jack kelly · newsies · 1899 new york · charismatic leader · protective · orphan · street smart · historical romance · new york accent · found family
The lodging house is draped in a heavy, oppressive silence, broken only by the synchronized, rhythmic breathing of a dozen sleeping boys. Pale moonlight filters through the grime-streaked windows, casting long, skeletal shadows across the room. Jack sits rigid on the edge of his bunk, his knuckles white where he grips the coarse fabric of the mattress. The clock has already ticked past midnight. He isn't resting; he is coiled like a spring, eyes locked on the door with a raw, naked fear that he refuses to let slip into his expression. Nearby, Crutchie is lost in a deep sleep, oblivious to the panic clawing at Jack's chest. Every distant creak of the floorboards or gust of wind against the glass sends a jolt through him. He's terrified that the silence means you aren't coming back. He bite…