Newsies Oneshots/Crack

13- School

"DAVID JACOBS, YOU PROMISED!"

David flinched back as his father screamed, clutching Jack's hand firmly. You would think that he'd be used to loud noises after the strike, but his father's loud, rough voice still struck him just as painfully as it had his whole life. He took a deep breath and sighed.

"I'm not going."

"YOU DON'T GET TO MAKE THAT CHOICE!"

"YES, HE DOES! HE'S ALMOST AN ADULT, YOU CAN SUCK IT YOU OLD-" Jack was silenced by a swift elbow to the ribs as David continued.

"What Jack meant, is... I'm seventeen, Papa. I would have graduated by now anyways, there's no point in going back to school! Plus, with the extra money-"

"WE DON'T NEED THE EXTRA MONEY!" His father barked at him, before taking a moment to calm down. "David... we've been getting along just fine for years. They took me back, I'm better now- you don't need to sell papers anymore."

"But I want to!"

"You're too young to know what you want."

"Oh and Sarah isn't?! She gets to work!"

"Your Sister's only responsibility is to take care of the family- she doesn't need an education like you do."

"I already have an education!"

"You never finished it!"

"JUST LET ME LIVE MY LIFE!" He screamed, finally snapping as tears ran down his face. "I'M NOT FIVE ANYMORE!"

"YOU AREN'T TWENTY YET, EITHER. SO SIT YOUR ASS DOWN, SAY GOODBYE TO JACK, AND GET READY BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING BACK TO THAT SCHOOL FIRST THING TOMORRO-"

"DON'T YOU DARE YELL AT HIM LIKE THAT!" Jack stood up, looking ready to lunge across the table.

"Mr. Kelly, I don't believe you're involved in this."

"Oh, I'm very much involved in this-"

"Jack." David quietly pleaded before turning back to his father. "Dad, you can't make me go back."

"I damn well can! You promised."

"That means next to nothing." Jack smirked.

"Jack! Let me handle this." David shot him a glance. "But... he's right."

"Bullshit- we keep our promises in this family."

"If that were true, I'd have been able to drop out of school whenever I wanted."

"...I'm not discussing this further with your friend at the table, David."

"And why not?!" Jack snapped.

"You're poisoning his mind!"

"Oh, I'll show you poisoning-"

"JACK!" David sighed. "Papa. If you don't let me keep working, I'll leave."

"You can't. Where would you go?"

"With me. Any more questions, old man?" Jack smirked proudly.

"Wha- David, I refuse to let you-"

"Most of his stuff is already there." Sarah chimed in from the corner, not looking up from her crochet project. "He's been sneaking it with him every day."

"You WHAT?! David Jacobs-"

"It's my stuff, Papa- I bought most of it with my paper money. So you can't do anything."

"David, you're being ridiculous- you loved school!" Ethster pleaded, trying to help her husband's case.

"I loved learning- not school."

"Same difference! I swear, David, if I wake up tomorrow and you aren't here-"

"Don't worry! He'll be in good hands." Jack promised, putting a hand around David's waist.

"You call yourself good hands?! You're a Newsboy, you all act like brutes and probably only care for yourselves!"

"We newsboys care for each other like a family, which, news flash, now includes your son. You can decide if you want us to be his only family or not." Jack scoffed coldly, turning to gently nudge David out of his chair.

"David, wait! I'm sorry- listen, please. I just want you to have a better life than I did. Please go back to school."

"My life's already great, Papa. I'll be okay."

"David-"

"Just let it go." Sarah pleaded. "He doesn't want to go back-"

"You, be quiet. This doesn't concern you."

"He's my brother. I'm concerned." Sarah scoffed, standing up. "And if he leaves, I'll go with him."

"Sarah-"

"Mayer, you're making this worse." Ethster stopped him. "Sarah, please just go to your bed... we'll sort this out."

"Fine..." Sarah sighed, walking to her bed. "But if he's gone in the morning, I'm going to find him."

"He won't be." Mayer insisted, turning back to David. "You are so lucky your brother is sleeping-"

"You know, David should get to bed too. He's got a big day of work ahead of him tomorrow." Jack spat, starting to leave. "You coming, Davey?"

"Coming." David smiled, hesitating a moment.

"DAVID JACOBS, DON'T YOU DARE WALK OUT THAT-"

And David was gone.