Disclaimer: I don't own the Newsies. All I own is Stage. ToT/Slingshot owns herself.
Opening Comments: GUESS WHAT Y'ALL! As of today (1/31) ToT and I have finished off the remaining chapters. There are now nine total. KEEP REVIEWING!
Shout Outs~
Dreamsock: XD XD Thank you! The eye quote really isn't my favorite…mine's, well…it's in chapter nine. I don't want to spoil anything!
Skitch: I see where your coming from with the FEDEX. XD Oh, and about that sentence credit thing…its all right. For some reason my whole review didn't register. ::Stabs FF.net::
Bluehag: CROUTONS! WOO! *cough* Anyways…I've seen people with curls run their finger through their hair. Hm. Really, its just a symbolic thing to show that they're deep in though or something. ::shrugs::
Dreamcoat: Something funny in front of Spot? Hm…I don't know if its what you'd call funny but…welll, you'll see. ^.~
DxInsider: Fresh meat = nickname for freshman. ^^
Explanation: ToT is the same person as Slingshot. Slingshot is just her cover-up when she's "a guy" so to speak.
Title: Immigrants
Authors: Stage and ToT (partners in fic-writing crime!)
****
"This way." Boots led the way across the bridge. Next, it went Jack and Dave; Mush and Blink; Specs and Dutchy; and Slingshot and Stage. "Spot's territory is over this way. And be sure not to mouth off."
"Yeah, that's Davey's job." Jack said, whacking Dave on the back. Dave grinned.
"So what's this Spot like?" Slingshot asked boredly, looking around with half-lidded eyes. "Is he worth talking to?"
"Deadly with a slingshot." Boots said.
"What?!"
"No, a slingshot! Like the actual item…not you."
"Thank God." Slingshot murmured. Next to him, Stage snickered. "Shut up, ya bum."
"We almost there?" Stage asked, smothering a yawn.
"Yes, are you tired?" Dutchy asked.
"No." He replied sarcastically.
"What do you want me to do? Carry you?" Specs asked, half demanding.
"It'd be nice." Stage muttered in a barely audible tone. Too bad the others heard him. Dutchy raised his eyebrows at Specs who glared back. Blink stifled a laugh, Mush's face split into a grin, and Dave rolled his eyes.
"I'll throw you off the bridge, Dutch." Specs snarled.
"Yes!" Slingshot exclaimed. Dutchy sent an mock hurt glance over his shoulder at Slingshot.
"That hurts, Sling."
"Don't call me 'Sling', Blondie."
"Don't call me 'Blondie'."
"I'll do whatever I want!"
"Keep moving." Stage said annoyed, pushing Slingshot along.
"My feet hurt!"
"Now its both of you?" Jack looked ready to scream. "Look, its that pier over there, so move! Understand me?"
"Yeah, we got ya, Jackie-boy. There's no need to shout." Stage muttered. The troop trekked down to the pier and threaded their way through the Brooklyn newsies. Spot met them halfway across the pier. He and Jack did the spit handshake.
"Well, these are the new ones." Jack said, motioning towards Stage and Slingshot. Slingshot's mouth hung slightly open as he gawked at Spot. Spot raised his eyebrows at him. Stage hit Slingshot across the head.
"Sorry, what?" Slingshot promptly replied. "I drifted off for a second there."
"Uh huh…drifted, eh? More like swam." Spot replied. "Immigrants, Jack?"
"Damn straight." Stage replied.
"My feet hurt." Slingshot complained, sitting on a pier post. Stage was satisfied to sit on the pier deck.
"Those aren't very…" Spot began. There was a loud crack and the post started to fall backwards. Slingshot's eyes resembled saucers and Stage and Spot leaped forward, trying to grab him off it. Stage missed but Spot didn't. Unfortunately, he went down into the water with Slingshot.
"Oh no…" Stage mumbled. "This is bad, this is very bad!"
"Why? Can't he swim?" Dutchy asked, peering over the edge into the dark waters below.
"Uh, no." Stage replied, doing a little quick-thinking.
"Don't worry about it…Spot's down there. He'll get him." Mush assured Stage, patting him on the back.
That's what I'm afraid of… Stage thought.
After a few seconds, Spot surfaced, his hair plastered in wild directions. There were several large bubbles and Slingshot came up, gasping for air. Spot turned to help him…and gawked. As did the other boys on the pier. Except Stage, who was wincing.
"Holy Sweet Jesus!" Jack sputtered. Slingshot was visibly embarrassed. His cap had floated away and his hair had fallen down. Frankly, it revealed that he was a she. The wet shirt didn't help much, either. Slingshot was quite glad she had worn a dark green shirt that day.
"Spot, 'mind bringing her up?" Stage called down. "Spot? SPOT! Don't make me come down there!"
"What? Sorry." Spot replied awkwardly. He swam towards the ladder, Slingshot doggy-paddling behind. The two climbed back up onto the pier and Stage gave her a towel he had snatched from another Brooklyn newsie.
"Its cold!" Slingshot exclaimed.
"Is that all you have to say for yourself?" Jack demanded.
"Jack, why don't you go soak your head?" Stage snapped, shoving him into the water. "He can swim, right?" He asked as an afterthought.
"Should be able to." Spot replied. Sure enough, Jack came up thrashing and pulled himself back up onto the pier. Spot handed him a towel.
"Well, we'd better get back to Manhattan so she can change." Stage said, heading off. Blink grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back.
"Not until we get an explanation."
"Yeah, yeah. After we get back, huh? She'll catch her death of cold."
"Stage, can I ask you a serious question?" Specs asked.
"Shoot."
"Do you like boys?"
Stage visibly faltered at the question. Slingshot snickered.
"I'm not gay if that's what you're getting at." He replied after a few moments. "Are we going back to Manhattan or what?"
Stage strode off down the pier, the others and Spot following closely behind.
****
The group reached Manhattan soon after. Slingshot had somehow convinced Spot to carry her for the rest of the trip. Blink and Specs were holding up a practically dead-on-his-feet Stage.
"All right, Stage. Where's the place you're stayin'?" Boots asked, looking around at all the buildings.
"It's that one." Stage mumbled, covering a yawn with one hand. "Room three, second story."
"I have to carry this thing up the stairs?!" Spot demanded.
"Who're you calling 'this thing'?!" Slingshot shot back.
"Ok, come on. I'll lead." Stage said, shrugging off the help of the other two. He climbed up the narrow staircase, Spot following with the rest in the rear in case he toppled over backwards with the extra cargo in his arms.
"You can drop us off at the door." Stage told them. When they reached the door Spot put down Slingshot and they all said their goodbyes. Stage unlocked the door and staggered in. she threw the keys across the room along with her shoes.
"I'll be in the bathroom. I'd like to take a bath after that stupid river." Slingshot said, disappearing into the bathroom.
"Uh huh." Stage replied. "Ew, gross…oil." She said looking down at her shirt. Stage decided to soak the shirt and sleep in her undershirt. She dropped the soiled shirt in a basin of water and collapsed on the bed.
This day cannot get any worse. Stage thought as she drifted off to sleep.
****
Of course, she just jinxed it so we all know that it will.