FOURTH CHAPTER! ZOWIE!
Shout-ins:
imaginelet: I'm so glad you liked it! Your reviews are always great. Yeah, I liked that song, too. The one in this chapter is almost as funny. The wording just...makes me laugh, I guess. Yeah, Priscilla's...entertaining. She'll get more so, I hope. But we should all start hating her soon. Cuz she's awful in this chap. Have a great weekend. :) And as always, TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!
Sureshot Higgins: Guess who's gotta a "secret" boyfriend in this chapter? Hee hee. Just read it.
I'm so relieved you like Kristen cuz I really do! The longer I know a character, the more depth they reveal so she'll definitely have some serious scenes in the future. :D Thank you for reviewing. Let me know what I should add in the next few chapters.
Dreamer: Thank you very much! I love to write but I'm never disciplined enough to work at it. That's my problem. I'm soooo glad you like this chapter! (Gives Dreamer a piece of candy) Bribery...it's a gift.
Lil Rain Angel: I love your reviews! You know what's fun is when you get to a part of the story that you have to write and the conversation just flows and you feel like you're there...and then I start laughing cuz it's like the characters are standing over me telling me what to type.
Racetrack: no, No, NO! (Jumps up and down and points at screen furiously) Yous can't ruin me like dat! I ain't no mushy goil!
Mush: Did someone call my name?
Spot: Shuddup owah I'lls soaks yas both. Now, Leggy goil, let's tawks. How come I ain't got moah lines?
Jack: Wouldja tree git ya fingahs off ta screen? Is tryin' to read
Racetrack: (watches as Legs destroys his reputation) Ya BUM! I'll soak ya! (Puts hands around her throat)
Legs: (choking) But...Race...(gasps) everyone's...(wheezes) waiting for this... (sucks in air) chapter.
Racetrack: (thinks for a moment, then lets go) A'right, but yous bettah not put in any a dat kissy stuff!
Spot: If yous don't want it, Race, I'll take it!
Racetrack: (glares threateningly) Ya hear me, goily?
Legs: (hides love scene in her note book for later chapter) Of course, Racetrack. No kissy stuff. (As soon as his back is turned, begins to type furiously) Heheh...sucker!
Moonlight: I am so flattered! Thank you for taking the time to mess with my silly little story! Hope you like the new chapter. :D
snipah higgins: Yeah, isn't Race a sweetheart? (Dodges Racetrack's smack) I'm so glad you like this! Thank you for reviewing! :D
Raven: lol. Don't worry about Spot and Kate. Guess who's in THIS chapter. Heheh. Thanks for your faithful reviews! (Hugs Raven)
Bella: Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! Glad you like it. Thank you for offering Moira, too. I'll let you know if I need her. (Offers Bella a Teletubbies pencil)
Kate Lawrence: You're so sweet. Your review was the crowning glory of last night! I was sooooo high off of that. So glad you like Kate's role. More of her to come in this chapter. :)
Disclaimer: "Newsies" is property of Walt Disney Studios.
Any actors mentioned have exclusive rights to themselves.
The song "Keep it Under Your Hat" is also from "Calamity Jane."
Kate is owned by the one and only Kate Lawrence.
Kristen is owned by the honorable Sureshot Higgins.
Tanya owns herself. Don't try and steal her, she may attempt to beat you over the head with a large club.
I own Katherine and Mr. Siding.
Forward...MARCH...
The moon was shining into the dark, cold room where the girls lay sleeping. Except for Priscilla who had gone home for the night.
Kate's unconscious form tossed angrily against her pillow. Katherine snuggled farther into her blankets, snoring blissfully. Tanya's nightmares woke her then and she opened her eyes almost fearful of discovering that the bad dream was standing over her.
A soft noise snapped any thought of sleep from her head. She sat up and looked towards the window which a few hours before had been securely fastened but was now swinging freely in the night air. Creeping softly from her bed, she leaned out over the sill just in time to see Kristen's sweet girlish form wrapped up in the arms of a dark-haired young man. Tanya strained for a glimpse of his face. Kristen's musical laugh echoed through the shadowy street, bouncing off tenement walls. He seemed to shush her and Tanya saw Kristen muffle a giggle in his shirt.
There was a sound behind her and an alert Kate was there, standing tall in the stillness.
Neither said a word, their eyes fixed on the young lovers in the murky avenue below.
***********
Tanya felt herself being shaken violently. She peeked her eyes open and then shut them quickly again. "Too bright!" she moaned.
"Get out a bed! I want my breakfast." Kate nudged Tanya's side with her toe.
At the mention of breakfast, Tanya opened her eyes again. In the rush of last night, she had forgotten to eat.
Katherine was wide awake then, "Breakfast? Where?"
"Breakfast will be NOWHERE if you two don't get up now!" Kate's cool green eyes glared at them both.
************
"Too TIGHT!" Tanya winced as Katherine pulled her corset tighter.
Katherine giggled, "You act like you've never worn a corset before."
The girl rolled her eyes.
Kate stood at the door, her foot tapping impatiently.
Tanya and Katherine joined her.
"Where's Kristen?" Tanya asked, looking around and beginning to feel very light-headed.
"Tibby's. She didn't want to wait for you."
"Tibby's!" Katherine shrieked, "I haven't been to Tibby's in ages! What's the occasion?"
Kate shrugged, "Breakfast."
Tanya followed them out into the street, her head pounding.
She stepped forward but Kate yanked her back as a horse and carriage flew by, kicking dust up in its wake.
"What's the matter with you?" Kate demanded.
Tanya was having a hard time focusing her eyes. "I'm hungry," she mumbled, trying to stand up straight.
Kate rolled her eyes and yanked Tanya across the street and around the corner. The girl almost tripped over a loose cobblestone as she was pulled through a restaurant door. A little bell above her head chimed unsteadily. She squinted as her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of the interior.
Kate pushed her into a chair and called a waiter from the back room. "Coffee," she ordered, "Black." The man nodded and Kate beckoned to Kristen who was leaning against the counter.
Katherine was staring out the window when she noticed that Tanya had slumped forward against the table. "Tanya? Tanya, are you okay?"
Tanya suddenly realized how long it had been since she had eaten anything. Yesterday morning? No, the morning before...
"Kate, come here! Look at Tanya!"
Wordlessly, Kate set the plate in front of the girl. Tanya picked up her fork and began to shovel food into her mouth so fast she barely tasted it.
Kristen watched, her wide-eyed, "When's the last time you ATE?"
Tanya gulped and started to answer when she heard a chair being pushed back at the table behind her. She turned her head as the door bell chimed once and the front door closed. Her eyes fell immediately on the table where a cigar butt had been thrust smoldering into the ashtray. And there was a hat. A very familiar hat. The girl reached over and plucked it off the table.
"Whose hat is that?" asked Katherine yawning.
The bell over the door rang again and two breathless newsies ran in. They noted the hat in Tanya's hands with obvious relief. Snipeshooter sighed and reached out to take it from her when another hand pulled him aside, "Aw, sheesh, yous two! Ya can't even keep track a my hat. How'dya evah expect to make somethin' a yaselfs?"
Snoddy and Snipes looked sheepish as Racetrack sent them a withering stare and turned to accept the hat, "Aww, tanks. I's don't know wheah I'd be widout me-..." he broke off for a moment then, "Tanya! Hey, fancy meetin' yous heah!"
"Yes, fancy," Kate said, obviously unimpressed.
Racetrack held the hat, staring self-consciously at its lining. "I's gotta get back to me papes. Yous have a good mornin'." He nodded at the girls and sauntered his way to the door, a little more swagger in his step than normal. He stopped as he reached for the handle and looked back, then quickly away.
***********
The theater seemed more crowded than usual that night. The chorus girls sat crowded in their tiny dressing room, bumping into each other as they fought over tights and garters.
The door burst open and Siding barged in, his face ashen white. "Priscilla can't sing."
Kate ignored him and continued twisting dark strands of hair and pinning them at the back of her head. But Kristen and Katherine gasped.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Is it her voice?"
"It's an attack a nerves, she says." The man twirled his moustache in an agitated way.
Kate snorted.
"Oh, dear!" moaned Katherine.
"Who's gonna sing?" Kristen's emerald eyes went wide.
All eyes went to Kate's face. The actress sighed.
*************
As the music began to play, the harsh theater crowd began to quiet and when a lone girl, dressed in pink lace stepped onto the stage...the whistles came from the back of the room.
Kate rolled her eyes once and then smiled brightly at the audience.
Her voice broke the jesting and laughter as she trotted sweetly across the stage...
Well, now if you've gotta tootie
Who's a real sweet patootie
Better keep it under your hat
Just remember curiosity in fables of old
Killed the curious cat!
Tanya tapped in behind her...
Supposin' you love a laddie
Who's a real sugar daddie
Better bring in the welcoming mat
Kristen and Katherine appeared last...
Remember there's a dozen dolls for every dan...
You're not the only sweet pea in the can
All together:
So if you wanna know the way to keep your man...
Keep it under your hat!
The girls tiptoed off the stage and into the crowd. Katherine playfully smacking a young man at the stairs, Kristen winking as she danced by a group of men playing poker, and Tanya pulling the nearest hat off someone's unsuspecting head.
Spot reached up to find his hat gone, snatched away by the young chorus girl. A dark-haired girl dressed in suspenders and a faded shirt rolled her eyes. "Calm down," she ordered, "Stop running 'round like a beheaded chicken. She stole ya hat, not ya head!" He sat down, glaring-but pacified.
Racetrack caught a glimpse of Tanya as she ran past him and leaped back onto the stage.
Kate spun around...
So if you wanna know the way to keep your man...
Keep it under your hat!
Tanya...
Keep it under your hat!
The girls rushed into the wings, breathless with an adrenaline rush.
They leaned against the wall, panting and laughing.
Katherine giggled and slurred slightly, "Whoooo's thaahhht boy?"
"What boy?" Tanya looked curiously at her, Spot's hat still cocked sideways on her head.
"The ooone whoooo liiiikes yooooouuuuu..." she giggled.
Kate shook her head, "Katherine, you know you can't hold liquor."
The girl slumped, hysterical into Kate's arms, "I couldn't-hic-help it."
Kristen looked shocked, "She's drunk again?"
Tanya put an arm around Katherine's waist and she and Kate pulled her up the stairs to their room.
Katherine continued to hiccup and smile as set her on the couch, "Taanyaa, that newwwsssbboooyy liiiikes yoooouuuu."
Kate ignored her and yanked Katherine's heels off.
"What newsboy?" Kristen looked interested.
Tanya blushed, "She's drunk, remember?"
"Thuuh one with broooown haaaair and dar-hic-k eyessss."
Kate tugged at her blouse, "Shut up and hold still."
Katherine scowled, wobbling on the settee, "Not until I know hisssname."
The shirt gave way and Kristen helped Kate throw the nightie over Katherine's head.
They laid her back against the cushions. "Was his naaaaame..."she murmured sleepily.
"Racetrack," Tanya whispered. "His name is Racetrack."
A/N: well? Lousy? Yeah, maybe... :) Let me know what should happen next!
Legs comments on Mush: That kid has a LOT of muscles? Does anyone know how old he is in that movie? Mush looks like a really nice guy.
