AN: Because I just can't get enough of the Reincarnation AU
The typical age during which people began to remember their past lives, if they had them, was at sixteen years old. Which meant that by the time Jack Kelly was a freshman in college, he'd remembered his time as a newsie for about four years. So, naturally, one of the first things he did after dumping his luggage in his dorm room was sign up for the school's newspaper.
Now, Jack wasn't a writer by any means, but with any luck, the editor would prefer actual illustrations over photographs. If not... well, he'd learn how to be a photographer, he supposed. All he knew was that he was going to have something to do with the paper.
After he signed up, someone (he didn't pay attention to who it was) told him that the editor was holding a meeting to talk with the people who signed up, and apparently it was starting within the next few minutes.
So, after about fifteen minutes of wandering around trying to find the newsroom, he finally made it, and, hoping that editor wasn't one to get upset about lateness, opened the door.
He didn't get very far past the doorway, however, because when everyone turned to look at him, he stopped dead in his tracks. Because staring at him were the very familiar yet somehow different faces of Davey, Race, Romeo, and Specs.
He stood there looking at them, trying to comprehend what he was looking at, before grinning at them.
"Hey boys."
Everyone started talking at once, even as they all tightly hugged Jack, and once he'd pulled away, he just smiled at them for another minute. "So, same college, huh? What are the chances?"
"I think you mean, what are the chances that you actually got into college, right Jack?" Race piped up, and Jack rolled his eyes.
"Gee, I missed you too, Race." He took a seat next to Specs. "Seriously, how'd you guys all end up here?"
"Davey's the editor, has been since last year, I think." Specs looks at Davey for confirmation, and he nodded. "I honestly don't know what Race and Romeo are here for, but I'm pretty sure I'm the only other one here who actually wants to write."
"Hey, I wanna write!" Race protested, and Davey gave him a skeptical look.
"About what?"
Race just shrugged and Jack grinned. He'd missed them. He turned to Romeo.
"What're you here for, then?"
"Race forced me."
Jack nodded. "What, Race, were you scared to come here by yourself?"
Race gave them all an indignant look. "Why'd you all start making fun of me all of a sudden?"
"You just make it so easy." Specs replied.
"I didn't do anything!"
Jack hadn't stopped grinning. "Alright, calm down, we'll stop."
"Why are you here, Jack?" Davey asked. "I don't seem to remember you being a writer."
"Don't suppose you prefer hand drawn illustrations over photographs?"
"Depends. If you would be the one drawing them, then absolutely." Davey smiled.
Jack was about to respond when someone else entered the room in a hurry.
"I'm so sorry I'm late, I only just got to my dorm room, and nobody would give me directions to the - " She cut her own rambling off as she realized who she was talking to. "Davey?" She looked around, noticing the other boys in the room, and letting out a gasp.
Jack stood abruptly, drawing everyone's attention to him as he quickly crossed the room to the girl by the door. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply.
Even after the kiss had ended, Katherine continued to cling to him, and he held her tightly, whispering sweet words into her ear that nobody could hear but her.
This would have continued on for some time, had they not been interrupted by Race.
"We're still here, y'know."
Katherine laughed (a sound Jack had missed horribly) and pulled away, though Jack was reluctant to let her do so.
"Hi, guys."
She went around hugging each of them and getting reintroduced, and ultimately ended up in a seat next to Jack. She looked at Davey.
"So, Mr. Editor, will you let me on the paper?"
"I'm not sure, do you have any experience?" He gave her a teasing look.
"None."
They all laughed at that, and Jack couldn't remember the last time he'd been this happy.
oOo
After about an hour, the six of them went their separate ways with plans to meet up somewhere off campus for dinner, and Jack headed back to his dorm room. As he walked, he wondered if his roommate had gotten there yet. If he had, with the luck he'd been having today, it'd be someone he knew.
When he walked into the room, he found that his roommate had indeed arrived, and was already unpacking. Jack took a quick glance at his bags, which were lying carelessly on the floor. He'd have to do something about that later.
He lifted his gaze to find that his roommate was staring at him with his eyes wide. There was a split second during which Jack thought it was odd that the other kid was looking at him like that, until he realized that he knew him. He knew him better than anyone else, but there was something different about him.
There was no crutch.
"Jack." The boy said breathlessly, a grin forming on his face.
"Oh my God." Jack whispered, staring at him. It was Crutchie, but he was standing firmly on both legs with no crutch supporting.
Then, something happened that neither of them ever thought would happen.
Crutchie ran across the room to Jack and pulled his brother into a hug.
