Soak 'em (Newsies X Reader) | #WATTYS2019

Friends Keep Secrets

"Hey, kid. Kid, wake up."

I groaned and rolled over, slowly waking up from my sleep. My eyes fluttered open and I was met with a familiar face with soft brown eyes and floppy black hair. The smallest smirk was plastered on his face.
"Jack!" I exclaimed excitedly. I practically jumped out of bed and wrapped my arms around his neck. He chuckled softly and wrapped his arms around my back.

"I thought you was gone," I smiled, pulling myself away from Jack's embrace. He looked down at me with a sad yet fond look in his eyes. He let out a sigh and took my hand gently into his.
"I'm not stayin' here, y/n." 

"Why not? You's here, aren't ya?" I protested, feeling the betrayal welling up inside of me already.
"You're just going to have to trust me. I'm gonna do somethin' real stupid tomorra. You's gotta play along." Jack explained to me. I was extremely confused and I tilted my head. "Jack, what are ya sayin', You're not here to stay?"

Jack placed a hand on the side of my face and smiled fondly at me. "You know I don't want to leave you, Kid. You just gotta trust me. I need you to take care of everybody for me. 'Specially Dave and his family."
I frowned and leaned into Jack's hand on my face. "Please don't leave me again," I muttered, feeling the emotion well up inside of me and a ball form in my throat. Jacks other hand traveled to the other side of my face. "Look at me. I promise I'll get outta dis, trust me."

I felt a single tear roll down my face as I squeezed my eyes shut and Jack leaned his forehead against mine. "I love you kid, but I gotta go now."
Jack placed a quick kiss on my forehead and then stood, making his way to the window. His silhouetted figure stood against the moonlight as he put on his cowboy hat.

He began to climb the fire escape, but not before tipping his hat to me in farewell. With a few steps, Jack was gone from my vision. I defiantly wiped away the tear from my face and sniffled. Jack promised he would be back, I was going to hold him to it.

•••

"Y/n! Ya in there?" Racetrack called from the other side of my door.
"Yeah! Come in." I replied, I was in the middle of putting on a faded white button up, the buttons half way up my body when the door opened.

"I got some ba- WHAT ARE THOSE?" Racetracks face dropped as he pointed at me. Complete confusion consumed my face as I tilted my head. "What the hell is wrong wit ya?"

Race walked confidently up to me and pointed at my shoulder. I looked down and instantly regretted it. I had completely forgotten about those.
"Shit,"

"Tell me, ya don't keep secrets from your best friend." He said to me sassily, propping his arm up on one hip.

"I don't wanna." I replied with the same sass, mocking his stance.
"It was Spot, wasn't it." He said confidently. I felt my face get hot and I scowled slightly.
"No!"

"I knew it." Race smirked as he looked at me. "I knew he'd get somethin' outta ya."
"Hey!" I shoved his shoulders away from me. "I ain't no pushover."

Race scoffed. "Trust me, I know." He stopped his sentence for a moment to think before continuing. "I'm guessin' you's  gonna have me keep this a secret too now?" I sighed and pouted my lips, making my eyes big and putting on a signature puppy dog face.
"Please Racetrack?"

Racetrack sighed and shook his head. "Man Slick, you got alla us wrapped around ya finger, you know?" He joked with the slightest smirk while walking towards me. A mischevious smile crept across my lips as his arms met mine for a hug.
"I know," I replied cockily near his ear. I got a chuckle in response as he pulled away from the hug.

"Your secret is safe with me." Race told me while placing his hands on my shoulders. I smiled wildly at him. "Guess what," race continued shortly after.

"What's that?" I replied back, continuing to button up my shirt.
"Skittery owes me 50¢,"
"You was bettin' on me again?" I replied, a little annoyed but didn't expect anything less.

"Well duh, I bet that you and Spot would get it on while you was there,"
"Racetrack Higgins, I swear if you tell Skittery to get 50¢ I'll-"

"Will ya relax?" Racetrack interrupted me. "I ain't gonna tell nobody don't worry. But you owe me 50¢ sometime." As he was telling me this he was heading for the door.

My mouth dropped open as I watched him leave. "What? That ain't fair!"
Race said nothing to reply, he simply tipped his hat and clicked his tongue then strolled out the door.

I grumbled to myself but looked down at my chest and collar bone area. The smallest smile crept into my face thinking about Spot. Guilt whelmed over me, Jack wouldn't like this. Spot was the only person that he did not want me to associate with, but something about him made me not want to stay away. The tough guy act he put on made me want to scratch through him, what made him the most feared newsie in New York? He certainly didn't look very scary.

I finished getting dresses for the day. Jack told me to protect Dave and his family, but I also needed to protect the family I've had ever since jack and I started here too.