Newsies Jack Kelly x OC (Alyssa Stoll Doesn't Do Love)

2 - Mama

Chapter two is here! Just for reference, Jack is now 15 and Alyssa is 13. A little more backstory, and Jack and Alyssa's first "moment".

6 years later, Alyssa woke to the sound of her mother sobbing. "Mother, what is it? Are you ok?" She rushed to her mother's side and shook her awake. "What? What? Who is it?" Her mother said, startled.

"It's just me, Mama. It's going to be ok. Everything will be fine." She had been saying that a lot lately. Her mother wasn't sleeping well, and it left Alyssa feeling constantly exhausted. All of her time that should have been spent resting and getting ready to sell newspapers again the next day was spent comforting or caring for her mother. Her mother had lost her job because she was getting sick all the time and not able to work fast enough. Alyssa's meager earnings as a newsie made enough to keep them both alive, but only barely. She hardly ate anything anymore because most of her money went to food or medicine for her mother. All Alyssa could do was say it's going to be fine and try to keep her mother alive.

When Alyssa was sure her mother was ok, she hurried and got dressed into her newsie clothes and stuffed her hair into her hat. Just then there was a knock at the door.

"Lyss are you coming?"

"Since when do you call her Lyss?"

"I've been calling her that forever dumbass."

"Ya, sure. Come on Alyssa!"

Alyssa rolled her eyes at Jack and Race's arguing and hurried out the door. "Shut up both of you, I'm right here."

"Your mother doing ok?" Race asked.

Alyssa shrugged. "When is she ever ok? Come on, let's just go."

Race gave Alyssa a look but hurried after her with Jack.

"Lyss wait. You've got something right there..." Jack trailed off as he tucked a loose strand of hair back into Alyssa's cap.

"Thanks, Jack," Alyssa said with a small smile. Jack found himself lost in her eyes. They looked just like the sea on a stormy day. Race nudged Jack, and the three of them kept walking towards the distribution center.

"I saw that you know," Race whispered to Jack, grinning at him.

"Saw what?" Jack asked. Race scoffed and fell into step with Alyssa.

sell your papes, newsies

"Lyss, won't you at least have some of my food," Jack pleaded for the third time that day at lunch.

"Jack, I'm not taking your food," Alyssa insisted. "And I need to save my money for mama. She's not doing so well."

"Is it really that bad?" Race asked worriedly.

"Yes, Race. It is," Alyssa sighed. "Anyway, I'd better go check on her now." Alyssa stood up to leave.

"Wait, I'll go with you," Jack said.

"Thanks, Jack," Alyssa half-smiled.

"Of course you will," Race muttered as Jack started following Alyssa. Jack elbowed him while Race laughed.

walk walk walk

"Mama?" Alyssa asked, walking into the small apartment. "Mama, are you awake?"

"Alyssa. Darling. Come. Come here." Alyssa rushed to her mother, worried about how much she was gasping.

"Mama! Mama, what's wrong?"

"Alyssa. I love- I love you. Darling. I love you. So. So. Much."

"No. No! Mama no it's going to be ok! Everything's going to be fine! You'll see! I almost have enough money for a new medicine! It'll work this time! I promise!"

"Darling. No. I love you. More- more than anything. I have- I have to go now. Stay with- stay with the newsies. I love you."

"I love you too. No! No, don't leave me! Please, Mama, please! You'll be ok! No! You can't go! I love you too much for you to leave! Please no! Mama!"

"I... love... you."

"I love you too mama." Alyssa felt numb as she watched her mother's eyes close for the last time. Her father was gone. Her mother was now gone, too. She was all alone. There would be no more saving money to buy new medicines. No more starving to feed another mouth. No more losing sleep to care for a sick person. But also no more loving mother. No more late-night chats when neither of them could sleep. No one to look out for her. Alyssa was completely and totally numb.

"Alyssa! Lyss! Is everything ok? You were shouting," Jack said, walking into the room. "Oh no," he said, seeing Alyssa huddled over her lifeless mother. "Oh Lyss I'm so sorry," Jack said, wrapping his arms around Alyssa. They stayed like that for a few minutes, until Jack scooped up Alyssa (much too easily he thought) and started the trek back to Tibby's.

"What happened? What did you do?" Race shouted as he saw Alyssa curled in Jack's arms.

"M-ma-mama," Alyssa whimpered.

"No," Race whispered, walking over to Alyssa sadly. She just nodded.

"Come on guys. Let's go," Crutchie whispered to the other newsies, not used to seeing Alyssa look so beaten. They all left quickly while Race and Jack, holding Alyssa, headed back to the lodging house. Alyssa felt the tears start flowing as she was put down on Jack's bunk, and once they started, they didn't stop.

"I'll leave you alone," Jack said, heading for the door.

"No!" Alyssa called. "Please stay!" Race moved over to where Alyssa was curled up crying and pulled her close to him. Soon he was crying too, and Jack sat next to them both, trying his best not to cry too. As Race calmed down he moved Alyssa over to Jack, and she immediately clung to him instead.

"I'm going to go take care of things at her apartment," Race said. "She's going to have to stay here now. Watch her, ok?" Jack nodded his head and held onto Alyssa tighter.

That's chapter two. Kind of a short one but now Alyssa will be staying in the lodging house. And we see more of her and Jack's sweet friendship. Let me know what you thought.

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