‘    hey.     ’      soft.    it’s a greeting not meant to startle,    and davey is careful.   sometimes,   he thinks,   it’s easy being around jack    -     simple,    familiar,   almost.    jack kelly is charming;    jack kelly is friendly.    but then there are times   ...    there are times that davey can barely read the guy.    he wants to,   with an ache he cannot name,   but he restraints himself.    afraid,   really,   he’ll chase jack away.    and what then,   when jack runs?    what then,   when jack goes over the horizon and davey never sees him again?    santa fe,    jack sings sometimes,   ambitious.    santa fe,   and just like that,   davey can lose the person who’d shaken him from the rigid place he’d been;   who’d given him more than just friends   -    brothers,   really   -    even when davey hadn’t known he needed more.     ‘     ma’ told me to bring you this.   it’s,   uh,   chowder.    ’    a beat.    the container davey holds is warm to touch.   ‘    mind if i sit with you ?     ’     /    from davey for @unionyzes​ !

'  you’re  not  stupid.  ’   words  exhale  with  a  hint  of  exasperation  behind  them;  this  isn’t  how  she  thought  the  afternoon  would  go.  gaze  lifts  from  her  chemistry  notes,  fork  poking  at  lettuce,  shoulders  shrugging  as  her  head  tilts  to  one  side.   ‘  I  think  you  make  stupid  choices  sometimes.  I  don’t  think  that  makes  you  stupid.  ’   a  pause.   ‘  what’s  going  on?  ’

‘    well,    well    ——-    if it ain’t jackie boy comin’ ta’ visit.     ’      not ‘dat spot ain’t heard that he’s comin’,    ‘cause that’s just ‘dat way when you’se in brooklyn and ye’ held the title king o’er here.    ye’ know things.    and other boys crossin’ over boroughs are things that are usually bein’ told.    and when yer’ jack kelly on top o’ it all ?    news travel fast.    they has to;   s’ the few ways spot can still make sure he can keep most o’ the kids on his side safe.     ‘     now ta’ what do i owe’s dis’ pleasure ?     ’     /     from spot for @unionyzes​ !

Admittedly, she tries to steer relatively clear of the newsies. Just knowing her little brother is safe is all she needs; why risk pushing him away further with her very presence, with the memories attached to her and their family? No, she’ll stick to the spotlight on stage and keep the wings during the rest of the time.

But this isn’t just a newsie, it’s Jack Kelly. Medda’s Jack Kelly. The charmer with the steady hand and the eye for color. Poppy’s fascinated by him - but really, who isn’t? He’s full of life and he attracts attention no matter where he goes. And sometimes, part of her wonders if he’s like her. If he’s bright and funny and charming just for the attention.

She hopes not. She likes the idea that there are people that genuinely light up a room the way he does.

‘    of course i like you,   jack !    ’

there’s an immediate horror,   right after the pin-drop silent,   that consumes him seconds after he finds himself blurting that out.    whatever courage davey think he’s carried,   that he thought he’d mastered,   it’s gone    -     wiped out so easily,   snatched into the same confession that he didn’t think he could ever admit.

his lips tremble,   and his eyes glisten.    damn.   dammit!    he ruined it now.

whatever sense of normalcy,   or ordinary,   that he thought he could achieve,   it’s snapped like scissors to a string            how would jack look at him from now on ?    betrayal,   disgust ?   a broken sort of laughter escapes passed his teeth.    so many negative emotions to choose from,    oh how will david jacobs ever decide !

his forehead crinkles from the onslaught of sadness and grief that’s suddenly flooded his whole body,   but pride,  maybe.   or that same stubbornness he’s learnt to harness from guarding his siblings,    but davey bites out,   cheeks red:    ‘    is that what ya’ wanna’ hear ?   the homosexual outsider nerd fancyin’ jack kelly,   lookin’ at him like he’s got hope ?    like he’s got any chance ?    yeah,   i get it jack,   i don’t.    i know that,   okay ?    i already knew—    i didn’t  …   ’     i didn’t even want more,   he’d wanted to say,   but his voice cracks.    i just wanted to be your friend.

—davey knows immediately,  though,  that if he’d said it,   it would’ve been a straight-out lie.

he wipes at something wet on his face.   shakes his head.    ‘    —whatever.   i’m gonna go.   ’    grab your coat now,   jacobs,   you won’t cry in front of him.    you won’t.

‘    jack,   only you can ease my mind.   ’     /    from davey for @unionyzes​ !