#charlie ? cut for sarah and medda

[jackmkelly]

i think its so sad that every time newsies adds a female character another one gets cut because i really think (i really Know) sarah and uk spot would get along So well. that older sister energy would make them Instant friends.

[make-friends-with-the-rats]

There's something about the women of Newsies being constantly changed and rewritten...

Hard Promises (Original Newsies Story by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White)

Charlie and her Aunt: In the original script, "Charlie" was Jack's love interest. She was a newsgirl who lived in a brothel with her aunt (a prostitute). Her aunt was trying to protect and shield Charlie from going down that same path and at the end of the movie Charlie was to have gone with Jack to Santa Fe. [source]

Newises (1992)

Sarah Jacobs: In the film, Sarah Jacobs was the sister of David and Les as well as Jack's love interest. She is a working class woman who works crocheting dollies with her mother long before her father loses work. She ends up involved in the newsies strike and helps to print and distribute the Newsies Banner. In earlier scripts, Sarah was a self described socialist and had much more involvement in the story. It was she who confronts Jack after he scabs, dressed in David's clothes to protect herself, and demands answers. [source, Cut Material]

Medda Larkson: To replace the character of Charlie's unnamed aunt, Medda was created [source]. She's a vaudeville/burlesque performer and the owner of Irving Hall. She knows Jack (possibly a friend of his father's but who knows if that was a lie) and is sympathetic to the newsies strike, allowing them to hold their rally at her theater.

Newsies the Musical

Katherine Plumber: When Newsies was adapted for the stage, Sarah Jacobs was cut from the story along with reporter Bryan Denton and replaced with the "intrepid reporter" Katherine Plumber (Pulitzer), loosely based/inspired by Nellie Bly. She is an upper class woman, the daughter of Joseph Pulitzer, and Jack's final love interest. Like Sarah, she becomes involved in the newsies strike and it is Katherine's idea to create and print the Newsies Banner. Along with other rewrites, the inclusion of Katherine makes the story less about class struggle and more about generational struggle. [source]

Medda Larkin: While Medda's significance to the story remains largely unchanged from film to stage musical, she was reworked in the transition from Paper Mill to Broadway with Aida Overton Walker in mind as new historical inspiration [source, page 16]. A small but interesting change is that stage Medda "knows the governor." This detail is never overtly explained.

The Bowery Beauties: The additional female performers at Irving Hall or Medda's theatre. They were likely included to retain vaudeville/burlesque elements while desexualizing Medda. (My own opinion not supported by any quotes or resources that I have found.)

So my question is: Why can't these characters coexist? Why is there a quota on female characters in Newsies? Was the shift away from darker topics concerning women's safety at the turn of the 19th century to inspire and empower women today? Or was it to sweep those harsh realities under the rug?

[livesincerely]

“You’re great with them,” Jack says, coming over to stand beside him. “I’m sure you knew that already, but you really are.”

“I try,” Davey says softly, his fingers brushing over the front cover one last time before he finally reshelves it. “The kids are honestly the best part of the job.”

“Do you have any?” Jack asks.

Davey shakes his head.

“Not yet,” he says. He gives Jack a careful look, then continues, “I definitely want kids someday, but I’m not sure if I want to have them.”

“You’d adopt?” Jack asks, turning towards him.

“Well, I’d like to foster first,” Davey says, lifting his chin, like he’s used to having to defend this choice. “But, yeah.”

Jack’s expression or scent must give him away, because Davey’s brow furrows. “Jack?”

“I, uh…” He scrubs a hand up the back of his neck, his mouth already forming the words before he’s fully decided he wants to say them. “I was a foster kid. Me and my brother, I mean.”

And he already knew that Davey wouldn’t judge him, wouldn’t think less of him for his imperfect upbringing, but it settles something in his stomach when all he does is ask, “Your brother?”

“Yeah, my brother, Charlie?” Jack says, relieved at the easy question. “The lawyer? Likes to bake, made those brownies last week?”

Davey’s eyes have gone wide behind his glasses. Jack wishes, for what feels like the thousandth time, that he was able to scent him.

“Charlie’s your brother,” he says—slowly, like he’s testing the shape of the words in his mouth.

“Didn’t I mention?” Jack wonders aloud. “I coulda sworn—“

“You definitely did not,” Davey says, with a flat certainty that cuts Jack’s musings off at the knee.

“Oh,” Jack says, lamely. “Well, yeah, me and my brother.”

Davey’s throat works, tension pulling at the corners of his mouth for a brief moment. But there’s nothing but concern in his voice when he asks, “Were you fostered together?”

“Yeah,” Jack assures him. “Medda was able to take us both in, make sure we weren’t separated.”

“Good,” Davey says, nodding once. “I’ve got two, my sister, Sarah, and my baby brother, Les. I can’t even imagine…” he trails off, deep in thought.

“Take it from me,” Jack says after a long moment. “There’s plenty’a kids in the system that’re desperate to hold on to whatever family they got left. Charlie and I got lucky, but it don’t usually turn out that way.”

“I imagine there aren’t many people looking to take in multiple children at once,” Davey agrees, and his expression is gentle, but not pitying. Jack’s heart pounds hard in his chest. “And especially not ones old enough to be traumatized.”

“Yeah,” Jack says roughly. He clears his throat and once he trusts his voice to stay steady, he asks, “Would you wait ‘til you’re mated? Or would you be fine being a single-parent?”

Davey’s shoulders slump, like he hadn’t gotten that far in his plans. “Oh,” he murmurs. “Well…”

“Not that I don’t think you’re capable of going it alone,” Jack quickly continues. “I jus’ know it’s hard.”

“Do you want kids?” Davey asks instead of answering.

“I think so,” Jack says, taking a second to consider it. “You know, someday. But only if I’d found the right person to raise ‘em with.”

“Makes sense,” Davey says quietly.

[tarantulas4davey]

hey do u wanna talk about the midnight mischiefs for a bit? i’ll sit and listen and nod -💥

ur the best and i love u

⚠️attention everyone:⚠️ rizz is a bad bestie and doesn’t know the name of the au. everyone shame rizz /j

i’m dumb so i forgot it originally but find jac ( @we-are-inevitable ‘s) original band post here cause all my thoughts are actually jac’s, fun fact

i’m gonna talk about them based on how they are once they’ve gotten to being a functional touring band, but if y’all wanna hear how they are when the band’s just getting started like they are in the first fic, just lemme know !! concept art for the boys and their instruments are included with the character descriptions under the cut <3

The Midnight Misfits 🤘🌙

Jack Kelly:

22

July 7th

lead vocals and rhythm guitar

sort’ve a little shit honestly

the adoptive son to Medda Larkin and older brother of one Racetrack Higgins, he’s the ringleader of a lot of shenanigans, and it translates well to being their lead vocalist, even when he doesn’t write much music.

he’s been playing the guitar since he was about 12, and he’s better now than he’s ever been, but Race is their lead guitarist for a reason. Jack likes to be able to focus on singing and interacting with the crowd, so he gladly takes the rhythm guitar line

he’s an entertainer, first and foremost. he loves everything about being on stage - the energy, the crowd, the music, his band mates, singing and playing, absolutely all of it.

he’s also an artist, in the most basic sense. his guitar was hand painted by him, and it’s one of the only material things in his life he considers a “prized possession.” he’s always got a sketchbook stored somewhere, and his band mates are more often than not the subject of his art, especially Davey.

speaking of Davey, they get together two or three after the start of the band, about two years before this point. he is so utterly smitten and has been since before the band was formed, and his other bandmates tease him RELENTLESSLY for it, even if some of them are worse than he is.

absolute short king that gets memed on twitter every time they’re at a red carpet because for some reason they keep putting Jack (5’7) between Albert (6’2) and Davey (6’4) during interviews, making him look Tiny

David “Davey” Jacobs:

22

May 13th

drums (and vocals, occasionally)

such an underrated icon in this ngl

he works really closely with Albert, considering how interconnected the bass and drum lines are, but also because as a unit these two write roughly 90% of all the band’s music

(younger) twin brother of Sarah, who also happens to be dating their touring manager, Katherine. Sarah plays drums when Davey’s singing lead for any reason, and they have a little brother, Les, who’s about 15 by this point

he’s been a drummer since he first learned hitting stuff made noise, but he got his first actual drum kit at age nine for his birthday and hasn’t looked back since

the most likely to get lost in the music and forget he’s on stage when he’s drumming, so there’s lots of fantastic pictures of him on stage taken by fans. he’s also got an unbelievable voice, but he hates being the center of attention and would rather just let Jack do the singing most of the time

expresses most of his emotions through song, especially the romantic ones, so if you track the songs he’s written from oldest to most recent you can literally follow the path of his and Jack’s relationship and how it developed from his pov

also he put a kick me sticker on his kick drum cause he thinks he’s funny n he’s right

Charlie Morris:

23

december 21st

keyboard and backup vocals

SUCH A KING

he’s the oldest age wise but he’s ALWAYS up to something and is honestly such a little shit. he is truly the enabling older brother even though he’s not technically related to any of the other boys, even by adoption

he picked up classical piano in elementary school, but he never really got into it until he learned how to play more mainstream music. he can play loads of other instruments, but an accident permanently damaged his leg, so he can’t stand to play most of them on stage for a full show without his crutches

he’s always so hype, playing off Jack to the crowd and getting everyone to sing along. if Jack ever starts just messing with the crowd on stage, Charlie’s always the first one to quip something clever back at him

he’s usually helping Albert and Davey write music, but he doesn’t have a ton of interest in writing the lyrics themself. he’s ace/aro, and he loves making jokes about how many love songs he’s forced to sing by his sappy ass bandmates.

started the tradition of going to 24h diners at 3am on their off days while they’re touring. it’s a time they’re least likely to get recognized by a lot of people, and who doesn’t love some good breakfast food? also the one that encourages Jack and Albert when they start bickering and wrestling in the parking lot cause he’s a menace

so many peolple are in love with him n he’s the most likely of the boys to get proposed to by a fan

Antonio “Racetrack” Higgins:

21

August 17th

lead guitar (and vocals, if he must)

this Race is one of my favorites tbh

he started playing guitar when he was nine, and he’s by far the best at it out of the band. he loves crazy complicated riffs and combinations, and his boyfriend writes all of them in just for him. he also came up with the original idea to start a band, even if he credits Albert with getting them off the ground

Albert is said boyfriend. literally half the songs in their entire discography are about Race. he literally gets named in the songs (by Toni, Race, or even Higgins) more than once

he LOVES being on stage but he usually hates singing. he still always has a mic in front of him, and he’s quite good, he just doesn’t like it. most of the time he uses him mic to laugh when Albert starts singing about him or to riff off Jack and Charlie’s jokes

their first hit single, Running Around, is a song about him, and it’s the theme of his guitar that he had Jack paint for him. there’s also a little reference that matches with Albert from one of the couple songs he’s written himself

He’s been with Albert since before they formed a band, and you can see it by the way they interact on stage even when they’re not looking at each other. they didn’t tell any fans they were dating for the first year, but a lot of people clocked them anyway based on the way they look at each other in interviews

so goddamn chaotic. at the beginning of their careers they used to have to turn Race’s mic off cause he wouldn’t stop interrupting songs to talk cause he was so excited there was that many people to listen to him

Albert Dasilva:

21

October 28th

bass and backup vocals

ANOTHER UNDERRATED KING

he didn’t start playing bass until high school, but like Charlie he plays multiple instruments. he’s just the only one in the band that can play bass, and they needed it for the type of music they make and enjoy

so fuckin in love with Race. he’s so down bad it’s not even funny. he wrote all of the songs on their first EP and literally all of them are about a certain blond haired blue eyed boy

like i said earlier, he works A LOT with Davey. they both understand each other’s processes really well, especially by now, and they’re just a good team. him and Jack get along like a house of fire, in the best way, and Charlie always takes his side against Jack out of spite

not really a fan favorite, although the people that love him LOVE HIM, and a lot of the boys in the band credit him with really getting the band started (against his will). he wrote their first original music AND offered up Midnight Misfits as their band name, which ended up sticking

he’s technically the baby of the band, but he acts like the oldest a lot of the time. he’s the one with the most difference between interviews and the stage, especially compared to Jack and Race, so people that watch concert clips tend to love him a lot more than people that just watch sit down interviews

there’s the boys !! this is so chaotic and such an info dump LMAO

i love u sm rizz !!! mwah mwah mwah thank u for letting me yell at you about these idiots

[addie-your-queen]

I Feel it, Can't You Feel it too?

"Can't you feel it, Davey?"

Davey closes his eyes, trying not to let the tears slip past, because, hell, he can feel it. He's felt it for a long time. And as much as he's tried to tell himself it isn't there, he knows it is.

~~~

"Are you asking me on a date, Jack Kelly?"

"I dunno," Jack said with a smile. "Are you saying yes?"

~~~

Davey is 15, Jack is 17, Sarah is 16, Kath is 17, and Charlie (Crutchie) is 14

Ship: Javid

Summary: Basically just Jack being in love with Davey and everyone knows it except him (: And also Jack interrupting everything Davey says.

Word Count: 2,295

Trigger Warnings: None

Read on AO3

Read on Wattpad

Jack lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling. The door opened. Jack didn't even glance over.

"Hey sweetheart," Medda said softly.

"Hey."

"Whatcha thinking about?" she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling his head into her lap.

He stayed quiet for a while. Finally, he let out a sigh. "Mama?"

"What sweetheart?"

"Do you think... Am I good enough?"

"Of course you are, baby. What makes you say that?"

"Then how come no one likes me?"

"Plenty of people love you, Jack. I love you, your brother loves you, all your friends, like Race and Spot and Davey. They all love you too."

"But how come no one ever wants to go on a date with me? Did I do something wrong?"

"You didn't do anything wrong, baby. Maybe there is someone else their heart belongs to. Maybe they just aren't ready for dating anyone yet. There's so many good reasons they could have, Jack, you didn't do anything wrong. One day you will find the right person to love you, I promise."

"But how do I find my person, Mama?"

"It just takes time, sweetheart. I can't tell you how to find them. You just have to let it happen. And when you do, you'll feel it in your heart. You'll know they're your person."

Jack sighed, looking up at her.

"You want to know my best piece of advice?"

Jack nodded.

"Sometimes, Jack," she said, "you can be so caught up in something new and spectacular that you forget what's been right in front of you the whole time."

"Who are you talking about? Who's the person right in front of me? Please tell me, Mama."

She smiled. "You will have to figure that out for yourself, my love."

He sighed. "Mama? Can you sing to me?"

She pushed the hair off his forehead and out of his eyes. "Of course, baby."

It's been a while since Jack has fallen asleep to Medda's singing. But lying with his head in her lap, her hand in his hair, he wondered why he ever stopped.

...

"Morning, Mama," Jack said, walking into the kitchen.

"Morning, Jack. Breakfast will be ready in a minute."

"Thanks, you're the best," he said, kissing her cheek and reaching around her for a glass. He held the glass under the tap for a minute.

"How'd you sleep?"

"Good," he said dismissively. "Where's Charlie?"

"He's still asleep."

"Oh. Want me to wake him up?"

"No," Medda said. "Let him sleep. I'll call into school if he isn't awake in time."

Jack sits at the table as she sets a plate of pancakes down in front of him. He eats them thinking about their conversation last night.

"Mama?"

"What baby?"

"What's it like to be in love?"

"It's not really something I can explain, sorry Jack. All I can really say is they will make you feel loved. They will make you happy. It's really hard to put into words. Sorry I couldn't be of more help."

"Oh. Thanks Mama."

"You're welcome, sweetheart."

Jack rinses his plate and puts it in the dishwasher. "I should go," he said, grabbing his backpack and keys from a hook by the wall and pocketing his wallet. "Bye Mama."

"Bye Jack. Don't forget you're driving Davey here this afternoon."

"I know," he called over his shoulder. "Just like every other day."

...

His friends always liked to come early to school, to hang out in the school newspaper room.

As he pulled up into a parking space, he spotted Davey getting out of Sarah's car. She didn't usually hang out with the rest of them before school, so she used the time to catch up on homework.

"Morning, Davey!" Jack said, falling into step beside him, the familiar fluttering feeling exploding inside him.

"Morning Jack."

"Can I ask you something?"

"You just did."

Jack rolled his eyes and continued. "You're smart right?"

"I mean, I wouldn't say-"

"Great!" Jack cut him off. "Mama was speaking in riddles again. I need your help."

"Oh um, okay."

"She told me that there is someone who has been right in front of me the whole time that might be my person."

"Well-"

"And she wouldn't tell me who."

"Maybe..." Davey paused, waiting to see if Jack was going to cut him off. "Sarah Maybe. Or Kath. That's all I can think of."

"No, she said it wasn't anyone I've dated. Or asked out, I guess."

"Oh I... I don't know who else it might be then."

Jack narrowed his eyes at him. He didn't sound like he was being completely honest, but what reason would Davey have to lie to him?

"Hey Davey?"

"Hmm?"

"Have you ever been in love? Like, really in love, not just a stupid crush."

"I..." he trailed off. "Yeah," he said softly. "I have."

"What's it like?"

"It's really hard to explain."

"That's what Mama said," Jack said with a frustrated sigh.

"I can try-"

"It's fine, Davey, really."

"Why you asking anyway? Think you might be in love with someone?"

"I dunno," Jack said. "I just figure that since Mama thinks there's someone in love with me or something, that maybe I was in love with them too, and didn't know it. (Jack, honey, you're so close, just- *frustrated screams even tho I'm the author*)

Neither of them said anything else, as Davey reached for the door handle, swinging it open wide enough for the both of them to step inside the school. The walk to the newspaper club meeting room was a quiet one. Opening the door though, they were greeted with the usual morning chaos that resulted from being friends with the Newsies, as they called themselves.

...

Jack was usually bursting with conversation on the ride home, but today he seemed lost in thought. The two of them sat in comfortable silence for a while.

"I'll tell you," Davey said finally.

"What?"

"You wanted to know what it was like to be in love. I'll tell you."

"You sure? I thought you said-"

"I'm sure, Jack." He closed his eyes as if trying to imagine what it was like to be around whoever it was. "It feels almost- almost unreal. Like maybe I'm just imagining everything, and I'm going to wake up at any minute. It makes me feel... like I am on top of the world. Holding their hand, hearing their laugh, seeing their smile, makes me feel all warm inside. Being in the same room as them always gives me these stupid butterflies." He opened his eyes again, looking over at Jack. "That's the best I can explain. Sorry, that wasn't very good," he apologized.

"It's fine," Jack said. "That was actually really good. Thanks." Well, he definitely wasn't in love with Kath or Sarah or anyone he had dated before.

"You're welcome." It was barely a whisper.

"Tell me about them. About the person you are in love with. They sound like they make you really happy." He pushed away that stupid fluttering feeling.

Davey took a deep breath. "They do," he said. He paused for a moment. "Well, they have really beautiful, almost honey colored eyes and-"

"I don't think anyone could have eyes even half as pretty as yours, Davey," Jack interrupted.

"My eyes ain't pretty, Jackie," Davey said softly. Jack tried not to think about how cute he found it when Davey slipped into his accent.

"Course they is, Davey," he said. "Prettiest I've ever seen."

Davey looked down at his lap.

"Anyway," Jack said, "continue."

"Um," Davey said quietly. He sounded unsure of himself. Jack took a hand off the wheel, reaching over to grab Davey's hand, weaving their fingers together. He flinched a little before continuing. "They have really pretty golden hair and there's always this once piece that I really want to fix. And they have one of those smiles that you just can't help but smile too. I could see for hours staring at his smile and..." Neither of them seemed to realize the slip up of pronouns. "... And they are the kindest person I ever met. They're too kind for their own good really. They'd do anything for their friends at barely a moment's notice. Sometimes I think they are a little too self sacrificing to be healthy. And they're really sweet to me, even though they don't know I'm in love with them." The last part is barely audible.

"They sound really amazing," Jack says, squeezing Davey's hand.

"Yeah," Davey says, his eyes flicking up to Jack for a split second. "They are."

...

Later that night, after Davey had left, Jack sat at the kitchen table, homework spread out in front of him while Medda flitted around the kitchen preparing dinner. Though the homework was in front of him, he wasn't thinking of it, but rather the conversation he had had earlier in the car.

"Mama?"

"Hmm?"

"What's it like to be in love?" He knew he had already asked, but may as well try again.

"I already told you, baby, it's really not something I could put into words."

"That's what Davey said."

Medda smiled knowingly.

"Mama?"

"What sweetheart?"

"Is Davey in love with me?"

"You will have to ask him that, dear."

He considers all that Davey and Medda had told him. True, he had never felt that way about any of those girls but....

"Mama?"

"Yes, Jack?"

"I think I'm in love with him."

"Ah," Medda said, smiling.

"Every time I got that stupid feeling- it was butterflies and holding his hand and seeing his stupidly pretty eyes and-" he looks up to see Medda still smiling.

"You knew, didn't you?"

"Well I-"

Jack leapt up from the table, papers spilling onto the floor. Medda gave him an odd look. He sprinted up the stairs, bolting into his room. "Hey," he said to a confused Charlie, emerging from his room.

"Hi?"

Jack was back down the stairs in seconds, grabbing his keys and a jacket, fumbling to put it on as he unlocked the door.

"I'll be back for dinner," he called, finally opening the door and rushing out.

"Jack close the d-"

He was already gone.

Medda sighed, going to close the door before returning to her cooking. "That boy," she said, shaking her head.

...

Jack hastily parked his car, running into the apartment building, up a flight of stairs, and down the hallway, pounding furiously on the Jacobs' door.

"Dear heavens!" Mrs. Jacobs exclaimed. "David, get the door please."

Davey opens the door to find Jack, breathing like he just ran a marathon.

"Davey!" he pants. "Who is it?" he says between breaths.

Davey looked confused.

"Who are you in love with?"

Davey looked down at his feet. "Oh. I-"

Jack's eyes frantically search his features, looking for something, anything, that will tell him what he needs to know.

Mrs. Jacobs appeared over Davey's shoulder. "Hello, Jack, dear," she said. "Do come in."

Jack seems to suddenly realize he's been standing in the open doorway this whole time. "Oh, sorry," he said.

"No problem," she said. "But why don't you come in and close the door."

Jack steps inside, and Mrs. Jacobs closes the door behind him. Jack grabs a still frozen Davey's arm, pulling him in the direction of his room.

"Please, Davey," he says, shutting Davey's door. "Just tell me who it is."

Davey lets out a shaky breath, squeezing his eyes shut and clenching his hands into fists. He knew Jack wasn't going to wait much longer. He takes another shaky breath. Be brave, he told himself. That's what Sarah's always telling you. Be brave. "It's you," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. Be brave. "It's you," he says again, a little louder. "I'm sorry," he says.

Jack lets out a sigh of relief. "Can I- can I kiss you?"

Davey inhales sharply, stepping back. "Don't just- don't just say that because you feel bad for me."

Jack laughed. "Davey, I don't feel bad for you. Every time I held your hand, every time I called you pretty... Why do you think I wanted to know so bad what it was like to be in love?" He stepped forward, taking Davey's hand in his own, rubbing his thumb over the back of his knuckles. "Can't you feel it, Davey?"

Davey closes his eyes, trying not to let the tears slip past, because, hell, he can feel it. He's felt it for a long time. And as much as he's tried to tell himself it isn't there, he knows it is.

"Don't you get it?" Jack says, reaching to brush a tear from his cheek. "I'm in love with you, Davey."

Davey doesn't even realize he's crying, until Jack's hands are on his face, gently wiping away the tears. And suddenly he's kissing Jack, clumsily pressing his lips to Jack's, Jack almost stumbling back in surprise.

Davey doesn't know what he's doing. He's never kissed anyone before. All he knows is he's in Jack's arms, kissing him, and he feels safe. He feels loved. And he never wants it to end.

But far too soon, Jacks pulling away, resting his forehead against Davey's. "God, Davey," he breaths, "I'm just so damn in love with you."

Davey shoves him, and suddenly they're both laughing, because Jack sounded so serious and intimate, and Davey's shoving him because he should say 'God' like that and he shouldn't 'swear' either, and it's really not all that funny, but there in that moment, it really is.

When they've finally composed themselves, Jack's pulling Davey close to him again, kissing him softly. "So," he said. "How bout I take you to dinner on Friday?"

"Are you asking me on a date, Jack Kelly?"

"I dunno," Jack said with a smile. "Are you saying yes?"

[fanficsandthings]

Interrupted

Modern!Crutchie Morris x reader

Word Count: 2.6k

Summary: Crutchie tries to tell you his true feelings. 

Author’s note: This is the first request I’ve ever written, and I’m so sorry that it took me so long to write. I’ll try to get better at writing faster. 

Crutchie sat on a bench, watching a few of his friends run around the worn out baseball field. The park field was a good place to practice when they all were younger, but it wasn’t regulation size, making it much easier to hit a homerun now that they were well into their teens. The field became a hangout spot as they got older; a good place to reminisce. Jack and Albert loved coaching the neighborhood kids here after practice. The kids’ real coaches wondered how they got so much better, but they kept their secrets to themselves.They didn’t want to share their new found skills with the rest of the junior team.

Crutchie turned his attention to a person sitting on the other side of the field. You were sitting on a blanket in the grass. Your legs were stretched out in front of you, arms leaning behind you for support. JoJo, who was sitting beside you, had apparently just said something funny, as you threw your head back laughing, the sun radiating warmth off your skin.  

Charles Morris knew he was in love a long time ago. The feeling sat inside him, blooming for years. It was back when he was still embarrassed of his crutch, and everyone still called him Charlie. Over the years, he learned to live with his disability, deciding to embrace the name his friends now called him. Now, everyone just called him Crutchie, even his adoptive parents sometimes. Everyone but one person. The person sitting on a blanket just over 100 feet away, glowing from the sunlight shining on them. You still called him Charlie, and when you did, it was the most beautiful sound Crutchie knew of in the known universe.

It’s now or never, Crutchie thought to himself. He was going to tell you. It had been too many years, and seeing you right now, like this; it made him weak. You looked absolutely beautiful, talking to JoJo and Katherine about who knows what. It was a normal day to any other, but to Crutchie, it was the day he told his best friend that he was in love with them.

Crutchie stood up from the bench, situating his crutch under his arm. He was halfway across the baseball field when his eyes finally caught yours. You smiled and waved at him, whispering something to Katherine, but your eyes stayed on him. To Crutchie, it all seemed to happen in slow motion. Like a scene in a movie that lead up to the most important event in the plot. He watched you push some hair off your forehead, lean back on your arms again, and wiggle your feet so your shoes bumped against each other a few times.

That’s when the record scratch sounded, cutting off the music over the slow motion, pulling everyone back into the real world. Jack stepped in front of Crutchie, waving an old baseball in his hand.

“You haven’t touched a ball all day, Crutch,” Jack said, putting his hand that wasn’t carrying the ball on Crutchie’s shoulder. “I’ll try to teach you how to pitch again, if you like.”

“Jack,” Crutchie sighed, looking over Jack’s shoulder at you, your attention now fully back to JoJo and Katherine. “I’ve already told you, I don’t have the balance to be a good pitcher. I can throw a ball, sure, but I can’t pitch worth crap.”

“Fine then,” Jack said, “let’s play some catch. We haven’t had a full on conversation in a few days. I’d like to know how you’ve been.”

Crutchie looked between you and Jack quickly. Hopefully, quick enough that Jack wouldn’t notice. Jack knew about the crush Crutchie had on you. How could he not? He didn’t hide it very well, and Jack was one of his best friends. Crutchie decided that talking to Jack right  now might actually be a good idea. He hadn’t even thought about what he would say to you, and now maybe Jack could give him some advice.

“Okay,” Crutchie said, grabbing the ball from Jack’s hand. “Let’s talk.”

As they walked to the side of the field, Crutchie looked back at you. Your focus was now back on him as he walked the opposite direction. You gave him a questioning look, wondering what changed his plans to come over to you. He just shrugged in response, giving you a small smile. He needed to tell you how he felt, but that could wait for a different day.

The talk with Jack had gone well, Crutchie thought. Jack suggested it might be best to tell you his feelings when there were less people around. That way there was less of a chance for interruption, and you wouldn’t feel pressured from other people watching you and listening to what you were saying.

Crutchie was sitting on the trunk of your car, waiting for you after school. He knew you came out to your car to drop off your backpack and grab a change of clothes before rehearsal. He was trying to figure out the right words to say, running through scenarios in his head.

“Charlie?” Crutchie popped his head up at the sound of you saying his name. “What’re you doing here? Shouldn’t you be inside helping Jack with the set?” You threw your backpack in the passenger seat of your car, then moved to the backseat to grab the clothes you had left there.

He shrugged his shoulders and carefully hopped down from your car onto his good leg. He grabbed his crutch from where it sat on the trunk. “I, uh, I wanted to talk to you about stuff.” He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. He avoided looking at you, for fear you might look up and see how nervous he was. “Kinda important stuff.”

You stood up straight, clothes hugged tight to your body. It was rare that you ever saw Crutchie act like this. Your name was called from across the parking lot. You and Crutchie both turned to look at who was yelling.

“I’m not gonna stand here forever. Hurry up, we’re gonna be late.” It was Race. He was holding the automatically locking door open for you, and he was getting slightly annoyed.

You called back to him. “We’re coming. You can wait an extra damn minute.” You turned your attention back to Crutchie, who was eyeing Race with annoyance. You gave him a sympathetic look and a small smile. “Can what you were gonna say wait until later? I don’t want Medda to be mad that we’re late.”

Crutchie let out a breath, and his shoulders relaxed a bit. He hadn’t even realized that they were stiff. He couldn’t stay annoyed at anyone when he was around you. “Yeah. It can wait, I suppose. It’s only kinda important, not super important.”

“Let’s go then,” you said. You grabbed his hand and pulled him across the parking lot as fast as his crutch would allow him to go.

Crutchie half scowled at Race as the two of you walked past him into the building. He was trying his hardest to get his feelings out, but he kept getting interrupted by his friends. If the universe was trying to tell him something, he wasn’t going to listen. You deserved to know how he felt, and he needed to let these ever growing feelings escape.

Crutchie decided he’d tell you after rehearsal. He had been helping Jack paint fake brick on a fake building when he looked up to see you across the stage. You were running through lines with Sarah, and you looked so into the scene he couldn’t help but smile at you. He knew then that he had to tell you as soon as possible.

He knew not to let his feelings out while you were driving down the road. He didn’t want you to have no chance for escaping, just in case you didn’t feel the same way he did. He wanted you to be free to leave if you needed to.

When you put the car in park in his driveway, Crutchie let out a deep breath. He glanced at you out of the corner of his eye, but kept his head facing forward. “Can we talk now? You know, about stuff?”

“You can talk to me about anything at anytime,” you told him, putting your hand on his shoulder.

“Okay.” He took a deep breath in. “Okay, so I’ve been thinking lately about a lot of things. One of those things has been you.” Crutchie wasn’t sure if you had heard the end of his sentence, as your phone started ringing.

You looked to see who was calling. “It’s JoJo,” you stated.

“You can answer it,” Crutchie said. He looked a little defeated. On the inside he felt devastated. What did he have to do to get people to stop interrupting him?

“Are you sure?” you asked, your face showing that you were skeptical. “You were saying something.”  

“No, it’s fine. It’s getting late, and I should go do homework anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Crutchie got out of your car, the feeling of dread weighing heavy on his shoulders. You had already answered the phone when he turned to say goodbye, so he just waved at you and shut the door. You waved back and mouthed the word ‘bye’ back to him through the window. Crutchie walked into his house slowly. He really wasn’t sure how he was going to tell you now.

The rest of week passed by slowly. Crutchie never found another good time to bring his feelings up to you. Friday came, and a few people agreed to meet at Jack’s to hang out.

You were sitting in front of the tv, playing some video game with Race and Albert. Race was losing, and he wasn’t very happy about it.

“One of you has got to be cheating,” Race said. He pushed you with his shoulder to try to mess you up.

“No, you just suck. Anyone could beat you.” You stood up as you won the game, and handed the controller to Elmer. “Even Elmer will beat you.” Elmer rolled his eyes as he took your place on the couch.

You walked over to Crutchie, who was sitting in a chair in the corner. Sitting on the arm of the chair, you asked “Don’t you want to play?” He didn’t answer, seemingly staring at nothing instead. “Charlie? Hello?

His eyes shifted to look at you, a small smile appearing on his face as he noticed you. “Huh?”

You nodded your head towards the boys sitting on the couch. “Do you wanna play?”

He shook his head. “I’m good here.”

You sat in silence for a while, watching Race lose against Elmer and Albert. You remembered something, and touched Crutchie’s hand to get his attention again. His fingers twitched from the sensation of your’s brushing his skin. He looked at you with a curious expression.

“You’ve been trying to tell me something all week,” you reminded him.

His face turned a slight shade of red. “It’s more of a private thing.”

You nodded your head and looked around the room at the other boys. Jack was looking at the two of you from the other side of the room. You grabbed Crutchie’s hand and pulled him to stand up. “We’ll go talk in private, then.”

You pulled him into the kitchen where no one was at the moment. He stood leaning against the counter, his eyes avoiding looking at you.

He started to speak. “I-- uh, I guess I’ve been thinking about you lately.”

“About me?”

“Well, technically, about us. Like, the relationship we have.”

Race called your name from the living room. You ignored it at first, but then it was said a second time, louder. Crutchie’s eyes were closed, and he was taking in a deep breath, like he was trying to calm himself. Race started to shout something more, but Crutchie cut him off.

“Race! Shut up. I’m trying to tell them something. Give us a goddamn minute.”

Race’s annoyed mumbles could be heard from the other room, but he didn’t yell anything more at you.

Crutchie turned to look at you. “I’ve been trying to tell you all week, but I keep getting interrupted. I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry for what?” you asked him, touching your hand to his arm.

“Sorry that I haven’t told you sooner.” He averted his eyes again, instead focussing his attention to study something on his crutch.

“Charlie?” you asked, softly. You move your hand down to lightly hold his.

“I love that you still call me that.” He moved the hand that was in yours to hold yours tighter. “And I also love you. I love you more than just friends.”

Your body stiffened slightly. You really didn’t know what to say. Crutchie had been your best friend for as long as you could remember. You grew up together. You had never really thought about being more than friends with him, but now that you knew how he felt your mind was starting to think about it.

Your heart was beating faster as your eyes scanned Crutchie’s face. His skin was tinted red, and his eyes avoided your gaze. He was nervous, and probably slightly embarrassed. Most of his friends were just a few feet away in the next room, and here he was, confessing his feelings to someone who he thought was going to turn him down.

You started to speak, softly. “Charlie… I’m sorry—“

“It’s fine if you don’t feel the same. I just needed to tell you. I needed to not let it fester anymore.” Now he was sure you were turning him down. He let go of your hand, and you could see his eyes starting to water as he turned to walk away.

You put your hand lightly on his upper arm to stop him. “Charlie. I’m sorry that I haven’t thought about my feelings for you sooner.” He turned to face you again. You dropped your hand to your side, playing with the hem of your shirt instead. “I always thought we were just friends, but now that I know what you feel, maybe I can feel the same.”

“What’re you saying?”

“I’m saying that I’d love to give us a try. I wanna see what these feelings lead to. Now I can see us being something more than friends, and I’d like that to be a reality.” You grabbed his hand again. “Charlie, I would love to fall in love with you. I might already have. I haven’t had much time to process this, but I know there’s something there, and you deserve all the love I can give you.”

Crutchie’s mind was trying to process everything that you had just said. You might already be in love with him, but you had to figure your feelings out.

“Take all the time you need to figure everything out. I’m ready whenever you are.” He went to release his hand from yours, but you pulled him into a hug.

“Thank you. You really are the best,” you whispered into his shoulder. As you pulled away, you leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. It was a small gesture, but it was a start. “The start of something new.”

Crutchie watched you walk back into the living room. He put his hand up to press on the spot where your lips had just touched him. It felt warmer there than any heat he had felt before. He smiled to himself, thinking about your future together.

Crutchie whispered quietly to himself. “The start of something new.”

[wide-eyed--wonderer]

"So I might have stayed up late watching scary movies and there's something making noise outside. Can you come over?"

I swear I didn’t mean to make it angsty. But then it was. and now it's over 2000 words of hurt/comfort. So it’s under the cut. But I’m really proud of it. 

Jack loved his brothers. He did. 

But God had he missed hanging out with just Davey.

He felt like since the school holidays had begun he hadn’t spent more than a minute away from Race. The six-year-old just wanted to shadow him everywhere. Including when he was hanging out with Davey. And he wanted Jack to see everything he’d learnt at school. Or at dance. 

Charlie wasn’t much better. Even though he was closer in age to Jack, he’d clearly missed spending all day with him, and the two of them found themselves playing video games far too late into the night.

It was a rare night when the three brothers didn’t end up in the same bed. Even rarer were the nights when they weren't sharing a bedroom. 

Or a pullout couch in the living room, with some long-forgotten movie playing in the background. 

Jack loved his brothers. But it could get very suffocating.

So Jack was spending the night at the Jacobs’ place. Les and Sarah were both out for the night, at separate friends houses, and Davey's parents went to bed early, so Jack and Davey spent the whole night together.

Jack felt a little ridiculous, at 23 years old having a sleepover at his friend's house, but Davey had insisted he needed a break, and the ability to “be a kid for once in your life Jackie.”

He wasn’t too worried about leaving his brothers. Charlie was home and the 16-year-old was more than capable of watching Race and making sure he got to bed on time.

All this to say, Jack was slightly annoyed when his phone rang and he picked it up to hear Races voice coming through the home phone. 

Especially at three am. When Davey and he had been asleep. 

“Jackie?” Came Races little voice through the phone. 

“Racer? It’s 3am? What are you doing up still?” Jack rolled over and whispered, trying not to wake Davey up. 

“Can ya come home?” Race whispered back and then yelped. The yelp caused Jack to sit up straighter.

 “Racer? What’s wrong?” Davey woke up as Jack's voice picked up in volume and he looked over at Jack quizzically, but Jack didn’t even notice, too focused on his little brother on the other end of the phone. 

“So I might have stayed up late watching scary movies and there’s something making noise outside.” Another yelp. The next part comes out as almost a sob. “Can you come home?” 

Jack sighed and felt the panic recede. Race definitely should not have been watching scary movies, the kid has too active of an imagination for that. And Charlie knew that. And thus Jack decided, Charlie could wake up and deal with it. 

“Hey Race, can ya take a deep breath for me?” He could hear Race trying to control his breathing through the phone. “That’s it. Where’s Charlie, can ya put him on the phone for me?”

The mention of Charlie sent Race into another round of sobbing, which caused the alarm bells in Jack’s head to activate again. 

“I DID because he told me to let you have this night with Davey and not to call you, so I went and got Charlie when I heard the noise, and, and, he said he could hear it too so he went outside to check and told me to wait here, and he hasn’t come back in yet!” Race was full out sobbing now. 

Shit. shit shit shit. Jack muted the phone and hurriedly grabbed his coat and pulled his shoes on. 

“Something's wrong at home. I need to go back now.” Davey, clearing sensing something was wrong, grabbed his own coat and keys. 

“I’ll drive, you keep talking to Race.” Jack mouthed a thank you at Davey and unmuted the phone. 

“Hey baby, you still there?” Jack knew he was, he could hear the deep breathing and occasional sob. But he needed Race to be able to talk. 

“Yeah,” Race whimpered through the phone. 

“Good job, you’re doing a great job.” Jack got into the car, and Davey was off before the door was fully closed. “Davey and I are on our way.” He could hear Races sobbing starting to pick up again. “I’m so proud of you. I need to ask you a couple of questions, ok. You think you can help me out?” Jack really did need answers, but he was also hoping talking would calm Race down a little. 

“Ok, ok Jackie” Race sniffed, and his sobs started to subside again. 

“Good. Did Charlie go out the front or the back door?”

“Um, back.” 

The back was marginally better. They had security cameras out there so Jack could see what was happening in real-time. But it was also entirely enclosed, which means that whoever got in, broke in. 

“That's perfect. How long ago did you wake him up?”

“I - I don’t know” And Race was sobbing again. 

“Hey, hey, breathe, remember?” Jack waited until he could here Races sobs subsiding, cursing for the millionth time that Davey lived so far away, 

“I’m so proud of you. Listen we are -” Jack looked at Davey, who held up 3 fingers silently, eyes focused on the road, - “about three minutes away. Now, when we get there, I’m gonna go outside and see if I can see Charlie, and Davey’s gonna come up and sit with you. That ok?” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Davey nod. 

“But, I want you Jackie” Race whimpered. 

“I know baby. I wanna see you too. But I gotta make sure your brother’s ok first. And then I’ll come up and give you a big hug. Davey can hug you for me, ok baby?”

“Oh, ok Jackie.” Race sniffed. 

“Ok, I need to ask you one more question, Race, can you try to answer it for me?”

“Yeah, yeah I can Jackie.” And Jack heard Race take a big breath

“Good baby. Can you tell me what you heard outside?”

“I heard some people whispering, and some banging, and I think I heard the bird feeder fall down cause something heavy hit the floor but then it got all quiet again. And then I heard more whispering so I went and got Charlie. I’m still in his room now.” 

“Ok, good job. Thanks so much Race.” Davey pulled onto Jacks street. “we’re here now, so I’m gonna hang up with you now and Davey will be up soon. Love ya baby.”

“Love ya too Jackie” 

Jack hung up the phone and turned and murmured to Davey “He’s in Crutchie's room. If I’m not up in 10minutes, call the cops.” The car had barely pulled to a stop before both boys were out, and Jack was opening the door to the house. Before he could keep going, he felt Davey's hand on his shoulder. 

“Stay safe Jackie.” Jack nodded.

“Keep my baby safe, Daves.”

With one look up the stairs in the direction Davey had gone, Jack headed to the kitchen, and grabbed a knife.

One of the knives was missing, which hopefully meant Charlie had gone out with some protection. He slipped his phone into his pocket, and made his way to the backdoor, as he got closer, he could hear Charlie talking. 

“Listen, we, we really don’t have anything. And my baby brother, he’s, he’s upstairs, and he’s all alone and scared. Please just go.” Charlie was holding it together pretty well, but he knew him well enough to hear the undercurrent of fear in his voice. 

Jack peeked out the door and saw Charlie and two guys. Charlie was holding his knife in front of him, but one of them had a gun and was pointing it at Charlie. They both looked young. But young didn’t mean unthreatening. Especially when Charlie couldn’t run. 

Not with his bad leg. 

Jack took a deep breath, he hid the knife in his pocket, and walked out, with his hands in the air. 

“What's going on out here fellas?” He tried to keep his tone nonchalant, but his eyes scanned Charlie, who’s gaze had snapped to meet Jacks. 

“Jack” Charlie breathed out

“Hey Charlie, how's it going.” Jack shot a small smile at his brother, but on the inside, he was freaking out. He walked over and put himself in front of his brother, and felt Charlies shaking hand reach up and twist in his shirt. 

“Who are you?” The bigger boy asked. Jack was adept enough at reading kids  by now to hear the fear in his voice. 

“I’m his big brother.”

“Thought he said he had a little brother.” The other one, whose gun was still pointed at Jack, chimed in. 

“He does. He’s up in his bedroom.” Jack gestured vaguely toward one of the upstairs windows, knowing Races actually looked out onto a side street on the other side of the house.

“Poor kid Got real scared when Charlie didn’t come back so he called me. So I checked the security cameras” Jack waved to one of the security cameras. “And saw you, fellas, out here harassing him. So naturally, I came back to see what two young gentlemen are doing in my backyard. Scaring both my brothers.”

The two boys glanced at each other. A subtle nod from one got the other lowering his gun. Jack breathed out a sigh of relief. 

“Look, we just saw this big house, and.. We’re just so hungry. We just needed something to pawn.” The first boy offered. 

Jack looked at the two boys sympathetically. 

“Listen, I know this house definitely does not make it seem like it, but I know what it’s like to be desperate, but this, pointing a gun on little kids, ain’t the way to go about it fellas.” Jack turned partially to Charlie and kissed him on the head, keeping one eye on the trespassers. 

“Can you run and get me the notepad on the table, and then go upstairs and check on your brother.” Jack murmured to Charlie. 

“Jack I -”

“You did great Charlie, I got it from here.” Jack squeezed his hand. 

Charlie ran inside to get everything, and Jack pulled out his wallet and grabbed a $50 note. Charlie ran back and gave Jack the notepad, and with one last nervous glance at the intruders, ran inside. 

Jack scribbled an address and a phone number on the note, and gave the note and the money to the closest boy.

“This is the phone number of one Ms Medda. She runs a kids homeless shelter, and finds jobs for homeless kids and such. No authorities involved or anything. Just a roof and food and a job so you can support yourselves. It’s how I got my brothers out. Tell her Jack Kelly sent ya. She’ll know what to do” Jack smirked. 

The two boys looked at the address and back up at Jack. 

“Look, Mr, we’re really sorry, we weren’t gonna hurt your brothers, promise.” They both looked incredibly apologetic, and Jack had been close enough to doing the same thing enough times before Medda had found them. 

“I know, youse two are just kids, and you're scared and desperate. I get it.” Jack held his hands up. “Just don’t let it happen again, ok. Let Ms Medda help.” Jack pointed to the broken gate that the boys had clearly come in through. 

The two boys looked at Jack, and with a small smile, ran out the back gate. Jack breathed out a sigh of relief. He headed back inside to the kitchen and locked the back door. Then he checked all the downstairs doors were locked. And the windows. Only after he was sure the house was secure did he put the knife back in the kitchen, and run upstairs to Charlie’s room.

When he got upstairs, he saw Davey sitting on the bed, and Race in Charlie's lap on the floor, sobbing, and Charlie rubbing small circles on his back. 

“Oh my baby boys.”

Race screamed and jumped off Charlie into Jack's waiting arms. Charlie followed not long after, sobbing barrelling into Jack, knocking Jack flat on his back on the bed. 

“Jack I’m so sorry I should have -”

“Jackie don’t go -”

“-taken better care of Race but I didn’t-”

“-please Jackie I was so scared I promise -”

“Know something was out there I just thought he was hearing things -”

“-I’ll never watch a scary movie again!”

“-because I let him watch Monster House and-”

“Boys, hey. Hey. stop talking. Take a deep breath. It’s ok. Nothings gonna happen to either of you. Promise.” He clung to both his brothers and placed a kiss to both their heads. 

“Hey Charlie,” Charlie looked up at Jack, tears streaming down his face, “this wasn’t your fault, ok. You did everything right. You kept Race safe. I’m proud of ya.” Charlie nodded and put his head back into Jack's shoulder.

“And Race, trust me, I ain’t letting either of you out of my sight for a long time.” 

The brothers lay there a little longer, clinging to each other, relishing in the fact that the danger had passed and they were all safe. 

Jack had noticed in the yard that there was some destruction, and Race was right, the bird feeder had got knocked down and he’d need to get a new, stronger, latch for the gate, but all of that could wait till the morning.

“Davey, what’d ya say to finishing our night here?”

“I’d say that sounds like a great idea. I’ll text my ma and let her know the boys needed us.” Davey grabbed his phone and headed out, probably to grab a blanket and pillow from the spare bedroom. 

“C’mon boys, let's get comfortable.” Without letting go of either of his brothers Jack moved so he was lying the right way in the bed. He felt Charlie reach down and pull a blanket over the three of them. 

“Love you boys.”

“Love you, Jackie.”

“Love ya, Jack.”

The three boys were asleep before Davey came back. 

So let me know what you think!!