What have I done.
So, seeing some updates from my favorite authors pretty much inspired me to get back to writing today, since I've been busy with the actual heck that is tech week in the musical world as well as the shows themselves, as well as the other drama that unfortunately consitutes life. I've also been a little (a lot) obsessed with Big Hero 6, and I have a series in that fandom if anyone is interested.
But, all that aside, here I am with another installment. I'm kind of sorry for this, but not really.
Enjoy!
-Marcelle
Romeo spins around and punches Racetrack Higgins harder than he's ever hit anything in his entire life. He sees his fist collide with skin and doesn't care.
He doesn't care that his wife gasps in surprise, doesn't care that he's clearly just broken a promise to his family, doesn't care that he thinks he also hears the breaking of bone.
All he can feel is anger, a surging, red-hot anger that consumes him like a flame. There is absolutely no reason his former brother should be here, and Romeo wants him to just disappear. He wants Race to leave and never try to worm his way into their lives again. He's done enough damage already.
"Get out."
Romeo tosses the words in Race's face, where his nose is apparently broken and is releasing a continuous thin stream of blood. He can hear his voice reverberating in the silence that has suddenly overtaken the room, and he wishes the rest of them didn't have to see this. It's only between Romeo and the traitor hunched in front of him.
"I take it you ain't so pleased ta see me, huh?" Race retorts, his sarcastic nature never seeming to die even when he knows he is hated by the vast majority of the room. Romeo despies the fact that the sound of Race's teasing voice is reawakening memories he had been trying so hard to leave dormat.
He's starting to remember when they were brothers. When Romeo would crawl into Race's bed when his dreams were plagued by nightmares, when Race would somehow find a nickel he swore up and down he didn't have a minute ago, before he knew Romeo hadn't been eating.
When Race promised him that, no matter what, he would be there. When he swore on his life he'd never let anything hurt him, and then had been the very reason Romeo had sobbed in secret for a week straight when he was sixteen years old.
"What part of your screwed-up head makes you think it's okay to be here?" He's shouting now, his voice raw with emotion that threatens to break as he stares down the man in front of him. Race has changed in the four years Romeo has tried to forget him, his hair longer and his frame taller, but he still has that cigar clamped between his teeth. And, just like the boy he'd been, Race seems not to harbor a single shred of regret. He merely shrugs his shoulders.
"I had to see off my baby brother on his weddin' day, didn't I?"
"I ain't your brother anymore," Romeo rejects him immediately, thanking everything good that he manages to keep the tremble he feels in his body out of the last word. Isabelle reaches out to take his arm, and Romeo hates himself for jerking away from the touch. But he doesn't want her to get involved, doesn't want any of his anger to somehow be directed at her. It's time to wrestle with his demons as they stand before him.
"Look, Romeo, if this is about that night a couple years ago..." Race trails off, glancing around the room before realizing that the rest of the newsies don't know the real story. All they know is that Race had abandoned them, because it was all Romeo had been able to admit. He hadn't ever been able to relive the rest. "Can't we jus' leave that in the past?"
"No." Race will not be forgiven so easily.
"You're still mad? Geez, kid, you need to learn when to let go-"
"That's what I've been trying to do!"
Suddenly, inexplicably, he's crying. Big tears are leaking from the corners of his eyes, and everything in Romeo's body hurts. How could one former friend make him feel this way? Why can he not pull it together for something as important as this?
Isabelle comes up behind him again, begins to rub his shoulder and hug his arm comfortingly, sending a glare over his shoulder. Romeo finds a small part of him now that is exceedingly grateful for her, an overwhelming joy that he has her now and forever. But still, he can't speak.
"What are you doing here, Race?" Jack finally steps up, just as Romeo should have known he would do eventually. Jack's words surge with venom, and he doesn't even know the reason why he should be angry. He still doesn't know what Race has really done.
"I actually did come for the weddin', Kelly. I know you think I ain't worth nothin', but I do care about you guys," Race fires back, no less poisonous. The boys begin to murmur, their tones clearly painted with doubt. Race's claim contradicts loudly with his actions, and Romeo feels a certain amount of pride that the rest of them see it, too. After all, he isn't the only one Race had turned his back on.
"Really, Race? 'Cause last time I checked, family didn't run out on family!" Jack takes a step towards him, and Romeo knows Jack would have done some serious damage if Katherine had not kept a tight grip on his arm. Jack sighs, and he glances apologetically at Romeo. But it isn't his fault.
"I did what I had ta do, alright? There wasn't anything left for me to stay for around 'ere," Race defends himself, but his argument is weak. Romeo knows the entire room is filled with enough reasons for anyone to stay. They all came to his wedding.
"Ain't we worth it, Race?" Jack's face falls as far as Romeo feels his heart dropping. He's been dreading words like that for four years.
"Obivously we aren't," Romeo forces himself to admit it, looking at Racetrack dead in the eyes and letting him know just how much he is hated.
"Why don't I tell them, Race? Why don't I tell them about the night you stole from he lodging house?"
I never could bring myself to imagine a happy ending for Racetrack Higgins. I wish I ciuld, but I realistically couldn't see it happening. And because I love Romeo, I had to throw him inot the angsty mix. Anyway, feel free to check out my other stuff, such as my Big Hero 6 story, or Distant Melody. But thanks for reading this one, too! Don't forget to review or leave prompts, those are always nice. I'll try to either finish this or update Midnight next. Thanks for reading!
