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POV: Sage

Day: December 23, 1900

Time: 9:12 PM

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Mark Hanna as Santa Claus. Hah, that's an interesting little headline over there. At the request of Senator M. A. Hanna, the Little Consolidated Street Railroad, of which he is president, will distribute $5000 among its employees Saturday night as a Christmas gift.

Goodness gracious, are you serious? Now you see, I don't usually fall for these kinds of things, newspapers need anything to make their readers interested, but this one was just… unreal. What day was this newspaper again? Oh, the twentieth. Only two days ago. I don't usually read newspapers, seeing as how I sell them. But there's nothing wrong with reading what you sell, right? I thought so.

But I need to get my mind off of things. I don't really like this time of year, I just don't. I know I have my reasons, but I ain't just going to share them right out with everyone. Things that go around here at the lodging house are unusual. That and gossip moves quickly. That's one thing you can't stop.

Right when I was gong to go back to my article with Mark Hanna being Santa Claus, which I thought was ridiculous, Snooza comes walking in the lodging house, not looking like herself. At all. I thought that she had just gotten into a fight with another scab on the street or something, but what really shocked me was how happy and relaxed she looked. That really freaked me out right there.

With all the thoughts and feelings going on in my mind, I just couldn't handle thinking too much right now. I was determined to read what Mark Hanna was about to do. Grow a beard, wear a big red outfit, and stuff his stomach with food until he grows a big belly full of jelly? That was an interesting thought. So I went back to my paper.

I would've probably been reading for the longest time, because the next thing I knew, the lobby had much less people than before. Ershey wasn't talking to Race anymore… speaking of Race, he and Sapphy were nowhere to be seen. Neither was Emu. Duck and Brownie weren't sitting on the couch and talking to each other like they usually do. Though Mush and Ears were still there, talking to each other and watching the card game between Skittery and Specs.

"You having fun reading the news there, Sagey?" asked Skittery, glancing up from his card game with Specs.

Ah, my brother. Sure, we were only… what, one-year difference? But we're more alike than you think. Don't get me wrong, I love him, but there's just times when he's a pain in the behind, y'know? The way he endlessly teases me, the amount of questions he asks before I go out to dinner with Jack, and the protectiveness that any other brother would give to their younger sister.

"I'm having a blast," I answered sarcastically. He just loves making conversations about the littlest things doesn't he? But that's just the way he is.

"I actually feel better than you do with that hand your holding." I couldn't help it, can I? I just had to walk over there and look at how he was doing. With his game, I mean. Ah, you know what I'm saying.

Now at that point I was about to tell him what he should do with his cards and make Specs a few cents richer, but guess who just walked in? Yeah, him. I've been waiting all night for him. Aren't I just the perfect little girlfriend? Sure, I am. Jack and Sage, Sage and Jack. We were practically inseparable. But where was he today? Not next to me, that's for sure.

I was just about to go over there and talk to him when I realized what kind of a state he was in. Everybody knew Jack and the kind of person he was. He always had an air of confidence about him, he relied on his street smarts, and the smile on his face could just make any girl melt. Hah, I would know.

"Ain't got no respect… he should know…" mumbled Jack as he paced about the room.

"What happened?" said Mush, standing up and walking over to where I was standing.

"You look like you just got into a fight…" said Skittery, throwing his cards on the table and suddenly interested to see what was going on.

"Yeah, and who's he?" asked Mush once again.

I really had nothing to say 'cause I was angry with him. That and Skittery and Mush practically did all the talking. I couldn't possibly say the same thing to him, now, could I? He looked so messed up right then and there, his hair that usually looked near perfect was now disheveled, with bits of hair sticking up here and there. His face was rigid and stern, anger being his emotion and shield. His eyes were narrow and downcast, making his dark brown eyes looking more clouded than ever. I just wanted to hug him right then and there.

But before I could even do or say anything, the door burst open, with one of the most unexpected newsies standing there, his emotion mirroring Jack's. Who would've thought that they were fighting? But it was bound to come eventually. Jack could get a little overprotective.

"Don't you run away from me! I told you I didn't do nothing! NOTHING, I TELL YOU!" shouted Itey as he walked in the lobby and glared at Jack.

Was that Itey that just walked in? The quiet and nice Itey that I know?

"Nothing? How am I supposed to know how THAT, huh?!" retorted Jack, pushing his face into Itey's.

"I don't get it! You're supposed to TRUST your sister and your friends! Am I right, Jacky boy?" taunted Itey, taking a step back and eyeing Jack.

There it was. I finally understood. I knew there were disagreements between Itey and Jack, just glares and taunts here and there, but I didn't think that it would become this full blown. Let me start at the beginning. You see, Jack has a sister, or a half sister, actually. Lynette, but everybody else just called her Brownie. It didn't take long for Brownie to fall for one of the guys here at the lodging house. Really, how can you not? Out of all of them, she picked Itey. Sure, he wasn't one of the most outspoken newsies in here, but he's loyal and fights for you 'till the end. I guess that's what she saw in him.

I was happy for them, I really was. They were together for a week, and guess who just had to interfere? I love Jack and all, and I understand where he's coming from, but he can get a little overprotective once in a while. Especially with the people he cares about.

"What did you just call me, Itey?" whispered Jack. Oh no. This wasn't going well. When Jack's on a streak he has a tendency to do things that he regrets. Or things that I regret.

"HOLD ON!" I shouted. I couldn't take this anymore. "What the HELL is going on?" Hah, that's commanding for you. Even Jack stared at me with disbelief. Yeah, boy, you better listen to me.

"Itey? I saw you from the window upstairs and…" came a voice from the stairs. I turned around to look and see who it was. This day just keeps on getting better and better. It was Brownie.

"Brownie!" bellowed Jack as he started to walk over to her, his eyes piercing straight through her own hazel green eyes.

"No, you're not…" I said tauntingly, stepping right in front of him. I wasn't about to let him take out his anger on his sister. That would just cause more trouble than what we have now.

"Sagey…" whispered Jack, pulling his face into a small pout. Goodness, why did he have to do that?

"You wanna know what happened, Sage?" shouted Itey from behind. I turned my attention towards him, anger still expressed on his face.

"Itey?" said Brownie curiously, stepping down the staircase and walking towards Itey.

"No! You're staying where you are!" pointed Jack at Brownie, making her freeze at her recent position.

Did I say a little overprotective? I take that back. The look on Brownie's face was unforgettable. I felt sad for the girl, there she was, expecting to see Itey, but instead greeted by Jack's anger. I could see that she was confused and shocked at the same time. That's not a good feeling.

"What's gong on?" muttered Brownie.

"Remember when we went out yesterday night, right, Brownie?" asked Itey, looking at Brownie's hazel green eyes, hoping that she would remember.

"Yeah…"

"We went to one of the vaudeville shows not far away from here… not Medda, I wanted to take her someplace different," continued Itey. "Then we went over to Central Park to take a walk…"

"A WALK? That's not all what you did!" shouted Jack once more.

"You were SPYING on us?!" Now it was Brownie's turn to shout. She was shocked, that's for sure, but I didn't think that Jack was going to do that either.

"I was doing it for you!"

"For me? What is that? Hiding in bushes and watching me go on dates for me? Sure, I feel loved," answered Brownie sarcastically. "I knew it! That wasn't some big squirrel I saw in the park! It was you!"

"I DO NOT look like a huge squirrel!" shouted Jack.

"Yeah, well, that hair of yours can make up enough for its tail!"

"This has gone too far!" I shouted. This was going to turn out right.

"Yeah!" shouted Jack. "Itey, I ain't letting you see Brownie anymore! You won't, no, you CAN'T lay a finger on her without permission from me!"

No! That's not what was supposed to happen. Jack!

"Jack, no!"

"What the hell was that for?!"

"…A little too far…"

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Brownie, are you okay?"

It was a mess, that's what it was. The whole thing. Right after he said that, hell just broke loose. Itey was ready to pounce on Jack, but thank goodness for Specs, Skittery, and Mush for being there. I saw Ears run after Brownie as she darted up the stairs. Goodness. I don't even recall how we even got here. Peace and quiet. You just got to love it. That's what the rooftop's for.

"But Jack, why did you have to do that to her?" I really didn't know why he did and I wanted to know so badly. And when I wanted and needed to know something, I wasn't just about to stop. Even though it may seem perfectly peaceful sitting here and looking up at the sky, I just couldn't drop the issue.

"I'm looking out for her, Sagey… you know how many creeps are walking out there?"

I could feel his breathing and hear his voice as I leaned my head on his shoulder and breathed a sigh. The scent of newspapers, ink, and his own sweat swirled about him. Then, I knew that it was really Jack. I love him for all what's worth, and I think that him being overprotective shows that he cares, but today was just too much.

"I know, but did you hear what Itey said? Don't you trust them? Besides, its not like Itey's a creep. He's your friend. He was there during the strike. He struck through. Why are you acting like this?"

What can I say? I couldn't help it, I was stubborn.

"There's just so many things going on… what did I just do?" muttered Jack as he ran his fingers through his hair. I sat up from my position, put my hand to his face so I could make him look at me, and looked him straight in the eyes. Geez. He looks so cute.

"Just calm down, Jack… you can't handle everything at once, y'know that. You're the leader of the Manhattan newsies, big brother to one of the most loved girl newsies around, loyal friend to everyone, and you have your girlfriend sitting right here."

Sure, I was getting a little mushy and over exaggerating, but he needed to be consoled. He looked into my eyes, kissed my hand, then moved closer to kiss my cheek, and finally burying his face in my neck. He stayed there for a while, just breathing. I wasn't complaining or anything, but I was sitting up, and he was getting a little heavy for me.

"Erm… Jack…" I mumbled, ruffling his hair, and pushing him up to see his face. "How about I lean on you, instead?"

He chuckled and gave me a smirk as he stood up and sat back down on the bench, letting me rest my head on his shoulder while he put his arm around me. I loved that feeling I had right then and there. Did you ever have that? When all your other troubles were just suddenly gone and time felt like it stood still? I was happy for a moment. No, better yet, I was content.

"So, what do you want for Christmas?" muttered Jack.

BAM. That ruined it all. I knew it was only a few days away, but I wasn't the particular person who looked forward to it.

"Erm…"

He couldn't really do anything unless he could find my family again. Which I really doubt it.

"A scarf? How about a new hair ribbon? Or a…"

"No, Jack…"

"What's wrong?"

"What I have right now is fine." Damn. Finding the right words is hard.

"Are you sure?"

Was I sure? I didn't know. I really didn't. I don't like Christmas.

"Aren't you going to Brooklyn tomorrow?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, but…"

"Go to sleep then… you need your rest." I gave him a quick peck on the cheek, stood up, and walked back to the girls' bunkroom. Good timing, Jack. Talk about Christmas. The day when the child was born… and the day when my father was taken.

~*~

Shout-outs

Tag-along: thanks! ^^ just gotta luv dashboard confessionals!

Sapphy: lol! you should've seen how many girls put race as close friend, but not romantically! *wink* hahah! okie dokie, i'll check out the mary sue fic when i'm stuck with your chap. ^^ i might even ask you if its okay before i send it out... but we'll see! you know, i just realized what happens to everyone except for me? lol.

Snooza: hahah, you're all giddy! ^^ you're not a fiend! lol! you'll see! *wink* see ya around the MLH!

Oneconfusednewsie: Wow, snowboarding! Never done that before... maybe 'cause i live in a place that doesn't snow... lol. :P its just rain or shine here. Blah, i hate math class! lol. i like the people in our class - they make it interesting and all, but i just don't like math.

Azn-kimmi: you're not that boy crazy? lol, right... hahah.

Frenchygoil: hahah, you should be happy that you're with him too! i was planning on having somebody else have him if they wanted, but if nobody did, then... *wink* hahah. but this is my "gift" to you guys! ^^ oh yeah... it does remind me of lil!

Puck: thanks for putting up my story in your website! ^^