Papes and Pens

Chapter One

       

"With the strike settled I should probably be hittin' the road" Jack says as he turns away from the newsboys and walks towards home. Before he got two steps in, Davey comes up behind him and puts a hand on his shoulder to stop him, "Don't you ever get tired of singing the same ole tune? What's Santa Fe got that New York aint? Sandstorms?"

"Or better yet, what's New York got that Santa Fe aint?" Katherine asks, putting an arm around Davey as he consoles Jack.

"New York's got us, and we're family!" Crutchie says, wobbling his way towards Jack. He puts a hand on his arm.

"Didn't I hear about a strike getting settled? Papes for the newsies! Line up boys!" Weisel yells, wheeling in the papers for the day. "These papes ain't gonna sell themselves!" Davey and Crutchie leave and go line up with the boys to get their daily papes.

"Don't just stand there you've got a union to run!" Katherine tells Jack. "Besides, didn't someone just offer you a pretty exciting job?"

"Me working for your Father?" Jack exclaims, putting his hands in his pockets in frustration.

"You already work for my father." Katherine smirks, crossing her arms.

"Aw yeah." Jack mumbles, fumbling with his cap.

"And, you've got one more Ace up your sleeve." Katherine says.

"Yeah? What would that be?" Jack asks, moving towards Katherine and sticking his chin up.

"Me. Wherever you go, I'll be there right by your side." Katherine says softly, grasping Jack's hand and pulling him closer.

"For sure?" Jack says, looking down at their hands. "For sure." Katherine mimics.

"Don't take much to be a dreamer." Jack says, bringing Katherine's hand to his heart. "All you do is close your eyes." He looks into her eyes, "But some made up world is all you ever see." Jack looks up to the sky. "Now my eyes is finally open, and my dreams: they's average size." He looks into her eyes, "But they don't much matter if you ain't with me." Jack slowly tucks Katherine's hair behind her ear and kisses her. Katherine deepens it by putting her arms around him.

"GUYS" Les yells, pointing to the two. The other newsboys yell and cheer around them.

"So Jack, are you in or are you out, huh?" Davey asks from the paper stand. Jack looks around at the boys as they shout encouragements at him, begging him to stay in New York. Jack runs up to the news stand and puts down his 50 cents. He grabs his bag and his papes, and heads out to sell his allotment for the day.

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"Katherine?" Jack calls, knocking quietly on her apartment window.

"Jack!" Katherine gets up from her desk, comes rushing towards him, and opens the window so Jack can climb in. Before she has the chance to turn around, he kisses her softly on the lips. She smiles as she pulls away and says, "Just the guy I was looking for! We have lots to talk about after what happened this morning with the strike ending and all!"

Katherine pulls him towards her couch as Jack moans in despair, he just wanted to come over for a warm meal with his favorite girl. "What is there to talk about?"

"Well first," Katherine huffs as she sits down. "You need to take the job my father offered you."

"But—" Jack tries to cut in. "Quiet! Now it's my turn to talk." Katherine says, clutching Jack's hand in her's. "All your time working as a newsboy, you always wanted to help out the kids. You got caught stealing for them! Those boys mean everything to you, and now to me, and the only way we can still stay financially strong is if you take my father's job he offered you. You owe that to yourself and to the boys." Jack sighed, and leaned his head back. "I know that you just want the best for the boys and you will take this job,"

"But—" Jack tries to butt in. "You will take this job!" Katherine urges, putting her arms around Jack's neck. "You will take this job because if you and I want to stay together, we'll need money to raise a family. And we won't be gettin that if we're trying to help out the newsboys as well. I know Crutchie, Davey, Race, and some others are wanting to get better jobs at the market or the diner, and I know they'll get them, but until wages start picking up for the newsboys, they're still counting on you and me." Katherine looks into Jack's eyes. "Okay now you can talk."

"A family?" Jack smiles with sparkles in his eyes. He then furrows his brow and pulls her away. "Katherine, doesn't your father hate me? You know I want to do everything in my power to help those boys, and in their best interest I should take the job. But, I don't want it to kill me because of your father breathing down my neck every day."

"My father isn't as bad as he seems, I promise. Although we never got along, he still loves me and wants the best for me. I am sure that once he gets to know you, he'll at least tolerate you. How could he hate someone I love?" Katherine says, leaning her head on Jack's shoulder.

"You love me?" Jack asks, pulling away to look at Katherine. "Yes, Jack Kelly you snuck up on me. I love you." She pulls in for a kiss. She makes a move to deepen it, but before she can, Jack pulls away. "Wait, I love you too Miss Pulitzer." He kisses her forehead and nose, making his way down to her lips.

"How about a dinner, at my father's place. I'll cook, and you two can talk through your problems. Then we'll decide if you'll go to work for him. Does that sound like a deal?" Katherine asks.

"Dinner? The Katherine Pulitzer knows how to cook? I must be the luckiest guy in Manhattan if I've got a girl as lovely as you who knows how to cook." Jack says sarcastically, she's been cooking for him and feeding the boys for weeks now. He pulls her in, inhaling her scent and taking in the moment to save for a rainy day.

Katherine pulls away and walks towards the kitchen. "Here, take some bread back to the boys. You all have had a long day and could use a little pick me up." Jack follows her and stands behind her, wrapping his arms around her waste. "You're my pick me up." He whispers, before kissing her on the temple.

"Jack!" Katherine giggles. "This is something else we have to talk about. What is going on between us?" Katherine makes her way around the kitchen, gathering food and items for Jack to bring back to the lodge for the night.

"What do you mean! You just proclaimed your love for me!" Jack states, leaning back on the counter. "Did you change your mind?"

Katherine laughs, "No, I mean where are we? I love you and I want to be with you. But, this is new. We still need to grow."

"Well I guess the only thing to ask is, will you be my girlfriend?" Jack says, making his way towards Katherine, "Why of course" She says, pulling him in for a kiss.

"But really though. We need to figure each other out. What was your childhood like? What was mine like? What were your parents like? I know nothing about you! But, lets save it for a different time. I've got a story to write and you've got some mouths to feed." Katherine says, giving Jack one more kiss before pushing him out her door. "Also, next time you could just knock instead of climbing up the fire escape. My father is miles away and won't be at the door waiting to interrogate you or something."

"But what if I like the views?" Jack smirked, leaning against the door post.

"Oh shut up!" Katherine laughs, "I love you. Now go back to the lodge and make sure those boys don't starve."

"Love ya too!" Jack replies, tipping his hat to her before heading out.

A/N ahh guys thanks for reading!! Please give me a comment telling me what you want me to change/add and if you liked it!