1Chapter 5

Only in New York

The handsome, tall, light-eyed boy looked at her. "Excuse me?" He looked at her again, but this time noticing her hazel eyes and beautiful skin. He smiled a little blushing. "Is anyone sitting across from you here?"

"No, no not all. Please, sit down." Kandice smiled at him with her tired eyes. She was still very sad about leaving her friends and family, but this was a crucial moment for her. She was sitting right next to a very cute guy asking to sit across from her? This was a cause for celebration. She did not want to show how she felt, but sat there very lady-like.

"So, whea you headed?" he asked with a cute smirk on the side of his face. Kandice loved when guys did that.

"I'm going to New York, what about you?" She looked into his eyes, searching for any type of hint towards what kind of person he was.

"Oh, really? Same hea. Jus' comin from Santa Fe. I've been on a coupla' trains so fa." He put his arm on the arm rest of the chair and Kandice freaked. It was very muscle-y and had veins coming out of the arm. Kandice loved that too, along with big strong hands, which he had. "Jack Kelly" He held out his hand for her to shake.

"Kandice." She took his hand in hers and felt sparks fly, almost like a jolt. Her heart started pounding. His hand was soft and strong almost perfect and she loved it. She smiled at the thought of it.

"Kandice huh? Thas it? Jus Kandice, no las name or nuttin'." He said making a joke and waiting for Kandice's reaction.

Kandice turned red and apologized. "Kandice McClane." She giggled.

"Oh, so what ah you? Irish?" He questioned

"Yes, why? Do you have a problem with the Irish?" she raised one eyebrow, challenging him.

"Woah, woah, not at all, don wanna staht no trouble oah nuttin." He smiled at her giving her a wink. The train ride was a long and very interesting one. The two of them talked and shared interests and backgrounds. Kandice didn't tell him what had happened to her to get here, but Jack had told her about his family living in Sante Fe and how he stayed in a Lodging house in Manhatten for selling newspapers. Kandice found that really exciting and told him that she was meeting up with her mother. She lived in Manhatten also. They became so close during the train ride, that Jack said he would even help her find her mother's house when they got off the train.

"Ok, so whea ah we headin foist?" He asked her looking around for the exit of the station. Kandice giggled at his accent. "Whatchu laughin about huh?" He challenged, putting up his fist like he was about to soak her.

"Oh, nothing. Your accent is just cute. Is it a New York accent?" She asked with much interest.

"Yea. You gotta problem wid dat?" He punched the air a couple times and they both started laughing. "Yea well, yoah accent's cute too." He smiled at her and turned a little pink.

They walked out of the station with the workers grabbing her bags and following them.

Jack turned around and was about to jump on the two men with the bags. "Jack! Jack!" Kandice yelled trying to get his attention. Jack turned towards her. "Their with me." She laughed at him and then grabbed his arm, pulling him out of the station. The two walked out into downtown Manhatten and giggled and joked the whole way. Kandice saw a police station and started running towards it. "Let's go!" She called to Jack who was right behind her.

"Ohhh no no no." he said staying back when he saw where they were running to.

"Why not? I just want to see where my mom is?" She explained to him. "What the big deal Jack, common." Jack followed her hesitantly into the police station with much regret. When they got inside, he ducked under things and was hiding his face a lot. "Jack..what are you doing?" Kandice asked a little concerned.

"I'll tell you lata. Can't really explain it right now." He said ducking behind a big plant in the corner of the room. Kandice gave him a weird look and then went to wait in line at the counter. After about a five minute wait she got up to face a grey haired man who was very intimidating. He looked at Kandice very hatefully.

"Yeah kid? What ah you doin hea?" He said in a very gruff, deep, scratchy voice.

"Hello, my name is Kandice McClane and I'm trying to find my mother who lives around here. Her name is Sharan McClane." She swallowed hard.

"McClane McClane.." he said trying to remember the name. "As in the Ohio McClane's?" He asked her.

Kandice didn't realize her family was that well-known. "Um. Yes, yes the Ohio McClane's."

"Well, then right away Ms. McClane." He said with much attentiveness. "Dave!" He yelled into the back room of the station. She heard a small voice from the back room answer back. "Go get me the file of a Mrs. Sharan McClane, please!"

"Of the Ohio McClane's?" Kandice heard the voice get a little excited.

"Yes of the freakin…excuse me Ms. McClane" He said to her quickly before running back there. A few moments later, the white-haired officer came back out with an envelope and a smile. He looked inside the folder after several seconds, looked up at Kandice with a sad expression on his face. "uh, Ms. McClane."

"Kandice" she said interrupting him.

"Kandice, It seems that yoah mudda has been deceased foah some time now." He looked back in the folder and he shook his head. "I'm so sarry."

Kandice felt herself getting sick again and turned around running out of the station holding one hand over her mouth and her other over her stomach. Jack saw her running and caught up with her. He followed her outside and saw that she was getting sick. He ran over to her side as she went over to a nearby trashcan and held back her long waist-length hair while she threw up. He then rubbed her back and whispered that everything was ok over and over. When Kandice came up she was crying.

"Jackkkk, hee ded" she sniffled a couple times. "He ded dat mu mudder is dead!" She sniffled again and Jack's face was shocked. "I have no where du goo."

Jack pulled her into a strong, deep hug. "I am so sarry Kandice. Oh my god" He held her head with his hand and kissed the top. Her hair smelled so good and felt so soft. He couldn't help but want to touch it. All of a sudden, she started jerking again and ran back to the trash can. Jack ran over again and held her hair.

After the throwing up was finished, they finally started walking around Mahatten talking about little things. Jack was trying to help get Kandice's mind off of the whole situation, but if she needed to talk about it, he would. "You know, Kandice." He explained. "You could always come to da lodging house if ya need to. I mean da boys ah real nice and dey wouldn' do anythin bad to ya." He put his arm around her shoulders. "Not if I have anythin ta say abat it." He whispered under his breath.

"Oh, Jack could I? That would be so much fun!" She jumped into his arms and hugged him tight. He laughed and set her down again.

"Aright. Come wid me ill show you weah ta go." She followed him for a while as they walked to the lodging house. To break the silence, Jack asked, " So, you neva tol me why you moved heah from Ohio."

"Well, it's a long story" she turned red and looked down on the street lamp lighted sidewalk.

"Well we gots a while." He proceeded.

"Well, if you must know, my father died." She said abruptly, leaving Jack with no time to prepare. "That's why I moved here."

"Wow, sorry again." he nervously chuckled.

"It's ok. I'm fine with it. I wouldn't have gotten to meet you." She looked up at the 5'11" boy and smiled shyly. She reached out and grabbed his hand lightly as it was swinging. He looked down at her hand when they touched and then looked up at her eyes, marveling at how beautiful they were. They walked the rest of the way to the lodging house hand in hand, laughing and talking.

When they finally got there, they came in the front door to find Klopman, the boys' "father-like" figure. He was more of a friend to them then anything. He had a small hat to fit his small head and glasses. He looked pretty old, with his cane and small limp. He gave them a big smile as they came in and looked down at their hands. Jack and Kandice both saw what he was looking at and let go of each other, Jack clearing his throat and Kandice fixing her hair.

"Well, well, well look who's back it's the cowwboyy!" Kloppman said with an enormous smile on his face. He slowly moved towards Jack with his cane helping him along, giving him a big hug when he finally got there. "And you brought a visitor." He smiled at Kandice and shook her hand, then winked at Jack. "I'm Kloppman, I run the show around here, wake the boys up, help them out."

"The boys?" She looked at Kloppman, then Jack with a bewildered look on her face. Jack smiled at Kloppman and then grabbed Kandice's hand, dragging her up a flight of stairs. Kandice could hear a loud screaming and then a thump. She saw a doorway in the clearing and Jack looked back at her then took a deep breath.

"You ready foah dis?" He asked looking very nervous. Kandice gave him a hesitant look and slowly followed him into the door.

"Jackk?" She walked inside to see over 20 boys going crazy and running around. There was a poker game going on in one corner, and another game in another. Suddenly the noise died down and everything went silent as all of the boys focused their attention on Jack and Kandice. Their mouths were wide open and they were just staring. Then, they all smiled and looked at Jack.

"JACKKIIEE BOYYY" they all ran over one by one giving him a "spit shake" and asking him how his trip went. They seemed to be whispering to Jack and looking at Kandice a little. One finally turned toward her and introduced himself.

"Hi, I'm Skittery." He said with a nice, smile. He, too, was good looking. Kandice was relieved someone decided to say hi to her.

"Kandice." She held out her hand and shook Skittery's. "Nice to meet you." He had crystal blue eyes and was a little taller then Jack. He seemed to be staring into her eyes just as Jack had and she liked it. There was something about him that made her feel comfortable and safe.

"Alright well. Dis is da humble abode. Dis hea is Racetrack, Boots, Skittery, which I see you've already met, and Bumlets." Jack introduced. They all greeted her one by one as they were announced, giving her a big smile. Kandice was covered with welcomes. It was the nicest feeling to get after everything that had just happened to her. She waved at all of them and then looked at Skittery.

"Wow. Everyone is being so nice to me, it's so refreshing." She whispered to Skittery. He smiled at her and laughed.

"Yeah, I wondah why?" he was hinting to the fact that she was so beautiful, but she didn't understand and just stared at him with a concerned look. "Nevermind" he said laughing at her.

"So, whatdoya tink?" he asked her, waiting for a response.

"I...Love it!" she smiled. "It's so homie and fun. Could use a little cleaning, but other than that, great!"

"Ughh" the boys rolled their eyes and went back to playing their games. Jack laughed at Kandice and then showed her to a bed above his.

"Dis is yoah bunk. You'll be stayin heah foah a while until we can getchu annudah room. Is dat ok?" He asked her, hoping she would stay.

"Of course it is! Where will I change and get ready?" She was opening doors and looking into things trying to find a inclosed place.

"Well, da washroom, butchu jus gotta make sure no one's in deah foist, dats all." He showed her to the washroom and gave her the grand tour. She looked at everything, ready to take on a new adventure. She took a deep breath in and reassured herself that she was actually going to do this. Then she smiled, nodded at Jack and yawned.

"I think I'm going to head to bed. Do you mind? I'm kinda tired." She fixed a small piece of hair that fell in his face and smiled. He smiled back at her longingly and nodded.

"Yeah, shoah. You want me ta get outta heah?" He asked beginning to leave the room.

"Oh yeah that reminds me, my bags should be downstairs." She grabbed Jack's hand and dragged him to the stairs. Kloppman was struggling up with the first one and could just about make it. "Oh no! Kloppman, we can take it, please don't carry those." She helped him carry the first one and Jack went down for the rest. Once he came back up with all the bags, he was breathing very heavily. "Awww, thank you so much Jackie Poo." She said, rubbing his cheek and taking her Pj's out of her suitcase.

She went into the bathroom and came out 20 minutes later with a beautiful night gown on. It was white and silky and had little flowers on the top around the neck. She looked great in it and Jack sat there staring at her with his mouth wide open. Kandice saw his expression, smiled to herself pretending not to see him and starting climbing up to bed. "Goodnight" she said innocently, still smiling at the thought of Jack sitting there gawping. She lay down in bed and closed her eyes and to her surprise, fell asleep rather quickly.

If she only knew tomorrow would be a most tiring and eventful day...

So that was Chapter 5 and Ill be coming out with Chapter six sometime soon. This is going to be a long and detailed story so I need to know if it's worth it, so review please! thanks for all the reviews so far! They were very nice :-)