Hey guys! I shall try to update quicker (: I get out of school soon so it shall be a little easier to write now that I have the days!
Chapter 7: Leaving My Home
That night, after an unusually large meal and walking up and down the steps of the lodging house to gain my strength, I was pooped. "Good night fellas," I yelled down the steps to the boys in the bunk room. I slowly shut the door, listening to each one of their special good nights. I had only been here for a few days but I had grown slightly attached to each and every one of them, and I knew I was going to miss them terribly.
Once the door was shut completely, I looked at Rachel with a smile on my face, but she wasn't smiling. She was sitting on her bed, and her shoulders were shaking. "Rach.." I said, walking over to her and gently placing my hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong?" sitting down on the bed next to her, I realized she was crying. "Oh sweetheart," I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her towards me, resting her head on my shoulder. "Please don't cry, please."
"I just…Amy, I just am scared for you!" she choked out. I rolled my eyes and let out a breathy laugh. I lifted her chin to look at me and wiped one of her stray tears away. Her eyes were downcast.
"Hey, look at me." She slowly allowed her eyes to meet mine. "I'll be okay, I'm tougher than all them Brooklyn boys put together. When I cross that bridge tomorrow, they'll have no clue what hit 'em."
She smiled and nodded. "You're right." I smiled right back at her and she wiped the rest of her tears away. She sniffed and I held out my sleeve. Wiping her nose on it, I looked down on it in disgust but then realized I was the one who had offered it. I put my arm down at my side and brushed my hair out of my eyes. We sat in silence for a while, with the sound of the few stray boys that were still awake to fill in the background.
"I am sorry about crying…" Rachel finally said. I looked over at her and shook my head.
"Don't be, I'd probably be crying but you know, I gotta keep up this don't mess with me persona." We both laughed at this only for me to be cut off by a large yawn. This had Rachel laughing even harder because apparently when I yawn, I make the weirdest face.
"Go to bed, Amy." I nodded, too tired to fight off the urge to spend our last night together laughing and telling jokes. I had a very long walk tomorrow on fresh legs, so I needed to sleep. I climbed off the bed and layed down in my own as Rachel came over and gently layed the covers over me. She kissed the top of my head. "Good night Ams.."
She started to walk away but I reached out and snatched her free arm, "Stay? Please." Rachel, without another word, climbed in next to me and I rested my head close to hers. We had done this ever since we were little kids, it was a way we found that we could comfort one another. I wrapped my arms around her neck and held her close. Even though I was in a place that no one would ever find me, I was happy at least she was with me.
My eyes were fluttering shut when I had one last final thought, "Hey Rach…"
"Hmm," she groaned out, almost asleep herself.
"Don't ever let me wish on a star again." We both let out a small giggle and I allowed my eyes to close, letting the dream world take over.
"Are you sure you wanna do this?" Jack asked as I pulled the last few pieces of my hair into a tight fishtail braid. Earlier this morning Jack came up into mine and Rachel's room to wake us up, and he has been in here questioning me about leaving ever since. I know he felt bad for forcing me to leave, but honestly, it wasn't that big of a deal to me, I would rather it have been me over Rachel any day.
I quickly tied a small piece of string around my hair tightly and let out a sigh. "Jack, I don't have much of a choice. It doesn't matter if I wanted to go or not. I am stuck, so just stop questioning me like we can change it."
He looked down at the ground and nodded. "You're right, I just feel bad…" I simply rolled my eyes and turned back to the bed.
I folded a white shirt and put it gently into a small fabric sack that they had given me to carry my items in. In the sack, was a pair of old brown pants of David's', a white and blue shirt from Jack, and some lavender soap from Kloppman. And at the moment, I was wearing a simple pair of boots and black pants and a pink shirt that Rachel found buried in an old trunk.
Once the shirt was in the bag, I looked over my shoulder at Jack and Rachel. "Alright, I think I am ready to go." I turned back to the bed and picked up my bag.
"It's about damn time," I rolled my eyes and slung the bag over my shoulder. I turned around with my arms crossed in front of my chest, giving Spot an annoyed look. He must have been waiting downstairs because until now, it had been just me, Rachel, and Jack. He was leaning against the door way, with a cane in hand. After a few moments of looking me over, he smirked. "You heal fast."
I lifted my eyebrows up and nodded, refusing to say a word.
"Okay, let's go." He spun on his heels and began going down the steps. Jack, Rachel, and I all exchanged glances and could barely hold in our laughter. When I started packing this morning, we had a really long discussion about how I wasn't going to let that little king push me around. If he thought he had it easy when he got me, well he is in for a rude awakening.
We followed him down the stairs and once we were on the bottom floor, I felt my heart drop a little. I was really leaving the Manhattan Lodging house…I was leaving Rachel and all of my new friends, who even though I have grown up with them in the movie, I never got the chance to truly know. I stopped mid step, with my hand on the rail and my face looking far off into the halls.
At the bottom of the steps, the Jack looked back up at me while Rachel and Spot went to the door. "You okay Luck?" Jack asked abruptly. I bit my bottom lip and looked at them. To my surprise, they had been joined by the rest of the newsies in Manhattan, all looking up at me. It was strange, it being so early in the morning for them to be here when they should be out selling. That's when it hit me. They all took the day off to say good bye to me.
With a sad smile and water filling my eyes, I nodded, "Yeah, I'm okay." I readjusted the bag on my shoulder. "I just need a big hug from you guys."
Everyone laughed as I took the last two steps gently. Once on the floor, I was surrounded by a mass amount of teenage boys, all of them hugging me. I couldn't help but let out a small sob but it was soon met by uncontrollable giggles. Because for the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged somewhere. I also realized that wishing on a shooting star, isn't bad all the time.
After a few minutes, the boys separated and made a path for me towards Jack. Next to him was Mush, Racetrack, and David. I walked over to them. When I got there, I noticed that David had his hands behind his back with a mischievous look on his face. In a matter of fact, they all looked mischievous.
"What's going on guys?" I asked.
"Well, we figured since Spot's probably gonna make you sell papes, that you would need something to protect your pretty little head from the sun." Racetrack said. David pulled his hands forward to reveal a small gray cabby hat. It was perfect!
"Now you can be a real newsie," Jack said with a laugh. I took the hat in my hand and smiled, jumping into the boys arms, giving them the biggest hug I could manage. It was probably the greatest gift ever and I loved it more than anything.
While I was hugging them, I looked over their shoulders and saw Rachel, who was standing closest to the door. Her good arm wrapped around her body, as if she was trying to hold herself together. But it was her expression that truly made me feel my stomach drop. She was smiling, but not one of her beautiful, happy smiles. It was more like she was going to cry, yet she was holding it in.
I released the boys and pushed through them gently. They didn't fight back or anything, just simply let me go through. I stopped right in front of Rachel. As I did, she looked down at the ground and she let out a small sob. Now, I felt the tears form in my eyes and I threw my bag on the ground and my arms went around her, hugging her as tight as I could.
I don't know how long we stood there in each other's embrace, I just know I didn't want to let go. Because the minute I let go, I would lose the one thing that keeps me together when I am in pieces. I lose the girl who has never judged me or left me even though I know I annoy the crap out of her. I lose my best friend and will move to a world where we have no idea what is happening. I just wasn't ready.
As if Rachel read my mind, she gave me one final squeeze and pushed me back so she could look me in the eyes. "You can do this, you're so strong. But if you ever feel like falling apart, I'll be just across the bridge; you'll know where to find me always." She lifted up her finger to my cheek and wiped away a tear. I hadn't even realized I had been crying. But when I looked down at her shirt, it was soaked with my tears. She gave a small smile and then she brought me back into her arms once more and squeezed me tighter than ever before. I let those words sink in, and whether she knew it or not, she helped me realize I was ready. I was strong enough to do this alone.
After another moment, I pulled back and looked at her one more time. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face was stained with tears. "You better get going," she whispered. I nodded and looked over my shoulder at the big group of boys and could hardly believe the sight.
They were crying, well some of them anyway. Most looked funny as they tried to fight back tears with the occasional sniffle here and there. I let out a small laugh and brushed my bangs out of my eyes. I picked my bag up off of the floor and turned to face them with the hat in my hand. "Thank you guys, for everything, I owe you guys so much. It kills me to leave when I feel like I have but only started to get know you all. I'll be back to visit whenever I manage to escape from Spot's clutches." A few boys laughed and the rest smiled.
"Yeah, like that'll ever happen." I heard Mush yell from the back and all the boys roared with laughter. I joined them and I even saw Rachel giggle a little. A pain shot through my stomach and I stopped immediately, I didn't want to overdo it because I had a long walk ahead of me. Outside, I heard the clock near the square chime ten times.
"Well, see you guys soon." I yelled and received many good-byes and some 'I'll miss youse'. I spun on my heels and put one foot over the door ledge, giving a small wave over my shoulder and stepped out into the bright sunlight.
Spot was at the bottom of the steps, leaning against the railing, with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. I looked him over, looking at him for the first time for real. He was wearing a white shirt that was buttoned half way so you could see a little bit of his chest and red suspenders, that I am sure he wore every day. He was looking far off into the streets and the way the sun hit him, it made his tan skin look even browner. He didn't look that bad actually, kind of cute actually.
I smacked the side of my head. What was I thinking? Spot isn't cute, not in the least. He is arrogant and cocky, two things I hate in a male. Oh and he smokes! That is a big no-no. And not to mention, he looked just like Zach, that jerk. Instantly my good mood was brought down and I climbed down the rest of the steps.
On the last step, I cleared my throat and Spot shot his glance towards me. He took the cigarette out of his mouth and stomped it out. "Finally ready to go?" he asked.
I took a deep breath in and looked back towards the door. Rachel, Jack, and the three other boys that I had grown to love, all stood at the door, smiling. I nodded once more and pulled my hat onto my head. "Yeah, let's go Spotty boy."