"Ella, wake up." Jasper whispers into my ear. I don't know who it is at first so I tune them out.
"Wake up," Elsie says, poking me in the stomach. I pull my bed cover over my head and groan. It's only what six in the morning?
"Today I declare that Jasper gets his free panda and I get to sleep. He got his free panda, so now I get to sleep." I smirk under the covers. Wait, covers, Jasper must have carried me to bed when I fell asleep next to him. Either that or Dad can smirk when saying 'I told you so' and Elsie can watch. I'm not sore, so my guess we didn't go all the way last night which is pretty good. I don't want to get pregnant then die, never met anyone that did that, but still it could be me.
"Come on Ella," he says, rubbing the sheet. "Wake up. And by the way, I got my panda last night so you don't get extra sleep." I let out a sigh and smile, pulling the sheet off me as I quickly pull down my nightgown. He and Elsie are already fully dressed. I notice a small glimmer of sunlight ricochet off a metal piece near his belt loop.
"I'm awake, and when did you ever get a pocket watch?" I laugh as he literally drags me out of bed and over to my worn out dresser. I see him broadly smiling in our mirror.
"Davey bought it at a junk store and went inventing mode on it then gave it to me." He shrugs. "He went all out too; it's been polished and works like a charm, got it last week."
"Sorry I didn't notice it earlier," I sigh as I dig through the drawers. I glance at him one more time as Elsie smiles and with him, heads towards the door. With charm, he tips his cap.
"Wear something pretty," he winks. He closes the door with slight click of the lock. I pop my neck, something I rarely ever do, and pick out a dress. It's the slightest shade of blue and I smile at my reflection as I brush out my blonde curls. I take another look at myself before I step out of the room and frown, not knowing why. Oh, I know what it is; I look like Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Great. With that, I rethink my outfit and pick out a flushed out green skirt and white blouse and look into the mirror again. Good, I look okay, now for Jasper to see me.
"Ready?" he asks, opening the door for me as Les hops up to the doorstep for Elsie.
"Hey Les," I smile, she's eating quickly, go on in," I motion as he gushes at her. Jasper closes the door as he holds my hand, walking to the distribution center. I smirk as I notice neither Oscar nor Morris were here. Their uncle is alone today, one of them probably ran off with Lavender while the other is hunting them down; isn't that hard, you just have to look very close.
"How many street rats," Wiesel asks plaintively.
"Fifty," Jasper mutters looking down, put his money on the counter.
"Someone's being a little weasel," I sass. "Isn't that your name?"
"It's Wiesel," he snaps, "and you could at least say Mister. Then I may be decent to you."
"Because decent is going from the tittle street rat to mister or missus; in which I have never heard you call any of us newsies that." I smirk as Jasper takes the papers from the counter quietly and starts leading me away.
"Your partner has the right idea," Wiesel smirks at me, "good thing he can keep you under control. You're a bit feisty." I gasp a little at him, following slowly behind Jasper as I catch Wiesel wink at me for a second.
"So where you want to sell? Central Park like always, near the Harbor, or…" I trail off. I don't realize Jasper's sitting beside a dusty brick building on our stack of papers with his hat covering his eyes. I smirk and walk over to him. Surprisingly, I'm a morning person and Jasper's a night owl so no wonder he's dozing in the first few selling minutes of the day. It's the average morning hour he's usually smiling and awake, but something just made him tired and irresponsive. I kiss his cheek as he squirms a little.
"Jasper," I say in a love bird type voice. "Wake up sweetie." I sit down next to him and rub his arm as he seems fully awake. I smirk as I go to the sidewalk and think of the stupidest headline I have ever shouted.
"Three pennies for the person who wakes up my boyfriend, and for five extra cents, you can get a newspaper." I laugh a little until a few men try their luck, unable to wake up Jasper. I sell a few papers that way as they have to move Jasper to get them. Everyone either ignores me or fades out as I now sit on his lap.
"Isn't it a great day?" I cock my head to the side and tip his hat that shows his sleepy eyes. "No? Well, I think it's a great day." I playfully roll my eyes and tilt my head to the other side as I slowly finger his pocket watch.
"Ella," he smirks lightly and sleepy opens his eyes. I look at his cheeky face and blush. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing," I sweetly smile, letting the tiny thing slip out of my finger.
"Hey Ella, "Race smirks from a couple yards away. I let out a groan as he comes up to us and sits with us, me still on Jasper's lap. "Were you playing with his zipper?" he slyly smirks.
"If I was, what would you do?" I snap.
"Oh come on Jasper, be proud," he smirks, lifting his chin a little so he can see my scarlet face. "Isn't she pretty?"
"She's pretty," he agrees, "a real beauty."
"Yeah Ella, your pretty…. pretty stupid," He remarks. I gasp as he laughs a bit while Jasper shakes his head slightly.
"Look, Race, I'm not sorry, but you aren't funny. Your life is just a joke." I fake sympathize as he seems offended. Who cares though, you never make fun of a girl, you have no idea what's happening with them, and even they don't know what's wrong with them sometimes.
"Why do you even get up in the morning?" he comments as our little insult war goes on.
"Race, You're such a... a... a word has yet to be invented to describe what you are. But you are one, and a big one at that." I groan, faking tears. I guess they really aren't fake as Race wipes them away with what looks like a sympathetic face.
"Ella," he says gently as I lower my head. Jasper doesn't do anything but hold in laughter, but he takes my hand and kisses my cheek. "Ella," Race continues, "You know I didn't actually-"
"You know what?" I snarl, "Just leave, or else you're going to miss the trolley to Sheepshead."
"Said sorry," he fake sasses, walking to dangerously close to the tracks of the oncoming trolley. "Bye," he directs to us, waving his hat as he holds on tight.
"Come on Jasper, let go to the park," I smile, helping him up, he refuses. "Come on Jasper, get up." He shakes his head like a dog.
"I can't feel my legs." He smiles.
"Oh boo hoo," I smile, "come on." With that, he takes our papes and with my help, we walk to the park.