AN: This chapter is a shorter one. I just needed to provide a small bit of backstory on how people know each other and why. There might be a few of chapters like these just to make it more cohesive and tie everything together. I really hope this story is getting views. It might take me a while to update because ya know... life. But I am using all the free time I can spare to write. Leave comments and favorite and follow and all that jazz. I don't own Newsies.
Hotter Than Satan's Armpit
It was the middle of August and no one could say that it didn't feel that way. Everything felt like it was on fire and the girl just wanted to be done selling so she could treat herself to a nice cold Coca Cola. She had found this diner in Manhattan that she had quite liked called Tibby's and she had stationed herself about twenty yards from the entrance. This was her selling spot for the day and it wasn't really working out like she had hoped. She was having trouble getting the attention of passersby. The headlines were shit and everyone was in a hurry to get to their destinations to get out of the sweltering heat.
After another failed attempt to collect coin from a rather stuffy gentleman, she gave up and sat down, fanning herself with her copy of the paper that she always bought. She thought moving up north would be cooler temperature wise than living in Chatham County, but this was just ridiculous. It felt like someone had taken the whole state of New York and shoved it into the depths of hell, right under Satan's armpit. She never would have come here if she didn't have to, and knew she wouldn't return when it was time to pack up and leave in a few short months. Maybe shorter than that if she got a tip soon that lead her elsewhere.
She stood up and gathered her papers off the curb, deciding she had worked this spot long enough. She'd be damned if she wasted all day here and had nothing to show for it. She was rewarding herself with a Cola for all her hard work, whether she had the money to spare for it or not. She turned to walk towards Tibby's before she heard something that made her stop in her tracks. Someone was calling her name. The voice was strangely familiar. She whipped around and a huge grin spread across her freckled face. It was familiar alright.
"Flash? Flash! Holy shit, it really is you! Don't move, I'm coming over!" Jack shouted. He sprinted towards her, his signature red bandana bright in the sun. He reached her and crouched down, his hands on his knees. "Jesus, I never thought I'd see your mug again. And definitely not in these parts," he told her in between breaths. He stood back up, towering over her small frame.
She beamed up at him. "Am I seeing things or is that really you, Jack?"
"In the flesh," he grinned back at her. "What's it been, three years? How ya been? What brings you here?"
Flash couldn't contain her excitement any longer and reached out to give him a hug, breathing in his familiar scent. It somehow made her feel a little more at ease. "Same old same old," she breathed into the starchy fabric of his shirt. "Been moving town to town since our escape. Never staying in one place too long. Ya know how it is." She released him and gazed back up into his hazel eyes. They always had a light in them and she was happy to see that hadn't changed over the years.
Jack nodded and threw an arm around her, giving her another half hug. "God, I wondered what happened to you after we got separated. I thought for sure they caught you and threw you back in the clink. I thought about going back for you countless times that night."
Flash shrugged and gave him another smile, her cheeks bunching up around her eyes. She nodded her head toward the diner and Jack knew she meant for him to follow her.
They walked jauntily to the door, his arm not leaving her shoulders until they made it there. He unwrapped himself from her and held the door open for her and they both stepped through the threshold. The ceiling fans blew air on them and Flash basked in it, happy to finally be out of the sun.
"This one looks good," Jack said, making his way to a table in the back corner of the room. He slid into a chair and beckoned for Flash to take the one across from him.
Flash sat down and ordered her long-awaited Cola before turning back to him to continue their conversation.
"I almost did get caught, you know. But I managed to hide until the guards ran past me. I didn't stop running until I thought I was going to pass out. I skipped town and made it all the way to West Virginia before I found somewhere to stay. I figured it was far enough away to avoid getting caught again."
"Any luck on finding..." he trailed off once he saw her shaking her head.
"Still nothing. I've picked up on a few clues here and there but nothing has come of them. That's why I'm here actually. Following the trail." The waitress returned with their drinks and Flash took a hearty swig from her bottle, letting the sweet taste sit on her tongue before swallowing. "I'm still hopeful though. What would I be without hope?" She shrugged it off. "What about you though? When did you get to New York? And where are the others?" She asked, desperate to change the subject.
"Been here for the past two and a half years. We made a stop in Pennsylvania before I made it this way. That's where Millie and her brother Daniel are. Skipper too. They got jobs as farmhands. I don't hear from them much nowadays, just the occasional letter here and there. They are trying to keep a low profile."
"What about Marjorie? Where is she?" Flash pressed, hungry for more information.
Jack grimaced and furrowed his brow. It took a minute before he finally spoke. "She... she got caught. I'm so sorry Flash. I saw it happen. I wanted to go back for her, I swear, but the guards were right on our tail. The warden too. There was nothing we could do," he finished softly.
Flash's face fell and she felt her heart drop to her stomach. "Oh. Well that's not the news I was expecting. She sat in silence for a few minutes, thinking about what could possibly be happening to Marjorie that exact moment, if she was even still alive. She let out an exasperated groan. "I could kill Russo for having such a loud mouth. We could have made it out. All of us. Scott free. Fuck him." She slammed her fist on the table causing some disapproving looks from the other patrons of the restaurant.
Jack let out a low chuckle. "He got caught too. Bastard. Never much cared for him anyways. Such a dumbass."
Flash wasn't really paying attention to him, thinking back on the consequences of trying to escape the Coosa County jail instead. She shuddered at her memories of the wretched place. The abuse was almost too much to handle at times, even for someone so seasoned to it like herself. She couldn't even begin to imagine how badly they had punished the others who had not made it out like she had. All the lashings, drowning, starvation, beatings. Not even that bastard Russo deserved what went on there. It was worse for the girls most of the time. She felt a chill up her spine, almost having flashbacks of the whole ordeal. Marjorie was such a kind soul, and she couldn't stand to think of the bad things happening to her.
"So where are you staying?" Jack's question shocked her back into reality. "Anywhere I know?"
"Oh. Just around. You know how it is." She shrugged. She didn't really feel like telling him she'd been sleeping in alleys since arriving to New York two weeks prior. Jack had always been like a brother to her from the day they met, always looking out for her when he could. He'd make some kind of big fuss and worry if he knew the truth.
"Around? What does that mean?" Jack asked her suspiciously. Jack could tell when she was hiding something. After all these years, she still hadn't lost her big tell. She always said 'You know how it is' when not being entirely truthful about something. About 99 percent of the time, she uttered those words.
Flash let out a long sigh. "Just around, okay? Enough about me, already. I want to know about you." She took another sip of her Cola, trying to get rid of the bad taste that her words had left; but it wasn't sweet anymore. It was bitter in her mouth.
Jack studied her face, weary from the years of stress and sadness. He decided it was best not to press the issue any further. "Not much really. Hanging out with my pals. Selling papes. Living the American dream." He gave her a crooked grin.
Flash chuckled and shook her head. "Good ol' US of A. Gotta love it."
"Hey so listen, I'd love for you to meet my boys. Come on with me to the lodging house. They should be heading back soon. You can meet Blink and Mush. Oh and I have this one pal that I think you're gonna love. He's funny like you and a gambler. His name is-"
"I don't know, Jack. I don't think it's such a great idea," Flash said cutting him off. "I'm never sure how long I'll be sticking around and I shouldn't risk getting attached, ya know? It just makes things more difficult for everyone involved. Besides, I still have all these papes to sell." Flash gestured to her papers and gave them a little tap.
Flash glanced up at Jack and noticed the disappointment beginning to creep up on his face, the usual glimmer in his eyes gone. She hadn't seen him in so long and she really had missed him. He and the others were the only things that made life in that hellhole bearable. What harm could meeting his friends really do? It's not like they'd have much time to get close anyways.
Flash sighed and raised an eyebrow. "Okay, fine," she sighed again, giving into his request. She saw the dark cloud lift from his expression. "But not today. I seriously do have to finish selling. I'm running out of daylight."
Jack gave her a nod, happy that she had relented. "Okay, fair enough. How about tomorrow then?" he finished his drink and continued. "We can meet here as the sun is setting."
Flash nodded in approval. "Sounds like a plan. I really do have to be going though, Jack." She lifted the bottle to her lips and chugged the remaining contents before gathering up her things. "It'll take some time for me to make it over the bridge. I'll see you tomorrow." She stood and gave him a quick pat on the back before making her way outside.
Jack gave her a quizzical look and trailed out the door behind her. "The bridge? You been staying in Brooklyn?"
Flash paused, mulling over his question to figure out why that was so concerning. "Well yeah. I've been selling all over, but I mostly been confined to the Brooklyn area."
Jack clicked his tongue and shook his head. She really needed to be taught the ways around here if she didn't want to end up crippled or worse. She had to be warned. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. The Brooklynites... well a lot of them are bad news. We kinda got a truce with them if you will. Mutual respect. But no one dares to go there without permission. I hope you got that at least."
She outright laughed at his remark. "Permission? From who? Last I checked, my parents were dead."
"Just be careful out there. Those Brooklyn boys are not ones to fool around. Especially not their leader. I'll explain more tomorrow, but just keep a low profile for now, okay? No stepping on any toes."
Flash let out a low snort. Boys in New York were far too intense for her liking. "Yeah, okay. I'll be fine. Honestly, what is the worst thing that could happen?"
"You really don't want the answer to that," Jack mumbled. "Just watch yourself."
Flash gave him a small wave, sweeping off his warning. "I'll see you tomorrow, Jack." She gave him a smile before heading off towards the bridge.
"Seriously, for the last time, be careful!" Jack called to her.
"Always am!" she tossed back over her shoulder, causing Jack to smile.
It quickly faded when he remembered the last person to step foot in Brooklyn without permission and what had happened to him.
"Jesus, watch out for that one," he said to himself. He said a silent prayer as he watched Flash disappear into the distance.