Do you know what I hate? I hate when chorus teachers take over drama productions and put in their own little singing stars who are crappy actors! I hate when I get assigned a 575 page book to read in three days. I hate when my Homecoming date's psycho ex-girlfriend decides she's going to tag along with us at the dance. Sorry ya'll, I'm just venting some major frustration right now. Thanks for caring enough to read this far. ::silence:: Yeah, okay, I get it; you're here for the story. ::sighs:: Fine, kick my bleeding heart while you're at it. ;) Kidding, Disney owns Newsies, TCF owns Moulin Rouge, respective characters own themselves...on with the show.
Thanksgiving was an occasion of widespread celebration among the Newsies of The World. It was on that day every that Pulitzer's representatives sent a sumptuous meal for the boys, one that would fill them until they could barely walk. This year's dinner included thick vegetable stew and soft, steaming rolls for dipping, potatoes dripping in melted butter, mouth-watering apple pie and of course the succulent roasted turkey glistening with juices and cooked to delirium inducing perfection.
The scrumptious meal was usually followed by a small party in the downstairs common room. It was a gleeful and raucous affair no doubt, but something lacked and everyone felt it. For the first time in years, Jack was not present for the festivities. He was halfway across the city, chained to Roxanne's side once more and everyone knew it. Ever since the blowup nearly a month prior he had spent increasing amounts of time with her, sleeping over at least once a week, letting his friends drift further and further off.
Everyone but Sapphy had recovered from the ring incident. It was not as though Jack was not welcome among them anymore, but there was an extreme caution in dealing with him nowadays. No one, not even Ireland seemed to know how to respond to their friend. Conversations were brief and strained, shared laughter rang slightly hollow. There was a barrier in his eyes that had never been there before, one that bespoke an entire world with no place in it for his wider life. It scared his friends more than anything else.
It was nearing seven-o-clock when the freezing rain began to fall. However the occupants of the lodge were content as could be and took no more than a passing notice of the weather. Spot had come from Brooklyn for the night and was engaged in a poker match with Race, Sapphy and a new boy named Stripes. Ireland amid a large group laughed whole-heartedly as Mush related the woeful details of a recent blind-date. Over all it was quite a cozy situation and despite the oddity of Jack's absence, everyone was enjoying themselves.
That was, until Jack actually arrived. It was half-past seven when the door opened. Frigid air swept in a wave down the corridor to the common room, raising goose bumps as it passed; Kloopman cried out indignantly as icy rain water spattered the hall floor.
Moments later, Jack entered the room leading by the hand the most stunning young woman in anyone's memory. All the boys stared dumbly; Roxanne lived up to every wild description of her beauty. She turned her simple green dress into the richest garment ever made. Her eyes seemed to capture every spark of light in the room, as if it were drawn to her.
For several seconds no one moved. Everyone, for one reason or another seemed lost for words, whether gazing adoringly at the new creature in their midst as Boots very clearly as doing, or raging in silent fury like Sapphy. Spot shot a glance at Ireland who met his gaze with something like irritated despair. All the laughter was gone from her eyes. Spot immediately felt himself tense.
Roxanne smiled brilliantly, "You're friends are charming, Jack," she announced in her lovely voice, "You'd better introduce me to them while I'm still able to make a good impression."
Sapphy stood abruptly, her face pale and set in anger. Deliberately, so her meaning was not mistaken, she walked towards the door, swerving around Roxanne as she did so. A moment later her shoes made a rhythmic thudding up the stairs. Racetrack looked at Jack then at Roxanne. Shoving his chair back with steely intent, he followed his girlfriend out.
The silence roared for long moment until Spot spoke up, "Hey Jack, we were just dealin' a new game, want in?"
Jack smiled gratefully at his friends, then at Roxanne. Ireland rolled her eyes at his very pointed attempt to seek her approval. Jack, who never cared what anyone thought so long as he felt good about himself, was little more than an eager puppy when he was with that girl.
Roxanne noticed Ireland as a flinty look darkened her fiery eyes. She would have to deal with this girl at some point; this had to be the one who wanted to keep Jack away. For the moment though, Roxanne gave Jack her sweetest smile, "Go play," she laughed throatily, "I want to see my handsome boy win."
Conversation picked up gradually as Jack sat down at the card table. Roxanne bent slowly to rest her elbows on the back of a chair; the rather low cut of her neckline grew tight as her bosom pressed into it. Excited whispering flurried across the room from the watching boys. In disgust, Ireland buried her nose in a well-worn copy of Macbeth, ignoring the poker game and the smitten boys around her.
A half hour later, Spot had folded out and a rather familiar scenario was in place. Jack and Stripes faced off and the stakes were higher than ever. Stripes bit his lip looking between Jack and the cards. Finally, he reached into his pocket and laid down his last nickel, "Stripes," Skittery was watching from nearby, "Don't chance it man, that's all the money you got left!"
Jack glanced down at his cards, déjà vu swept over him as he beheld the irony of the situation...he held the winning cards. The scenario mirrored exactly that of the game in which he'd lost to Race. Poor kid, he thought looking at Stripes, I can't let him lose all his money, he's only been here a week! Jack was ready to fold when suddenly he caught sight of a flash of silver as the light reflected off Roxanne's bracelet. Her words floated through his head, I want to see my handsome boy win, I want to see my handsome boy win, win, win over and over in a melodic refrain. Something within him hardened, Stripes knew starting Newsies didn't earn much. It was his own stupidity for putting all his money in. He didn't deserve to keep it! Jack waited in a sick sort of satisfaction for the moment when the cards were laid out, the moment when he could win for Roxanne. And when it came, he did it mercilessly with triumph in his voice and his eyes upon her.
Stripes' shoulders slumped as Jack collected the winnings. Ireland, who had come out of her book long enough to watch the end of the game stared at her friend in furious disbelief, Roxanne noticed immediately.
"You must be Ireland." She said it nicely enough, but her smile was as false as glass pearls and her eyes burned a challenge. Ireland glared back pasting on her own brittle smile.
"And you're Roxanne. We've heard a lot about you." Unwilling to waste time, Ireland began to read again.
"Macbeth," Roxanne commented in the same faux-friendly tone, "That's very ambitious of you."
"I like to read." The other girl didn't look up
"I'm sure you do," Roxanne's smile was patronizing, her voice like honeyed steel, "I you need any help with the bigger words just let me know."
Ireland's eyes slid upwards. Her brain screamed with thundering fury, her eyes blazed icy blue fire, she wanted nothing more than to smack this girl who had been the cause of so much unrest until her perfect face was swollen beyond recognition...but she didn't. She smiled with sincerity at her attacker, "Why thank you, Roxanne, that's awfully nice. Actually vocabulary isn't my problem, but there is something I don't understand in another play," she paused for effect, "There is a joke made In Romeo and Juliet about whores, I didn't comprehend it, but then I've never been a whore. Perhaps, as a professional, you could enlighten me?"
The room went deadly quiet. Roxanne stared at Ireland, her face going from pale to red to stony white. "Take. That. Back." She whispered, voice trembling in explosive outrage. "Take it back now."
Ireland stood rapidly, the chair clattering to the floor as she did so, "Or you'll what? Bite my neck and steal my soul? You already did that to Jack so we know it's possible!"
"Shut up!" Roxanne screamed, her nails dug into her palms, creating deep indentations, "Just shut the hell up!"
"Why?" Ireland screamed back, "That's what whores do isn't it? You trade pleasure for cash and steal people's lives!"
"Ireland!" Jack rushed forward, recovered from his initial shock, "Ireland stop it!"
But she had reached a level of brilliant hear hysterics, everything kept bottled up for the past month was spilling all over the floor, spreading and pooling like verbal bile. "No, Jack, she poisoned you! Why can't you see that she's just another whore?"
Something inside Jack shattered, something sane, something stable. So fast that his action was barely seen, he smashed Ireland across the face with the back of his hand. Caught unawares, still deep within her rage, the tall girl careened to the floor holding the brutalized spot. There she lay sprawled and silent...for a full minute the room was frozen.
"Oh, my God," comprehension dawned on Jack's disconnected mind, "Oh, my God," he moved to go to Ireland, but Spot's hostile form came between the two. Never had the Brooklynite looked angrier.
"If it were anybody else Francis..." Ireland's voice sounded hollow and deadened as she spoke from her position on the floor.
He stared at his fallen friend, the friend he had felled, "Francis?" his voice broke on the word, "You've never called me Francis."
She turned very slowly to look at him, her eyes closed off entirely of emotion, sadness heavy upon her features, "Well you're not Jack. I don't know who you are, but you're definitely not Jack." Her eyes flickered to Roxanne, "I think you'd better go now."
Jack glanced around, hostile faces greeted him wherever he looked. Slowly, as if dazed, he turned away. Roxanne was waiting at the doorway, Jack took her hand as he passed, leading her out the way they'd come. They stood outside the front door, waiting for a cab to come by, their breaths making frosty streams as they watched the iced-rain. "You don't need them Jack," Roxanne's voice came softly through the fog of disbelief.
He looked down at her with a pang...she was worth them all, "You're right." He said drawing her to him, "You're always right." And they stood like that until they saw a cab to take them away. Flickering in Roxanne's eyes was an ember of satisfaction, a secretive triumphant smile touched the corners of her mouth. They had reached the ultimate.
Short I know, but I'm emotionally exhausted just writing it! So what think'st thou my friends? Is this compelling stuff or what? Review and I shall make a speedy update!
My Dog Ate My Penname- I was wondering what happened to you. Glad to see you're still alive and well...and enjoying my story! Yeah, some points in the last chapter were a bit out there, but I think they add to the overall dramatic effect ::shrugs:: just a lowly author's opinion of course. ;) I'm so glad to have you back, thanks for reviewing!
LadyRach- Whew, Calculus...I am filled with respect and admiration. I don't go no higher than algebra. ::grins:: I are math-disabled. Roxanne's tricky, as you can probably tell. She never lets you know just where she's going...::rubs hands slyly:: but all shall be revealed in due course. ::fake sigh:: Guess that means you'll just have to keep reviewing ;) Thanks love.
newsiesmoseph- ::blushing:: Thank you! Really, my head is spinning from the compliment, lol I appreciate it; it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Yeah, Jack's doesn't know which way's up right now but I can't tell you what Roxanne's deal is! Then you won't keep coming back to read about it silly! Thanks for reviewing!
Sapphy- ::blocking Roxanne and Jack:: Sapphy! Stop trying to kill my main characters! Yes they're stupid, yes they deserve exorbitant amounts of pain, but I still require them. After I'm done you can turn them into hamburger for all I care ::grumbling:: Jack deserves it!
Jack: Hey, you write it, I just act it out
Shut up. Thanks again fro the plug for my story Sapphy, so far no bites, but here's hoping. Love ya darlin' ttyl ;)