Post-Strike (Sometime after The Beginning of a New Chapter, go read that one if you haven't)

Jack wakes up to a wonderful sunrise in the "penthouse" with Crutchy. Crutchy tries to climb down the ladder to the fire escape and Jack has to keep him from falling like they do every single morning. It has become routine, but today for some reason, it bothers Jack.

"Would it kill ya ta wait for me, Crutch?" Jack asks moodily and Crutchy shoots him a look.

"Ya feelin alright, Jack?"

"Shoah, kid. I'se just gotta get ta woirk is all." Jack changes into his work clothes and helps Crutchy down the ladder. The usual bunk house shenanigans are in full swing as Jack and Crutchy walk through. Shoes, pillows, marbles and anything that can be thrown is flying through the air. Jack picks up a stray penny and yells, "Penny!" before throwing it into the throng that is the Manhattan Newsboys in the mornings. Shouts and chaos erupt and Jack escapes down the stairs and out the door before he can get involved more than he already is. Once he is on the street, he starts to walk in the direction of work when he hears a whistle pierce the air from one of the Lodging House windows. Jack is already certain Race was the one who interrupted the extremely temporary silence in the morning.

"Pipe down, ya bums. It's just a penny, where's Cowboy? He leave already?" Race asks loudly and Jack can still hear him. Jack begins to quickly walk down the street and he soon arrives at the World  building. He walks inside and knocks on his boss's door to let him know he is here. Usually Jack just pokes his head in and says good morning, but his boss calls to him.

"Kelly! Come here, would you please?" Jack turns on his heel and walks back into the office.

"Yea, sir?" The word, sir, sounding and feeling foreign to his tongue and his strong New York accent. He knew something was off about today the moment he had woken up to Crutchy trying to fall down the fire escape ladder for the umpteenth time. Jack stood in the doorway and his boss motions for him to sit.

"Close the door, please," He says and those words strike a red flag in Jack's mind. Closed doors usually have bad things that happen behind them. Jack cautiously closes the door and sits down. His boss smiles a sympathetic smile at him as he sits. What could he have done? He's only been here for a little over a month and he's already being fired? He would have to get Katherine to do something about this. Jack knew he wasn't loved by society, but why would he be fired for something like that? Jack clenches the soft arms of the chair nervously and his boss notices. "Relax, Kelly," he starts, "I'm not going to fire you or reprimand you if that's why you look worried. In fact, you should take what I'm about to tell you as a compliment." Jack raises an eyebrow at that and his boss smiles an even wider smile than before. "You are going to help a college student get some credit here. Mr. Pulitzer received a letter about a week ago asking about an internship here. Not a paying one, but he is interested in the newspaper world and wanted to see some of the different aspects. He will be working more on the writing side of things, but he's just a little older than you. He is very interested in drawing and just the artwork that makes a newspaper look good. Mr. Pulitzer recommended you to be the supervisor of sorts. Just think, kid, Pulitzer appreciates you! You could get a raise and me too if you do this right! What do you say?" His boss asks excitedly. Jack smiles and says,

"I would be happy ta woirk wid dis student and show him da ropes." Jack's boss eagerly extends his hand and Jack shakes it.  

"Great! I'll be sure to tell the big wig of the company. The student should arrive before you leave to sell papers," His boss says, pulling his key out of his desk drawer to lock his office. Jack tugs on his cap and the two walk out of the office together. Helping an intern would not be too terrible. Jack isn't quite sure why Pulitzer picked him. Maybe Katherine had been apart of that persuasion. He reminded himself to ask her about it later. Jack wanders over to his desk and sees the assignment for the day. He quickly begins to work. A couple of hours later, Jack feels a tap on his shoulder and turns. A tall man that looks similar to himself stands in a professional looking outfit which puts Jack's office shirt and pants to shame. 

"You da college student?" Jack asks, turning around in his seat instead of glancing at him from over his shoulder. The man nods and Jack extends a hand,

"Jack Kelly, pleasure ta meet ya," Jack says and his usual smirk slides onto his face at the shock written all over the older boy's face. The college student doesn't move a muscle and Jack casts a quick glance around the newsroom to see what could possibly be wrong. "What's a mattah?" He asks and the older boy does nothing but stare at him. 

"Is Jack Kelly your real name?" He asks and Jack crosses his arms over his chest. He was the supervisor and the one who was supposed to ask these questions, not this college kid. 

"Depends on who's askin," Jack answers coolly, the irritation clear in his voice. The older boy finally says,

"My apologies for that question, I'm Clark Kelly. I was asking because I think you might be my cousin." Jack shoots the older boy a look. 

"Ya shoah? Ain't got no folks round here anymore. Not dat it mattahs, I'se got a job and am independent and got a goil. I'se takin care of meself," Jack states, taking the boy. Now that he thinks about it, Clark does look a little familiar. Clark rolls his eyes.

"Don't be so pessimistic, you're only doing this because you hope you have some kind of a family out there, are you not?" Clark asks. Jack rises to his feet.

"Don't tell me what I mean, you'se da school boy and I'se yer supervisor." He snaps and instantly regrets it when he sees the look on Clark's face. "Uh, sorry. I'se just real sensitive sometimes." Clark nods and says,

"It's okay. I get it, I guess. I had a cousin named Jack when I was little and he looked just like you. He always wanted to go out west to Santa Fe, I think it was. I don't really know, but I thought it was a little ridiculous sometimes, you know?" Jack's smirk slides onto his face and he remembers the boy in front of him exactly. He remembered shooting marbles with him at a fancy house when he was a little boy. His aunt and uncle had been rich, very rich. The clothes on Clark said anything and everything but poor. This had to be the boy that adored none reckless activities where Jack, at a young age, charmed girls when Clark didn't even look at them, helped kids considerably poorer than himself which Clark would never do, and picked up his Manhattan accent when his parents weren't listening. Clark would never have done any of these things, while his cousin did these and had fun with them. Jack had always been rebellious, and it surprised Clark that he sat here in an office chair, in a newsroom, doing something that was considered normal by most people. Clark couldn't believe it. Something about this whole deal was off. He didn't know if it was that Jack was his supervisor, or that he had a real job and had actually become successful, or what it was, but something was definitely not right with this situation. Jack straightened his shoulders and looked up at the older boy with recognition in his eyes.

"Yea, I'se knows cuz I'se yer crazy cousin dat's always wanted ta go ta Santa Fe," Jack replies as the pieces of the puzzle quickly slide themselves together in his mind. The boys would be so glad to see that Jack had some semblance of a family still alive and well. Clark stares at him in shock and rolls his eyes.

"You still chase girls, help out poor kids, and you obviously still use that Manhattan accent, am I right?" Jack lets out a chuckle and replies with,

"I guess you could say it like that, yea? You'se nevah was one ta break da boundaries of society, were ya? I'se only chasin one goil now and she's me goil for real. I'se one o dose poor kids now, so's course I help em out. An' da accent, so if ya hate da accent, dat's just on you'se, cousin. So's not much has really changed in da past who knows how many years since ya seen me." He shrugs and Clark rolls his eyes again.

"So since you said you are one of the poor kids, what is that like?" Clark asks, his curiosity sparked by the fact that his cousin had the audacity to defer from societal rules. Especially when Jack used to be above the poor kid life, so above it.  Jack lets out a small laugh, earning him glances from nearby employees who happened to be listening in.

"I'se wanted ta be apart of it. I had been wantin it since fore it was my only choice," Jack starts, noticing the why question beaming at him in Clark's eyes, "I'se done a lot wid it. I led a strike and we'se won, which I'm shoah you'se ignored cuz you'se nevah really liked dat stuff. I live on da rooftop of da Newboys Lodgin House down on Duane Street. I sell papes and have a whole pack o bruddas dat love me more den where you'se come from evah could. I also met my goil through da strike. I'se actually due ta sell papes here in an hour or so, so's I'se gonna get back ta woirk 'ere an'..." Clark slams his hand down and Jack sees frustration and anger behind his eyes.

"You are not leaving this office to sell newspapers and taint our family name by looking like a poor kid. You will not!" Clark scolds and Jack pulls back a little bit, looking slightly offended at the sudden outburst.

"Why? Cuz ya prejudice against bein poor can't take it, Clark? I'se just wants to be wid me boys, we'se met, I'se can leave soon as I'se done. An I'se gonna. I'se got a big family o bruddas waitin for me down on da streets ta sell wid em. I'se stayin on account a my rich cousin don't want me to. Fact, my parents woulda been proud o me for doin this. Steppin up and makin a place for meself when life got too rough for me an' I ain't givin dat up. No mattah how much ya say, Kelly," Jack shoots back at his cousin. Everyone in the newsroom is focused on the two Kelly cousins and their heated argument. Jack's boss enters and gives him a look. "Listen, I'se can introduce ya ta some oddah people and den you'se can handle it from dere, yea?"

"Sure."

"Dat's what we'se gonna do, lemme introduce ya ta Ruby here. She's da flower illustrator or someting like dat. She can show ya dat stuff. I'se gonna finish my pictcha and sell papes." Jack introduces Ruby to Clark, and the two stare at each other fascinated. While Clark and Ruby start talking about her work, Jack goes back to his drawing, being careful so he can finish it on time. However, he wasn't accepting a kiss on the cheek which makes him sit up straight. "Heya, Ace," He greets and she smiles.

"Long day?" She asks, and Jack nods while focusing on his drawing.

"I'se will tell ya later, okay? I gotta finish or I'se gonna be late for da afternoon edition." Katherine smiles and leans back down close to Jack. Everyone in the office hates it when Jack and Katherine openly show affection in the office.

"Can I steal a kiss before I leave?" She asks, drawing suspicious glares from the other newsroom employees.

"Steal as many as ya like, Miss Plumber," He replies and he kisses her right in front of his whole office. Who cares that the office people hate that he kisses his girlfriend in front of his entire office? Who cares what they think about it? Jack only cares about the one person standing in front of him at the moment. She kisses him back and then pulls away, not wanting to hear from her father about how she kissed the new artist again. Not that she really cares anyways. Jack gives a whine that is only audible to her, but she shakes her head.

"We can always do more of that in a different place. Will I see you later?" She asks and Jack nods.

"If I'se not on ya fire escape by eight, come ta da Lodge." He says and Katherine beams at him. She starts to leave, but Jack grabs her by the hand and kisses her firmly on the lips before letting her go again. "Bye, Ace."

"Bye, Cowboy," She replies before leaving the office. Jack looks around to see the office still gaping at him with their mouths dropped open. His cousin, staring after Katherine with a look in his eyes that Jack does not like in the least. Jack ignores everyone and turns back to his drawing. Ignoring the fact that everyone is now aware that he just kissed the daughter of the CEO in the newsroom which is completely inappropriate behavior for some people. The other employees go back to what they were recently discussing. Jack takes a peek at Clark and Ruby to see that they are talking and he is complimenting her on her work. He realizes that he isn't the only one who has a way with girls. Clark says something that makes Ruby's face turn a gentle shade of pink. Jack doesn't know for sure what he said, but it was probably something about how pretty she was. Who knew his cousin had turned into such a proper little flirt over the years? Jack continues to eavesdrop and work on his drawing. It turns out to be two ladies raising their fists in the air and as Jack looks at it, he realizes he subconsciously drew one of them to look like Katherine. Jack draws her often enough that somehow she worked her way into his political cartoon for the day. Soon, he finishes it and interrupts Clark and Ruby's romantic art sharing.

"I'se headed out ta sell papes," Jack interrupts, not really caring that he has interrupted them. Clark shoots him a glare and Ruby smiles encouragingly at Jack. Ruby is one of the few people who admires that Jack sells papers while working an office job and be the leader of the Manhattan Newsboys.

"I can take of Clark, Jack. You go on and have a fun afternoon. Are you coming back?" Ruby asks and Clark shoots her a glare. Ruby responds with one of her own in Clark's direction. Jack shakes in head, partially in disbelief of how controlling his cousin is trying to be and partially to answer Ruby's question.

"Nah, I'se got plans tonight. I'se will come in tomorrow dough(though) an' I'se will get some more work done and help Mistah College Kid here get some woirk done," Jack answers, and turns on his heel to leave.

"Have fun, Jack!" Ruby calls after him as he leaves.

"Bye, Ruby! Clark, behave yaself!" Jack calls back. Clark rolls his eyes.

"I will, Mistah Kelly. I will come find you sometime and we can catch up," Clark says, "See you around, Jack." Jack walks out of the office and raises towards the Lodging House, ready to transform from the artist who works in an office to the Newsie who has the run of the streets. He quickly changes from his office shirt to his much more comfortable Newsie shirt and gray vest over the top. Jack tugs on his shoes and jumps into the bunkroom. He hurries to the washroom and gives his Newsboys cap a tug to readjust it since it sat on his head at the office all morning long.  With that, he says a quick hello to Kloppman and races out the door. His boys wait for him at the distribution center.

"Hey, Jack." "Hey, Jackie," and "Hey, Cowboy!" rings out through the air as Jack approaches. The boys clap him on the back and give him hugs even though he just saw them earlier in the morning.

"Ready ta sell some papes?" He asks and the boys nod. The boys push Jack to the front of the line where Jack puts fifty five cents for his one hundred papers down on the box. Weasel snatches it and Oscar smacks 100 hundred papers into his chest. Jack waits for some of the other boys to get their papers and he chats with them for awhile before deciding to hit the streets.  He finishes selling his papers with Davey at about four o'clock in the afternoon. Then, he and Davey decide to go wait for the evening edition. Jack leans up against the brick and chats with Crutchy, Race, Davey, and a bunch of the other boys.

"So? How's woirk?" Crutchy asks and Jack huffs out a laugh.

"I'se a fancy supervisor ta dis college kid who just so happens ta be my cousin," Jack answers and Race claps him on the shoulder.

"Wow, Jackie. Ain't been dat long since ya got da job. Guess Mistah Pulitzer must be impressed wid ya or someting," He compliments him. Jack rolls his eyes and says,

"My cousin's a real pain in da neck. He's some rich prick an' I forgot he even existed once I came here ta be a Newsie. He hates dat I'se a Newsie, an' he'se always hated da stuff I do. He ain't very supportive if ya know what I mean." The boys standing nearby look to the ground with sad faces. Nothing is worse than having a family that hates how you do your life. Crutchy sighs and says,

"I'se sorry. Dat's rough, Cowboy. I'se didn't see dat one comin an I know for sures dat you didn't."

"Maybe I could talk some sense into him," says Davey and Jack shakes his head.

"He won't listen ta any o us. He hates me an he sure is gonna hate ya too," Jack answers and finishes with, "Nothin against ya, Davey. He just hates da lower class." Davey nods and the other boys roll their eyes at the thought of such a man.

"Jack, if he gets too mean ta ya, I'se will soak im and will so da rest of Manhattan," Race announces and the boy sitting around him suddenly pay attention at the word "soak".

"Yea, an' you'se can help!" Mush, who was one of the boys sitting nearby, says.  Jack chuckles and shakes his head.

"Even dough he gets on my noirves, I'se don't tink I should soak im wid ya an I'se don't think you'se should soak im eiddah," Jack commands. Before anyone can say anything else, the circulation bell rings. Jack pushes off the brick wall and walks over to the gate. He strolls in with Davey and a handful of his boys in tow. Jack slams fifty five cents down on the counter and takes his one hundred papers. Crutchy beats Davey to buying his papers and stands down next to Jack.

"So, are ya meetin with Kath at some point tonight? Since yer day was terrible?" Crutchy asks and Jack nods. Cruthcy's face lights up and he asks, "Where ya meetin?" Jack looks and sees Davey coming across the way.

"I'se gonna try ta go dere and knock on her window," He says as Davey comes over. Davey rolls his eyes at his friend.

"You are so weird! The front door works even better than a window!" Davey exclaims.

"Dat takes all da fun outta it. Windows have always been more my stiyle," Jack retorts, "You'se just hates da thrills of usin a fire escape. Besides, doors are ovahrated." Davey rolls his eyes again and Jack crosses his arms. The boys set out to sell their papers once again. Jack manages to sell his papers around seven and he hurries up over to the Pulitzer mansion. He jumps up, swinging the fire escape ladder down. Jack starts to climb it and knocks on the window. The curtains are drawn and Jack wonders if Katherine is eating dinner. He knows that sometimes she takes her dinner in her room.  Suddenly, the curtains are drawn back and Katherine appears in the window. She rolls her eyes and Jack waves at her. Katherine throws open the window and says,

"Hi! Fancy seeing you on my fire escape instead of at the front door like a normal person."

"Ya wanna get caught by ya faddah or not? Besides, dis is more fun," Jack replies and Katherine rolls her eyes.

"You are the most impossible boy I have ever met. Even that annoying boy downstairs is better than you," Katherine declares and Jack offers her his hand to step out onto the fire escape. She gently takes it in his and steps out.

"What boy, Ace? Is he da new college kid ya faddah just forced me ta supervise?" Jack asks as he holds onto her hand once they are out on the fire escape. He peeks down at their linked hands and sees that Katherine isn't struggling to take hers out of his. Katherine looks at him with a smile on her face.

"So my Dad did put you up to that task, didn't he? I feel sorry for you, Father knew it would stretch you," Katherine says taking an innocent peek down at their joined hands as well. Jack groans and explains,

"Wouldn't be half as hard if dat kid wasn't my oldah cousin." Katherine's eyes widen and she stares at Jack.

"No wondering his flirting seemed similar to someone else I know," She says sarcastically and Jack nudges her with his shoulder.

"Do not compare me ta da likes o him," Jack replies and Katherine nods her head in agreement.

"I can see why you don't like him that much, he is very upper class. Not that you don't like the upper class people, but you do have your feelings and.." She starts and gets cut off when Jack kisses her. 

"Dey's different feelins for you, Ace," He says and Katherine pulls him back in for another kiss. Their lips come crashing together and Katherine instantly slides her hands up around his neck. Jack's hands cup her face and she smiles a huge smile when they pull apart. "Don't tink I'se evah gonna hafta worry bout coirtain cousins o mine in da office gettin ideas bout takin yous." Katherine lets out a small giggle and Jack smiles at her, slipping his hand into hers.

"You never will," says Katherine and she kisses his cheek. "So what do you think of your cousin besides your thoughts of the upper class?"

"He hates what I do, Ace. He ain't supportive of da fact dat I'se still doublin as a Newsie where half da office don't know and half da office doesn't care, ya know? He tinks dat I'se dirtyin da Kelly name whens I'se just tryin ta make a life for myself. I don't get it. He's become more o a flirt and he nevah liked what I did as a kid growin up. I ain't da poirfect pitchah o society an 'e hates it. Do ya tink I'se doin the right thing?" Katherine looks into his hazel eyes. At least now their situations are relatable and she actually can help him. She squeezes his tough, strong hand and advises,

"Just keep being you, Jack. You doing two jobs and caring about your brothers is all part of your personality. I admire that about you and what is even more admirable is that you still have time for other things to. You do what you love and that is more important than a family name or penny pinching." Jack looks down and pulls her into a side hug. How on Earth did he get a girl like Katherine? He loves her so much and cannot picture his life any other way. A funny story from earlier on in the day resurfaces in his mind that has to do with Katherine.

"Ace, so afta ya left, I woirked on my drawing. Did ya buy a copy of da Woirld today?" He asks and she nods. "Recognize anybody in da political cartoon?"  Katherine cocks her head in thought and stares up at the beautiful night sky.

"I don't know. One of the girls looked a lot like me?" Jack nods and Katherine playfully shoves him. "Just because I showed up to say hi at the office doesn't mean you had to draw me in your cartoon!" She scolds and Jack laughs.

"I'se can't help it sometimes. You'se da poirfect subject," Jack replies flirtatiously and Katherine laughs at him.

"You are one impossible boy, you know that, right?"

"Oh, yea. Ya tell me all da time."

"But, no matter what that cousin of yours says about being a Newsie or being his supervisor or whatever, you are you and I love you for it. You are the best impossible boy there is."

"Tanks, Ace. I'se loves ya too." The two embrace and watch the city go by. Jack smiles as he stands there with one of his favorite people in his arms. Neither wants to let go and something tells Jack that maybe someday, he won't have to. Jack and Katherine pull each other into their embrace even further, knowing that they are just a couple of lovestruck teenagers who never want to let go.

"For sure?" Katherine asks, mocking his Manhattan accent. Jack chuckles and kisses the top of her head.

"For shoah," He pulls out each syllable just for her and then pulls her into a kiss. Forgetting overbearing fathers and annoying boys and cousins for a few moments to spend some time alone on a peaceful fire escape, there was not a happy person at that moment than Jack Kelly.

AN:/ Sheesh, that ending was mediocre today. Anyways, that one took awhile and I have been super busy lately. Sorry for the slight delay. What do you think of Clark? It is totally fine to say that you don't like him, he's not meant to be likeable at this point. I like Flavi way more than I like him. I threw in some Jatherine at the end, because we needed some Jack and Katherine right then and there. They are so adorable I can't resist sometimes. XD. So, what did you think? Or what did you think about any of these? I have almost 70 reads, guys! Yes, I have accidentally read it when I was trying to work on it and it counted, but still the majority of those were not me! So thank you, thank you, thank you for inspiring me! I would love feedback (what you like, what you don't, who your favorite character is, and yes OC's count, etc...) Little surprise, you will meet Clark again. He actually appeared in a certain other story of mine before he appeared here. But, I wanted to give some background on this Kelly character. A question to all of my fellow Fansies out there who are reading, how did Katherine get the name, Ace? She doesn't get called that in the movie, unless the "ace up your sleeve" line is where that came from. Is it because she's a reporter? I would love any wisdom you can impart on me when it comes to that! Anyways, enjoy this! Another one should be out soonish. Not sure yet. Please tell me what you think about this one, I would love feedback. Hope you enjoy it! See you soon, Fansies and friends!