Newsies and Orphans

3

When I woke in the morning, I panicked for a moment, thinking I had missed the morning whistle to get up, then I realized where I was, and I was safe. The second thing I realize is I'm pressed against something warm. In the night I must've moved towards Jack, whose arm was draped over my waist, holding me close. I watch him for a moment, the early morning rays spilling in through the window across the room. It was unusual to see him so peaceful and relaxed. I stayed like that for a few moments, enjoying the comfort of it, before slipping out from under his arm, knowing I had to get up.

"Where you goin'? The morning bell ain't rung yet," Jack mumbles, waking up as I move away.

"I'm getting up, go back to sleep."

"But now I'm cold," He complains pitifully, his mouth smushed against the pillow. He reaches out towards me, trying to pull me back.

"Jack!" I exclaim, trying not to laugh as I fall back onto the bed.

"Shhh, you'll wake the others," He mutters, "And we wouldn't want to do that."

"I need to get the girls ready for the day. And before they get ready, I need to get ready. And I can't get ready in bed, I'd get the sheets all wet while washin' up." I pause for a moment. "I can wash up here, right?"

"Yeah, we got showers."

"Good, then I'll use one of them before changin'. Only problem is I got no change of clothes..."

"Well I got an idea to remedy that, but you ain't gonna like it," He says, sitting up and facing me.

"Last time you had an idea I wouldn't like, it got people out of a bad place. So what's the suggestion Kelly?"

"Promise not to hit me?"
"Just spit it out."

"Well I got a spare pair of clothes you could borrow. May need a safety pin or two, but it'd fit."

"Why'd you think I'd object to that? It means I get to wear pants, which makes my life a lot easier. Do you know how hard it is to work when you're in a long dress? It is the most annoying and difficult thing ever, second only to you."

"Me? Annoying and difficult? You wound me doll!" He places a hand over his heart, feigning hurt as he falls back on the bed.

"You are impossible!" I laugh, doing my best to keep quiet.

"But I'm also cute, according to you." I felt color rise to my cheeks at his statement, only half remembering our conversation the previous night. "Awww, somebody feel embarrassed?"

"Shut up Kelly," I mutter before getting out of the bed for the second time. "Where are your clothes and where's the shower?"

"Clothes are at the end of the bed, showers is down the hall, first door on the left." Jack smirks. "And no need to be embarrassed doll, I find it adorable."

I grab the clothes before waking the other older girls and heading to the showers. I feel all of my muscles relax the moment the hot water hits me. I probably stayed in there a good few minutes before the water ran clean. I had no idea how much grime I had picked up since the last time I showered, which was two or three weeks ago. However the one thing the water didn't wash away was the bruises. I was quite the sight, between my ribs clearly showing and the number of cuts and bruises that littered my body, it was clear the past few weeks had been rough. I sighed and looked away from myself as I turned off the water and grabbed a towel, quickly covering up. I hated seeing myself like this, and I hated the sympathetic looks I got from the others as I dried off and dressed.

I found a brush and took a solid five minutes to get all the knots and tangles out of my hair before pulling it back into a ponytail. Satisfied, I slipped back into the dorm room of the lodge and slowly woke the littles, filtering them all into the showers so they could clean up.