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.
(A/N: Tell me what ya'll think about Jules…I'm not sure how I want her character to impact the story yet. Also I'm very sorry this took so long to be posted. I had midterms to worry about.)
P.S this is more of a filler chapter...not much action. Just wait till the next one though ;)
Chapter 11: Bad News
It's been about a month since Racetrack and I made up. Our dysfunctional relationship was back in full swing. The cool autumn air was now being replaced by the sharp bitterness of winter. The newsies all started wearing their warmer coats to shield from the cold. Even the river that used to flow underneath the Brooklyn Bridge was starting to ice over. The two of us acted as though nothing happened to make either of us angry at each other. Which I was glad for; I didn't want it to be weird trying to be friends again.
Nowadays, I pretty much split my time between Racetrack and Jules. I don't know why the three of us didn't just hang out together. It would have made more sense. But hey, who has any sense anymore? In between the two siblings I make sure my own sibling is okay. Gabe has really taken a liking to Jules though. So if I'm not with Jules, Gabe is. Though the two of them have recently started selling with David's little brother Les. They have come to be known as the "Terrible Three" around the lodging house. There's no splitting them up and the three of them manage to cause more trouble than the rest of us can keep up with.
Anyways, Racetrack and I were back to being selling partners. We were up to our old scams and nothing could ruin the way things were going. At least that's what I thought before we received a visitor. One neither of us was too thrilled to have.
My brother.
Nick approached us one day while we were in front of Central Park hawking away. It took me a moment before my mind could register that he was really there in front of me. Once I got my bearings, I gave him one of my popular glares.
"What are ya doin heah Nick." It was more of a snarl than a question. However, his faced remained stoic as he replied. "Came ta tawk ta ya…bout somethin important." He said the last part glancing over at Racetrack who had just now noticed who was talking to me. He began to stalk towards us with a menacing glare and a protective air about him. 'Good ole Race' I thought smiling.
"Hey can I uh help youse with somethin pal?" Asked Racetrack none too kindly. He stood next to me crossing his arms with his papers stuffed under his right arm. Nick just blankly looked at the protective newsie seemingly unfazed.
"Not this time I'm afraid. My business is with me sistah heah…alone." He said still keeping his blank stare at Racetrack. Even though his face gave nothing away, I could see that in his eyes, Nick was glaring at the newsie with a fierceness I'd never seen him with before. That struck a red flag in my mind. What was so important that Nick was willing to fight in order to get me to listen? I know Racetrack is going to be really angry after this but I feel like I should at least hear what Nick has to say.
"Awright, fine. Racetrack could ya jus go back ovah ta wheah ya was sellin a second ago?" I asked with my best puppy-face eyes. Racetrack I could tell was torn. On one hand, he knew Nick was trouble and didn't want anything to happen to me. Which was sweet I guess. But on the other hand, I've never known him to be able to resist my puppy eyes. He was a sucker when it came to that. Finally, landing his gaze upon my face, Racetrack gave a drawn out sigh before dropping his shoulders.
"Fine, but if I see ya tryin any funny business I'm gonna soak ya. Got it pal?" Racetrack sneered at Nick putting extra emphasis on the last word. Inwardly I chuckled as I saw my brother's eyes relax. He gave a curt nod and watched Racetrack march back to where he was standing to continue hawking his fake headlines.
Nick returned his gaze to me and I saw his entire body feature relax. "Rose I've been meanin ta tawk ta ya...fer a while now." I stood there, arms crossed and a serious look on my face. I nodded thoughtfully, "Ya? Well heah I am…what ya gotta say ta me Nick?" He looked around one final time before deciding it was okay to spill what was on his mind.
"I found out some…uh…news regarding Shadow and his next move. It ain't good news either Rose." He said, taking hold of my shoulders to steady myself. I gave him a confused look before he continued. "He's plannin on makin his move the end a next week. He's gatherin a bunch of his guys and some turncoat newsies an they are gonna attack Kelly's boys next week!" He said in a hurried yet hushed tone. I felt my eyes grow wide as I registered what he was saying.
"Do ya know what exactly they want ta accomplish by doin this?" I feared I already knew the answer to my own question. Nick nodded fervently in reply. I didn't need to press him for it though. "He wants to get rid of Kelly…fer good. An I mean knock him off…as in cchkk." He said the last noise as he motioned his hand across his neck. My heart dropped at this. Shadow intends to kill Jack.
I won't allow it. I have to warn Jack and the rest of the Manhattan boys too. They need to know what's going to happen next week so that we can all be prepared for the attack. But then, a thought struck me.
"Why are ya tellin me this Nick? This ain't some kind a trick Shadow sent ya ta play is it?" I stared at him hard to call him on his bluff. Nick's mouth dropped open as I mentioned my doubts.
"Rose…Gabe an you are still me family. Me only family. I don't want nuthin ta happen ta ya guys! I'm tryin ta warn ya two so ya can get away! Believe me when I say Shadow ain't gonna go easy on ya just cus yer a goil an Gabe's 9! He's a cold-blooded moyderer and he won't stop at nuthin till he gets what he wants!" I pondered his excuse for a moment before agreeing what he said made sense. I guess I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, this is too big of news to let it go in one ear and out the other. I mean if Nick is telling the truth, this could save Jack and most of the Manhattan newsies. And if he's lying and Shadow is just playing a trick, then there's no harm in being prepared for no reason.
"Awright, I believe ya Nick…I dunno why but I do. Say, why'd ya gotta tell me in secret an not with Racetrack or somethin?" I asked only to appease my curiosity. He shrugged as if it were no big deal. "Cus I didn't think anyone else would a listened ta what I had ta say." He had a point. I did tell every newsie how Nick was running with Shadow. I nodded as I accepted this excuse.
Just then, we heard Racetrack yell over at us. "Hey, get yer hands off a her ya bummahs!" He started stalking over to us. Neither of us had even noticed that Nick still had his hands on my shoulders holding me in place. He slowly removed his hands and nodded at me his goodbye. Just as Racetrack got to us he spoke to him, "Take care a her…she's important."
"Dat's what I'se been doin…now scram." Racetrack sneered. Nick gave me one final look and even a half-smile before he ran off back from where he had come from. "Hmph…good riddance." Mumbled Racetrack as he crossed his arms over his chest before looking at me. "So what'd he gotta say dat was so important huh?" I chuckled at his pure annoyance to the whole situation.
"Well, it is rather important Race. We need ta find Jack now. Urgent news." Racetrack nodded his understanding. However, he argued that we sell our papers before we search out our leader. I begrudgingly agreed and we sold our papers as fast as we possibly could.
Racetrack and I made it to Tibby's in record time. Jack and a few of the older boys like Blink, Mush, and Skittery were already at a table eating when we got there. Perfect, now we don't have to tell our tale in front of the entirety of Manhattan's Newsies. We went straight to their table not skipping a beat. Jack noticed what state we were in, both of us had flushed cheeks and breathing heavily, and rolled his eyes towards us.
"What you two fightin ovah now?" He asked seeming annoyed. Both Racetrack and I looked at each other confused before looking back at Jack. "Nuthin, but Rose heah has got some serious news fer ya." Said Racetrack not wasting any time getting to the point. Jack nodded at me to continue.
I drew in a deep breathe before I spilled everything about my brother, what he told me, when it was to happen, even how Shadow planned to kill Jack. Jack's face turned grave at the news and looked at the table in front of him as he thought over something in his head. The other boys at the table all started whispering to each other and had worried looks on their faces. I don't blame them. Knowing some psychotic boy was out to kill their beloved leader was scary.
About a minute passed before Jack finally spoke. "Awright, den we are at war with Shadow an his gang. I want all da newsies notified at once. Racetrack, Rose, you two are gonna accompany me ta Brooklyn an fill Spot in on da whole situation...tanight." His tone was low and commanding and none of us wanted to argue with him. Racetrack and I nodded our consent and turned to leave the restraunt to share the bad news with the rest of the newsies.
That night, the three of us ventured into Brooklyn. The walk was quiet, neither Racetrack or I wanted to break that silence because of the mood Jack was in. We'd never seen him act this way before. Even Racetrack said he was being strange. But I guess I can't blame him. I mean if some deranged kid threatened to kill me, I'd be acting uncharacteristic of my normal self as well. As soon as all the Manhattan newsies found out about the upcoming war, they were all prepared to fight for Jack without giving it a second thought. It still amazes me at how much these newsies respect and value their leader. That just goes to show you how great of a leader Jack is.
We reached the meeting place. It was the same old rickety building that held the borough leaders meeting a while back. It hadn't changed its old, decrepit appearance which continued to worry me. I have this strange thing where I don't particularly like to venture into falling apart buildings that could collapse on me. But again, that's just me. I continued on Jack's heels followed by Racetrack close behind. We entered the room and were met with the icy glare of Spot Conlon.
"Well if it ain't Jacky Boy an his crew" said Spot offering Jack a spit shake. Jack obliged him only out of common courtesy. I figured that out my first week as a newsie. When offered a spit shake, you take it readily unless you're looking to start a fight. Spot directed one of his famous smirks towards me and politely bowed and took his hat off. "Hey dere doll, didn't know you was gonna be gracin us with yer presence." I blushed at his gesture and allowed him to take my hand as he gave it a small peck.
Racetrack, I mused, was standing there watching the exchange with hateful eyes. He glared at Spot as he stood up from his bow. He quickly offered a spit shake before Spot could do anything else to impress me. Spot grinned as he noticed Racetrack's hastiness. He gave a quick wink towards me before he turned around and led us to a table. I placed myself between Jack and Racetrack so I didn't have to worry about Spot getting any funny ideas. Sure, he was charming in a way, but he was definitely not my type of guy. Though Racetrack seemed more relaxed at where I chose sit.
Jack didn't waste anytime and right away dove into the problem. Spot's whole demeanor changed as he intently listened to everything Jack had to say. Once Jack had finished telling Sot what happened that day, the two of them went straight into planning. Honestly I don't know why Racetrack and I came because not once in the entire meeting did the two leaders bring either of us into the conversation.
Time went by slowly and I found myself slowly drifting off to sleep. I hadn't noticed, but I started leaning heavily on Racetrack's shoulder. He didn't seem to mind though and let me drift to a light sleep. He remained awake being Jack's second in command, and curious as to what the plan was to be.
It only felt like 5 minutes to me before I was gently awakened by Racetrack. "Rose, let's go back ta da lodge house." He whispered softly in my ear. I sleepily nodded as he helped me stand up from the chair and led me out the door. I have no recollection of our walk home. I was so drunk on sleep that I'm surprised I made it to the lodge.
I was barely aware of Racetrack eventually carrying me bridal-style up the stairs of the lodge and gently placing me in my bed. However, from the day's hectic news and late-night meeting, I was beat. I wasted no time in falling fast asleep. Though that night I was plagued with nightmares of what could very well happen in the near future. This pending war against Shadow and his gang scared me. What made matters worse was that I feared for Nick. Even though he was on the wrong side of this war, he was still my brother and I don't think I can stand another death in my family. I haven't even told Gabe that our older brother was who we will be fighting against. Part of me doesn't want to tell him. I'm afraid that will crush him. But, because Nick is his brother too, he deserves to know. The only thing that's clear to me is that these next few days leading up to the war are going to take a toll on me. And for that matter, the rest of the Manhattan Newsies.