Chapter 8

Popping the Question

After the big party at Meddah's everyone walked back in groups including Jack, Skittery and Kandice. They were all talking about how fun it was and Kandice's good voice, which made her blush with embarrassment. They were all just settling in and saying goodbye to Queens and Brooklyn as they walked into the Manhatten newsboys lodging house. One by one they passes Kloppman their 5 cents to stay the night and walked up the creeking stairs to the bunkroom. Jack held Kandice back from walking in and made sure everyone was gone before speaking.

Jack kissed her lightly. "Com on, time foah da saprise." he said whispering as hetied his bandana around her eyes. "Can you see?" he asked waving his hand in front of her face.

"No!" she said excited and anxious for the surprise.

"Good" he answered. He pulled her hand to a window at the end of the hallway. Kandice could feel a gust of wind and shivered.

"Are we going outside?" she asked trying to feel her way around. "Jack, why are we sneaking out? We could have just stayed out and come in later." Kandice said trying to knock some common sense into Jack. He opened the window and looked outside, checking to make sure the coast was clear. He first helped Kandice out the window, escorting her to the stairs. When they reached the top of the building, she could see it get brighter. "Jack?" she asked feeling skeptical.

"Ok..now!" he lifted the bandana off of her. Kandice opened her eyes to a beautifully lit roof filled with rose peddles all over the ground leading the way to a nicely furnished table for two. It had a small candle in the middle and napkins with very elegant dishes and glasses. He had a bottle of wine next to it and Mush was standing next to the wine in a butler suit smiling. Kandice stopped and put her hand to her mouth in utter shock.

"Jack?" She said like she was about to cry, her voice shaky and filled with disbelief. She walked toward the table, looking down at the rose peddles, trying not to step on any as she went along. Jack smiled and looked back at her as he grabbed her hand and escorted her over to the table. She looked at everything in awe as Jack went behind her chair and scooted it out for her. She smiled and sat down fixing her skirt before she did. She looked at Mush and smiled, this was one of the happiest days of her life. "Mush?" She said putting her hand to her mouth again as she chuckled. Mush rolled his eyes and opened the wine, pouring it gently and slowly into each of their glasses. Jack then sat down in his seat and looked at the beautiful girl sitting across the table from him.

"So whaddya tink?" He asked, opening out his arms and looking around at his hard work.

"It's beautiful, Jack. Really. I can't believe you did all this for me." Suddenly she heard some soft Jazz come into the background and looked around, not seeing where it was coming from. Mush shook out the napkins and laid them on their laps before walking away to get the entres. Jack smiled at her facial expression. She had never seen anything so beautiful in her life. She started to get a feeling inside her, like her heart wasn't pumping blood, but a deep urge. An urge to hug him, kiss him, even...love him. Suddenly, Mush came over with the food and layed it on the table very gently.

"Your dinner" Mush stated very English-like. Kandice smiled up at him and licked her lips.

"Mm looks delicious. Thank you so much Mush." Jack thanked him by hitting him in the arm and then went to dig in, but before he could, Kandice stopped him.

"Jack! What are you doing?"

Jack looked at Kandice in a confused way. "Uh eating?"

"You can't eat yet. We haven't said grace yet."

"Grace?" Jack asked. He saw Kandice put her head down and close her eyes with her hands laced together, so he did the same.

"Dear Lord, Thank you for putting this wonderful food on our plates, and for sending us Mush to serve it, and for sending us this wonderful meeting. God bless Mom and Dad and Elizabeth and Mark and Mary and William and god bless Skittery, and Race and Mush and Race and Sam and all of the Newsies that are out there today. But especially, god, please bless Jack." Suddenly Jack opened his eyes and looked at her. She looked so cute as she prayed for everyone one by one. He liked her so much and he knew he would ask her tonight, he just wasn't sure exactly when. He watched her as she kept praying for him. No one had ever done this for him before. Maybe she liked him too.

"Thank you for sending him to me and making me forget about all the bad things that have happened. Amen." She finished off and then went to eat her food. Jack kept looking at her and then smirked his cute, sexy smirk before doing the same. They talked about how their day went when they were in the "fight" and what the both did.

When they finished eating Mush took away the empty plates and Jack got up and walked over to Kandice's seat. "Would ya like ta dance wit me?" He asked her, politely taking her hand and kissing it like a gentlemen in a ball.

"Why, yes. I would love to." She said as she got up and walked over to an empty spot on the roof. They were slow dancing to a beautiful slow jazz song, but the radio was no where to be found. Jack took her right hand in his and slid his left arm around her waist. Kandice put her left hand on his shoulder. "Where did you learn to dance like this?" She asked him wondering why he wasn't stepping on her feet by now.

"My muddah taught me when she was still alive." he said looking down at her. He had one piece of hair dangling in his face. It made him look very cute.

"Were you and your mother very close?"

"Ya. We were." Jack looked down.

"Im so sorry Jack." Kandice took the piece of hair out of Jack face, but it fell back down.

"Its ok. It happens ya know?"

As they danced, the stars began getting brighter and brighter. They had been dancing for about 20 minutes when Jack finally looked down at Kandice and looked deeply into her eyes. He hadn't done it in so long that he had almost forgotten how beautiful they were. "Kandice..ya know how we've been 'datin' kinda?" Kandice giggled and nodded. "Well, would you wanna..you know..be my goil oah sometin?" he said still looking at her. You could tell that her reaction was very important to him. "Cause I mean, I really like ya and yoah da best ting dats happened ta me ina while."

Kandice put her hand to his cheek. They were still dancing and Mush had gone downstairs a while back. They were alone on a beautiful roof, on a beautiful night. It was the perfect setting for popping the question. She smiled at him and rubbed his cheek with the back of her hand gently. "Of course I will, Jack. I would love nothing more." She smiled and then leaned up to kiss him. He started kissing her back with all the love that he could give. Suddenly he picked her up in a hug and spun her around. She screamed and hit him playfully. When he let her down they were both panting with happiness and Jack gave her one last sweet kiss on the lips to make it official.

"Hey! Get down for here!" The two heard a yell coming from the Emergency stairs and they quickly turned.

Isn't that swweetttt. So Kandice is Jack's Girl huh? I wonder what you know who will think about this.NAD WHAT or who was that yell coming from. uh oh! in trouble? I dont think their supposed to be up there.Thank you for everyone who has been reviewing. It really helps and motivates me and I just like getting them. But don't stop now, keep doin it. Lol and here's a hint to next chapter.

hint: uh oh! Someone'ss b day is coming up. A really good present in store! Look at that. And also S's reaction to Jack and Kandice's relationship.

more ideas? review them.