Will, utterly frustrated with his younger sister Cecily, sat in the marked seat at the theater, huffing in annoyance.

"Oh, come on, Will, stop being such a downer. This is supposed to be, like, one of the greatest musicals ever! Tessa couldn't stop raving about it," Cecily said happily, practically bouncing in her seat with excitement.

"I," Will said decidedly, "do not want to be here. I don't see the point in wasting two and a half hours here, plus driving time since you were too giggly to drive in a straight line."

"I was not!"

"You most certainly were."

Just as Cecily opened her mouth to retort, the lights dimmed and she smacked Will's arm. "Shhhh! It's starting!"

"Ow," he whisper-yelled. "You brat."

"Shhh!"

Will rolled his eyes and focused his attention on the stage. There were two actors on it, both male, one with a crutch in his hand as he tried to move down the ladder. And the other one finally turned after a moment, his face moving from shadow into light, and-

Oh.

Oh.

He was beautiful. Not just cute or good-looking. Beautiful.

Hair as dark as Will's own, eyes brown, but flecked with what looked like silver under the lights, strong and toned yet slim and willowy frame... Will was so entranced that the dialogue flew over his head until he heard the orchestra begin to play softly. Then this beautiful actor crossed the stage, navigating the set with ease, until he stood center, facing out to the audience and staring at some point over their heads.
Will wasn't sure what was going on, until-

"They say folks is dyin' to get here... Me, I'm dyin' to get away. To a little town out west that's spankin' new..."

He began the slow opening lyrics to the song in a noticeable New York accent. Will couldn't tell if it was real or not, but it was adorable. He listened, letting it wash over him, sweet and slow until his voice picked up power and became a presence, filling the theater with a real longing.

"There's a life that's worth the living, and I'm gonna do my share. Work the land, chase the sun, swim the whole Rio Grande just for fun!"

Will found himself smiling and was grateful for the darkness hiding his face from Cecily. And with that, he found himself lost in the play, eyes tracking the beautiful face and voice of this unknown boy.

And then came a song, "Carrying the Banner", he thought the program said, and they all began to dance.

He had never seen someone dance like that so effortlessly, all the while belting out note after perfect note. Will, a bit embarrassed at how much he resembled a teenage girl at this moment, actually felt chills creep up his arms as he laughed along with the audience at a particularly sarcastic line.
He leaned in and nudged Cecily lightly, who refused to take her eyes off the stage.

"Who's that guy?"

"Which guy? There's like fifteen on stage."

Will was about to say 'the cute one' when said cute one took center stage again and stole the number with another one-liner.

"So I hate the headline, I'll make up a headline, and I'll say anything I hafta, 'cause at two for a penny, if I take too many, Weasel just makes me eat 'em after!" Will's smile broadened at the saucy wink he threw the audience.

"The one that just sang."

"Jack Kelly, he's the leader of the newsies. He's the lead role, I think."

Will scoffed to keep appearances and settled back in his seat. If this mysterious actor was the lead, he'd watch this show all day.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

The first act flew by in cute smiles, flirtatious smiles, and awe-inspiring vocals and dancing.

God, Will didn't even know this guy and he already had a not-small crush on him. This was madness.

It was after one particularly big scene that Jem- Jack?- crossed the stage alone, looking beat up and a little scared.

"Folks, we finally gotta headline- Newsies crushed as bulls attack!"

Will felt his heart aching already at this song. Jem's grip on the railing was tight and he looked genuinely distressed. The music crescendoed loudly until they sharply fell into silence. Cecily and Will exchanged a look, until-

"Let me go... far away. Somewhere they won't ever find me, and tomorrow won't remind me of today. When the city's finally sleepin', and the moon looks old and grey, I get on a train that's bound for Santa Fe..."

Will smiles softly at the reference to Jack's earlier mentioned dream. The music began to swell again as Jack's voice picked up strength and speed, eventually belting it out.

"Where does it say you gotta live and die here? Where does it say a guy can't catch a break??" He inhaled sharply. "Why should you only take what you're given? Why should you spend your whole life living trapped where there ain't no future? Even at seventeen! Breaking your back for someone else's sake!"

Cecily was leaning forward in her seat as the song reached its climax, and sell was pretty sure he looked the same way. This song was so wistful and pained and beautiful... Will nearly wanted to cry.

Once again, the music slowed.

"Just be real is all I'm askin'... Not some painting in my head. 'Cause I'm dead if I can't count on you today..."

The large intake of breath hinted at something powerful to come, but nothing could've prepared Will for the strength and emotion in the notes of the next thirty seconds.

"I got nothing if I ain't got Santa Fe!"

The last note was loud, strong, and held for five... ten... fifteen seconds before the stage lights went on, plunging the audience into shocked darkness. The following applause was like thunder.

When the lights finally came back on for intermission, Will flipped his playbill opened, pouring over it looking for this actor.

Cecily nudged his shoulder. "I'm going to the ladies' room."

Will simply nodded, running his finger down the page. "Jack Kelly... Jack Kelly... Who's playing Jack Kelly..." he murmured, stopping triumphantly at a section entitled "Meet the Cast".

James 'Jem' Carstairs is honored to be leading this Newsies revival tour as the dynamic Jack Kelly! Other than a handful of small supporting roles on stage and major contributions with his violin in the orchestra pit, this is Jem's big breakout role.

"I honestly think Newsies has been my favorite stage experience since day one of auditions. I never dreamed I'd be leading it, but it's time to seize the day!"- J.C. on his experience on Disney's Newsies

Will couldn't help grinning at the quote. "Seize the Day" had been a song in Act One, which Jem and the other lead, Davey- Will didn't know his actor's name- had naturally stolen the audience's hearts with.

Looking at the cover of the playbill with Jem frozen midair, grinning widely with a paper in hand, newsboy cap crooked and low over his face, Will leaned back in his seat as Cecily hastily sat back down just as lights dimmed once more.

He was definitely looking forward to Act Two.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Will wasn't disappointed. Act Two was full of so much action and insane dancing and Good God that voice was sent from Heaven itself.

At one particularly interesting back-and-forth between the two male leads, the entire audience was on the verge of laughter or something bigger at Jem's sarcastic, almost affronted yet somehow disheartened, replies.

On stage, Dave stepped forward and tried once more. "So here's how it goes once we win, and we will be winning, make no mistake-"

"We'll be what??"

"We're already winning."

"Riiight."

"And we'll tell 'em, straight out, they let Crutchie go or they keep getting pounded!"

Jack/Jem's reply did not fall short of expectations.

"Dave, what the hell? Did they bust up your brains or something'? As I recall, Dave, we all got our asses kicked. They won!"

"Won the battle!"

"Oh COME ON!"

The song and play went on, but Will was too busy fantasizing about possible scenarios between he and James Carstairs to pay terribly close attention.

(But he noticed anything that involved Jack Kelly on that stage.)

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Altogether too soon, the show was over, and curtain call had begun. Their seats, at Cecily's insistence, had been costly, but that meant they were close enough to see details of the facial expressions on the actors as they came out to take their bows.

And maybe- just maybe- close enough for the actors to see them.

Practically thrumming with impatience, Will's leg bounced as all the actors came on stage one by one and took a bow to generous applause and cheers.

Finally, Jem, cap in hand, bounded onto stage and spun twice, leaping into the air and mimicking his position on the playbill. As he landed neatly, arms raised, Will was seized with an absurd idea.

Well, Carstairs seemed to be looking this way anyways. May as well go for it.

Making his movements obvious, Will stood, applauding furiously, and whooped. Cecily followed suit, cheering her appreciation. The whole crowd quickly got on board, until this beautiful boy was absolutely beaming at a standing ovation all for him. Bowing again when the applause surged upwards, he stood and blew a kiss to the crowd, winking, though his vision seemed trained on one particular seat in the front row.

Will felt his heart rate increased twofold. He was nearly certain that look and that wink were aimed at the very least in his vicinity.

Stepping back, Jem took the hands of the two actors on either side of him and brought them all forward. As they all bowed once more, Will felt his heart pang at the thought of never seeing Jem again.

He was beautiful, talented, positive in his quotes, and so grateful and humble. Will had never said two words to him in person, but he already wanted something. He just wasn't sure what...

As the heavy curtain clicked shut and the lights came on for the final time, Will allowed himself to be herded out of the theater with the hundreds of other audience members.

Cecily was tugging his arm excitedly. "Wasn't that an incredible show? I loved it! It was just... brilliant!"

Will nodded. "Yeah, that was good." He almost chuckled at the enormous understatement that was- he'd watch it every day.

Cecily was absolutely beaming. "C'mon, sometimes if you go around back, the cast will be out there to sign playbills and take photos and whatever! Let's go check!"

Will grumbled in protest as Cecily pulled him along, but inwardly his heart was racing. Could he actually meet Jem? James? Jack? Wait, what was he supposed to call him? Jack was his character's name, but Jem sounded too casual, like a nickname... but it had been in the playbill...

Will was conflicted, to say the least.

When they arrived out back, the boys were indeed sitting out there, behind a low railing just high enough to be an obstacle but low enough to not interfere with pictures. Jem was sitting on the railing, laughing as one of the other boys stole his cap and ruffled his hair.

"Oi, your hair looks different," one actor called.

"Yeah, darker."

"Ya know, Jem, I think I preferred the silver streaks."

"Tell that to the director," Jem laughed, snatching his cap and setting back casually on his head. "Jack's supposed to be seventeen, not seventy."

'Silver streaks?' Will wondered, noticing again the light flecks of silver in his eyes. 'Hmmm.'

The entire cast cracked up again, teasing and joking until Jem noticed the group of about forty people who'd had the same thought as Cecily.

"Come on over, you lot," Jem called kindly. "We don't bite." The accent, Will noted, had been fake. There was a trace of an English accent, with something very foreign underneath.

"Except for Davey over here!"

One of the boys bit the air in Jem's general direction, winking. Jem rolled his eyes and turned to the group, good-naturedly posing for pictures and signing playbills.

Will heard him remark to one person, "Why on earth do you want my autograph? Seems like more trouble than its worth." That being said, he signed it and posed for what felt like a hundred pictures until Will and Cecily were the only ones left standing there.

Cecily, shameless as always, rushed right up to the entire cast and gushed, taking pictures and passing her playbill around, beaming all the while.
Will, however, decided on a more subtle approach. He leaned on the railing casually, eyes on his sister, but oh so conveniently right next to where Jem happened to be sitting.

"You were incredible," Will said, "I think that was the most I've ever enjoyed a stage production in my life."

Jem raised an eyebrow. "That's a bold statement."

"It's true."

Jem looked at him for a moment, then his face broke into ecstatic recognition. "It was you. You stood up when I took my bow."

"Well, technically, the whole theater stood up..."

Jem laughed again, a light, happy sound Will loved. "I mean, you stood up first. You... you gave me a standing ovation."

"You deserved your standing ovation. I've never seen someone sing and dance that impressively and look so good doing it."

Jem blushed faintly across his cheekbones, though Will supposed it could have been the exertion from the last two hours or so.

"Well, thank you. That really meant the world to me, and it was sweet of you."

"I'm Will, by the way."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Jem, if you didn't see that in the playbill already. And thank you again."

"No problem," Will replied. "So, up for one more picture and playbill?"

Jem gave an easy smile. "For you, sure."

They took several pictures, Jem smiling in one, tilting his hat and thumb in his vest pocket in another, and laughing in a couple.

Will got pictures and signatures from the other members as well- because honestly, they were all fantastic- and was walking away a bit sadly when he heard Jem call his name. He turned, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't start singing love songs on me now," Will teased, though he suspected he wouldn't mind.

Jem grinned. "Your playbill," he said, "I never signed it."

Will tossed it back to him, and he quickly scribbled something more than his name down before closing it and tossing it back.

"I've got to go, unfortunately. It was nice meeting you, Will. Maybe I'll catch you at another show someday?"

"I'll be there," Will said with a smile as Jem slipped back inside, whistling a tune.

As he walked down the sidewalk, he opened his playbill curiously.
There was a standard signature, just Jem Carstairs in neat yet somehow flourished writing, but it was the message underneath that made Cecily question his sanity when he grinned and sighed softly.

I really liked meeting you, and I'd like to do it again sometime. Grab dinner with me next time I'm in town when I come home after tour? Just call me. -Jem xx

And there, neatly beneath the message and underlined twice, was a phone number.

Much to his sister's amusement, Will was humming musical numbers all the way home.