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

9 - Jealousy

All that day Jack didn't let Alyssa out of his sight. And for once, Alyssa wasn't complaining. She convinced herself that this was just because she was scared after what happened the previous day. And she was. But deep down she knew that part of her wanted to be with Jack after spending the night with him. She wanted to be wrapped in his arms again. But that was just because she was scared, it had nothing to do with the feeling in her stomach every time Jack smiled at her.

"Since when does Lyss sell with us," Jewel said glaring at Alyssa while clinging to Jack's arm until he almost fell over.

"Weren't you here this morning? I don't want her gettin' more hurt than she already is. And would you quit calling her Lyss," Jack said, sounding very annoyed.

"She looks fine to me. And why can't I call her Lyss, it's just a nickname."

"Because I'm the only one who gets to call her Lyss."

Alyssa walked away from them and started selling her papers. When David went to join her Jack and Jewel were still arguing.

"Hey," he said. "What happened last night? Are you ok? And does this mean you and Jack aren't mad at each other anymore?"

"Woah, one question at a time hotshot," Alyssa said laughing. "I left Brooklyn too late last night and ran into some trouble. They, umm... they pulled a gun on me." David gasped. "But don't worry Jack got there in time," Alyssa rushed, not wanting David to worry too much. "It scared me though, and they got a few kicks before Jack scared them off. That's why he's playing the fearless hero right now." David looked to where Alyssa was looking and noticed that Jack and Jewel were still arguing. This time, however, Jack had his eyes on Alyssa. There was a faint smile on his face as he watched her sell a newspaper to a passerby. David turned back to look at Alyssa.

"Are you feeling any better this morning?" He asked as she turned to continue talking with him.

"Still a little shaken. But I'll live," Alyssa said, giving David a small smile. David noticed that it didn't reach her eyes. "My dad was shot when I was seven," Alyssa continued, looking down, "right in front of me." The last part came out as a whisper. For a second David just stood there, shocked, then he leaned in to give Alyssa a hug. Alyssa hesitated but returned the hug. She had to admit hugging David felt good, but she didn't get the same feeling in her stomach that she did when she hugged Jack.

"I'm so sorry Alyssa," David mumbled into Alyssa's newsie cap.

"I'm Cap right now," Alyssa said, grinning up at David. She pulled away from the hug, leaving David feeling empty.

Jack was watching this whole interaction from where he was standing with Jewel. Watching David make Alyssa laugh, watching him try to hug her, and then Alyssa actually letting him hug her and hugging him back made his stomach churn. He had thought maybe after the night he had shared with Alyssa meant something more. But maybe she was just scared. That was probably it. And anyway it was only a hug. But then again it had taken Alyssa 9 years to hug Jack, but only a few months to hug David. Maybe there was something there.

"Hello? Are you listening to me? What is Alyssa's problem with me?" Jewel interrupted Jack's thoughts.

"What? Ummm... ya Lyss just doesn't take change very well. Give her some time," Jack said, turning his attention back to the girl next to him. He thought Jewel was very pretty. But he didn't think she could hold a candle to Alyssa's beauty. There was just something about her. The way little bits of her hair would float out of her cap while she worked. The way her eyes shone like sapphires when she laughed. The way she cared so much about everyone around her that she often forgot to care about herself. And when she took her newsie cap off, Jack loved how her gorgeous hair flowed down her back and into her face, its waves creating a golden waterfall.

"Cap! Cap, where are you?!" Jack's thoughts were once again interrupted, this time by Laura. She had learned in the last couple of months she had been here that while they were selling she needed to call Alyssa Cap. She had also become a wonderful newsie, probably because of the fact that she was a girl and she was very young.

"What's up, my little angel?" Alyssa asked, smiling down towards Laura as she gave her a hug.

"Angel? She's a little devil! Making me chase her all the way here. Can't follow simple directions. Cap is selling right now and so are we, so you can't see him. You can't just run wild on the streets of New York. But did she listen? Nooo..." Alyssa grinned as Ella ranted about Laura, completely out of breath. Laura looked up at Alyssa with innocent eyes, hoping she wouldn't be mad at her.

"It's alright, Laur. Come on, you can sell with me," Alyssa comforted as she and Laura took off to find a new selling spot.

"Cap, wait! You have to stay with me!" Jack called, running to catch up with Ella, then watching her and Laura disappear into the crowd. "He's impossible!" He yelled in frustration.

"Tell me about it," Ella sighed.

"Well, I can't just leave him. Maybe I should go find him."

"Jack, I know you're worried, but I promise he'll be fine for a couple hours."

"I guess. It's just last night, I thought he could be dead when I heard that gunshot. I don't want something else happening to him."

"Gunshot?! You said he got in a fight! Not that there were guns!"

"I was looking for him when I heard a gunshot. I came running and he was curled on the ground having a panic attack while Darin and Harry were kicking him. And Harry had a gun in his hand. I beat them off, don't worry, but he's badly bruised. That's why I didn't want him running. He's not strong enough and he'll definitely get himself hurt even more."