A/N: I am SO, so sorry this has taken so long to update! I had about half of this chapter written when I posted chapter 7, and then I just couldn't decide how to end it. When I finally decided, I had no time to write because I found out that I got a pretty major role in my school's musical (very exciting!) and it has literally sucked up all my precious time! However, I am now on Spring Break and have had plenty of time to write. I'm hoping to put another chapter out sometime this week, but I make no promises! I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! And thanks to all those who kept up with me via review or email. You guys mean so much to me!
Quirky Del I was so excited when I saw that you caught up! Your reviews were so entertaining! lol I'm glad I've been keeping you on your toes and that you can't tell what's going to happen next. (smug smile) You'll just have to keep reading to find out, I guess. :D I'm so happy you are still enjoying this story, and may I nag you once again to get a move on with FPF?! I gosh darn love that story and I am dying without any updates! I know I'm such a hypocrite in saying that, but... I really, really want you to update! Lots of luv and a Happy Easter wish!
Dimonah Tralon Ha ha. Yeah, I totally wanted a cinnamon roll after I wrote that too! Thanks for being such a faithful reviewer! I love reading your comments!
Harmony Remarc Man, I just made everyone hungry! lol And yes, Race has been a very good little boy as of late, hasn't he? The question is... will he be good in this chapter? :D I hope you enjoy!
FeeldaForce Yes, everybody seems to want to know what's going on in Race's finite boy mind. However, I shall not give in to pressure! lol And, again, I'm sorry I didn't hurry with this update. However, I hope you're still with me and haven't forgetten too much of what has happened. Enjoy!
geek'd Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. You'll just have to keep reading! lol
Kutestar94 This chapter's a little longer, I think. Plus it has a little more plot than the last one. I hope you enjoy it!
Matisse My dear, sweet friend! I miss you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed the last chapter and that you like this one as well! It pleases me ever so much! lol Yes, I am copying your lame attempt at a British accent. I'm so glad I can do it so much better! (note sarcasm) You'd think after weeks of having to use on onstage, I'd have gotten the hang of it, but... no. :( Oh, well. I updated before I got your changes, so I may not have caught all the bad stuff, but I was impatient, what can I say? And, yeah... don't make fun of my vocab usage. (sticks out tongue)
Wow! That was a ton of reviews! Can we do that again? Maybe you guys can beat it... can I get ten reviews on one chapter, you think? (hopes) Okay, well... enjoy!
"There you go, ma'am. Thank you," I said, trading the woman my last paper for a penny. She nodded brusquely and sauntered off into the bustling crowd. I looked around, noting how light it was still. A slow smile made its way across my face. I was finished selling.
I walked toward the lodging house with a spring in my step. I had finished selling at a normal time. For the first time, I was going to get to eat with the rest of the newsies. Talk with them, get to know their jokes, and, best of all, stop hearing smart comments about my selling from a certain Italian.
"Deah me! Is that the Brooklyn queen?"
"Speak of the devil," I muttered. Sitting on the steps, pretending to squint at me, was Racetrack. A cigar hung lazily from his mouth, his teeth worrying the end of it.
"Conlon, you done sellin' before sunset?" He thumped his hand against his chest in feigned surprise. "It's a miracle! People of New York: there is a God!"
"Shut yer trap," I growled, my good mood dissipating rapidly.
He took his cigar out of his mouth and shook his head sadly. "Still got that bad attitude, I see. That must be genetic."
"You referrin' to my brother, Higgins?"
"And what if I am?" He leaned back against the steps, dark eyebrows raised challengingly.
"Then you'd be right," I surrendered, stepping past him. His hearty bark of laughter followed me into the building.
"Song? Hey, fellahs! Song's back!"
"Yeah, yeah," I mumbled. "Rub it in like the midget why don't cha, Jack?"
He gave me his lopsided grin. "Higgins givin' ya a hard time again?"
"Hard?" I repeated sarcastically.
"As rock," Race's voice sounded from behind me. "Ya know, Cowboy… I think she's gettin' used ta it."
I shot a glare over my shoulder, but it was lost on him. He was squinting into the dimmer half of the room. "Whatcha starin' at, Midge?"
He gave me an irritated look but didn't comment on the height reference. If I was getting used to his comments, he had to be getting used to mine. Instead of answering me, he looked over at Jack. "Ya know 'im, Cowboy?"
Jack gave him a puzzled look. "Know who?"
Race squinted again, and this time I followed his gaze. My eyes found the darkest corner of the room in time to see the shadows shift, and my pulse immediately skyrocketed. I knew who was in those shadows, and with the realization came a thousand different emotions that I had tried so hard to bury over the past couple weeks. Seeming to sense my recognition, Race looked back at me. "Ah… so 'e's your friend, eh, Song? Figures." With a shrug, he sauntered over to another part of the room where a few of the other newsies were playing a game of cards. My eyes never left the corner.
"Looks like your boyfriend's back," Jack's voice stated beside me. My eyes, once again, didn't move.
"He ain't my boyfriend, Jack," I snapped, but my lips tingled in remembrance of the last time I'd seen him. "Ya know what? We're not even friends."
I turned around and walked out the door into the coming night. I didn't want to face him. Not there, in the midst of a room full of curious spectators. Not while I was still unsure of how I even felt about the last time we'd been together.
"Song!"
The sound of his voice made my heart beat even faster, and I quickened my pace, praying that I'd rounded the corner before he had exited.
"Song, wait!" I heard his steps come nearer. I stopped, knowing I would never outrun him. A moment later, he rounded the corner and halted upon sighting me. "What's your problem?" he demanded, dark eyes sparking his indignance at being ignored.
I walked up to him until we were face to face. "Ya wanna know what my problem is, Shadow?" When he didn't reply, I drew my hand back and hit him as hard as I could across the face. Red marks in the likeness of my fingers quickly bloomed on his cheek. Before he could recover, I raised my hand to do the same to the other side, but his rough fingers wrapped themselves around my wrist halfway there.
"What the hell, Song!" he screamed at me.
"Let go of me," I shouted back.
"Not until you let me know what the hell your problem is," He countered just as hotly.
"Figure it out," I growled.
He twisted my arm behind my back and drew me in until I could feel his breath against my face. "I'm not into guessing games, Conlon." He spat my name as if it were poison in his mouth.
Tears pricked at my eyes as emotion threatened to overwhelm me. "You kissed me!" I gave in. "You didn't even ask if I wanted you to! How was I supposed to know what that meant?!" A single hot tear ran down my cheek. "And then… then you turn around and betray us?"
I gasped as his strong hands shoved me back against the wall. "How dare you," he whispered, white rage coating his tone.
"They told me about you, Shadow," I answered. My voice no longer held emotion. I had gone beyond the point of feeling, not even having the capacity to be afraid of the fact that he had me cornered against a wall and easily possessed double my strength. "They told me that you joined them. That you hate my brother. Traitor."
"You're a filthy liar!" he screamed, his hand lifting as if about to strike me.
"Don't you dare touch her!" another voice demanded, successfully halting Shadow's action. A moment later, he was pulled off me, and I sank to the ground, finally realizing what had almost happened.
"Song… Song, are you okay?" I looked up to see Jack standing over me, concern etched into his features. "Did he hit you?"
I shook my head, barely comprehending his words. He reached down and gently lifted me from the ground. "Race, she shaking," he said over my head. "I've never seen 'er like this."
"Give 'er to me," the same voice that had stopped Shadow replied. Jack reluctantly released me into rougher hands, and I found myself staring into deep brown eyes. "C'mon, Song. What kind of Brooklynite are you? Ya gonna let that bother ya, huh? Suck it up, Conlon!"
Anger whipped through me at his words. "Shut up, Race!" I snarled, shoving him away from me. "You don't know nothin'!"
A grin softened his features. "There she is, Cowboy. I got 'er back."
"Thanks for being so gentle about it," came his sarcastic reply.
Race shrugged. "She don't need someone ta pamper 'er. She's a Conlon, ain't that right, Song?"
I ignored him and walked over to where Mush and Bumlets had Shadow pinned to the ground. His dark eyes glared up at me. "You're a traitor," I whispered. "Look me in the eyes and call me a liar."
His eyes never left mine.
"Liar."
