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One.
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Davey stood there at the bottom of the ladder up to where he knew Jack was residing. The fear of possible rejection clouded any good judgment still floating around in his head, he didn’t know if he would ever be ready to climb. Usually he knew what the right thing to do was, but right now he knew absolutely nothing, his mind was drawing a complete blank.
He knew he had an intellect far superior to that of his fellow newsies, he prided himself on the fact that there was no problem that he couldn’t solve. But that wasn’t true when it came to this problem. The problem of Jack Kelly. That was the one problem he just couldn’t solve, the one thing he couldn’t talk his way out of, the one thing that left his so-called ‘big mouth’ with no words.
“Goddamnit, David. Climb. Climb it.” Davey gave himself a little pep talk under his breath, in hopes of hyping himself up, “You can do it, it's easy. Go up there and tell him how you feel. It's not like he’ll completely turn you down, shun you from the newsies, and break your heart.” Oh god. That irrational thought now spoken aloud horrified Davey beyond belief. “-That wouldn’t happen. Jack is much too nice to do that..” With that, he finally got the courage, extending his hand and gripping the first bar.
“Davey whatcha doing’ down there?” The boy in question jumped, looking up to see Jack peeking his head over the edge of the railing up above and flashing Davey a lopsided grin.
“God.. Jack, you scared me! I was just uh- Coming up to talk to you about something.”
“Oh jee. Am I in trouble?”
“No, no, no. Not at all. Just, let me come up there, one sec-“
Jack cut him off, “Too late, comin’ down.”
And that would be the truth, Jack was clambering his way down the ladder, Davey took a few steps back and watched the other boy until he reached the bottom.
“So what can I do for ya’?” Jack asked as he stepped down the final step and turned to face the other boy.
“Right..- Okay so. Uh- I’m not sure how to say this but-“ Davey was yet again cut off, “Jack. Why are you bleeding?”
“I ain’t!” Slapping a hand over the left side of his forehead, Jack made a gesture for Davey to continue what he was saying.
“..Jackie” Davey said sternly, “May I have a look?” Though he phrased it as a question, they both knew it wasn’t one. Jack didn’t have much say in the matter.
Reaching out a gentle hand, Davey took Jack's hand that was covering his head. He pushed it aside and looked at the wicked bruise there in that spot, the bruise was accompanied by a small gash that wasn’t bleeding all that bad, but it still caused Davey to sport a small frown. There was nothing he hated more than seeing Jack hurt.
“Jack, tell me what happened?”
“Just a couple a’ guys, ykno? Getting all up in a youngins business.” Jack replied like it was no big deal, waving his hand dismissively, “Trust me, I’s okay, them guys looks way worse than I does.”
“I trust you Jack..” Davey said softly, “It’s so… Admirable, how much you stick up for the newsie kids.. But you’ve gotta be careful and take care of yourself, too. I swear I patch you up everyday.”
Pulling a bandaid and some disinfectant out of his bag, Davey began to work on patching Jack up. He hated how it was second nature at this point, to pack extra first aid stuff just for Jack. When done Davey didn’t say anything, he just delicately stroked the side of Jack's face for a bit, knowing he shouldn’t waste his breath on a lecture. It’s not like Jack hadn’t heard it a million times already.
Jack was the one to break the silence, “So Daves, what was it ya came here for?”
“Right! Uhm..” Davey paused for a moment, was he going to do this..? “-Race just told me you’d gotten into some trouble is all, didn’t say what kind of trouble but. I just thought to check in.” He chose to say, berating himself mentally for chickening out. Today was just not the day.
“Aw well, thank ya Daves. You knows I’m always fine.” Extending a hand up, he ruffled Davey's already messy curls. “I’m glad you care.”
Davey could feel the heat creeping up his neck and flourishing across his cheeks. “I’ll always care about you, Jack.”
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Two.
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“C’mon Davey. You’s gotta pick up the pace okay? Everything’ll be alright just, run with me. Straight ahead.”
Although his legs were far shorter, Jack Kelly had incredible speed. All that practice from running from the Delancey’s really paid off. The same could not be said for Davey, he would never get used to running, it surely wasn’t what he signed up for when he first went to sell papers. Severe anxiety coupled with asthma meant Davey was far from being an athlete. His strength and speed came from his intelligence and quick wit. Neither of which could be of use right now.
Running from Pulitzer himself also really wasn’t all that fun. The man was red in the face, chasing after the two. No amount of newsies saving the day eased Pulitzer in his strict rules in regards to his daughter. Back just a little bit after curfew and Jack was in for it, somehow he was always to blame in Pulitzer’s world.
Pulitzer still thought that Katherine and Jack were something of an item. It had been true. Their romance was passionate, but short lived. Thinking about it made the colour drain from Davey’s face, it made his heart sink into his stomach, his feet feeling like they were stuck in concrete. Why did he have to be thinking about such a thing right now? When he needed to run? Leave it up to Davey to overthink and get all worked up in a moment like this. Now he was hyperventilating, gasping for air, the stress from the current situation as well as his own personal dilemma successfully getting to him
Then a hand grabbed his, squeezing it tightly. Davey felt himself coming back to the present moment, he looked at Jack, who was still running, but was making small glances back at Davey.
“Focus on me, Daves.”
So he did.
Davey didn’t take his eyes off of Jack, how his hair was windswept from all the running, how he had a smudge of black paint behind his left ear, the small birthmark located on the nape of his neck. He focused on him and only him, it would’ve been heaven, that was, if they weren’t on the run.
They turned a corner and Jack pulled him into a small hidden nook in an alleyway. To have both of them fit into the small space, Jack pushed Davey up against the wall. A gasp left his mouth when his back hit the brick. Placing a hand over Davey’s mouth, Jack gave him a look that told him to ‘Shh’.
With Jack so close, Davey felt his whole body grow hot, the feeling of little butterflies dancing in his stomach. Coupled with the way his lungs still ached, he wished he could just curl up into a ball and hide away. Jack finally moved his hand off of Davey’s mouth, and rested it on his chest.
The two waited. Longer than what seemed necessary, but Davey trusted Jack to know what was best.
After a while Jack spoke, his voice hushed and soft, “You okay Davey?”
“Yeah.”
“Sorry.”
“..Why?”
Jack frowned. “I ain’t even with Kath no more, n’ I still gotta deal with all this.. It ain’t fair to put you through it, shoulda just made ya wait.”
“..It’s okay Jack. Katherine is my friend” Davey assured, “I wanted to make sure she got home safe. It was my decision to tag along.” Smiling down at Jack, Davey held out his pinky finger. “Jackie I promise, we’re all good.”
The two made a quick little pinky promise. They stared at each other for a little bit too long to be considered normal.
“-Hey, Jack. Uhm..” Right now seemed like the perfect moment, to say something, anything, about his feelings.
“Yes, Daves?”
Was he going to actually do it? Confess right here, right now? “..Can you take me home?” He asked.
“‘Course.”
So close yet, so far.
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Three.
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The stars were so bright, tinkling beautifully, an amazing contrast against the sky which was pitch black. It was truly a magnificent sight. Davey could honestly look at it forever, and he knew Jack felt the same. But right now, Davey would much rather look at Jack right now, especially with the way the starlight bounced off his features.
They laid next to each other, cold metal pressing uncomfortably into their backs. Jack’s rooftop hideaway was in no way comfortable, but it sure had the best views. Turning his head, Jack locked eyes with Davey, whose eyes went wider at being caught staring.
“Not enjoying the sky tonight?” Jack asked, “I thinks it's beautiful. Sky's so dark, looks like ink was spilled ‘cross the sky..”
“No, the sky is beautiful.. Tonight is beautiful.” Davey answered, sighing softly.
Jack’s eyebrows furrowed, “Then what's on your mind, Daves?”
“Do you ever wish upon the stars, Jack?”
“‘Course.. Who doesn’t?”
Davey tore his gaze away from the other boy, much to his disdain, and looked up at the sky. “Everytime the stars are visible, I make as many wishes on as many stars as I can.” He said slowly, “It’s always the same wish. But- It never comes true.” He extended a hand upward and started pointing at individual stars, just needing to do something with his hands. “I’m beginning to think wishes don’t come true.”
“I-” Jack started, pausing for a moment, “..What do you wish for?” he asked timidly.
Davey glanced back at Jack, his lips turned downwards into a small frown. Maybe his wish would never come true, but maybe it could? All he had to do was say it..
“I can’t tell you Jack. Then it really won't come true.”
Jack just laughed and gave Davey a harmless punch in the side. “Keep wishing, Daves. Ya never know.”
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Four.
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“I am going to fail this test. I just know it.”
“Hey now, how's that mean thinkin’ helping ya?”
“..It’s not.” Davey grumbled, placing his hands on his temples and rubbing.
He was royally freaking out, who wouldn’t be in this position? He loved school, learning. He was always reading a book in his spare time (his fellow newsies bullied him relentlessly for it.) But lately, with his mother growing ill, and his father always at work, he had other things to worry about. For example, he had to provide food for his two younger siblings.
The sad truth also, was that Les made more money than him from selling papes, but he was a kid. He had just turned 11. He was not allowed to skip school to sell papers, and in the evenings he couldn’t be out alone, their parents deeming it unsafe. The same standard was held for Davey when he was younger, but ever since he turned 18, he had to start pulling his weight. The family depended on it.
Maybe he had skipped a little bit too much school. But he had no choice. And now he was stuck with an important test, one detrimental to his final grade, that he was in no way prepared for. He had refused extra help from the teacher, even if he knew he needed it, he refused anyone to take pity on him.
“You can do this Daves. Split it up so ya don’t get overwhelmed. Like ya taught me.” Jack placed a hand on the other boy's back, and rubbed gentle calming circles, “Keep your head level.”
“Alright.. Okay, so, what I’m struggling with the most is-“ Davey mumbled to himself as he flipped through his textbooks, and then scribbled out pages of regurgitated notes. That is what helped him the most, finding important information and writing it out over and over until it stuck permanently into his mind.
After a while of this, Davey finally laid his pen down. “I think I’ve got it, at least for now.”
Jack gave a celebratory whoop and hugged Davey. Jack was always so touchy, but the closeness always calmed Davey’s nerves, and also caused his body to fill with warmth, so he didn’t mind.
“Thank you, Jack. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“All I did was sit here. Ya ain’t gotta thank me for that.”
Davey wanted so badly to go on a whole spiel about everything that Jack had done for him. It was more than just “sitting here”, his presence helped Davey feel at ease, it helped Davey focus for some strange reason. He honestly felt like he could do anything around Jack.
“I think all that studyin’ fried your brain, ya keep on zonin’ out.”
Davey blinked at him, giving a small shake of his head. It wasn’t the studying that was making him zone out. His crush on Jack was so strong that sometimes his mind would just draw a blank. It had started to be a daily occurance.
Maybe he should tell him that it’s him? That he’s the reason for his zoning out.
“Jack.”
Davey felt a lump in his throat. Curse his anxiety, it would be the death of him.
“Yes?”
Say it. C’mon. Do it.
“I think I need to take a nap.”
“Go for it. Gives me time to sketch.”
Next time he’d say something. But for now, he was content with just being close to Jack. “Thank you, Jackie.” Davey said, leaning his head against Jack's shoulder and letting his eyes fall closed.
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Five.
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Davey entered the lodging house, greeting the kind man at the front. He walked straight to where he always did, the path committed to memory from how often he came here. He arrived at Jacks bunk, peering up top to find him hunched underneath his thin blanket.
"Jack?"
"Mmm? Yes Daves?" Jack said, peering out from under his makeshift tent.
“What are you doing?"
"Oh, ya know. Just drawin'."
Davey climbed up and plopped down less than gracefully next to him, disturbing Jack's clearly very uncomfortable position even more.
"What is it you are drawing today?" Davey asked curiously.
Jack shied away slightly, "Kinda personal."
"Oh.” Davey blinked, “Sorry for prying."
"No no, I's only kidding. Nothing's too personal to tell you." Jack assured. Davey's heart skipped a beat at that. Of course, they were best friends, so he knew that that was how he meant it. Best friends shared everything.
Jack withdrew his sketchbook from where it had been seated in his lap beneath the blanket. He turned it slowly around and showed Davey what he had been working on, hiding his face away shyly.
"Oh my god.. Jackie.. This is- Is that me?" Davey felt his face grow overwhelmingly hot.
"Yeah." Was all Jack said.
"It's incredible.” Davey said, “You're incredible!" He pried his eyes away from the drawing to look at Jack, who he saw was already looking back at him. A look in his eyes that Davey just could not grasp. He swallowed hard. "Jack I-"
"Can I see?" Crutchie piped up, peering up from where he stood on the floor below.
"Course Crutch." Jack handed his sketchbook over. He only trusted his drawings with the two of them, so Crutchie made sure to hide it from the view of any newsies who may be passing by.
"Really great, Jack." He said. He handed the book back to him, smiling.
"Aw shucks." Jack said, closing the book and cradling it in his arms. He turned back to face the other boy. "What were you gonna say, Daves?"
"Oh. Nothing, Jackie. Don't worry about it." Liar. Davey was such a liar.
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One
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“Where's Davey? Get out of my way!”
Jack pushed through the crowd. A fight had broken out in the street near the lodging house, it had gotten bad, and Jack had missed it. The fear of his fellow newsies being heart tugged at his heart, but most of all, his fear for Davey being hurt tugged the hardest.
Luckily the fight was now over, he could kind of see some of the damage. From what he could see the majority of the newsies just looked a little tussled, no major damage done.
But he was yet to find Davey, Jack continued pushing through the crowd. He had to see him, he had to know he was okay.
“Jackie.”
Turning around as fast as possible, Jack ran to the voice, pushing his way out of the crowd and to the sidelines. The two boys embraced.
“I was so scared.” The shorter boy breathed, squeezing his friend tightly.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Davey pulled away slightly to look Jack in the eyes, Jack stared back, his eyes brimming with tears.
“It’s okay Jack.” Davey whispered, “I’m okay.”
“I-I care so much about ya Daves. I can't imagine if somethin’ hadda happened. I thinks I woulda dropped dead.”
“Jack..“
“Davey. I love you.”
Those words hit Davey like a ton of bricks. He just stared, his eyes wide.
“Please say something.” Jack's voice sounded small.
“I-I love you too Jack Kelly. I’m so glad you said it first.”