Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies.
A/N: Happy 30th Birthday, Kara Lindsay! YAAAAAAAAY! So, I promised to update today, so...yeah. I have no clue what to write. But I shall try!
Katherine had never been so glad to see Monday come.
She slammed her her hand down on her screeching alarm clock, and reluctantly dragged herself from the warmth of her bed. She brushed her teeth, combed her hair and all that other boring morning stuff, then threw on some clothes and a jacket (Did I forget to mention in the first chapter that this takes place in the middle of winter, halfway through the school year? No? Whoops.).
Katherine lugged her backpack along the floor to the living room. Venturing into the kitchen, she snatched a blueberry muffin, and actually ate breakfast. When it was 7:00, she tossed a farewell to her mother who had passed out on the couch last night, and ran out the door, where the bus was already waiting down the street.
Even with several layers of clothing, Katherine was still shivering from the chilliness in the air. The bus, when she got in, didn't provide much more heat. She climbed into her regular seat near the front of the bus, where she sat alone everyday, usually talking to herself or reading.
This is why it surprised her when a figure moved in next to her.
"Hello miss," Jack greeted, a smirk evident in his voice before Katherine even turned around to look at him.
"Oh!" Katherine exclaimed, startled at his unexpected appearance, "Hello. I forgot you were on my bus, ha."
"So did I," Jack admitted, "Then I saw you walk in, and decided that I'd say hi to my favorite girl." He put heavy emphasis on the word "favorite."
"Oh, please. Don't make me laugh," Katherine scoffed, "You've only known me less than a week."
Jack feigned a look of hurt, "It's such a shame that you doubt me, Miss Plumber." Then, he continued to smile. "By the way, have you got back your grade for your journalism assignment yet?"
Katherine paused for a moment, then grinned widely, "Yes! I aced it! One hundred percent! A-plus!"
The bus came to a stop now as the school came into view. The students filed out the aisle.
As they walked out, Jack clapped proudly, "Good job! And, by the way, you're welcome."
"Oh, you cheeky boy," Katherine said with an eye-roll, "Thanks, though."
"Anything for you, my dear," Jack responded with a wink.
TIME SKIP!
"Maybe he might just like me after all," Katherine whispered dreamily to herself as she sat on the steps as she waited for Jack to come along at the end of the school day. After all, he flirted quite a bit, as well as complimented her looks several times. Plus, he was the only one in the entire school who insisted on knowing her and tried to become her friend. So, there was some slight chance…
Katherine sighed. She was certain that she liked him now. Honestly, she kind of hated herself for it, as she always despised the idea of 'love at first sight' when her parents read her fairy tales and such as a little kid, and now she was just being a hypocrite. But how could she know that she would grow to like some boy she had met totally on accident?
Or had it been fate? She didn't want to think about it.
Finally, she saw Jack appearing from the crowd, waving wildly.
"Hey Kat!" Jack greeted.
Katherine stood up and brushed off the invisible dust on her pants, "Hey Jack. About time you came, before I drowned myself with thoughts."
"Aww, thinking about me, Katherine?" Jack cooed. Actually, yes, Katherine said mentally.
"I have other things to think about besides friends," Katherine lied, adding in an eye-roll for extra emphasis.
A peculiar look passed over Jack's face as she said the word "friend." It looked melancholy, a little disappointed. But as quickly as it came, it was replaced by Jack's signature smirk.
"Whatever you say," Jack said in an unconvinced tone, "Don't come knocking when you've decided that you're head-over-heels in love with me." Katherine nearly winced at that unexpected comment.
"Zip it, Kelly," she snapped.
"Admit it!" Jack sang.
Exasperated, Katherine held a hand up, "Dude...no."
Jack simply laughed.
"Can we go home now?" Katherine asked irately, tapping her foot.
"Okay, okay, I'm done."
"You had better be."
Another TIME SKIP!
As much as Katherine was grateful for Monday to come, they had a day off the next day. Which meant she would have nothing. Which meant she would have more time to think. Which mean she would have more time to think about Jack. And right now, she was getting pretty exhausted of thinking about him.
They came to a halt in front of their doors once more.
"Well, I'll see you on Wednesday, then?" Katherine asked awkwardly.
"I guess," Jack chuckled, "Wait...actually..."
He pulled out a slip of paper from his pocket and with a pencil that was also conveniently located in his pocket, he scribbled down a series of numbers, and handed the paper to Katherine, who stared at it blankly.
"My phone number," Jack clarified, and Katherine used all her willpower to not squeal in absolute delight. Oh my god, I just got his phone number!
"Oh!" she answered excitedly, and tore off a section of the paper to write her own number. She passed it to the boy. "And here's mine."
Jack smiled, "I'll contact you sometime tomorrow, 'kay?"
"I can't wait," Katherine beamed.
A/N: Ughhhhh, the crappiness of the ending and just the whole chapter in general is unbearable! I was rushing, sorry, to finish it before today ended. Sorry I'm updating so late. Happy Birthday again to Kara Lindsay! BTW...all in favor of Jack and Katherine going on a coffee date next chapter?