Author's Note: Newsies characters belong to Disney, Brooklyn and Psycho to themselves, everyone else is mine. Don't use them without permission, yada blah, yada blah...

Fade to Blue
By: Echo

I sighed as I opened my eyes to the sound of Kloppman's footsteps up the stairs. I had always been a light sleeper and sometimes it was almost a curse, this was one of those times. I looked over at the next bunk and noticed Raven was awake but pulled the covers over my head. "Get up, you can't go back to sleep." She said in an annoyed voice.

"Can too." I said in a pouty voice. "Besides, at least then I don't have to think of all the crap that's going on."

She sighed. "I never thought I'd give you bad advice, but you aren't going to get Jack back this way. Get up, get dressed, and dream up ways to show that creep he's wrong."

I shook my head. "It's no use."

"I think I know the way
the story's gonna end
it's getting to the part I hate
where heartache closes in"

An hour later I was making half-hearted attempts to sell all of my papes, and I wasn't succeeding. Sketch, who was selling papes with me, sent me a worried glance. "You gonna be okay? You've been acting kind of depressed all day."

I scowled at him but didn't make any comments except a mumbled. "Fine, I'm going to go talk to Ben."

He smiled and tried not to look worried, but didn't quite succeed. "All right, just don't kill him."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not making any promises." I said under my breath, only half joking. I walked until I found the hotel Ben was staying in. I walked up to the front desk. "Benjamin Sanders room number, please."

The guy behindthe desk looked annoyed and scowled at me. "I'm sorry but I cannot give out that information."

I glared. "You will give out that information or I will knock on every door in this hotel until I find him."

He didn't seem impressed. "Get out of this hotel before I call the police."

I took a deep breath, trying to control my temper. "If he hears that you tried to keep me out of here,he will be very angry."

The man smirked. "And who are you to think that he cares?"

"His sister, you idget." I said in an annoyed voice.

The dork behind the counter laughed. "And I am the Queen of Sheba."

I groaned. "Screw this." I muttered and marched towards the elevator. "Stop her!" I head the man behind the counter yell. I shook my head, I was getting to the third floor whether he liked it or not. I wasn't sure of the exact room number but it was room one hundred and something on thethird floor. Luckily the first door I knocked on was Ben's. He seemed surprised to find me on the other side when he opened it. "Col?! What are you doing here?"

"Sir, I'm sorry if this girl is bothering you but she slipped by me." The man from the front desk said and he finally caught up to me. "I'll escort her out now."

Ben glanced at him briefly. "No, that's not neccassary. She's my sister."

The man apologized nervoulsy and under any other circumstances I would have sent him a smug look, but instead I glared at Ben as the man walked away. "We need to talk... now."

He sighed as we walked into the room and closed the door. "Look, Col-"

"No, you look." I said angrily. "You have no right to go butting in on my life, you jerk! What gave you the right to tell Jack after you had promised me you wouldn't?"

He sighed. "I didn't tell Jack."

"Oh really." I said sarcastically. "Did you have Hope tell him for you?"

"No. He saw her with Francis and when I went to talk to him he asked me about it. So I told him." Ben said calmly.

I glared at him. "You intended to tell him even if he hadn't asked about it so what's the difference?"

He sighed. "That's not the point."

"Yes it is. You screwed this up and now I don't know how to fix it." I said, on the verge of tears.

Ben looked annoyed. "You can't fix it. There are some things that can't be fixed."

I nodded. "I know. You just burnt a few bridges in my life, and you didn't even ask me first."

He froze. "A few? What do you mean by 'a few'?"

I looked him in the eye for a second or two but didn't answer directly. "Good-bye Ben." I walked out the hotel without looking back. For once Ben was right.

"the stage is set,
it's time for me to leave
cause I don't wanna see the final scene"

Sketch was waiting at Tibby's when I got back from the hotel. "What did Ben say?" He asked as I walked in.

I shrugged. "Nothing important."

He nodded a little. "Did he tell Jack about Francis?"

I sighed. "Sort of. Jack saw Hope with Francis and asked Ben."

Sketch smiled a little. "So it's not really Ben's fault and everything is fine?"

I rolled my eyes. "No, everything is not fine. He planned on telling Jack before Jack asked him anything."

He sighed. "Don't fight with your family, Chris. He had good intentions."

"Sure, that makes me feel so much better." I said sarcastically.

He shook his head. "It's the truth. He wouldn't have said anything if he didn't care."

I frowned. "I don't care. I hate him."

Sketch raised an eyebrow. "We'll see about that. Hey, Jack!"

I drew in a sharp breath. "What are you doing?" I whispered angrily.

He smirked as Jack walked slowly in our direction. "You'll see."

"You wanted to talk to me?" Jack said, looking somewhat uncomfortable and trying now to meet my eyes.

Sketch nodded. "Yeah, would you talk some sense into this girl?"

Jack started to shake his head. "I don't think dat's a good idea."

Sketch rolled his eyes. "Why not? She listens to you at least. That's more than I can say."

Jack sighed. "What do you want me to tell her?"

I glared at Sketch and shook my head. "Matthew McClareny, if you bring him into this-"

Sketch sent me an annoyed look before he said anything to Jack. "She said she hates Ben and won't listen to a word I say."

Jack sent me a worried glance. "Well, I don't think she should take all of this out on Ben, but it's none of my business."

I sent Sketch a smug look. "Hah, see? It's none of your business either."

Sketch looked at Jack, not trying to hide his surprise. "Oh come on! Help me out, why don't ya!"

Jack shook his head. "You're on your own. I'm going back to the lodging house."

I jumped up. "Me too."

Jack gave me an annoyed look but didn't say anything. In fact, he tried to completely ignore me. "So, how many papes did you sell today?" I asked as we walked out the door.

"Why did you really follow me?" He asked.

"To get away from Sketch." I answered honestly. "Why are you ignoring me?"

He stared strait ahead but refused to answer my question. "Can't you go talk to Brooklyn?"

I frowned. "No. If I want to talk to you, I will."

"Give it up, Echo." He said, almost angrily.

I glared at him. "Don't worry. I have given up."

"Fade to blue
we didn't make it through
let the curtain fall
fade to blue"

He stared at me emotionlessly. "Then why are you standing here?

"I'm not. I'm going to Brooklyn." I said coldly.

He didn't say anything as I walked away. I don't suppose I expected him to though. Spot was standing on the bridge when I got to Brooklyn. "Echo." He said, without even glancing in my direction. "What are you doing here?"

I shrugged. "Running away."

He grinned in amusement. "From who?"

I leaned up against the railing and slid to the ground. "Everyone."

"That bad, huh?" He asked as he sat next to me.

I sighed. "I just don't get it. I believe in God, I say my prayers and read my Bible. What have I done so wrong to deserve this?"

"Don't look at me." He said with a slight laugh. "That stuff isn't me best area... If you really wanna know, ask Ax or Brooklyn. All I can tell ya is dat shit happens."

I nodded. "Yeah, I've heard that before. But is there usually such an abundance of it?"

He laughed a little. "Only where you're concerned."

I glared at him. "Not funny."

"Sorry." He said with a slight shrugg. "Couldn't resist."

"Gosh, I hate this." I said as I ran my hands through my hair.

"Hate what?" He asked, sending me a confused glance.

I spread my hands out in an expansive gesture. "This. All of it. I mean, we wake up every day, never knowing if we'll last another house, or even another minute. We have to grow up around crime and lies and stupidity. We have to deal with death, natural disasters, and broken hearts to top it all off. But we're still expected to get up every morning and learn how to be cheerful, decent people. Is this just some sick joke?"

Spot raised an eyebrow at me. "Excuse me?"

I sighed. "You ever wish you could just give up on it all?"

"Who hasn't?" He said quietly. "But at least you still have it in you to keep fighting."

I shook my head. "No I don't."

He looked into my eyes. "Yes you do, or you'd do more than just wish you could let go." I frowned. "Too bad, isn't it? Maybe then I wouldn't have to deal with Ben and Sketch and even Jack."

"Do you really love him? Even after all this?" He asked as he stared across the bridge.

I looked at him disapprovingly. "You know I do."

"Then don't give up on his just yet. Maybe things will never be the same between you two, maybe you'll never even be friends again, but that doesn't mean you have to take it lying down."

I sighed. "Spot, sometimes maybe it just isn't enough to love someone."

He shrugged. "Maybe not. But you should at least try, and if you fail... well, at least you know you had something a lot of people never will, even if it didn't last forever."

I shook my head. "No, Spot. I'm through."

"We played the part of lovers
knew every line by heart
but sometimes love just can't erase
what's written in the stars"

He nodded. "Yer welcome ta stay heya tonight. Dat is, if ya don't wanna go back ta Manhattan."

I smiled. "Thanks Spot."

He shrugged. "They're playin' poker now if ya wanna watch."

"Why now? It's always a pleasure to see other people loose their money." I said.

He smirked. "What? Ya aren't gonna join in da game?"

I laughed a little. "I know I won't win."

Spot sat beside me as we watched the poker game, but we didn't say much. He nudged my arm around the last game and nodded his head in the direction of the door. I frowned a little as I saw Jack standing there. "What's he doing here?"

Spot shrugged. "I couldn't tell ya, but I'm guessin' he wants to talk ta you."

I nodded a little and started walking towards the door. "What do you want, Jack?"

He shrugged. "I wanted to uh... apologize for what happened earlier."

I sighed. "Why? It's not like you didn't mean what you said."

"But I didn't mean it." He said as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Sure you didn't." I said sarcastically. "Now what do you really want?"

He looked away. "Why do ya gotta be like dis? Do ya think dis ain't hard enough without you actin' like dis. Geez... I'm sorry, all right?"

I frowned. "You think that's going to fix everything?"

"No! Ya think I don't know what I've done?!" He ran his fingers through his hair again and started pacing. "I know I can't fix this. But what do ya want from me Echo? What do I have ta do before you stop hating me?"

I looked up at him. "You're the one who has been brushing me off, not the other way around. I never hated you, Jack. I would have done almost anything for you. If you would have tried, just once, to talk to me I would have followed you to the ends of the earth."

He scowled. "Bull shit."

I looked away. "Just leave me alone."

Spot followed me as I brushed past Jack and walked out to the docks. "Didn't go too well?"

I shook my head. "No. He wanted to apologize."

Spot nodded and lit a cigarette. "What'd ya tell 'im?"

I shrugged. "You know what I told him."

He shook his head. "Well, I can't say I blame ya."

I sighed. "He just doesn't understand. Anyway, if we make up now, something else will cause a fight later... I just can't stand any more of this."

"so before the bitter words
come crashing down
let's leave what's left
and let the lights go out."

Spot looked up at the stars. "Nice night."

"Yeah, I guess so." I said, without even looking up. "I just wish-" I froze, hoping he wouldn't know what I had meant to say.

"You just wish what?" He asked, sending me a suspicious glance.

I grinned, hoping to keep Spot from noticing my meloncholy mood. I took my vest and shoes off and jumped into the water. Spot looked at me as if I was crazy when I swam back to the surface, sputtering. "Why'd ya do that?" He said, still looking at me strangly.

I shrugged as I floated around in the water. "I don't kow. I've always loved swimming."

He leaned back and put his hands behind his head. "But you'd be happier if Jack was here?" He said cooly.

I frowned and pulled myself back onto the dock. "Gee, thanks Rover." I said as I started to wring my hair out. "I was starting to feel a little better until you had to go and do that. While you're at it, why don't you invite Hope along to help out."

He sat up. "Ya know I didn't mean it dat way."

I sighed and sat beside him. "I'm sorry. I just don't know how to deal with this."

He stood up and offered a hand. "It's late. Why don't ya get some sleep, ya might feel better in da mornin'."

*#*#*#*#"*#*#*#*#

"Hey, Echo. Where ya been?" Blink asked the next morning when we were getting our papes.

"Brooklyn." I replied simply.

Blink seemed confused for a while. "What were you doing in Brooklyn?"

I shrugged. "Avoiding a pest."

"I heard Jack went to Brooklyn to talk to you." Psycho said. "What happened?"

I shrugged. "It doesn't really matter what happened, it didn't change anything."

"Echo." I turned around and saw Jack standing there. "Do ya mind if I talk to ya?"

I shrugged. "Only if you don't mind being ignored." I said mock-cheerfully as I turned my back to him.

A few of the guys sent me amazed glances as I heard Jack sigh. "Please."

I turned to face him. "Please, what?"

He closed his eyes and it looked as if it took everything in him to keep talking. "Please listen."

I smirked. "Why should I?"

"I don't know why." He said angrily. "I can't give you one good reason other than the fact that I love you."

I looked away and the smile melted off of my face. "Go to hell."

He froze for a second but then shrugged. "Fine, if that's what ya want."

I drew in a sharp breath as he walked away, but refused to follow.

"and fade to blue
we didn't make it through
there won't be a curtain fall
just fade to blue"

"Col!" I heard Ben yell from across the street as I hawked the headlines in my selling spot. I kept selling and tried to ignore his presence. He walked over to me as I sold a paper to a little girl. "Col, would you please listen to me for a second."

I glanced at him and then hawked another headline. "No."

He sighed a little. "I found out what Hope was doing in New York." I sold another pape, still not looking at Ben. He went on. "She came to tell me that grandmother died not long after we left." I looked down at the sidewalk, forgetting the headlines for the time being. "The funeral will be in two days. Her lawyer read the will today."

I shrugged a little, not wanting to let on that I may have softened up to the old girl. "So? I'm not going back to Boston again."

He nodded a little. "I didn't think you would. But I thought you should know. She left Hope the mansion. Uncle Henry has half of the family business."

"Business?" I asked, I never knew about any family business.

Ben nodded. "Yeah, a law firm. She left Aaron and I the other half of the business.... but she left all the rest to you."

I spun around and stared at him, wide-eyed. "Now that's not funny."

He drew a deep breath. "Oh, I knew you wouldn't believe me. That's why I brought it with me."

I looked at the papers he held out... he wasn't lying after all. "Why? She hates me!"

Ben shrugged a little. "Don't ask me what changed her mind, but you're in here clear as daylight. I gotta tell ya Col, she's got quite a fortune and now it's yours."

I sighed. "And now I feel guilty for everything I ever said about her."

He shrugged. "Well, this is what she wanted. If you've changed your mind about going to the funeral you can go back with me. If you haven't you can talk to the lawyer and get everything worked out." He said and handed me a card with all the information on it. "I guess I'll be seeing you." He said as he walked away.

I sighed and walked to Tibby's. When I got there I sat down nex tot Sketch and ordered a sarsaparilla. He looked over at me. "Problem?"

I shook my head. "I have got to be the stupidest person."

He shrugged. "Nah... the Delancey's have got ya beat."

I glared at him. "Gee, thanks. I feel so much better now."

He smiled a little. "You will, in about five minutes... That is, if you don't let your pride get in your way."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You'll see." He said with a slight grin.

I sighed as the waiter brought out my sarsaparilla. I drink it slowly, wondering what was about to happen. I was getting kind of bored... I mena, the place was deserted, except for Sketch and I. Just when I thought I couldn't stand the curiousity a moment longer, Jack walked in. He smiled slightly as he reached the table I was sitting at and pulled a single white rose from behind his back. "Hell was kinda crowded an' so I thought I'd come back an' ask for a second chance."

I stared at the rose and then Jack, then, holding back tears, I shook my head. "I'm sorry... I can't." I said as I put down money for the drink, then walked to the door and opened it with shaking hands. I leaned against the wall and sighed as I stepped outside. "Stupid, stupid, stupid." I sent a wistful glance at the door. "What if I went back in? I could... maybe... or not." I shook my head. "No... I can't. But what if I did?" I nodded and took a deep breath, walking back in and over to the table Jack was now sitting at. "I-" I started to say as Jack looked up hopefully. "I-I... forgot... my hat." I said weakly as I picked up my hat, which was lying in the chair next to him. Sketch glared at me and shook his head as I turned to walk away. I falted and bit my lip, but walked out the door... I couldn't go back this time.

"almost happy endings
got no way of coming true
once the feelings start to
fade to blue
we didn't make it through"

Jack's POV

I sighed and laid the rose on the table. "So, Sketch... is dis a lost cause?"

He frowned. "She almost said it Jack... almost. Just give her a few more seconds."

I shook my head. "No. She's not comin' back dis time."

Sketch looked up as the door opened. "Uh, Jack?"

I started to look up and saw Echo standing in front of me. "Forgive me?"

I smiled. "Only if you'll marry me."

She laughed and threw her arms around my neck. "Deal."

Sketch grinned. "It's about time."

"so let the curtain fall
just fade to blue
and fade to blue"
(Fade to Blue, Leanne Rhymes)

To be continued...

Fanfic
Fanfic Stuff
Home