CHAPTER FOUR
For the next couple weeks, I spent most of my time, when not helping Tony with the performance preparations, with the Newsies and Sarah. Spot, I learned, left after the day he helped Sarah show me around town because he lived in Brooklyn. I got to know the Newsies a lot better and they were practically like a second family. I mean, I still wasn't on great terms with David or the 'Other Newsies' but other then that, things were great. I loved Manhattan so far, even if most of the people knew me by Royal.
"Be good," Medda called before closing the door. She had been invited to another party by some important political person to perform. I went back into the theater and let out a long sigh, deciding to write a letter to my parents. My dearest, darlingest Momsie and Popsicle . . . my dear father . . .
"Royal, Royal, Royal," suddenly boomed through the theater. Well, as much as a ten year old could boom at least, but I jumped regardless at the sudden noise.
"What, what, what?" I yelled back before grinning when I saw Les run into the theater, a mix of excitement and pride making his expression.
"Da-he-i-a-argh," he panted, ending up with a frustrated glare.
"Calm down, breath in and out," I laughed. "Now, what about who?"
"David got into a," deep breath in, "fight," out, "with a guy," in, "from school," out. "Now I'm dizzy," he muttered, holding onto the stage for support before laying his forehead against it.
"David what?" I questioned, still slightly confused but when I looked up at the pathway: "Jesus, what happened to you?"
"He got beat up by a guy at school," Les informed me, finally breathing normally.
"Ah, I see," I muttered, staring at David's face for a few seconds longer. He looked like a pirate, well, sort of. He had the makings of a black eye and dirt around his face, it complimented his roughed up hair though. "Follow me." Walking off the stage and into the kitchen, I got a towel and ran it under the faucet. Turning around, I pressed it against his eye but he backed away, holding up a hand to mine.
"It's not that bad," he stated but I rolled my eyes.
"If you don't put this on, it'll swell, trust me," I told him, knowing from the past with my own brothers.
"It's f-."
"It wont be." He sighed annoyed but let me press the cloth against his eye.
"Ah, careful," he gasped, jerking back but I cupped my hand behind his head, holding it firmly in place, until he stopped squirming.
"Sorry," I muttered, brushing some of his hair so I could see his face properly. He had nice eyes, I gave him that. "What happened?"
"Les already told you, a guy from school hit me," he grumbled, his good eye plastered to the floor. He reminded me of a puppy. Like he'd done something wrong and he was ashamed. What I didn't understand was, why did he feel guilty if he suffered the assault?
"Yes but why?" I persisted, irked he wouldn't directly answer me.
"I pissed him off I guess, why does it matter?" he snapped, trying to pull away but I yanked his hair, looking him levelly in the eye.
"Cause Sarah's worried and so are, I'm assuming, you parents."
"They don't care," he mumbled, giving up his fight to get away.
"Don't be stupid," I glared at him, thoroughly annoyed. His mouth snapped shut and he was quiet after that. About a half hour later, I carefully peeled back the cloth. "It's not too bad but there's a bruise."
"Royal," he called quietly, as I opened the door. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" I asked slowly, tilting my head as I watched him.
"I haven't been fair," he muttered, staring at the floor. "I was having a rough time at school and I thought you just felt sorry for Les; so you were being nice to him because of it."
"But I don't," I told him, tilting my head. "Your brother is a great kid and I saw that in him when I met him. That's why I like him so much. He's so full of life and he has great people to look up to, even if they do get a little roughed up every now and then." Laughing slightly, he wiped his nose on his sleeve and I wrapped my arms around his torso. "He's got a great brother who just wants what's best for him." He was a little slow reacting but when he did, his arms hugged me tight and he rested his chin on my head. I knew he needed it, even if I didn't know him. I couldn't very well deprive a kid of a hug, could I?
"It's cause I don't have money," he mumbled quietly, his breath tickling my ear.
"What is?" I asked, confused, stepping back to look at him.
"The reason the guy beat me up is cause I don't have as much money as he does," he muttered. "I'm at school on a scholarship and if I fought back or they got hurt, I would get kicked out."
"That's so stupid!" I stated, infuriated by the very thought of it.
"It's how it works," he shrugged, still staring at the ground.
"It's still stupid," my foot stomped against the floor as he shrugged again, lamely.
"I can't do anything about it."
"God that's what I hate about stupid guys and their stupid ego with their stupid money to feed it. It's so . . . so . . . so . . ."
"Stupid?" he smirked lightly
"Obtuse," I glared at his smug face. He laughed and I couldn't help but smile, shaking my head as I left, into the next room. "You remind me too much of my brother."
"You have a brother?" both he and Les asked slightly surprised.
"Three," I grinned, thinking about James, Tyler, and Samuel as I looked up at the ceiling but wrinkled my nose, picking up a box to move.
"Really?" Les asked, practically bouncing up and down. He had a lot of energy for a kid.
"Yup," I nodded. "Jamie's the oldest, then there's Ty, and Sammy's around your age." I tapped him on the nose and he shook his head, laughing slightly.
"What about you?"
"I'm younger than Ty, he's 18 now I think, and Jamie is, I'm pretty sure he's 20. Say Les how old are you?"
"Oh yeah!" he remembered loudly, looking at David, who simply chuckled. "Will you come to Tibby's with us? It's my party and I really want you to come. Please, Royal, please!"
"Of course, little one," I grinned, ruffling his hair as I slid off the stage. "Let me just get my jacket." Leaving the theater, I found the more I talked to David, the more he reminded me of Tyler and the more I wanted to smack him upside the head. Playfully, of course, except, well, not.
"Davey! Les, I thought you guys weren't coming," Cowboy boomed loudly as we entered the diner.
"Of course I came, it's my party!" Les protested under his playful glare.
"Well I ain't too sure, you look too tall to be eleven," Jack stated, ruffling his hair.
"I am, Jack! Honest."
"Stop giving him a hard time," Sarah laughed, pulling Les to follow her. Looking past Jack, I saw Spot. He was sitting at a table with Racetrack and a few other girls but when our eyes connected, it was somewhat of an intense gaze. I smiled but he looked away and I turned back to Jack, who was watching us.
"What?" I demanded, raising an eyebrow but he simply smirked.
"Nothing," he shrugged with that annoying 'knowing' look in his eyes. Rolling my eyes, I sat next to David, and ended up talking with him for the rest of the night but I more felt then saw Spot's eyes on me throughout the party. "So do you like Manhattan, Royal?"
"Yeah," I smiled, tearing my eyes up from the table. "It's a second home to me." His soft smile made me wrinkle my nose lightly as I turned back to David, answering some question about the schooling system back home. After a while, Cowboy and Sarah joined some of the other newsies and their girl's on the dance floor. The slow melody that filled the air made it seem sentimental as their bodies swayed. Watching the room, I smiled at the couples, thinking how caring they were but turned to David. "I think I should go home."
"You sure?" he asked hesitantly, his hand reaching out, as if to stop me.
"I'm abnormally tired," I nodded, picking up my jacket. "Plus, it just seems awkward for me to be here, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Royal, you don't have to leave-."
"I know," I smiled, assuring him that I did. "I'll see you round, Davey." Sighing, he nodded as I walked out the door. Crossing the street, I passed the statue but suddenly a heavy object smacked my head. Luckily, I broke my fall by pushing my hands out but quickly covered my head and rolled out of the way as a wooden plank hit the pavement. My head was pounding so hard, I could barely hear the shouts, never mind decipher what they were saying. The last thing I remember was someone lifting me up but I blacked out too soon to see who it was.
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A/N: I think Les's adorable :-D And Jack knows all...well...kind of.. :-D Hope you liked it!
Thank you to GDgirl1993 and Mids-all-the-way for reviewing the last chapter :-)