(Author's Note: This is another really short one, sorry. I'm better at short and sweet, so I figure I won't mess with it too much. Also, if you hadn't noticed, these are going in chronological order; just thought I'd note that.
Standard disclaimers apply. I own nothing but my own imagination)
Chapter 4
Jack didn't watch much of the ballet. He was too busy watching Katherine watch the ballet, the one he'd taken her to for her birthday.
"You spend too much time reviewing shows and not enough time just watchin' em," he'd told her, "and for once, we'll be a proper couple, going to the ballet and everything." He knew Katherine couldn't care less about being a 'proper couple' (because Katherine Plumber did what she liked thank-you-very-much) but he thought she would appreciate the gesture.
And the boys teased him of course, but then again, when didn't they tease him about her? It was always good natured, and never meant to be hurtful, but boy did Jack get his fair share of doe eyes and feigned gasps of surprise when they found out where he was headed that evening.
"Hey Jackie!" Race had called out, doubled over with laughter, "When ya gonna take me to a fancy ballet, huh?" Their voices filled the lodging house, making Jack's face burn, emberrassed. Only Crutchie stayed quiet, giving Jack an encouraging grin from across the room.
"Ah, you can all just shut up," Jack muttered, as he lightly pushed Race away and walked out the front door.
When the theatre lights went down, and the curtains opened to a rush of colorful backdrops and sets, Jack wasn't paying all that much attention to what was happening on the stage. He found that he preferred to watch Katherine, reacting in the slightest, almost unnoticeable ways. She had all but forgotten him, and was transfixed by the dancers and the music, and he was okay with that. He noticed the way she leaned forward in her seat when the music softened, as if somehow that would make it grow louder again, and the way her eyes followed the movement of the dancers, filled with excitement and light. She reminded him of a child seeing snow for the first time. Jack wondered if she'd ever just gone to a show without making it a part of her work.
About halfway through, Katherine seemed to suddenly remember that Jack was there, and she leaned her head on his shoulder and took his hand in hers. It suddenly occurred to him just how lucky he really was. Not all that long ago, he had fallen head over heels in love with a girl on the street, a stranger, who was utterly repelled by him. He didn't expect to even see her again, let alone have her working with him and his boys, and helping them win the strike. He didn't know how or why it happened, but somewhere along the way, she'd fallen in love with him too, and there they sat, hand in hand, against all odds. He was lucky all right.
When the curtains closed, the applause died down, and the lights came back on, Katherine turned to him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you so much," she offered, "You don't understand how lucky I am to have you." Jack laughed as they both stood up from their seats and made their way to the exit of the theatre.
"Actually, Ace, I think I do."
(Thanks so much for reading! I could really use some reviews today, so let me know what you think! If there's anything I need to fix, let me know and I will get to it.
Much love,
PrettyLittleMonster Xxx)