Thanks so much for the reviews. I still need girlfriends so review and you can be one.
I went and stood behind the boys who stayed at the lodging house or were regular newsies, budding the ones who just went from borough to borough. I saw the Delancy's walk over to Hush. I crept closer to hear what they were saying.
"Who's this pretty little doll?" Morris asked.
"C'mon, sweet face, come with us we can take care of you better than these boys," Oscar said. I almost jumped him right there but someone put their hand on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Bumlets. Ziva shook her head and turned to finish her conversation with Kid Blink. Oscar walked up to her and grabbed her wrist pulling her off the ramp, out of line and making her turn towards him. He turned towards Morris,
"Hey Morris you ever seen a girl with such great curves?" He placed his hands under her arms and slowly traced down her sides. That was all I could take.
"Take your hands off her right now," I yelled. Shaking Bumlet's hand off and walking over to them.
"Aww, is she your girl? To bad, she likes me better. What's little Mushy gonna do about it?" I jumped on him, pushing him to the ground and landed a punch to his left eye as I yelled, "No, she ain't my girl, she's my sister!" I punched him in the gut and landed a few more punches to his face. Morris came over and pulled me off him, swinging at me with his brass knuckles. I ducked and punched him in the face and then kicked him in the gut. He fell to the ground in pain. I was about to jump on him again when I was grabbed from behind.
"Mush, calm down," David said. I just struggled harder. I jerked my arm as hard as I could and broke the persons grasp. I grabbed whoever had my other arm's hand and shoved it off. I jump Oscar again, and landed some punches.
"Don't EVER touch my sister again!" I yelled. I landed a few more before I was pulled off him again, this time I didn't try to break free. I couldn't have if I tried. This time there were six or seven boys holding me back. I had done what I wanted to do. They turned me so I was facing the wall of the ramp. Ziva stood in front of me and placed her hands on my shoulders. I tried to shrug them off. I didn't need to explain myself right now. I'd done enough damage today already. It didn't work. The boys still hadn't let me go. I looked everywhere but her eyes. Finally, she took her hands off my shoulders and grabbed my head. I had no choice but to look at her. As soon as I looked in her eyes I realized she didn't care about what happened earlier. I couldn't take it. I knew she wanted to know what had made blow up so fast. I knew she knew that there was more to it than just him touching her. Suddenly I felt exhausted. I had let all my anger out. Not getting any sleep was finally catching up to me.
"Hey, guys let him go I got him," Jack said.
"Dave, get my papes. Race grab Mush's," He said flipping Dave his money. I dug in my pocket and flipped Race my money. Jack held onto my arm until we were outside the gates. We walked into the alley and I sank down against the wall. Jack sat next to me and just waited.
"It was the right thing to do wasn't it?" I finally asked.
"Of course, Oscar went way too far."
"Then why was I the only one who helped her?"
"You were the only one, because that was the boys' test of loyalty. As soon as you took the first hit they were going to help you, but I held them back. That was your battle. You really convinced them when broke our grasp to fight again. You shook off David, but do you realize that you had so much adrenaline you pushed Spot off you?"
I looked at him to see if he was serious, "Really?"
"Yep." Just then we heard the boys come out with their papes. Jack stood up and offered me his hand. I grabbed it and pulled myself up. We walked over to David and Race and grabbed our papes.
"Thanks Race," I said.
"No problem and Mush?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry about the other night. I know you would never hurt her-im, him."
I looked at him funny, "Race what are you talking about?" Just then Hush placed her forearm on my shoulder.
"Oh," I nodded. He walked away as Kid Blink walked up to us.
"So, who ya selling with today, Hush?" he asked. She looked at me, I smile and slightly nodded my head in his direction. I wanted to sell by myself to clear my thoughts today. She nodded and pointed at him. They walked away towards Central Park and I walked towards my usual selling place. I sold my papes rather quickly, probably because I had a huge gash on my face and people felt bad for me. I walk to Tibby's slowly. Looking around as I walked. I was one of the first people there. I sat down at my usual place. Spot got there shortly after me, sitting in his usual place next to me. I nodded in his direction to show him I knew he was there. We sat in silence.
"Is she really your sister?" he asked suddenly.
"No, I mean we don't have the same parents or anything."
"You mean you beat the crap out of the Delancy brothers, which you coulda done any day, and managed to shove me off you because you wanted to protect a girl you met a couple days ago?"
"Pretty much." The other boys came in shortly after that. We ordered our food, ate and left Hush to work in peace. I sold the afternoon edition fast, so I decided to walk Ziva home from work. I arrived at Tibby's just as she was hanging up her apron. I held out my arm.
"Does the lovely lady need an escort home?" I asked jokingly. She giggled and grabbed my arm. We walked home quietly taking in everything around us. Evidently, I really let my guard down because suddenly we were being pulled into an alley by the Delancy's and three of their goons. One of them grabbed Hush. The other four started circling me. I charged at Oscar and got a few good hits in. I heard Hush scream and that gave me even more drive. I was doing good until one of them pushed me from the side. I fell funny on my arm and heard something crack. I cried out in pain, but stood up and started fighting again, only using one arm and my legs. I was losing ground, quickly. I got a good shot at Oscar and knocked him out cold. I turned to fight Morris when something collided with my head, hard. Instantly, everything went black.
Jack's POV
I heard a scream and recognized it as Ziva's. I ran as fast as I could towards it. Grabbing all the newsies I saw along the way. I saw them in the alley, but I was still five blocks away. It was one of those never ending alleys. I saw Mush fall on is arm and favor it when he stood back up. I knew he had hurt it. He never favored anything when he fought. He had sprained his wrists many times but that never stopped him. I saw him get a good hit at Oscar. Then I saw something that made me run three times faster. One of the Delancy's goons grabbed a board and slammed it into Mush's head. He crumpled under it instantly. We were only a block away. I ran even harder. I entered the alley and took out the guy who was holding Hush. Then I turned towards the guy that had hit Mush. I punched his lights out and then threw him into the wall. The other boys had taken care of the other goons. I slowly walked over to where Ziva was sitting on the ground cradling Mush's head in her lap. A steady flow of tears were falling down her face. Nobody said anything. For the second time in history, we were all silent. Spot sat next to her and rubbed her back. Kid Blink sat on her other side with his arm over her shoulders. She rested her head on his chest. I heard a carriage coming and ran out of the alley. It was the flour guy.
I waved him down, "Please sir, my friend has been hurt and his sister won't leave his side so we can't carry him to the hospital. Could you give us a lift?"
He looked into the alley, "Why the boy with the curly brown hair and always optimistic attitude? Of course, he helps me unload my flour sometimes." I ran back over to Hush.
"Hush, darling, you gotta move for a second so that I can pick him up and get him into the wagon. The driver offered to give us a ride to the hospital," I said quietly. She looked up at me, tears still falling, and slowly got up.
"Thank you," I whispered. I carefully picked Mush up watching not to touch his arm. I carried him to the wagon as I watched Hush run ahead and give the driver a hug before getting into the back. I lifted Mush over the side setting him close to the front so Hush could lean against the front side boards. The driver looked at me questioningly.
"She can't talk. That was her way of thanking you," I said. He nodded and I climbed in with Spot, Kid Blink, and Race. He started as soon as I sat down. I watched Ziva cry over Mush. We had been going for a little while when she started to sing. (You'll Be In My Heart by Phil Collins, again)
Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand Hold it tight
I will protect you
from all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small,
you seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
By now she was sobbing. I knew she really needed Mush to comfort her but that wasn't going to exactly work right now. I scooted over next to her and pulled her into my lap. She buried her face in my shirt and cried. I tried to comfort her, but I knew it wasn't the same. I rubbed her back and just let her cry. We just sat there for awhile, none of us guys knowing what to say. She calmed down a little bit and started singing again. (I'll Stand You performed by Carrie Underwood)
Oh why you look so sad
The tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
Cause I've seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
So if you're mad get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide
I get angry too
Well I'm a lot like you
When you're standing at the crossroads
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
Cause even if you're wrong
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in into you darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
And when, when the night falls on you, baby
You feeling all alone
You won't be on your own
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in into you darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
Oh I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
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Thanks to all who reviewed. Amy you didn't write if you want to be in the story so if you do please describe your character. I have girlfriends for Spot, Kid Blink and Jack, none of them are Hush. I need girlfriends for all the other newsies. I am waiting till I have 10 reviews this time. Please review!
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MushSpotgoil