Winnie had never sang in front of anyone before - actually, that was a lie. She remembered singing with Jesse after they had been chased by the man in the yellow suit, but he had mainly sang to her, trying to convince her to wait until she was seventeen to drink the water. She bit her lip nervously, feeling everyone's eyes on her, knowing that she had to go up. Oh, what the hell she thought! Its only my aunt, Jesse, and Jesse's friends. What's the worst that could happen?
The others cheered and ran to the front row of the otherwise empty audience, Jesse limping behind - she still couldn't get over that, considering his leg was really fine.
Medda waltzed onto to stage beside her, grinning broadly.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
"We ain't ladies!" Jack interrupted, laughing, "actually, I ain't so sure about Davey, so please carry on!"
"Hey!" davey yelled, punching his friend in the arm jokingly. Jesse seemed to be the only one paying attention to Winnie, nodding at her softly when she looked at him with anxiety, encouraging her to go on.
"You clearly ain't gentlemen either, well other than Crutchie, that is," called Medda, "any way, please welcome the star of our show, miss Winnie Foster!"
The three boys clapped and cheered, calming Winnie's nerves a little. They seemed friendly enough, at least they probably wouldn't judge her too much.
Oh shit, she hadn't actually thought about what to sing! She looked and Jesse frantically, and he recognised her fear. As he smiled at her, she knew which song to choose.
Six years from now
You will turn 17
Turn 17, the same age as me
Six years from now,
Go to the spring
Go to the spring
And drink...
She looked up at Jesse as she sang, acknowledging the look of emotion that had washed over him. He was desperately trying to hold back tears, knowing that the boys would either make fun of him or ask him why he felt so emotional, but he couldn't tell them about the significance behind the words. Instantly, he was transported back to Treegap, the very night that he had sang that exact melody to Winnie himself. He remembered the stars above them, the gentle breeze dancing through the forest, the moonlight glittering through the trees, everything. He could never forget that night...
Without even realising, he had started mumbling the lyrics himself, lost in thought, until he was singing to Winnie once again, earning confused looks from both davey and jack.
Winnie, wait for me
And we could be married
Winnie, wait for me
And we'll share the world
Winnie you can stop time
And live like this
Forever
He hadn't even realised he had joined in, almost blowing his cover, before jack nudged him sharply in the ribs. Winnie could tell that Jesse had realised his slip up, and began singing again to buy him some time to think up excuses before the boys started grilling him. However, this time, she added on her own verse.
Six years since then
I have turned 17
Turned 17
And made up my mind
Six years since then
I have made up my mind
To go to the spring
And drink
There was a long pause after her final note. Jesse stared back up at her, relief and happiness spread across his face.
"You sure?" He mouthed to her, and she gave a small nod. Jack looked over at Davey, both of them plastered in confusion- what was going on?
The silence was broken by Medda clapping energetically, reminding the boys to do the same as though nothing had happened. Winnie took an awkward bow and climbed off the stage.
"Child, you have the voice of an angel!" Medda declared, wiping away tears as she squeezed Winnie closely. Winnie wished her mother could borrow some of aunt Medda's emotion, rather than having a heart of stone.
"She ain't the only one apparently" jack piped up, eyeing up Jesse "what just happened there, hey Crutchie? You ain't never told us you could sing. How'd ya know that song anyway, I ain't heard it before". He looked at Jesse suspiciously, like davey, who was also surprised at his friends new talent.
"Just picked it up somewhere, I guess," Jesse mumbled, reluctant to make eye contact, as he suddenly appeared very fascinated in his crutch.
Winnie picked up the situation, and tried to distract the boys.
"Hey, why don't you guys go up, we've sang! Let's have a full on show to celebrate my first night in New York!"
Jack and davey looked at each other, and shrugged their shoulders. Jack was the first up, and Winnie took his seat, next to Jesse. To be fair, jack had a beautiful voice, as he belted out a song about Santa Fe, but she could barley pay attention as she entwined her fingers with Jesse's, out of sight from the others, and squeezed his hand.
Hours past, and Winnie experienced more fun in her life than ever before, as song after song got performed. They all took turns, quickly shaking off their nerves, until they were almost fighting over who's turn it was to go up next. Half way through, Davey was even sent out to round up all the other newsies, returning with around 20 excited kids with unusual names, all eager to be introduced to Winnie. She could barely remember everyone's name, until it was like random words were just being shouted at her from every direction - Specs, Jojo, Mush, Romeo, just to name a few! She recognised Race from that morning, closely followed by a cloud of cigar smoke.
Another three hours passed, filled with multiple group dances and songs. Winnie clapped along to each one enthusiastically, trying to remember them all. There were songs like "carrying the banner", "the world will know", "seize the day", "king of New York", "once and for all" and many more. Jesse had to just sit with her in the audience for some songs, as he couldn't risk giving away the fact that his leg was fine by dancing to much. Winnie could feel the annoyance radiating off Jesse, as she knew his energetic side all to well, considering back home Jesse never walked, only ran. Now he was reduced to a crutch that he didn't even need, all to keep his cover. But he was involved with some of the numbers. He even did a duet with jack about Santa Fe, and his own song about life in the Refuge which made Winnie sob uncontrollably.
Once the boys were too exhausted from all the dancing (which Winnie thought was absolutely INCREDIBLE) they persuaded Winnie to go up her self. She mostly sang with Jesse, recalling songs from her childhood - "top of the world", "partner in crime", "live like this", and many more.
It was way past midnight by the time everyone left the theatre, spirits high, but energy levels low. Only Jesse seemed unaffected after dancing around on one leg all evening, but of course, Winnie knew it wasn't aching at all.
"I'll see you tomorrow then?" she turned to Jesse as she let everyone out.
"Sure, wait, actually, I might come and find you later, if that's alright? I kind of want to catch up with you properly when no one else is around."
"Okay, I'll crack open my window a bit and put a stone or something on the ledge so you know which one is mine" Winnie promised, smiling.
"Sounds like a plan" Jesse said, before hugging her and limping out the door to join the other boys.
YOU ARE READING
Newsies everlasting
Fanfiction(Newsies and Tuck Everlasting cross over) Winnie Foster goes to stay with her aunt Medda during the summer of 1899, before meeting the newsies, one in particular she recognises very well...
