this fashion flattered her even more although it was stranger than last night's skirt and shirt. Her pants were a tan color, but were neatly hemmed to come down to mid-calf. Instead of the back pockets buttoning on the inside like every other pair of men's pants (why was she wearing men's clothes?), there was a flap over the top of the pockets, buttoned that way. Her shirt fit her form well, but this time it had sleeves. They were snug on her arm, and only went just past her elbow. It was a light pink, with the word "Abercrombie" across the back.
He smirked as he saw she was wearing shoes this time. They weren't the usual boots or loafers, like he'd seen; they didn't tie anywhere, the heel and the toe were open, and they had a very thick sole, laced with a thick white thread all around. He smiled at the "flip-flop" noise they made as she walked.
She turned around as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "What are you smiling at now?" She asked.
"Yer shoes."
"Shut up!" She played, then pulling him into a full-blown headlock. "These are my favorite sandals!"
Jack gasped for air, partially because her grip was choking him, and partially because he was laughing so hard. He hadn't laughed like that for a long time. "Okay, okay! I'm sorry!" he gasped as she laughed and then let go.
"You remind me of my friend back home." She smiled at him.
"Is dat so?"
"Yup."
They walked in silence the rest of the way, as Jack noticed that Pip seemed to be frantically taking in everything in her range of sight like she'd never see it again. Her eyes darted around quickly, sometimes settling on the people, on the streets, on the buildings. He wondered how someone could be so in awe at the things he saw day in and day out. He watched her as her eyes brightened with every inch of the city she took in. His spine tingled as he saw how happy she was; and he found himself sprouting as big a smile as hers. It gave him a strange thrill to see her overwhelmed with happiness.
Almost too quickly, they reached the door to Tibby's. On sudden impulse, Jack raced Piper to the door and opened it for her before she could open it herself. He smiled cockily at her as she rolled her eyes jokingly and gave him a smirk.
Jack saw all the Newsies look up and stop what they were doing when Piper walked into the room.
"Fellas," Jack said, standing next to Pip. "Dis is me new pal, Pip."
The room still stood silent.
"Okay, she'll be stayin' at the Lodgin' House fer awhile, till she finds someplace ta stay."
Silence still.
"What, ya deaf er somethin? Y'could at least say 'hello.'" Jack said, becoming frustrated at his fellow newsies for acting like a bunch of dumbasses in front of Pip.
"It's okay, Jack." Pip remarked, smiling a little too sweetly. "It did take you a minute or two to find words when you first met me, if you remember."
Jack cringed as he took a blow to his pride. He narrowed his eyes at her in defense.
She smiled brilliantly and playfully stuck her tongue out at him. Jack's heart softened. He couldn't stay mad at her for more than five seconds. What was happening to him? He must have been going out of his mind; or perhaps it was just lack of sleep-either way he'd never acted like this before.
Finally the group livened up again, "heya's" and "hello's" arose from the tables of Newsies.
"So Cowboy, ya gonna siddown er what?" One boy yelled at Jack. Jack glanced at the boy, grabbed Pip by the arm and walked over to the table.
"So Pip." He said as she nodded. "This is Race, David, Snoddy, Kid Blink, and Crutchy."
"Nice to meet you." She grinned, sitting down at an open spot a the table.
"So, uh, Pip, wheah ya from?" Snoddy questioned.
"California." She replied.
"How old ah'ya?" Race cut in.
"18, how old are you?"
"18."
"Why's ya hair so short?" Another asked.
"It just is." She answered, smiling.
"Heya, boys, don't interrogate'er or nothin." Jack said sarcastically. "Ya'd think we was the Bulls er'somethin, the way youse all askin' all dese questions."
"Sorry, we'se jis' curious." Kid Blink answered. Jack smiled and bobbed his head in understanding. He knew they were curious. He was just as curious himself, but couldn't bring himself to put the words through his mouth the right way. He knew why they were so curious. She was not only gorgeous (wonder who her mother was?), but she was so mysterious.when he studied her, he pictured a breeze on a cool night: the way she laughed; her singsong way of speaking; the oddly fascinating way she was; her brilliant smile; the way she seemed to just breeze around in a happy whir of mystery.
"Is there anywhere I can change into my pajamas?"
Jack pointed to the washroom. "I'll be right out'eah if ya need anyt'in'." He whispered as Piper walked into the washroom, suitcase in hand. She smiled at him and closed the door. Jack climbed up into his bunk, one over from the one Piper was sleeping in. "Theah's somethin' weird about dat goil," He thought. He just couldn't understand what it was.
Jack watched as she walked back out of the washroom. She was wearing the same type of shirt she had been before, but it was a light blue one. Her grey, terrycloth pants had wide, somewhat flared legs that covered her heels and fell low on her thin waist, inevitably showing a little of her midriff. Jack found himself unable to take his eyes off of her as she walked over to her designated bunk and lay down, pulling the blanket over her. She smiled a thankful "goodnight" to Jack and quickly fell asleep.
Jack didn't have such an easy time falling asleep. He couldn't get that girl out of his mind. Her voice still lingered in the back of his mind; her strange mannerism, the strange way she dressed. Yet it seemed that the very same things he didn't understand were the things that he couldn't seem to resist.
"Cowboy!"
The next morning came too quickly once Jack had finally drifted off. "Whassamatta wit you?" He mumbled at the voice. "It ain't time ta get up yet, is it?"
"The hell if it isn't." Kloppman said, backhanding Jack's shoulder lightly. "Get up, boy, sell your papes!"
"Alright, alright, I'm comin. Gimme a sec, will ya?" Jack muttered, opening his eyes. He looked towards the usually vacant bunk to his left, watching the girl slowly wake up. He jumped out of his bed, forgetting that he was only wearing his longjohns, and went up to Pip's bunk as she sat up.
"Do ya need any money?" He asked her, not really needing an answer. He knew she probably had plenty of money and wouldn't need to sell.
"No, I should be fine for awhile." She replied, her head heavily nodding and her eyes rolling shut as she was still only half awake.
"You need ta stay an' rest den, I'll be back for ya at noon ta take ya to lunch wid all of us. You can meet everybody den, sound good?" Jack suggested, gently pushing her shoulder, laying her back down on the pillow.
"Okay," she agreed, rolling over and instantly falling back asleep. Jack stayed and stared at her for awhile, admiring the natural beauty that shone through even as she slept. She was just as pretty in daylight as she had been under the moonlight. He was surprised to see that she had a tough build for a girl; her slim, tan arms actually very muscular. Impulsively, he reached out to run his fingers along the smooth surface of her exposed skin. He quickly pulled his hand back when he realized what he was about to do. Shaking his head confusedly, he turned and walked into the washroom to clean up.
As he left he stopped in one more time to check on her. She was still asleep in the same position she had been in before, but she was smiling a little, mumbling something that sounded like "bowling after prom," whatever that was. "She's probably jis' talkin' jibberish or somethin." Jack thought. He quickly turned and started out the door to sell his papes.
Piper woke up a few hours later. She looked at her watch, which she had accidentally left on the night before, and saw that it was about ten. After lying in bed for a few more minutes, she decided that this wasn't nearly comfortable enough to keep her in bed any longer. She sat up and stretched, taking a look around.
When noon rolled around, Jack found himself walking up the staircase to the bunkroom to get Pip. He stopped though, when he heard her singing again.
"There are times I swear I know you're here / When I forget about my fears feeling you, my dear / Watching over me, my hope sees what the future will bring / When you wrap me in your wings and take me /
Where you are / Where you and I will breathe together once again / We'll be dancing in the moonlight just like we used to do / And you'll be smiling back at me / Only then I will be free / When I can be where you are /
And I can see your face / Your kiss I still can taste / Not a memory of age / I see your star shining down on me / And I'd do anything if I could just be right there /
Where you are / Where you and I will breathe together once again / We'll be dancing in the moonlight just like we used to do / And you'll be smiling back at me / Only then will I be free / Then I will be free / So take me where you are /
Baby there are times when selfishly / I'm wishin you were here with me / So I could wipe the tears from your eyes and make you see / That every night while you are dreaming / I'm here to guard you from afar / And any time I feel alone / I close my eyes and dream of where you are /
And we will breathe together once again, baby / We'll be dancing in the moonlight like we used to do / And you'll be smiling back at me / Only then I will be free, then I will be free /
I still believe, / I've got to believe / I will touch you that sweet day / That you take me there, / Where you are."
She gasped as she heard Jack step into the room. She didn't turn around as she greeted him.
"How long have you been standing out there?"
"Honestly?" He answered. "The whole song. It was beautiful. Wheah'd ya loin ta sing like dat?"
"I always have." She whispered, turning around, her face red. This was the first time that Jack had seen her even remotely embarrassed.
"I's sorry. I jis' couldn't interrupt it, I ain't neva hoid dat song befoah."
"It's okay.it's my favorite song." She stood up. "Let's go to lunch. My treat."
Jack smiled. "I couldn't let ya."
"Why?" She asked.
"Cuz.cuz goils ain't supposed to pay fer stuff like dat."
"Oh, really? Let's change the rules, then. Where I'm from, the girl can pay if she wants." She smiled slyly, gleefully brushing past him, walking down the stairs. Jack followed close behind her.
Jack tried to hold in a smile as he studied her from behind. She was wearing strange clothing like she had the last night, but this fashion flattered her even more although it was stranger than last night's skirt and shirt. Her pants were a tan color, but were neatly hemmed to come down to mid-calf. Instead of the back pockets buttoning on the inside like every other pair of men's pants (why was she wearing men's clothes?), there was a flap over the top of the pockets, buttoned that way. Her shirt fit her form well, but this time it had sleeves. They were snug on her arm, and only went just past her elbow. It was a light pink, with the word "Abercrombie" across the back.
He smirked as he saw she was wearing shoes this time. They weren't the usual boots or loafers, like he'd seen; they didn't tie anywhere, the heel and the toe were open, and they had a very thick sole, laced with a thick white thread all around. He smiled at the "flip-flop" noise they made as she walked.
She turned around as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "What are you smiling at now?" She asked.
"Yer shoes."
"Shut up!" She played, then pulling him into a full-blown headlock. "These are my favorite sandals!"
Jack gasped for air, partially because her grip was choking him, and partially because he was laughing so hard. He hadn't laughed like that for a long time. "Okay, okay! I'm sorry!" he gasped as she laughed and then let go.
"You remind me of my friend back home." She smiled at him.
"Is dat so?"
"Yup."
They walked in silence the rest of the way, as Jack noticed that Pip seemed to be frantically taking in everything in her range of sight like she'd never see it again. Her eyes darted around quickly, sometimes settling on the people, on the streets, on the buildings. He wondered how someone could be so in awe at the things he saw day in and day out. He watched her as her eyes brightened with every inch of the city she took in. His spine tingled as he saw how happy she was; and he found himself sprouting as big a smile as hers. It gave him a strange thrill to see her overwhelmed with happiness.
Almost too quickly, they reached the door to Tibby's. On sudden impulse, Jack raced Piper to the door and opened it for her before she could open it herself. He smiled cockily at her as she rolled her eyes jokingly and gave him a smirk.
Jack saw all the Newsies look up and stop what they were doing when Piper walked into the room.
"Fellas," Jack said, standing next to Pip. "Dis is me new pal, Pip."
The room still stood silent.
"Okay, she'll be stayin' at the Lodgin' House fer awhile, till she finds someplace ta stay."
Silence still.
"What, ya deaf er somethin? Y'could at least say 'hello.'" Jack said, becoming frustrated at his fellow newsies for acting like a bunch of dumbasses in front of Pip.
"It's okay, Jack." Pip remarked, smiling a little too sweetly. "It did take you a minute or two to find words when you first met me, if you remember."
Jack cringed as he took a blow to his pride. He narrowed his eyes at her in defense.
She smiled brilliantly and playfully stuck her tongue out at him. Jack's heart softened. He couldn't stay mad at her for more than five seconds. What was happening to him? He must have been going out of his mind; or perhaps it was just lack of sleep-either way he'd never acted like this before.
Finally the group livened up again, "heya's" and "hello's" arose from the tables of Newsies.
"So Cowboy, ya gonna siddown er what?" One boy yelled at Jack. Jack glanced at the boy, grabbed Pip by the arm and walked over to the table.
"So Pip." He said as she nodded. "This is Race, David, Snoddy, Kid Blink, and Crutchy."
"Nice to meet you." She grinned, sitting down at an open spot a the table.
"So, uh, Pip, wheah ya from?" Snoddy questioned.
"California." She replied.
"How old ah'ya?" Race cut in.
"18, how old are you?"
"18."
"Why's ya hair so short?" Another asked.
"It just is." She answered, smiling.
"Heya, boys, don't interrogate'er or nothin." Jack said sarcastically. "Ya'd think we was the Bulls er'somethin, the way youse all askin' all dese questions."
"Sorry, we'se jis' curious." Kid Blink answered. Jack smiled and bobbed his head in understanding. He knew they were curious. He was just as curious himself, but couldn't bring himself to put the words through his mouth the right way. He knew why they were so curious. She was not only gorgeous (wonder who her mother was?), but she was so mysterious.when he studied her, he pictured a breeze on a cool night: the way she laughed; her singsong way of speaking; the oddly fascinating way she was; her brilliant smile; the way she seemed to just breeze around in a happy whir of mystery.