Disclaimer: I don't own newsies, but stumbles and Gills are mine.
Race and I slowly walked around, every once and a while yelling the headline. People really liked me being so obviously injured. One guy gave me a quarter for one paper. One for the price of 25 papers. Eventually I stopped. The pain in my side was worse then before, and I had sold all of my papers. I sat down on the curb and watched as Race sold the last of his papers.
"No sheepshead today huh?" he asked.
"Do we really need it today? I mean we got more money then needed, and well..."
"I get it, youse really hurt ain't ya. Well lets go ta Tibby's, I'm starvin'." I was too, I just wasn't focused on it. My side hurt too much to pay any attention to my hunger. We had skipped lunch so it was about 6 pm. Race stood up and waited for me to stand.
"Little help here?" I stared at Race. He looked at me with a questioning face. He forgot, nice job. "Remember, I got soaked?"
"Oh yea, sorry I forgot." his face turned bright red. I giggled a little, not too much so I wouldn't die of pain though. He lifted me up so I could stand again, and I leaned on him so I wouldn't hurt myself too bad. We started toward Tibby's.
"It wasn't Snyder that soaked ya, was it?" He asked after a while.
"No, but he made the Delanceys do it, so he kind of soaked me... in a way."
"Promise me you'll be more careful."
"But, it was Sny-"
"I don't care if Snyder told them to, he may tell them to again." He interrupted staring at the ground. His face was a little red. "I just don't want you getting this hurt ever again."
"Okay I promise, as long as you promise to not to get hurt either. "
"Fine, but what could I get hurt by?"
"Oh, drowning, getting run over by a carriage, so many ways." I sassed.
"Yea that would hurt, not to mention kill." He laughed. As we entered Tibby's, we had found the newsies, but David, Les, and Jack were absent.
"Anyone know where Jacky is?"
"Not a clue, sure he's fine though," Boots replied. Race and I sat at a table by ourselves. He reached into his pocket to get his money for food, but I stopped him. I earned way too much money today to let him pay. We ate not speaking as our faces were too busy being stuffed.
"Ready to go Stumbles?" Race asked after we had finished.
"Yep." I replied. Race swiftly picked me up and started walking out the door. "Are you going to let me down so I can walk?"
"Nah." he stated. My face flushed from its normal pale color to a deep pink. I know I'm a few inches shorter then him, but there is no way his arms are not sore form carrying me around all day. Whatever, I yawned. Walking around all day with broken ribs really tires you out. I slowly fell asleep in his arms.
"Race! What happened to her?" Kloppman asked with worry in his voice.
"Nothing, she just fell asleep," I replied as I walked upstairs. I layed her down in her bed gently so she wouldn't wake up. I leaned down and kissed her forhead.
"Awwwwwwww!" Gills whispered from her bed.
"Shut up," I blushed. "Be glad I don't do that when Spots around."
"Ya gotta admit that was adorable," Jack said as he walked in.
"Where were ya? Ya on a date with David?" Mush joked.
"No, but his sister sure was pretty, their family fed me." He replied.
"So Jacky's got a goil?" Blink asked.
"I only just met her, I ain't no Mush," Jack laughed.
"Hey!" Mush pouted, "I ain't that bad."
I laid down in my bed and took out a cigar. I watched as all the boys eventually slept until I fell asleep. I feel like tomorrow's gonna be a good day.