I walk into the square and all the newsies are already there. We have posters and are all rallying to stop some people who are tryna sell papes. Or we could fight em. We'll probably just fight em.
I feel someone looking at me and my eyes meet Kid Blinks. He is looking right back at me. We haven't talked about it since and I don't think we will.
We part ways for the carriage that comes between us. Some of the newsies start going at each other. David starts shouting and I look for where he is.
"Race I need some help!" I see him grab Race's shoulders and shake him.
"Alright I ain't deaf"
I walk over and meet them. I give them both hugs and we turn our attention to Spot who is talking at the moment.
"Hey hey break it up" To be honest I have no idea why the newsies are fighting.
"Hey hey Race. Race come ere" Race walks over to Spot and drags me with him.
"What"
"Tell me I'm just seein things. Just tell me i'm seein things!" I look around but don't see anything.
Then the newsies on the other side of the police part ways to welcome someone new. Jack.
"No you ain't seein things, that's Jack" Race says. I can't believe Jack would do this to us. This makes sense why he didn't come with us. He was too busy being Pulitzer's little pet!
"What's he doin" I ask the boys.
"He's dressed like a scabber" Someone bumps my shoulder as he gets by and I see it's Mush.
"Jack look at me will ya. Come on it's me, Mush" He approaches Jack only to be stopped and pushed back by the police.
A few other newsies unsuccessfully try to get past them too.
"Where'd yous get them clothes" Boots says trying to get to Jack like everyone else.
"Mr. Pulitzer picked them out himself"lWiesel says.
"Who asked you Weisel?" I spit at him but he just keeps blabbering with his fat ass lips.
"A special gift to a special employee" He pats Jacks suit a little, obviously rubbing it in our faces.
"He's sold us out!" I can't believe Jack would betray us, betray me, to go be with Pulitzer of all people.
"Look at em in his little suit. Ya bum, I'll soak ya!" Both Spot and Race respectively take their turns yelling at Jack.
"Enough. Let me get ma hands dirty" I lunge at Jack trying to get past the police.
"Come ere ya dirty rotten scabber!"
I punch one of them in the face and he falls but the other one is too strong. He pushes me back and I almost fall but David catches me. I look at Jack and he looks hurt. Perfect.
"Thanks" I get back up to normal and David walks to the front. He doesn't try fighting he just calmly walks.
"Oh ya wanna talk ta em?"
"Come on sure" Wiesel motions for the guards to let David go through. He walks up to Jack and they walk a little further away from us. Luckily I have good hearing.
"So this is why yous didn't escape last might" He grabs Jack's coat then shoves it away.
"You're a liar. You lied about everything" Jack doesn't say a word.
"You lied about your father bein out west because he's not out west"
"You didn't even tell me your real name!"
"So? What ya wanna do about it Dave" Jack finally speaks.
"I don't understand you"
"Then let me spell it out. Ya see I ain't got nobody tuckin me in at night like yous. It's just me. I gotta look out for meself, all right?" So Jack did this because he felt lonely. Well that makes me feel just great.
"You had the newsies"
"All bein a newsie ever gave me was a dime a day and a few black eyes"
"I can't afford ta be a kid no more Dave. For the first time in me life I got money in ma pockets. Real money!" Of course this is really about money. I get that being a newsie means you ain't the richest but I mean come on? He really gave up all this for some money. I'm sorry but that's just too shallow for me. And I know what it feels like to have lots of money and it isn't worth it. I just wish I could tell him that.
"Money, ya understand! I's got more on the way and as soon as I collect I'm gone, i'm away all right?"
He must be talking about Santa Fe. I've never understood his obsession with it but I know he really cares about it. Wait no I can't feel sorry for him he betrayed me.
"Well thats good! That's good because we don't need you! We's don't need you!"
Jack looks at me with a pitying look on his face. I give him a death stare and he looks away. He deserves this, I just gotta keep telling myself that.
"Because all those words you said. Those were mine" David is still going back and forth with Jack.
"Yeah but yous never had the guts ta put em across yerself, did ya?"
"Cam did!" He sticks his hand out at me and a few newies look my way. Jack does too. I really didn't wanna be caught in the middle of this but I knew it was probably gonna happen anyway.
"And he didn't rat us out like you! He didn't betray us!"
"He's foolin em so's he can spy on em or something" Les says from beside me.
"I's don't think so kid" I ruffle his hat and hair and he looks up at me and gives me a big smile but I can tell he's really sad underneath it.
"Cam and I can do this on our own!" David storms away from Jack. The newsies part so David can get through.
"I'm gonna go check on em" I leave Race and Spot and run after David.
"You ok?" I run up beside him and he gives me a sad look.
"I just can't believe he'd do this"
"Me either David, me either"
"Les said he's may be foolin em and spyin. We's both know that's a lie"
"Haha yeah. I wish" He lets out a small laugh. We stay silent for a bit but then he speaks again.
"So I saw you looking at Kid Blink earlier. Did something happen?" I debate wether I should tell him or not and I decide it couldn't hurt.
"Well we's were talkin upstairs last night and he uh" David raises his eyebrows at me.
"Well he kissed me" David's eyes widen.
"What did you do?"
"I pushed away and he's got up and left"
"The looks make sense now. Sorry, that must've been awkward"
"It's not your faul~" All of a sudden 2 hands grab my arm from behind and I look behind me to see Snyder. This bitch again. Ugh.
I look to David for help but he's already hunched over clutching his stomach on the ground.
I try to punch Snyder in the arm but he dodges. He grabs both my hands and I kick him in the leg. He doesn't budge but I fall to the ground. He wraps my arms with rope. Maybe it's just me but this feels pretty familiar.
~~~~
"Here's your prized daughter ma'am" Snyder had brought me to my mom. I thought she would have left after he lost me once but guess not. I shoot daggers at Snyder with my eyes.
"Thank you Warden Snyder" Snyder pushes me over to my mom with my hands still in the rope.
"As promised here is your payment" She plops a big bag of coins on the desk.
"Thank you"
"We'll be going now" I lose my glare on Snyder and move to my mom. We walk out and she glances in my direction.
"Fix your face. It's unladylike" I roll my eyes at her but drop the glare.
"That's unladylike too"
"Ya know what? Fuck bein ladylike" She stops in her tracks, opens her eyes wide, and stares at me.
"Oh!" She goes that fake thing where people act shocked way too emotionally.
"We must fix that accent and that attitude is going to have to change young lady"
Our butler opens the door to the carriage and I step into it. I'll admit I miss the fancy dresses and the food and the butler service. But I would give it up in a heartbeat to be a newsie.
"Yous gonna untie me?" I show her my wrists that are still bound by the rope.
"Not until you are safe at home and I know you won't escape"
"And what makes ya think I won't escape huh?" She turns to me and gives me a look. And not the good kind.
"Yep, got it. No escapin" I really hope she believes it because I have no intent on keeping my "promise".