A/N School started, but here is a short chapter. This is the sad I promised. I almost cried when I wrote this. This is a warning, get the kleenex now. You'll want it later.
Song For the Chappie- Slipped Away by Avril Lavigne (and A Little Bit Longer by the Jonas Brothers)
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There was a tickling sensation on my nose. I sneezed and awoke. I woke up to the sunrise over the city. Wait, the sunrise over the city? I can't see the sunrise from the bunkroom! I went to stand up, but someone was holding me tightly to them. I last night came back to me in a flood of pictures and sounds. I carefully turned over to see David's sleeping face. He looked calmer when he slept, more peaceful. His hair was several shades lighter with the dusting of frost covering it. I brushed several stiff locks off of his face before gently waking him. He groaned and pulled me closer, not wanting to wake up quite yet.
I laughed and then kissed him lightly. He sat blot upright and I laughed again. "Well, I'm awake now," he said, smiling slightly. "Come on lover boy, we'se gotta go deal wid da adoring masses for da only goil in da Lodge," I laughed, flipping my hair. He jumped up and bowed, offering me his hand, "Well then madam, let us depart. Heaven forbid we keep the masses waiting!" I laughed, then straightened my face and took his hand, standing up. "Will the young sir escort this shy lady down and protect her from those dreadful men?" I said in a perfect British accent, miming fanning my face.
He laughed and said, "You're really good at impressions. Do an Irishman." "Awlrighty then laddy boy, here's your accent. Would ja like a leprechaun and a jig?" I danced around the roof. He laughed so hard he started coughing. Once he started he couldn't stop. I stopped mid-jig and ran over to him. He kept coughing and coughing as I held him up. When he finally stopped coughing I asked, "Are you awlright? Do ya need some water?" "Water," he said with a little difficulty. I wrapped my arm around his waist and together we walked down the fire escape into the bunkroom.
Catcalls came from all around when we walked in, but Jack and Race came over. "What's wrong wid 'im?" Jack asked sharply. "I dunno," I said, my voice shaking with the effort it took not to cry. "Jack, go get Kloppman. Lucky, set 'im down on dat bed," Race instructed. "Hey, I'm still here," David said quietly. "An' your sick. Really sick. As' I migh' know what wid. Does it hoit when you'se breathe?" I asked, sitting next to him on the bed.
"No," he said, obviously lying.
"Truthfully you numnut,"
"Yes,"
"Has breathin' hoit for a couple a days?"
"Yes,"
"An' ya had a cold a couple 'a weeks ago, right?"
"Yes,"
"Was dere any mucas commin' up when you'se was coughin'?"
"Yes,"
I blanched and quickly put my cheek to his forehead. "You'se got a fever. Racetrack," I said, getting his full attention, "Go ged da Doc. Now," I added when he looked doubtful. Jack and Kloppman came running up the stairs as Race went running down them. "Jack, stay here wid Dave. I need ta talk wid Klopps for a minute." Jack sat down next to his best friend and began talking quietly as Kloppman and I left the room.
"What is it Bits?" Kloppman asked, confused. "Do you want me to examine David or not?" "Klopps, do you know what happened to me mudder?" I asked him suddenly. "No," he said, even more confused. "She had a little cold. Da kind everyone laughs over. Just an irritation. Den it got worse. By da time she saw da doc, it was too late. She had pneumonia and it killed 'er." I paused and Kloppman jumped in, "I'm very sorry, but what does that have to do with David?" "She had da same symptoms!" I yelled, tears in my eyes. "She felt fine, den one day she starts hackin' up a lung, an' den da doc come, tells us she's got pneumonia an' den she dies!" I yelled. "Oh," Kloppman said softly.
I was going to respond (something that would've gotten me in trouble, no doubt) when Race came pounding up the stairs. "Da doc's on 'is way," he said breathlessly. I nodded and walked back into the room. David was now lying down, and Jack was walking away. I went over and lay down next to him.
"Hey sweetie," I said softly, brushing some of the curls off of his face. "Hey," he said, smiling weakly. "Miss?" a foreign voice asked. "Yes?" "You're going to have to leave now." "'A course doc," I said. Lightly kissing David's head I murmured, "I'll be back in a little bit." He squeezed my hand and I left the room without looking back.
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A painstaking hour later the doctor walked out, shook his head, and left. I stifled a sob and ran into the room, expecting to see him covered from head to toe by a sheet. "Hey, who died?" he asked when he saw my face. "Oh David," I said, kissing him fiercely. "Hey now," he murmured, and then coughed. "Sorry," I muttered. "Whadid da doc say?" I asked, barely daring to breathe, barely daring to hope. "The doc said I have pneumonia." I started to cry, not able to hold the tears in any longer. "Hey now," he whispered, rubbing my back, "I'm fine right now. It don't hurt anymore. Awl I gotta do is wait to die, really. I knew it was gonna happen. Well, not the pneumonia part. Or the dyin' when I'm 17, but I guess I can't complain. Well, except that I didn't get to spend more time with you."
"David, you will be fine," I said fiercely, tears in my eyes. "No Tessa, I won't. I know it, Jack knows it, Race knows it, heck, even that dumb doc knows it!" David said, smiling. I giggled a little. "'Atta girl," he said proudly. I wrapped him in a tight embrace and kissed him. When we finished I said, "David, I don' tink I can live widdoud you." "You did for almost sixteen years," he pointed out. "I know, but I love you. You can't go," I said. "I love you too. Now smile," I smiled, "kiss me," I kissed him, "and say good bye. But no crying. The last thing I wanna see is the most beautiful girl in the world smiling down on me." I laughed and said, "Sleep well Davey. I love you." I kissed his forehead. He smiled, sighed and was gone.
I walked out of the room. I told Jack what had happened. I told Kloppman what had happened. I told Swifty to tell David's family what happened. I went to tell Race what happened. I took a breath, opened my mouth, and sank down to the ground sobbing. The shock had finally worn off. Race gathered me up in an embrace and rocked me, murmuring comforting words into my ear. I just cried and cried. At some point people must've come in. I didn't realize when. All I knew was Race rocking me, tethering me to the earth. If he weren't holding me I would've floated away, lost my mind, or just died right there. As it was, I just surrendered gratefully to the forgiving blackness that was closing in on me. My crying slowed, the world went dark and I felt no more.
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A/N
David: You killed me!
Me: Yes, I did.
David: Why!?
ME: I had to.
David: WHY?
Me: I HAD to.
David: Tell me why!
Me: I can't, it'll give away the end!
David: And she doesn't own Newsies
Me: Thanks. Now I'm gonna go cry more
David: Blink!
Blink: Wha'?
David: Bibbi needs a shoulder to cry on.
Blink: I've got two of 'em.
Me: good. (sobs into blink's shoulder. the right one, if you need to know)
David: Since she won't be telling you this, review. That is if you can see the little button through your tears.
Blink: Ego maniac.
David: Hey. I'm dead. Not deaf.
Blink: Whatever
David: Just review to make Bibbi feel better. Better?
Blink: Much. Review now. Bye!