Rebuilt

Chapter 5

Submerging myself in the warm water I let out a peaceful groan. I haven't felt peaceful bathing in a long time. Someone would would either be watching or timing it, making me rush or fluster.

Dunking my head under the water, I scrub my filthy hair. The Refuge might have seemed horrible, but at least they supplied soap and shampoo. Tossing of my ripped and bloody makeshift bra I ring it out and toss it to the side of the tub. I do the same to my boxers/panties.

Misty jumps on the edge of the tub and meows. Grabbing a bottle off to the side of the tub I stare at it. Leaning over the side of the tub I inspect the bottle, twisting it around in my wet hands.

Misty meows bringing my attention back to her. She paws at the water. Picking her up I dunk her in the water and scrub her up and down. She purrs and whines at I wash away the years of dirt and the more recent vomit and blood.

A head pops through the door filling the room with cigar smoke. I jump and hold Misty close to my chest, doing my best to cover myself.

"I'se sorry, doll," Race says. "Elmer wanted me to drop these off for you'se." He sticks one of his hands through the crack of the door showing a pile of clothes scrunched in his hand. He tossed them on the counter. "Need somes help?"

I drop Misty on the side of the tub and hang low. Grabbing the bottle from the side of the tub I hold it up. Race takes it from my hand and looks at it. "This is body wash. You'se use it to scrub you'se body and you'se smell pretty damn good afta-wards too."

I take the bottle back and open it. Sniffing I smile, it did smell pretty good. Race takes it from my hand and dumps it in the tub. He averts his eyes from my body, though I can still see his eyes wondering slightly.

"Racetrack, stop bothering the goil!" I hear a voice yell. JoJo I realize.

"Elmer's gonna like the fact dat you'se smell like 'im," Race says before leaving.

Misty runs after Race causing him to look down and smile. He holds the door open for the cat and then exits himself.

I finish bathing and drain the filthy water. Wrapping the towel around my waist I walk over to the piles of clothes Race placed on the counter. I look at the clothes. Pants that are way to big for me, a shirt with a little whole and once again, too large for me. Then a warp, presumably for my breasts, with panties.

Panties?

Without asking questions, I shimmy them on along with the bottoms and cuff them up to my sore ankles. I look up at the dirty mirror, I stare at my face. My waist length dirty blond hair is wet and wavy, framing my face. There are dark bags under my eyes from the many sleepless nights.

Finishing to wrap my chest I look down. Though I may be thin, I have muscle cording my arms and legs, and on my chest and stomach. Begging to toss on my shirt before Albert, Specs, and most of the other boys walk into the bathroom.

"Come on boys lets gets ready to carry da-" a brown haired boy stops in his tracks when he sees me. "Why is their a goil in da bathroom?" He looks at Albert mainly because he looked the least shocked.

JoJo, Race, and Elmer all cam running into the bathroom.

"Jack," Elmer said. "This is uh... she dont have a name. But uh, I'se brought her here yesterdays."

Jack looked at Elmer, "whys didn't ya's tell me? I would 'ave liked to know if there was a goil in the lodge. And over night too. What did ya do to da poor thing?"

Elmer walked up to me, "nothin' Jack! She's got soaked by de Delanceys and busted up her wrist and head." He help up my tender wrist and grabbed extra bandages from the counter.

"The poor goil is still pretty banged up. Can she stay 'ere at da lodge?"

"Why you'se fightin' for a goil you'se never met befor' Elmer?" Specs asks.

I was quite frankly asking the same question.

"She's can stay Elmer," Jack says. Elmer gives Jack a thankful pat on the back. "But just keeps her away from de Delanceys. And Race for that matter."

"AYE!" Race shouts between his cigar.

"You'se the one who's been checkin' her out," Albert said.

I frown, Elmer notices and takes my good wrist. "Okay fellas, get ready."

As Elmer pulls me down the hallway I hear Misty meow and trot behind me. I look over and stop to pick her up. She meows as I realize she's a completley different color. The years of dirt and grim washed off to reveal a snowy white kitten underneath it all.

"You'se look so pretty Mist," I say still rasping. Elmer, now fully clothed pets the cat behind it's ear.

"So," he says giving me a smirk. "What do you'se think about becomin' a Newsies?"