Chapter 12
"OPEN THE DAMN DOOR, NICK!"
Nichole stretched out on her bed, clutched the covers closer to her body, and listened to Mary's booming command. This scenario had been going on for the last five minutes, ever since Mary returned and found the door blocked. Nichole knew she was being childish, pushing away everyone's attempt to help and blocking herself from the world. But that was the last thing on her mind, she needed to see Race. Nevermind the fact that Mary despised her and the fact the moment she showed her face Spot would soak her, her mind was only on Race.
NICK! IF YOU DON"T OPEN THIS DOOR I'M GOING TO BREAK IT DOWN!"
Groaning, Nichole turned to face the wall, blocking out the persistent yelling. She wasn't going to give in this time; she was going to stay barricated in the room as long as she could get away with it. She needed time to be alone, time to think things through…
Her thoughts were interrupted as the chair that was wedge under the doorknob flew across the room. The door swung open with such force that it hit the wall and slammed back shut. Mary's narrowed eyes glided to the lump of cloth on the bed.
Mary shook her head and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Nick, Nick…come on, talk to me." She begged poking her a few times in the back. Nichole didn't answer, not knowing if Mary was angry with her or what.
Nick, you'll feel better if you do." Her sing song voice caused Nichole to cringe.
"I ain't going to feel better until you all leave me alone." She mumbled into her pillow.
Rolling her eyes, Mary ripped the thin blanket from her friend's body and threw it to the floor. Nichole curled her knees to her chest trying to stop the cold air from touching her body.
Mary sighed at the sight piteously. "You can't just lay there, Nick. You have to get out of this room and fix whatever the hells bothering you." She stood from the bed and paced the floor. She waved her hands threw the air for punctuation. "You can't run from your problems anymore. You have to go out there and take what's yours, take what you want."
Nichole craned her neck and blinked her eyes in confoudment. "What the hell are you talking about." A pain began to start in her neck, so she rolled to her other side and sat up Indian style. Stopping her movements, Mary sat down placing a hand on Nichole's shoulder.
"I'm talking about Race." Nichole rolled her eyes, and Mary tightened the grip on her shoulder to keep her from turning away. "Stop rolling your eyes and just listen. I know you want to be with him…"
"I do not want to be with him!" Nichole cried indignantly. It was a flat out lie, but who had to know?
It was Mary's turn to roll her eyes. "I don't know who you are trying to fool, but you ain't fooling me. I see that way you look at him, and act around him. And don't sit there and tell me you didn't feel anything when he kissed you that night in the alley." Nichole turned away as not to give any of her hints of her feelings. Mary continued. "Just let everything go, and give it a chance. Forget about the others and what they think, that doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is how you and Race feel."
Nichole fell back on the bed, her hands over her face. "It ain't that easy, Mar. I'm afraid if I see him and he says something I'm going to hit him, and the last thing I want to do is hurt him."
"Mm-hmm, just like you didn't want to hurt Spot, right?" Mary smirked.
Nichole's eyes widened. "How did you find out about that?"
"From Spot. He was sitting in the bunkroom when Blink and me got back. He looked like he was about murder somebody. You got him real good, Nick. Real good…"
"ARRHHH!" Grabbing the blanket from the floor, Nichole wrapped it around her body again. "Not only does Race hate me, but I have my own personal hit man on the other side of the door waiting to nix me off. God, guys suck…"
Mary laughed. "Ohh come on, it ain't that bad. Me and Blink are going to head over to Tibby's to get some dinner. Why don't you come with us? Get out of this room…"
"I'm not going anywhere." Nichole mumbled her words muffled by the blanket. Mary raised her eyebrow and climbed on the bed and onto the lump. Feeling the weight on stomach, Nichole peeked an eye from under the blanket. "Nick, you got to get out of this room. You are coming with me to Tibby's and you are going to have fun."
"Nope, I'm not."
Mary bounced up and down slightly. "Yes, you are. I'll get Jack and the others to hold Spot back until we leave, you're safe."
Replacing the blanket back over her head, she shifted to her side, pushing Mary to the floor. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here, by myself, to think."
Shaking her head, Mary stood up from the floor and straightened her clothes. There was no point in pushing this matter, besides once Nichole made up her mind there was no changing it.
"Fine, have it your way." Mary shrugged opening the door. "BUT, and this is a really big but here, you and Race are going to be happily together by the end of this week, I promise you that." Smirking, she stepped out into the hallway closing the door softly.
"What the hell are you smiling at?"
Mary bit her lip to keep herself from laughing. Spot look so pathetic sitting in a dark corner of the room. He held a pack of ice over the area where Nichole punched him, as he waited patiently for her to leave the security of her room. Nobody dare say anything, but she knew they all thought the same. She let her grin widen knowing quiet well it would cause him to become angrier. Normally she wouldn't provoke any kind of conflict between herself and Spot, but the situation was too tempting.
"Nothing, nothing at all." She shrugged nonchalantly and headed over to Blink, who lay asleep on his bunk. Using Race's bunk as a stepping stool, she lifted herself up to the top bed. Her lips curled slightly as she studied the relaxed features of Blink's face. She couldn't believe that she was with him, or how Nichole didn't want to admit she wanted to be with Race. What she and Blink had was beautiful, why wouldn't Nichole want a part of that?
Searching the contours of his face with her index finger, she smiled when his eye fluttered open slowly. Returning the smile, he yawned then grabbed her, pulling her down next to him. "Hey, Mar. What you up too?"
"Nothing." Mary whispered snuggling closer taking in his scent. "I just talked to Nick."
Blink tenderly kissed her forehead. "Really? Is everything okay with her?" he asked sincerely. "Ya know other then the whole Spot thing."
"Yea, everything is fine." She paused searching for the right words. "Blink I was thinking about something." When he just glanced at her with an encouraging gaze, she continued. "It is so obvious Nichole wants to be with Race, but Nichole is too stubborn and scared to do anything, and Race needs to understand that Nick isn't use to have someone care for her as much as he does and it's going to take time for her to get use to that feeling…"
"Is there a point to this conversation?" Blink interrupted. Slapping his chest lightly, she continued.
"Just…I don't know maybe you could talk to Race and I could try to talk to Nick again, try to explain why the other acted the way they did."
"Mar." Blink warned. "You tried to play matchmaker before and look what happened. Just leave the two of them alone." Blink snorted at the idea that just popped into his head. "Or if you're really desperate you could lock the two in the room until they make up."
Blink laughed lightly, but turned serious again catching the intrigued look on Mary's face. His eye widened and he shook his head. "No, Mary, no. They will kill each other…"
Mary propped herself up on her elbow. Pressing her lips to his, she silenced his ramblings. When she finally tugged her lips away, she smirked. "Good, now that you shut up, just listen to me. We could just try it. The worst thing that could happen is they sit in the room all night and not talk."
"Or they could kill eachother." Blink interjected. He yelped as Mary's finger poked into his side.
"Blink, think positive here. Nichole told me herself that the last thing she wanted to do was hit Race, and I know he isn't going to hit her." She clutched his arm and pouted. "All you have to do is help me get Race in the room that's all. If anything happens then you can blame the whole thing on me."
"Fine." He grinned not able to deny the look he was receiving. "But don't come complaining to me when it backfires."
"Positive, Blink. Think positive." Mary said laughingly poking the side of his head. Sitting up her eyes scanned the bunkroom. "Now, all we have to do is find Race. Then we can put this plan in action."
Blink moved beside her, letting his legs dangle over the edge of the bed. "Yea, well that's going to be a problem. Nobody seen Race since yesterday after we returned from Tibby's. I don't even think he sold today."
"No, no." Mary shook her head the events of yesterday becoming clearer in her mind. "We came back and he went up to the roof. I followed him and we talked, then I came back down…"
"Did he come down with you?"
She scratched the back of her neck in thought. "No, I tried to get him to come back inside but he said he needed time to himself and stayed on the roof."
"So, he's on the roof." Blink concluded. Mary shrugged, and patiently watched Blink jump to the floor and out the window. Her shoulders slumped as Blink poked his head a few minutes later a disappointed look on his face.
"He wasn't up there?"
Blink shook his head and rested his back against the bed while Mary rested her head in her hands. Mary was beginning to wonder if this whole thing was worth it, and admit defeat, until a voice spoke from behind her, causing her to jump, fall into Blink, and send both of them to the floor.
Pushing Blink's leg off her midsection, Mary glared at the owner of the voice. "What did you say, Jack?" Pushing herself off the floor, she walked over to stand by his bunk. Jack laced his fingers behind his head and smirked up at the girl.
"I asked ya if you were looking for Race." He laughed lightly catching the hint on hope that sparked in Mary's eyes.
"Ya, I'm looking for Race. Would you happen to know where he is."
"Sure would. He came down from the roof while you were in the room with Nick, and Blink was sleeping." He shrugged his head towards the stairs. "He left a few minutes ago. Didn't really say where he was going, but I thought him mumble something about being hungry."
"TIBBY'S!" Kissing Jack on the cheek in thanks, she grabbed Blink who still lay on the floor, and out of the lodging house towards Tibby's. Their plan was back in action.
HR
Race sat at a lone table in the back of Tibby's lost in deep thought. He had finally been able to get down from the roof without many people seeing him. His first instict was to see how Nichole was doing or even try to talk to her, but he still needed time. He sat on the roof all half the night and a whole day and still could not think of anything worthy to say to Nichole. Maybe they weren't meant to be.
Then why do I feel like this?
Shaking his head, he sipped his coffee, hoping it would relieve him of the pain in his head and in his heart. His eyes shifted from the steam that lifted from the cup to the door as the bell above the entrance rang. He groaned inwardly seeing Blink and Mary waltzed into the restaurant. He sunk down in his chair, but the attempt was in vain. There were only three people in the restaurant including himself, and it wasn't hard to point him out.
"Heya, Race. How are ya?"
Race forced a smile towards the cheerful girl. His gaze shifted to Blink and his eyebrow twitched up in query. Both wore sly grins and a tense feeling surrounded him as they both sat across from him. Something was up, something not good.
He shrugged and blinked ridding the awareness from his eyes. "Nothing, just had to get something to eat, and stretch my legs."
Blink leaned forward, his chin resting in his hand. Mary merely smirked. "Really, and what do you plan on doing when you're done eating?"
Race eyes glanced from one then the other warily. "Uhhh, going back to the lodging house to go to sleep like I do every night. Why?"
"No, reason. Just thought maybe we could keep you company. I mean we haven't seen you since yesterday night, and I just miss your company." Blink replied tapping his fingers against the wood distractedly.
Running his inked covered hands over his face, he sighed. The two of them didn't look like they were going to take no for an answer and he was in no mood to argue. Finishing his coffee he threw down two coins and stood. He patted his pockets until he found were he placed his cigar, then took it out and placed it in his mouth. He turned towards the two who still sat in the booth.
"Are you coming or what? I thought you guys wanted to keep me company." Race exclaimed walking towards the door and out into the street.
Mary, who decided Blink was moving too slow for her liking, pushed him out of the booth, then climbed out herself. Blink pouted after he regained his balance. "And I thought you loved me." He dodged the punch that was thrown at him and laughed. "Jeez, Mar. We are all getting back to the lodging house at the same time, there is no need to be excited."
Rolling her eyes she threw another punch, which hit him in the arm. "I know, I know. I'm just kinda surprised about how easy this was. At this point it seems like Race would do anything we told him too."
"He's probably just tired." Grabbing her hand, Blink pulled her out of Tibby's and onto the moonlit streets of Manhattan. "Come on, lets go catch up to Race."
HR
Suprisingly enough Race only made it a block before Mary and Blink caught up. The threesome walked the next few blocks back to the lodging house in silence, a few small comments were made here and there, but nothing more then that. The walk relaxed Race somewhat, to a point where he might get some sleep tonight. What he didn't know was Mary and Blink had different plans for him.
Inside the lodging house, nothing had seemed to have changed. Most of the newsies were settling down for the night and Spot, Spot hadn't moved from the position he sat in a few hours ago. Back slumped against the chair, one hand holding an ice pack to his face and the other crossed over his chest. His eyes were narrow and it was clear he was watching, and waiting for Nichole to walk into the bunk area and out of the safety of her room. He closely resembled a lion stalking his prey.
Race noticed this, but quickly pushed it aside as one of Spot's many mood changes. Removing his shoes and shirt, he fell back on his bed with a content sigh. Sleeping on the roof was not the most comfortable thing to do and the only thing he wanted at the moment was a good nights sleep in his own bed. Still, he couldn't completely relax.
Across the room, Blink and Mary sat huddled together, planning their next move. They had accomplished the first part, but now came the difficult bit. They had to figure out a way to persuade Race to go into the girl's room.
"You think we could just tell him Nichole wants to talk to him?" Blink questioned his eyes darting towards Race's bunk. "Great, we better hurry up and think of something. Race is going to bed and when he falls asleep there is no way to wake him up."
Mary shook her head dissatisfied. "No, that won't work." She bounced her leg up and down in thought. "Why don't you just tell him you want to talk to him?"
"In your room?"
She sighed exasperated. "Yes. It's the only place you can have a private conversation around here. He'll fall for it, and if he doesn't you grab his legs and I'll get his hands and we'll throw him in there."
Blink exhaled loudly. "And what he asks if Nichole is in there?" Mary rolled her eyes and stood, pushing Blink in Race's direction. "I don't know just tell him she needed air and went for a walk." She gave him one last firm shove. "Good luck."
He sighed and closed the distance between him and Race in a few, quick strives. Resting his shoulder against the end of the bed he glanced back at Mary quickly, who waved him on. Turning back around he cleared his throat. Race, who was close to a much needed, dreamless slumber, groaned and cracked an eye. He shut his eye again and moaned.
"What do you want, Blink?" Race whined rolling to his side.
Blink smiled apologetically. "Sorry for waking you, but I really need to talk to you.
"Do you have to talk to me now? Can't it wait until tomorrow?"
Hooking his thumbs in his belt loops, Blink shook his head. "Nope, it can't. I have to talk to you today, right now."
Race could believe what her was hearing. He knew this was apart of the "little plan" he knew they were brewing up, but he still couldn't put his finger on exacly what they were doing. Rolling to his other side, he stared at his friend. "Fine. Talk."
"Well, I was thinking that maybe we could talk in private. You know maybe in the girl's room." He suggested, shifting from foot to foot nervously.
With no frame of mind to argue or disagree, he stood and dragged his way after Blink. Blink turned around and stood infront of the closed door, waiting for Race. He placed a hand around his shoulder when he finally stood next to him. Race only glared at him with droopy eyes.
"Are we going to go in and talk, or what?!"
"Sure, sure." Blink shrugged opening the door. Race entered, but instead of following him, Blink pushed him farther into the room and slammed the door. Race turned and grabbed at the doorknob only to find that it would budge. He slammed his hand against the door and yelled out in protest. "LET ME OUT OF HERE, BLINK! I AIN'T IN THE MOOD FOR PLAYING GAMES!"
Mary's calm voice answered his yells. "We aren't letting you out until l you and Nick makeup. So, if you want to get out of there I suggest you go wake Nick up and start talking."
Race spun around, only to find out what Mary had just told him was true. Nichole lay asleep on the bed, a relaxed yet troubled look on her face. His breath became short as he slowly made his way over to her bed and sat down next to her. In his eyes she look simply angelic lying there, her brown curls sticking everywhere. Inhaling deeply he slowly ran his finger down the side of her face removing any hair that rest there. He pulled his hand back, and held his breath, as she stirred, and opened her eyes.
Nichole raised her hand to her face, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Who she saw beside her when her eyes fully focused was the last person she expect to see. Sitting up, she blinked wondering if the person sitting next to her was a hallucination.
"Race, what the hell? Go somewhere else, I really don't feel like talking now or anytime else." Lying back down she pulled the blanket over her head once again.
Race shrugged sheepishly, even though he knew she could see him. "Well, that's kind of a problem. Blink locked the door on me and there ain't no other way out."
Sitting up, Nichole threw the blanket to the floor and glowered at Race. "Are you fucking with me, because I ain't in the mood."
"See for yourself." Race gestured towards the door. Groaning she stumbled over the door sleepily, and tried the knob. It wouldn't move. Enraged with wrath, she kicked the door and returned to her bed. She glared at Race as his lips twitched into a smirk.
"Don't even say or I'll kick your ass." She warned knowing exactly what smartass comment he was going to make. Rubbing her temples in a circular motion, she sighed loudly. "So, what do we do now?"
"You're asking me!?" Race replied incredulously placing a hand on his chest. "I don't know what to do. You know it's not everyday that you get locked in a room with someone that hates you!"
Nichole cringed. Oh, God he thinks I hate him. Bringing her knees to her chest, she wrapped her hands around her legs, resting her hands on her shins. She licked her lips and said in a choked voice. "I don't hate you, Race."
Race snorted in disbelieve. "Well, you sure act like you do." He stood from the bed and began pacing. "I tell you I want to be with you and that I love you and you still have doubts about a relationship with me…"
Closing her eyes, she hugged her knees tighter. She didn't know what to do, she wanted to tell him what he wanted to hear, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. It was just her nature and nothing could change that flaw that she had. Suddenly, she cursed and stood, stopping Race in his step. Grabbing him by his faded suspenders, she pulled his body towards hers. tilting her head up she pressed her lips to his in a heated kiss, which he fiercely returned, a flood of love and passion hitting both of them like a tidal wave. From that moment they both knew the truth.
"OPEN THE DAMN DOOR, NICK!"
Nichole stretched out on her bed, clutched the covers closer to her body, and listened to Mary's booming command. This scenario had been going on for the last five minutes, ever since Mary returned and found the door blocked. Nichole knew she was being childish, pushing away everyone's attempt to help and blocking herself from the world. But that was the last thing on her mind, she needed to see Race. Nevermind the fact that Mary despised her and the fact the moment she showed her face Spot would soak her, her mind was only on Race.
NICK! IF YOU DON"T OPEN THIS DOOR I'M GOING TO BREAK IT DOWN!"
Groaning, Nichole turned to face the wall, blocking out the persistent yelling. She wasn't going to give in this time; she was going to stay barricated in the room as long as she could get away with it. She needed time to be alone, time to think things through…
Her thoughts were interrupted as the chair that was wedge under the doorknob flew across the room. The door swung open with such force that it hit the wall and slammed back shut. Mary's narrowed eyes glided to the lump of cloth on the bed.
Mary shook her head and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Nick, Nick…come on, talk to me." She begged poking her a few times in the back. Nichole didn't answer, not knowing if Mary was angry with her or what.
Nick, you'll feel better if you do." Her sing song voice caused Nichole to cringe.
"I ain't going to feel better until you all leave me alone." She mumbled into her pillow.
Rolling her eyes, Mary ripped the thin blanket from her friend's body and threw it to the floor. Nichole curled her knees to her chest trying to stop the cold air from touching her body.
Mary sighed at the sight piteously. "You can't just lay there, Nick. You have to get out of this room and fix whatever the hells bothering you." She stood from the bed and paced the floor. She waved her hands threw the air for punctuation. "You can't run from your problems anymore. You have to go out there and take what's yours, take what you want."
Nichole craned her neck and blinked her eyes in confoudment. "What the hell are you talking about." A pain began to start in her neck, so she rolled to her other side and sat up Indian style. Stopping her movements, Mary sat down placing a hand on Nichole's shoulder.
"I'm talking about Race." Nichole rolled her eyes, and Mary tightened the grip on her shoulder to keep her from turning away. "Stop rolling your eyes and just listen. I know you want to be with him…"
"I do not want to be with him!" Nichole cried indignantly. It was a flat out lie, but who had to know?
It was Mary's turn to roll her eyes. "I don't know who you are trying to fool, but you ain't fooling me. I see that way you look at him, and act around him. And don't sit there and tell me you didn't feel anything when he kissed you that night in the alley." Nichole turned away as not to give any of her hints of her feelings. Mary continued. "Just let everything go, and give it a chance. Forget about the others and what they think, that doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is how you and Race feel."
Nichole fell back on the bed, her hands over her face. "It ain't that easy, Mar. I'm afraid if I see him and he says something I'm going to hit him, and the last thing I want to do is hurt him."
"Mm-hmm, just like you didn't want to hurt Spot, right?" Mary smirked.
Nichole's eyes widened. "How did you find out about that?"
"From Spot. He was sitting in the bunkroom when Blink and me got back. He looked like he was about murder somebody. You got him real good, Nick. Real good…"
"ARRHHH!" Grabbing the blanket from the floor, Nichole wrapped it around her body again. "Not only does Race hate me, but I have my own personal hit man on the other side of the door waiting to nix me off. God, guys suck…"
Mary laughed. "Ohh come on, it ain't that bad. Me and Blink are going to head over to Tibby's to get some dinner. Why don't you come with us? Get out of this room…"
"I'm not going anywhere." Nichole mumbled her words muffled by the blanket. Mary raised her eyebrow and climbed on the bed and onto the lump. Feeling the weight on stomach, Nichole peeked an eye from under the blanket. "Nick, you got to get out of this room. You are coming with me to Tibby's and you are going to have fun."
"Nope, I'm not."
Mary bounced up and down slightly. "Yes, you are. I'll get Jack and the others to hold Spot back until we leave, you're safe."
Replacing the blanket back over her head, she shifted to her side, pushing Mary to the floor. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here, by myself, to think."
Shaking her head, Mary stood up from the floor and straightened her clothes. There was no point in pushing this matter, besides once Nichole made up her mind there was no changing it.
"Fine, have it your way." Mary shrugged opening the door. "BUT, and this is a really big but here, you and Race are going to be happily together by the end of this week, I promise you that." Smirking, she stepped out into the hallway closing the door softly.
"What the hell are you smiling at?"
Mary bit her lip to keep herself from laughing. Spot look so pathetic sitting in a dark corner of the room. He held a pack of ice over the area where Nichole punched him, as he waited patiently for her to leave the security of her room. Nobody dare say anything, but she knew they all thought the same. She let her grin widen knowing quiet well it would cause him to become angrier. Normally she wouldn't provoke any kind of conflict between herself and Spot, but the situation was too tempting.
"Nothing, nothing at all." She shrugged nonchalantly and headed over to Blink, who lay asleep on his bunk. Using Race's bunk as a stepping stool, she lifted herself up to the top bed. Her lips curled slightly as she studied the relaxed features of Blink's face. She couldn't believe that she was with him, or how Nichole didn't want to admit she wanted to be with Race. What she and Blink had was beautiful, why wouldn't Nichole want a part of that?
Searching the contours of his face with her index finger, she smiled when his eye fluttered open slowly. Returning the smile, he yawned then grabbed her, pulling her down next to him. "Hey, Mar. What you up too?"
"Nothing." Mary whispered snuggling closer taking in his scent. "I just talked to Nick."
Blink tenderly kissed her forehead. "Really? Is everything okay with her?" he asked sincerely. "Ya know other then the whole Spot thing."
"Yea, everything is fine." She paused searching for the right words. "Blink I was thinking about something." When he just glanced at her with an encouraging gaze, she continued. "It is so obvious Nichole wants to be with Race, but Nichole is too stubborn and scared to do anything, and Race needs to understand that Nick isn't use to have someone care for her as much as he does and it's going to take time for her to get use to that feeling…"
"Is there a point to this conversation?" Blink interrupted. Slapping his chest lightly, she continued.
"Just…I don't know maybe you could talk to Race and I could try to talk to Nick again, try to explain why the other acted the way they did."
"Mar." Blink warned. "You tried to play matchmaker before and look what happened. Just leave the two of them alone." Blink snorted at the idea that just popped into his head. "Or if you're really desperate you could lock the two in the room until they make up."
Blink laughed lightly, but turned serious again catching the intrigued look on Mary's face. His eye widened and he shook his head. "No, Mary, no. They will kill each other…"
Mary propped herself up on her elbow. Pressing her lips to his, she silenced his ramblings. When she finally tugged her lips away, she smirked. "Good, now that you shut up, just listen to me. We could just try it. The worst thing that could happen is they sit in the room all night and not talk."
"Or they could kill eachother." Blink interjected. He yelped as Mary's finger poked into his side.
"Blink, think positive here. Nichole told me herself that the last thing she wanted to do was hit Race, and I know he isn't going to hit her." She clutched his arm and pouted. "All you have to do is help me get Race in the room that's all. If anything happens then you can blame the whole thing on me."
"Fine." He grinned not able to deny the look he was receiving. "But don't come complaining to me when it backfires."
"Positive, Blink. Think positive." Mary said laughingly poking the side of his head. Sitting up her eyes scanned the bunkroom. "Now, all we have to do is find Race. Then we can put this plan in action."
Blink moved beside her, letting his legs dangle over the edge of the bed. "Yea, well that's going to be a problem. Nobody seen Race since yesterday after we returned from Tibby's. I don't even think he sold today."
"No, no." Mary shook her head the events of yesterday becoming clearer in her mind. "We came back and he went up to the roof. I followed him and we talked, then I came back down…"
"Did he come down with you?"
She scratched the back of her neck in thought. "No, I tried to get him to come back inside but he said he needed time to himself and stayed on the roof."
"So, he's on the roof." Blink concluded. Mary shrugged, and patiently watched Blink jump to the floor and out the window. Her shoulders slumped as Blink poked his head a few minutes later a disappointed look on his face.
"He wasn't up there?"
Blink shook his head and rested his back against the bed while Mary rested her head in her hands. Mary was beginning to wonder if this whole thing was worth it, and admit defeat, until a voice spoke from behind her, causing her to jump, fall into Blink, and send both of them to the floor.
Pushing Blink's leg off her midsection, Mary glared at the owner of the voice. "What did you say, Jack?" Pushing herself off the floor, she walked over to stand by his bunk. Jack laced his fingers behind his head and smirked up at the girl.
"I asked ya if you were looking for Race." He laughed lightly catching the hint on hope that sparked in Mary's eyes.
"Ya, I'm looking for Race. Would you happen to know where he is."
"Sure would. He came down from the roof while you were in the room with Nick, and Blink was sleeping." He shrugged his head towards the stairs. "He left a few minutes ago. Didn't really say where he was going, but I thought him mumble something about being hungry."
"TIBBY'S!" Kissing Jack on the cheek in thanks, she grabbed Blink who still lay on the floor, and out of the lodging house towards Tibby's. Their plan was back in action.
HR
Race sat at a lone table in the back of Tibby's lost in deep thought. He had finally been able to get down from the roof without many people seeing him. His first instict was to see how Nichole was doing or even try to talk to her, but he still needed time. He sat on the roof all half the night and a whole day and still could not think of anything worthy to say to Nichole. Maybe they weren't meant to be.
Then why do I feel like this?
Shaking his head, he sipped his coffee, hoping it would relieve him of the pain in his head and in his heart. His eyes shifted from the steam that lifted from the cup to the door as the bell above the entrance rang. He groaned inwardly seeing Blink and Mary waltzed into the restaurant. He sunk down in his chair, but the attempt was in vain. There were only three people in the restaurant including himself, and it wasn't hard to point him out.
"Heya, Race. How are ya?"
Race forced a smile towards the cheerful girl. His gaze shifted to Blink and his eyebrow twitched up in query. Both wore sly grins and a tense feeling surrounded him as they both sat across from him. Something was up, something not good.
He shrugged and blinked ridding the awareness from his eyes. "Nothing, just had to get something to eat, and stretch my legs."
Blink leaned forward, his chin resting in his hand. Mary merely smirked. "Really, and what do you plan on doing when you're done eating?"
Race eyes glanced from one then the other warily. "Uhhh, going back to the lodging house to go to sleep like I do every night. Why?"
"No, reason. Just thought maybe we could keep you company. I mean we haven't seen you since yesterday night, and I just miss your company." Blink replied tapping his fingers against the wood distractedly.
Running his inked covered hands over his face, he sighed. The two of them didn't look like they were going to take no for an answer and he was in no mood to argue. Finishing his coffee he threw down two coins and stood. He patted his pockets until he found were he placed his cigar, then took it out and placed it in his mouth. He turned towards the two who still sat in the booth.
"Are you coming or what? I thought you guys wanted to keep me company." Race exclaimed walking towards the door and out into the street.
Mary, who decided Blink was moving too slow for her liking, pushed him out of the booth, then climbed out herself. Blink pouted after he regained his balance. "And I thought you loved me." He dodged the punch that was thrown at him and laughed. "Jeez, Mar. We are all getting back to the lodging house at the same time, there is no need to be excited."
Rolling her eyes she threw another punch, which hit him in the arm. "I know, I know. I'm just kinda surprised about how easy this was. At this point it seems like Race would do anything we told him too."
"He's probably just tired." Grabbing her hand, Blink pulled her out of Tibby's and onto the moonlit streets of Manhattan. "Come on, lets go catch up to Race."
HR
Suprisingly enough Race only made it a block before Mary and Blink caught up. The threesome walked the next few blocks back to the lodging house in silence, a few small comments were made here and there, but nothing more then that. The walk relaxed Race somewhat, to a point where he might get some sleep tonight. What he didn't know was Mary and Blink had different plans for him.
Inside the lodging house, nothing had seemed to have changed. Most of the newsies were settling down for the night and Spot, Spot hadn't moved from the position he sat in a few hours ago. Back slumped against the chair, one hand holding an ice pack to his face and the other crossed over his chest. His eyes were narrow and it was clear he was watching, and waiting for Nichole to walk into the bunk area and out of the safety of her room. He closely resembled a lion stalking his prey.
Race noticed this, but quickly pushed it aside as one of Spot's many mood changes. Removing his shoes and shirt, he fell back on his bed with a content sigh. Sleeping on the roof was not the most comfortable thing to do and the only thing he wanted at the moment was a good nights sleep in his own bed. Still, he couldn't completely relax.
Across the room, Blink and Mary sat huddled together, planning their next move. They had accomplished the first part, but now came the difficult bit. They had to figure out a way to persuade Race to go into the girl's room.
"You think we could just tell him Nichole wants to talk to him?" Blink questioned his eyes darting towards Race's bunk. "Great, we better hurry up and think of something. Race is going to bed and when he falls asleep there is no way to wake him up."
Mary shook her head dissatisfied. "No, that won't work." She bounced her leg up and down in thought. "Why don't you just tell him you want to talk to him?"
"In your room?"
She sighed exasperated. "Yes. It's the only place you can have a private conversation around here. He'll fall for it, and if he doesn't you grab his legs and I'll get his hands and we'll throw him in there."
Blink exhaled loudly. "And what he asks if Nichole is in there?" Mary rolled her eyes and stood, pushing Blink in Race's direction. "I don't know just tell him she needed air and went for a walk." She gave him one last firm shove. "Good luck."
He sighed and closed the distance between him and Race in a few, quick strives. Resting his shoulder against the end of the bed he glanced back at Mary quickly, who waved him on. Turning back around he cleared his throat. Race, who was close to a much needed, dreamless slumber, groaned and cracked an eye. He shut his eye again and moaned.
"What do you want, Blink?" Race whined rolling to his side.
Blink smiled apologetically. "Sorry for waking you, but I really need to talk to you.
"Do you have to talk to me now? Can't it wait until tomorrow?"
Hooking his thumbs in his belt loops, Blink shook his head. "Nope, it can't. I have to talk to you today, right now."
Race could believe what her was hearing. He knew this was apart of the "little plan" he knew they were brewing up, but he still couldn't put his finger on exacly what they were doing. Rolling to his other side, he stared at his friend. "Fine. Talk."
"Well, I was thinking that maybe we could talk in private. You know maybe in the girl's room." He suggested, shifting from foot to foot nervously.
With no frame of mind to argue or disagree, he stood and dragged his way after Blink. Blink turned around and stood infront of the closed door, waiting for Race. He placed a hand around his shoulder when he finally stood next to him. Race only glared at him with droopy eyes.
"Are we going to go in and talk, or what?!"
"Sure, sure." Blink shrugged opening the door. Race entered, but instead of following him, Blink pushed him farther into the room and slammed the door. Race turned and grabbed at the doorknob only to find that it would budge. He slammed his hand against the door and yelled out in protest. "LET ME OUT OF HERE, BLINK! I AIN'T IN THE MOOD FOR PLAYING GAMES!"
Mary's calm voice answered his yells. "We aren't letting you out until l you and Nick makeup. So, if you want to get out of there I suggest you go wake Nick up and start talking."
Race spun around, only to find out what Mary had just told him was true. Nichole lay asleep on the bed, a relaxed yet troubled look on her face. His breath became short as he slowly made his way over to her bed and sat down next to her. In his eyes she look simply angelic lying there, her brown curls sticking everywhere. Inhaling deeply he slowly ran his finger down the side of her face removing any hair that rest there. He pulled his hand back, and held his breath, as she stirred, and opened her eyes.
Nichole raised her hand to her face, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Who she saw beside her when her eyes fully focused was the last person she expect to see. Sitting up, she blinked wondering if the person sitting next to her was a hallucination.
"Race, what the hell? Go somewhere else, I really don't feel like talking now or anytime else." Lying back down she pulled the blanket over her head once again.
Race shrugged sheepishly, even though he knew she could see him. "Well, that's kind of a problem. Blink locked the door on me and there ain't no other way out."
Sitting up, Nichole threw the blanket to the floor and glowered at Race. "Are you fucking with me, because I ain't in the mood."
"See for yourself." Race gestured towards the door. Groaning she stumbled over the door sleepily, and tried the knob. It wouldn't move. Enraged with wrath, she kicked the door and returned to her bed. She glared at Race as his lips twitched into a smirk.
"Don't even say or I'll kick your ass." She warned knowing exactly what smartass comment he was going to make. Rubbing her temples in a circular motion, she sighed loudly. "So, what do we do now?"
"You're asking me!?" Race replied incredulously placing a hand on his chest. "I don't know what to do. You know it's not everyday that you get locked in a room with someone that hates you!"
Nichole cringed. Oh, God he thinks I hate him. Bringing her knees to her chest, she wrapped her hands around her legs, resting her hands on her shins. She licked her lips and said in a choked voice. "I don't hate you, Race."
Race snorted in disbelieve. "Well, you sure act like you do." He stood from the bed and began pacing. "I tell you I want to be with you and that I love you and you still have doubts about a relationship with me…"
Closing her eyes, she hugged her knees tighter. She didn't know what to do, she wanted to tell him what he wanted to hear, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. It was just her nature and nothing could change that flaw that she had. Suddenly, she cursed and stood, stopping Race in his step. Grabbing him by his faded suspenders, she pulled his body towards hers. tilting her head up she pressed her lips to his in a heated kiss, which he fiercely returned, a flood of love and passion hitting both of them like a tidal wave. From that moment they both knew the truth.