Like I Love You
by: Seven of Nine


Part One: When Hearts Fall Apart

Why do lovers drift apart and how does love fade away? When do pieces of a broken heart mend again? You’ve been crying in the dark and you’ve been feeling alone. Don’t be scared of what you’ll find when you turn the light on…



Angela shoved some clothes into a sack along with a few more of her possessions. She had everything, but she had the feeling that something was missing. Just as she was about to exit through the window, she remembered what it was.

“How could I have forgotten?” she asked herself.

She walked over to her bed and gently picked up the picture of Edward. She looked at it and wiped a tear from her eye. It was a year ago today that he had been killed. Angela put it in her sack and turned the ring on her finger. Even after Edward died, she kept that ring on as a symbol that she’d never love again.

She headed for the window and climbed down the trellis. She was glad that she had a private bank account that her parents had left her, for she knew that she would need it soon. She was also glad to be getting away from her uncle. He had been trying to get her to marry for a while, even though he knew that Angela didn’t want to marry.

As she made her way down the trellis, she looked up at her room again. At last she was going to have the freedom that she hadn’t had in a while. It was the start of a new beginning for her. Once she reached the end of the trellis, she ran away from the old mansion without looking back.

* * *


Bumlets stared at the picture and fought back tears. A year ago, his fiancée, Janice, got the fever and had died overnight. He missed her so much, and every Manhattan newsie knew about Janice. Bumlets had asked her to marry him shortly after the strike, and just a month before their wedding Janice got sick.

Bumlets stared at the picture for a little while longer, then he stuck it under his pillow and set his head on his pillow. Just about every night he dreamed about Janice, and he was always sad when he had to wake up. He ignored everything that was going on around him until Mush ran into the bunkroom with big news.

“Hey guys!” he shouted. “I jus’ received woid dat Morris Delancy’s got small pox!”

Patch, Mush’s girl, came in behind him. Most of the newsies were surprised at the news that Mush had brought, but Bumlets didn’t say anything. As much as the newsies didn’t like the Delancys, he didn’t like hearing about people getting sick. He hated the thought of people losing their loved ones as he did.

He not only felt sorry for Morris, he felt sorry for Oscar. If Morris died, he knew that Oscar would be devastated and would probably go after the newsies for revenge. He became lost in millions of thoughts until he felt someone gently tap him on the shoulder. He turned to see Twilight, Specs’ girl, standing there.

“Bumlets, you okay?” she asked.

Bumlets nodded. “Yep. Jus’ thinkin’ dat’s all.”

Twilight stared into Bumlets’ eyes. She knew him like she knew her brother, and she knew when he was sad. Right now, she knew he was upset, and she knew that he was thinking about Janice. That was how she became a newsie. Janice was her best friend, and shortly after she died she became a newsie.

That was also when she met Bumlets, and the two became best friends almost immediately. When Bumlets answered her question, she only nodded slowly and walked away from his bunk. She walked over to Specs and sat down on his bunk.

“He’s thinkin’ bout Janice, ain’t ‘e?” Specs asked.

“Sure looks like it. He’s not the only one who misses her. I miss her too.”

“Well, I got the feelin’ dat ‘e’s gonna meet a real nice goil soon, an’ ‘e’s gonna rethink what ‘e said about neva gettin’ married.”

* * *


Angela had spent the night in an abandoned house that night and saw the city in front of her. She had finally made it to Manhattan. She walked around, looking for places where she could live. She spent most of the morning and half the afternoon looking for a place to lodge, and she finally found a lodging house for newsies.

I could use a good job, she thought. Angela took a deep breath and entered the lodging house. She found an old man asleep in his chair, which was leaned back, and the man was snoring loudly.

“Um, excuse me.” she said.

The man woke up suddenly, nearly tipping his chair over. When the chair was back in balance, he rubbed his eyes and looked at the girl in front of him.

“Yes?” he asked.

“I uh, was just wondering if I could be a newsie.” Angela said timidly.

The old man nodded. “Okay, well, you’ve gotta pay a ten cents a week or forty cents a month, and I wake you guys around seven. You think you can handle that?”

Angela nodded and pulled out four dimes from her pocket. She placed them on the counter and the old man counted it out. When he saw that it was enough, he extended his hand out to Angela.

“Name’s Kloppman. And you are?”

Angela shook his hand. “Angela. Angela Meyers.”

“Welcome to the business, Angela. Cowboy’s in charge of the other newsies, and he’s normally at Tibby’s around this time. You knew where that is?”

Angela nodded. She had passed it on the way to this lodging house and she remembered that it wasn’t too far away.

“So, I just go there to check in?” she asked.

“Yep. Jus’ gimme your bag an’ I’ll put it upstairs in the bunkroom.”

Angela handed Kloppman her bag and headed out the door. She walked until she reached the restaurant called Tibby’s. She opened the door and bells jingled as it slowly opened.

A tall boy wearing a black cowboy hat saw her and turned to her. Angela was betting that this was that “cowboy” that Kloppman had told her about.

“Excuse me,” she said, “are you Cowboy, the leader of the newsies here?”

The boy nodded. “If ya put it that way.” He spit in his hand and extended it to Angela. “Name’s Jack Kelly.”

Angela was a little disgusted at his action, but she guessed that it was what all the newsies did and did the same. Jack took her hand and shook it. When he released her hand, she stuck it behind her back and wiped it off.

“So, ya wanna be a newsie?” Jack asked.

Angela nodded. “Yes I do. My name’s Angela.”

“Okay, ya gotta meet the other newsies now. Behind me is David an’ ‘is little bro, Les. Over der we got Kid Blink, Race, Twilight, Specs, Dutchy, Mush, Patch and Bumlets, an’ there’s a few more newsies, but they already left.”

Angela nodded to each of the newsies. The only one who didn’t seem to notice her was the one that Jack called Bumlets. He was holding a gold band between two fingers and seemed to be shut off from the world.

For some reason, he reminded her of herself with Edward. The little boy named Les came up to her and spit in his hand and extended it to her.

“Hi.” He said. “Name’s Les.”

Angela did the same and shook his hand. “Hello Les. How old are you?”

“Seven.”

Les’ brother David jumped up. “No he’s not!” he looked at Angela and turned a little red. “He’s nine, almost ten. Jack just tells him to tell everyone that he’s seven.”

Jack just laughed. “Kid always listens ta me. Dat’s why I like ‘im. So, Angela, since yer a newsie now, ya gotta pick a nickname, cuz dat’s what we all go by here. Ya got a nickname dat ya wanna go by?”

Angela thought for a minute. Her father’s pet name for her was Angel, but she didn’t want to be called something that she wasn’t. She looked down at Les, and then a smile spread across her lips.

“You know, Jack, I never had a nickname, but I think I just thought up one.”

“Kay, so what is it?”

Angela looked at Les. “Well, Les says that he’s seven, but he’s really nine. I’d like to be called Seven of Nine to remind me of this little guy.”

Everyone in the restaurant roared with laughter. Angela laughed too, but Les just turned red. Angela noticed that Bumlets was laughing a little bit to himself. She turned to Jack, who was trying to keep his balance.

“Dat’s a new one on me!” he shouted. “I think that’s one a the best nicknames anyone’s eva thought up! Okay, yer Seven of Nine.”

Seven smiled. “Just call me Seven for short.”

Jack put his arm around Seven’s shoulders. “Ya know, I think dis is the start of a beautiful friendship.”

* * *


Seven sat down on the bunk that Kloppman had let her use and stared at the picture of Edward. She missed him so much and heaved a sigh. She nearly jumped a mile when she felt someone touch her on the shoulder gently. She turned to see Patch and Twilight standing there.

“Oh sorry!” Twilight exclaimed. “We didn’t mean to scare you.”

Seven shoved Edward’s picture under her pillow. “Oh, it’s okay. You didn’t scare me none.”

Patch sat down next to Seven. “Who was in the picture?”

Seven looked at her feet and twisted the ring on her finger. No one had ever asked her that before, and since this was the first time, it hurt her to tell.

“He was a very dear friend of mine.” She answered. “He died a year ago yesterday.”

Patch looked a little surprised, but she never said anything. Twilight pulled the picture of Edward out and looked at it.

“Hey, he was pretty fine.” She said.

Seven couldn’t hide her smile. “I know. I miss him so much.”

Seven took the picture out of Twilight’s hands and stared at it. Patch looked over her shoulder and looked at the picture with her.

“What did you like about him most?” Patch asked.

Seven sighed. “That’s a hard question. I liked him for always sticking up for me. He was also very kind, and honest and gentle…” she paused for a second when tears began to well up in her eyes. “…And I miss him so much.”

Seven sniffled and rubbed her nose of the back of her sleeve. She tried to gulp down the rest of her tears, but one stray tear made its way down the side of her face. She could hear the gunshot, her screams, and Edward giving his last breath. Flashbacks of that afternoon swarmed her head. Both Patch and Twilight noticed her tears, and they each took one of her hands.

“It’s okay, Seven.” Twilight said gently.

Seven nodded. “I know, but I miss him so much.”

“It’ll be okay.” Patch said, trying to cheer her up. “I know it’s hard, but I’m sure you’ll be okay.”

* * *


A week had gone by since the day that Seven became a newsie. Patch and Twilight became her best friends, and most of the newsies became like brothers to her. Tonight was this big Valentine’s Day party since today was Valentine’s Day.

Patch and Twilight told Seven that they could get her a nice dress from someone named Medda for the party, since the party was held down the street. An hour before the party, the three girls headed off to Irving Hall. When they arrived, a red haired woman in her thirties came down the stairs and greeted the girls.

“Hey newsgirls!” Medda said happily. “Where’ve you been? I haven’t seen you in a while.”

Patch put her arm around Seven’s shoulders. “Medda, this is Seven of Nine, the newest newsgirl in Manhattan. Seven, this is Medda.”

Seven shook Medda’s hand and smiled. Medda also smiled, and she seemed to be a very nice woman.

“So, what’re you doing here?” Medda asked. “I heard that you were having a party down at the grange.”

“We are, but it’s not for another hour.” Said Twilight. “We was wondering if you had some dresses we could borrow.”

Medda’s eyes jumped. “Newsgirls in dresses? I thought you’d never ask. Come with me, I’ve got plenty.”

The newsgirls trailed behind Medda as she led them up two flights of stairs. She led them into her dressing room and revealed wardrobes filled with dresses, hats and other wonderful things. Medda turned around and looked at the girls and inspected them, head to toe.

“I think I’ve got some dresses for you.” Medda went to a certain wardrobe and pulled out three dresses. One was pink, the other two were red. The girls stared at the dresses, which were almost breathtaking.

“Would you like these, or would you like to see some more?”

“These’ll be fine.” Twilight said, not taking her eyes off the pink dress.

“Yeah.” Patch and Seven said together.

Medda smiled and handed the pink dress to Twilight, and the red ones to Seven and Patch. The girls quickly changed into them and they couldn’t recognize who they were when the saw each other.

“You girls look beautiful!” Medda exclaimed. “But, we’ve got to do something about your hair.”

Medda went to Patch first, since she had the longest hair. Her hair only went two inches below her shoulders; just barely longer than Twilight’s. Medda brushed Patch’s dark brown hair and pulled half of it back with a white ribbon. She did the same with Twilight’s hair, but Seven was an entirely different story. She had hair that just barely came off her shoulders.

Medda didn’t find that a problem, for she had been in a situation like that before. She brushed Seven’s brown hair and pulled some of her hair into comb with a red china rose on it. When she was finished, she looked at them and smiled.

“You girls look beautiful. Now head over to that party and knock those newsboys dead!”

* * *

Part Two: Valentine’s Day

Ain’t nobody gonna say goodbye, no ain’t no body gonna walk away; this time, baby, I’m learning how to love you, love you. Ain’t nobody gonna make you cry, no ain’t nobody ever really tried to love you like I love you.



Specs sent his pole flying forward, hitting the white ball in front of him. He hit a thirteen ball and knocked it into the pocket. He stood up straight and looked at Mush.

“Yer shot.”

Mush nodded and looked at the white ball. He pulled his stick back and launched it forward. He hit the white ball and it knocked the four ball into the pocket. The only ball left was the eight ball. He stood up and looked at Bumlets.

“Hit it or lose.”

Bumlets nodded and concentrated on his shot. He hit the white ball, but it just barely missed the eight ball. He growled and frowned.

“Specs, you hit it an’ you win.” Mush told him.

Specs smiled and hit the white ball. It rolled across the table and hit the eight ball. It slowly rolled into the pocket. A few of the guys behind them cheered as Specs smiled triumphantly.

“Good job, Specs.” Bumlets said, patting his friend on the shoulder.

The boys set their poles on the pool table and sat down at table on the other side of the room.

“Where is the newsgirls?” Mush asked.

Specs shrugged. “I dunno, but we’re da only newsies without goils yet.”

Mush turned to Bumlets. “Hey Bumlets, Seven’s a real sweet goil. Why don’t you take ‘er?”

Bumlets looked at the ring on his finger. “I’m not sure I’m ready yet.”

“Aw Bumlets,” Specs said, “I know dat yer still upset about Janice, but I think it’s time ta move on.”

Bumlets sighed but nodded. “Yer right, but I’m still not sure if I’m ready yet.”

“It don’t hafta be now.” Said Mush. “You can stay dis way until ya know yer ready.”

Just then, the door opened and the three newsgirls strode in. They were wearing dresses, but they were also wearing heavy coats since it had snowed earlier that day. Specs and Mush jumped up when they saw their girls and rushed to them. They helped them get their coats off, and they took Patch and Twilight to a table in a corner.

Seven walked around the room, looking around, but she also seemed to be a little upset about something. She leaned against the wall and listened to the Celtic music that was playing softly. A few minutes later, Jack took Sarah out to the dance floor and they began to dance. Soon, others began to get up and dance. Specs led Twilight out to the floor and the two danced together.

A few minutes later, they looked up and Twilight saw Seven lingering around the dance floor, wishing that she could dance with someone. Specs also noticed that Bumlets looked a little lonely himself. Specs whispered in Twilight’s ear, then she nodded and walked over to Seven.

“Hey Seven, I know someone who’s dying ta dance with ya.”

Seven’s eyes lit up. “Really? Oh wait, no thanks.”

“Oh come on, Seven. It’s time to grow up. Just dance with him for a little bit.”

Seven shrugged but gave in. Twilight led her over to the dance floor, and Seven saw Specs leading Bumlets over to them. Her eyes grew wide, for Bumlets was the last person she’d expect to want to dance with her. She barely knew him since he was always off to the side.

“Here’s yer dance partner, Bumlets.” Specs told him.

Before Seven or Bumlets could object, Specs took Twilight and they returned to the dance floor. Seven and Bumlets looked at each other, then they decided that they would dance. Bumlets took Seven’s hands but didn’t get to close. Seven held Bumlets’ hands, but didn’t get too close either. Everyone dancing noticed them and how they danced. Some of them began to snicker. Seven noticed and looked at Bumlets sharply.

“Bumlets, this is ridiculous. There’s enough room between us for one more person!” she exclaimed.

Bumlets’ eyes lit up and he smiled. “Now there’s an idea!”

Since they were near the pool tables, Bumlets tapped on the person’s shoulder who was closest to them. It was Itey; he and his girl had decided to play a game of pool.

“Hey Itey,” Bumlets said, “wanna join us?”

Itey turned around and looked at Bumlets as if he were a madman. “Hey, I don’t go for that kinda thing.”

Bumlets shook his head and turned back to Seven. He slipped his arm around Seven’s waist and pulled her a little closer. Seven put her hand on his shoulder but there was still an amount of space between them. When the music stopped, the two split up and went their own separate way.

Bumlets returned to his table while Seven went to the pool tables to play a game of pool with Spot, who had taken a break with dancing. His girl, Tweetheart, was dancing with another newsie and Seven walked up to Spot and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Hey Spot, need someone to play against?” she asked.

“Yep. Wanna play?” Spot asked.

Seven nodded. “Yep.”

“Grab a stick.”

Seven walked to the other side of the table and picked up a stick. Spot started the game, but Seven hit more balls than he did. As the game began to wrap up, Bumlets came over to see who would win. Spot took his shot at the eight ball and missed. Seven smiled and got ready to shoot.

“You can’t hit dat.” Bumlets snickered.

Seven frowned and looked up at him. “Wanna bet?”

“Yeah. How bout dis, if you don’t hit da ball, you take a jump into the lake in Central Park.”

Seven looked surprised. “In the middle of February?” a grin slowly spread across her face. “Yer on.”

Bumlets smiled. He knew that she wouldn’t make it. Seven got on one knee and stared at the ball. A few more newsies came by to watch this. Seven stared at the ball for another two minutes before Bumlets got impatient.

“Come on Seven, hurry up.”

Seven frowned again. “Shut up. I’m concentrating.”

Bumlets rolled his eyes and watched as Seven stared at the ball for another minute. She finally stood up and got ready to shoot. Bumlets smiled triumphantly, and Seven turned around to face Race, who was standing behind her.

“You’d better move, Race.” She told him.

Race shook his head. “It’s a free country. I’ll stay ‘ere if I wanna.”

Seven nodded and turned her look back to the table. She pulled her pole back quickly, hitting Race square in the stomach. He doubled over and moaned in pain. When Seven sent the pole flying forward, it hit the white ball, which hit the eight ball, which fell into the pocket. Cheers went around as Bumlets’ smile melted. Seven turned to Bumlets and grinned.

“Let’s head to Central Park.”

* * *


Bumlets felt cold once they reached Central Park. Almost all of the newsies were behind him, wanting to see how he would react.

“Come on, Bumlets!” Dutchy shouted. “You can take it!”

Bumlets sighed. Everyone was watching him, and there was no turning back now. He walked toward the dock and the newsies followed. When they reached the end of the dock, they stopped. Bumlets kept going until he reached the edge of the dock. He could hear the newsies behind him as he stared into the freezing water in front of him.

“Chicken!” Seven shouted.

Some newsies began strutting and squawking like chickens. Bumlets frowned but knew what he needed to do. He took a deep breath and dove into the water. Once his head went under the water, his head began to throb, and the water stabbed him like thousands of knives. He popped out of the water and sputtered for air.

“Whoa, cheese it!” he shouted.

Every newsie that saw was laughing. Bumlets stood in the water, trying to get out. Seven finally came down and extended her hand out to him.

“Need a hand?” she asked.

Bumlets nodded and shivered, but took her hand. Once he had a firm grip, he heaved Seven into the water. Seven popped up, angrier than a cat that had just been shaved. Everyone was laughing harder now, and even Bumlets was laughing now.

Patch and Mush came down the dock and helped them out of the water. Twilight handed Mush a blanket, but she looked a little disappointed.

“Oh what a shame, we only brought one blanket.” She said.

Mush held it out in front of Seven and Bumlets, who only looked at each other and frowned.

“There ain’t no way I’m sharing with her!” Bumlets shouted.

“Me neither!” Seven exclaimed.

“Well, who’s gonna take it then?” Patch asked.

Seven shrugged and walked away. Seeing that Seven wasn’t going to take it, Mush handed it to Bumlets.

Bumlets threw the blanket around his shoulders and tried to warm himself. It helped a little bit, but he didn’t see Seven anywhere up ahead. He just forgot about her and concentrated on getting back to the lodging house.

* * *


The next morning, while everyone was in line to get their papers, Jack noticed that there was something different. Oscar Delancy hadn’t been around since Morris got sick, but today, Jack saw him behind the counter. Morris wasn’t there.

“Hundred papes, Weasel.” Jack said, slamming fifty cents onto the counter.

Oscar put one hundred newspapers on the counter in front of Jack. Something was wrong with Oscar. He normally slammed the papers on the counter and frowned at the newsie, but today, he refused to make eye contact with anyone.

Jack hefted the newspapers onto his shoulder and made his way down the platform. Seven was behind him, and she rolled four dimes onto the counter.

“Eighty papes.” She said.

Eighty newspapers were set down in front of Seven. Seven had never seen Oscar Delancy before, but she had often heard the newsies speak of him. As she looked at him, she could see that something was terribly wrong. She took her papers and walked down the platform to let the next person in line get their newspapers.

Seven looked back up at Oscar. For some reason, she thought that he looked like he had lost his best friend. Seven pulled a newspaper out of her pile and began to read when Bumlets stepped in front of her.

“Seven,” he said, “I’m sorry fer what I did las’ night.”

Seven shook her head. “It’s okay.”

Bumlets spit in his hand and held it out to her. “Truce?”

Seven did the same and they shook. “Truce.”

Bumlets nodded afterward and walked away. Seven put the newspaper back in her pile and started walking away from Newspaper Row, calling out the headlines.

* * *


After Seven had sold her papers, she went to find Twilight and Specs. They sold in Central Park, so it didn’t take her long to find them.

“Hey guys!” she shouted when she came near.

“Hey Seven.” Said Specs. “How ya doin’?”

“Fine. Sold yer papes yet?”

Twilight shook her head. “Not yet. We still got a few left.”

“Hey guys!”

The three newsies turned to find Race running towards them. He was red and panting once he got up to them.

“Guys,” he panted, “I know why Oscar was so blue dis mornin’.”

“He was the guy behind the counter, wasn’t he?” Seven asked.

“Yep, dat’s ‘im.” Specs answered. “’E’s a real pain too.”

“An’ ‘e’s probably gonna be an even bigger pain now.” Said Race. “I jus’ received woid dat Morris didn’t survive ‘is sickness.”

Twilight looked at Race in surprise. “That’s awful, Race! Who told ya that?”

“Can’t say, all I know is dat Oscar’s gonna be alone from now on.”

Seven froze when she heard the news. She hadn’t heard good things about Oscar, but she hated to hear about people losing their loved ones.

“I gotta go.” She said.

“Where?” Race asked.

“Can’t say.”

Before any of the newsies could ask again, Seven took off like a shot. She ran back to Newspaper Row and ran down one of the alleys. She found Oscar sitting against the wall, hugging his knees and looking very depressing.

“Oscar?” Seven asked.

Oscar Delancy looked up and shot a look at Seven. “Git outa ‘ere ‘fore I soak ya.”

Seven took another step forward and made eye contact with Oscar. He was very hurt about his brother’s death.

“Oscar, I know I’ve never met you before, but I just wanted you to know that I’m sorry.”

Oscar looked up at her, surprised. “What?”

Seven took another step forward. “I know what you’re going through, I’ve been through it before.”

“But you had friends wit ya, didn’t ya?”

“Whaddaya mean?”

“I mean Morris was da only friend I had. No one else could stand me.”

“What if I could tell you that it can change as of right now?”

“Whaddaya mean?”

Seven knelt down so Oscar could tell that she was serious. “If you need a friend, I’ll be happy to be yours.”

Oscar sat there for a minute, then he threw his arms around Seven and started to cry. Seven knew exactly how he felt, and she felt like she wanted to cry too. They stayed there for a few minutes, then Oscar pulled back and sniffled.

“Thanks.” He said.

Seven smiled. “You’re welcome, but I need to leave now. Just do me a favor and don’t tease the newsies any more. Some of them feel just as sorry for you as I do.”

Oscar nodded and Seven stood up and left him alone. She walked out of the alley, not noticing that Bumlets was hiding off in the shadows. He had seen what had just happened, but he had no idea what it was about. He decided that he would find out that night.

* * *


PART TWO