Disclaimer: I don't own newsies, but I own everything else I wrote.
"It's so hot." Reffy whined, unbuttoning another button from her white shirt as they walked back from selling at the harbor.
"Getting ready for Jacky-boy?" Racetrack teased, looking at the low opening of her shirt with a smirk.
"I hate you."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Racetrack dismissively shoved her away. Most of the newsboys were lingering around the Horace Greeley statue when they arrived, seeking a spot in the shade of the buildings and other things.
"Race. Reffy." Blink greeted them lazily, leaning the back of his head against the base of the statue. Skittery was beside him, his hat over his face.
Immediately, Reffy pushed Racetrack away and got the spot of shade on the ground next to Kid Blink. She rested her back on the ground, her head on Blink's knee, and closed her eyes; thankful for the break from the unbearable sunlight.
Racetrack frowned in anger. "That wasn't funny, Ref. Where the hell am I supposed to sit?"
"I'm not laughing." Reffy pointed out, her eyes still closed. "Sit where you're standing."
Kid Blink just smiled at the entertainment while they all waited for the next edition of newspapers. Skittery's face remained covered, as if he was sleeping.
"Move over, Ref." Race whined angrily, sitting on the ground and pushing at her legs, fighting for a spot in the shade of the statue.
"Get outta here, Racetrack." Skittery said, his voice muffled from underneath his hat.
Racetrack gave up and just sat on Reffy's legs, too tired to fight and too hot to walk anywhere else.
"I hate summer." Kid Blink mumbled, closing his eyes again.
"Yeah, but when it's cold we all hate winter." Skittery said, taking the hat off his face and scratching his head. "That's why I like spring." He finished, once again covering his face with the hat.
"Cowboy loves summer. He's the only freak that enjoys days like these." Blink replied.
"Where is Cowboy anyway?" Racetrack asked, looking around the square and lighting up a cigarette.
"I can't feel my legs, Race." Reffy opened her eyes and slowly sat up, lazily trying to push Racetrack off of her.
"Oh, nevermind – I see him." Racetrack answered his own question, ignoring Reffy's pushes as he nodded to Jack's approaching figure.
"He's been acting weird all day," Blink told them quietly before Jack could hear. "Just warning you."
Reffy, who was too busy trying to push Racetrack off of her, wasn't paying attention to the conversation as she struggled. "I'm not joking, Racetrack! Get off!"
"Weird?" Racetrack questioned, practically on Reffy's lap. He took another drag from his cigarette and gave Kid Blink a questioning look.
"This isn't funny!" Reffy complained as Racetrack ignored her.
Jack was still making his way towards them, grumpily nodding at those who greeted him instead of giving them a smile and a pat on the back like he usually did.
Skittery removed the hat from his face to look at Jack. "He's in a bad mood or something," He said to Racetrack, shrugging his shoulders. "Won't talk to no one about it though."
"Seriously, Racetrack!" Reffy yelled, pounding her fists on his arms and back. "My legs are numb – get off!"
Still ignoring Reffy's protests, Racetrack lowered his cigarette and turned to Blink and Skittery. "He won't tell no one what's wrong?" He asked.
"Nah, not a word." Blink replied. "Last time he acted like this was when this runt ran away to Boston." He pointed his thumb to Reffy, who was now trying to bite Racetrack's arm.
"Jesus Christ!" Racetrack exclaimed in surprise, yanking his arm away. "What are you – a dog!"
Kid Blink laughed, finally noticing Reffy's struggle. "You okay, kiddo?"
Reffy gave up her struggle. "Yeah, I'm okay, but I'm gonna kick some fu – Hey!" Reffy stopped mid-sentence to greet Jack as he stood in front of them.
Jack raised his eyebrows at them in confusion. "… Do I even wanna ask?"
"This is what I figure," Racetrack started explaining. "Why the hell should I sit in the sun while the little princess here sits in the shade?" He asked; pressing his lips together and shrugging his shoulders, as if that answered everything. He took the last drag of his cigarette and tossed it, giving Reffy the opportunity she needed to shove him off of her legs.
Kid Blink and Skittery laughed as Racetrack was pushed next to Jack's feet.
"Not so funny now, are ya?" Reffy asked with a smirk, rubbing her legs to get back her circulation.
"Ha ha, nice one." Race said sarcastically as he sat up and squinted his eyes in the sunlight.
Reffy then looked up at Jack and smiled. "How's it rolling, Jacky-boy?" She asked.
For the first time since earlier that morning, Jack smiled. It was a genuine smile, but his friends could tell something wasn't right; the smile didn't reach his eyes, so something else was on his mind.
"Come here." He ordered, waiting for her to get up and kiss him.
Reffy rolled her eyes. "I would, but I can't feel my legs." She said, narrowing eyes playfully at Racetrack.
Jack leaned down and grabbed her arms, pulling her up and close to his chest. Next thing she knew, his lips were passionately upon hers in an urgent kiss. When he broke away, Reffy was left breathless.
She looked up at Jack with concern, raising her eyebrows. "Are you okay?" She asked quietly so no one else could hear.
Without answering her, Jack continued staring into her eyes. She was about to ask him again but a new voice caused him to look away.
"Heya fellas!" Mush greeted cheerfully, patting Jack on the back as he smiled at the boys sitting on the ground.
"Hi Mush." The three boys replied in unison, their voices lazy from the afternoon sun. Reffy had to hide her gasp as Jack wrapped his arm around her waist tightly, pulling her close when a few inches of space came between them.
Getting over her startled reaction, Reffy cleared her throat and raised her eyebrows at Mush.
"And heya Reffy." Mush added, softly pinching her cheek in a teasing manner.
Reffy smacked his hand away and smiled. "That's what I thought."
"How long until the next edition?" Skittery asked, shoving the hat over his face again and leaning his head against the statue.
Racetrack checked his pocket watch real quick. "About 10 minutes."
Reffy sighed and looked up at Jack, leaning her chin on his strong arm. His eyes were wandering around the street, keeping out of the conversation and avoiding eye contact with anyone.
"It feels so good sitting in the shade, don't it, Blink?" Racetrack asked, relaxing in Reffy's spot.
"It's heaven compared to standing in the blaring sun, that's for sure." Kid Blink played along, a laughing smile on his face.
Reffy walked out of Jack's hold and sat on Racetrack's stomach, causing him to groan.
"I know – ain't it great, boys?" She joined.
Mush found this funny and started laughing loudly as Racetrack tried catching his breath, kicking his legs in the process. She patted Racetrack's cheek and gave him a sweet smile before standing up. Race just grabbed his stomach and glared at Mush and Blink who were openly laughing at him.
Reffy noticed as Jack adjusted the red bandana around his neck and looked around at the newsies he was in charge of, making sure none were missing for the start of the next edition.
"I didn't see you selling at your usual spots today, Cowboy. Where'd you go?" Blink asked once he stopped laughing.
"Just took care of some business, Kid. That's all." Jack answered nonchalantly, still not looking at any of them. The tone of his voice meant they weren't getting anymore information.
Reffy stood next to Mush and crossed her arms. She bit her lip and looked down at Racetrack, raising her eyebrow. Racetrack just shrugged, and changed the subject.
"So, Jack… Who you selling the next edition with?"
Jack only shrugged in reply and continued looking around the square. The far off look in his eyes remained as he avoided all conversation with them.
"Wanna sell together?" Reffy asked, stepping in front of him.
Finally making eye contact with someone, Jack looked down at Reffy. "I have some stuff to take care of, babe." He replied. "Just sell with Race again and I'll see you tonight."
With nothing left to say, Reffy quietly nodded her head.
"Everything okay, Jack?" Racetrack asked suspiciously.
Jack put his hand on Reffy's shoulder and leaned down, kissing her forehead. He left his lips on her skin, as if in thought, and let out a long sigh before pulling away. "Yea," He answered Racetrack. "Everything's fine." Without another word, Jack turned around and walked in the direction of the lodging house.
Once Jack was a good distance away, Skittery lifted the hat off his face. "Yeah, something definitely happened."
"Really?" Race asked sarcastically. Rolling his eyes, he slapped the back of Skittery's head. "Go back to sleep, genius." Turning to Reffy, his face turned serious, "You know anything about this, Ref?"
Reffy bit her lip and shook her head. "I don't know, he hasn't told me nothing."
Suddenly the gate opened, causing the newsies in the square to get up and stand in line at the distribution center. Reffy couldn't get rid of the feeling she had in her stomach. It was unlike Jack to act so secretive.
"Back to the harbor?" Racetrack asked as they bought their papers.
"Yeah, let's go." Reffy replied, walking down the stairs.
"Maybe he's upset about last night." Racetrack suggested once they were away from the crowd.
She shrugged, looking down to the ground. "Maybe."
Racetrack thought for a moment. Looking at Reffy for a reaction, he made another suggestion. "…Maybe he's nervous about the poker game."
Reffy let out a sigh and brought her fingers up to her lips, remembering how hard Jack had just kissed her. She then bit her lower lip and remembered his arm around her waist; how he held her so protectively, showing that she belonged to him or something.
"I think he's nervous." Racetrack said, seeing the expression on her face and practically reading her mind.
"He shouldn't be nervous."
"You don't understand, Ref… Jack and Spot are the two newsies all girls want," Racetrack explained. "And me, ofcourse." He added jokingly, a sly smile on his face before he turned serious again. "You can't blame the guy for being nervous. The only person capable of stealing one of Jack's girls is Spot. Same with Jack stealing one of Spot's girls, you know?"
Reffy glanced up at him. "I don't care. Jack should trust me."
"He does trust you. He just don't trust Spot… Not when he's around you."
Reffy let out a long breath and glanced down at her papers. The headlines were practically the same as they were this morning, and they still sucked. They only bought 20 each, knowing they wouldn't be able to sell a lot. Reffy tried looking over the headlines as they walked, but suddenly closed the newspaper in a huff.
"What am I supposed to do at this poker game, Race?" She asked desperately, letting her tough exterior melt away and showing the girl only Racetrack usually saw.
Racetrack adjusted the papers under his arm and pulled out his cigarettes again. "There's only one thing you can do…" He started.
Biting her lip, she looked up at Racetrack expectantly.
"…Stay the hell away from Spot Conlon on poker night." Racetrack warned. He offered Reffy a cigarette, but she shook her head 'no' for the second time that day; something she would usually never do.
Running her fingers through her hair, Reffy adjusted her papers under her arm as Racetrack lit up his cigarette. They already made it to the harbor, but she barely even noticed. Her mind immediately turned to the poker game, and her stomach tensed up at the thought of Spot and Jack in the same room.
"You can easily stay away from him, Ref, can't you?" Racetrack asked, noticing her uneasiness as he blew out some smoke.
Reffy thought about it. Stay away from Spot Conlon? She could easily stay away from him… But him staying away from her? That was a different story.
"Ref?"
Reffy looked up at Racetrack and sighed. "It's not as easy as you think, Race. Spot is…" She paused, trying to find the right words. "He's… Slick."
Racetrack nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I know."
"He's gonna try something. I can feel it." Reffy explained, shaking her head as she looked off into the distance. "He's pissed at me. He'll start trouble, I know he will."
"It'll be fine, kid." Racetrack assured her, pulling off her hat and ruffling up her long hair. "You worry too much."
Reffy smirked and grabbed her hat from him, placing it back on her head. "Yeah, yeah. C'mon, let's get rid of these. I wanna walk back with money – not papes."
Racetrack was about to walk off, throwing his cigarette to the ground, but a thought suddenly stopped him from leaving. "Hey, Ref?"
Turning towards him again, Reffy raised a questioning eyebrow. "What?"
"What kind of 'business' do you think Jack had to take care of today?"
Reffy's face slowly dropped as the thought suddenly occurred to her.
"You think he'd tell us if something's going on, right?" Racetrack asked.
"Ofcourse." Reffy answered, almost too quickly. "Jack wouldn't keep anything from us."
"Right."
He turned to walk away when Reffy grabbed his shoulder, turning him back to face her. Racetrack gave her a questioning look as she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves and relax.
"You okay?" He asked.
She threw her papers down on the sidewalk with shaky hands. "I think I need that cigarette now."
Poker chapter next – Yay! I'm excited to write it. Review, review, review! I want to update soon – THANKS SO MUCH!