OMGSH I totally forgot the disclaimer for the other ones! So here it is now: I don't own newsies, or anyone else you may recognize in this story. I do own echo, arrow, amuse, mare, mac, timid, bittersweet, sam, and jimmy. Everyone else is not mine.
Chapter 2 Setting: at Tibbys, Jack Kelly and gang w/ Arrow and gang"Echo, I still can't believe that you'se of all people, said dat ta ol' Cremy." Jack Kelly went on, using his name for Mr. McKrean. I smiled at his compliment.
"It's about time Cremy got what was coming to him." David said. David's father still had not gotten his job back, or any job for that matter, since his broken arm had healed. This left poor Dave and Les to continue selling papers, and they were unable to go back to school. Sarah had to leave New York City to work in Boston, where she would be paid a higher salary, to send to her family. Because of the distance, Jack and Sarah were forced to break up. While they were dating, Kelly actually went to school for about a month, before getting bored with it and dropping it completely.
I like Jack, I really do. Just not when he's got that dumb smirk on his face. But when he's complimenting me… well, I don't mind. I mean, who doesn't want to someone with the looks he's got to compliment them? Plus, he's really good friends with Skittery.
I glanced over at Skitt. He, as always, had a cigarette in his mouth, and was talking to Racetrack Higgins and Dutchy. It was then that Arrow took her opportunity to find out what all of my friends wanted to know. She pulled me away from the table and brought me outside. As soon as we stepped on the sidewalk, she sat me down and looked at me, ink-stained hands on her hips, tapping her foot. She waited expectantly for me to start talking.
"What?" I said, making my eyes as big and innocent as I could.
"So what's goin on is what! You haven't told anyone. But I, as yer leader and best friend have the right ta know." Arrow snapped, annoyed at my innocent act. She, too could see right through my lies. Arrow and Mare were the only ones who could.
"Oh, right. Nuttins wrong. You'se just mopin' around like a lost soul, not laughin', hardly talkin', and barely makin' it through school widdout bein' yelled at. It's become every day now that you get in trouble for something at school! Something's up, and I wanna know what." Arrow tugged at her dress impatiently. Well, I might as well tell her, I guess. Keeping secrets from my best friends is hard to do. I sighed and sat down on the bench in front of Tibby's.
"It's my fault Sam died." I started.
"We've been over dis. It's not your fault. You'se were bout ta get killed, Sam saved ya, and ya didn't even know who the guy was that tried to kill ya. End of story." Arrow replied.
"No, let me finish." I snapped. This was gonna be harder then I thought. "I knew the guy. Or at least I think I did." I paused for Arrow to say something, but she stayed in silent shock. I went on.
"I didn't know he was dangerous or anything. He was sweet, and kind when I first met him. Jimmy, that was his name. We met one day when I was sellin' papes. I found out he was part of a gang, but I didn't care. It made me like him more. He flirted with me, but never tried puttin' moves on me. I wouldn't let 'im. One day, I heard him 'n his friends talking about how he was gonna sleep wit me soon. So's I ignored him after that. I didn't talk to him again. Then, a few weeks later, Sam dies."
"That don't mean it was Jimmy though, it could just have been a coincidence." Arrow tried to assure me.
"No. You see, Jimmy tried to talk to me, he even apologized, for the wrong things, might I add. After a while he got angry. Said any guy cam near me wouldn't live ta see the next day. So one day, me and Sam were taking a walk and talking, and it started to get dark so we decided to go back to the lodging house. He wanted to see Mare anyway. Next thing I Know, I'm getting pulled in an ally and a shot is fired. Sam received the bullet. But you see, it was a set up. Jimmy wasn't ever gonna kill me. He knew Sam was gonna protect me. I don't know how, but he did. He musta thought Sam was something' special to me. Well, he was, but just as a friend. He was like me brother, the one I never had."
"But it wasn't your fault, Echo. No matta what, dat guy's in da wrong. So stop worryin'! Get out, and talk ta some boys. Ya need a decent boyfriend for once." Arrow comforted me.
"I can't. He might get the next guy I talk ta." I said, growing scared of what he'd do to Skittery, if he should ever find out my feelings for Skitt.
"He won't. I'll tell Jack. He an' Spot'll watch out for ya. Everyone seems ta love ya after what ya did to McKrean today." Arrow smiled. "Now come on, before it's time to leave."
We walked back into Tibby's. I looked at Skittery again. He was not only talking to Dutcy. Mare was talking to Race, her best boy-friend, while Amuse stared at him with a faraway look in her eyes. She liked him so much, I could tell. Mac and Timid were laughing at something Mush had said, and Arrow walked over to join them. David and Bitter were talking in a corner, while Jack was talking to everyone else. I slid into my seat between Mare and Jack.
"Hey! Amuse! Yoo-hoo, ya there?"
"Huh?" She said, tearing her gaze away from racetrack. I leaned across the table.
"Ya like 'im don't cha?"
"NO…"
"Yes..!" I smiled. I knew she was lying.
"Don't tell anyone!" Amuse said with a pleading look in her eyes.
"I won't! Besides, would I do that?" I asked her honestly. But before she could answer, Jack interrupted.
"Hey Echo! Can ya get the walkin' mouth ova there ta stop talking to his goilfriend and socialize wit us?"
"Sure." I got up and walked over to Bitter. I could see she was in a deep conversation with David. But, Jack needed him, so I decided to do Jacky a favor and pull Bitter away from Dave. I walked over to them and tapped Bitter on the shoulder.
"Hiya Bittersweet!" I said as cheerfully as I could.
"Hey." She glared at me.
"Can I…uh.. talk to ya for a minute?" Well this is awkward.
"Sure, go ahead."
"No, I mean… alone." I said through clenched teeth. Maybe if I think about David going away, he will. What's it called again? Oh yea, telepathy. Go away David. Leave. Leave and go over to Jack. It wasn't working. Jack needs you. GO OVER THERE! I concentrated really hard. I opened my eyes and realized bitter and David were staring at me.
"Uhhh… Ech? Is somethin' the matta? Ya look like you'se constipated or somethin'" Bitter said. Well, the telepathy thing didn't work. I'd just have to tell him. Bitter's gonna hate me.
"Jack needs ya, so let's all go back over there, kay?" I grabbed Bitter by the arm and walked back to the table, only to find Arrow arguing with Mac.
"ALL I'M SAYIN' IS THAT YOU ARE BEING VERY RUDE!" Mac snapped.
"NO I'M NOT! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM? I WASN'T EVEN TALKIN' TA YA!" Arrow bellowed back.
They were having one of their usual fights over nothing again, and looked about ready to punch each other. And I'm staying there for the night, too. I'd gotten into a fight with my parents when I'd come back from selling my papers, and was about leave for Tibby's. Well, all I can say is that it's gonna be a blast at the lodging house tonight.
Well, that's it for this chapter. Sorry it's so long. Next chapter it starts to get interesting, and the plot starts to form. But I haven't finished it yet, but hopefully I will tonight, so it'll be up tomorrow or the day after.