---Chapter Seven---

The birthday party had come as a total shock to Maddy. When she had found out that Les had leaked her secret, all she could do was roll her eyes and continue living on with her life. Despite the moments she shared with Jack, she made the decision of worrying about it later and to instead enjoy the party.

Medda and other assorted live bands and singers were keeping the mood swinging by playing some really good party tunes that had the dance floor a happening place to be. The dance floor was littered with newsies and their dates (only half of whom she recognized) and other newsies were scattered about, talking, laughing, and playing cards. Everyone was having such a good time and Maddy felt happy to be in the middle of it all.

"Okay Race, I'm calling your bluff," Maddy pronounced as Kid Blink lit the cigarette that was dangling from her mouth. "What do you think is gonna give you the winning hand?" Racetrack stared at her, trying to feel out if she thought she could win or not. He was pretty confident he could win, but he never knew with her.

"All right, I'm laying it all out," Racetrack replied, puffing on his cigar. "I got me a pair of twos lying under three queens."

"Wow, that's a really good hand," Maddy commented, pretending to be interested. "Unfortunately, it ain't enough to be not one, two, or three, but four of my little sevens."

Cheering and yelling went all around the table as she blew smoke out onto Race's cards and gave him a smirk as she collected her winnings. Racetrack got up and walked away from the table, muttering about how he couldn't believe he lost to Maddy again. She only laughed; he did this every time she won.

"So, can I interest the birthday girl in a dance?" Maddy looked up to see a familiar pair of blue eyes smiling at her. She smiled back, stubbed out her cigarette, and took his hand in hers.

"Sure Dave," Maddy agreed, walking out with him to the dance floor. They began to move to the beat of the music, talking and laughing.

"So, are you enjoying yourself?" David asked when they hit a lull in the conversation.

"Oh, I'm having a great time," Maddy replied, a twinkle glimmering in her eyes. "However, I'll just have to be more careful what I say around Les. He was lucky this time." Although she said it jokingly, he noticed something in the way she looked.

"Is something bothering you?"

"What? No," Maddy answered, seeming a little distracted. "Everything is perfect. Jack, and you, and everyone just doing this for me...a girl couldn't ask for more."

"You know, it was his idea," David told her as they moved around the dance floor. "He wanted to make everything perfect for you."

"I hope he realizes how much I appreciate it." There it was again; David was sure something was bothering her. He noticed how distracted she seemed and it was beginning to bother him. But now, he noticed how her eyes darted around the room and one of the things he liked about Maddy was that she gave you her full attention when you were talking to her.

"Maddy, what are you looking for?"

"Nothing," Maddy replied, snapping her attention back to David, giving him a smile. "All eyes are on you sweetie-pie." He laughed at the way she made fake goo-goo eyes at him but when he twirled her in a circle, David saw Jack staring into his eyes and it made him feel kind of unnerved. He could tell by the look on Jack's face that he wasn't happy with him dancing with Maddy.

"So, how's it going with you and Skittery?" Maddy asked Beth as they stood by the bar. Skittery had introduced the two of them and after talking for a little bit, they realized they had some common interests.

"It's going really well," Beth answered, smiling happily. "He's just really sweet and thoughtful. I still can't believe I went up to him that one night and just asked him out. Took a lot of courage, let me tell you."

"What brought you to ask him like that?" Maddy asked, remembering that night well.

"Well...I don't know. I knew I liked him; hell, he was across from my store every day, selling his papers," Beth remembered. "I just realized I was tired of the bullshit and decided to ask him. All this talk about the woman waiting for the man is nonsense. We are in a new century Maddy and I felt like taking a stand for myself."

"Wow, I wish I could do that," Maddy said, a hint of wistfulness in her voice.

"Honey, I know you can," Beth said reassuringly. "I know there's got to be a newsie here that's caught you eye." When Maddy didn't say anything, Beth sighed. "It's Jack, isn't it?"

Maddy's eyes went wide and then gave a surprised laugh. "God, it's that obvious isn't it? How do you do that?"

"Eh, instincts," Beth replied easily, swallowing the rest of her drink. "And observations. I began to pick up your little crush when you mentioned him only about thirty times."

Maddy sighed as she ordered up another drink from the bar. "So what are your opinions on it?"

"As someone older than you," Beth started, placing a hand on her hip. "I think you're smitten with him. And from the looks he keeps throwing over here, I can assume he feels the same way."

"He keeps looking over here?" Maddy said anxiously, turning her head. Sure enough, Jack was staring over at them. He smiled when Maddy made eye contact and shyly turned his head away and continued to talk with Kid Blink. "He's just checking up on me. Jack's kind of protective like that."

"Maddy, I've barely met the boy, but from what Skittery tells me, he's got a crush on you too," Beth confided. "Has he ever tried to make a move? Or have you, for that matter? I'm sure you've dropped hints. You don't seem like the type of girl who innocently waits for her man."

"Well..." Before Maddy could tell her about Jack's actions before the party, he was standing right in front of her.

"You ready to dance again?" he asked, his blue eyes twinkling.

"Oh, that reminds me," Beth butted in. "I'm due up onstage. Got any requests?"

"Something we can dance to," Jack replied, taking Maddy's hand. She waved goodbye as Beth rolled her eyes.

"Thank you Captain Obvious!" Beth stalked off towards the stage and smiled as she heard the crowds cheer for her. "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen! I'm about to play something special tonight, so grab your partner and head for the dance floor!"

The piano started to play its music as Beth took a couple of deep breaths, preparing herself for the song. When she spotted Maddy, Jack, and Skittery, she felt very inspired and began to sing from her deepest emotions.

"Someday, when I'm awfully low, when the world is cold. I will feel a glow just thinking of you. And the way you look tonight..."

Spinning her in a circle, Jack smiled as she laughed and gently laid his hands in the small of her back. They would gently rock, allowing the lyrics to wash over them and the moment. Occasionally, he would dip her when she least expected it and she sighed at the way she felt.

"So, are you having a good time?" Jack whispered in her ear, rubbing her back.

"This is absolutely wonderful," Maddy replied, resting her head on his shoulder. "I could not have asked for a better birthday."

"You have no idea how happy I am to hear that," he answered, stroking her hair. "I was afraid you wouldn't like it because you didn't want anyone to know about your birthday."

"Jack, let me fill you in on a little secret," Maddy told him, looking into his eyes. "Women enjoyed being surprised; especially when it's a good one."

"I'll keep that in mind," he sighed, both of them continuing to dance. The piano music washed over them and they both realized that they were in very close proximity to each other. Thoughts of what happened between them earlier floated through Maddy's mind and so did Beth's words of taking the bull by the horns.

"Are you having a good time?" Maddy asked him. Jack smiled a smile she'd never seen before and it filled her with happiness to see a new side of him.

"When I'm with you, I always have a good time."

Maddy reached up on her tip-toes and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Thank you for doing this."

Jack bent down and brushed his lips against her cheek. "You were worth it."

Before he could say anything else, he felt her lips on his, softly kissing them. As shocked as he was, Jack only returned the kiss and felt a definite shiver go up his spine. It was the type of kiss you only read about in magic fairy-tales; soft, sweet, and perfect. As much experience as Jack had, he'd never been kissed like this before.

Breaking the kiss, Maddy kept her eyes closed as she rested her head on his chest, softly humming along with the lyrics that Beth was still singing.

"Don't you ever change, keep that breathless charm, won't you please arrange it, cause I love you, just the way you look tonight," Beth sang the final notes over the loud clapping and whistling coming from the crowd. And while Jack and Maddy were happy that she did a good job, they were lost in their own world.

"So, I guess this is it," Maddy said as they reached her bedroom door. Jack had walked with her back to the lodging house and the two of them were now standing outside her room, saying goodnight.

"I guess so," Jack replied, smiling as she yawned widely. "You look beat."

"It's been a long day," Maddy answered, shrugging her shoulder. As much as she wanted to talk to him about their kiss, she felt she would be able to talk better when she wasn't so tired. "Good night Jack." She stood up on tip-toe to kiss his cheek and was met with his lips instead. Fumbling a little bit, Maddy steadied herself on the doorknob as Jack's hand slid down to her hip. She felt herself being pressed up against the wall as the kiss deepened and a small sigh escaped her lips. She allowed herself to lose it in the moment but something didn't feel right. Maybe it was the alcohol or it'd been a long day; whatever it was, she knew that whatever was happening needed to stop before it went any further.

"Jack, stop," Maddy said softly, his lips moving down her neck. He was totally engrossed in his progress and didn't hear her right away. "Jack....Jack, stop...c'mon Jack!" He got the message when he felt her hand on his chest push him slightly away. His head still hung close near hers, close enough that she could hear him breathing. He looked into her eyes before kissing her forehead lightly. That one kiss turned into a trail of kisses down the side of her face which infuriated and excited her at the same time.

"Stop it." The command sounded serious this time and Jack backed off a little, frustrated and confused. "I ain't that kind of girl, you know."

"I know," Jack said softly, turning so that he was leaned up against the wall next to her. "I get it."

"I want to," Maddy said slyly, turning her head to face him. He reciprocated the same smile as she continued. "But tonight....let's just call it quits here, all right?"

"You're killing me kid," Jack said, closing his eyes and running his hand through his hair. "Nothing I can do to change your mind?"

"Not really," she replied. "You think we're ready?"

"Ready for...?"

"The next step. Friendship to...something more."

Jack stood there quietly for a minute as thoughts flew his already oversaturated mind. Looking into her eyes, he knew the answer. "I think we've always been ready. It just took a little longer to get around to it."

Maddy rolled her eyes but a grin spread across her face anyway. "You going soft on me Kelly?"

"Not in the least," his voice turned slightly husky as he raised an eyebrow suggestively. Maddy softly gasped at what he was implying and gave a surprised giggle.

"Goodnight Jack," she laughed, kissing his cheek.

"Goodnight kid," he replied, watching her disappear behind her bedroom door. He sighed and walked down the hall to the flight of stairs that would lead him down to his own bed, a bunk he shared with someone in a room full of Newsies. It looked like it was going to be a long night.