And here we have Katherine trying to figure out why Jack broke up with her.

WARNINGS: None that I can think of... Nothing worse than Pulitzer says to Jack in the Musical.

~TH~

Jack hadn't moved. He hadn't held her hand or kissed her cheek or flirted once. He simply sat on the park bench, unmoving. Ever since they had left her house tonight, he had been off. Something wasn't right.

She reached for his hand, he didn't move away, but his hand twitched. She pulled her own back. "Jack, is everything okay?"

"I can't do this to you anymore."

"Ah, Mr Kelly." Pulitzer looked up from his desk as Jack walked in.

The boy gave a nervous smile. "You wanted to see me, Joe? I normally just drop my drawing off at the desk."

"Yes," The older man returned the smile with false sincerity. "I need to speak to you about my daughter."

"Ace?" Pultizer had his attention now.

"Yes," he hissed, "Katherine. I know you have been... courting her the last several months,"

Jack nodded, "Yeah, so?"

"Really Mr Kelly? Are you really so naive to think you are good for her?"

The boy froze. He knew Pulitzer disapproved of him, but this was the first time he ever said something directly to him about it.

"I've stood by, Mr Kelly. I've stood by and watched as you stole my daughter's heart. I assumed one of you would gain some common sense and back away, but now that it is clear that no such thing will be happening, I decided it was time to interfere. You will never be good enough for her."

Jack took a step back, "With all due respect Mr Pulitzer, I think Katherine is plenty capable of making her own decisions."

"I won't deny that Mr Kelly." The older man paused as if thinking. "Do you love her?"

"Ace?" Jack said in surprise, "'Course I do."

"Then how don't you see that she deserves so much better than you could ever offer her? You act as though you have everything planned, but I must ask, how do you plan on affording a place to stay? What about clothes? I assure you, woman are not content with one outfit, they need many. And food, Katherine has always been served the highest quality in every aspect. How do you plan to support her? She comes from an upper-class life and still doesn't realize that a life with you would bring her to the very bottom. It's easy to say you are in love and will care for her while she is still living under my roof, but how long will that last outside of it?"

Jack didn't move. He could feel his breathing becoming erratic. Joe was right. He couldn't do that to her.

"I suggest you cut it off now before one of you gets hurt. You will never be good enough for my daughter, Mr Kelly, it's high time you realize that yourself."

"Can't do what Jack? She asked, brushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

He stood up and began pacing. "I can't- I can't give you what you deserve. I can't even give you what you need! You deserve better than me, Ace. You deserve so much better!"

"No, Jack," She walked up, wrapping her arms around him. "You're plenty good enough for me."

He pulled away, "No! I-I'm not! One day, you're gonna wake up and realize that you could've had anyone, but you were stuck with me. You're gonna realize that I ain't good enough for ya, I never was, and you'd be right!" He sunk back down onto the bench, "You'd be right."

"Jack," Katherine sat beside him, latching onto his arm, "Don't say that. It's not true. I love you Jack Kelly and I'll never leave you."

"But you gotta Katherine!" She was surprised by the use of her real name. Jack was serious, "It can never work. I'm not good enough for you. How can you not see that? I'm a Newsie, Ace. I'm an orphan who's been in jail multiple times. You need someone who will be able to take care of ya. Who can give you everything you ever want. But you gotta go find him."

Katherine could feel the tears running down her cheeks. "I already found him. I don't want anyone else, I want you."

"No," Jack shook his head, untangling himself from her arms, "no, it will never work. I love you, Ace, more than I've ever loved anyone in my life, because of that I gotta let you go." He began to walk away. She could see him crying, she wanted to comfort him but she couldn't.

"Jack!" He didn't turn around, he just kept walking.

Had he just... broken up with her?

She sobbed angry tears. She was angry at Jack. She was so angry. Until she reached her home. She fell into her father's embrace as he offered her comfort. That's when she realized, he didn't seem the least bit surprised. She hadn't even told him what happened.

Katherine excused herself to her room. She started crying again, not angry this time, sad. Sad for herself, but even more for her Jack. What had her father said to make him do that? How could he honestly think he wasn't good enough for her? He was everything she had ever wanted in a man!

She would get him back. She had to.

~TH~

This is the last one I have, so if you like this style, send prompts!

If you leave a comment you might be my new best friend 😁

Thanks for reading!

God bless,
Jamie