Sugar lay in her bed, in the city of Queen's thinking about the current incident. Mine as well jus give up, nuttins gonna come between dose damn lovers, dat Sarah goil was right, dere are so many more guys out dere dat would be more den happy to love me, da way Spot loves Sarah, besides deres no way i could eva show my face again to dose boys,I got nuttin left but shame.In da mornin I'll pack ma bags and head ta Chicago. Her thoughts tormented her, as she tried restlessly to fall asleep.
The next afternoon, Spot went back to Brooklyn to check on his boys at the lodging house, and take care of business. Once the Manhattan Newsies had sold half there papes they decided to take a lunch break at Tibby's "How ya doin Star?" Mush asked kind-heartedly.
"Much better" Sarah replied smiling in gratitude. Star's cheek was still a bit swollen, but her bloody gashes were cleared up and slightly beginning to fade.
Suddenly the door swung open and in walked cheerful, and overly excited Crutchy. "Ya wouldn't believe what I'se saw at da train station dis mornin! I was sellin me papes and I noticed familiar looking curly red hair! It was Sugar! She's leavin! She's gone!" Crutchy shouted joyfully.
The Newsies cheered merrily. As Crutchy sat down he was bombarded by questions.
"Waa Hoooo! No more Sugar!" Race chanted.
"Did you hear that! Sugar's gone? I hope she's gone for good! The last thing we need is her as one of our many worries." Notebook said enthusiastically.
"I guess she took my advice." Star frankly replied.
"What advice?" Maddie asked.
"I told her that nothing can come between me and Spot, and that there are many other men out there that she could love, and be loved by in return."
"That reminds me, I read this quote once, it goes a little like this 'The greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love, and be loved in return.' Notebook replied blissfully.
"That's amazing, and true to." Star agreed.
The laughter and chatter continued to echo through the room. Star said goodbye to Notebook and the Newsies then slid out of the booth, and headed to Brooklyn to tell Spot the good news.
Starlight ran down the cobblestone streets, and across the Brooklyn Bridge, her heart racing with joy. Overwhelmed with high spirits, she didn't realize that she had bumped into a woman selling flowers. The flowers flew out of the basket. Some landed on Star and others scattered across the cobblestone. Starlight picked them up hastily, and placed them back in the basket. "Sorry!" she replied continuing to run down the street.
"Teenagers." the lady replied shaking her head in annoyance. "No respect for anyone!"
Star ran as fast as her legs could carry her, this time being more cautious, and watching out for merchants. She glanced around looking for Spot, when she saw him calling out headlines; she snuck up behind him and shouted his name. "Spot!"
Startled, his papers falling to the ground, he turned and exclaimed, "Whatcha doing here, ya supposed to be gettin yer rest!"
"That's the last thing on my mind now!" "She's gone, Spot." Star said excitedly.
"Who?"
"Sugar! She's gone!" Star repeated.
Spot grinned widely, picked Star up and spun her, laughing. Putting her down she kneeled and picked up the papes from the ground. Getting up she began to explain the latest news about Sugar. "Crutchy came into Tibby's overwhelmed with joy and said that he saw Sugar at the train station leaving!"
While she spoke Spot pulled out the leftover flower petals in her hair."Finally she's gone!" he said, kissing the top of her forehead.
Spot smirked contentedly. "By da way dese were in your hair." He replied holding up a bunch of multicolored flower petals, and placing them in Star's hand.
"Thanks." Star replied giggling, as she remembered the incident, with the flower merchant. "Oh and by the way these belong to you." Star replied lightheartedly, handing the papes back to Spot.
"I'll meet ya in Manhattan lata tonight?" Spot replied
"Sure" Star said grinning. With an engaging kiss they parted ways. Spot was once again blown away by his true love, he smirked and quietly chuckled to himself as Star blithely walked back to Manhattan, happiness overwhelming her.
"So I suppose love can be found in the shyest of hearts…" Notebook murmured, writing in her little brown notebook. "Even those who give tiger teeth as gifts from their hearts." she thought, thinking of her journey on the ship and when Takoda and her had first met. "That seemed so long ago, like a past dream…"
She gripped the tiger tooth around her neck and breathed deep, fighting back tears. She didn't want to leave, didn't want to break her lover's heart.
With a soft sigh, Notebook slid from the booth, closed her notebook and pocketed her pencil. "Pretty soon it's going to be apparent that we're going to leave soon…"
With the back of her hand, she wiped tears from her eyes, and opened the door, letting it swing shut as she left. "I guess life is like that…when you least expect it, the past comes quietly back to you and knocks you off your feet leaving you in the mud" she murmured, watching a horse and carriage and thinking of her old life.
"Sometimes I wish I could just disappear into a book," Notebook whispered. "One where two friends find new adventures and possibly find love…if I were to write one like that I'd call it: Love Everlasting"
She turned onto a street and continued walking. She walked through Central Park and sat on a bench beneath a willow tree.
"I wonder if the willow will have anything to offer. Wisdom? Comfort?" Notebook wondered.
Shaking her head, she took out a book from her pocket, found her bookmark and began reading. The characters, two lovers, were in a heated debate and as Notebook read, she noticed a particular quote the woman character had whispered to her angry lover, that stood out:
"…The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost."
"Much like my love" Notebook thought, with a tight-lipped smile.
"Good book?" replied a familiar voice, startling Notebook. She turned and grinned. Tiger sat with her on the bench, putting an arm around her shoulders. "I've been looking for you" he whispered, kissing her cheek.
"You have?" Notebook whispered leaning her head on his shoulder.
Tiger chuckled, then took her bookmark and placed it in her book. "Come with me"
He took her hand and helped her up. Notebook put her book in her pocket and let him take her.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"You'll see"
Notebook grinned at her lover and followed him to the fire escape. Maddie quickly climbed up and Takoda followed her.
Once sitting on the roof, Notebook wrapped her arms around her knees. "So what's there to see?"
"Actually, I wanted to tell you something" Takoda did not smile as he sat rather his face remained unreadable. "Remember when I told you about my past?"
"Yes"
"Well there's something I didn't mention before. My sister was supposed to live with my aunt. Well, on her thirteenth birthday, on the night she was supposed to finish packing, I went to see her. My sister and I had a good time before my aunt, who was going to take my sister to the station with her in the morning, said something about arranged marriages and betrothals…"
"It was just a saying. Wasn't it?" Notebook asked.
"That's what I thought but my aunt told us that she knew a good boy for Mapiya to marry in a few years…Mapiya was scared and I knew she was, I tried to comfort her but she was inconsolable, she just didn't want to listen…I gave her space thinking she would heal, but she remained silent for the rest of the night. I told my aunt that Mapiya didn't want to marry but aunt was firm and wouldn't change her mind. I went to the station to see them off and, when I returned home that morning, I packed my bags and left to begin my own life."
"Did you try and contact your aunt or sister?" Notebook asked.
"I tried. I sent letters—many letters—but never got a response. It's been two years since I've seen any trace of them and well…. It's just been a long time." Takoda sighed.
"Have hope Takoda, she may have returned and is searching for you." Notebook replied.
"I will Maddie, I will…" Takoda put an arm around her shoulders again.
Notebook just smiled, for lack of anything more. "Wishes are like stars, not all wishes are lost, and some are just waiting to shine…"
"Did you read that somewhere?" Takoda grinned.
"No, I made it up, sort of a spur of the moment quote" Notebook laughed glad to talk about happier times.
"Well, my dear," Takoda said. "You surprise me"
"Do I now?" Notebook arched an eyebrow.
"You do, my tigress." Takoda replied. That remark left Notebook in hushed surprise, so she had another nickname? Notebook just laughed lightly at the thought.
Takoda smiled, tilted her chin to meet his eyes, and kissed her lips tenderly. "Like I said, it led me to the best place in the world, right here with you. Besides, you and I both know that, if a tiger has a mate, she's a tigress. You are mine."
Notebook snuggled into the curve of his arm. "I'm content to stay in this moment, stay here in this place now. There's no chance of my love straying and becoming lost. It's love everlasting, love that is eternal and never fading…If I was to die in the future, young, I die knowing that I have loved and have been loved by a person that will always be a part of me"
As if reading her mind Tiger grinned. "Are you happy staying here?"
Notebook shrugged. "I guess"
"See? There you go hiding again" Tiger sighed.
"I don't hide…just keep things—Sorry Tiger I'm rambling again…" Notebook buried her head in her hands.
"No need to apologize" Tiger said, chuckling. "Here," Tiger stood and held out a hand. Notebook took it and he helped her up.
Climbing down the fire escape, Tiger glanced at Notebook's left hand. It was without a ring. He sighed inwardly and took her hand in his.
Lately he had been thinking about the future, if Notebook were to leave. Sure, he would move on, but at what cost to his dignity?
As Tiger and Notebook walked down the streets he remarked. "I miss seeing you in a skirt. You looked so pretty." A smiled tugged at his mouth.
"Well, I don't like wearing skirts much, but on the rare occasion…" Notebook let go of his hand and ran down the streets, calling over her shoulder. "You gonna have to catch me first!" The sunlight played with his eyes and made Notebook seem as if she were running amongst the clouds. He laughed and chased her as they dodged merchants, carts, and carriages.
Notebook slowed, heart pounding, and looked back, tucking loose strands of her hair back from her face. "I suppose I should wait…" Suddenly she saw Tiger coming closer and turned around, breaking into a weak run, "Or not" she grinned, gasping and feeling the heat of the afternoon sun upon her neck.
She didn't know what happened next, but felt her knees and hands smack the cobblestone and the wind knocked from her lungs. Notebook sat up and inspected her hands, scraped and dirty, as well as her knees. Tiger took her elbow and helped her up, concern on his face.
"Nothing's broken, Takoda," she laughed, "I just tripped over my own feet!"
Her lover smiled and saw her hands. "We should head back to the lodging house." he remarked.
Notebook agreed.