Disclaimer: I do not own the newsies. If only I had enough money to buy them from Disney. I don't own Angelfish. She owns herself. I don't own the song "Turn The Page'. I'm just borrowing it from Aaliyah. I also don't own the poem "The New Me". That is owned by one of my friends. I do own Kate, Bookworm, Arts, and Reticent. I also own the poem "Untitled" and "Then You Came". I wrote them myself and if you want to read more of my poems, you can find them on Now on to chapter 14.
Chapter 14
The seconds seemed to tick by as if they were in molasses and the boys hadn't come back yet. Bookworm had occupied herself with a book and would occasionally check on the beaten newsie, Reticent was writing in her journal on the bunk next to Kate, Lady was pacing between the rows of bunks, and Kate would doze off every now and then. The fight was on everyone's mind, though they tried to concentrate on other things.
"What are you writing?" Kate asked Reticent.
"Poems."
"What about?"
"Anything really but most of mine are about how I feel at a particular moment. They just kinda pop into my head."
"Would you mind reading a few of them?"
"No, I wouldn't mind but I warn you, they're not very good. Anyways, this one is called 'The New Me'."
I reinvent myself today
Forget everything I have ever said to you
I was horribly wrong (I often am)
Wrong like a shallow ocean
Wrong like a shadowed sun
Wrong like the sky beneath the sea
Forgive me
I've been a fool for all to see
I want to scream to the cruel heavens "God, why me?"
I almost wish I had never heard your voice
But a weight has been lifted, strange though it may seem
This has changed me, I cannot ever be the same
This much let me say
Tomorrow will be a strange new day
"That was beautiful." Said Kate.
"Thank you."
"Would you read another?"
"Sure. This one is called 'Untitled' because I couldn't really think of a title for it."
I watch as raindrops slide down my window
I am thinking of you
The weather describes my mood
I ponder over things I need to know
But do I really need to know?
Do I really need to know if we are breaking up or not?
Either way I will still long for you
Do I really need to know where you want this relationship to go?
Or why you even like me?
I walk outside for the rain has stopped
I still ponder over things
It seems we've grown distant somehow
We don't talk like we used to
Do you even still like me like you used to?
The rain starts again
But I keep walking on
I feel my eyes burn with the tears I've tried so hard not to shed
Soon my tears will mix with the raindrops on my cheeks
Finally something good happens to me
And it could get taken away from me
What do I have to do?
I would get down on my knees and beg you to stay
I would give up everything if you asked me to
You could tell that you don't believe in love
And foolishly I would still love you
Talk to me
Let me know if you want me stay or go
I don't want to waste your time
I don't want to be a bother
I don't want to be an obligation
The rain pounds the ground as I walk
It's pouring now
I fall to my knees as the tears flow down my cheeks
I am wishing, wanting you to be here to comfort me
To tell me everything will be ok
But you're nowhere
My heart is in your hands
It has been from the start
It's up to you what you do with it
I get up off my knees
And I begin to walk home
I think of how I've changed
I find myself wanting to learn more about the games you play
I've developed some of your habits
When you're gone, I feel like part of me is missing
You're becoming part of me
Just being near you, sends my heart fluttering
I can be myself around you
I finally reach home and I'm soaking wet
But somehow that doesn't seem to matter
You're standing in front of me
We stare into each other's eyes
You're eyes tell me you want to talk
I quickly wipe away my tears
Making it look like I'm wiping the raindrops off my cheeks
Only you can decide what happens
So what is your choice?
Before Kate could comment on how beautiful and emotional the poem was, the door to the bunkroom flew open. Bookworm jumped off her bunk and ran to the door. Reticent and Lady also rushed over to help the boys with the badly wounded. And so the rush began. Newsies of all ages were constantly being carried in with large cuts and huge bruises on their faces and arms and set wherever there was room. Bookworm, Reticent, and Lady rushed around to try to get to every one of them and make them comfortable. Kate just looked around the room at all the newsies and all the blood soaked clothes and bandages and as she watched the mad rush of people, something came to her mind.
"Reticent, would you mind if I borrowed a piece of paper?" Kate asked her above the noise.
"No, I don't mind. Go ahead." Replied Reticent.
"Thanks."
Again there was a lull in the chaos. Bookworm, Lady, and Reticent were constantly checking on the newsies and tried to make them as comfortable as they could, and Kate was writing furiously. She couldn't seem to write fast enough. It flowed from her head to her hand and out through her fingertips and onto the paper like a rapidly flowing river.
Suddenly the door flew open again. This time it was Race and Blink and they carried a very beat up Mush. Angelfish and Arts were behind them carrying another newsie. Race and Blink laid Mush on the bunk Reticent had been sitting on earlier and Bookworm and Reticent ran over to them. Bookworm told Reticent to see to the other newsies and to give her some time to clean him up. Reticent reluctantly agreed and went to clean up the other newsie.
"Where are Jack and Spot?" Kate asked Blink before he had a chance to leave.
"Jack is out lookin' for more newsies and I have no clue where Spot is. I would assume he'd be doin' the same as Jack." replied Blink.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
And with that Blink was out the door. Bookworm got Mush cleaned, talked to Reticent, then went to check on one of the boys. After talking with Bookworm, Reticent went over and sat next to Mush's bunk.
"I'm sure he'll be ok." Kate said trying to comfort her.
"I hope so." Reticent said watching Mush intently, like he would wake up at any moment and tell her it was all just a joke.
The minutes ticked by and no one knew where Jack or Spot were. People that were able went out to find anyone who was missing. The room was quiet except for the occasional groans of pain and the rustling of sheets. Kate was starting to get even more worried when she heard voices from downstairs.
"Race. Tracker. Get your asses down here."
The two boys jumped up and ran out of the room. A lot of commotion was heard then a few minutes later Jack, Blink, Race, and Tracker came into the room carrying a very badly beaten newsie. Kate stretched to see who the newsie was but her view was blocked by the boys and Bookworm, who had rushed over to help. Kate did notice, however, that Jack was holding something. It was a cane and slingshot. Kate was out of bed in a flash and she was almost to them when Bookworm stepped in front of her.
"Move Bookworm." Kate demanded but Bookworm stood her ground.
"Move!" Kate yelled and tried to push her out of the way as the tears started to fall. The room was completely silent and Bookworm just wrapped her in a hug.
"Oh god no! Oh god. No." Kate sobbed into Bookworm's shoulder and sank to the floor.
"Let me get him cleaned up first. It'll be better that way." Bookworm said quietly as she held Kate. Kate nodded her head and Bookworm went behind the sheets that the boys had put up leaving Kate alone on the floor. Jack walked over to her, knelt down, and handed her the cane and slingshot. Kate looked into his eyes for some kind of answer but all she could see was sadness and worry.
"I'm sorry Kate."
"What happened?"
"I don't really know. I just found him in an alley. I heard something about him being out numbered but even if he wasn't, he still didn't have a chance."
"What do you mean? Why didn't he stand a chance? I thought he was one of the best fighters around?"
"He is one of the best and helasted awhilebut his heart wasn't in it. He just kind of gave up after awhile.He's never loved anyone the way he loves you Kate. You should have seen the look on his face when I told him you had tried to kill yourself. He was devastated. He looked like he had been stabbed right through the heart. You mean everything to him Kate. I'm pretty sure he didn't care if he died out there or not. To him, life is worth nothing unless he has you in it. He will never love any other girl the way he loves you and you know in your heart, that Spot would never have kissed Lady and that he would never cheat on you. But enough of all this, let's get you back in bed."
Kate let Jack help her stand up and let him lead her to her bunk. She laid down and cried as she hugged the cane and slingshot to her. She should have known better and now Spot was laying there unconscious and she didn't even know if he would make it or not. This is all my fault. She thought to herself as she lay there with tears falling from her eyes. It's all my fault.
It seemed to take Bookworm forever to get him cleaned up. Kate didn't even look in direction of his bunk. She couldn't bring herself to. Finally she felt a tap on her shoulder and rolled over to see Bookworm standing next to her bunk. Bookworm just nodded her head and Kate slowly got out of bed and made her way over. She very slowly pulled the sheet back and looked at him. Both his eyes were a deep purple almost black color and almost completely swollen shut. There was also a huge gash running from his temple down to his chin on the right side of his face. His arms were blotted purple and lay limp at his side. She couldn't stand to look at him but she couldn't look away either. She just knelt by his bunk and took his hand in hers. The tears started to fall all over again.
"You probably can't hear me but as I was laying in bed and watching all the newsies being carried in earlier, I thought of a poem. I don't know why I did but here it is. It's called 'Then You Came'."
I had slipped so far
I didn't want to live
My life was nothing special
Then you came around
You helped me to my feet again
You made my life worth living
You made me feel special
I felt I had purpose again
I felt wanted again
You loved me in ways I've never known
You gave me hope
You encouraged me
You made me whole again
I felt safe in your embrace
You gave me a home away from home
I don't know why you chose me
I was nothing special
You were everything
But you gave me everything
I've never been so loved
I hope it never ends
I hope it never ends
When Kate was done reading, a song that her mother had sung often came to her mind and she began to sing.
A special smile, a certain touch
I never had a love that I loved so much
When I look back, you're everywhere
Turn the page, you were there
My very best friend, my summer day
My only someone to depend on
When I lost my way
You came and answered my every prayer
Turn the page, you were there
What would I do if some strange morning
I opened up my eyes to find you gone
I can't imagine how I would survive it
I'll find another reason to go on
The sound of her voice drifted through the bunkroom. The younger newsies slowly nodded off to sleep while the older ones sat and listened while some held their girlfriends.
My one sure faith, my solid ground
All I ever wanted was the love that we found
When I look back, you're everywhere
Turn the page, you were there
Yeah
What would I do if some strange mornin'
I opened up my eyes to find you gone
I can't imagine how I would survive it
I can't imagine how I would go on
A special smile, a certain touch
I never had a love that I loved so much
When I look back, you're everywhere
Turn the page, you were there
You came and answered my every prayer
Turn the page, you were there
The next morning, Kate woke up next to Spot's bunk. She could hardly recognize him when she looked at him. She got up and made her way to the washroom to clean up. On her way there, she spotted Bookworm coming out.
"Bookworm!"
"Hey Kate."
"Is Spot going to be ok?"
"If he wakes, he should be fine. Otherwise he only has a couple of broken ribs and a few cuts and bruises."
"Ok, thanks." Kate said with a sigh then walked into the washroom.
A couple of days had passed and Spot hadn't woken up. Everyone found themselves praying he would. Kate refused to leave his side for anything except to use the bathroom. Everyday she was right there next to him praying that he would make it through.
One night while everyone else was out, Kate got desperate. Spot had to be able to hear them.
"I don't know if you can hear me or not, but I'm going to say this anyways. You can't die on me Spot. I need you too much. My life means nothing if I don't have you in it. You've helped me to trust people again and you've showed me what true love is. You've given me the greatest gift I could ever get. You gave me yourself. Look, I'm sorry for everything that I've caused you. I'm sorry for not letting you explain what happened that day with you and Lady. I'm sorry that I tried to kill myself. I don't know why I thought you were cheating on me. I let my head do the thinking and not my heart. Please don't die on me Spot. I don't know how I'll go on without you. You mean everything to me and I love you so much it hurts. Please come back to me Spot. Please." Kate said sobbing into the blanket. Suddenly she felt someone squeeze her hand.
"You have nothin' to be sorry about. I should be the one who's sorry. I love you Kate and nothin' is gonna change that."
Kate's head shot up and she starred into a pair of bright blue eyes.
"Oh thank god you're awake. I was starting to think I had lost you." Kate said giving him a hug but trying not to hurt him.
"You won't get rid of me that easily. Listen, I should have pushed Lady away as soon as her lips touched…" Spot started but Kate's fingers on his lips stopped him.
"I understand Spot. Lady sort of explained what happened. I should have trusted you though."
"I understand why you didn't. If I were you, I probably would have done the same thing, except for the whole trying to kill myself part. Oh and I believe this belongs to you if you still want it."
Spot then reached into his pocket, pulled out the ring he had given her when he had asked her to marry him, and handed it to her. Kate looked at the ring in hand then looked back at him.
"Of course I still want it and I definitely still want to. I can't imagine life without you." Kate said giving him a soft kiss on the lips.
AN: I hope you liked the chapter. I know it didn't really change much but there are somesubtle differences. For all who know the second poem before it was changed, I hope you like the revised version. Don't forget to review and tell me what you thought of the chapter.