Joining Forces
Chapter Three
Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own newsies. Sad ain't it?
They hurried and were in Brooklyn faster than usual. It seemed as if the fight was just ending. They could hear boys screaming in pain. Neither could decide if they were death screams, or just screams of fear, or screams of blood.
Bridget was a fast runner, but to her surprise, so was Kelli. She kept up rather well, and didn't seem phased by the scene playing out in front of them. Boys wearing white shirts with black suspenders appeared out of nowhere, running back towards Manhattan and Harlem. Bridget sprinted ahead and looked frantically around.
"Bree, they're hurt!" She heard her frantic cousin call. She spun around quickly and stared in horror at Kelli, who was kneeled on the ground, propping up a injured boys head. He had blood pouring from his arm, and a huge gash right over his eye. Bridget couldn't believe that her cousin could stand this, but she didn't really care now. "What do we do?" She bellowed over all the noise. Bridget thought hurriedly. What can we do? She hadn't thought to bring a first aid kit, they had nothing. Using her wit, Bridget tore off the bottom of her pants, and wrapped it quickly around his wound.
"There's more. There just has to be." Kelli whispered. She got up and ran in the opposite direction. Great, just great. Fine, leave me here with this boy, who I don't even recognize! Using all her might, Bridget helped him up, and walked with him back to the Brooklyn lodging house, hoping he was a Brooklyn newsie.
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Kelli ran to the other side of the docks and stared at a street full of chaos. A couple of boys were beating a smaller boy with some clubs, and a carriage with a wild horse came barreling down the street, heading right for a boy, who looked her age.
"Hey! Hey watch out!" She screamed at him. It was too loud and he didn't hear her. In an act of desperation, she rushed out into the street and tackled him to the ground, just out of the way of the rampaging horse. The cobblestone was cold to her skin, and she felt awkward laying on top of this boy, who she had just saved. She leaped up and stared at him. He was doing the same thing, a terrible look appeared on his face.
"Y-you? Wha' da hell are ya doin' heah?" His icy blue eyes burned with a rage Kelli had never seen.
"Me? What were you doing in the street?" She asked him.
"I thought I banished ya jus' da odda day! Wha' da hell are ya doin' heah?" Screamed the mighty Spot Conlon of Brooklyn.
Temper raging now, Kelli couldn't control herself. "You are the lowest creature with out a doubt! I just saved your life! You would have been trampled by that horse if I hadn't pushed you out of the way!" He stared wildly at her.
"If it weren't fer ya, I wouldn't be grabbin me arm like dis! See ya didn't notice ya only managed ta hoit me!" He bellowed at her. She looked at him, and his mangled arm. It looked broken to her, and she would know. She always wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, and had done and seen much at her father's office. He used to be a doctor, and her mother a nurse.
"Oh my. I'm sorry, want me to help?" She asked, her doctor side shone through, and she forgot all her hate.
"Help me? Hell no! I don't need you're help, look whatcha did already!" He raged, trying to get up from the ground. She held out her hand, and he took it, not thinking twice. She grinned triumphantly. He scowled at her, but said nothing.
After all the Harlem newsies were out, Kelli, Bridget, and a couple of capable Brooklyn newsies helped tend to the wounded. Kelli took charge and had almost everyone satisfied. One patient she ignored was Spot, who refused to treat the wounded Harlem newsies. She didn't entirely blame him, but still if they were hurt, they might as well help them.
"Help da bastards dat did dis?" He yelled at her.
"Not because of what they did, because they could be dying." She had all but screamed back.
"No way! Dere sorry ass leader can come back an' get em. Not me. I ain't a softy like ya are." He smirked at her, but it slowly faded as she stomped up next to his bed.
"No, you ain't soft, you're cold hearted and really need an attitude check." With that she left his bedside, and refused to put his arm in a sling; she made Bridget do that.
"No, wait, put that over there, and then secure that finger, then..." Kelli was talking to Shackles, who had not been injured, and who had agreed to help with the medical care.
"Look at dat little slut." Spot Conlon began. "Who does she tink she is? Me? She can't do dat." He paused, and continued to stare at Kelli. "She does 'ave spunk though, don't she?" He asked Bridget, turning to her for the first time. He watched as she carefully wrapped his arm in a makeshift sling. "Why did ya bring 'er heah anyways?" He asked slowly.
"Well, I wanted ta see if ya was ok. She wanted ta come along too. I didn't really tink ya was serious bout keeping 'er outta Brooklyn." She hesitated, and looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Course I was serious. Ya don't tink I can 'ave someone like dat, who threatens my authority in Brooklyn now do ya?" He asked her, the fire in his eyes was beginning to appear again. Bridget noticed right away.
"Alrigh', well I is sorry, but look at 'er. She's 'elping your boys pretty well." She trailed off.
"Dat's another ting. How do we'se knows dat she knows wha' she is doin'?" He asked. She looked over at him.
"That's a good question. But it looks good, eh?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. He could only nod.
"I s'pose ya two wanna stay heah fer da night huh?" Spot asked Bridget and Kelli when Kelli had finished up. Bridget smiled, but Kelli rolled her eyes.
"Guess we have no choice." She mumbled. Spot smirked as if to say, 'I have you now!'
"Da room is upstairs, to your right. Dere should be empty bunks, if not one o' ya will hafta share wit someone." He grinned again, making Kelli shiver. He turned his back to them and walked away. When he was out of earshot, Kelli began to rant again.
"The nerve of him. I can't stand him at all. If anyone has to share a bed, it's you." She said, walking ahead of Bridget.
Bridget felt a hand on her shoulder, and quickly turned around to see who it was. Her stare met the mystical eyes of Spot Conlon.
"Ya need someting?" She asked him, holding her breath. He was closer to her then he had ever been before.
"Well, I'se–I'se just wanted ya ta know, dat I appreciate what' ya is doin'." He stopped suddenly, and then without a warning, leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips. It was the best experience Bridget had ever had, but it ended all too soon. He pulled away, staring at her oddly, then turned and left once more. She stared after him in disbelief. Had that just really happened?
Kelli was woken with a start the next morning. There was a loud thud on the downstairs door. She hopped out of bed and rushed down the stairs to see who it was. Many of the Manhattan newsies were standing in the doorway, talking with Spot and a few other important looking Brooklynites. The only one to notice her at first was Racetrack. He seemed surprised that she was there, but then grinned. "Nice lookin' hair you'se got dere." He yelled across the room. A couple Manhattan newsies looked her way and smiled. Spot spun around and scowled.
"Make yourself more presentable would ya?" He asked, ushering her up the stairs. Once in front of a mirror, she tried to weed out the knots and tangles with her fingers. It wasn't working as well as she had hoped.
"Wanna use dis?" Bridget asked her, holding out a comb. Kelli accepted it gratefully.
"How can you stand him?" she asked, dragging the comb through her hair.
"Kell, we've been over dis before. I'se used ta it. K?" Bee said.
"Alright, alright. It's just that — never mind." Kelli answered. She went downstairs. Spot scowled at her, but made no comments. The Manhattan boys, however, grinned at the two girls.
"Ya must have dazzled last night eh?" Mush questioned.
"Dazzle, hmm I like it." Race added.
"You like what?" Kelli asked.
"Dazzle. It suits ya and can be yer new name." Racetrack told her.
"My new name?"
"Yes. All da newsies have got dere own nicknames and ya really need one if you are ta become one."
"And why would I become one?" Kelli questioned, crossing her arms.
"Do ya have a place to stay, 'sides the lodging house? Didn't think so. Well, it costs 2 pennies to stay at the Lodging house for a week. How else ya gonna make some money?" Bridget said, coming down the stairs.
"Oh." Kelli replied. "Well, can't I do something else? I don't know anything about selling papers."
"I guess ya can. But I'se can teach ya all ya need ta know. Ya'll be a pro in no time. Come on; we betta get started." Bee said. "Hey guys. What's up? Come to see if I made it here huh?" Bee directed towards the newsies.
"Naw, we knows wheah ya'se was. Jack's been ragin round though. When he found out dat ya two left, he gots so pissed. Guess he knew where ya were goin'." Mush grinned, but turned somber. "How bad was it?"
"Pretty bad. We got most o da wounded cleaned up though. I'se gots no idea how many died." Bee responded softly.
"Oh." Mush's face fell.
"Yea. Well, I'm outta here. I'm gonna teach Kelli how ta sell." Bridget said, beckoning to Kelli, who reluctantly followed.
"Kay, foist ting we gotta do is get some papes. They are 50 cents for a hundred. Den ya sell em for a penny a pape. Ya just gotta make sure that ya get what ya paid for. Cuz sometimes, dey try an trick ya." Bridget explained, getting in line at the distribution center.
"Okay, so you make a 50% profit. Sounds pretty easy." Kelli said, getting in line too.
"Yea, but it's hard ta sell if ya don't know how. But ya gets ta sell back wat ya didn't sell back ta da distribution centa. We got that afta the strike. I'll teach ya how to sell, don't worry. Ya'll be sellin like a pro in no time." Bee said proudly.
"Teach me how to sell?" Kelli echoed.
"Foist thing is, if ya yell the headline out, not many folks will come ta buy from ya. See, da headline writers, dey can't come up wit good ones. Don't know why they were even hired. But anyways, to get people ta buy from ya, you gotta improve the truth. Sorta trick em. Then get away from em fast! Cuz they'll be real mad at ya. But it works" Bridget said. "Hundred papes."
"A hundred? Don't you think that's a lot?"
"Nah. Besides, ya is sellin' one half." Bee winked at her bewildered cousin. "Now, dese headline's are terrible. Lookie heah, 'Bank admits mistake.'" She read. "Not bad really, but we can still improve it, fer betta sales. Wha' would you say ta improve dis headline?" Bee asked Kelli. Kelli thought for a moment.
"Bank commits costly error?" She asked pathetically. Bee scratched her chin.
"Good. Now, see how many you sell wit dat headline. If it ain't doin so well, t'ink of anuddah. Not hard, see?" Bee asked her, handing her half the stack. "I'll meet ya back at da lodging house tanight. Good luck." She winked, walking in the opposite direction, shouting out the headline Kelli suggested. Sighing, Kelli walked away, determined to sell her papers.
a/n
Thanks all who reviewed. Sorry it took so long for us to update. Daisy was grounded, when it happened to be her turn to write. Don't worry, next time won't be so long ;)
Dreamless-Mermaid: Thanks sooo much for the review! It means a lot to us! Hope you liked this chapter! Thanks again!