Sprints walked back into the Lodging house at ten twenty-five. "Where da hell have ya been!" Racetrack exclaimed as she walked through the door.
"I took de scenic route," she told him. He raised an eyebrow disbelievingly. "Ya don't believe me?" She asked feigning offense. Racetrack raised his eyebrow higher.
"You'se been able to keep it unda wraps dat you'se a goil for da past six and a half years; you'se a pretty damn good liar. No, I don't beleive ya." Race told her honestly.
Sprints sighed, "I had da idea to run back and try to save Crutchy," she muttered. Race opened his mouth to yell, but she held up her finger, "I'm not finished yet. Denton stopped me and dragged me into an alley until I calmed down. In my hysterical struggle I managed to knock off my cap." She told him and was about to continued her explanation, but he cut her off.
"So Denton knows dat you'se a goil?"
Sprints looked down at her feet, "Yes."
"Are ya stupid!" Racetrack exclaimed, "What if he puts dat in da papes or somethin'? Your cova' would be blown to smithareens! Ev'ry newsie in New Yawk would know you'se was a goil! Jack would know you'se was a goil! I know dat don't seem like a bad t'ing ta you'se, because I'se know you'se been infatuated wit' him for da past two years, but what if he were to kick ya out for it? Where would ya go 'den?"
"Spot Conlon knows too," she mumbled.
"Oh, yippy kie yay, Sprints." Racetrack said sardonically. "How is it, dat ya managed ta let da most well-known newsie womaniza in New Yawk know dat you'se a goil?"
"I didn't!" Sprints exclaimed, hurt that Race would think that she was that stupid and irresponsible. "He's da, as ya put it, most well-known newsie womaniza in Nooyawk. He knows a goil when he sees one standin' in front of him Race, even when she's got her chest bound flat and her hat pulled down so it hides most of her dirt smeared face!" She took a breath and before Racetrack could say anything else she continued to speak, "Yeah, I know letting Denton find out was reckless, a'ight! I can't change dat now though, now can I?"
Racetrack grumbled out a response in the negative and then turned away from her and headed up the stairs to the bunk room. "Ya comin'?" He asked her.
"I'll be up dere in a minute," she muttered. Race turned and raised an eyebrow at her. "What da hell do you think I'm gonna do, sneak Spot Conlon in here!?"
X
"What da hell do you think I'm gonna do, sneak Spot Conlon in here!?" Jack heard a feminine voice scream. Jack heard the stairs leading up to the bunk room creak and moan as someone stormed up them angrily.
From the corner of his eye, Jack saw Race storm into the room and collapse on his bed in a huff. Jack's brow furrowed in confusion before standing and quietly making his way towards the stairs. He quietly stepped down them until he was at the edge of the wall. He peaked his head around the corner and spotted Sprints sitting in a chair looking stressed and defeated.
He was about to head down there to ask what was up with him and where he had been when he went to take off his hat. Or should he say she? When Sprints removed the hat tendrils of auburn waves fell to rest at just past the shoulders revealing that Sprints was a girl. She sighed and to herself, grumbled, "What have ya gotten ya'self into, kid?"
She rubbed her hands across her face, digging the heel of her palms into her eyes. She sat there like that for a few moments before pulling her hair back up and tucking it under her cap. She stood and headed towards the stairs. Jack quickly and quietly made his way up the stairs and up into his bunk before Sprints made it into the room. He watched as she walked over to his bunk and he feared for a moment that she'd seen him and came to inquire his reaction, but then he remembered that she had the bunk beneath him. She collapsed on her bunk, and before he even thought about closing his eyes he made sure he heard the even breaths that told him she was sleeping.
A/N: And now Jack knows! Let me know what you think, I'm gonna post another chapter or two later today or early tomorrow, but I thought I'd let you guys sit and stew over this for a while. ;) Don't forget to review, follow, and favorite!