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.
Chapter 9: Some Nerve!
I beat Jack and Racetrack to the lodging house. Granted, I was out of breathe and completely ready to fall over. However, I composed myself the best I could when I entered the house. I did my best to control my breathing as I walked causally up the stairs and into the bunkhouse. I went straight to my bed and lay there with my hands folded under my head and one leg propped up. I stared up at the top bunk above me, acting as though I was in deep thought. The boys in the room thought nothing of it, I had been acting worse before.
I pretended not to notice when two pairs of footsteps entered into the room. "Hey dere, Rose."
I recognized that gruff, Italian accent immediately. Still staring up at the top bunk, I decided to coolly play the 'hard to get' act. Racetrack just stood there looking at me expectantly, waiting for me to cave and respond. However, I remained stoic. I heard him give a long, drawn out sigh before saying, "Look Rose, can I please tawk ta ya? Private like…" At this, I turned only my eyes in his direction before rolling off of my bed. I gave an exasperated look in his direction, and let him lead me outside on the fire escape.
He leaned against the railing waiting for me to join him out on the escape. I crossed my arms and did my best to look angry so not to give away the fact that I was expecting his apology. On the inside I was busting with laughter and giddiness. Racetrack stared at me quizzically before he started to talk.
"Look Rose, I know ya ain't exactly happy with me an all. But I gotta ask ya something." This is a weird apology. Maybe he's trying to ease me into it. I'll play along I guess. "Is dat so Racetrack Higgins? Well, what is it dat ya need ta know?" I asked him sternly. He shuffled his feet looking at me unsure. He must really be torn up about something. I thought this was just an apology? Why is it so hard to say two little words 'I'm sorry?' Finally, the newsie broke his awkwardness. "Well, me sistah is comin ta stay with us heah at da lodge fer a while."
I'm so confused. And angry. "Okay? An what's dat gotta do with me huh?" I asked really annoyed by him beating around the bush. "Well, youse a goil too, so I thought you could show her da ropes 'round heah so she don't have ta be 'round me all da time. She'd get bored and probly fed up with me real fast" He basically threw this at me without taking a breath in between.
I was dumbfounded. Here I am, expecting an apology that I'm obviously NOT getting right now, and instead he expects me to babysit his sister. I didn't even know he HAD a sister! The nerve of this boy! He was pushing my buttons to the very end. I swear if I find out he's doing this on purpose, I'll kill him!
My mouth hung open when I realized his seriousness. I tried to say something but nothing ended up coming out. I shook my head a little to clear my head before finally giving a reply. "Ya want me ta what?" Racetrack's face fell at my reaction. He knew I was ticked. "Rose, please ya-"I cut him off before he could say anything more.
"You got some nerve Higgins! We ain't tawked fer a month an dat's da foist thing ya can think of ta say ta me? Babysit ya sistah?! Are ya dumb or what?!" I wailed my arms around to show off my anger even more. I glared at him, waiting for his answer with my arms crossed. I needed him to explain his daft reasoning. He just stood there with a saddened look. He looked utterly miserable. I almost couldn't take it, I felt so bad. But I reminded myself he brought it upon himself. I remained stoic, holding my ground waiting for him to talk.
He finally got the hint. "Please Rose, I know ya hate me guts right now. An ya have every right ta hate me, but me little sistah is gonna need anuddah goil 'round an seein as how ya da only goil heah, I was hopin ya would agree ta it." He looked down at his feet while he shuffled them awkwardly. That made sense though, I hate to admit. It was tough on me being the only girl here. And it would be nice to have another girl to talk to, even if she is younger.
"Tell me one thing Racetrack. Why should I? You ain't given me a single reason why I should, heck ya ain't even tawked ta me fer a month." I challenged him to come up with something. I stared at him intently waiting for some smart-alecky remark that would tick me off even more. He stood there pondering for a minute. He obviously thought about a wise crack, but instead he came up with, "Well, ta be honest Rose ya right. But I'se askin fer a favor. An I'll make it up ta ya somehow, even if ya don't want anythin from me." This answer surprised me. Reluctantly, I relented.
"Fine, I'll do it, but ya owe me big time Higgins." Afterwards, I stormed through the window back into the bunkroom. I stomped down the stairs and into the lobby area. I crumpled onto the couch face down into the cushions. I released a stressed sigh and sat there until I cooled down my temper. Next thing I know I feel a gentle hand on my back. I lift my head out of the cushions and see Jack standing there looking concerned.
"What's da mattah no Rose?" he asked almost as if it was becoming a tedious question for him. I grunted as I moved into a sitting position to face him and make room for him to sit next to me. He obliged, and got himself comfy before I replied. "Do ya really gotta ask Jack? Who else but Racetrack." I sneered as I said his name. Jack lightly chuckled to himself. I looked at him annoyed. Why is that funny to him? What did I say that was funny? I was being dead serious here, and he's laughing at me! Boys!
"What are ya laughin at?!" I exclaimed annoyed. He merely shook his head. He apparently knows something that I don't. And that fact alone annoys me even further because I hate being kept out of the loop. Seeing my confusion, Jack helped me out. "You an Race are moah alike den you two think. Both a youse two are stubborn as mules and hold on ta ya pride too much." I gave him a disgusted look.
"Youse blind Jack, I ain't got nuthin in common ta dat good fer nuthin." I disagree completely with what Jack thinks. He again, however, chuckled to himself. He looked at me with amusement before enlightening me again as to the source of his amusement. "Funny, he said da same exact thing." He winked before getting up off the couch and heading up the stairs to the bunkroom. I just sat there and let what he had said soak in. While deep into my thinking, I barely noticed a girl walk into the lobby.
She stood at the counter where Kloppman usually was. He was, however, preoccupied with something in his own room/office. She looked around the room and spotted me sitting alone on the couch. She slowly made her way over to me before clearing her throat and getting my attention.
She smiled sweetly as she introduced herself. "Hi dere, da names Jules." She held out her small hand for me to shake. I looked at her up and down. You sure could tell she was Racetrack's sister. She had the same dark brown, curly hair that swept beautifully to the middle of her back. She had the same olive skin and was also short like her brother. She wore brown pants with suspenders matched with an off-white button up shirt. She had a checkered vest like her brother, and had a newsie hat pushed back a little. So, she was basically the spitting image of her brother.
I chuckled lightly and took her hand in mine shaking it. "I'm Rose, da only goil heah udder den you now I guess." I smiled, trying to be somewhat civil with the poor girl. I mean, she was Racetrack's sister which must be a hardship in itself. She looked around the room observing it excitedly. She was adorable; I had to give her that. I stood up from the couch and sighed to myself. Here we go.
"So Jules, I guess ya wanna know wheah ya bruddah is huh?" I asked her kindly. I don't think she's going to be too much trouble. I motioned for her to follow me and I led her up the old rickety stairs. She took the time to intently study every single part of the walk. She really was an inquisitive girl. I led her into the bunkroom and stopped just at the doorway. I peered in to see most of the boys hanging around, some playing cards, and others just talking. Before I could spot Jules' brother, my own sibling walked up to us with a wide smile across his face.
"Hi, I'm Pockets. Who are you?" he was so cute. Kids usually are at his age. It astounds me how easily they are to be inviting and make new friends. Jules smiled back at my brother and held out her hand like she had to me. My brother happily took it in his own hand and shook it. "I'm Jules. I'm da new goil 'round heah." She said this with so much pride I couldn't help but turn away to chuckle.
Before I knew it, the two of them hit it off. They were already best friends I could tell. Pockets led Jules to a bed where most of the newsies their age were situated playing marbles on the floor. They welcomed her happily into their little group and acted as though they knew each other their whole lives.
I, however, continued my search for the girl's brother. I gave a questioning look to Kid Blink who was situated at a table with a bunch of the older boys playing cards. He seemed to understand and shifted his eyes towards the window. I took the hint and walked to the window and stuck my head out. I saw Racetrack leaning against the railings like earlier, looking into the street below. I cleared my throat to get his attention. He jumped as he heard me, and sat up straight seeing that it was me.
I rolled my eyes and stiffly said, "Ya sistah's heah." With that I started to pull my head back into the building but stopped when I saw Racetrack quickly move towards me. I gave him a questioning look waiting for an explanation for his forwardness. He gave a half smile and genuinely said, "Thanks Rose. Means a lot dat ya doin dis."
"Whatever" I mumbled and pulled myself in the building. I walked over to my bed and lay down getting comfortable. I sat there and watched as Racetrack practically ran to his sister and pulled her into a big brotherly hug. They seemed really close. I smile to myself knowing exactly how that feels. Gabe is the only family I have left. Yes, Nick is still alive, but he hasn't been in my life for over 2 years. He abandoned Gabe and I and I find it very hard to forgive him of that. In all honesty, he doesn't feel like family. It's going to take time and a lot of trust building to have that feeling of family with Nick return.
However, I'm happy with the family I still have left. I don't ever want Gabe to feel like I'm not there for him. I'll always be his big sister and I will always be there when he needs me most. That was a promise I made a long time ago, back when our father bailed on us. And it's a promise I intend to keep.