Newsies: On the frontier.

Chapter 6: Gallant Jack.

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Chapter 6: Gallant Jack.

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I had kept my lie running for a whole week. Crutchie and I sold papers together, working as a double act. He called out the headlines, and I thanked the people for their purchase, and how it'll go to me getting some new glasses. It was a lie, but it wasn't as bad, because I was helping out Crutchie. I had managed to keep my secret secluded from most of the Newsies. Only two people knew I was a girl. Sweets and Crutchie.

Sweets found out when I was lying in bed. He pranced over to my, a bag of sweets in his left hand. I glanced up, smiling at him. He pointed his grimy finger on my cheek, and left a spludge of dirt. I arched my brows in confusion. 'Hmmm?'

'Yous' a girl.' He said. I felt my stomach lurched. I sat bolt right up, fixing my hat. Had my hair fallen out?

'What?' I asked. I felt around my body, checking my breasts were concealed, and my hair was tied up out of sight. How could he of known? Was it really that obvious?

'Yous' too pretty to be a boy.' He giggled. The boy pulled out a lolly, and plopped it between his teeth and began munching happily. I blushed deeply. The boy turned around and headed downstairs.

And then it all came undone from there. It was a Sunday evening, and Crutchie invited me to the docks, were the boys were having a celebration of a successful week at work. We moved down the empty road, were Will, Clancy, Davey and Jack stood. They were sitting down, sipping something from a brown paper bag. They tossed it around, and they all took a sip. Even Davey.

I shuffled down with Crutchie, and we both sat down next to each other on a rock.

'Aye' Crutchie, Aye Archie'. Davey said. Will nodded in a greeting, and Clancy completely ignored me and Crutchie. Jack just blatantly stared me up and down. I chewed my lip, running my dirty fingers along the linings of my vest.

'Well, boys.' Jack began. 'What a wonderful day at work.' He said. The boys all cheered happily. I avoided my eyes from all of them, especially Jack. I didn't need him finding out that I was in fact a girl.

'Yeah, all because of that stupid gurl'.' Will began. I chewed my lip harder, I was squeezing the skin that it almost split. I continued to ignore him, my eyes watching the calm waters. Crutchie squirmed next to me, but he had no idea I was Anastasia Picket. I was only Ana - .. Hopefully.

'Ollie dies - And she gets all the publicity.' He continued. 'It's all her fault.' He sniffed. I could feel the anger boiling up inside me. I literally had smoke fuming from my ears. It wasn't my fault. It wasn't!

'It's not her fault!' I snapped. I almost said - my fault. Luckily I restrained myself. 'The carriage killed him, not the girl.' I spat. I was so angry. I was on my feet now, staring directly at Will. I'd caught William off guard. He was standing now, his fists balled up. His face was red in anger, and I'm sure mine was too.

'And how would YOU know?' He hissed. 'YOUS' BLIND!" He howled. Clancy began to laugh, Jack just stood their, ignoring us both. Will took a step forward. He was taller than me. I was just the bit smaller. He puffed out his chest, rolling up his sleeves. 'It WAS her fault.' He spat back.

'No.' I said. 'It wasn't.' I shook my head. I had no part in Oliver's death. It was a unfortunate coincidence. I didn't hear the yelling that was coming from the other boys, or the policeman pulling his gun as William attacked me, again. He swung hard with his right arm and got me in the left side of my ribs. The boys continued to scream in encouragement. I looked left, Jack stood their, ignoring us. Crutchie cried for William to stop. I was afraid he'd let my identity slip.

I don't remember the gun going off - but I certainly remember feeling it. The bullet passed through my right side of my ribs, straight under my ribs. I collapsed to the ground in William's arms. I went completely limp. I was conscious through the whole ordeal. Jack rushed over, drawing his hands over my wound. I began to tense up, my body convulsing from shock. Blood pulled in my mouth, it soon overflowed. My hands trembled as I bled out. Jack was yelling orders, as the policeman who shot me fled the scene. William was white faced as he stared down to my shaking body.

Jack removed my vest, ripping off my stripey shirt. My white singlet underneath was drenched with blood, but that wasn't the thing that made him pull away. It was the fact that my breasts were clearing marked underneath the shirt. Jack covered his mouth as my hat fell off as I fitted. My hair spiraled down to my waist.

'DO SOMETHING JACK!' Crutchie cried. Jack stood their, his face white with horror. I shook there on the ground, bleeding out. My whole body felt numb. I couldn't handle it. My eyelids fell heavy as I lay there, dying in the hot summer night.

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I woke up to a whole lot of pain. I'd be propped up in a bed, pillows behind my head. I glanced down to my chest, my body was wrapped tightly with a bandaged. Blood lightly soaked through the top, but it wasn't as bad. I remember the shooting now. I felt groggy, I felt hungover. I don't remember drinking though. I squeezed my eyes tightly, blinking away the blurry vision.

I was sitting in a white bed, with four people standing in a circle at the edge of the bed. Davey, Jack, Crutchie and another boy I'd never before. He had bright orange hair, and freckles. He looked around 16, and wore a yellow sweater with bright green socks. He was discussing something with the boys, but of course, I could hear them.

'She'll be alrigh'.' The red headed boy said. 'Bullet just missed 'er heart by a smidge.' He said.

Crutchie let out a happy sigh. It made me feel warm inside to know someone cared about me. I tried to sit up more, but the pain killed me. I sat there in silence, fighting of the awful pain.

'Thanks Jonsey.' Jack said. His eyes were trained on me. He knew I was awake, but continued talking with the others. 'I don't know what we're gonna do with her.'

'Well - We can't jus' throw 'er out, Jacky.' Crutchie said. Pleading was thick in his voice, his eyes wide with sadness. 'She's like my family.' He continued.

Davey chewed his lip in thought. 'What do you do with a girl Newsie?' He asked. 'She could be very valuable. Y'know?' He asked the others. They had no idea, but Jack was catching on.

'Watcha' mean?' He asked.

'How much more papers d'you think we'd sell with a blind girl?' He asked the others. A smile spread across Jack's face.

'I see what you mean. She could also be helpful down the road.' He nodded, turning to the others. 'Protect her from the Lockets and the Delanceys. I don't want her dead, or pregnant. Alright?' He asked. Crutchie nodded enthusiastically.

'I'll get Mush and Richie on her. If she sells papes' with them, she'll be fine.' Davey said. Jack nodded, and the meeting was adjourned. He turned and headed up staircase I'd never been on. Davey sat down and began to read a paper. Jonsey and Crutchie walked over to me.

I groaned in a slurred greeting. Crutchie sat across from me, smiling warm heartedly. Jonsey reached over and checked my bandages. 'You'll be just fine.' He smiled. I nodded in a thankful way. He cleary understood, and moved over to Davey.

'I was so scared.' Crutchie began. 'Yous' was bleeding, and Jack was trying to stop it - and then he founds' out yous' was a gurl'.. ' He took a deep breath, and continued. 'He was so shocked, I thoughts' he was gonna faint. And then he just snapped out of it, and picked you up, and carried you to the lodge.' He smirked at me. 'It was so gallant, he looked like a real knight in shining armour.' He chuckled. I swatted playfully at Crurtchie

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