The long awaited third installment of my modern AU (at least I hope it was awaited...)
Disclaimer: I still don't own Newsies, but there's time yet!
Enjoy
Her head turns toward his voice and her face falls in dismay.
"I reserved this row for privacy!"
"You really should tell that to the ushers."
"Go away I'm working."
He's not in the least deterred, "A smart girl, huh? Beautiful, smart, independent."
She stops taking notes long enough to glare at him and whisper, "Do you mind?"
Jack is nearly startled out of his seat at the sound of hissing whisper from the seat behind him, "Since you're here I'd appreciate it if you'd keep it down and be respectful of the performers".
He turns and grins, "I betch'yer surprised to see me here, huh Miss Medda?"
Instantly the drama professor forgets her own warning as she loudly exclaims, "Jack Kelly aren't you a sight for sore eyes!
"Never thought you'd see me in the theatre?"
She shakes her head as the lights go down, "I ain't a bit surprised, great art attracts artists of all kinds."
This particular comment catches Katherine's attention just as the orchestra strikes up, "You're an artist?"
He shoots her a fake glare whispering none too quietly, "Quiet down there's a show going on."
Katherine sighs rolling her eyes and declaring, "You are the most impossible boy…"
"Shh!"
Annoyed she sticks out her tongue and hisses, "Ever."
...
As soon as the show ends I try to exit, but that incorrigible boy blocks my way!
"So can I get your number?"
I resist the temptation to slap him, instead I smile sweetly and say, "Sure just dial 9-1-1 and ask for Suzy".
That wipes away his smirk long enough for me exit without further questions, or at least that's what I thought. For some unknown reason his voice halts me, "Hey".
I whirl back towards him almost against my will
"Is dat your name?"
With confidence I didn't know I possessed I turn and ask him sarcastically, "What do you think?
He shrugs and for some reason his indifference irks me. Again I turn to leave and again he stops me, what is about his voice that stops me in my tracks every time?
"Don't go yet."
I can hear the exasperation in my voice as I turn back towards him to ask,
"Why not?"
He shrugs again,
"You left something on the seat, I thought it might be important."
My annoyance level drops from an eight to a three and my tone loses its sarcastic edge,
"Oh thanks."
He smiles, tips his flat cap at me and starts walking down the stairs. I walk back over to my seat to see what I forgot, but there is nothing there but a dirty scrap of paper,
"Hey, this isn't mine!"
Not surprisingly he doesn't stop or respond. I pick it up with the intent of throwing it away, but something; call it curiosity or a reporter's intuition, tells me to flip it over. So I do, and what I see takes my breath away. On the other side of the dirty paper is a perfect likeness of… myself. I have never been more flattered or embarrassed, I cannot believe he was watching me that closely. He caught every one of my curls, and the shape of my fingers deftly raised over the keyboard. My expression was a mixture of determination and annoyance, and somehow he managed to capture it with just a few skillful strokes of a pencil. Gosh if that boy is not an artist, than I don't know who is!
...
"Jack…Jackie… WAKE UP".
I pull down the covers and open my eyes reluctantly, to see Crutchie leaning over me waving a pape.
"Crutchie, what is the mattah with you? Can't a guy get some sleep around here?"
He seems to be unaware of the fact that I'm awake 'cause he keeps shaking me and the whole bed.
"Jack didja read the paper this morning?"
"Crutchie, how could I read the paper if I was asleep? Besides I don't even read the school paper, unless I'm selling it."
Crutchie looks at me like I'm the crazy one and shoves the headline in my face.
"Well everyone's going to be reading it today, jes look!"
I snatch it away and skim the headline, anything to go back to sleep, after all it IS Saturday no early morning classes just some odd jobs throughout the day. But as soon as I read the headline I know something ain't right.
"Crutch, there's no way that's right. They can't just cut the scholarships like dat!"
His eyes get real wide and he flips the page for me.
"Keep reading, that ain't the worst."
I read the next part of the article out loud, but that is a mistake because it just makes it seem real…
To all full and partial scholarship owners: You are to be informed that due to unforeseen financial difficulties, you will be required to pay a fee totaling ten thousand dollars, to cover courses for the rest of the semester. Also we regret to inform you that from now on, only, full-time, non-scholarship students are allowed to have on-campus jobs.
Sincerely
J. Dulitzer
"They can't do this to us Jack, we worked hard for those scholarships and those jobs!"
"Relax, Crutchie this is probably someone's sick idea of a prank. Don't worry we'll clear this up."
There's no way this could be real, right? They can't just take away our hard-earned money…. Can they?
A little piecey (is that a word), but I hope still enjoyable?!
Keep reading and reviewing and I'll keep writing!
K. Kelly