overture | newsies imagines

davey jacobs || saturdays

part one

i pushed my bangs behind my ear and puffed out a big breath of air. the summer air was sticky against my skin, causing most of my shorter hairs to curl up around the crown of my head. perfect, just perfect, i thought as i patted down another hair with water and a comb.

it was saturday morning, finally, and i would be traveling three blocks to the market accompanied by my little brother. we would buy a paper, chalk, and groceries for the next few days. it was tradition that, during the summer time, lucas and i would do this. it wasn't always his favorite thing to do, especially when it was this warm out, but it definitely was mine.

specifically because there was one paperboy who stood out amongst the others. he never lied about the headlines, never shouted in your face, never spit all over you. he was clean shaven, sharp, and kind. for the past five market visits, he was the one i bought my paper off of. we'd acquired a small friendship, mine a little deeper as a crush, but we only ever talked for a few minutes, strictly on those saturdays.

today, i planned on insinuating that i wanted to know him outside of the market. i was quite well at speaking with other people, so i knew i could get my point across. the rest was up to him.

lucas and i left the house half an hour later, my hair still sticking up in random places. he demanded on carrying the basket this time in agreement that he would continue to keep his hand in mine the entire time. needless to say, he broke our truce halfway to the market. i took the basket back from him and allowed him to run a bit ahead with a stray dog racing past.

i didn't stroll like i usually would, but instead kept a steady pace to the market. when we were finally there, i spotted davey on the other side of the courtyard. i turned my head away in time to catch him lock his eyes on me. i continued to feel his stare as lucas and i shopped around the stands of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

with one last dime in the palm of my hand, lucas and i began our way over to davey. he grinned at me as we grew closer and closer. i opened my mouth to say hello when i was cut off by a child's voice below me.

i looked down at lucas, expecting it to have been him. instead it was someone else on my other side. i turned around and faced a gruff looking child in a bowler cap. he held a paper up to me, a pout spread across his face and his eyes lit with sadness.

my heart melted at his words, "buy a pape from a poor, orphan boy?"

i smiled widely and pressed the dime into his little fingers. "of course, dear."

he handed me the pape, thanked me, and ran off. i straightened my posture and faced davey with a frown. "sorry," i giggled, "guess somebody else got to me first."

davey laughed slightly and rolled his eyes, "my little brother, les. he isn't poor, nor is he an orphan."

i gasped and glanced after where he had escaped to. "well, i feel entirely robbed."

davey shook his head and took a step towards me. "next saturday, then?"

"oh!" i met eyes with him, "yeah, i suppose so."

"see ya then," he waved and gave a half smile, looking entirely defeated.

i grabbed lucas' hand in mine and we turned to leave. when we were a feet away from davey, he called out my name and grabbed the tips of my fingers in his hand.

i spun around to face him, a small smile lifting into my cheeks. "yes?"

"may i take you on a walk later on tonight? i mean, would your father allow that?" davey rolled his shoulders back and puffed out his chest.

i nodded slowly, "i would love to. my father, however, would need a formal question from you to him. if you're at my house tonight after dinner, around six, he should be in a good enough mood to say yes."

davey withheld a cheer and replied, "ill see you then."

he kissed my knuckles, let go of my hand, and positioned himself back at his post. i giggled to myself and began guiding lucas out of the market again. i heard davey scream a yes from behind me.