~ Nine ~

I heard Jared call my name just as I woke up. I walked into the open air filled with loud newsboys and morning sunlight.

"Cory!" Jared ran down the stairs with a huge list of things he needed me to do for him. "Can you bring some blankets and bread upstairs for me? And there's a bottle of whiskey in the cupboard next to the window. Thanks, sis. You're great." He smiled and his green eyes squinted and the freckles on his cheeks popped. He ran back up, kicking something under the stairs. It was a green, emerald amulet. One of Jared's rich girlfriends probably dropped it. Jack picked it up and slid it under the closet door. He knew how much I loved collecting things like that.

Fourth time this week up these stairs. I thought. It was true. Jared had had three girls over in the past four days. I think I labored the most that day. But what was I supposed to do? I was way too scared to simply protest his commands.

"Cory, you'se alright?" Jack caught up to me when I ran to the cabinet.

"No... Jack, I am so tired, I don't even know what to do with myself." I sighed. "I've been running up and down the stairs for four days straight and I can't take it anymore."

"Okay then. I'll take this," he took the tray from my hands and then I let out a breathy chuckle. "You go and lay down. I'll serve Jared and Anna today."

"Wait, no, no. Anna was on Tuesday. Today it's Isabella." I corrected him.

"Uh-uh, I remember meeting Isabella yesterday. Man, she is someth-" I gave him a look and he looked away from me. "Okay. I'se gonna get some blankets now."

I laughed." Thanks, Jack. You're the best." I hugged him and ran back to my small bed in my closet.

~*~

Three years later I'm still doing the same thing, but sadly, I don't have a best friend taking over the running up and downstairs for me. Instead, my best friend is the one I'm doing this for. Jack doesn't see how much he has turned into Jared, but I can't stop seeing it.

Jack, Davey and I were sitting together outside in the sun. When Crutchie whistled and called out,

"He's coming!"

Jack stood up and ran to the lodging house quickly.

"That's the third time in the past two weeks!" Davey complained, standing up and chasing after Jack. "I'm not so sure it's a good idea to be friends with a fugitive, Cory."

"You know that Snyder has been chasing Jack for years, now."

"Yeah, I know. But I just really want to sit down with you and just... Relax. You know?"

"Me too, Davey. But if you're going to be friends with Jack, you've got another thing comin'." I nudged him.

We sprinted to the lodging house and were shoved by several Newsies coming outside. I spotted Jack running up the stairs, yelling to Crutchie. The boy limped across the foyer and Snyder came up behind him and snatched his crutch right out from under his arm. Snyder brought it up above his head and began to beat him with it. Davey ran to his defense. Coming in between the crutch and the small Newsie. Davey was thrown out of the way and some men came in and started taking some of the boys out of the building. I helped Davey up and saw that I couldn't do anything for poor Crutchie. Jack was already up the stairs, and Davey was all beat up. We hid behind the counter in the kitchen and watched the man take Crutchie away.

I ran up the stairs to find Jack on the rooftop after he left. We caught our breath and I saw Snyder below us, throwing Crutchie into a cart.

"Jack, what are we going to do?" Davey asked.

"'Bout what?" He sat down.

"About this! About Snyder, and the strike! And you running! Jack, I can't watch this happen any more." Davey cried.

"Well, 'scuse me! I'm jus' doin' tha best I can! It ain't easy bein' the leader of this strike, plus Snyder chasing aftah me," he spat right back at him. "I want to get outta here so badly, Dave. I almost got enough dollars tah get on a train and leave New York. This is the only thing holdin' me back."

"You can't keep putting your friends in harm's way!"

"Crutchie was just taken to the refuge." I stood up. "Snyder got him."

"Wait. Crutchie?" Jack's expression went from angry to frightened.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"We can't do anything about it." Davey muttered.

Jack pushed him out of the way and ran down the stairs and disappeared. I looked at Davey with droopy eyes, and he brought me into his arms.

~*~

Our reporter friend, Katherine came in to the lodging house not too long after the attack.

"What happened? Is everybody okay?" She raced through the door.

"Everything is alright." Davey assured her.

"Where is Jack? Did he..." She was still worried.

"No!" I exclaimed. "No, he just walked out on us. Don't know where he went."

"What's going on?" Davey asked.

"Well, I came over here ready to show all the guys the rough draft for the headline, but then I heard word that the house was ambushed, and I-"

"Wait, the rough draft?" Davey perked up quickly.

"Yes! Just finished it this morning!" She handed him the paper, and I rested my chin on his shoulder.

"Newsies Stop the World." I smile as I read.

With all eyes fixed firmly on the Trolley Strike, there's another battle brewing in the city.

"Katherine, this is great!" Davey praised.

"It could use a little bit of editing here and there, but it should be published soon!" She gave herself silent applause and laughed.

"Well, it looks pretty good now." I tell her.

"I should get going," Davey said. "After what happened here, I'm sure my mother is worried sick!" He hugged me and left me alone with Katherine in the foyer.

I walked to the pantry to avoid the awkward tension in the room. Poured some water into a glass and sat on the counter.

"So, what happened to Jack?" Katherine's high-pitched voice rang in my ears and throughout the entire building.

"I don't think he was taken, but I don't know where he is." I replied after taking a sip of my water.

"I'm so worried about him." She rubbed her arms and looked down at the floor.

"Yeah, me too," I mumbled.

Me too.

📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵

-Hey-de-ho!

-I am so excited for the next few chapters! They're gonna be soooo good!

😁😁

-QOTD: How 'bout dem Tony results? What are your thoughts?

-AOTD: Kelli definitely deserved her award and I am so happy! I was totally rooting for Fun Home for best musical! I am stoked! Also, the performances were stellar! Finding Neverland, ISBY, I was so sad that they (along with Side Show) didn't get nominated for anything, but still they did a spectacular job with the performances. Kristin Chenoweth just literally made my Tony Night! This was a great season. So excited for the next one!

-Alright, I love you all, have a lovely day! 🐳☀️

Stay Musical. Hayden Beth 💖