Aaaaaaa this is it!

This is the first time I've used a photo as a header so now I'm kinda proud of myself even though I plan on never doing it again haha.

This image is a behind the scenes Newsies image, and it fits with this chapter.

And now we finally learn their back story.

Now we travel back into spring of 1897, when David first met Jack.

Can we just appreciate that Chapter 15 is about when they were 15?

Also I'm relying on what I'm pretty sure is a fact that all ages would be taught in one school house.

Also I'm listening to so many meet-cute and in-love songs while writing this and it just makes me want to explode with happy emotions.

I mean ... until the inevitable split, because we all know their relationship ends badly, but until then, it's going to be as fluffy as I can make it.

If this doesn't become my longest chapter I will riot.

(This is the longest chapter. No doubt there.)

So what did happen that spring?

Now we'll finally find out.

Enjoy! :)

-----------------------------------

At last, the school day ends, and all the students walk out, ready to make the journey home. David makes sure that he has everything, that Les has everything, as he, Sarah, and Les walk out together.

It's a beautful day that practically sings cheerfully, It's spring! The sun is out, the sky is blue without a single cloud of white, and there's a gentle breeze. It's perfect weather. The birds are chirping. It feels nice.

David stumbles a little. Must have just lost his balance or something simple like that. He doesn't want to think much too about it, hoping that no one saw.

Before he walks much further, someone behind him says, "You dropped something."

"Oh-" David turns around, and sees a boy holding his pencil.  

This boy is his age, with a red bandana around his neck, with a smile on his face, eyes free without a care in the world.

...A boy who didn't just come from the school house.

A boy he's never seen before.

A boy holding ... newspapers?

"Thank you." David takes the pencil back from the boy, trying not to react when their hands brush. "Good day." He wants to catch up to Sarah and Les, who kept on walking without him, as soon as he could.

"Hey," the boy says. "Would ya like to buy a pape?"

What more does this boy want with David? David turns around. "No, thank you," he says as politely as he can.

The boy just shrugs and smiles. "Worth a shot, I guess. Guess I just wanted the excuse to talk to such a cute boy like you."

David blushes profusely. His heart starts beating rapidly. He hopes no one heard that. If someone did, he knows for sure that would be the end of him. And probably this boy, too.

"I-I..." David stammers. Then he straightens his posture and recomposes himself. "I don't know what your problem is, but I would like it if you stopped talking to me."

The boy puts his hands up in surrender and takes a couple steps back. "A'ight. Suit yourself."

David dips his head a little. "Good day."

He starts walking away as fast as he can, before the boy can say anything more.

How can he just say things like that? He thinks, thoroughly annoyed, about to fully freak out, as he walks in line with Sarah and Les. He could get in trouble. I could get in trouble.

He hopes never to see that boy again.

Little does he know that that boy does not want to give up.

--------------------------------

The next school day goes by just like the one before, nothing too out of the ordinary.

Until the end of the day, when David spots the boy again, with the same red bandana and smug grin and mischievous eyes and shiny hair and perfect face as yesterday.

David walks right up to him. "What are you doing here?" he demands.

"I was waitin' for ya," the boy responds simply.

David doesn't get this guy. What does he want?

"Yeah, well, I would like it if you didn't just show up at my school just to try to talk to me," David says.

"I mean, it worked, didn't it? I'm talking to you now."

David glares at him. "What do you want?"

"I realized I didn't catch your name yesterday."

David holds his ground. "I'm not telling you my name."

The boy just shrugs again, like a little Okay, you win. Is this a habit of his?

He holds out his hand. "I'm Jack Kelly."

David eyes the boy--Jack. There's nothing mean or malicious in his eyes. And before David can think twice, he slowly offers his hand to Jack. "I'm David."

Jack's eyes flash. "See? That wasn't so hard, wasn't it?"

"No, it wasn't," David responds. "But I still don't want to be seeing you again."

And so he walks away just like he did yesterday.

He underestimates Jack's determination.

-----------------------------

Jack is back again the next day. And the next day. He asks if David wants a paper, which he doesn't. Their conversations never last long. But each time it still annoys the heck out of David.

On the fifth day, Friday, Jack is back again.

David reasons with himself that Jack doesn't know where he lives, so he won't bug him Saturday or Sunday.

He marches right up to Jack. "If I buy a paper from you, will you go away?"

Jack thinks about it. "Possibly." He pauses. "But what if you'll want the new edition the next day?"

"Tomorrow's Saturday," David tells him, feeling a little triumphant. "You won't be able to bother me for two days."

"Well, then I'll just ask again Monday!" Jack responds brightly.

"I'll call the police," David says. He said this once already, but Jack didn't believe him.

"Would you?"

Okay. David is bluffing.

He is also getting tired of Jack. "Get lost."

Jack's smile finally fades. And now he looks ... hurt?

David doesn't know how to react. Should he feel bad for hurting Jack's feelings?

No, he tells himself. Because he is bothering me.

But instead of feeling satisfaction at watching Jack nod silently and walk away, he feels worse.

He catches up to Sarah and Les, not knowing what else to do.

Get lost.

Those two words echo throughout Jack's head.

He just thought he and David were having a playful banter. He thought that they were both having fun.

Guess not.

But the thing is, Jack's only known this guy for five days, but he knew since the first time he saw David that he likes him. And so he won't be giving up that easily.

He may have to change his tactics, though.

Before he can do that, though, he figures he should probably make it up to David for bothering him. And he knows exactly what he should do.

----------------------------

There must be something here that David might like.

It's Sunday, and Jack is looking around several shops, looking for something quick and easy that he could steal. Something like...

That!

As subtly as he can, Jack slips the trinket of a little red canary bird in his pocket. No one is shouting at him to stop where he is. So far, so good. He's not going to take any chances, though, and meanders out as fast as he can.

He's grinning. 

He hasn't known David that long, nor does he know much about him, but surely David won't turn down a little gift like this, would he?

Why are you so interested in this boy? Jack's logical brain asks himself.

I don't know, is his only answer. I just do.

And that's good enough for him.

Suddenly, his stomach growls, forcing him to realize how hungry he is.

He smells freshly baked bread. Surely he could...

He shouldn't.

He knows he shouldn't. 

He'll get in trouble for sure.

And he's so close to getting away.

His stomach doesn't care.

Jack tells himself that no one's going to notice. He's been stealing for awhile. He remembers his father telling him not to starve. Even if that was one of the only pieces of advice his father gave him, it's some of the best that Jack has, and he won't do too much to argue with that logic.

He starts subtly reaching toward the bread.

Little does he know that he's simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, that he simply got unlucky.

For not too far away, Warden Snyder is watching him.

Jack almost makes it. He truly does. But then he's caught. And the punishment for being caught stealing is to go to the House of Refuge. He's heard other kids talk about the Refuge, seen others be carried off there. He's stayed out of it for this long. But there's nothing he can do about it now.

Guess I'm not givin' David a gift tomorrow.

That should be the least of his worries, really, as he's being led off to the House of Refuge.

He's never been more scared in his life.

---------------------------

David spent two days preparing quips for when he meets up with Jack again.

He figures that he'll see Jack today. Is counting on it, really.

He's ready for anything. Ready for Jack to start the conversation first, or maybe he'll start the conversation first. Maybe Jack will say something about David being "cute" (David highly doubts that Jack actually thinks that) or will ask him to buy a paper. David will be ready for it.

He may need to apologize for speaking harshly to Jack last week. He was just so annoyed with him then.

"I'll catch up," David tells Sarah as they leave. She doesn't question it, and holds Les's hand as they start walking home, as they usually do.

David scans the area for Jack.

Jack's ... not here.

Why isn't he here?

Did I actually scare him off?

David doesn't like that thought. He hopes he didn't actually scare Jack off. He ... wants to talk to Jack? He doesn't know exactly how he feels. He just knows he wants to see Jack.

But Jack's not here. Is that a feeling of disappointment rising in his chest?

No. David stuffs whatever the emotion is down. 

He catches up to Sarah and Les.

Maybe Jack has more important things to do. That's probably what it is.

There's gotta be some explanation for why Jack just suddenly disappeared.

-----------------------------

The week goes on, and there's still no sign of Jack.

David doesn't know whether to feel worried or relieved, or maybe even sad. They had the potential to be friends. Maybe.

Guess I just wanted the excuse to talk to such a cute boy like you.

David grins a little thinking about that. Then he instantly reprimands himself. He's not supposed to like it when a boy says something like that.

David truly doesn't know how he feels.

Still, Friday comes and goes, and David has come to terms that he actually is missing Jack.

----------------------------------

Jack needs to get out of here.

He's been here for two weeks now.

He wants out.

How on Earth is he supposed to last a month?

Or three months?

He can't stay here for that long. He won't.

He just needs to figure out how.

Hopefully he does sooner than later.

-----------------------------

It's Friday again. Time to go home for the weekend.

That's when David sees someone in the distance he wasn't expecting: Jack.

He brightens.

"I'll-I'll catch up," David tells Sarah quickly, before running towards Jack.

He smiles when he reaches him, breathless. "Hey."

Jack smiles back. "Hey."

"Where were you?" David asks curiously. "I was..." worried. "...wondering where you went."

Jack shrugs it off, scuffing his feet. "Oh, you know, here and there..." He doesn't know how to explain that he was in the Refuge for stealing. Nor that he escaped and managed to get away on the back of Teddy Roosevelt's carriage. He doesn't think David would believe him anyway.

David has never seen Jack this sheepish. Nor does the sliver of a haunted look in Jack's eye escape David's observation. He doesn't pry, though.

Jack brightens. "I have something for ya." He takes the canary trinket out of his pocket.

"Thank you." David takes it graciously, examining it closely. Jack got this for me?

Suddenly, Jack is more sheepish than he was a few moments ago. "I wanted to get you a little something ... and I don't know, that just seemed right ..."

"I like it," David tells him with a smile.

Jack perks up. "Real-really?"

"Really."

They have nothing more to say. Just smiling in comfortable silence.

Until Jack's eyes flash. "You know, I'd like to see ya on days when you don't have school."

"Oh." David blushes. "I-" What should I say?

"How 'bout we meet in the park tomorrow?" Jack suggests. "'After dinner time."

"Um..." David swallows. He's tempted. He really is. Then, without knowing what he's doing, he answers, "Yes. I can do that."

Jack smile grows. This isn't like the smiles David's used to. This one is genuine.

David's smile grows too. This genuine smile is contagious.

And he likes it.

As he goes home today, he has an extra spring in his step.

I get to see Jack tomorrow.

The logical part of him says that this is a bad idea.

But the other part of him is excited for this. And ... happy.

--------------------

David doesn't know how he managed to get away from his house. He just mumbled something about a walk while the sun was still out and left as fast as he could.

Now that that's over, now he just needs to worry about finding Jack. 

Luckily, it doesn't take long.

Jack is sitting on the park bench, staring out at the setting sun.

"Hey," David says, a little nervous.

Jack springs up immediately when he hears David's voice, grinning from ear to ear when he sees him. "Hey."

Neither of them know what to do now.

"Wanna watch the sunset?" Jack asks, motioning to the spot next to where he was on the bench.

A smile tugs at David's lips. "Sure."

He and Jack sit down, facing the setting sun.

"It's beautiful," David says.

"It is," Jack agrees.

They sit in comfortable silence.

"So how long have you been in school?" Jack asks, and their conversation begins.

They swap stories, talking until the sun goes down. David tells Jack about his life with his parents and his sister and brother, Jack tells David about his life with the newsies. When David asked about his parents, Jack was very vague about it. David knows not to push it. Jack changed the subject and started talking about someone named Medda. David let him.

At some point in their conversation, they get up and start walking, stars overhead.

"Can you name any of them?" David asks Jack, looking up.

"Yeah." Jack points up at the sky aimlessly. "There's the frying pan, and the guy with the belt-"

"Ursa Major and Orion-"

"Yeah, them!"

David chuckles a little.

"What's so funny?" Jack demands a little defensively.

"Oh, nothing," David responds. He looks back up. "There are so many."

"Yeah, there are."

"I wonder if anyone has tried to count them."

"I don't think whoever tried had enough time in the night to count."

"That's probably true too."

And so they continue on. They talk about anything and everything.

And it feels nice.

Until David realizes he doesn't know what time it is and that he should probably be getting home soon.

"I should probably go," David says apologetically. "My parents will probably worry."

"I understand," Jack responds, a little disappointed. He wanted to stay here with David all night. It probably is getting late anyway.

"We...can do this again," David suggests.

"You'd like that?" Jack's heart picks up.

"I would," David says. I really would.

"Great." Jack grins. "Is tomorrow night too soon?"

"What about ... tomorrow during the day?"

Even sooner. Jack likes where this is going. "How 'bout we meet here a couple hours after noon? I should probably have sold most of my papes by then."

"That sounds good," David responds. He gives Jack a little wave before he walks away. "See you tomorrow!"

"Yeah, see ya tomorrow."

Jack watches David leave, a smile on his face.

Tonight made him happy.

And he'll get to do it all again tomorrow too.

He can't wait.

------------------------

David feels bad about not telling his parents where he's going. But all that anxiety evaporates when he finds Jack waiting for him. He smiles.

Time for another day with Jack.

David can't describe how Jack makes him feel. But he likes this.

And Jack likes this too.

Throughout the school week, Jack continues to wait for David to finish school. Their conversations are longer now. But not too long, for David still has to catch up to Sarah before she starts questioning the real reason why he trails behind.

Jack suggests that they meet in the park Friday night. David agrees. He'll have to go home and eat dinner with his family first; so it will have to be closer to dark again.

-------------------------

David reaches their park bench first. Because of this, he worries that Jack is going to disappear for weeks on end like he did before.

He lets out a small sigh of relief when he sees Jack.

Then he puts on a smug grin, one that Jack normally wears. "Guess we finally came to the day where I wait for you."

Jack grins back. "Yeah, I guess so."

"I was expecting you to get here first," David remarks.

"I was at Tibby's with the other newsies," Jack explains. "Harder to get away from that."

"I get that."

The night goes on, the stars come out. They've been talking for a while now.

"Why do you wear the red bandana?" David asks suddenly.

"That came out of nowhere," Jack comments, a little amused.

"It's just that I'm curious."

Jack touches his bandana. He's worn this for a while now. Not only does it make him feel like a real cowboy, but ... it's also a symbol of something with a much, much deeper meaning.

"It has a meaning to it," Jack responds, choosing his words carefully. "For people like me."

"People like you?"

Jack swallows. "Mhm." The thing is, he still doesn't know David that well. What he's about to say can change everything. But he goes for it anyway. "Guys who ... like guys." So maybe he mumbled. But he still said it.

Guess I just wanted the excuse to talk to such a cute boy like you.

Those words echo in David's head.

And that's when he realizes.

Jack doesn't just like him. He likes him.

Jack swallows, unsure of what exactly is going through David's head.

The crazy thing is, David thinks that he might like Jack too.

And that's terrifying.

But Jack was brave to say that. So he'll be brave in return.

"Maybe I should have a red bandana too."

---------------------------------------

They didn't talk about the red bandana for the rest of last night. Both are still amazed that the other still wants to meet up again tonight.

The thing is, David didn't know exactly what to think of his feelings. Now he does.

Jack and David arrive at their bench at the same time.

"Are we a thing or not?" David asks right away, a little on edge. Just because he has a better idea of how to identify his feelings, doesn't mean that he's still comfortable with it all. 

And David's still new at this. He doesn't really know what it means to "be with someone."

"I don't know," Jack says after thinking about it. "We can call what we have whatever we want."

And David lets out a huge sigh of relief.

-----------------------

Another week comes and goes. 

Now, David's favorite day of the week is Saturday, because that's the day he and Jack will always meet up at their park bench at sunset.

Of course, he sees Jack every day of the week. Jack's always there, right on time, waiting patiently for David to finish school. It's sweet, really. 

After they had a little conversation on if they were "together" or not, they had talked about their feelings--not necessarily for each other, just what their thoughts on romance in general were.

Jack told David about how he likes both guys and girls, and how he's not entirely sure why or how that's possible, but that's how it is for him. David agreed with him. That was one of the things that they found out that they had in common.

----------------------------------------

By this point, they've fallen into a routine. They talk just fine like they always do.

But David has something extra to say tonight.

"Hey, Jack?" David asks in a small voice. 

"Yeah, David?"

"What if..." he pauses and bites his lip. 

"I'm listening," Jack tells him kindly. 

"What if people don't like it?" David asks. "Two guys who like guys?"

"I ... really don't know," Jack admits. "Try not to think about it too much, okay?"

"I'm scared though." David feels vulnerable. "You know that bad things happen to people like us. I just ... don't want to get us hurt."

Jack sighs. "Yeah. Me too." He puts his arm around David. "But hey. If we stick together, they can't get to us. Okay?"

David warms at Jack's touch. "Okay."

--------------------------------------

"I figured it out."

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"Well, when we first talked about your bandana, I don't know if you remember, but I said-"

"That maybe you should get one too."

"Yeah, I said that. So anyway, remember the red canary trinket you gave me?"

"How could I forget?"

"That is going to be my red bandana."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I can carry it with me in my pocket. I can hide it when I need to, show it when I want to."

Jack smiles. "I like that idea."

David smiles as well. "Yeah, I do too." His smile grows. "I'll start doing that tomorrow."

"Awesome."

They fall into a comfortable silence as they walk.

Jack wants to talk about something else that relates to red bandanas--he wants to talk about the cowboy aspect of it.

He wants to tell David about his dreams to go to Santa Fe.

Sure, a lot of newsies know he wants to go ... but none of them truly know what it means to him.

Because Santa Fe isn't just a place. It's salvation. It's freedom. It's home.

Or, it will be.

He just needs to figure out how to get there someday.

"Do you ever think about leavin'?" Jack asks suddenly. "Gettin' away from it all?"

"Doesn't everyone?" David returns. "I mean, I know I  would want to see more than just this city some day."

That gets Jack's hopes up. 

"Maybe we'll run away together one day," Jack suggests.

"Yeah, maybe," David smiles.

Jack likes where this conversation is going.

But it's still too soon to bring up Santa Fe.

Jack senses that right now David's not serious enough about this to go into a deep conversation.

That can wait.

For now, he can just feel happy about the fact they found something else in common: they both want to get away from it all.

Jack stares at David, fondness in his gaze. They've been going out like this ... how many weeks now? And they've known each other for a little longer than that.

He doesn't like David.

He loves him.

He realizes that now as they walk together in the dark.

Not paying attention to where he was going, he walks straight into a streetlight.

He yelps and jumps back, startled.

"Are you okay?" David asks, immediately concerned. "Why weren't you looking where you were going?"

"Why didn't you tell me to watch out?"

"What were you staring at?"

You.

Not a good answer.

"Not in front of me, that's for sure," Jack grumbles.

"Here." They stop walking. David examines Jack's face in the dim lighting under the streetlight. "I don't see any bruising on your face. I think you're okay."

Jack looks at David's lips.

They're all alone right now.

And David looks so perfect tonight, with the stars in his eyes.

His face is so close to Jack's.

Jack decides to go for it and kisses David gently on the lips.

David, although surprised ... doesn't pull away.

It's not anything passionate or heated. It's gentle, and soft, and nice. It's everything they need.

They close their eyes.

When they need to breathe, they pull away slightly, looking into each other's eyes, amazed.

"Wow," David breathes out. What took us so long?

Jack kisses him again.

--------------------------

David goes to sleep that night feeling over the moon. He's sure he can still feel the sensation on his lips from kissing Jack. His family asked him why he was so happy. He said he didn't know.

That's a lie. He knows exactly why he's so happy.

At the lodging house, Jack is going through the same thing. The newsies are asking him why he's so happy. 

He tells them that something happened that changed his life for the better.

As they fall asleep, they both replay one memory.

"I love you, Davey," Jack murmured after kissing another time, when their foreheads were pressed together.

Davey.

David could get used to being called that.

"I love you too," David murmured.

He kissed Jack again.

Tonight was absolutely perfect.

--------------------------------------

Time moves on, as it always does. Jack and David couldn't be happier. They spend every waking moment possible together. This goes on all throughout spring. Sometimes they walk together at night, sometimes they walk in the park. Sometimes they just sit on their bench and watch the sunset. Each night is similar, yet always has something different about it. 

And they are so in love with each other.

David had no clue that it was possible to feel this way about someone. He had started to doubt if he ever would. Then Jack came into his life, and now he's here.

Jack feels lucky. He feels really, really lucky. He's so happy to have the relationship he has now.

But as their relationship deepens, the steeper the consequences will be if they get caught. And that scares them. They know that there are many people in this world who would hate them if they found out that they weren't normal. So they can't let anyone know.

They hold on to each other. And really, that's all they need.

------------------------------------------

It's early June now.

Not too long from now, it will be summer.

Jack is really excited for this Friday. This Friday is David's last day of school until the fall.

They'll have a whole season together.

He can't wait.

David's excited too. 

This is going to make things interesting, when David won't have school to attend, and he can spend the free time he has with Jack. He can't wait for it.

--------------------------------

"Hey!" Jack's done waiting for David to be done with school now on Friday. He's here now, and Jack is shaking excitedly from the anticipation.

David smiles. "Hey."

Jack can't contain his excitement. "Now you don't have to worry about school!"

David loves Jack's excitement. "Yep!"

Jack smiles one of his contagious genuine smiles. It's a very cute look on him.

David can't help it. He smiles back.

---------------------------------

This week has been a glorious week for Jack. He's gotten to spend as much time with David as possible. The other newsies ask why he doesn't sell as many papers as he used to. He can't exactly explain that he wants to spend as much time with David as he possibly can when they don't know David.

Right now, they're watching the sun set from their park bench. 

"Jack, don't you think this is getting dangerous?" David asks cautiously.

"What exactly?"

"Us going places in broad daylight." David gestures vaguely. "Someone could see us if we're out together all the time."

Jack doesn't respond.

He can't believe what he's hearing.

He heard the words David said.

But they registered in his mind as We should stop seeing each other.

"Are you ... happy?" Jack asks, biting his lip.

"I am," David answers, "but maybe ... we shouldn't see each other as much, to be safe." He doesn't sound happy about saying this. But he's saying it anyway, causing Jack's thoughts to go crazy.

Does Davey want us to stop seeing each other altogether? Jack thinks worriedly. He bites his lip. "Do you ... do you act'lly ... do you really think so?"

"Unfortunately, yeah," David answers, unaware of what message that sends to Jack.

Jack tries to keep his face from falling.

---------------------------------------------

Jack's determined to make sure that David doesn't dislike him. He doesn't know if he said something, or did something, but that doesn't change what he heard--or thought he heard--David say.

He has to come up with a reason for them to stay together. He has to.

For now, he doesn't press it. For now, he pretends like everything is okay. Time continues moving forward.

But David doesn't seem to be over-the-top happy as he used to be.

And so, Jack doesn't know what to do now.

-------------------------------

I can't let David say that we should end our relationship.

So how do I that?

I come up with a reason why our relationship should end before he can.

That's a terrible idea.

I don't have a better one.

Don't do this right away, the logical part of his brain reasons. This doesn't have to be the way things go.

That part of his brain is right. 

So Jack continues on, pretending that everything is fine.

----------------------------------

It's a cloudy night, not a star in sight. 

David seems peaceful, though. Jack ... Jack has a storm inside.

"Davey ..." Jack starts. He trails off.

That gets David's attention. He's only called Davey when the moment is intimate. Which happens frequently. Well, lately it hasn't been as frequent. So that's why he's listening intently now.

"Do we still have a connection?" Jack asks. "Like how it was in the spring."

David stops. "I think so." Nothing's happening to us, right?  "Right?"

"You sound unsure."

David doesn't say anything more a moment, trying to process what's happening. "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know, is there?"

"What's gotten into you?"

"Do you still want us to see each other, or not?" Jack presses, obviously distressed.

"People will think things if they see us together," David answers, as calmly and as put together as he can. "So we shouldn't see each other as often."

"So you'd rather hide and pretend to be normal than be together?"

David doesn't know where all of this agitation is coming from. "What-?"

Jack pushes David against the wall, not being able to take this anymore. "Does bein' together mean anything to you?"

David looks at Jack, eyes as wide as the full moon that they can't see tonight. "Why are you acting like this?"

I don't know.

Jack wants to come up with a good reason. He wants to apologize.

He wants to do a million things.

Instead, he comes up with a new lie.

He backs away. "I'm sorry, Davey. I should have told you sooner."

That gets David's heart to beat faster. "Told me what?"

"I think I don't feel the connection like before." Jack hates every word coming out of his mouth. "I was wanting to see what you thought about it, but ..." he shakes his head. "I just don't know about anything anymore."

David looks at Jack with hurt in his eyes. Jack can't bear it.

"Is this really how you feel?" David asks in a quiet tone.

Jack doesn't say anything.

"If so, why did you lie?" David asks. "Why did you lie about still wanting us to be together if you didn't 'feel a connection still?' Why would you toy with me like that?"

Jack continues to say nothing.

Disgust covers up the hurt in David's eyes. "If you truly feel this way, then fine. We don't have to see each other ever again."

No.

That's not what Jack wanted. Still, he says nothing.

David blinks back tears. He never thought that this was going to happen. He thought everything was okay. 

Apparently not.

He walks away, and never looks back.

He never wants to see Jack again.

He's never going to get close to anyone like that ever again.

Meanwhile, Jack sinks to the ground, distraught over what he's done. There's nothing he can do to change it now.

It was doomed from the start, he tells himself. Two boys loving each other were never going to last forever anyway.

--------------------------

They move on in their own ways.

David spends many days silently grieving, sadly staring out the window. For his family, he puts on a brave face. At night, though, he looks at the stars, and lets the sadness come.

From now on, he's going to devote himself to being the good kid again. He was led astray in the spring, and he's not going to let that happen again. When school starts up again in the fall, he's going to be the most studious one of all. He'll need nothing else.

Jack doesn't buy papes for a week. Of course, the newsies worry about him. They bring him food and water, since he barely moves, barely speaks. They try to ask him what happened, but he never says. So they stop asking, and just remind him that they're there for him.

Summer continues on. 

David puts Jack out of his mind. He focuses on his family, and anything else that he can that isn't related to Jack. He avoids the park. He thinks about getting rid of the canary trinket. He really wants to. He can't bring himself to, though. So he just hides it instead.

Jack gets into a relationship with a boy a little younger than him from Brooklyn. That is, until he accidentally mentions that he just had a relationship. This new relationship wasn't the same as what he had with David. This wasn't meant to last, anyway.

When school starts again, David lets out a sigh of relief when he sees that Jack isn't there.

Jack starts buying 100 papes each day, determined to sell every single one. That will keep him busy all day.

Jack wants to get out here. He wants to get on the first train to Santa Fe. That's his one and only focus now.

And so the days, weeks, and months pass.

Two years go by.

Neither has thought about the other in a really long time.

Until one eventful day in July of 1899, when it literally all comes rushing back.

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I TOLD you the ending was going to be angsty.

As of right this second, we're at a word count of 5386.

A lot of that was fluff, a lot of that was angst. There was a good mix.

I literally foreshadowed that Jack would go to the Refuge during this time but to my knowledge no one caught the bait, so I hope I didn't surprise you all too badly.

Some of the fluff songs I listened to: Can't Help Falling In Love sung by Andrea Bocelli, Dos Oruguitas, Can You Feel The Love Tonight sung by Keali'i Reichel, Tonight You're Perfect by New Politics, and many others.

When Jack came out, I wanted a wholesome coming out song, but then I thought of Coming Out by Diana Ross and was like You know, I'm gonna play that haha.

Some of the angsty songs I listened to were Gay Pirates by Cosmo Jarvis, Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits, I Can't Make You Love Me sung by Robi Kahakalau, 3 Libras by A Perfect Circle, and many others.

And Gone, Gone, Gone, by Phillip Phillips played a lot everywhere haha.

Some of the songs may have had lyrics that influenced what I was writing at a certain part haha.

I tried to keep it consistent to what we already know from the story so far, which isn't much, so if you catch any inconsistencies please tell me.

I did try to make call backs to earlier things said and/or descriptions.

And I am not making this up when I say that in the 1890's gay men would wear red bandanas to show others (probably just other mlm's) that they were gay.

So ... this was pretty much meet-cute, fluff dump, and then angst dump haha.

So. Now we know their back story, and now we can continue moving forward.

Please, no homophobia, profanities, hate etc in the comment section.

Best,

~Your Beloved Author (who now has to proofread this 5775 word thing of a chapter that they wrote in four to five hours)