"Hey! Are you comin' to lunch or what?" She jumped.
"Was I asleep?" she asked the Italian boy in the doorway.
"I guess. So are you? Jack told me to come and get you."
"Is his girlfriend gonna be there?"
"Yeah, pro'bly. Why?"
"Let's just say we didn't get off on the right foot," she replied.
"Well, like her or not, you gotta eat," he said and pulled her off the bed. "Come on. Jack wants you to be there to meet everybody and I'm starved!"
"Okay," she finally agreed.
"Oh, by the way, I'm Racetrack. Call me Race." He grinned at her. She smiled back and for once didn't feel intimidated by a male.
"I'm Liz Neeley. Call me Liz." She held out her hand. Race shook it.
"Now let's go to lunch!" he said and bolted out the door. Liz sprinted after him. It felt so good to have made a friend.
As they walked into Tibby's, all the newsies turned to look their way. Sweety especially looked at Race's expression to see if that new girl had tried anything on him. She knew that there was something about Liz Neeley that she didn't like. However, Sweety found that he looked completely relaxed walking next to her.
"Heya, Race!" Boots called from a table.
"Hey, Boots, how's it rollin'?" he replied.
"Good. Who's the girl?" he asked as they sat down. "Is she yours?" Race chuckled.
"Naw, she's new. Spot brought her to Manhattan. I just brought her to lunch." Boots seemed satisfied with this answer so he stopped asking questions. They both ordered and everyone became engaged in their own conversations.
Liz began to relax and started up a conversation with a newsie named Bumlets. He was nice. She was enjoying herself until the bell on the door rang. A ragged looking man entered. The restaurant quieted down. He sat down at a small table in the corner. Liz sunk down into her seat. Jack noticed. He got up and walked over to her.
"What's wrong?" he whispered.
"I know that man," she answered quietly.
"Who is he? Is he your step-father?"
"Uh, yea. I have to get out of here before he sees me."
"Yeah, you do. Stand behind me and I'll walk towards the door."
"Ok." They both stood up. Liz held her breath until they were outside and across the street.
"We better get back to the lodging house," he said as he turned to face her.
"No, you go back on inside. No sense in us both missing lunch." Jack looked reluctant but he finally consented.
"All right. But be careful. I'll have somebody bring back some lunch. Ok?"
"Ok. See you later, Jack."
"Bye. I guess teachin' you how to sell will have to wait a while," he said.
"Yeah, I guess. G'bye, Jack." With that she ran off. Ducking into a nearby crowd of people to keep out of sight. Jack watched until she was gone. Then he walked back into Tibby's.
"Would one of you guys run Liz back some lunch? She had to leave cuz that guy over there is her step-father and she doesn't want him to see 'er," he said as he sat back down at the table.
"I'll do it, Jack," Sweety's voice cooed.
"Um, I don't think that's such a good idea."
"Why not?" she said, looking hurt.
"Well, just because you two didn't hit it off to well in the beginning."
"But this will give us a chance to start over. C'mon, Jackey-poo. Please?" She kissed him and gave him her puppy eyes that she knew he couldn't resist.
"Ok, fine. But be nice." She looked insulted.
"I always am." She smiled angelically. She grabbed Liz's food that had been bagged and walked out the door. Of course Jack didn't see the devilish grin on her face when she turned her back to him.
When Liz arrived at the Lodging House she went straight upstairs to her room. She lay down on her bed and began to cry. Her emotions were all pulling at her heart and they were all totally different. Some were of hate and others were of complete helplessness and desperation. Then there was Spot. She knew he would never even look at her if he knew the truth about her. Or if he did, it wouldn't be about love. When all her tears were cried out, she got up and went up to the roof. Not noticing the other person in the Lodging House.
She sat there sniffling and thinking. She knew she needed help but how could any of the newsies help her. Or even befriend her if she kept lying to them. However, if she told them the truth she would risk he chance of rejection. And she knew what that was like. Her own mother turned her out onto the streets because, well, she didn't know why she was abandoned. Maybe…
"So, whatcha doin' up here?" Her thoughts were interrupted.
"What are you doing here?" she snapped, annoyed that her thoughts had been interupted.
"Jack sent me to bring you back your lunch. You left in such a hurry." She made Liz uncomfortable. "Why are you up here?" she repeated.
"I was just thinking."
"Bout what?" She is so nosy, Liz thought.
"About life...in general."
"Oh really. You know, Lizzie," she got right up close to her face, "I know a lot about you that you don't know that I know." She was getting under her skin. Liz tried to play it off.
"Like what? And don't call me Lizzie, it's just Liz."
"I know what you are and where you came from. And I am prepared to tell everyone else about it." Liz couldn't help but gasp. She tried to regain herself but it was too late, Sweety had already won.
"Well, if you're so smart, what am I?"
"Oh, I don't think we need to embarrass yourself out here."
"Well then lets go inside." They walked back inside and into Liz's bedroom. Liz shut the door.
"Why the hell are you here, Sweety? Tell me the truth."
"I just came to bring you your lunch," she replied, her false innocence showing through.
"You do know my secret. If you tell anybody, I'll kill you, i swear," She threatened. Sweety smiled triumphantly.
"So you do have a secret." Liz swore. She had walked right into her trap. "And I know exactly what it is. You are a-"
"Were, I was a…" she trailed off.
"Oh, I see. And I bet the only reason you're here is because you're broke and you ran out of customers where you came from! You're going to try and sleep with everyone in this house! Starting with Jack!" She grabbed her by the arm. She was a lot taller than Liz was. Liz cringed.
"I am not! I'm trying to get away!" she cried. Then, gaining her courage back she shoved Sweety onto the floor. Sweety was stunned. However, she got back up quickly and slapped Liz across her face, hard. There was a huge red welt on her cheek immediately after. This startled Liz at first, but regaining herself, she punched Sweety as hard as she could. Sweety's head flew back and her body followed. She landed with a "splat" on the floor. Liz surprised herself. She didn't know she had it in her. Neither did Sweety, who was sprawled out on the floor. Liz stood there, stunned. A little while later, Sweety moved on the floor. She groaned and then sat up slowly. She looked up at Liz, a look of hatred in her eyes. Her lip was busted and there was a bleeding cut from her lip to the bottom of her chin. Liz whimpered and made a start for the door, but Sweety was extremely quick, and reached Liz before she could get away. She grabbed Liz around the stomach and swung her around. When she let go, Liz crashed into the bed. Liz squealed as her head made direct contact with the hard wooden bedpost. Sweety spit some blood on the floor and smiled triumphantly. That made Liz's insides boil. With a sort of animal-like scream, Liz shot up and jumped on Sweety, knocking her flat on her back. Again. Now Liz had her pinned and she spit in her face.
"You bitch! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" she screamed at her. She punched her across the face, again, and again. And she probably would have kept punching her if a pair of strong arms hadn't pulled her off.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Spot yelled at her. Liz squirmed and tried to escape his grip. However, his arms were locked like a vice.
"Let go of me!"
"Not until you chill out and tell me what the hell you were doing to Sweety!"
"I was provoked!"
"Huh?"
"She made me do it, asshole!"
"Are you trying to tell me that I didnt just come in here and see you beating the crap outta Sweety? That she was forcing you to?"
"That's not what I said!"
"Yeah, well i dont really give a fuck. You're coming with me."
"Where?"
"Another room. Jack is taking care of Sweety." Sure enough Liz looked and Jack was kneeling on the ground helping Sweety to bed. He looked very upset.
As soon as they were in another room, Spot shoved her onto a bunk. "What the hell is wrong with you? Jack gives you a place to stay and in return you beat up his girl? I dont get you."
"Thats not what happened..."
"Well what did happen? I would appreciate an explanation. I'm not happy."
"It was a misunderstanding, okay? A girl thing....none of your buissness." He shrugged his shoulders.
"Well i can't force you to tell me."
"No, you can't." There was no way she was telling him what the fight was really about. That would definately get her turned out. Back on the street.
He started to leave. "Wait!" He turned around. Their eyes caught and for a moment, she felt weak at the knees. Then it was gone. "Where am I gonna live? Is Jack gonna let me stay?" Spot nodded.
"But you gotta promise to be good, ok?"
"I promise."
"Good. Now I gotta get back. I'm sure they need me back in Brooklyn." She smirked.
"Yea right. who could ever stand you enough to need you?" He turned back around, a grin plastered on his face.
"You'd be surprised," he said and then he disapeared down the steps. She laughed to herself.
"What an asshole."
"Was I asleep?" she asked the Italian boy in the doorway.
"I guess. So are you? Jack told me to come and get you."
"Is his girlfriend gonna be there?"
"Yeah, pro'bly. Why?"
"Let's just say we didn't get off on the right foot," she replied.
"Well, like her or not, you gotta eat," he said and pulled her off the bed. "Come on. Jack wants you to be there to meet everybody and I'm starved!"
"Okay," she finally agreed.
"Oh, by the way, I'm Racetrack. Call me Race." He grinned at her. She smiled back and for once didn't feel intimidated by a male.
"I'm Liz Neeley. Call me Liz." She held out her hand. Race shook it.
"Now let's go to lunch!" he said and bolted out the door. Liz sprinted after him. It felt so good to have made a friend.
As they walked into Tibby's, all the newsies turned to look their way. Sweety especially looked at Race's expression to see if that new girl had tried anything on him. She knew that there was something about Liz Neeley that she didn't like. However, Sweety found that he looked completely relaxed walking next to her.
"Heya, Race!" Boots called from a table.
"Hey, Boots, how's it rollin'?" he replied.
"Good. Who's the girl?" he asked as they sat down. "Is she yours?" Race chuckled.
"Naw, she's new. Spot brought her to Manhattan. I just brought her to lunch." Boots seemed satisfied with this answer so he stopped asking questions. They both ordered and everyone became engaged in their own conversations.
Liz began to relax and started up a conversation with a newsie named Bumlets. He was nice. She was enjoying herself until the bell on the door rang. A ragged looking man entered. The restaurant quieted down. He sat down at a small table in the corner. Liz sunk down into her seat. Jack noticed. He got up and walked over to her.
"What's wrong?" he whispered.
"I know that man," she answered quietly.
"Who is he? Is he your step-father?"
"Uh, yea. I have to get out of here before he sees me."
"Yeah, you do. Stand behind me and I'll walk towards the door."
"Ok." They both stood up. Liz held her breath until they were outside and across the street.
"We better get back to the lodging house," he said as he turned to face her.
"No, you go back on inside. No sense in us both missing lunch." Jack looked reluctant but he finally consented.
"All right. But be careful. I'll have somebody bring back some lunch. Ok?"
"Ok. See you later, Jack."
"Bye. I guess teachin' you how to sell will have to wait a while," he said.
"Yeah, I guess. G'bye, Jack." With that she ran off. Ducking into a nearby crowd of people to keep out of sight. Jack watched until she was gone. Then he walked back into Tibby's.
"Would one of you guys run Liz back some lunch? She had to leave cuz that guy over there is her step-father and she doesn't want him to see 'er," he said as he sat back down at the table.
"I'll do it, Jack," Sweety's voice cooed.
"Um, I don't think that's such a good idea."
"Why not?" she said, looking hurt.
"Well, just because you two didn't hit it off to well in the beginning."
"But this will give us a chance to start over. C'mon, Jackey-poo. Please?" She kissed him and gave him her puppy eyes that she knew he couldn't resist.
"Ok, fine. But be nice." She looked insulted.
"I always am." She smiled angelically. She grabbed Liz's food that had been bagged and walked out the door. Of course Jack didn't see the devilish grin on her face when she turned her back to him.
When Liz arrived at the Lodging House she went straight upstairs to her room. She lay down on her bed and began to cry. Her emotions were all pulling at her heart and they were all totally different. Some were of hate and others were of complete helplessness and desperation. Then there was Spot. She knew he would never even look at her if he knew the truth about her. Or if he did, it wouldn't be about love. When all her tears were cried out, she got up and went up to the roof. Not noticing the other person in the Lodging House.
She sat there sniffling and thinking. She knew she needed help but how could any of the newsies help her. Or even befriend her if she kept lying to them. However, if she told them the truth she would risk he chance of rejection. And she knew what that was like. Her own mother turned her out onto the streets because, well, she didn't know why she was abandoned. Maybe…
"So, whatcha doin' up here?" Her thoughts were interrupted.
"What are you doing here?" she snapped, annoyed that her thoughts had been interupted.
"Jack sent me to bring you back your lunch. You left in such a hurry." She made Liz uncomfortable. "Why are you up here?" she repeated.
"I was just thinking."
"Bout what?" She is so nosy, Liz thought.
"About life...in general."
"Oh really. You know, Lizzie," she got right up close to her face, "I know a lot about you that you don't know that I know." She was getting under her skin. Liz tried to play it off.
"Like what? And don't call me Lizzie, it's just Liz."
"I know what you are and where you came from. And I am prepared to tell everyone else about it." Liz couldn't help but gasp. She tried to regain herself but it was too late, Sweety had already won.
"Well, if you're so smart, what am I?"
"Oh, I don't think we need to embarrass yourself out here."
"Well then lets go inside." They walked back inside and into Liz's bedroom. Liz shut the door.
"Why the hell are you here, Sweety? Tell me the truth."
"I just came to bring you your lunch," she replied, her false innocence showing through.
"You do know my secret. If you tell anybody, I'll kill you, i swear," She threatened. Sweety smiled triumphantly.
"So you do have a secret." Liz swore. She had walked right into her trap. "And I know exactly what it is. You are a-"
"Were, I was a…" she trailed off.
"Oh, I see. And I bet the only reason you're here is because you're broke and you ran out of customers where you came from! You're going to try and sleep with everyone in this house! Starting with Jack!" She grabbed her by the arm. She was a lot taller than Liz was. Liz cringed.
"I am not! I'm trying to get away!" she cried. Then, gaining her courage back she shoved Sweety onto the floor. Sweety was stunned. However, she got back up quickly and slapped Liz across her face, hard. There was a huge red welt on her cheek immediately after. This startled Liz at first, but regaining herself, she punched Sweety as hard as she could. Sweety's head flew back and her body followed. She landed with a "splat" on the floor. Liz surprised herself. She didn't know she had it in her. Neither did Sweety, who was sprawled out on the floor. Liz stood there, stunned. A little while later, Sweety moved on the floor. She groaned and then sat up slowly. She looked up at Liz, a look of hatred in her eyes. Her lip was busted and there was a bleeding cut from her lip to the bottom of her chin. Liz whimpered and made a start for the door, but Sweety was extremely quick, and reached Liz before she could get away. She grabbed Liz around the stomach and swung her around. When she let go, Liz crashed into the bed. Liz squealed as her head made direct contact with the hard wooden bedpost. Sweety spit some blood on the floor and smiled triumphantly. That made Liz's insides boil. With a sort of animal-like scream, Liz shot up and jumped on Sweety, knocking her flat on her back. Again. Now Liz had her pinned and she spit in her face.
"You bitch! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" she screamed at her. She punched her across the face, again, and again. And she probably would have kept punching her if a pair of strong arms hadn't pulled her off.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Spot yelled at her. Liz squirmed and tried to escape his grip. However, his arms were locked like a vice.
"Let go of me!"
"Not until you chill out and tell me what the hell you were doing to Sweety!"
"I was provoked!"
"Huh?"
"She made me do it, asshole!"
"Are you trying to tell me that I didnt just come in here and see you beating the crap outta Sweety? That she was forcing you to?"
"That's not what I said!"
"Yeah, well i dont really give a fuck. You're coming with me."
"Where?"
"Another room. Jack is taking care of Sweety." Sure enough Liz looked and Jack was kneeling on the ground helping Sweety to bed. He looked very upset.
As soon as they were in another room, Spot shoved her onto a bunk. "What the hell is wrong with you? Jack gives you a place to stay and in return you beat up his girl? I dont get you."
"Thats not what happened..."
"Well what did happen? I would appreciate an explanation. I'm not happy."
"It was a misunderstanding, okay? A girl thing....none of your buissness." He shrugged his shoulders.
"Well i can't force you to tell me."
"No, you can't." There was no way she was telling him what the fight was really about. That would definately get her turned out. Back on the street.
He started to leave. "Wait!" He turned around. Their eyes caught and for a moment, she felt weak at the knees. Then it was gone. "Where am I gonna live? Is Jack gonna let me stay?" Spot nodded.
"But you gotta promise to be good, ok?"
"I promise."
"Good. Now I gotta get back. I'm sure they need me back in Brooklyn." She smirked.
"Yea right. who could ever stand you enough to need you?" He turned back around, a grin plastered on his face.
"You'd be surprised," he said and then he disapeared down the steps. She laughed to herself.
"What an asshole."