DaSilva's Sister (Morris Delancey x Reader)

Chapter 17

31 December 1898

Y/N's POV

Five months.

"It doesn't have to be complicated, Y/N. We're in control of that."

It's been exactly five months since he said that. Five months of wondering what it meant but not having the gall to ask him.

Five months of spared glances every morning. It's as though ever since he said not to complicate things, they've only gotten more complicated.

Maybe I subconsciously knew what he meant by that but some part of my brain refused to accept it.

Today's the last day of 1898, though. Thus in tomorrow being whole new year, even though it's literally just another day, it still feels like a fresh start.

Time is a weird concept. Every second that passes potentially could've been spent differently. The uncertainty of the future terrifies me and the irrevocability of the past depresses me.

I guess that's why we're told to live in the present which is much easier said than done. Five months of holding on to the same words certainly doesn't make it any easier.

"Mornin' N/N," I heard a voice from behind me. It was Jack.
"Howdy, Cowboy," I replied with a teasing smile.

He chuckled a bit, "How's ya feelin' for tha new year, ya think 1899'll bring betta headlines?"
"Ya gotta hope, but wit' Pulitzer, 'ts kinda hopeless," I answered.

"All's well, N/N, 'cause it ain't headlines dat sell papes."
"Yeah I know, I know, Newsies sell papes. Ya still gotta hope for somethin' ta work with."

"Yer damn right on dat one. Well, let's go sell the papes, 'ts gonna be a shorter day."
"Aye aye Cap'n Jack!" I exclaimed, mockingly saluting.

He snorted at that before turning to wake everyone up, "Get a move on, y'all, papes ain't gonna sell 'emselves!"

New Year's Eve in New York is something else. A huge outdoor festival with what feels like the entire earth's population in attendance. An atmosphere filled with something that those who've lived in New York all their lives need more of, hope.

Hope for what the new year may hold. Hope for dreams possibly coming true. As a self-proclaimed professional dreamer, New Year's Day is one of my favourite times of the year.

Excitement coursed through my veins as I waited to get my papers. I was just filled with this sense of purpose.

"You excited for '99?" I heard from behind me as we were outside. I turned to see that it was Race.
"Yeah, big dreams ta live out," I replied with a small smile.
"Dreams involvin' Delancey?"

I paused for a second then replied with, "Yeah," surprising both Race and myself.
"Yer actually gonna make a move?"
"Guess we'll see," I responded a slight smirk growing on my face before I ran off to find customers.

Selling went as well as usual and somehow I found myself in Katie's room in one of her dresses with her putting heaps of makeup on my face.

"Today's gonna be good! This coming year's gonna be good! I can feel it N/N! Ahh can't you just feel it," she gushed.
"Yeah," I chuckled, "real good."

"Aaaand done! Tada!" I looked in the mirror to see the completion of Katie's work and noticed the bright red lipstick she had put on my lips to match hers.

"Ya sure this ain't too much?"
"No way, no such thing," she said, waving her hands in dismissal, "you look perfect."
I smiled at her merriment.

"Now let's go out there and kiss this year goodbye!" she exclaimed, practically dragging me out the house, forcing me in step with her as she sprinted off to the festivities.

We almost instantly separated as she gave herself time to be encapsulated by the festival, fuel to her sweet optimistic heart.

What I immediately saw was the characteristic busyness to the streets of New York but the atmosphere was more vivacious.

A sense of optimism as people surrounded the carnival of sorts. For the crowded nature of my surroundings, I was almost shocked at how quickly I found the boys.

"Oh looky dat, DaSilva's dressed like a prim 'n propa lady. She even got da makeup on," I heard from a familiar voice.
"Haha, laugh it up, Mush. I happen ta think I suit dis here look," I huffed jokingly.

"Yeah, ya wouldn't be da only one," Elmer remarked with a snort.
"Yeah! Hey Racer, ya eyes are poppin' outta yer head," teased Henry.

"Hey dats my sista, knock it off," Albert mockingly scolded, knowing full well that they were completely off about Race.

"Y'all can keep this conversation, I'm gonna go someplace else," I announced.
"Oh wait," I pulled Race aside and whispered in his ear, "Katie's here."

"Really?" he replied.
I nodded my head in her direction before patting his shoulder as I went off to find my next adventure of the night.

In my slightly spaced out walk I found myself walking into a wall. Particularly a wall of Morris Delancey.

"Ah, fancy seeing you here, Y/N."
"Pretty sure all of New York's here," I joked.
"Maybe all of America," he added which sent us both into a laugh.

We haven't done that in a while.

We haven't really spoken much either. Almost as if we talked ourselves into a wall and until we addressed the elephant in the room we'd be forever stagnated.

"So how've you been?" he attempted to make conversation.
"I- good, you?"
"Good."
"Yeah good."

The air around us was thick in an awkward sense, like we were stuck in some plasma that forced us into staying in this uncomfortable situation. It felt so awkward to the point that I felt compelled to look around and make sure no one I knew was in sight to see this tragic interaction.

"And now let's prepare for the countdown into 1899! One minute remains!"

One minute. Okay. Time to just do it.

I took a deep breath and then just spoke, "Morris, look, this has ta be said. 5 months ago ya said that this don't have ta be complicated and I spent everyday thinkin' 'bout it and deep down I knew what ya meant. Well t's almost a new year so I figured may as well do what seems ta have almost happened many times with us but was always stopped by circumstance. I like you, like way more than a friend. Love ya in fact and 'm almost certain ya feel the same way. We made it clear but it just had ta be let out so here goes. I wanna be wit' you so much that sometimes it hurts. I jus' need you. If I got it wrong, tell me but I just feel that there's something undeniable between us."

"...5..."

"Of course I love you, Y/N, I don't think I could ever not love you."

"...2, 1! Happy New Year!"

As if there was some sort of magnetic pull, our lips finally attached as a culmination of the months of tension that had been building. A New Years kiss fitting for a pair like us.

Everything had been leading up to this moment and it was perfect, better than any dream. This kiss had the perfect depth to it, all the pent up feelings driving it.

It was like we were made for each other, our lips fitting perfectly together and the moment was heightened by the fireworks that lit up the sky.

Almost as though our kiss had created those fireworks. This was young love but more than that, true love.

Though I may not know what the future holds at my young age, in this moment I became sure that Morris Delancey was my soulmate.

As we separated, we looked at each other with expressions that could only be described as lovestruck. We wrapped each other in a soft embrace, basking in the warm light.

"Happy New Year Mo," I whispered.
"Happy New Year N/N," he replied and kissed me on the forehead.

Perfect.

A/N: Heyyy besties, I just updated again🫢 Ik it's been a whiiiile but bro 2022 has just been a rollercoaster of a year (school-wise and just life-wise haha) but getting back to this story definitely made me feel a lot happier so yeah appreciate all of y'all 😘