"So why'd you bring me up here?" Davey asked grabbing my hand to pull me up at the top of the ladder.

"Because," I said grinning before gesturing around to the fire escape, "The view." I went over and leaned against the railing, "Jack showed me this place first. He loves it up here- there's one on the Lodging House too. Well, one on every building in all of New York City really. I've grown to love it just as much. Looking at the stars- somehow I don't feel so small anymore in this big city. Ya know what I mean?" I asked softly, turning back to Davey.

He nodded and walked over next to me, leaning against the railing.

"Yeah." He said, "I kind of get that."

I nodded, "So, you said you wanted to know about me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Davey flushed pink and looked back up at the sky, "I mean- if you're okay with like, talking about yourself. I- I just wanted to because I just thought since we're friends we could-"

"I'm fine with it." I laughed, cutting him off.

I sat down on the fire escape, leaning against the back of it. Davey followed, sitting beside me Indian style.

"So what do you want to know?" I asked, turning my head to look at him.

"Well. . . What's your favorite color?" He asked.

"Blue." I smiled.

"So is mine."

"Hey we have something in common!"

Davey nodded, grinning.

"What's your favorite animal?"

"I personally think Otters are adorable. You know I heard they hold hands when they sleep so they don't float away. Just like this!" I grabbed Davey's hand and intwined our fingers, "And see? They don't. . . float. . . away. . ." I trailed off awkwardly, feeling his gaze on me as I realized I'd grabbed his hand for the 3rd time tonight.

"Well you're right." Davey smiled before I quickly pulled my hand away, clearing my throat awkwardly.

"What about you? What's your favorite animal?" I asked.

Davey thought for a few seconds, "I kinda like birds. But only specific ones. Once when Les was a baby we went to the duck pond- I was 9- and a duck chased me around trying to bite me. I've never ran so fast in my life. Well, since today with that run in with the Refuge guy."

I couldn't hold back a laugh at the thought of Davey Jacobs being chased around the park by a duck.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I laughed, clutching my stomach and trying to catch my breath.

I looked back up at the sky to see the stars brightly shining.

"Hey!" I quickly said, scooting closer to him, "Look at that one!" I pointed to a small constellation casting off the dark sky.

I took my cap off so I could see better and pointed to another.

"Look! That one is bright enough it could be a planet." I whispered, leaning my head back on Davey's shoulder as I had done in the theatre.

"That one's the Little Dipper." Davey said, pointing to a constellation.

"How can you tell?"

"Just looks like it." Davey shrugged.

We stayed in silence just enjoying each others company.  I lazily closed my eyes, enjoying the breeze passing by and whipping against my face.

"Kylie?"

"Hmm?" I hummed hearing Davey's voice.

There was a long pause.

"What is it?" I asked, sitting up and looking at him.

"What was your past like?"

I looked down at my boots, resisting my urge to move away at the question.

"Kylie, I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

"Hey, no it's alright." I mumbled, "You- um, deserve to know.  I just never really talk about it." I tugged at my hair nervously, working it out of its braid.

I took a deep breath and let it go, "When I was about 4 years old my babysitter took me to the park to go play.  I was a shy kid.  I never really talked much. . . I was also curious though.  And I remember it clear as day." I mumbled, "I, um, I saw a stray dog run by.  It was a golden retriever.  I just wanted to pet it and see where it was going." I swallowed hard, "So I walked away.  And my babysitter- she was only a young teen trying to make money so she was talking to some other teenagers at the park.  I didn't think I'd go far or- or be gone long.  But it's New York City.  And I was a little girl.  So I- I got lost." I turned my head away and wiped a quick tear off my cheek, "I wandered the streets all day.  Nobody payed attention; New Yorkers have a million things to do.  A kid on the street is nothing to them.  I didn't remember the way back to my house.  I slept on a bench out by the bank.  And then-"

My breath hitched and I stopped suddenly.

Davey took my hand in his and I looked down at it.  I hung my head lowly.

"Snyder found me." I mumbled, "And that's how I met Jack.  He protected me in there.  After he escaped from the Refuge I was alone and- and more scared than I'd ever been in my entire life.  He came back for me though- two days later.  And I climbed out the window and we ran.  We ran and we ran and it was like nobody could stop us. . . That's how I ended up at the Lodging House.  They took me in as one of their own and I haven't left since." I finished.

I quickly wiped more tears off my face and shook my head, "I-I'm sorry you had to know that." I mumbled, standing up, "It's getting late.  We should be heading back."

I began practically speed walking back to where the ladder was to get down, "Come on Dav-"

I felt my hand grabbed and myself being spun back and looking into Davey's eyes.  His eyebrows knit in concern and a frown etched on his face.

"You don't have to be sorry. . ." He said quietly, "I wanted to know and it's okay.  You weren't ready to talk about it."

"I never seem ready to talk about it. . ." I mumbled just above a whisper, looking down at the streets below.

Davey gently tilted my chin back up to look at him.

"That's perfectly fine." Davey said with a soft smile, "You don't have to."

I nodded, "Thank you."

We stood like this for a while, hands intwined as Davey rubbed small patterns on the back of my hand with his thumb.

"Have you ever loved someone?"

I blinked out of my thoughts quickly and looked back up at him, "What?"

"I just- I mean, like have you ever- ya know, loved someone?"

I spaced out a bit, thinking, Had I ever loved someone? Not exactly.  I'd had about two boyfriends my entire life and neither ended well.  I love the rest of the Newsies.  I love my family- wherever they are. . .

"I can't say exactly whether I have or not.  It depends on the kind of love because there's many.  For true love it can be I think I want to spend the rest of my life with you or there's also I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you.  Of course there's friend love too, and family love or brother and sister love or I don't know. . . Any kind really.  It just depends."

Davey had a small smile and I raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"You sure are something." He grinned.

"I hope that's a good thing."

"It sure is."

"Well thank heavens." I said turning back to go to the ladder, "We really need to get home.  The boys may get wo-"

I was spun back around and before I could even finish I felt his lips crash against my own.

I made some noise sounding like a squeak and felt Davey smile against my lips, pulling me closer to him and weaving his hands through my hair.  I finally knew what pure bliss was like in that moment as I wrapped my arms around his neck, stepping up on my tiptoes to deepen the kiss are far as I could.

Air was finally needed and we pulled away, resting our foreheads together and feeling the wind whip around us.

Davey brushed a piece of my hair back behind my ear and grinned.

"Have you ever been in love?" I asked breathlessly, trying to get air back into my lungs.

He looked me in the eyes so deeply I thought I could melt, "Yes."

And then he pulled me close and kissed me once more.

Haha oops so that happened guys🙊 Yikes it was a lil rushed I guess but like, eh, whatever ya know? Pretty please don't forget to leave comments and vote! I absolutely love reading your comments and it always motivates me to write more! I need to go to sleep now! Peace out and enjoy your day whatever time it is!😴