Chapter 9: War and New Love

Hey! I'm so mad at myself for being gone so long, I cannot even computer smile right now. But if it helps, I'm attempting to write again.

Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own Newsies. And my sucker is looonnnnggg gone. So I own practically nothing. I do own Mouse and whoever else may be in this chapter that does not belong to Disney.

Note: Some apologies;
1. Sorry if I'm much worse at writing Newsie accents for a few chapters, see; I haven't written in so long, and when I was recently writing my Newsie script, I was forcing myself not to write it as I do in this story. But once I get back into practice, it'll be good again.
2. Sorry I haven't written since like March!
3. Sorry in advance, because I won't be writing as much and as often as I used to. I have a couple of original writing projects I'm trying to spend more of my time on.
4. I absolutely can't believe it's been six months since I've updated! I'm so mad at myself! I know that this won't make up for it; it's not even very long. But I know that some of you were wanting some Racetrack + Arisa, so I forced myself to start that.

Chapter Note: It may suck. I hope it doesn't, but it may. And I forgot my genius idea I had before to
add Lady (Elisabeth Harker's character) in. So I'm still stuck without her and other characters that I need to add not in the story.

Replies:

Panda Bear- Maybe, but I wouldn't know since I don't know how old you are. :P And I'm updating now, thanks for reviewing!

Guest- Yes you certainly can be like that. I don't know when you'll be added, but you will be. Thanks for reading!

Mouse:

Mouse darted between two huge Harlem boys. She wasn't the first one to see Spot fall, however, and Steady reached him first, followed by Sailor. They carried Spot quickly away. Mouse joined them and helped them get Spot inside.

Once inside, she went to David and Christian.

"We need you guys out here. Leave Racetrack, he knows not to come out. People are falling everywhere… hurry!" She gasped and then ran right back out, leading them. Sailor came also, leaving Steady to care for Spot.

Outside things were still terrible. Mouse saw Jack still holding his ground, but he had lost his normal attitude and fearlessness, which was disturbing.

Then several people who had fallen before stood; Guess, Prince, Hero, and Bullseye.

Mouse looked over and saw Jack surrounded. She tried to get to him and help, but was blocked. Jack had been fighting hard, fists swinging. But then, he just stopped. He stood still. Mouse didn't understand. Daggers

Guess, who had been fighting three boys, broke away and ran to Jack, yelling.

"No! Don't give up on us, Jack!"

But he already had.

Everyone knew this battle was over when the second of the two greatest Newsie leaders fell.

Mouse was startled out of her shock by a running figure, racing towards Jack. It took her several seconds to realize who it was.

Racetrack!

The idiot.

But before she could do anything to stop him, he was right in the middle with Guess by his side, trying to help Jack.

Suddenly, there was a loud whistle and everyone froze. And then, about 10 seconds later, started "disappearing", not particularly wanting a friendly chat with the cops.

Mouse ran to Racetrack and helped him up. She, supporting him on her shoulder, hurried away and they hid in an alley.

"I told you to stay inside."

He laughed nervously.

"Sorry, mother."

"It's not funny, Race! You are really badly hurt, and we can't afford for you to go kill yourself."

"Why not? Since when did you or anyone care dis much about me?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked, surprised. He looked away.

"We all care about you," she continued. "Jack does; I know he hasn't been acting like it, but he's really stressed out. You're his best friend, Race."

Racetrack opened his mouth as if to protest, but she covered it with her hand.

"No. Don't ever say or believe that again. He is good friends with David, but it's YOU who he's known since you were 11. It's you who he made a 'brothers forever' pact with. It's you who he is best friends with and always will be, Racetrack. So don't you ever let anyone say he doesn't care about you. He cares about you, the Newsies care about you… I… I care about you."

He looked up.

"Is dat tears I see?" He teased.

"Yes. In your own eyes." She laughed.

Then, he hugged her, and she got a strange feeling inside. And he didn't stop hugging for a little longer than normal hugs last.

I'm just tired. Nothing happened.

Arisa thought to herself, while getting ready for bed.

Nothing. It was just a hug. People hug all the time.

She tried to fall asleep, but just couldn't settle down.

Then Arisa heard a knock on her door. She threw on a robe over her nightgown (the only girly thing she wore anymore) and opened it.

It was Racetrack.

"Racetrack, it's 10:00 o'clock at night. You're supposed to be in bed."

"I couldn't sleep."

"Wow, you were really serious about that mother thing…" she laughed.

"Haha. I thought maybe you'se would wanna come talk to me?"

"Where? And why me?"

"I was thinking on da roof. And I don't know, just, I like talkin' to you. You listen. And you understand me."

"Well, alright. To tell the truth, I like talkin' to you too. I haven't had many friends I could talk to."

He smiled and they headed up.

"It's nice up here." Arisa said.

"Yes." Was all Racetrack said.

"So," she asked, "what's your real name? Surely your mother didn't name you Racetrack?"

Racetrack didn't answer, but she didn't push him.

He lay back against the chimney and looked at the sky with a faraway look, and Arisa didn't disturb him. She knew what he was looking at, no one else could see.

They sat that way for what seemed like forever, yet Arisa felt like it was too short.

"Antoney Mario Bernia." He whispered.

"What?" she looked at him, confused.

"That's my name."

Arisa smiled.

"It's a very nice name. But you call your last name Higgins?"

"It's the name of my mother's second husband. But that's a long story."

"I have time."

He smiled and then shocked her by reaching out and taking her hand.

"Your hand is cold, Mouse."

She leaned back against the chimney beside him and he began to tell his story.

I just want to say how fun this is to write, and I hope that you all enjoyed it! It's a bit more "lovey dovey" than my normal style, (for all you new comers out there) but I felt this needed an extra "something". I know it's not long, but I hope it's good enough for now. Even though I haven't written romance in this before, I think it gives me some fresh inspiration and new ideas so I should be writing more. I really want to write another one-shot but we'll just have to see. I'm not giving out any information, but who knows? I've been interested in writing about Kloppman...

Disclaimer: I still don't own Newsies. Bummer, I know. But on the bright side, at least I own all the characters I made up. (Which technically makes me rich, if you count all the characters I've made up. Very, very rich.)

Remember the 3 R's: Read, Review, and Share!

Wait… that can't be Right.

I love you all!

-Me :)