"...and to me it's wakin up beside you, to watch the sunrise on yer face. To know dat I can say i love you in any given time or place. Its little things dat only I know, dose are da things that make you mine and it's like flyin without wings cuz your my special thing. I'm flying without wings and your da place my life begins I'm flying without wings and that's da joy you bring, I'm flying without wings. Without wings." I felt Jack's breath fallin on me.
I felt like cryin but my eyes had no moa moisture in dem. Slowly, I opened my eyes and saw Jack leanin forward bout ta kiss my lips. He smiled when he saw I was awake. I put my arms round his head and he came down to kiss me. Oh so slowly he drew back wid a huge grin on his face.
"Dat sounded so beautiful Jack. Can't believe ya remembad dat from last night."
"You kiddin wid dat voice of yers who couldn't. Even if dat wasn't a song, dats exactly how I felt when I woke up to see you dere next to me."
His words lefts me speechless. Anythin I would've said couldn't compare ta his words. I just lay dere lookin into his warm eyes which caused me to melt.
"Well come on," he said wid teasingly, "I wanna spend every minute I can wid you'se."
"Awright, awrght, I'm coming, I'm coming." I said imitatin Weasel. He laughed at me and I threw my pillow at him. Den I ran to da fire escape as fast as I could.
I entad da Lodgin House through da window. Da boys where all jes gettin up and dey saw me comin in wid Jack right behind me. Dey all started hollerin. "Mornin fellas!" I said walkin to me bunk. I overheard Mush yell, "Way ta go Jack!" Spot was tryin ta wake up Trev and he turned round to give me a hug.
"Moinin Heidi! I trust Jack took care of ya," he joked, " didn't pull nothin funny?"
"Spot, you acusin me of not bein trustworthy? Well jes fer you'se information. I gave her da best care." He grinned.
"Dats whad I wes afraid of," Spot smirked, "well stop grinnin and help me get dis bum up." he said noddin his head back ta Trevor.
"Oh please, let me do it." I said. Without any reply I punched Trevor's arm. He shot up wid a scream of pain. All da guys laughed. He looked round and saw me wid a smirk on my face.
"What was that for Heidi?"
"For finding me, I guess," I replied jokingly. Funny, how I could joked bout it at da moment.
I quickly went ta get changed, like Jack, I didn't want to waist any time. I came out wid da dress in my hands, tryin wheda or not to take it wid me. "Take it," Jack said from behind me.
"Ok I will." He handed me my camera and poise. "Whea'd ya find dese?"
"Boots brought it back last night when dey left."
"Oh how sweet, Boots!" I said as da kid walked past.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks!" I gave him a hug.
"No problem!" He beamed and headed ta da washroom.
"See ya lata Heidi!" Brick and Brass yelled on da way down da stairs. Many of da Brooklyn newsies had spent da night.
I threw everythin else I had in my bag. Last of all I gently folded da dress and put it away. "I'se ready Jack."
"Well, since it's yer last day hea, we'll do wad ya want."
"Ok well foist I wanna sell papes wid you on our way ta Brooklyn. Whoeva wants ta come can meet us by da docks and we'll go swimmin befoa heading back to lunch at Tibby's. Da afternoon is all up to you."
"So we do whad I say afta lunch?"
"Well, yeah as long as it ain't somethin stupid like robbin bank."
"Uh ha!" I play punched him. "Ok, sounds great."
I threw my swim suit in my poise befoa Jack and I headed out, da last ones ta leave. We got to da DO in time dough and Jack spread da woid of da plans fer da morning. I saw Trev wid Mush and Bumlets. "Guess you'se gonna sell taday?"
"Yeah I am. Mush here is going to show me on our way to Brooklyn."
"Yer goin ta Brooklyn, Mush?"
"Coise, wouldn't miss it fer da woild!"
We started walkin up wid me foist in line. "Well, Oscar, Morris you boys won't have ta watch out fer me nomoas. I'se leavin taday." I got off da platform lay down my fifty papes to take a pic of all da guys in line. "Hey fellas! Smile!" Dey all looked at me wid da biggest grins on deir faces.
Jack got down and everyone split up. He walked wid me as we sold togedda. How I'd miss da mornin air of New York. It wes gonna be tough. By da time we reached da bridge Race and Spot whea comin up empty handed from anodda corna and dey where laughin hysterically.
"Hey guys, wads so funny?" Jack asked.
"We jes passed Mush awhile ago and he's havin a hell of a time teachin Trevor how ta sell papes!" Da two of em started laughin again.
"Why?" He asked again.
"He jes ain't gettin it I guess." Spot said.
We reached da docks and I wes surprised ta see practically all of da guys dere. I saw Skitts, Snoddy, Davey, Bumlets, and Dutchy standin round. Brass, Brick, Fish, Shiner, Pie Eater, Boots, Les, and Snipes where already in da water. "geez I didn't expect all you'se guys ta come. Dis means a lot ta me."
"Hey, anythin fer you!" Brick yelled in da water. Jes den Mush, Blink, and Trevor walked up; Trevor still held several papes in his hands. Blink was laughin and Mush looked frustrated.
"I'se sorry Heidi, but yer friend hea ain't cut out ta be a newsie." Blink said.
"Why not?" I was dying to know.
"He jes don't get da part bout improvin da truth." Mush said.
"Whad's da matta Trev?" Jack asked.
"It ain't right, me being in the ROTC and all, to lie to the public would just be shameful sir and..."
"Oh shuddup Trev and fer da love of God don't say sir! Jack ain't yer commandin officer!" Da fellas all started laughin as I went in da Brooklyn Lodgin House to change. I walked out and Manhattan and Trev jes gawked at me.
"So ya ain't seen her like dat befoa, eidda?" Fish whispad ta Trev.
"You guys are all da same," I said takin my camera out to take a pic wid all da muscles. Den I jumped in da water wid them followin me.
We were all messin round and Fish decided ta race Snoddy who had proved to be da fastest swimmer from Manhattan. "Winna gets lunch on me!" Spot yelled.
"Awright, I'se puttin my bet on Fish, who's bettin?" Race said unwillin to pass up a chance to bet.
"Yer bettin gainst yer own kind?" Brass laughed.
"Well, his name's Fish, dat kinda spells it out don't it?" Da two swam ten piers down and back. Stakes were pretty much even; noone was favored. Fish and Snoddy where neck and neck all da way and dey ended up tying.
Afta da Race, Brick went back to his normal antics and began dunkin guys from left to right. We all ganged up on him dough and got hm good. He came up fer air chokin on his laughter.
Trev and I taught da guys how ta play Marco Polo. Dey all loved da game and thought it was hilarious. Jack was now it and da way he said "Marco" ova and ova wes so funny I could barely get "Polo" out. I we right behind him when he said it exceptionally funny and I couldn't help but laugh. He turned, grabbed my arm, and pulled me to him. He opened his eyes and said, "Gotcha!" Den he pulled me closa till our lips met. Da guys all started laughin.
"Ok you two, break it up!" Spot said comin tween us. "Come on, everyone out, we'se got ta get ta Tibby's." I got out first to snap moa pics as da guys where comin in and out of da water. We all ran inta da Lodgin House to grab our dry clothes befoa trekkin back ta Manhattan.
All da oddas who hadn't come where at Tibby's by da time we got dere. Spot ended up buyin lunch for Fish and Snoddy. I made sua I enjoyed my last meal at Tibby's wid dose guys and wes depressed when one by one dey went out to sell da aftanoon edition.
"See ya at da harba!" Blink yelled as he and Spot where da last to go.
"Well, you'se got three hours left and dey're gonna be spent my way!" Jack grinned takin my hand to help me up. As soon as we walked out, I saw Race outside leadin a beautiful palomino (dat's a horse for you dum dums).
"Hopes dis �ill do Cowboy, she's a real beaut. Her name's Sunshine." Race said.
"She's poifect Race, thanks! Well, come on lil lady." Jack said wid a Western accent. I mounted da mare and Jack came up behind me leadin da horse to Central Park.
I'm sua people were starin at us but I wes too busy leanin back on Jack ta care. At da park, he sped Sunshine up to a gallop. She carried da two of us wid ease and to my surprise she didn't tire out. My hair flew back, giving Jack da fragrance of juniper (compliments of Bath and Body works).
We stopped by da same pond whea he washed his wounds da night befoa. Jack tied our steed to a tree and da two of lay in da grass. I got up on my elbow and leaned ova Jack. "Dat was so romantic how ya rented da horse fer us Jack." I said while sinkin into his hazel eyes.
"Glad ya loved it but it isn't as romantic as dis," he said reachin his arms round my back as I slowly lay my head down towards his. My body was full of dat tinglin sensation! All of a sudden da horse let out a loud neigh. It scared da hell out of da two of us and we sprung up to see her starin at us. We started laughin hysterically. When we stopped we looked at each odda and started crackin up again. Once we caught our breath we walked hand in hand wid Jack hangin on to Sunshine's reins. We were headed fer da castle since dats where Jack asked da stableboy ta meet us. Sure enough he was dere waitin fer us. I asked him to take a pic of me and Jack and showed him how ta use da camera. Jack gave him a tip befoa we headed ferda Lodgin House.
We walked in to be greeted by Kloppman. "I see ya came to get yer things befoa ya left." Guess, news travels fast round hea.
"Yes, we'se gotta be at da harba at 4."
"Well it was pleasure ta have ya under my roof."
"Thank you Kloppman." We headed up da stairs and I took in da entire bunkroom in me mind. Good thin I'd found time to take a few pics wid da guys dere dis morning. "I'm sure gonan miss livin wid all dese boys. I'm gonna miss livin wid you even more." Everythin all started comin back, from me foist day ta da dance, to me fallin fer 3 great guys, and choosin my only love (Jack, duh). Oh damn, now I lost it again! I covered my face wid my hands and started crying. He came in front of me and took my hands away so he could look me in da face. His eyes said everything, I knew how much he cared without him even having to say a word. He sat on Spot's bunk and held me in his lap. I buried my head on his shoulder as he gently stroked my hair. I hung even tighter to his form as da tears kept fallin freely. "Oh, yer shoit!" I slowly lifted my head realizin it was drenched, "I'm sorry Jack."
"I don't mind." He put his forehead on mine and we rubbed noses. He looked down at my watch, 3:15. "We betta go, you'se still gotta say good-bye to da guys."
"Yeah, I guess so..." I got up and grabbed my purse. He took my duffle bag from off da floor. Placin his arm round me we headed fer da stairs. "Oh, wait, I forgot somethin. You go on downstairs I'll be right back."
"I'll be waiting." I went to da side of Jack's bed and took out a pic of me from my poise. I placed it under his pillow. I knew he would neva forget me but thought it might help. Den, I took my last lornful look at da room befoa headin fer da stairs. I met Jack and we headed fer da harba.
~
I didn't want to start cryin again so Jack and I walked silently. By da time we got to da pier whea Trev had come in last night, everyone was waitin on da street. "Hea she comes!" someone yelled. Dey all split in half so I could walk between them. "To yer places, come on Cowboy!"
"Whads goin on?" Instead of answerin da guys all started singing "Carrying the Banner". My eyes sparkled wid delight and I fought da tears. Spot, Sarah, Les, Davey, and da four Brooklyn boys came up behind me to watch. I saw Trev standin aways off out of da corna of my eye.
"Dis is our last gift to you." Davey said.
"Dis is da best! You guys are da greatest!" I took my camera and snappied some good pics. Da guys where puttin their outmost efforts into da dance. When dey finished, Davey and Les went up and they started "Seize the Day". Spot came ova and put his hand on my shoulda. Da fellas also did da "Seize da Day" reprise and when dey went down I cheered exuberantly.
"Hey, it ain't finished yet." Spot said movin up to do "King of New York". When they were supposed to sing, "an editor's desk for da star reporter," I was shoved forward by Shiner and all da guys bent down round me and sang, " a silky new dress for dis fine young lady." I started laughin and came in on my part. Da rest of words dat were supposed to deal wid Denton where da same cept of course from da he to she. It made sense anyway cuz I had protected da weak (Les) and paid fer deir lunch. Dey did have to improvise da dance dough due to the absence of fans, tables, and chairs but dey did a supermergentroid job anyway.
"So how' you like dat?" Mush asked once dey all stopped catching deir breath.
"It's our little serprise fer ya." Snoddy said.
"Oh, you guys are da best! That was so, so, so cool! I'm gonna miss you guys so much! Ya know whad? Hey Trev, come hea. Sorry, anyways I wanna take pics of all you'se guys. Yeah, ok Trev would ya mind?"
"Sure Heidi."
"Thanks and nobody step on Dave's foot!"
Afta Trev took da pictua he said, "You have 6 shots left, you want me to finish the roll?"
"Dats a good idea." "How bout you and Jack stand togedda. Good," Click, dats 5. "Now you'se and Manhattan, alwright scoot in guys. Smile! Perfect." Four. "Let's see you and Brooklyn. Ok, hey smile Brass!" Three. "What do you want with the last three?"
"Um, how bout wid Jack, Spot, Blink ,and me?"
"Yeah you and yer three lovers!" Race joked.
"Har, har, jes take da picture, Trev." Click. "Now I want one wid jes Spot and one wid jes Blink."
"Well that's the last of it Heidi. You better start saying your good-byes now." Trev said handin me my camera. We all walked over to da pier and as much as I didn't want to I started da dreadful process. I started wid da ones I wasn't very close to but I gave everyone a hug. First it was Jake, Snitch, Crutchy, Swifty, Itey, and Specs. Den I moved to Les, Boots, and Snipes. Next I said bye to Bumlets, Dutchy, PieEater, and Davey. (As I said good-bye to dese who had been closer to me I tried desperately to fight my tears.) Near them was Sarah, Snoddy, Brick, Brass, Fish, and Shiner. I wes sure gonna miss dose Brooklyn boys. Race was next, "Thanks fer helping me out, Race," I whispad in his ear.
"No problem, it's jes too bad things ended up liked dis." Tell me about it.
I walked up to Blink, "Dis is it, Blink."
"You take care of yerself, Heidi."
"I will." I gave him a peck on da cheek befoa leavin his arms. Ok dat was awfully sad! Hey you'se still got ta keep cool, no tears. "Hey Spot," I walked ova and he put his arms round me.
"I'se gonna miss you, goil."
"Me too, even wid dat ego of yers." Wid dat he play punched me and I had to smile.
At dat moment dere wes a flash of light like da one from last night, I knew da time had come. Painfully, I turned to Jack tryin to smile. I ran into his arms and ran my fingers through his hair. We stood dere and looked at each other. I looked at him, eyes full of pain. I didn't want to do dis but I had to go.
"I don't want to say good-bye, Jack."
"Den don't, it'll hoit too much."
"Ya know I'll neva be able to get you off me mind."
"I'll always be dere for ya."
"Right, so yer jes gonna ask God to let you down to earth for a vacation."
"I don't think it will be anything like dat." He grinned.
"Hmmm."
"Heidi..." I hoid Trev's voice from behind. I slightly turned my head back to let him know I undastood and den looked at Jack. I moved my face closer to his and we engaged in whad was a most passionate yet painful kiss. As much as I wanted it to last forever, I slowly drew back.
Turnin round I saw Trevor holdin my stuff. I walked up to him. "Nice meeting you guys," he said and looked at me befoa steppin in da portal halfway. I turned one last time and took a good look at all my guys. I felt so bad fer leaving.
Den I gazed at Jack and was bout ta walk in when I quickly flicked my head round and yelled, "Jack, I love you!"
"I know." Wid dat, I jes let da tears fall again and I woefully stepped into da portal wid Trev. My life, fer whad I thought it wes worth, was over.
~
Once again, I saw da oh so familiar bright lights round me as I flew through time. I wes suddenly dropped into a dimly lit lab and saw Trev talkin wid some guy, I assumed da professor. I got up and wes bout ta walk ova to dem when I was knocked to da floor by a weight dat was dropped on me. I rolled ova and surprisingly found myself starin into da lovely hazel eyes of Jack!
"Jack, wad are you....how'd ya?" I wes so happy, I couldn't get my words to come out right. He helped me to my feet, takin hold of my hands.
"Heidi, nothin, not even over a hundred years, could keep us apart. I couldn't live widout ya, yer me oxygen and I could neva lose ya." He moved so close dat his lips brushed mine as he said dat. I began to feel dizzy and held on to Jack for support. "I love you Heidi." He put his hands round my head and we shared a long, tender kiss. Den I moved back to look at him.
I was crying fer da millionth time, "I finally found someone who loves me and he couldn't of been a better man." He grinned and we hugged.
"Sides," he whispered, "I never got my last dance." We both laughed and he put his arms round my waist. We could hear "Then You Look at Me" playin softly in the background as we began the dance that would last the rest of our lives.
Author's notes: "Then You Look at Me" appears thanks to Celine Dion. It can be found on her cd "All the Way...A Decade of Song".
"Bei Mir Bist du Schon" and "Goodnight, My Love" are from the "Swing Kids" soundtrack which by da way is an excellent movie. Hehe.
"I Will Always Love You," Whitney Houston of course.
"Flying Without Wings," Westlife which is a great band.
"More than Words," I do not know the original artist but Westlife sang it on their overseas special album sold only in Asia which I happen to own.
"From My Head to My Heart," everyone knows Evan and Jaron.
"Again," by Lenny Kravitz
"Drops of Jupiter" as performed by Train
Gracie Lou Freebush is from Ms. Congeniality for those of you who have yet to see that movie.
Anyway, dis is my foist fan-fic and I hope it didn't bore you to death. Obviously not cuz you've read it all da way to da end. If you hated it I'm sorry that's your own fault. I put a lot of work into this specially since I hand wrote it the first time on manuscript paper (it was a total of 150 pages). It took me from June 6-July 27 to write. I've tried desperately to go back and fix my spelling but I'm sure I missed lots of stuff. Also, I did my best on my New York accents. From manuscript form I moved it to my computer's hard drive, where it was almost erased by my annoyin brother. But I have jes succeeded in finishin it on August 28, 2001 which happens to be Dominic Lucero's birthday. Ok, you people are gettin tired of readin dis, I know, I know. I'm signin out now so good-bye and Happy Birthday to Bumlets!