Chapter 20.

Casey sat by herself at the distribution office. That was, until Oscar came out. "Casey...can we talk?" He asked. "Don't count on it." Casey said turning away from him. "But...we really need to talk." Oscar insisted. "We ain't gotta do nothin." Casey shot back jumping down from the platform and making her way toward the enterance. "Casey, please...hear me out..." Oscar pleaded.

"Tell me this, Oscar....why in the hell would I ever wanna hear you out? What reason would I have for doing so? My life is a sham...and there's no changing it.....Rinoa's gone and she isn't coming back and it's all my fault..." Casey was saying but Oscar cut her off there. "You know it isn't your fault." Oscar said but it was Casey's turn to interrupt. "Oh, and how would you know?" Casey demanded turning on him sharply.

"It's because I know you Case, and I know her death wasn't your fault....I knew you cared for her...." Oscar said. "That's nice coming from someone I despise." Casey said bitterly and opening the gate and walking through the snow. It was cold as hell but she tried to go as fast as she could to get away from Oscar. "Please Casey....stop." Oscar said breathlessly trying to catch up.

"Why should I?" Casey asked more harshly than before and moving more fast paced. "Damn.....please.....I just want you to listen...." Oscar pleaded. "Look Delancy.......I have no reason to listen to to think of it...I have no reason to look at you....now why don't you do us both a favor and get lost?" Casey said walking on. "Sorry Casey, but you aint gettin rid of me that easily. We need to talk as I've said a dozen times." Oscar said grabbing her by the wrist.......big mistake.

Not even 10 seconds later Oscar lay in the snow clutching his stomach while Casey walked on. "You would think that you would've learned by now." Casey had said right after she hit him. "Casey..." He said with almost no power in his voice. She'd knocked the wind out of him. "No more." Casey said and walked off.

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Mush sat along at the Lodging House until Casey walked in. She didn't expect him to say anything. He never did. She went over and collapsed into her bed and threw the blanket over herself. She decided to sleep for a long time....that was until she heard,

"I never wanted this....." She looked up from her pillow and straight at Mush. "Huh?" She asked and got out of the bed and went over to him laying on his bunk. "I never wanted her to go......ever.....why....." He could hardly let these words leave his mouth. "No one wanted her to...but she thought it was for the best when it wasn't and we're all going to miss her." Casey said. "I'll miss her.....more than anything...." Mush said feeling a tear spill out onto his cheek. It slowly fell onto the ground.

"Please Mush....you're too far gone...I don't want to lose you too. Please hang in there for me. You'll get by....that is......if I can get by too...." Casey said shortly. Mush looked away from her and out the window. "I....I just can't believe she's gone....all of her spirit...gone. She's never coming back...Everytime I walk into the Lodging room....there'll be no Rinoa waiting to jump on my shoulders...No Rinoa to kiss me....to hold me....." Mush trailed off.

Casey couldn't stand the fact that Rinoa was gone so she took off out the door right back into the snow. She almost ran straight into Blink. Blink backed away from her and passed by her in silence. "This whole world is going to hell..." Casey muttered crossing her arms and heading for the bridge. Blink took a look at Casey heading for the bridge. He got a little curious as to where she was going so he figure that he's follow just to make sure she was safe.

After 5 or so minutes Casey came into a halt in front of a bridge. He kneeled behind a bush next to the bridge. She stared down into the water. She stood on the railing and soon just sat down facing the water. "Rinoa....if you'se can hear me....I wish you were here....I hate the fact that you're never coming back...I'll never even believe it myself. Everyone went to hell after you left. Mush wont talk anymore...Blink wont talk.....He lost all emotion....everyone's a mess...what am I supposed to do? I can't tell the guys how I feel...it wouldn't even make a difference." Casey said quietly staring into the water.

Blink wiped away a tear and kept listening in. "Rinoa.....I think I'm becoming delusional....I'm.....seeing things....Everything'd wrong now....We all fell to pieces. There's no more returning for us....I think we all died when you did.......it's over for us now....well on my part anyway...I can't go on like this. You don't even know how much you meant to the newsies....more importantly...how much you meant to me...Mush will never be the same again what's life living for now when you lose all of your friends?" Casey said slowly.

Blink watched as Casey slowly got up onto the rail. He wouldn't let her do this. He lost Rinoa. He wasn't about to lose her too. "CASEY!!!!" Blink yelled as Casey jumped straight down plunging into the darkness of the water. Blink jumped off the rail into a dive. He hit the surface of the water and plunged deeper into the icy water. He soon found Casey's wrist. She was already unconcious. Blink was numb....he could feel it but he wasn't going to let Casey down like he had Rinoa. He swam to the nearby dock and slowly placed her up onto it.

He climbed out and onto the dock. He picked her up from there and carried her to the lodging house. He walked into the bunkroom, catching the gazes of a group of newsies in the corner. "What happened to Casey?" Racetrack yelled pushing forward. "Sorry Race....but she jumped into the lake......suicide attempt....." Blink said shortly placing Casey onto her bed. "Suicide?" Race repeated quietly. "WHY DOES EVERYONE HAVE TO DO SUICIDE!? YOU DON'T SEE ME DOING IT!!!!" Race yelled. He completely lost it.

"HOW COME EVERYONE I LOVE HAS TO GO?!!? EVERYONE! I JUST LOST MY SISTER.....NOW I HAVE TO LOSE MY GIRLFRIEND TOO?! I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!" Race yelled and threw himself to the ground. "RACE! Calm down!" Jack yelled running forward and pinning him down. "Casey's going to be fine! Just calm down!!" Jack yelled struggling with Race.

Everynight in my dreams.......

"Casey!!! I'se can't lose you too!" Race screamed in agony.

I see you.....I feel you.....

"Race......you'se bleeding! Stop thrashin' around!" Jack yelled.

That is how I know you go back....." Race sobbed.

Far across the distance.....and spaces between us.....You have come to show you go on.....

"Someone get Kloppman! He's bleeding badly..." Jack called over his shoulder.

Near, far, wherever you are I believe that the heart does go on....

"Casey.....don't leave me....."

I believe that the heart does go on........once more you open the door......

And you're here in my heart........And my heart will go on and on.......

---------------------1 Year later--------------------------------
---------------------December 18th 1900-------------------

"Casey the new shipment came in! Now box them and load them!" A woman called to Casey. Now Casey was 17 years old and worked in a factory in New York City. She gave up the Newsie life completely. No newsie had any clue as to where she was.

----"Kloppman...it looks as if Race is recovering...." Jack said to Kloppman. "Where's Casey?" Kloppman asked. "She....was here a minute ago..." Jack said and took a glance over at the window which was wide open.

---Well, that's what I got for now...sorry for the long wait. I had some type of writer's block....sorry about that lol.

-Casey