~ Five ~

Almost two weeks into the strike, I never get to see Jack anymore. I guess when you're the leader of the strike, it's kind of hard to communicate with your friends.

After a while of sitting around gets boring. We don't sell papes. We don't have any money to eat at Tibby's. We are all starving. I don't know when this will end, but I want it to right now.

"Well, this isn't fun at all." Les whined as he plopped down on the curb next to Kid Blink.

"Les, it's almost twelve o'clock." Davey looked up to the City Hall clock. "We have to go back home for lunch." He took his younger brother's hand.

"Lunch?" Specs looked up with weary eyes. "As in, food?"

"Sorry, Specs. I'll try and get something for you, alright?" The hungry newsboy nodded closed his eyes.

"We'll be back in an hour or so." Les waved to us.

"Bye, Cory." Davey smiled at me and they walked up the street.

Not long after that, Jack came running out of Tibby's with some food and a happy face.

"Cory! Cory!" It's been so long since I've heard my name ring in his voice. I sat up and he knelt down after giving some bread to the Newsies around us.

"Heya, Stranger." I smirked.

"Cory, you'll never believe it! I just met someone who could get the strike out there!"

"You fin'lly talked to Spot Conlon?"

"No.. Not, not yet." Jack shivered. "I met a reporter! She wants ta do a story on us. The Manhattan Newsies."

"Imagine that." I muttered sarcastically.

"I was pickin' up some bread an' buttah for the boys and you. Tibby called out my name and was askin' me 'bout da strike. I turn 'round and see the reporter, with a pencil out and ev'rythin'. And now I got an address for the newspaper company she's workin' fer. She's wantin' ta interview me. And 'course you can come, too-"

"Wait, 'she'?" I cut him off.

"Yeah. Her name's Katherine Plumber. Don't you love that name? Katherine." He gives a breathy chuckle. "Anyway, I told her that we'se could meet for lunch sometime this week."

"Ok?"

A female reporter? In New York? Not just my life changing anymore, the entire world is changing.

He likes her.

I can tell.

"Jack, whatever you want me to do, I'll be right there." I assure him.

"Right back atchya, Cory." He smiled at me. "Hey, do you mind if we'se go to Medda's place tonight? Just tha two of us?"

"Jack, that'd be great. I really wanna spend time with you," I perked up just a little. "Ever since this whole 'strike' happened we've sorta been...kinda..."

"Distant." He finished my sentence for me, and described how I felt perfectly.

Not long after, Davey walked back with Les running back to sit with Jack. Davey, trailing behind him, laughed at the sight.

"How was lunch?" I asked him.

"It was alright. Speaking of lunch-" Davey was cut off by an excited Jack Kelly.

"Dave! You'se never gunna believe what happened today at Tibby's!" Jack explained. "I met a reporter. She want ta do a story on us! Tha Manhattan Newsies!"

"Wow. That's huge." Davey nodded.

"Yeah, and I want you an' Cory to come wit' me to the innaview."

"Alright. Sounds good. As I was saying..." Davey began. "Cory? Can I talk with you for a minute?" He motioned for me to go around the corner.

"What's goin' on?" I asked him once we were out of sight from Jack and the rest of the boys.

"Look, you and I both know how great of friends we are, and I would never do anything on purpose to ruin that-"

"Oh, Davey. I think I know where this is going," I stopped him.

"Please just let me finish." He took a deep breath and began to talk again. "Would you like to come with me to my father's birthday dinner?"

Wow. Another date?

"Well, Davey, my answer is yes. But we can't do it tonight, I'm going to Medda's with Jack." I explained to him.

"Jack??" Davey asked, confused and slightly threatened.

"Yeah, he just asked me back there." I pointed to where we were sitting.

"Oh," he looked down and kinda let his foot swing back and forth. "You two aren't-"

"Oh, NO! No. It's just, ever since the strike, so many things have been happening and I don't get to see him anymore. We're not-"

"Ok. So, maybe on Saturday?"

"Good."

"Good." He nodded. Les called Davey's name, and he ran to his aid. Another bloody knee. I swear this kid is restless.

~*~

Jack and I went to see Medda that night. She sang a few of her popular songs and we watched some of the other girls perform too.

Jack turned to me. "We sat right here when we came with Jared." His voice makes me feel like I'm going to fall off of this balcony. I love it so much.

"Yeah. That was probably the worst day of my life."

"What? That was fun-Right. Forgot 'bout that." He laughed and remembered Jared and his disappearance.

I looked at his lips as he talked. They moved so smoothly with a stumble every now and then. I wanted to smash my lips onto his. All the times he kissed me, he was either drunk or depressed.

"Ya know, we could probably meet Medda after her performance, if ya want." I suggested.

"Really? Good. 'Cause I'm lookin' at 'em backdrops and, man. They look terrible."

"What are you going to do, tell her that they look bad?"

"Nah, I just wanna see if I can get a lil' bit of money outta her. You know, wit' my art skills."

"Oh, that's what you call 'em? 'Skills'?" I teased.

"Shut up, Cory. I'm good and you know it."

We met Medda, Jack talked backdrops, and we made it back to the lodging house by 1 AM. Jack and I sat on the fire escape again. Talking. Laughing. Singing. It was perfect.

Perfect Deja Vu.

❤️ 📰 🎵 ❤️ 📰 🎵 ❤️ 📰 🎵 ❤️ 📰 🎵

-Hi-de-ho, neighbor! I made another chapter. WHAAAAA

-OUR SHOW OPENS TOMORROW WHAT. #lineplease?

-QOTD: Favorite Movie Musical?

-AOTD: Newsies and Joseph💜

-Seriously, guys I love you so much. It makes my heart happy when I get comments and votes, because, honestly, as an aspiring writer, it feels great to have that encouragement and critique. I want to connect with you all!

Stay Musical. Hayden Beth ☺️❤️