Beta Readers: Biddy, Fang, Idiosyncrasy, Twister
I would like to especially like to send out a special thanks to Firecracker for her lovely input when I asked what I should do. I just built from there! Thanks love! I don't know if I could have kept writing this chapter without you. I really appreciate it! 3 Love ya!
Okay, here's Chapter 5. Wow! These are getting harder to write as we go along. I'm running out of ideas to put in. I mean, I know where I want to go and how to make it end, I'm just getting to the point where writer's block is about to set in. Wow! And I'm only 5 chapters in! That's bad, right? Well, I hope ya'll like this one, because I'm beginning to wonder if people are still reading. I mean, my hits keep going down. starts panicking a little Okay, breathe, Hair, breathe. takes a couple of deep breathes and settles down
Okay, enough of that. Here's the BRA (haha! BRA!) for Chapter 4! Can't wait for your reviews everyone!
Beta Reader Award for Chapter Four:
The Beta Reader Award for Chapter four goes to Biddy for her absolutely awesome beta work! Without her, I would seriously be lost! I love you girl!
Disclaimer: Newsies belong to Disney, not me. Marguerite belongs to me because I created her for this purpose. Anything that seems like the movie, most likely belongs to Disney. I'm not making money off of this.
Stress belongs to Stress. Echo belongs to Echo. Gimmick belongs to Gimmick. Why? They just do. That's why.
Chapter 5: Excuse Me, Miss Van Wyck?
Stress, Echo, and Gimmick were fumbling around when Blink walked through the door to Tibby's the next day. He looked at the three newsgirls and asked, "What're you three up to?"
"Nothing," they replied in unison.
Blink acted as if he believed them and walked over to sit at the usual table; in the middle of the restaurant. "The usual," he told Bill when the waiter opened his mouth to ask him what he wanted. Bill turned around and walked away to fill the order.
"Hey, guess who I met today," Stress came around Blink with Echo and Gimmick following.
Blink looked at the girls. Gimmick, a short and sweet girl, seemed unusually cheery. She wore an enormous smile and pranced behind Stress. On the other hand, Echo, a short and cute girl, looked extremely uncomfortable and seemed more dumbfounded then anything. She was her usual cheery self nevertheless.
"Who's that, Stress?" Blink asked, turning his attention away from them.
"Well, it's funny really," Gimmick chimed in. "I didn't even know she was that ugly," she said, as Stress shot a deadly look at her and mouthed the words, Shut up.
Gimmick complied and Stress continued telling Blink about the mystery person, who Gimmick generously mentioned was a girl.
"Who is she, Stress?" Blink set his elbow on the table. He was beginning to lose his temper. Blink was normally a happy person. Who would have thought that he could be this aggravated, especially over a girl he could never have?
"Marguerite," Stress stated simply when she realized Blink was getting upset.
Blink looked around. "Where'd you see her?"
"She came in a few minutes before you did," she replied. A small smile formed on her lips.
There! He noticed long brown hair two tables away from him. She was facing away from him. What if it's not her? What if I go over there and it's that…girl? Blink looked back at Stress for a moment before turning his attention back to the mysterious, long hair.
"Well," Stress said, "Are you going to go over to her?"
Blink slowly stood up and casually walked over to the mystery girl, who he believed to be the mayor's daughter. You can do this. Just gently touch her shoulder and say, "Excuse me, Miss Van Wyck?" and she'll turn around. He looked back at Stress and she motioned for him to keep going. He looked at Gimmick and Echo. Although they appeared clueless, they mimicked Stress' gesture.
Finally, turning back around, Blink touched the girl's shoulder and said, "Excuse me, Miss…Miss…" Blink stepped back shocked.
"Oh, my darling, where have you been?" Jake said in a high pitched voice, turning around and clasping Blink's hands in his. "I've been looking all over for you!" he went on using that same voice.
"What the hell?" Blink felt utterly abashed and pulled away immediately, before he continued with, "What are you doing?"
Spot and Racetrack came out from under the table, laughing hysterically. "Did you see his face?" Racetrack asked Spot, trying to control his laughter.
Spot, unable to take in a good breath, only nodded. Blink looked back at the girls and noticed Gimmick and Echo looking at each other. Then he saw Stress keeling over with laughter. Blink stormed out of the restaurant and started back towards the lodging house.
Blink stopped and sat on a curb a couple of blocks away from Tibby's on Main Street. He looked around and watched as crowds of people walked past him; the shoe shine boy was shining a man's boots, newsboys were running along trying to get people to buy their papers, and a young girl in a dark blue skirt was crossing the street.
That's her! Blink shot up and ran towards the young girl as she stepped onto the sidewalk in front of the dress shop. Blink couldn't reach her before she went inside. He took a deep breath as he followed her in the store.
"A new dress for your mother?" The owner walked up to him with a straight face. In return, he shook his head. "If you're not going to buy anything, then leave," she replied and continued past him toward Marguerite.
Blink walked outside and stopped to look back in. He noticed the girl smile and then continue browsing. Blink sat down on a nearby bench and waited for her.
Beginning to get restless, he got up and started pacing. He didn't have a paper to sell her, so what was he going to say? Blink's mind began to race and he sat back down as he went over things in his head. Well, she seemed nice, so I don't think she'll yell at me for anything. What if she does, though? I mean, at least I look cleaner than usual. Besides, I don't have anyone here irking me. I can do this. Wait! What am I going to say? I can't just say, "Nice weather we're having." That's just stupid. I'm an idiot! Wait, she won't talk to me! She's the mayor's daughter! Why would she? She can make anyone's head turn. I'm sure she has someone her father approves of, but maybe she's nice enough to at least acknowledge me. Just maybe.
Blink snapped back to reality as he noticed Marguerite walk out the door. "Excuse me, Miss?" he asked, walking up to her quickly.
She turned around and looked at him. Blink stood there and gawked at her. She was more beautiful than the day he sold that paper to her. Marguerite smiled at his expression and waited for him to continue.
Blink was flabbergasted. He, trying to find something to say, began to mill his mind. She's waiting! She's actually waiting for me to say something! What am I to say? Oh God! I'm not ready! Damn it! Why can't I just say something? Quit thinking and say something before it's too late! "Um…"
Marguerite gave a small nod and walked away. Damn it! You fool! Why didn't you open your mouth? "Um…"? Is that all you could say? You stupid idiot!
Blink began to walk back towards Duane Street. He hated himself for letting his opportunity to greet Marguerite slip away.