Oh my word, it's been AGES.
Review Responses:
citysfinallysleeping: (Chapter 62) Everyone's mad and sad, that's basically the story. You're probably gonna need more baguettes. (Chapter 63) Mr. Kack Jelly indeed! Oh Kath...
Emz: (Chapter 58) Oof, that's unfortunate. I enjoyed your storm of reviews though, good to have you back! (Chapter 59) Finch is firmly That One Straight Friend (trademark). BEST BROS THOUGH! (Chapter 60) I too am sobbing on the floor (internally). (Chapter 61) If you wanted a good time, why did you come here? Seriously. Why here. (Chapter 62) Albert and Smalls really should be friends... let's assume they're working on it. (Chapter 63) I'M SORRY I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I DO HAVE REASONS BUT THEY'RE NOT VERY GOOD!
Huffelpufdraws: Pulitzer does deserve to be thrown off a cliff. But... Snyder deserves it far more, so if there's choice between the two of them... Oh Kath. That's all I can say. She had good intentions, I swear. Mhm mhm, just a printer, no plot relevance or anything here. I'M SORRY I HURT YOU BUT I WON'T STOP
Dylan Quagmir: Long review from Dyl! (Who uh, never finished the chapter... But you're busy, I know.) Ooh, good pun catch! (Wasn't intentional.) And no, the Pulitzer love came from me doing a research project on him and discovering that he honestly wasn't half bad. Also I have plans... On your plot concerns:1. I don't know why they're so worried if no one's selling papers, but we're all very worried about Kath's job, okay? 2. Everyone falls apart if Jack leaves, obviously. And as far as Pulitzer knows, Jackie-boy is still the union leader. 3. *puts on history nerd cap* According to my research, Pulitzer actually left Hungary (where he was born) to fight in the US Civil War, because the Hungarian army wouldn't let him in (he had eye problems, I'll elaborate if you want). 4. Now, he was not a reporter, so I can't explain that part of the quote. 5. It's probably just commentary on society and newspapers at the time. 6. I... That is concerning. Thanks for bringing up that disturbing thought... DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Okay, this section is gonna be longer than the chapter if I say anything more.
Happy reading!
Chapter 64- Tommy Boy
Tuesday, September 21, 1999, 4:30 p.m.
The biggest news of the afternoon was that Sarah Jacobs had a pretty face. Tommy Boy couldn't get that thought out of his head, and it was really starting to piss him off. He very rarely became this far gone about someone; in fact it had been literal years since the last time he'd had a crush. He couldn't even recall the name of the last girl, but it was his personal opinion that it hadn't been anywhere near as beautiful as Sarah Jacobs.
Oh god. What was wrong with him? One out of a million times for him to have an actual romantic interest, and the universe had picked an already stressful day and his best pal's older sister. Couldn't he just go back to chilling with his rescue dog?
"Hey, which team are you with tonight?"
Tommy Boy jolted into focus as Sarah spoke, misunderstanding the question. "What? No, girls are fi-"
"Sorry, I mean borough. Not team. I meant who are you gonna sit with. Sorry!"
Way to jump to conclusions. "Oh, uh..."
"It's just, I guess Mush and Blink are going to sit over with Harlem, so I was just curious. Sorry, stupid question, ignore me."
"Well, where are you sitting?"
"Oh! Manhattan, of course. Although..." Sarah eyed the steadily growing Manhattan section on one side of the auditorium. "It looks a bit crowded. I guess Les' friend is with Queens, so maybe I'll go sit there instead."
"Sure, that makes sense."
"But I dunno, maybe Davey wants me... I'll figure it out." She pulled on a strand of her hair, twisted it around her finger, almost knotting it.
"If ya do end up with Queens, maybe I'll join ya. Looks like they'll 'ave less people, I think, and people..." Holy hell, how was her face so perfect? Her eyebrows, her eyes, her nose, her lips... she clearly didn't have any habit of chewing them, they weren't ripped like Tommy Boy's were.
"People what?"
Shit, he'd forgotten about that sentence. "People are... uh... no."
Sarah laughed. "I'm with ya. People are very no."
Tommy Boy forced himself to laugh as well, pretending he wasn't mortified. The mutual laughter went on for far longer than necessary; Sarah couldn't seem to stop, and Tommy Boy didn't want to leave her hanging. Thus, everything was awkward until Sarah spotted her brother onstage.
"Hey Davey!" Then she just up and left. It was an oddly betraying feeling, watching her go. The silence left in her place was so melancholy.
...Until it got filled again.
"Well well well," said Ike, climbing into the seat on Tommy Boy's right from the row behind.
Mike followed suit on the left side, remarking, "Isn't this an interesting turn of events?"
"I don't blame ya, myself." Ike crossed one leg over the other.
"She's sure a beauty," agreed Mike, copying his brother. "But honestly, man, you's hopeless at talkin' ta girls!"
"She must a' taken two years off yer life!"
Tommy Boy cringed. "I ain't that bad..."
"You's actin' like yer sixteen an' just discovered girls fer da first time."
"But I gotta say," Mike leaned forward conspiratorially. "Your taste is-" he brought his fingertips to his lips and made a kissing sound, the way chefs did in movies when food tasted impeccable. "Mwah."
Ike nodded. "Definitely bangable."
Tommy Boy choked on nothing; Ike had to thump him on the back to help him regain breath.
Once he'd recovered, Mike said, with a slight glare at his twin, "She'll be just as- um, sleep-with-able after they've actually formed a relationship."
"Bangable," Ike shrugged.
Tommy Boy could feel his face burning with the fire of a million suns. "Please stop."
"BANGABLE!"
"TOMMY BOY'S NOT GONNA BANG ANYONE, LET IT GO!" shouted Mike.
He wanted to die. He actually wanted to die.
From onstage, Buttons called, "Stop talking about people's sex lives, Michael! No one cares!"
"Just because you don't have one!"
Ike cleared his throat. "Ya can shut up now, dude."
"You started it!"
"Yeah, as a joke! And now you're killin' Tommy Boy."
Between them, the boy in question lifted the face he'd concealed in his hands. "'M still alive. Barely."
"Sorry 'bout shoutin' to da whole theata', Tom," Mike apologized. "I was tryin' ta stop Ikey."
"Here's a thought," Tommy Boy gritted his teeth. "How's about da two a' youse leave. Me. Da hell. Alone."
"Whoa whoa whoa," Ike pressed a palm to his chest in offense. "We are tryin' ta help you outta the goodness of our hearts."
"But what if you didn't?"
"Do ya wanna get Sarah or not?"
"Depends whatcha mean by 'get'."
Mike rolled his eyes. "Dating. Geez, get yer mind outta the gutta!"
"I'll kill ya," threatened Tommy Boy.
"Look Tom, you's in love wit 'er, right?" Ike asked.
"Sure... Maybe? I dunno."
"Well ya clearly feel somethin'."
"Yeah."
"So!" exclaimed Mike, "You should sign her before somebody else grabs 'er."
"'Sign her'?"
"Ask 'er out, whatever. Y'know what I mean."
"An' the only way ya can do that," Ike explained, "is with our help."
Tommy Boy couldn't really argue there. "'Kay, so-"
"Mike'll work with you, an' I'll speak ta Miss Jacobs, try ta really hype you up."
"An' make sure she don't got da hots fer Cowboy Kelly at all," added Mike.
"She already said she didn't." Tommy Boy mumbled, trying to pretend that thought didn't still scare him.
"Right, but you can never be too careful."
"I guess..." Tommy Boy's gaze drifted towards the stage, where Sarah was holding up a wooden sign, bracing it so Buttons could paint on the word 'Manhattan' in bright blue. "Well, if that's da case, I wanna find out fer myself. I don't want none a' this runnin' back and forth messenger shit."
"Not so fast, lover boy," Ike pushed him back when he tried to stand. "You hafta work on yer tactics first or you ain't gonna have no chance."
"Yeah," Mike threw an arm around Tommy Boy. "Leave da girl ta Ike."
"I'd really rather not."
"Aw, Tommy," smirked Ike, "it's cute ya think you got a choice."
Today, I am sorry for a different reason. I am also currently dead on the floor with the knowledge that I wrote this.
Before anyone comes after Ike, it's a We Are The Tigers reference. Calling Sarah Jacobs (or anyone) "bangable" is not something I recommend doing. Be respectful. Be Tommy Boy.
And finally... What do you mean it's too late to add another ship to this story?
I might (just might) post the next chapter fairly soon, if you're lucky.
Do review, if you would be so kind! See ya next time!