Hidden ( A Newsies Fan Fiction)

Chapter 5: Revelations

Late that night, Julie once again stood in front of the old mirror. She just couldn't understand it. She felt more comfortable as Michael Chase than she ever had as Juliet Evans, or even Julie Spear. As Michael, or Mikey, as the boys had taken to calling her, she could laugh easier, and she finally felt as if there were someone who cared whether she lived or died. She hadn't felt that way since her mother whispered in her ear that last, fatal night......................

"No!" she said aloud. She couldn't get to close, let them in. "Stay strong," she whispered. She couldn't bear to see her whole world come crashing down before her eyes, not again.

Everyday for the rest of the week, she got up bright and early to go "carry da banna," as the newsie boys put it. And everyday, she found herself looking forward to seeing the newsies again.

One night, all the newsies got together to have a drink - of water. Everyone was laughing and having a good time. Julie was having more fun then she had had in her entire life. Suddenly, someone tapped her on the shoulder. It was Crutchie. "Come with me," he said nodding toward the empty hall his voice serious. She followed him as he limped off. 

"What's up?" Julie asked. Her breathing was funny, and her heart was pounding. Why was he any different from the others?

"I've known, since da moment I saw you, dat there was somthin off 'bout ya," he said, studying her suspiciously. Her eyes grew wide. "Take off your cap," he said quietly.

"What? Why?" Julie asked nervously. Her palms were sweaty. He knew.

"If ya got nuttin ta hide, den ya got no reason ta be nervous," he replied simply.

She sighed. "You've got ta promise not ta tell the others." He nodded. Julie removed her faded, gray cap, letting her long brown hair fall around her shoulders.

"A goil," he said, smiling slightly. "What's ya real name?"

“Julie Spear,” she replied cautiously. She couldn’t believe it. Everything had been going so well, and now it was all over.

 “When I was eleven, I met a goil, and she told me her name was Julie Spear. You look an awful lot like her,” he said. Julie looked up, eyes widening. “She saved my life.”

 “Peter?” she breathed. He nodded. “That’s why he looked familiar!” she thought to herself.

 For it was the very same boys she had met four years earlier, on the day she was sent to the refuge. “What happened to your leg?” she asked.

 “That day, when da police came and took me to da hospital, dey told me dat he snapped my leg in two,” Crutchie replied. Julie cringed.

 “I’m sorry. I wish I could have stayed with you,” she said. He smiled at her. “And I’m sorry, about the whole disguising myself as a boy thing.”

 “Don’t be. I completely understand,” he said. He reached out and. “You saved me. You gave me hope. You don’t ever have to apologize for anything.” Moonlight spilled in through the window as he wrapped her in an embrace. A warm, happy feeling spread through her. This time, she didn’t fight it.

 All of the other boys were rough, open, and a little rude. But Crutchie wasn’t like that. He was sweet, friendly, and kind, but not at all weak. There was something compelling about him. The more she was around him, the better she wanted to know him.