Disclaimer: I am going to state familiar phrase, "The 'newsies' belong to Disney and not to me," Any of you dancers may see Irina Dvoronvenko, and yes I used the ABT dancer's name but it is not meant to be her. However, Gabrielle belongs to me, as do Henry, Claire, Catherine, John, Marie, and Rosie ( Roselita ). You can use them if you want just email me and ask! Also, there are some dance steps mentioned that require accent marks, but my computer is being stubborn so they are not there! Don't worry if you don't know what they mean it doesn't affect the story in any big way! lol Enjoy...
Chapter 1: Delightful Boy
Gabrielle finished her piano lesson, thanked Madame Yakima, and rushed up the left staircase, down the never-ending hall, and through the door to her bedroom.
"Gabrielle! Pick up the pace darling! You are going to be late to your ballet lesson if we do not leave immediately!" her mother yelled.
"Yes Mother! I'm coming!" she yelled back as she slowly tipped over trying to slip on her skirt.
Her father was the mayor of New York City, and he kept her busy with plenty to do. She was fortunate there was no traffic; otherwise, she would have arrived late for the first time in her life. She quickly ran to the bar and began warming herself up.
"Good-afternoon Miss Gabrielle." Her teacher greeted her.
"Good-afternoon Madame Dvorovenko." She replied.
Madame Irina Dvorovenko was a slim, fairly tall woman in her mid fifties (though she did not look it,) with long, wavy, hair that reached her waist and was black as night. Her features were bold and beautiful. Her oval-shaped, sea-green eyes sparkled with life, and her smile was perfect and white, even after all these years.
"On time as usual I see," She said.
"Yes Madame," Gabrielle answered.
"Very good. Let us begin with the plier…five, six, seven, eight…" she continued.
"Face it Blink, we all know every time ya try and talk to a goil you go weak at da knees and talk like a fool!" Mush said to his friend.
"Dat ain't true! I can handle any lady dat walk my way!" Blink stated.
All was silent for a spilt second…until Race started snickering and they all burst out laughing at their hopeless friend.
"Look Kid, you say dat all da time, but face it-Mush is right! I ain't neva seen you talk to a goil without loosin' it!" Race managed to say through his hysterical laughter.
"Just wait, you fellas can just wait! Da next goil that goes by, I'se gonna stop her and have a decent conva'sation wit her!" Blink stated confidently.
Silence fell over the boys once again until one of them lost it and triggered the rest. Blink started to hang his head till he remembered his proclamation. Just then, a beautiful girl rushed by. He gathered up his courage and went after her.
"Very lovely job today Miss Gabrielle! Continue to practice your pirouettes! You're coming along beautifully!" Madame Dvorovenko said.
"Thank you very much Madame!" Gabrielle stated as she curtsied to her instructor, "I will see you on Wednesday."
Gabrielle stepped out the door to find her carriage had not yet arrived. Suddenly, she realized she was supposed to be at her friend Claire's house by five-thirty. It was five- twenty-two. She lifted her skirt and began to run towards her friends house. About two blocks further she was suddenly stopped…by a newsboy…
"Goo-good evening M-m-miss. Would-would you like a-a evenin' edi-dition?" he stuttered.
"Well for starters you really ought to speak more clearly, and secondly, I am in a terrible hurry, I'm dreadfully sorry!" she said out of breath as she turned to run.
He looked at the girl in front of him. She was medium height, very thin and well-dressed. Her dark blond hair was loosely curled and reached almost to her waist. She had eyes as green as anything he had ever seen. After a second of day-dreaming, he snapped out of it.
"Wait! Yer right Miss…" he paused, "The fellas make fun of me because…because I have trouble tawkin' to goils," he said, embarrassed. He couldn't believe he had just openly stated this to a girl he had known for less than a minute, "They made a bet I couldn't talk to the next goil that went by..."
"Well that's not something to be ashamed of! Look, you are doing just fine right now, are you not?" she smiled.
"Yea! Yea, I guess I am! Me names Kid Blink," he said excitedly.
"Gabrielle," she said as he kissed her hand, "See! Now don't let those boys put you down! You are a very delightful boy. Look, I'd love to stay and chat, but I really must go. I have to meet someone. Now if you will be so kind as to excuse me…"she stated.
"Um, yea…sure… Hey! Do you think-" he started, but she was long gone.
Blink walked over to his friends and a grin spread across his face.
"Ha! Did you see that fellas! She said I was a delightful boy!" he said proudly.
"Huh? Oh no, we was talkin'. We missed it. Sorry!" Jack laughed.
Blink just rolled his eyes and smiled to himself…
Gabrielle knocked on the blue door of her friend's house. Claire opened it and practically dove at her friend!
"Gaby! It's been too long since we last saw each other!" she exclaimed.
"Yes, I know. I've been so busy with lessons and such. I'm so glad we can get together finally!" she said.
The girls hugged and ran up to Claire's room. Claire was sixteen and only a week older than Gabrielle. Her hair was a light, subtle brown and naturally curled into beautiful ringlets just below her shoulders. She was just barely taller than her friend, and they both had many of the same interests.
"So Gabs, how is Mr. Wonderful?" she said sarcastically.
"Oh you mean Henry? Too busy looking at himself in the mirror to remember I exist. I wish Father would stop making me see him! He's such a…a-"
"Bastard?" Claire finished bluntly.
"Basically!" she giggled.
After about an hour Gabrielle jumped off the bed and began to gather her things. She was going to be late for dinner. She said good-bye to her friend and rushed home.
"Don't forget Gabrielle, you have your singing lesson with Mister Ibsen tomorrow at eight o'clock in the morning," Her mother said as she ate her dinner.
"Yes ma'm," Gabrielle replied. For a while there was complete silence. Gabrielle lifted only her eyes to see her parents shooting each other looks, as if they had something to announce but neither one wanted to be the bearer of bad news (she had seen them do this before and could detect it well.)
"Tell her!" her mother whispered to her father.
"Tell me what?" Gabrielle asked, suspicious.
"Your mother and I have decided…we have been talking to your Aunt Hildur, and we all think it's time you go and study in Europe with her. She's in Spain right now, and-" her father began to say. Gabrielle's fork dropped onto her plate.
"Excuse me, I think I just hallucinated…what?" she said in disbelief.
"Darling, we are sending you to Europe for the summer to study dance, voice, piano, painting, everything. We think it's time you received some high-class training and-" her mother started.
"EUROPE! YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING! I'm dreaming! It's all a dream, I'll just…. Wake myself up!" she said hysterically as she began hitting and pinching herself.
Her mother grabbed her hands, "Darling, it's just for the summer. Besides, Henry will be traveling Europe this summer! Maybe you two could meet up somewhere-"
"Oh Henry can go lick a toilet seat for all I care-" she said as her parents gasped, "No. I won't, I refuse to go. Tell Aunt Hildur she's going to have to spend the summer alone," She left the table and locked herself in her room for the night.
A/N: Review! and read "Reality Can Hit Hard"