Chapter 12
Everyone gathered at the Lodging House. They gathered in the lobby to try to figure out what to do about Crutchy. Jack tried to lead the discussion but couldn't get a word in edgewise because everyone was yelling all at once. Finally, he had enough and yelled out, "Dat's it! I need time ta think for meself!" He stormed up the stairs and everyone heard the door slam. It was now silent.
"Is he okay?" David asked.
"Um, I'll go check on him," Lucy volunteered.
Riley was about to offer to go instead, but Lucy was already up the stairs. Riley just watched after her, wringing her hands together. She looked over at David who was also watching as Lucy went up the stairs, a nervous look in his eye.
Lucy got to the door and tentatively knocked. When there was no response, she slowly opened the door. She found Jack sitting on one of the bottom bunks with his head in his hands. She walked over to him and gently put a hand on his shoulder. He snapped up, and when he saw her, he quickly wiped away unshed tears from his eyes.
"Talk to me," was all she said.
"I-I just dunno what ta do. I'm da one who's responsible for all dese boys and now one of 'em's been…been taken ta…Dis is all my fault." His voice was shaking a little.
She sat down next to him. "This is not your fault Jack. Not in the least. What happened with Crutchy, it's not your fault."
"I should'a been lookin' out for him. I should'a known what could'a 'appened 'fore It did. Dat's what a leadah's supposed ta do."
"You only have to do your best. What happened to Crutchy is not good, yes. But there's nothing you could've done. You need to watch out for yourself too."
"But I-"
"But nothing. We will figure out a way to get Crutchy back and bring this strike to an end victoriously." He looked at her, not saying anything. He just stared at her. "What?"
All of a sudden, he leaned in and kissed her on the lips, putting his hand on her back and pulling her closer.
Riley's POV
Riley was pacing around downstairs. Finally, she had enough.
"Alright! I can't take this anymore! I need to find out what they're talking about."
David tried to hold her back, but she pushed herself away and ran up the stairs.
She stopped in front of the door. It wasn't closed all the way, so she opened it a little farther and looked in, being as quiet as she could. She saw Jack and Lucy sitting on the bed. She heard Lucy ask, "What?" Then, she saw Jack lean forward and kiss her. She put her hand over her mouth to keep from gasping and bolted away, not bearing to watch anymore. She sprinted down the hall, trying to hold the tears in, but a couple slid down her cheeks.
She quickly ran down the stairs, trying to avoid all whom she could, making her way for the door. She sat against the wall outside the door and cried. How could she have been so stupid as to think that he might actually like her? Of course he liked Lucy. It was obvious and it always had been. But what she really couldn't get over was Lucy kissing him. She knew how Riley felt about him and she swore that she didn't like him that way, that she only liked David. She was her best friend, how could she do this to her?
"Geek?" a voice came. Riley looked up and saw David standing above her. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"They were kissing!" she cried.
David sat down next to her. "Who was kissing?" he asked, really hoping it wasn't who he thought.
"Who do you think?" He looked down at the ground, understanding.
"Was-was it him kissing her or her kissing him?"
"Does it matter? They were kissing! My best friend and the guy I-" she stopped herself before she went on.
"You like Jack?" She just nodded and wiped her eyes. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, comforting her. She leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I guess we both got our hearts broken."
"Both?"
"Oh, come off it Davey. We all know you like Lucy."
"I-I-I don't like her, I just…" He tried to argue, but Riley just gave him a look that told him she wasn't buying it. He sighed. "Does she know?"
"No. She doesn't know at all. But I guess it doesn't matter now."
"I should've known she would never go for me. She deserves a guy like Jack. I'm just a nerd."
"As much as that is true," he shoved her, "she doesn't see you like that. She's sees more than just a book smart guy."
"How do you know?"
"She's told me. And it's pretty plain to see. You're one of her best friends."
"Yeah, a friend." She bit her lip, wanting to tell him how Lucy really felt about him, but she knew she couldn't, even if she was mad at her right now.
"Listen Dave, maybe…maybe it's not like what you think. Maybe she doesn't like him, and it was him kissing her."
"But that doesn't help you."
"Well, I'm screwed either way, so…And it helps you."
"I just should've seen this coming."
"Hey, just believe that she has an explanation okay? That's what I'm trying to believe."
"Yeah, maybe."
Lucy's POV
The second Jack pulled her to him, she pushed away from him and stood up.
"What the hell Jack?" she yelled. "How dare you?"
"Whadda ya mean how dare I?"
"You know I like David! And I know you don't like me like that."
"Says who?"
"Says everyone with eyes and a brain! We all know you like Riley, Jack. It's obvious!"
"Den it must be obvious dat she don't like me like dat."
"What are you talking about?"
"She likes Spot! Ain't it clear? Whenevah she's around him she's always floitin' and always tryin' ta be near him and is always talkin' ta him. And she don't look at me da way she looks at him."
"Are you out of your mind?! She acts like that around him because she doesn't like him at all!" He gave her a confused look. She exhaled, closed her eyes and put her hand on her head. "Look, she treats him like that because she knows he likes her and she does that to screw with him. And the way she looks at him, it's a 'I'm better than you' look. You don't want that look. The way she looks at you is so sweet and caring and loving. She really cares about you Jack. And you'd see that if you only opened your eyes."
He just took a breath and put his head back in his hands. "Why is everythin' so Goddamn complicated?"
"Riley doesn't have to be," She sat back down next to him. "Just tell her how you feel and I promise things will work out."
"Fine. A'ight I will." He stood up and went for the door.
"Now?" Lucy asked, surprised.
"It's now or nevah." And he walked out the door, down the stairs. He scanned the crowd for Riley. "Where's Geek?"
"She ran outside cryin'," Mush told him. "Dave was behind 'er."
He shrugged off the last part and walked outside, finding Riley and David on the ground. "'Ey Dave?" They both looked up. Jack's heart broke when he saw Riley with a red face and puffy eyes. He wondered what made her feel like that. "Can I'se talk ta Geek for a sec?"
David looked to Riley, asking if it was okay for him to leave her with Jack. She nodded. David stood up and walked back inside, not even looking at Jack.
When he walked inside, he found Lucy sitting on the stairs. He decided to be brave and sit next to her.
"So what happened up there?" he asked her.
"Oh, um, we-we talked. I think Jack is gonna be a lot better soon."
"All you did was talk?" They stared at each other.
"How do you know?" she questioned.
"Geek saw you two."
"Oh no." She dropped her face in her hands. "She's probably feeling destroyed. I can't believe he did that."
"So, he kissed you?"
"Yeah."
"And you didn't kiss back?"
"Not for a second." Relief rushed through David.
"Good." She looked to him. "I-I mean good for-that-well, because-I mean Geek likes him so…"
"And she'll probably be happy again in a few minutes."
'Why?"
"Jack's about to tell her."
"Tell her what?"
She chuckled. "Oh Davey."
Riley's POV
"What's up Jack?" she asked quietly, not looking at him.
He moved to sit next to her. "Look Geek. Dere's…dere's somethin' I gots ta tell ya."
"I already know what it is."
"You do?"
"Yeah. You like Lucy. I already know. I saw you two kiss."
"You saw dat?" She nodded, tears welling in her eyes as she remembered. "No, no, Geek. Dat was a mistake. I didn't mean ta do dat."
"What do you mean a mistake? Did you trip and land on her lips?"
"No. Dat's not what I meant! I means, I was just frustrated and upset and… I wasn't thinkin'."
"What are you saying Jack?" Her heart started racing. "Don't you like her?"
"Not like dat. Not…not like da way I like you." He looked down at the ground.
Riley sat up a little straighter. "Wha-what?" thinking she hadn't heard him right.
He looked her right in the eye. "I like you Geek." All she could do was stare at him. No thoughts were able to enter her mind and she felt like she was about to pass out. She had never thought he would ever be saying these word to her. But she was brought out of her trance by him saying, "geek, if you could say somethin'?"
"I like you too," was all she could say.
A smile grew on Jack's face as he moved closer to her. He put one of his hands on her cheek and slowly, hesitantly leaned in. Their lips were millimeters apart, but only for a second before Jack closed the gap. Their lips met and Riley was surprised at how soft his lips were. After a few seconds they pulled apart.
"Well, now what?" he asked.
She interlocked her fingers with his and they stood up. "We beat Pulitzer," she answered.
So, nothing related to the strike, but this chap HAD to happen. Pretty please with sugar on top review!
