Mickie spent the next couple days avoiding both Race and Blink, but trying to get Switch to talk to her again. Luckily, it wasn't in Switch's nature to hold a grudge. Mickie searched Switch out at Tibby's, and after a few hours of pleading and following her around, Switch finally agreed to talk to her. The two returned to the lodging house for a little privacy.
"Listen, Switch, I'm real sorry 'bout the other night. I was upset and drunk and acted like a jackass." Mickie tried to explain herself. "It's just dat, Blink had been one of my um, customers before, and I was real mad dat I didn't make much money sellin' dose damn papers, and I was drunk and I know dat ain't a good excuse or nothin' but it's da truth... I don't even want Blink, I t'ink I want Race, and I thought he wanted me, but now I don't know..." Mickie was rambling desperately. She felt like she had been talking for an hour, and Switch still hadn't said anything. Finally her silence broke with a pouring of tears.
"Oh Mick, it's alright. Yeah, ya really upset me, but ya didn't know da past and it ain't like it mattas any how. I'm sorry I got so mad at ya." Switch sobbed. "I just miss him so bad, and I saw you on him like dat... It really got to me. I mean, I hoid him when he came home dat foist night you was at da lodging house and he was talkin' and actin' like he was gonna be wid ya, and I mean like be wid ya, ya know" Mickie nodded with shame. "But I tried ta act like it was nothin' cuz I ain't supposed ta care no more, dat's Dub's problem now, but..." Switch was overcome by her sobs and couldn't get anymore words out. Mickie put her arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug.
"I'm so sorry, Switch." She murmured into her ear soothingly. "It'll all be ok." After a while of crying and cleaning up, Switch was ready to face the world again.
"So you and Race, huh" Switch winked at Mickie.
"Who knows. I thought maybe, but after da other night, I ain't so sure any more." Mickie told Switch all about what happened. At first, she felt strange telling another person her feelings, but the more she talked, the easier it came out. The girls were so busy talking as they left the house, they failed to notice Dub sneaking out after them.
Later that night, Mickie returned home from selling to find Dub sitting on her bed.
"Get off my bed." Mickie snarled.
"Fine by me" Dub replied with a snort. "It stinks like hooker any how." Mickie's first instinct was to go after Dub, fists swinging, but she knew she would get in trouble for that later, so she just turned and walked away. She headed to the fire escape for a victory cigarette, feeling proud of herself for her self restraint. The good feelings were haulted by Dub's nasty voice, however.
"Oh, and we all know 'bout Race shootin' ya down, ya whore." Dub's words made Mickie freeze in her tracks. "He told us all 'bout it. Said he was tryin' ta get back at ya. And you thought he liked ya. Silly lil whore." Dub laughed and sauntered off. Mickie felt the hot tears welling up in her eyes. She forced her stunned body to move again, and headed out on the fire escape. Unfortunately for her, Blink was already out there. She rushed up the ricketly ladder before he could say anything and climbed up onto the roof. Finally she was alone and could let the tears flow.
"Hey, Mickie?" She heard Blink's soft voice from behind her. She quickly tried to dry her eyes the best she could. "Can we tawk for a sec?" As soon as she turned to face him, Blink noticed her swollen, red eyes. "Oh geez, are ya alright? Listen, dis can wait.."
"No, I'm fine. What is it?" She sniffed.
"I wanted to tawk ta ya 'bout Swift. I wanted to know how she was doin', ya know, afta da odda night." Surprisingly, Blink didn't seem to be embarassed mentioning the night at the bar when Mickie had made a fool of herself. "She just seemed so sad." He added mournfully.
"Whaddya care? She ain't wid ya anymore, right?" The hurt on his face made Mickie immediately regret her harsh tone.
"I still care 'bout her though," he said sadly.
"Why ain't da two of youse togetha den? She'll kill me for sayin', but I know she misses ya a ton." Now Mickie was curious. Blink seemed so tormented by the thought of Switch being hurt, yet he would continue galavanting around with Double in front of her.
"Dat has nothin' ta do it anyt'ing. We just can't be togetha anymore." Blink said with such force and anger that Mickie decided not to pursue the subject with him anymore. It was apparent he didn't want to either, and he changed the subject. "So why ya out heah cryin', if ya don't mind me askin'?"
"It's just.." Mickie started, but remembered that telling Blink about how much she hated Double was probably not the best idea. "Well, me and Race..." she stopped again, not really wanting to tell Blink about that either. "Oh nevamind, it ain't important." The look on Blink's face told her that he had probably already figured out why she was upset from the few words she had let slip out.
"He likes ya, ya know." Blink stated bluntly.
"Yeah, da way a drunklikes whiskey," Mickie replied sadly. "Come on, I'm freezin' out heah." She climbed down the ladder, but Blink didn't follow.
"Hey!"He called to her just before she ducked in through the window. "Tell Dub to come up heah, I need ta tawk ta her." Mickie sighed and went inside. She found Double, still sitting on her bed.
"Your boy would like a word wit ya up on da roof," Mickie wasn't even mad at Double anymore. She just wanted the girl to get off her bed so she could go to sleep and forget the whole evening.
"Hmm, he must want a little alone time with his lovely goil. It's so nice to have someone who loves you!" She said mockingly, although Mickie wasn't sure if it was directed toward her or Switch who had just come in the bunkroom. A little over an hour later, Mickie slipped back outside to smoke one last cigarette before bed. The cold night was windly, but she could still make out Blink's angry voice, wafting down from the rooftop.
"I ain't doin' dis no more, Dub! I'm tellin' her da truth!" Blink yelled.
"Fine, den I'm tellin' everyone what I know," Double's voice was much more calm, but Mickie strained her ears to hear.
"You can't do dis ta..."
"Mick?" A voice from inside interrupted her eavesdropping. "It's cold out, we wanna shut da window. Ya comin' in or what?" Ten stood on the other side of the window, with her ratty sweater pulled tightly around her.
"Oh. Yeah, I'm comin'." Mickie took one last glance toward the roof, not wanting to go in yet, but she thought it might look suspicious if she stayed outside any longer. Especially since she had finished her cigaratte a few minutes ago. She laid on her bed, but was careful not to fall asleep yet. She waited for what seemed like an enternity before she heard Double climb into her bed above her. Mickie fell asleep wondering what that girl could possibly know about her that everyone didn't already know.
