o goodness, i slept till 1 today bc of a headahec so bad the my dsek lamp hurt my eyes! but im okay enough now to update a bit...
racetrackschick: thanks for your review!
Chapter 3: 757 Roxshia' Avenue
"Do you realize what we've been through?" Gabrielle's father asked, "We searched all over, thinking some, some street rat may have kidnapped you! Do you have any idea…" he continued.
Gabrielle just tried to block him out as she began to think about her day. Try
as she could, she couldn't keep from going back to that moment, that beautiful moment, when she suddenly found herself in his arms-his strong, wonderful arms. Unfortunately, her thoughts were interrupted by her mother's words.
"You just don't understand the horror that went through our minds all day Gabrielle!" she watched as her daughter starred off into space, "Am I speaking to the air and dust floating around the room?" her mother asked sternly, seeing her daughter's imagination running wild through her eyes, "You are on restriction young lady! For two weeks! With the exception of your Coming Out Party tomorrow night, you are not to leave this house unless you are with myself, your father, or Rosie, do you hear? "
"But mother, I told you! I went over to Claire's house, I just forgot to tell you!" she pleaded.
"That's not what Catherine (A/N:Claire's mother) said!" her mother yelled.
"That reminds me," her father interjected, "You're not permitted to visit Claire until you are off restriction. Now, go up to your room and go to bed, it's getting late."
"Yes sir," Gabrielle answered solemnly.
"You seem upset, no?" Roselita asked in her thick Hispanic accent as she braided Gabrielle's long hair.
"Mother thinks I know nothing! Am I not the one spending all my time studying? And Father, agghhh!" she said frustrated, "He thinks he's GOD! My goodness! He has no idea what it is like to be a teenager in New York City in 1899! What makes him I think I will agree with him just because he is him?" she snorted.
"Well chica, he is the mayor…unfortunately" she mumbled under her breath.
"The mayor who tried to put those poor newsboys in more agony than they already are!" she stated while she handed Rosie a pin.
Rosie gave her an odd look, "I knew you were not in agreement with your father about his supporting the raising of the distribution price, but suddenly so strong in your opinion about it?" she asked, giving Gabrielle a 'what's really goin' on chica?' look, "The strike ended three months ago…" she egged her on.
Gabrielle returned Rosie's look with a 'why don't you just mind ya own business and finish braiding my hair?' look.
"What's his name….?" Rosie asked with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
Gabrielle shot her 'how did you know?' look as Rosie shot her a cocky 'I always know' look back. She paused, debating whether or not she should let Rosie win and spill her guts.
"Oh Rosie! He's so handsome, a-and charming, a-and by golly is he built!" she exclaimed.
Rosie's smile turned to a stunned expression at Gabrielle's words, "Well, well, well! El Chico es muy fuerte, eh ?" she asked.
Gabrielle looked confused for a moment, "Wait, what does fuerte mean again?" she asked as she dug deeper into her memory.
"Strong, baby, strong," she answered, pulling her braid tighter, "An' a strong man ain't neva a bad thing chica! Remember that!"
Gabrielle laughed as Rosie tied a long, silk bow at the end of her braid and scooted her into bed. She cuddled up in her blankets as her mind filled with thoughts and fantasies about Mush.
Gabrielle awoke to the sounds of rustling and crashing below her bedroom. She quickly slipped on her robe and ran down the steps. Darnell, the butler, was across the room ordering around a rather large staff of maids, butlers, florists, and many more. Things were flying everywhere. Nothing seemed to be going right. Just then, Rosie said something to Darnell, and he stepped back as she put her two index fingers in her mouth and whistled loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear.
She clapped her hands as she yelled, "Alright, alright people! Come on! We gotta get this place ready by six-thirty sharp, ya hear? Now, all you damn maids get the ballroom spotless! You burly little fellas ova' there, yea you guys! Go out back and get all the tables and set them up around the outside of the dance floor where the maids are dusting away! HEY! YOU WITH THE FLOWERS! Whatcha' think yer doin'? What's with the white roses, huh? No one died! This ain't a funeral! But it'll be yours if you don't get those lilies over here now!…" when Rosie set her mind to something there was no stopping her.
Gabrielle just laughed to herself as she went and got dressed for her re-scheduled vocal lesson at ten.
"Mush, howdya' know she's even gonna come back?" Race asked.
"Cause I just know alright? What is dis-Twenty questions?" he said.
"Look, all we'se sayin' is-don't go getting yer hopes up, okay?" Blink said.
"Hey-" Mush started to say as his vision was disrupted by someone's hands covering his eyes…
"Hey, Rosie?" Gabrielle asked, fluttering her eye lashes and giving Rosie a look of desparation.
"Yea, I'll offer ta take ya to your singing lesson so we can take a detour to find Mr. Amazing," Rosie said as she finished folding some clothes.
Gabrielle just smiled at her, "I don't know why or how you do it but thank you!"
"Honey, it's my job ta know these things. No offense, but I'd bet on my life I know more about you than your parents!" she exclaimed.
"Rosie, I couldn't agree with you more!" Gabrielle said.
After grabbing her coat, Rosie informed Gabrielle's parents she would be taking Gabrielle to her lesson and would be keeping a hawk's eye on her. Excited, Gabrielle grabbed Rosie's hand and dragged her out the door.
"Do you have any idea where this boy might be? What is his name anyway?" Rosie asked as she tried to keep up with Gabrielle.
"His name is Mush, and I'll bet that him and all the other newsboys are preparing to have lunch at Tibby's," she stated as she quickened her pace, searching all over the streets.
Suddenly she stopped and smiled. Sure enough, he was across the street at Tibby's with all the other newboys.
"Lemme' guess, he's the muchacho with the curly dark hair and light blue shirt?" Rosie asked.
Gabrielle just gave her a flirtatious smirk as she started across the street to the restaurant. She quietly tip-toed up behind him, but almost stopped because Snitch spotted her. She gave him a wink as he gave a slight nod and pretended not to have noticed her. She stood behind Mush and listened to the boys argue.
"Howdya' know she's even gonna come back?" Race asked. Gabrielle imitated him behind Mush.
"Cause I just know alright? What is dis-Twenty questions?" he said. She continued her mockery as some of the other boys began to notice her presence and attempted to contain their laughter.
"Look, all we'se sayin' is don't go getting yer hopes up, okay?" Blink said, trying not to snicker.
"Hey-" just then Gabrielle covered Mush's eyes with her hands, "I only know one person who could even afford these gloves…" he said as he reached his hands around behind him and grabbed Gabrielle by the waist.
She started laughing hysterically as he turned and began to tickle her, "No! Ahh! Mush stop! Please!" she giggled.
"I see what you mean, chica," Rosie said from behind.
Gabrielle had completely forgotten she was there. She gave her a hopeful 'Rosie! Shush!' stare.
"And who is this positively lovely lady?" Mush asked, kissing Rosie's hand.
"Ooo, honey you were right, he is a charmer!" Rosie said as Mush's cheeks turned a slight shade of pink.
Gabrielle gave Rosie a 'What the hell!?' look as Rosie laughed. She started to apologize in Spanish in hopes that no one would catch on when Mush piped up.
"Ah, tu sabes espanol? Como te llamas?" Mush asked.
Rosie looked positively charmed, "Me llamo Roselita. Soy de Venezuela, y tu?" she continued, still smiling.
Mush answered, "Mis padres son de Mexico."
"Ah, muy bien!" Rosie said.
"Well this is all jis fine n' dandy but uh…could we stick to English for a while?" Race asked, taking a puff of his cigar.
Mush and Rosie grinned as Gabrielle suddenly gasped, "Oh no! Rosie, I'm due at Mr. Ibsen's home in less than five minutes!" she turned to the boys, "I truly want to stay, but if I do not show up my parents will find out, and then I will never be able to come visit you all!"
As everyone said their good-byes Rosie took Mush aside, "Look chico, tonight is Gabrielle's Coming Out Party, and there will be plenty of young men chasing after her. I know she is dreading it because she don't like any of those boys. Why don't chu' surprise her by coming?"
Mush didn't know what to say, "Well, I would love ta come but…I don't gots anything ta wear!"
Rosie smiled, "You leave that up ta me. Just meet me here at the restaurant at five-thrity, I'll get you set. The party is at six-thirty…you do know how to dance don't cha'?" she asked. Mush nodded, "Well, I'll have some errands to run before the party so I can't lead you there. The address is 757 Roxshire Avenue, I'll see you tonight!" she whispered as she ran after Gabrielle.
Mush just smiled to himself at the thought of Gabrielle in a beautiful gown, smiling and dancing away. His thoughts were interrupted when Blink socked him.
"What was that 'bout?" he asked.
"Looks like I'm going to Gabrielle's Coming Out Party tonight!" he answered.
"Haha! That's my boy! So where is it?" Blink asked him.
"Uh…757 Roxshia' Avenue," Mush said.
Race suddenly perked up, "Hey…ain't dat da Mayor's house?"
A/N: GASP haha dont worry bout the spanish nothing important. Onto chpt 4!... :)