Heya! Okay, I've decided that I need to write during the day, when I'm awake, because you all are talking about things that happened, and I don't remember writing them. Thank you for all the reviews though, demanding she make it to May. Even if some of them threatened me with a good soaking if she doesn't…
Disclaimer: Haven't we been through this? I don't own them. However, according to skitteryissexy, I get Jack!
The weeks continued to drag on. Spring was rapidly approaching, and as the weather warmed, the boys' apparent dislike of bathing became more apparent. Maybe it was that I was a girl, or maybe it was that I was used to a certain level of personal hygiene, but I couldn't walk into the bunkroom without gagging. It wasn't as bad as it had been when it was colder, but c'mon, the water wasn't iced over anymore in the mornings. You could actually wash a little.
Apparently, my concerns were also Kloppman's. He woke us early one Sunday morning and announced,
"Okay, all you boys. I know that being clean is a terrible horrible thing, but you all are not coming back here until you are clean. I want all your laundry, and Jack? Take them all down to the docks and get them clean in the river."
We all looked groggily at each other, until Jack groaned,
"Okay, you'se bummahs. You'se hoid him, getcha laund'y tagethah, 'nd grab some soap 'nd towels."
As we all went to work, I managed to walk with Jack to the washroom to gather our toiletries.
"What're we'se gonna do?" I murmured.
"How shy are ya?" He whispered back with a smirk.
"What 'bout da kids? Dey'se don' need ta see dat, yet."
"Announce you'se a goil, 'nd I'll make shoah dat ya get sometime alone."
"Wid you'se watchin'." I accused. He blushed, but he didn't deny it. "Nevah mind. I'll handle it."
Jack had sent Snitch ahead to Spot with the message that pretty much all of the Manhattan newsies were coming over before leading the entire pack of us over the bridge into Brooklyn. When we reached the docks, Spot was waiting for us.
"So, Jacky boy. Snitch heah says you'se all is plannin' on usin da rivah." Spot smirked, arms crossed over his chest.
Jack laughed. "Yeah, Kloppman's decided not ta put up wid us nomoah."
Spot noticed me. "Rat." He greeted, tipping his hat.
"Sean." I tipped mine back. He turned back to Jack.
"Fine. You'se gots da docks ta yoahself for 'n houah."
As Spot quickly hurried away, Jack leaned over to me.
"What's his problem?"
"I'se dunno. Dat boy jist really don' like me." I shrugged. Jack turned away from me.
"Awright, boys! We'se got da docks for an houah!" He hollered. The boys cheered and ran towards the end of the pier, stripping along the way.
"I'se dought dey'se di'n' like ta bathe." I said aloud, but no one was around me. I shrugged and followed the rest of the boys.
I choose a spot to dive off the dock that was pretty far from the boys. There was also a stack of crates for me to strip behind. I landed in the water with a splash.
"Cold!" I shrieked as soon as I resurfaced.
I paddled over to the outskirts of the group. The water was so murky that I wasn't sure how we could get clean from it. However, it meant that no one could see anything below the water. Fine by me. I was gonna kill Kloppman once we got back. The boys all washed pretty quickly, and spent the rest of the time fooling around in the water, splashing and dunking each other. I treaded water on the very edge of the group, hoping I could sneak away, and get dressed without them noticing. Just before I started to swim away, I was pulled underwater by my foot.
I kicked out hard with my other foot and felt slick skin. Whatever it was released me and I shot to the surface as fast as I could swim. I gasped for air as soon as I broke the surface. Jack's head surfaced a few feet away from me. He was laughing! That son of a… he pulled me under. I prayed that he hadn't seen anything else. I looked out across at the other boys. Mush and Racetrack were treading water near each other and chuckling. I had a feeling they were involved. I let myself sink deeper into the water till just my eyes were above it. Maybe I could drown myself?
Jack motioned to the ladder that reached from the water up to the boxes that I left my clothes behind and mouthed,
"I'll keep dem busy." Then he swam over to the group. "Hey! Race ya around da buoy!"
The boys took off splashing and clamoring in the direction of the buoy. I took off in the opposite direction towards the pier I scrambled up that ladder before the boys could make the turn around the buoy and dove behind the boxes. Then I realized, my clothes were not where I had left them. In fact, they weren't in sight at all. All that was there was a very small towel.
The towel turned out to be just big enough to cover me, and I was forced to wait for the boys to get back and return my clothing. I sat down with my back against a box and waited. I didn't have to wait too long.
Soon, the whole pack of unclothed boys were swarming up ladders onto the dock, with Jack in the lead. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, face tilted towards the warm sun. A shadow fell across my face. Without opening my eyes, I said,
"Ya'd bettah be dressed, have me clodes in ya hand, 'nd an apology on ya lips."
"Yeah, I'se dressed, Princess." Jack growled. I opened my eyes to find him still shirtless, drying his hair with a towel. Close enough.
"Me clodes?"
"I'se don' have 'em."
"Racetrack!" I hollered. He too, came over, shirtless.
"Yeah?" He asked, lighting his cigar.
"I'se has a problem, 'nd I'se dinks dat you'se got da answah. Wheah's me clodes?"
Racetrack shrugged.
"Den find 'em!"
"Or what, Princess?" Jack snickered.
"Or I'se gonna soak ya."
"Eh, how're ya gonna do dat, Princess?" Racetrack smirked, following Jack's lead.
I smiled back and snatched Jack's shirt from where it lay beside him. I dropped it over my head, and let the towel fall from underneath it. The shirt was loose and came down to my knees. It was actually more like a dress. Except I had worn dresses that covered less.
"Hey!" Jack shouted. I shrugged and pouted innocently.
"Wouldn' want me ta be indecent, would ya, Jacky?"
He growled at me and stalked off to go find my clothes. I leaned back, enjoying the warm sun and the soft, worn fabric of Jack's shirt on my skin.
"Now might be a good time ta tell dat you'se a goil." Racetrack sighed, sitting next to me.
"It's not May yet."
"Tahmorrow's May. Jist tell 'em."
"After I get my clothes back and I can get dressed."
A bundle was dropped in my lap. My clothes.
"C'n I'se get me shoit back?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow. I just twirled my finger, indicating that they should turn around so I could change. They did, but not happily.
I pulled on my trousers under Jack's shirt, and then shed it and pulled on my own. I didn't bother with the wraps or my undershirt. It was too warm, anyways. I draped Jack's shirt over his head when I was done.
Jack, who towered over me, looked down at me, and straight down my shirt. One corner of his mouth twitched upward.
"Yeah, I'se knows. Not like you'se ain't seen it befoah." I grumbled, pulling my shirt up a little. I slipped right back to where it was.
"So's I'se take it you'se plan on tellin'?" Jack asked.
"Nah. It ain't May yet." I smirked. "Let's see who figures it out."
Weird, awkward chapter. But I love making things awkward. You try being the only girl in a group of a dozen guys, much less the only high school girl in a group of college guys, and not making things awkward constantly (And yes, I'm referring to me, not Charley. Though she seems to have a similar issue.). I think I thrive on awkward like some girls thrive on drama. I also think I need sleep…
Hugs to all who have reviewed and will review!