Star Crossed Lovers- by Crunch
Shortie- ooooooooooooooh, I see, well then I hope you feel warmer. No, I know I know, I don't have to tell my loyal reviewer awardee to review. Boy, is my face red. Yes, everybody together. . .awwwwwwwww, Racey and Ruby, so sweet. I DON'T WANT TO DO IT! Yes, I really want to rewrite it, but I think I've degraded Shakespeare enough already, I can't rub salt in the wound. Oh well, here we go, enjoy! UPDATE SOON!
Morning Dew- Muahahaa! I am the evil master mind of cliff hangers, all readers bow before me! MUAHAHAHA *cough ahem cough* Any hoo, heres an update, hope you like it! Yeah, if their gonna bite the dust in the end, I have to give them their moment of cuteness. Sigh.
Jo- NOOOOOOOOO! Not the evil hyde version! *covers head in a desperate attempt to escape death, then realizes noones actually there. Ah, me.* Here! Here ya go! An update! Thanks for the awesome review, so nice, and enjoy!
Misprint- boy you're not kidding, I was reading along, realizing if I did the whole scene you'd all be bored to tears, and the ones who ALREADY were would be. . .even border. Can you be border? Hmm, lifes eternal questions. Hmm, Racey riding a lamb, it has possibilities. . .*gets a smack upside the head from Race!Muse* yes, Racetrack, the face that sold a thousand papes, he is SO cute. Wait for it. . .wait for it. . .she's coming. Oh, thankyou SOOOO much, I know that the meaning was there, you ahhs said it all. Kepp reviewing!
Dollface- AWWW, Doll Face, you risk sleep deprivation for me? I'm truly touched. Oh yay, it made you happier! Don't be sad, get glad! Turn that frown upside down! Cause theres more RACE AND RUBY CUTENESS, coming soon! Oh, thanks for the always sweet reviews, keep reading! Good stuff comin up!
Omniscient- oh, that's just fine, even short Omnireviews are appreciated beyond the telling of it. A cactus? Oh, I once had a cactus, but I killed it. Didn't even know the stupid things could die. *sigh* yeah thanks! *eats her applesauce.* I know what you mean, oddly enough, and it makes me happy cos that what I was hoping for. I've had enough of Santa Kloppman. THANKS AGAIN KEPP READING!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kloppman dragged a wrinkled hand across his brow, sighing with all consuming releif at the spectacle before him. Instead of the Bulls, armed to the teeth with night sticks and search warrants, Nanny stood, hunched and dripping in the slight mist that leaked from a cloudy night sky.
"Could I come in, Mistah?" her shrill voice quivered in the stiff breeze. "I got news from Ruby."
"Yes, yes, ofcourse girl. Come in." Feeling his racing pulse return to normal, the old man stepped aside as Nan blustered into the dimmly lit church, scanning every cast shadow, peering into every darkened cornor.
"Where is 'e? Wheres dat bum Racetrack?" From his vantage point in the confessional, Race's heart leapt at the familiar, grating voice. Swiftly he shrugged out of Mush's grip and burst through the doorway in a scramble of hurried footsteps.
"Where is she? What did she tell youse? What does she want?" The boy slid across the polished marble floors, clumsily skidding to a stop in front of the alarmed messanger. Though he spoke quietly, his coffee brown eyes blazed with impatience and fear. It was enough to break Nanny's heart.
"Well. . ."
"AH, whats da point!" he cried, tumbling into an undignified heap on the cold floors with a desparate sigh. "Ya don't even have ta say it. She don't want me anymore, do she?"
"umm. . ."
"That's it, aint it! Gawd, just kill me now!"
"Racetrack, stop this at once!" Kloppman scolded, roughly hauling the newsie up by the collar of his shirt. Through tears of frustration, Race's jaw dropped in amazement. "You're acting like a little girl who's soiled her pants. Be a man, for once!" He shook his head. "Do you know how lucky you are, boy?"
"Lucky? LUCKY? I might as well be dead, I'se screwed up so bad." Still sniffling, Race reached to tug the bloodied gun from it's place at his side, wincing as the hasty movement jerked his battered chest. Before his fingers could clasped the handle, Kloppman cuffed him upside the head in exasperation.
"Racetrack, CHEESE IT! For the love of God, you can't even see! You and Ruby are both still alive, Baron is gone, and nothing is set in stone! The Chief might change his mind after all." Racetrack looked up, a glimmer of hope brightning his face and twinkling in his desparate eyes for the first time that night.
"You t'ink?"
The care taker's voice softened, as he spoke with ten times more conviction then her felt, battling the doubts that crept across his mind. "Sure. Now, go on, go see Ruby. But be carefull!" As Race turned to go, Kloppman reached out for the boy he'd loved like a son all of his life, one last time. "Be careful, Racetrack. You should be gone before dawn; the Bulls will be out in full force then. You have friends in Queens, don't you?" the newsie nodded impatiently. "Good then, you'll stay there untill we can get all this cleared up. We'll rally all the Newsies together, talk with the Chief, and bring you back to Manhatten."
"Thanks, Kloppman." Racetrack leaned in for a hug, then thought better of it, wincing at the pain of the quick movement. Swallowing the lump lodged in his throat, he shook the old man's warped and spotted hand instead.
"Just keep your chin up Race." With a final look of thanks, the boy hurried for the door, with Nanny and a confused Mush trailing after him.
"Oy, Racey, wait up!"
*.*.*.*
Frenchy reclined against the crowded bar with all the grace and dignity of a parisien noblemen, back strait, head tall, and handsome fade glowing with the confidence of a man who has the world on a string. Even in his slightly drunken state he shone brighter then every other ragga muffin newsie in the place; it was his style to do so. It was one of the things Spot admired most about him, and at the same time, despised.
"French, lemme tell youse, dis aint been a good weak." Spot sighed disparingly, feeling the burden of the world press against his slumped shoulders as he took a long, healthy swig. "Foist dis new rumble in newsie square, den Baron. . . he was me second, you know."
"I know, Spot."
"Yup." The inebriated Brooklyn head of Brooklyn licked the inside of his shot glass, gathering every drop of saving liquid. 'Gawd, it's hot in here' he thought. "Times like dese, ya don't know who ta trust if ya don't have a Second. An' now dat Barty's gone. ."
"Ya mean Baron?"
Spot winced. "Don't interupt, kid. As I was sayin'. . .what was I sayin'?" he shook his head and raised a finger to summon the bartender, plunking down more of the days meager earnings for another shot.
"You was sayin' you aint got noone ta trust."
"Ah, dat's right, I was. Now I'm gonna ask you somethin', and I knows I'm gonna get a strait answer, cause you wouldn't lie ta me, would youse?" Even drunk off his chair, the boy managed to look deathly serious. Frenchy swallowed hard.
"No, I wouldn't, boss." Spot thought for a moment, before smiling amiably.
"No, I don't suppose you would. You're too smart a guy for dat. So tell me, Frenchy, was you really serious when you asked fah me permission ta go for Ruby?"
Frenchy nodded, a hungry look in his shining, bottle green eyes. "Damn strait I was."
"Whassat?"
"Uh. . . yes chief, I was."
His leader nodded. "Good. Den here's da deal." All the whisky and infamy in the world couldn't hide the sadness that crept into Spot's voice, clouding his features. It felt like the clock was ticking, and e could no longer ignore it. "I need a man ta trust, an' I need a man ta look aftah me boys. Me familly. Times like these, wid my rivalry wid Jacky-boy bein' what it is, ya never know what can happen. So, I'm gonna promise you Ruby." He held up one hand, stopping Frenchy from gushing his thanks. "I think she'll listen ta me - no, I know she will. So dat's da deal. You get Ruby fah your goil, you could even marry 'er. I could make dat happen, ya know. All you gotta do is keep up your end of da bargain, an' watch out for 'er. Understand?"
Frenchy nodded, running a hand through his gleaming black mane in wild excitement. Well, as wild an excitement as Frenchy ever expressed, and that was saying something.
"You got yourself a deal, boss."
Spot nodded , satisfied, and reached for another round.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ahh, the long awaited next chapter, and I do mean long. What's gonna happen next? It's driving you MAD, isn't it? No? Well, stay tuned anyways! Coming next. . . the LOVE scene, MUAHAHAHA!!!! REVIEW!!
Shortie- ooooooooooooooh, I see, well then I hope you feel warmer. No, I know I know, I don't have to tell my loyal reviewer awardee to review. Boy, is my face red. Yes, everybody together. . .awwwwwwwww, Racey and Ruby, so sweet. I DON'T WANT TO DO IT! Yes, I really want to rewrite it, but I think I've degraded Shakespeare enough already, I can't rub salt in the wound. Oh well, here we go, enjoy! UPDATE SOON!
Morning Dew- Muahahaa! I am the evil master mind of cliff hangers, all readers bow before me! MUAHAHAHA *cough ahem cough* Any hoo, heres an update, hope you like it! Yeah, if their gonna bite the dust in the end, I have to give them their moment of cuteness. Sigh.
Jo- NOOOOOOOOO! Not the evil hyde version! *covers head in a desperate attempt to escape death, then realizes noones actually there. Ah, me.* Here! Here ya go! An update! Thanks for the awesome review, so nice, and enjoy!
Misprint- boy you're not kidding, I was reading along, realizing if I did the whole scene you'd all be bored to tears, and the ones who ALREADY were would be. . .even border. Can you be border? Hmm, lifes eternal questions. Hmm, Racey riding a lamb, it has possibilities. . .*gets a smack upside the head from Race!Muse* yes, Racetrack, the face that sold a thousand papes, he is SO cute. Wait for it. . .wait for it. . .she's coming. Oh, thankyou SOOOO much, I know that the meaning was there, you ahhs said it all. Kepp reviewing!
Dollface- AWWW, Doll Face, you risk sleep deprivation for me? I'm truly touched. Oh yay, it made you happier! Don't be sad, get glad! Turn that frown upside down! Cause theres more RACE AND RUBY CUTENESS, coming soon! Oh, thanks for the always sweet reviews, keep reading! Good stuff comin up!
Omniscient- oh, that's just fine, even short Omnireviews are appreciated beyond the telling of it. A cactus? Oh, I once had a cactus, but I killed it. Didn't even know the stupid things could die. *sigh* yeah thanks! *eats her applesauce.* I know what you mean, oddly enough, and it makes me happy cos that what I was hoping for. I've had enough of Santa Kloppman. THANKS AGAIN KEPP READING!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kloppman dragged a wrinkled hand across his brow, sighing with all consuming releif at the spectacle before him. Instead of the Bulls, armed to the teeth with night sticks and search warrants, Nanny stood, hunched and dripping in the slight mist that leaked from a cloudy night sky.
"Could I come in, Mistah?" her shrill voice quivered in the stiff breeze. "I got news from Ruby."
"Yes, yes, ofcourse girl. Come in." Feeling his racing pulse return to normal, the old man stepped aside as Nan blustered into the dimmly lit church, scanning every cast shadow, peering into every darkened cornor.
"Where is 'e? Wheres dat bum Racetrack?" From his vantage point in the confessional, Race's heart leapt at the familiar, grating voice. Swiftly he shrugged out of Mush's grip and burst through the doorway in a scramble of hurried footsteps.
"Where is she? What did she tell youse? What does she want?" The boy slid across the polished marble floors, clumsily skidding to a stop in front of the alarmed messanger. Though he spoke quietly, his coffee brown eyes blazed with impatience and fear. It was enough to break Nanny's heart.
"Well. . ."
"AH, whats da point!" he cried, tumbling into an undignified heap on the cold floors with a desparate sigh. "Ya don't even have ta say it. She don't want me anymore, do she?"
"umm. . ."
"That's it, aint it! Gawd, just kill me now!"
"Racetrack, stop this at once!" Kloppman scolded, roughly hauling the newsie up by the collar of his shirt. Through tears of frustration, Race's jaw dropped in amazement. "You're acting like a little girl who's soiled her pants. Be a man, for once!" He shook his head. "Do you know how lucky you are, boy?"
"Lucky? LUCKY? I might as well be dead, I'se screwed up so bad." Still sniffling, Race reached to tug the bloodied gun from it's place at his side, wincing as the hasty movement jerked his battered chest. Before his fingers could clasped the handle, Kloppman cuffed him upside the head in exasperation.
"Racetrack, CHEESE IT! For the love of God, you can't even see! You and Ruby are both still alive, Baron is gone, and nothing is set in stone! The Chief might change his mind after all." Racetrack looked up, a glimmer of hope brightning his face and twinkling in his desparate eyes for the first time that night.
"You t'ink?"
The care taker's voice softened, as he spoke with ten times more conviction then her felt, battling the doubts that crept across his mind. "Sure. Now, go on, go see Ruby. But be carefull!" As Race turned to go, Kloppman reached out for the boy he'd loved like a son all of his life, one last time. "Be careful, Racetrack. You should be gone before dawn; the Bulls will be out in full force then. You have friends in Queens, don't you?" the newsie nodded impatiently. "Good then, you'll stay there untill we can get all this cleared up. We'll rally all the Newsies together, talk with the Chief, and bring you back to Manhatten."
"Thanks, Kloppman." Racetrack leaned in for a hug, then thought better of it, wincing at the pain of the quick movement. Swallowing the lump lodged in his throat, he shook the old man's warped and spotted hand instead.
"Just keep your chin up Race." With a final look of thanks, the boy hurried for the door, with Nanny and a confused Mush trailing after him.
"Oy, Racey, wait up!"
*.*.*.*
Frenchy reclined against the crowded bar with all the grace and dignity of a parisien noblemen, back strait, head tall, and handsome fade glowing with the confidence of a man who has the world on a string. Even in his slightly drunken state he shone brighter then every other ragga muffin newsie in the place; it was his style to do so. It was one of the things Spot admired most about him, and at the same time, despised.
"French, lemme tell youse, dis aint been a good weak." Spot sighed disparingly, feeling the burden of the world press against his slumped shoulders as he took a long, healthy swig. "Foist dis new rumble in newsie square, den Baron. . . he was me second, you know."
"I know, Spot."
"Yup." The inebriated Brooklyn head of Brooklyn licked the inside of his shot glass, gathering every drop of saving liquid. 'Gawd, it's hot in here' he thought. "Times like dese, ya don't know who ta trust if ya don't have a Second. An' now dat Barty's gone. ."
"Ya mean Baron?"
Spot winced. "Don't interupt, kid. As I was sayin'. . .what was I sayin'?" he shook his head and raised a finger to summon the bartender, plunking down more of the days meager earnings for another shot.
"You was sayin' you aint got noone ta trust."
"Ah, dat's right, I was. Now I'm gonna ask you somethin', and I knows I'm gonna get a strait answer, cause you wouldn't lie ta me, would youse?" Even drunk off his chair, the boy managed to look deathly serious. Frenchy swallowed hard.
"No, I wouldn't, boss." Spot thought for a moment, before smiling amiably.
"No, I don't suppose you would. You're too smart a guy for dat. So tell me, Frenchy, was you really serious when you asked fah me permission ta go for Ruby?"
Frenchy nodded, a hungry look in his shining, bottle green eyes. "Damn strait I was."
"Whassat?"
"Uh. . . yes chief, I was."
His leader nodded. "Good. Den here's da deal." All the whisky and infamy in the world couldn't hide the sadness that crept into Spot's voice, clouding his features. It felt like the clock was ticking, and e could no longer ignore it. "I need a man ta trust, an' I need a man ta look aftah me boys. Me familly. Times like these, wid my rivalry wid Jacky-boy bein' what it is, ya never know what can happen. So, I'm gonna promise you Ruby." He held up one hand, stopping Frenchy from gushing his thanks. "I think she'll listen ta me - no, I know she will. So dat's da deal. You get Ruby fah your goil, you could even marry 'er. I could make dat happen, ya know. All you gotta do is keep up your end of da bargain, an' watch out for 'er. Understand?"
Frenchy nodded, running a hand through his gleaming black mane in wild excitement. Well, as wild an excitement as Frenchy ever expressed, and that was saying something.
"You got yourself a deal, boss."
Spot nodded , satisfied, and reached for another round.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ahh, the long awaited next chapter, and I do mean long. What's gonna happen next? It's driving you MAD, isn't it? No? Well, stay tuned anyways! Coming next. . . the LOVE scene, MUAHAHAHA!!!! REVIEW!!