Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews guys!!! I love you all!!
Disclaimer: I own none of da newsies, nor Jess nor Kristen, dey belong ta Hica Lynn. I also should mention that a lot of this came from the ideas of my close friend Ziona; I'm just putting it into writing.
Chapter Two
"Well, isn't dis lovely?" Jack announced with a smirk as he and Jess walked into the room. His smile quickly faded into a look of pain as Jess turned and slapped his arm.
Racetrack snapped out of his confused daze and feverishly looked around. Kristen woke up startled from Race's movements. She took one look at the two standing in the doorway and fell into Race's chest crying.
"Shhhh. Kris, it's okay," Racetrack attempted to comfort her but to no avail. He hugged her and kissed her head softly. He knew that things weren't alright, but she didn't need to know that.
Kristen just shook her head, "I need to go." She quickly pulled away from him, her hair wildly flowing, and ran out the door. Race just sighed and fell back onto his bed.
"Race? Meet me up on the roof." Jack sighed and headed towards the stairs, mumbling to himself along the way. He wasn't exactly sure what he was going to say to him, he just knew that they needed to talk.
With a groan, Racetrack turned on his side, away from Jess. He had never felt this way before; he was depressed for Kristen, angry at Jack, enraged at himself…he hated these feelings inside him.
"It's alright, Race. He's not entirely mad. He understands what you're going through. I understand." Jess walked over to face him. "Cheer up," she moved her brown hair away from her face, kissed his cheek, then left.
* * *
Kristen was sprawled out over her bed sobbing. Locks of her golden-brown hair were plastered with tears to her face. She was so angry at herself, not to mention Jess and Jack as well. She felt horrible for Racetrack; she had no idea what Jack was going to do to him. Or worse yet, what he was going to do her.
'Why did I let myself do this? Why was I not thinking?' she thought. She lifted her head up and fell back on to her bed.
Jess walked into the room and silently closed the door behind her. Cautiously, she walked up to her depressed friend on the bed. Kristen looked so heart-broken; anyone in the world could tell that she was terribly hurt and devastated.
She strolled over to the older girl and gently shook her shoulder, "Hey, wake up."
Kristen rolled over and shot a look of disgust at her. Jess was taken aback from this look her companion had just given her. Kristen noticed Jess's shocked expression and her face quickly showed regret and she lay back down.
Jess sat down on the edge of Kristen's bed and stroked her hair. "It'll be alright. Jack really isn't mad. Kloppman doesn't even know. I understand. It's okay. I trust that you wouldn't make a bad decision."
Kristen slowly sat up and looked at the younger girl. She had noticed that she had started crying as well. Although Kristen had stopped, her eyes were still red with tears. Turning around, she hugged her best friend tightly, not wanting to let go.
* * *
Jack was sitting on the ground against the half-wall of the roof of the Manhattan Lodging House. He had his cowboy hat on and his left leg stretched out. He head was down and his arms were crossed.
Racetrack sat on the bench across from Jack. He had his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. He was not having a pleasant time up here. Although Race loved it up here on the roof, this was not the time to be here with Jack.
'How could I have done dis ta Kristen? I should really think before I act, shouldn't I?' Race dug his head into his hands even more.
Jack looked up apparently thinking about what he was going to say, 'What am I supposed ta say ta him? I'm sure dere is a good explanation for all o' dis. I'll just ask him what happened…'
"Race, look. I know what you're—"
"I don't knows what I'se was thinkin'. I mean, it was a mistake, I know. Da first real mistake I've made, and prob'ly me last," Race blurted out. He sighed heavily after all of this; his head was still in his hands.
"Race…" Jack got up and sat next to his friend. "It wasn't a mistake dat you—"
"I didn't do nuttin' wit' 'er!" he interrupted. Jack just stared at him with questioning eyes. "I didn't."
"A'ight, I believe ya." Jack half-heartily replied. Race turned to face Jack to see if he was telling the truth. Jack just sighed again. "Do you really think it was a mistake, Race?"
Race looked up with a confused look on his face and in his eyes. Looking down, he rubbed his temples and frowned, "No, I guess not." Race didn't really believe himself and decided to change the subject, "Any news from Denton?"
Jack hung his own head in despair and didn't speak a world for a minute. "Denton hasn't found anyone yet."
Any hope left on Racetrack's face was now completely washed away with a very grim look. He had hoped for good news. Now this meant that he would have to leave the city. "I'm leavin' in a week den."
"Where are ya gonna go den, huh?" Jack inquired.
"I don't know yet. Brooklyn maybe?" Race just groaned and let his head drop back into his hands. Race then got up to leave but Jack held him back.
"What about Kris? Are ya gonna tell her?" Jack put his arm around his friend's shoulders.
Race let a long, raspy breath escape his chapped lips. He just sat there running his hands through his short, curly brown hear. That was the whole reason why he was leaving: he couldn't bear to see Kristen when it happened. It was minutes before he spoke again, "Yea, I'll tell her."
With that he got up and walked down the stairs leaving Jack alone on the roof.
