Strike

Nothing Left But Hope

August 1st, 1899

Feister had just finished getting another soaking. She was laying in bed with her eyes closed, trying to sleep through the pain, and trying even harder to hold back her tears. She longed to be back at the Lodge with the boys, her brothers, her family.

Feister missed watching Jack draw from afar, she also missed seeing Crutchie's big smile, the one that spreads like butter. Seeing Race and Albert chase each other around the bunk room for who knows what. Specs, who was always reassuring everyone when times got tough.

Jump scaring the living daylights out of Finch and Henry. But mostly Finch. Trying Tommy boy's very last nerves (and no, she never got in trouble) Long talks with Kid Blink about shall we say her personal feelings about a certain newsie. Feister never named names, but Blink knew who she was talking about.

Feister silently laughed to herself, she remembered during one of those talks a certain newsie assumed the worst and later that night there was..shall we say a very close soaking. Feister had grabbed both boys by the back of their shirts and locked them in a closet until they made up. The other boys said she was crazy for doing that, but Feister knew after a few moments and a heartfelt talk, all would be restored.

Annoying and driving the older boys up the walls with Buttons and Sniper. Ike and Mike with their weird twin thing. Heck, she even missed hearing Romeo talk about some girl for hours on end.

But, most importantly she missed her best friend. She missed Mush, a lot. Even more so now that she knows he likes her. Now that she spilled her feelings for him, and him for her, Feister couldn't help but think that maybe when and if she got out, will they become something more. Will they become more than friends? She longed to back in his arms again and get that warm and safe feeling. 

Feister opened her eyes and sighed, she didn't know if the boys were still striking or not. Race, or Specs hadn't come by in awhile. While Feister knew it wasn't safe for the two boys to be sneaking around the Refuge just to check on her. It still hurt not knowing what was happening outside of this nightmare of a place.

A single tear slid down her cheek, she wiped it away and sighed sadly. She was starting to lose hope that maybe given up on the strike, and she would be stuck in the Refuge. But, Feister knew her boys wouldn't leave her in the nightmare. 

So, when she was well enough, and with little hope, she had left she prayed that this would all be over soon. Feister soon let her mind wander to a time when things had changed and changed fast, but in that one little moment, everything was right with the world.

Flashback

"So, I's hafta know," Feister said once they sat down with their legs dangling over the edge. "Why aren't ya out with-"

"She broke up with me," Mush replied before she could finish.

"Sorry ta hear that. Though I's didn't like Lacey I's knows you'se cared bout 'er," she said. This was true. Even though Feister never liked Lacey. Heck, she hated the girl, but she knew Mush liked Lacey. It was the look in his eyes that gave it away.

"Not as much as I's care bout you'se," he replied before wrapping his arm around her. She smiled and laid her head down in the nook of his arm.

"Ya know, if you'se ever wanna tawk about it, I's all ears." Feister closed her eyes, sighed and snuggled her head into his chest more.

"Thanks, Feisty," Mush whispered. Then he kissed the top of her head before leaning his head against hers. As she fell asleep in his arms Feister realized that she did, in fact, have feelings for Mush. Everything that happened in the past few months just proved it. But she was sure he didn't like her that way. She was just his little sister/best friend. But she knew for a fact that she'd rather lose him to another girl than lose him completely.

She's already had so many people leave in her life; Mush and the other newsies are the best things that ever happened to her, they're her brothers and she's their sister. At the moment it didn't matter what happened in the past, or what was going to happen in the future, she didn't care if things were changing, and changing fast, because in that moment she felt like she was his. His girl.

End of flashback

Feister smiled at the fond memory. She remembered how she used to get that burning feeling in her stomach, that empty feeling, and how her heart used to drop every time she thought about (or saw) Mush with another girl.

Now the burning feeling in her stomach was filled with a million butterflies. The empty feeling was now a warm one, and her heart would be racing every time she thought about him. Then Feister had to wonder when she got out of this nightmare of a place what will happen? Will she and Mush become more than friends, or would they stay two close friends who have very strong feelings for each other.

───── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─────

The rally had been a complete mess. Jack had sold them out, and well...everyone was fighting over what or what not to do. Not wanting to hear the other boys argue Mush went to get some air to clear his head of everything. He pushed his back against the Lodge as he took off his cap and ran a hand through his hair before looking up at the night sky. It was a warm night with a gentle breeze that came by every now and then. A street lamp flickered in the distance and the light from inside the Lodge dimly light the sidewalk. While the stars and the moon light up the night sky. It was a perfectly clear night.

Mush's mind then started to wonder to a night when it was a little colder, no stars in the sky, or the moon, just heavy rain pouring down onto the streets. A memory from the past.

Flashback

After reaching the final step Mush opened the door, and that's when he saw Feister, spinning, splashing and dancing in the rain. With her hair down no less. She was stuck in her own world to notice he was there. Mush closed the door a bit because he didn't want her to stop.

His eyes were glued to her as she danced in the rain, with her long, dark, and wet hair following and swaying with her every move. It was amazing. As Mush watched in awe she seemed like a completely different girl from the one he knows. This was a whole different side of her.

Usually, Feister was very guarded, with walls stronger than bricks. But this girl was a carefree spirit, who looked like she was having the time of her life, and Mush couldn't help but watch with a smile. But then she started doing something he didn't think she could, and it was amazing.

"Is it cool that I said all that? Is it chill that you're in my head? Cause I know that it's delicate, Is it cool that I said all that? Is it too soon to do this yet? Cause I know that it's delicate..delicate."

Mush was completely shocked that Feister, his best friend that he knows everything about, can sing? And not just any singer, an amazing one too. Heck, he's never heard a song like the one she was singing which meant....did she write it herself? And if so how can she come up with one on the spot?

It was in that moment Mush realized that he may have a little something there for her. He tried to push it aside. After all, they've been friends, best friends for eight long years, and now? Now he didn't know where or why he was getting these feelings for her, he just did.

As hard as Mush tried to push it aside and bury it deep down, he couldn't stop feeling those feelings. Mush always knew he had a soft spot for Feister, and by the looks of things that spot became a lot softer.

End of flashback

Mush smiled at the fond memory. He could never forgot the way Feister looked while she was singing and dancing in the rain like nothing even mattered. Or when she came back into the bunk room soaking wet. And especially the way her long, wet, and wavy hair was out of those braids for once.

Sometimes Mush wished Feister didn't tuck her braids under her cap all the time. Most of their usual customers know that Feister is a girl, and she's referred to as "Manhattan's girl" most of the time. But Mush knows it's for safety reasons. There are a lot of thugs in the city, and since girls are an easier target than boys are. Feister is at a higher risk of getting jumped then he would be. Which probably explains why he's so protective of her all the time.

Then Mush had to wonder what will happen once this whole strike mess is over and when Feister is out of the Refuge. Will he ask her to be his girl? Or will he chicken out and things between them stay the same?