King of the City (Bellarke Edition)

Chapter 12

She came back downstairs at the time she was told dressed in a green gown, only to find her mother and Finn in the living room. She spun on her heel headed back for the stairs.

"Not so fast, you need pictures taken with Finn for the paper's wedding announcement"

"I'm not marrying him."

"You will, you see Finn knows quite about the area and newsies in that boarding house"

"Yes dear, you wouldn't want anything unfortunate to happen to any of them right?, after all they are just innocent bystanders"

Clarke froze turning to face the two people in her life she disliked the most, both stood next to the piano with a smug look on their face. She sighed crossing her arms and making her way in there direction. The anger in her eyes evident.

"That's what I thought" Finn boasted like he had her all figured out. They stood in awkward poses on the front steps on her mother's house, until the photographer was pleased. She made her way back to her room and stayed cooped up most of the day. She laid on the bed wondering what Bellamy and Murphy thought. She ran her fingers along her lips, what she would give to have Bellamy there now with her. Day turned into night quickly, they called her twice for dinner and when she didn't show up her mother sent one of the housekeepers up.

"Ma'am, your mother request's your presence for dinner."

"I'd rather starve" she replied. The housekeeper tried to hide her smile.

"I'll let her know you are not feeling well ma'am" she closed the door quickly and Clarke could hear her footsteps move along the hallway.

The night was silent, too silent. She missed the soft snores of the boys, the creaking of the old bunks every time someone moved. She missed everything about the boarding house. But most of all she missed the newsies, each and every one of them.

...

In the next state over, Murphy and Bellamy sat on the edge of the roof with there feet hanging over the edge.

"What do you think she's doing right now?" Bellamy asked.

"I think she's laying on her bed wondering the same about us, and planning her revenge. She's a fighter. Only reason she went is to protect us and the only reason she would let them keep her there is the same. Someone is using our safety against her. If that wasn't the case she would have waltzed back into town an hour or so ago." Murphy answered.

"What do we do?"

"Sit here, wait. I sent a runner to the NJ border with a message for the leader. I need them to keep an eye on her"

"Trust me, they aren't taking her out of that house. Every housekeeper and newsboy in that area knows her and loves her. Her mother knows that, I'm sure she's confined to the house"

"So we wait?"

"For now, we wait"

They sighed in unison and headed back into the boarding house. Clarke's presence was lacking and the whole place felt it. The younger boys who craved the attention and the bedtime stories all laid quietly on there bunks.

"I wish she was still here" Monty whispered as Bellamy passed.

"Us too bud, us too" he replied.

The next morning the boys waited for the distribution center to open up. Much to Bellamy's dismay he was first in line and suddenly wasn't in such a hurry.

His eyes raked over the cover. Clarke Griffin and Finn Collins to be Wed.

There she stood in a beautiful dress looking mad as hell. He couldn't help but smile. His princess. He missed her. He was entranced by the picture and walked right into a man, dressed too well for this neighborhood.

"I'm sorry young man. I'm looking for a Bellamy Blake, you wouldn't happen to know where I could find him?"

"I am him" Bellamy replied.

"Well that was easy, you have a place you me and a John Murphy can speak alone" Bellamy gave him a quick once over before letting out a whistle.

"Murphy" He yelled.

"Yeah" a voice came from the crowd behind him. As soon as he reached them Bellamy walked towards the boarding house without another word, both men trailed behind him.

They made there way into the boarding room. Bellamy motioned to the table.

"Boys, out" his voice was soft with the younger ones, however it still held the commanding the tone that caused them to all scurry down the steps quickly as he shut the door.

"Alright, and you are?"

"I'm Christopher Banks, Miss Griffin's Attorney. " His introduction had the boys on edge.

"She's okay right?" Murphy blurted out.

"Yes, she is quite fine and full of fire, which brings me here. This morning she used her money to purchase this boarding house, however she wasn't the only buyer. A Bellamy Blake and A John Murphy were also added to the deed and you can see why given her situation. No one can take it from her if it's not hers alone. "

"So we own this establishment?"

"Well as soon as you sign the paper" he smiled pushing it towards them. Both boys signing quickly and handing it back.

"Okay, So we have one more order of business. Miss Griffin's Bank account. Which has an approximate value of 57,000 dollars in it."

"What about it? That's hers." Bellamy asked confused. The lawyer was happy to see her best interest was there concern and that the money wasn't of any concern.

"It's not only hers, but you two have also been added to the account and no money may be withdrawn without consent from all three of you."

"Why would she do that?"

"She trusts you and she's keeping you and her money safe, I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is not gonna happen" he smiled tapping the recent newspaper on the table.

As of 12:01 am on the day of her 18th birthday the bank account will be changed. As of today you are the new owners of the boarding house. It's my understanding they are to be wed at the performing arts center in town, I'd make sure I was in the area. You never know what may happen" he smiled standing and handing them there copy's of the deed.

"Gentleman" he shook there hands and was gone before they could even really register what just happened.