As she turned, she came face to face with a very drunk and smelly Morris. He was dressed up, the hat, which he normally wore, was off, and his hair is slicked back.
"Wow Layana, you'se look beautiful." She didn't say anything, so he continued, "Do you'se tink we'se can go some place an talk?"
"I don't know." She looked around. All the newsies outside were so wrapped up in the festivities they haven't even realized who was here. A few more tears started to trickle down, Morris's hand went to catch them, but as he did, she stopped him.
"We'se don't have to go too far. Over dare is fine." He pointed to a close by ally, that was facing the street and was fairly lit. She thought for a moment. She figured for those reasons, it would be okay.
"Fine." She followed him there and stood for a moment.
"Why are you'se cryin'?" Morris asked first.
"No reason." She whispered.
"Yeah right. It has to do wid Mush I bet. He got ya knocked up didn't he? Didn't he!?!"
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Come on everyone knows whadd kinda guy he is. It would be so easy for him to take advantage of someone like you'se."
"Excuse me? You don't know what you're talking about, besides look who's talking. Mush has never done anything like that to me." Layana was becoming infuriated and was finding it harder to maintain her composure and temper. There was a silence for a moment. They both heard Racetrack and Mush shout her name.
"What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"I want you'se back. I'se love you, an I know you'se love me." His behavior was becoming erratic.
"What?" Layana was a bit shocked, she wasn't expecting those kinds of words.
"I'se love you'se and I'se can't live wid out you'se. I'm a mess. I need you. I want you." Morris dropped to his knees and was pulling at her. She collapsed down on her feet, her back against the wall.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, but," She began to cry again.
"But what? Tell me you'se love me!" He was shouting directly in her face now.
"I can't." The smell of this breath is almost too much to bear. He began grasping at her face, with hands on both sides. He looked directly into her eyes. She felt bad for a few moments, what if he really did feel that way? The yells of her name are getting closer now.
"Kiss me."
"What? No."
"Kiss me, then tell me you'se don't love me." She started trying to push him away, but it was proving to be difficult.
"Get off!" She yelled as loud as she could.
"Get off her!!!" Mush and Racetrack both arrived. Mush began to grab at Morris's back when Morris's hand reached for something in his pocket.
"Oh god." Racetrack said as he saw the handgun. Mush pulled Morris away from Layana. Morris's hand was flinging about. POP ! ! ! ! Everyone freezes. Mush looks around. Racetrack is okay, he is and Layana looked fine. Morris backed away. Just then, some of the newsies got arrived after hearing the racket. Morris was in the back of the alley next to a trash can. He looked around, everyone was silent. He saw Layana starting to cry again.
"I'm so sorry Layana I'se love you." He points the gun at himself, and as if in slow motion pulled the trigger, then slumped over on the bag. Jack and David came out of the crowed of spectators and walked over to Morris. David checked his pulse.
"He's dead."
"Whadd happened here?" Jack asked confused. Everyone began to leave after a few moments. Mush, and Racetrack went over to Layana who was still sitting on her kneesbeing supported by Mush.
"I'se so sorry. Race told me you'se saw me. I'se didn't mean to. As soon as she kissed me, I'se tried pulling away."
"But with everything Dazi said. I thought."
"You'se thought whadd?"
"Well, she told me about your reputation and how you've, you've, had experience with girls. I thought you were just using me for the time being."
"No. I'se would never do dat." Mush replied and saw Racetrack who just arrived.
"What I'se was bout to say be for you'se ran out like ya did was, I'se known Mush for a long time an know how he is wid goils. Ever since you'se dough, it's been like he's a whole nudder person. I'se know he'd never wanna hoit you'se." They waited for her response. She looked though as if she were about to faint. She was smiling freakishly. As Mush began to help her up she made an awful groan.
"Maybe we should get her some place to lie down." Racetrack commented.
"Whadd's dis?" Mush had one of his hands on her side, and when he took it off there was blood. Layana lost consciousness and didn't answer.
"It looks like Morris's blood." Racetrack said. Then Jack and David had come over.
"Hold on." David moved where her arm is lying at her side.
"Oh god." Mush stated. There was blood all over the back of her arm and on her dress at the side of her left breast.
"We bedder get her to a doctor." Jack and Mush held her and they found a trolley to take her in. Racetrack went to tell Denton.
If you like happy endings I recommend you read the alternate ending to this story.