The Pursuit of Happiness

[aliceroosevelt]

It had been going on for the last several nights in the Roosevelt manor: doors slamming and voices shouting, followed by a ringing silence that seemed to fill the air even more densely than the noise that preceded it. Edith, the Governor's wife, tried to keep her five children occupied while her husband and her stepdaughter were engaged in bouts of shouting. The two voices were equally loud, and could be heard from almost everywhere in the house.

This evening, here it was again: Alice Roosevelt in her bedroom, her father standing in the doorway. Their voices raised and becoming hoarse, the father and daughter hadn't stopped arguing since darkness fell. Alice's bedroom was near the top of the stairs, and with the rest of her children entertaining themselves in the parlor behind closed doors, Edith stopped at the bottom of the stairs, listening to the argument with a heavy heart.

Theodore Roosevelt spoke first, his voice loud, but relatively measured, as if he was giving a political speech. "Don't think you didn't see this coming, Lee. I've been telling you time and time again, you're seventeen years old and turning eighteen this winter. It's high time you stopped your antics and settled down..."

"Settled down?" Alice exclaimed shrilly. "Some kind of settling down, if I can't stand him! Ian Johnson. Out of anyone, why in the hell did it have to be a boy like Ian Johnson?" Alice spat the name out as if it was a curse word. She had met Ian at several of her father's grandiose parties. He was shallow and egotistical, and she would rather spend time with many other people than with him. But he was wealthy, and his family influential, and her father saw nothing wrong with him. In his eyes, as in the eyes of many of the people in New York, it was a match.

The announcement of Alice Roosevelt's engagement to Ian Johnson had been announced in the papers three days ago, two days after Alice found out the marriage had been arranged without her knowing. When she found out, she was outraged, and refused to speak to her family or Ian for a day. Since then, she and her father had been in violent verbal fights every night. She protested about being married against her will--what was this, 1850?--but her father was as stubborn as her.

Finally, after much more yelling, Governor Roosevelt cried, "So be it! You will stay in this room, Lee, until you finally learn to mind me!" He slammed the door shut, and Alice heard the key turning in the lock from outside. With a frenzied glance at her dressing table, she realized with despair that her father had taken her own key. She was locked in her room for who knew how long.

She fell into a chair, exhausted from her constant fighting. Leaning her head in her hand, she glanced at the diamond ring on her finger, and examined it for a moment. It was a beautiful ring, but all it did was remind her that her father, who claimed to love her, was trying to tie her to a man she didn't love, didn't even like. Was this just a desperate attempt to restrain her and curb her rebellion? Alice began to cry bitter tears, and tore the ring off her finger. She stepped to the open bay window and threw it into the alley outside it. Let someone else find it, she thought. She had no use for it, and maybe it would make someone happy.

It certainly wasn't doing that for her.

[Mike D. Greaser]

The door slammed, echoing through the warehouse. This had been a normal occurrence, and the Midtown newsies were slowly getting used to it. Another normal occurrence was the yelling matches that happened between Mike and any random newsie that was in his way. Everyone could tell that he was angry, you would have to be blind not to see that. But, why he was mad, no one knew.

It started about a week ago when Mike came home late. At first, he just seemed stressed. For a few days, he just acted as if something was bothering him. He snapped a few times a day, but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. But then, three days ago, Mike came home, slammed the door to the lodging house, almost unhinging it. He stood in the doorway for several second, chest heaving. Then he yelled and kicked at one of the many crates that lay around the warehouse. Seconds later, all was quite. Mike had retreated to his office. No one dared to disturb him, and those that did signed their death warrant.

Mike sat, slumped at his desk, tears brimming his eyes. His door remained shut, and if anyone even attempted to open that, Mike would not hesitate to throw something. No one could see Mike D. Greaser like this. He was on the verge of tears, and yet he was so angry. How could this be happening? Three days ago, Mike had seen the papers. Alice was married! Or was getting married. The one happy thing in his life right now and was being taken away from him. Well, Mike would not have that. If he had to kill this Ian fella, then he would. But what he needed to do right now was talk to Alice. He needed to talk to Alice.

Mike growled and jumped up from his chair, which fell over. He needed to talk to Alice now. Mike stalked out of his office, slamming the door behind him, bid his newsies a quick goodbye and left... slamming the door behind him. He didn't care how it happened, but Mike knew that he needed to talk to Alice. Mike walked down the street, not even bothering to pay attention to where he was going. He ignored the comments thrown at him and continued to the Governor's house.

Mike had been there once, with a few of his newsies. Long story short, Mike and his newsies were out to cause trouble and almost got thrown in the refuge for it. That was weeks ago. But now, Mike had a different mission on his mind. He walked to the alley by the house and prayed this was Alice's room. As if on cue, the window flew open and a ring was hurled out. Mike ducked and chuckled as the ring hit the wall with a "clunk". At least he knew Alice was just as upset about this as he was.

With a new found courage, Mike turned to her window. Clearing his throat, Mike did something no one would ever think he would do. He began to sing a song he heard when he went to the theater with his parents.

Knowing I want you
Knowing I love you
Cannot compare
With my despair
Knowing I've lost you
I've been a fool to allow
Dreams to become
Great expectations
How can I love you so much
Yet make no move?
There will be days and nights
When I'll want you more than I want to
More than I should
Oh, how I want you
You and I we've seen it all
Chasing our hearts' desire
But we go on pretending
Stories like ours
Have happy endings

Mike smiled as he finished. If Kelly could see him now. Mike thrived on doing things differently. He wasn't the normal bad guy. You could never look at Mike now and then think he would kill innocent people.

[aliceroosevelt]

Alice heard the sound of her diamond engagement ring fall against either the ground or a wall. Good riddance, she thought bitterly. She no longer wanted any indication that she was officially engaged to Ian Johnson. Even if she was, she would never marry him, no matter what happened. Her heart belonged to someone else, despite the fact that people acted like he never existed. The ordeal that had happened a few days ago, when Alice had not come home, was almost forgotten.

A cool breeze came in through the open window. In her thin cotton nightgown and shawl, Alice shivered. Damn weather. She rose from her vanity chair and began to cross to the window, when she heard a curious sound from the alley below. It was a quiet voice singing, not talented, perhaps, but sweet and good. She passed a hand over her eyes to wipe her tears and, curious, went to her window and looked down into the darkened alley.

The light coming from her room, as well as the less-than-helpful light of the street lamps that just barely penetrated into the alley, she could see a familiar face. At the sight of him, her heart beat faster. Slowly, she smiled, even as she swiped the tears from her eyes again. It was almost comical, seeing Mike do something like this. She wouldn't have expected it from him. But she listened, and sighed at the words. Hopeless, she thought. How very hopeless.

When Mike finished the last word, Alice found herself smiling again. "Bravo, Pavarotti..." she said with a smirk, keeping her voice low. The last thing she needed was her father or Edith to hear her talking to someone from her locked bedroom. She suddenly became serious, and whispered, "Mike...you shouldn't have come. If my father catches you..." She didn't even want to think about what would happen.

In truth, of course, she was glad he had come. She had been thinking about him ever since she had found out about her engagement. She pulled her shawl closer around her and leaned her elbows on the sill. "What are you doing here?" she said quietly, her eyes sparkling again.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"Bravo, Pavarotti..."

Mike's eye connected with hers and he smiled. How could one person be so beautiful and perfect, yet so comfortable and laid back? Mike's smile never left his face as he bent at his waist into a low bow. "Why thank you." He honestly wasn't sure how Alice was going to react to him singing. Mike almost expected her to throw something at him. But this worked to, a lot less painful for Mike.

"Mike...you shouldn't have come. If my father catches you..."

The lighthearted conversation they started moments earlier left them both as Alice said this. Mike knew it was true; he knew he shouldn't have come. He was risking both of their hides. Especially now that Alice was engaged. Alice was engaged... Mike looked at her with sad eyes, "I had to. I heard the news."

What were they going to do? There was no way they could continue their little fling and not get caught. That was near impossible. If they were anyone else, they might be able to pull it off. But off course they had to be who they were. Alice, the Governor's daughter, and Mike, the villain among the newsies. How were they going to pull this off?

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to rescue the fair maiden in distress," Mike said, with a smirk. It was funny to be calling Alice a fair maiden. She was anything but.

"Come down. I wanna see you." Could she get out? Mike wondered. And if she could get down, what were they going to do? Mike could take her back to Midtown. That might be a plan. But what would they do after that? There was just too many what ifs?

[aliceroosevelt]

"I had to. I heard the news."

Alice felt herself stiffen. He had heard the news...along with everyone else in New York. Most people among the elite set knew either Governor Roosevelt or the Johnsons, and they all acted as if they had seen it coming for years. Other people didn't think much of it, but it was good small-talk at the local pub or barber shop: "So, friend, ya hear the Governor's daughter's gettin' hitched?" Alice liked attention most of the time, but hated it when she became a conversation piece. And if this was what she was getting attention for, she would rather have none at all.

To Mike she said hurriedly, "I didn't want it, Mike. I don't want it at all. You know that..." She didn't want him to be under the impression that this engagement was something she wanted for herself. She hoped he didn't have that mindset. What must he have thought of her, if he did? "I can't stand him..." she added, looking off, her hands tightening momentarily before dropping loose again as she sighed in a forlorn manner. "My God, Mike, what am I going to do?"

"I came to rescue the fair maiden in distress."

She smiled slightly and said, "You've saved me too many times before..." She didn't know how he was going to help her out of this one. If he could change Ian's mind, her father's mind, Ian's parents' minds, and wipe out the memories of everyone in New York to avoid a scandal or rumors...well, that was what it would take for her to be scot-free again. And that was impossible.

"Come down. I wanna see you."

"I can't," she said urgently. For one, her bedroom was on the second floor, and there was no way for her to climb down. But that was the least of their troubles. "My door is locked. I can't get out..." She frowned, and shifted so she was leaning further out the window. "You have no idea how much I want to see you..." she said quietly.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"I didn't want it, Mike. I don't want it at all. You know that... I can't stand him..."

Mike nodded. He knew that. He knew the moment he read the headline. Alice was so much better then that. She would never marry someone like Ian Johnson. Sure, Mike didn't know a lot about him, but he just knew that he wasn't Alice's type. At least he hoped. That is all he had done all week, driven himself crazy hoping. But now what she just said confirmed his thoughts. She didn't want it. "I know, Alice, I know."

"My God, Mike, what am I going to do?"

He looked at her helplessly. For once in his life, Mike didn't know what to do. No, that is not true. There was two more times when he felt like this. The first time, when his parents died. There was a moment of hope that it wasn't true, and then the moment after that when he knew it was true. Then the epiphany hit him like a train. The other time was when he had killed that boy....

Mike shook his head and turned away from her. The hopeless he felt made him so angry. He shouldn't be feeling this. He was Mike D. Greaser. "I don't know," he breathed. Bringing his hands up to his temples, Mike tried to rub away the tension.

"You've saved me too many times before..."

Mike smiled at her, "But once more couldn't hurt."

"I can't, My door is locked. I can't get out..."

Mike looked around, checking to see if anyone was watching. "Come out the window. I'll catch you if you fall." I'll catch you if you fall. Mike smiled at his words. He would catch her if she fell. Mike realized for the first time the depth of his feelings for Alice. He loved her. He would do anything for her.

"You have no idea how much I want to see you..."

Mike smiled at her. She missed him, that was good to know. And Mike sure bloody missed her. All he could think about was Alice and that last kiss they shared. It was wonderful. But then her father had to interrupt it. Just their luck, huh? Get caught at the worst possible moment. He wanted to tell her how much he missed her, and how many countless hours he spent awake thinking about her. But instead he replied, good naturally, "We sound so cheesy..."

Clearing his throat, Mike decided to ask the dreaded question, "Was he mad?" Mike was amazed at how he sounded. He actually sounded scared of Alice's father. But even the meanest newsie was afraid of the Governor. He could do so much. In a flick of his wrist, your life could be ruined. Mike feared the Governor like anyone should. The night they had been caught, Mike was on a high, a love high you could call it, and had no fear. He wasn't concerned about what the Governor would do to him. That was a mistake on his part.

[aliceroosevelt]

"I know, Alice, I know."

Alice gave a quiet sigh of relief. She was glad that she didn't have to convince him of anything; she was pretty sure she didn't have the strength or the inclination to argue with him after screaming at her father for the past five days. She was beginning to have the feeling that Mike knew her better than her own father after speaking to her for only a day or so. She speculated that this was most probably because he accepted her for who she was, and wasn't blind to the person she was becoming.

"I don't know."

Even Mike was clueless as to something they could do to save Alice from a loveless marriage. The only actions that Alice could think of were beyond drastic, something she wasn't sure she wanted to do. She didn't want to marry Ian, but she wasn't sure as to exactly how far she was willing to go to avoid the union. "There has to be something..." she said, almost to herself. She leaned her head to her hand and sighed. What could she do?

"But once more couldn't hurt."

She smiled slightly. "You best not do it too much more," she said amusedly. "Otherwise I'll owe you everything..." But then again, she thought, if she did owe him everything, she perhaps wouldn't be all too hesitant to give it to him.

"Come out the window. I'll catch you if you fall."

Alice's eyes widened. "Are you out of your mind?" she hissed. He wanted her to jump from a second-story window into an alleyway? Was he insane? She would probably break her neck, or worse. If she fell...she would be falling, wouldn't she? However...she thought again. She trusted him greatly, and if anyone were to catch her, it would be him. But there had to be a better way to do it than just taking a flying leap out the window...

A cloth rope? Alice wrinkled her nose at the thought. Too cliche, and too obvious as to what she had done (granted, it would be obvious, but she didn't need it completely blatant). Then another idea occurred to her. She looked at Mike and said, "Come right up against the wall. Wait for me..."

She went into her room and pulled on a pair of stockings and shoes as fast as she could. Once her shoes were buttoned, she came to the window again, and whispered quickly, "I'm going to hang from the sill, then fall. You just have to catch me the rest of the way..." She guessed that Mike should be about even with her ankles when she dropped, so he would easily be able to catch her that way. She only hoped that she was guessing the distance right. "Are you ready?"

"We sound so cheesy..."

Alice giggled a little, and was surprised at herself. "Call it what you like..."

"Was he mad?"

Alice responded with only a look: a slight lowering of the eyelids, frowning, her head inclined to one side. The look said quiet clearly, What do you think? He had surpassed mad when he lectured her the night that he had caught her with Mike, and for the few days after...well, Alice doubted that her father stopped being mad since that night.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"There has to be something..."

Closing his eyes, Mike sighed in frustration. This was so difficult. Of course he had to fall in love with the girl that made his life about ten times more difficult. But Mike would do anything for her. He was hooked; and he was man enough to admit it. But what could he possibly do now? Alice was engaged to a wealthy man, whom her father choose for her. There was almost nothing they could do. Unless, one of them talked to her father. "Is your father pretty set on it?" Maybe one of them could convince him it wouldn't be the right thing. Or maybe Mike could talk to Ian. Threaten him. Anything to make him back out of the marriage.

"You best not do it too much more. Otherwise I'll owe you everything..."

Mike raised his eyebrows and replied, coyly, "Would that be such a bad thing?" He winked at her. Maybe this wasn't the time to be flirting with each other. They should be trying to think of a way to get her out of this situation. But Mike couldn't help it, they hadn't seen each other in almost a week. "I know I wouldn't mind."

"Are you out of your mind?"

He shrugged and leaned against the wall nonchalantly. "Possibly. It hasn't really been decided yet." Mike couldn't help but add some humor to this tense situation. After all, he wasn't the one about to jump to his death.

When he suggested that she jump, he hadn't actually thought that she would consider it. But that was exactly what she was doing. She disappeared from her the window, obviously on the hunt for something. Moments later, she returned. She was actually going to jump!

"Come right up against the wall. Wait for me..."

Mike nodded and walked up to the wall. He bit back a smirk as Alice began to prepare herself for the fall. This was a sight. Alice obviously didn't find the humor in this situation. She was stressing about the jump. Did she not trust him?

"I'm going to hang from the sill, then fall. You just have to catch me the rest of the way... Are you ready?"

Instead of answering, Mike took the last step toward the wall and pressed his body against it. He outstretched his arms, waiting for her to fall. Alice began to climb out of the window and Mike chuckled. This was a lovely view of her. Alice took a deep breath and realized her hold on the window sill. She landed in Mike's arms within seconds. A small "ooh" sound came from Mike as the wind was knocked out from him. He took a few seconds to catch his breath before looking down at Alice who was still in his arms. "Told you I would catch you."

"Call it what you like..."

Mike looked at her, completely serious. "Love?" He grinned at her.

[aliceroosevelt]

"Is your father pretty set on it?"

Alice scoffed. "My father is dead set on it. He’s the one who arranged it in the first place." If her father wasn’t set on it, then she thought something might have come out of their incessant shouting matches. But he had said nothing about changing his mind, despite everything they said to each other, and despite his daughter’s blatant disapproval. She wasn't sure whether he just pretended she wasn't against it, or just ignored her protests. Either way, it got her angry that he, as her father, would do something deliberately that he knew would make her unhappy.

"Would that be such a bad thing? I know I wouldn't mind."

Alice smirked slightly. Out of all the people in the world, she would least ming being indepted to Mike. He had saved her life not a week before, and now he was quite possibly saving her freedom, albeit by jeopardizing it. But Alice knew she would rather try for and lose it than not try for it at all. She knew what she wanted. More accurately, she knew what she didn't want. And she was sure that the situation was unavoidable if she just stood still. Thus, she decided she wouldn't stand still.

Hanging out of the windowsill, Alice was more frightened than anything. She knew if she slipped she could break her legs, at least. And she also knew that if her father came back into the room, he would see the window thrown open, and his daughter hanging out of it. It also occured to her briefly that anyone not witnessing the whole scene would see only Miss Roosevelt climbing out of a second story window into nothingness, days after the announcement of her engagement.

Enough thinking, she scolded herself. Tensely, she finally willed herself to let go of the window ledge, and let out a muffled cry before she fell. She landed, and was surprised and mostly relieved to find herself in Mike's arms. "Told you I would catch you." She smiled broadly, and wasted no time in taking his face between her hands and kissing him deeply. After pulling away, Alice steadied herself on her own feet, and whispered to him, "Come on. I suggest we get out of here fast..."

"Love?"

She met his eyes, and the jest in hers dissapeared, replaced by a shining graveness that radiated a passionate feeling that could only be described as... "Love," she whispered serenely, and it felt as if she poured out her entire soul in that one word. She quickly pulled herself close to him again, in a tight, desperate embrace. She never wanted to feel like she did when he was away from him. Instead, she always wanted to have him near her, no matter what the cost.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"My father is dead set on it. He’s the one who arranged it in the first place."

Mike sighed and shook his head. This was just not looking up for them. "So, there is no way of talking him out of it?" Maybe they could talk Ian out of it? Maybe Mike could threaten him, or possibly Alice could annoy him to the point of divorce. Now there was a thought. "What about this Ian character?" Mike would beat him to a bloody pulp if he had to. But Mike wanted to know more about him before he charged his apartment.

She smiled broadly, and wasted no time in taking his face between her hands and kissing him deeply. "Come on. I suggest we get out of here fast..."

Chuckling, Mike kissed her back. But then of course she had to pull back and drop the news. Mike nodded and took her hand. Quickly, he led her out of the alley. Looking both ways, Mike took off down the street. Thankfully, there wasn't many people out. Knowing their luck, they would run into someone that neither of them wanted to see right now. But it was dark out and only the moon and street lights lit the streets. There were many shadows for the two to stay in.

Mike tried to stay out of view as much as possible, but that was hard to do. What Mike feared the most was getting stopped by a cop. Glancing over at Alice, Mike wondered what they could do to change her appearance. He quickly pulled her into an alley. "We need to change how you look..."

"Love," She quickly pulled herself close to him again, in a tight, desperate embrace.

Mike like he was going to puke and laugh at the same time. This was crazy. Mike D. Greaser did not fall in love. And yet this girl had taken his heart in a matter of days. Mike smiled as she pulled him close to her. He could stay like this all day. He buried his face in her hair and mumbled against it, "You smell good..."

[aliceroosevelt]

"So, there is no way of talking him out of it?"

Forlornly, Alice shook her head. Trying to talk her father out of something he had set his mind on was like...well, trying to talk her out of something. Her stubbornness was definitely inherited, and it was part of the reason the Governor and his daughter clashed so often. When two people with such strong wills wanted different things, there was always going to be a battle. But when the two people were father and daughter, there wasn't always a clear winner. She said to Mike, "He's made up his mind. There's nothing either of us can do."

"What about this Ian character?"

Alice made a disgusted noise. "Ian Johnson. Shallow, materialistic, egotistic and an annoyance to society. Which is why I refuse to marry him. He's also extremely wealthy, and from an influential family, which is why my father wants me to marry him." She sighed. "I also think it's Father's way of letting me know that he still has power over me. A damn rotten thing to do to your daughter, isn't it?" There was a taint of misery in Alice's voice, hinting that perhaps she wasn't as content with all this arguing as her temperament might have suggested.

"We need to change how you look..."

Alice narrowed her eyes. "Why?" she asked. "Let them see, at this point I don't care." But nonetheless, she began the lengthly process of unpinning her hair. Once all nine pins were out, her hair fell long and loose over her shoulders. She put the pins on the hem of her sleeve and left it at that. "Better?" she asked, and tossed her hair in front of her shoulders. "You can't tell it's me from the side, can you?"

Meanwhile, the Manhattan newsboys were getting home late. Racetrack and Jack had been out with Bumlets, Snitch and Dutchy for the night, and the five were returning to the lodging house from Tibby's. Jack had charmed the waitress into slipping something extra into their water glasses, so the group was in a "good" mood. They were taking a shortcut through Broadway to get back to the lodging house, and Jack was the first to point out a couple ducking into an alleyway. Laughing, Bumlets and Snitch began cat-calling noisily.

((Suckish way to add them in, but what else could I go off of?))

[Mike D. Greaser]

"He's made up his mind. There's nothing either of us can do."

Mike ran a shaky hand through his hair. Groaining, Mike realized how dirty his hair was. He hadn't had the time to clean up today. Hopefully, Alice wouldn't mind. Besides, they had bigger things to worry about. But still, Mike liked to look nice for Alice. Mike shook his head and turned his attention back to Alice. "What about your mother?" Mike knew almost nothing about Alice's mother. She wasn't in the newspapers as much as her husband was, which was only normal. Alice rarely spoke of her mother and Mike wondered how she felt about the whole ordeal.

"Ian Johnson. Shallow, materialistic, egotistic and an annoyance to society. Which is why I refuse to marry him. He's also extremely wealthy, and from an influential family, which is why my father wants me to marry him."

"I hate him already," Mike grumbled. He also hated her father. For many reasons. But the major one was that he would pick this pansy over Mike! Just because he had money. And he was from a family with a name. Big deal, soon enough Mike would be the one everyone was talking about. Soon enough, the Governor would regret picking someone over Mike D. Greaser.

"I also think it's Father's way of letting me know that he still has power over me. A damn rotten thing to do to your daughter, isn't it?"

Mike nodded remorsefully. "I'm so sorry, Alice. I should have been more careful. I led us into their blood hands!" He clenched his fist and turned away from her. He felt responsible for all of this. If Mike had been more careful, they would never have been in this situation. They could have been together now and Alice would not be engaged. It was his fault for being careless.

"Why? Let them see, at this point I don't care."

Mike gave her a look, but couldn't help smiling. "Alice..." Mike didn't have to say anything more. Alice pulled her hair out and flipped it over her shoulder. Mike had to sudden urge to run his hand through her hair. So he did. He then pulled her in for a kiss. He couldn't help himself; she was so beautiful with her hair down.

"Better? You can't tell it's me from the side, can you?"

"Mhhmm," Mike mumbled against her lips. Suddenly, Mike heard cat-calling and whistling. Mike growled her pulled away from Alice, keeping a protective arm around her waist. "Shut up! Bloody hell, you're just jealous because you haven't gotten any for week!" Mike pulled Alice closer to him, leaving no space between them. Mike couldn't see who the people were, but he knew he would soon enough.

[aliceroosevelt]

"What about your mother?"

"Edith is my stepmother," Alice said very quickly. She didn't want anyone to think that Edith was actually her mother. Alice and Edith would butt heads often, because their backgrounds and personalities were so different. Alice knew that her stepmother was a kind woman, but also felt that Edith Carow could never take the place of her real mother. She also felt that Edith favored her own children over her stepdaughter, leaving Alice the black sheep of the family. "She wouldn't speak out against it, anyway." Edith didn't know her stepdaughter well enough to be in tune with her feelings.

"I'm so sorry, Alice. I should have been more careful. I led us into their blood hands!"

Alice shook her head fervently. "It's not your fault, Mike. I was too bold...I mean, if we had just stayed inside none of this would have happened." She hung her head and dropped her voice to a murmur. "But I had to go outside and be the little rebellious brat that I am..." That was what her father sometimes called her, when he was nothing short of infuriated: a little rebellious brat. In the quiet times after the argument had blown over he always apologized for that, but Alice knew it was what he had truly meant. She was a rebellious brat, stubborn and spoiled.

"Alice..."

Mike touched her hair, and Alice smiled. She kissed him back, making herself aware of the wonderful sensation that came with being in his arms.

"Shut up! Bloody hell, you're just jealous because you haven't gotten any for week!"

Alice chuckled. "Only a week, then?" she said in a low tone through her laughter. "Depending on who it is I would hazard a guess either a year or never..."

---

"Shut up! Bloody hell, you're just jealous because you haven't gotten any for week!"

The boys looked at each other, mischievous glints in their eyes. "Whoever he is, he's gettin' hell from us..." Racetrack said savagely. His statement was met by cries of agreement from the others, and they walked toward the boy and his girl. Once they were close enough to see who they were talking to, their walking stagnated quickly. The arrogant smiles were wiped off their faces, and their eyes grew wide in wonder and surprise: Governor Roosevelt's daughter, Miss Alice, was standing before them. With his arm around her waist was Mike D. Greaser.

"Mike!?" Jack exclaimed, dumbfounded. Racetrack was speechless. Bumlets, Snitch and Dutchy exchanged shocked looks, and looked at each other as if hinting to say something, though who could think of something to say?

[Mike D. Greaser]

"Edith is my stepmother. She wouldn't speak out against it, anyway."

Immediately, Mike knew approaching Alice's mother was not going to work, seeing as she was her stepmother. The way Alice talked about her, Mike could only guess that they didn't get along. That is how it normally went. Stepmothers and daughters rarely ever have good relationships. Mike could only guess that Edith only married the governor for his money or the title. No one ever married for love anymore. Just look at what Alice's father was doing to her. "I don't know what to do Alice," Mike breathed. "Obviously, I can't go to your father. And from what you say, your stepmother isn't any different. The only thing I can think about doing is to approach Ian." Mike wiped a shaky hand across his face. "But, Alice, I don't think I could control myself if I ever saw him."

"It's not your fault, Mike. I was too bold...I mean, if we had just stayed inside none of this would have happened. But I had to go outside and be the little rebellious brat that I am..."

Mike smiled lovingly at her. No matter what the situation, Alice could always make him smile. Every time Mike thought about their relationship, Mike had to laugh. Who would have guessed? But, to be honest, Alice had him the first time he talked to her. Mike had always thought Alice Roosevelt was attractive, no one could deny that, but he also thought that along with her beauty came an arrogance that most rich beauties carried with them. Of course, Alice proved him wrong. Her first words to him, "Can I help you?", still made him smirk. Some would think that these words were snobby and stuck up, but Mike knew better. He could tell there was something behind those words. That was what had drawn him to her in the first place, the fire in her eyes. "You're not a rebellious brat. Just a cute brat."

Mike ended the kiss, for several reasons. One, he needed to catch his breath, and two he knew he couldn't let his guard down- not again. Savoring the taste and smell of her, Mike leaned his forehead against hers. "I love you." Wow, Mike had just said that. But he did, he really did. Or at least really liked. He wasn't concerned about that right now.

"Only a week, then? Depending on who it is I would hazard a guess either a year or never..."

Chuckling, Mike looked down at her and nodded. "Probably..." Despite the humor of the situation, Mike felt suddenly protective of Alice. Tightning his grip around her waist, Mike turned his attention to the young men approaching. What he saw made his jaw drop. He was definitely not expecting that.

"Mike!?"

Quickly, Mike replaced his astonishment with the cool mask he normally wore. But he couldn't help but feel anxious. There, in front of him, was Jack Kelly, Racetrack, and three others that he really didn't care about. What was Alice going to say when she found out these were the people he use to hang out with, and now was out to kill? "Kelly, Racetrack.... others." Mike acknowledge them with a nod. His eyes shifted to where the five had come from. Mike figured if the boys got too annoying, they could just walk away.

[aliceroosevelt]

"...But, Alice, I don't think I could control myself if I ever saw him."

"Then don't go to talk to him," Alice said quickly. All she needed was for Mike to hurt Ian in some way, and Ian ending up ratting out to his parents, and Mike exposing himself publicly as the boy Alice was going with. Neither of them needed that, the publicity. Alice's father would be irrevocably humiliated, and Alice would be inevitably punished and further pushed into the marriage with Ian. If Mike lost his temper with Ian, that would be the end of all of them. "I know you want to do something, Mike, and so do I. But we're dealing with something beyond our power." The Governor, Alice thought sullenly.

"You're not a rebellious brat. Just a cute brat."

She snorted. "Thanks," she said sarcastically. "And you're not a rotten scoundrel. Just a lovable one." She wasn't exactly lying there. She knew from the moment she met him that Mike was a scoundrel, which was why she had been drawn to the aspect of being seen with him. It would humiliate her father, no doubt about it. But as the day had progressed, she found that he was more than a scoundrel...he was a person, and a wonderful one at that. The reason she cared so strongly for him was because he, too, had realized that she was more than just a rich brat.

"I love you."

He broke the kiss, and she smiled at him warmly. "And I love you," she said without a second thought. For some reason, everyone made like love was a big deal. It was only a big deal if someone said it and it was unrequited. But when it was a true, honest statement, there was nothing strange or unnerving about it. Alice smiled at Mike, and kissed him again. "It breaks all convention, but I love you."

"Kelly, Racetrack.... others."

Alice's brow furrowed. "You know them...?"

Jack's eyes were dark. "Yeah, we know 'im." He answered the question for Mike. "What're you doin' here Mike? This is our territory. You got your own..."

Alice looked to Mike. "Territory?" she echoed quietly. "Are you in a gang?" The question was her first conclusion. She didn't care to give the situation much thought, not yet. There was time for that later. If the other boys decided to hurt her or Mike, where would they be then?

She felt another boy, a blond one with glasses, looking at her. She shot a glare back, and the boy's eyes cowered slightly. "Aren't you...Miss Roosevelt?" he asked, his low and quiet voice not matching with his tall and broad frame.

"Bravo, you have eyeballs," Alice said icily. "Now keep them off of me."