Two days later

___

"Crutchie, youse in there?" Jack's anxious voice called from the doorway.

"Yeah.." Crutchie replied, half muttering. He was doing the usual of that week - staring at ceiling while lying in bed. Of course, he had sold his papers that day, just.. quietly.

Jack then entered, holding some sort of envelope in his hand. It was slightly damaged, but in alright condition overall.

"Ya goil sent youse a letter.." Jack mumbled, walking over and handing it to him. Crutchie was so worn down at this point that he didn't even bother to correct him that (Y/N) wasn't his girl.

Crutchie took the letter from him gently, examining it as he turned it over.

"Ill, uh, leave youse to read it.." Jack said as he walked out.

Crutchie did exactly that, carefully undoing the seal and bringing the letter out.

He then did his best to read it, which, surprisingly, wasn't very hard for him. Thank god!

Taking a breath, he unfolded the letter and began to read.

Dear Crutchie,

I may have fucked up, but don't waste your energy worrying about me. I mean, I'm flattered, but i'm not worth worrying about. I appreciate the pages, but those were just the title pages. Sorry that the guys act weird around you now, id suggest to ask them why if you want it to stop.

To answer your questions - the food isn't so bad, but that's partially because I haven't eaten. There's a girl not much older then me sharing a cell, and she needs it much more than I do.

I've been fighting back best I can, but it's hard. I think I might have broken a wrist or two. I guess time will tell, but make sure to look out for Morris's black eye.

Let Les know that I miss him more, and tell Kathrine not to be concerned - I'll get out of here soon, I can feel it.

A̶l̶s̶o̶,̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶r̶o̶s̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶t̶e̶x̶t̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶e̶n̶d̶?̶ ̶'̶Y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶f̶r̶i̶e̶n̶d̶'̶?̶ ̶I̶ ̶m̶e̶a̶n̶,̶ ̶I̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶t̶ ̶m̶i̶n̶d̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶i̶m̶p̶l̶i̶e̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶r̶o̶m̶a̶n̶t̶i̶c̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶?̶ ̶I̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶f̶u̶s̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶l̶o̶t̶s̶.̶.̶ ̶L̶o̶o̶k̶,̶ ̶C̶r̶u̶t̶c̶h̶i̶e̶,̶ ̶e̶i̶t̶h̶er̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶,̶ ̶I̶'̶v̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶l̶i̶z̶e̶d̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶e̶.̶.̶ ̶I̶'̶v̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶l̶i̶z̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶m̶e̶a̶n̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶I̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶b̶e̶l̶i̶e̶v̶e̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶.̶ ̶C̶r̶u̶t̶c̶h̶i̶e̶ ̶M̶o̶r̶r̶i̶s̶,̶ ̶I̶ ̶a̶m̶ ̶a̶f̶r̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶I̶ ̶m̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶l̶o̶v̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶,̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶b̶a̶s̶t̶a̶r̶d̶.̶

Sorry if you can't read my handwriting all that well. - try to get Katherine to read this to you, and i'll show you more skills for reading when I get back.

I'm going to say it again. Do not worry about me, Crutchie. Knowing you, I presume you will, but I beg of you - don't worry. I'll be fine, and I'll be out of here before you know it. Trust me on this, okay?

I'll see you soon.

"The End"

Sincerely,

Your friend,

(Y/N)

Crutchie read the leader over and over, similar to how (Y/N) had done for his. The difference? Crutchie couldn't read the crossed out text at the end - she had really scribbled it out good. Though, he was genuinely curious to what it said. Was it just spelling errors, or something else? Had she met someone in the Refuge?

A few drops of water dotted Crutchie's paper before he knew it, and he broke out sobbing. (Y/N) was in the Refuge, either way! He was in love with this girl, yet he didn't try to do anything to get her out.

Jack, unbeknownst to Crutchie, watched on from the doorway, knowing he had to do something. But.. what?

Then it hit him.

____

"Newsies!" Jack called out from the stage, to the rowdy audience of newsboys in Medea's theater. "Hold ya' horses and let me speak!"

The theater quieted down, despite the shuffling of chairs every now and then. Jack cleared his throat, and began speaking.

"We need to get (Y/N) outta da' Refuge!" He half shouted, hoping to get a message across to the boys scattered around the room.

"Ya mean Crutchie's goil?" Race yelled from the back, earning a smack on the back of the head from Specs, as well as making all the other newsboys hoot and holler, catcall, and wolf whistle things about her that Crutchie was lucky not to hear - he was at the lodging house with Davey and Katherine.

"Quiet down, she ain't his goil!" Jack yelled, making the newsboys boo, but quiet down as well. "Anyways, back to da point - we'll need ta' get her out, and soon, before those damned Delancey's kill her!"

"How the hell we supposed to do that?" Skittery blared from the back, starting a chorus of ideas that were, to say the least, mostly illegal.

"Thats where my masta' plan comes in." Jack gloated, adjusting his cap as to seem more presentable. "If we'se all put in a nickel, we'll have ten dolla's - then, we can bribe those Delancey's to let her out."

"Can we soak 'em if they don't?" Boots howled from the front, hurting Jack's ear drums. He removed his cap and ran a hand through his hair.

"No." He replied, a serious tone. Many newsboys groaned. "Instead," He began, plopping his hat back on and rubbing his hands together. "Youse can beat em' up da' whole way!"

The newsboys cheered, and Jack knew that they were all on board with the plan. He smiled to himself, excited to tell Crutchie.

He would be so glad!

___

"Are youse jokin'?" Crutchie blurted out, a smile spreading across his face as Jack nodded. He would have cried, had he not been surrounded by the other boys.

"Not at all, buddy. We'se gonna go down to da Refuge tomorra' and bribe her out." Jack cooed, as Crutchie's smile grew.

It was then that all the newsboys realized something - Crutchie was legitimately in love with this girl.

Sure, they all knew he liked her, but at first they all thought he was just trying to get in bed with her, maybe go on a date or two. But.. no. Crutchie was seriously in love with her.

All the newsies seemed to catch on at the same time, because they all began hooting, hollering, whistling, and catcalling at Crutchie, turning him red. Still, he smiled.

Because, for god's sake, (Y/N) was going to be free soon!