Newsies Short Stories

Javey- Grief

It's was a normal day for the newsies of lower Manhattan. Well it was until the boys realise neither Davey nor Les had shown up for work.

One of them to be missing every now and then was normal but both of them that was weird. Jack barely sold any papes that day, he couldn't stop thinking about where his boyfriend and Les could be.

By the end of the day neither of them had shown up so Jack decided to go round to their house. He went round often, Davey's family loved him.

He knocked on the door and Davey's dad opened it. His eyes were red and looked like he hadn't slept.

"He's in his bedroom, be gentle with him." Davey's father said inviting Jack in.

His dad saying be gentle with him be Jack anxious. What could be going on? Jack walked into Davey's bedroom which he shared with Les. Les wasn't there. Davey was laid on his bed, head down. Jack could hear the silent sobs.

He gently sat down on Davey's bed and rubbed circles on his back. Davey looked up a little and then back down. Even though he knew only Jack would do that he wanted to check. Jack saw how his eyes looked like his fathers.

"What's goin' on Dave?" Jack asked quietly.

"My Ma....she-she passed." Davey sobbed sitting up.

Jack didn't say anything, he knew Davey wouldn't want him to. He opened his arms. Davey immediately crashed into the hug, he buried his head into Jack's chest sobbing. Jack carried on running circles on his back.

"Where's Les?" Jack asked.

"Sarah took him on a walk, he's worse then me." Davey whispered.

Jack hugged him tighter. The boys stayed like that and then Les came home. Jack invited Les into the hug. He hugged both the boys tightly. The three fell asleep like that.

———— time skip ————
It had been a few weeks since Davey's mother had passed. They'd only showed up for work now and then. Jack sold extra papes and dropped the money off and the Jacobs with a little more sometimes even if Davey's dad try to refuse it, Jack wouldn't let him.

Jack came round to Davey's house to find only Davey home. He left the money of the table like he normally did and Davey took him to the bedroom. Davey sat down on the bed and got Jack too as well. Davey had clearly been crying again.

"I have something to tell you..." Davey paused and swallowed. He tried not to cry again. "We're moving. To Washington."

"But that's ages away." Jack said, his eyes closed not wanting to crying.

"Ma always wanted to go there. Pa thought it'd nice. I don't wanna be I have to. I'm sorry, Jack." Davey said placing a hand on Jack's shoulder.

"But what does that mean for us?" Jack swallowed. Looking Davey in the eye.

"We are going to have to break up. It can't work long distance." Davey let the tears roll. Jack start crying.

"When do ya go?" He asked.

"An hour or maybe less." Davey said looking down.

"Kiss me, one last time?" Jack asked.

Davey kissed him long, hard and passionately. He didn't want to leave Jack but he didn't have a choice. His dad needed help with his grieving and the only way he could do that was by moving and Davey would do anything for his parents.

When it time for them to go Jack stayed to see them go. Davey's older sister, Sarah and Davey's dad thanked Jack. Les gave Jack a big hug. Davey was last to say goodbye to Jack. He was already crying and set Jack off too. He wrapped his arms tightly around Jack who did the same back. When they finally let go Jack kissed Davey. One last time.

"I'll see you again sometime, Jackie." Davey smiled weakly.

Jack nodded.

———— time skip ————
Davey kept his promise not intentionally. Jack had tried getting in touch with Davey but Davey couldn't stand bringing himself to write back to Jack. The pain hurt too much. Loosing your mother and then your soulmate a few weeks after was painful. Even if only one passed.

It had been a few years since they'd left.  Davey's dad had decided it was time to move back. Davey was going to stay in Washington with Sarah but then he got a job offer in Manhattan he couldn't pass down.

Jack was working for The World by drawing pictures to go along with articles and a fun little cartoon every week. He also sold his artwork which sold much better than he'd expected.

When Davey left Jack barely left his bed for a week or two. It was Spot out of all people who helped him. Race got his boyfriend to come all the way from Brooklyn to help Jack. Spot knew Jack better than anyone. He'd get him out of bed.

During the time Davey was in Washington, Jack had hooked up with Morris a significant amount of times. It didn't rid Jack's feelings for Davey but it hid them. Morris and Jack knew that their thing was only temporary.

Davey was stood outside of the Manhattan newsboy lodging. It had gained in size by extensions at the back. Davey could hear Jack hurrying the younger ones to dinner and shouting at Race and JoJo to stop jumping on all the beds. Davey smiled, it was nice to hear his voice. Even though Davey thought it'd be hard to see him again but maybe it wouldn't.

Davey walked up the stairs preparing himself as he walked up. He slowly entered and listened for Jack's voice. He heard him in the the older boys took. Davey walked over to the door and raced himself. He opened the door and slowly walked in.

Jack was in the corner panting. His back was turned. The rest of the older boys were the middle. Race saw him first, he waved and smiled. The other boys looked over and waved.

"Hey." Albert smiled bringing Davey into a hug.

"Who's 'ere?" Jack asked not taking his eyes of his paper.

"Looks, dummy." Crutchie laughed.

Jack turned around. He just stood there for a second before Davey said something.

"Rooftop?" Jack nodded.

They both walked up to the rooftop in silence. They sat next to each other.

"I told you I'd see ya again." Davey said.

"Why didn't youse answer my letters." Jack asked.

"I couldn't bring myself too. I felt like I'd lost you as well as Ma when I left. I thought it'd be easier to leave it." Davey sighed.

"So Ise didn't do anything?" Jack asked.

"Course not. Jack you a good person. I just loved ya too much." Davey admitted.

"Youse loved me too much?" Jack asked to which Davey nodded.

Jack moved closer and brought Davey's head to look towards him. Jack put his forehead against Davey. Davey smiled and close the gap between them. They kissed slowly. All the moments they missed in the years seemed to be fixed by this kiss. In this moment they realised how much they'd miss each other. When the kiss finished Jack smiled and went over to a corner of the rooftop where there was storage boxes. He opened on and brought over a paper that was rolled up.

He gave it Davey who unraveled it. It was a drawing of the two together. Davey smiled and kissed Jack again.

"Now that I'm back maybe we could get back together." Davey said nervously.

"Ise hoping you might suggest that." Jack smiled.

A/N- 1273 words. How???????