Once Upon A December ❉ Newsies//ON HOLD

Chapter 5

And we'll go from there. . .

•

Hurry up Katherine!" Jack yelled from where he ran through the station ahead of her.

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Katherine said, trying to keep up with the long strides of the two boys in front of her.

The three ran through the train station, dodging people to get through.

"Last call for Paris!"

Katherine heard Jack mutter a cuss word under his breath as he ran. They turned a corner and found the train quickly. They climbed aboard and sat down in one of the small compartments.

"Well gee, that was perfect timing." Katherine muttered sarcastically, crossing her arms over her chest and propping her feet up on the seat across from her.

They watched as a group of girls walked by the compartment, giggling and talking to eachother. Davey sighed longingly and Katherine looked over at him. She smiled softly.

"You got a special girl?" She asked.

Davey laughed and put his head in his hands, "I sure wish. I only wonder if she'd talk to me."

Katherine turned to face him and her grin only grew. She was very intrigued now.

"Oh do tell."

"Are you really gonna-"

"Yes she is Dave." Jack muttered, opening a newspaper and reading through it.

Davey sighed and looked back at Katherine, "Her name is Clara. She works with the royal family now. I haven't seen her in years and well, things didn't end quite well."

"How so?"

"You're so nosy." Jack mumbled under his breath and Katherine shot an annoyed look at him, ignoring his comment.

"We were together but then I moved here with Jack to pursue this life. She highly disagreed with it and that's why we broke up. It was just too hard."

Katherine put her hand on Davey's shoulder sympathetically, "You'll get her back." She smiled.

"I hope so."

They were about 2 hours into the train ride by now and Katherine was jittery with anticipation.

"I'm going to walk around a bit. My legs are stiff from sitting here. Anyways, they might have a snack cart and I don't wanna miss that." Davey said, getting up.

Jack nodded, still looking at his paper, "Yous got the travel papers?"

"Right here." Davey said, tapping on his coat pocket.

"Good."

"Don't be too wild while I'm gone." Davey grinned.

Katherine made a noise of disgust and Jack glared daggers at his best friend before rolling his eyes and going back to reading,

"As if." He mumbled.

Katherine didn't know if that was supposed to be some sort of insult or something of relief.

"Whatever." Davey said, closing the compartment door behind him.

Katherine played with her necklace nervously.

Together in Paris.

"What do you think it means?" She asked.

Jack looked over at her and raised his eyebrows, "What do I's think what means?"

Katherine gestured to her necklace, "Together in Paris."

Jack shrugged, "Someone wants to meet yous in Paris I guess."

"Oh wow thanks. Never would have known." Katherine rolled her eyes.

"My pleasure." Jack replied.

Katherine watched as Jack's eyes scanned over the newspaper once more.

"Can I help Yous?" He finally said, exasperated.

"You've been reading that what seems forwards, backwards and upside-down." She said, grabbing the paper.

"At least I have somethin' to do." He said, snatching it back from her.

Katherine rolled her eyes.

"You might as well get some sleep." Jack said, "It's still a long trip t'a Paris."

"I'm far too nervous to be sleeping right now Jack. I'll be fine."

Katherine rest her elbow against the window and put her chin in her palm; watching the snowy covered trees pass by quickly. It was all very relaxing in a way. But still she was buzzing with nerves. What would happen when they got there? What would it be like? Where would they all go from there?

She closed her eyes, trying to imagine what would happen. What did Elize look like now? Was it the same in that vision; or whatever that was? Was she really even the princess?

Before she knew it she had dozed off against the window.

Jack looked over, hearing her light snoring and nearly laughed out loud.

"Told yous." He muttered.

He stared at her for a few seconds before folding his newspaper and setting it beside him.

What did he even feel around her?

She was stubborn as hell and a bit of a pest at times. But everytime they touched it felt like someone had zapped an electric shock through his whole body. Jack sighed, taking his cap off and running a hand through his hair. And what was that yesterday? Kissing her head? What was he even thinking? Jack groaned and put his face in his hands. That's just it, he wasn't thinking. Even if she was the princess that'd just make this even more complicated. She'd be royalty and he's just a con artist. That doesn't mix at all.

He sighed and looked over at her once more; how her lips parted slightly with her breathing and her eyelashes seemed to flutter subconsciously. When she wasn't bickering with him, she looked relaxed. Almost peaceful in a way.

He scooted closer to her and gently pulled her away from the window after seeing the movement had been bouncing her back and forth on it; not a comfortable position at all. She jumped slightly, going stiff and Jack had thought he woke her.

"Jus' me." He said softly, laying her back so her head rest in his lap.

He felt her relax and knew she'd fallen back under sleep. Jack ran his hand through her brown curls as he thought.

What would happen when they got to Paris?

He looked back down at her and smiled softly before tracing his finger along the barely-noticeable freckles along her pale cheeks. Katherine subconsciously shivered in her sleep before reaching up and pushing his hand off causing Jack to laugh. Even in her sleep she was bossy.

He lazily rest his arm over her waist and tipped his cap over his eyes before falling asleep himself.

What seemed like only seconds later, Jack was being shook awake.

"Jack. Jack." Davey said urgently.

"Geez, I'm up I'm up." Jack said taking off his cap and running a hand through his hair before putting it back on. He looked over at Davey who was white as a ghost and had only an expression of fear.

"What the hell is th' matter Dave?"

"I have the wrong travel papers." Davey said, panicking, "You know what happens to people who are traveling illegally. We need to get off this train now."