The Oak

[Avalanche]

Avalanche listened to her quick summary of life and nodded. When his hand was taken by the younger girl he took it back from her. Not in a mean way, just in a discouraging way. He didn't want her to think things that weren't true. Avalanche moved much slower than this for one. And for two, matters of the heart were complicated with him. Once he took his hand from hers he used it to take the cigarette out of his mouth.

"Well..." he said for starters, he said thinking, "I already gave you my summary. I used to be a newsie, yeah. I worked in Queens for a few years until once I found Prince on the street, and trained her myself to take over for me when I left," which had been nearly right after the strike. "Since then I've made a home for myself down in Brooklyn. I work at the docks, loading and unloading ships down there. I have a small apartment, and if anyone ever needs anything I have an empty couch, lots of blankets, and a warm place to get a meal, should they need it. I'm one of the... many uh... how can I put this.... safe houses for Newsies that there seem to be all over New York City. And proud to be one," he said with a final nod of his head.

With that he put the cigarette back in his mouth and then folded his arms to keep his hands warm and out of the hands of others. "Lexi and I are good friends," he added, "as are a lotta the folks down in Brooklyn, and nearly all of Queens and Manhattan. Just like I got friends all over the city, they got a friend in me, should they need it." He took a drag on the cigarette and then took it out of his mouth and flicked the ash off the tip before replacing it again.

"So, just moved to the Bronx but been in Brooklyn for 2 years? How you like bein' a newsie?" he asked her. He remembered it being so much better, and one day had plans to go back and run a lodging house himself.

[jewelkent]

Jewel secretly frowned a bit when Avalanche pulled his hand away from hers. She sighed, feeling a guilty about making him uncomfortable again.

*C'mon, first the kiss and now the hand? What're ya gonna do next? Take him right there in the park? Get a hold of yourself! You're not in fucking Brooklyn anymore. People are different here. Time to start doing things differently.* she scolded herself inwardly.

"So yeah, like I said, working at the Docks sounds like good work. But when you said you worked as a newsie, I'm kinda wonderin' why anyone would give up that job. I love being a newsie... I just needed to do it in a different place, ya know?" She asked.

Jewel smiled "Well, let's see. Why move to the Bronx? Just because...like I keep saying...the Brooklyn newsies just weren't my people. I mean, I can fight and all... When it comes down to it, I can kick some serious ass. But other than that...my 'personality' just didn't fit their tough exteriors." She said.

"I mean, I really love Brooklyn... I was born in Coney Island, and it was perfect there. But, things change, and now thanks to Lexi, and you of course... I get the feeling that things will change for the better here." She said.

[Avalanche]

He gave a sideways look to Jewel and nodded his head with a slight smile. "Why would I ever quit bein' a newsie?" The sentence trailed off as he took his cigarette out of his mouth once again. "Simple question with a simple answer. Younger... sells more papes." It was a law that every newsie lived by, and he simply looked too old, no matter how much he had the personality of 'younger than he looked', he would always be getting older. However, Avalanche refused to grow up. "I didn't stop because I wanted to, I stopped because I wasn't makin' money like I used to."

At the mention of being able to kick some 'serious ass,' as she so quaintly put it Avalanche couldn't help but smile. "I'm sure you're real good kid... probably can't compare much to Spot... or Zeke, or," he chuckled, "Smalls or Lucky!" In all honest, he wasn't sure he could compete with those people. Maybe Spot... but not in a fight! He'd only prayer with Spot would be to talk him down before fists start flying. Given that would be his only hope with any of them, but that was all besides the point. "But I'm sure you can hold your own," and he meant that. After all, most Brooklyn kids could.

"Well girly I hope you're right," he said nodding as he put the cigarette to his lips and took a drag on it, before blowing out the smoke. "I hope things really do change for the better for ya," and he meant it. He always felt bad when newsies were unhappy for reasons of other newsies. Just didn't need to be that way.

[jewelkent]

Jewel smiled and nodded when Avalanche quoted the one law that all newsies lived by. It was one that she was taught when she was recruited.

"You're right, the younger does sell more papes. I do okay when I'm sellin', but not as well as I used to. Its just the way things work, I guess." She sighed.

Jewel nodded "Yeah, I can hold my own. Some of the newsies from Brooklyn taught me how to fight, as did some of the kids at the orphanage when I was younger. If my sister could see me now...she wouldn't be very happy with me. I admit, I'm not that good of a fighter like Spot or some of the others, but I do alright.

But see, the thing is I was brought up to be proper, and my family hated violence. But I figured the only way to survive in Brooklyn was to fight for what you want." She said.

Jewel smiled slightly "Well I certainly hope that things get better. I'm just glad that I will have friends that I can count on...as soon as I meet the others that is." She said.

[Avalanche]

Avalanche nodded. "Ya know," he said, "it's hard for me to picture a pretty girl like you gettin' in to fights and scrapes and bein' all boyish and such. Some of these girls out here start forgettin' who they are, and are to focused on who everyone else thinks they should be. Ya gotta remember that, okay girly? Be yaself. Dun go changin' who ya are for anythin' short of survivin'." That was the honest truth. Lots of girls would learn to fight because they thought they should. What many failed to realize is if they needed help all they needed was a few guy friends. Then should something happened and they can't defend themselves others could for them. Not everyone had to be tough as nails like they thought they did.

"The good news about friends is," he said as he finished the cigarette and tossed it to the ground where he stepped on it, and then blew out the last puff of smoke, "you can find 'em all over the place," he said with a nod. "You get the right people, in the right places, at the right times, and b'fore ya know it you'll have a whole list of people ya ain't seen in ages, and you'd like to. And when those people wanna see you too, then Viola!" he said getting the word mixed up with the instrument, "friends." He gave her a small smile and a shrug. "I think you'll be fine. Relax into the world, and see where it takes ya."

[jewelkent]

Jewel smiled when she heard Avalanche refer to her as 'pretty'. But her face turned serious when she realized that he also may have a point. A lot of girls do forget who they are some times. It suddenly struck her that she may have become one of those girls.

"Well, I did my share of fighting. But I am so done with dat. I'se just wanna get my life back to the way it was. ...if that's even possible. I'm just very confused about everything. I'm still gonna be adjusting to my new life here, and that will be difficult."

Jewel then sighed, as she looked down, and began to twist the sapphire ring on her pinkie finger. It was something her mom gave her when she was 8 years old, and she hadn't taken it off since.

"Ya see, I wish I had friends growing up. I had a few in the orphanage, and maybe a few with the newsies. But seriously, I think as far as friends go... I think you and Lexi are my only REAL ones." she said to him.

"Ya know, my parents were very respectable people, and they probably wouldn't be able to picture me getting into a scrap neither." she said.

Just then, a thought came to her, and she felt as though she needed to say something to him.

"Listen, Avalanche. I'm kinda sorry for coming on so strong to you before... the kiss on the cheek, and then holding your hand. I'm not usually so forward, honestly. So, sorry if I did anything to make you uncomfortable. It wasn't my intention. I guess I should've learned my lesson about being too forward after what happened between Banshee and I." she explained.

Jewel suddenly smiled when Avalanche told her to 'relax into the world'. "Yeah, I'll try, and I'm sure as things progress here...I will be just fine. Thanks for the advice, sweetie. You've made me feel a lot better." she said.

[Avalanche]

Avalanche smiled at her. "Life ain't easy, if it was it wouldn't be any fun. And if it wasn't any fun, who would play the game?" he shrugged again and looked out over the park. "It might be difficult to get back to the girl you were, but I think you can get there. And while we're talkin' about games, it's very important to have some teammates, so get out there girl. Find some people who are like you, who get you, and before you know it I bet you'll have so many friends you'll hardly have enough time to be with all of 'em," he reassured her.

At the mention of her coming on strong he only shrugged again. "Don't worry about it," she wasn't the first, she wouldn't be the last, and he didn't mind it all that much. If nothing else, he's gotten used to it. "No big deal, and we're still friends and such, so no big deal." He smiled slightly. "And I'm happy you're feelin' better about all this," he said nodding. "Just remember ya dun hafta try so hard. Just blend in, sometimes standing out is important. But around here, blending in is sometimes a better idea."

[jewelkent]

Jewel smiled at Avalanche. She had felt a million times better now that she had talked to someone.

"I will try to get back to my life, and I know that it won't be easy. Also, you're right! All I need are some people who understand me, and I'll be on my way." she said.

Just then she looked up at the sky, and saw tat it was starting to get dark. "Wow, what a day I've had so far, and talking with you has just been the most pleasurable thing ever." she said.

Just then, she looked up at Avalanche, and batted her green eyes jokingly "Just one more request, kind sir. Can you please walk me back home? I sort of walked here, and paid no attention to where I was going', and the last thing I wanna do is get lost." she said.

[Avalanche]

Fitting in was difficult at New York, but he had a feeling that she could pull it off. Once she found her exact place where she fit in perfectly, he had no doubt that she'd make it. Avalanche listened to her request, prepared for almost anything, and when she asked for a walk home he smiled and nodded. he'd be happy to oblige her. "The girl's loding house, yes?" he said as he turned. "Yeah, I know where that is, I'll take ya home. If you ever need anything from directions to a place to stay, or whatever I live down in the apartments near the docks in Brooklyn. Feel free to stop by any time," he said sincerely as he started walking her towards the exit of the park.

[jewelkent]

Jewel nodded, locking eyes with Avalanche once again.

"Yup, the Girl's Lodging House it is, sweetie. Thank you for doing this for me. I feel like my whole life just turned around completely in one whole day. That's gotta be a new record." she said with a laugh.

At the sound of an offer towards a 'place' to stay if she needed it, Jewel hugged Avalanche "Thank you again, I will definitely take you up on that offer if it ever comes to that." she said.

"So, where are you off to now after you walk me home?" she asked him.

Jewel was felt like she was floating on clouds. In one day, she had met 2 spectacular people, who helped her see the world through different eyes.

She couldn't wait to get back to the Lodging House, and tell Lexi that she had finally met one of her friends...and how great of a man he was.

[Avalanche]

Avalanche was a little surprised when she suddenly hugged him out of no where, but he found it cute, so he hugged her back a little bit. "Hey kiddo, you're welcome," he said chuckling a little bit.

"Well after this I dunno what I'm gonna do yet," he shrugged slightly. "I might either go hit a bar or something, but I'll probably just go home." Actually he just realized something. He promised Prince that he'd meet her in Brooklyn. Depending on the hour it was when he got there, which might be pretty late, he might try and see if she's still there. "Well... I might have a friend to meet... I'm not quite sure," he added laughing. "And what are your plans for the evening... er... night?" he added just making friendly conversation as they walked home.

[jewelkent]

Jewel thought for a moment. She had no idea what to do when she got home.

"Oh I don't know what I'm gonna do yet. Possibly just meet some of the other girls in my house, get to know them, have a shower, change my clothes, and possibly try and get some sleep. Its been kind of a long day for me, but it was a spectacular day at best. So, are you headin' back to Brooklyn?" She asked him.

Jewel played with her ring again "So... Do you know anything about the people I will be meeting at the Girl's Lodging House?" She asked.

As Jewel walked alongside Avalanche, she looked up at him once more and smiled.

"Geez, Why can't I meet guys like you all the time? You're such a decent and kind man." She told him.

[Avalanche]

Avalanche chuckled. "There's more people like me out there than you think. Just very few of them live in Brooklyn," he said with a soft smile. "nothing against them, but... none of them are as awesome as me," he added again with a laugh. oh if Red were here...

He nodded. "Yeah I'll probably head back to Brooklyn. That's the plan anyway," he said shrugging. "As for the girls who live in the Bronx. most of 'em are pretty nice. The ones I've met are all real nice, personable, and sweet, like Lexi mostly," he said nodding. "The guys are nice too. Ya ain't gonna find a better guy leader than Dodger, and all the folks in the Bronx are... pretty nice," he said honestly. "You'll fit in great."

[jewelkent]

Jewel laughed at this when she heard Avalanche mention that none of the Brooklyn guys were as awesome as him.

"That's true. You are definitely more awesome then some of the Brooklyn guys I know...especially one in particular." She told him.

Jewel then looked straight ahead and sighed. She had heard some stories of the Bronx Newsies. But she was hoping that some of them were true.

"I'm sure the girls are great. But as for the boys, I'm looking forward to meeting them...especially Dodger. It will be nice to have a leader around who takes care of his newsies." She said.

Jewel smiled to herself *Hmmm... I wonder about the boys in the Bronx. How many of them are easy to get to?* she thought to herself suddenly.

[Avalanche]

Avalanche chuckled. "Well, while you're all excited to meet these boys, just be aware that many of them are taken, especially the leaders themselves." Yes. Lexi and Dodger were both taken, and by one another. It was quite endearing in all honesty, and they were always nice to see out together. They made a great set of... well Avalanche thought they were kind of the parents of the Bronx, but not that that was a bad thing at all. "Just before you go diving in to crushes or flirtations, be aware that many of them are content with the people their with," he cautioned her once more as they arrived at the steps of the girls' lodging house. "And here's home little missy," he said as he leaned against the bottom of the hand railing. "Welcome to it."