AN: Don't cha love me? Please review everyone, perty please!
Chapter 6:
"Curt! Blink!" Race called out the next day as the pair walked away from the Distribution Office.
They turned around, "Yeah?"
"We're goin' ta Medda's tanight, wanna come?"
Calli glanced at Blink questioningly, while he looked at Race like he had grown a second head. "Of course we're goin', do ya think I'd miss it?"
Race shrugged and hurried away to the racetracks. Calli looked up at Kid Blink. "Who's Medda?"
He looked at her and grinned, "You'll just have ta see."
~*~*~*~*~
Later that day, when they were finished selling, Kid Blink took her over to a theater. "C'mon, Curt, hurry. Da shows startin'."
Calli glanced at the sign in front of the building. It had a picture of a red-haired woman in a purple dress, and it said, *Miss Medda Larkson, Swedish Meadowlark.*
Calli frowned at it, *Looks like she's a flirt.*
"Hey, Blink, who is she?" After a moment she spun around, looking for him, "Blink? Blink???" *Where is he?* Darting inside amidst the crowds of people, she scanned the audience quickly. *Nope, no newsies.*
Suddenly, a woman came out from behind the curtains, and Calli recognized the woman from the picture. Shouts, whistles, and catcalls filled the air. Calli recognized Blink's voice as one of those yelling. She tilted her head to get the direction of the noise, and saw all of the newsies on one of the balconies. Kid Blink and Mush were swinging out from the balcony with one hand on the rail, and she scowled at them, even though they couldn't possibly see her.
Calli spotted a staircase and hurried up to them and sat down. Blink didn't even notice she was there, because he was busy staring at Medda. *Jealous, Calli?* A little voice taunted her, seeming to come from nowhere. *No, I am not. I just think he is making a fool of himself, and I wouldn't want to be seen with him right now,* she replied, defensively.
*Right, Calli, whatever...* The voice said sarcastically.
*Oh, go away and shut up.*
Only then did Calli notice that Medda wasn't just parading in front of the crowds, but she was also singing. *She sings okay, on tune at least.* Calli admitted grudgingly.
After awhile, which seemed like forever to Calli, who was watching every single newsie protectively, the performance was over.
Kid Blink, Mush, and others who had somehow found their way to swinging over the crowds, hanging on to the railing and singing along, climbed over again and began slowly heading down the stairs. Calli followed when she realized, slightly hurt, that Blink had still not noticed she was there.
A sense of dread came over her as she saw they were all heading towards the star of the night. The boys were all fawning over Medda as she laughed gaily with them. Calli glared at them all, and watched Blink like a hawk.
*If he gets close to her, I'll just interrupt casually,* she decided. A little voice immediately began tormenting her.
*Oh, aren't we protective of our 'friend' today, Calli?* Calli glowered at Medda, pretending she was the source of the voice. *Shut up, I'm in no mood for this.*
Kid Blink put his arm around Medda's shoulders and grinned. Medda laughed. Calli fumed.
Calli slowly made herself relax, scolding herself. *It's not as if Kid Blink is yours, or anything.*
Suddenly, Blink glanced up and noticed Calli. "Oh, Curt!" He slid his arm off of Medda's shoulders and ran up to Calli, pulling her with him to meet Medda. Calli rubbed at the dirt on her hands subconsciously.
"Medda, dis is da new newsie, Curt."
Medda smiled at Calli and shook her hand. "It is very nice to meet you, Curt."
Calli looked at her and muttered, "Same here."
Kid Blink looked at Calli in surprise for a moment, then turned his attention back to Medda. "Medda, youse sounded beautiful when you sang dat song."
Medda smiled, "Why, thank you, Kid Blink."
*That's it, I can't take any more of this.* Calli turned around and stomped out of the theatre, with many puzzled pairs of eyes following her.
Calli breathed deeply when she stepped outside, trying to cool her temper. *Now you did it. You went and made a fool of yourself, just because you're jealous of Medda.*
Calli shook her head to clear it and walked slowly back to the Lodging House.
When she got there, she climbed out the window and sat on the roof. Calli put her head on her knees and sighed. *Oh, I so want to be a girl again. The one time I really want to be a girl, I can't. It's so unfair.*
~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, Calli awoke to find Kid Blink leaning over her. She sat up and looked around the roof. "I guess I must have fallen asleep up here." She rubbed her eyes and glanced at him. "What time is it?"
"The other boys have awready left. I stayed and let youse sleep. We're on'y 'bout thoity minutes late, we can still get papes."
Calli nodded and crawled back through the window and went into the washroom. She quickly got changed and met Kid Blink outside.
Kid Blink kept looking sideways at her, as if he wanted to ask her something but wouldn't. *I wish he would just say it.*
At the same time, he stopped and looked at her. "Curt, why didn't you like Medda?"
Startled, Calli looked at him. "Oh, um.why do you ask?"
"C'mon. You didn't talk to her, kept glaring at her, and you were awfully quiet the entire time." Calli looked up swiftly at that, realizing that he had noticed. "And you left really quickly."
Calli remained silent, hoping he would drop the subject.
After awhile, Blink stopped and stared at her. "Well?"
Calli sighed and shrugged, "I don't know. I just don't like her."
Kid Blink gazed at her, searching her eyes for a sign of what she was really thinking. Calli shifted to her other foot uncomfortably and rubbed at her face.
Kid Blink watched her and sighed inwardly. *There is somet'in' really strange 'bout dis kid. He's not natural actin'. It's like he's readin' off a script, 'r somet'in'.* Kid Blink ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. .
Before they knew it, they were at the Distribution Office. Both bought their newspapers silently and began selling without so much as another word.
~*~*~*~*~
Calli and Kid Blink walked into Tibby's and looked around the room for Race. They spotted him at the same time and sat down at the table with him in relief. Calli listened to his chatter gratefully. *I haven't spoken to Blink since this morning. I wonder what he's thinking about.*
As soon as they were finished with their meal, Calli looked at Racetrack pleadingly. "Do you wanna sell with us, Race?"
Race put his cigar in his mouth and was about to say no thanks, but seeing both her and Kid Blink's faces looking at him as if he was their only link to sanity stopped him. "Umm, how about you guys come to the races wit' me?"
"Okay." Calli said quickly, gathering up her newspapers and ducking out the door before he could change his mind.
Kid Blink followed, leaving Race behind to stare at them, curious. *Oookay..* He shrugged and hurried to catch up with them.
~*~*~*~*~
Race made another half-hearted attempt at a joke, looking at the two on either side of him obviously try to avoid each other.
Calli laughed hysterically a minute later, having no clue what the joke was.
Kid Blink smiled, but his mind was elsewhere.
All in all, it was a pretty sad group.
They looked up in relief as they reached the racetrack, and quickly dashed off separately to sell.
Calli moved throughout the crowd of onlookers and gamblers, calling out headlines and collecting money. She paused as the shouts grew louder, turning to the rail, and watched a beautiful black racehorse cross the finish line with millimeters to spare.
*Well since everyone has there money out, I'm sure they could spare some.* she thought, hurrying into the cheering crowd. She yelled a headline and waved a newspaper in the air.
One of the winners held out a nickel to her carelessly, joking with his friends. She smiled to herself and reached for a newspaper, looking up at him to thank him. Her words died on her lips as they stared at each other.
Sharp black eyes stared into bright green ones, and recognition hit.
"Thomas." she whispered, her life seeming to drain out of her as shock and fear filled her, making her unable to move.
Thomas looked at her in surprise for a moment, searching, making sure it was really her. She whispered his name and he jumped up, yelling to a guard near him.
He grabbed her arm in a death grip and smirked angrily at her, as she turned ghostly white, fear flitting across her face. He hissed under his breath to her, "What have we here?"
~*~*~*~*~
Kid Blink looked helplessly at Race, who had him cornered against a wall, staring skeptically at him. "C'mon. I know somet'in' was wrong.what was it?"
Blink sighed and pocketed several pennies listlessly. "I dunno. He jist froze up."
Race rolled his eyes, "Ya gotta know more den dat, I.oof!"
A guard knocked him to the ground in his hurry and ran past him. Kid Blink helped Racetrack up and they looked around. Several guards were running towards the boxes.
Kid Blink grinned at Race in excitement and grabbed his arm. "C'mon! Let's see what's goin' on!"
They ran through the crowd and climbed the stands, straining their eyes to see. Kid Blink drew in his breath sharply and nudged Kid Blink, pointing to a place in the stands where Curt was standing, held by the arm by a brown-haired man, who was whispering something angrily to him. Curt was completely white and was standing stock still, oblivious to the chaos going on around him.
Kid Blink looked at Race helplessly. "Uh oh."
Race shook him and pointed to the guards, "C'mon! We have ta get ta Curt befoah da bulls do!"
Kid Blink nodded and they dodged and pushed their way up to the boxes. Race ran up behind Thomas and tapped him on the back. He spun around and Race punched him.
Kid Blink grabbed Curt by the arm and started pulling him away. Curt just stared at him blankly.
Race glanced up at him, "Dang it! Blink, shake 'im hard!" He ducked a punch from Thomas and kicked him, knocking him backwards several feet.
Calli looked at him and life came back into her, color flooding her face. *Oh, my gosh, I'm safe. It was just a dream,* She grasped Kid Blink by the arm, drawing in deep breaths to calm herself
Kid Blink glanced over his shoulder at the police moving in and looked back at Curt's face. *Sawry, Curt,* he thought, and slapped him across the face.
Curt started and looked around, taking in his surroundings with one look. He took off, running as fast as he could away from the track.
They ran away from the racetrack and dashed through Central Park. Police officers came after them, and they weaved in and out of the crowds and through alleys, hoping to lose them.
After what seemed like hours, they lost the police and sat down on the grass to rest. Kid Blink looked around and laughed, "Well, we're back in Central Park."
Then he looked at Curt and frowned. "Curt, what 'appened back dere?"
Calli gasped out, "I.I can't.He can't be here!" She whispered, eyes losing focus. She looked up at them fiercely all of a sudden, and said, "He can't find me!" She jumped up and ran back to the Lodging House.
~*~*~*~*~
Race and Kid Blink burst into the Lodging House and looked around in panic. "Where's Curt?" Race asked a startled Kloppman.
"He's, well, he's upstairs."
They ran up the stairs and sank to the floor in relief as they saw him sitting on his bed, surrounded by concerned newsies.
Jack looked over at them and sighed, "Good, yer here. Now could someone please tell us what 'appened?"
The two shrugged and Blink pointed to Calli. "We don't know. Ask him."
Calli didn't hear them, whispering over and over again. "Thomas! Why here? Why now?"
Jack motioned the other newsies out of the room, and only Kid Blink, Racetrack and Jack stayed, watching Calli worriedly.
She suddenly noticed them and kind of half-smiled, staring at a spot on the wall. "I thought it was a nightmare."
Kid Blink and Race sat down on both sides of her, Jack crossed his arms. "What's goin' on?"
*Oh, boy, this isn't good.* She sat up straight and managed a grin at him. "Um, nothing, just a bad sale."
Jack rolled his eyes, and opened his mouth.
Kid Blink looked up and cut him off. "Who's Thomas?"
Calli rocked back on her heels, startled, and looked at him with rising panic. "Um.Thomas? I dunno."
They looked at her in disbelief and she stood up, irritated. "You know what, guys? I appreciate your concern, but I really can't tell you. When and IF I ever can, you three will be the first to know. Okay?"
She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room. Jack looked taken aback for a moment, then jumped up and called down the stairs. "What do you mean by dat?!"
Calli merely shrugged her shoulders and ran out into the street.
Author's Note: Well, how are ya'll? I bet you were aboutta leave, weren't cha? I caught you red-handed! Stop right there, and go down to that little blue button and review! C'mon, all ya have ta say is Good story, or bad story, nothing more.(well, if you wanted to write more, go ahead, but simply too words at least is all I ask!) I'll write quicker if I get more reviews!!!!
Chapter 6:
"Curt! Blink!" Race called out the next day as the pair walked away from the Distribution Office.
They turned around, "Yeah?"
"We're goin' ta Medda's tanight, wanna come?"
Calli glanced at Blink questioningly, while he looked at Race like he had grown a second head. "Of course we're goin', do ya think I'd miss it?"
Race shrugged and hurried away to the racetracks. Calli looked up at Kid Blink. "Who's Medda?"
He looked at her and grinned, "You'll just have ta see."
~*~*~*~*~
Later that day, when they were finished selling, Kid Blink took her over to a theater. "C'mon, Curt, hurry. Da shows startin'."
Calli glanced at the sign in front of the building. It had a picture of a red-haired woman in a purple dress, and it said, *Miss Medda Larkson, Swedish Meadowlark.*
Calli frowned at it, *Looks like she's a flirt.*
"Hey, Blink, who is she?" After a moment she spun around, looking for him, "Blink? Blink???" *Where is he?* Darting inside amidst the crowds of people, she scanned the audience quickly. *Nope, no newsies.*
Suddenly, a woman came out from behind the curtains, and Calli recognized the woman from the picture. Shouts, whistles, and catcalls filled the air. Calli recognized Blink's voice as one of those yelling. She tilted her head to get the direction of the noise, and saw all of the newsies on one of the balconies. Kid Blink and Mush were swinging out from the balcony with one hand on the rail, and she scowled at them, even though they couldn't possibly see her.
Calli spotted a staircase and hurried up to them and sat down. Blink didn't even notice she was there, because he was busy staring at Medda. *Jealous, Calli?* A little voice taunted her, seeming to come from nowhere. *No, I am not. I just think he is making a fool of himself, and I wouldn't want to be seen with him right now,* she replied, defensively.
*Right, Calli, whatever...* The voice said sarcastically.
*Oh, go away and shut up.*
Only then did Calli notice that Medda wasn't just parading in front of the crowds, but she was also singing. *She sings okay, on tune at least.* Calli admitted grudgingly.
After awhile, which seemed like forever to Calli, who was watching every single newsie protectively, the performance was over.
Kid Blink, Mush, and others who had somehow found their way to swinging over the crowds, hanging on to the railing and singing along, climbed over again and began slowly heading down the stairs. Calli followed when she realized, slightly hurt, that Blink had still not noticed she was there.
A sense of dread came over her as she saw they were all heading towards the star of the night. The boys were all fawning over Medda as she laughed gaily with them. Calli glared at them all, and watched Blink like a hawk.
*If he gets close to her, I'll just interrupt casually,* she decided. A little voice immediately began tormenting her.
*Oh, aren't we protective of our 'friend' today, Calli?* Calli glowered at Medda, pretending she was the source of the voice. *Shut up, I'm in no mood for this.*
Kid Blink put his arm around Medda's shoulders and grinned. Medda laughed. Calli fumed.
Calli slowly made herself relax, scolding herself. *It's not as if Kid Blink is yours, or anything.*
Suddenly, Blink glanced up and noticed Calli. "Oh, Curt!" He slid his arm off of Medda's shoulders and ran up to Calli, pulling her with him to meet Medda. Calli rubbed at the dirt on her hands subconsciously.
"Medda, dis is da new newsie, Curt."
Medda smiled at Calli and shook her hand. "It is very nice to meet you, Curt."
Calli looked at her and muttered, "Same here."
Kid Blink looked at Calli in surprise for a moment, then turned his attention back to Medda. "Medda, youse sounded beautiful when you sang dat song."
Medda smiled, "Why, thank you, Kid Blink."
*That's it, I can't take any more of this.* Calli turned around and stomped out of the theatre, with many puzzled pairs of eyes following her.
Calli breathed deeply when she stepped outside, trying to cool her temper. *Now you did it. You went and made a fool of yourself, just because you're jealous of Medda.*
Calli shook her head to clear it and walked slowly back to the Lodging House.
When she got there, she climbed out the window and sat on the roof. Calli put her head on her knees and sighed. *Oh, I so want to be a girl again. The one time I really want to be a girl, I can't. It's so unfair.*
~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, Calli awoke to find Kid Blink leaning over her. She sat up and looked around the roof. "I guess I must have fallen asleep up here." She rubbed her eyes and glanced at him. "What time is it?"
"The other boys have awready left. I stayed and let youse sleep. We're on'y 'bout thoity minutes late, we can still get papes."
Calli nodded and crawled back through the window and went into the washroom. She quickly got changed and met Kid Blink outside.
Kid Blink kept looking sideways at her, as if he wanted to ask her something but wouldn't. *I wish he would just say it.*
At the same time, he stopped and looked at her. "Curt, why didn't you like Medda?"
Startled, Calli looked at him. "Oh, um.why do you ask?"
"C'mon. You didn't talk to her, kept glaring at her, and you were awfully quiet the entire time." Calli looked up swiftly at that, realizing that he had noticed. "And you left really quickly."
Calli remained silent, hoping he would drop the subject.
After awhile, Blink stopped and stared at her. "Well?"
Calli sighed and shrugged, "I don't know. I just don't like her."
Kid Blink gazed at her, searching her eyes for a sign of what she was really thinking. Calli shifted to her other foot uncomfortably and rubbed at her face.
Kid Blink watched her and sighed inwardly. *There is somet'in' really strange 'bout dis kid. He's not natural actin'. It's like he's readin' off a script, 'r somet'in'.* Kid Blink ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. .
Before they knew it, they were at the Distribution Office. Both bought their newspapers silently and began selling without so much as another word.
~*~*~*~*~
Calli and Kid Blink walked into Tibby's and looked around the room for Race. They spotted him at the same time and sat down at the table with him in relief. Calli listened to his chatter gratefully. *I haven't spoken to Blink since this morning. I wonder what he's thinking about.*
As soon as they were finished with their meal, Calli looked at Racetrack pleadingly. "Do you wanna sell with us, Race?"
Race put his cigar in his mouth and was about to say no thanks, but seeing both her and Kid Blink's faces looking at him as if he was their only link to sanity stopped him. "Umm, how about you guys come to the races wit' me?"
"Okay." Calli said quickly, gathering up her newspapers and ducking out the door before he could change his mind.
Kid Blink followed, leaving Race behind to stare at them, curious. *Oookay..* He shrugged and hurried to catch up with them.
~*~*~*~*~
Race made another half-hearted attempt at a joke, looking at the two on either side of him obviously try to avoid each other.
Calli laughed hysterically a minute later, having no clue what the joke was.
Kid Blink smiled, but his mind was elsewhere.
All in all, it was a pretty sad group.
They looked up in relief as they reached the racetrack, and quickly dashed off separately to sell.
Calli moved throughout the crowd of onlookers and gamblers, calling out headlines and collecting money. She paused as the shouts grew louder, turning to the rail, and watched a beautiful black racehorse cross the finish line with millimeters to spare.
*Well since everyone has there money out, I'm sure they could spare some.* she thought, hurrying into the cheering crowd. She yelled a headline and waved a newspaper in the air.
One of the winners held out a nickel to her carelessly, joking with his friends. She smiled to herself and reached for a newspaper, looking up at him to thank him. Her words died on her lips as they stared at each other.
Sharp black eyes stared into bright green ones, and recognition hit.
"Thomas." she whispered, her life seeming to drain out of her as shock and fear filled her, making her unable to move.
Thomas looked at her in surprise for a moment, searching, making sure it was really her. She whispered his name and he jumped up, yelling to a guard near him.
He grabbed her arm in a death grip and smirked angrily at her, as she turned ghostly white, fear flitting across her face. He hissed under his breath to her, "What have we here?"
~*~*~*~*~
Kid Blink looked helplessly at Race, who had him cornered against a wall, staring skeptically at him. "C'mon. I know somet'in' was wrong.what was it?"
Blink sighed and pocketed several pennies listlessly. "I dunno. He jist froze up."
Race rolled his eyes, "Ya gotta know more den dat, I.oof!"
A guard knocked him to the ground in his hurry and ran past him. Kid Blink helped Racetrack up and they looked around. Several guards were running towards the boxes.
Kid Blink grinned at Race in excitement and grabbed his arm. "C'mon! Let's see what's goin' on!"
They ran through the crowd and climbed the stands, straining their eyes to see. Kid Blink drew in his breath sharply and nudged Kid Blink, pointing to a place in the stands where Curt was standing, held by the arm by a brown-haired man, who was whispering something angrily to him. Curt was completely white and was standing stock still, oblivious to the chaos going on around him.
Kid Blink looked at Race helplessly. "Uh oh."
Race shook him and pointed to the guards, "C'mon! We have ta get ta Curt befoah da bulls do!"
Kid Blink nodded and they dodged and pushed their way up to the boxes. Race ran up behind Thomas and tapped him on the back. He spun around and Race punched him.
Kid Blink grabbed Curt by the arm and started pulling him away. Curt just stared at him blankly.
Race glanced up at him, "Dang it! Blink, shake 'im hard!" He ducked a punch from Thomas and kicked him, knocking him backwards several feet.
Calli looked at him and life came back into her, color flooding her face. *Oh, my gosh, I'm safe. It was just a dream,* She grasped Kid Blink by the arm, drawing in deep breaths to calm herself
Kid Blink glanced over his shoulder at the police moving in and looked back at Curt's face. *Sawry, Curt,* he thought, and slapped him across the face.
Curt started and looked around, taking in his surroundings with one look. He took off, running as fast as he could away from the track.
They ran away from the racetrack and dashed through Central Park. Police officers came after them, and they weaved in and out of the crowds and through alleys, hoping to lose them.
After what seemed like hours, they lost the police and sat down on the grass to rest. Kid Blink looked around and laughed, "Well, we're back in Central Park."
Then he looked at Curt and frowned. "Curt, what 'appened back dere?"
Calli gasped out, "I.I can't.He can't be here!" She whispered, eyes losing focus. She looked up at them fiercely all of a sudden, and said, "He can't find me!" She jumped up and ran back to the Lodging House.
~*~*~*~*~
Race and Kid Blink burst into the Lodging House and looked around in panic. "Where's Curt?" Race asked a startled Kloppman.
"He's, well, he's upstairs."
They ran up the stairs and sank to the floor in relief as they saw him sitting on his bed, surrounded by concerned newsies.
Jack looked over at them and sighed, "Good, yer here. Now could someone please tell us what 'appened?"
The two shrugged and Blink pointed to Calli. "We don't know. Ask him."
Calli didn't hear them, whispering over and over again. "Thomas! Why here? Why now?"
Jack motioned the other newsies out of the room, and only Kid Blink, Racetrack and Jack stayed, watching Calli worriedly.
She suddenly noticed them and kind of half-smiled, staring at a spot on the wall. "I thought it was a nightmare."
Kid Blink and Race sat down on both sides of her, Jack crossed his arms. "What's goin' on?"
*Oh, boy, this isn't good.* She sat up straight and managed a grin at him. "Um, nothing, just a bad sale."
Jack rolled his eyes, and opened his mouth.
Kid Blink looked up and cut him off. "Who's Thomas?"
Calli rocked back on her heels, startled, and looked at him with rising panic. "Um.Thomas? I dunno."
They looked at her in disbelief and she stood up, irritated. "You know what, guys? I appreciate your concern, but I really can't tell you. When and IF I ever can, you three will be the first to know. Okay?"
She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room. Jack looked taken aback for a moment, then jumped up and called down the stairs. "What do you mean by dat?!"
Calli merely shrugged her shoulders and ran out into the street.
Author's Note: Well, how are ya'll? I bet you were aboutta leave, weren't cha? I caught you red-handed! Stop right there, and go down to that little blue button and review! C'mon, all ya have ta say is Good story, or bad story, nothing more.(well, if you wanted to write more, go ahead, but simply too words at least is all I ask!) I'll write quicker if I get more reviews!!!!