Any One of Us
Chapter Four
Disclaimer: Yes, you caught me. I'm keeping all the Newsies hostage under my bed and I don't plan to ever release them to the public. Mine, all mine. Really now.. I own nothing, the newsies aren't mine, I'm not making any money and I can assure you this is just for fun. Anyone you don't recognize belongs to me however, but I'm easygoing and will share! As always, please send me feedback, any feedback! But please, no flames.
By now I was completely interested. It's always been a downfall of mine, my nosiness. Or 'curiosity' as it's nicely put. Who met who? Where was I? And why didn't I hear anything sooner?
"So tell us Cowboy! Come on, don't keep all the details to you'self. Let's 'ear 'em. Who was she?" asked another boy with slicked black hair and a striped vest.
Do these boys live off one another's experiences? I'd never grown up with the sharing of personal information like this. When someone I knew had a courting we never asked by ourselves, if it was going to be out in the open, the girl brought it up herself.
"Well, she's gots blonde hair, just below 'er shoulders. So bright it shines like gold, and da deepest green eyes on dis side of da world wit just a tiny hint of brown. I only saws her for a second, but we was on the same page."
"Wow Jack, that's deep. It's beautiful," a boy with brown, curly hair said, and the others whooped and hollered in agreement.
"Hey, does anyone else think that goil matches da discription?" another boy with a gray hat spoke up, guestering to me.
Oh Crap, focus on something else and don't look anyone in the eye.
Jack turned around and his eyes brightened immediately. "Heys you, come join us. We's was just talking about you."
No kidding Jack, I heard you.
"Oh no.. I don't think so."
He stood up and crossed over the room sitting across from me. The other newsies sat silent, watching to see what would happen. I felt like handing each of them popcorn. "Then I'll come at you."
What was the matter with me? Yes he was sweet, and yes he's been nothing but nice to me, but I don't know. What was I afraid of? Thousands of thoughts tossed and turned inside my brain and threatened to come out until Jack led me away from it all, outside in the fresh air. He led me up a fire escape and we perched on the roof of a building overlooking the city. "Dis is my favorite place in da whole wide world. Well, besides Santa Fe of course."
"What's in Santa Fe?"
"Oh my family. Looking for a ranch, when they find the perfect one, dey'll send for me. Anyways, are youse gonna tell me what's da mattah or do I have to resort to odduh ways."
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The one time I could finally tell someone what was on my mind at that very moment, I didn't have a thing to say!
"Look, I'se sorry. I'm talking too much, I didn't mean to push you'se. Talk when you're ready."
"Jack," I said slowly, "I can't stay down here forever. I have to get it out now or it'll be too late."
"Stay here, with me. I means with us. Roller could use anudder goil leadah."
"I don't know the first thing about selling newspapers."
"So we'se teach ya. Believe me, if Davey can lern, so's can you. Der's nothing to it."
"I'd have to think about it."
"Dat's fine, fink about it, but can we do somefing foirst?"
"Alright."
"I neveah got a chance to ask you'se at the party, but would you'se dance wif me?"
"Here?"
"As good a place as any."
"No music." Damn it all. Damn it all to hell and back. This had to be sarcasm on the part of the Heavens.
"I'se can sing."
"Well, alright. Yes, Jack I would be honored to dance with you."
Offering a small bow and me a polite curtsey, we started dancing in our own little world beyond the moon, beyond the stars, to a place where nobody else existed.
I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright
I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance
They're looking for a little romance
Given half a chance
And I've never seen that dress you're wearing
Or that highlights in your hair
That catch your eyes
I have been blind
Jack tightened his arm around my waist and laid his forehead against mine. He had to bend down quite a bit to make it work, but he managed, and didn't have to move his hands down lower either.
The lady in red is dancing with me
Cheek to cheek
There's nobody here
It's just you and me
It's where I wanna be
But I hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget the way you look tonight
Has he been what I've been looking for during the past 17 years? At this moment, the answer was a bright and shiny yes, but I've rushed into things before and they've turned out less than happy.
I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright you were amazing
I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side
And when you turned to me and smiled it took my breath away
And I have never had such a feeling such a feeling
Of complete and utter love, as I do tonight
The lady in red is dancing with me
Cheek to cheek
There's nobody here
It's just you and me
It's where I wanna be
But I hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget the way you look tonight
I never will forget the way you look tonight
The lady in red
My lady in red
I love you
During the dance, I have to admit I did imagine us as real, true royalty. Only difference that this royalty was a love match, nothing was arranged. Did this mean I loved him? Possibly. The song ended with me in a curtsey to the ground and him standing tall holding my hand. He smiled warmly and my heart skipped a beat. Okay, if I didn't love him, I sure had a crush.
"Ey, love boirds, will you'se put a lid on it? We's trying to sleep heah."
Jack put his head down and groaned. "Ugh, Race put an egg in your shoe and beat it."
"Race" responded by throwing a dirty sock out the window at Jack's head.
"He's right Jack, it is getting late. My family will probably be worried sick."
"Stay here tonight."
"Excuse me?"
"Noo, wit da goils. They won't hurtcha."
I pondered this. On the one hand it was late and I was tired, and to be honest, I really was not in the mood to hear my family scream at me for running off and bringing shame on them. Jack seemed like he lived so wild, and so free and from the sound of it he was offering me the same.
"There's nothing left for you back there" he said gently, "You'se need to do things you want and forget everyone else."
"Hmm…"
"So is dat a yes?"
"It's a yes."
He broke into a grin. "Dat's wonderful. I'se can't wait to spend more time toggdah. And foist thing tomorrah we'll take care of you'se family. Well, second actually. Need to get papes foirst."
"Fine by me." I said looking around.
"Oh, right. I gotta show you wheres to go."
I smiled and rolled my eyes. This poor boy had it bad.
Jack led the way chattering on about all the adventures we'd have as newsies and then quietly brought up Santa Fe once again.
