yay for more storyness!
Alright, I admit it. I was scared. I can't even place what sort of fear it was, but it was there. And I stood there clinging to Quick Draw because he was the one who was there. I mean, seriously, the only guy who'd ever kissed me was Blink. And I'd never been cornered like that. I was dead scared. It wasn't until all the other workres had left and it was just me and Quick Draw in the tack room that he said anything.
"What happened?" he asked quietly. I stopped the few tears that were sliding down my cheeks and wiped them on the shoulder of his shirt.
"He said he wanted to talk about something, and when we were back here, he just started hitting on me, and when I tried to scream, he kissed me." I was fighting a losing battle against tears.
"I'm gonna kill him. Dat's all dere is to it, he's dead. Shadow, I know you ain't really my goilfriend, but no one treats any a my friends like dat an gets away wid it."
"No, don't, just-" He went to take a step forward and I put a hand on his arm, but it wasn't necesary. As soon as he stepped with his left foot, his leg collapsed under him. He winced and grabbed his shin, laying on his back. I fell to me knees beside him. "Oh god, are you alright? Do you want me to go get someone?" Eyes still squeezed shut, he shook his head.
"No, no, I'm fine." He relaxed a little and let his head rest against the ground. With a shaky breath, he let his eyes open. He was scaring the crap out of me. I took his hand and squeezed it so hard I'm pretty sure there was a lacey imprint in his skin from my gloves. "Relax. Jus help me up and we'll call it a day. Yer make up's all messed up anyway." I almost laughed. I pulled him to his feet and held his left arm over my shoulders. We left through the door that leads to the aisle and left the barn.
"They won't miss you if you're gone?"
"I'll tell em my goilfriend was terribly upset an needed some comfortin, if yeh know what I mean."
"I've got half a mind to drop you."
"I was kiddin. An yeh might wanna lose da wig in case someone yeh know sees us."
"Good idea." We went into Tibby's and I set him down at a table before heading to the bathroom. I removed the blonde wig and placed it carefully in the folding case thing the shop owner had given me. With my blonde half safely stowed in my purse, I removed the hair tie and clips from my hair and let it fall down into its normal, unruly state. It was only then that I realized it would have been easier to wash my face if it was still tied back. Oh well, too late now. I washed the make up off my face, soaking most of my hair in the process. I dried off as best I could and made sure my face was back to its original appearence before returning to the restraunt.
Ok, who do you think would be the worst people to be present in Tibby's at this moment? Note that I am still wearing the dress and my hair is still mostly brushed and neat looking. Did you guess the Manhattan newsies? If you did, you're smart. If not, you're dumb, it was pretty easy to see that coming. All of them that were talking to Quick Draw fell silent as I walked over.
"Shadow?" They were all staring open mouthed, and only Blink had managed to find a voice. I smiled nervously and waved with a gloved hand. Then I realized I still had the gloves on and pulled them off and stuffed them in my purse. "You're wearing a dress."
"Why thank you Blink, I didn't know that." No one moved or seemed to even realize I'd spoken. "Look, if the damn dress is too distracting, I'll go take it off." After a few eyebrows raised, I realized what I'd said and smacked myself in the forehead. Quick Draw was sitting there trying his hardest to hold in the laughter, and was as a result shaking quiet violently. "Scratch that," I muttered and sat down. Everyone found a seat at the table, Blink next to me with his arm around my waist. Quick Draw was attempting to regain his composure.
"What's so funny?"Racetrack asked, looking at him a little strangely.
"Well, I had da same reaction, an she just about hit me." There was some scattered laughter, but then some confused looks. "I came in before all of yeh, an she was already heah." No one really seemed to believe this, but they all nodded. As everyone was placing orders for sandwhiches and stuff, Blink turned to me.
"How come yeh didn sell today?"
"I told you last night, I had a job that involved some under cover work." Blink nodded like he understood, but in his eye, I could see something. Something that looked like doubt. "Speaking of that, remind me I have to go report tonight," I whispered to him. Remember, no one else knew I was The Shadow, and I planned to keep it that way. So, we ate lunch and Blink and them went to sell the after noon edition of the paper. I helped Quick Draw up and he was walking better, so we went back to the lodging house. Kloppman gave us some ice and we headed upstairs to the bunk room.
yeah, i know, kinda short. sorry.
