Disclaimer: Newsies doesn't belong to me, it never will, **sniffles** sadness...none of the characters belong to me...cept for Enchanted...mmkay moving on!
Chapter Three
~*~
When Spot set foot into the Lodging House through the half-open window, all motion ceased. Tapper opened her mouth to let out a witty comment, but Skittery clapped a hand over it, halting the remark that was going to come flying out. Enchanted let out another loud laugh. Everyone continued to stay silent as Spot flashed Enchanted a dirty look.
"What?" she mumbled innocently as Gears bumped her meaningfully.
Mysty put one hand up to cover a spreading sneer. Spot had two shiners, both angrily spread across his cheeks where she had hit him. No one dared to say anything; no one dared to move. Spot was in a bad mood already.
Spot self-consciously stared at all of them until they lowered their searching gazes. The way his head was throbbing, it seemed like he had at least 5 shiners, not just 2. He hadn't gotten a shiner in how many years? He ashamedly put a hand to touch his swelling cheek. And to have it be given to him by a girl made him even more embarrassed...especially the girl who had dumped him. He grumbled something underneath his breath and then turned to walk past the crate. "Skunk," he snapped. Skunk stood up and walked behind him obediently. "Enchanted?" he had meant for it to come out as an order, but instead it came out as a question.
"I'll come right along, Spotty. Let me finish the game," Enchanted indifferently replied.
Normally, Spot would have lashed out at her for refusing, but he kept his smart mouth controlled. "Aw right," he nodded shortly. He winced as his cheeks send a new wave of pain through his body and into his head. "C'mon, Skunk."
The quiet had ended abruptly, as soon as he left the building and was out of earshot.
"Two shinahs!" Race shouted amidst swells of laughter. "Two---"
"Did ya do dat?" a stunned Mush asked a beaming Enchanted. Enchanted shook her head, the same sharp smile on her face.
"Not me. My friend, Mysty, however...she did it!" she clapped Mysty proudly on the back.
Race stared at Mysty and his jaw dropped. His cigar dropped out of his mouth. "You'se did dat?" Mysty haughtily nodded. "Come heah," he patted the empty space besides him.
Mysty turned to Enchanted, not knowing what to do. "Go!" she hissed. Mysty scrambled to sit by Race, who in turn threw an arm over her shoulder.
Baby watched jealously as Mysty sat herself down next to Race. At first, she noticed, she was stiff and rigid, not knowing what to do. But she loosened up after a few minutes of Race's wisecracks, and by the time the game ended, she was practically sitting in his lap. Unnoticed by everyone, Baby clenched her hands into fists, and then released them. It wasn't Mysty's fault that Race was starting to like her. It wasn't her fault that she was flirting with him unconsciously, too. She reminded herself once again that whatever they had a long time ago was over. The feeling had long died.
"Hey. Baby!" IF shouted.
"Whad?" Baby murmured as if she had just been awakened.
"Your tuyn," IF muttered matter-of-factly.
"Oh. Um, fold," she said, and threw down her cards. She hadn't even been looking at them. She hastily stood up and was about to walk out when Jack called out, "Baby, whea ya goin'?"
"Bathroom," she snarled viciously.
"Um...but...." Slingshot started to say, but Baby had already walked off, "Da bathroom is dat way," Slingshot trailed off.
Enchanted raised an eyebrow. She had noticed earlier how almost everyone was a couple here. It was so unlike Brooklyn, where everyone was attracted to Spot. Here, everyone had their own preferences, their own likes and dislikes in a guy. Baby was the only one who didn't have a boyfriend. And it looked like she was feeling just a tiny bit envious towards Mysty, who was sitting right next to Race. "Hey, uh, Mysty?" she called to her friend.
"Yeah?" Mysty called back.
"I'm gonna head back to Brooklyn now, ok? Come over here, I wanna talk to you."
Mush looked dismayed at this remark. "You'se leavin' so soon?" he asked simply.
Enchanted shrugged. "Yeah. Spot'll get even madder if I show up late." She stood up and left him staring after her. "Night everyone!" she shouted. Everyone shouted goodnights after her, with a few 'Good Luck' and 'I'll come to your funeral'. She rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, "Keep up that positive attitude, people!"
Mysty rose from where she was leaning happily on Race's shoulder and walked and sauntered over to Enchanted. She walked with her out of the room, and as soon as they reached the stairs, a smug smile appeared. "What do you look for in a man?" she asked urgently.
"Why?" Enchanted rolled her eyes, "It's kinda late for a heart-to-heart talk, Mysty." When Mysty didn't answer, she just sighed. "Ok, I look for a guy who isn't too proud of himself; a guy with a good personality. I look for a sense of humor. I tend to like them a bit muscular, but not bulging huge. And they have to be good-looking. They have to trust me and they have to be able to argue with me. Oh, and they have to love me too."
Mysty's smile widened. "I think Mush is head over heels for you," she confided in her.
"What? Mush?! No, Mysty, I said good personality, not innocence and naiveté. Besides, what could I ever do with Mush?"
"I heard he's a good kisser," Mysty lied.
"Who's he kissed?" Enchanted skeptically asked.
"Um...uh..." Mysty fumbled, searching for a name.
"Sure," Enchanted shook her head. After a few moments of silence, she spoke up. "You think?"
"I think?! I know! Did you see the way he was looking at you? The way his face dropped when you said you were leaving?"
"That doesn't prove anything," Enchanted scoffed.
"Ok, fine. How about when you won that round of poker? His face lit up. I swear, his was the only one's."
Enchanted shook her head. "I have to go, Mysty. Oh, and while we're speaking about matters of the heart, I gotta warn you 'bout Baby. She looked really jealous when you were cozying up to Racetrack in there."
Mysty frowned. "I don't get what's going on between the two of them. They like each other, but at the same time they're... I don't know, too shy to tell each other."
"Just a warning, Mys. Watch your back, all right?"
"All right. You too. Try not to get on Spot's bad side for a few days."
"Too late for that," Enchanted retorted laughingly as she descended the stairs and went out into the night.
Mysty beamed and then entered the bunk room again. The first person to confront her was Mush.
"Mysty?" he asked.
"What?"
He reached a hand up to scratch his curls. "Um...I'se wanna talk ta ya about Enchanted and..."
"She's still single, yeah. She's kinda anti-boyish, though. She doesn't take much time out of her day to even search for one."
Mush looked up at this comment. "Ya t'ink I'se got a chance wid her?" he asked openly. Mysty threw an arm around his neck.
"You've got a great chance with her, Mush." He beamed at this.
"I'se really like her. Da problem is, I'se nevah really liked a goil befoah."
Mysty stared at him blankly. "Never?" He shook his head.
"I'se saw her come in and start stampin' ovah ta you'se, and I'se thought she was one a dose bully kinda goils. Den, ya disappeared on da roof wid her, and when she came back down and started playin' poker wid us, I'se thought she was kinda nice. I'se like her jokes, and I'se like da way she laughs."
"That's sweet!" Mysty cried. 'Wow, this guy really likes her,' she thought. "Why were you happy when she won that round of poker, though?"
"I'se saw her smile and I'se heard her laugh, and I'se couldn't help meself," he confessed, lowering his voice to a whisper, "Was it dat obvious?". Mysty felt her stomach jump in excitement.
"You know what? I'll help ya!" she volunteered happily.
"Ya will?" Mush asked giddily.
"Yeah!" She erupted in giggles, as she thought about the Enchanted and Mush together. The picture didn't look right, happy-go-lucky Mush with tough, temperamental Enchanted. The stream of laughter abruptly ended as she was bumped roughly from behind.
"Whad are you so happy 'bout?" Baby growled. She stopped herself before she could utter the words, 'Da fact ya stole da guy I'se in love wid?!' Mentally, she chagrined herself for losing her temper. It wasn't a normal thing for her to do, and once again, she reminded herself that it wasn't Mysty's fault.
Mysty gawked at her, and Enchanted's warning rang in her ears. "Watch your back, all right?"
Kloppman, who ordered them all into bed, soon broke up the fun. At first, there was grumbling and whining (most of it coming from Skittery and Tapper), but soon it all quieted down. Occasional titters and rapid whispers pierced the dull silence, but soon there was light snoring and nothing else. Mysty rolled over in the bunk bed she had been given and looked at the sheet that separated the boys' side from the girls' side. Through it, she could barely make out Jack's sleeping form, Mush's dopey look as he daydreamed about Enchanted and Race's cute little side-smile. She once again thought about the relationship between Race and Baby. She frowned for a moment and then whispered, "Pssst...Tapper!"
Tapper had the bunk bed above her and she was already half-asleep, arm thrown over her head.
"TAPPER!" Mysty whispered as loud as she could without possibly waking up the rest of the inhabitants in the room. When there was no answer, Mysty hit the mattress above her head with her knee.
"Wha-ad?" Tapper whined, her eyes still closed.
"Tapper? What's going on between Baby and Race?"
Tapper groaned and realized they were going to have a talking session. She rolled over on her stomach and started whispering. "Baby and Race? They used ta be so much in love. I'se remembah da foist day dey met..."
Race groaned and ran a hand through his hair. Every single morning, Kloppman would come up those stairs and yell with his grating voice until he had ripped each newsie from their deep slumber. Every day it was the same. He swung his feet over the bed and winced as they touched the cold wood. Slowly, he put a hand up to the nightstand placed next to the bed and searched for his cigar. When he realized that it was gone, his mind started barking at him feverishly. 'Must have morning cigar!' Frantically, he searched every little thing on the nightstand, until he remembered that Snipeshooter probably had it. He attacked him without noticing that he didn't have the cigar in between his lips, as he usually did. "Whea is me cigah?!"
Snipeshooter screamed as Race tackled him. "I'se don't have it! It was gone when I'se woke up!"
As usual, Blink broke up the fight. "Willya babies shut up?! Dere must be udda t'ings ta do every mornin' besides fight ovah a missin' cigah!"
Race agitatedly searched the room, tearing apart bedcovers and nightstands. The only place he hadn't searched was the other side of the room. The space they had as their bunk room was cut into two pieces, and separated by a white sheet. The girls had the other side of the room. He shook his head. There was no way a girl could have stolen his cigar. Still, he marched over to the sheet and nearly ripped it off its clothespins.
Screams permeated the muttering and silence. "RACE!" IF screamed as she scrambled to cover herself. "SNITCH! GET RACE AWAY FROM HERE!"
Switch Blade dove under a blanket to hide herself and then threatened, "I'se got a switch blade, Race, and I'se know how ta use it! Git away from heah!"
Race didn't cower away, however. "Goils!" he raised his hands diplomatically. "I'se missin' me cigah. Ya know I'se can't start anudda day widout me cigah."
"Didya check Snipeshootah?" Tapper asked.
"Yeah. Surprisingly, he didn't have it. Now, I'se gonna search in heah, so..." He didn't have to search very long. A girl he had never noticed before brushed by him to get to her bunk bed, smoke trailing over her shoulder. She had a quizzical look on her face, and she practically ripped apart her newly made bed hunting for something. "Whea is me brush?!" she growled, a familiar looking cigar in her mouth.
Race looked at her, and watched as she took the cigar out of her mouth and placed it on the nightstand. Her blue eyes examined every nook and cranny of her bed, and they lit up as she found what she was looking for.
"Ha!" she snatched up a fancy-looking brush and dragged it through her long blonde hair. It got tangled in her curls and she cursed at the brush, not caring it was an inanimate object and that it didn't care.
"Wait," Race stepped forward. He carefully picked the brush out of her blonde hair, untangling her long, blonde hair. His breathing sped up at the scent of her hair, and just feeling her silky, thick strands made him feel... exuberant... vivacious.
"Thanks," Baby said, as he handed the brush to her. "Names Baby. Whad's yours?"
"Racetrack Higgins," he said in his most gentlemanly voice.
"Well," Baby said, a smile on her face, "Racetrack, you'se can let go a me hair now."
"Oh...uh," he fumbled and released the strands of hair he was holding. "It's interestin', I'se ain't nevah seen hair like dat," he covered up his momentary slip-up. "It coils at da very ends."
"All a da goils in me family have hair dat coils at da very end. It's always been dat way," she explained nonchalantly. Her light blue eyes twinkled like sapphires and her complexion was rather fair for a newsie, who usually was very tan.
Race looked at her eyes in amazement. He felt lost in the brightness of them, and was held down, and felt trapped... shaking visibly, he tore his gaze away. His heart accelerated and he found in amazement that somehow his hand had found hers.
Baby blushed. There was something about Race that she couldn't quite put her finger on, but it wasn't hard to see that after one minute she was already getting to like him.
"Very romantic and all," Tapper piped up, "But dere are still half-naked goils walkin' around in dis part a da room. So, Race, take ya cigah and go!"
Race reached for the Cuban cigar and was about to grab it, but Baby got there first. She yanked it away before his fingers could close in on it. "Baby? Dat's my cigah," he informed her.
Baby smiled and drew a match from her pocket. She lit it up by scraping it against the wood of her bunk bed and then placed it to the tip of her cigar. She took a puff. "Too bad," she said back flirtatiously. The initial shyness she got around a crush hadn't set in yet, and she wanted to flirt as much as she could.
"I'se not kiddin' Baby," he said as he tried to wrench it out of her mouth.
"We'se could share," she offered.
"NO!" Race shouted, "I'se don't share cigahs! It's jist like kissin'!"
"Well, whad's da harm in kissin' me?" she said over her shoulder as she picked up her decorated brush and left him gaping after her.
"Left him starin' aftah her. A coise, she wasn't dat shy around him yet," Tapper mumbled, yawning. The silence was deafening, and Tapper dug into her pillow, tired and happy that she was finally going to get some rest.
"Is that all?" Mysty whispered.
Tapper jerked up. "Whad?" she moaned. "No, it ain't. Dere's more...I'se suppose I oughta tell you whad else happened dat day..."
Baby giggled as she pulled the fancy decorated brush through her hair, taking care not to get it tangled up again. Although she wouldn't mind if Race was there to take it out of her curls. She still had the cigar safe in her mouth and she would sometimes take a long drag on it. She couldn't believe she had told him that there was nothing wrong with kissing her! Where had her mind been?
Racetrack approached her, and then turned away. He spun around to approach her again, but his courage failed him each time. "Blink," he muttered at the boy with the eye patch.
"Whad?" Blink muttered back as he smiled charmingly at a passing Switch Blade. She in turn blushed and got a scandalous smile on her face.
"I'se need ya help. Find out if Baby's got a sellin' partner fo' today please," he begged, his hands clasped together as if he was in the middle of a prayer.
"Do it yaself!" Blink chastised. He sighed when he saw his friend's pleading eyes. "Aw right, aw right," he agreed. He smoothly walked up to where Baby was still brushing out the tangles in her hair. He heard her grumble, "Stupid hair. Eidder be coily or straight, make a decision!" He tapped her on the shoulder and she twisted around.
"Oh, heya Blink," she greeted. She didn't see that Race was behind Blink, but she had heard the whole muttered conversation between them.
"Heya. Me and my friend wanna know if ya have a sellin' partner fo' today," Blink asked politely.
"Yes, Race can sell wid me," she consented.
Race smiled. "Really?" he replied giddily, giving away his hiding place.
The day that resulted was a great one, one that would forever stay fresh in their minds. Halfway through the first hour, he realized that he hadn't sold any of his papes and that Baby had sold more than half of hers. So, he relinquished his 50 papers to her, understanding the fact that most of the customers went to her and not to him.
By 4:00, all the papers were gone. With one shout of a fake headline, Baby had gotten rid of the rest of them. Race applauded her quietly, and she beamed, bowing proudly. "Thank ya, thank ya!" she said, bowing over and over again.
"So whea do ya wanna go?" he inquired as they strolled around the crowded streets.
"I'se dunno. I'se don't really care," she shrugged. "Wanna go shoppin'?"
Race stared blankly at her. "Shoppin'?"
"Ok, bad idea... whea do ya wanna go?" she grumbled.
"Evah been ta da racetracks?" he asked. She shook her head. "It's a wondaful place. It's how I got me name," he explained, "Sheepshed Races..." he said longingly. He led her to the already crowded street and together they walked through the gate of Sheepshed Races. Baby's eyes widened as she craned her neck, looking around at all the different people, all the different things. The crowds were horrible, but still Baby found herself having fun. After all, she was with Race.
"Hey, wanna bet on a horse?" Race shouted over the commotion.
"Whad?!" she screamed back, not understanding a word he was saying.
"Wanna---bet---on a horse?" he screamed cupping his hands over his mouth.
"Sure!" She scanned the horses on the lineup and their names. "I'se like dat one," she pointed at a tiny looking black horse, who looked like it didn't have much experience and didn't belong there among the bigger, gigantic horses.
"But...she don't even look like she could git 4th place!" Race protested.
"I'se like her," Baby pouted, "And I'se like her name, too. Dark Sapphire. 'Sides, ain't it my money?" she asked, putting an emphasis 'my'.
"It ain't ya money, half a it's mine!" Race complained.
"Really?" Baby said, a coquettish smile on her face, "Who did all da sellin'?"
"But...oh..." he was at a standstill. "Fine!" he gave up. He went to place the bet, and when he returned he found her staring over the fence avidly. "Just wanna say don't be disappointed if your horse loses. It happens ta me all da time," he advised. Baby just shrugged.
"We'se don't know yet, do we?" Baby said philosophically, tilting her head to the side.
The bang of a gun signaled the start of the race. Racetrack closed his eyes as Dark Sapphire almost immediately dropped to the end of the pack. Baby focused her eyes on the tiny little horse and started jumping up and down when it passed by the second to last horse, and then the third to last horse. She was screaming when it pulled up to the third horse, and then to the second. Now, Dark Sapphire and the first horse were deadlocked, when with a spurt of sudden speed, Dark Sapphire flew ahead to cross the finish line. "YES!" Baby shrieked happily. Race cautiously opened his eyes and was ecstatic to see that Dark Sapphire had won. He joined her in her jumping.
"We'se won!" he shouted, "We'se won!"
"Whad did I'se tell ya?" Baby bragged proudly.
"I'se can't believe it. Years of visitin' da racetracks and not winnin' a lousy dime, and you'se come along and we win...whad?---50 bucks?!" he shouted incredulously.
"I'se must be Lady Luck," she observed smugly. She smiled into his face, so close to hers then. Momentarily, his eyes changed; a strange, fiery excitement filled them and made her breath catch halfway in her lungs. His hand went up to respectfully touch her light blonde hair, before he abruptly turned away.
"Let's git ouah money," he said, striding away, leaving behind a perplexed, bewildered Baby behind-feeling as if she had caught a flash of something important just to have it vanish before her eyes.
Race shook his head to wake himself up. He claimed his 50 dollars and trotted back to where Baby was still waiting. "Let's go?" he inquired. She nodded distractedly, her mind visibly on something else. She followed docilely behind, before he turned to her again. "How much money do ya git?'
"Well," Baby did the math in her head. "25.00 is what I'se t'inking but we'll ask Kloppman, aw right?"
When they finally entered the Lodging House at 7:00, (they had been walking around Central Park together), all talking ceased.
Everyone whooped as they watched Baby enter with Race. Remarkably, everyone was gathered downstairs, even David was there, as if they were all waiting for the two of them to walk through that door.
"How'd da date go, Race?" Specs called out jeeringly.
"How good does ya goil kiss?" Skittery asked, who was in turn hit by Tapper. "Ow...sorry," he mumbled.
Race rolled his eyes while Baby blushed sheepishly. "She ain't me goil," he said.
"Shoah she ain't," IF ridiculed. Baby looked down and then back up to gaze at Racetrack.
"I'se tired. I'se gonna go ta bed, aw right?"
"Sure. Oh, and befoah I'se forget," he fumbled in his pocket and drew out a wad of bills. "25 dollahs," he counted as he handed it over.
Gear's mouth dropped in amazement. They had never seen that much amount of money right there in front of them.
"Is dis whad goes on ya dates, Race?" Jack interrogated.
"She ain't a..." Dutchy whispered.
"NO!" Race cried, suddenly furious. "We'se bet on a horse and won, aw right? And Baby could neva be a...a prostitute!" he yelled.
"Ok," Smalls said soothingly, "Ok, Race."
Baby smiled and shook her head. "Look, Race, thanks fo' da great day. So...I'll see ya tomorrow?"
"A coise you'll see him tomorrow," Tapper replied for him, "You both live in da same Lodgin' House, right?"
Baby rolled her eyes, and went up the stairs to the bathroom. She couldn't keep a sigh from coming out of her mouth as she washed up, reliving the whole day. She swept her hair up into a loose ponytail and let the curly ends drift down her back. She nearly floated to the girls' side of the room and walked underneath the white sheet that separated the bunk room into two, and then, she slumped against her bunk bed, a ghost of a smile starting. She reached into her pocket and drew out the cigar she had stolen from him this morning. It was a good thing she had, or she might have never met him... She slipped it back in her pocket. Someday, she might give it back to him. But right now, she wanted to keep it. A keepsake, you might say, of the wonderful first date they both had.
"It continued dat way fo' a week," Tapper said tiredly, "Both a dem sellin' taggeda, and both a dem pretendin' dat dey weren't attracted ta each udda. But by Friday, Race woiked up da courage ta ask her out on a real date, and she became his goil."
Mysty rubbed her forehead. "But that still doesn't explain why they aren't together now," she whispered. There was no response. Tapper was fast asleep in the bunk bed above her. Mysty sighed in annoyance. "Tapper?!" she whispered loudly. 'I must be the only one awake,' she thought, before she closed her eyes, and started cruising away to sleep. 'No matter. I'll ask her tomorrow.'
She wasn't entirely correct in the belief that she was the only one awake. A few bunks away, Baby was still not asleep. She had been listening to Tapper's account of what had happened that day, and tears came flooding to her eyes as she reminisced.
When the sun rose a few hours later, illuminating all of Manhattan, it shone on Baby's tearstained cheeks and reflected her remorse and sorrow. And when Kloppman came storming up the stairs to wake all the newsies, Baby was already the only one really awake and alert, her face devoid of any expression whatsoever.
~*~
Chapter Three
~*~
When Spot set foot into the Lodging House through the half-open window, all motion ceased. Tapper opened her mouth to let out a witty comment, but Skittery clapped a hand over it, halting the remark that was going to come flying out. Enchanted let out another loud laugh. Everyone continued to stay silent as Spot flashed Enchanted a dirty look.
"What?" she mumbled innocently as Gears bumped her meaningfully.
Mysty put one hand up to cover a spreading sneer. Spot had two shiners, both angrily spread across his cheeks where she had hit him. No one dared to say anything; no one dared to move. Spot was in a bad mood already.
Spot self-consciously stared at all of them until they lowered their searching gazes. The way his head was throbbing, it seemed like he had at least 5 shiners, not just 2. He hadn't gotten a shiner in how many years? He ashamedly put a hand to touch his swelling cheek. And to have it be given to him by a girl made him even more embarrassed...especially the girl who had dumped him. He grumbled something underneath his breath and then turned to walk past the crate. "Skunk," he snapped. Skunk stood up and walked behind him obediently. "Enchanted?" he had meant for it to come out as an order, but instead it came out as a question.
"I'll come right along, Spotty. Let me finish the game," Enchanted indifferently replied.
Normally, Spot would have lashed out at her for refusing, but he kept his smart mouth controlled. "Aw right," he nodded shortly. He winced as his cheeks send a new wave of pain through his body and into his head. "C'mon, Skunk."
The quiet had ended abruptly, as soon as he left the building and was out of earshot.
"Two shinahs!" Race shouted amidst swells of laughter. "Two---"
"Did ya do dat?" a stunned Mush asked a beaming Enchanted. Enchanted shook her head, the same sharp smile on her face.
"Not me. My friend, Mysty, however...she did it!" she clapped Mysty proudly on the back.
Race stared at Mysty and his jaw dropped. His cigar dropped out of his mouth. "You'se did dat?" Mysty haughtily nodded. "Come heah," he patted the empty space besides him.
Mysty turned to Enchanted, not knowing what to do. "Go!" she hissed. Mysty scrambled to sit by Race, who in turn threw an arm over her shoulder.
Baby watched jealously as Mysty sat herself down next to Race. At first, she noticed, she was stiff and rigid, not knowing what to do. But she loosened up after a few minutes of Race's wisecracks, and by the time the game ended, she was practically sitting in his lap. Unnoticed by everyone, Baby clenched her hands into fists, and then released them. It wasn't Mysty's fault that Race was starting to like her. It wasn't her fault that she was flirting with him unconsciously, too. She reminded herself once again that whatever they had a long time ago was over. The feeling had long died.
"Hey. Baby!" IF shouted.
"Whad?" Baby murmured as if she had just been awakened.
"Your tuyn," IF muttered matter-of-factly.
"Oh. Um, fold," she said, and threw down her cards. She hadn't even been looking at them. She hastily stood up and was about to walk out when Jack called out, "Baby, whea ya goin'?"
"Bathroom," she snarled viciously.
"Um...but...." Slingshot started to say, but Baby had already walked off, "Da bathroom is dat way," Slingshot trailed off.
Enchanted raised an eyebrow. She had noticed earlier how almost everyone was a couple here. It was so unlike Brooklyn, where everyone was attracted to Spot. Here, everyone had their own preferences, their own likes and dislikes in a guy. Baby was the only one who didn't have a boyfriend. And it looked like she was feeling just a tiny bit envious towards Mysty, who was sitting right next to Race. "Hey, uh, Mysty?" she called to her friend.
"Yeah?" Mysty called back.
"I'm gonna head back to Brooklyn now, ok? Come over here, I wanna talk to you."
Mush looked dismayed at this remark. "You'se leavin' so soon?" he asked simply.
Enchanted shrugged. "Yeah. Spot'll get even madder if I show up late." She stood up and left him staring after her. "Night everyone!" she shouted. Everyone shouted goodnights after her, with a few 'Good Luck' and 'I'll come to your funeral'. She rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, "Keep up that positive attitude, people!"
Mysty rose from where she was leaning happily on Race's shoulder and walked and sauntered over to Enchanted. She walked with her out of the room, and as soon as they reached the stairs, a smug smile appeared. "What do you look for in a man?" she asked urgently.
"Why?" Enchanted rolled her eyes, "It's kinda late for a heart-to-heart talk, Mysty." When Mysty didn't answer, she just sighed. "Ok, I look for a guy who isn't too proud of himself; a guy with a good personality. I look for a sense of humor. I tend to like them a bit muscular, but not bulging huge. And they have to be good-looking. They have to trust me and they have to be able to argue with me. Oh, and they have to love me too."
Mysty's smile widened. "I think Mush is head over heels for you," she confided in her.
"What? Mush?! No, Mysty, I said good personality, not innocence and naiveté. Besides, what could I ever do with Mush?"
"I heard he's a good kisser," Mysty lied.
"Who's he kissed?" Enchanted skeptically asked.
"Um...uh..." Mysty fumbled, searching for a name.
"Sure," Enchanted shook her head. After a few moments of silence, she spoke up. "You think?"
"I think?! I know! Did you see the way he was looking at you? The way his face dropped when you said you were leaving?"
"That doesn't prove anything," Enchanted scoffed.
"Ok, fine. How about when you won that round of poker? His face lit up. I swear, his was the only one's."
Enchanted shook her head. "I have to go, Mysty. Oh, and while we're speaking about matters of the heart, I gotta warn you 'bout Baby. She looked really jealous when you were cozying up to Racetrack in there."
Mysty frowned. "I don't get what's going on between the two of them. They like each other, but at the same time they're... I don't know, too shy to tell each other."
"Just a warning, Mys. Watch your back, all right?"
"All right. You too. Try not to get on Spot's bad side for a few days."
"Too late for that," Enchanted retorted laughingly as she descended the stairs and went out into the night.
Mysty beamed and then entered the bunk room again. The first person to confront her was Mush.
"Mysty?" he asked.
"What?"
He reached a hand up to scratch his curls. "Um...I'se wanna talk ta ya about Enchanted and..."
"She's still single, yeah. She's kinda anti-boyish, though. She doesn't take much time out of her day to even search for one."
Mush looked up at this comment. "Ya t'ink I'se got a chance wid her?" he asked openly. Mysty threw an arm around his neck.
"You've got a great chance with her, Mush." He beamed at this.
"I'se really like her. Da problem is, I'se nevah really liked a goil befoah."
Mysty stared at him blankly. "Never?" He shook his head.
"I'se saw her come in and start stampin' ovah ta you'se, and I'se thought she was one a dose bully kinda goils. Den, ya disappeared on da roof wid her, and when she came back down and started playin' poker wid us, I'se thought she was kinda nice. I'se like her jokes, and I'se like da way she laughs."
"That's sweet!" Mysty cried. 'Wow, this guy really likes her,' she thought. "Why were you happy when she won that round of poker, though?"
"I'se saw her smile and I'se heard her laugh, and I'se couldn't help meself," he confessed, lowering his voice to a whisper, "Was it dat obvious?". Mysty felt her stomach jump in excitement.
"You know what? I'll help ya!" she volunteered happily.
"Ya will?" Mush asked giddily.
"Yeah!" She erupted in giggles, as she thought about the Enchanted and Mush together. The picture didn't look right, happy-go-lucky Mush with tough, temperamental Enchanted. The stream of laughter abruptly ended as she was bumped roughly from behind.
"Whad are you so happy 'bout?" Baby growled. She stopped herself before she could utter the words, 'Da fact ya stole da guy I'se in love wid?!' Mentally, she chagrined herself for losing her temper. It wasn't a normal thing for her to do, and once again, she reminded herself that it wasn't Mysty's fault.
Mysty gawked at her, and Enchanted's warning rang in her ears. "Watch your back, all right?"
Kloppman, who ordered them all into bed, soon broke up the fun. At first, there was grumbling and whining (most of it coming from Skittery and Tapper), but soon it all quieted down. Occasional titters and rapid whispers pierced the dull silence, but soon there was light snoring and nothing else. Mysty rolled over in the bunk bed she had been given and looked at the sheet that separated the boys' side from the girls' side. Through it, she could barely make out Jack's sleeping form, Mush's dopey look as he daydreamed about Enchanted and Race's cute little side-smile. She once again thought about the relationship between Race and Baby. She frowned for a moment and then whispered, "Pssst...Tapper!"
Tapper had the bunk bed above her and she was already half-asleep, arm thrown over her head.
"TAPPER!" Mysty whispered as loud as she could without possibly waking up the rest of the inhabitants in the room. When there was no answer, Mysty hit the mattress above her head with her knee.
"Wha-ad?" Tapper whined, her eyes still closed.
"Tapper? What's going on between Baby and Race?"
Tapper groaned and realized they were going to have a talking session. She rolled over on her stomach and started whispering. "Baby and Race? They used ta be so much in love. I'se remembah da foist day dey met..."
Race groaned and ran a hand through his hair. Every single morning, Kloppman would come up those stairs and yell with his grating voice until he had ripped each newsie from their deep slumber. Every day it was the same. He swung his feet over the bed and winced as they touched the cold wood. Slowly, he put a hand up to the nightstand placed next to the bed and searched for his cigar. When he realized that it was gone, his mind started barking at him feverishly. 'Must have morning cigar!' Frantically, he searched every little thing on the nightstand, until he remembered that Snipeshooter probably had it. He attacked him without noticing that he didn't have the cigar in between his lips, as he usually did. "Whea is me cigah?!"
Snipeshooter screamed as Race tackled him. "I'se don't have it! It was gone when I'se woke up!"
As usual, Blink broke up the fight. "Willya babies shut up?! Dere must be udda t'ings ta do every mornin' besides fight ovah a missin' cigah!"
Race agitatedly searched the room, tearing apart bedcovers and nightstands. The only place he hadn't searched was the other side of the room. The space they had as their bunk room was cut into two pieces, and separated by a white sheet. The girls had the other side of the room. He shook his head. There was no way a girl could have stolen his cigar. Still, he marched over to the sheet and nearly ripped it off its clothespins.
Screams permeated the muttering and silence. "RACE!" IF screamed as she scrambled to cover herself. "SNITCH! GET RACE AWAY FROM HERE!"
Switch Blade dove under a blanket to hide herself and then threatened, "I'se got a switch blade, Race, and I'se know how ta use it! Git away from heah!"
Race didn't cower away, however. "Goils!" he raised his hands diplomatically. "I'se missin' me cigah. Ya know I'se can't start anudda day widout me cigah."
"Didya check Snipeshootah?" Tapper asked.
"Yeah. Surprisingly, he didn't have it. Now, I'se gonna search in heah, so..." He didn't have to search very long. A girl he had never noticed before brushed by him to get to her bunk bed, smoke trailing over her shoulder. She had a quizzical look on her face, and she practically ripped apart her newly made bed hunting for something. "Whea is me brush?!" she growled, a familiar looking cigar in her mouth.
Race looked at her, and watched as she took the cigar out of her mouth and placed it on the nightstand. Her blue eyes examined every nook and cranny of her bed, and they lit up as she found what she was looking for.
"Ha!" she snatched up a fancy-looking brush and dragged it through her long blonde hair. It got tangled in her curls and she cursed at the brush, not caring it was an inanimate object and that it didn't care.
"Wait," Race stepped forward. He carefully picked the brush out of her blonde hair, untangling her long, blonde hair. His breathing sped up at the scent of her hair, and just feeling her silky, thick strands made him feel... exuberant... vivacious.
"Thanks," Baby said, as he handed the brush to her. "Names Baby. Whad's yours?"
"Racetrack Higgins," he said in his most gentlemanly voice.
"Well," Baby said, a smile on her face, "Racetrack, you'se can let go a me hair now."
"Oh...uh," he fumbled and released the strands of hair he was holding. "It's interestin', I'se ain't nevah seen hair like dat," he covered up his momentary slip-up. "It coils at da very ends."
"All a da goils in me family have hair dat coils at da very end. It's always been dat way," she explained nonchalantly. Her light blue eyes twinkled like sapphires and her complexion was rather fair for a newsie, who usually was very tan.
Race looked at her eyes in amazement. He felt lost in the brightness of them, and was held down, and felt trapped... shaking visibly, he tore his gaze away. His heart accelerated and he found in amazement that somehow his hand had found hers.
Baby blushed. There was something about Race that she couldn't quite put her finger on, but it wasn't hard to see that after one minute she was already getting to like him.
"Very romantic and all," Tapper piped up, "But dere are still half-naked goils walkin' around in dis part a da room. So, Race, take ya cigah and go!"
Race reached for the Cuban cigar and was about to grab it, but Baby got there first. She yanked it away before his fingers could close in on it. "Baby? Dat's my cigah," he informed her.
Baby smiled and drew a match from her pocket. She lit it up by scraping it against the wood of her bunk bed and then placed it to the tip of her cigar. She took a puff. "Too bad," she said back flirtatiously. The initial shyness she got around a crush hadn't set in yet, and she wanted to flirt as much as she could.
"I'se not kiddin' Baby," he said as he tried to wrench it out of her mouth.
"We'se could share," she offered.
"NO!" Race shouted, "I'se don't share cigahs! It's jist like kissin'!"
"Well, whad's da harm in kissin' me?" she said over her shoulder as she picked up her decorated brush and left him gaping after her.
"Left him starin' aftah her. A coise, she wasn't dat shy around him yet," Tapper mumbled, yawning. The silence was deafening, and Tapper dug into her pillow, tired and happy that she was finally going to get some rest.
"Is that all?" Mysty whispered.
Tapper jerked up. "Whad?" she moaned. "No, it ain't. Dere's more...I'se suppose I oughta tell you whad else happened dat day..."
Baby giggled as she pulled the fancy decorated brush through her hair, taking care not to get it tangled up again. Although she wouldn't mind if Race was there to take it out of her curls. She still had the cigar safe in her mouth and she would sometimes take a long drag on it. She couldn't believe she had told him that there was nothing wrong with kissing her! Where had her mind been?
Racetrack approached her, and then turned away. He spun around to approach her again, but his courage failed him each time. "Blink," he muttered at the boy with the eye patch.
"Whad?" Blink muttered back as he smiled charmingly at a passing Switch Blade. She in turn blushed and got a scandalous smile on her face.
"I'se need ya help. Find out if Baby's got a sellin' partner fo' today please," he begged, his hands clasped together as if he was in the middle of a prayer.
"Do it yaself!" Blink chastised. He sighed when he saw his friend's pleading eyes. "Aw right, aw right," he agreed. He smoothly walked up to where Baby was still brushing out the tangles in her hair. He heard her grumble, "Stupid hair. Eidder be coily or straight, make a decision!" He tapped her on the shoulder and she twisted around.
"Oh, heya Blink," she greeted. She didn't see that Race was behind Blink, but she had heard the whole muttered conversation between them.
"Heya. Me and my friend wanna know if ya have a sellin' partner fo' today," Blink asked politely.
"Yes, Race can sell wid me," she consented.
Race smiled. "Really?" he replied giddily, giving away his hiding place.
The day that resulted was a great one, one that would forever stay fresh in their minds. Halfway through the first hour, he realized that he hadn't sold any of his papes and that Baby had sold more than half of hers. So, he relinquished his 50 papers to her, understanding the fact that most of the customers went to her and not to him.
By 4:00, all the papers were gone. With one shout of a fake headline, Baby had gotten rid of the rest of them. Race applauded her quietly, and she beamed, bowing proudly. "Thank ya, thank ya!" she said, bowing over and over again.
"So whea do ya wanna go?" he inquired as they strolled around the crowded streets.
"I'se dunno. I'se don't really care," she shrugged. "Wanna go shoppin'?"
Race stared blankly at her. "Shoppin'?"
"Ok, bad idea... whea do ya wanna go?" she grumbled.
"Evah been ta da racetracks?" he asked. She shook her head. "It's a wondaful place. It's how I got me name," he explained, "Sheepshed Races..." he said longingly. He led her to the already crowded street and together they walked through the gate of Sheepshed Races. Baby's eyes widened as she craned her neck, looking around at all the different people, all the different things. The crowds were horrible, but still Baby found herself having fun. After all, she was with Race.
"Hey, wanna bet on a horse?" Race shouted over the commotion.
"Whad?!" she screamed back, not understanding a word he was saying.
"Wanna---bet---on a horse?" he screamed cupping his hands over his mouth.
"Sure!" She scanned the horses on the lineup and their names. "I'se like dat one," she pointed at a tiny looking black horse, who looked like it didn't have much experience and didn't belong there among the bigger, gigantic horses.
"But...she don't even look like she could git 4th place!" Race protested.
"I'se like her," Baby pouted, "And I'se like her name, too. Dark Sapphire. 'Sides, ain't it my money?" she asked, putting an emphasis 'my'.
"It ain't ya money, half a it's mine!" Race complained.
"Really?" Baby said, a coquettish smile on her face, "Who did all da sellin'?"
"But...oh..." he was at a standstill. "Fine!" he gave up. He went to place the bet, and when he returned he found her staring over the fence avidly. "Just wanna say don't be disappointed if your horse loses. It happens ta me all da time," he advised. Baby just shrugged.
"We'se don't know yet, do we?" Baby said philosophically, tilting her head to the side.
The bang of a gun signaled the start of the race. Racetrack closed his eyes as Dark Sapphire almost immediately dropped to the end of the pack. Baby focused her eyes on the tiny little horse and started jumping up and down when it passed by the second to last horse, and then the third to last horse. She was screaming when it pulled up to the third horse, and then to the second. Now, Dark Sapphire and the first horse were deadlocked, when with a spurt of sudden speed, Dark Sapphire flew ahead to cross the finish line. "YES!" Baby shrieked happily. Race cautiously opened his eyes and was ecstatic to see that Dark Sapphire had won. He joined her in her jumping.
"We'se won!" he shouted, "We'se won!"
"Whad did I'se tell ya?" Baby bragged proudly.
"I'se can't believe it. Years of visitin' da racetracks and not winnin' a lousy dime, and you'se come along and we win...whad?---50 bucks?!" he shouted incredulously.
"I'se must be Lady Luck," she observed smugly. She smiled into his face, so close to hers then. Momentarily, his eyes changed; a strange, fiery excitement filled them and made her breath catch halfway in her lungs. His hand went up to respectfully touch her light blonde hair, before he abruptly turned away.
"Let's git ouah money," he said, striding away, leaving behind a perplexed, bewildered Baby behind-feeling as if she had caught a flash of something important just to have it vanish before her eyes.
Race shook his head to wake himself up. He claimed his 50 dollars and trotted back to where Baby was still waiting. "Let's go?" he inquired. She nodded distractedly, her mind visibly on something else. She followed docilely behind, before he turned to her again. "How much money do ya git?'
"Well," Baby did the math in her head. "25.00 is what I'se t'inking but we'll ask Kloppman, aw right?"
When they finally entered the Lodging House at 7:00, (they had been walking around Central Park together), all talking ceased.
Everyone whooped as they watched Baby enter with Race. Remarkably, everyone was gathered downstairs, even David was there, as if they were all waiting for the two of them to walk through that door.
"How'd da date go, Race?" Specs called out jeeringly.
"How good does ya goil kiss?" Skittery asked, who was in turn hit by Tapper. "Ow...sorry," he mumbled.
Race rolled his eyes while Baby blushed sheepishly. "She ain't me goil," he said.
"Shoah she ain't," IF ridiculed. Baby looked down and then back up to gaze at Racetrack.
"I'se tired. I'se gonna go ta bed, aw right?"
"Sure. Oh, and befoah I'se forget," he fumbled in his pocket and drew out a wad of bills. "25 dollahs," he counted as he handed it over.
Gear's mouth dropped in amazement. They had never seen that much amount of money right there in front of them.
"Is dis whad goes on ya dates, Race?" Jack interrogated.
"She ain't a..." Dutchy whispered.
"NO!" Race cried, suddenly furious. "We'se bet on a horse and won, aw right? And Baby could neva be a...a prostitute!" he yelled.
"Ok," Smalls said soothingly, "Ok, Race."
Baby smiled and shook her head. "Look, Race, thanks fo' da great day. So...I'll see ya tomorrow?"
"A coise you'll see him tomorrow," Tapper replied for him, "You both live in da same Lodgin' House, right?"
Baby rolled her eyes, and went up the stairs to the bathroom. She couldn't keep a sigh from coming out of her mouth as she washed up, reliving the whole day. She swept her hair up into a loose ponytail and let the curly ends drift down her back. She nearly floated to the girls' side of the room and walked underneath the white sheet that separated the bunk room into two, and then, she slumped against her bunk bed, a ghost of a smile starting. She reached into her pocket and drew out the cigar she had stolen from him this morning. It was a good thing she had, or she might have never met him... She slipped it back in her pocket. Someday, she might give it back to him. But right now, she wanted to keep it. A keepsake, you might say, of the wonderful first date they both had.
"It continued dat way fo' a week," Tapper said tiredly, "Both a dem sellin' taggeda, and both a dem pretendin' dat dey weren't attracted ta each udda. But by Friday, Race woiked up da courage ta ask her out on a real date, and she became his goil."
Mysty rubbed her forehead. "But that still doesn't explain why they aren't together now," she whispered. There was no response. Tapper was fast asleep in the bunk bed above her. Mysty sighed in annoyance. "Tapper?!" she whispered loudly. 'I must be the only one awake,' she thought, before she closed her eyes, and started cruising away to sleep. 'No matter. I'll ask her tomorrow.'
She wasn't entirely correct in the belief that she was the only one awake. A few bunks away, Baby was still not asleep. She had been listening to Tapper's account of what had happened that day, and tears came flooding to her eyes as she reminisced.
When the sun rose a few hours later, illuminating all of Manhattan, it shone on Baby's tearstained cheeks and reflected her remorse and sorrow. And when Kloppman came storming up the stairs to wake all the newsies, Baby was already the only one really awake and alert, her face devoid of any expression whatsoever.
~*~
