AN: Thanks to Cricket, Ela, and punkettenerd for reviewing. This chapter is a bit short, but I've been busy...as usual. Not to mention I lost Internet connection for a month...grr.
Vic began to spend more and more time with Brooke and without the newsies. He would skip days of selling and spend night after night away from the Lodging House. Gradually the newsies looked to Whittle for leadership, listening less and less to Vic. The twins would run to him when he came home, but they became more attached to the other newsies, Jack, Race and Spot in particular. Vic became a memory, part of the past and not the future. The twins still did not understand why he was so distant, all they knew was Brooke was the cause and they did not like her.
One day, Vic and Brooke stopped by at the Lodging House after dinner. The newsies were all watching a very intense poker game among Manhattan's four best poker players. When they walked in, Julie and Kyle ran to Vic, as usual, and he hugged them and ruffled their light brown hair. Julie looked up at him, her eyes curious and intense.
"Vic, why were you gone so long? Where were you? Don't you love us anymore?" Her brother stood next to her, as if defending her question. Vic hesitated before answering, not sure what to say.
"Of course I love you, but...," his voice dragged off.
"What?" Kyle piped up.
"I've been busy," Vic muttered, suddenly guilty.
All the newsies were listening, though trying to pretend not to be. Jack, however, had no qualms about hiding his eavesdropping. He looked Vic in the eye.
"That's no answer, and you know it."
"Tell them the truth, Vic," Race wanted and end to all the foolishness.
"You didn't sell papes with us," Julie pointed out, to her that was the only type of "busy."
"I've been, you know, hanging out with Brooke a lot and, well,...," Vic let his voice die, not sure how to give everyone the news he loathed to tell.
"Will you sell with me tomorrow? I can sell 15 papes all by myself!" Kyle was so proud of this accomplishment, and used every opportunity to remind the other newsies.
"Me too, me too," Julie jumped up and down; Brooke rolled her eyes.
"I...I can't kids, I'm not," Vic paused for a moment, looking at their hurt faces. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention, then took a deep breath, "I'm not going to sell papes anymore."