Newsies One Shots ✯

Flowers ➸ Jack/Katherine

Everyday on his way to work, Jack saw a woman about his age, tending to a patch of flowers in an empty lot. The lot itself looked so barren and sad, but the flowers- lavenders, periwinkles, and ageratums- stood out like bright flashing lights. Weeks went by until he finally decided to stop and introduce himself.

The woman was kneeling over, packet of flower seeds in hand, when Jack tapped her on the shoulder. "Um excuse me miss? But everyday I see you here with your flowers and I think it would kill me if I never formally got to meet you." He tried to keep things casual, but couldn't help the twinkle in his eyes or slight smirk on his face.

The woman got up and dusted herself off, extending her hand to shake his. "My name's Katherine." She said quirking an eyebrow. After all, it isn't everyday some random guy stops on the street to introduce himself. "I'm Jack," he said, grinning and shaking her hand. "So..." he trailed off, trying to make small talk. "What's your favorite kind of flower?" He asked, lamely gesturing to the patch of flowers.

Katherine laughed and shook her head. "If I had a nickel for every time I got asked that, I'd be swimming in nickels." This caused Jack to laugh slightly as Katherine continued, "I'd have to say the lavenders, they were the first kind of flower I planted, after all." Jack made a mental note of that, seeing as it might come in handy later down the line. "Yeah they are pretty," he remarked, looking directly into Katherine's warm brown eyes.

She blushed slightly and teasingly pushed him. "Oh give me a break!" She snickered softly. Jack decided right then and there, that he was happy he stopped to talk to Katherine. "Hey I have to go to work, but I'll see you tomorrow then, I guess?" Katherine grinned brightly, "Yeah sure! See you around Jack." He started to walk away as Katherine turned back to planting some more flowers, when he smiled to himself. He knew he and Katherine would turn out to be great friends. Little did he know Katherine was thinking the same thing, happily humming as she glanced at the flower packet. Lavenders.

***

As more weeks passed, Jack and Katherine became inseparable. And even though there was the occasional flirty remark from both of them, they were content with just staying as friends. More often than not, Jack would distractedly doodle lavenders in his sketchbook. Katherine on the other hand, would sometimes think about Santa Fe. How could she not? Jack's constant ramblings and obsession with the place was constantly brought up. She found it endearing, but knew he probably wouldn't just hop on the next train and be off.

It was a peaceful afternoon and the dynamic duo were both at Jack's small apartment. The windows were open as Jack painted, deep in concentration. A soft breeze made the pages of Katherine's book flutter. It was one of those rare moments where they could enjoy each other's company in carefree silence. "Hey Jack?" Katherine asked suddenly, placing her book beside her on the floor. "Hm?" He asked, only half focused on what she was saying. "Would you ever leave here to go to Santa Fe?" At the mention of Santa Fe, Jack perked up. He ran a hand through his dark messy hair, unintentionally getting yellow and green paint in it.

He seemed to consider the question before shaking his head. "Not unless you'd be coming too, Ace, I can promise ya that." She smiled at the nickname as well as the sincerity in his voice. "Well I'm not going anywhere either." Jack nodded and said, "Good to know." They resumed what they were doing before as the sun sunk lower into the sky.

A couple hours later, Katherine had to leave. "Aw so soon?" Jack commented, giving her his famous puppy dog eyes. She rolled her eyes, "That look has no effect on me and you know it." Jack laughed and gave her a hug. "Well that's a shame then." They stood for a moment in Jack's doorway, hugging tightly, Katherine leaning her head on Jack's shoulder. They pulled away and Jack lightly tugged at her hair which was up in a messy ponytail. "Bye Kath." She gave him a fond glance, she really was lucky to have someone in her life who cared so much for her. "Bye Jack, oh and by the way, you have paint in your hair." She called over he shoulder as she started to walk outside.

"Why am I not surprised?" He called back, as they both shared a laugh. Jack closed the door just as Katherine was crossing the street. She planned to go back to her apartment and maybe get some writing done. She never anticipated for a car to come out of nowhere and hit her.

***

Two weeks later as Jack somberly walked down the road, all the events that happened that night replayed in his mind like a broken record player. He heard the terrifying scream, ran outside, and immediately called 911. He hadn't realized where he was walking until he found Katherine's flower garden. That's when he broke down crying. Last night he had received a call saying she hadn't made it. He tried not to think about it, but the attempts were futile. He kneeled over the flowers to find most of them dead.

Among the few survivors, a lonely lavender stood. He eventually calmed down enough to stop crying as he picked the single lavender. He made his way to the graveyard a couple of blocks away, where his best friend now was. He walked among the rows of tombstones until he found hers. He sat down beside it and placed the lavender at the base of it. 

"Heya Ace. I never thought things would turn out this way. I still can't grasp the concept that you're really..." he trailed off, tears threatening to spill again. "You can't be, you just can't be. But i brought you your favorite flower. I knew one day I would need to know it." He sighed sadly. "I hope you can hear me, but I only have one more thing to say. I'll stick by that promise I made you. I'm not going to Santa Fe unless you're with me. But you're here. So I'll stick around here too." For a second he swore he could almost smell the familiar scent of the perfume Katherine used to wear, it comforted him greatly.

"You're my best friend, always have been and always will be. And I love you Kath, I do, and I know someday we'll see each other again." He got up, feeling a little bit better. "But until then, I'll be here, my angel."

When he got back to his apartment something was sitting on his kitchen table. A small purple lavender. He clutched it close to his chest as he felt a small twinge of happiness. He would be okay because he knew that Katherine would always be with him. No matter where he was.