A/N: Okay, so this chapter is pretty bad but I really wanted to finish it so that you guys wouldn't have to wait so long for another chapter as I most likely won't have much time to write for the next week or so what with studying for finals coming up next week and all.
xPoptarsx: Thank you so much for your review! I couldn't stop smiling when I read it! It's really encouraging and makes me really happy to see this story getting such a good response! Thanks again!
bookworm5546 (guest): Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far! I hope this chapter won't disappoint!
Disclaimer: I don't own them but I wish I did. (Then again, what girl doesn't want to own a bunch of dancing newsboys, am I right?)
"So let me get this straight, you're Jack..." Race said, pointing to Jack then turning to Cowboy. "...but then, you're Jack?"
"For the hundredth time, Race, yes," Jack said with an exasperated sigh as they walked towards the square. He understood that the boys were confused about the situation, hell, he was more than confused himself, but their constant questions were starting to get on his nerves. After the boys had gotten over their initial shock, Jack and Cowboy were bombarded with questions about what happened; they would have to officially meet Cowboy and hear the story once the day was done and they were back at the lodging house. Jack had quickly gotten tired of the questions but Cowboy, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the attention. He walked up to Jack and slung an arm around his shoulder, smiling.
"'Ey, why ya lookin' so down, huh?" Cowboy asked.
"I ain't down, just thinkin'," Jack replied.
Cowboy was about to respond when a young woman running up to the group caught his eye. Her semi-curly brown hair bounced as she jogged down the sidewalk towards the group. A smile appeared on his face as the woman stopped in front of the group, breathing heavily as she recovered from her run.
"Heya, Ace!" Jack said as he lifted Cowboy's arm off of his shoulders and walked over to her. "Why's you runnin'?"
"Why are," Katherine corrected him, earning a mock glare from the boy, "and I was worried I would miss you guys but apparently you're running a bit late too."
"Yeah, uh, we had a bit of a mornin' adventure, so ta speak," Jack said, smiling at her. "Speakin' of which-"
But before Jack could introduce Katherine, Cowboy had already walked over, a flirty smile adorning his features as he did so.
"Well hello, ma'am. Da name's Jack but youse can call me Cowboy or anytin' ya'd like," he said smoothly. Jack just rolled his eyes and cuffed him on the side of the head.
"Hey, don't even think about it, mistah," Jack said, scolding the blonde who was now rubbing the side of his head with a scowl on his face. "Dis here's my Ace, Katherine."
Jack wrapped an arm around Katherine's shoulders. It was her turn to roll her eyes as she looked at Jack.
"Jack, I can introduce myself, you know," Katherine said, turning to look at Cowboy. "Hello, uh, what was it...Cowboy? I'm Katherine, nice to meet you. Try flirting with me again and next time, it might not be so nice."
"Sorry, Katrine. Nice ta meet'cha," Cowboy said, bowing his head slightly. Katherine just shook her head good naturedly and spit on her hand, sticking it out to Cowboy. Cowboy looked at her incredulously, then at Jack, then back at her, gaping like a fish out of water. Jack and Katherine both laughed as the other boys looked on in amusement.
"Well, is ya gonna shake her hand or just sit der? We's got papes ta sell, ya know," Jack said, amusement clear in his voice. Cowboy shook his head and, after a few seconds, spit on his hand and hesitantly held it out to Katherine. Katherine once again rolled her eyes before grabbing his hand and shaking it. Cowboy still looked shocked as he pulled his hand back.
"But- but-," he stuttered as he looked from his hand to Katherine. "Youse is a goil!"
"No, really? I had no idea," Katherine replied sarcastically, some of the boys snickering afterwards.
"But- goils ain't supposed ta do dat!" Cowboy said.
"Well, that goes to show you that I'm not just any girl," Katherine replied, a teasing smile on her face. She turned to Jack and squeezed his hand lightly.
"I have to get to work but I'll meet you at Jacobi's for lunch," she said.
"Alright, Ace," Jack said, smiling at her. "Be safe."
"No promises," Katherine teased, laughing lightly at the look on Jack's face. "Relax, I'll see you later."
With that, she gave Jack a quick peck on the cheek before pulling her hand away from his. She called goodbye to the boys over her shoulder and was answered with a chorus of "Goodbye, Katherine!" from the boys as she made her way down the sidewalk. After Katherine walked off, the boys walked into the square and Cowboy looked over at Jack.
"So dat's Katrine?" he asked.
"Yep, that's Katherine. You bettah not try nothin'," Jack said, mock scolding his blonde counterpart.
"Don'tcha worry, I ain't gonna try notin'," Cowboy said as the group of boys walked up to the circulation desk. Before anyone could buy their papers, however, Cowboy snatched a paper from Oscar.
"Hey, what's the big idea?" Oscar shouted at the newsboy.
"Relax, uh...which one is ya?" Cowboy said, looking from Oscar to Jack.
"Oscar..." Jack said.
"Okay," Cowboy nodded before turning back to Oscar. "Relax, Oscah. Ise is just...perusin' da merchandise."
Oscar looked incredulously at the new newsboy then up at Jack.
"Who's the smart guy?" Oscar asked, motioning his head at Cowboy with an annoyed look on his face.
"He's Cowboy and he's new so ya'd best be leavin' him alone," Jack said, glaring at Oscar.
"Oh he's new, huh? Well then, Morris and I oughta introduce ourselves properly," Oscar said with a devilish grin as he called his brother over and they walked out from behind the circulation desk. They slowly walked over to Cowboy and Morris snatched the paper out of Cowboy's hands. Jack shook his head and grabbed Oscar roughly by the shoulder, turning him to face him.
"I said ta leave him alone, Oscar," Jack said, shooting daggers at him. Before things could escalate any further between the two, Cowboy cut in.
"'Ey, don't worry 'bout me. They's jus' da Delanceys, no big deal," he said with a noncomittal shrug. That statement caused Oscar to pull himself out of Jack's grasp and whip around to face Cowboy.
"No big deal, huh?" Oscar and Morris shared a look before beginning to move towards Cowboy once again. "Well how's about we make it a big deal?"
They started pushing him back towards a wall, attempting to corner him. The boys all watched nervously as the Delanceys tried to seperate their new friend from them. However, upon seeing the less-than-worried look on Cowboy's face, he actually looked amused, they didn't rush in to save him. Jack watched carefully, waiting for any signs of distress from Cowboy before he tried to jump in. Cowboy simply smirked at the Delanceys, motioning between them.
"Hey, if ya idiots thinks youse can take me, go ahead! Take your best shot," he said, ready for a fight. Oscar and Morris nodded at each other before lunging towards Cowboy from both sides of him. Cowboy quickly jumped out of the way and Morris and Oscar crashed into each other, landing in a heap on the ground. Cowboy, Jack, and the rest of the boys laughed as the Delanceys groaned and slowly stood up. They glared at Cowboy and lunged for him again. Cowboy grinned and ran straight for the wagons, Oscar and Morris hot on his trail. Cowboy jumped on top of a wagon and wore a satisfied smile when the wagon tilted downwards with his weight. He stood on one end of the wagon, his end closer to the ground, and waited as the Delancey's began to climb onto it. As soon as they were almost completely on it, he nimbly jumped off and the end of the wagon he had been standing on flipped up, successfully knocking the Delanceys off balance. Cowboy strolled back to the other boys who were currently in hysterics, watching as the Delanceys tried to disentangle themselves from one another.
"See? Not a big deal," Cowboy said, motioning back towards the Delanceys.
"I guess not," Jack chuckled the boys started buying their papers. The Delanceys glared at Cowboy as they walked behind the circulation desk once again. Cowboy snickered then offered them a sickeningly sweet smile before walking up to the circulation desk to buy his papers.
"Hey, who are ya?" Cowboy asked, looking confusedly at Wiesel.
"Mr. Wiesel. Who are you?" Wiesel countered, looking distastefully at the boy.
"Weasel? Dat's you?" Cowboy asked incredulously, leaving Wiesel's question unanswered.
"Wiesel and yes. Who else would I be?" Wiesel said, becoming increasingly annoyed.
"Well, I dunno. I jus' didn't recognize you is all. You ain't, y'know, big around da waist," Cowboy said, putting his money down. "One-hundred papes, Weasel."
Wiesel grumbled to himself as he slammed one-hundred papers onto the desk and took Cowboy's money.
"Bye, Mistah Weasel!" Cowboy said, lifting his papers onto his shoulder and joining Jack by one of the wagons while they waited for the rest of the boys. Jack looked up as he approached.
"You just live to torture them, don'tcha?" Jack asked with a grin.
"Yup! Don't youse do dat too?"
"Sometimes, yeah, but not as much as you."
"'Ey, Ise can't help it! It's free entertainment!"
"I guess I ain't able ta argue with that," Jack said, a light chuckle escaping his lips. Cowboy grinned and waved at the Delanceys who were still shooting daggers at him. They huffed and turned their backs on him while Cowboy laughed again.
"What a couple o' wimps!"
After the boys all finished buying their papers, they gathered around the wagon that Jack and Cowboy were at and began coming up with some good headlines. After a few minutes, Jack looked up.
"Everybody ready?" he asked as he stood up and tucked his papers under his arm. When all the boys nodded, he smiled and motioned towards the gates to the square.
"Well then let's go!"
With that, the group of boys all headed out the gates and bid farewell to each other as they walked towards their respective selling spots.
"Hey, Cowboy!" Jack called as Cowboy started walking off. "You're with me."
"Oh, c'mon!" Cowboy whined as he made his way over to Jack.
"I ain't lettin' ya wander around on your own. Who knows what kinda trouble youse could get yourself into?"
Cowboy mumbled something about being a grown man and not needing to be babysat while Jack just shook his head with a smile and led him towards his selling spot. Today was gonna be interesting.
A/N: So, yeah. I hope you guys enjoyed it! I kinda suck at action scenes but maybe I'll get better one day, haha!
Reviews are encouragement!
-DC