A/N: Hi again! It's been awhile since I posted the first chapter. It took a lot longer than I expected to finish editing the second chapter. However, I finally finished so here it is! Please leave a review and tell me if I've made any mistakes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of its characters
WARNING: Curse words and mentions of drinking
Stepping out of the lodging house, I stopped and took in a deep breath. It smelled like sewage and fish. I smiled, thinking to myself 'smells like home'. I started down the street and ran to catch up with the boys. Coming up beside Romeo, I said "So I's heard you was out with a lady last night?"
Romeo ducked his head and muttered something along the lines of "Just another date."
I smirked at this and said "You's was out with Anna again weren't ya?"
He looked up at me like I was crazy and exclaimed, "I's dumped her last week. I was out with Nancy last night."
I reasoned with, "How am I supposed to keep up with all your girlfriends? You goes through them like I goes through cigars."
He faked a shocked expression and stuttered "You wound me."
We kept joking till we finally reached the newspaper distribution center. When we got there, the Delancy's were already opening up the gates.
"Well look what we have here Oscar." Morris said, walking up to us with his hands on his hips. "Looks like a bunch of ugly ass orphans."
"Alright you two, don't even start", a voice said from behind us. Jack. Perfect timing.
"Aw, will you look at that, your daddy's here to protect ya.", Oscar cooed. I thought they were gonna stop there, but ever the Delancy's they were, they just had to continue.
Morris walked up to me and asked in a fake concerned voice. "You ok Higgins? You look like you've been drinking." He stopped for a few seconds before he continued with "Looks like you really are turning into your old man."
That really set me off. I would've soaked him right there, had Jack and Romeo not grabbed me by my shoulders.
"You take it back right now you asshole!", I yelled, fighting against the grip Jack and Romeo had on me.
"Alright boys, knock it off." Weasel said, appearing from behind a stack of newspapers. He grabbed Oscar and Morris by the backs of their shirts and shoved them towards a pile of newspapers.
I was still breathing heavy when Jack and Romeo finally let go of me. Jack gave me a look, as if asking, 'You good?' I nodded at him, probably a little to quickly for his liking, but he let it go and got in line.
When I got to the front of the line, I slammed my money down and snatched my papes from Morris. 'One of these days I'm going to lose it and soak them', I thought bitterly, shoving my papes in my news bag. Grabbing my cigar from pocket and lighting it, I stepped out onto the streets. Starting another grueling day of work.
Around lunchtime, I had already sold all my papes, so I headed inside the racetracks in Brooklyn, grabbing some lunch nearby first. I stayed there until the last race of the day, even though I had lost all my money long before that. I decided I would head back to the lodge house long enough to grab the money I hide under my mattress for emergency's like this. I really needed a drink after the day I had.
When I got to the lodge house, only a few boys were there. I walked over to my mattress and lifted it, looking around first, and grabbed the money. On my way out, though, Specs stopped me and asked "Where are you's going?" I replied with "None of your business. I'll be back before curfew." 'That was another lie.
When I left the lodging house, I headed toward a bar in Queens where no one would recognize me. I had been kicked out of nearly every bar from Manhattan to Brooklyn. The bar was hidden in an alleyway, next to a deli. Usually I wouldn't go down an alley at night, but I needed a drink bad. I didn't know what I was gonna tell Jack when I woke up with another hangover the next morning, but at the moment, I didn't even care.
When I reached the bar, I opened door and was immediately overwhelmed with the smell of smoke and beer. Sitting down at the bar, I ordered the cheapest beer I could. They didn't even ask for an ID, as long as I had cash they didn't care. As soon as I got my drink I almost immediately downed it and ordered another. I continued this process for about three hours before I ran out of cash. Stumbling out of my seat and towards the door, I headed to where I hoped the lodge house was. It probably wasn't the best idea to be walking around in New York City at night, but at the moment, I couldn't even remember my middle name.
I miraculously made it back with out getting mugged or passing out. Now all I had to do was get inside without waking up Jake. I climbed up the fire escape, almost falling off a few times. When I reached the top though, I was meet with the sight of Jack sitting in the windowsill. He looked up at me with a stoic look on his face.
"You was out late. Anything I need to know about?", he said in a flat voice. With the look he was given me, I knew he wasn't gonna go down without a fight.
I decided I was too tired to deal with him, so I just made up a lie. "Didn't mean to make you worry. I went over to Brooklyn and played cards with the boys. Won all their money too." I replied, smiling so he would believe me.
Jack stood up and walked towards me. He stopped in front of me and responded, "You know that's funny Racer. Spot and the boys left about a hour ago." My smile quickly faded at this statement. He raised his eyebrows at me. I knew I was caught.
"Look Jack, we's can talk bout this in the morning. I'm tired", I slurred, trying to push past him , and in the process, almost stumbling into the side of the building.
"Racer, look at me", he said with a concerned voice. When I turned around he had that concerned look on his face he always got when one of the boys got hurt. "You was doin so good. You hadn't drank one night this week.", he continued. At this I looked down at my feet. Little did he know, I had drank every night this week.
"Anthony, look at me", he declared in a serious voice. He never used my real name. When I looked up I saw a disappointed look I had seen one too many times. "You only drank yesterday and today, right?", he said, probably begging me to say yes.
I didn't even try lying this time. "Jack, look give me a break. It's not easy to quit when I've been doin it for years.", I muttered, looking back down at my feet. Jack didn't say anything for a few seconds, so I thought he was gonna let it go, but just my luck, he didn't.
"Racer", he said, grabbing my shoulder and forcing me to look at him. "You's gonna get yourself killed if you keep doin this. It ain't healthy." I knew he was just trying to help me, but for some reason, I went off.
"You think I don't knows that?" I yelled, getting in his face. "Do you think I want to end up like my old man?" I continued, hating how my voice cracked.
Jack gave me a confused look and demanded, "What the hell are you's talking about? Your old man was a no good drunk who liked to beat on his kid. You are nothing like that.", he said softly.
At this I just had to sit down and put my head in my hands. For some reason, I didn't believe a word he was saying. I heard him sigh before I felt him put his hand on my shoulder.
"You knows I 'll always be there for you right? Brothers look out for each other.", he declared. When I didn't say anything, I felt him get up and start walking towards the window. But before he Climed in, he said, "If you can't do it for yourself, do it for us", he begged. And with that, he climbed in and shut the window.
I sat there for probably ten minutes before I sighed and stood up, brushing the dirt off my pants from the fire escape. I opened the window and climbed in, tip toeing towards my bed. When I layed down though, I couldn't stop thinking about what Jake had said. Before I fell asleep that night, I promised myself that I would stop for myself and for my brothers.