Bumlets paced back and forth on the steps outside the lodging house,
wearing his own path into the stoop beneath him. Spot had sent Gabi to the
lodging house hours ago. Where had she gone? He was afraid to leave his post for
fear she would turn up.
His heart stopped at the faint sound of running footsteps in the distance. Could she finally have made it? He hoped and prayed those footsteps belonged to Gabi and wouldn't budge from his place on those steps until he knew for sure.
In the distance he could see the figure of a girl, her curly hair menacingly blocking her vision as she ran faster. Then he heard his name being called faintly and his heart sped up.
"Gabi!" Bumlets called, his feet finally allowing him to run towards her. "Gabi!"
Gabrielle ran into his arms, hugging him tightly. "Bumlets, I'm so sorry," she mumbled into his chest. "I didn't mean to cause so much trouble, honest."
Bumlets hold on her tightened. "Ya didn't cause no trouble. Whatcha talkin' about?" he whispered.
Sighing, Gabi revealed the events of the past few hours, including her defiance of her parents, the showdown between Fox and Spot, and both their deaths. "Spot told me you would be here. I came as fast as I could. I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Shh, it's not your fault, Gabi," Bumlets consoled. "Spot made that choice on his own. He knew what could have happened with Fox. And ya had no control over Fox's actions. No one could expect you to marry such a man." He ran a hand through her hair and kissed her forehead.
"Come inside now. I wanna show you around the lodgin' house." Bumlets took her hand and led her inside.
"What about Manhattan?" Gabi whispered in his ear.
"Too dangerous. We cut it too close last time and we can't risk the bulls findin' ya," Bumlets explained. "Brooklyn's safer."
Sighing, Gabi clutched onto his hand. Manhattan had been his home. How could she ask him to leave it just for her? What about his friends there? The Bridge seemed odd to her. The layout was basically like Manhattan, but the people seemed different. They might have all been newsies, but Gabi felt extremely uncomfortable under their scrupulous gazes, unlike how she had felt in Manhattan.
"So this is the troublemaker," Key miffed. "And we're supposed to hide her out here because…" she started, waiting for Bumlets to finish.
"Because Luna gave us permission, that's why," Bumlets answered. He gripped to Gabi's hand and pulled her towards the stairs.
"So what does she go by?" Spades asked. "Certainly can't go by her regular name." She leaned her elbow on the couch and rested her chin in her hands. Key was right. This girl was trouble.
"You can call her Blaze," he replied before heading up the stairs. He led her to one of the vacant sick rooms and walked inside. He hadn't expected the girls to welcome Gabi so coldly. Would they really be safe here?
"They hate me," Gabi muttered, hanging her head.
"It's just gonna take some getting used to, that's all," he comforted. He hoped they would welcome her at the lodging house soon, but then Bumlets thought of Luna bringing the news of Spot's death. Instinctively he held her closer. "I missed ya so much."
"I missed you too," she whispered. Gabi wasn't so sure about using a nickname while at the lodging house, nor did she particularly like staying in Brooklyn. She felt more of a burden to Bumlets than anything else.
She took his hand and led Bumlets towards the bed, grateful to get off her feet finally. Bumlets took her into his arms and held her close. Outside the constant noises of the rowdy newsies started to fade away. With Bumlets' arms around her, his warm body close, Gabi felt her eyes begin to close. The day had exhausted her beyond belief and though it was still early that evening, Gabi didn't refuse her body's wishes to sleep.
Smiling at his sleepy girl, Bumlets gently lay her down, his arms encasing Gabi once more as he settled beside her. "Things will work out. You'll see," he whispered.
****
"What?! Dead?" Key cried. "Dat's some sick joke." She advanced towards Slick, prepared to soak her for joking about such an issue.
"Fox killed him," Slick answered, standing her ground firmly. Since Slick was the messenger from Manhattan and Brooklyn, Luna had chosen Slick to deliver the news of Spot's passing. "They fought down by the docks, and after Spot struck Fox down wit his slingshot, Fox shot at him." Slick could hardly bare to utter the words. More than anything she wished not to bring such information to the newsies.
"Did Spot at least kill him?" Spades asked.
Sighing, Slick shook her head. "He only wounded him. Luna killed him with his own pistol."
The entire lodging house grew silent. Some were overcome with anguish, while others were enraged, Key among the latter.
"I have to go deliver the news to the other lodgin' houses," Slick muttered and left quickly.
"This is all her fault!" Key bellowed.
"Whose fault?" Spades asked. "Ya can't be sayin' it's Luna's, can ya?" she asked, baffled.
"No, 'a coise not. It's that girl's fault – Blaze. If she would've married Fox in the first place, none of this woulda happened!"
Spades frowned. She didn't quite believe Key's reasoning, but as Key was co-leader of the lodging house and visibly peeved, Spades kept her mouth shut.
The other newsies stood with their heads down, dwelling on the thought of their fallen comrade. Spot and Pan had both made their mark on the city and now all that was left was just that – their name.
"Don't you see? She's a traitor! First she brings the bulls to the lodgin' house in Manhattan, den she gets Spot killed! Who knows what she'll do now!" Key shouted.
Some of the newsies nodded their heads, agreeing with her, while others thought Key was just out to get revenge for Spot's death and the only person she could get even with was Gabi.
As Key did not get the full support of the others, she headed for the stairs. "Think what ya wanna think, but I'm right." With that she stormed up to the bunkroom.
****
Over the next few days the newsies all would barely talk or leave the lodging house, except to sell. The mood of the lodging house was one of complete sadness and depression, all still mourning the death of one of their own.
Some had thought over Key's words and out of spite of Fox, had started to agree with her. They shot Gabi glares and refused to associate with Bumlets while she was near him.
The two sat up on the roof of the Bridge Lodging House one night, both silent until finally Gabi cleared her throat. "I'm not welcome here."
Bumlets frowned deeply, but his expression was hard for Gabi to see, since a fog had been rolling in from the ocean and it covered most of the brightly shining stars. "Then we'll just go to another lodgin' house. Don't matter. There are tons."
"And what then?" Gabi asked. "Once they learn who I am, they'll do the same thing as what is happening here," she sighed.
"Den we'll go to Joisey," Bumlets answered quickly. "Or up north."
Gabi shook her head. "And leave your friends? No, I won't go to another state." Though she wouldn't say it, Gabi not only didn't want to move because of his friends here, but because of her family, even if they chose not to associate with her while she was being courted by a newsie.
"It'll work out, I'll find a way," he promised.
Unable to think of such a horrid subject any longer, Gabi pulled herself closer to him. "I love you," she whispered before planting kisses on his neck.
Though relishing her touch, Bumlets took her face in his hands and tilted it so that he could look into her eyes deeply. "I love you." He pulled her near, kissing Gabi as if for the first time.
Soon any thoughts of their current situation were banished from both their minds as the kiss grew in passion, their only wish to be as close to one another as possible.
****
Bumlets was startled from his sleep. He had rolled over only to find he was alone. He reached out for Gabi, but instead all he found was her necklace lying besides him on the blanket.
He sat up to see even in the morning that the fog had taken over the sky and his heart began to beat faster. Where had she gone? Bumlets pulled his clothes on and gripped to the necklace in one hand as he descended the fire escape to the bunkrooms. After searching the washrooms and coming up empty, Bumlets darted down to the lobby.
"She's not here," Spades muttered.
"Wheah is she?" Bumlets demanded.
"Dunno. Saw her leave earlier. Seemed pretty upset though," Spades answered.
The bridge… Bumlets only gave her a nod before her burst out the front door and sped towards the bridge.
"Gabi! Gabi wait up!" Through the fog he could barely make her out, even with the short distance between them.
Gabi turned from her frozen position and smiled at Bumlets once he was next to her. "Do you remember the legend of the young man?"
"A faithful heart makes wishes come true," he answered softly.
"Make a wish, Bumlets."
Bumlets closed his eyes, obeying what she asked of him, but at the same time deathly afraid of what Gabi planned to do.
"To be back in Manhattan, together again."
Smiling, Gabi turned back towards the water and before Bumlets opened his eyes, she leapt off the railing into the foggy abyss.
His eyes finally opened, Bumlets looked after her, a sad smile on his face, tears running down his cheeks.
* ~ THE END ~ *
His heart stopped at the faint sound of running footsteps in the distance. Could she finally have made it? He hoped and prayed those footsteps belonged to Gabi and wouldn't budge from his place on those steps until he knew for sure.
In the distance he could see the figure of a girl, her curly hair menacingly blocking her vision as she ran faster. Then he heard his name being called faintly and his heart sped up.
"Gabi!" Bumlets called, his feet finally allowing him to run towards her. "Gabi!"
Gabrielle ran into his arms, hugging him tightly. "Bumlets, I'm so sorry," she mumbled into his chest. "I didn't mean to cause so much trouble, honest."
Bumlets hold on her tightened. "Ya didn't cause no trouble. Whatcha talkin' about?" he whispered.
Sighing, Gabi revealed the events of the past few hours, including her defiance of her parents, the showdown between Fox and Spot, and both their deaths. "Spot told me you would be here. I came as fast as I could. I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Shh, it's not your fault, Gabi," Bumlets consoled. "Spot made that choice on his own. He knew what could have happened with Fox. And ya had no control over Fox's actions. No one could expect you to marry such a man." He ran a hand through her hair and kissed her forehead.
"Come inside now. I wanna show you around the lodgin' house." Bumlets took her hand and led her inside.
"What about Manhattan?" Gabi whispered in his ear.
"Too dangerous. We cut it too close last time and we can't risk the bulls findin' ya," Bumlets explained. "Brooklyn's safer."
Sighing, Gabi clutched onto his hand. Manhattan had been his home. How could she ask him to leave it just for her? What about his friends there? The Bridge seemed odd to her. The layout was basically like Manhattan, but the people seemed different. They might have all been newsies, but Gabi felt extremely uncomfortable under their scrupulous gazes, unlike how she had felt in Manhattan.
"So this is the troublemaker," Key miffed. "And we're supposed to hide her out here because…" she started, waiting for Bumlets to finish.
"Because Luna gave us permission, that's why," Bumlets answered. He gripped to Gabi's hand and pulled her towards the stairs.
"So what does she go by?" Spades asked. "Certainly can't go by her regular name." She leaned her elbow on the couch and rested her chin in her hands. Key was right. This girl was trouble.
"You can call her Blaze," he replied before heading up the stairs. He led her to one of the vacant sick rooms and walked inside. He hadn't expected the girls to welcome Gabi so coldly. Would they really be safe here?
"They hate me," Gabi muttered, hanging her head.
"It's just gonna take some getting used to, that's all," he comforted. He hoped they would welcome her at the lodging house soon, but then Bumlets thought of Luna bringing the news of Spot's death. Instinctively he held her closer. "I missed ya so much."
"I missed you too," she whispered. Gabi wasn't so sure about using a nickname while at the lodging house, nor did she particularly like staying in Brooklyn. She felt more of a burden to Bumlets than anything else.
She took his hand and led Bumlets towards the bed, grateful to get off her feet finally. Bumlets took her into his arms and held her close. Outside the constant noises of the rowdy newsies started to fade away. With Bumlets' arms around her, his warm body close, Gabi felt her eyes begin to close. The day had exhausted her beyond belief and though it was still early that evening, Gabi didn't refuse her body's wishes to sleep.
Smiling at his sleepy girl, Bumlets gently lay her down, his arms encasing Gabi once more as he settled beside her. "Things will work out. You'll see," he whispered.
"What?! Dead?" Key cried. "Dat's some sick joke." She advanced towards Slick, prepared to soak her for joking about such an issue.
"Fox killed him," Slick answered, standing her ground firmly. Since Slick was the messenger from Manhattan and Brooklyn, Luna had chosen Slick to deliver the news of Spot's passing. "They fought down by the docks, and after Spot struck Fox down wit his slingshot, Fox shot at him." Slick could hardly bare to utter the words. More than anything she wished not to bring such information to the newsies.
"Did Spot at least kill him?" Spades asked.
Sighing, Slick shook her head. "He only wounded him. Luna killed him with his own pistol."
The entire lodging house grew silent. Some were overcome with anguish, while others were enraged, Key among the latter.
"I have to go deliver the news to the other lodgin' houses," Slick muttered and left quickly.
"This is all her fault!" Key bellowed.
"Whose fault?" Spades asked. "Ya can't be sayin' it's Luna's, can ya?" she asked, baffled.
"No, 'a coise not. It's that girl's fault – Blaze. If she would've married Fox in the first place, none of this woulda happened!"
Spades frowned. She didn't quite believe Key's reasoning, but as Key was co-leader of the lodging house and visibly peeved, Spades kept her mouth shut.
The other newsies stood with their heads down, dwelling on the thought of their fallen comrade. Spot and Pan had both made their mark on the city and now all that was left was just that – their name.
"Don't you see? She's a traitor! First she brings the bulls to the lodgin' house in Manhattan, den she gets Spot killed! Who knows what she'll do now!" Key shouted.
Some of the newsies nodded their heads, agreeing with her, while others thought Key was just out to get revenge for Spot's death and the only person she could get even with was Gabi.
As Key did not get the full support of the others, she headed for the stairs. "Think what ya wanna think, but I'm right." With that she stormed up to the bunkroom.
Over the next few days the newsies all would barely talk or leave the lodging house, except to sell. The mood of the lodging house was one of complete sadness and depression, all still mourning the death of one of their own.
Some had thought over Key's words and out of spite of Fox, had started to agree with her. They shot Gabi glares and refused to associate with Bumlets while she was near him.
The two sat up on the roof of the Bridge Lodging House one night, both silent until finally Gabi cleared her throat. "I'm not welcome here."
Bumlets frowned deeply, but his expression was hard for Gabi to see, since a fog had been rolling in from the ocean and it covered most of the brightly shining stars. "Then we'll just go to another lodgin' house. Don't matter. There are tons."
"And what then?" Gabi asked. "Once they learn who I am, they'll do the same thing as what is happening here," she sighed.
"Den we'll go to Joisey," Bumlets answered quickly. "Or up north."
Gabi shook her head. "And leave your friends? No, I won't go to another state." Though she wouldn't say it, Gabi not only didn't want to move because of his friends here, but because of her family, even if they chose not to associate with her while she was being courted by a newsie.
"It'll work out, I'll find a way," he promised.
Unable to think of such a horrid subject any longer, Gabi pulled herself closer to him. "I love you," she whispered before planting kisses on his neck.
Though relishing her touch, Bumlets took her face in his hands and tilted it so that he could look into her eyes deeply. "I love you." He pulled her near, kissing Gabi as if for the first time.
Soon any thoughts of their current situation were banished from both their minds as the kiss grew in passion, their only wish to be as close to one another as possible.
Bumlets was startled from his sleep. He had rolled over only to find he was alone. He reached out for Gabi, but instead all he found was her necklace lying besides him on the blanket.
He sat up to see even in the morning that the fog had taken over the sky and his heart began to beat faster. Where had she gone? Bumlets pulled his clothes on and gripped to the necklace in one hand as he descended the fire escape to the bunkrooms. After searching the washrooms and coming up empty, Bumlets darted down to the lobby.
"She's not here," Spades muttered.
"Wheah is she?" Bumlets demanded.
"Dunno. Saw her leave earlier. Seemed pretty upset though," Spades answered.
The bridge… Bumlets only gave her a nod before her burst out the front door and sped towards the bridge.
"Gabi! Gabi wait up!" Through the fog he could barely make her out, even with the short distance between them.
Gabi turned from her frozen position and smiled at Bumlets once he was next to her. "Do you remember the legend of the young man?"
"A faithful heart makes wishes come true," he answered softly.
"Make a wish, Bumlets."
Bumlets closed his eyes, obeying what she asked of him, but at the same time deathly afraid of what Gabi planned to do.
"To be back in Manhattan, together again."
Smiling, Gabi turned back towards the water and before Bumlets opened his eyes, she leapt off the railing into the foggy abyss.
His eyes finally opened, Bumlets looked after her, a sad smile on his face, tears running down his cheeks.