STRIKE! ; davey jacobs

SIX

vi. KING OF NEW YORK

JOSEPHINE ONCE AGAIN WAS IN
newsies square with the manhattan newsies. they all stood together in form, waiting for the gates to open. they were preparing for anything. "if i see that oscar, i'll give him a busted lip for crutchie." josephine spat, glaring ahead. david wanted to say that she was better than that, but he knew she was also mad that people knew of some engagement that consisted of her being married to him.

it was when the gates busted open with a carriage speeding out that the newsies all dove out of the way. david was sure to hold on josephine, making sure she didn't fall. "i'm okay!" she shouted as she stared forward. they came face to face with a group of scabs. "now everyone, remain calm!" david shouted. josephine looked over at jack, nodding her head. he nodded back, "let's soak 'em for crutchie!" the boys all shouted as they ran forward. even with the fire burning in her chest for a fight, she knew better. what would her father think?

"oh jack! jack! it's a trick!" racetrack shouted. josephine's eyes widened as she looked around. the gates were being closed, locking them in. "les, get out of here!" david shouted, shoving his brother. "i've got him!" josephine shouted, grabbing a hold of the little boy.

two older men were walking toward them, les stood in front of her with his sword, "leave her alone!" "les!" josephine shouted, grabbing the boy so she could pull him closer. she needed to get them out of there now. her time and hope was running out then she spotted newsies up on the roof. when spot conlon dropped it, she was hollering. "never fear, brooklyn is here." in seconds spot was on the ground, knocking over the two men that were heading for josephine and les. "thanks spot!" les still held his sword up, making sure to make it known he was protecting josephine. the fight was won once spot opened the gate back up, allowing more brooklyn newsies to join. "come on, up here!" josephine pulled les with her, trying to get away from the fight. she stood with a bunch of the other newsies. they were all ripping up newspapers and throwing them around.

"jack! boys! josephine! freeze! freeze!" denton was shouting, holding his camera. denton took the picture of the group, planning to put it in the paper. josephine knew if her father saw it he'd kill her. but for her boys it would be worth it. david's arm had been around her waist, holding onto her (he was falling and needed to grab onto something). luckily for denton he had taken the picture before josephine and david tumbled down. josephine landed on top of the boy, "david!" "help her up! help her up!" les shouted, rushing to help the teen girl up. the group of boys started laughing. even on the floor, david and josephine were laughing. josephine let les and skittery help her up. jack and mush had helped david up from the floor, teasing him. his face was red and he no longer was laughing, instead he coughed and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

~~*~~

josephine sat closely to david, talking with the newsies. "i think i'm going to owe medda the rest of my life with all this time i've been taking off." she had joked. "more of jo at irving hall isn't a punishment." skittery joked. josephine blushed as she leaned back in her chair, "too bad you couldn't get in."

just then denton walked in with a newspaper in his hand, "hey kids! hey, hey! big time!" he gives it to jack. "what you got there jack?" boots asked. josephine leaned forward, smiling ear to ear. "where's me picture? where's me picture?" spot asked, trying to see.

"what's that? that all about us?" boots asked, looking at denton. "look at that jack! you look like a gentleman!" mush teased, pointing at jack. jack wiped his finger away, "would ya get ya finger off me face?" "where does it say my name? where's my name?" spot asked, omly caring for himself. jack nudged him, "would ya quit thinking about ya self?" he was genuinely trying to read the paper, everyone was interrupting him. "you got us on the front page!" david said, looking up at denton. "you got yourselves on the front page. i just got to make sure you stay there." denton stated.

"so what. you get your picture in the papes, so what's that get you, huh?" skittery asked, being moody. "what are you talking about?" mush asked, nudging the boy. "shut up! you've been in a bad mood all day!" jack shouted as the boys began to hurl comments at skittery. skittery shouted back, "i'm not in a bad mood!" "you must be cause you been awfully nice." josephine sarcastically said. racetrack agreed, "yeah, you're glum and dumb! what's the matta with you? you get your picture in the papes, your famous. your famous, you get anything you want! that's what's so great about new york!" he slammed his fist down on the table.

the boys all went around, shouting out the things they wanted. "a saturday night with medda's star performer!" kid blink had shouted, jumping up on the table. josephine began to shout over the newsies who were all agreeing with the boy. "i'd like a day of peace from you all!" "you're the one who came here. no one invited you." skittery sassed. david looked at the boy, "and you want a date with her." the boys oohed as they contuined. everyone wanted something. even denton would get something, per the newsies request. "he's our star reporter!" josephine stood up, smiling widely as she held her hands out to denton. david stood up too, smiling widely with josephine, "editors desk for the best!" the group agreed. "and he's paying for our lunch!" race said. the group laughed and contuined on. they turned to josephine, "and what do you want, jo?" les asked, peering up at her.

josephine held her glass up, "here's to no marriage before twenty!" the boy all agreed. "we all do need a date." skittery joked. david nodded his head as he looked at josephine. the girl had leaned down, ruffling les's hair, saying a thank you as the boys contuined to talk. david wasn't even interested in what denton and jack were saying. all he cared about was that josephine was smiling and having fun with his little brother. of all the newsies, if her attention wasn't on him, he was grateful it was his little brother. especially after the boys said they all wanted a saturday night with her. and he was just thanking everything it wasn't skittery ot kid blink who had her attention. it's not like he was jealousy, he knew there wasn't a competition.