"Hey! Wait up!" Race rushed down the stairs after Mickie, but she paid no attention to him. The darkness of the bunkroom quickly concealed her. Race lit a match and found her laying on a bunk in the corner of the room.
"Can we tawk?" He blew out the match as he sat down on her bed..
"No. Shove off Race, before I have to kick your ass," She knew Race didn't really deserve her anger, but there was no one else around.
"You don't scare me," Race said casually as he lit another match, using this one to light a cigar. "I've seen ya naked!" Mickie looked up in time to see a mischievous twinkle in his eyes before he shook out the match.
"I guess you're right…" she finally agreed, with a laugh. "Could ya not smoke that thing in heah?" Mickie protested in digust.
"I hafta smoke it heah."
"And why is that?" Mickie inquired.
"Cuz I'm tryin' ta tawk to you, and dis is where you are!" Race proclaimed loudly.
"So the only way ta get you ta not smoke that doity thing in heah, is ta go somewhere else with ya?" Mickie laughed as Race nodded.
"Will you two kindly shut the hell up! Some of us are trying to sleep heah!" a sleepy, yet angry voice called out.
"Come on, we'll tawk. Follow me." Race whispered as he took her hand, leading her back up the stairs. She followed him all the way up to the boys' bunkroom and out the window onto the fire escape and up to the roof.
"So what are ya doin' heah?" Race asked hopefully.
"I ain't heah for that, so get it out of yer head," Mick's tone was rising with her temper.
"Quit flatterin' yerself. I know ya ain't heah for that," Race laughed. "Are ya plannin' on stayin' for a while, maybe?"
"Dunno," Mick stared out onto the sleeping city.
"Ten told me what happened when me and Blink came home just now. She says she's real sorry about sayin' you were awful looking or somethin' like dat," Mickie laughed.
"I ain't mad about dat."
"Oh," Race felt silent. "Well, then… Let's go back inside." He stood up and looked at Mickie, but she remained seated, staring out at the streets.
"I am kinda mad about somethin' tho," Mickie said absentmindedly. A wave of confusion washed over Race. He wasn't sure if he should stay and listen to her problems, or leave her alone to think. She looked up at him and he knew he should stay.
"Blink tried to pay me tonight," Mickie stated.
"Pay you…?" Race thought for a minute. "Oh… Pay you…"
"Yeah. And that one goil, Double was being such a bitch ta me"
"Hey, Dub's like dat ta everyone! She's just a bitch!" Race laughed.
"I guess… And then there's what Ten said…"
"I t'ought you weren't mad about dat!" Race interrupted.
"I ain't mad about it! But she said all da guys said that! That means all da guys saw me and know that I was just a cheap hooker!" Tears welled up in her eyes.
"But you were a cheap hooker," Race said bluntly.
"Excuse me?" Rage flashed through Mickie's eyes. "Damn Race! I thought that maybe you would be a friend ta me!"
"I will be a friend, but ya gotta accept dat you was a hooker. I ain't sayin' you'se a hooker, now or nothin'." Race insisted. "We all did t'ings dat we ain't proud of, Mick."
"Yes, I accept that I was a hooker," Mickie started coldly. "But I don't need thoity dumb ass newsies, that I now hafta live with, knowin' that I was a hooker. I would like ta keep that sorta my little secret, Race. Eva hear of 'starting fresh'? But it is nice ta know that you still think of me like that."
"Well, damn! It ain't like ya gave me any time ta get used ta the idea! Last I saw ya, ya were still a cheap hooker! Can ya really blame Blink fer tryin' ta pay you? I'd offer, but your attitude makes you as ugly as shit, You ain't worth my money!" Race screamed at Mickie.
"Well, f*ck you!" Mickie screamed as she jumped up, throwing her fist at him in a forceful punch. Race grabbed her wrist before she could hit him and pulled her close to him.
"If you eva hit me, I'll have yer ass outta dis house in a second," Mickie stared at him in fear. "We do not hit in dis house, you hear me?" Race clenched her wrist in his hand, shaking it roughly to emphasize each word. Mickie nodded. Race pushed her away and stormed down the fire escape immediately regretting the wrathful encounter.
"What da hell was that about?" Mickie asked herself outloud.
