The Experiment || Newsies AU

Chapter 70

By the time the rally had rolled around, Jack was terrified.

He wanted to tell the rest of the Newsies about what Pulitzer was having him do but he had threatened him with more nights in isolation if he so much as hinted to it.

The night he had spent in isolation was one of the worst nights he had had in a long time.

It was like his time in the Refuge all over again but worse since there was no one else there for Snyder to take his anger out on.

When he came back with bruises Crutchie knew what had happened without even needing to ask.

Davey worried but when he looked at some of the drawings in his sketchbook and put two and two together.

Jack worried over how the boys would react if he told them what happened in the Refuge but most of all how Crutchie would react.

He would always lie to Crutchie and say that it wasn't as bad as it looked or that some of them were from him being clumsy but Crutchie had known Jack since they were young and could tell when he was lying.

As he walked up to give his speech on the stage in the auditorium he couldn't help feel remorse for the friendships he had spent so long making throughout the year.

Davey had made a speech before him but Pulitzer had insisted that they have a last minute meeting to make sure Jack understood the agreement.

Jack wished he could have been there to listen to Davey. He always loved listening to him talk.

He knew Davey hated speaking in front of large crowds but when the situation called for it it was like his life calling.

Jack had only caught the tail end of it and even from that little amount he could tell it was good.

Unfortunately for both of them, he had to interrupt him which just made Jack feel even more regretful about what he was about to do.

When he stood on the stage after Davey had cleared off of it he got to have a good look at everything in front of him.

Davey was looking up at Davey with nothing but pure love in his eyes. Jack's heart broke in two at the thought of ever having to betray that love.

Race and Spot had their arms around each other's waists and were looking up a Jack with smiles on their faces. Race's was more noticeable than Spot's but it was still there.

Blink and Mush were holding hands and grinning like idiots.

Specs and Romeo were standing shoulder to shoulder with eyes full of hope.

Crutchie was standing with Elmer and Jack hated to think of how he might react. He had trusted him through everything and now. he was about to go and do this.

The rest of the Newsies were in similar situations, all smiling or with looks of hope.

Ms. Medda had been kind enough to put a marker on the stage for him to stand on in case he got nervous and blanked completely.

Jack dreaded what he was going to do but he knew there was no other option.

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540 words