Kloppman smiled back, having grown completely taken with the girl in the last few days. "It's good to see you on your feet again. The boys've gathered up some clothes for you." He said, holding out a bundle.
Noelle smiled, taking the bundle. "Tell them thank you for me." She said, pulling out a pair of pants and holding them up to judge the size.
"You can tell them yourself." Kloppman said, sitting down. "You'll be out selling papes today."
Noelle smile faded. "Yeah." She said, pulling the pants on and buckling the belt tightly so they wouldn't fall down.
"What's wrong, child?" Kloppman asked, perplexed.
Noelle shrugged, pulling the large button up shirt on over her tank top. "Nothin, Kloppman." She said, sitting on the bed to lace up her boots. "I'm fine." She said, standing up finally. "And I'm also ready."
Kloppman smiled. "Go on out then, they're waiting for you."
Noelle smiled back, pulling on her hat before turning and opening the door. She walked through confidently, closing it soundly behind her and turning to face the group of guys in front of her. She eyed them warily, her eyes coming to rest on Jack. He inclined his head slightly, speaking finally. "Hello Noelle." He said politely.
Noelle's eyes sparkled with amusement as she smiled slightly. "Jack." She said, amused that he still managed to be polite to her after all she had said to him.
"These're my friends." He said, gesturing to the other boys. "Mush, Dutchy, Skittery, Boots, Crutchy, Racetrack and Bumlets, this is Noelle."
Noelle's eyes widened as she took in the multiple healing cuts and bruises on the faces of the last two. "What happened to you? You two look terrible."
Racetrack smiled wryly. "I could say that about you, too. That's a real nice shiner." Noelle blushed, smiling, to the amazement of Jack. "We just got back from da hospital." Racetrack explained.
Noelle raised her eyebrows but didn't reply. "So I'm ready to go." She said, turning back to Jack. "Am I getting an escort?"
Jack sighed. Here we go again. "No, the guys just wanted to meet you."
"Oh." Noelle said, surprised and pleased. "Well, it's nice to meet you."
The other newsies smiled back as Jack frowned and crossed his arms across is chest. "We should get going." He said crossly.
Noelle frowned and walked past him. "I said I was ready, didn't I?" She said, holding his eyes. Jack remained silent and followed her out the door, accompanied by the other boys. They reached the circulation area after only a few moments and Noelle smiled wryly. "It's great to be back."
Jack glanced over at her for a moment and then sighed. "Come on, we should still be able to get papes." They made their way over to the window, having to stop numerous times and introduce Noelle to various newsies. They finally got their papes and returned to the street, waving goodbye to the others and heading off on their own. They didn't talk much except when Jack would give Noelle a pointer or two. Most of the time Noelle didn't reply, not even acknowledging that she had heard. Jack grew more sullen as time went by, knowing that Noelle was doing this to him and not even caring. "Look," he finally said, turning around and forcing Noelle to stop. "If you don't care about anythin' that I'm saying, than why don't you just go. This isn't a picnic for me, either."
Noelle held his eyes for a moment, knowing that the silence would put Jack on edge. "Jack, I know most of these things already." She said finally.
Jack was surprised. "You were a newsie before you came here?" He asked in surprise.
Noelle shrugged and nodded. "Yeah. I told you I pretty much lived on the streets, remember? Well, I had to get money somehow."
Jack studied her. "Then why're you still here?" He finally asked.
Noelle smiled slightly. "Because when you get mad, you have this little vein in your head that throbs. And because when I'm around, you do it a lot." She said, holding his eye. "Now are we selling papes, or not?" She asked, walking past him.
Jack fumed and hurried to catch up with her. "You're here just to annoy me!" He accused angrily.
Noelle shook her head. "No, Jack. I'm not doin' anything. You let me annoy you." She said, looking around her as they walked down the street.
Jack opened his mouth to protest, but then closed it again, realizing the truth of Noelle's words. What was it about Noelle that always managed to put him on edge? They walked along in silence for several moments before Jack finally spoke up. "Fine, I'll admit it. You do annoy me, Noelle. But I'll try not to let it bug me if you'll help me." He said, stopping to face her.
Noelle looked up at him, surprised. "Why should I help you? I don't care if I annoy you or not."
Jack smiled slightly. "Because you're goin' to be here for awhile, and I would rather not hate you while you're here."
Noelle studied him for awhile, her face neutral. "What do you want my help with?" She finally asked.
"I want you to help me with the midtown newsies." He said, shifting his papes as he spoke.
Noelle frowned. "Those are the girls, right? The ones who border your territory and are gettin' soaked."
Jack nodded. "That's right."
Noelle shook her head. "I don't see what you want me to do."
"I want you to go to Cassie. You're a girl, she'll listen to you. Besides, you're practically identical." Jack said, with a wry smile. "I want you to go and figure out what she wants from me. She may want a truce, since I didn't do anythin' to her." Jack explained.
Noelle sighed, thinking for a moment. "Jack, I'll tell you the truth. I couldn't care less if you're in the middle of a fucking war. I'm not a spy for you." She said bluntly.
Jack stared at her, amazed at what she was saying. "You won't be a spy! You're just…" he sighed, exasperated.
"Spying." Noelle said.
"No!" Jack exploded, his eyes flashing. "Jesus why do you always gotta be so difficult!"
Noelle frowned. "Jack, I'm not difficult. I'm just not goin' along with everythin' you say like your boys here." She said, crossing her arms across her chest. "And that is what annoys you so much about me." She said, holding his eyes for a moment before turning and walking up the street, not pausing to see if Jack was following.
Jack's eyes blazed, fury washing over him. He stomped down the street after her, refusing to give in to the impulse to soak her right there on the street. They walked along in silence for a long time, Jack several steps behind Noelle, selling papes as he thought over what she had said. So what if she didn't do what he said, he didn't tell her to do anything! She was crazy. But after five blocks and ten papes sold, Jack still hadn't put a finger on what it was about Noelle that annoyed him. Finally she stopped and turned around, waiting for him to catch up. "Are we eatin' today?" She asked, glancing up at the sun.
Jack shook his head, glancing down to see how many papes he had left to sell. "Not till I finish selling. I've only got about twenty to go. Then we'll head over to Tibby's and meet the guys. We're going to discuss the whole problem with Cassie's newsies then."
Noelle looked interested. "Oh really? Well then I'll get the whole scoop. I can't wait." She said, her green eyes holding his.
Jack rolled his eyes. "Wonderful. Look, if you're such an expert newsie, than why don't you sell a couple 'a these?"
Noelle shrugged and took half the pile, walking several steps away and calling out the headlines. In barely twenty minutes they were done and headed over to Tibby's to meet the other newsies. They were the first to arrive, though not by much, Racetrack and Skittery came in just moments after, followed by Bumlets, Mush and Dutchy. Ten minutes later almost all the newsies were present, at least enough to start the meeting. They sat in a ragged circle, as close to a circle as the restaurant allowed, and began the meeting. Noelle sat on top of a table slightly back from them and listened. "So what we gotta figure out," Jack said, standing. "Is who these guys are and why they're soakin' Cassie's girls."
"Jack, how does this affect us?" Crutchy called out. "Isn't that Cassie's problem?"
Jack shook his head. "No. Spot told me that what happened to Cassie could happen to us. Besides, it ruined our truce, didn't it? I'm not too crazy about fightin' Cassie, no matter what I might tell 'er. Racetrack and Bumlets said the guys looked familiar, but they can't place 'em. And Noelle…" Jack glanced over at her, a question in his eyes. She nodded. "can identify 'em, too. So we'll find 'em eventually. What we need to figure out is why they're doing this, so that we can stop it. Anyone got any ideas?"
"Well, who would want us fightin' with Cassie's girls?" Skittery spoke up. "We should start there."
Jack nodded. "Okay. Anyone got any ideas?" He asked, sitting back down.
They thought for awhile, eating as they pondered the situation. "Spot?" Boots suggested finally.
Jack shook his head. "No good. Spot warned me about it. Any other ideas?"
"Well who's around us?" Dutchy said. "Would any of them want to see us and Cassie fightin'?"
"Well, there's Harlem and Lynx's gang. Then there's Hunter. He borders both us and Cassie." Jack said, leaning forward on his knees.
"But why would either of them want us fightin'?" Dutchy asked again.
"He wants your territory." Noelle said calmly from where she sat behind them.
The newsies turned around, surprised. "Huh?" Skittery said.
"He wants your territory." Noelle repeated. "Hunter does."
Jack looked at her skeptically. "How do you figure that?"
"Well, you said that he borders both yours and Cassie's territory." Noelle said, leaning forward. "And Spot Conlon's territory is on the other side of both you and Cassie's territory as well. With both of you fighting, he can invade and take over more easily. Then he can get Spot's when he has you and Cassie." She said.
Jack stared at Noelle, amazed. "And you put all that together just sitting there?" He asked, his eyes wide.
Noelle smiled. "I did go to school for a little bit."
"That's who it was!" Racetrack burst out, clapping his hand to his forehead. "Those guys were Hunter's gang. They're new, that's why I didn't remember 'em at first."
Jack raised his eyebrows and turned around, taking a deep breath. "Well, it looks like we've figured it out." He said, running his fingers through his hair. "The question is what do we do now?" The newsies sat in silence for several moments, knowing what they had to do, but not wanting to say it. Jack sighed and spoke. "We'll have to get another truce with Cassie." He said, scowling. The newsies groaned, muttering and shifting in their chairs. A truce with Cassie? Impossible. Jack sighed and spoke. "I know it'll be hard, but I'm sure we can do it. We did it once before, didn't we?"
"No offence Jack," Racetrack spoke up. "But last time she wasn't accusing us of hurtin' her girls."
Jack shook his head and stood up. "We'll just have to convince her then, won't we?" The newsies nodded their assent and stood up as well, the meeting apparently over. Jack turned and eyed Noelle, who was leaning back on her palms, watching everything out of slitted emerald eyes.
Her eyes raised to meet Jack's and she finally shook her head. "Don't look at me, Jack. I'm not solving your problems for you."
Jack scowled. "Noelle, if you're gonna to be one of us, you're gonna have to help out!"
"Woah." Noelle said, leaning forward. "Who ever said I was going to be a one of you?"
"Well aren't you? What else are you going to do in New York? Besides, you have to stay here until you're recovered."
"Don't I look recovered?" Noelle said, sliding off the table and standing up.
"If you are, then why are you still here?" Jack asked, pointedly.
Noelle smiled slightly, remaining silent for a moment before she spoke. "Maybe I just like stirring up trouble." She said, crossing her arms across her chest. "But that don't mean I'm gonna help you." She added.
Jack glared at her. "Fine. But don't come to me later and want to stay." He said, walking past her.
Noelle rolled her eyes and sighed, turning away. She headed to the door and paused, looking behind her at the happy group of newsies. She shook her head and pushed the door open, heading out into the street.
Noelle walked for what seemed like hours, studying the streets of Manhattan so she would know her way around as she went over her situation again and again in her head. She didn't need these boys, that was for sure. But at the same time…it was nice having friends again. Noelle sighed, thrusting her hands into her pockets. She was so confused and she didn't know what to do. Noelle knew she could help these newsies, but didn't know if she should. If she became one of them, it would just be harder to leave when the time came. And she knew it would come, too. No matter how much she may want to be a part of a group, she had never found one that seemed right. But this one…Noelle shook her head. She had no idea what to do.
By the time she had returned to the lodging house, it was late at night. She paused in surprise at the foot of the stoop as Jack raised his head and looked at her. They studied each other for several minutes and then Jack sighed and spoke. "They say you should have a name." He said gruffly.
"I already have a name." Noelle said quietly.
Jack shook his head. "No. A newsie name. You know, a nickname." He shrugged. "The boys think you should have one."
Noelle eyed Jack. "What do you think?"
Jack glanced up at her, meeting her eyes. "If you don't wanna stay you shouldn't have a name. But the guys won't believe me when I say you're gonna leave." He sighed. "They want you to stay, Noelle."
Noelle was surprised, but didn't show it. "What about you?"
"What about me?" Jack asked, looking down.
Noelle rolled her eyes. "Do you want me to stay?"
Jack looked up again, her emerald eyes meeting his brown. "Why should I care?" He finally said, quietly. "You wanna leave, go ahead."
That hurt, more than Noelle was willing to admit. Her eyes blazed with anger at Jack's words and she took a step forward, glaring at him. "I don't need a cutsie newsie name, Jack Kelly, and I don't need you! You want me to go? Fine!" She yelled, whirling around and running down the street, wincing as the movement jarred her side, but not caring in her effort to get away from him.
Jack watched her go wordlessly, then shook his head and stood up. So she did care after all.