Yay today is a celebration. I have just hit 100 pages!!!!!!
19. Here and Back again
As it turned out, I didn't have to tell Jim in the end. He soon realized that Drake and Madeline tied the knot. Something that we both didn't know was that they also wanted out of the team.
Jim was really angry with this, but said that they could go; they were his friends after all. And do you really think that I would live alone in an apartment with Jim? No I would not.
Thankfully, Madeline and Drake-or Mr. and Mrs. Torres- came up with an idea. You see Boston could always use another pub, and if with their money (and a small bit of help from us), we could all four of us manage one.
I accepted the offer immediately, but Jim supposedly being the 'brains' of the group, had to think it over. We all knew he would consent in the end, which he did.
Madeline and I packed all the bags again, while the men looked about for a place to open a pub. It took them three days, but they found one, and we moved in.
It then took two very hard working weeks to get our new place up and running with customers. I found it kind of funny that Madeline, the very person who said she would rather die then step foot in a pub, now owned one.
I hadn't realized when I had agreed to live with them that I was now working under Madeline's hand, not my own.
I had never liked being bossed around and Maddy understood this, so she always 'asked' if I could do something for her, she never commanded me like I used to do to her. I always did watch she asked of me, after all, she was paying me monthly.
Time went by and before we knew it, Madeline was pregnant. She began to get all round like a balloon, and needed my help to bend over and pick things up for her.
She also ate a lot more. Jim once whispered that she looked like a very fat chipmunk, but I elbowed him in the stomach and that was the end of that.
Although I jabbed Jim in the stomach and argued with him constantly, he still continued to be as cocky and as cute as ever.
More time went by, and Madeline was bouncing baby Charlie on her knee. I thought he was the cutest thing, but Jim didn't like that very much. He was just jealous that he was no longer the cutest guy in Boston.
Then it was spring. I sat in the back resting in a chair. I had been serving drinks, when Madeline needed to pop out for a minute. This meant that I would have to look after Charlie until she came back.
Normally I would have no problems with this, but today Charlie didn't want anybody but his mother, and cried the entire time Madeline was gone. Now that she was back, I had a chance to relax...that is until Jim walked into the room.
"Hey Sugar."
"Not now Jim, I'm to tired," I said, putting a warning hand in the air.
"They working you to hard?"
"Nah, it ain't nothing I cain't handle."
"Oh well. How 'bout a walk?" asked Jim.
Finally Jim had some sense! A bit of cool air would be nice. I grabbed my jacket, and arm in arm we walked down the road.
"So Loki, are you happy livin with Drake and Madeline?"
"It's alright, but I prefer tah be the head woman of the house ya knows? I never liked bein the one undah command."
"Maybe I can fix that." Said Jim quietly.
"How?" I asked, facing him curiously.
"Well, you could be come the leader of a new household."
"How?" I asked nervously. The way he was looking at me was really scaring me. It was almost like passion and honesty, but that was unlike Jim.
"You could marry me. Will you?"
"Marry you!" Jim was out of his mind. He must have some alterative motive, he would never ask me something like that for any other reason.
"Yeah Loki, believe it or not, I want to marry you. We've been together for two years and I have feelings for you."
" I don't believe it. And your right, its been two year, and that's to long to be away from my home. I've been considering this for some time Jim, but I'm going back to New York."
Jims face had been looking at me hopefully, but it turned to sadness when I broke my news.
"So you won't...marry me?"
"No. Sorry Jim, I'm going home."
Jim swore and called me the meanest names he could think of, which were surprisingly more than I thought he knew. He headed off down the road, and non of us saw him again for the rest of the day.
He had obviously gone out to get drunk. At first I wondered why he didn't just get his drinks here, considering he could get them cheaper.
But then thinking about it, I realized that he wouldn't want to get drunk in front of his friends. I decided that it was best I left the next day, so I broke the news to Madeline and Drake that night.
They said I didn't have to leave, but they understood I missed my home, and would have me back as soon as I was ready.
I packed my trunk that night and lay out my pretty blue traveling dress to where the next morning. At dawn, I said goodbye to Madeline, then Drake took me to the train station.
I had hugged both of them and Charlie before I left; I had gotten really used to the whole hugging thing by now.
The train ride was only a few hours but it seemed like forever; I was so excited about returning. When I had left, I had been still a teen at only eighteen, I was now a woman of twenty, and very proud of it.
I pulled out my sketchbook and began to draw the people who were sitting in the dining car. I did a few other sketches of parts and people of the train and then sat in my car for a while.
The train finally arrived, and I nearly jumped out of my seat in excitement. The second I set foot on the station I couldn't help but smile, the hustle and noise of New York was surrounding me like a warm blanket.
I looked over at one of the train hands and he winked at me, showing his muscles. I stuck my nose in the air and walked on. I wasn't looking where I was going and walked right into some one.
"Sorry lady, I-"
I looked up into the surprised face of Jack Kelly! My face also registered shock but it twisted up into my old grin. It was kind of funny that he was the last person I had spoken to before leaving New York, and now he was the first at my entrance.
"Loki." Said Jack, getting over his surprise.
"Hey Jack."
"Loki."
"Well I'm glad you remember me name. Warmin it up for yoah tounge I see."
"Sorry, I just cain't believe its you. I mean, you'se just disappeared like what? Two years ago?"
"An' I'm shoah you foahgot 'bout me till now eh Jacky boy?"
"Unfortunately, no."
"Isn't that sweet. And look, yoah still sellin papes!" I cooed annoyingly. I knew it would come as an insult. Gown men were supposed to have better jobs then selling papers.
"Wrong again. I 'ave a job at the distribution centah. I just sell papes on dah side foah extra money."
"Yeah? Wanna make some moah money? You can help carry me trunk." I said, nodding to where the baggage was being un-loaded.
Jack looked over and then back at me, crossing his arms.
"Me woikin foah you? Lets see the money foist?"
I smiled and reached into my purse. I pulled out a dollar and handed it to him. I knew he could get himself a few meals on that. Jack grabbed the money and we walked over to the trunks.
"Mines that one," I said, pointing.
"Hey doll face, you're cute." Said the train hand from before.
" Thanks. I wish I could say the same about you." I said, before bouncing off. Jack followed behind with my trunk, his well toned muscles being displayed nicely. He got it into a cab for me. I climbed in and looked over at Jack who was still standing there, looking at me.
"Wanna go for a ride?" I asked, patting the seat beside me.
Jack looked at me suspiciously, but just as I was giving my command to the driver, he hopped in.
"So weah we goin?" asked Jack, leaning back in his chair.
"Dunno, to a hotel I guess. I'll look for an apartment tomorra."
"Hey drivah, take us tah Beaumont St. please." Called Jack.
"Wheah you takin me?" I asked, as the horse changed directions. I still didn't trust Jack. After all, I had terrorized his newsies for some time; he may still seek revenge, even if it was two years ago.
" Me sistah an' her husband own an apartment building, they'll be happy to rent to you."
I kept wondering why he was helping me. I tried to remind myself that we were enemies, but that really was just children's fights. I glanced over at Jack and studied him.
He looked like he had before, accept he look more like a man than a teen, he had more mussels as well. I had to face it, he was darn handsome. Jack also glanced over at me, and we both quickly looked the other way.
The carriage soon stopped in front of a lower class apartment building.
Jack jumped out and brought the chest out. The driver hopped around and helped me out of the carriage, not knowing that I wasn't a 'proper' lady. I paid him and he and his horse headed off again.
A very young girl was sitting on the front step playing with a doll. She didn't look up until we were right in front of her.
"Uncow Jack!" screamed the girl jumping into Jacks arm.
"Maria!" Jack swung the girl into the air, making her giggle. "Wheahs yoah mum?" asked Jack after setting her back down.
"In hows." Mumbled Maria.
Jack tussled her hair before picking up the chest and carrying it into the front hall. He walked into a door that said 'Manager' on it, leaving me in the hall.
I suddenly felt nervous, realizing that I was not putting myself in close relations with Jack Kelly, that was a scary thought, but not as scary as living alone with Jim I guess.
Jack came out of the room a few minutes later, with his arm wrapped around a dark haired woman, a baby bouncing on her hip. She looked at me and smiled.
"Hi, yoah Loki then?" she said.
"Uh Yeah."
"Good, I'm Sunny." She held out her hand to me and I shook it. I guess that she probably hadn't heard about the way I had treated her brother so many years ago.
"Jack says you wan' a room, come in an' I'll get ya signed up." Said Sunny, leading me into the Higgins apartment room. You bettah get back to woik Jack." Jack nodded and kissed the baby and his sister before leaving.
"I've hoid so much about you Loki. Yoah dah one who used to reek havoc foah me boys at dah lodgin house."
I looked down at my feet. So she knew about that, she didn't look mad about it at all.
"When Jack tol' me who you were, I wondered why he was doing this foah ya. But now, seein how beautiful you are, I can't blame him foah actin that way." Sunny winked at me and began to dig on a cluttered desk in an office room.
I tried to stop blushing. Not many people ever told me I was beautiful accept for Jim. But he didn't count due to the fact that he was always joking, or at least I thought he was.
"Heah sign this." Said Sunny, handing me a rental form.
Jim was usually the one to do all the signing, but I guess today it would be my turn.
"Whats the mattah. Forget yoah name?" joked Sunny, as I hesitated.
"Nah, I'se just haven't written it foah some time." I took a deep breath and signed the page:
Lotta Briggita PoulsonSunny looked at my signature and raised her eyebrows. To my relief, she didn't say anything, just cooed at the baby, making him smile.
I could have written 'Loki' but it was only my nickname and I was sick of it.
Sundance handed me two keys, but told me that she couldn't take me up the stairs, she was to heavy for that. I agreed with her there, because not only did she have the baby on her hip, but she was also pregnant with a third.
I lugged my trunk up to my apartment and looked around inside. It only had one bedroom, but then I no longer shared with anyone and didn't have a need for more.
The room only held a table, two chairs, and a bed, but as I said, that was all I needed. I pulled open my trunk and threw my sketchbook on my table. I had nothing to un-pack my clothes in to, so I just left them where they were.
Pulling out the first months rent and tucking my sketchbook under my arm, I headed downstairs again.
Downstairs, the Higgins door was wide open and a man was playing on the floor with Maria. He saw me and stood up. I noted that although he was taller than me, he was not as tall as most men were.
"You must be Loki."
"The one and only."
"Pleased tah meet ya. I'm Anthony Higgins, but everyone calls me Racetrack, or jus' Race."
He had been a newsie; the nickname gave that one away. I wondered how some one who earned a penny a pape could own an apartment building. Talking about money reminded me of the rent.
"Heahs me foist payment." I said, handing it to him. Racetrack took it and put it in his back pocket. "See ya," I said quickly.
I skipped down the steps and into the long missed, streets of New York.
yay! Have some cake! So what do you think? Was that a good chapter for me to hit my hundred mark? because i've spent so much time typing up this chapter i'll just say:
Air, Koodles4you, Shrieksy, and Doc Na Skywalker....i love you!