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David had stopped trying to convince himself he wasn't in love with Jack a long time ago. Even so, he hadn't told anyone. He knew how looked down upon people like David were. It was dirty and perverted for him to think about another man this way.
Still, David couldn't help it. Jack was perfect. He was a confident leader, he was kind to all the younger newsies, he knew how to talk to people. Not to mention how beautiful he was.
Standing off to the side as Jack blatantly flirted with Katherine, David realized how pathetic he was. Jack obviously wasn't like him, and he was disgusting to think he ever would. Jack was courting Katherine, someday they were going to get married. They were probably going to have kids together, watch them grow up. David would stand to the side as he always did, watching it all happen.
They were on the roof of the lodging house, where Jack usually slept. David was leaning against a ledge while the couple acted smitten with each other beside him. He really didn't know why Jack made him come up here if they wouldn't even talk.
David decided he'd had enough and stood up straight, clearing his throat, "I'm gonna go home, I don't want my parents to worry."
Jack diverted his attention from Katherine to focus on David. "You don't wanna stay a bit longer?" He frowned.
David sighed, "I would, but my parents wouldn't like me being out that late," he replied. In truth, he would not have stayed longer, and his parents already expected him to be out late so they wouldn't mind. David just needed to get away.
"Oh, okay, bye, Dave," Jack said, looking genuinely upset. David waved goodbye and walked towards the ladder down.
David stepped down the flights of stairs in the building, making his way down to the street. He felt tears welling up in his eyes as he navigated the streets to his home, but he didn't let them fall.
He was sick. He didn't deserve to cry over this. He was wrong to even feel this way. He need to be fixed, not be weak. He saw what happened to people who gave into their perversions, he's read the papes. Saw what happened when Oscar Wilde was convicted, saw how his parents reacted.
David wished he could be healed. Not have these thoughts about Jack. Get married to a nice girl and live a happy life. But he just couldn't. David couldn't even remember a time he had ever been in love with a girl. Sure, there were times when he thought he was, but it was just him wanting to have a friend, to not be so lonely.
His parents had tried to introduce him to girls, had made teasing comments whenever he talked to one. It irritated him, he knew his parents meant well, but it was overwhelming. Sarah knew that David felt this way about the tactics their parents used, even if she didn't know the reason.
David arrived home and headed straight for his room. Les was laying on their shared bed, and David didn't feel like bothering him. He decided to get some fresh air and sit on the balcony.
He stared off into the sky, reminding him of Jack's paintings. David had always loved Jack's art, the colors gorgeously blending together to create a landscape, or sunset, or portrait. Even just the sketches were beautiful.
David had caught Jack staring at him while he drew too many times to count, but that was normal. Jack drew everyone he knew. David sometimes let himself think, not as much as he drew David, though. He always quickly brushed the thought away, Jack had a girl he was courting.
Footsteps sounded behind David and Sarah walked out to the balcony. "What are you doing out here?" She asked, lowering herself down to sit beside David.
"Thinking."
"Can't you think inside, you're going to catch cold," Sarah laughed.
David rolled his eyes. He turned himself slightly away from his sister.
Sarah sighed and put an arm over David's shoulders, pulling him closer to her into a hug. After a moment she pulled away and looked at the other, "what are you thinking about?"
David knew better than to lie to his sister, and he was too tired to talk himself out of telling the truth, anyway.
"Jack," David said, "…and Katherine," he added before he could stop himself.
Sarah giggled, "yeah, they're cute aren't they?" She beamed. David looked at the ground. Sarah must've noticed because she stopped smiling. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"David."
Sarah forced her brother to look at her, only to be met with a teary-eyed face.
"Sarah, I… don't want Jack to be with Katherine," David said, a tear slipping down his face.
"Why not?" Sarah questioned, tilting her head.
David took a breath in, wanting to to get the truth off of his chest, even if it meant severe consequences.
"Because I'm in love with Jack," David whispered, squeezing his eyes shut and bracing himself for the onslaught of reprimands and curses. Instead, he felt himself being taken into a warm embrace.
"Oh, David," Sarah comforted, "it's okay."
David opened his eyes wide as tears began pouring down his face. He let himself melt into the touch and be comforted.
Eventually, Sarah removed herself from the hug, placing an arm on David's, "you should probably get some rest, it's getting late."
David nodded and headed back inside to his and Les's bed. He laid down, gently wrapping an arm around his brother, and drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, David was awoken by knocking at his door. It proceeded to get louder and more incessant until David finally got up to check the it. The door opened slowly, creaking loudly as it revealed the person behind.
Jack stood in front of him, looking determined.
"Um, hi?" David greeted, confused as to why Jack was at his house so early.
"I want to talk to you," Jack said and began leading David out the door.
David let himself be dragged to wherever the other was taking him. After a while they ended up in some random alleyway.
"Jack, what are we doing here-"
"Why do you keep on leavin' every I try to spend time with you?" Jack asked, cutting David off.
David backed up, fidgeting with his hands, "What? I never- I don't do that!"
"Answer honestly," Jack said, "please, Davey."
Looking up at Jack, David noticed that he looked nervous. His face was slightly red and he was avoiding eye contact.
David sighed, seeing no point in lying further, "you barely talk to me whenever we do anything because you're too busy flirting with Katherine."
Jack shifted his gaze to make eye contact, "Dave-"
"No. I don't want to hear it, you're going to make up some stupid excuse about you having to spend time with her because you're courting her," David snapped. "Why do you even invite me if you ignore me the entire time?"
"You know that's not true-"
"It is, Jack! I have to deal with it almost every day!" David yelled. "I have to see the boy I'm so pathetically in love with forget about me in favor of his belle!"
The space went silent. David clasped hand over his mouth, backing away from the other boy.
"I'm sorry, that was stupid, I didn't mean that-"
"You're in love with me?" Jack asked, eyes wide.
"No, I don't know what I'm talking about, that wold be crazy-"
"Davey."
"I mean, a man in love with another man, that's wrong-"
"Davey!"
"What?"
Jack stepped closer to David, their faces mere inches apart. Jack leaned in.
David pushed him away, shocked. "You have a girl! You cannot be doing that, especially not with another boy."
"Davey, you don't understand-"
"I don't want to hear it, I don't need your pity. Go back to Katherine."
Jack grabbed David's arm, stopping him from getting any further.
"Let go of me!" David shouted.
"Let me talk to you!" Jack pulled David over to sit with him. David squirmed but decided it was no use and slouched next to the other.
Jack huffed, leaning against the alley wall.
"I'm not courting Katherine anymore," Jack admitted. David turned to him, stunned.
"What? Since when?" David asked, completely surprised.
"Little less than two weeks ago," Jack responded, scratching the back of his neck.
David tilted his head, "then why were you guys still flirting and acting like a couple?"
"She was coverin' for me."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Jack started fidgeting with his hands. "I realized that I don't like her in that way. I like someone else," Jack locked eyes with David, "and I realized I don't… just like girls."
David gasped, eyes widening. Jack averted his gaze once again.
"I needed her to pretend we was still a couple, since people don't exactly take kindly to homosexuals," Jack laughed awkwardly.
"Well, uh, if you don't mind me asking, who do you like?" David questioned.
"Dave, you can't be serious."
"What?"
"Oh my god," Jack groaned, half laughing, "you, Davey. I'm in love with you."
David choked on his breath. "Really?" He exclaimed.
"Yes, and I thought I was making it obvious, too."
"Well, you talked to Katherine instead of me whenever we were around each other."
"I didn't know how to tell you, even this took a week of convincing!"
David chuckled, resting his forehead on Jack's shoulder, "we are both a mess."
"Sure are," Jack laughed along with David.
They stayed like that for a while before Jack gently lifted David's head up. Jack cupped the other boy's face, scanning it.
David watched as Jack's gaze lingered on his lips before focusing back on his eyes. David's breath hitched as Jack leaned impossibly closer.
He could feel Jack's breath on his face. The two boys drew nearer into each other.
David couldn't take it anymore and closed the distance between them, his lips crashing into Jack's. The kiss only lasted for a second before David pulled away.
"Oh god, I'm sorry, I didn't even ask. I'm so sorry-"
David was cut off as Jack's lips met his once again. David gasped into the kiss and let his eyes flutter closed. David's hands found the other boy's hair and he grabbed on, slightly pulling. Jack groaned quietly into the other's mouth.
The two boys' bodies pressed into each other, both trying to get closer to the other. Jack's hand shifted to grab David's waist. He tilted his head to deepen the kiss, gently biting David's lip. The latter opened his mouth slightly to allow Jack to slip his tongue in. David made a small noise as Jack did so.
The boys pulled away to catch their breath, gasping. David leaned his forehead against Jack's.
"I never thought you would feel the same way."
"Of course I do, Davey. I love you."
"I love you, too, Jackie."
David leaned in to kiss Jack again, this kiss was softer, less messy. It was less desperate, because they knew now that they had each other.