Post-Strike (Ask BeckyMerari1808 for where it fits in with my timeline, because I don't know where it does. I would say after Find Your Future)
Racetrack loves his sisters. Katie, his 16 year old sister, had been in a similar situation as his other sister, Falcon. She had showed up at the Distribution Center early that morning. Race and Falcon had been so happy to see her. Katie had seen her two siblings around, but she had never really wanted to be a Newsies until today when she changed her mind. It was an ordinary day for selling papers and the Newsies had been heckled by the Delanceys just like normal. Flavi had been sticking to Race like glue all morning. Eventually, the three girls went off selling together and Race wanders off towards Sheepshead. Suddenly, the two tall Delancey brothers block his way.
"Hey! Move ya bums. I ain't got all day. I'se got bets ta make an I'se gonna win at em," Race protests, but the Delanceys advance on him.
"Stuff it, Higgins," Oscar Delancey growls before punching Race hard in the gut. Race groans involuntarily and he bends in half. Oscar and Morris haul him off to the one place they know how to take care of kids. The Delanceys kick open the door to the Refuge. Even though the Refuge has been closed, Weasel has instructed the boys to "take care" of the Newsies in there since it has been abandoned. Once they find a cell, the Delanceys toss Race into it and his head snaps hard against the floor. He starts to protest again.
"Leave me sisters alone. Dey's innocent," Race grumbles as he slips into unconsciousness. The Delancey brothers chuckle at the now weakened boy in the prison cell.
"Oh, don't worry. We'll take good care of them," Morris says under his breath. The Delanceys shut the door and Race struggles to protest. Eventually, his head gently graces the floor as his unconsciousness takes over. The last thing that comes to his mind is that there is only one place he could be, the Refuge. His disappearance causes quite the commotion back at the Lodging House. Flavi is pacing back and forth, upset that her favorite person in the whole world has disappeared.
"If he's pullin some kinda prank, I'se going ta be so mad," Flavi growls as she paces. All of the Newsies sit around thinking about what had just happened. Jack eventually stands up and pulls her into a hug, stopping her from moving.
"Sit still, DiAngelo. We'se gonna figurah dis out togeddah," Jack says to her and the rest of the Newsies gathered there. Heads nod and Race's sisters are crying. Crutchy is comforting Katie and Albert is comforting Falcon. Jack sits Flavi down on the couch, sandwiching her in between Mush and Skittery, who will keep the young girl sitting down. Jack starts to pace and Flavi growls from her spot on the couch,
"That's not helpin, Kelly." Skittery gently puts a hand on her shoulder. Katie shifts in her seat and sobs into Crutchy's shoulder.
"Jack, he could be anywhere," Falcon says through her sobs, "Ain't no way wese are gonna find em on our own." Jack stops pacing for a moment and looks at the two sobbing sisters. He looks outside and notices the street lamps lighting up for the night.
"Alright, everyone go ta bed," Jack commands and the three girls look about ready to punch him. "Ey! Meybe's wese will hear someting tomorrow dat will put us on da right track. I'se will ask Spot if he's seen Race at Sheepshead recently." Everyone reluctantly goes to bed except for the girls.
"Do ya tink he's okay?" Katie asks and Flavi scoots in between the two girls.
"I'se don't know," Flavi says to Katie.
"We'se got ta find im. Race may get hoirt fore we find him," Falcon states. She starts to get up, but Flavi pulls her back.
"Not so fast, Higgins. Race and Jack both would be mad if I let ya run da streets by yaselves. Youse takin Jack wid ya," Flavi says, putting her small hands on her petite hips. Katie and Falcon exchange looks and turn back to Flavi.
"We'se goin an noting you says is gonna stop us," Falcon says and Flavi crosses her arms at the girl that she has grown close into such a short amount of time.
"Jack ain't gonna be happy wid dis," Flavi warns, but the two sisters leave her in their small closet space. Katie quietly opens the door, trying not to wake up Kloppman or Jack. The two sisters roam the streets, calling their brother's name. Katie and Falcon are walking up past an old abandoned building. Falcon recognizes it almost immediately.
"Da Refuge. Even dough it's been closed down, it's been givin da boys nightmares for as long as I can remembah," Falcon groans. Katie looks at the tall gates.
"Meybe we should take a look," Katie suggests and Falcon shakes her head quickly.
"No. We'se shouldn't, Katie. Da boys would nevah forgive us," Falcon replies, but their curiosity is peaked when a light comes on in one of the windows.
"Falcon, someone's in da Refuge," Katie says and she walks up to open the gate. Falcon shakes her head as Katie goes to open the door
"Katie, please don't go in dere!" Falcon pleads, but Katie opens the gate.
"I'se just gonna look around a little bit, Falcon. Meybe our brudda is in dere," Katie says as she walks through the gate. Falcon shakes her head.
"I'se ain't goin," She says and Katie groans. Katie walks through the gate and she looks back at her sister. Falcon is not following her, so Katie goes up and carefully tries to open the door. The door is locked, so she finds a fire escape. Katie climbs up the small ladder, trying to be as silent as she could. She peeks in each window and she suddenly sees a person in one of the windows. Katie taps on the windows and the person turns. The person is Race and his eyes widen. Bruises decorate his facial features and Race looks tired. Race opens the window and Katie beams at him.
"Race, you'se alive!" Katie exclaims excitedly.
"I'se was hopin youse would find me soon," Race says as he sticks a hand through the window to squeeze his sister's.
"I'se goin ta get ya outta here," Katie promises and Race shakes his head.
"No, Katie. Youse don't belong here an it ain't safe for ya ta be in places like da Refuge," Race says when suddenly, a voice shouts from inside the Refuge,
"Ey, Higgins! Who ya talkin to?" The door to Race's cell swings wide open and Katie gasps as she sees the two large boys from earlier glaring at them.
"Why are you doing this to my brother?" Katie asks and the two boys chuckle softly.
"Well, Higgins, guess yer poor sistah really is new ta da Newsies, ain't she?" One of them asks Race.
"Leave er alone!" Race growls at the two boys. Katie watches in fear as the two boys advance on her brother.
"Wait, stop! I will take his place," Katie cries and every person present turns their head to Katie.
"No!" Race gasps, but the Delanceys exchange wicked grins.
"Yea, I'se likes dat arrangement. What about youse, Oscar?" One of the boys asks the other. The boy named Oscar nods.
"Race, ya nevah told us ya had such a pretty sistah," The same boy says walking close to the window. Katie rolls her eyes at them.
"I'se doin dis for me bruddah. Not for youse," says Katie and the two brothers groan. Oscar moves out of Race's way and escorts him down to the double doors. Katie runs down the fire escape and meets them at the front doors. Race gets shoved out and Katie gets pulled in. Oscar looks her in the eye,
"We'se da Delancey bruddas. I'm Oscar and dis is me bruddah, Morris." Katie pushes their arms off of her and says,
"Just show me back to my cell, so I can rest." The Delanceys lead her back to her cell and she slams the door behind her leaving the two brothers dumbfounded.
Race on the other hand, sits on the ground trying to collect himself, when he hears his name being called.
"Race! Racetrack Higgins!" A voice calls and Race turns to see his other sister standing on the street. Race picks himself up off of the ground and runs over to her.
"Are you okay? Did you come wid Katie?" Race asks, examining his sister for any signs of injury. Falcon nods her head.
"Yea, she's too persistent, Racer. We'se gotta do someting bout dat or she's gonna get us all killed someday," Falcon says and Race nods. "Let's get ya back ta da Lodge. Cowboy will be happy ta see ya." The two siblings walk back to the Lodging House unaware that their sister had shut herself in a prison cell and was crying herself to sleep. Katie's sobs racked her whole body as she laid on the flat cement block that served as a bed for the kids of the refuge. Her hair has come undone and covers most of her delicate face. Suddenly, there's a small knock on the door.
"Go away!" Katie groans through her tears, but whoever the intruder is comes in and sits down on the ground.
"Do ya want some food? Me bruddah an I have some bread which I'se knows ain't much, but it's still someting," The voice of Oscar Delancey causes Katie to jump a little bit.
"No. I'se could nevah eat wid someone who kidnapped me bruddah," Katie says through her tears.
"We'se can't have ya starve, Higgins. Ya gotta eat sometime," Oscar prods, but Katie shakes her head. Oscar groans. "Higgins, youse me prisoner an I'se sayin ya gotta eat, sos youse gonna eat!" Katie groans and shakes her head.
"I will nevah eat wid you or anybody who tries to hurt me bruddah," Katie says angrily and Oscar scoots back a little bit.
"Well, go ahead and starve then! See if I care!" Oscar snaps before slamming the door. Katie continues to sob at her predicament. Oscar pretends to storm down the hallway, but he stops after a short while to listen to Katie's sobbing. He feels bad for her and he had tried to be kind to her. She had just pushed the limit. Morris storms up to Oscar.
"Da bread's getting cold!" Morris nearly shouts and Oscar rolls his eyes.
"She ain't comin," Oscar tells his brothers and Morris beelines for Katie's cell door. Oscar steps in his brother's way.
"I'se already tried an she ain't comin," Oscar says, but Morris shrugs him off. "No, Morris. She's been through so much taday. Shouldn't we leave er alone. Give er some time ta process it."
"Why's you bein so soft ta her?" asks Morris and Oscar shrugs.
"She's kinda cute an she did a bold ting. No girl just steps into the prison cell where her bruddah was stayin. Morris, dat was a big sacrifice on her part," Oscar says and Morris gives in.
"Okay fine, youse wins today, Oscar," Morris says and the two boys go to eat dinner alone. Katie continues to sob until the door opens again.
"I'se thought I'se told youse ta go away," Katie growls at the person. She opens her eyes and sees Oscar with a piece of bread. Katie reaches out and takes it from him. "Thank you." Oscar admires how her hair frames her face and how gentle she seems.
"I'se sorry about earlier," Oscar says and Katie starts to nibble on the bread. "What youse did was bold an I tink it was neat dat youse did what ya did." Katie sits up straight.
"Really?" She asks and Oscar nods. "Meybe youse ain't as bad as everyone tinks."
"Our uncle wants us ta take care o da Newsies here, but I'se don't tink I'se gonna do dat ta you," Oscar says taking in her gorgeous looks. Katie finishes her bread and says to Oscar,
"Tanks for da food. I'se is gonna get some rest now." Oscar stands up and smiles.
"I'se is gonna steal some blankets from around here. Dat concrete ain't comfortable, but it beats da disgustin bunk beds dey used ta make kids sleep on," He says before heading off. As he wanders away, Katie begins to sing an old song that she remembered from when she was a small child. Her mother would sing it to her, Race, and Falcon every night before they went to sleep. Oscar hears some beautiful singing coming from Katie's prison cell and after he retrieves the blankets, he hovers outside her door for a second to listen. He recognizes the song for his mother sang it to him as well. Oscar starts to sing with her and enters the small cell carrying the blankets. Katie gasps and stops singing quickly.
"You know dat song?" She asks and Oscar nods.
"Yea, me muddah would sing it ta me an Morris all da time. You made it sound just like me muddah was da one singin it." Katie's face turns scarlet at the complement.
"Thank you. I'se don't usually sing for people."
"Well, I'se tink youse should." Katie blushes again and Oscar gently lays the blankets down next to her. "Good night, Katie."
"Good night, Oscar." Katie says as she arranges the blankets and falls asleep. She awakes to the sun rising and curious about the layout of the place, Katie sneaks out of her cell to take a look around. Pulling one of the thin blankets around her shoulders, Katie begins to explore. She grows tired and leans up against one of the walls. Suddenly, it moves behind her and she gasps at what she sees. Records on file for every kid who has ever been through the Refuge. On a whim, Katie looks for the Delanceys and she sees that both Oscar and Morris have been in the Refuge. Katie begins to flip through their papers and gasps when she sees that they were arrested for stealing from Joseph Pulitzer. The files stated that after six months, the brothers had been turned over to Joseph Pulitzer. Mr. Pulitzer had just recently hired Wiesel or Weasel to the Newsies and offered the boys to work for him and their uncle. In return, Pulitzer claimed that he would keep them out of the Refuge as long as they held up their end of the deal. Pulitzer had remarked that only remarkable boys would steal from a man like him. Katie feels hot tears spring into her eyes as she reads the rest of their backstory. Their mother had died and their father had left one night and never came back. Katie closes the book and begins to sob for the two boys. No wonder they were so cruel to everyone, especially the Newsies. The sad part of this was that out of every person in New York, the Newsies would have been the most help to the boys. Katie looks at the files and says, "That doesn't mean we can't be now," to herself. She continues to thumb through the files for more information when suddenly she hears a voice say.
"What are youse doin wid dose?'' Katie gasps as Oscar snatches the files away from her and shoves back where they belong. Oscar roughly grabs her arm and pulls her out of there. "What did youse find out about me?"
"Oscar, I'm so sorry. For everyting," Katie says, wiping tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry bout yer family, about how da Newsies have treated ya. You gotta realize dat dey don't understand dat you have been where they have been and some of em still are dere." Oscar pulls a lever and the door to the files slams shut behind him. He walks off without another word. Katie, who thought she had actually accomplished something, burst into tears and slumps to the floor. Oscar sits down and Morris looks over at him. Oscar groans,
"She found em." Morris looks up from an old newspaper.
"Why'd ya let her find em?" Morris growls and Oscar shakes his head.
"It was an accident. I'se don't know how she found em."
"Don't let it happen again. Wese can "take care" o her too, Oscar."
"NO! I'se told her wese wouldn't do dat ta her. She's too sweet an I'se admires what she does for her brudda."
"We'se got ta do what we'se has ta do, Oscar. An if dat means..."
"No, I'se ain't letting ya do dat ta her!" Morris looks at his brother.
"What's goin on wid you? Youse ain't fallin in love, are ya?" Oscar contemplates his brother's words. He steps out of the room, ignoring his brother's questions. Oscar hears Katie's sobs and scoots down next to her on the floor.
"I's sorry. Me brudda an I don't like oddah people findin out about our past," says Oscar quietly and Katie looks up.
"I understand and I also think youse should tell the Newsies that I'm alive," She replies. Oscar nods quickly and hurries out the door. He runs to the Distribution Center where he sees Race talking to Flavi. Oscar walks up to them and cringes on the inside as he takes note of all of Race's bruises. Every Newsie looks worried out of their skin as they stand around waiting to get their papers. Oscar is about to talk to Race when suddenly, he is pinned to the wall by someone. Jack Kelly stares him straight in the eye.
"Where is she? Ya come ta gloat dat youse got her?" Jack growls, intensifying his grip on Oscar's shoulders. Race looks very worried as he watches the scene unfold. Oscar manages to shove Jack off of him.
"Katie's fine an alive. We'se ain't gonna hoirt her. Promise," Oscar reassures Jack, but all he does is shake his head.
"I'se don't belive ya Delancey," Jack snaps and he begins to soak Oscar. Oscar takes several punches before he manages to escape in the direction of the Refuge. Once he gets back, Katie is there to greet him. She notices all of his bruises and says,
"Dey didn't take it that well, did they?" Oscar nods sullenly and Katie sighs. "Go get some wadah an I'se will clean youse up." Oscar gets a water bowl and Katie starts to clean him up. She cleans up his cuts and wipes away all of the blood. Once she finishes, Katie looks up to see Oscar staring at her. Their faces move closer to each other and Katie pulls away.
"I should go," says Katie quickly and she runs off to her cell. Oscar sighs sadly as he watches her go. Morris comes up behind him and shakes his head,
"It's nevah gonna happen." Oscar swivels around to face his brother.
"Youse don't know dat." Katie falls asleep, but she begins to have a nightmare. The Delanceys and Race fill her nightmares. Eventually, Katie wakes up and runs to go find a way up onto the roof. She finds a door and it creaks loudly as she opens it. Oscar wakes up to the sound of the door to the roof creaking open. Katie manages to escape to the roof and she sits down, staring up at the stars. Oscar opens the door and he sees Katie sitting up on the roof. He silently walks up and sits down next to her. "Youse alright?" He asks kindly and Katie shrugs.
"More or less," She replies as she absentmindedly places with a curl in her hair.
"So, what brings ya up ta da roof?" Oscar asks.
"Nightmares," Katie answers and Oscar stiffens a little bit.
"Oh, I'm sorry," He says awkwardly and Katie smiles at him.
"It's okay, you and Race were a part of em. Youse two was bein chased, but I couldn't figure out by whom or why," says Katie softly staring up at the stars.
"What are ya lookin at?" asks Oscar and Katie smiles.
"Da stars, ain't dey beautiful?" She asks and she hugs her knees as she looks up at the stars.
"Yea, deys are." A silence passes between them and Oscar asks, "Do ya miss im?"
"Who?"
"Yer brudda and yer sistah. Ise knows dat dey miss ya."
"Yea, but I would miss you too."
"Ya would, huh?"
"Yea, youse ain't as bad as ya make yerself look."
"Youse ain't as bad as I thought da oddah day. Youse bettah." Katie smiles and she sees Oscar's face very close to hers. Oscar leans in and closes the gap between them. Their lips connect and Katie's arms gently wrap around his neck. The two kiss for a moment before letting go. Oscar smiles at her and asks, "Even if ya go back, will ya still be my goil in secret?" Katie nods and kisses him again. This surprises Oscar, but he feels that it is a good surprise. His hands wrap around her small waist and hers find his neck again. They let go and Oscar walks Katie back to her cell.
"Good night, Oscar," says Katie, kissing his cheek gently.
"Good night, Katie," says Oscar before going back to his room. The next day, Katie decides to get up and go to the Distribution Center. She moves to the door and Oscar appears behind her. "Come visit me, yea?" He asks and Katie nods. The two kiss and hug quietly. Once they let go, Katie whispers,
"Thanks for showing me that even the meanest boys aren't always bad boys." Oscar smiles and says,
"Your welcome. See ya around, Miss Higgins." Katie arrives at the Distribution Center just as the other Newsies do. Katie shouts as soon as she sees her siblings and friends,
"Falcon! Race! Flavi! Jack! I'm back!!!" Katie shouts and both of her siblings hug her tightly.
"Youse ain't evah leavin my sight again," Race demands as he hugs her. Katie giggles,
"I don't plan on it. I missed everybody." Katie hugs Falcon and Flavi. She buys her papers and sets off with her sister and friend to sell. Katie sees Oscar Delancey at one point while she was selling and he tips his hat while he walks by. She feels a satisfaction. Katie has conquered both challenges and her life could not be any better. She has Oscar Delancy for a boyfriend and she gets to spend every day with all of the people she loves. Katie vows never to wish for anything more.
AN:/ BeckyMerari1808, Here you go! I hope you enjoyed this one! Katie belongs to the wonderful BeckyMerari1808, not me. You can roleplay with BeckyMerari1808 and Katie on BeckyMerari1808's roleplay books. If you have not seen her stuff, go check it out! She is phenomenal. This one is totally unique from anything else I've written. Also, this storyline and title belongs to BeckyMerari1808, not me. We can also officially welcome Katie to this oneshot book. I cannot wait to see how she interacts with everyone else in this book. Thank you for allowing me to put her in this book. I will do something super funny or something for the next one and then I have another request! I have oneshot 13 and 15 figured out, because I am introducing people, but I could use some suggestions from stuff that I have already put out. I think Davey driving is going to be one of them, but would you guys want to see more of another oneshot I've written? Anyone in this book is fair game. I would love to hear your guys' thoughts! Also, please tell me what you think of this oneshot. I hope you enjoyed it and I can't wait to see what else goes on in this book! One more question and I will post this one on my wall too, if you would like to see the backstory of any Newsie, who would you want to see(OCs are fair game too)? Thanks for reading and enjoying the story! See you around, friends!
-Aisling