Seize The Day

By BekahNicole

Disclaimer: I sadly do not own anything associated with the Newsies franchise and/or Broadway. Disney owns that, and I in no way shape or form am trying to infringe on that. This is merely for fun. Of course, I do own some OC's in this which if you know the franchise, can quickly pick them out. I do appreciate feedback but not hateful criticism. With that being said, I encourage that you review my work with positive and helpful suggestions. Thank you, enjoy.

Ch. 5: Turning Point of Race and Rose

I stayed on the ground for maybe 10 minutes after Shadow and his gang had left me in the alley. I slowly gained my composure and strength and decided to force myself up. I pushed my arms underneath me and lifted my body into a sitting position. I grunted in pain feeling every nerve on fire. I leaned my back against the brick wall and caught my breath as I realized I was breathing heavily from the work it took to move myself. Before too long, I regained my composure and this time got myself to stand, heavily leaning against the wall. I took a few practice steps and determined I was ready as I'd ever be to make the long walk to Tibby's where I knew most of the newsboys would be congregated at this time of day.

Mustering all of my strength, I began to walk. I was the subject of a lot of both worried and disgusted looks as I dragged myself down the busy streets. Tears were forming behind my eyes as the adrenaline began to diminish about half way through my walk, leaving me to deal with the pain myself. It took me a good hour and a half to make it to my destination, which on a regular (pain free) day would have only taken 20 minutes.

Finally, I sighed out in relief as the diner came into eyesight at the end of the street. I used every last ounce of my energy and determination to make it to the door. Once I reached it, I slowly and painstakingly opened the door. Most of the boys looked up at the sound of the bell that the door made every time someone opens it. I just stood there in the doorway putting all of my weight onto the frame. I searched through the diner for Jack, hoping he was here. I finally saw him at a table near the wall and made eye contact with him.

"Rose! What happened?" he said as he bolted up from his seat. That was it. I couldn't stand any longer. My energy drained from my body, I slumped to the ground with a thud. Next thing I felt were strong hands pull me up. I yelped in pain as the hands put too much pressure on the bruises already forming from my attack. I felt the hands carefully pick me up baby style, and walk me over to a chair, gently setting me down in it. I gratefully accepted the chair as it relieved a lot of the pressure I was feeling.

When I felt well enough, I began to scan around where I was seated. Jack was at my side looking at me with a worried expression. Kid Blink, Mush, David, and a few others were crowded around the table I was sitting at. Jack took that time to speak.

"Rose, tawk ta me. What happened? Who did dis ta ya?" he was acting like a worried older brother. I found that rather comforting considering I don't know where my real older brother is. I thought that if I did know him, I would want him to be just like Jack.

I looked Jack in the eyes before busting out into tears. Everything just piled up on me and I couldn't hold in any more emotion. I felt comforting hands on my shoulders and looked up to see Mush and Blink standing there with comforting hands. Jack moved himself closer. Once most of my sobbing was done I turned to look at him full on.

"Oh Jack, it was awful! I got attacked when I was walkin back ta meet all a youse heah!" my sad eyes threatened to spill over with tears again. Jack looked at me with his own sad eyes trying to make sense of what happened. "Who was it Rose? Who attacked ya? We'll soak 'em foah shoah!" he said now feeling resentment towards whoever had jumped me. It took me a second to remember the message I was given to relay to Jack.

"Da guy said his name was Shadow an he says he's mad at ya Jack. Said ya bettah hand over the Manhattan territory owah he was gonna make trouble with ya." At that, Jack's face dropped. Apparently he knew this Shadow guy and it seemed to trouble him. He stared out into space, thinking hard about something. Then his face turned hard.

"Don't you worry Rose. I's gonna get dis guy. He's not gonna get away with what he did ta ya." I nodded my thanks before taking a gulp of water one of the boys brought to me. Jack took aside Mush, Blink, and David to talk about something leaving me momentarily with some other boys who kept questioning me about what happened.

"How many was dere?"

"Fowah"

"Did dey punch ya face?"

"Ya"

"Did it hoyt?"

I didn't even answer that one. I merely glared at the dumb boy for asking me that. Thankfully, Jack came back over to me and carefully picked me up again. At this point I don't even care where he takes me, as long as it gets me away from the annoying questions. As if enduring the attack wasn't enough, I don't want to relive it over and over again to answer their questions. Jack carried me all the way back to the lodging house. Once he walked in, he asked some of the boys there to find some ice and wrap it in some cloth and to bring it upstairs to him.

He continued to carry me into the bunkroom and gently laid me down on my bed. I smiled at him as best I could before saying, "Thanks Jack, means a lot fer ya ta carry me all da way heah." He gently smiled at me. "Anythin fer youse Rose." Behind his whole Manhattan leader façade I saw a gentle, loving, and passionate guy. He would do anything for any of his newsies in a heartbeat if they needed his help. No questions asked. That's one of his best qualities I think.

Just then Boots came into the room and walked up to Jack and I with ice wrapped in cloths just like Jack had asked for. He situated me on my bed having me lay flat on my back without a pillow so that he could lay a cloth full of ice on my swollen eye and another wherever else I felt I needed it. I held the cloth gratefully to my face, sighing as the cold was soothing to my eye. With that Jack and Boots left me alone in the bunkroom. I tried my best to sleep but my efforts were in vain. I just wasn't comfortable anywhere. So, I just sat there for the rest of the day before I noticed newsboys starting to pile into the bunkroom. A lot of them paused as they walked passed my bed to see how I was doing. Thankfully, none of them bothered me.

I closed my eyes as I felt them finally starting to get heavy. However, a moment later I heard loud footsteps running in the room and stop right next to my bed. I opened my eyes and saw familiar chocolate brown eyes staring back at me full of worry. I gave a small smile as I recognized Racetrack. He sat there looking me up and down, seeing the bruises and cuts. He looked so upset and I have no idea why.

"Geez Rose! I should a nevah left ya earlier taday! I feel awful! If I was dere dey wouldn't have done dis to ya I know it! Dis is my fault fer leavin ya! I swayah I ain't nevah gonna leave ya like dat again!" He blurted all this out as fast as he could talk. I was dumbfounded. Ho could Racetrack think this was his fault. He had no way of knowing Shadow and his gang was going to jump me on my way back here. And even if he did come back with me, there's no way of knowing whether they would or wouldn't have still attacked me. I shook my head.

"Race dis ain't ya fault. Dere is no way youse could a known dey was gonna attack me. I'se ain't mad at ya so youse can't be mad at ya self." I said barely audible. I was feeling tired and Racetrack noticed this. He nodded, still worried beyond belief. But what he said next threw me off.

"Look Rose, I'm sorry. Fer evrythin. I haven't been too nice ta ya since I brought ya heah and I wanna be friends." He looked so sincere. My eyes gleamed over. I finally got my apology. Granted, I had to get beat up for it but I got it nonetheless. I smiled up t him before replying softly, "Let's jus staht ovah den. Hi, I'm Rose." Racetrack chuckled lightly before he responded, "Hey dere, da names Race." I yawned softly and he took that as his hint he needed to leave me alone to sleep.

He slowly got up off of his knees where he had fallen beside my bed and walked over to his own. He just sat there with his legs over the side staring off into space probably thinking about what he could have to help me. I didn't have the energy or ability to talk to him. I saved that talk for us tomorrow as I knew it was coming.

I awoke sometime during the night, the soreness I was feeling was almost unbearable. I did my best to look around the quiet bunkroom searching for signs of anyone still awake. I slowly sat up in my bed grunting along the way. Once U caught my breath from that, I rolled myself off of my bed. However, in the process a few whimpers escaped from me. I scanned the room to see if I had awoken any of the sleeping newsboys. Satisfied that I hadn't, I trudged into the washroom. I lit a few candles so I could see and placed them on a counter. I then proceeded to fill a washtub with cold water. I remember my mother telling me before that a cold bath is helpful for sore and bruised muscles.

Once I had filled the tub to my liking, I slowly and painstakingly undressed. A few tears had managed to escape before I had finished. I then, slowly eased myself into the icy bath water wincing as I went. I brought my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them tight. As I let the cold water soak into my sore muscles, I found myself once again crying. I sniffled a few times and tried to control the noise that escaped my sobs. I didn't want to wake any of the boys and have them walk in here. However, my mind had wandered again back to the events that happened that day; being followed, beaten, seeing those mysterious eyes that I just know look familiar. It's taken a heavy toll on me. It all just hit me at once. I didn't even notice that I had started shivering from being too cold in the water.

Some time passed and I didn't even hear the heaving shuffling of a pair of feet walk into the washroom and stop behind me. I didn't even register the voice that said, "Rose?" I continued to sob to myself and forget about the rest of the world around me. This had never happened to me before, and to be honest I am scared. I don't want to go back into the streets and be afraid of every alley I walk passed because of the possibility Shadow and his gang could be hiding there, waiting to attack me again.

Again, I didn't even hear the same voice say, "Oh Rose..." and slowly walk to the other part of the washroom. The person grabbed a towel and made his way over to me. I felt a soft gentle tap on my shoulder and I finally peered over my back, startled in finding someone in the washroom with me. However, I wasn't met with a boy with a curiosity. I was met by a boy who deeply looked worried and concerned for me. Racetrack held out the towel to me and looked away as I slowly stood up and wrapped the towel around my trembling body. He helped me step out of the tub and got rid of the water. He grabbed my clothes that I didn't notice were soiled with tears and rips and discarded them. He left me for a minute, confused, before returning with the sleep clothes he let me have my first night. He led me into a stall and handed me the clothes, patiently waiting for me to change.

I walked out of the stall shivering and clutching my shoulders. I looked at Racetrack with my saddened eyes and I swear I saw him feel my hurt. He looked just as solemn as I probably do. He grabbed my hand and led me back into the bunkroom. He was just about to help me into bed when I stopped his hand from pulling back my bed sheets.

"Please Race...don't leave me alone tanight." I shivered as he stood there, probably thinking what he was going to do. After a moment, he had made up his mind. He led me over to his bunk across the isle from mine and pulled back his sheets. He let me slide into his bed before climbing in himself next to me. Still shivering, he wrapped an arm around me and pulled me close to him. The heat radiating from his body along with the warm bed slowly warmed me back to normal. Before I let sleep take a hold on me, I whispered softly into Racetrack's ear, "Thanks Race, youse me best friend."

I thought I saw a small smile form on his face before I curled up closer to him letting my eyes shut and welcome sleep.