A/N: Hi! So, uh, I've been away for a little longer than I'd originally hoped. I had my finals last week (Yay, me!) so now I'll have more time to write (hopefully). Unfortunately, this story will be coming to a close within the few days as the deadline for the Newsies Pape Selling Competition is this upcoming Saturday. I'm gonna try my best to make sure that the rest of this story doesn't seem rushed but please, forgive me if it does.
Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies but if I did, it would never have left LA.
Jack stood at his normal selling spot, shouting out his "improved" headlines as people passed by him on the sidewalk. Across the street from him, Cowboy stood on a corner. He was shouting out headlines as well, tipping his hat to a man who bought a paper from him. They had been selling papers for several hours and Cowboy was starting to get bored. He looked across the street for a moment before going back to shouting out his headlines.
"Trolley accident in Brooklyn! Two dead, dozens injured!" Cowboy yelled out, two people immediately walking over and buying papers.
On his corner, Jack held up a paper and yelled, "Families sick in Harlem after water supply is poisoned!"
Several people walked over to Jack, buying papers off of him. Jack smirked at Cowboy, who wore a mischievous look on his face as he pulled another paper out of his bag.
"Numerous deaths in the Bronx! City may be to blame!" Cowboy hollered, waving the paper above his head. People flocked over to him to purchase his papers. Jack laughed at their "headline" war and held up another paper. Both boys continued shouting out "headlines", each trying to come up with a better one than the last. That is, until they heard a disgruntled shout from someone in the crowd of people trying to buy papers.
"Hey, wait a minute! That story isn't in here!" a man shouted, turning and stalking back towards Jack.
Jack looked over at Cowboy who nodded and started running the opposite direction.
"As much as Ise wanna stay, I really think I should be goin'," Jack said, tipping his newsboy cap at the crowd of people before elbowing his way out and running after Cowboy, laughing.
"Dat was a close one!" Cowboy said with a chuckle after Jack caught up with him.
"Yeah, it was!" Jack said with a boyish grin, looking behind them to make sure they weren't being followed. When he didn't see anyone behind them, he motioned to Cowboy to slow down and they stopped at a corner. Once they caught their breath, Jack looked over to Cowboy.
"I thinks it's about time ta go over ta Jacobi's for lunch," he said.
"Jacobi's?" Cowboy asked confusedly. "Youse don't go ta Tibby's?"
"Tibby's? I ain't ever heard of da place. We always go ta Jacobi's for lunch."
"Well dat's odd."
Jack shrugged and started walking in the direction of Jacobi's, Cowboy falling into step beside him. They walked in silence for a few minutes before they arrived at Jacobi's.
"We's here," Jack said, leading Cowboy inside Jacobi's. They were the first ones to arrive so they waited at a table for the other boys to come. They talked for a little while, asking each other questions about their universes. A couple minutes later, they heard the shouts of some of the boys as they made their way into Jacobi's.
"Hey, guys! Over here!" Jack called, waving the boys over. Crutchie, Mush, Albert, and Henry looked over at where Jack was waving to them and walked - or, in Crutchie's case, limped - over to the table, seating themselves on either side and immersing themselves in conversation. Pretty soon, the rest of the boys had arrived at the restaurant as well and were all chattering amongst themselves, drinking the water that Mr. Jacobi provided for them. Jack was just beginning to wonder where his girlfriend was when she suddenly burst in through the front door.
"I'm sorry I'm so late!" Katherine apologized as she hurried over to the table. "I just had to finish my article and I didn't think it would take too long but it did and I hate to keep you waiting and-"
Jack smiled and shook his head, getting up from his seat. He walked over to his babbling girlfriend, silencing her with a quick peck on the lips, this, of course, being met with hollering and catcalls from the boys. Jack just rolled his eyes and led Katherine to where he was sitting, scooting over so she could sit next to him. Katherine smiled at him before turning her gaze to the boys.
"Alright, boys, what would you like to eat?" Katherine asked the boys. Soon she was bombarded with orders from all the boys except Jack and Crutchie, who always waited until after everyone else had ordered. Katherine laughed lightly.
"You know what? I'm just going to let Mr. Jacobi take those orders for you," Katherine said, waving over Mr. Jacobi. While the boys were ordering their food, Jack leaned over to Katherine.
"Ace, I can't let you pay for da boys again. It'll cost ya too much," Jack said quietly.
"Relax, Jack. You know it's not a problem," Katherine said with a smile. "Besides, it makes me happy to see the boys so happy."
Jack just sighed and slipped an arm around her, watching the boys order their food, a light smile on his face. Katherine looked over at Cowboy who sat quietly.
"Have you ordered your lunch yet?" she asked him.
"Oh, no Miss Katrine. Ise don't want ta make ya spend money on me lunch," Cowboy said.
"Now don't be silly! I like to do this," Katherine said, smiling at the boy.
"Is ya sure? Ise know it'll be costin' youse a lot, payin' for everyone."
"Of course I'm sure! Don't worry about the cost, I can handle it."
"Thank ya Miss Katrine," Cowboy said with a grateful smile.
"You're welcome! And none of this 'Miss Katherine' business. We're friends now. Just call me Katherine."
"Okay. Thank ya Katrine," Cowboy said. Katherine nodded and told him to order his lunch, doing the same thing to Jack and Crutchie as well before ordering her own lunch. After everyone had received their food and started eating, Cowboy looked over at Katherine.
"If ya don't mind me askin', Mi- er, Katrine, how could youse afford ta do dis for everyone everyday? Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice thing ta do, it's jus' dat I knows dis costs a lot," Cowboy said with a curious look on his face.
"Well...let's just say, I have a, erm...wealthy father," Katherine said slowly. Cowboy nodded thoughtfully.
"Da only guy I can think of who would be able ta pay for dis would be ol' Joe Pulitzah, but he ain't got a daughter and even if he did, youse is too nice ta be related ta him!" Cowboy said jokingly. Katherine and Jack shared a look before turning back to Cowboy. Cowboy noticed this and looked at the couple oddly.
"I was jus' jokin'!" Cowboy said, holding his hands up in surrender, thinking they were upset with him.
"Well, actually...he kind of is my father…" Katherine said with a nervous laugh. Cowboy looked at Katherine like she was crazy.
"Youse is jokin', right? Joe ain't really your father, is he?" Cowboy asked in disbelief.
"No, he really is my father," Katherine said, watching the boy carefully. Cowboy gaped at her, his eyes practically bugging out of his head. He then looked over at Jack.
"Youse is goin' wit your boss's daughter?" he asked disbelievingly. When Jack nodded, Cowboy shook his head, a smile forming on his face.
"Youse is one brave guy, Mistah Kelly," he said, chuckling with the rest of the boys at the table. Jack just rolled his eyes, smiling and pulling Katherine closer to him while telling the boys to finish their lunch so they could go back to selling.