Summary; Written for the RBLH (RAINBOW BRIDGE LODGING HOUSE; WWW . GEOCITIES . COM / INSTITUEOFGRACE). After a disastrous fire sends Jack & Stress up to Rainbow Bridge, a cocky Canadian tries to put himself between the pair. Will it take whatever's at the end of the rainbow to keep them together? It just might.
Disclaimer; I do not own, nor stake any claim, to any of the original newsboy characters -- they are the property of Disney. The main characters Stress and Riley belong to me. Any other character, when noted, is property of their respective owner. The Rainbow Bridge Lodging House belongs to Dice & Iris.
Originally Posted: 08.01.02 – 08.05.02
Rewritten: 05.08.06
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III EMBARASSMENT & ANGER
"So, Riley, what is it that you wanted to show me?" Stress asked as she followed Riley into the secluded library. She was surprised to see that they were alone and there were only a handful of candles lit.
He waited until she was inside before he slammed the door shut behind them. "Nothing really, Stress. It's just that I wanted to have a little chat with you and you know how the poker room gets. It's always so crowded and noisy this time of day." Riley shrugged and shot Stress one of his winning smiles.
"Umm— Sure, whatever you say, Riley." Stress walked to one of the faded leather chairs that furnished the bunkroom and sat down. She made sure to choose one next to a pair of flickering flames. She could see Riley better that way. "What's on your mind?"
"Well, you see, this is the deal. I like you, Stress," he said as he slowly sauntered over to the seat she had occupied. He placed one of his hands on each of her arm rests, effectively trapping her in her seat. The flames danced in his grey eyes and he looked slightly disturbed.
Stress looked up at Riley, her face contorted into a puzzled expression. He was making her nervous. "I like you too, Riley," she said simply.
Riley's grey eyes shined and his thin lips twisted into a grin. "Really?"
"Really. You're a great pal." Misunderstanding what he had meant, Stress smiled back and gestured for him to back up so she could get up. He didn't move.
"Pals? Is that all we are? Pals?" His shoulders slumped though his hold on her chair remained. His head dropped down onto his chest. He wasn't expecting her to say that.
"Of course, what did you think?" Stress sat back into the chair when he lifted his head. She saw the hurt expression on his face and suddenly realized exactly what he had though. "Ohhh...I see..." she murmured as she began to blush bright red.
"Yeah, I think you understand what I meant, eh?" Riley ran his hand through his thick dark brown hair as he contemplated his next move. Why not, he thought to himself before leaning in and kissing her on the lips. She never even had the chance to move.
Both of them were so pre-occupied, Riley focused on keeping her under him embrace while Stress struggled to break free from his touch, that when the door creaked open and shut shortly after, neither one of them noticed.
Finally, though, she was able to back away from Riley. She almost tipped the chair over backwards in her haste to distance herself from him. "Riley—" she began but was cut off almost immediately.
"Tell me now, Stress. Tell me that we're just friends and nothing more. Tell me that that kiss meant nothing to you," he whispered, towering over Stress as she tried to sink deeper into the leather chair.
Stress looked up at the figure looming over her and felt a twinge of sympathy despite the way he had just forced himself upon her. "I'm sorry, Riley, really. I hate to do this to you and all because I really do like you, but I don't feel the same way about you that you seem to feel about me. My heart belongs to Jack."
Riley scoffed as he turned his back on her and took a few steps away before spinning on his heels. "Cowboy? You still have feelings for that sorry excuse of a cowboy? How can you like him better than me? Just tell me that and, I swear, I'll never bring it up again."
She took the opportunity to climb out of the chair before walking towards him. She did, though, keep a few steps between them in case he got too close again. "I just can't explain it like that, Riley. I've known Jack for almost four years now and there is this bond between us, you know. We've been through so much together and now, now that we are finally a couple, I don't wanna lose him. I…I love him, Riley." Stress blushed as she turned her head away. She wasn't one to go around spouting her feelings as if she were a fountain, but that's exactly what she had done. and why? Because I feel sorry for him, that's why. How did I miss all the signals that he gave me? Dammit, even Jack knew! She watched him pace back and forth throughout the bunkroom, pacing in silence. I could have prevented all of this if I had just opened my damn eyes.
"I understand, Stress. I guess I have to," Riley answered after a moment. He stopped pacing and looked over at her. Even in the dim lighting she could see him staring at her with a wistful expression on his face. "And I'm happy for you and Cowboy. I just hope he feels the same way..." Riley said before he nodded once and walked to the library door. "For your sake, I hope that he feels the same way..." he added before turning to leave the library.
"I wonder what he means by that?" Stress asked herself before realizing that she was now alone. She shook her head. "Screw it, I'm just going to bed. I can't think about this now."
- - -
Jack stalked off into the night, anger fueling his steps. "What does that kid think he's doing? She's my girl, not his," he grunted as he flung himself down onto a bench outside of the lodging house. Once he was sitting on the wood, he began to strike at it with a fist, imagining that, with ever splinter of wood that broke off, it was Riley he was breaking.
"Hey, Jacky-Boy. What did that bench ever do to you?" Spot asked with a smirk as he, along with Iris, Dice and Race, strolled over to where Jack was fighting with his bench. It was only when he had placed a hand on Jack's shoulder that the older boy lifted his head.
"You don't understand, Spot," Jack huffed as he continued to take his anger out on the bench. Then, with a final blow, he broke one of the wooden panels of the bench. "Take that, Riley!"
"Riley? Who's Riley?" asked Race as he lit his cigar and slung his arm over Dice's shoulder.
"You know who he is, Race. Remember? He's that kid who showed you where the tracks up here were," Dice reminded him as she snuggled up close to him.
"Oh yeah. I like that guy," Race commented but flinched when he saw Jack's expression. "I mean, I did like that guy but now he's nothing but scum."
"Damn, right! He ain't nothing but a lowlife girl-snatcher," spat Jack, turning his back on the pair of couples. Right at that moment he couldn't stomach watching the happy two-some's considering how miserable her felt.
Iris ducked out from under Spot's arm and walked forward. "Cowboy," she said calmly, putting her hand on his shoulder "is there something you wanna tell us?"
Jack slumped his shoulders and turned back around. "Stress and Riley," he stated simply before turning back around again.
Race scratched his head as Spot and Iris exchanged a questioning look. "Yeah, and what about Stress and Riley?" Dice prompted.
"Just Stress an' Riley. That's all."
"Jacky-Boy, sorry to burst your bubble and all, but I just don't get what your trying to say. Now, if you want us to understand why you just soaked that bench, you better open your trap and start talking," drawled Spot as he tucked his walking cane back into his suspenders and tapped his foot impatiently.
"Oh, Spot, can I just say how sensitive you are," Jack sighed and squatted down. He left the bench and, picking up pebbles out of the dirt, began to throw them back at the ground.
"Hey Jack, Spot's right. We can't help you if you don't tell us what's wrong." Race took one last drag of his cigar before tossing it at Jack's feet.
Jack straightened up and glared down at the head-shorter boy. "Ya wanna know what's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong. I just walked in on my girl kissing another guy, that's what's wrong."
"Oh," Race muttered.
Dice smacked Race on the arm. "Shut it, Race. It ain't the time for your comments."
"At least it wasn't one of my pals that's cheating on his girl," Race retorted.
Dice stood there, her jaw dropped, mouth wide open. Iris took the opportunity to step in and defend her friend. "Hey Race, watch what you're saying there."
While Race started to argue with Iris, Spot took Jack by his arm and led him a few feet away. "Jack, are you sure?" he muttered.
Jack nodded. "I'm definitely sure, Spot. It may have been dark in that library, but he was kissing her alright."
"What are ya gonna do, Jacky?" Spot asked, his eyes dancing as he looked over Jack's shoulder to see Race be yelled at by both Iris and Dice.
Jack shrugged. "I'm gonna have myself a nice little chat with Riley tomorrow, that's what I'm gonna do."
Spot turned around so that he was facing Jack. "What about Stress? Does she know what ya saw?"
"I dunno, but I hope not. I just wanna have things go back to normal, y'know?"
Spot looked back at bickering trio and chuckled when he saw Iris scowling at Race and Dice, who were embracing in the middle of the road. "Or at least as normal as it ever gets, eh, Cowboy?"
- - -
Later, when Iris and Dice finally returned from their evenings out with Spot and Race, they were disappointed to find that Stress had already turned in for the night.
"Damn, I really wanted to talk to her about Riley," mumbled Dice as she changed into her nightclothes.
Iris nodded in agreement. "Do ya think dat she's really cheating on Cowboy with Riley?" she asked as she climbed into her bunk and blew out the candle on her nightstand.
"Let me put it this way, Iris. We knew Stress and Jack for awhile when we was living in New York and I've never see a couple that was more in love. If she decided to drop him for a punk like Riley, I hate to see what's gonna happen with me and Race, you know?"
"Dice, don't even think like that," warned Iris. Not like it did any good, though; Iris had already given the same topic a good deal of thought. And she continued to do so throughout that night. I don't buy that, she thought, unable to fall asleep, love is made of stronger stuff than that…
