There's a Story Behind the Story || Newsies

Chapter 85 - Ships and Snuggles

- Chapter 85 - I feel like everything in this book has ships haha. I mean, it wouldn't be newsies without them -
Warnings: mentions of being sick, slight confusion and slight worry
Third Person POV

"Hey, Gabe," Andrew started as he put down a card. "How's Lio?"

Gabriel looked up from where he was talking with Mateo. He shrugged a bit. "Much better than he was," he answered. "Unless something drastic happens, he'll be back tomorrow," he informed him. "He was up and walking today, but it hasn't been 24 hours since he last threw up and had a fever, so Mr. Miller kept him home one more day to make sure he was okay."

Andrew nodded.

Declan looked at him. "Mom tried to do that with you," he said, throwing down a card.

Andrew laughed. "She did." He nodded, looking at his cards. "Isaiah wanted me to stay home."

Declan nodded. "Even if he sometimes overreacts because he's worried, you were still not looking great," he commented.

Andrew shrugged. "I couldn't stay resting in bed any longer," he responded. "It was killing me."

Declan's eyes finally left the cards and he shot Andrew a look. "Yeah, and had you gotten up and over exerted yourself, you could've killed yourself," he responded.

Andrew shrugged. "As Rose says-" he started.

"Don't you quote Gypsy again," Declan cut him off, shooting him another look. "You quote that song almost daily to prove your point."

Andrew shrugged again. "It helps prove my point."

Declan rolled his eyes. "Yes, the point that could get you hurt," he responded like it was obvious. "Am I the only one who cares about my health and safety as much as my family and friends?" he questioned.

"Yep," Andrew answered.

"Pretty much," Mateo and Gabriel chimed in.

Declan rolled his eyes again. "No wonder adults are worried about us," he grumbled.

"Hey," Mateo shot him a look, "I don't care about myself. I care about everyone else, but not myself," he told him.

"Same." Gabriel nodded. Then, he turned to face Mateo, "but also, no. Bad." He lightly shoved Mateo's arm. "You're too cute to not care about yourself."

Mateo's face scrunched up. "No." He looked at Gabriel. "You're the one who's too cute to not care about yourself." He booped his nose.

Gabriel blushed. "No-"

"Oh God," Declan turned back to his and Andrew's game of War, "they fight like a couple too."

"They are a couple," Andrew responded like it was obvious.

Declan sighed. "I'm tired," he muttered, mainly to himself.

"Hey, Gabe!"

All four of the boys looked up.

Gabriel smiled a bit. "Hey, Amari!" He noticed two boys behind him. "Hey, Svein, Kenan!"

Amari smiled. "Hey, Gabe!"

Gabriel adjusted Mateo in his lap. "What brings you to this side of the theater?" he asked curiously. "If I'm not mistaken, techies don't usually like to be the ones onstage." He chuckled a bit.

Amari chuckled with him. "We were just checking in," he answered. "We haven't seen Emilio in a while and we're wondering where he is and if he's okay."

Svein and Kenan exchanged a smirk.