Chapter 7

Kandice's Debut

When Jack and Kandice got back that night with Mush, Race, and Blink, they walked in the door hand in hand without a care in the world. Kloppman looked at them like he had the first night, but their hands didn't move, but just stayed laced. He smiled at them and checked them both in. Jack tossed 10 cents to Kloppman for the two of them to stay there that night and then wrapped his arm around Kandice's neck, giving her a noogie and draggin her up the stairs.

"Jack! No, Stop ahhh!" she screamed while he took her up the stairs. She was flailing her arms everywhere trying to get ahold of him. When she finally did they were at the top of the stairs and she put her elbow in his chest and then grabbed his arm put him to the ground and put his arm behind his back, bent in a way that she could brake it at any second.

"Ow ow! Where da hell did ya loin ta do dat?" He asked her, while still in the uncomfortable arm lock.

"My father taught me a while back. He said I might need it for self defense in the future. Guess it worked huh?" She said laughing and pulling his arm up further. After a couple minutes of Jack complaining she let go and stood up walking away from him shaking her head and laughing. She went into the bunk room and slipped into her pajamas, climbing into her nicely made bed. She lay down in it and suddenly got a flashback of her and Elizabeth in her room on her princess bed.

"Oh my god! My princess sheets!" she jumped down from her bed, with the newsies chuckling at her and went into her suitcase for her sheets and quilt. She opened it up, took the sheets out and unfolded them, rubbing them on her face as if she hadn't seem them in years. Jack came in just as she was rubbing them on her and gave her a confused, weird look. Making her bed with her princess sheets she remembered all the memories on her old bed and she suddenly thought of Mark and Elizabeth. She smiled at the thought of them and decided she would write Elizabeth a letter.

Once her bed was made she got out a piece of clean paper and her lucky blue pen that she took everywhere with her. She wrote the letter and looked it over once before she was satisfied. It was the longest letter she had ever written and it was truly everything she had wanted to tell her from day 1 of being in New York. She put a stamp on the envelope and put it on the bottom of her bed to send in the morning on her way to the distribution center. She lay down on her comfortable sheets that smelled of her old house and fell asleep as fast as she lay down.

Kandice woke up in the middle of that night to feel a rustling and a little noise. She woke up to the pitch black room and suddenly saw a figure coming up to her bed. She gasped from being half asleep, but soon realized it was Jack. "Heyyy" she whispered, with her tired, cracking voice.

"Hey." he said trying to be quiet but laughed a little, making some of the newsies move aroundin their beds. He climbed up on her bunk and lay down next to her. "I couldn't sleep so I-" Kandice cut him off and gave him a quick peck on the lips to shut him up. He turned his body so that he was facing the ceiling. He felt Kandice turn around and put her hand and head on his chest breathing heavily before she fell asleep. She was a silent sleeper who looked more innocent and angelic than ever. He played with her hair for a little, smelling her shampoo as he did and fell asleep with her hand underneath her. He had never been able to fall asleep that easily in years, but finally he found his cure. She was his cure...for everything.

Mark was laying comfortable in his bed while he stared at the ceiling, thinking about Kandice and the move. He turned to his side and sighed a heavy sigh, looking at his posters and radio, remembering when Kandice had gone in there looking at everything. He suddenly remembered the letter she gave him the last day she was there. He turned on the lamp on his night stand and opened his drawer. He lifted up the bottom of the drawer, which was his secret place that he kept money and things and took out the envelope that neatly spelled out his name in her writing. He smile at it and got out his letter opener, making sure he didn't rip it or anything. He took out the neatly folded piece of paper and opened it slowly. There on the paper was a cute little note from her. It was everything she had wanted to say to him, but couldn't because it would be too hard.

Mark smiled as he read it, picturing her writing it.

My dearest Mark,

I am so sorry about what happened yesterday. That is not how I wanted to spend that night and certainly not how I wanted you to remember me, a balling mess. I'm also sorry for making you come with me back to my house, but I thank you so much for doing it. Your party was to die for and it certainly lives up to it's name. And your room, is great! I miss it already. What you said in your bedroom that night was the nicest thing I have ever heard and I promise you, I feel the same. I just couldn't tell you because I was afraid of getting hurt and having everything downfall, along with our friendship. I am so sorry for not being able to tell you and I hope that you understand where I am coming from. And please, don't worry or think about me while im gone. That much. Hehe. Hope your having fun and take care of Liz for me!

Your Bestest Friend,

Kandice

P.S. You looked extremely handsome in your suit that night. Just thought you'd like to know.

Mark laughed at the note and folded it while he looked up, smiling. He let out a deep sigh and lay down again. He knew that she loved him, and he knew that he had to see her again. He WOULD see her again. If it was the last thing he did!

"Wake up, Wake up!" Kandice woke up once again to Kloppman banging his cane on every bunk he passed, waking up all the newsboys once again. Kandice turned around in her bed and closed her eyes again. She suddenly opened her eyes quickly when she looked around and Jack was no where to be found. She checked the washroom and the health room, but she couldn't find him. Even Racetrack didn't know where he was. Kandice took a quick shower and got into her selling clothes, running down the stairs to grab something to eat quickly from Kloppman before heading out the door. Suddenly, Jack came walking along with a short boy, a little taller then her. Jack had two bags in his hands and was cracking up at something the shorter boy said.

Kandice stood on the steps with her hands on her hips waiting for Jack to get to the steps. "Um excuse me, where have you been? I went crazy trying to find you when I didn't see you next to me this morning." The boy laughed at Jack, turning Jacks face bright red. Jack pulled Kandice to the side.

"Kandice do you know who dat is?" he asked her. He looked back at the boy and waved, smiling before he turned back over to Kandice with a stern face. "Dats da Brooklyn Leadah, So please, don embarrass me." he said sympathizing with her. He turned back to Spot and looked at Kandice. "Kandice, dis is the Brooklyn newsies leadah Spot. Kandice smiled at him. "Spot Conlon, dis is my friend Kandice" Kandice realized what Jack had said. She stared at him with her eyebrows raised, waiting for him to change his introduction, but he didn't. He came down to visit foah a little while and to go to Medda's tanaight. Dat's whea everyone goes once a month. Wanna go wit me?" He asked her. He knew if she said no in front of Spot, he would look like an idiot.

Kandice was furious that Jack had called her just a friend. Who did he think he was? Maybe they weren't anything else, but she did kiss him last night, and he kissed her back. So, what was going on? "No, sorry Jack. I can't. I think I'm going with Skittery, you know...my boyfriend." On that note, she turned around and started walking away, but before she did she walked back and said, " Oh and it was so nice meeting you, Spot." She smiled at him and turned around to go ask Skittery to go with her. She was so completely angry at this point, that she stormed up the stairs and wasn't stopping for anyone. Skittery was walking down the hall with Bumlets getting ready to go to the distribution center. Kandice turned around and starting walking with them, out the door and passed the two boys.

Jack watched Kandice walk away with the boys and yelled, "But I gaht you breakfast!" Kandice didn't turn around, but kept walking away.

"Skittery. You know how everyone is heading over to Meddah's tonight?" She asked him as he nodded his head. "Well, I was wondering if you had a date." She smiled at him and waved to Bumlets while Skittery was 'thinking.' He knew his answer right away, he just wasn't sure what Jack would say.

They both looked back at Jack who was holding up two bags of food, looking helpless as ever. Skittery, then, looked back at Kandice and smiled. "Shoah, I would love to." He said, putting his arm out to her. She put her arm in between his and looked back at Jack smiling. She almost felt bad for Jack. ALMOST.

Kandice sold with Skittery and Bumlets for most of the day, having so much fun she could tell it made Jack jealous. She had sold 50 papers and made a good amount of money with her flirting technique. She was on the ball.

It was starting to get dark and Skittert, Bumlets, and Kandice had become the best of friends. They had so many inside jokes, they couldn't even keep track of them all. The whole newsie group went to Tibby's together for dinner before Medda's. Except this time, Brooklyn and Queens were there too, talking and laughing with Manhatten, although most of Brooklyn sat away from Manhatten. Jack was sitting with Spot, Race, Blink and David, while Kandice was sitting with Skittery, Bumlets, Squints, Boots and another girl from Queens. They were laughing and sharing stories the whole night and from what Jack saw, were getting along pretty well. The whole night Jack and Kandice were secretly looking at each other, but when one of them would see the other, would turn away keeping their pride.

"Kandice. Kandice!" The queens girl, Samantha, was yelling for Kandice's attention as she was secretly looking at Jack. Kandice turned back to Sam, like she was listening the whole time.

"Yeah?" Kandice quickly looked back. Sam looked over at what Kandice was looking at.

"Ohhhh" She said smirking. Jack was now looking at them. "He's cute. Who's he?"

"Jack. We're kinda together, I thought. But I'm really mad at him right now, and he knows it, so I'm not talking to him." She said pointing her nose up.

"Well, wit dat face and body, it must be hahd." She said eyeing Jack, checking him out.

Kandice saw Sam checking Jack out and she suddenly got jealous. "Yeah, it is." She said looking at her again with her eyebrows raised and fists ready. Sam looked down at her clenched hands and backed off.

"So, ah we gettin ready foah meddah's oah what?" She asked, making light of the situation. Kandice let it go and grabbed her jacket, telling the boys she would see them there and kissing Skittery on the cheek. She shot one last glance over at Jack before leaving with Sam and could see that he was sad and confused at the situation. She wanted to talk to him and make up with him so badly, but knew that he had to know what made her mad.

Once the girls got back to the lodging house after laughing and talking about their interests and gossip, they took their dresses out to show each other. Kandice had hung up her things in her own closet that Kloppman had made her and she went searching through her things for the perfect dress. She suddenly stopped and saw a dress that not only had special meaning, but made everyone that saw her in it, stop and stare. She took it out. It was a purple, long dress that was very glittery and low cut. It had a shawl with it that she was to hold around her shoulders, and white gloves. She also had the necklace that her father had given her for her 10th birthday dangling from it. It was a locket with a picture of him and her mother. She looked at her mother and smiled, remembering her smell from when her mother would rock her to sleep. She then suddenly heard the lullaby in her head. The lullaby her mom would sing to her every night before falling asleep.

Smile, though your heart is aching.

Smile, even though it's breaking

When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by

If you smile, through your fears and sorrows

Smile, and maybe tomorrow,

You'll see the sun come shining through

If you light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

All though a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying

You'll find that life is still worth while

If you just Smile.

She smiled and her eyes starting watering when she remembered how beautiful her mom's voice was. She looked at her dress, dried her eyes, and went into the washroom to meet up with Sam who was already getting ready and taking a shower. When Kandice went in she got in the shower and thought about her mother as the warm water dripped down the back of her head and back.

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though is breaking

Kandice sang as she washed her hair with her nice-smelling shampoo she had from home. She closed her eyes and put her head under the water.

When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by

Sam could hear Kandice in the shower next to hers. Her voice was beautiful. With the sound of the water and the echo in the washroom, it made her voice 10 times louder and more present. Sam smiled and pretended she couldn't hear her as she listened and closed her eyes. The song was so soothing, it made Sam happy.

If you smile, through your fears and sorrows

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through

If you-

Suddenly, Kandice remembered Sam was in the room with her and she stopped abruptly waiting for any kind of reaction. "Sam?" Kandice called in the washroom. Sam giggled silently, so Kandice couldn't hear her. "Sam!" Kandice called a little louder.

"Yeah!" Sam answered back as if she was responding for the first time.

"Did you hear me?" Kandice said feeling ashamed and slightly embarrassed.

"No, whadja do?" Sam giggled again.

"Oh, nothing, I was just wondering." Kandice sighed with relief, washing out the last of her shampoo and turning off the water. Samantha did the same and they both came out at the same time, running back into the bunkroom to grab their dresses.

Once their dresses and accessories were completely on and their make up in check, Kandice and Sam both excitedly ran out of the lodging house towards Meddahs. They were sure they were a little late, but it was fashionably late. The girls walked into the club and saw thousands of newsies on the ground, on the balcony, everywhere! Jack, Spot and the other newsie leaders all got ground seats, along with the leaders' friends. Skittery was sitting at a table nearest the stage and turned to the door to see Kandice and Sam come in. She looked beautiful. His mouth dropped and he stared at her with lust. She smiled, turning pink and coming over to him slowly. Sam was wearing a black tight dress she had borrowed from a friend. It stuck to her figure and made her look more full.

Sam had dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. She was more tan skinned and had long curling eyelashes. She wasn't very graceful and hated dresses, as she was from Queens. She was a lot more boyish than Kandice was and she felt very uncomfortable and insecure about herself in her dress, although everyone knew she looked gorgeous. She sat down with Kandice and the boys and heads all turned her way. "Hiya boys" she said with a small smirk. "Anyone ceah ta dance?" She asked and every boy at the table stood up, volunteering themselves. Sam grabbed Race's hand and dragged him onto the dance floor where the band was playing. There were a couple of other couples up there as well.

Kandice sat down and smiled at Skittery again. He, himself, looked very handsome. Skittery bent down behind his chair and came back up with the most beautiful white rose. "Foah you, me lady." He said smiling and making fun of himself.

"Aw, Skittery. This is for me?" She took the rose and smelt it. Her eyes moving back over to Skittery and giving him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I love it. Thank you so much." She said. She looked around the room, checking the place out. It was beautiful! As she was looking around she caught Jack looking at her. She looked back at him and then he looked down making it apparent that he knew he had done something wrong, and that he missed her. She understood and she felt the same way, but she was there with Skittery and she couldn't just abandon him. She looked back over to look for Race and Sam, but she was gone and Race was sitting back at the table. "Race, what happened to Sam? I thought you two were dancing." She asked him still looking around for her.

"She said she had ta go take ceah a somethin, but she wouldn't tell me what." He said shrugging his shoulders and looking slightly sad.

"Im sure she'll be back." Kandice said patting Race on the shoulder, smiling.

Suddenly, a loud voice came booming through a loud speaker, frightening a couple of the newsies. "Hello, and welcome to the Irvinnnnggg Theattterrr" The newsies hooted and hollered making a loud cheer that sounded like a stadium. "We are honored to serve you tonight and to introduce to you, the beautiful, talented, sweadish meadowlark, Medaaahhhhh." suddenly music started to play and out came a beautiful woman that looked in her early 30's in a long, big, pink dress with a big feather in her hand. She had a beautiful voice and was beautiful herself.

High times, Hard times, sometimes the living is sweet

and sometimes theres nothing to eat,

buttt I always land on my feet

All the newsies were singing now and Kandice looked around. It was so unbelievable how many newsies were gathered in this one area. A lot of them were going to Jack and Spot, singing and talking with them. Skittery was singing too, putting his arm around Bumlets and looking at Kandice every once in a while. Once the song was over, Meddah walked off the stage and over to Jack, kissing him on the cheek. The whole group whistled and cheered and Jack's face lit up. Kandice got alittle angry, but remembered that Meddah was over 20. Meddah, then, made her way over to Kandice and grabbed her hand. Kandice's eyes widened and she had a confused look on her face. The newsies started going wild and Meddah whispered something in Kandice's ear. Kandice suddenly had a scared look on her face, like she was about to be killed. She got on stage and stood there, with her purple dress glittering in the overhead light. All the newsies went silent as they marveled at how beautiful she was. There were a couple of whistles before the two began.

My lovie dovie baby

Ill coo hoo hoo for you

Everyone listened to how beautiful her voice was and their mouths dropped. As the song went on, Kandice got more into it and started dancing around with Meddah, going up to newsboys and singing to them and sitting on their laps. The boys loved her, and so did Meddah. When the song ended the crowd went crazy and Kandice was surprised to see that they were givin gher a standing ovation. She put her arm up in the air and blew an enormous kiss to everyone before she curtsied. She waved as she got offstage and went down to the table again.

"WOW! Kandice, you have such a butiful voice. Why didn't cha tell us befoah?" Race asked while staring at her wide-eyed.

"I dunno. I guess I didn't think it was that important." She looked around and Jack was looking at her again, but this time he got up and started coming over to her. She turned the other way to make it look like she was uninterested and started talking to Skittery again.

"Hiya Kandice." he said putting his hand on the back of her chair. "Can we talk real fast? Outside?" He looked around the table at everyone and said his hello's, spit-shaking with a couple of them. Kandice squeezed Skittery's hand once before mouthing "Ill be right back" and walking outside with Jack. He put his hands in his pockets, the cute way he does when he's nervous or flirting. He looked down at the ground before saying what he needed to say. Kandice could tell he was trying to avoid saying sorry. "Listen, I don know what madju so mad befoah, so I don know what to apoligize about."

Kandice stood there staring at him with a stern look. "Then don't say anything if you don't know what your apologizing about." She turned to walk away but he took her arm and turned her back around.

"Wait." he said quickly. "Can you please tell me what I did den?" He looked blankly into her eyes. He looked tired and sad, almost like he was about to cry.

"I thought I was more than your friend that's all. I thought, you know since, that night...when we..you know..kisse-" Jack cut her off with a mind-blowing kiss, taking her by surprise. Her hands ran down his arm and fell into his handsholdingthem while they kissed, loving every minute of being with him again, outside in the nice weather. They broke away from each other breathing pretty heavily.

"Does dat answah yoah question?" he asked smiling and giving her one last small kiss before hugging her tightly for what felt like an eternity. "Lets get back in deah." Kandice started to follow him back into Irving hall.

"You know, I can't just leave Skittery dateless." She said smilingin her cute flirty way.

They walked back in to meet up with the others and saw that Meddah was still singing. "Oh and McLane." he said before she went back to take her seat with the boys. "Good singin, tanight, I gatta show ya sometin lata." He winked at her and walked back to her seat. Kandice had no idea what it might be, but if it was Jack's surprise, it could be anything!

Well that was a loooonngg chapter, thats why it took me so long. Sorry :- That song smile is not mine either. It's on my girl2 and gilbert grape…but Who knew Kandice had such a good voice? Jack and Kandice made up and thank the lord for that. But its weird how much interest Skittery is putting into Kandice lately, don't you think?... And whats this surprise Jack is gonna show Kandice!well we'll find out won't we? R&R please!