Chapter Twelve: In Which a Meeting Happens and Friends Stay Friends

Word Count: 1,310

Manhattan, 1899

"But I've read your editorials, Mr. Pulitzer. How can you express so much sympathy for the trolley workers ad yet have none for the newsies?"

That was the same question Hannah was asking herself. She kept her mouth shut, though. She knew her place, and she still definitely wanted to keep her job.

"Because the trolley workers are striking for a fair contract. The newsies are striking against me."

Of course, thought Hannah.

The mayor sighed. "I'd save you this embarrassment if I could, but the burlesque house is private property."

"You can't order a raid without legal cause," Seitz added.

"Mr. Mayor," Pulitzer persisted, "would the fact that this rally is organized by an escaped convict be cause enough to shut it down?"

An escaped convict, Hannah mocked in her head. Mister Pulitzer had been going on about that for a while now, and while the stealing that the poor boy had done was worth punishing, the refuge was a horrible place. She would have tried to escape, too. She felt bad for the kid and hoped to see the day when that torturous place was shut down.

"An escaped convict...?"

"A fugitive from one of your own institutions. An escaped thief at large, wreaking havoc on our law-abiding community." He turned to Snyder. "Mr. Snyder, which one is it?"

Ha, thought Hannah dryly. He doesn't even know what the kid looks like. It was sad to her. I mean, if you're going to call someone names, you should at least know who they are.

"That one, there," said Snyder, pointing at the boy. Hannah craned her neck to get a look. He had the look of leadership about him, and he stood, proudly, defiantly, with his head held high. She had warned her boss. But no, he had refused to heed her admonition, and now he was losing money.

"How do you know this boy?" the mayor inquired.

"His is not a pleasant story. He was first sentenced to my refuge for loitering and vagrancy, but his total disregard for authority has made him a frequent visitor." Snyder looked like he was about to say more, but then the mayor jumped in.

"You called him a thief and escaped convict."

"After his release, I caught him myself, red handed, trafficking stolen food and clothing. He was last sentenced to six months, but the willful ruffian escaped."

Willful ruffian. Interesting choice of words.

"So," said Pulitzer, "you would be doing the city a favor by removing this criminal from our streets."

The mayor sighed again. "Well, if that's the case, we can take him in quietly and then - "

Pulitzer slammed his hands on the table. "What good would quiet do me?"

Hannah was sorely tempted to snap her fingers by her ears just to make sure she could still hear after that outburst. That was unnecessary.

"I want a public example made out of him."

Hannah quietly excused herself. She just needed some air right now. As she exited and had just left the building she saw someone who looked vaguely familiar. He was a boy, with the perfect likeness of the one in the newspaper.

"Jack Kelly?"

"That's me, Miss," he said, flashing a smile. "Any chance I'd be able to see Mr. Pulitzer himself?"

This was not exactly the way meetings were supposed to work, but she had to see this.

"Um, sure, right this way." Hannah hurried dutifully ahead as Jack walked reposefully behind. She arrived back in Pulitzer's office before he did and declared to the personnel, "The boy, Jack Kelly, is here."

"Here?"

"Just outside. He's asked to see you."

Pulitzer smiled. Hannah didn't like how that smile looked, and she feared what Pulitzer would concoct to punish Jack. "Well, ask, and ye shall be received. Mr. Snyder, would you please?" He pointed to Katherine, who had been present but silent and then pointed at a chair. "Sit."

She's no dog, Hannah thought bitterly, but again she held her tongue. One of these days, she'd have to tell Pulitzer exactly how she felt about the way he did things sometimes. Katherine sat, and her chair was turned around. Jack couldn't see her.

"Mr. Jack Kelly?" called Hannah nervously.

Jack strolled in, looking the opposite of how Hannah felt. "Afternoon, fellas," he said whistling. "And lady," he added, nodding at Hannah.

"And which Jack Kelly is this? The charismatic union organizer, or the petty theif and escaped convict?"

"Which one gives us more in common, huh?"

"Impudence is in bad taste when crawling for mercy."

"Crawlin'?" Jack repeated as if it were unthinkable. "Now that's a laugh. No. I just stopped by with an invite." He grinned. "It seems a few hundred of your employees are rallying to discuss...recent disagreements. Now, I only thought it only fair to invite you to state your case directly to the fellas. So what do you say, Joe, huh? Want I should save you a spot on the bill?"

Pulitzer glared. Hannah had a feeling this impromptu "meeting" was not going to go well.

Cassie heard Mush before she saw him. He was calling out for her as he came into the lodge, and this time she answered. "Hey." She said it quietly, making no effort to project her voice, but he heard her anyway. He found her quickly and was soon sitting next to her.

"So," he said.

"So," she responded.

"I, um, I read your letter. It was...it was sweet. It was really nice."

"Thank you," she said, rather tersely.

"So, is it true? All that stuff ya said about liking me, I mean?"

Cassie looked at him, somewhat incredulous. "Of course, it's true. Have you ever known me to be a good liar?"

"Well, no, but ya wrote it, so I couldn't really tell."

"Yeah, but why would I lie to you?"

"That's a good point," Mush admitted. They sat in silence for a little while. Cassie took furtive glances at him, but he seemed to be deep in thought. If he noticed her, he made no indication.

"It's okay if you don't feel the same, you know," Cassie said after a time. "I won't take it personally. I was telling you...mostly for me. So I didn't go insane," she said, chuckling. Mush laughed a little too, which made her happy.

"Can I tell you something, Cassie?"

"Anything."

"I really don't know how I feel."

"You...don't?" That definitely hadn't been the answer she was expecting. Actually, she didn't know what she was expecting, but it wasn't that.

"No." He shook his head. "I mean, it's more than a matter of just if I'm hurtin' your feelings. You'se already said that I won't either way. And I don't think I'd be hurtin' my own feelings either. I just don't have an answer for you yet."

"You don't?" Cassie repeated stupidly.

"I'll tell you when I do, of course, and I don't wanna hurt our friendship over this. I never really thought of you as someone I'd be interested in – no offense -"

" - none taken."

" - but now that I'se thinkin' about it, you'se...well, you'se pretty great. If I had to spend the rest of my life with one person, it'd be you."

Cassie blushed, and her heart swelled at the sentiment. But there was always a but.

"But..."

There it was.

"I wouldn't, right now at least, just say I'm interested. I dunno, but I wouldn't say yes, and I wouldn't say no. I'm kind of...undecided. Does that make sense?"

She nodded slowly. "I think so."

"Thanks for understandin', Cassie." Mush stood up. "Friends for now?"

She smiled. "Friends for now."

They shook hands and grinned.

A/N: I know this is late, and I'm sorry, but there's a lot going on in my life right now. I did like writing this chapter, though, even if it was little short. I'm aware that Hannah wasn't technically in the scene that I wrote her into, but it really is fun writing her sarcasm. The translation of Cassie's French is coming soon, and Brooklyn is, too. ;p

Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, and I would really appreciate if you could review and tell me any thoughts you had on the chapter!

-mouse :)