"What's taking them so long?" Les asked impatiently. When the newsies finished spreading the word they went back to the square, hoping and waiting that after all their hard work and everything they been through wasn't for nothing.
"Calm down, kid," Romeo said while patting Les on the back. "They'll be out soon." Just as Romeo said this they could all hear Jack yell, "Newsies of New York," They all looked up to see Jack and Pulitzer standing on the little balcony where one of the Delancey brothers would stand and watch them to make sure they didn't cause any trouble as they bought their papers.
Jack smiled at the boys before yelling at the top of his lungs, "We won!" there was a moment of silence as the newsies took in what Jack had just said. Then, they all exploded into a round of loud cheers. There were hugs, smiles and you could feel the happiness in the air. They won the strike, they actually beat Pulitzer at his own game. "An' I would like to introduce my very personal pal, Governor Theodore Roosevelt himself."
"Now all we's hafta do is get Feisty back," Mush whispered. It wasn't going to be easy, but there was no way he was going to leave Feister in the Refuge for another night.
"Don't worry, we'll get 'er back," Kid Blink reassured.
"Hey guys look, it's Feister!" Race exclaimed. Mush was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard her name. If this was a dream, it better not end. But, sure enough, a small girl with big, dark brown eyes and dark hair came running in with the biggest smile on her face and a spark in her eyes.
Feister had the biggest smile on her face, she was beyond happy that she was finally back with her brothers. "Heya boys!" she exclaimed with a huge smile. "Dijya miss me?" she asked.
"YEAH!" they all exclaimed in the most obvious tone ever. A few of them waved their caps, and others waved their hands. Feister couldn't help but laugh. This was probably the happiest moment of her life, being back with the all the boys she loved.
"Oh, I almost forgot. I have somethin' for ya, a gift, straight from the Refuge." she smiled then turned back around to where she came from and yelled, "Hey, bring 'im in." Within seconds, two officers came in, dragging something very interesting.
"Oh, it's Snyder the Spider," Race said in a mocking tone.
"He ain't lookin' so tough no more," Sniper added. He then walked up to the Spider, who tried to kick him way. Key word tried.
"Jack, with those drawings, you've made an eloquent argument for closing down the Refuge. Be assured that Mr. Snider's abuses will be fully investigated," Governor Roosevelt said. "Officers take him away."
"Excuse me your honor, but may I?" Feister asked sheepishly. When the governor nodded she smiled, and the officer handed her the handcuffs.
"You've got to be joking," Snyder the Spider said as a little girl handcuffed him.
"Then you'll be laughin' all the way ta the pen little man," Feister teased. "So long, sucker," She kicked him in the butt, and The Spider was off to jail. After that Jack ran down giving Feister a tight bear hug. "Thank you governor." he said, while still hugging the small girl.
When they let go of the hug they walked back over to the rest of the boys, who surround Feister. They were all talking at once, along with pats and some very tight hugs. "We missed ya kid!" Race exclaimed as he pulled Feister into a very tight hug.
"Can't, breathe," Feister replied. She was on the verge of passing out when Race let her go. After catching her breath she said, "Missed ya too Smokey." just then she felt someone hug her from behind and say, "Don't ever leave me alone with Mike again!" she had to assume that was Ike talking.
"Hey! I happen ta be a very fun person to be around," Mike retorted. "Sides, we's all know I'm Feisty's favorite twin. Right?"
"No comment," Feister replied with a laugh.
"HA!" Ike yelled.
"Get off my back!" Feister said in annoyance as she shoved Ike away. Before she could say anything else Buttons, Sniper and Romeo tackled her to the ground Well, they were actually trying to hug her, which didn't go as planned. "We missed ya!" they exclaimed.
"Missed you dummies too," Feister replied in a fit of laughter. Oh, how she missed the craziness. She was too busy laughing that she almost didn't notice that someone picked her off the ground. She soon found out it was Finch and Jojo, who hugged her tightly, but not too tightly. There were more hugs and a lot of other crazy stuff. With so many boys around her, Feister couldn't tell who was saying what to her. She would never say this out loud, but she missed these stupid idiots.
Even if they do drive her up the walls, she still loved them. After all, she's their sister and they're her brothers. "Ya didn't hafta do that ya know," Crutchie said as he hugged Feister tightly. "An' let those goons get ya?" she asked. "Not on my watch." That's she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Heya Feisty," an all too familiar voice said. Feister's heart stopped and she started to get butterflies in her stomach again. Feister let go of the hug with Crutchie, who had a big goofy grin and a knowing look in his eyes. Taking a deep breath she turned around and, for the first time in ages, their eyes met once again.
Before anything was said, Mush slipped a hand onto Feister's cheek and the other on the waist. He pulled her closer in one swift move and, without even hesitating like before, he kissed her right then and there. Feister was a bit shocked at first, since this couldn't really be happening. But after a few moments all those thoughts washed away as she went weak in the knees and melted into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer.
Sure, Feister had to stand on her toes since she's a lot shorter than Mush is, yet, it made it all that more perfect. There were a bunch of hoots and hollers from the boys. but she didn't care, she was wrapped up in her own world. This is something she's been wanting to do since...forever. It was perfect in every way.
And Feister didn't care it was in front of everyone. This was her moment, and it couldn't be any better. When Feister felt like she couldn't breathe anymore she slowly pulled back with the biggest smile on her face, and wide eyes. Mush was smiling too, he finally got the guts, and made a move on Feister. He pressed his forehead onto hers, and when she looked up her nose lightly brushed against his. "Be my goil?" Mush whispered tenderly while stroking her cheek with his thumb, as he looked into her dark brown fiery eyes.
Feister's eyes went wide at the sound of his words. The words she's been wanting to hear since she was thirteen. Now that Feister thinks about it, she remembered she used to think it was just a silly crush that would blow over in a couple of months. But it never did, instead it grew stronger with every day that went by, and now, that silly little crush was becoming something more. "I already was," Feister replied softly. She then leaned up and kissed him, which ended up lasting longer than planned.
"It's bout time ya got together!" Kid Blink yelled. This caused Mush and Feister to break the kiss and glare at Blink, who shrugged and said, "It's true an' you'se know it."
Mush and Feister then laughed before looking into each other's eyes with big smiles. After a lifelong friendship that had it's up and downs, it finally happened. They had their first kiss. It wasn't Mush's first kiss, and Feister knew that, but it was hers, and she couldn't be happier that it was with the person she loves the most.
"Feister is a girl?!" Les exclaimed which made Feister look at Les with wide eyes. She saw that Les' mouth was wide open and Davey looked well...he looked very confused. And Katherine well...Feister wasn't sure what was going on in that girl's mind. That's when it hit Feister her cap must've fallen off or something. She felt the top of her head and when she didn't feel it she started panicking. "Lookin' for this?" Elmer asked as he tossed Feister her cap. "It fell off when Mush brains pulled ya in for a kiss."
Feister then slapped her cap back on her head and proceeded to tuck in her braids. But then decided not too (just this once) her signature smirk came onto her face as she said, "Yes Les, I's a goil. An' if you'se or ya brudda got a problem with that you'se can say it ta my fist." Needless to say, Davey gulped and Les' eyes went wide.
"An' there's the Feisty I's know an' love," Mush said as he slung an arm around her. Feister leaned her head of the nook in his arm and, in that moment she never felt happier.
"I can't help thinking, if one of your drawings can convinced the governor to shut down the Refuge, what might a daily political cartoon do to expose the dealings in our own government's back rooms? So what do you say Teddy, care to let this young man shine a light behind your closed doors," Pulitzer said.
"Don't sweat it gov, I should be hitting the road," Jack said before proceeding to walk out of the Distribution Center.
But before he could Davey asked,"Do you ever get tired of singing the same old tune. What's Santa Fe got the New York ain't. Tarantulas?"
"Or better yet what's New York got that Santa Fe ain't," Katherine added as she walked up to Jack and Davey.
"New York has us Jack," Feister said as she joined the small group around Jack. "We's family," she said while lightly punching his shoulder.
"Did I not hear something about the strike being settled," Pulitzer yelled.
"Line up boys!" Weasel snapped. "An' goil, these papes ain't gonna sell themselves." with being said, the newsies lined up to get their papers, leaving Jack and Katherine to talk.
"Hey Mush you'se sellin' with me?" Feister asked while looking up at him with a smile.
"Well, seein' as I's yer selling partner I's say that's a yes," Mush replied while grabbing her hand and kissed it. Her hand was a lot smaller than his own, but he wouldn't have it any other way. Feister then leaned up on her toes and kissed Mush's cheek, which made him turn red. This sent her into a fit of giggles since she has never seen him blush that quickly before.
"Next!"
"Heya Weasel," Feister said as if it was a normal day.
"How many papes girly?"
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed, oh sorry, I meant ta say sewer. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the sewer." she turned around her head to the back of the line and asked, "Am I right boys?" they all laughed in agreement. She then turned back to Weasel and said, "Ya know, maybe if ya try this thing called beauty sleep ya might actually get a date."
Feister then turned to Oscar and Morris and just like she thought their shiners were still there from when she punched them. "Glad ta see ya still got a little blacks and blues there." she then laughed before slamming down her money. The reason she still had some was because she always hid a few cents in her boot. In other words, Spider and his goons didn't get any.
While that was going on Mush couldn't help but smile and shake his head. "Looks like somethings never change," he thought.
"Alright girly get yer papes an'-"
"Move along, I's know that! It's always get the papes an' move along!" Feister exclaimed before grabbing the papers from Morris and walked off.
"She's gonna be a handful," Mush joked as he went to get his papers.
"Guys, look!" Les yelled. All the newsies looked where he was pointing, and saw Jack and Katherine kissing, which made them even louder than before.
"Well Jack, are you in or are you out?" Davey asked. Jack pulled away from his kiss with Katherine and rolled his eyes at Davey before slowly making his way up the line of newsies who were all saying something. Long story short, Jack ended up staying with the newsies because as Feister said, Jack found his new Santa Fe.
───── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─────
"You'se holdin' up ok?"
"Mush, for the millionth time, I's holdin' up just fine," Feister replied. It had been a couple of hours since the strike ended, and since she started selling again. In which Mush took it upon himself to ask if she was doing alright, or wanted to go get some rest.
"I's know, but that ain't gonna stop me from worryin' bout ya," Mush replied while brushing away some of Feister's hair that was covering her eyes. "That's better," he said with a love sick smile. Feister smiled and felt her cheeks turn red. This boy really is going to be the end of her. "Get back ta work dummy," was all she said.
"Whatever ya say Feisty," Mush replied before kissing the top of Feister's head. After a quick smile he walked a few feet away and started selling his papers again.
Feister's smile grew a little since she still couldn't believe this was actually happening. She then went back to hawking the headlines, which was bad, as per usual. But there was nothing that could be done about it, she was just glad everything was over. Besides that, a few minutes later she was selling she saw Scott come up to her.
"What happened ta you?!" he asked once he got closer.
"The Refuge," she replied quietly.
"You'se was in the Refuge?" Scott asked in shock. When Feister nodded he said, "I'm starting to see why yer called Feister." he handed her the money and she gave him the paper.
"Hey sweetheart," Mush said as he walked up to Feister and Scott. Mush then casually slung an arm around Feister and pulled her closer to his side. He kissed her cheek and lingered there for a few seconds before pulling away and said, "How's my goil doin'?"
"Like I's said five minutes ago, I's doin' just fine," Feister replied. Now, Feister knew very well what Mush was doing, but this time it was more personal.
"Sweetheart?" Scott asked in shock as he looked between Mush and Feister with wide eyes.
"Yep," Mush replied proudly. "This little beauty is now my goil. Any bum who flirts with 'er will be in big trouble." boy, did it feel good to say that. Not only does Mush get to call Feister his girl, but he also gets to tell this Scott kid to scram.
"With me or you'se?" Feister asked as she crossed her arms and looked at Mush with a knowing smirk.
"Mostly me," Mush replied. "No one messes with my goil if I's got anythin' ta say bout it." he sent a "back off" look to Scott, who got the message, nodded before leaving quicker than ever.
"Ya scared 'im off," Feister said as she faced Mush.
"Good," Mush replied while wrapping his arms around Feister's waist. He held her as close as possible. "Let's hope he don't come back," he said with his voice a little lower than usual.
It didn't take very long for Feister to put two and two together. "Mush Meyers!" Feister exclaimed making his eyes go wide. Mush knew that when Feister said his last name it always meant two things. He was either in trouble, or she was about to soak him. But, Feister didn't look like she was mad, or about to soak him. In fact, he didn't know what she was going to do for once. "Are ya jealous?" she asked catching him off guard.
"What?" Mush asked in shock as he pulled away from her. "Feister Johnson, you'se finally lost it! Cause, I am not-" Mush was cut off by a kiss on the lips. He didn't kiss back since he was too shocked in the first place.
Feister pulled away and couldn't help but giggle at the very stupid look on Mush's face. "Yer cute when yer jealous," she whispered.
"Get back ta work," Mush said while pushing Feister away, and he couldn't help but smile at the sound of that cute (and rare) little giggle she does so well.
"I's was workin' till you'se started gettin' all jealous," Feister teased while lightly shoving Mush.
"I's ain't jealous!" Mush exclaimed.
"Riiiight," Feister replied with a smirk.