Chapter Ten: Santa Fe… Texas… Coney Island!

After three days and much deliberation, Jack had finally decided what to do with the money he had earned. All the newsies had talked it over, and decided that this was the best plan. Now, all Jack had to do was tell Ellie.

They were at David's house when Jack finally found a moment. David's parents were out, so it was just Jack, David, Ellie, and Les in the apartment. Ellie, David, and Les were sitting at the kitchen table, Les cutting out colored pieces of paper, and Ellie attaching them to the sticks. David, being the ever productive human being that he was, was not helping in any way, shape, or form, and instead watched intently and constantly asked questions.

Jack sat on David's bed and watched the two chatting. Ellie patiently answered all of David's questions – unless they became too stupid, and then she yelled at him good-naturedly. Jack had seen her do the same with Claira.

The afternoon sun shone through the small windows on the west side of the apartment, bathing a reddish-orangish light over everything it touched. Ellie's brown hair seemed to glow with that light, reflecting it back in an even redder spectrum.

"So how many of these have you made before?" David asked, resting his head in his hand.

"How would I know?" Ellie asked, giving him an incredulous look. "I don't count 'em!"

"Sor-ry," David replied, glaring at her. Jack walked over to the table and stood beside Ellie's chair. She saw out of the corner of her eye as the two traded somber glances.

"Ellie?" Jack asked quietly.

"Yeah?" Ellie asked, looking up at him and giving him a happy smile. In reality, she was only trying to fight back the tears she knew were about to spill over. She knew what he was going to tell her: he was going to Santa Fe, and the conversation they'd had three days ago had meant nothing to him.

"Can I talk to ya?"

"Sure." Ellie set down the pinwheel that she was working on and stood. "David, if you want to, you can try to make some."

"Really? Cool!" He grinned and immediately began assembling the toy.

Jack took her gently by the elbow and led her behind one of the curtains that separated the beds from the rest of the apartment. He sat her down on David's bed and sat beside her. Ellie immediately hid her face in her hands, and her shoulders shook slightly.

"Ellie?" Jack asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Ellie? What's wrong? D'ya feel okay? Ellie?" He lifted her chin. Tears rolled down her cheeks in never-ending streams. "What're ya cryin' about?" He was beginning to think that she had done something she felt bad about.

Ellie stared down at the floor. "You're leaving," she murmured, looking up at him. "Aren't you? That's what you've decided to do with your money."

"Oh, no." He sighed in relief and smiled. "I'm not goin' ta Santa Fe, Ells."

"You… you're not?" she asked slowly, rubbing the tears from her face. "Where are you going then? Texas?"

"No!" He smiled and shook his head. "I'm goin' ta Coney Island!"

"You… are?" Ellie's eyes grew wide. "Oh…"

"Oh…" Jack pulled her into a hug and began rubbing her back gently. "I'se so sorry I made ya think I was leavin'."

"I'm sorry I cried," she murmured, burying her face in his shirt. "I was acting really stupid."

"No ya weren't. I'd want ya ta act like that if I was leavin'. I'd cry if you left." They broke out of the embrace.

Ellie snorted. "That'd be quite a sight." She sighed. "So why would it matter if I knew you were going to Coney Island? Are you taking any of the newsies with you?"

"Well…" Jack took a deep breath. "I was wonderin' if you'd come with me… kinda… as my…" He cleared his throat. "Date?"

Ellie's face erupted into a grin. "Of course, Jack! I love you!"

A silence fell about the two. Jack's eyes grew to the size of roll plates, and Ellie's cheeks turned the deepest red anyone had ever seen them before.

"I mean… I'd love to." She grinned sheepishly and cleared her throat. "I really should get back to the pinwheels. David's probably mangling them."

"Yeah, an' I should prolly… go back ta sittin' down."

-x-x-

A few days later, at Coney Island…

"Hey, have you seen Jack lately?" David asked, giving Claira an inquisitive look.

"Come to think of it… no, I haven't." The blonde screwed her face up in a thoughtful look. "Or Ellie, for that matter." She grinned. "But I think I might know where they are."

"Huh?" David cocked his eyebrows as Claira grabbed his hand and sprinted off in the direction of a small restaurant. Sure enough, Jack and Ellie were sitting at one of the tables outside, laughing happily and joking around with one another.

"Aw… they're so cute together…" Claira sighed, grinning up at David. "Aren't they?"

"Yeah… sure." His grin was actually more of a grimace. "Look, um, Claira, I was wondering, if you…"

"Hey, look! There's Racetrack!" Claira waved at the shorter boy. "Hey, Race!" She jogged off in his direction.

"So close…" David sighed. "So close…"

Author's Note of the Chapter: Well, after… over a year and a half of not working on this story at all, I've finally started updating again. It's not the best chapter, I know; in fact, it's pretty short and stupid. But the emotion's there. The life is there. And there's much better to come…

I think you all owe a big thanks to a certain Newsies Fan named Ellie.

That is… if you're reading this at all.