Reunited (A Newsie Fanfiction)

Chapter 8

"RACE!" Isabella cried.

He shoved through the crowds and ran to his sister, picking her up to hug her tightly. Tears burned at the corners of his eyes and threatened to fall as his little sister shook with sobs of disbelief.

"I can't- where- I tried to-" he stuttered at her ran his fingers through her messy hair.

"I believe you." she cut off his desperate attempt to form a sentence.

Katherine motioned for Jumps to come with her as she left the room. The other boys began to slowly follow suit and leave the room. Through her tears, Isabella couldn't help but observe the boys as they walked by her and her brother. There were some tall and some short, aging from around twelve to nineteen. She couldn't help but wonder how all these boys ended up in a situation like this. Surely they didn't all go through what Race did, right?

When Race finally released his sister, he took a moment to study her face. It'd been far too long. She'd grown so much since that night years ago. He always knew his sister was beautiful inside and out, but as she grew he couldn't help but recognize the resemblance she bore to their mother.

"So- um- how are mom n' dad..?" he couldn't help but prod.

"Honestly, I don't know."

"Whadda ya mean you don't know?"

"I don't exactly live there anymore..."

"I noticed. I went back ta the apartment 'bout two months ago. Climbed up ta your window and planned on bringin' ya back with me. Nothin' was in your room, so I went ta the front door, n'..." he trailed off sadly, recalling the moment he thought he'd lost his sister for good.

"Two months ago I had already left..." she thought aloud as she realized what he was trying to tell her. He only nodded in response, though he looked at her with curiosity in his eyes, urging her to continue without saying a word.

"Mom and dad wanted to move away for dad's work. They tried to force me to go with them, but I wouldn't go because you had said you would come back and I didn't want to leave you behind... So they let me move in with Aunt Jen."

Isabella opened her mouth to say more, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him about George. She closed her mouth and gave her brother a small, weak smile.

"And..?"

Even though it had been forever, Race could still read his sister's expression like yesterday's paper. There was more that she wasn't telling him, and from the look on her face, it was key information that wasn't good. He knew he had to get her to tell him whatever she was keeping inside. The girl took a deep breath before walking over to the bunk he was on when she first arrived. She sat down, and Race followed and sat beside her.

"Well, Aunt Jen met a guy. She loves him, and he loves her. But he doesn't like me..."

At this point Race began to gather where this story was going. He looked over at his sister and couldn't help but notice small bruises and marks on her skin. His face fell as she noticed I'm staring and attempted to cover the injuries.

"Bella. Ya can't go back there. I- ya- I dunno. Just don't go..." He said sadly.

Race knew that being a newsie wasn't the most ideal situation. He barely had enough money to eat and stay in the lodging house. As much as he wanted to keep Isabella with him, he knew that he couldn't provide for her.

"I have no where else... Can I stay here..?" She looked up at him with big sad eyes.

He couldn't bear to just say no to her like that. As she continued to look at him, he stood up and walked to the stairs.

"Race?"

"I dunno if that's a good idea, but I might know a place ya can go."

He hurried down the stairs as his sister got up and followed him curiously. At the bottom of the stairs there were at least two dozen boys standing around and talking to Jumps and Katherine. Race walked over to Katheine and casually pulled her aside.

"Look, I know ya've done so much for me n' Bella already but is there any way she can stay with ya? She's not exactly safe where she is."

"Race, I really wish I could. But the cops are looking for her. People are worried. She did run away you know."

"Right- but-"

"Race, my father isn't going to let someone hiding from the police stay in our house. That's awful for his image. We can't. I'm sorry."

Race sighed and nodded a little in understanding.

"I get it. Thanks anyway." He looked disappointed as he turned away.

"I'll see what I can do.."

Isabella decided to stay the night with Race and the other boys. The boy Isabella recognized from earlier with the glasses gave her his bunk and moved to sleep with one of his friends.

"Thank you so much Specs-" Race thanked him.

"Specs? Wait, that can't actually be your name. Right?" Isabella couldn't help but ask. Immediately after she did, she blushed and looked down at the floor. 

"Well no, but nobody uses their real names here. Your brother isn't actually named Race, is he?" Specs smiled at her.

Race chuckled a little as his sister shook her head. Specs said goodnight to the siblings and went over to his temporary new bunk. 

Isabella surprisingly had almost no trouble falling asleep. Though her mind was spinning from everything that had happened that day, and the mattress was uncomfortable, she was exhausted and hadn't had a decent sleep in a very long time. 

As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but smile a little at the memory of her day. She was finally with her brother again, and she felt safer and more welcomed than she could ever remember.

A/N i know it's short but i was just trying to get an update out for you guys.