~ Twenty ~

"Can I trust that you won't tell Davey? Please?"

"Yeah, of course." Romeo nods.

"I went up to the roof, 'cause Finch told me Jack would be up there," I sit up straight. "But the thing is... I wasn't the only one up there."

"Katherine..." Finch whispers. "Cory, I'm so sorry."

"Well what happened?" A few asked.

"They're both madly in love with each other." I hear a few oohs come from the crowd. "But I can't blame them. Jack is irresistible, and Katherine... Katherine is perfect." I sob some more into Romeo's chest.

"Cory, it's gonna be okay." Kid Blink says.

"Yeah, you and Jack'll work out, you'se perfect for each othah!" Race comforts me.

"Why would Jack want a girl like me, when he could have a girl like her?" I ask.

"No, why would Jack want a girl like her, when he could have a girl like you?" Romeo rubs my back. "Cory, you're a great girl, not tah mention pretty." A few tears fall into my smile.

"Really?" I look around. And they all shout things like, "Any guy would be lucky to have you!"

"Who wouldn't love you?"

"You're perfect."

"So, forget Jack Kelly," Race starts. "If he doesn't love you, dat's his loss."

"Thanks, you guys." I wipe the tears off my face. "Where would I be without my boys?"

"I dunno, we're pretty great, aren't we?" They all laugh. I give a hug to Race and Romeo and stand up and walk out into the foyer again.

As soon as I emerge from my room, I see Katherine sitting at a table. I begin to step toward her, but then I see Jack come and sit next to each other. Laughing, talking, enjoying being with each other. But all I can think is... That should be me.

"Do you see how happy he is?" I whisper.

"Cory, I'm so sorry." Race stands next to me.

"I've never seen him look so happy..."

~*~

"Jack!" I look up to see him leaning on the doorframe to my room, his hands in his pockets. "I didn't even notice you."

"Cory..." Jack clears his throat. "I, uh, really need a friend right 'bout now." He looks down and taps his feet on the ground.

"Of course, Jack. Are you alright? You seem kinda--"

"Katherine is Pulitzer's daughter." Jack blurts out.

"What?" I try to act surprised. "Katherine?"

"Cory, don't pretend to be hurt. I know she's never been your favorite person."

"Jack. I'm so sorry." I rub his arm up and down.

"She told me a couple days ago, on the roof. I woulda told you sooner, but I guess I needed some time to think." He looks at me with droopy eyes.

"Has she been spying on us this whole time?" I ask, trying not to sound fake.

"Nah. She said that she and her father have never been close." Jack shakes his head. "She got a job at the Sun just to get away from him."

"I don't blame her." I laugh a little, and so does he.

"I thought I'd tell you... You are my right-hand man after all." He playfully punches my arm.

You're right-hand man, huh? Is that really all I am to you? "Jack, I guess I should tell you something..." I sigh and hesitate to tell him about Katherine's visit to the Refuge.

"Sure, Cory. What is it?"

"I... I knew about Katherine."

"What about Katherine?"

"Well... Uh..." I rub the back of my neck and sigh. Just tell him. Tell him now. "I knew about Katherine Pulitzer."

"What?" He stands up. "And you never told me?" It almost felt like he was hurt even more than when Katherine told him herself.

"Let me explain, please." I tug on his arm and pull him back down to sit next to me.

Jack sighs, "okay." He looks at me in the eyes.

"When I was kidnapped, I was taken to the Refuge, and after that, I was taken to the World."

"The World?" He looks confused. "Why the World?"

"Pulitzer wanted to catch you, but instead, he got me. But he questioned me anyway." My neck begins to cramp up from looking down, so I look up at him. "But Katherine came in through the doors, and that's when I found out."

"Oh..." He looks down and whispers.

"Katherine came to the Refuge that night and she asked me not to say anything, to you or to anyone. And I told her that..." I stopped.

"You told her... What?"

"I told her that if she really loved you, she would tell you the truth." I sigh.

"She...She loves me?" I inhale slowly and nod. "She loves me," Jack smiles as his mood changes quickly.

I regret telling him that, but I decided I should take my own advice.

If you really love him, you would tell him the truth. And I couldn't deny it any longer... I really do love him.

~*~

Jack and I walk out into the foyer again after our discussion. And, even through all of the other boys, I hear a warm, welcoming, voice.

Davey. I smile to myself.

I near the swarm of Newsies and search for Davey. Everyone blocks my sight, all of the boys shot up within the past month. "Davey!" I yell out.

All of the boys move to the side, there was a clear pathway between the two of us. He smiled and I ran to hug him.

"What happened to you? I was worried sick!" He pulls away from our embrace and asks in a concerned tone.

"Snyder happened. But that doesn't matter now." I rest my head on his chest. Though sometimes I feel like I have to put on a show for everyone, I'd forgotten how much I loved Davey's hugs.

The other boys were still there, filling the open space with cheers when we kissed. I didn't hear Jack, but that's only because Katherine entered the scene. I watch the two in all of their glory. I still stand in Davey's arms, but I can't take my eyes off of the Greatest Couple on Earth, as the Newsies call them.

"Are you alright?" Davey catches my stare at Jack and Katherine. "You seem kind of distracted."

"Huh?" I turn back to look in his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be okay."

"You missed one heck of a birthday dinner the other night."

📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵

-hey y'all! i hope you liked this chapter, i think it's pretty great. *toss, toss*

-i'm really sad because everything i've been wanting to happen is ending, so i'll have to come up with a new theme now. 

-qotd: i have choreography on the brain, so... what is the show with the best choreography? (running now or nahhhh)

-aotd: running now i'd have to say... hamilton or something rotten. but just overall, newsies hands. down.

-welp, there's another chapter of qony, more coming soon! 

-i love you all so, so, so much! 

love, hayden beth