Chapter 11: Boys

Tug made her way to Tibby's the following morning where the boys were preparing for the rally that night. Pulling open the door, she was greeted by high-pitched hysterical laughter, which could only be coming from one person, Mush. He wasn't the only one laughing, just the most audible - all the boys seemed to be in a fit laughter over something.

Tug slid into a vacant seat next to Mush, swiping a piece of toast from his plate. "Hey, fellas," she said, giving them a look of interest. "What's goin' on?"

Practically wiping the tears from his eye, Blink stifled his giggles long enough to spit out, "Sk-Sk-Skittery..." but it was all he could manage before being overwhelmed by laughter once more.

Eyebrows flying upward, Tug glanced curiously down the table at a rather red-faced Skittery. He looked as if he had had about enough of whatever they were on about. Turning to Racetrack, who seemed to have a better handle on his behavior than most of the others, she quirked a brow questioningly.

Racetrack grinned, lighting up a cigar before explaining, "Skittery was out with a girl last night," which sent Blink off again.

"Can ya believe it? He just told us. Skittery - with a girl!"

Caught completely off guard by this news, Tug gasped, causing the toast she had just swallowed to stick in her throat. She started coughing loudly. Mush gave her a sound thump on the back, which dislodged it.

"Yeah, we can't believe it neither," Racetrack replied with a smirk, noting her reaction.

"What?" she exclaimed after she had regrouped from nearly choking, throwing a bewildered look down the table. She couldn't believe he actually told them that - not that it would out her or another, but it was the principle of the matter. Quickly, Tug adjusted her shock and went along with the others. "Yer right, I don't believe it."

"Yeah," Mush said, grinning. "He didn't get in until real late last night -" and with a distant look in his eye, he added, "lucky guy."

"Come on, Skittery, tell us who the broad was, huh? Where'd ya meet her? What'd ya do?" Racetrack asked, making heavily implications on his last question.

Tug couldn't help but laugh to herself; it was quite fascinating to listen to them talk about Skittery's mystery girl while she sat there, the girl in question, and they were none the wiser - and with all the insinuations being thrown around, it made her wonder what kind of girls they usually associated with. On second thought, she really didn't want to think about that. She was curious, however, to see how Skittery was going respond to all their inquiries.

"Her name don't matter," he snapped, and then he shrugged. "I was just walkin' when I met her, alright? You don't know her. Enough questions."

"Awe, come on, Skitts! It ain't every night yer out with a girl," Blink reminded him, to which Skittery responded with a rude hand gesture. "And you was out late too."

"At least tell us how she looked. Was she real pretty?" Mush asked, wiggling his eyebrows up and down.

Tug snorted, her eyes dancing under the brim of her cap, anxious to hear Skittery's response to that question. She leaned back in her chair so that she could get a good look at him and couldn't resist calling out, seconding Mush's demand. "Yeah, tell us - how did she look, huh?"

His eyes widened; Tug could tell he was trying very hard not too look in her direction as he replied, "I ain't sayin, alright? I don't want none of you bums gettin' any ideas."

"Ooh, one night with her and you ain't even gonna tell us who she is?" teased Blink. "She must be somethin' else, this girl."

"Yeah, she something else, alright," Skittery agreed dryly, sending a fleeting glance at Tug, who felt her cheeks flush.

Instantly she redirected her gaze, regretting having egged him on. She wanted the conversation to be over, soon. It was getting embarrassing. No sooner said than done; only a few short minutes later Jack, David, and Les walked in. It didn't take long for Jack to settle everyone into a discussion about the rally.

8:00PM at Irving Hall.