We did it y'all. We're here.

"Are we- is this happening?" Race questioned.

"Well we do have a strike to win, don't we?" David raised an eyebrow, a wide smile on his face as he gathered his things.

Race returned with a half hearted smile.

This is almost done.

The strike is almost over.

They can do this. (Me just talking to myself during the all nighter that finishes this book) (fun fact: it didn't end up being an all nighter! I passed out at 4AM but I was going to my uncles for thanksgiving so I woke up at 5)

-

"Hey Dave- David?" Jack approached the taller teen.

"Yeah?" David whispered, looking up from his book.

"I uh- I think I'm in love with you..." Jack whispered. "Is- is that okay?"

"God d*mnit Jack Kelly, I'm in love with you too." David shook his head.

"Is this- is this real?" Jack gestured back and forth between them. "Is this something?"

"Of course it is." David laughed cheekily.

"Well- well don't just say it like it happens everyday!" Jack stammered.

"Jack," David grasped the seventeen-year-old's hands. "I've been in love with you the first day you taught me and Les how to sell. At first you just- you just pissed me off! But then I saw how you treated my little brother- and- and I gave you a try."

"That's what it took, huh?" Jack shook his head jokingly. "I've been in love with you since the moment I saw you."

"We're idiots." David cupped Jack's cheek.

"Total idiots." Jack giggled like an idiot.

"You just giggled." The taller boy noted.

"Was it weird?" Jack flushed.

"You're a total weirdo." David grinned.

And just like that they were about to kiss.

Jack's breath on David's when-

"Uh uh." David put a finger to the shorter boy's lips. "I think we have a strike to finish."

Jack let out a loud groan. "You can't just get me all excited and then leave me hanging!" He complained.

"I think I can." David smirked, grabbing Jack's drawings off the floor. "Considering you did betray us and all."

"...I really am sorry for that though." Jack looked down at his feet.

"I know." David smiled softly. "You're trying to fix it, that's what counts."

-

"Heya Jack?" Anastasia peeled open the window to her brother's 'current residence'.

"Huh- yeah!?" Jack jumped, the photo photo his hand drifting to the ground.

The cowboy photo.

"Jackie! Jack! Look!" Michael pointed to a group of western dressed men. "They're real cowboys!"

"Whoa-" Jack took a step back.

"I'ma go talk to 'em!" Michael beamed.

"Wait no-"

"Would'ja like a pape sir!?" Michael smiled, holding out a bundle.

"No thank-"

"You guys are real cowboy's!?" Michael burst- his eyes hopeful.

The cowboy's eyes softened.

"Yeah, you like cowboys?" He crouched down to Michael's level.

"Yeah!" Michael grinned. "Jackie c'mere!"

Jack hesitated- walking over to the two.

"Hey there." The cowboy's friend held up a fist.

Jack responded by punching it, earning a cheer from the man.

"Hey you! Can we have a picture!?" The cowboy called to a man walked by with camera equipment.

"Can't- busy- I-"

The cowboy held up a bag of coins.

"Sure!" The photographer walked over, setting up his equipment.

"Come on kid!" The cowboy gave his hat to Michael, hoisting the little boy into his shoulders.

That was the happiest Jack had ever scene him.

"I know- I know you're sorry." Anastasia sighed. "So I just wanted to say I'm sorry too- and I forgive you."

Jack paused before looking up to meet the brown-haired-girl's eyes.

"...thank you."

"That's uh- all I wanted to say." Anastasia turned away.

"Wait-" Jack stopped her.

"Hm?" Anastasia faced the older boy again.

"Are we- are we good?" Jack questioned.

Anastasia paused.

"As good as a newsie can be." She offered a small smile.

-

There they found themselves, two in the morning, waiting outside the Pulitzer penthouse.

"I'm here! Sorry it took me a moment to find the keys." Katherine dashed out- two well-dressed men following in suite.

"So you're a Pulitzer?" Jack raised an eyebrow.

"Got a problem with that?" Katherine raised an eyebrow threateningly.

"Not at all," Jack put his hands up.

"Come on- let's get started." One of Katherine's friends urged.

-

"I'll get the lights, you get those windows unlocked." Katherine ordered.

"We got enough keys here for the entire building." Jack fumbled with the set of keys.

"Somebody been picking Daddy's pockets?" Anastasia teased.

"Please," Katherine scoffed. "The janitor's been here since he was eight and hasn't had a raise in twenty years. He's with us a hundred percent."

Loud clanging filled the room as David dashed down the stairs.

"Hush!" Jack greeted the taller boy. "You wanna wake the whole city with your clingity clangin'!?"

"...it's good to have you back again." David offered a smile.

Jack paused before rolling his eyes playfully.

"Aw shut up."

"Here she is children." Katherine pulled off the cloth hiding the printing press. "Just think while my father snores blissfully in his sleep we'll be using his very own press to bring him down." She chuckled evilly.

"...remind me to never get on your bad side." Jack gave the nineteen-year-old a side eye.

"You already have." Katherine spoke in a tone that sent chills down his spine.

"Is this what they print the papes on?" Race scanned the printing press.

"I see why they put this old girl down to the cellar." Katherine's friend ran his hands across the metal. "But.... she should do the job."

"You guys, this is Darcy. He knows just about everything there is to printing."

Jack walked over instinctively spit shaking before he saw the horror-crossed look on Darcy's face.

"Right uh-" He wiped his hand on his pants and cleared his throat. "You work for one of the papes?"

Darcy held an amused smile. "My father owns The Trib."

"W- whoa-" Jack stumbled back in shock.

"And this is Bill." Katherine gestured to her other friend. "He'll be type-setting the article."

"Bill- Bill I suppose you're the son of William Randolph Hearst right-" Jack stammered.

"And proud to be a part of your revolution!" Bill grinned, excitedly grabbing Jack's hand and shaking it.

"Geez-" David mumbled.

"Ain't that something." Jack spoke, his voice awestruck.

"In the words of the little one, can we table the palaver and get back to business?" Katherine raised an eyebrow.

"A little grease and she'll be good as gold." Darcy noted.

"Alright here's how it'll work." David began. "We print the papes. Race, Anastasia, you let the fella's in and they'll spread 'em to every working kid in this city. After that..."

"After that it's up to them." Jack finished. "There's change coming once and for all. You makes the front page. And man you is major news."

"Tomorrow they'll see what we are." Davey joined in.

"And sure as a star. We ain't come this far.... to lose!" Katherine caught on.

Anyone could feel the adrenaline building up in the room.

"LET'S GO BOYS!" The newsies screamed from the background.

"HERE THEY COME!" Race yelled down bellow as the stampede hit.

Yeah, they were gonna win this.

-

It was done.

The papes were printed and delivered.

All they could do now was... wait.

"Hey Race." Jack sat down next to the blonde that he had practically raised. "I uh- I-"

"You- you don't get to come back and act like everything's okay." Race clenched his fists, his voice quiet.

"I did it for you guys- I- I didn't know what else to do!" Jack confessed.

Race stayed silent, his back turned to the older boy.

"...it's not fair that this is what the fella's have to deal with." Jack spoke after a moment of silence.

"It's not fair." Race repeated. "I know it's not fair that you don't get to be as upset as them. That- that you can't run away like other brothers have done. That we can't fight for you if we can't fight without you. And I know it won't ever be fair because you're their leader! No- you're more than that! You're their brother! They need you Jack! I need you! I-"

Race's eyes widened, but the words already slipped out.

Wordlessly, Jack took a step forward, turning the younger boy around to face him. Then, he pulled him into a tight embrace- to which the blonde-haired-boy broke down.

"It's been so hard without you." Race sobbed, his hands gripping onto Jack's shirt.

"Shh, shh." Jack ran his fingers through the blonde curls soothingly.

"I just wanted you to come home so badly. I just- I wanted you to burst through the door and say it was all some kind of mean trick. Or- or it was in my dreams. And I'd wake up and you'd be at my bedside telling me it was a nightmare." Race gulped, burying his face into the crook of Jack's neck. "But everyday I woke up and you weren't there. Suddenly I was back in the nightmare."

"I'm sorry." Jack whispered into the younger boy's ear. "I'd take it all back if I could."

"I'm sorry I've been such an a**." Race cried, begging for forgiveness. "I don't know why I'm still upset, you're back with us again."

"No- no." Jack shook his head, rubbing circles on the younger boy's back. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm the one that's sorry. You have every right to soak the sh*t out of me."

"I think I prefer hugs." Race mumbled.

"Me too." Jack held his younger brother close.

"Are you really back on the strike?" Race questioned after a moment of silence, pulling away from the hug.

"Of course." Jack nodded his head. "We'll win this time. Me, you, the fella's. Every working kid in this city."

Race nodded briefly before hugging Jack again. "I love you Jackie."

Jack's eyes widened at the sudden use of affection before a smile made it's way to his lips. "I love you too Racer."

He may or may not have held the blonde-haired-boy a little closer.

-

It was time.

"Silence those phones!" Pulitzer screamed. Jack could hear the man through the door.

"Mornin' gents!" Jack declared as he marched into the room and slamming down the paper on the table.

"What're you doing!?" Pulitzer growled. "Do you not care of your newsies?"

"Oh I do." Jack smirked. "But we ain't afraid of you no more."

"You-"

"Joseph Joseph Joseph." Roosevelt clicked his tongue, waltzing in. "What have you done now?"

"I am certain that-"

"No need for excuses." Roosevelt put his hand up. "Thanks to Miss Medda Larkin bringing your daughter to my office, I have the full details. Pictures included."

Anyone could see the smoke coming out of Pulitzer's ears.

"Is this the boy? Jack?" Roosevelt gestured to the Manhattan Leader. "How're you son?"

"Not the uh- not the best sir."

He holds out his hand to which Jack shakes. Jack turned back to David, looking like this is the second coming of Christ and someone pulled out a tooth without any numbing. David chuckled, interlocking his hand with Jack's. Jack looked at his hand as if it might spontaneously combust.

"Well tell them the good news Joe." Roosevelt elbowed the man.

"What good news?" Pulitzer spoke through gritted teeth.

"That you've rolled back all prices. Unless you'd like a full state senate investigation?"

"Mr. Kelly may I talk to you... alone." Pulitzer ordered.

Everyone looked to Jack who only nodded his head.

"Look, I cannot roll back prices without-"

"I get it." Jack shrugged. "Gotta keep a save face. I'm young. I ain't stupid."

"Thank you for understanding-"

"But I got constituents with a legitimate gripe!" Jack burst, using words he only partly knew the meaning to.

"What if I reduced it by half!? Get the others to do the same." Pulitzer sighed exasperatedly. "It's a compromise we can all live with!"

"But you eat our losses." Jack prompted.

"That was never on the table!" Pulitzer snapped. "What's to stop the newsies from taking hundreds of papers they can't sell! My cost would explode!"

Jack let out a loud scoff of disapproval.

"No newsie is gonna break their back carrying papes he can't sell! But if he can take a few more risk free? Your circulation will grow!"

Silence.

"It's a compromise we can all live with!" Jack mocked.

"That isn't a bad head on your shoulders." Pulitzer noted.

"Deal?" Jack spit into his hand.

"That's disgusting." Pulitzer gagged.

"It's just'a price of doin' business." Jack's gaze remained firm.

Pulitzer looked at his hand before swallowing his dignity.

-

"Well!?" The newsies went silent as Jack stepped into the crowd.

"WE WON!" Jack screamed.

The newsies erupted into cheers.

That's when the bulls came.

"HEY HEY IT'S THE BULLS!" Someone yelled, making Jack's heart freeze.

He was ready to run when.

"No- no Jack! You don't need to run anymore." Katherine stopped him.

"Wha-"

"HEY LOOK IT'S CRUTCHIE!" Race screamed as they all surrounded their brother.

"Hiya fella's! Ya miss me?" Crutchie smiled cheekily, making Jack smiled back.

"Nah," Jack ruffled the brown locks. "I like the quiet."

"Shame," Crutchie stuck out his tongue. "I got you a present too. Straight from the refuge. Bring 'im in!"

"Oh ho ho." Race laughed wickedly. "It's Snyder da spider!"

"Ain't lookin so tough no more." Albert grinned evilly.

"Jack, with your drawings you've made an eloquent argument to shut down the refuge. Be assured Snyder will be fully investigated." Governer Roosevelt smiled. "Take him away boys." The Governer ordered.

"Ya highness?" Crutchie bowed his head down. "Can I do the honors?"

Roosevelt nodded.

"Oh you have got to be kidding me." Snyder grumbled as he was handcuffed.

"You'll be laughing all the way to the pen little man!" Crutchie snarled.

"I can't help but wonder if one of your drawings convinced the Governer to shut down the Refuge, what might a daily political cartoon do."

"I'll uh- have to think about it." Jack shrugged.

"We won!" David grinned, walking over to the seventeen-year-old.

"We did." Jack laughed.

His eyes darted up to the taller boy's lips.

"Can I kiss you?" Jack questioned softly.

"I don't know, can you?" David smirked.

Jack smiled widely, grabbing David's shoulder and pushing his lips to the dark haired boy's.

"GUYS!" Les jumped up and down, pointing frantically to the two.

"That's real smooth Jackie." Race called him out.

"You're looking a little flushed, Jacobs." Spot crossed his arms, rolling his eyes as Hot Shot slapped his shoulder.

"Whoohoo! You're actually capable of genuine love in that grape-sized heart of yours." Anastasia beamed.

"Well, well, well." Katherine chuckled. "We have quite the pair of love birds here." (Don't worry Kath) (you'll get a lover in the sequel, I got you girl)

"I love you David Jacobs." Jack grabbed the taller boy's hands.

"I think you mean Davey Jacobs." Davey winked.

"Never do that again." Jack shook his head, a wide grin on his face.

"Trust me, I've made a mental note already." Davey reassured.

"I guess happy endings are possible." Jack smiled, his right side just a little higher than the left.

"I think you still have some selling to do." Davey gestured to the paper stand.

Jack smirked, dragging the dark-haired-boy to the stand. "I think you mean we."

Jack slapped down fifty cents. The roar from the newsies was deafening.

But Jack knew that it was his family.

And there's no better feeling than that.

-

"Is there anything else you need Jack? Before I'm on my way?" Roosevelt turned to the leader of the strike.

Jack paused.

"Actually..."

-

"Are you- are you sure you want to go back there?" Davey questioned as they rode in the back of Roosevelt's Carriage.

"I need closure." Jack closed his eyes. "I need to see something- one last time."

"Here you are boys."

The House of Refuge.

The place that took everything away from Jack.

The place that took everything away from many children.

The place that'll haunt dreams for the rest of their lives.

Jack pushed open the door, a loud cREAK releasing.

Blood marks were on some parts of the walls- scratches too.

Kids took their last breathes in this place.

Jack could feel Davey rock beside him. This place sickening him to his core.

Jack moved unaffected, climbing the steps of the staircase to a room he knew all too well.

His hand paused- freezing before curling around the handle.

Slowly he opened the door.

He felt oddly calm.

Jack's hand brushed against the sides of the right wall. Names carved into it along with millions of little meaningless marks.

Meaningless marks to Jack- but each detail meant a lot to whoever made it.

This cell had been the singular torture cell. One meant specifically so you couldn't escape.

Jack's fingers thumbed over more names as he made it to the corners.
(note: the next characters are all foreshadowing for the sequel) (I was supposed to start them in this book but oh well-)

(Oh wait Shards was introduced already!!! He's most prominent in Chapter 10)

Annie.

The black-haired girl angrily shoved herself into the corner of the small cell.

She wanted to scream.

She wanted out.

She wanted Mark.

And then the tears came.

She never cried. She's a newsie, she's not meant to cry.

But somehow, she couldn't stop it. She didn't try.

Her fingers found their way to a singular stick. The only thing in the d*mn cell.

In her anger, she snapped the stick in half, throwing one piece to the other side of the cell.

She examined the newly sharp stick, she tested it, running it against the wall in a singular line.

Next, she carved her name. Annie. Plain and simple.

But that was it.

And with that, she threw the other piece to the other side.

Shards.

The teen banged the door with his fist.

"Let me out!" He screamed. "Let me out!"

Suddenly, the black-haired-boy sunk to his knees.

"Please..."

Never had Shards felt so alone.

Not when he had first lost Chester.

Not when he was at Ms. Mabels Orphanage.

Never.

He felt a burning feeling in his eyes, one quickly followed by blurry vision and heavy breathing.

His hand was still against the door, slowly unclenching.

The nine-year-old glanced down at the pendant around his neck.

"SCREW YOU CHESTER!" Shards screamed, ripping the necklace off his neck. "I HOPE YOU HAVE FUN IN BROOKLYN WITHOUT ME!"

Shards looked down at the chain- most likely fake silver. He slowly picked up the ring, clenching it in his palm.

Angrily, Shards held the ring, slashing the point of the iron jewel against the wall.

The pale-skinned boy stopped when he saw it leave a white scratch.

"They want shards? I'll give them shards." The black-haired boy snapped, rubbing the sharp iron tip against the wall, making the black paint chip into pieces.

When a large amount of stone was revealed, Shards stepped back, proud of his work.

At the top, he signed his name. They would know it was he who did it.

So many other names wracked the walls of the dark cell- some incomprehensible.

There was one spot he had to check.

One he would check every time.

Michael and Jack

Jack felt tears whelm in his eyes, but he didn't bother to wipe it.

Below it was the alphabet.

"A b c d e f g." Michael sang softly, carving into the wall.

"H i j k l m n o p." Jack guided the younger boy's hand.

"Q r s t u v." Michael grinned. "w x y and z."

"Now you know your ABC's." Jack smiled.

"Next time please don't sing with me." Michael stuck his tongue out.

The marks here were meaningless to so many others- but they meant the world to him.

"My name is Michael." The six-year-old stuck out his tongue in concentration, carving into the wall. "Like that?" His eyes darted up to the older boy.

"Exactly like that." Jack grinned, blowing off the excess paint.

"I did it Jackie!" Michael beamed.

"Yes you did." Jack ruffled the younger boy's hair.

Jack's fingers traced over the wobbly writing.

"Jackie? Will we ever get out of here?" Michael began to cry.

"Hey- hey, what's wrong?" Jack held the younger boy's shoulders gently.

"I wanna see Fox, and Temper, and Crutchie again. I don't wanna see these walls anymore." Michael sniffed.

"We are going to get out of here." Jack hugged the younger boy close. "I'll get you to Santa Fe. We're gonna go to Santa Fe."

"I love you Jackie." Michael whispered, burying his face from the world.

"I love you too Michael." Jack stroked the younger boy's hair. "I love you so, so, so, much."

"I love you Michael." Jack choked back a sob. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry you never got to see Santa Fe."

Davey stayed silent next to him, unmoving.

Jack knew this was the end.

He loved- loves his brother so much but he needed to say goodbye.

To let go of the past to make more room in his heart.

Now, no other kid would suffer at the ends of the refuge.

No other kid will suffer the same fate as Michael.

He collapsed to the floor, loud sobs over taking him.

Davey was beside him, holding him close.

They were gonna be okay.

He was going to be okay.

-

"Is this, you know, the end?" Race asked, standing next to Anastasia on the fire escape.

"Well, we won the strike." Anastasia smiled slightly. "There's nothing else left to do, is there?"

Race shrugged, his pale face beginning to rapidly get redder. "I- I still have some unfinished business."

"And what is that?" Anastasia raised an eyebrow.

Race started to become flustered, his once sure intent slowly fading.

"You."

This time, Anastasia had heard him.

"Me?" Anastasia pointed to herself jokingly, a teasing smile on her face.

"Yeah." Race blushed furiously. "Our- erm- our, friendship."

Race never felt a greater urge to facepalm.

"Friend...ship?" Anastasia repeated questioningly, not understanding what he meant. Not understanding the true colors of the emotions she felt when around him.

"When you left, I felt like you took a part of me with you." Race looked away. "And- and-"

He grabbed Anastasia's hands.

"And Anastasia- Anastasia I- I-"

Without realizing he had pulled her to him, stepping on her loose shoe-lace and causing her too trip.

Race's eyes widened, almost comically as the brown-haired-girl slipped.

Luckily, the blonde was able to catch the blue-eyed-klutz before she hit the ground.

"Shoelaces." Race smirked slightly.

"Shoelaces." Anastasia deadpanned, looking down at the untied work boots.

As if realization had unclouded Anastasia's mind, the fifteen-year-old looked up, meeting the blue eyes of the boy she had once called her best friend.

The one's that she felt an exhilarating feeling around, as if all the wrongs of the world were righted. As if there was nothing wrong with either of them. The one's that looked at her as if she was something more than a common newsgirl.

"Hey Race?" Anastasia whispered.

"Yeah?" Race stared back into the steel blue eyes he loved so dearly.

The one's filled with hope when all was lost. The one's who shined just as bright as the smile to match it. The one's filled with such determination that even if they had nothing they would keep going. The one's who had made him who we has today.

"Why- why are you always here to catch me when I fall? To pick me up off the ground?" Anastasia questioned before adding, "literally and figuratively..."

Race didn't need a second to think.

He knew the answer by heart.

"Because I care about you." He answered, as if the reason was obvious. "I- I care about you a lot."

"I know but-"

"There's no 'but's in my answer Stais." Race shook his head. "I care and-"

"I know!" Anastasia snapped, detaching herself from Race's warm hands before softening her tone. "I- I know Race." She looked away, her silent pain clear on her features. "You don't have to hold me together. Life is crazy... I'm too close to breaking."

"You're not breaking-" Race tried to reason before Anastasia cut him off once more.

"You're right." She shook her head, chuckling sadly. "After all, you can't break what's already broken."

"No," Race cupped Anastasia's cheek softly, nudging her to make eye contact with him. "but you can always make something new out of the pieces."

Anastasia smiled softly, holding back tears from falling.

"I didn't... I didn't mean to talk about our friendship." Race admitted, squeezing his eye's shut and lowering his hand. "I- I meant to say..." Race gulped, but the adrenaline was there. "I meant to tell you- TO TELL YOU I LOVE YOU."

He forced his last few words out with all his bravery. He didn't dare open his eyes in fear of the reaction he would get.

"I love you to h*ll and back Anastasia Redwood, and I don't care if you don't love me too because I will always love you. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize- to realize how much you meant to me. But- but." Race took a shaky breath in. "But love is never destroyed, alright?! It's just forgotten. And maybe- maybe someday I'll look back on this speech and think 'I was such an idiot' but I don't care because I love you!"

Race's eyes only fluttered open when he heard those five faithful words.

"I love you too Racetrack."

"You- you do?" The blonde-haired-boy stuttered, making Anastasia laugh.

"I do." Anastasia nodded. "I just don't need a long sappy speech about love for me to say it."

"Shut up." Race blushed furiously.

...

"You liked it though, right?"

"I admit, it got to me."

Race grinned cheekily as Anastasia beamed.

Their eyes met but lingered for a moment too long.

"Can I kiss you?" Race mumbled.

"You really think I'd say no?" Anastasia laughed.

Just like that Race was leaning in.

The scary part?

Anastasia was too.

BONK.

"Ouch." Race held his nose as Anastasia did the same.

"You really had to mess that up, didn't you." Anastasia teased.

"Hey! I was closing my eyes! I thought you weren't going too because- well- I don't know!" Race defended himself.

"You're not supposed to close your eyes until after your lips meet!" Anastasia waved her arms around.

"Well it's not my fault I was following the misguided kissing from book characters!" Race huffed. "And well-" [race you can READ??] (BDBDBDBD)

Anastasia sighed before grabbing Race's collar and pulling him down so his lips met hers.

Race's eyes widened in shock before fluttering them closed.

.....then snapping them open.

"...am I supposed to close my eyes now?" He mumbled.

"Definitely." Anastasia rolled her eyes back.

When they pulled away, Anastasia beamed, brushing hair out of Race's face. "You talk too much."

"Would you do me the honor of being my girl?" Race grinned stupidly.

"Not going to go on a date first?" Anastasia joked.

"I don't think I need to." Race laughed. "Yes or no?"

"Do you really think I'd say no?" Anastasia rolled her eyes, "Yes- yes. You jerk."

"Stupid." Race instantly responded before he began internally screaming as they pulled together again.

And all was right in the world.

...or was it?

[dun] [dun] [DUUUNNNNNNNN] (BDBDBDBD)

~fin~ 11:08 PM FRI NOV 26, 2021
-publish- 9:36 PM SUN MAR 6, 2022